Supper Club and New Doctors

So I think you really feel like you've grown up fast when you're sitting at a table with 4 couples all talking about their baby's newest feat, dirtiest diaper, or how you've only had 2 hours of sleep in days. Eli commented on his appreciation for the Alexander's dishes and I knew it was official-kegs and "the Belt" had no longer been the main topic of conversation--we stepped through the threshold of adulthood. If you find me searching for one of my many pairs of reading glasses or sipping prune juice anytime soon, please help me get back to my youth. Regardless of the sudden epiphany, it was refreshing to sit amongst people who didn't babble and squeal when you coo in their face (not that I dont love Emily's gentle voice!). We had chinese food from scratch...talk about hard work! I think Kayla and Meaghan were on their feet for something like 10 hours straight, but it was well worth the wait for a delicious meal. Poker followed the meal until everyone's red-rimmed eyes were getting heavy and the babies woke up for their middle of the night feeding. Eli and I are hosting next and we have to admit that we're a little intimidated after such a great night!
Monday marked Emily's 6 month birthday, as well as the Emily's conception date...weird huh! We changed pediatricians and absolutely love the new doctor. It was fun talking about "regular" baby things (as opposed to her sodium levels or her delayed reflexes). Table food and sleeping through the night are in our near future and it's hard to believe that time flies so quickly.
I saw the only NFP only doctor in the metroplex yesterday and was pleased that he had alternative solutions to the birth control pill. Once I found out that he wasnt in my insurance network I almost cried, but he spent a full 2 hours with me adding together the pieces of my puzzle so I wouldnt have to come back to him for another 6 months!
I was thrilled with Emily's physical therapy session this morning. She tolerated tummy time for almost 2 minutes and can hold up her head for a few seconds at a time. Just amazing!!!

Prayers Needed

Please say a special prayer for our sweet Emily whose hemangioma on her arm started to bleed today. Since this is a vascular birthmark, it is more tender than other birthmarks and bleeds tremendously and quickly. Luckily the bleeding stopped after a few minutes, but it can very easily open again and would need stitches. Thank you!

Nana's Visit, Groundhog, and Superbowl

There's been so much going on lately that we barely have a second to sit down! I think the most exciting news is that we found a new pediatrician in-network for Emily who has approved her Synagis shot for RSV (saving us $1800!) My mom came up to visit last Friday to watch Emily so I could go to the hospital. She's so wonderful--she made me some great soup and then cleaned our apartment when I was gone. After being a little discouraged from my OBGYN pushing the pill on me so many times, we've discovered that there is a NFP only doctor a block away who is in our network as well...a God send.

Saturday of course was the day I had been looking forward to for a long, long time...Groundhog! Lauren was absolutely phenomenal at her powderpuff game and proved to be a lot more intense and hilarious than I remembered from 2 years ago. We had to leave suddenly just after she tackled the life out of some girl and almost tore her own ACL. I was so worried for the rest of the night until I saw her as happy as a clam out at Groundhog park. Anne was so generous and offered to babysit Emily while Eli and I went out (which made for the second time we got to go out without the baby!) but we missed both of them. There were quite a few alumni at Groundhog and I was on top of the world...more social interaction than I've had in forever!! We got home pretty late and met Marty and Olivia at 9am mass the next day with only 2 hours of sleep and no food in our bellies, so needless to say, we didn't feel the greatest.
Of course the Superbowl was awesome too, even though inside we were crying that we should be watching the Cowboys. We went over to Greg's party and had so much fun (he had lots of great junkfood too...pizza, chips, coke, even frozen snickers bars...I was a happy girl!!) And what a game! We knew that after the catch off the helmet the game was going to be awesome!
Today marks the first day of lent, a time for personal penance and the season of baptismal preparation and baptismal renewal.

Date Night

For the first time in 5 years we did the dinner and a movie thing! We were so gracious when Lauren gave us this present for Christmas, which included babysitting. The Italian restaurant was very romantic and the movie Juno was adorable...a great night all together.
So I was just realizing how much God has blessed us as a family to get through the hard times. Life is so much more complete with Emily in our lives, and recently life has gotten much easier. It's great that we've added hours onto our day in that we don't have to commute to see her and scrub our hands raw if we want to open the door to the NICU. She's no longer on her heart monitor which we had to drag around the house, she is only on one medication a day (rather than 4, 3 times a day), and she primarily breastfeeds (which means I'm not pumping 8 hours a day and cleaning bottles in my sleep). I think I'm most grateful for being able to leave the house with Emily and going to public places...we've been grocery shopping once and she slept the whole time! Eli and I love going to mass as a whole family, and I love getting out of the house nearly everyday to go to daily mass with Emily.
I don't think we ever really envisioned what life would be like with Emily without family here. While in the NICU the doctors and nurses tried to prepare us, as did the support groups, but I think I walked away more scared than I needed to be. She did not need seclusion until April, she has not gone back to the ICU, we can take her on walks!!! Emily is not fussy all the time--rarely is she fussy!! She is sleeping more at night, and she is happy! Truly happy...not dazed because of her medicine, but joyful. We couldn't ask for a better feeling when she smiles. This is the absolute best time of our lives, and we cant thank you all enough for the prayers. Praise the Lord! God is good.

She slept through the night!

Yes, that's right. Emily didn't wake up until 8am--and went to bed at midnight!!! She must have been exhausted from playing with Lauren's roommates while Eli and I went to mass at UD. I have to admit though, we didn't exactly put her down early on Saturday either...Eli invited a few guys over for poker, and it turned out to be a full house. We let Emily have her friends over too, so she stayed up late to play with Matthew. This picture is of them standing on the coffee table--for being a week younger than Emily, he sure is a tall one!

Realizing that we haven't taken a video of Emily's newest feat (standing up and holding up her head), we were trying to get her to smile. You'll have to watch the video to find out what happens. She has this new drooling thing going on and she's starting to imitate sounds. Yesterday at family brunch Lauren was cooing at her, and while asleep Emily would make the same sound back! She's definitely finding out what her voice can do and how much mommy loves it when she shrieks.