Has it been three months already?

Wow! Three months has passed and I have not kept up with my blog as I had hoped this summer. Let's just say a busy toddler and a newborn have been more challenging than I anticipated. Trey's been working so hard this summer getting his new career started with New York Life. It's so nice to have him home every night! Aside from a few training days this summer, I've been a full-time mommy. I love it, but I can't wait to get back to my kids at school.

Grace is growing taller every day it seems. She is still skinny as ever. It sure is tough to find pants to fit her! She is talking so well. Sometimes it's hard to understand what she's saying because she talks so fast. She says, "You have the sneezes, like Benny" when you sneeze. She'll say bless you. She says you're welcome and thank-you without prompting (most of the time). She knows exactly what she wants and doesn't want to eat. She loves to sing and dance. She's been walking like a sumo-wrestler lately (not sure where she picked that up). She loves playing with older kids. This past Friday we played kickball in the alley with the neighbors grandkids. We all had a blast. She will draw for HOURS! I put her markers and paper away, hoping she'll play with her dolls or something, but the second I turn around, she's got the markers back out. She makes sure she colors with each and every color. She's a swimmer! She loves going to the pool with anyone who will take her. She's very into her little sister at times. She likes to hold Morgan's hand and say, "Awwww. . ." She totally knows when she's doing something cute. She keeps me on my toes each and every day. Wow, is she smart!

After a bit of searching, we found a plastic surgeon that we liked and will be doing Grace's surgery on Wednesday, July 21st. It's a one-hour procedure where they will put her completely under, slice her lip open, remove the mass, and stitch her back up again. I'm a bit nervous about what her recovery will bring, but I completely trust Dr. Buckingham. He was so great with her at our visit. I'm headed to Blockbuster tomorrow to stock up on some videos to keep us occupied after her surgery. She's into the princess stage now, so looks like I'll be watching classic Disney films. I quite enjoyed watching Snow White with her for the first time this past Saturday.

Morgan is growing so fast! She's quite the talker. I don't remember Grace being this vocal when she was Morgan's age. She loves batting her eyelashes at you and cooing at you. She isn't rolling over yet; she's come close, but hasn't done it yet. She loves pushing herself up when lying on the floor. She's strong! She loves sitting straight up. LOVES the Bumbo. She's been sleeping 12-13 hours a night. I LOVE IT! I'm actually awake enough during the day to enjoy her. I remember my zombie days with Grace so well! (and those didn't end until she slept through the night after she turned a year old!)

I hope to get some pictures and video up this week, but who knows if that will happen! It's taken me three months to post this! ;)

Cute Video as Requested

Homecoming April 14, 2010

APRIL 14, 2010
SHE'S FINALLY HOME!

I was driving Grace to Kyle, where she attends daycare, so I could spend my usual 4-5 hours at the NICU. My phone rang. It was Kim, a NICU nurse that also happens to be a member of our church. We like to think of her as our NICU angel. She said, "Get your car seat and get your butt up here, she's goin' home!" I couldn't believe it! I started sobbing. I called Trey and the sound of my voice scared him. I did the same to my mom. I didn't even have the car seat CLEAN yet! Trey canceled his appointments for the rest of the day and we went to spring Morgan together.

Grace meeting her sister for the very first time.

Grace helping Mommy hold Morgan.

The first kiss . . . ah, priceless!

Just days before they released her.

Just days before they released her.

Progressing QUICKLY!

You know, I hate to admit that my husband was right, but he sure was this time! The doctor called me yesterday afternoon to let me know that Morgan would now be getting three bottles a day. She was doing well. I was so excited when I told Trey! Last night we were talking about it and he said, "Just watch, she'll get increased to four tomorrow." I told him I didn't think they'd increase her so quickly without having 24 hours to assess how she did with the three bottles. BOY WAS I WRONG! The doctor called me on my way out of the parking garage today to let me know they were increasing Morgan to a bottle feed every other feed, that's four a day. We are now at the halfway mark! We need to be at eight to be released from the hospital.

Eh hem, eh hem . . . Trey Hertel, I stand corrected. There, I said it!

Five pounds, four ounces!

I thought I'd use the quiet time I have tonight to update the blog. Trey took Grace down to the neighbor's house for a few minutes. I'd better type fast! Morgan has officially surpassed her birth weight today. She's now 5 lbs. 4 oz! They increased her feed amount yesterday to 50 ml. Her night nurse noted that she downed her first 50 ml bottle in 18 minutes! She was a hungry girl!

I had another appointment with lactation at 11:30 today and Morgan nursed for 25 minutes. She still took 15 ml of milk from a bottle when she was done! I have a feeling that she's going to gain weight rapidly! I spoke to the doctor this afternoon on my way home from Kyle, and she said it looks like another couple of weeks in the NICU. They want Morgan to be taking a full eight bottles a day before they send her home. It's disappointing news, but at least I will know she'll really be ready to be home at that point.

* A special thank-you to the Kaminskys, the meal you delivered tonight was incredible! We are so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church family!

Yea for bottles!

My mom stopped by to pay Morgan a visit. This was the first time she got to hold her.

April 6th the speech therapist worked with Morgan to see if she could handle the bottle better than she did last week. She improved a lot! She downed her entire bottle in less than twenty minutes! The doctor gave the order for a bottle a day.

April 7 - The doctor gave the order this afternoon for two bottles a day. Trey, my mom and I went in to visit again tonight and Trey was able to feed Morgan her second bottle. She did great! She did get pretty pooped at the end. Trey said she looked like a drunken sailor!

Here's a better view of Morgan while Trey fed her tonight. She was such a hungry girl! She's got this bottle thing down! Tomorrow, on to breast feeding! Yea!

Making progress!

Today was an exciting day! I walked into the NICU to see Morgan and she wasn't in her bed. Panic hit! A nurse saw my deer in headlights look and told me she had been moved to a different bay. Ok, I thought, that's either good or bad. I went to the new bay, bay six, and there she was!

Dave had been there for about a half an hour before I got there and was getting the update from her nurse when I arrived. Turns out the nurse attends our church. We'd never met, but both thought the other looked familiar. We had a great visit! Nurse Kim taught me how to swaddle Morgan, how to change her diaper, made sure I took her temperature, and even taught me how to feed Morgan her very first bottle! She was very patient with me. Morgan had a difficult time getting the sucking thing down, but once she did, boy did she go to town on that bottle! The first bottle feed was a success.

The doctor discussed possibly removing the cannula tomorrow. He increased her feeds to 27 cc's and wants to use the bottle for feeds. He said if the cannula is removed and her feeds go well, she could go home in four to five days. What a blessing!

Dave and I took turns holding Morgan. She was such a good little girl! She was perfectly content to be swaddled and held.