Out of difficulties grows miracles: February 2009

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Young love

My favorite picture from yesterdays shower, Ava and her friend Logan. Look at them holding hands. Aww!

And just for nostalgia, Ava and Logan at the hospital when they came to visit us when Ava was brand new.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Poor Ava's day started out typically but took a turn in the afternoon when she had to go to the Ped's for her 4 month appointment (I cant believe she is 4 months already!) She had to get another round of 4 vaccinations. She did well with the shots but was a bit crabby the rest of the night. Instead of being a good Mom and taking her come for a warm bath and cuddles on the couch I dragged her off to our next location.

Her stats are:

Birth
Weight- 6lbs 14 oz
Length- 19 1/2in
head circ.- 14 1/4 in

2 Weeks
Weight-7lbs 5 oz
Length- 20 in
Head Circ.- 14 1/2 in
~25% percentile

2 Months
Weight- 10 lbs 15 oz
Length- 22 1/2 in
Head Circ.- 15 1/4 in
~50th Percentile

And now, 4 months

Weight-12 lbs 5 oz ~25th percentile

Length- 24 3/4in ~60th percentile

Head Circ.- 16 in ~50th percentile

After our appointment we had to run home grab some stuff and then run to a baby shower I was helping co-host for a nurse from work. Poor Amy just had a tough pregnancy. She started on bed rest early and just kept running into hurdles. Amy's due date is coming up in a few weeks, but baby Riley didn't want to wait that long. He decided to come out 3 months early. He was born at 29 weeks on December 23, 2008 weighing 2 lbs 7oz.

Look at him holding his Daddies wedding ring! So sweet.

Thankfully now he is doing well and is going to be coming home any day! So a bunch of us from the hospital gathered to help get Amy ready.

Thankfully for poor grouchy Ava there was no shortage of cuddles from baby savvy nurses to help her sore little legs feel better.

For a while there we had a baby boom at work. At the shower we had 4 babies there born in July, August, September and October. I was excited to have all 4 of them together for pictures.

From left to right Logan (Courtney's baby, born in August), Ava (October), Caleb (Ruth's baby, July) and Jace (Kristie's little one, born in September)

It didn't go over as well as I had hoped. Logan and Ava were super crabby. Caleb started crying when Ava probably blew out his ear drum from her screams. Little Jace there on the end is the only one who didn't think any of this was a big deal.

A few pictures of the rest of the shower.

Amy, Kim and Kerry looking at pictures of Baby Riley

Look how tiny Ava looks next to Caleb, who was born in July.

Think my baby was sleepy? Poor girl. We went home and she got a warm bath and a nice big dose of and was tucked into bed shortly after this.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Super Sundays

Sundays are one of my favorite days. We generally don't make any plans and just kinda bum around. This Sunday morning I made a big breakfast and then we all packed in the car and headed off to the barn. I happened to have my camera with me which was great because even though Ava and I go to the barn together every day I don't have any pictures of her with the horses. My wonderful friend Amanda got us a Baby Bjorn that is so useful for doing my barn chores. and Ava loves sitting in it. Today we took Joey into the round pen to give him some exercise while my wonderful husband cleaned my stalls. Then, just to be sure that Joey responds well to both of us Graham took a turn lunging him.

We got the horses settled in their stalls and than did some grocery shopping, Afterwards we decided to take a walk to a near by park with the dogs. Ava took her first swing ride.

(side note: While I was sitting on the ground taking pictures our Rottie decided her little bottom was too delicate to be place on the playground gravel so she seized the opportunity and sat on my lap! Silly girl!)

My family, minus Dorian the Boxer, who was tied to a park bench because he can't be trusted off a leash.

After Ava tired of the swings we tried out the slide. Wheeee!

Since poor Dorian had to sit out all the fun we took him into the baseball fields and shut the gates so he could run.

Look, there he goes! This was the best picture I could get because he ran and spun and bounced like a manic and my little camera doesn't have the shutter speed to keep up with him.

After dinner Ava settled into her bedtime routine- a bath, a lotion massage, jammies, a story and bed.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Birthday Wishes!

Happy Birthday Amanda!! We love you and are so glad you are a part of our life!

Friday, February 6, 2009

I've been a bad blogger lately so I'm gonna play catch up today and back date some posts from the last few weeks. The weather here has been SO nice that the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer. Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees here! 70, in Colorado, in February! It's crazy! We had plans to meet our friends Angela and Jen who both work in NICU for lunch.

Jen and I got to know each other through our love of horses. I helped Jen pick out her first horse, Jackson. I also helped keep Jackson in shape as Jen was pregnant with her now 2 1/2 year old son, Conner. Although, Jen did a lot more with her horses while she was pregnant than I did with mine. Check her out at a clinic, big belly and all!

Shortly after Conner came along I again went with Jen to pick up her second horse, Guinness.

Angela and I go WAY back. We both used to work on Resp. unit as CNA's way back when I first started at the hospital. Now she's a NICU nurse and I'm on Mom/baby so we got to reconnect and be a shoulder for each other as we both struggled to get pregnant. After several heart breaking losses Angela is now 29 weeks pregnant with twin boys! She's not allowed to work now so this was the first time I got to see her and her belly. She is so cute and tiny!

Can you believe that's not even a maternity shirt? Angela calls it her "bloated from Progesterone shirt"! Ha ha! I remember those days- actually I'm still in those days just without the progesterone this time.

(check out the bald spot growing on my baby! I try hard to keep her off her back during the day but when she's laying down she loves rubbing all the hair off her perfect little head.)

We all had a nice lunch, but had to cut it short when both kiddos (Conner and Ava) decided they had enough sitting and watching us talk. I just hate it when Ava cries in a restaurant. I didn't get what the big deal was when a friends baby got fussy during a meal until I had my own. I know people understand babies cry but still, it's embarrassing! Thankfully the people around us only commented on how cute Ava was and not her crabbiness.

Jen and I said our good-byes to Angela, who was bringing lunch to her Grandmother, and we took advantage of the unseasonable weather and went to the park to watch Conner get out some energy and take a ride on a horse his size.

I wish I was thinking enough to get a picture of Ava at the park, but I was too busy sipping my my Artic slush Jen bought me from Dairy Queen (I had to give up ice cream since it makes Ava gassy. sniff, sniff! The things we do for our children.) and venting with Jen about our Husbands. As we were getting ready to leave some guys came up to us and "I couldn't help to over hear your conversation and I wanted to let you know a good friend of mine is a Pastor and he does marriage counseling if your interested." Jen and I about fall off our bench laughing! We must have been doing some serious venting!

Graham's ears must have been burnin' with the park strangers comments because as soon as Ava and I walked in the door he called and said, "It's such a nice day do you want me to come home early and take Ava so you can go to the barn and ride?" It was the perfect end to a lovely day. Although, I can't help but to wonder if marriage counseling will get husbands to sweep the floors? Somthing to think about...