Due Date Come and Gone

Yesterday, January 30, 2011, was Quincy's due date. Saturday, January 29, 2011, she turned seven weeks old. I honestly cannot express the whirlwind of emotion that flowed over me yesterday as I marveled at the miracle that is my tiny and perfect daughter.
She is growing, growing, growing! Q hit six lbs, and we expect that she will quickly hit seven! She has spent the past few days more and more awake. Q quietly observes her world and listens intently as Mom and Dad (and Aunt Stef right now) sing to her. She loves being talked to, and I am just waiting for her to join in the conversation. She acts as if she wants to burst out and tell me her life story! I am so ready to hear it.
We have had lots of visitors the past few weeks. Grandma and Grandpa Halasz came to spend some time with their first grandchild. It was nice to have Nick's mom and step-dad with us. They loved on our girl plenty, and I think her Grandpa Desi was quite taken with her. JB and Savanna came to spend some of that time with us as well. It is really wonderful how in love with Quincy her Uncle J is. She is one lucky girl to have him around! (Not to mention Savanna who loves my daughter as much as we do!)
The day that Grandma left, Stef and Miki Jo came to visit. The picture above is Michaela and Quincy's first meeting. Michaela is a giant compared to our little one! They are so cute together. Miki Jo isn't always sure what to think of this new cousin of her's, but she will tentatively reach out to touch Quincy's hand. It is very sweet. I am so glad that Stef is here! Mom had to leave before Quincy came home, and I didn't realize how much I needed a sister here until she got here! They are supposed to leave tomorrow, but with a snowstorm on the way, we will see if that happens. I'll take them for an extra day!
Q has been pretty congested the past few days. She hasn't really appreciated her Mom and Dad sucking the stuff out of her nose, but she does breath so much better after. She also took her first shower with Mom so that she could have the benefits of a little steam. Our bathroom is too big to just let her sit in there with the shower running. She loved it! I haven't seen her so relaxed during a bath since her first swaddle bath in the NICU.

Here is a new video of her listening to her Aunt Stef sing her a song. She is precious!

A Year of Changes...

I feel as if at the end of every year I have the same conversation with my mom. It goes a little something like this:

Mom: Wow! has really been a crazy/rough/interesting year, hasn't it?

Me: It really has, but I feel like we say that every year.

Mom: Really?! I think this year tops last year though.

Me: If you say so...

As we were having this conversation yet again the other day, I have come to the conclusion that as the years fly by we simply adjust to the ever increasing changes and challenges that come our way while the old challenges fade into view. There must be a reason for this...otherwise I think I would spend life in an eternal funk. 2010 was exciting and challenging and scary and oh so wonderful!

Obviously, I focus much of my attention on the events that have transpired in the last month of the year. The unexpected early birth of our daughter has been the most amazing and terrifying thing that I have ever expereinced. As we continue to go back and forth between home and the NICU, I am so grateful for all the people that have lent us a helping hand, cooked a meal, visited us in the hospital, travelled here to help us out, and said a prayer on our behalf. I can't say thank you enough!

We had lots of friends and family come to see us throughout the year, and we are truly looking forward to that continuing. Our house was packed at Thanksgiving, and we had a great time hosting my siblings.

Nick and I both turned 30...something I was dreading and he could care less about.

In additon to becoming new parents, we also became an aunt and uncle for the first time. Miki Jo joined us in the world exactly seven months before her new cousin. She is such a fun and happy baby!

My mind is a jumble right now. We had so many other things happen, and I can't even focus on it all right now. So, rather than hurt my poor head, I will just wish you all a Happy New Year! May 2011 bring you joy and happiness!

Our Growin' Girl

Baby Q grows and grows and grows every day! She is up to 3 lbs 14.8 oz, and we are thrilled! We can't wait to have 4 lb baby. She is amazing, and I am so proud of the progress she makes daily. As I chatted with the doctor this morning she made it clear that our biggest obstacle in getting her home will be teaching her how to eat. Don't worry, she gets fed, but we have just begun to bottle feed her. She isn't sure if she likes it, and it tuckers her out. Sometimes she eats quite a bit and other times she won't eat more than a few millileters. However, we won't push her to eat more than she feels like eating. Our nurse last night told us that when the babies control how much they eat, instead of being force fed like they used to, they come home faster. We are all for her coming home faster! So, now our prayers have a specific focus...please help our little girl to learn how to eat and to continue to grow healthy and strong!

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!

Christmas Eve

Our little girl was visite by a very special man the other day. When the nurses first told us that Santa came to the NICU to visit the babies and take pictures, I was beside myself. I am often overcome with emotion these days, and the thought of having a picture of our miracle with Saint Nick was something I wished for deeply. My mom was with me, so we were able to take the picture posted above, and I just love how it turned out! We have copies from the hospital that Daddy will be able to take and hang up at work. The hospital staff really takes care of us. For example, when Mom and I went in to see Quincy tonight our nurse had presents for her parents. FOR US! I felt like we should be showering her with presents--and that still wouldn't be enough to show our appreciation--and here she is giving me homemade chocolate treats!
As of today Baby Q has been moved from her isolet (incubator) into an open air crib. This is a very big step, and I am very nervous about it. She is so strong, but I am worried about pushing her too hard too soon. I want her to be successful, and I don't want to have to move her back into the isolet...it would be a step backward. I am just a nervous mommy. She continues to gain weight daily, and we are thrilled! I can't wait until she hits four lbs.
I am sitting here watching The Muppets Christmas Carol with Mom and Nick, and this is the first traditional Christmas thing that we have done this year. It is so strange to think that tomorrow is Christmas. I will be spending the day back and forth from the hospital--Christmas in the NICU--who would have thought that this is where we would be? No one plans for these things. No one. So, I promise to try and focus on those things I should be most grateful for. There is so much. I know that. My little one is being watched over by a host of special angels--both those we can see and those we can only feel. I have my mom here. I have a loving and uber supportive partner in all of this. I have a beautiful daughter! This is a Christmas when I should just be very happy, and I am! This is also a Christmas where I will be very sad. Not because I have any right to be, but quite simply because I want my girl to be home.
Please know that I am grateful for this time of year. I am thankful for a baby born in a manger. And I am thankful for a baby lying in a crib growing, growing, growing every day.

Our Girl

My mom took this, and she posted it on Facebook. I am adding it here for those family and friends who do not have Facebook. Enjoy! I know I could watch it over and over and over again.

Some of God's Greatest Gifts...

I had to post this one as my heart is so full of love from my Father in Heaven. As I have looked back at the events that have or have not happened to Nick and I since we got married and started our life here, I realize that we have been watched over and blessed...all in preparation for this challenge in our life. Here are just a few examples.

1. I don't have a job. For a year and a half I have questioned why I don't have a job. I'm qualified enough. I'm a pretty great teacher. I had quite a few interested parties this summer, yet no job. Flash to now where I can't IMAGINE trying to be a mom with a baby in the NICU and worrying about a classroom too. I love that I don't have to worry about that. I can focus all my time and energy on my baby!

2. I literally stumbled across my doctor by accident. I had no idea who to go see or even really how to find a good doctor. In my random search, I came across my doctor's partner--who no longer delivers babies--and was referred to Dr. Read. He has been a true angel through this process! He was the only one who was able to calm my angry and frantic husband, and EVERY nurse we worked with in the hospital sang him praises! We are so blessed to have someone with his compassion and expertise working so hard to take care of me.

3. My darling friend, Ruth, reminded me today that had my long term sub job actually could have made the PIH so much worse. I would have been working everyday until Thanksgiving. So, when my long term sub job ended early, it was actually a blessing in disguise.

4. The week before this all happened I had been offered a sub job that would have lasted the entire week. I accepted the job, but afterwards I didn't feel right about it. So, I told Nick that I just didn't feel good about taking the job, and he supported me cancelling it. I would have had to worry about calling in sick for a job last minute AND I would have been on my feet all week too. That probably would have been bad.

I am sure there are countless other ways we have been watched over and blessed in preparation for all of this. I am so overwhelmed by the love I feel continuously right now. I am an emotional mess, so when I burst out in tears (and this happens A LOT) please know that my heart is really just full.

This is a picture of daddy's first diaper change. He is really good at it! Thanks to my friend, Angela, for documenting this for me!