A visit from Cousin Cole

Now aren't they too precious???

Happy 1 Month Birthday to Gracie!

Dear Gracie:

What a month it's been. I can't believe you have been with us for that long Grace but I can't remember what life was like before you came. To start with, you entered this world almost a full month early (Mommy was induced b/c of high blood pressure) and with a bang. Mommy had to endure two failed epidurals, a 103 degree fever and some serious rectal pressure (that you will surly hear about for the rest of you life!) but after 16 hours hours of labor the sight of your sweet face made it all worth it.

Minutes after you were born

Mommy and Daddy were both so thrilled that you were here that we laughed and cried! Mommy couldn't believe that she actually did it! The stay in the hospital was good; you had some problems breastfeeding but the nurses ensured us that you had enough calories in reserve to make it two days or so before actually needing food. Mommy was sore so Daddy stepped up to the plate and did all the diaper changes in the hospital, what a trooper! We went home on Sunday, April 29th, a bright warm spring afternoon. Bringing you home was a surreal experience. Daddy drove us home very slowly and cautiously and we made it home in one piece. Mom-Mom was there is welcome us and she stayed with us the first week of your life.
Your first night home was a night of little sleep but once Mommy and Daddy figured out how to place you in your bassinet, you slept wonderfully. From the beginning, we've had to set our alarm clock to wake you up to feed you. We;ve been lucky in the sleep department. Sunday night we noticed that you were a little yellow and Mommy called the doctor. We went into the pedi on Monday morning. She weighed you and you were a teeny peanut at 5 pounds 10 ounces. You were also jaundiced. The doctor had us go to the hospital every day that week to check your biliruben levels. We also were ordered to keep you on a biliruben blanket. You became our little glow worm!

Our little glow-worm

Mommy had a little case of the baby blues but Daddy and Mom Mom helped out and it soon went away. We were all able to enjoy you as family and friends came by to see your sweet face. The jaundice soon went away thanks to the formula we were told to give you. Mommy tried to breastfeed but you were so used to the bottle that you didn't have the patience for the work involved in breast feeding. I wasn't going to give up that easily. Mommy developed a case of mastitis which landed me in the hospital's emergency's room one Saturday night. Daddy was out of town so the family pitched in. Aunt Jen took you to her house and Mom Mom took Momy to the hospital. Once the antibotics kicked in, Mommy decided to give the breast feeding one more good try. We called a lactation consultant and she came in and gave Mommy a lot of techniques and now you are successfully nursing several times a day (with a supplement of formula at night.)

Pop-Pop, Maddie, Gam and Mom-Mom all love you!

Aunt Jen with you in your nursery!

Gracie and Uncle Jimmy

Mommy and Daddy have been learning so much about you. You don't like to be naked (baths, diaper changes) you didn't like the swing at first (now you are in love!) and you love listening to classical music. When Daddy gives you you're 3AM feeding, he plays music for you and you sit with him and eat and drift peacefully back to sleep. It's amazing to see. You now sleep in your nursery all by yourself and just the other night slept a full 5hours before you let us know you were hungry. You are such a good baby.

You have been changing and growing so much over this month Gracie girl. Daddy and I look at you every chance we get and always notice something different. We've seen your smile and heard your little laugh and we are both so in love. We can't wait to see you grow and learn. Is it possible for us to love you even more? Love, Mommy & Daddy

Red Hot and Baby

Gracie made her resturant debut last night at Red Hot and Blue! In true Gracie form, she slept through the whole thing. It was a night of firsts for us all. I have been nursing Grace somewhat successfully for the past couple of days. She has been nursing part time and Dave has been giving her bottles to supplement. I have been having some issues (some?) with my milk coming in. It's here but there's not a lot of it. I went to the healthfood store yesterday to get Dave some of his bread. I remembered hearing about some supplment that helps increase breast milk supply. I asked the hippy that works there (she is really nice; Dave and I have spoken to her several times) and she said the supplement is called Fuengreek (sp) and pointed it out. Then she surprised me by saying, "If you really want to increase your supply, go out and buy a six pack of Guinness!" What, I was shocked! Apparently there is something in the Guinness (or any dark beer) that helps the milk flow. So, last night, with the urging of my parents and Dave, I drank a Guinness. It was so bitter (or stout as Dave tells me it's called) but I downed the whole thing. Not sure if it worked but it did help me to relax a bit!

Grace has mastered the art of relaxation!

Announcement Decision...please vote!

Announcement 1

Announcement 2

Please choose which one you like the best!!!

All the women who are independent...

Throw your hands up at me!

No, she's not eating on her own or reading War and Peace but Gracie slept in her room all by herself last night. And we all made it, without tears! It was tough for Dave and I but I'll admit I think we all got a better night's sleep. She slept her 3 1/3-4 hour stretches and we woke up as soon as she started fussing! Our first milestone. You go Gracie!

Grace's pseudo birthday

Today is Grace's due date! I'm glad to have not been pregnant up until now! Some people love being pregnant, I"m not one of those people!

Grace and I had a visit from the Lactation Consultant today, or the Lactation Fairy (LF) as I will call her! She was great! She brought nipple shields, syringes, all sorts of great stuff to help us out. We used the nipple shield and Grace latched on like a champ. She really did great. Keeping her awake and interested was a chore but I learned all sorts of tricks. Lifting up her arm ticks her off as well as blowing in her face or placing a wet washcloth on her bare shoulder. It's so ironic b/c I'm doing this for her but the whole time I'm concentrating on making her angry (to keep her awake!) We still have a lot of work to do and I'm not sure if we're going to stick to it but it felt good today. We did it!

Now, like Mommy, Grace is pooped out. Daddy and I discovered that she really does like her swing. Mommy and Daddy like it too!

The Almighty Swing!

FEED ME!!!!

"Ok Mommy and Daddy, my thumb is good but do you think you could give me something else to eat!?!?"

GIANT step...

Grace and I made our first solo trip to the Giant Food today. I had my list in hand, multiple diapers and burp clothes, even an emergency bottle in tow just in case. All of this for a 20 minute trip to get dinner. I'm happy to report that Gracie slept through the whole thing. Oh, and I put her in a very pink very cute dress. All of her clothes are still too big but this one looked pretty good...don't you think?!?!

She keeps growing and growing and growing.....

I told myself that I wouldn't buy a scale and weigh Gracie at home. I told myself that she would gain weight soon enough. I mean, her due date isn't until May 24th so technically she isn't even suppose to be here yet. But, as the mother of a preemie, we've been faced with some unforeseen challenges from the beginning. The biggest of those being her size. Grace was 6lb 10 oz when she was born, which is a healthy weight. She did, however, lose enough that at her first doctor appointment she was then considered a preemie (anything under 6 lbs is considered preemie size by our pedi). At her two week appointment she was back up to her birth weight, although she was still fitting into preemie clothes and daipers just fine. It's just so ironic that Dave and I would have a teeny baby! So, this weekend, Mom Mom, Aunt Jen, Gracie and myself all went to Babies R Us to purchase a scale. I know she's growing but I can't wait until her 2 month appointment to see how much she's gained. Daddy and I weighed her today and she's up to 7lbs 5 oz!!!!!! That means that she's gained a whole pound since her appt on the 11th! We are so happy!!

It's already been three weeks! I can't believe it!

"Dancing with the Stars ain't got nothing on me!"

All these kisses really tire her out!

Daddy's littel girl! This preemie outfit is starting to get tight! Yippee...we're fattening her up!

Here she is. Getting more and more alert everyday! Grce is 3 weeks old today!!!

Hangin' out with Mommy!

Not a big fan of the bouncy seat!
Mother's Day 2007

Two Week Checkup

Grace had her two week checkup with the peditrician on Friday and she did great! Born at 6lb 5oz, she was a little peanut. Then, on April 30th, we took her to the doctors because she was looking a little yellow. Thus began our bout with jaundice and my own personal struggle with breast feeding. Grace was down to a teeny 5lb 10 oz. The doctor recommended that we supplment with formula. I hated to do this but Grace's health was my first priority. Her jaundice is now totally gone and she's back up to her birth weight. The doctor said she looked alert and, although still considered small (she's in the 10 percentile for weight), she is healthy and happy. I am still attempting to breast feed but it ain't easy! She is so used to the bottle now that anything else seems to frusterate both her and me.

Dave and I are thrilled that she's thriving despite her early entrance into this world. It's amazing how quickly everything changes. I can't believe she's only been with for two weeks; I can't remember life without her.

Oh, and I do want to share the whole labor and delivery experience but I can't seem to bring myself to sit down and write it. It wasn't what I expected. I'm being dramatic I know. But you know how women always say that you forget the pain as soon as you see the baby...well, you don't. I remember every second of it. Of course I would do it again and I love my baby but the pain...oh, it's not good! Enjoy some pics!

Ellen and Donna came up to meet Grace!

Here is Grace and her phototherapy blanket. She was our little glow-worm!

Look how teeny she is compared to her Daddy!!

Is this bath really neccesary?!?!?

We all have our bad days!!!

The latest photos of Grace. Taken her first week home!

Announcing Grace Elizabeth Tucholski - Born April 27, 2007 at 11:54 pm

. . . Looking into Daddy's eyes

. . . Daddy's little girl

. . . All wrapped up

. . . Cuddling with Mommy

. . . Is that a smile so early? (Can anyone say "Genius"?)

. . . Our beautiful little Gracie.