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| Grace's healthI did forget to add a MAJOR praise to my new orleans update:
Grace is doing GREAT!!!! She has been healthy for almost 7 weeks now. It's been awesome...no vomiting, sleeping well, walking all over the place, doing everything she can to keep up with Abby and Lexi. I can't wait to see how much she weighs next week.
I've made a major change to her diet...after finally concluding that all the commercial formulas DO NOT work for Gracie, I decided to begin making all her "formula" from scratch. I'm putting regular food that I've blended up in her tube. It's going very well! I've found some great resources to help me figure out how to get the right amount of calories and food groups and stuff in her. She hasn't vomited at all, I've been able to up the volume she can take per feeding, and I'm not seeing any signs of reflux. Best of all, she immediately began asking for regular food!!!! She is still not eating enough to sustain, but we are much closer to that goal than even a month ago. I am soooooo encouraged, and all the extra work is WAY worth it.
Looking forward to the rest of a healthy summer...
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| Trip to New OrleansOur time in New Orleans was eventful!!! Here are a few highlights:
WEDDING STUFF...
We chose bridesmaid dresses, bought Casey's wedding dress, ordered her flowers, and found me an OBGYN who will deliver in NO and induce early so I can still be in Casey's wedding! Whew! It was really fun, though. We also hosted a shower for Casey, since she'll only be in NO a few more times before the wedding.
Me, Casey, Lexi, Mom, Abby, and Chelsea (Beau's fiancee)
The grandmothers: Beverly Schexnaildre and Joyce Bourg
Casey with Lexi and Abby by the cake
SWIMMING..It deserves its own paragraph because that's ALL the girls did while we were there! They LOVED the pool. I managed to only have to get in twice...I was feeling so bad most of the time that everyone else swam with them. The girls had more fun with everyone else, anyway! This is them with Casey and Beau.
SPOILING: Also gets its own paragraph b/c there is no other way to describe the girls' time in new orleans....a shopping spree at Target with Boppa, a snowball with Aunt Casey, lots of normally banned sugar products from Gram, and a trip to City park for ice cream and a ride on the flying horses with Pe-pere. Not to mention two bowls of chocolate pudding at Naanie's and several packs of Care Bear fruit snacks at Aunt Janelle's.
PREGNANCY: I was sick most of the time while I was there. Lots of sitting on the sofa while everyone else did the work of taking care of three kids. Going to the doctor in NO was really encouraging...even though I was only ten weeks, they did an ultrasound. I got to see its little body and heartbeat! But the most exciting was that she said the brain looked GREAT for a 10-weeker. Horray! Feeling a little better now...not great, but not like I want stay in bed all day.
Finally, my mom braved the 14-hour drive home with me. It was NUTTY!, mainly b/c of Gracie. Lots of feeding tube drama, one major diaper blowout that required a 30-minute stop at a gas station, one meltdown that threatened to kill us all. My mom said the trip wasn't THAT bad, but she's the grandma. Her opinion is tainted.
One highlight: Stopping at Cracker Barrel for lunch. Here's the crowd enjoying strawberry shortcake!
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The girls and I have been in New Orleans for a week, and it has been great. I've been so sick this first trimester, and it's been nice to have my parents and step parents do the cooking and the swimming with the kids and the preschool book reading and Grace's feedings. I have really needed the rest!
More later
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| First trimester update: YUCK! I do okay in the morning, but by the afternoon, I can barely move. I've been sitting on the sofa from about 4-8 at night, try to keep down my food, and then I go to bed. :( But Darin is being a hero, working double-duty right now. Lexi is super-sweet, always wondering how I'm feeling and trying not to jump on my tummy. It's kind of cute.
Grace update: She's keeping down all her food!!! What a relief, since just the thought of her vomiting makes me gag. Also, she is sleeping better, so I think the surgery did help with the sleep apnea. I am very encouraged, and it's so nice having her healthy right now!
Lexi update: Bummer....about a year and a half ago, Lexi had a really bad fall. One of her front teeth promptly turned gray, and has bothered her on and off since. Last week at our visit to the dentist, we learned that it's infected and must be pulled. The adult tooth probably won't come in for another two years! I tried to keep it in perspective, but to be honest, all I could think about was the upcoming weddings and all the pictures she'll be in with only one front tooth. So vain and really no big deal, I know, I know. She's not in the least bit fazed by having to have a tooth pulled. We'll see if that's the same the day of the extraction. :)
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