Happy Thirteen Week Birthday, my little princess ... (two days late)

yes, I forgot ... again! Her three month birthday and thirteen week birthday were just a day apart and I sort of spaced that it was a saturday - and was too tired to put up pics, remember! So, here are some pics from saturday of the princess on her thirteen week birthday! We came home yesterday and she's having some fussy moments, but they seem to be getting better (shorter & she's more easily soothed - unlike her first cry that was so hard and lasted way too long). She's eating like a champ, I have to say that I sort of feel like maybe they weren't really taking the time to give her a good chance to eat on her own ... I hope I'm wrong, but that's my feeling as she's been eating at least a little bit every time we offer! She's peeing pretty well, and so she should - being on lasix and all! Her pooping needs to improve, but she did have a stinky diaper this morning - yay! We see the cardiologist tomorrow and back to L.A. for a follow up on thursday, and I have a call in to try and see her pediatrician! Keep up those prayers all, I know Zoey is benefiting from everyone's faithfulness - God has been so with her and has blessed us so richly with her! Have a great week!

I love this, makes me want to yell out "ka-pow"!

my poor little bruised up baby! she came home with many a "battle wound"!

I'm so glad I got one of her with a bow on saturday!

all cozy and comfy - such a princess!

Happy Three Month Birthday, my little princess ...

can you believe it? I sure can't! My baby isn't a "newborn" anymore - sniff sniff. I was a little sad that I couldn't do cute three month photos ... but I've learned to accept that things are different with Zoey (my others had one, two, and three month photos - and that was back when I still took them places for their photos) and that it's ok! The point is, I still took photos of her the day she celebrated turning three months old ... and they're still cute, as they are of her! Daddy woke up with a slightly stuff nose and decided to play it safe (it ended up going away) so I went on my own and stayed a little over five hours. It was nice, even though she was asleep for most of it. When she did finally wake up, though, she talked to me and smiled at me ... oh how wonderful it was! But, then she got the hiccups and started to cry and I was so sad ... after about ten minutes of fussing she fell asleep - poor thing! So today's progress has included weaning off of oxygen, they were planning to remove it completely by tonight; they also stopped the lasix from being a continuous drip to every "so many" hours, and tomorrow will change it to by mouth/g-tube (she does still need it though as she's still "positive" - meaning she's taking more in than putting out); they took the dressing from the chest tube stitches off now, so no dressings at all! I was there for two feedings, the first one she wouldn't wake up ... and the next one I got to try to feed her, but she wasn't interested - bummer! Still, even though she has to be tubed - she's tolerating the milk and that's what's most important (also, they're not fortifying the breastmilk!). Her lungs are looking much better, they said "it's the difference between night and day" - so wahoo for that! She also had an echo (actually two, something about the first one not being able to see something?) but I haven't officially heard about that, the "tech" who did it just said it looked "fine"! Hopefully I didn't forget anything and sorry it's so mumbo-jumbo. Now to the real point of this post - the beautiful little three month old girl:

she was pulling out her oxygen tube again today!

Happy Twelve Week Birthday, my little princess ...

as you'll see, today it was all about just getting some photos taken - on the actual day - to have and to share! nothing fancy, although I did put an especially cute little outfit on her. my little Zoey is twelve weeks old, that's just crazy. she's doing pretty good. she's been a bit more fussy the past couple days and even waking in the wee hours, something she's never done! her eating is very hit and miss, one day we'll essentially only use the tube for meds ... the next we'll be finishing off every bottle through the tube. she's sweating a lot more with her feeds and has even been falling asleep again, I definitely believe that the timing for this surgery is perfect. today I tried several times, but couldn't get her to smile - makes me sad. I don't think she's feeling quite herself, my guess is she's heading back into congestive heart failure ... so, again I say, perfect surgery timing - praise Jesus! I finally had a "quiet" day today - after my insane week. got to do some fun stuff both late last night and today. tomorrow I need to get all packed, as monday morning I have other things to deal with - and then we'll be leaving after Zoey's 12pm feeding! please pray for safe travel, God's healing and guidance in the surgeons hands (and the entire team), God's complete will, no complications, God's protection through the process of surgery, compassionate/caring nurses, joy, peace, comfort, clear minds, open hearts! We've decided to take Liam with us, I know many disagree with this decision - and it may make visiting Zoey a difficulty (we'll likely have to visit one parent at a time, while the other is with him) ... but we want things to be as easy as possible for my mom here, so having just the big kids provides that - and we just want our other baby with us! I know some day I'll be able to think ... "remember when Zoey had her surgery" ... I can't wait for it to be behind us! but, for now, as we approach it - I just pray for my little sweetheart. she is just so precious. oh how I love her so!

wednesday Zoey was 10lbs 13oz and 23.1"

Happy Eleven Week Birthday, my little princess ...

so, I'm guilty - again - of forgetting that it's saturday and saturday means Zoey's weekly birthday! Me, Nana, and the big kids had a busy day between yard sale-ing, driving up to San Luis Obispo for Panda Express and Old Navy, then driving home and hitting Target and picking up dinner on our way through Santa Maria! In an effort to redeem myself, I just sneaked into my room and got a quick pic of the little miss - she's asleep! It looks a little funny, but I didn't want to disturb her by taking too many, so it will have to do! Please keep praying for her, these last three days her eating has been off - yesterday she didn't eat very much on her own, so I had to tube most of her feedings! I'm not sure why she's suddenly seeming dis-interested, she was doing so well! I'm just thankful I have a way to still nourish her, though - and aside from that nothing's changed - which is good. She's smiling all the time now and I just love it so much - have I mentioned that? anyway, here's the sleeping sweetheart!

Happy Ten Week Birthday, my little princess ... take two!!!

ok - now I've done a little picasa magic (no, I still haven't even attempted to figure out photoshop!) to these pics, I had fun and really like the results! I was also going to mention that Zoey had her two month shots on friday - and you would have never known! It was heartbreaking when she screamed at the last one, but she calmed down quickly and didn't have a single side affect - yay!

Happy Ten Week Birthday, my little princess ...

I almost can't believe I'm about to say this ... but, I think I'm actually happy! Of course I'm happy, I don't mean in general ... what I'm talking about - are these photos. Maybe it's just a matter of capturing enough "good ones" that has brightened my day? Maybe it's that I finally put to use one of the backdrops I purchased months ago (be it, as it may, that I did so by nailing it to the wall - I know, all the photographers are gasping)? Maybe it's that I finally got to use this most adorable outfit that has hung in my closet for months, waiting for the perfect little girl to be photographed in it? Maybe it's just that I love looking at my children and so these photos bring joy to this Mama's heart? ... or maybe, just maybe, I actually did a decent job and I'm just happy and content with it? Whatever it is, though, I'm happy. Happy to look at these. Happy to share these. Happy to think about editing them with some cool effects (if only I could figure out photoshop - ugh). Happy I have them.

Zoey Grace
10lbs 9oz (yesterday)
22.6 inches (yesterday)