There she goes with the eyebrows again...

sami scowl
Originally uploaded by MrsSuperSpy

LOL! I swear, this baby is never grumpy. It's just hilarious when she makes this face. I think she was wondering what the heck the big black thing I pointed at her was.

Oh, and she has learned to make a new noise...it involves lots of spitty bubbles, obviously.

Miss Samantha is 4 months old...

Can you believe it? I can't! Friday, the 3rd, my baby was 4 months old! I'm a little late posting this because we were really busy on Friday and Saturday - and then we decided to do a whole lot of nothing on Sunday!

Friday we went for Sami's 4 month appt and it went great! She is weighing in at a hefty 9 pounds and 10 ounces. Yes, I know I said that she weighed that last week, but since then I have discovered that the scale must have read 9 pounds 1.0 ounces. Oops. Anyway, she has gained almost 6 pounds and grown exactly 6 inches. What a big, strong girl! We are so proud of her. Plus, the best news of the appt was that she is at or above her actual age developmentally! WooHoo! The Dr. had always said that she should be expected to reach milestones according to her adjusted age - this would mean treating her as though she was born on her due date (1-5). However, when he asked what "new tricks" she had learned he was very impressed. She is rolling over, holding her head up, smiling, laughing, following everyone with her eyes and head and really just being very social. In fact, when Dr. G went to examine her she couldn't stop smiling up at him! It was very sweet. I think that she is the most social baby we've had. It's just amazing to me that she's so tiny yet so smart and so "normal". In fact, I think I asked the Dr. something along those lines...oh well. He already thinks I'm goofy - why not add to it, right?

A funny for April Fools Day...

Picture this...



Pete and I quietly watching tv in our room. A sweet baby sleeping in her bassinet feet away. Suddenly, the door busts open to a red faced, yelling PJ, holding out a small piece of paper. We shush him and ask what the problem is. He holds of the piece of paper and tells us that THIS is the problem. We ask what it is and he replies "it's a picture Jesse drew of you kicking my butt!". Now, honestly, that's funny. So, I couldn't help but bust out laughing. Oops, wrong thing to do. PJ turned an even darker shade of red and replied in a growl, yell, cry "IT'S NOT FUNNY!" He then crumpled up the paper, threw it on our bed, stomped out of the room and slammed the door. Of course, my sweet baby is awake by now - although she's already realized that PJ is great entertainment, so she's just laying there listening. You'd think that maybe it was over now - well, you'd be wrong. I pick up the baby, I'm trying to rock/walk her back to sleep, but I'm laughing too hard. I have to hand her over to Pete because I end up shaking her rather than rocking her. Then I notice the paper on the bed. I can't help but look at it- and actually, it was a very good drawing. He had even labeled the stick figures. As I'm laughing Jesse comes in the room. "Am I really in trouble? PJ says I'm in trouble." We send him back to bed and continue laughing. But, we can still hear them arguing in their room. So, I go to the door and listen to what they are saying. Lots of "you're in big trouble" "no I'm not" Then came the kickers...



PJ, you're so stupid

Oh yeah, well you're small and stupid

Well, you're big and stupid

Well, you're smaller than Sami

(small whimpering)

Well, you're poop

Well, you're horse poop

Well, you're alligator poop

Well, you're horse, alligator and dog poop



This continued for awhile, and yes, I stood outside the door and listened. Eventually it turned into a good 'ol fashioned game of rifle, rocket launcher, hand grenade. You know that one, right?



All is well, though. Just this weekend Jesse announced he was never going to get married. I told him he was going to be awfully lonely all by himself.



J- I won't be lonely

S- Well, who will you live with?

J- I'm going to live with PJ

S- You are? Where?

J- Up north

P- Ya, in an old cabin



All this without missing a beat. It has apparently been planned out for awhile now. These days they are contemplating the kind of dog they will each have. So far PJ is deciding between a Boxer and a Husky and Jesse is undecided.

Sweet baby

Sweet Sami has just been scrumptious lately! Nobody can resist her. She is smiling and cooing and flapping her arms in delight. She is fascinated by Taylor - she watches her every move. And, I don't think she's quite made up her mind about the boys. They move awfully fast and although entertaining they are sometimes a little startling. Of course, her favorite person in the world, her Dad, always gets the smiles. We are just loving this little girl so much! And, I think she likes us just a little bit, too.

Play Ball!

Saturday was Opening Day for Little League in our town. So, the boys had pictures and their first games. This is Jesse's first year to play and he is so happy to be involved. He is the youngest on his team, but he really holds his own. He's the first one to answer (correctly) when Coach asks what base the play will be at. His team name is the Bats, and he is number 1. As we were driving to the games he announced that he was going to get a homerun. So, Pete and I went along with it and told him of course he was. Well, he was the first batter of the game and guess what he did?!?! He hit a homerun! I guess we shouldn't doubt him! He did great - he fielded the ball many times and threw it right to first base.



P.J.'s team this year is the Red Wings and he is number 14. He's really doing well! He has a great arm and hardly misses a ball thrown to him. His Coach has had him on 1st base at practices and he played 1st all of this game. He was so funny - you could see him standing there waving his glove around just itching to get the ball so he could make the out. He's one of the oldest on his team this year and I think he's just a tiny bit impatient to begin with - no idea who he got that from - so he did quite a bit of glove waving.



Tay and Sam were the cheerleaders - actually, I think Tay just enjoyed hanging out with all of us and Miss Sami had a nice nap in the fresh air. Nana, Pa, Uncle Jay and Aunt Kelli, and Joey, Avery and Mayci also got to come out to the games. It was a nice afternoon, but by the end of PJ's game it was really chilly! I was so glad to have my jacket - and a big blanket for my baby.

Just an update...

Well, I sure fell off the blogging bandwagon didn't I?

These last few weeks have just flown by. The big kids all had Spring Break for two weeks. Of course, the boys had all kinds of plans. Taylor, was very content to be with her friends, though. So, the boys, Sami and I were quite busy. Taylor did accompany us to Tucson where we got to visit Pete's work and meet all the nice people he spends his days with. After we left his office we had some lunch for Jesse's birthday and then went to a Diamondback's spring training game. Jesse said that the best part of the day was going to Daddy's work, though. haha

We also spent a day at the zoo, went swimming and played a lot with our neighbor friends. It was a great break but it went by way too fast! Now I am back to waking up kids, packing lunches and doing homework - blech! Plus, baseball season has begun and this year both boys are playing. Jesse is playing T-Ball and PJ is in Coach Pitch. This makes for very busy days for all of us. Tere are many times that they havve practices/games on the same day. But, luckily they are playing in the same field so I should be able to get them to everything okay.

Miss Sami Jean is also doing well. Pete was just commenting how she seems to have just taken off recently. She now weighs 9 pounds 1o ounces. So, it looks like she'll hit a gain of 2 pounds this month. She has also started to rool over! I am just in shock at this accomplishment! She is only 3.5 months old! I know Jesse was over 4 months before he rolled over! I just keep hearingthe NICU nurse's voice saying "somebody forgot to give her the message". Really, it must be true. She has no idea she is such a little peanut! In fact, yesterday when I took Jesse to school a few of the Mom's were just giggling at her because she was up on my shoulder holding her little head up just looking around at all of them. She's just so funny! She is really interested in her brothers these days - they are live entertainment. And, of course she just loves her big sister. Tay is getting so good with her now that she'll pick her up and hold her and talk to her. Sam just loves the attention!

As far as her birthmark goes things are holding steady. We started her back on the Propranolol - Friday will be two weeks. About an hour after giving her the second dose could see a drastic change in the color of her H. So, the color is definitely changed, and I'd say it's less puffy - maybe softer? So, if we can just hold steady at this point until it reaches the end of it's growth period we'll be doing great. We go back to Phx Children's on Thursday to see Dr. T and we'll se what he has to say. I'm guessing he'll be pleased and that we'll just keep haning out like this. Which is fine by me!

Happy Birthday Jesse!

Today is the day, my baby boy turns the big FIVE. I really can't believe it. Not that he isn't such a mature guy anyway, but 5 just sounds so old. Preschool is almost over, and kindergarten is right around the corner. Not sure if I'm ready for him to get on that big yellow bus...

Jesse Ignacio was born at 9:38am on March 17, 2004. He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. In the spirit of the day he was born with red hair, although I washed it too hard a week later and it all fell out. So, now he has a head full of golden blond hair. His eyes are the most gorgeous color - not blue, not green, not gray - just beautiful.

Mr. Jesse is just such a sweetheart - although, in the last year he has really learned to stand his ground. The little boy who wouldn't leave my side has been known to boss the big kids on the street around if they aren't doing right by him.

His future plans include being an army man, maybe a baby doctor, oh, and never moving out of our house. He plans to live with me all his life. Although, he is quite confused about the bed situation. You know "grown up men can't sleep in little beds" like his.

He has brought so much joy and laughter to our home. We are so "lucky" to have him. Happy 5th Birthday Jesse Nacho - we love you!!!

H Info...He's back...

Well, I guess now is the time to admit it...I freaked out and pulled Sam off the Propranolol about 2 weeks ago. There were scary stories circulating and she had started to get fussy, etc... So, we went into see Dr. T and had a long talk with him. He was kind enough to have researched the scary story I had heard about and talked with us about that. He also consulted many other departments within Phoenix Children's Hospital and assured us that the dosage that Sami was taking were completely safe. But, after all of this he still thought that it was a good idea to take her off. Which, I thought was very noble of him seeing as he was basically taking care of me and my worries, rather than Sam. But, as he said, he has to take care of me as well as her. Am I pitiful or what? Anyway, she had her last dose almost 2 weeks ago and it is definitely growing back. It is the angry red color again and is starting to swell under the suface. Her little lip is stretched again and is very thick. All of this in just under 2 weeks! Really, to be honest, it just plain sucks! So, yesterday we all drove downtown to Phx Childrens and met with Dr. H. He is the Sr. member of the dermatology dept and was very knowledgeable. His staff was also amazing!!! I'd go there just to see his medical assistant. Again, here I am being needy... Anyway, he agreed that we should start the Propranolol again and he raised her dose a bit - because she has grown a bit since we started. When she started she weighed 6/12 and now she is 8/11. So, she will be taking .65ml 3 times a day. We are hopeful that we can get her back to where she was 2 weeks ago. And, now that the ulcerations are almost completely healed she should be doing just wonderfully. The most important thing has always been to Pete and I that she not be hurting. Yes, we'd love for her H to just magically disappear - but that's not going to happen. It's here - and we will be dealing with it for years to come. But, our little girl is just so happy and healthy right now that what her H looks like is not of major concern. As long as it is not hurting her. Of course, we don't want her to be affected by what others may say or do regarding it, so we that also motivates us to get it under control now so hopefully she will never know it was there. That is my hope anyway...

Aside from the H Info, Sami is just doing wonderfully! She is getting bigger and stronger by the day. She is back up to gaining an ounce a day - which will put her at a 2 pound gain per month, instead of the 1 pound I was anticipating. Which is wonderful! She's starting to really get control over her head and loves to be carried so she can look all around. She's smiling at everyone - especially her Daddy. Why does he always get the girls? I guess I have 2 handsome boys, though, so I won't complain.

The other kids are well. They are all on Spring Break this week and next and are very happy about that. We haven't done much so far - but they have great plans for us. Bowling, the pizza place, swimming, etc... And, Tuesday is Jesse's 5th Birthday! So, we have planned a drive to see Daddy's work and have lunch with him. After that I'll take the kids and we'll be going to a Diamondback's spring training game. Of course, all dressed in green!

3 months old!

Samantha = listener

So, we knew all along that Sam's name meant listener. We even joked that maybe this child would actually listen to us. However, I have discovered that instead of her being the listener she has taught me to listen. To family, doctors, friends. People that I always had respect for but never really had to take much advice from. Now, these people are my life lines. She was definitely sent to me for a reason...

~*~How Preemie Moms Are Chosen~*~
(Erma Bombeck)

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his
instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he
observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.
Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to
profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles.
"Give her a preemie." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God?
She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God.
"Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That
would be cruel."
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea
of self-pity and despair.
Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so
rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own.
She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect She has
just the right amount of selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally,
she will never survive.
Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says momma for the first time,
she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--
ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--
and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone.
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life
because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in
the air.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."