Thank you for visiting my blog! If you are visiting because you have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss, let me say that I am so very sorry. I started this blog shortly after our Baby Grady was stillborn on November 12, 2008. Please visit the sidebar below called "Labels" to find the topic in which you are interested, or just read as your heart desires.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

11 Months

Wow, only one more month and this little guy will be one whole year old! I absolutely cannot believe it! And he will get to celebrate in the Bahamas! Whoo hoo!

My pictures aren't great and he's in his jammies, but I am determined to get his monthly update posted on the correct date for once! The sign is such a challenge and my computer doesn't have photoshop to do anything fancy, so this is what we have...


Words cannot express how thankful I am for this sweet boy and how much I love him. He is growing up too fast, but it's oh-so-fun to see his personality continue to develop. He isn't saying much still. He has mastered the "bah, bah, bah" sound, and he loves to grunt. He is very purposeful in his grunting, though, and will often raise his eyebrows when doing it. He wants to say something and that is his way of communicating right now. Sometimes we grunt back at him, but more often we say something to him, like "Mama" or "Dada" or "cup" or "ball" or whatever is there...you get the idea. I'm sure my pediatrician will have an earful for me at his 1 yr check-up.


He has learned to give me kisses, and oh my goodness, it is the sweetest thing ever! (except, of course, when his big sisters learned to do the same!) He opens his little mouth and leans into me/us, drool and all. That's what makes them so sweet! I. Could. Eat. Him. Up! And truth be known, I do most days! :)

This is his most favorite lovie. It's an Angel Dear lamb that Gib's cousins sent when he was born. He sleeps with it every night and holds it close to him all night long. I'm going to have to get a second one to have when this one gets dirty!

He still isn't crawling and isn't even close. He continues to roll and is now sitting very well. His physical therapy is progressing very slowly (and is pretty much at a standstill right now considering I can't get up and down off the floor without excruciating pain to my knees when they stretch, not to mention if he were to bang them...). He is starting to favor his left arm/hand again and is very temperamental about me doing anything that he doesn't want me to with his right. If I hold his left arm down to force him to use his right, he uses his right...to move my hand off of his! Too funny! The therapist told me to put a sock on his left hand instead of holding it down. He promptly and proudly removed the sock. The girls heard her say to tape it, so I guess I will try that, but he will have to have long sleeves on first. I'm not going to tape his bare skin!

He is finally using his tongue more when he eats, and I've been giving him a few finger foods. Problem is that he doesn't put the food to his mouth. He tries to pick it up, and if he succeeds, he just holds it in his hand. If I put it in his mouth for him, he goes to town. I keep telling myself to be patient. He still has a great appetite, gets three solid meals a day and 4 or 5 bottles of formula. He has mastered drinking from a sippy cup and is very proud of himself, as are we. He will drink from it and if we say, "Yay" he puts his cup down to clap for himself. His clapping is very cute, right hand in a fist and left hand open. Hopefully, we will get the hand splint in two weeks because he needs it to help hold his right hand open.

After physical therapy this week, we went to Chick-fil-A for lunch. He sat in a high chair for the first time in a restaurant, and he did great! I have the cutest picture on my phone, but I just tried to download it, and I can't. Bummer.

He continues to love to watch racing on TV. Gib says his favorite is Carl Edwards, #99. I'm still not sure how Gib stumbled upon racing one day, but he did and it captured Matthew's attention. When I'm gone and racing is on, I can rest assured that's what the "boys" are doing. He loves to play on the floor with his toys, and of course, jump in his exercauser.


He had his first visit to the pool one day last week. He wasn't so sure at first, but that only lasted a few seconds. He loves it! We have now gone three times and he just splashes and has a great time. The water was freezing to me today because it was cooler and rained last night, but it didn't bother him one bit!


He sleeps great, eats great, poops great, pees great, smiles a lot, and loves his big sisters. Not much more to add except that he's such a love, and we are oh so thankful for him!

Just for fun, this was him getting a bath tonight. Gib put him in the tub and made a mohawk on top of his head. I usually have his tub in the big tub, but since I can't get on my knees right now, I've resorted back to bathing him in the sink. And, what a wet mess it is because he loves to splash!


For the record, and just in case you're interested, Gib took pictures of my injuries earlier this week. They might not look bad, but I can assure you they hurt! However, I would much rather it be me than Matthew! And, I still can't tell you what a miracle it is that he is fine. Really. Praise God...again and again and again! Check out my second toe on the foot to your left. I think I broke the end of it if that's possible. Now the whole thing is black/blue.


Love,
Tonya

Monday, June 13, 2011

Today, I'm Thankful

This day has already started out much better than yesterday. I'm so, so very thankful. Let me explain...

My morning started off yesterday with Gib sharing some news that made me very angry. I cannot go into details here, but it has nothing to do with our marriage or our immediate family. Everything is fine on the "home front". But to say I was angry would be an understatement. I was furious, and I let him know. I wasn't mad at him, I was mad about an upcoming situation that I'm dreading oh so much. I threw Matthew's dirty diaper on the ground and said some not-so-nice things. I don't curse often, but I did yesterday. NOT a good way to start the Lord's day to say the least.

I showered and got ready for church, but Buddy needed to go out once more to finish his business. I was holding Matthew, put Buddy on the leash and out we went. I walked down to the sidewalk, and my sweet friend from down the street was walking with two of her children, one in a stroller. Buddy got excited, but I parked him and told him to stay. I expected him to obey. I turned to say something to her, and Buddy took off. He spun me and Matthew around so fast I didn't know what was happening. I tried to hold onto him simply because I didn't want him to scare my friend's children. He was excited but to see an 80 pound dog running after you can be quite scary. I couldn't hold him, though. He drug Matthew and I into the street, and we took an ugly, ugly fall. I still have asphalt in my elbow.

I am sore today. I have a raw elbow and two skinned knees, small cuts on my foot and a broken toe. It is truly only by the grace of God that Matthew is okay. I fell on top of him and his head scraped the road, but it is superficial and you can hardly tell today. Once we fell, we actually kept sliding. Somehow my left arm/elbow shielded him from the road. It felt like Matthew's head hit hard, and he was screaming. I literally saw his life as we know it flash before my eyes as I was heading back into the house. I just knew we were going to be heading to the hospital with a head injury. S.C.A.R.Y. He cried but never threw up or tried to go to sleep. I cannot tell you the relief I felt when I realized he was okay.

Today, I am so, so very thankful. Thinking back on yesterday morning just makes me sick to my stomach.

To my sweet friend who was there yesterday, I know you feel bad, but please, please don't! It's not your fault that my dog cannot control himself! I so-very-much appreciate your help in getting Buddy back into the house and you looking out for Emma Grace, too. I hope your children weren't too scared, and soon I'm sure the memory of seeing me fly across the road will actually be pretty funny!

Today, I'm thankful for a new day. For a baby who is alive and well. For good friends. And for the loving grace and mercy of my Heavenly Father who guarded and protected Matthew yesterday.

Thank you, Lord!

Love,
Tonya

Friday, June 10, 2011

Kissing and Clapping

Hello to my long, lost blog friends!

I don't know what my deal is lately. I want to blog, but I find other things to do instead. I do have to say, however, that I've been fairly productive around my house and it needs to continue! We had a garage sale last weekend and most everything that didn't sell was donated. What a good feeling it is to clean stuff out!

Anyway, the topic of this blog post isn't about cleaning...it's about clapping and kissing.

Matthew has learned to do both this week. Oh my.

He. Is. So. Stinking. Cute.

But, I'm a little biased.

When I ask for kisses, he opens his mouth and leans into me. Be still my heart! I think his favorite person to kiss is Jessica, though. She gets the most of any of us. He knows a pretty girl when he sees one!

He has also learned to clap his hands. It's not your typical clap, though. Nope. His right hand doesn't open. So, he claps with his right hand in a fist and his left completely open. He doesn't know the difference...he's just proud of himself, as are we. I'm thankful he has at least learned to do the motion of clapping and is appropriate with it when we say, "Yay" to him.

He has been fitted for a splint for that right hand, and we should get it at physical therapy next week. The original thought was that he would only sleep in it, but the occupational therapist said he might need to wear it more often. He is again favoring his left hand and has become very temperamental about anyone messing with his right. If he doesn't want to move it, he doesn't want anyone else to move it either. I'm glad he is asserting some independence, but unfortunately, he won't win this battle.

Just a short update on our little man. He has recovered well from his double ear infections from last week. He had his first trip to the pool earlier this week. He wasn't too keen on it at first, but ended up loving it! He will be 11 months in just a few days, so a more detailed post will come soon.

Hope y'all have a great day!

Love,
Tonya