Christmas 2008

Like every year christmas was very exciting, fun, and exhausting! We started christmas out by going to church at 4pm on christmas eve. Alex didn't feel well, so Sam and I took turns standing in the back of the church holding him. After church we came back our house and I had made a roast beef dinner for Sam's dad, brothers, and sister! After a great evening of church, food, gifts, and family we all went to bed. Christmas morning we woke up and with keeping our tradition, Grandma and Grandpa Hall, Uncle Dennis, Aunt Teresa, and Uncle Tim came over to watch the kids open there presents. Uncle Tim helped Gracie and I helped Alex. Sam was taking pictures with his camera, so I'll have to get those dowloaded later to show. The pictures below are what I had on my camera. So after we were done with opening presents at our house, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Hall's house to open gifts with everyone and had a very nice christmas dinner that Grandma Hall made! Unfortunately Great Gram Sullivan was in the hopsital so we weren't able to celebrate at her house this year. But we all made a trip down to the hospital to visit her and bring her some chirstmas cheer!! :) Also, Alex wasn't feeling any better from the day before so we took him to the doctor to find out that he had an ear infection. Then in the evening we went to Grandma Nichols house for a an excellent christmas dinner that she made, more gifts, and more great family!



This was a picture of Alex taken on christmas night when we got home.....he was a tired little guy!


Alex with his 1st Yankee hat on that Uncle Dennis and Aunt Teresa got him!


Gracie trying on her new mittens that Kerry got for her


Gracie unwrapping Buddy and Benny!

More pictures to come later!

Update

Just a quick update on Grace's doctors appointment from Tuesday. Unfortunately Grace lost weight...She went from 25lbs 12oz to 24lbs 8oz. So the new plan for her is to go back onto night feedings, but instead of going back to full night feedings like we had been doing, we are only going to be doing half night feedings and then weaning her back off over a 3 month time period (hopefully).

FACEinHOLE

Create your own FACEinHOLE

3rd Annual Polar Express

Kevin and Devin driving the train!

Yesterday we bundled up the kids and took them over to Sullivan Railroad for the 3rd Annual Polar Express Ride. The kids got a chance to ride the train and visit with Santa! Thanks again Uncle Artie for all your hard work, as he had to shovel all the train tracks early in the morning to make the train ride possible!

Grandma, Grace, Great-Gram, and Alex hanging out in the train station keeping warm next to the coal stove.

A Step In The Right Direction!

Last Thursday night was Grace's last night time tube feeding! It happened on accident because our medical supply company shorted us on this past months feeding bags. At first I was frustrated, thinking how is she going to get the food she needs until the new shipment shows up on Monday??? Well this was Grace's chance to Sink or Swim and WOW is she ever swimming!! She has been eating like a champ since Friday! I called her doctor and we both agreed, why make her go backwards if she's doing so well. Grace is eating 3 meals a day and a snack before bed. Liquids are still a challenge for her, so I am still giving her some H2O during the day through her tube to help keep her hydrated, but overall she is drinking much better as well. This is the moment Sam and I have been waiting for since the day she had her surgery to get the feeding tube (4 weeks old). We are so proud of our little girl!! So now to make sure she is getting enough without the tube feedings, I will be taking her to the doctor every week for a weight check, so please keep your fingers crossed for her on next Tuesday when she goes for the first weight check since she has started eating totally on her own!

Also, on another VERY exciting note.....Alex flipped over for the first time on Saturday night! I don't have a picture of it though because he caught me by surprise. But I will have my camera in hand for next time!

A Friday Night At Home

Alex is wondering if Grace is going to bite him....


Nope...it was just a kiss!

Gracie on her way to bed!

Say Cheese!

Oh How They Grow...

This is Grace's christmas picture from last year...


This is Grace's christmas picture this year...

Hanging with Grandma!

Gracie and Grandma Nichols hanging out on a Friday night!

Thanks again Grandma for watching the kids!

Parade

This morning we took the kids to the parade in Elmira! Grace had a blast watching all the floats and characters go by! Alex didn't care much about the parade though...maybe next year!

Baby Cereal

Today Alex had his first solid food, baby rice cereal! The first spoonful he wasn't to sure of it. But then on the second spoonful he decided he loved it!

Alex is wondering when he gets more!!

Painting...

When we first moved into this house a year and a half ago we had a ton of ambition, we took wallpaper down and painted the kitchen, dining room, living room, dowstairs bathroom, Grace's room, and Alexander's room. Well Sunday ended that break and we are back at it! We painted the upstairs hallway, the stairway, and the front enterance....I think after this project we'll take another break before we do the kids playroom, our bedroom, and the biggest project of them all.........the upstairs bathroom.

As you can see, Alexander is ready for this project to be over with!

Stairway

Hallway

My VERY messy living room. Everything has a fine layer of dust on it from Sam sawing and sanding the baseboard and door casing.

In this picture you'll notice Grace trying to suck her fingers on her right hand! This is a big deal to us, because just in the last couple months she has began to realize that she has a right arm and hand and is starting to explore with it.

More Random Pictures!