Gracie's Christmas Day at the Hospital

After leaving all my kids at home, including Todd, my mom, dad, and grandma went to see Gracie on Christmas. This was the first time my grandma got to watch me give her a bath and hold her. This was a very sad day for me and a hard Christmas. Having to leave Gracie on a holiday was very hard.

Gracie gave us a Christmas gift though. The staff had taken her Christmas tree down and put it behind her and put a big bow on her bottom and took pictures for us. They also gave us a little bitty stocking and a tile with her foot prints on it. Since she had to be there, they try to make it as comforting as possible.

Christmas Day at home!!!

Christmas day did not start as early as I expected. Callie and I put out cookies and milk for Santa the night before. Callie was so worried that Santa would take our plate and glass with him. On Christmas morning, she would not go into the kitchen alone because she was afraid he was still in there eating and drinking. Kadee was at my parents house becaseu she had come down with fever of 104 and strep throat the day before. My mom just kept her so that we could still go to the hospital to see Gracie. So when Mema, Pa, Grandma, Kristi, and Kadee got here we opened presents. Kadee didn't know what to think and did not feel 100%. Callie really got into Christmas this year but she thought that her best present was her Barbie Jeep from Walmart. She drove it all day and Todd and Kadee followed on thier motorcycle. All the "kids" had fun and now have their power wheels to ride on.

Later on that night, we went to my parents for more presents and Chrsitmas again. I hope that everyone had a great and merry Chirstmas!!

I still don't feel good!

Fighting over what radio station to listen to

There all the kids go!

Callie and her games

Callie Cam!!!

Callie loves to get our camera and take pictures. For a 3 year old, she doesn't do that bad of a job. Here are some that she got on Christmas Eve at the Tidwell's Christmas.

Papa Teta

Gracie--3 weeks old

Gracie briefly hit 3 pounds! She has been losing a little since then but it is nice to know she is growing.

Decorating for Christmas

This year, Callie, Kadee, and my sister Kristi decorated our house for Christmas. If it was just me, Todd, and Gracie, there would not have been a Christmas tree. I did not feel like putting one up, but I knew it wouldn't feel like Christmas for Callie and Kadee if we didn't put it up. Callie wanted everything up at the top so Kadee would not break it but she did a pretty good job. Maybe next year we will get it up sooner and it will not stay up for only 6 days.

First bath by Mom

I got to give Gracie her first tub bath when she was 17 days old. I had given her a sponge bath earlier that week, but since her cord had fallen off, she got a real bath. I was really nervous because Callie and Kadee both hated their baths and since Gracie is so little, it is almost like you are going to break her. Besides past experiences, a NICU nurse was standing and watching over my shoulder too.

Gracie loved her bath. She just relaxed and looked around. She even has her own little bitty bath tub that we will get to bring home if she is still little enough to fit into. I wish that I would have known how to give Callie and Kadee a bath like this when they were little because it was so nice to see Gracie enjoy her bath!

I promise I was not mad, just yawning really big

Just chillin

Just relaxing and trying to go go sleep

Gracie's Christmas Outfits-16 days old

These pictures were taken a while back and I have not been good about posting them. I had found Gracie an outfit that said, "Mom and Dad's best Christmas present ever," so I knew we had to get her picture in it before Christmas. The pictures of her in the stocking are adorable. (I know I am biased, but oh well) She barely fit in the stocking. We got it up to her chest and then could not squeeze her in any more but they turned out good.

What is this thing on my head?!?

The nurses are so nice and good with her. We have not had a bad one yet and they are willing to do whatever we need for Gracie. If she can't be home, I know she is in good hands.

This is my favorite outfit so far. She is our best Christmas present so far and I can not think of anything that would have been better. I just wish she was able to be home for Christmas.

Her Pa holding her for the first time.

More Gracie

Yesterday, the doctors did another eckocardiogram. They said that the blood vessels and bridge has not closed like they hoped with the medication. He also said that since it was causing Gracie to have a lot of problems, he did not think that the surgery was going to help a whole lot right now, so he wants to keeps checking every couple of weeks. He said that he would rather wait to do the surgery until she is older and weighing about 10 pounds or about 6 months. She is up to 15 inches long and weighs about 2 pounds 10 ounces. I got to give her a bath yesterday and that just about wore her out, but it was a good feeling! I am about to go see her so maybe I will get to feed her today!

12 days old

Today Gracie is 12 days old. I went to see her this morning from about 9 till 2 so it was very nice just to be able to sit and watch her. She is 2 pounds 9 ounces today and was doing great. Her heartrate and monitors did not go off almost all morning. It was so nice to see her awake and alert as well as peaceful.

Aunt Kristi and Gracie

A little fussy since my diaper was wet.

Wide awake and cute as can be

the first time my Mema got to hold me

Me and Gracie

Sisters--mostly Kadee, and husbands too!

Well it is has been a while since I have done a blog about my other two little girls. Here are just some fun pictures, mostly of Kadee that has been taken since Gracie was born. I love them so much and lately they make me laugh and smile all the time. I could not ask for better girls and husband as well.

Kadee decided that she wanted to fix her own hair Saturday morning so we let her and this was the outcome! Isn't she beautiful?

Here is Callie and Kadee at the hospital in the waiting room while Todd and I took turns to see Gracie. They are great little troopers and had fun playing and naming the fish while we were there.

Kadee is so funny. She loves to play with just about anything. Here were some cute pics of her trying to put on and keep on my house shoes. She would get so frustrated when they fell off, but was determined for them to stay on

Kadee actually smiling!!

They thought they needed to be the patients in the hospital for a change!

And they also thought that they needed to eat and get Mama's bed a mess full of cereal, but oh well, they had a lot of fun.


The last thing that I want to do on this blog is just list some of the great things that Todd has been doing. He has been the greatest through all of this. I could not ask for or want someone who cares more and takes care of me like him. He has been doing the laundry, cooking supper if he needs to for all of us, unloading the dishwasher, cleaning out the refrigerator, keeping me full of medicine and not making me get up very often, and lastly, tucking me in bed since I have adopted my chair as my new bed. He went back to work this past Thursday and I know that he had not stopped but also not complained. I love him so much and am so glad that he is by my side and so caring and concerned. With all that he is doing, he still manages to get to the hospital to see Gracie even if it is late and he is exhausted. If you don't know Todd, you are missing out on knowing a great guy. Thanks Todd for all you do and I love you so much!

Update on Gracie today

Today when Todd and I got to the hospital around 12:00, they were doing an ekocardiogram on Gracie. They suspected a heart murmur but were checking things out to be on the safe side. I just talked to the nurse a few minutes ago and she said that the test came back where Gracie has a blood vessel and a bridge that is causing teh bllood to not get to her heart and lungs. She said that normally this closes right after the baby is born but Gracie's has not closed yet. She said that they would give her 3 doses of medicine and then will check it again tomorrow night or Thursday morning. The medicine they are giving her is really hard on the kidneys so they will have to watch her urine output closely. If the medicine does not work, they may either do another round of medicine or could possibly have to do surgery to close it up. I guess that decision will be made probably on Thursday.

On a better note, the nurse got to take her IV out of her belly and put it in her foot. They said that is a step up. Just another way that she is showing us what a fighter and a true miracle she is. She is also only 1 ounce away from her birth weight! Gracie is now 2 pounds 7 ounces which is amazing. We thought it would probably be almost another week until she starting gaining weight.

Please just keep our family in your prayers. I know that without those Gracie and I would not be here today. God stills performs miracles and most of the doctors say that there was something bigger in the delivery room last week. We still have a long recovery ahead of us and Gracie has been great, so please just keep the prayers coming! We are just praying that she gets to come home healthy and we know that it will be a while. Thanks again to all who have been praying and giving us support. It really means the world to Todd and I.

Gracie and pictures

Here are some pictures of Gracie. She is still doing well. She has dropped in weight to 2 pounds 3 ounces as of last night. They also have been checking some level to see if they need to change the dosage of medicine they give her to help her remember to breathe. Yesterday morning she had already had 4 episodes but the levels were within normal range. I talked to the nurse this morning at 3:00 am, and she had only had a few more episodes. To me this is very scary, but it is normal for a baby for her size and for how early she is. I can't wait to go see her today. I was very hard to cmoe home and not brin gher with me but she is where she needs to be right now.

She has already smiled at Todd and me yesterday. Holding her feels like not holding anything but we both were content. Enjoy the picutres and there will be many more pictures and updates to come!

Gracie's first!!!

Last night I got to hold Gracie for the first time!! I was so excited. I had my dad video tape it and it was just like holding one of Callie or Kadee's baby dolls, except they may have been a little heavier.

Today, she got her first bath. Todd got to help with that and then we both got to hold her again. She is still doing well and off the oxygen. They also took out one of the tubes from her belly and now she only has one in for antibiotics and another one in her mouth for feeding. She is still so little, but strong and an amazing little girl. Here are some pictures of today.

Thanks again for everyones support and prayers. We have been so blessed to have so many people care for us and about us during this time. You really can't imagine the situation until you are actually going through it. I will be going home tomorrow and am a little sad about that since I know that Gracie can't go with us, but I don't want her to come her until she is safe and healthy enough.