toenail treasure, mickey mouse and 8 pounder :)

 What is that in Emma's bag you might ask? It's her toenail that has finally removed itself from the bed of her injured big left toe. Back in November, our bench fell right on top of Emma's big toe and cut the tip of it off. When the doc in the ER stitched it all back together, the doctor kept her toenail on the bed of her toe to help guide the new toenail back in. Well, after much care to her big toe and wearing her cool shoe to protect it for over a  month, the toe has healed quite nicely. And FINALLY, FINALLY it was a joyous day when the toe nail parted from Emma's toe a couple weeks ago. She called so many people to tell them the GREAT news and made it clear she wanted to keep the toenail. Ew. Days later she was distraught that she lost her toe nail. We tried consoling her and I may have thrown in that it's actually gross to keep the old toe nail.  But I finally convinced her it would be okay by showing her some of the other cool things I've kept like a lock of hair that I kept from her first hair cut, some movie ticket stubs from when we saw "Tangled" and others. She thought it was so cool to see those little treasures then felt much better about losing that big gross toe nail because she has other cool treasures.

Then earlier last week I hear running and yelling with excitement that she found her toenail by the  toilet. Oh joy. So now she holds it close to her in a special plastic bag and white box.

 Meet Mickey Mouse. Last week Thomas found and discovered his Mickey Mouse hat he got at Disneyland over a year ago. Ever since he found it he's been waiting to find our old Mickey Mouse stuffed toy and still can't find the little thing. So he has slept with Minnie Mouse and Pluto, that should do for now. :)

And EVERY day when we're asking him "Thomas, can you go get a diaper for me?" "Thomas, can you pick up the marbles on the floor?" " Thomas can you bring your plate to the sink?" He always, always responds with "Say Mickey Mouse." We then have to correct ourselves and say "okay Mickey Mouse, can you......" and so on. He is so funny. He is adamant that we call him Mickey Mouse.

And this little man is doing very well. We had his third Synagis shot today. The Synagis shot is an RSV vaccine that they give Preemie babies during the RSV season. It costs an arm and a leg because insurance doesn't cover it, but you got to do what you got to do. We are working it out some how. It's helped him so far. It doesn't keep your Preemie from getting sick but can help decrease chances a cold turning into RSV for a baby.  He got sick a couple weeks ago with lots of congestion and caught the cough that Emma and Thomas were sportin'. His little body finally fought it but it took some time. Just grateful it didn't turn to RSV.

Joseph is 14 weeks this week and had him weighed today. He weighs 8 pounds 12 oz. WOOHOO! So glad he's growing so well. We have been so blessed.

 14 weeks! :) I wish I could get a cute baby naked picture of him but he WILL NOT do naked pictures. He has to have clothes on at all times. Having just a onesie is pushin' it. I love his chubby thighs :)

Look who is 3 months old!

 It's hard to believe that it's been 3 months since this sweet baby came to our family. He was supposed to be a Christmas baby but decided to join us as an early Christmas present, on Oct. 23, 2012. He has been a fighter through all of this and has been doing so well.

We have just loved him and are so relieved and thrilled to have Joseph home. He was weighed a couple weeks ago at about 7 1/2 pounds. 

Here he is at 3 months. (picture was actually taken last week)

We love you Joseph boy!

Little Miss Mommies

Emma and I get to participate in an activity called "Little Miss Mommies" where we and her friends (5 and 6 year olds) moms rotate each week to host an activity. We do things like learn to bake, clean, crafting, etc... Well last week her friend Hannah's mom hosted and had the girls clean their library and then pampered themselves with nail painting.  Emma had so much fun. The next day she asked me to call her friends house to see if they need help cleaning their house. Her friend Fay's mom invited her over to help clean.  Here she is with her back pack with cleaning supplies ready to go! I guess it's not as fun cleaning your own home as it is cleaning others :)

All the love..

It's been a house full of love in the Frazier household. We have just loved having Joseph home and are still just trying to adjust to everything and keeping our sanity with being home bound most days. Spring cannot come any sooner. But we're hanging in there and we can't get enough of this little guy.

 Thomas says while feeding Joseph, "Good job drinking Joseph."

Balls and Thomas

Let's just say Thomas LOVES balls. Anything from marbles, soccer balls, bouncy balls, soft balls, etc..That's all he wanted for Christmas, "Balls." Well he got marbles for Christmas and they are ALL OVER THE HOUSE. It's a mixture of his marbles along with the "Hungry Hungry Hippos" marbles. They are in the palm of his hands all day long. Tonight I was putting the kids to bed and Thomas wanted to bring his marbles to bed. I casually suggested to put his balls to bed instead of putting them in his bed. After getting Emma in her bed, I see Thomas putting his marbles to bed in the doll house bed.. HILARIOUS! I love this boy.

Joseph is home!

 We received word earlier in the week that if Joseph continued eating well then we could bring him home this week. SO EXCITED! His feedings did go well and passed all his tests and Thursday morning was the day. Here is a photo of Derek and children making a "welcome home Joseph" sign. My Christmas wish came true!

We were lucky to have his primary nurse Pam discharge him. She's been so good to us. All the nurses have.

 He was quite upset as we were getting him unplugged and dressed ready to go.

 Still upset

 Then VOILA! The magical warm jump suit did the trick. HE LOVED that thing. It was instant warmth and comfort to this little guy.

 

It's finally time for us to take him home!!!

 Still very content

HOME SWEET HOME!

Joseph's surgery

This was just before the surgery

 Our little Joseph had his hernia surgery last Friday, Dec. 14th. We were told earlier in the week that the surgeon, Dr. Downey would like to perform the surgery on Joseph before he gets home after all. I was feeling so nervous throughout the rest of the week, mostly the idea of him being under anesthesia and being cut, but we knew it needed to happen.
We got there Friday morning and his primary nurse Pam was getting things ready and waiting to hear when surgeon was ready for him. We then wheeled him to the patient waiting room in the O.R. Dr. Downey came and looked at him and explained to us that he would also look on Joseph's other side (left side) to see if there was another hernia. They also said that he may have a slight umbilical hernia. That was new to us, we didn't know that.
Soon, they were ready for him and we wheeled him to a certain point in the hall and then they took him. I had a ball in my throat and wanted to burst into tears. I wanted so badly to be right there with him and hold him. We just had to trust the staff and put our son in their hands. That was rough. 

In the waiting area with his nurse Pam. She is so wonderful.

This was just after his surgery

The surgery took about and hour and a half. Dr. Downey came out to talk to us and told us he repaired three hernias, the original one, one on the left side and his umbilical. THREE HERNIAS! Still gets me. He is recovering well and has gained his appetite back quickly. If we get him on the right track with feedings again then he can come home soon. :) What a little trooper Joseph is. He is such a fighter!