Our Family

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A baby shower and a baby funeral...

This is a difficult post for me to write...but one I need to do.

This weekend I attended a baby shower for my very best friend Wendy who is expecting her little girl later on this month. I can't wait for this baby's arrival! There is nothing in the world like a sweet little baby...especially a girl...I'm a little partial to girls :) I have been invited into her delivery room again for this precious little girl. I was lucky enough to be there while her other children Taylor and Nolan were born and it is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. On the flip side I was lucky enough to have her with me while I delivered Ella and Hailey and again, it made my deliveries that much more memorable. I know she is starting to feel the exhaustion of that last month so I wish her all the strength in the world...and children that will behave perfectly and nap for 3 hours so you can rest! I also hope your little Jessy will be a nice baby and arrive on time or maybe a little bit early :)

I followed that baby shower by attending a funeral for one of my very favorite patients...Zachary. Zachary was born a little bit premature with multiple genetic anomalies and lived about 14 weeks before passing. I think he spent about half of that time with us at Kadlec until being shipped to Childrens. He, and his family, touched me very deeply and I can't really get them off my mind. Seeing his parents at his funeral rocked me to the core. It was like looking at my own family. That could easily be any one of us. Why them...why do they have to go through this horrible event. Their grief and their strength was palpable. They had a moment where people could speak and tell stories. Many people said things like "God has a plan" or "He took Zach for a reason". While I was standing there I was wondering if that was true. Why in the world would God have a plan to take a precious little boy from this wonderful family. Why would he want to rock them with the sorrow of spending 14 weeks in the hospital and then having to say good bye?? To never be able to take him home to the crib they had ready for him?? I guess it is beyond anything I can comprehend. I have to say this though...this little boy was incredibly blessed with amazing parents. I said this to her in an email and I truly believe it:
"A mother's love does more to heal a baby than we can even begin to imagine. Medicine can do amazing things to heal a child's body, but only the love from a mother or father can heal their soul. Zachary's soul was overflowing with health!"

People often gasp when I say I work in the NICU and respond with "isn't it so hard...I could never work there." I usually respond with "Actually, it is a great place to work, we get to see miracles happen everyday" That statement is very true; the highs in the NICU are very high...watching tiny little 1 lb babies grow and go home with their mommies, only to come back to visit months later happy and healthy and big and chunky. But lately I am reminded that the lows in the NICU are very low. Unfortunately we have had way to many lows lately...and it is truly devastating.

The one thing this whole experience did teach me is that it is so easy to take for granted the health of our children...the ability to hold them when we want and to put them to our breast to feed. To watch them grow and learn and become wonderful little people. What amazing things most of get to...and too often forget what a gift that is. How easy it is to get caught up in the little stresses and forget the big picture. That is the one big benefit of working in the NICU...prospective.

To this grieving family that I am thinking about...your son touched so many people's lives and you are all amazing people. I hope that you are doing okay. I really am sending so many thoughts and prayers your way.

My big girl....

Hailey had her 2 year well check this week and, like usual, she remains a very big girl!!! Her weight was 33 lbs which was the 95% and her height was 36.5 inches which is in the 97%. If you take that old saying that a person's height will be double what they were at age 2 she will be 73 inches tall which is a little over 6 feet tall!!! Holy crap!! There are woman that tall in both of our families so it is possible. The first thing the dr. asked was "So do you think it will be volleyball or basketball??"
Overall she is perfectly proportionate (in a big way) and is very healthy. She is beautiful, and I am very proud that she is continuing to grow and be big and strong!!

Hailey Jane

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2 Years...

It is very hard for me to believe that Hailey has been in our lives for two years now. It seems like she's been around forever...but also feels like she was just born. What a crazy whirlwind two years it has been. I remember her delivery very clearly. It was pretty easy and she was ready to come into the world. I remember saying out loud when I first saw her "She doesn't really look like anybody"...and now I think she looks a lot like me at age 2. The first few months were filled with almost constant screaming and I wasn't really sure I liked this new little baby. When she was finally diagnosed with reflux and treated appropriately she was a much happier baby and a joy to have around. After I had Ella I wished for a cuddly baby (Ella wasn't much of a cuddlier) and boy did I get one in Hailey. She did not want to be put down, nor sleep much further than an arms length. She loved to nurse and didn't give it up until she was 22 months. Now she says "Milky all gone" As she is becoming a toddler she makes me smile on a daily basis. She loves to sing and you can often hear her in the next room singing ABC's in a REALLY loud voice. She also loves to dance...especially with her daddy, and she loves playing with her dolly's. She sleeps in a toddler bed now and in the mornings will pull out all of her pajama's and shoes and pile them on the bed. She does this really funny look where she will put her head down and then look at you out of the corner of her eyes. She usually does this if she is mad or unsure of something but it is truly hilarious.
She is an awesome eater and will eat just about anything...including broccoli. She is a very big girl all around (height and weight) and people are usually surprised to hear she is just turning 2.
She can say a ton of words and can ask for things she wants. She has starting using the potty on occasion and shows a lot of interest in it! She can jump off the couch and end in a somersault (she gets this from her sissy) She does twirls all over the house and loves to run and jump.
She wants anything her sister wants. If her sister wants milk than Hailey wants milk. If sissy wants water than so does Hailey. She gets along well with Ella although they do have their moments. Mostly fighting over a toy. Ella loves her little sissy and only calls her by her full name...Hailey Jane. I don't think I have even once heard her call her just Hailey.
All in all she has been the most perfect addition to our family! We love her to pieces and think she is the sweetest, prettiest and smartest little 2 year old girl in the world (of course we are a little bias). She melts our heart every single day!
Happy Birthday Hailey Jane...we love you!

Sausage Fest

To anyone who is not from the tri-cities...and event called the Sausage Fest probably sounds a little bit odd. However; growing up here it is an annual event that we always look forward to. Good food, games for the kids, face painting, toys, balloons...just a bunch of fun things to do. This year we went and met up with our friends the West's. The kids had a blast and were really fun to watch.
I had to post the series of group photos so you could see the progression of Hailey picking her nose, eating it, and then the disgusted looks on the other kids' faces. Yep...that's my daughter for you. Ella was also picking her nose in the first photo...although I don't think she ate hers. Classy, I know.

Food Terrorist....

I am trying to loose weight. So far I have lost about 12-14 pounds (depends on the day!). What I have been doing to loose it so far is just to cut out sweets. And then...this morning...I woke up to this...



I tried to ignore them. Cleaning, computer, laundry...but the smell of them was making it's way through the entire house. Eventually I gave in and ate that tiny little corner piece. Even without frosting it was delicious. Thanks Grant!!!