Back at the hospital :(

Most of you know by now, but we are back at the hospital. Last night about 8 pm Gracie's monitor started going off and showing that her heart rate was low. I really didn't think much about it and just woke her up. Well after I fed her and put her to bed about 9:30, it started going off at least once an hour, sometimes more. She also started breathing really heavy like a panting dog and wheezing a little. That's when it really started getting my attention. She finally stopped about 3:30 and didn't have any more alarms, but I thought I would call the cardiologist anyway. After getting to the cardiologist and telling him, he was not sure what was going on since she was not symptomatic in the office. He said he would feel better putting her in the hospital for observation for a couple of days. He also noticed during the echo cardiogram that the valve does not look like it is functioning like it should but doesn't know if this is related. He said it is a possibility for surgery when she is older to repair that. So right now, I don't have a straight answer on what is going on. I just know we are going to be here for a day or so.

Please keep Gracie in your prayers and that we may be able to see if this is all connected and what the next steps are going to be.

2 months old and a week's worth of doctor visits

Gracie is 2 months old! Can you believe it? I am still thinking she should only be a couple of weeks old since that is how long she has been home. She is doing great. We had a well check on Monday with the pediatrician.

Pedi--

weight: 4 pounds, 9 ounces

length: 17 1/2 inches long

Percentiles: Not on the charts because she is not supposed to be here yet!

She said that she looked great and couldn't believe how well she was doing. We have to go back in a couple of weeks for a weight check since she lost a little weight since the week after she came home. I think and am pretty sure that it is just because they weighed her with her clothes on but we will double check for sure. She got three shots and an oral vaccine but she did great. She was a little fussy but not too bad. Tuesday she was back to her normal self.

Thursday: We had appointments with the cardiologist and eye doctors.

Cardiologist--

I took Gracie last week and he was concerned about a valve that had a high blood flow through it. He didn't see it in the NICU so it bothered him. Today we went back and the PDA is closed (that was the problem in NICU) but the valve had a higher blood flow. He said that the valve was not damaged and since it is not causing Gracie to have any problems, he just wants to keep a close eye on it. With this, we just have to watch her breathing patterns and let him know if she has a hard time or starts huffing and puffing. He said that doesn't have a good answer on why this is going on and was sorry for that, but the main thing is he is going to keep watching it. He said that it was bothering him more than it was her and to come back in three weeks! A pretty good visit overall.

Eye doctor--

This was a follow up to 2 weeks ago. Last time we were there, Gracie's retina's were not developed all the way. The eye doctor visit was probably the best of today. Gracie's retina's are now fully developed and there shouldn't be any effects later on, so we go back in a year, Yeah!!!

A conversation that makes you think about what you really know and don't know

The other day on the way to Kourtney's soccer game, Callie started asking me questions about Jesus. Here is how the conversation went.

Callie: Momma, why did Jesus die?
Me: He died so that someday we would know how to live and be able to go to Heaven
Callie: Did you know they put him in a "boon" (tomb)?
Me: Yes and do you know what happened when his mom went to see him?
Callie: Yeah! He wasn't there!
Me: That's right. Do you know where he went?
Callie: Did he go to Heaven?
Me: No not yet. He rose and went and saw his apostles
Callie: Who were his Popsicles?
Me (laughing): I don't remember all their names, so before bed tonight we will read the story about Jesus dying
Callie: Ok. I know where my Bible is and I will find it!!

After that, I realized that I couldn't answer a question that seemed to be so simple and that I should know. It also made me think about how I need to spend more time in study so that I can give the girls, or myself more answers. I want to be the best Godly woman, wife, and mother that I can be and to do that, I am going to need a lot of help. Just the little conversations in life mean so much more now and to a three year old, she was just asking questions.

The World from a 3 year old's perspective

As you all know by now, Callie loves to take pictures. The other day she got the camera and just took pictures around the house. Here are a few of the ones that were not of the walls or pictures on the walls! Enjoy.

1st Week at Home

It's been a week since Gracie came home from the hospital! It really did go by fast but kept us busy too. Gracie is such a good baby. She just eats and sleeps. Credit has to be given to the NICU for that. She doesn't cry unless she is dirty or hungry. Callie has been my big helper and can do a lot which makes it nice. Kadee has been much better than expected. I was expecting her to try and pick her up or be mean to her but she just loves on her and wants to help just as much as Callie. It is so funny that they go into Gracie's room and just look in the crib at her while she is sleeping.

Also, this week, I took Gracie to the pedi and the eye doctor. The pedi said she looked great and to keep her isolated as much as possible. Gracie was 4 pounds 13 ounces!!! The eye doctor said that her retinas were still under developed but that she was not in any danger. He would not even let me go into the room with him because he said that I would hate him for what he had to do to Gracie.

As for Kadee, she has an ear infection, sinus infection, and horrible cough, so I have been trying to keep her away from Gracie as much as possible. She has been really good through it all and not complaining much. Callie and I also inherited the cough but I think and hope that we are at the end of this all. I just pray and hope that Gracie doesn't get it.

Todd has also been busy this week. He is in the process of building a pantry in the kitchen since we need the closet for Gracie in her room. He is so talented and good at so many things, I could not imagine life without him.

So as you might can tell, I haven't had a whole lot of time to take pictures, plus with my house as messy and disgusting it is you don't want to see that. (it probably is not as gross as a I say but it is driving me up the wall) Hopefully I will get some pictures takken this week and posted but first and very important to me, I am going to clean my house!

A Warm Homecoming!!

Gracie's coming home outfit

All bundled up and ready to go

Our first family picture with all 5 of us

A big sister's love

Callie with Gracie

Kadee and Gracie
NeNe, Callie, and Gracie

Macy and Gracie

Kourtney and Gracie

We're finally home!

Today Gracie came home!!! Yea. Last night Todd and I stayed at the hospital in a room by the NICU unit. It was mainly to let us have a nurse there if we had any concerns or questions. Even though we did not sleep very much, it was nice to have that peace of mind with the monitor and Gracie. This morning we had Gracie "fit" to her car seat and we are on limited trips. She said that Gracie is a little short for the car seat, but we could tuck her into it instead of having to go to a car bed.

Enough about the hospital, we are HOME!!!! Gracie is doing great and had lots of visitors today. She finally cot to meet her sisters. Callie was so excited. She wanted to hold her all day. Kadee was really good with her to. She just kept trying to touch and grab her nose and eyes. Gracie also got to meet her cousins, Kourtney and Macy. I think they were pretty excited. NeNa and TeTa came over and some friends too, so she was worn out. I gave her a bath at 5:00 and she is still sleeping as I am typing on her daddy's chest.

I will post more pictures hopefully tomorrow of our first day home and there will be plenty more to come in the next couple of days. Thanks again for all the prayers. We could not have done it without those. It is so amazing how God works and makes you stronger through it all.