Meeting Grant

Well, yes, technically kids were not allowed in the NICU because it was the middle of cold/flu season, but we got a lucky break (on my birthday, no less) when we got special permission to bring them to a hallway door.  Grant was strong enough to be disconnected from his monitors for just a brief minute so that his brothers could get a sneak peek at him.  It was the greatest birthday gift I received.  Many thanks to one special nurse in particular that bent the rules for us!

Baby Shower

My sweet friends planned for months to give me a wonderful baby shower.  Little did they know Mr. G would make his debut so early.  So after a bit of rescheduling, we all got to celebrate Grant's birth with a really fun party, lots of friends and way too many presents.  It was a great night and made me feel so special and loved.  It certainly was a fantastic diversion from all the trips to the NICU.

The NICU

We spent 23 total days in the NICU.  Grant had all the conditions and complications typical of a 33 week newborn.  He received excellent care and soon was just a "feeder/grower" which meaned he needed to learn to eat so that he could be discharged.  Shayne and I set up a schedule and switched up which feedings we would attend so that one of us could be there with him as often as possible.  We typically were present for six of his eight daily feedings. 



Big Brothers

Nothing about Grant's arrival went the way we'd envisioned it.  In my mind, we'd be able to take pictures of the boys holding Grant while sitting with me in my hospital bed.  But instead he was across the hospital in the NICU and the boys were forbidden to visit.  There weren't even any windows to the NICU.  So we took digital photos and video so that the boys could get a look at him.  It had to be a bit confusing...yes, you have a brother.  But no, he's not here and you can't see him for a while.  But they were great in the situation.  They had lots of fun with Gran and Pop and Daddy took them to do some fun things after school and in between visits to see me.

The boys got to sport shirts I'd preordered from my friend Denise http://www.sewitsyours.com/  She thought she had plenty of time to get them done...but worked late Saturday night after she read of Grant's early arrival so that the boys could wear them at the hospital on Sunday.  So sweet.  I love this picture.

12:04 p.m.

Welcome to the world,
JOSEPH GRANT MYHAND!
33 1/2 weeks
4 lbs. 15 oz.

Here we go...

Luckily Shayne was returning home from Brazil on Friday, January 15.  We'd planned to meet for lunch after my regularly scheduled OB appointment.  But I'd been feeling weird and decided that I'd pack a bag for the hospital "just in case."  Upon hearing this, Shayne decided that he'd just drive straight to the Dr's office from the airport.  Turns out that was a smart decision.
Circumstances were such that my Dr. sent me to Labor and Delivery for monitoring.  Great friends jumped in to take care of the boys which allowed Shayne(who still hadn't showered, slept or eaten) to be with me almost the entire time.  My Mom and Dad arrived late that night after an impromptu cross Texas journey.  We all were ready for whatever came next, although we hoped I would be able to go home and let Mr. Grant grow a little bit more.

Shayne took the boys to the hospital gift shop on Saturday morning so they could pick out something special for me.  What I loved more than anything is when they both crawled up into bed with me for some hugs.

Rental car...umm, van

We decided that my beloved little Ford Edge wasn't going to accomodate our expanding family.  So literally ON THE WAY to CarMax to get an appraisal and quote Shayne backed it into a pole.  Then promptly went to Brazil.  So I took it to the body shop and looked forward to enjoying one of the benefits of having insurance--the daily rental car.  But when I went to pick up the rental car I felt like I was in an episode of Seinfeld.  They didn't have a car for me ("But that's WHY you have a RESERVATION")  so they put me, an 8 1/2 month pregnant woman in a 15 passenger van.

The boys LOVED it.  Travis said, "Mom, you could drive my WHOLE class on a field trip in this thing!"

Year in Review

As we enter 2010 we know it will be filled with new adventures and challenges. But I wanted to take a minute and share a great memory from each month of 2009. These are the pictures I used to make the yearly calendar for the grandparents. Each of these monthly pictures make me smile in their special way. Here's our 2009 in review...

on to 2010!!!

Happy New Year!

We spent the week at Gran and Pop's cabin and rang in a rustic New Year! New Year's Eve consisted of a great dinner of dove and pheasant followed by a rockin' couple of rounds of LCR dice. Then the boys bundled up for a few sparklers outside.

Quite the ensemble: pjs, hunting jackets and party hats!

Happy 2010 Everyone!!!

Christmas Morning

Advent Candle

For the first time ever (and maybe the last for a while) things worked out for us to be in our home church for Christmas Eve service. We decided to attend the 4 p.m. children's service and were honored to be asked to light the advent candles.

As we were preparing this afternoon, Travis suggested that maybe Shayne should be in charge of the actual fire, stating that I wouldn't be able to "stop, drop and roll" with the baby in my tummy! Good, solid logic from him as always!

Travis volunteered to read the lines associated with the white Christ candle. He said he'd bring "the big finish!" He did wonderfully! We were so very proud of him!

By the way, Cole tried to get the attention of his friend Andrew the whole time we were up there. You can see him in the photo looking his direction!

Cousins

The five cousins celebrating Christmas at GG and Grandpa's house in Macon, GA. When they're all together, they are quite the housefull...and next year, there will be six!

From left to right:

Travis, 8; McKenzie, 7; Gray, 2; Cole, 4; Morgan, 5

Waitin' on pizza...

Cole and Morgan

Travis and McKenzie

Cole wanted lots of lovin' off of Gray...Gray, not so sure!

Snowball Fight!

Our holiday travel took an unexpected turn with Shayne's Pappaw ill in the hospital in Indiana...so midway on our way to Georgia, we took a left in Mississippi and headed up to meet the family. Thankfully, as of this post, Pappaw is doing better, though he remains in the hospital.

As we were leaving to go to Georgia on Monday morning, there was a slight dusting of snow on the ground. All the boys wanted to do was have a snowball fight. So Shayne gathered up enough snow off of some cars' rear bumpers to oblige them...

Ready for a Baby

The room is fully converted back into a nursery awaiting a baby to sleep in it! We finally chose a paint color (after sampling six different shades of green) and Shayne got it painted last weekend. He also assembled the furniture and the glider was delivered. At last, the room was totally transformed and everything seemed much more under control around here!

The bedding I'd ordered was delayed a week or so, but was ready for pickup on Tuesday, so I drove down to get it right away--so anxious to see everything pulled together!

I love how the bedding turned out!

A comfy rocker that both boys already love to lounge in!

Our only artpiece--no real theme this time around.

I just loved the sentiment and colors of this painting.