Hershey Pictures

Click here to see the pictures from our few days spent at Hershey Medical Center for Maggie's surgery.

~Sara

Buh-Bye "Nose Hose"!!

We're home. I'm so sorry for being out of touch. I did bring my laptop to the hospital, but unfortunately there was no WiFi available! I hope you all didn't lose too much sleep worrying about us!

Friday morning, when we arrived at the hospital, we learned that the #2 case hadn't shown up (we were the #3 slot), so they were bumping us up. We checked in at admissions at 7:55am, and were in the pre op area by about 8:10am! I was thankful not to have to sit the the waiting area for long.

I do have to tell you about the funniest thing EVER-- Magoo on pre-op meds!!! The nurse gave her some medication through the NGTube to "help her relax", and Maggie got downright DRUNK!! She was giggling for no reason, had trouble sitting up straight, and was just overall a funny girl. It was actually nice to have a few moments of levity to balance out my anxiety.

It was hard to hand Maggie over at the OR doors. You all would have been proud, I only cried for a minute! It was a LONG 4 hours in the waiting room. I walked around the gift shop about 18 times. I read PEOPLE magazine. I watched endless hours of Michael Jackson coverage (no comment). The surgical liason called after about 2 hours to let us know that the surgeon reported everything going smoothly. Finally, Dr. Fagelman called from the OR to talk to me. Maggie was still waking up from anesthesia, he said, but everything had gone well.

I entered the PACU to find a wonderful angel of a nurse holding my Peanut. I sat in the rocking chair, and the nurse passed Maggie to me. She opened her eyes, and I think she knew it was me. She slept in my arms on and off, and then we were assigned our room. I was able to carry her up to Pediatrics from the PACU, and we sat in the recliner. The nurse came in and gave Maggie some IV Morphine, which seemed to help a little bit. She would drift in and out of sleep, but I think she was still in a fair amount of pain. My parents came up to see us, and one of the only ways we could distract Maggie was by letting her play with my diet Pepsi bottle (I didn't want to drink it anyway...)

Maggie fell asleep for the night around 10pm. She actually seemed more comfortable lying flat on the crib than in my arms. I felt badly that it took us that long to discover how to make her comfortable! Dan had planned to stay overnight at the hospital, but all of the parent beds were claimed, so he ended up driving home. I settled in for our first night at Hershey. I woke up with a start at about midnight. Maggie was SCREAMING! It was really scary. Anyone that knows Maggie, knows that she really doesn't cry. At all. Ever. She fusses and whines a little when she's tired, but rarely cries. So hearing such a piercing scream from her was really hard for me. I rang for the nurse, who came in with some Tylenol (we had since given up on the Morphine, as it didn't really seem to do anything but make Maggie loopy). When I looked at Maggie's belly, her umbilical incision was puffed up and felt hard. We could see bruising beneath the skin, and it was hot to the touch. The nurse agreed that it wasn't normal, so she paged the resident, who came up to see Maggie right away. He said that we should just keep an eye on it, and since Maggie had fallen to sleep from the Tylenol, he felt that the chance of a real problem was small.

The next morning, Maggie seemed a little better. She sat up in her crib for a few minutes, and I even managed to get half a smile out of her at one point. Over all, I think she was just really worn out and still in pain. We kept her medicated throughout the day, and she was able to sit with me for short periods of time. Auntie Maryann and Uncle Carl came for a visit, and Maggie was happy to see them!

On Saturday night, Dan claimed a parent bed, and planned to use it. They started Maggie's overnight feedings at a very slow rate, and she seemed to tolerate them well. I slept for about an hour, and just as Dan was going to leave the room to go to the parent room, Maggie again woke up screaming in pain. The nurse came in with Tylenol, and again assessed Maggie's belly. Her whole stomach was hard and hot, and we could feel air bubbles beneath her skin near the GTube. The nurse stopped the tube feeding. Despite the Tylenol, Maggie would NOT settle down. Something was clearly wrong. The nurse paged the resident, who came up and ordered a series of xrays (let me tell you, 2am stat xrays are NOT fun). Luckily, the xrays showed no leakage, no obstruction, and no bowel perforation. The resident ordered a laxative to help Maggie, as she hadn't pooped since Wednesday.

Sunday was a better day for Peanut. She began her bottle feedings, and was able to eat about an ounce at a time from the bottle. (We even gave her a first taste of a Hershey's chocolate bar-- seemed appropriate!) She still had intermittent pain, but not as bad as she had during the first 2 nights. She was smiling again, and playing a little bit with her toys. She slept alot of the time, since she was up most of the night. My parents rented a hotel room across the street from the hospital, and I was under STRICT instructions to go over and get some sleep. I was able to rest for about an hour and a half, which helped alot. I was a little jealous of Dan, that he would get to spent the whole night in that comfy king sized bed and a quiet room!! (It would have been wasted on me, though. We all know I wouldn't have been able to sleep away from Magoo!)

Monday morning, we got the okay for discharge. We FINALLY got home yesterday afternoon about 3pm. The medical supply company sent the feeding pump and supplies, and the nurse came to show us how to use it. Maggie was in bed for the night around 10pm, and the tube feeding was pretty easy to set up.

So far, the GTube hasn't been that big of a deal. It's essentially the same as the NGTube, but the formula tends to go in alot faster. We have to be careful that it doesn't go in too fast, or Peanut starts to get uncomfortable. The one difficulty I am having is coordinating the daytime feedings. The nutritionist prescribed a 10 hour overnight feeding via pump, and we are to give Maggie 4 feedings during the day of 4 ounces each. The problem is that she just isn't hungry in the morning, after being fed all night. The pump feeding finishes about 7am, and in order to get all 4 feedings in, I have to start at 8am! Well, she just finished eating an hour before-- of COURSE she's not hungry for another 4 ounces!!! That's been a little frustrating. Maggie hasn't taken ANYTHING by bottle since we got home. She went from taking 2 ounces from the bottle plus about an ounce or 2 of baby food to ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! It's hard not to get upset about this slide backwards, even though I knew it was probably going to happen. I know I just need to be patient. At this point, she's only 4 days out from surgery. Hopefully, as her stomach heals and begins to stretch again, her hunger will return, and we can get back on track with eating.

I am home with Maggie for the rest of the week, and I think we're just going to take it easy. Her schedule is completely off from being in the hospital, and I think her body is still tired from surgery. I have taken about a million pictures, now that we can see her face without tape. I promise to post them soon!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your calls, emails, thoughts, and prayers. I hope this surgery is the beginning of good things for our Miracle Maggie. She sure deserves it!!

~Sara

A Prayer for Today

Believe Me Now
by Steven Curtis Chapman

I watch you looking out across the raging water,
So sure your only hope lies on the other side.
You hear the enemy that's closing in around you.
And I know that you don't have the strength to fight,
But do you have the faith to stand?

And believe Me now.
Believe Me here.
Remember all the times I've told you loud and clear?
I am with you, and I am for you.
So believe Me now.
Believe Me now.

I am the One who waved My hand and split the ocean.
I am the One who spoke the words and raised the dead.
I've loved you long before I set the world in motion.
And I know all the fears you're feeling now,
But do you remember who I am?

Do you believe Me now?
Believe Me here.
Remember all the times I've told you loud and clear.
I am with you.
And I am for you.

So believe Me now.
Believe it's true.
I never have, I never will abandon you.
And the God that I have always been, I will forever be.
So believe Me now.

I am the God who never wastes a single hurt that you endure.
My words are true, and all My promises are sure.
So believe Me now.
Oh, believe Me now.



~Sara

Marian & Mist

Maggie and I went to my office today for lunch. She, of course, was happy to entertain the throng of admirers, and my friends were thrilled to spoil her rotten.

After lunch, my friend Radhi said, "Hey, you should go for a massage!" I hesitated, hemmed, and hawed. The girls all volunteered to watch Magoo, and put her directly to work on the computer and answering phones. Radhi said, "You should call. Better yet, I'll call for you!" Healing Hands had a 1:30pm opening with Marian. And it was decided.

Marian greeted me when I arrived, and asked if there was anything specific she needed to address. "Not really," I told her, "I just have alot of stress at the moment." I lay on the massage table, stiff as a board, counting the dots on the ceiling, still gripped by the fear of tomorrow's surgery. Marian dimmed the lights and I closed my eyes. Her cool hands smoothed the creases in my forehead, rubbed my temples, and relaxed my jaw.

I listened to the New Age music playing in the background, listened to the hum of the central air, listened to the sound of Marian's hands across my skin, listened to the sound of my own breathing.

I imagined the stress, dark and oppressive, leaving my body. It seeped from my pores, rolled over the edge of the table, and flowed onto the floor. It came in a big black mist, dissolving into the air. I imagined the worry, the fear, the anger, the resentment, and the sadness leaving my body with every stroke of Marian's hands. I felt my skin grow warm, and imagined a golden healing light taking the place of the toxic black mist.

I thought of my Maggie. The way her face looks right before she falls asleep in my arms. The way her smile lights up the whole room. The way her laugh sounds like music. I thought of the first time I held her, when she was 6 days old. My tiny, perfect, baby. My STRONG, FEISTY baby.

Marian kneaded my muscles, stretched them, relaxed them. I matched the rhythm with a new mantra: Strength, Hope, Peace. Strength, Hope, Peace. Strength, Hope, Peace. Strength, Hope, Peace. Strength, Hope, Peace.

There are times that I don't feel very strong. There are times when I am about 2 minutes from completely losing my mind. I spend most of my time worrying about Maggie, making decisions about Maggie, taking care of Maggie. I wonder, sometimes, when someone will take care of ME. Even though I am able to be Maggie's advocate, a mother lion protecting her cub, I feel very fragile much of the time.

I have said before that I will always soldier on for my girl. But even the toughest soldiers need to be taken care of sometimes. And, for now, the mist is gone. The war may not be over, but I will fight this battle, and win.

Tomorrow, when I hand Maggie over to the nurse who will take her to the operating room, I will look the mist in it's ugly face, kiss my STRONG, FEISTY baby and whisper: Strength, Hope, Peace.

~Sara

Meeting

Maggie threw up her tube tonight. The 4th time in 5 days. I should be convinced even more that this surgery is a good idea.... I think I would be, except for the conversation I had with Maggie's Feeding Therapist today.

"Did anyone tell you what it's going to be like after the surgery?"

Uh, no. Sorta thought there would be no puke and perhaps the Peanut would start to eat.

Evidently, I am in for wretching and dry heaving that comes out of nowhere. Purple-faced, watery-eyed wretching and probably a very unhappy baby. Probably a baby that will have lost the ground we gained over the last couple of months with all this therapy. Probably a baby who will be CONTINUOUSLY fed in the beginning, and then "hopefully" transitioning to an 8 hours on, 16 hours off schedule. It will take weeks. She will not want to eat. For weeks. "Hopefully" we will be able to get Maggie back on a 5 times per day "bolus" feeding, which is what we do now. "Hopefully" a nutritionist and the surgery team will determine Maggie's volume and calorie requirements before discharge so we sorta know what we're doing. "Hopefully".

But what is the alternative? Let her throw up half of her intake? Let her continue to gain only a couple ounces each month? Worry that the lack of nutrition will affect her motor skills, her communication skills, her cognitive ability? Not much of an option.

Jesus Christ, I simply cannot do this anymore.

Rock, meet Hard Place.

~Sara

Happy Father's Day!

So poor Magoo threw up her tube this morning, which makes me ever the more ready for surgery on Friday. The fortunate part about tube changes is that it means a sqeaky-clean bathed baby, and some tube-free pictures! Here's the Peanut in her Father's Day Finest:

Sitting up like a big girl in her rocker:
Clapping for the camera:

Who's cuter than this????

~Sara

Frustration

I have some really neat Maggie video to share, and have been trying to download it for a few days, but it just won't work! I'm so frustrated!

The countdown to surgery has begun. 12 days. I know it will be here before I know it. At this point, I just want it to be over with.

Maggie's been trying to eat the last few days, but even her pureed baby foods are coming up. I feel so badly for her. I am more and more convinced that the Nissen is the right thing to do for her. I hope it helps keep her more comfortable, so she can learn that eating isn't always painful.

Otherwise, Maggie is doing wonderfully. She is sitting up by herself now, and plays with toys while sitting too! She is discovering more and more that she has legs and they are useful... the jumperoo that Auntie Beth bought her for her birthday is to blame! Maggie bounces all the time now, and is really doing nicely pushing with her legs. We've seen her try to scoot a little while on her tummy, and interestingly enough, she usually ends up going backwards. She is babbling all the time, claps her hands, waves hello, and bounces to music like she's dancing. She smiles nonstop, and I recently discovered that Little Peanut Face is a bit ticklish!

Hopefully, I'll get that video up soon. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen, and am just dying to share it with you. Thanks for checking in with us!

~Sara

Willy Wonka, eat your heart out!

Maggie's Upper GI was fairly uneventful this morning. She was able to take a few sips of the dreaded barium before gagging, so at least the radiologist could see her swallow and make sure there was no problem. The nurse put the rest down her tube (let's all sigh a collective "Thanks!" for the NGTube-- who knew?) Usually, they give as much barium solution as the baby would get in a regular feeding. In Maggie's case, this is 6 ounces. I was not exactly thrilled about her getting a full 6 ounces of barium, considering the problem we had with 1 ounce the first time around (I won't bore you with a recap, but it wasn't pretty). True to form, our Peanut Face performed ON DEMAND!! After only 2 ounces of solution, she refluxed like a champ! It was plain to EVERYONE in the room, even to Dan, who has little medical knowledge. We could see the round ball of the stomach, then suddenly the dark contrast shot up in a straight line to Maggie's mouth. She has "severe reflux". (Pause for a bit of snark, here: "Severe Reflux". I could have saved the insurance company tons of money, the doctors and nurses a ton of time, and my poor baby a ton of discomfort. I KNOW she has "severe reflux"! She's the exorcist baby! She can clear the couch in one puke!)

After the test, I made the nurse pull out all of the barium from Maggie's belly. We got all but about a half an ounce out, so hopefully we won't have any problems. I have been pushing her fluids all day, so I hope that will help too. We went down to the cafeteria and I had some yogurt and Maggie had some Neosure. Since our surgery consult wasn't until 1:30, we had a good chunk of time on our hands. We decided to get back in the car and drive around to look for a park or something to play in.

No luck on the playground, but we did end up at Hershey Park. Parking was free for the first 2 hours, so we were pretty happy about that. Sadly, Magoo is not big enough for ANY of the rides (least of all the roller coasters). They have a small attraction called "Chocolate World" that has a free train-type ride. Complete with singing cows (Maggie sang along), Hershey tells you how chocolate is made. An interesting tidbit: as of 10:15am, the factory had already produced over 14 million Hershey Kisses! We walked Maggie around the gift shop for a while, and headed back to the hospital.

We went up to the pediatric surgery office, and luckily they took pity on us and put us in to be seen at 11:30 instead of making us wait until our 1:30 appointment time. Maggie had fallen asleep in the car after the Chocolate World extravaganza, and slept in my arms all the way up to the office, through check in, and in the waiting room. I think getting up so early, the testing, and just being off her feeding schedule tired her out.

We met with the surgeon, who reviewed Maggie's Upper GI results with us. He told us that the GTube and Nissen were our decision, that he didn't want to push anything on us. That really comforted me. I hate when medical professionals just sort of tell you what they are GOING to do, instead of telling you what your options are. It's pretty clear from her results and her eating patterns that Maggie would benefit from both the tube and the Nissen. So we essentially just reviewed the procedure with the surgeon, signed our life away with the resident, and met with the scheduler.

Maggie is scheduled for surgery on Friday, June 26. Two weeks. I am nervous. I am also actually a little relieved. At this point, I just want to get it over with. I am hoping this will be a "fresh start" for Magoo.

I fed Maggie some squash and apples/blueberry puree in the car, and she slept all the way home. (I may have closed my eyes for a minute as well. Good thing Dan was driving....)

Dan is at Speech Therapy with Maggie now. I am contemplating a nap.

Thank you to everyone for your well wishes, thoughts, and prayers today. Keep 'em coming! The journey's not done yet.

~Sara

Spent

I am exhausted.

That's all. Just exhausted.

It's not a physical fatigue. Not like when Maggie was in the NICU, I was working every day, pumping every 3 hours, driving back and forth to the hospital, staying up late at night worrying about her. I'm not THAT kind of tired.

I am just emotionally exhausted. I'm done. I have felt, for the last few weeks, that I have nothing left. I have no CHOICE about this, obviously. Maggie needs me. So I keep it together for her.

But, if I'm being honest:
I do NOT want to go to Hershey tomorrow. I do NOT want to pack 3 extra outfits, 2 extra NG tubes, 3 syringes, 3 bottles, 4 cans of baby food, diapers, wipes, toys, and a slew of kitchen towels to catch the almost certain puke (and not forgetting a change of clothes for ME, who will likely be wearing said puke). I do NOT want to get up at 5:45am and drive over an hour to the hospital. I do NOT want to do another Upper GI Series on my tiny 13 pound 1 year old baby. I do NOT want to worry that she will have another rectal tear from the barium they will use during the testing. I do NOT want her schedule to be off with feedings because of the testing. I do NOT want to sit around at the hospital for 5 hours between our studies and our Surgery appointment. I do NOT want to eat hospital cafeteria food for lunch. I do NOT want to talk to the surgeon about putting my Peanut Face under anesthesia. I do NOT want to hear about how they will cut into her body. I do NOT want to talk about a permanent feeding tube. I do NOT want to hear another person call Maggie "Failure to Thrive", because really, it sounds like they're calling ME the failure. I do NOT want to pray that she will sleep in the car on the way home. I do NOT want to worry if we will make it to Speech Therapy on time tomorrow afternoon. I do NOT want to get home so late that I just don't feel like eating dinner.

I do NOT want to be the mom of a micro-preemie anymore.

I think about 18 months ago-- December and January. I was so sick. I was the one throwing up nonstop! But I was SO HAPPY. Dan and I went to Disney so he could do the Marathon. I said we should ask for our money back because Disney promised that EVERYTHING was more magical there, but I can assure you that morning sickness is NOT. We were SO HAPPY.

And now we're going for more stupid tests. To get a stupid feeding tube. DAMMIT! I'm so angry.

I feel so alone in this. Don't misunderstand. I know I have ALL of your support and love and thoughts and prayers. I know there are parents out there that are familiar with the micro-preemie game. I know there are families out there that have situations considerably WORSE than I do. I know that I should "just" be thankful that Maggie is alive, that she doesn't appear to have any mental retardation, that she can breathe on her own, and so on. But I'm NOT. I'm pissed off that this is what her life is like. I'm pissed off that this is what MY life is like. Maybe this makes me ungrateful. I just feel...

You know, most of the time, I am able to put on a brave smile in the face of all of this. I'm just too tired to do that right now.

So, so tired.

~Sara

Maggie's May Pictures (some of them)

Click here to see birthday pictures, and pictures of Maggie at the Brandywine Strawberry Festival last weekend.

~Sara

More Surgery Info

http://www.geocities.com/fundofamilies/description.html <--- Info on the Nissen surgery

http://pedsurg.ucsf.edu/media/85846/main_img.gif <--- picture of the GTube

Surgery

Ok, I hope this all makes sense. My mind is spinning, I've had a long day at Hershey with Maggie, but I know everyone wants the update.

We met with the GI Surgeon today. He agreed that Maggie is a good candidate for the GTube, since she has had the NG tube for such a long time.

Seemed like what should have been a brief discussion...

Until we started talking about our champion puker. The surgeon recommended that we repeat Maggie's upper GI series to see what's happening with the reflux when we feed her. If it is still severe (and we know it is by the amount of vomiting she continues with), he suggested we also do a Nissen Fundoplication along with the GTube. Essentially, a GTube can sometimes make vomiting worse. Especially since my little peanut has a propensity for that to begin with. The GTube weighs down the bottom of the stomach, and makes it more likely for food to come back up. Since we are so worried about Maggie, vomiting, and it's impact on her ability to eat and gain weight, an increase in vomiting would not be good. With the Nissen, they will wrap the top part of Maggie's stomach (the fundus) around the esophagus. As the stomach fills during a feeding, the wrapped portion will put pressure on the esophagus, and it will close, making it impossible for her to vomit. The surgery will grow with her; we will not have to reverse it as she gets older, and aside from not really being able to burp, it will likely help us in the barf department. The upper GI will also give some indication about how Maggie's stomach empties, and if it seems that she isn't emptying well, she may need surgery at the bottom of her stomach to help that along as well.

In addition to the GTube and Nissen, Maggie has another (higher) hernia. The surgeon suggested that we repair this during surgery because it is likely to only get bigger and eventually cause her pain. They will also repair her umbilical hernia during surgery.

She'll have at least 5 incisions, and that's if they are able to do it laproscopically. If they have to open up her belly, she'll have a much larger incision. She will need to be overnight in the hospital for at least 2-4 nights. Luckily, I will be able to stay with her the whole time.

I am trying not to panic. I know this is the best thing for her. But they want to put my 13 pound kid under general anesthesia and make some major changes to her GI anatomy.

I still can't believe we're getting a GTube. I always had the smallest hope that she wouldn't end up needing it.

Maggie's upper GI is scheduled for June 10, and we will meet with the surgeon immediately after to "discuss the results and get a plan together." I assume that means we'll book the surgery at that point.

~Sara

Time Flies...

We must have had ALOT of fun this month, because I really can't understand where the time went! I have SO many pictures that I think I should set up a flickr account or something, as they will not all fit here. (patience, patience... I PROMISE to put them up soon!)

As you know, little Peanut Face turned the big "1" at the beginning of May. Auntie Beth came to visit for a few days, and we all took Maggie back to the NICU to say thank you. (Cake included) It was a very strange feeling to go back into the unit where we spent 1/4 of Maggie's life. I literally had palpitations walking to the elevator! It was good to see some of our favorite nurses, and we also got to see Dr. Guida, who you'll recall spent MANY days taking care of Maggie. Maggie was an absolute princess, but I think was overwhelmed by the whole situation. She didn't really smile or do any of her cute tricks, just sort of looked around like a deer in headlights. Maybe she remembered... who knows? In any case, it was good closure for me. I plan to bring her back next year, and every year that they will let me. "Thank you" might never be enough, so I'll keep bringing cake!!

That weekend, we had the first of Maggie's birthday extravaganza's! My parents were nice enough to host the party at their house, which meant I didn't have to clean bathrooms (yipee). Family, friends, and neighbors came from all over to help us celebrate Maggie! It was a wonderfully exhausting day for all of us. I sobbed like a baby when everyone sang "Happy Birthday", and poor Maggie looked at me like "Who ARE all these paparazzi, Mommy?" as everyone took her picture. We are so blessed to have such a loving network of support!

We also took Maggie to the Philadelphia Zoo for the first time this month. My grandparents' birthday gift to Maggie was a year membership to the Zoo, so we'll be able to go whenever we want. My cousin Tricia came up from college for the weekend, and we had a great time showing Maggie all the animals! I think she had more fun looking at the PEOPLE, but... she had fun, and that's the important part.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we took Maggie to Connecticut for Part 2 of the Birthday extravaganza. Nana and Pa Daley hosted a party at their house for all of our CT family and friends. Another huge group of people to celebrate this Miracle! We had a wonderful time, and Maggie seemed a little less overwhelmed by the large crowd. Maybe she's finally getting used to her VERY big fan club?

Yesterday, we took Maggie to the Brandywine Strawberry Festival. We put her on the swingset for the first time, and I really think she liked it! We pushed her for a while in the baby swing and then I sat with her in the big girl swing. She smiled the whole time, and looked at us like "Hey, this is really cool! How come we haven't done THIS before?" She rode her first merry-go-round, which was probably the cutest thing I have ever witnessed. She was a little unsure when the ride started to move, but quickly figured out that it was fun! She laughed and sang and smiled the whole time. She loved it so much, we sent her on again (this time with Daddy). We also took her up on the ferris wheel. Again, at first she wasn't sure what to make of the whole experience, but she seemed to warm up, and loved looking out over the fields and down at Grandma waving below. It was a really nice morning.

Maggie is still struggling to eat. We are introducing more foods to her, and while she seems to enjoy a variety of things (EXCEPT bananas, which she absolutely HATES), she still only eats a small amount. We have an appointment this week to meet a Pediatric GI surgeon at Hershey Medical Center. Maggie will get a GTube placed surgically in her belly to replace the tube currently in her nose. I am scared about the surgery, but it's the right thing to do. I'll update more after our appointment this week.

Maggie is beginning to move more. She is now sitting up by herself, which you'll see in some pictures! She is spending more time on her belly, and is rolling all over the house! She is very active and always happy. She seems smart, doesn't miss a beat. She is starting to talk all the time as well. She says DADADADA all the time, and I heard her say MAMAMA one time. Evidently, she only says it when I'm out of the room. (Much to this Mama's disappointment.) She tries to say "Hi", and mimics our vocal tone for alot of things. She laughs non-stop. She even waves hello now! When she first started doing it, I thought I was just WANTING to think she could do it. But it's clear that she waves INTENTIONALLY, which is great!

I'm going to try to update this blog a little more frequently, I know how much you all look forward to Maggie updates and pictures. I promise to get the May pictures up just as soon as I can. Wait 'till you see our Peanut! She's getting to be such a big little girl!

~Sara