Special Visitors

Michael with his great Aunt Eva

Michael with his great Aunt Eva and cousin Terry

Michael with his cousins Lisa and Greg, Linda, Larry and daughter Lauren

Picture of the Day

www.johnsubler.com

Picture of the Day

www.johnstubler.com

Please Pray

Please pray for Tony's mom, Michael's Oma, who fell on Christmas day and broke her hip and wrist. She's had surgery and will be in the hospital for 10 days recovering and attending physical therapy.   

Christmas Visit

Baby Michael didn't have the three wise men visit Christmas day, but he did have the three theological virtues pay a visit, sisters Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Arms and More Arms

Yesterday was our baby boy's due date, but we were blessed to have our little guy come two weeks early. He had his two week check up and is doing well.  He weighs, 7 lbs 5,5 ozs (8 1/2 oz more than birth weight) and measures 1/2 inch longer.  He eats like a champ, but only sleeps well in arms.  We're working on getting him to sleep in his co-sleeper.  Meanwhile, we are trying to sleep while he does.  A few pics of baby in arms below.  

We Miss You Grandma!

We're sad to say that today grandma went back home.  We miss you grandma. Thank you for all your help.  Come back soon!

Picture of the day

Three generations -- Tony, his dad, and Baby Michael.

Picture of the day, Sat Dec 20th Take II

Pictures of the Day

Picture of the day

Picture of the Day

The quality isn't the best, but it's one of my favorite pictures because Michael is smiling.  

Picture of the Day

Michael, 9 days old, with his friend, Nora, almost 3 months.

Baby Michael's first professional photoshoot

Yesterday Michael had his first professional photoshoot with friend John Stubler, from Stubler Photography. (www.johnstubler.com).    Several pictures are below.  Thank you for capturing these precious memories John -- we love the pictures!

Love,

Trisha, Tony, and Baby Michael.

Baby Michael on the move ...

A few images from yesterday ...

Oops ... Baby Michael's going home outfit was way to big which made for a lot of laughs getting him into the outfit and the car seat.

Yeah!  Time to take Baby Michael home.

Enjoying a quiet meal at home that dear friends provided along with birthday cake to celebrate Baby Michael's "birthday".

A few pictures from day 4

We should be going home tomorrow, and can't wait.  A few pictures from today.  We are really enjoying our new bundle of joy on very little sleep of course.   We can't wait to introduce him to everyone.  A few pictures from today.

Love,

Trisha, Tony, and Baby Michael

One more picture from today ...

Favorite picture of the day ...

Michael with Mom and Dad now

Trisha's Mom showering Michael with kisses

Fr. Chad visiting Michael

Trisha and I would like to thank you for your prayers and well wishes, and wanted to give you an update on Michael and Mom since we have not had a chance to make or return many calls.

Michael was released from the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) late this morning.  He was born Cesarean (despite 4 hours of valiant pushing by Trisha), and had amniotic fluid in his lungs as result of not making his way completely through the birth canal which naturally clears the lungs of any fluid.  He thus had some breathing problems initially, and given Trisha had a temperature towards the end of labor, there was a concern he may have an infection because Trisha's water broke many hours before to kick-off the labor.   He thus was given antibiotics to knock down any possible infection before his immune system kicked into gear.  This afternoon all tests looked good, and he was released to mom and dad's room where they will likely be until Friday.  Focus now becomes establishing breast feasting on a cycle of 3 hours or less as baby demands round the clock.  Many friends and family have told us to sleep when the baby sleeps, and we will do our best to heed this advise.   Trisha is recovering from Caesaean, although seems to have much energy due to the adrenalin rush of the past few days.

Thank you so much for your prayers.    We can't wait to get home.

Love,

Tony, Trisha, and baby Michael 

It's a Boy!

Here are a few pictures of our precious Michael who arrived 2 weeks early, Monday, 1:26PM, Dec 8th (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) surprising his Mom and Dad.  He weighed 6 lb 13 Oz. and measured 21.5".  More details to follow ...

Busy, Busy, Busy

It's hard work preparing for a baby. I can't Imagine when baby arrives.  Tony and I have been preparing for Baby Q's arrival for some time.  It seems like I've been washing and folding baby clothes for an eternity.  I know this is just the beginning.  Now it's so cute folding tiny socks, but I know that will get old.  I think we have enough baby supplies to open a baby store yet we don't know exactly what we need.  I am sure we're missing that one very important thing.  

Last night we had our hospital tour at Good Sam.  The whole thing left me a little nervous.  Three things really scared me: NICU (baby intensive care unit), C-section area, and when tour guide spoke about the helicopter landing pad.  That's when the the doctors fly away babies who have problems beyond the hospitals capabilities.   I never really liked hospitals. I really wanted to have a home birth.  Yet, Tony said it would be way too expensive because the only way we could have a home birth is if we brought the hospital to our home.

Well, this is good practice to completely trust God!    

Almost there!

By the end of this week, we our considered full term.  Although, we are still a few weeks away from our due date, if Baby Q. were to be born, he/she would be fine because our baby is now fully cooked.

This also means weekly visits to the OBGYN. The last visit, the doctor asked, "How tall are you?" and "What's your shoe size?"  I thought these were strange questions coming from a baby doctor, but I responded, "Just under 5 feet and my shoe size has grown to a 6 since pregnancy."  I quickly asked, "Why?"  The doctor said, "Women under 5 feet with a shoe size smaller than a 5 have a higher probability of a c-section."   With my hands on my hips, I responded, "That's prejudice!" Doc said, "No, it's math." 

Evil Gift Certificates

On this busy, busy shopping day, Black Friday, I learned about an "evil" gift certificate. Apparently, Planned Parenthood is also selling holiday gift cards.  In an interview they were asked if people could use the certificates for an abortion.   The woman's response was, "That's not what they were originally intended for, but we aren't putting limitations on the gift cards.

Yikes!!!   I won't be giving Planned Parenthood gift certificates to anyone for stocking stuffers.  

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Tony, Trisha, and Baby Q.

A Miracle......

I found this video on a blog.  The story is amazing!

http://husingadoption.blogspot.com/2008/11/this-is-why-you-can-talk-about-adoption.html

Count Down Continues

Tomorrow, November 23, Feast of Christ the King, is exactly 1 month from Baby Q's due date.  I know due dates are not always accurate and doctors always say plus or minus 2 weeks, but I enjoy having a date in mind even if it may be meaningless.  

Things are coming along and we're slowly getting our act together.   We only have one more Bradley class, and we've taken several additional classes: baby care essential, post pardon: now what?, and breast feeding.  

Tony prepared the car seat and put together the co-sleeper.  I have washed most of the baby clothes.  Although, I did learn a lesson.  I have to wash and dry the baby clothes on delicate.  I shrunk the first batch of clothes, oops!  I'm small, so we may have a small baby.  So, hopefully they'll still fit.

The next project is getting the bag ready for the hospital.  Baby Q. seems to be getting ready too.  Lots more movement these days. We selected the baby's coming home outfit.  Each day it's becoming more and more of a reality that we'll soon have a little baby to bring home.   

What Will Baby Q. Look Like? Take 2

Yesterday Tony and I continued our conversation on what Baby Q. may look like, then Tony had the bright idea to morph our faces as children. Here's the result.

What Will Baby Q. Look Like?

Tony and his mom

My parents

Tony's parents

Tony, so cute!!!

Me and my mom

Me and my dad

Me on the phone, some things still haven't changed

Tony is the the one on the right with wide eyes

Tony is on the right

Tony's baby picture

When my mom was visiting, Tony asked her if anyone on her side of the family had blue or green eyes?  

Tony proceeded to mathematically calculate the odds of Baby Q. having blue or green eyes.  It's such a mystery, what and who our baby will look like.

Above are some pictures of Tony and I when we were younger.  As the baby grows we'll have to compare them to our pictures.