Home Again.. Wednesday 8/31 @ 7:10pm

We're baaack! And I think both a little stressed out, we've been very snappy at each other.  G is upset to be home without Gracie, of course I am the same; however, I know we have to come home because it's end of the month & that means billing.  (We don't bill, we don't get paid!)  Then I take a look around our living room, and I feel stressed about the mess it's in.. I know, I know.. don't worry about it, but I do. We are only home for 2.5 days & I'm feeling better, so I'm going to spend some time putting sh**t somewhere! Argghhh..

On a good note, Gracie is doing very well.  She is up to 3.5cc's of feeding as of 11 a.m., she will go to 4.0 cc's at 11pm; gearing up to 5.0cc's hopefully as of 11pm tomorrow night.  If she continues with the feeds, and all is good, she will be off the tpn! That's the goal.

Arrghhhh.. I just threw all the sh**t that was on the couch on the floor, like threw it, soo tomorrow I'll have a big mess to clean!! OMG!! I hate being home! I don't have to worry about this stuff when I'm just singing & reading to Gracie!!

Her little hand has a little IV in it, and she doesn't have a pic line in her, so that's the way we want to keep it.  She has 6 more days of being on antibiotics for the infection.  Her little feet (her big little feet) are swollen, because she had an iv in one of her feet, hope that goes down.  Overall, she is doing great.

Okay.. I'll go clean the mess I just made of throwing shit on the floor :(

Thanks for the continued thoughts & prayers..they're working.. don't stop yet!! :)

Happy 80th Birthday, Noni (Grandma in Italian)



Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell (forever in our hearts)

Tuesday's Superstar! Tuesday, 8/29/2011 @ 11:48pm

Hi! We are here seeing Gracie and she is doing well.  She's on cpap as of yesterday & doing well with it.  She started back on feedings as of this morning, will go up .5cc's every 12 hours.  She sometimes has some "gagging" happening, & lots of secretions in her left nostril.  So, not sure she enjoys the cpap, but they want to give her a few more days on it before putting her back on nasal canular. (which last time she really did well).

Her stats are good. BP rates, heart rates, etc.  We are happy she is doing so well.  Her nurse today, Susan (animal lover) says that Gracie is a "superstar", she is doing extraordinary well, so when she has a few dips, it's okay!!  Our girl is a Superstar!!  (know that movie.. lol.. lol)

Godmother Dalila is on her way up to see Gracie, I can't wait for her to meet her.  We couldn't had ask better godmothers, Dalila & Theresa.  They will be super, independant women & teach Gracie all they know.  Who knows, maybe she'll be in the nursing field... hey I'm not pushing her already.. Gracie can be whatever she wants to be!!

Thanks for reading & keeping updated!

Good luck to all going back to school today & tomorrow.. please be careful around schools & watch where kids are walking!!!  Be safe!!


Love,
pattie & gary, gracie &  maxwell (forever in our hearts)

Good Afternoon from a Sunny Maine.. Monday, 8/29/2011 @ 1:25pm

Hi, everyone!! We survived Hurricane Irene from North Conway, NH.  We weren't able to come up & see Gracie yesterday due to the tropical rain storm..and rain there was lots of it.  But we kept a check on her, as usual, by phone.  She had a great day! And Gary & I had a great day at the condo, we did go out a little bit.. hannaford's (got to have good snacks!); and tried to go to outlets, but they were closed. :(  Good movies on tv, though.  Well rested..just what we needed.

Anyway, today is a new day! And Gracie is doing great!!  She is off the ventiliator, and back on cpap as of 1:00pm!!  yea, Gracie!! We have our very well liked nurse, Margo; so she let us capture a few pictures of Gracie with no breathing apparatus stuck to her.  We got to see her very cute, oval face (like Daddy's! with my nose).. it was just such an awesome feeling to hold her with no breathing tubes on her.  I held her, daddy took a picture.  I snuggled her little face & kissed her.  Daddy very gently kissed her cheek.  lol .. it lasted just a few minutes, but a moment we will cherish til we can do it again.

Here's a pic from today:

Thanks everyone!!  We are in awe of our little girl!!

Love, Pattie & Gary, Gracie & Maxwell

Promised Picture of Gracie's 1st day with a Onesie on..

This is from Saturday, August 27th..when Gracie, who doesn't need a heating probe anymore, got to wear her first Onesie!! Doesn't she look precious??  Sooo cute!!

update on gracie & irene

hi. im typing with garys phone..so i apologize for grammatical errors in advance. gracie is doing well. she has a staph inefection from her pic line. that is out & she is on antibiotics.. she has her very mini iv's in her little hands. (amazing)  she got a blood transfusion yesterday..the blood they take for bloodwork, they have to replace.  she looks much pinker today..thank god. she weighs 2 lbs. 2 oz..yea!! shes our lovely, precious girl. cant believe i have a baby.. maybe this change of scenery at the condo is just what i needed. thanks chuck!!

Thanks everyone for ure concern, support, and prayers. our baby girl is doing great.  sher body heat is being regulated on her own..soo she can wear clothes. hopefully i can upload a pic of her in yesterdays onesie.

In nh we've had tropical storm wind & rain...thus far..soo we'll see gracie tomorrow.

hope u all are safe & have good snacks on hand.

love u guys..
pattie; gary; gracie & max

Update on Gracie Sat., 8/27/2011 @ 8:44a.m.

We got a phone call last night at midnight that they had to intabate (sp) Gracie to help her breathe better.  She was put back on c-pap yesterday.  They are treating her for an infection, her white blood cell count was high.  Poor little girl!  The good news is we think she reached the 2lb mark :) yea!!

I'm so scared!! I feel so helpless! We are getting ready to leave this morning, without my parents.  I didn't think it was a good idea that my parents see her with extra tubes around, and that way we'll get up there & stay up there for the storm/weekend.  We are actually staying in North Conway, NH at our friend's condo, for a change of scenery.  Which we'll really need.

I just remember when Max was going thru his issues, I prayed all night; and I found myself doing that last night.  I know that preemies may get infections, but I don't want my little girl to be sick.    I'm so worried for her!!

I'll post after our hospital visit!!


Thanks Chuck & Lorraine for our change of scenery!!

Love,
pattie & gary, gracie & maxwell

Looking Back 8/26/11 @ 9:59pm

I'm worried! I'm scared! I can't stop thinking of Maxwell & our current situation.  As people are getting all there gear ready for Hurricane Irene, I'm just working up the courage to stop crying inside.  I'm not having a good day.  :( 

I was just looking back at pictures on my laptop.. even most recent pictures from Father's Day this year.  I had gotten Gary a t-shirt that says "Proud dad to be of twins", and he wore it proudly.  Ben & Emily hung out with us at the road race & then back to my house for a little bit; they look so cute, and I was able to capture such cute pictures.  I haven't seen them since July 15th, and I miss them.  I can't wait for them to meet Gracie, but maybe not til Christmas.

Grace has an infection & is being treated for such.. I'm so worried for her! I know she's a fighter, and will remain strong.  Gary said in a year from now, we'll be sitting here with Grace (she'll be sleeping at this time), saying that 'boy last year was a tough year'.  Everything is just so surreal.  I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, but I wouldn't had wished it on us either.  I'm not sure what God wants us to gain from this journey..

I'm going to bed!