Gracie is crawling

I can't believe it, but that little girl is crawling...I am sure she will have it perfected by the end of the week. We kept putting the toy just out of reach and she would crawl to it, but if she thought it was "too far" she would CRY!!! It was hilarious. She is 6 months and a week. WOW! Time is just flying by....

Emma's birth story

Where does the time go? I just can't believe that my baby is three. It just doesn't even seem possible. I will never ever forget this day! I don't think I have ever blogged her birth, so here we go.



I was put on bedrest April 23, 2004 for pre-eclampsia. I went in for monitoring every three days and had weekly appointments with my doctor. I was monitored every Tuesday evening...it just so happened that my blood pressure would spike those days and I would have to go to L & D for monitoring. The weekend before Emma was born I insisted that we go to BRUS and get her car seat. I agreed to stay in the wheelchair if my husband would let me go. So we got her carseat. On Monday, I had an NST and an OB appointment. Everything was great!!! My blood pressure was normal and the NST looked great! The next day I went out to eat for lunch with my mom and went home to rest. I was trying to get my kick counts for the afternoon and couldn't get the baby to move. I called the doctor and they had me go to L & D for monitoring. After about 30 minutes, the baby's hb dropped dramatically and they put me on oxygen and they called the doctor. The baby's hb returned to normal and they called for a sonogram. The sonogram determined low amniotic fluid which was putting the baby at risk.

The I.V. nurse came in to give me fluids and said, "Congratulations, I hear we are having a baby today!" I looked at her like she was crazy and told her that I wasn't due until July. My L & D nurse came in and told me that yes we were having a baby, but probably not until tomorrow. They were starting me on pitocin. They started the I.V. and moved me into my new room. They sent my mom home and Craig to get dinner around 8:30. Well, around 9 PM the baby's heartrate dropped dramatically again with a set of contractions. The next thing I know everyone is in my room prepping me for a c-section. They let me call my Mom, but Craig's cell phone was in my room. Finally, he arrived and the told him what he needed to do.

At 10:32 that night baby Emma arrived at 34 weeks and a day. She was crying, but not very loudly. I was so lucky because we have a family friend who works in the PICU that checked up on Emma and called me in the recovery room to let me know how she was doing. Our little peanut weighed 4 lbs 2 oz. She was doing quite well.

The next morning Craig went to go see her and she was not intubated anymore, but on oxygen. We had quite a fighter! She let everyone know that she was going to make it and she did! Our little peanut is quite the sassy three year old now.

We are proud of all her accomplishments, but most of all I love her personality! She loves her family and after being an only child for almost three years has embraced her baby sister. Emma is truly a blessing from God as are all children, but she was exactly what our family needed!

Baby Dedication

What a wonderful day in our family. Gracie was dedicated back to God today and our new pastor officiated the ceremony. It was beautiful. He and his wife did a fantastic job. His wife prayed for me as a mother to a mother and he prayed fro Craig as a father to a father. Then he laid the baby on the altar as Abraham did Isaac and said a beautiful prayer. It was amazing. Then he had the most powerful sermon about how to handle life's storms and discouragements. It was a touching moment for my soul. Sometimes it just needs a little "lift."

Click on the link to see the pics.

Spring Break is Over

Well, Spring Break is over and Craig went back to work today. I still have 5 weeks of maternity leave and lovin' every minute. Our washer died this weekend, so we went to a gently used appliance store and got a new to us washer and dryer for half the price of a new washer. It works great!!!

The girls had well baby and toddler check ups today. Ms. Emma did great!!! She weighed in at 28 pounds and 34 1/2 inches tall. She has grown 2 1/2 inches over the last year and gained almost 2 pounds. I asked the doctor about a celiac screening today and Emma had to have blood taken to run the test. I hadn't pushed this, but after reading some information, I felt Emma needed to have the test. I will post information when we receive it. Gracie is 5 weeks old and she weighs 9 lbs and 8 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long. She has grown so much this last month. She received her first round of shots and was extremely unhappy about that! She goes back in a month.

Emma is doing so much talking!! Her new words are
DON'T
NOOOOOOOOO
STOP
HOT
COOKIE (She can also sign it)
MY BABY
SWEET
PRETTY

I am so happy about this.

Enjoy our family pics we took over Spring Break!

One week old

Well, Grace is a week hold and doing fabulous! She has gained 5 ounces and only needs to gain 4 more to reach her birth weight. Her pediatrician says she is perfect and that he is so jealous. He says Craig and I make great kids together. She will go back in a month for shots and another check up.

Emma is doing well. She kisses on her baby sister all day and "helps" us too. She is so much fun to watch with Grace. I am so impressed that she has adjusted so well. Today we took Grace and my mom and I got a hair cut. Emma was so upset that Grace left...not that we left. Also, you have to love getting your hair done....it just makes you feel like a new person...now if I could only get more than an hour and 15 minutes of sleep at a time.

Heart Report & IFSP Results & Bottle Woes

Well, today was Emma's 2 year heart check up. First, the two heart murmurs were not detected by the EKG or the ECHO. But, he said that there was a "funny" spot where the PDA was on of the shots of the heart. Her right ventricle of the heart was acting "quirky." But, he said, "It was nothing to write home about." He wants to see her again in 3 years. Her heart release for the ENT said "functional murmur." So, at least we aren't looking at having the PDA repaired. Next week I will contact the ENT to schedule her tonsillectomy.

Her IFSP (individualized family service plan) was Thursday. It went fantastic. We got the results we wanted, which are gains. I am very pleased with the amount of services she receives from Sooner Start. Her therapists are excellent at their craft and have turned into great friends of the family.

Well, now that Emma is a big 2 year old..No more BOTTLE. She has been sipping from a straw for a while. Today she had no bottle and by evening she was quite upset. I gave her an AVENT sippy and she drank from it, so I think we made it past Day 1. Now onto Day 2 ( I think this will be the hardest day). She can drink from a straw, but only wants too if there is pop in it. However, by mid afternoon she was taking juice no problem, but at bedtime really wanted her bottle. The sippy seemed to work... Wish us luck! I guess it is official...no more baby at our house. :-(

What a Wonderful Surprise!!

Today is the first day of Spring Break...we were all sitting in the living room watching a movie when Emma decides to stand on her own in the middle of the room...NO HELP from anyone or anything! She put her tuchis up in the air, and pushed her self upright...then she grinnned a HUGE grin. We are so proud of her. She was just as excited as we were!

She has started a new speech program with Marcus by the Hanen Organization called, "It takes two to talk." I think Ms. Emma will be very successful with this program.

Boy, do we love this little girl!!

Emma is WALKING

I just want to shout it out loud!! EMMA IS WALKING!!!! I can't believe it. We are so proud of her. Tonight I was standing next to the couch and Emma and I had been walking in the living room holding hands and she let go and went right to her Daddy!! We are so proud of our little girl!!!!! We kept making her do it over and over. She will take 3-4 steps and then fall, but she will do it until she gets tired. Woohooo!!!

20 Months Old

No new photos, but I am sure we can fix that soon! I wanted to give a little update in the Kingdom of Emma Lynne. She is doing fantastic. She is trying to walk!!! I am so excited. She can stand alone and will walk when no one is looking or she really wants to get somewhere. Her PT believes she will be walking alone everywhere by Spring Break. Yippee!!

She has added new words to her vocabulary~Momma, book and woops. It is so cute. Anytime she drops something she says woops. She will only say Momma when she is trying to get our attention or it is an emergency. She loves to read! I wish you could see how much she loves her book collection.

She has a vision screening Wednesday with Soonerstart. We aren't expecting her to need glasses, but wanted a second opinion on some eye therapy recommendations. I will post as soon as I have news.

Well, on a side note for me...we have decided not to continue the Lupron. The new shots really deplete the estrogen to a point that I was not feeling like myself. So we have no idea where that leaves us. We know God hears the desires of our hearts.

New Hair Cut

Well, our little cutie needed another haircut to get rid of her mullet. Nana did the hard part and I just sat there holding the wiggle worm. She looks so much older..now if only my hair would grow.

Click on the title of the post to see her pics!

The Best Sound in the World

is laughter. I love to hear my little girl laugh. My heart fills with so much love when she laughs. It is as if everything around me stops and all I see and hear is that beautiful ringing sound. I am so glad that I can experience this. What brought on the beautiful giggles this evening? Playing ball with Papa. Papa was being silly and she thought it was the funniest thing she had ever seen. She laughed and laughed and laughed. Ahh....what a glorious sound.

Walking Shoes

Well, we had Emma fitted for her first pair of big girl shoes today at Stride Rite. Merry Christmas, Emma! Just kidding..she is getting other stuff too. They were so nice and SOOOO helpful. Hopefully, these will help her balance better and give her more confidence in walking. She has to wear them all the time. I soon hope we will be posting that she is walking.

We also had Christmas pictures taken this weekend. I can't believe how much time has passed. Here is Emma last Christmas, 6 months old.


Here is Emma this Christmas, 18 month old.



Click on the title of the post to see more of our family pics.

Great Week with Speech & PT

What a great week Emma had! First, on Tuesday, Marcus came by and told us Emma is doing FANTASTIC! She is saying more consonant sounds than two weeks ago. She still isn't saying the "m" sound but he thinks he knows why. When you make the sound it is through your nose instead of with the tongue and she is just not used it and probably doesn't like making the sound yet. He says it will happen.

Then in PT on Wed. Emma is trying to take steps on her own. She will try now which is a step in the right direction, pun intended! :) She will take about two steps trying to get from one object to another. We will gradually move the two items further apart.

Thursday, was GG's funeral and while we are sad she is gone, we know she is in a better place. Thank you for all of you thoughts and prayers.

Sweet Memories

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."

Memories are the most valubable things we have of our loved ones. Emma's GG(great grandmother) has passed away. She died very early this morning with her family beside her. It was a peaceful homegoing. Please keep my family in your thoughts & prayers.



Four Generations-July 4th, 2004



March 2005

Cruisin' All Around the Living Room

One step to walking independently...Emma is an ol' pro at cruisin'. She will pull up on an object and then start cruisin' around!!! It is so great!! We have been waiting patiently and not so patiently for her to do this. She is also walking hanging onto one hand more often. She gets scared really easily, so we have to make sure she feels safe when she does it. :-) Silly little girl!!

Taking "baby" steps

Well, Emma is growing up so quickly. She is supposed to work on hanging onto a toy when we have a hold of the toy. Then try and walk. She did it today...for two steps. She also stood by herself for 15 seconds the first time and then only 5 seconds the second time. But she stopped because she was scared. We think walking will happen soon IF Emma would be self confident. But, walking is a scary thing. :-)

Here are some recent pics of her. As you can see you get see to several new faces of Emma! (heehee)

Pulling Up to Stand

Emma is pulling up to stand! Can you believe it? This has been a month of accomplishments and milestones. We take the cushions of the couch and she can pull up on her knees and then pushes up to stand. She can also walk alone with her push toys. What a little trooper!! We love that girl so much!!!

Aybee is for Baby

I never would have guessed that Emma's first real word would be "aybee" for baby. She says it for her dolls and babies. It is so sweet. Today she was playing with her doll and suddenly says, "aybee." I told Emma good you are right that is a baby. Then she says it about three more times. We go to a friends house that night who has a 6 month old and she called him an aybee too. We are so pleased!!! What a great speech development.

That day was really busy because she also walked with her push mail box for the first time. I can't wait to tell her PT! We have been working on this for such a long time. She has been walking with fingers for a long time, but this was totally on her own! What a great girl!

Ponies & Pigtails

I can't believe I am even typing this..my baby has enough hair for PIGTAILS!!! And you know what. It is the cutest thing I have EVER seen!!! Her Nana fixed her hair this morning and I came home surprised with a toddler with pigtails..and guess what I just happen to have a picture!

Hi, Daddy!

On Sunday morning Emma was conducting Beethoven's Fifth and her Daddy came in to say good morning and she says as plain as day, "Hi, Daddy!!" We shouted and Craig ran up to her and picked her up. We were so surprised. She has been saying Hi and Daddy for a while, but not together!

Here are pictures of Emma "conducting."