Macy Has a Mind of Her Own

From birth Macy has demonstrated that she has a mind of her own. After a visit to the doctor on August 12, Jill was told that they might induce labor. We think Macy got the picture and in Jill's words said, "You can't fire me, I quit!" So, Jill went into labor on Saturday and by Monday Ryan was carrying suitcases to the car at 12:45 AM.

By around one in the afternoon, Macy was ready to make her debut. At 2:44 PM Macy Rose officially joined the family pictures. She weighed 5 pounds and 2 ounces and was 18 1/4 inches long. The doctor and nurses did a wonderful job looking after Mom and Macy. Dad cut the "cord". After Jill held her, the nurses whisked Macy away to the Well Born unit and then the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit. Ryan, Jean, and Bill went with her to keep her company. It was a little shocking for Jill to be surrounded by so many people all at once and then...be totally alone.

After a couple of hours of some extra attention Macy was back in our arms. While everyone was recovering from the events of the past days, we received some unexpected news. Macy was diagnosed with a bilateral cleft palate as a symptom of Pierre-Robin sequence. In short, Macy's jaw did not grow proporionally to her face for an undetermined reason. This caused her cleft palate and her tongue to be set back in her mouth a little, which increases the potential for breathing difficulty. So our stay in the hospital was extended.

We are so very grateful for all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers. We want to emphasize that these medical challenges are all correctable and that we are incredibly thankful for our happy, healthy little girl. By the time she is two years old these challenges will be distant memories.

Everyone was ready to come home from the hospital by the end of our stay. After bundling her up in her car seat, about a thousand pictures, and a dozen vanilla flavored pacifiers we went home. Both sets of grandparents were waiting to welcome us home.

Bill and Jean were able to come from Ohio and get to the hospital before Macy was born. There will be plenty of fun things to do and see at Grandma's house. We are sure that Macy will enjoy looking at the horses across the road, petting the cats, and listening to stories.

Chances are, Macy will find a few pieces of candy here and there - once she has teeth that is. Macy will have lots of fun camping out in the sun room, playing board games and reading stories with her Grandma.

We have a feeling that putting ornaments on the Christmas tree and making a snowman in the yard might be something that Grandma will be good at too.

Tom and Patty soon joined Bill and Jean. Everyone got to hold our little rosebud. Mom and Dad got a much needed breather. You can see Tom welcoming home Macy. I think that we will find a sleepy little girl nestled in the arms of her grandpa on many, many trips home.

Babies seem to love to sleep on Tom's lap and Macy is not the exception. Tom held Macy in one of the living room chairs almost all weekend. At times it was difficult to tell who was sleeping more peacefully.

Tom has already put Macy's picture up in the print shop. Already, the proud Grandfather is telling his regular customers all about his new grand daughter.

Patty wore pink in honor of Macy. Macy will enjoy all of the good stories that her grandma will read to her, all of the long walks, and she will be warm wrapped up in her blanket that grandma made just for her.

As you can tell, Grandma still has the "touch". Macy slept, for lack of a better description, "like a baby." on Grandma's lap. According to Patty Macy has inherited her son's ability to sleep. We all think that Macy definitely has her Dad's nose and skin tone. Hopefully, she will keep her Mom's pretty blue eyes. Macy was born with a lot, a lot of hair. So far she hasn't lost it. But, she will definitely be wearing plenty of ribbons and berets in the very near future.

Bill celebrated his birthday while visiting us. We won't mention how many candles were on the cake or how awful our singing was. In addition to some very nice cards, Bill got this little present too. For some reason he gave the diapers back. Don't worry, there will be more next year. In addition to hold this little "present" Grandpa put in two dimmer switches, a telephone jack, and a couple other home improvement projects. We know who to call when Macy wants a tree house.

Maybe when she is a little bigger, grandpa can take her for a bicycle ride. We'll have to get her a pink jersey and a helmet with bunnies on it - and maybe a GPS.

Jill took this picture of our little girl hanging out with her toys. . The bear she is laying on is extra soft and plays sounds associated with the womb. She really likes the mobile on her crib. It plays music and has strawberries hanging from it. Macy doesn't sleep in your crib just yet. But, we take her to her room to play with her toys and to read to her in the glider.

Never without her pacifier, Macy is just relaxing with her friends dreaming about eating in another hour or two. She is a good little baby who likes to move her arms and legs and turn her head from side to side.

Jean found this frog outfit for her. We especially like the feet. We think that Macy does too.

To finish this post to our blog, we included this picture. Jill picked it out. It was taken the last day in the hospital.

Someday, we will look at this picture and try to remember when our little pumpkin was small enough to fit in her Dad's hand. That's it for now. Post your comments if you want. As we become more proficient bloggers, there will be more blog to come.