Elena's 12 month Screening

Since Elena was born at 30 weeks and had such a traumatic birth Magee Hospital's outpatient clinic follows up with her every 6 months until she is 2.  At her first 6 month appointment in December Elena rocked!!  We are supposed to take 10 weeks off of her actual age to get her adjusted age when looking at her development so they were evaluating her as a 4 month old.  They said that she was at a 5 month old level which was GREAT!

Magee has so many great memories of my little baby, but it also holds the worst pain that I have ever experienced.  Walking through the halls with Elena helps me to process some of the feelings that I struggle with. It was a perfect early Christmas present to be able to go into that hospital with Elena and take her back with us.

It was great to go back to the hospital and visit the NICU.  We had some amaaaaazing nurses who really made a huge impact on our family.  My little chunky preemie was particularly cute that day and I loved showing her off.  Look at that CHUNK! How was she 3 pounds 3 ounces 6 months before this?!?! Ahhhh she's getting so big so fast!

 

So, last week we brought Elena back to Magee for her 12 month screening.  We were supposed to go back a few weeks before but we were fighting with insurance issues.  So Elena walked into that hospital like a boss and rocked her screening again.  The developmental psychologist said over and over how exhausting Elena is and how she is.  *please tell me about it, phew!*   We also got to bring Elena to lunch at Jimmy John's (amaaaaazing) where she enjoyed a delicious pickle.  I ate Jimmy John's 3-4 times a week for 35 days last year and was so excited to introduce Elena to such deliciousness.  Unfortunately, Razzy Fresh was closed and Elena didn't get any fro-yo.  I'm always amazed that I lost 20 pounds after having Elena since I ate a constant diet of fast food and fro-yo for every meal that month.  Lol 

They had her play with specific toys that tested her ability to find hidden objects, mimic movements, her vocabulary and gross motor skills.  In the report that they sent us they said that Elena is right where she needs to be and is surpassing her adjusted age of 11 months.  She's such a miracle baby, I constantly am reminded of it when I see her walking running through the house. 

My little bean turned 1 May 24th but her due date was actually August 1st so tomorrow should be Elena's first birthday!! We are celebrating by seeing my gyno/OBGYN for my annual exam.  It was a totally coincidence that it was scheduled on Elena's should-be-birthday!!  I'm so excited to show the Elena to the doctor that saved her life.  I'm forever grateful to her for her quick thinking and steady hands. This might be the first time that I'm pumped to go to the gynecologist. lol ;)  Hopefully if the rain holds off we are going to feed the giraffes at Living Treasures.  It should be a fun day!!

Happy Should Be Birthday Laney Bug!!!!  Love you little bug.

Our new car!!

Yesterday we spent the whole day car shopping.....with a 1 year old.  What were we thinking?! Haha!  So Joe needed to buy a new car ASAP.  He has been looking and a while now and he didn't find anything that he really liked.  When he found a 2008 Ford Edge in Cranberry I fell in love.  It had low mileage and was fully loaded. 

After driving it we decided to put in an offer.  When we weren't coming up with the same numbers as the salesman and Elena was heading down a slippery slope of exhaustion we decided to walk away from the car.  Which was being put into auction immediately, so we were losing it.  We went out to lunch and another dealer but couldn't find anything that was even close to the Edge.  Thank goodness it was still there when we called about changing our minds!!  We got a great deal on an amaaaazing new (to us) car.  We love it!! :)

  

Going car shopping with a 1 year old?  Here's some tips:

• Don't!  Hahaha 
• Bring plenty of snacks, preferably ones that can't be crumbled on the floor and licked up
• Don't forget your running shoes!
• File cabinets are a great toy while signing 4298012 papers
• Avoid going during nap or meal times

Elena was an awesome little girl and everyone was so impressed.  I was a exhausted from chasing her and said "Don't lick that!!!!" more times than I ever have before but she was so cute.

Well now she's screaming "ba babaabababaababa" and trying to scale the couch.....time to go!!

The biggest blessings come in the Tiniest Packages...

Welcome to The Tiniest Packages Blog!!

 

I'm starting this little blog as a way to keep family and friends updated on our little family without blowing up your newsfeeds daily (as I tend to do, lol).  A blog is a great way to share our special memories and to keep them safe.  I would love for Elena to be able to read these posts and see what we were doing, how I was feeling, how sweet she was! 

I also want to share my daughter's story.  Elena is a little over one year old, she was born at 30 weeks gestation with almost no warning.  Elena weighed in at 3 pounds 3 ounces and was 16.5 inches long.  I want to inspire women who may be in the same situation as I was a year ago.  Being a NICU mom is hard work, emotionally and physically. But it does get easier, it becomes your normal quickly.  Elena was in Magee's NICU for 35 days where she learned to breathe, eat, keep her heart rate up and be able to stay warm.  I didn't know anything about preemies, the nurses and doctors were so helpful with all of my paranoid, overprotective questions.  It takes an amazing person to work with the tiniest of babies.  Not only are they taking care of these babies but they are taking care of the parents who are scared and unsure of the many alarms and wires.  They are so full of great tips and information. We were blessed with such an amazing baby even though she did scare her mama half to death from day 1!!
 

 

We were surrounded by so much kindness in our time of need.  I was able to read so many inspiring stories about preemies that gave me hope.  Maybe I can help just one person?

Elena is such a perfect baby!  She runs around my house at the speed of light, heaven help me.  She says about 10 words and can sign "more" and "all done".  She knows where her nose and belly are (geniussssss).  She is such a social baby and loves going to Target with mama, playing with her friends at the park and story time and taking walks.  

 

 

 

Thanks for reading and I hope that you follow along with my crazy little family!

 

Alyssa <3