Eight Weeks loving Johanna

Hanna is growing and her first weeks are going by. There have been a ton of events in her short life so far and we are blessed to have her to share them with us. Hanna was very peaceful amidst the noise and activity of Great Uncle Henry and Donna's wedding on 12/1. Jim brought her out on the dance floor at the reception for her first dance and then Uncle Will, Emma, and Rachael each took her out for a dance. Grandma Kate came in that day and joined us for the week before Hanna's baptism.

Johanna's Baptism was beautiful. We have always done a private baptism so that my Dad can be the celebrant. I love that our family is so comfortable in the Church and without much notice can jump in to serve. Mary led the liturgical music and sang the "Litany of Saints" adding all of the family names. I was standing at the baptismal font at the time and was blessed to see the delighted faces of each of the kids as their saint's name was sung. We asked Rachael to proclaim the 1st reading and she spoke with strength and clarity. Aunt Magaly read the responses and did a beautiful job. My Dad gave a wonderful homily about welcoming Johanna to the dance of the Christian church. Emma and Will stood up for Johanna as her Godparents and I know will pray for her and support her in faith. PawPaw took lots of picture to commemorate the day.The family then came back to our house that was the cleanest it has been in years thanks to Grandma Kate and we were blessed that everyone brought food to ease our load. Johanna was sealed for Christ and is so lucky to have the support and prayers of so many.

Johanna has been smiling all along, but at 5 weeks she smiled directly in response to Jim. She then did it for me and Emma and now smiles regularly when we talk to her. Hanna holds her head up and looks around. She pushes up off our chests and makes great faces with her expressive eyebrows.We are all enjoying her even if we may be losing our hearing in the process. Hanna's sensitivity to dairy and reflux cause her to cry regularly and with the intensity of pain. It can be hard to comfort her sometimes but with so many willing people to hold and love her, she calms down and frequently falls asleep on someones' chest. I love to watch her when she is peacefully sleeping with her mouth slightly open and her arms relaxed and hanging down at her side.

When Johanna was 6 weeks old I had to return to work. The days leading up to my return were hard. I was emotional at the thought of leaving her and anxious that she would be fussy. Monday morning after I fed her before heading out, Hanna gave me a huge smile. It made me laugh with joy and she laughed back, soft and sweet. It was a huge dose of grace right when I needed it. My work day was made easy by Jim, who brought Johanna to visit for lunchtime. I was happy to hear she took a bottle without too much trouble. I have eased back into work and have been glad for all of the paid holidays so I could be at home.

That week I brought Hanna to the pediatrician for a rash. She has had the rash since 2 weeks. We had conversed electronically and changed the soaps and lotions we use but still her skin reacted in red spots. Dr Z. told use to use hydrocortisone regularly and that it might take a few months for her system to tolerate things better. Johanna got her shots and stats while we were there. At 7 weeks she weighed 11lbs. 11 ounces. She is growing beautifully.




 Christmas with a baby is a sublime experience. Remembering Christ being sent to us as a defenseless infant, like my Johanna, brings to mind our humble God and His love for us. Johanna was peaceful as we celebrated Christmas Eve lunch and later Mass. Hanna is a gift to us.

Rachael turns 12

What a happy day! Our lovely little Rachael has turned 12. We started the day by bringing her breakfast in bed. It was cute to see Bridget bring in the tray for her and attempt to hold it up to the loft bed for Rachael as we all sang. Rachael enjoyed her apple danish, bacon and waffles with us in the dining room and then we let Rae open her presents. Jim wrapped them and to build the suspense he triple wrapped the small box that held Rachael's new Swiss Army pocket knife. Rachael had the same idea of drawing out the unwrapping and meticulously pulled off each piece of tape on all 3 layers. It was a very long process but we all enjoyed sharing the moments with her.

Rae was thrilled to go through the pocket knife and investigate each of the tools. It's a big knife and I think it has 20 or so things on it, some of which we couldn't even figure out what they were for. It was a lazy morning but then after lunch we all headed to Ellicott City to check out the toy store or geek store as the girls call it. It is full of used Legos and other old school toys. Rachael asked to go to the antiques stores and then we had dinner. We came home and enjoyed ice cream sundaes and then we all watched Harry Potter 2- the Chamber of Secrets. Rachael smiled throughout the day.

Happy Birthday Rachael Grace!

Christmas 2012

It is a joyous Christmas. We are blessed to be surrounded by our girls and to have a family that fills our house in celebration. We trimmed down our preparations this year because we are in the middle of a building project and because 7 week olds are more important than decorations. 

Our big girls had a blast working together to decorate a gingerbread house and we all got in on the fun of decorating our tree. This year Emma put the lights on the tree and discovered first hand the frustration of burnt out lights. She did an excellent job and I am hoping she will take this job over for years to come. We did our annual cookie baking but focused on more batches of easier recipes. 

I had been hoping to get our Christmas cards and Johanna's birth announcements out before Christmas but a few nights before Christmas I had to let it go. They would get out when we could do it. I hope everyone understands.

We hosted our whole family for Christmas Eve lunch again. Things got started earlier this year so we could take the annual cousin picture before the extended family arrived. The picture went smoothly and turned out great with plenty of time to spare. My Aunts and Uncles arrived and the buffet was opened. After everyone enjoyed lunch the cousins all gather for the gift exchange. Every year our girls love picking a name and shopping for a gift for a cousin. Excitement filled our living room as they opened gifts in turn. The excitement picked back up when huge snow flakes began to fall. With presents in hand the youngest generation went to play and the adults filled the living room seats. The Yankee gift exchange was a huge hit. Emma participated this year and was lucky to receive a beardo and DADD shirt, Dads Against Daughters Dating. Jim put together the best theme gift of ninja cookie cutters, gingerbread mix, teenage mutant ninja turtle t-shirt and figurine.  My Aunt Liz brought a set out liquor glasses that belonged to my grandparents to the exchange and it was stolen multiple times. My Uncle Henry was the final keeper of the glasses but then shared one of the set with each of the families who had lost it during the exchange. There was lots of laughter and fun. As the party wound down the trees and grass were coated in a layer of thick wet snow. It was going to be a surprise White Christmas. Relatives headed out into the snow to Christmas Eve Mass. Because of the early party start we were able to attend 4:00 Mass and Will and Heather's family were able to join us. It was packed but we got great seats in the choir section.

After Mass we went back home for a relaxed night of leftover food, visiting with Will and Heather, and then opening of Christmas Ornaments. It was a laid back evening that we ended with prayers and Christmas carols before putting the girls to bed. Jim and I then got to the wrapping of presents we hadn't had time for yet.

Christmas morning I woke up at 6:00 to the sound of hungry Johanna making grunty noises in the bassinet. I feed her and snuggled with her watching the Christmas tree and looking forward to the happiness of the morning to come. Rachael had set her alarm for 7:00 so the middle girls all climbed into our bed within minutes, we woke Emma up and all sang "Away in a Manger" in our bedroom before heading to the living room.

We had a fun time opening and sharing presents together. Some expected and some surprises. Emma finally got a Nerf Gun (the last of the sisters) and was thrilled with it's 40 disc capacity. Rachael loved her Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, but stayed distant from her new adventure camera. She wasn't ready to accept what might be the replacment of her "Frist Camera". Jim explained this was a rugged camera she could take with her when she adventures and someday her first camera could be fixed. She warmed up to it then. Megan was overjoyed to receive what she had waited months for, a vintage manual typewriter. The typewritier was a hit with all of the girls as they tried it out and typed messages, Hogwarts letters, Hunger Games quotes, and love notes. Megan has since been typing school worksheets. If only we had memio paper. Bridget received Merida's bow and suction cup arrows and after practicing technique was able to shoot them onto the mirror in her room. She stood 2 feet from the mirror so her success rate was very high. the girls also exchange a gift with one sister and this year Emma drew Rachael's name. She created a Skelegro potion bottle, inspiried by the Harry Potter series, complete with rib cage wrapped around a vintage bottle and topped with a skull stopper.

Jim and I enjoyed watching the girls enjoy each other and the gifts. Johanna slept through most of the fun but when she was awake she was given the gift of her families love and attention. We shared a wonderful breakfast and played all day. Christmas evening we went to my parents house for a wonderful turkey and ham dinner. It was a relaxed and joyous day.

Merry Christmas and may the joy of Christ's coming support you through 2013!

Bridget turns Six

Our funny little girl has gone from the baby of the family to a kindergartener and a big sister in the last few months and now she has turned Six. Being born right before Christmas means that the days leading up to your birthday are busy and not really about you, but there is no forgetting our Bridgie Rose. Bridget loves her birthday and counts down to it each year. Her birthday fell on a weekend this year so we discussed when she would want to celebrate it at school. We picked Thursday so she wouldn't have to share it with the "winter holiday" celebration. She asked to bring in munchkins to share and she was really excited to be the class leader for the day and bring home the paper birthday crown.  Gifts from Colorado arrived a few days ahead of time and with our wrapped gifts the pile was very tempting. She tried negotiating to open them early but Saturday arrived soon enough.

That morning she climbed into bed with me, as Papa and her sisters got breakfast and cards ready. We snuggled until everyone came into the bedroom for breakfast in bed and birthday wishes. Bridget loved the handmade cards. After breakfast we decided to let Bridget open her presents. She was not disappointed. There had been a small bakery set that works with her Calico Critters and she had asked for it months ago. She was thrilled to get it. It was full of tiny baked goods and display stands and all of the girls helped her set it up and they all played together with it. Bridget was busy for hours enjoying her toys. The sisters got her a nerf gun all her own so she practiced shooting. She read her new recorded book from Grandma Kate and PawPaw and then she opened her Early reader set of Hello Kitty books. Bridget was excited to work on learning more words and have something that she would soon be able to read on her own. She is growing so fast and really is getting to be a big girl.

I love my Bridget Rose. Happy 6th Birthday!

Thanksgiving from a Mom with a newborn

I am so thankful for this amazing little girl asleep in my arms, as I type one-handed. I am thankful for her first 3 weeks in this world and for how well she is growing. As we brought her home from the NICU, Jim commented many times how grateful he was that her only problem was reflux. After spending 3 days in the NICU with some babies with serious medical issues and getting to visit my friends baby who was delivered at only 26 weeks on Halloween, we couldn't help but put reflux in perspective.

I am thankful that we have 4 loving big sisters. I am grateful that Emma and Megan are happy to hold Johanna even if she is crying. I am grateful for Jim who lets me crawl into bed while he rocks Johanna to sleep at night and then takes her in the morning if she doesn't want to go back to bed after her early morning feeding, so I can get a few more minutes.

I am thankful for my brother Will and sil Heather who hosted a sit down Thanksgiving Dinner for 42 people. I am thankful for the ability to see my family regularly and for the connected group we have grown into. I am thankful for my amazing group of nieces and nephews who are anything but average. I am grateful for all of visitors who came to welcome our little Pumpkin.

I am grateful for the soft skin on Johanna's neck and her fluffy hair. For her long fingers that curl around mine while she is eating. I am grateful for her smiles and gurgling noises and the delightful grins they elicit from her sisters. I love the way she pulls her legs up, tucked in tight when I lift her to my shoulder. It is such a temporary time and I am grateful for the messy, loud, tired and silent moments.

Jim declared that Johanna is our luckiest baby, she has 6 family members to love on her every day.

A different kind of addition

Our little precious addition joined our family 2 1/2 weeks ago and since her birth we also started on a different kind of addition. We finalized plans for expanding our living space after a long decision process and the construction began on the same day our little Pumpkin came home from the hospital. Nov. 6th trucks and crew arrived at our house while I was with Johanna in the NICU and Jim was at home with the big sisters. I talked to Jim on the phone and could hear jack-hammering in the background.

The crew jack-hammered and removed our back patio and the stairwells. Then the backhoe excavated 5-6 feet of dirt. The backhoe was just finishing up as the whole family arrived home with baby Johanna. The noise was finished for the day and we had a huge hole where our patio once was and we had a mountain of dirt in the yard.

After the hole was dug the next step was pouring the footing. While they were pouring Jim went out with a St. Joseph figure, Patron Saint of Families and asked the crew to add him to the foundation. They did and made sure he was upright in the concrete. Since the footing they placed wall forms and then a boom truck arrived which had a huge crane that went over the house and they used to pump concrete into the forms.

They put in gravel, and the sump pump system and once it was inspected they then back-filled against the outside wall. Today they removed the mountain of dirt from the backyard. It was been a sporadic coming and going of trucks and machines and workers. Next week the framing begins!

Soccer Tournament

We had amazing weather last weekend, perfect for a soccer tournament. Rachael and Emma's teams both had single elimination playoff games. Emma's doctor said that he didn't think she should play with the broken arm, so we erred on the side of caution and Emma got to be a team supporter on the sideline. Her team's game ended after double overtime with a lose, but they followed the game up with a pizza party at the coaches house.

We went to Rachael's game and they played really well. Rachael was involved in a number of plays that concluded in goals. Rae isn't the fastest kid on the field but boy can she sprint when she needs to. Rachael played center defense most of the time and played with intensity every time an opposing player came her way. The coaches relied on Rachael as a team leader who could help the younger girls on the team with position and backup. Her yellow team won the game so we went home for lunch and prepared to return to the field for the next playoff game. Rachael had really given her all and was exhausted, so she relaxed.

The Hess family came down to meet baby Johanna so they joined us for the 2nd game. We had a blast cheering for Rachael and her team and they won that game as well. Rachael was on her way to the championship game on Sunday afternoon.



The weather was again beautiful Sunday afternoon when our whole family headed to the field once more. It was a close game and Rae's team played really well. Rachael's competitiveness kept her focused and she yelled encouragement to her teammates and the occasional battle cry during a fight for the ball. The game was tied and we all hoped it would end in regulation time but it went to overtime and then to penalty kicks. After the first round of kicks it was still tied so 3 more girls were chosen for the next round of kicks. Rachael was in that group and made a strong kick that the goalie bobbled but got under control. The other team missed there kicks but Rae's team but 1 in, so after the last girl a cheer went up for team yellow. We were all so excited and I was glad even Johanna got to be there to share Rachael's moment.

In the NICU

Johanna's birth was great and similar to her sisters. Her first night was also very much like her sisters. The post-partum nursing staff came and checked on me every few hours, the techs came to check my vitals and the well baby nursery nurse brought Johanna to and from my room every few hours. It is not a system conducive to sleep, but when Johanna was ready to go back to the nursery before midnight I called the nurse and asked that they do everything they needed to then, so I got 3 hours of consecutive sleep. The nursery brought Pumpkin in to me to eat around 2:30AM and she ate well, they then brought her back around 5:30 AM, but Johanna was sound asleep. I decided after an attempt to wake her to just enjoy her. So we snuggled until 7AM when they came to get her so the pediatricians could do their rounds. I fell asleep and expected Johanna back around 9AM.

I was woken up at 9AM but instead of baby Johanna it was the neo-natologist. She started in explaining that Johanna had stopped breathing twice (apnea) while she was in the nursery and that she was now in the NICU. It was a lot to take in but I tried to ask questions and get info. I was worried what I would see when I went to see her, but I was reassured to know that she didn't need to be intubated and was still in a regular crib. The doctor was great, calming but realistic and gave me lots of info. I called Jim after she left and started to cry. I was tired and emotional and just really wanted to see our baby. The NICU called in the next few minutes and asked if I wanted to come over to fed her. Yeah! I quickly found my way over and scrubbed in. Johanna was alert and hungry and it felt so good to hold her and feed her. She had an IV line in her arm which was taped to a board. She had heart and respiration monitors stuck to her chest with little wires that came out of a little outfit they had already put her in. And she had a pulsox monitor taped to her foot. None of it was scary and the nursing staff was great.


Once we knew that Johanna was stable and was just being observed our biggest question was "Why did it happen?" They wanted to rule out infection so they sent cultures off. The NICU doctors expected if everything looked good we would be there for 3 days, if she had an infection it would be at least a week. The NICU doesn't let siblings come to visit so now when Jim brought them to the hospital they had to hang out in my room. It was really hard for them to not be able to see their sister and to be in a small room for so long but I was really impressed at how well behaved they were. The first day in the NICU Heather came and sat with the girls keeping them busy and fed while Jim and I went back and forth from the NICU. We had a number family come to visit and it as a nice distraction for the girls and for me. Instead of heading home on Sunday, our plans shifted and we decided that I should stay on at the hospital so I could nurse Johanna and be with her. It was my birthday so Jim and the girls brought me cupcakes and homemade cards, they really wanted to celebrate and it made me feel special in the strange situation. I was relieved to find out the hospital lets moms stay two extra days so I would have until Tuesday to be with Johanna. My biggest wish was that she and I would go home together.

  

Jim did a great job with the girls and arranged play dates and visits with friends for Monday since school was closed. All of them needed a fun relaxed day. Jim got things ready at home for our new addition project that was to start on Tuesday and came to hang out with Johanna and me at the hospital. We met a different Dr. in the NICU and we went over an echocardiogram and chest x-ray. The echo showed a hole but they determined that it was a small common one that was not negatively impacting blood flow or pressures, and the chest x-ray was clear. Pumpkin's 1st two cultures also came back clear. It became clear that Johanna had reflux and they suspected that the reflux might have caused the apnea. They gave her a prescription for Zantac which we started that day. There were a few oxygen level alarms that went off on Sunday but the staff thought it might have been a bad contact on the sensor and after it was re-taped the alarms stopped.  We continued to get good news on other tests and the NICU staff started talking about discharge for Tuesday. 

 Tuesday morning when I went to the NICU, Johanna's IV was out and she had been given a bath. Johanna was sweet smelling and I was anxious to take her home. On my next visit all of the sensors were gone and the monitors said discharged. They brought Johanna to my room and she and I got ready to go home. I got her dressed in the little pumpkin outfit we had picked out for the special occasion. That morning Jim took Emma to Towson to get a new cast for her broken arm and then brought the whole family to the hospital to pick us up. Em, Rae, Meg and Bridget were all so excited to see Johanna and hold her again. We were all thrilled to be going home together.