Family baby shower for Paul's cousin Nicci.
Grant with Mimi Vicky and Grandma Mary.
Grant and Uncle Phil
Garrett and Grandma Mary
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Garrett @ 8 Months
Garrett at 8 months— Garrett recently had an evaluation at Cardinal Glennon to assess his delays. Currently his only delay is in his arm muscles. This was no surprise to me. I could tell they seemed weaker than the rest of his body; which has pretty much caught up to his age. His arms are measuring at about a 1 month delay. So what does this mean? Not much other than he may crawl a little later and take a little longer to be able to push himself into a sitting position. His delay was nowhere near severe enough for him to qualify for any physical therapy. As I have learned in this entire CDH process………in time his arms will get stronger. Hopefully eventually catching up to where they should be.
Another bonus is that his chest is really looking good. When he was extubated it put too much pressure on his body causing his chest to become concave -- also known as Pectus Excavatum. Garrett was not born with this; it developed when we extubated him when he may not have been quite ready. The doctors felt Garrett’s chest was purely cosmetic and told me it could be corrected with surgery later in life if it bothered him. Needless to say it is not nearly as noticeable as it once was. It is still slightly concave, but NOTHING compared to what it used to look like.
He is such a happy baby. He laughs and smiles so easily. I just love him. A lot of nights I find myself wandering back to his room. I pick a sleeping baby out from his crib and rock him. Not because he is crying or hungry………… just because I want to hold him. There is nothing in this world like a sleeping baby in your arms. Especially a baby you didn’t know if you would ever get to hold.
Another bonus is that his chest is really looking good. When he was extubated it put too much pressure on his body causing his chest to become concave -- also known as Pectus Excavatum. Garrett was not born with this; it developed when we extubated him when he may not have been quite ready. The doctors felt Garrett’s chest was purely cosmetic and told me it could be corrected with surgery later in life if it bothered him. Needless to say it is not nearly as noticeable as it once was. It is still slightly concave, but NOTHING compared to what it used to look like.
He is such a happy baby. He laughs and smiles so easily. I just love him. A lot of nights I find myself wandering back to his room. I pick a sleeping baby out from his crib and rock him. Not because he is crying or hungry………… just because I want to hold him. There is nothing in this world like a sleeping baby in your arms. Especially a baby you didn’t know if you would ever get to hold.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Grandpa's 95th Birthday
Grant and I recently went to Chicago for my Grandpa Nate's 95th birthday. Here are a few shots of Grant from the party.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Today I Give Thanks.
On most days I forget. I forget about what my baby went through. Garrett amazes me. As I tell most people, most of the time I forget. I forget the surgeries, needles, IV’s, tubes, ventilators, wires, and beeping machines (Oh how I hated the alarming machines!!!). Sometimes I have nightmares about all of it.
On most days I forget I saw babies die. Multiple babies.
On most days I forget that I drove to Cardinal Glennon every day for 45 days. Sometimes more than once a day.
On most days I forget that I thought we were going to lose Garrett. I forget that a nurse called me while I was still in the hospital recovering from labor and delivery to tell me, “He was taking steps in the wrong direction” and things were not looking good.
On most days I forget that I pumped like a maniac to try to keep him healthy. Not knowing if he would even get the chance to use it.
On most days I forget that my parents and in-laws stood by my family’s side through all of it. Though I know they were just as scared as I was; they didn’t show it.
On most days I forget that I would hope for a close parking spot everyday so I could get into the hospital that much quicker to see my baby.
On most days I forget about all the wonderful NICU nurses that cared for my Garrett.
But not on this day. On this day I remember and give thanks for all of it. For all the things and people that helped with Garrett. I remember.
I see a small scar on his belly and I remember.
I see a commercial for Cardinal Glennon and I remember.
I hear Garrett breathe a little harder than he should be and I remember.
I look at memory as a way to honor your past. I will always honor and be thankful for everyone who helped Garrett. Though most of the time ‘now’ it is easy to forget……today I remember.
On most days I forget I saw babies die. Multiple babies.
On most days I forget that I drove to Cardinal Glennon every day for 45 days. Sometimes more than once a day.
On most days I forget that I thought we were going to lose Garrett. I forget that a nurse called me while I was still in the hospital recovering from labor and delivery to tell me, “He was taking steps in the wrong direction” and things were not looking good.
On most days I forget that I pumped like a maniac to try to keep him healthy. Not knowing if he would even get the chance to use it.
On most days I forget that my parents and in-laws stood by my family’s side through all of it. Though I know they were just as scared as I was; they didn’t show it.
On most days I forget that I would hope for a close parking spot everyday so I could get into the hospital that much quicker to see my baby.
On most days I forget about all the wonderful NICU nurses that cared for my Garrett.
But not on this day. On this day I remember and give thanks for all of it. For all the things and people that helped with Garrett. I remember.
I see a small scar on his belly and I remember.
I see a commercial for Cardinal Glennon and I remember.
I hear Garrett breathe a little harder than he should be and I remember.
I look at memory as a way to honor your past. I will always honor and be thankful for everyone who helped Garrett. Though most of the time ‘now’ it is easy to forget……today I remember.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Must Be Something In The Sweet Potatoes..........
Garrett had his sixth month checkup today and has caught up to his age range big time. He was in the 50th percentile for weight and the 78th percentile for height (on the LONG side). About a month ago I was really starting to worry about his core. The midsection of his body seemed much weaker than it should be. Then he started eating sweet potatoes like a madman about a month ago and WALAA, I noticed his midsection started strengthening up. Now he can sit up with assistance. Before he had such weak muscle tone in his middle he couldn’t sit straight up. On the sweet potato note……..that is all he will eat………sweet potatoes. He loves them and hates everything else, including, but not limited to, EVERYTHING ELSE!
Our day goes: Bottle—Sweet Potatoes—Bottle—Sweet Potatoes—Bottle—Sweet Potatoes—Bottle—Bed.
Grant is doing well with his speech. He still has speech issues, but is much more comfortable with trying to speak. He cracks me up on a daily basis. Never a dull moment.
Our day goes: Bottle—Sweet Potatoes—Bottle—Sweet Potatoes—Bottle—Sweet Potatoes—Bottle—Bed.
Grant is doing well with his speech. He still has speech issues, but is much more comfortable with trying to speak. He cracks me up on a daily basis. Never a dull moment.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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