Wow, and what a 3 weeks it has been! The best of our lives. As all you parents out there know, it's a lot of work, but we couldn't be happier. We have our perfect, beautiful, healthy little girl, and are so blessed.
The above pic isn't at the 3 week mark, I just liked it and wanted to put it at the top of this post. Look at those toes! :)
Below is just a hodge-podge of pictures...and tons of them!! Enjoy!!
Simone, freshly born. She was telling me all about her tough journey out. :)
First bottle after being born.
Daddy just loves his little girl.
The next morning after birth- I love how Simone is peeking out from her little bed.
Grandma Joanie meeting Simone.
Grandpa Tom meeting Simone. He is so calming with babies. :)
Grandma and Grandpa S. meeting their first grandchild!
Grandma loves all of Simone's dark hair.
Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Pat with their first granddaughter. :)
Uncle Sean holding his niece.
Just got home from the hospital!
Her brothers, Poster and Tiger, meeting her. Poster loves her, Tiger is taking a while to warm up to her. He doesn't like it when she cries.
Mommy showing Simone her room when we got home! She loved it. :)
First bath at home!
Tummy-time with Daddy.
The Friday after we got home, Angie, Jenny, Beth and Jesse were sweet enough to come over and bring dinner. Simone loved meeting them all.
Cousin Liam meeting Simone! These two are going to be good buddies.
Simone "watching" her first Vikings game with Daddy.
First trip to the grocery store!! Yes, I am going to be one of those moms who takes pictures of her kid's first everything....
Tummy time on Mom.
2 weeks old- to the minute!!
Simone meeting our good friend Krista!
All cozy in her bouncy chair.
Look at those matching profiles!
Sleeping with her arms up in the air.
Tiger wanted to go on a walk with Simone, so crawled into the bottom of her stroller.
First walk outside!
It's a girl! :)
Simone sporting her awesome boots.
Wearing her U of M hat from Joel, Kevin and Ryan- thanks, guys!!
Meeting friend Alicia!
Meeting friend Ryan.
Uncle Steve and Aunt Krista meeting Simone for the first time! They came to visit all the way from Connecticut!
Daddy, Uncle Steve and Simone
Precious picture. Simone looking at her daddy.
Simone's first Thanksgiving! Here with Grandma and Grandpa S., Uncle Steve, Aunt Krista, and Mommy and Daddy.
Cousin James holding Simone.
4 generations!
Cousin Amy with Simone.
Great Aunt Carole with Simone.
Simone in her pretty Thanksgiving outfit.
First Thanksgiving family photo. We had SO MUCH to be thankful for this year!!
Again- I just can't say enough how much we love our little girl. It is such a relief to finally be able to hold her and see that she's OK and healthy. Simone and I went through quite a lot together during my pregnancy! We will definitely have a special bond throughout our lives. And it's been so fun for me to see what a wonderful Daddy Greg is. I KNEW he would be a great dad, but he truly is just amazing. :)
HEALTH UPDATE:
-Yuck. I was enjoying not having to post one of these. I really have been having such a wonderful time just focusing on my new baby daughter and not having to worry about all of this cancer stuff.
-I unfortunately had to start in with the dr. appointments again these past few days. Last Friday I went in for my radiation planning. Turns out I will need 7 and a half weeks of radiation, not 5, like I previously thought. Blech. My doc, however, explained things very thoroughly to me, and showed me recent studies that have supported adding a couple of more weeks of radiation to younger patients like me. These extra sessions significantly reduce the chance of my cancer coming back. So, I will start radiation on Monday, December 7th. 5 days a week for 7.5 weeks.
-Still waiting to talk with my chemo doc, but also will most likely start chemo again on the week of Dec. 7th. Still waiting to get the port in my chest.
-Today I had the PET/CT scans that I've been absolutely terrified for. I couldn't have them during my pregnancy, so these are the first I've had since this whole saga started. We're not expecting any surprises, but it's still extremely nerve-wracking. I will find out the results either tomorrow or the next day- and could use your prayers that these scans don't show any cancer anywhere!!!
-Just a side-note: because I had these scans today, they had to inject me with a radioactive marker. Since I give off some of this radiation, I now cannot hold Simone until tomorrow morning- is that weird, or what? Can't be too careful though. So, this is why I have all of this time to update the blog tonight. Trust me- not being able to hold my new baby daughter for about 20 hours is SOOOOO HARD!!! I just want tonight to be over!
Well, I will keep you all posted on the scan results...again, I REALLY could use your prayers!!
In the meantime, Simone says hi, and can't wait to meet all of you who she hasn't met yet! I just cannot say how much we love her. We feel like the luckiest parents on this earth. :)
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know we did!!
