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Rachel MarieMia Gabrielle

Both girls are doing wonderful and growing each day.

Maybe one of these days I'll get back into my sewing room....maybe.

February Storms

I've had several email and ask if we were hit by the storms. No, they were about 80 miles to the east of us, but our oldest lives real close to where one did come through. They were without power for about 3 hours, but no major damage. Thank goodness.

If you like storm chasing ...and there are many of us around here who stand on the porch to watch them, one of the local television stations has some good videos and pictures of the damage that occured all over the state.

We did receive close to an inch of rain last night...I slept through it, and the needed moisture was welcome.

It's springtime on the priarie....it's gonna storm...and I'm glad I have a basement.

Twice the Fun

So much lovin, cuddlin, rockin, singing.....Oh...so much fun!

Grandma Again!

This Grandma thing is really nice! We got a few layers of ice and snow yesterday, but Mia Gabrielle decided it was time to come into the world. Her and Mom are doing great. She weighed in at 6lbs and 12 ounces. She looks just like her Daddy, except she has lots of dark hair.

It's amazing that we got to hold her about an hour after she was born. This Grandma-thing is just alright!

Gramma's Girl is Home!

Yes, she's Daddy's little princess and Mama's little girl, but she's Grandma's Sweetheart! If you just set and talk to her, she just coos and talks back.

Her Mama took her to her first pediatrician appointment this afternoon, so I'm setting here waiting on the results from the trip. She's 7 weeks old, and still 3 weeks from reaching her due date.

She's perfect...just tiny... and with absolutely nobody in this family being petite...she'll get over that in a hurry! She's HOME and she only lives 1/2 mile from me!

TONIGHT!

Guess who's coming home TONIGHT!

HINT...she wears PINK!

I cannot wait!

Sewing..

Yes, in the midst of all the running around worrying about babies there has been some sewing going on at my house. I've got one graduating from H.S. this May and I asked him what type of quilt he wanted. Troy had two requests: That it wasn't flowery and that it was big enough for a bed. Since we don't know where he's going to college yet (he may sleep in his own bed for a semester or two), I still want to make it big enough for a dorm bed.

So, here is the progress so far. This is Bonnie's Star Struck design done in leftover plaids...mostly homespun. I think these things multiple in the bin because this is the FOURTH homespun quilt I've made and what's left is either getting donated or cut into strips for the general scrap bin.

Here's a close-up of the blocks. You can tell they're not sewn together and how I didn't do matchy-match on the patterns/plaids. I tried to keep similar sizes of plaids together and did put a lot of colors together, but Troy is pleased with the progress, and that's what matters. At this point it's approximately 6'x4'....I still have a bunch of blocks laying on the ironing board. It'll need a couple of borders put on it too before it'll be big enough. I've never been known to make small quilts.

You can't see the quilt too much, but here's a bullseye quilt that is made from homespuns. It's being "held-in-place" by Rusty the watch-dog.

Since every post of mine for the past 44 days has included a Rachel update....today's news is that she was put in "The Village" yesterday. We're going to have a baby home THIS WEEKEND! So...I'll be in the rocking chair holding her if you need me!

Fast Update

I got a call yesterday that Rachel has reached the 4lb mark! She's out of "the box" and in a regular bed. If she can keep her body temperature steady and continues to receive all of her milk without being tube fed, then her and her Mama will get moved to "the village". It's a wing of the hospital that resembles a motel. Parents stay overnight 24 hrs a day with the baby until the staff is convinced that she will thrive at home.

I can see this happening very-very soon! So...keep your prayers going. Rachel is coming home soon!


Can you stand anymore good news? The OTHER daughter-in-law is now two weeks away from her due date!

SOOOOO much excitement...so much pink stuff going on! Yes, I'm going to be Gramma to two girls!

It's a Monday

I had a long weekend. Quilt show in OKCity...which I did not overspend because I really didn't see anything that I just had to have a lot of.

I did buy an Amy Butler bag/purse pattern. The vendor was upset that I didn't buy her kit for $59., but I'd like to use my own fabric and $17. for a 1/2 yard of interfacing?..yikes! It was fun seeing quilts displayed from people that I actually knew. Yes, there are photos...still on my camera, if I could find it.

And then...there's the matter of a dent in my car. When a family member does the damage, does that mean I get a new car? yeah, right.

I did get to go see Rachel. This is from a few days ago, but she's progressing. She lacks GRAMS being 4lbs...which will mean getting out of the BOX. We're excited. She's taking a bottle every 6 hours, so the hospital stay visit may end soon. She's staying healthy which is so wonderful. I had somebody ask me if I've ever go to hold her. I've never even TOUCHED her! Her Daddy was holding her yesterday when I went in...and there's no way he'll turn loose of her.

Monday still....I spilled a huge tavel mug of coffee all over the counter, cabinet front and floor which you know it had to run under the fridge. I was already running late and then my garage door opener didn't want to make it go back down.

...and then I almost had a new coyote hood ornament. Even tho it's almost noon, I need to go back home and start over. Maybe this Monday will go away. Hope the body shop guys are nice with their repair estimates.

A new year

Her Daddy finally got to hold her. She took a bottle for the first time yesterday. Her Mama insisted that they try. Rachel drank 1/3 of what she was suppose to get in a feeding, so it won't take her long to learn to drink it all. We're now free of all air tubes and the picc line. Only have the basic monitors hooked up to her.

Antique Present

I have a son who works for a local natural gas company. He frequents alleys reading and repairing gas meters. He told me that when he saw this piece of furniture that it had Mama's name on it! Believe it or not, it was setting beside a dumpster.
I haven't done much research on the Singer machine, other than knowing it's the same exact machine that I use to sew on at my Grandmother's house (middle 1960's) when she lived out on the farm. As soon as it was unloaded, it was plugged in and other needing a good oiling she purrs right along. The drawers to the cabinet are full of attachments!

This machine (Bruce) was setting on the ground beside the cabinet. I'm assuming it was the original machine in the cabinet.

My question is this: Who in their mind would leave this thing by the dumpster? Even if you were sick of looking at it, we have TWO second-hand shops in town that they could've left it at.

Oh well...their loss is now my piece of furniture to dust!

A little pink!

Three pounds 6 ounces of pink to be exact! The little thing has decided to grow! She reached enough grams that she can hold her own body heat so the clothes went on. The next hurdle will be to drink from a bottle. She loves her pacifier, so don't think it'll be a very large obstacle for this growing girl.

She was a month old yesterday. Big changes for such a small bundle of pink.

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas here on the farm. Cool temps--mid 40's....but always wind. There were 7 of us here Christmas morning to open pkgs. Fun, low-key day just like we always like.

The morning sun was shining thru as these two were eating breakfast waiting on the rest of the crew to get home.
If you've followed me very long, you know I don't do this very often....but HERE is me with the boys. From the left....Troy, Travis, and then Trent always in his overalls.

Hope everybody had a good Christmas. We can't wait till next year when we'll have two grandaughters to share it with.

Speakin' of which....Rachel has done everything wrong...she healed faster than they thought she would so she's back on milk. She's also gained up to 3lbs. 1ounce...they said she'd lose weight with her infection. Yep..sounds like a typical grandaughter...breakin' ALL the rules! Go Girl!

A small setback..

Rachel has developed an infection in her small intestines. Her picc line was put back in and antibiotics were given immediately. I'm grateful that they're watching her under a microscope to catch everything.

She's off of milk for a few days until they can get this cleared up. We're praying that she maintains her weight and her strength.

The day after Christmas--Rachel is responding to the antibiotics and is doing lots better. Still off of milk for a few more days, but she's feisty as ever..which we're thankful! The little stinker pulled off her air line and climbed out of her diaper!

She's at 2lbs. 14 ounces...so we're maintaining the weight.

Early Christmas Present

I usually don't expect much for Christmas --I'm one of those that buy whatever I want myself. But...this year I asked for a 2 or 3 cup mini food processor--I'm not even picky about the brand since Bernina doesn't make one. There was even one sale at Walmart for $10 awhile back. So, you ask why I put pictures of these purdy black cows on my page?

Instead of a food processor under the tree, I got 38 gonna-be mama cows for an early Christmas present.

Do you think they want to come early for Christmas dinner and help me chop, dice and slice?

Friday to Sunday

...and Rachel has gained 3 ounces. Waiting on a new pictures...maybe tomorow.

Gramma has been sewing too!

Rachel Marie Progress

Rachel is still doing great. I had several email me and ask, so thought I'd just post some new pictures of our little angel. She's free of all IV's but still has a little oxygen going to help her breathe. If they take it away, she uses too many calories to breathe instead of to grow. Gaining weight is the main objective right now. They've upped her intake of milk too and started adding fortifier to it...adding calories. They're having her practice on a pacifier while she's feeding so she'll associate the sucking and the feeding. She has to learn all of these things before they'll try her on a bottle--which could be as early as next week. Last week she passed the heart and brain scans and now she's passed the eye exams. I got to see her yesterday and it's amazing how much she's changed in the past week. She's up to 2lb. 9 ounces.


Oh, Hancock's had a 1/2 price sale on flannel.....and fleece. Yep, this little girl is gonna have some special things made for her homecoming. Her Gramma just needs to get busy!

(the first picture--she only wears the hat when she's outside of her box...she's laying on her Mama. Janice says she'll lay there for about two hours and never even move because she's so relaxed. You know hearing her Mama's heartbeat is like music to her ears.)

Gaining

I got a report last night that Rachel was back up and over 2 lbs. She decided in the past few days (actually hours) to start growing...and is gaining fast. Blessings. The nurses say she is digesting the milk now and she is not missing a feeding. Another blessing. Her mama caught her smiling in her sleep....happy, content little one. High heels, cowboy boots, flip flops...I can see her closet floor already!

Another good day

More progress with Miss Rachel. They took off her air tube since it had been turned down to 21% oxygen and that is what you and I breathe. She digested more milk so they're still giving it to her. Her poor little face is really red from all tape that held the tubes on with. This will disappear after a few days.

She is such a wiggle-worm-- she's always trying to get free. One day she tried to crawl out of her nest.

Every day they change out her bedding and it's all handmade items that local groups donate to the NICU. If you do this type of work...BLESS YOU! I cannot take things up there and be guaranteed they will get on her bed. There are 80 babies in the unit and every one has special things to be cuddled with. But...you can bet this baby will have all kinds of things later on!

Six Days Old

Rachel's Mom was dismissed from the hospital yesterday...took most of the day! The nurses were so nice, but a hospital runs almost like the gov't....slow.

We moved Mom and Dad to the Ronald McDonald House and it's a good feeling to know that they're safe and close to Rachel. If you're ever asked to donate to a RMH don't hesitate to do so..it's such a good place for parents to stay.

Rachel needs to gain a few more grams and she'll be back up to 2lbs. She's like most babies and lost a little, which she doesn't need to do. They've tried milk a few times and sometimes she can digest it and sometimes she can't. The nurses watch her constantly so she's getting the best of care.


We call her little incubator a Terrarium. It's such a controlled environment, it's just the perfect place for her to stay until she gets stronger.


I got home about 9pm last night and was in bed before 10. It feels good to have clean underwear and socks!


Keep praying....she's stable and growing and we want her to grow and get strong!