Winter Break Activity #2, #3, and #4

#2 - We made Borax Snowflakes

#3 - We surprised Daddy at work and kidnapped him for Lunch:

 It was just funny that this random food truck pulled up RIGHT as we were waiting for him. HAHAHA

 We took him to Panera. Bridget yelled out in the middle of the restaurant 

"Yous is ares special guest fors lunch!"

Guess you had to be there. LOL

 Juliet sat by the fireplace and enjoyed her own Ham sandwich. Ham is her favorite kind of sandwich.

Our whole family split 2 of these suckers!

#4 - We went "sledding" WHILE it was snowing. I think we got 13 inches total up by us.

 Scarlett refused to wear her snow pants so Bridget wore them.

 Lucas rode his new bike!

 Then Scarlett realized Bridget was wearing HER pants, aaah girls.

 Bridget begged not to go on the jumps that Lucas and Nathan made...

They didn't listen. Haha.

Such a fun week so far! So glad Nathan's work declared today a snow day, and that Mackenzie and Emma could come over for a much needed playdate.  The kids really love having friends over.

Mommy and Mason

I was fortunate enough to spend a good chunk of the evening at the NICU without Nathan, aka The Baby Hog!

My friend took me there and took pictures the whole time. 

So this should be titled "Photo Bomb"

 Even though he is tiny, he looks amazing!

Here is some perspective to how small he is!

We came at shift change so I got to take his temp...

This was the first time I heard him cry, like really cry.  It was such a great sound to hear.

I moved to the other side to weigh him and he was staring at me the majority of the time.

In fact the whole time I was there he was completely awake and responding to my voice.

A good stretch for my tall boy!

He is 17 inches and 4 pounds at 32 1/2 weeks. There is talk about adjusting his age to 34 1/2 weeks because my due date was unknown since I bled so much.

Hey there!

 Mason never had his footprints taken because he wasn't breathing at birth, and had to go straight to the NICU. They didn't have time to do it, so I asked, and got to do it!

So glad she was there to take pictures for me!

He just stared at me and listened to me. So chill.

The nurse let me hold him out of the swaddle!

He was so alert and awake and adorable!

I got to hold him during a feed and just love on him.

 He is such a grabby mcgrabberson! He was pulling out the nasal cannula over and over - I would too they suck...or is it blow? Haha.

Such tender moments. It was extremely hard to leave him. He pooped in protest as we were leaving. Haha.

He is getting stronger everyday and I just love him so much.

I am so grateful my friend could take me, and stay with me, and watch me cry.  It has been especially hard since my across the street neighbor had her baby 4 days after me and has her "termie" home with her. 

Soon I will be there. Soon.

Winter Break Activity #1

Since we already celebrated Christmas, Nathan and I made a list of things to do with the kids to make the break go by faster and be more memorable.  Today was cooking. Make Cracked Snowball Cookies!

So we did. This recipe makes 8 dozen. So, tomorrow, half are going with me to the NICU, and the other half are going to RGI with my special requested dip for the work noonday party.

 

 Joo-ge has never seen us bake before. She was so into it!

The kids had fun and made a beautiful terrible mess. I have missed baking soooooooo much! In other unrelated news my dad is going to buy a crock pot! I know, I was stunned too! HAHAHHAHAHA.

It is amazing how much I have accomplished today with the kids home. It snowed and it was so nice to not "have" to go anywhere! :) Laundry, baking, and the bathrooms all were completed today. Its nice to be back! :)

Gettin' My Craft On!

11 weeks on bed rest could have broken me. I am not going to lie. It was really, really, hard. A lot of things kept me busy. Recycled and Repurposed Christmas Presents (more on that later), Sewing for the upcoming bundle of joy (more on that later,) and making 100 of these birdies...

They were all different. Everyone in the swap got two. For two turtle doves. Wait - what swap? I was fortunate enough to participate in a swap with some extremely talented ladies.

Here is the BLOG LINK

It was so fun having 3 teams, I wished I was on EVERY team.

It was also nice to get several packages just for me in the mailbox! :)

I made 100 because I plan on giving the remaining birds to the NICU staff and babies for Christmas. 

We have been hard at work making treats in mason jars and writing thank you notes to everyone who has been taking care of our precious little man...more on that later! :)

NICU week 2

I am feeling better. It is so hard to know you have 5 kids and only have 4 with you.

Breaks my heart. :(

 Day 10 -32 ccs every 3 hours!

Day 11 - Only need a little O2 and is taking 33cc every hour of 26 cal milk up from 24cal.

Also he is doing very well in taking a binkie and sucking and maintaining his body heat.

Day12 - 3.9 pounds (almost at birth weight after a big drop) off caffine,  gaining 2oz a day. bath last night. off warmer/temperature...maintaining own heat.

Day 14 - Popped the top off for body temp test and passed! Feedings good (33ccs every 3 hours) Start iron injections!

Day 15 - Got a call that he needed to go back on high flow nasal canula, not a big deal but Nathan made it work so we could go in immediately, so we did.

The best part of the week was that I FINALLY got to hold him. They don't want too much stimulation so they try and space it out. Here we are FINALLY holding our sweet, sweet baby. :)

Monkey fingers. They tell us he loves to pull out his cords. Hahaha.

 No more top! Whew!

Tiny Stethoscope!

I can see now that Nathan is right "Their weird limbs are from you"

I was also crying in this picture. I have waited for 15 LONG days to hold my baby. 

Love those Mr. Burns fingers! :P

He is almost 17 inches, but looks so small still.

 Lots of BROWN hair! 

 He might have to be called peanut.

 I started talking to him and he woke up!

So I sang him the song that the kids loved when they were babies and he "smiled" I know he is too young to really smile but we DID get some form of happiness. :)

Nathan, the baby hog, didn't want to leave. I didn't want to either but the other kids needed us.

 So we said our goodbyes, gave one last hug...

...and left. He is truly a miracle and we are so grateful he came and lived and so far is doing really well.

We love and miss you Mason!