Tuesday....December 22nd.

This time last year, I was at the hospital, then at that time, it was a Monday and I was getting ready to take you home!!! I was getting to take you HOME!!! After the pregnancy, who would have thought, right? What is so weird about last time this year is that it was muggy and oh so cold, just like today. I look outside and I instantly remember sitting in the recliner at the hospital holding you and wondering if you were going to be warm enough when we got outside. I remember last year Dr. Carter giving me the a-o.k. to check us out of Scottsdale Shea. I called your daddy and said, "come get us". He was at home trying to put together your bassinet. He came to the hospital, walked into my hospital room and the first thing I asked him was, "where is the carseat?" He looked at me and said he forgot it. He had to go home to get it. Poor daddy.

We finally drove up to the house. I felt so proud. I knew inside was your big brother and Nana. I was SO proud to have you home Gillian! I was hoping by me taking my time getting out of the car (I had to because I had a c-section), some of the neighbors could take a look that their neighbors who just had their baby. Maybe they would feel the happiness that daddy and I did in that very moment.

I got you inside, put you into the bassinet that took daddy over 2 days to put together (you can ask him about the bassinet one day, he put it together backwards). You were warm, sleeping and comfortably resting. I sipped on chicken broth, I kindly "took" about 50 packets from the gallery that they have in the maternity ward. I loved my chicken broth.

So, there you go, my love. A one year reminder of daddy and I taking you home.

I love you sweet girl.

Love always,

Mommy

P.S. It's December 22nd, 2009, 1:00 p.m. (your watching cartoons from you crib)

You're 1!

You are officially 1!!!! I can't believe we've made it this far. Check out how much fun we've had G. Everyday, you do something that makes us ALL smile!

I love you G,

Mommy

Seriously, I can't be this busy!!!

I can't even believe that a year has gone by, well, actually, a year tomorrow. Today, your big brother turned 8 and tomorrow, my love, my sweet little girl, you will be a 1 year old!! Where did the year go? Someone please tell me because I have NO idea where it went!!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted on the blog, baby G. I've been so busy home school Triston and you, for the past 2 months, 1 week have been in a spica cast (full body cast) for your hip and club foot.

Despite the fact your right femur was totally dislocated when you came into this world, you have found your own way to get around. You're SO strong. Your first word was mama. Whenever daddy asks you to say, "daddy", the only word that comes out of your sweet mouth is "mama". You love, LOVE to dance and you love the song, "Single Ladies" by Beyonce. You bounce around and love, LOVE watching the music video. O.k., so maybe not age appropriate for a little baby girl but you LOVE the song and darn it, you can have your way, at least just this time.

October 27th, of 2009, you went in for a 2 hour surgery to get your femur/hip into place. This is you in the video below, once they gave you some "happy medicine". You were so hungry because you couldn't drink milk after 4 a.m. and you needed some calming down. The medication worked, you became loopy. Even then, while you were being rolled away from me in this cage looking crib, you were so happy. Calm and happy. My heart, my heart was heavy and I already missed you. It was the longest 2 1/2 hours of my life. You're so brave, Gillian, always be brave.

You have to wear the spica cast for 12 weeks. Dr. Vu told me yesterday at your visit that you have 21 days left, wahoo! I miss your legs, I can't wait to give you a bath!!! I love you Gillian so much, I am so blessed you are my daughter.

Love,

Mommy

Crawling in her own way.

So, I see shows on t.v. of other babies her age crawling on both legs and using their arms to prop their bodies up, not my sweet G. Boo boo uses her arms to pull her body around and only one leg to give her body a push. Occasionally, she uses her big toe to give her body a push as well, it's too cute. I don't feel sorry for her, SHE found her OWN WAY to get around and I love it. She's amazing. Look for yourself.

She still needs help sitting up, anyone would if your hip was dislocated. I still make her sit up with my help throughout the day. This little girl is so amazing, she is such a blessing to me and I can't imagine life without that little peanut.

Love you G!

Mommy

4 months, WHAT?

Ok.... I know, it's been 4 months since I last blogged. You're 4 months older, 4 months wiser and I'm 4 months (still) fatter. You have been SO busy, learning new things, I've been learning new things, we're still having a blast little girl. O.k., so in the past 4 months, let me take you down memory row.

May 13th, 2008

Daddy and I took you to have an MRI at PCH. You were so brave, so little and dressed to kill. The Dr.'s and nurses had to put you under because you had to lay really still as they did an MRI on your right femur and hip. Daddy and I had to wait in the waiting room where other families were waiting for their babies/child to finish up with whatever procedure they were doing as well. Sitting at PCH with other families gives you this bond with them, you will never speak a word to them but the glance and smile they give you lets you know "you're not in this alone".

We waited for over an hour, I was getting SO jittery, I wanted to see you so badly. Finally, after an hour and 15 minutes the nurse came and got us. We walked down this long hallway and halfway to your room, I heard you cry. Your cry rather was more like a scream cry. I got to you. You were not wanting to take a bottle. The nurses didn't know what to do. I switched the nipple on the bottle to the one you are use to and you took your "baby gatorade" right away. I held you, I kissed you, I told you how brave you were. We go home, I sat in the backseat with you in the car so that I could make sure you were o.k. You were groggy, oh so tired. You slept for a few hours after we arrived home and so did I. PCH wanted us there super early for your procedure.

A few days later. Dr. Vu's office called. Your right femur looks great and your hips are fully formed!!!! (Can you say, THANK YOU!!!!).

Daddy and I shared tears in our bathroom as soon as I got off the phone with Dr. Vu's assistant, Jennifer. We love good news!!

I love you girl, you're my fighter, my sweet girl.

11 pounds 6 ounces

You're getting so big girly! You had your 4 month check-up today, you were all smiles until you got your shots, ouch. You had a busy week as well, you went on your first vacation up to the Forest Houses with dad, Triston, Nana and mommy. You had a blast. You loved watching the fire and laying around with those who adore you so much. Keep doing what you do girl, grow, be healthy, love and know how much I love, LOVE you.

Love,

Mommy

4 months

I can't believe your 4 months old already. You'd the stinky da binky baby. Mommy made red velvet cake yesterday, shhh, I gave you a taste of the frosting, don't tell your doctor! You rolled over for the first time, your trying to sit up and you still like to coo and yell, a lot. You like to wake mommy up at 6 a.m. to play. You're THE BEST! I can't get enough of you. My sweet girl, I love you so much mama.

Yes, you are too cool!

Loving life with you next to me

Look at you, so curious and so wanting to talk away...o.k., maybe not talk but you sure do love your own voice!

For anyone who visits my blog because I posted a message on your blog and you wanted to see who I am, please, by all means, follow me OR follow my cooking blog I share with one of my dear friends, Jaime.

Jaime & Jen DISH

For those who don't know me, I've been married for 10 years, next month to my sweet husband, Bart. I have two children, Triston and my sweet Gillian. I'm a stay at home mom who loves to be wife/mom and a chef in our kitchen.

This blog here is for my daughter....for her to read later on in life.....I hope you enjoy it now.

A year ago....

A year ago, April 10th, daddy and I were laying in Dr. Nemiro's office with 3 embryos inside me. I did IVF this time, your big brother was a ZIFT transfer. 3 embryos were in great shape and one was just lingering around, Dr. Nemiro said the runt was still viable so he decided to transfer that one in me as well. I'm glad he did, that runt could have been you. I layed around for 2 weeks, TWO LONG weeks. My first BETA came in at 7, my second BETA was 52. Fast forward a year, your laying in our bed sleeping and dreaming away.

I'm so glad I mustered enough energy and strength to go at it again, I can't imagine life without you my love.

Love always,

Mommy

3 months!

I can't beleive you you've been with us for 3 whole months! I can't beleive it's been 3 months since I've had a nights sleep either. You still amaze me daughter. You started smiling at 6 weeks, started coo-ing at 7-8 weeks and now you started giggling, it's amazing! We're still trying to figure out exactly what makes you laugh outloud but when you do, we sit there in awe. You've been wearing your hip harness for about 1 month 2 weeks to move your right femur into the hip socket. You have to get an MRI soon and I'm scared to death because they have to put you under for the procedure. I wish you didn't have to go through any of this angel but I would move mountains for you my love. I'll do whatever it takes, both daddy and I will do it, you'll see!


Look how vocal you are!

You still are farting like a man and we crack up everytime you do. You fart, then you scream and then I give you Gripe Water. It's gotten better since birth. Your thriving, growing and doing everything a 3 month old baby does. You're also losing your hair, you're going bald, just like I like it! Go girl!

I love you sweetpea,

Mommy