Picture post!

It's been quite a while since I posted some pictures on here...(too long if you ask me). So, here are the family pictures that our wonderful friend (and marvelous photographer!!) Carrie Fay took for us recently. Here is her website if you happen to live in the state of Arizona (or feel like flying her to your location): http://amarobabyphoto.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the news today

As a fan of the Duggar family and their show "18 kids and counting", I couldn't help but gasp and feel my heart sink as I read that their newest daughter (who makes 19!!) was born early due to pre ecclampsia. Little Josie Brooklyn Duggar weighed in at 1 lb 6 ounces and arrived last night via emergency c section. My heart goes out their family.

On the other hand, I do not ever want to wish prematurity upon ANYONE, but I am anticipating how the prospect of their tv show will show the struggles of prematurity that not only Josie faces, but how it affects the family as well. There are already news articles saying that the baby will be 'fine'. Really? Have they ever seen the inside of a NICU? Have they seen the babies around your child die? At two days of age, they cannot predict that she will be fine. Of course, that is everyone's wish and hope, but it is a bit premature to be saying that. (No pun intended)

(This was Bree at 4 days old when I saw her for the first time. Josie Duggar probably looks similar.)

Many many people do not understand that a premature baby is not just a small baby. It is a small baby that is not developed and not ready to be in this world. Since it has been forced into this world too early, surrounded by lights, needles, tape, and people among other things, the normal process of development that should be taking place in the womb is delayed, and some parts of development are halted or altered.

I pray and I hope that little Josie has an uneventful stay in the NICU and maybe in 3 or 4 months will get to join her family at home. However, her medical journey will not likely end there. It will, however, be publicized on TV for the whole world to see and to understand prematurity just a little bit more than they did before.

Seeing Red

Mommy Song!

Riley has taken a liking to guitars. They can be real, or just play ones, but she likes them. Yesterday she grabbed her friend Ethan's guitar and started strumming and singing "Numanumanuma!!!! EEETTtttthhhhEEEE!!! Ethee's song!"

Today she has graduated from that to whoever is listening to her she substitutes in their name and ends with "Yeahhh..." (input jazz hands here). So she had a giant lime green guitar around her neck (Wonder who picked out the color??? Hmmmm) strumming and singing "NUMA numa numa numa Mooooommmmmmyyyy! Numa numa numa Mommy's songgggg! YEAH!" I swear, I am going to die from the amount of cuteness in this house one day.

To top it all off, she insisted on taking her guitar with her to bed (which I allowed since it doesn't make any noise or have buttons or batteries) and she is now spooning with it while sleeping. Sigh. She cracks me up.

Surgery update

Bree's surgery went well. We have some eye drops we need to put in three times a day for the next week. Her eyes are bloodshot and look horrible, and she is quite cranky. This is the worst we have seen her act with any surgery. She is sleeping a ton, but when she is awake she is crying, flailing and fussing. So, today will be an interesting day since Adam has to go to work at 3. Riley is very spirited and doesn't understand to be quiet since Bree doesn't feel well. Right now, Riley is down for a nap (she woke up at 430) and Bree is napping on Adam.

Wish me luck on the rest of the day!

'Twas the night before surgery...

..and all through the house, no children were stirring, and Bree was sleeping with a stuffed mouse!

The diaper bag was packed, with careful care, knowing that in 10 hours, we would be there.

For now Bree is snuggled all warm in her bed, with visions of crinkle toys dancing in her head.

With I doing schoolwork, and Adam drinkin' a night cap, soon we'd be having a brief nighttime nap.

For in a few hours, the alarm will clatter...and we will spring from our beds...to realize what was the matter!

To pack up the car, and drive away in a flash...we'd be off for her surgery...in a mad dash!

We'll use the GPS because we don't know which way to go...this time her surgery is at St. Joe's!

When we arrive we'll sigh and say "We're here!"...for then we will know we are in the clear.

The prep will start, it will go so quick! It will be time for surgery, and she'll be taken back by a guy named Nick.

The waiting will begin, and we will hope to see...success on the face of the person who comes to inform me.

"Her surgery is over, it went as well as it could...now come on back and snuggle with her, as you should!"

This is a best case scenario and true it will be.......just you wait your pretty little self and you will see! :)

Skip a dee doo dah...skipped last Friday!!

Oops! I skipped Friday! My best friend Ashley, her son (my godson) William, and their "Mah Maw Ego" (grandma who lives in san diego) came through town and stayed with us on Friday and Saturday. They are driving from California (where Mah Maw lives) to Florida (Ashley and William's new duty station). Ashley's husband Fred has been in the desert for the past 6 months on deployment and will be coming back into the States tomorrow. I got so wrapped up in the fun of their visit I forgot to post! So, needless to say, I had a great time with their visit and one of these days I will get around to posting pictures of all the fun we had!

I have been in a weird rut as of lately. More down days than up days, and no particular reason why. If it continues I am going to need to go to the doctor to get this all sorted out. I seem to always be saying I need to go the doctor when I am having a streak of bad days, but then things brighten up and I forget all about it. Ah, the joys of life!

Speaking of life, little miss Bree will be having her eye surgery on Wednesday at 730 in the morning! Yup...we are the first surgery of the day! Which is great, but makes it difficult for us to find someone to watch Riley. Dropping a wide awake two year old off at someone's house at 5 in the morning is not something I have people beating down my door volunteering for. So, Adam's *lovely* (dripping with sarcasm) work has scheduled him for a class on Tuesday night (which he was suppose to have off) and he will be at work from 3 - 11. He will be getting home about midnight and there will be no point in having him go with me to a surgery that he is going to sleep through. So, instead of trying to find a babysitter for Riley, Adam will be staying home with her while I go with Bree to her surgery. Needless to say, I am a tad bit nervous about venturing out alone with this, but I am sure I can do it. It's more the drive home I am worried about. However, life will go on no matter if I am nervous or not so I will make the best of it.