Hey everyone - did you miss me?! It's been a while since I've had a chance to write. Here I am practicing my kissy face - just in case Baby John calls and wants to go on a 2nd date. I've been eating LOTS and gaining weight - on Friday I weighed 10 pounds!!! As you can see - I seem to gain all my weight in my cheeks. 
Now that I've had my heart surgery, there are a few things I'm working on. Remember the physical therapist and the occupational therapist I saw in the hospital? They gave Mom and Dad some ideas for how I can really start to work on my muscle tone even though I can't lay on my tummy. Here I am doing some chest-supported tummy time. It's really tough work - plus, I never know when that crazy Callie thing is going to sneak up on my other side and stick her cold, wet nose in my face so I always have to be on the defensive.
After a while, boy do I get tired.
Seriously, guys, I'm done for today. No, really - PICK ME UP!
On Wednesday, March 11 Mom and I did Marathon Doctor Day. We saw my Pulminologist in the morning. He said my lungs sounded beautiful. He said I could use my nebulizer only when I needed it for noisy breathing (which isn't very often) and he said to wean me off of one of my 2 reflux medications. He said I had to keep the oxygen tanks for decoration until we get through cold season - but at my April appointment he'd probably let me get rid of them. If he makes me keep them much longer, I'm going to hang Christmas lights on them and ask Santa if he'd consider putting gifts around the tank.That afternoon, we saw my Cardiologist. She did an Echo and looked at my heart repair. She said my heart looks beautiful and it's working just perfectly. She said I make her SO happy. (Duh). She said I'm eating lots and Mom could return my feeding pump. And she said I could wean off of my two diuretics. I made her so happy when I ate 3 ounces at a time every bottle 6 times a day. Wait 'til I see her in a few weeks - my new favorite thing to do is eat 5 ounces at 5 PM. It's my extra happy hour.
Before Mom and I saw all my doctors - we met with a Social Worker and a Public Health nurse to talk about me and what a fantastically high maintenance little lady I am. They decided that I qualify for a Virginia State Waiver that gives me Medicaid and respite care by an in-home nurse. You know those government people though - always taking their time with things - so all the papers weren't going to go through in time for Mom to go back to work on March 16. So we called in Grandma Howe for a week. Let the spoiling begin.
Grandma arrived on Saturday so she could have a day of lessons on me. I was pretty proud of Mom - she did alright leaving me for the first time. I knew something was up when she was extra cuddly at 3 AM when I wanted a bottle (I did that as a going back to work gift for her - picked up an extra feeding in the middle of the night. I figured she'd want to see more of me at night since she'd be gone all day - but a girl needs her beauty sleep - and I've since had to give up getting up twice a night.) Usually at 3 AM Mom or Dad give me my bottle and send me right back to bed, but before going back to work, Mom rocked and cuddled me for an extra few minutes. Then when I woke up - she was gone! I'm okay with sharing her with the first graders. She says they're almost as fun as me - so she likes being back with them.
I wonder what I can talk Grandma into... "Grandma, they usually give me some cookies with my milk.... really? They didn't write that down? Jeez. What about cake? Did they write down about the cake I usually get?..."
Grandma and I did some projects around the house to help mom and dad. We cleaned and made dinners and took Callie on walks. I told Grandma what to do, and Grandma listened, so things went smoothly. My nurse is starting tomorrow. We haven't met her yet - but Mom wrote her a novel of information about me. Poor nurse is going to have to spend half of our day together all reading that.
This is a trick I saw my friend Lila do: give yourself a bottle. I still need some help - but I'm working hard at it. Now that I eat so much - it seems like the easier way to do things. Mom and Dad can never guess right about if I want 5 ounces or 3 ounces. Then I have to yell at them - this will all be easier when I just can run the show all on my own. 
8 comments:
I just have to say "Yea God! How mighty and awesome are your works, and Your love to this family and this precious child!!!" I'm smiling from ear to ear and rejoicing with you at all of the progress and great news! Thank God for Grandma's, Medicaid nurses, and the blessing the school kids will receive because you're back at work Linzy! Such wonderful answers to our prayers! Abby is beautiful and I'm glad she's picking up some slack!
Hello Abby!!! We are loving your new pictures and seeing how pink, alert and hungry you are! Way to pack on the lbs. Hang in there with the tummy time - we know it's a drag, but take it from Lila, your girlfriend with the helmut - it pays off in the end. Tell Mom it's ok to give into her desire to update your blog. You have acquired quite an audience that love your updates. Looking forward to hanging with you in April. LG is setting aside a wardrobe for you! Lots of love- Missy and familia
Missy told us to check you out as you had been updating your blog and what a great job you did once again! Abby girlfriend you are getting SO big we cannot believe that those pictures are really you! Since you have the cutest little face and gorgeous big eyes we will always recognize you. Good job in packing on the pounds, we are all experts at that in our house, we just need to know how NOT to pack em on! I am quite sure you have it all under control with the nurse and all the loving hands that care for you. You crack us up that you decided to give your mom a little wake up call prior to her going back to teaching. You are pulling out all the stops little girl and doing quite well with them. Can't wait till you head to Darien so we can see you again. Be good, stay strong and keep sucking down all those baba's to show everyone who is in charge! Love and kisses, The Barthold's
Hi Guys, we are so happy that she is healthy and happy! Hope to meet her in person this summer!
Matt and Chris
Abby, I just can't get enough of those cheeks! What a cutie-pa-tootie (and yes, that is the real spelling, I looked it up). I love your little poses; the kissy face, deep thoughts, utter exhaustion. It's clear that the camera loves you. I'm so proud of your weight gain and nothing is cuter than a baby taking control of her own bottle, "I got this mom." Keep up the good work and give your mommy a squeeze for us.
Wow! Abby is so beautiful! It's so great to hear that all her appts. are going well and that she is gaining weight.
Got her eye on John? Interesting...! I thought my Angelo would make her a lovely mate!
Glad to hear things are going well.
Love ya, Nia and Family
We went to the mailbox today and I got my first Happy Easter/Final Four-Smack-Talking card! You look so sweet and innocent in the picture; I wouldn't have known you were capable of such trash talk! I'm so excited though. All of my friends in NC are Tar Heel fans (mom and dad won't let me play with anyone who pulls for Duke), so it's fun to mix it up with a UConn fan. Good luck (you're gonna need it)!
-Caroline
Don't worry Abby, we lost in the final four last year too. We know how tough it is. I was really hoping we'd be in the final together so we could both work on our trash talking. Your smack talking may have jinxed you, but at least you looked adorable doing it! We're keeping our fingers crossed for Monday!
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