Gracelyn's dedication

Gracelyn's baby dedication was this past Sunday morning at our church. Ryan and I presented Gracelyn (as we have each of the boys in the past) before God and our church asking Him for grace and wisdom in carrying out our responsibilities as parents of our blessings from God. We commit to raising our children in a loving Christian home, one that acknowledges God's sovereignty and pray that they one day will trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin.

Gracelyn received her very first (pink) Bible, with her name on the cover!

the 2 best pictures of our family. a very nice guy took the pictures for us and I so appreciated it. I simply wanted a picture to show that we dedicated her, I didn't expect studio-esque quality, none of the pics from the boys' dedications were. I mean we are a family of 6, 4 being kids and Ryan and I aren't much better considering our eyes are almost always closed!
But these were good and also made me laugh. Brandon, in both, is looking up in the balcony at his friend Nathan but he looks like he wants to be anywhere else but there. Britton wasn't much of a fan of being in front of our large church so he was surveying his surroundings and Blaine. in the bottom one, was checking out the other babies, crack.me.up!! He is so nosy! Our preschool director had given Brandon the rose as well as the gift bag but Blaine wanted to hold something to feel included! He is so big!

As the parents of Gracelyn, we feel the awesome responsibility of cultivating a Christ-like character and compassion within her. When we are old, we pray that we will see the Godly woman, whom God so wonderfully as a child, had given to us.
As a parent, I see the near impossible task of rearing a God-honoring child in a God-rebelling world. Therefore, today I dedicate myself unto God to accept Biblical responsibilities and instructions charged to me as a parent. I accept my accountability to disciple Gracelyn in the admonition of God not only by my words, but also by the way I live.

We know that God formed her in the womb with the nature, gifts and personality that He wanted her to have. We believe God has uniquely created Gracelyn for a special purpose unto Him.
"I pray that the Lord will touch Gracelyn's heart at an early age and lead it into salvation. I further pray that God will use me and caring believers within His church, to nurture the spiritual growth of my child. Yet, I ultimately pray, oh Father, that when Gracelyn has her own child, my child will have become an even more Godly adult and parent than me."

Food and Feet

I started Gracelyn on oatmeal (the fish flake oatmeal as I like to call the baby kind) with mom's milk a week ago. She did okay, wasn't too much of a fan (the boys never were either with something so bland) but after a few days got the hang of the spoon pretty well. I personally am not a fan of pictures with food running down the chin so I didn't take many.

first time eating from the spoon...

and I believe she is finished and full!

So this week I began making baby food!!! I usually start making baby food between months 4-5 in preparation for month 6 when I begin solids but since Gracelyn became ill at 4 months I was a little preoccupied and baby food dropped to the bottom of the to-do list. With the main setback of the botulism toxin being constipation, the doc advised us to start with fruits. I have always started with veggies so I pray that she eats them well when the time comes. Tuesday I gave her homemade applesauce oatmeal for the first time, and it was a success!! She LOVED it! She even grabbed the spoon with both hands and sucked every bit of applesauce off of it.

so excited!!it's a keeper...

...so much that she cried real tears when it was all gone

Every day since Gracelyn has been home from the hospital, during her at-home therapy sessions 3 times a day, I always play with her feet and show them to her. It's never sparked her interest in them though. Last Wednesday at therapy Mr. Derrick, her physical therapist, showed them to her and waa-laa, she is all about them now! I mean L.O.V.E.S. them!

She grabs them while she's in her carrier, in the swing, on the floor, while sitting on someone's lap, any time that she can! It's so precious!

It shows Gracelyn's incredible muscle strength that she has gained.

She can hold on to her feet, both feet, while moving them all around!

Gracelyn has come so far and it is amazing and miraculous and every bit of it is thanks to our wonderful God!

2 Peas in a Pod

ready for the cookout Saturday!

Just like Brandon, his best friend Jackson is the oldest of 4, 2 little brothers and a baby sister. Jackson's baby sister Emily was born September 16, exactly one month before Gracelyn. Since both girls have 3 (over)protective big bros, they no doubt will have to be close as they can relate to each other!
We went to Jackson's Saturday for the boys to play and celebrate turning 8. While the boys all played outside, the girls, Emily, her mom and Gracelyn and me had "girl time" (which Kathy and I rarely get!) It was fun and even though Gracie isn't strong enough to sit and play like Emily could, they still had fun sitting in together in a lap.

Gracie and Emily, pretty, pretty girls!!

Gracelyn thought Emily was hilarious when she was "cooing" and making noises. We laughed that they were probably making fun of us! Emily thought it was fun to take Gracelyn's hat off, which Gracie was perfectly fine with! We can just picture these girls when they get older right in the middle of the boys.

It's GREAT to be EIGHT!!

Brandon is now 8 years old, halfway to 16 as he so kindly informed me this week. I didn't need to hear that. I was already sad that he was only 2 years from being 10, double digits.

We asked him earlier in the week where he wanted to go eat for his birthday. When we asked, we meant for supper but he asked if we could go out for breakfast. Our family LOVES breakfast and even though it would mean a very early breakfast, we were a-go. Brandon has to be at school by 8 so it meant a 6:30am departure time to be on the safe side and to beat the tardy bell. It was so fun, we all had a good time!!

our birthday boy at breakfast and NO,
the sippy cup to his left is NOT his!

The kids and I picked him up from school and I treated him to a Sonic strawberry slush, his favorite!! He requested homemade sausage and pepperoni pizza for supper and a giant cookie for dessert so that's what we had.

with his requested homemade pizza.
He's actually on his second piece,
I couldn't get a picture the first time before he devoured it!

Brandon and Blaine eating cookie and ice cream!

Friday night, Brandon decided he wanted to watch a movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which none of us had watched so I went and rented it. It was cute. I remember reading that book to Brandon A LOT when he was younger.

Brandon's in cub scouts and they've been constructing things so Brandon has really been wanting his own tools to tinker with and become familiar with. He was excited to get something that is for "older" boys, not for his little brothers.

One of his birthday gifts didn't get here on time, it should be here this coming week. He already guessed it though, a Boston shirt. He's been asking for a Papelbon jersey for months and months. Ryan told him that it was not a Red Sox shirt but instead a Yankees top and he was not amused. That's just not funny to a Sox fan!

We gave him a gift card too because he is saving for a Wii game, for now anyway.

He, without being prompted, thanked me for all we did while I was tucking him into bed. I asked him if he had a good day and he said "no, a GREAT day!"

As for his birthday party, he and his best friend Jackson have a birthday a day apart and had plans to do another camp out party with some friends. Unfortunately soccer and rainy weather got in the way so instead Jackson's parents invited us over yesterday for a day-o-fun! And that it certainly was!! We cooked out and the boys ran, dug, hit baseballs, rode scooters and bikes and climbed trees in the family's several acres of land. It was so much fun and the boys went to sleep much easier than they have in a very long time!

Brandon, Britton, Jackson with the delicious cake
that Jackson's dad made for the birthday boys!

The boys were waiting (as patiently as 8 year old boys can) on Jackson's dad
to say "go" to begin opening their gifts from each other.

they got each other Legos!

Jackson and Brandon are the oldest boys with 2 younger brothers and a baby sister, and the baby girls are exactly 1 month apart in age! It uncanny! They are best buds and couldn't be a better fit! They are in cub scouts together, in the same class at school, go to the same church and same baseball team! We love that family!

Brandon and Jackson!

Gracie's 6 month stats

Gracie went for her 6 month well check Thursday, 1 month and 1 day after being discharged from the hospital. In the hospital, she had just turned 5 months old and her last weight was 15lbs. At her 4 month well check she weighed 16.7lbs (95th percentile) and was 26 3/4" (95th percentile.) I am always anxious to see how much the kiddos weigh but this time I was especially antsy. She's too weak to nurse and unless someone else is around to give her a bottle I am forced to feed her with a medicine syringe. I just was unsure how well that was going for her growth...

I couldn't get her to smile while her feet were crossed
but I loved how she did that on her own!

Well, it is going beautifully! She weighs 17.4lbs (75th percentile,) up 2.4lbs in 1 month and 1 day and has grown exactly an inch, 27 3/4" (95th percentile)!!

Because her muscles haven't completely recovered she was unable to receive her immunizations. The plan is to get them at 9 months in July. The doc thought she looked great though and of course she gave big beautiful smiles!

She fell over trying to get her toy with her feet crossed but she finally gave me her drooly smile!!

I have an interview with the local newspaper Monday morning to talk about Gracelyn and her botulism battle.

6 months down and an update

Gracelyn is half a year old and still our beautiful sweet princess!

She has had so much happen to her in such a short time. She is our miracle baby and has been a blessing to so many! We don't go to the doc for her 6 month well check until next Thursday so I don't know her stats and she hasn't started food yet so I cannot report on solid foods. I think I am going to start her on oatmeal this week, I'm nervous though. We have been having some issues with her swallowing in the last week. I'm not sure if it's her gag reflex or what, it's almost like she is choking and it comes on suddenly, hours after she eats. So I'm worried and have been watching her like a hawk.

can you tell that she's teething?
She's actually been doing this, chewing on her fingers, for over a month so we've been expecting a tooth for some time. She's still a happy girl but this last week I have noticed her gums a little puffy. I pray that teething on top of her difficulties she is already experiencing isn't an issue.

With her botulism battle she has had a minor setback on many things. The week before she was diagnosed she started rolling over. As of now, she cannot do that without being helped pulled halfway. The main things she's struggling with is ability to suck/nurse, constipation and overall strength. She only sleeps for 2 hours around the clock so I try, whenever possible, to sleep when she sleeps, the newborn method.
Gracie is doing amazing at physical therapy! I cannot believe how much she improves each week! Today she laid on her tummy with her head up for 4 minutes!! 4 minutes!!! That is HUGE and something she couldn't do for even 1 minute last week! "Mr. Derrick," her therapist, sat her up and she stayed sitting for 20 seconds!! Last week she couldn't do it at all. God continues to work!

not the most flattering picture BUT can you see the meat on those thighs???
She's certainly not wasting away!

She does have her pleasant little personality back! We LOVE to see her big smiles and hear her "talk," which she really started getting going this past week!

Blaine and Britton both wanted to hold her so after
they each had a turn they wanted her to sit next to them.
All 3 boys are such proud big brothers, they LOVE their baby sis!

waiting...

...as well as a 2 and 3 year old know how to.

Brandon loves to ride the bus home. I think it has to do with riding home in the car while being annoyed by his little brothers who start off by squealing with excitement when he gets in the car and then hounding him with questions about his day or updating him on the latest episode of The Wiggles or Handy Manny. They chatter his ears off all the way home. Me being a tad overprotective prefers him not to ride the bus. I still personally think he is too young because all ages ride the bus together. I know the bus driver and I know it's okay, it's just me. Anyway, on the few occasions that Brandon rides the bus home, we all sit and wait for him. His brothers though make the doorway their home until he walks in the door, at which point, he gets the same "harassment" as he would if I picked him up, it's just delayed!

Gracelyn at 5 months (over a month ago)

I realized that I never posted pictures of Gracelyn's 5th month. She was in the hospital, actually moving from PICU to a regular room on the day she turned 5 months. Anyway, I usually do a monthly recap in pictures and I haven't so I am now and then I have a 6th month to post.
Her 5th month was filled with big smiles, a little cooing and "talking" and rolling over from tummy to back!! She began falling in love with her brothers, watching their every step and losing interest in anyone else once they walked into the room!

4 months, 2 days

4 months, 5 days
ready to go see her first play!

ready for church!

Many days in the last couple of weeks of February were spent in the doctors office. At least 1 of the 3 little ones were sick constantly. Gracelyn had a cold for a week then I took her to see the doc the last week of February and she had a double ear infection and upper respiratory infection. With her immunity down, the doctors suspect that is when the botulism attacked her body.

4 months, 17 days
She rolled over for the first time from tummy to back this week!

4 months, 19 days
headed to cousin Kenzee's 1st birthday party!

This is the day she stopped eating, 2 days before she was rushed to the hospital.
I couldn't get her to smile for the life of me. You can tell she wasn't feeling well.

An extra special Easter

Gracelyn ready to go to Mimi and Pappy's house to celebrate Easter!

mom and her babies!

Easter has always been my most favorite holiday, with Christmas a very close second. As a Christian, the birth of Jesus Christ is exciting, but the hope and meaning that surrounds the Easter holiday overwhelms me.
(I have been using that word, "overwhelm", a lot lately...since Gracelyn was put in the hospital, and in describing my emotions in the circumstances as well as with the outpouring of selfless love and support from so many. That word just sums up my feelings very well)

Anyway, I L.O.V.E. Easter, plain and simple.

our "little" family!!!

Every Easter is special but this year, not only was it Gracelyn's very first Easter, but on March 11 when she was diagnosed with infantile botulism, we were informed that the chances of her being in the hospital this weekend were extremely high. I was even told that I might as well just plan on bringing her dress and custom bow up the hospital and they would have a Gracelyn parade and show her off!

3 boys and 1 girl!!

I certainly understood how important it was that Gracelyn get the care that she required while in the hospital but the idea that our family still wouldn't be together after several weeks and to celebrate Christ's Resurrection together greatly saddened me.

Well, God obviously had other plans for Gracelyn and our "little" family because she was NOT in the hospital for Easter!!!! She is home and continuing her recovery with her family. We were all able to see some of the grandparents and our church family yesterday and today and it was GREAT!!!!

Gracelyn is a miracle!

I have been pretty emotional, ok, very emotional the last few weeks, and while every Easter weekend brings emotions, this one especially did. I just cannot imagine feeling more blessed than I do. I am so thankful to God for ALL that He has chosen to give me.

I say it a lot but I am so grateful to everyone that has prayed for Gracelyn. God heard our prayers and continues to heal her.

I tell Gracie often of the testimony she has now of God's love and His healing hand. It's ALL because of Him that we were able to celebrate as a family the sacrifice that His Son made for every single one of us.

The boys had a nice Easter!! We went to Mimi and Pappy's Saturday, had a nice lunch and after nap the boys hunted eggs and opened goodie bags! I loved just spending time with my family, very relaxing, just what I needed!
I am sad that our camera battery died before we could take any pictures there.

We went to church this morning! It was such an awesome service, truly celebrating that Jesus LIVES!!

After church we went to Nana and Grandad's house. We had a good lunch, opened goodie baskets and after naptime, the boys hunted eggs.
It was so nice to spend time with family, it seems like it's been so long since we have been able to.