We Just Love These Girls!!!!

Oatmeal

Here are some pictures of Emma having her first solid food - Oatmeal. It was such a big milestone for her. She still isn't sure what she thinks about eating Oatmeal though.

4 Month Check-up

Emma had her 4 month check-up on Friday and everything looked very well. Her weight is up to 11 pounds. Well actually the first time she was on the scale it was 10 pounds and 14 ounces. The nurse wrote it down as 10 pounds and 4 ounces, so after we had fed her and before we left we had her reweighed and that is when she was at 11 pounds. Since weight is such a big issue we are going with the 11 pounds. Dr. Bob seems to think she should catch up with all her milestones by 6 months thanks to the theraphy and work we are doing with her. She was also given the okay to start working on some cereal. We want to use this opportunity in case she has texture issues which we knew would be a possibility. Last night she got her first bowl and she seemed to think it was okay. The two times she has had it today she wasn't as thrilled with it. We are going to introduce a yellow vegetable next week. I made my first batch of baby food today - corn. We will see what Emma thinks of the corn.
So all in all we were very pleased as well as Dr. Bob and Emma doesn't have to go back until 6 months. No more weight checks!!!! It was very exciting to make the appointment and not have to be headed back in just a few weeks.

Celebration

We are having a celebration at our house on August 8th from 3-5 to celebrate Emma being home from the NICU and her baptism. We feel that she deserves a party after the fight she put up in the NICU. We would love everyone to stop by and see our beautiful baby girl!!

Enjoying Summer

I haven't posted in a few days because we are trying to enjoy the last little bit of summer before it is over. The summer has flown by way too fast and it will soon be time for us to be back a school.
Monday night Cloey and I had a sleepover in the living room. We had special candy, watched movies, and stayed up way too late. I think we are still suffering from that night. It was a lot of fun to just spend time with her. I feel asleep during one movie, but she is hardcore and didn't miss a wink of it.
Cloey, Emma, and I ventured to Applebee's today for a girls lunch. Emma slept which was nice. We didn't have the best service, but Cloey and I had a lot of fun together .
Tomorrow we are headed to Emma's 4 month checkup. She has to get shots which is always sad. They don't seem to phase her at all though. Her speech therapist wants us to see how her pediatrician feels about adding solids to her diet. We have to see how she will do since she still has some issues orally from being in the NICU.
We are excited that my brother and his girlfriend get in tomorrow night and will be in for the weekend. It is always nice to see the family. I should have some pictures from this weekend so I will jazz up the blog a bit. I know the posts are better when there are pictures.

1 Year

Dear Emma,
One year ago today Daddy and I got the exciting news that we were going to be having a baby. You were something we both had wanted for awhile. We could barely contain our excitment that we were going to be having a baby. Our hearts grew knowing that we would be welcoming you into the world in 9 months.
The months passed by and we experienced a lot. We had a lot of "lasts" with Cloey. Her last Christmas as an only child, one last trip to Chuck E. Cheese before you arrived, and on and on. She was just as excited as we were about your arrival. Midway through we found out you were a girl and we then couldn't wait to meet our little Emma Sidney. We loved the name Emma and gave you the middle name of your Great Grandpa Swersky who is watching you above in Heaven(we know he was your big angel while in the NICU).
You arrived and life was crazy for a month. So much information - lots of it was very scary. We decided to put all our faith in God and knew He would present us with what we could handle. He had a plan for blessing us with you.
Thankfully life isn't as crazy now that you have left the NICU. We have almost been home 3 months now and are very busy with all of you appointments. Even though we are busier than we know how to be, you are worth every second. You beautiful blue eyes, big smiles, and wet sloppy kisses light up our world. We have realized that you were the missing piece to complete our family. Mommy and Daddy love you so much and you idolize your Big Sister who loves you dearly. Keeping being our precious baby and fighting away - we know you will do big things one day.
My how our life has changed in a short year.
WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK - FOREVER AND EVER,
LOVE,
DADDY, MOMMY, AND CLOEY

This Week

Wednesday Emma had her first infant massage session. The woman taught me the massage techniques to use on her. The first session we focused on her legs and stomach. I will admit I was terrified to do the stomach stuff. We did have it cleared with both her pediatrician and her surgeon before we tried it out with her. She seemed to really enjoy it. The only part that I don't like is putting the vegetable oil on my hands to do the massage. I need to go to the health food store and pick up some grape seed extract oil since it is suppose to smell a little better.
Thursday I actually think we had an off day for appointments. The days are starting to blur together, but I am pretty sure that was the case. I did get together with some of my teacher friends and we all hung out for the evening. It was nice to get together and catch up before the school year starts. Us teachers go back on August 16th and the students first day of school is August 23rd this year.
Friday my parents came down and picked up the girls to take them to their house. This allowed for Jason to get some homework done while I did some other things around the house. Jason and I headed down to my parents house around 3. We were staying the night with them because Jason and my dad ran a race this morning. We spent the evening hanging out and headed to an awesome park that is near their house. Cloey played on the playground and Emma had her first experience on a swing. I got a picture and then my batteries died so it isn't the best. I will have to upload them tomorrow. After the playground we headed to the duck pond to check the ducks out.
Today Dad and Jason headed to the race. Once they got home we enjoyed a yummy breakfast of blueberry pancakes and bacon. Emma is really starting to put shows on at meal times. We think that she wants to eat the big people food too!!! We had intended on attend a festival by my parents house, but with the heat index making it feel like 105 degrees we felt it wasn't best to take the girls out in the heat. Mom, Cloey, and I went to a couple of Yard Sales and I snagged some good deals. I actually bought her some summer clothes for next year and her Halloween costume for next year. We are staying on top of it - haha. After that we made a quick stop by Target and headed to Cloey's favorite restaurant by Grammy and PopPop's house - the Chinese buffet. I like it for the Sushi and Cloey LOVES it because of the desserts. The rest of us think the desserts are AWFUL!!! If it makes her happy it makes us happy.
This week we have the following activities going on:
Sunday - Church
Monday - We have a play date set up for Cloey with Brady in the morning and Emma has infant massage in the afternoon.
Tuesday - Emma has Speech for her feedings.
Wednesday - I have an appointment.
Thursday - Our only free day - at least it is right now.
Friday - Emma has her 4 month check up. The poor baby has to get more shots.
Saturday - Spending time with my brother and his girlfriend while they are in town.
Sunday - Spending time again with the family before they head back.
I will try and post some new pictures and video clips in the next few days. I am sure a lot of you are dying to see some new stuff.