Nice Weekend. 6:24pm

You don't know how great it is to just be home and clean, and organize & vacuum.  No, I don't like to do housework, but when it's done.. I feel 'balanced'.. and

with the weeks we've had this past month it was just NICE to stay home & clean..

and enjoy our baby!! Here's some pictures to prove it..

On Saturday, we went to our friends' twins, Olivia & Jackson's birthday party..This is Grace's party outfit.

Grace's friend, Abby got to hold her..(notice her hands in her mouth..this teething thing is terrible!!)

Sunday Morning.. Grace is just hanging out on the couch.. soo cute!!

 Sunday afternoon..just playing on daddy's legs.. she loves sitting like this!

Looking up at Daddy!! :)

We have an opthamology appointment on Tuesday..just a follow-up appt from being a preemie.. Keep us in prayer! 

I'm going to enjoy dinner on two different nights, with two close friends that I haven't

gone out to dinner with in awhile.. soo I'm looking forward to getting out!! :)

I've joined WW.. and am inspired to get healthy..trying out new foods..

I bought some wonton wrappers..and made a filling of fresh spinach & shrimp..

they were very good!! And you can just keep the wrappers in the freezer, use as you want to.  Anyone have any good WW recipes, please email me!

Going to try tofu stirfry this week...

It's about being healthier for me & FEELING healthier!!

We went for a nice family walk today, I finally got a new pair of sneakers..which really helps!!

Happy early birthday (tomorrow..4/30) to Olivia, Jackson & their Mom..Heather!

Welcome back to Doug H!!

And Madrinha is on vacation this week..so she's coming with us for our f/u

at Hasbro on Friday, cuz Daddy has to work.

Love my friends!! :)

And my FAMILY!

Thanks for reading, thinking about us & praying..

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



End of the week. 5:33pm

Grace has had a good week, and has gained weight! She is 11 lbs. 2 oz (from tuesday she was 10lbs. 8oz (i think.).. she saw her pedi surgeon today who's following her g-tube & it looks great, he said.. we don't have to go back til one week from today.

She is definitely TEETHING!! :(

She has her hands in her mouth constantly, and her gums are very white. I'm just waiting for that tooth to pop up!

Grace, here is sitting on the couch with her Mama.

She's looking great, for sure!

Tomorrow is our friends, Jackson & Olivia's birthday party.. Grace is excited to don her party dress!!    Noni & Grandpa left on Tuesday, and we are missing them!!

Today, was the first day Gracie tried pears & applesauce..seems like she liked it.  We are trying a bottle when we can.. with this teething stuff, she's not very interested.

Grace's cousins came down yesterday & we went for a walk to the beach..

I can't wait til it's warmer & my 2nd car is fixed so we can go out..

to the library, music together, swim lessons, the beach

On a sidebar:  Went to Walmart last night to pick up some teething rings.. the Walmart in Fhvn, is way in the back of the store.. I don't know why honestly..I have seen people steal back there & last night I was actually scared (stranger danger)..there were two guys following me.. Geesh..

Okay..gotta go get dinner..

I joined WW yesterday..hoping to lose some weight!!! :)

Love you guys,

Gracie!

pattie & gary, & max



Bye Noni & Grandpa! 8:32pm

Noni & Grandpa left today, and they already miss Gracie..but of course, wouldn't you?

Back to normal today, Grace had a great day.. 15ml's by bottle this morning.

A good night's sleep last night.. in bed with us from 5-7a.m.

A long afternoon nap today too!

Another 18ml's from the bottle this evening & some banana with cereal..

not sure she liked the banana.  I'll have to go back to the sweet potatoe.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Teething & Hasbro. 8:54pm

Well, Miss Grace had a tough time sleeping last night.. her hands are now always in her mouth, her gums are looking very white..and I'm expecting a tooth or two to pop up very soon right in front.  So, we are tired tonight.. Gracie is already sleeping..let's hope she stays that way all night.. I'm soon behind her.

Today was the last day with my IL's, they are leaving tomorrow..

although sad they are leaving, I'm glad they got to meet Grace & had a good time.

They came over daily, and cleaned our house; did the dishes, folded laundry.. even my 86 year old father in law was cleaning the carpet of spots! :)  They are very loving people.. and we got take-out for dinner nightly..(i'll be glad to go back to somewhat cooking, need to eat healthier.. and lose some weight!!)

Here's some great pictures from today & the IL's:

 Grandpa & Gracie

Noni reading to Gracie!!

Noni & Grandpa!!

It was nice having them here!!  Thank God for nice in-laws.. :)

On the Hasbro front, we went for a follow-up today.. Gracie has been doing great without the NJ tube for 12 hours..we fed her thru her g-tube & it has not had much leakage.  This morning, she took 20 ml's with a bottle by mouth!!

Her doctor was happy how the skin around the g-tube looked today, and we have another f/u on Friday.  They really just need to stay on top of the leakage, if any.

And there was some leakage this afternoon.. soo we'll just stay on top of it.  She is on continous feeds at 30ml's an hour.. but at noon today, she drank another 35ml's (35!!! the highest she's taken by bottle since even in Maine!!).. by bottle!!

So there was a little leakage near the gtube area.. but she's doing well..

I got the go ahead to give her oatmeal & bottle..

Tomorrow, Daddy is back to work.. :(

We have had him home, since his parents were around..and Gracie coming home from the hospital.. he's been working from home.  Tomorrow, just me & Grace again.. I hope I can get her back to her schedule of napping!!  OT will be back in the house on Thursday..and speech therapy next week.

Thanks for reading!!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max

p.s.  Welcome home, my friend Lisa.. who's been on vacation in Hawaii..but still kept up with the blog!!! Let's do dinner soon.. make a date!!

p.s.s. keep the Hooley kids in prayer.. they're sick!! :(  love you guys!



God Bless Gracie! 7:35pm

A wonderful day we had, as Grace was baptized!!  She wore the same gown/dress that her Daddy & his brothers wore 40+ years ago.. it was soo beautiful..

Here she is..  Amazing Grace!!

Her Godparents, are my sister.. Theresa; my very spiritual friend, Dalila

& for a good Christian role model, our friend Peter.  Thank you to all of them for being there for Gary & I..and especially for Grace!!

 Grace & her godparents..

And this is Grace at the end of the day.. yup..she pulled out her NJ tube!!  I guess it was bothering her, so we are feeding thru the g-tube tonight & praying it doesn't leak!!

It rained today..but it was such a beautiful day inside the church with our family & friends..and then afterward for a luncheon!!  Thanks to all who attended..and especially for those who kept us in thought today!!

Back to Hasbro tomorrow.. hope we don't have to get another NJ tube..

Love you guys!

I'm glad my Aunt Irene, who has been a dedicated blog follower/reader since the beginning..finally got to see & hold Grace!!

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



The night before... 8:43pm

the Big day..  Daddy had a meeting today, so Gracie & I hung out with the IL's..

they were very helpful in cleaning my house :) .. aww, I could get used to this.

Gracie's gtube area is really reduced in the belly acid.. we change it every few hours..

and put 1/2 a diaper on top of it, to help with any leakage.

She pulled a little of her NJ tube today.. we'll be glad when we don't have to 'cuff' her arm.. (it helps her from pulling at the tube, she's very quick, you know!!)

Here's the picture of the day.. soo cute! And I am LOVING dressing her up in onesies.. with the gtube & leaking & extensions, I would only put her sometimes in a tshirt & diaper..and wrap her up with a blanket.  Now, I'm enjoying put her in onesies & pants.

She has soo much clothes.  Her 2nd outfit was a cute little dress, with a pair of baby legs.. & I didn't get a picture. :(

Auntie Paula babysat tonight while we went to Pasta House with the IL's..

it was a very good meal.  Now it's more laundry (never ending!), and packing up for the day tomorrow.

Wish all of you could come to her christening.  It's going to be very special for me..

but I'm also thinking of Maxwell.  I remember when they were both christened in the hospital, when they were first born.. the saddest days of my life!

Thanks for being a part of our life.. even just thru reading about it!

Our good friends, RH & HH's children have a contagious illness, so the kids won't be at her christening!! I'm sad! Abigail, (5) is not going to be happy she can't see her "cousin".. Love you Abby!! We'll miss you for sure!!

Love you guys,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max



Happy 100th!! 8:30pm

Red Sox celebrating 100th Anniversary today.. Happy Anniversary!!

We had a good day today meeting up with Grace's pedi surgeon at Hasbro.  They were happy how the g-tube site is looking.  They put in the small mini button (using it as a "cork" right now), hope to start feeding with it on Monday.  We are putting cream around the skin area, and watching for leakage...of course they'll be some leaking, but shouldn't be like a fountain!!

 Here's a few pictures from today..  Still feeding thru the NJ tube ..but boy, is she trying hard to get it out!!

 Here we are having dinner.. Gracie in her chair sitting at the table with us.. big girl!

And this picture, she looks like she's ready to tell a secret!!

Tomorrow, Daddy has an all day training & Gracie & I are going to hang out with Noni & Grandpa.. tying some loose ends for her big party celebration on Sunday!

I can't wait to post all her beautiful christening pictures on sunday evening.

Another good day with the in-laws. They stayed at our house while we went to hasbro this morning.. managed to clean the house for us, do some laundry & straighten out Gracie's bureau drawers of clothes. :)

Love them!!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & max