Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving a day early. I was home from All Children's Hospital for a doctor appointment, so we had our dinner on Wed. night.



During our dinner there was a knock on our door. When we answered the door we were suprized to see Russ Ceperich, a friend from Idaho, on the doorstep. Of course we invited Russ and his family in. We had a great visit. Stuart and Raeleigh enjoyed having someone to play with. The older kids visited with the adults for a while and then read.



Novalee, Stuart and Brighton

Bianca

Raeleigh, Nicca (Nicole)

Brennan

Luybov & Me

Russ and Luybov we so great to me after Searls died. They helped the kids and I make the transition into our new life.

Craig and Russ, cut up the pis for us to share!!

After the Ceperich left, Stuart put on a magic show for the family. He used the tricks that he got for his birthday. He did a great job and had fun. I think that he liked to make his fingers smoke the most!!

Samantha did drumroll before each of Stuart's tricks. I had a great Thanksgiving. I am so grateful that I could be with my family and friends.

Pie Day!!

In the Crane family there is a Pie Day tradition. The day before Thanksgiving, my sisters and their kids go to my Mom's. They spend the day making pies. Every pie pan (and any other round dish that is oven safe) is filled with something delicious. Each of the grandchildren get to make their own mini pie. Usually there 20+ pies made at grandma that day.



This year the kids decided to have their own pie day while I was at the doctor. They made 7 yummy pies!!


Pictured: Morgan, Jordan and Raeleigh

Stuart has decided that he does not like to have his picture taken. So when he sees the camers pointed in his direction, he pulls a grumpy face.

Pies: Apple, chocolate pudding, , custard, angel lush, peach, pumpkin

The kids had a great carrying on a Crane family tradition!

So Fresh!

Peaceful and clean after her first tub bath!

We had this onesie made for Addison. The fighting tarpon is the mascot for Patrick and Samantha's school. So I thought it would be cute for Addison to have a shirt to wear for their sporting events!

Notice she has no IVs. At this point Addison only had feeding tube (for what she wouldn't take from a bottle), and the cords for her monitors.

Ready for bed!!

I'm so in LOVE

I love our new baby girl. She is great. I am blessed to have been able to be with her during her stay at All Children's Hospital. Thanks to Craig and many others taking care of business at home.

I was so excited to get this swaddle blanket in the mail from my sister, Vannah. It is perfect. The nurses made so many nice comments about how perfect the blanket was. The bear's shirt says "Need a Cuddle?" I fell in love with it when I saw the bear. So I bought the bear for Addison and it staye in her crib the rest of her hospital stay.

Notice there is no umbilical cord it the picture above. Her cord was hanging by a small piece for several days. So nurse Lisa decided to just cut it off. What a suprize, Lisa discovered that it wasn't the umbilical cord hanging on - it was a thread from the IV being sewen in. Apparently when the IV was sewen into the cord, Addison's umbilical cord was also sewen to her belly! Funny but true story.

I love this picture. I show Addison trying to smile! The nurses would love to make her smile while doing her assessment.

Addison & Morgan

Sweet pictures of our oldest and youngest daughters. (Nov. 22, 2009)

Pictures of Addison

Nurse Beth decided that Addison needed a hair bow. I was thrilled to see the pink and white bow when I walked in in the morning.

Addison was on the ventilator for more than a week. She could not be held during this time. The nurses did all of her care. We could sit by Addison and touch (not stroke) her. In level 3 NICU.

1 week old. One of the nurses cut a notch in her binki so that she could suck on it while still on the vent. In this picture she had an IV in her head. She had 7 different IV medications, plus her nutrition & lipids.

Two weeks old! In the upstairs, level 2, NICU. Also in a crib.

Daddy and his baby. We were not supposed to sleep while holding our baby. So when Craig fell asleep, I was glad his back was turned to the nurses!!!

All babies have a hearing screening during their hospital stay. Addison passed in both ears.

I love the picture below of Addison. She looks so serious, and she has headband hair!

Addison Jane

Our baby girl, Addison Jane Smith, was born on Wednesday (October 28, 2009) at 2:25pm. She weighed 8lbs 5oz and was 20 inches long.

Addison had a rough entry into this world. During delivery her unbilical cord prolasped (the cord came before the baby). At this point the baby was shoved back up inside and an emergency c-section was performed. I am grateful for the quick thinking of the doctor and nursing staff, they saved the life of our baby.

With the prolasped cord, Addison was without oxygen for a while. She needed help right away. Craig got to see her. Then after I woke up some, we both went into to see her. I was able to touch Addison's head and her foot, she was crying. She is a beautiful baby. Then I was wheeled to my room. Latter they brought Addison in, she was in an icolet ready to fly to the children's hospital. It was hard to just lay in bed and look at her. Craig and Grandma S took some pictures of her. Addison was sedated at this point, that was difficult to see.

Craig and Patrick drove to the children's hospital to be with Addison. Grandma S stayed with me. It was a long night. Addison was hooked up to several IV's, a respirator, etc. Her PH needed to be balanced, blood pressure was low and she needed to have and EEG. Craig and Patrick spent a couple of hours with Addison and then went to a hotel for the rest of the night.

(In the picture you can see that Addison has an oxygen tube, feeding tube and leads for her heart rate, respirations, & temperature. She also has a blood pressure cuff on her leg. If you look closely at her umbilical cord you can see that there is an IV line sewen into it. This line can be used for about a week and several meds - if they can be mixed- can go in this one IV.)