Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas! Santa brought Blake everything and more of what he asked for! I think his favorite gift was what was in his stocking, Juicy Fruit gum! He was so excited that Santa new his favorite gum! My favorite Christmas - my sweet baby, Chase!

Our Christmas Tree



A long Day!

Look what Santa brought me!

Waiting to see what Santa brought me!

Since, Chase just got out of the hospital Blake and I went to church! Isn't he just handsome!

We are home!

So the doctors pretty much told us not take him out of the house until April or until he is 4 months old, which ever one comes first. Thank God for my mother-in-law who has made herself widely available to us!

This what a mother looks like who has spent 3 days in the hospital with a sick infant!

RSV and Pneumonia

So I now know if you have a baby between the months of November and March it's best not to bring the baby outside the house. Don't bring the baby to Wal-Mart, the mall, your son's nursery school progam. It is probably best not to have a lot people touch or hold the baby. These are the months that are considered RSV months.

December 16th - Chase has a stopped up nose - not that concerned.

December 18th - I can now tell Chase has a little head cold - still not going to be the anal mother I was with Blake - so a little concerned but not really freaking out, YET.

December 19th - Chase now has developed a cough - Becoming a little more concerned - Concerned enough to make a doctors appointment for the next Monday.

December 20th - Billy and I went to his work party the night before, so we were lazy all day. Looking back on that I day I remember Chase sleeping a little more than normal, but babies already sleep a bunch. Around 3:30 p.m. we decided to head into town and visit our friends Maggie and Mike. About 5:30 p.m. I tried to feed Chase a bottle and he just would not eat. I thought well he is just tire, has a little head cold might not feel to well. About 6:00 all of us headed to Chick-fil-a for dinner and while we were eating I asked Billy if Chase's arms have always been so pale.

We got home around 7:30 and layed around and Chase was still asleep. I went to give him a bath around 8:30 and notice something very strange - he was moaning everytime he had to take a breath. I got him out of the tub got him dressed and brought to Billy in our bathroom, where he was bathing Blake. By the time I got him to Billy his eyes were rolling back and he was having spells of apnea. It was about 9 p.m.

We called Billy's mom - thank God they live next door - jumped in the car and headed to St. Joseph. Now you have to remember we live 30 minutes out of town. I sat in the back seat with Chase at my chest. Everytime Chase would stop breathing I would give him a little shake and beg him to take a breath. Billy did about 100 mph all the way in -- we made it there in 19 minutes.

They got us back in the emergency room pretty fast. They checked his breathing pattern and his oxygen levels, which was only at 80%. It took them quite a while to get an IV because he was so dehydrated. Since, he was showing signs of menagitis a spinal tap was done, which he did not have. BUT he did have RSV and pneumonia. By about 2 am we were in a room with many wires coming out his poor little foot and a oxygen tank.

Billy and I were told that if we would have put him down that night and went to bed it possibly would not have been a good morning the next day.

I now know that RSV sets in really fast. We were told that if we would have shown up an hour earlier they probably would have sent us home and told us that he had a cold. Within 2 hours of us arriving at the hospital his temperature went from 98 to 102. RSV is highly contagious and it stays in there system up to two weeks.

All his poor little wires!

My poor baby!

Christmas Time!

First picture of all the grandkids with Santa! My sweet boys with Santa!

Chase's First Bath

Brotherly love!!!

Just a few pictures of Blake and Chase! Besides giving him lots of love Blake is a big help around the house and with the baby.

Blake insist that they hold hands when they are in the car. Chase is not lacking in the brotherly love area!! It's going to be great watching them grow up together.

First day at home!

We arrived home around 1:00 p.m. To a house full of grandparents!

Chase's First Day

Today has been a great first day with Chase! We can't stop looking at him! I have not gotten a picture of him without his hat, but he has lots of hair!

Chase Edward Graff

Chase Edward Graff arrived today at 2:19 p.m. It was a long day, starting at checking into the hospital at 5:00 a.m. We were quickly brought to labor and delivery. I was already dialated to a 3, so I got my epideral pretty fast. The doctor/nurses were predicting that he would arrive no later than noon. Well, noon came around and I was only dialated to a 5. Changing positions very often and with some assistance from the nurse by 1:50 I was a 10. Plus my epideral wore off. At that point I was swearing I would never go through labor again. The doctor arrived at 2 p.m. I pushed about 10 times and when I saw Chase I started to prepare for the third.

My baby Chase weighed in at 7 lbs 6 oz two weeks early. Chase is twenty inches long. We always loved the name Chase and knew if we ever had another boy Chase would be his name. Edward was my Paw Paw B's name. He died my senior year high school and was my best fried. There is not a day that goes by I don't think about him. Paw Paw started the A&M tradition and Blake and Chase will be the 4th generation of Aggies in our family, including Brantley!

One day when I was at Target I came across a baby name book,"The Baby Name Wizard", by Laura Wattenburg so I looked up the meaing of Edward and it read," Edward has always been kingly and sophisticated, a fine choice of fine gentlemen..." Just what my grandpa was a fine man and just what Chase will be one day!!

Don't Forget to vote tomorrow!!!

From the mouth of our little pirate:

"Ahoy Matey!"

"Yeah or Gig'em McCain!"

"Boo0000 Obama!"

"ARRGGHHH"

If Blake was allowed to vote, can you tell who he would vote for?

Dewberry Farm

On Saturday we went to the Dewberry Farm in Waller. Blake really enjoyed it! There were lots of neat activities that I'm hoping Billy can incorporate at our house!

Blake jumping on the pillows!

We had to try out the corn barrel ride, since Blake will have his own real soon!



Feeding the goats with mammy!

Corn Field Maze...Blake is looking over!

Shooting the corn gun!

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year! I took Friday off just to spend the day with Blake! Since, the baby will be arriving in less then two weeks, I thought it was a great time to just be with Blake! We started our day off at the Farm Patch running through the Hay Maze! Of course, I was not running! By then BB and Paw Paw met up with us and we went to the George Bush Library for some trick or treating. We headed to the other Graffs for our Annual Chili Halloween!


Probably one of our last pics as a family of three!

The grandmas!!!

Trick or Treating at George Bush Library.

At the Farm Patch in the Hay Maze!

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day we took a little weekend trip to San Antonio. I felt Blake was at a good age to visit Sea World. Since, his favorite thing to do is stay in a hotel he could not have been more excited. We left Saturday afternoon around nap time (noonish). It's nice living in College Station because we are only 3 hours from Dallas, San Antonio and Nederland...a nice central location. After taking a picture at the Alamo we headed to the River walk for some dinner at Landry's. Now Landry's is some good food, but not like Floyd's in Beaumont!
At Sea world early morning Sunday! We were some of the first visitors to arrive. We got to see alot before the crowd arrived. Blake enjoyed feeding the dolphins.
There is a an aquarium behind us!
If you go to Sea world you have to sit in the splash zone at Shamoo! Yes, you do get splashed and yes, it's very cold!
Blake enjoying another show! We wrapped our day up around 2 p.m. I was really impressed with Sea world. Everything was super fun and very clean.

My mother's day could not have been better. Spending it with the two most important men in my life!

The first pick...

If you don't know we have 2 gardens this year. This is the first pick of our garden!A little broccoli and one little cherry tomato!
My little tomato boy! Had to have the first bite!

Everyday is a new day...

to say the least! We have been in between babysitters for about a month now. Billy would take off half a day and then I would take off the other half. My mom and maw maw came up and watched him on Monday and Tuesday. I was worried about what I was going to do the rest of the week and our friend Lori came through for us. Lori is a stay at home with four kids - one being in kindergarten and two of them being twins. Then there is little Reid-poor little boy 3 sisters. I have always called her supermom! If there is someone who can do it all--that's Lori.

I though it was going to be a hard adjustment for Blake. He has been staying with his mammy since he was six month old. Then with me in the summer. I started planning on the stay with Lori (Reid) the week before. Right away he was excited! So, we woke up Wednesday morning and he jumped up ready to go! He had a wonderful day with Reid! He did a lot better than I would have ever expected! Well, this morning was a different story! Remember, usually Donna comes to the house and waits on Blake to wake up. So, the Graff family is not on a schedule. Blake is usually up till 10 or later. I know--not a good mom--but a working mom! I want to see my son! He cried a little and with some bribing from mom and dad he went to stay with Reid. Remember we are staying with Reid not Lori!

So thanks to all our family and friends who are going above and beyond for our family of three! We are extremely lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives.

Nothing like a father and son bond!

After a long day with BB and Maw Maw!

Little Miss Reghan! Still can't believe she is 6 years old!

Blake riding Reid's bike! His legs need to grow a little longer!

Blake and Reid watching -- well can you guess? The Backyardigans