Our 1st Year

I can't believe that it was just a year ago that Grace arrived in our lives. In some ways it feels like just yesterday, but in other ways it seems like a lifetime ago. Our lives have certainly been changed by her presence!

Here we are in one of our first family photos

Like every new parent, we thought she was perfect! In fact compared to the other babies in the NICU she looked so healthy (she was so much bigger than most of the other babies). We were in such shock  from the surprise of her heart defect that we didn't really comprehend just how sick she actually was. I remember the day before her surgery my cousin came to visit and we talked about just leaving the hospital with Grace. She really did look good.

Somehow we decided that it would be best to stay there and have the surgery so her heart would be fixed. That was the scariest experience. To hand our precious little girl over to the surgical team was a test of strength and courage, but we knew there was no other choice and we were blessed that Grace would be receiving the best possible care.

The road to where we are now has been challenging, but Grace has faced each challenge with determination and will. We follow her lead and are experiencing joy we could never have imagined!

Yesterday we were fortunate to celebrate with our wonderful family and great friends! Grace is truly a blessing to us!

There were balloons, bubbles, and lots of smiles! Grace had a wonderful time!!
We are so thankful for all the love she has received and continues to experience each day.
Thank You!

Catching Up...

Look who's sleeping...not mommy!

I knew this would happen. I would finally start a blog and then I wouldn't post regularly. Sleep (my desire for more of it) is really my only excuse. I do write a post nearly every day- though it is just in my head and it becomes part of the good intentions that are paving my road to somewhere.

So there is lots to say on this post. Enjoy the reading:)

October 24th: We raced in the Columbia Gorge Half-Marathon

Leanne, Erin F., Anna, Erin D.

This is a 'before' picture- We are still dry for the minute! Yes it poured rain all night before the race and then seemed like it could be nice for the race, we almost felt bad about leaving the kids (training buddies) at home. Then a few minutes before the race started the rain started falling and a few minutes after the race started it just POURED. So we were wet for...nearly 2 hrs, but it was a great race and I was blessed to feel good and meet my goals. The Garmin watch put the finish time at 1:59:51- under 2 hrs was the goal- and I was smiling at the finish too- the other goal! It was great to have Anna run to run with and she humored me the last bit when we really picked up the pace to meet the time goal. The 'Erins' both had great races too!

Leanne, Erin D., Anna, Erin F.

 After the race. It was wet, cold, and getting windy! Glad that we had some dry clothes and a great post-race spread of food to eat. I will always return to a race that has self-serve peanut M&Ms at the finish. I am looking forward to the 2011 race already.


October 31st: Halloween

For Grace's first Halloween she was a cow!

 Grandpa Bill can carve a pretty good looking pumpkin!



I am the cutest Holstein!



November 7th: Echo with Sedation

On the 4th Grace had her Echo with sedation. Gratefully she only needed nasal Versed, not an IV line. Though I thought more than once during the procedure more sedation might be needed. Grace basically had to be held down by myself and a nurse for the entire time. She didn't get upset, but she also didn't even consider lying still. She really wanted to help the sonographer (she loves to grab the probe - and anything else she can get her hands on, the ultimate goal is to get everything in her mouth!)

November 14th: Great News!

Grace's cardiologist called and let us know that her Echo showed that we could postpone the next intervention (Cath and stent or balloon to open the pumonary artery) until January. Actually the first week of January we will go back to Doernbecher for another Echo and a Lung Perfusion test. These will help the doctors determine when the Cath intervention will need to take place. We are just so thrilled to finally have some surprisingly good news!

Here are some more pictures to enjoy and reward those of you who have managed to read this whole, long post. I really will try and keep things up-to-date more frequently!!

  

Paul with his 'practice' babies.
His real one will arrive early next year!

 

Where's Grace?




I Love Tummy Time!



I am growing out of the PUJ

 









Getting ready to crawl



Yes that is snow- November 9th, 2010
I had to work like crazy to get the
leaves up before they got soaked!



Running Buddies

Today was too beautiful of a day to miss a run. Though I intended to meet for an 8:30am run, I had to call and postpone due to a rough night. Grace has a minimally committed relationship with sleep and given her need to continue to gain weight I have a compulsion to feed her each time she wakes. Lately she has been waking at least 2 times at night. So 8:30 didn't work for us today.

As the day went on and I accomplished next to nothing (sleep deprivation is my excuse) it just keeping getting nicer out. The thermometer showed 60+ out here in the early afternoon. I really do love this kind of weather! So I tried to time Grace's naps and feedings so we could make it to town on time to run in the afternoon/evening and I actually pulled it off. We had a great run with Erin and Sam. In fact I even set a new speed record for pushing Grace in BOB. We actually averaged sub-9:00 for 5.5 miles. It was along the river trail and not windy, but I will take those numbers!

Sam and Grace - Running Buddies

I love to grab the straps and get them into my mouth!

Let's Go!!

We hope you all did something that you enjoy in the great weather today!

13 pounds 3 ounces

Finally!! After over a month of ups and downs (in weight) Grace has broken the 13 pound barrier. Who would have thought that each ounce gained would be such a victory? I can't tell how many times I have wished to just give her some of the extra weight I am still carrying around. Unfortunately for me breastfeeding does not equal quick weight loss.

On the training front- though I really should call it exercise- Grace and I finished our second out and back on the big loop today. According to Garmin it is 11.71 miles. It is pretty much all up hill on the way out and surprisingly flat on the way back...the hills are definitely bigger now that I am pushing BOB with a 13 pound baby on board! Towards the end of our 2 hour adventure Grace started to protest. I think that she is ready for the county road crews to come out and grade the road. It is getting pretty rough.

We will be racing in our 2nd race together this Sunday. The Columbia Gorge 1/2 marathon. I last ran this race at least 6 years ago- maybe longer? It is also an out and back that is mostly uphill on the way out and back- go figure! At least it is paved!! Grace is a definite maybe for the race, she really wants to do it, but there is a forecast for rain. I do try and be a responsible parent and I don't think that pushing my child through the rain for 2+ hrs is all that responsible. Of course the grandmas have offered to keep Grace while I run and they will surely protest if I try and take her out in the rain.

Speaking of Grandmas, we sure are lucky. This last Saturday Grace and I attempted our first long ride of the season (and probably our last given that the days are getting shorter and colder). We were part of a three person relay that covered 183 very hilly miles in central (middle of no where) Oregon. Grace made it through about 130 of those miles before the Grandmas had to be called to come get her. I enjoyed riding about 40 of the miles and unfortunately seemed to get more ascents than descents- Grace always seemed ready to eat as I neared the end of a climb.

The weather until this weekend is supposed to be great so I am hopeful to get at least one more ride on 'little red' before it gets attached to the trainer. I need to get my bum toughened again and I figure this winter will be the perfect time to do it!