Thankful Thursday!

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful picture from our beach day last weekend!

THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON TO BE THANKFUL FOR

 

 

 

Gary & I met with a financial planner today..

a start on making sure our future is what we want it to be.

Especially for our little Gracie girl!!!

And although it can be very overwhelming..(aren't finances always like that??)

It was a positive experience..

and it makes me Thankful & Grateful for what my life is..

with Gary & Grace!!

 

 

 

 

 

Thank YOU for reading! And being a part of who we are!!

 

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Max :)

More PT on Monday :)

More PT on Monday..

 

 
 In a "Grait" Trainor..I think that's how you spell it.. she's not crying here.. but trust me she cried the rest of the time..  this will help her walk, and once she gets comfortable it'll come home with us!!  (And people wonder why I got rid of the other couch in the house..) with a little help, she is able to put her feet forward & bend..to walk :)

This is a makeshift RIDE.. just to give her some fun.. and stretch her legs a little.. she didn't think it was too fun! As you can see from her crying eyes.. God she is breaking my heart!!



Spinning thru the halls of Schwartz Center.. :)

 

And with her favorite friend, Abby!!

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up!

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell

Pictures!!!!

Knowing you all love pictures..

 

 

 Swimming & blowing Mama kisses..

Doing the back float!!

At the Beach tonight.. look at that smiling face :)

 

 

 

with my dada!!!



Milestone Monday to Swimmy Saturday

Sorry, it's been a week since I have posted..it was a busy week for Mama..

 

Let's see, Milestone Monday..

Grace sitting on a stool with PT.. look how great she looks..sitting up like a big girl..

then she does 'sit to stand'..and her PT says her legs are getting soo strong!!

 

The books to the right, are from her secret "Book of the month" friends..

her Great Aunt, has been sending books to her monthly..

Crystal helped with picking these out! 

And we love to read before bedtime.. Grace does a wonderful job, watching our

mouths reading to her.. I know she just wants to say something!!!

 

  Celery eating!!

She's getting her two year molars, so she was knawing off on this piece of celery

last night at a party!  Which she did great at.. little fussy around 8pm when we left, but come on..it was an hour past bedtime!

 

A visit to her dietician on Monday..revealed she is now 19 lbs. 8 oz. ..

and 1-2 meals a day, she will have a blenderized meal thru her gtube

(whatever she doesn't eat by mouth).. so we offered her a little linquica patty earlier in the week..she did taste it, but spit it out :( ..so we just blenderized it with some

pureed carrots & a little water..and voila she has a blenderized what's called

a "gavage" feeding.. (we extend a 60 cc tube on her gtube & it goes down

by gravity, or we push it in with a syringe)..so for now she gets 1 of these.. so

her belly doesn't feel so full with just the formula..

Her pediatrician thinks that once she gets closer to that age 2 'corrected age' (the time she would've been born..so closer to end of October or so), then maybe it'll just

click that she needs to eat or swallow.. Medically, there isn't anything wrong! (TG!)

 

 

The week rounded off with PT & OT (daddy was home for it..as Mama was taking a class).. Daddy's little girl cried a bit..thinking daddy would make them stop..

he just had to leave the room.

 

We also had a fun play date with a new friend.  Landon & mom, Debbie!

Thanks for the visit.. nice chat! And Landon loved Grace, and she him.

 

 

Today was swim.. i'll post a pic later..

but she's doing great..and we're signing up for the next swim classes for September.

Tonight will be the beach.. I'll sure to post some pics.

 

Thanks for reading & catching up!

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & max

 

p.s. Congrats to a few of the nurses that we knew in Maine..

Kristina on her recent wedding!! And Erica is going to be a mama in January! And Mari too who is a Mama to twin girls :)

We are very excited for them.  We stay in touch, via social media.  And it's really

nice they all have something wonderful happening!!

 

Long weekend in NH!

We just spent a long, relaxing weekend in NH..

Got there on Thursday (we have a friend who owns a condo in North Conway)..

and just got home today.

 

Relaxing & fun!

Although the food we tried was much to be desired..unfortunately! :(

We cooked a pork loin Saturday night for dinner, and

that was our best meal (& cheapest!).

Even our favorite, breakfast at the blueberry muffin wasn't that great.. :(

I think next time, we'll eat in more than we eat out!

Or stay with what we know!

 

 

 

Here are some pictures from the weekend..

Grace did great (as usual)..she really enjoyed a hike in Diana's Bath..

and putting her feet in the water..

& a splash park on saturday at a local park, & then she rode the swing..

Loved both!

 

  Mommy & me!

Swinging at the park!

Daddy & Me...

  I'm definitely longer than the moose..and this is the first time, I've bitten his face!

 

 

One of the falls that we hiked up..on the Kangamangus Highway..

beautiful..and pretty steep..

I wore my new 'fitbit' (counts the steps I take daily) & both Friday & Saturday

I was clearly over 7,000 steps! (closer to that 10,000).

 

 

 

Getting ready for a busy week..

Grace has dietician tomorrow, hopefully we can talk about a 'blenderized diet'..

and then maybe a new babysitter, "meet & greet"..

A couple of appointments for Mama this week..and

then a Splash park fun on Friday!

 

 

Hope you're all doing well!!



Milestone Monday!

PT day at the Schwartz Center..and

here's what Grace did today..

 

  her first walk on a treadmill :)

  And her first ride on a tricycle..

She wasn't crying the WHOLE time!!   Just something new to her..

 

She's been doing an excellent job standing up..

her PT was happy on how well she's 'getting it'..

 

we are too!!

 

Came home after PT & immediately, (within seconds, really) went to

sleep..  So proud of Grace!!

 

 

 

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & max



And Grace's new stander is here...

It's here.. Grace's new PURPLE Super Stander..

the name is more intimidating than the actually stander..

 

  Here she is actually 'enjoying' it.. so you can see how she looks fully standing up in it.. playing blocks with Daddy tonight..

she stayed in it for 15 minutes tonight!!

  SMILING!!

 

I know I say it ALOT.. my friend Dave said it to me last week, after

reading the blog too.. Grace is a SUPERSTAR!!

 

When PT got here this morning, with the stander.. Grace was not

happy in it..she cried for nearly 10 minutes in it (it's something new)..

but she stayed in it for 25 minutes..

so her first time in it at home, and she stood standing in it for 40 minutes total today!!

WOW!!!!!  My little friend!

 

The goal is to stand for an 'hour' a day..

tomorrow, we'll do some standing in the morning & some in the evening..

 

 

She also had a great PT session today.. she was giggling

and did a great job just standing on her own..

and sit to stand!

 

She's awesome!

 

 

Thanks for her! :)

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & Maxwell



For Maxwell.

You never forget the day you're children were born,

and unfortuantely, for us.. you never forget the day they passed.

 

For Maxwell..

 

"The mention of my child's name may bring tears to my eyes, but it never fails to bring music to my ears. If you are really my friend, let me hear the beautiful music of his name. It soothes my broken heart and sings to my soul."

I know he's with me.. I know that Grace will

always have him in her heart; as I will.

 

Lately, when I go into Grace's room to put her clothes away,

or put something in the closet..

her puzzle with the animal sounds goes off by itself..

I know it's Maxwell.

I hear you my lovebug!

And Mama loves you too!!

 

 

Today, I remember him.. I wish he was here with us..

 

 

 

 

Love you buddy!! (always!)

 

It doesn't get easier!

 

 

 

 

Love,

Mama & Dada & Gracie





Physical Therapy. (PT)

So, Grace is now getting PT twice a week..

the focus is sitting, standing, & walking!!

 

On Monday mornings, we go into the Schwartz Center

for her PT.. which gives Grace the chance to try new things..

and see other children!!

(she loves other children..puts her arms out to touch them (or pull their hair..lol),

or touch their hand..today she made a friend with another girl,

and kept saying 'hi' to her)

 

 

Here is Grace today in a 'gate trainor'..

helps her to stand up straight, as she has to move her feet to

walk..she did very well!! (i teared up a little)

 

 

 

 

  And then she sat against this little thingy..

with a noodle between her legs, to help push those hips aside, a little..

 

 

And on Wednesday, the Stander will be here at our house..

to help bear weight thru her legs..and keep her standing up ..

Auntie Heather & gang got Grace 'jello paints' for her birthday..

we can put her in the stander, and teach her how to paint..

(if she eats it..it's ok :)

 

 

 

 

 

She still wears her braces on her feet..

and has her rhino brace around her hips when she sleeps.

All things that will help her put weight thru her hips..

to help stand/walk..

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell



Happy 2nd Birthday, Grace!!

2 Years Old today!!

A nice party day..

it started at 4 p.m., with Hamburgers & Hot dogs..

Auntie Dalila stopped by..

Auntie Heather & Uncle Ross & the kids..

Auntie Tess & Uncle Eric, Emily & Ben

mama's friend, Jeff too! (he calls Grace "pickles")

the new twins in the family, Kendall & Morgan.. belonging to Cousin Natalie & Chris

Aunt Irent & Uncle Tete

& Auntie Paula & Uncle Peter

 

 

this was my cake:

  My birthday outfit..

 

 The shirt says "2" & Grace...

  Playing with the cake in my hands..

The kids helping me opening my gifts..

 

 

I'm starting my 2 year of life:

 

Off all medications..

weighing in at 19 lbs. 2.5oz

I'm 31" long.

I'm still in size 3 diaper..

size 9-12 month onesies..

 

I love music, and am taking another music class in the fall.

I love swimming..and the water!

 

I roll back n forth to get where I want to go.

I still have PT & OT weekly (PT twice a week)

 

I'm a very happy toddler..always smiling.

I'm a good sleeper & have always been.

I take one nap a day, usually 2-3 hours.

And my bedtime is 7-7:30 p.m., and I love to read a book or two first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all those that wished me nice Birthday wishes..

off to see my brother tomorrow & bring his balloon!!

 

 

 

Love,

Grace!

 



Birthday Eve..

Twas the night before Grace's birthday..

& presents were starting to accumulate..

 

 

From Auntie Lisa & Uncle Bill.. puzzles, & musical instruments..

my first set of blocks, from cousin Andrew!

 

Grace having fun playing & opening the ribbon..

she loves the paper..

 

  A few outfits from Auntie April & Uncle Johnny in NY!  And an outfit from Noni & Grandpa

 

 

 

 

Can't believe tomorrow our little girl & angel boy will be 2!!!

We'll take lots of pictures..and post a year ago & tomorrow's picture!

 

We'll think of Maxwell (as we always do)..

we miss you buddy!! wish you were here celebrating with us!

 

 

It's been another great, but tough year too..

but Grace is doing wonderful now!

Growing, & getting stronger by the minute..

She brings a smile to everyone who meets her!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing this wonderful time of year with us!!

 

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & Maxwell

(the birthday babes!)