Making Memories...

It has been a relatively quiet week with the Lee family here in St. Louis;).  I hesitate to use that term as we never know when things may change, but it has been a nice family-filled week making a few memories which is always wonderful!

Maggie had a lower GI study, to take a look at her large intestine, early last week.  She did so well with it, and the results of the scan were wonderful!  We were so optimistic as we thought that feeding her- very slowly;)- was coming next.  It was then decided by her surgical team to hold off on feeds, let her move all the contrast through her intestines (aka: poop all the neon out;)), and then do an UPPER GI study (where they put the dye into her belly and watch it move through her small intestine).  Well, Lil' Miss may be rockin' it these days, but her bowels are very immature and slow moving.  They had hoped to do the next study today, but Ms Maggie still has some neon up in there;).  So she and I had a little talk today in which the bottom line was two words: POOP PLEASE!  Her doctors are also tweaking some of her oxygen support settings and some of the medicines she is getting.  She is being pushed a little and doesn't always react the best... today she seemed a little off, but I think she may just be a little tired from being pushed so much lately.  She's not all for this growing up thing like we are;).

So, as I wait patiently (not a virtue I do well with most of the time- hehe;)) for her to poop out the rest of the dye and seem a little more tolerant of her changes, we enjoyed some moments with her as well as spent time with family and friends this past weekend....

Daddy got to hold her like a regular baby, all swaddled up, on his chest.  He LOVED it as he could just sit and talk with her and rub her face like he does Harper.  Lets just say, Maggie is quite a fan of Daddy snuggles just like her big sister;).

Speaking of big sister, she is just seeming TOO BIG these days!  She is in preschool now and has magnificent teachers... she is talking so clearly and up a storm; she seems to have something to say about anything and everything and oh BOY does she have an opinion that wants to be heard- I think more than one Lee girl may have a roar! ;)

I mentioned earlier that Build-a-Bear is the store of choice for preemie cuteness!  The NICU pulls items and outfits for holidays from there and as crazy as it sounds those 'bear outfits' are perfect for the preemies!  So, we most certainly had to make a trip out there to make a bear for Maggie so one day we could show her just how SMALL she was;).  Of course, while we were there Harper found a bear, or 2, or 5 that she would like to add to her ever-growing stuffed animal collection.  She settled with the princess bear (of course;)) complete with a magic wand- oh yes!  Harper and her bear, names Princess no less, are inseparable- LOVE!  We had Maggie's bear embroidered to remember this special time in her life- I look forward to sharing pictures when we get it back;)!

I try so hard to get the smiles on film... this is as close as I got today- the end of one but still so sweet!

Thank you, Kessha, for the adorable outfit- it fits her perfectly!

Daddy enjoyed a wonderful visit with his best-friends, Brett & Lowell!  What a LONG time coming... it had been since Harper was about 4 months old since they all 3 had been together!  So great to introduce them to the lil' munchkin and then enjoy the city for a day.

Thank you to Brett, Lowell, and their families for making the quick one-day trip happen... it meant the world to us to see you!

I will switch gears for just a second to share this beautiful story and image... 

Karla is the name of the AMAZING woman who works at the funeral home with which we entrusted the care of our little ones.  She has treated us like family, carrying each of my little ones out of that NICU on the worst of days for Pete and I.  I never knew what to say to the one I would hand off my deceased child too, so I simply said, "Please take good care of them".  She left with tears in her eyes and cuddled my children as if they were her own- meant so much seeing the love and care she showed us in those gut-wrenching moments.  

When I saw her the day of the funeral it meant the world that she brought the babies there in a Hurst; she treated them no differently from any other deceased person in her care.  She came right up to me with again tears in her eyes, and said, "The kids were good; I talked to them every day. Thank you for letting me babysit".  It may not seem like much, but those words meant so much.

When I hugged Karla goodbye that day, I thought that would be it.  Then, I received an email this week where she wrote, "I went by to check on the kids today and this is what I saw.  It looks so beautiful".  First of all, her checking on them as she knew we just weren't able is so amazing.  Secondly, the monument DOES look so perfect.  I cannot wait to head there soon, add flowers to the vases, and sit with my babies again.

I know I will carry Jack & Nora with me everyday, but knowing that they are continually watched by Karla while we are away is something that provides such comfort- she has touched our family in so many ways.  She has helped us to create a beautiful memorial in their honor as well as place for us to visit them- we are forever grateful.

Well, this has been a quiet by nice week... all in all, another week in the books spent with Maggie as well as family and friends- a win for sure!

I end this update by saying- stay warm!!!  Harper is armed and ready for the dropping temperatures.  I wish you all a warm week;).