Abby's 1st Birthday Party

Our first birthday party in town was a hit. When all the guests arrived, they got to decorate some clay dough ornaments I had made in advance. I set out paint (because I'm brave like that), sequins, and glitter glue. I made sure I had the first initial of each guest, even the tots.

Next everyone had a snack and then we played bingo. I made Tinker Bell bingo for Lauren's party and since this was a "fairy" too, it worked for me. I bought the prizes at the Dollar Tree. We were going to play, "Pass the Fairy Wand" like "hot potato" but 2 kids had a bingo at the same time and it used all my prizes.

Finally we opened presents and ate the cake. It was so much easier than all the previous parties where I had to make the cake days in advance and we had to pack up everything and cart it to Fort Worth. Even the clean up was a breeze. I can't wait until the next party!

One today

My sweet Abby is one today!

Here is what we were doing this time last year. What a precious little girl she is. She has been on her feet for a few months but suprisingly hasn't started to walk yet. She just learned how to go down the stairs. She doesn't have any teeth but sure can chew off bits of pizza crust. She loves to wave and say, "bye-bye." She loves to pat her brother and sister on the head and if they get close enough to her in the bathtub, she'll reach over and scrub their backs, it's so cute. She even tries to wash herself with the washcloth. She loves to lay her head on daddy and me as well as cuddle her dolls up to her face and give everyone sweet OPEN-MOUTH kisses. Yummy! If she finds a hairbow, she tries to stick it in her own hair. When she gets ahold of a comb, she tries to comb her sister or brother's hair. It'a amazing what she has learned in one short year.

What I love most these days is to see how her big brother and sister take care of her and even let her play their big kid games. I look forward to watching them all grow and play together. It's amazing how much love children can bring into our lives.

A Blessed Baptism

The night before the baptism, my old neighbor came by and we had a good visit. Abby loved her.

I had the baptism at my home parish, St. Rita, in Fort Worth. This is where I made my first penance, first communion, confirmation, and attended school. I was a member of the youth group and even more active as an adult. I knew I might run into some old familiar faces but I didn't expect to see Mrs. Cihak, my 4th grade teacher.

Abby is ready for her special day.

Abigail Claire, baptized in the name of the Father

and the Son,

and the Holy Spirit.

Parents and Godparents

plus Grandparents

add my aunts and uncles

Abby's Godparents, Megan and Ryan.

Stephen's Family

Granny and Abby

The cake and invitation.

Aunt Joanie (my Godmother and Caleb's Godmother)

Let them eat cake

The Whole Family!

Abby Laughing

Earlier this week while Lauren and Caleb were bathing, I put Abby in front of the mirror and started talking to her, then she started laughing for the first time and it went on long enough to grab the video camera and capture these precious moments.

Abby's visit to the doctor

I have to say when it rains, it pours. Today was just crazy. At work I've been giving an online test to our English Language Learners so I've had to take lunch earlier than usual. Today (at home) we had a showing at the same time I got lunch so I couldn't go home. I met Stephen & the kids & we ran errands. He told me we had another showing at 4:00 which interfered with the time we'd be at the doctor. We also had a showing coming at 4:15.

I went home early so I could make Abby's doctor's appt. Our good friend Bri came over to watch Lauren and Caleb and we promised her we'd be home before the first showing. As we were in the examining room, Stephen's phone rang. It was the realtor who was going to come at 4:00 and he wanted to show the house immediately because he was already in the neighborhood. So we called Bri and she said she'd take the kids outside to play. Then another call came in...another realtor who was just in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by. So that's 3 showings in like 30 minutes.

So the first thing we did was weigh Abby. She is up from 7 lbs 4 oz to 7 lbs 11 oz. We are so pleased with those numbers. Then the doctor came in and explained that the 2nd urinalysis had some bacteria growth. It could have been a contaminate from Abby's body but he didn't like taking a chance that she has a kidney infection or UTI. He told us our choices were to catheterize again and hope the sample was clean, check her in to the hospital for a sonogram and a dye injection into her kidney, or to do nothing at all (which he didn't recommend). Stephen and I asked him a lot of questions and decided to attempt the catheter again. We couldn't justify going to the hospital when no one is even sure if that is the true problem. One of the factors that put us at ease was that Abby had a full belly and was pretty content. Dr. H also told us that if there is pain, she will not remember it and it will be insignificant compared to what she'll have to go through at the hospital. They called in the nurse who has a reputation of being great at inserting catheters. Abby cried at first. It seemed like a long time but in actuality it was probably only a minute. The nurse got it in and Abby quickly released enough of a sample to be tested. Within 5 minutes the 1st test came back crystal clear. Now we have to wait until Friday to find out if the culture grows anything. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Just a few more days and hopefully all of this will be over.

As we arrived home, we saw a realtor's car in the driveway so we parked next door and headed to the backyard. At the same time, another realtor pulled up, saw the other realtor's car, and went to another house that is for sale. The realtor and his clients who were in our house were on the back porch. They were pretty understanding of the babysitter being home with the kids. Shortly after they went in, the other realtor came out back. It was just crazy! I just wanted to go inside and relax. So 4 showings today and already one scheduled for Friday. I just want to sell this house and get into a 4 bedroom so we can get the kids' toys out again and so we can assemble Abby's crib and put all her cute things out. Right now she is in a bassinet in our room and all her clothes are in our closet.

So thanks to all of you for your comments and prayers. It comforts me to know that when I am too busy to pray, someone else is praying on my behalf.

December 27-journal

Today we had to take Abby back to the hospital for another bilirubin check. We should be pros by now. The nurse sat us down in the chair and gave me the warming pouch for Abby's heel. She told me that Abby would scream. That was not a good sign. I suddenly became bold and I said, "Why will she scream, she didn't scream yesterday and our son never screamed when he came in 13 times last year?" She did not comment, she proceeded to stick Abby (no screaming) and then bend her tiny foot upward, towards her leg. THEN she screamed. I was so mad. I looked at Stephen and said, right in front of her, "What is she doing differently than the nurse yesterday?" Plus, this nurse smelled like she just finished smoking a pack. The smell of nicotine was in her skin, years and years of chain smoking. And she was touching my precious baby. She finished and told us to wait. We never had to wait before. We started talking to a college student who was also waiting. She said she was just accepted into nursing school and she was there for a drug test. She said the same nurse had taken her urine sample and flushed it down the toilet before she remembered to keep a sample for testing so she had to sit and drink water until she could produce another sample! As we left, I told Stephen that if she is there tomorrow, I will tell her she is not touching our baby again and I want another nurse.

The doctor's office called, Abby's bilirubin level is down to 16. We have to go back to the doctor tomorrow at 1:30 for a bilirubin scan (on her forehead). Please pray for an even lower bilirubin level!