Photodump Jan 7-13th

I'm still trying to keep my New Years Resolution and so far have been doing pretty good at it. But, I'm definitely slow at posting my pictures on the blog. There are never enough hours in the day! So, in my brief break from snuggling with a little girl wearing a warm fleece outfit, here are my pictures from Jan 7-13th

Grandma Carol (and her IPad) come to stay over night during Kyle's first day back to work. Micah and Grandma looking at Sesame Street videos on YouTube.

Sibling Love

Opening a generous present from my Mom's good friend from high school. Thank you Jim and Michele!

Peanut butter M&M's - how I hate you, but I love you. You are not helping me get back to my pre-pregnancy weight!!

7:10 - yep, the time that Micah was in bed. After being sick and cranky, bedtime was well received by all. Normally he goes to bed at 8-8:30.

My best friend from PT school, Jackie, comes down for a visit. Oh, how it was much appreciated by me! And, she brought us lunch including a chocolate chip cookie which Micah thoroughly enjoyed, and provided loving adult arms to hold Macey for the afternoon.

Snuggles with Grandpa Jim on a cold, Sunday afternoon.

New Years

I usually do not make New Years resolutions. If I do, they involve the typical eating better/exercising more and are quickly broken by mid-January. Reflecting back on last year, there are times when I wish that I had my camera with me to capture pictures of Micah or every day life in the Raadt household. I mean, I only took 2 pictures of myself during Macey's pregnancy versus monthly pictures while I was pregnant with Micah. So, this year, I've decided to take a daily picture of something - big or small - and write about it on a weekly basis. Below is a a week of pictures from January 1-6th

6 days old and I was able to catch a rare glimpse of her eyes

Another trip to the hospital for daily bilirubin checks

Micah loves it when Macey hangs out on his bed

Tower building

Go Vikes! 

He loves wearing our boots

Grandma Dawn meets Macey for the first time

  

Welcome Macey Joy

It's taken me nearly 3 weeks to write this post, but I've been enjoying a lot of snuggles, constant feedings, changing diapers, and taking care of a sick Micah while Kyle has been busy working. My house is a complete mess, and dinner has been either from the crockpot or left overs most nights, but I'm not complaining. Life is so good!! Our family has been blessed and obviously busier since we welcomed Macey Joy Raadt into our lives on December 28th.

Macey's birth story is relatively uneventful compared to Micah's arrival into the world. She was a planned c-section. Aside from my blood pressure tanking into the low 50's for a few minutes after receiving the spinal block, the c-section itself went really well. Macey Joy was born at 8:33 AM and she came out emptying her bladder on our doctor before opening her little mouth to exercise her lungs. I was so thankful that we waited to find out her gender. Our doctor showed her to Kyle, and he was the one who announced "It's a baby girl." We couldn't have been more surprised, as I was certain that we were having another boy based on the way that I carried her throughout this pregnancy.

Unlike Micah's delivery, I was able to stay with Macey throughout the entire recovery process. It was so nice to be able to hold her immediately following her birth. As mentioned above, she came out crying but once hearing our voices and feeling our touch, she immediately calmed down. Macey topped the scales at 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. She was absolutely perfect!

Ironically, I was in the same hospital room as I was when I had Micah. I also had the same labor and delivery nurse during Macey's delivery. Although room 200 is probably the nicest labor and delivery room of the five at Winona Health, I was ready to check out a day early to get back to the comforts of home and my little Micah man. My parents and brother were generous enough to stay with Micah while were were in the hospital, and they stayed busy. We came home to a house that was cleaned, unpacked and decorated. Macey's nursery was painted and her crib assembled. Of course the laundry was done and a few days of groceries were purchased.

All hooked up and ready to meet Baby Raadt

I love these pictures!!

First time holding Macey while in recovery

Meeting big brother Micah. His reaction - neither positive nor negative. He was more interested in all of the labor and delivery equipment in the room and playing hide-and-go-seek behind the curtain

Meeting Grandpa Larry. We skyped with Grandma Dawn who was hospitalized with some health problems at Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Proud Grandma and Grandpa. When my mom received the phone call from Kyle about having a Baby Girl, she cried!

Getting ready to watch the Vikings Game!

Getting ready to be discharged on Sunday night

So, how have the past 3 weeks been going?! They've gradually gotten better. Macey's bilirubin level was at an "8" when we left the hospital on Sunday, which was a little high. Her weight was also down about 8% to 7 lbs, 10oz, which was a little concerning as well; however, knowing that my milk had yet to come in and we were supplementing, we were allowed to go home with the understanding that we needed to have a weight check/bilirubin check the next day. Macey dealt with jaundice the first week of her life, resulting in daily trips to the hospital for heel sticks and a lethargic baby that we were struggling to wake up every 2 hours for feeds. Fortunately, her jaundice did not require any additional treatment. Three weeks later, her jaundice is well behind her and she is now up to 8 lbs, 11 ounces.

Watch for monthly updates on our little Macey. She has already changed so much in the past 3 weeks. I am enjoying my time home with her!

Christmas Festivities 2012

This Christmas season was crazy for our household with the move and preparing for Baby #2. While we didn't decorate much for Christmas this year, other than a small tree in the bay window of our old house and a few other decorations, and I did not get around to sending out a Christmas card, we still enjoyed everything about the Christmas season. Below is a bunch of pictures displaying our Christmas celebrations.


Holiday Train -

In early December, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train rolled through Winona on a Monday night. Fortunately, Kyle and I were both off that night, so after picking Micah up from daycare, we loaded up the Bob and walked down to the train station. It was a chilly night, but Micah had a blast. They stopped in Winona for about 45 minutes and put on a concert. Micah also got to meet Santa Clause.

DayCare Christmas Program

We love Micah's daycare! They put on a Christmas program every year, but this was the first year that we attended, as the toddler room had a part in it. Both sets of grandparents even made the trip down for the performance.  In the few weeks before the preceding the program, Micah could be heard singing Christmas songs around our house. He also would say the phrase "the angel brought good news" repeatedly. While Micah put all that time into practicing his part, he didn't participate with his group in the program. As Micah's group walked out on stage at the church, I could see Micah's head swiveling, as he looked at everyone in the audience. When he spotted us, he quickly separated from his group and ran down the aisle looking for "Papa". It was pretty funny!

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day

Kyle worked Christmas Eve day, and I had a doctor's appointment in the afternoon. Micah's daycare was closed so my parents and brother ended up coming down to Winona to watch him in the afternoon. We all went to Christmas Eve Church in Winona before heading back to Stewartville for hors devours at my parents house.

Christmas day was difficult. I woke up to a voicemail that a former patient and friend of mine had passed away earlier that morning.  The news came as a shock to me, as I had just seen Jerry and his wife Vicki 6 months earlier and he was doing well at that point. I am so thankful that I was placed to be Jerry's student physical therapist during my first rotation on the 3 Mary Brigh Rehab Unit at St. Mary's Hospital. Jerry and Vicki are some of the kindest people that I know, and he will be missed. 

A majority of Christmas Day was spent up at Kyle's family's house where Micah enjoyed opening presents and spending time playing with his cousins.

We returned to my parents house in the evening where we had a wonderful prime rib dinner and anticipated celebrating with my family. Unfortunately, Micah caught a 24 hour stomach bug and fell asleep before opening his presents.

A sick, but snuggly Micah

New coffee mug from Micah Man

Feeling much better a few days later as he opened presents