Quick update..

Grace starts SCHOOL this week.. FULL-TIME!!

8:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

We're a little nervous, but she's going to have a Great time..and learn alot..she

really is adaptable..and maybe just a little less nap time (she'll nap on a mat in school for about 30 min), she should do great!!  Her bus driver came by yesterday just to chart out

the route.. so far she'll be picked up around 8:10 a.m.

 

 

 

Grace has been to a new feeding clinic, twice already & it's going well..

big differences with Grace eating this past week, than the two weeks ago we saw

her last.. We've been reducing Grace's 'lunch' time gtube feed, to make her

more hungry for dinner time.. & she's doing great..tasting, licking & swallowing new foods!

Last weekend & this weekend, she ate from her own ice cream cone..

holding it & all!!  She's getting there!

 

 

I'll try & post some pictures soon.. (picasa is still acting weird with my uploads from my iphone!)

Arghhhh.. it's very frustrating!

 

 

 

Moment from the weekend:  When holding her baby, Grace says, "waaaaa" meaning

the baby is crying!! Sooooooo cute!!!

 

Thanks for reading!

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell

Mini weekend in NY.

A road trip to Lewiston, NY to visit the mother-in-law (MIL)..went well!

Grace is getting soo big.. she remembered & recognized MIL and had a fun time

walking around with her & sitting in her favorite chair.. just to tease her.

Even though she only sees her a few times a year, it was really fun to watch!

 

2015

2014

 

  our trip led us to the Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, Canada.. we saw beautiful birds..this is one of them!

at the buffalo zoo! Wonderful, big zoo.. if you're ever in Buffalo!



 

 

  And this gorilla was just laying down the whole time..as the other gorilla's, even an infant gorilla.. walked around getting their food.. This must be the dad! or mama.. tired!!

 

 

 

 

Good to see cousin Johnny too!! We are back..  & Grace starts full day pre-school in 2 weeks!!

Let the worrying begin..

 

Thanks for reading!!

 

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell



4 years later..& still on our mind..& definitely in our hearts!

This one is for Maxwell Hathaway...

it was 4 years ago today that we held you, around this time of night

when you passed silently into the light.

 

You smiled & opened your eyes slightly at the mention of your name for Dada..

it was strange.. a professional photographer taking pictures of 'our family'..

as we held both Max & Grace together

and then asked us to 'smile'..how could we smile, knowing part of our family

was going to heaven..wayyyy too soon!

It was a very difficult night... and the next few days would prove

to be more difficult as well.

 

Time has passed.. our wounds have not healed properly..

I get exceptionally angry when I hear of a 'young teen mother' or of

woman or man who 'shakes' their baby because they were crying too much.

 

Daddy gets exceptionally angry at God..and wonders constantly, "Why us?"

 

I'm not sure either of us will ever be the same.

We are now different.

 

 

The ONE constant in all this is obviously: Grace.

She is our world.

She is our strength.

She has our hearts.

 

 

Rest in peace my dear little baby boy.. there's not a day that goes by that I wonder

about you, that I wonder what mischief you & Grace would be getting into.

Thank you Maxwell..for be Grace's angel..xo

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Memory of Maxwell, today we made a donation of 'snacks' to our local

(RI Ronald Mcdonald House)..for their house guests, as well

as for Hasbro's Ronald Mcdonald room for parents.

These snacks were donated by friends & family..in memory of Max

& being at the RI house today.. what a crazy memory it brought back for me..

I lost my breath for a few seconds as they were giving us a tour

as it took me back to the first day Gary & I got our tour of the Maine house..

It's nice to have a place so close to your child, but it's really hard too.

I say a prayer for those moms that are staying there tonight.

 

Grace.. donating for her brother!

 

 

 

 

 

Love you.. thanks for reading!

love,

pattie & gary & Grace & Maxwell



Grace's 4th Birthday!!

Our 'micro-preemie' turned 4 today!!

Wow.. she's come so far.. she's a friendly, outgoing, social little girl..

she LOVES to hold hands, loves fingernails that are painted, jewelry, and hugs!

She is very social at pre-school & has been attending a summer program

as well as finished her first year from last fall to this May.

In the fall of '15, she will be attending pre-school on a full day basis. 8:30-2:30!

That's going to be a big change for her..but she's a very adaptable child & I'm sure will do great!!

 

 

 

Grace weighs about 30 lbs.. end of August will be her 4 year check up, so

I'll update you then.

 

We are so happy at the progress she has made.. one day at a time!

We had a party on Saturday & here are some pictures.. Enjoy!

thanks for keeping up with her & us these past 4 years.. I've enjoyed writing this blog in her honor, and in Maxwell's memory.. there's not a day that goes by that we don't think of

what could've been... our heart is sad..but we know he is most definitely Grace's angel from above.

 

 

Grace did AWESOME this year in the bubble bounce..from rolling & moving her feet .. she was very active in it & loved being in there with her friends!!

 

Cake!!

  Like most kids, she loved the tissue paper the best!

 

Even got to play the drums!!

Friends from school.. the boy in the orange shirt is her BFF from school, and his brother

is the one she is touching his hair.. then she pulled him close & kissed his cheek!

Precious!!

All the kids that came!!

 

  A future pianoist, perhaps??

 

 

Grace is loved by so many! And she continues to touch people's lives.  She is

a lovable little girl!! Glad to call her mine!!

 

 

 

Thanks for reading....

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell