Homecoming!

So, we went to see Nora in the NICU again Saturday, and this time her granddaddy held her (despite his protests that he's too big and clumsy to hold a 4-1/2 pound infant).  And guess what?  She was medically cleared to go home today!

She had to have a special car seat, of course, rated for infants down to 4 pounds.  It was still too big for her.  But she'll get there.

All is well; all of our family is home, and life is as it should be.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Happy Day After Easter!

Some of the family came for Easter weekend, including Maddie.  It was a busy, loud weekend, as one might expect.  Shannon didn't come up, but I didn't expect her.  On the preemie front, Nora hit 4 pounds on Good Friday!  Looks like she might well be out of the hospital by the end of April.  What a girl!  She's allowed to wear clothing now, since she only has a couple of monitor wires on her.

Of course, I made Hot Cross Buns.  Only 32 this year.

I added 2 tablespoons of shortening to my recipe this year, and they stayed soft for 2 days.  It was amazing!  Of course, only 3 Hot Cross Buns lasted 2 days, so I don't know if that was a representative sampling of just luck...

Happy Monday, everyone!

More on the April Fools Baby Shower

So, Shannon's baby was due on May 29th.  And her baby shower was on April 1st.  The perfect theme arose: "April Fools Day Shower!" (Photo cards compliments of her doting Aunt Cass.)

Yep, she went into labor on a Monday night, and the doctors couldn't stop the labor, but delayed her long enough to administer steroids for the baby's lungs.  And on Wednesday, in the wee hours of the morning, Nora Brooke arrived.  All 3 pounds, 9.5 ounces of her.

 I went and saw her Saturday morning, before the shower.  She isn't hooked up to tubes or anything, other than the feeding tube so she doesn't "waste calories eating."  She did lose 5 ounces, but she's back up to her birth weight as of yesterday.

Nora is perfect, other than having arms the size of a chicken wing and otherwise being just so frighteningly small.  She was 2 full months early, so this is a miracle!  Preemies usually stay in the hospital until their due date, but her doctor thinks she might be able to go home after only 4 weeks, and at least one nurse was speculating it might be only 3 weeks.  We're not even thinking that such a thing might happen.  (The wires attached to her are all monitors.  Even at 3 days old, she only had a feeding tube.)

But Nora is healthy, and strong, a good wiggler and kicker, and that's huge.  So my family is one tiny person larger as of 8 days ago, and the baby shower was the oddest and happiest ever!

Happy Thorsday, everyone!

An April Fools Baby Shower!

My oldest daughter's baby is due May 29, so, of course, the expectant Grandmas got together to plan a shower back in January, and we settled on the date of April 1.  April seemed not too far in advance, sandwiched in nicely between Kellie's wedding and the celebrations beforehand, and so we went full steam ahead.  Actually, I had next to nothing to do with the shower; it was all Diane, with my daughter Cass, who lives right there, keeping a lid on her so she wouldn't go too overboard.  It was held down where the girls live, 2.5 hours from my house, so I was just a guest.  But that was fun!

 Decorating onesies with fabric paint is Cass' and Diane's favorite thing to do.  I believe there were 40 of them.

 There were a few men there, because Chris wanted to come.  So Jeff, Wes and Scott came for moral support (Scott being the son of the close friend who's here every Thanksgiving; the kids consider him some sort of undefined cousin).

 See? Jeff clowning around and Wes being his usual smiley self!

 Diane had the event catered, and the finger foods were good.  Cass created an ice cream bar later, because Shannon just adores ice cream.

This cake was made from diapers.  Diane did this for a co-worker of hers, and loved it so much that she did it again.  I understand it took about 120 newborn sized diapers.

 Opening presents

 What, you didn't think you wouldn't see my other two beautiful daughters, did you?

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Belated Birthday Report!

My first beautiful granddaughter turned 1 two weeks ago!  And I have been remiss in reporting.  My excuse is....um....I'll get back to you on that one.

Anyway, I made a great cake!

Maddie's mommy loves elephants.  So there you have it: why an elephant is on a baby girl's cake.

 Uncle Ryan and Uncle Mark chose this big friendly caterpillar for her.

 He was more appropriately sized for Uncle Jeff, who's always happy to clown around.

At my insistence, Maddie got to check out her cake.

 Tank was ready to help with cleanup, if needed...

 ...and it was!

So, it was an exciting day!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!