Snowbird

It was Customer Appreciation Days at Snowbird this weekend, so headed up along with my mom to ride the tram. The line was long, but the weather was beautiful and worth the wait.  We had a nice time at the top and Quinn even got to play in some snow.

Quinn also really wanted to fish on our way out. She didn't catch anything, but had a nice time. 

It was also our anniversary, so after Snowbird my mom took Quinn so Dalan and I could get dinner and see a movie!  Hooray!  Six years!!!  Hooray!!!

Dalan and Jessi

Quinn had a sleepover with Ali and McKay a few weeks ago.  They went to the Lego store, and Quinn got a Little Mermaid set.  I believe McKay also got some new Legos too. They went to Chick Fila for dinner and played at the park. 

Dalan and I went to Chipoltle for dinner, and then went to Mulligans.  We like mini-golf ok, but really like the batting cages. We especially like anytime we get alone. It's hard to imagine that once upon a time all our time was alone. I don't know what we even did with ourselves all the time. Ha, ha!  

A silly comparison. 

A Post with just the Mister and Me

Three Wonderful Years!

Dear Dalan,

Thanks for always being there for me. I know I can always count on you! You are the best, and I love you so much!

Happy Third Anniversary!

love, Jess

Attitude of Gratitude

The last 17 months have been hard. It is not easy to have a new baby, and it is especially not easy to have a new baby who has a whole slew of medical and extra needs. However, even though it has been hard, we have made it. We are thriving and striving as a family, and Quinn is a perfect little toddler (who still has some extra needs...but is perfect, none the less.) And the reason we are in such good shape is because of our family, friends, and the community. We would not be here without you all, and I don't know if I say it enough, but thank you and we are forever grateful for all the support we have received.

We have received support in so many ways, and I will never be able to repay everyone who helped us get to this point, but I do hope people know that I think about it everyday and I am so appreciative.

I want to say thank you to everyone who prayed, sent vibes, and thought of Quinn when she was so small and in need of so much love.

I want to say thank you to the nurses and doctors who saved her life.

I want to say thank you to everyone who respected our need for space and healing right after Quinn was born.

I want to say thank you for every kind text, email, card, voice mail, and phone call we received.

I want to say thank you to everyone who let me complain, cry, or share my joy with them.

I want to say thank you to everyone who watches Quinn (our parents and siblings) while we are at work.

I want to say thank you to everyone who brought us dinner. I want to say thank you to everyone who has given Quinn a gift.

I want to say thank you for everyone who contributed to Quinn's March of Dimes team, walked with us, and came to her party.

I want to thank everyone who was patient and understanding with our time of house arrest, and helped us keep Quinn so healthy.

I want to say thank you to everyone who cleaned our house, and helped put together our nursery. And thank you for all those offers to clean our house.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has given us pictures of Quinn.

I want to say thank you to everyone who continues to love and be a champion of Quinn.

We are really so grateful, and appreciative and lucky. Thank you!

In addition, I am especially grateful for Dalan. Kind, loving, and patient Dalan. This journey has been crazy, but I literally would not have survived without him. Thank you for being you...a fabulous husband, dad, and friend.

A day at the farm

We took Quinn to Wheeler Farm this morning to check out the animals, and enjoy the fresh air. It was so much fun, and a beautiful day. Quinn loved the cows the best, and her whole little body would shake from excitement when she saw any of the animals move. She was full of big smiles, and a happy girl the whole time. She even gave a goat a little love smack usually reserved for Piper.









Later this afternoon, Dalan and I went to a movie. In a theater! For the first time in well over a year! It was so fun. We are such movie people, and I missed the theater. We used the newfangled, futuristic coke machine. I got Peach Sprite. It was delicious. We saw Scream 4. We liked it. I only screamed out loud once. I will probably be scared for a week though!

We're home!!!!!!!!!!!

We're home! We got home around 7:00 pm last night, after a long, boring day. But I am grateful it was so uneventful, and everything went smoothly as it should, so we could get discharged.

Highlights:

1. Awesome nurses who listened and advocated for Quinn (and us.) At one point a doctor wanted us to practice feeding Quinn bolus style (gravity) during the day, and then stay another night to see if Quinn tolerated a continuous pump feeding. I was like no way. We have been doing bolus style feeding with her other tube for months, we do not need a day of practice of that. Luckily, the doctor listened to us, and the nurses got that we are pretty medical savvy parents, and let us take control of her oxygen needs.

2. The surgery was easy and Quinn was never in too much pain. We were able to manage her pain for the most part with Tylenol and Motrin, and was close to being back to her normal self within 24 hours of the surgery. She rolled about 48 hours after surgery, and seemed ok on her belly. She is obviously still sore, but I think she is going to bounce back quite quickly.

3. Quinn slept for eight straight hours last night! It was glorious. Around 4:00 am (or was it 5:00 am...darn Day Light Savings), she got fussy, and I ended up sleeping with her on the couch on her room for a couple of hours, but that is actually pretty normal Quinn sleeping behavior. I think having her on her feeding pump through the night is going to be very nice.

4. Her tube is not as bad as I thought it was going to be. It is usually hidden under her clothes, and so she has not really grabbed or pulled at it, like she did with the one in her nose. I hope we can make it through the healing period (six to eight weeks) without her pulling it out, and then it will be smooth sailing.

5. Under to new plan, she is already getting two more ounces of food a day, with (hopefully) room to add more as needed. I hope she is going to pack on some grams.

6. She took an ounce of apple juice orally this morning. Hooray! I was a little worried that after 48 hours without a bottle, she would refuse, since she pretty much hates them anyway. We'll see if she'll take some formula tomorrow.

7. Her face is tube free, although we traded a little tube in her face, for a much bigger one in her belly. Now, if we could just get rid of the dots, Quinn's beautiful face will be free of extra accessories!

8. We got new roommates, and I totally "knew" them from reading their blog. Small and crazy e-world. We totally lucked out with our second set of roommates.

9. Our NICU experience totally prepared us for this hospital stay. While I was nervous about the surgery, I felt confident in navigating the hospital setting, and was prepared for all the wackiness that can happen when you are the mercy of others for your child's care.

10. A baby that is at 80% two days after surgery.


Low-lights:

1. Sleeping at the hospital. It sucked, and was uncomfortable. One of us would sit in the rocking chair with Quinners for as long as we could stand before our whole lower body was numb, while the other would sleep (and I use that term loosely) on the pull out cot. I did get to watch some old episodes of 90210 while I was doing my time in the rocking chair.

2. No DVD player in our room. We had planned on just chilling and watching Arrested Development during our stay, but no dice. We only had a VCR, and limited channels for our viewing pleasure on the TV. Thank goodness for smart phones and laptops.

3. Slow delivery drivers. We were discharged at 5:40 pm, and waited almost an hour for our medical supplies for Quinn to be delivered. I was one ornery and impatient mama by this point. I just wanted out of the hospital.

4. I realized how spoiled we were at IMC. It is new. We had a private room. We had one on one, or one on two nursing. Up at PCMC, not so much. Although, we had top notch care at both places, so I can't really complain.

5. Hospital cafeteria food. No decent showers. Bad cell service.

BUT, we are home!!!!

Now for the pictures....

Hospital, day 2.....

(Tubie)

Home, Day 3....








P.S. Happy Birthday to my mom! Love you!

Weekend Fun!

I had a lovely and long weekend, four days long, in fact. It had the potential to be perfect, except Dalan had a standard length weekend and was sick. Oh well, you can't win them all. However, it was full of nice weather, and we left the house. As a family. And then as a couple. Hallelujah!



On Friday, we went to pick up some medical supplies for Quinn, and then went to see VaRonica and Nathan's house. It was so much fun, and was so good for my stir crazy little soul, plus Nathan and VaRonica have an adorable new house, and I was so happy to finally see it. That evening Dalan and I went to see Black Comedy at Pioneer Theater. My mom babysat. It was the first time I had left Quinn with anyone without Dalan sleeping upstairs. I was a little nervous, but of course it was fine. Quinn wanted to party with Grandma rather than sleep, but that was all. And the play was so good. And Dalan and I had so much fun.

On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, we were mostly lazy. Dalan was sick, so I was on Quinn duty full time, but it was nice to hang out and play. Quinn is adorable as ever, and does so many hilarious and cute things. She giggles all the time now. I love it! Quinn also ate like a champ on Saturday, not so much the next two days, but I am hoping it is a preview of things to come, rather than a fluke.

I actually feel rested and ready for the week.

Dalan and Quinn

Dalan is one of the best dad's ever. It is true. I heard it in the NICU, and I continue to hear it from friends and family on a near daily basis. People were a little surprised to hear that I so confidently left Dalan with our medically needy baby during my baby shower last week. I didn't even give it a second thought. He is fabulous. He is wonderful. He is hands on. He changes diapers, even the poopy ones. (This was a big step for him). He feeds her. He is silly. He plays. He sings to her. He teaches her about the world (well, sports mainly, but that is his world.)

He is nearly perfect.
Quinn loves him.
I love him.

Happy Anniversary

Two years!
One kid!
Hundreds of memories!
One thousand times the love!

Happy Anniversary!