March Excitement!!

Maci and I have been having another great week!  She is going from a very poor eater to quite the lil porker when it comes to meal time :-)  We are happy to see our sweet girl loving to eat and putting on the lbs!!  We also had a big first last night.  Clint and I wanted to get some food out since we didn't have a meal planned.  Typically, one of us has ran for carry out while the other stays home with Maci but this time we decided to all go for a ride.  When we got to Potbelly, there was no one in the sandwich shop so we decided to try having us all eat in the restaurant together and Miss Maci slept the whole time!!! YAY  This has us getting really excited for our upcoming activities in March!  Next Monday Maci and I start a 6 week Mommy & Me class!!  It is for mom's and their newborns ranging from 1-12 weeks of age.  It is ran by certified nurses and they cover all sorts of new mom topics but it is also a way for mom's to get out and relate to other women in the same situation/make some new friends :-)  Maci and I will be going to this every Monday from 10-12 for the next 6 weeks and we cant wait, those that have done the class in the past have nothing but great things to say!!!  In addition to this class, we are opening the house for visitors again (hands washed first of course) but we cant wait to see friends and family!!  Lastly, on March 12th Maci and I will be going into Cargill to see Clint and all of my co-workers for my rescheduled work baby shower!  They were going to have a shower for me at my 39 week mark but Miss Maci decided to come at the 38 week mark so now she just gets to make a guest appearance at the shower!  We also have a lot of out of town visitors towards the end of the month - Grandma/Grandpa Mondell, Emily P and potentially Grandma Janet/Aunt Molly & Christie!  We are so happy to be healthy and getting a good handle Maci and all sorts of baby stuff!!

Speaking of health, Miss Maci does have an ultrasound for her hips on Friday.  Since she was breach (not sure how long) they tend to want to do ultrasounds on babies once they are 30 days old to see if the hip joints fused fully or if a brace will be needed to help this fully fuse before she is too old.  I am hoping she has no issues but a brace on her leg for a few weeks should be nothing compared to the RSV hospital scare!  Next week Maci also has a follow up Dr appt just for a "mommy piece of mind" weight check.  I can tell she is getting bigger but I look forward to seeing just how much she has grown since our last check 2 weeks ago  :-)

I am on my way out to my cookbook club at a good friend from work's house!  Lisa had her first baby (Brody) the end of December and we basically went through our whole pregnancies together since she sits on the other side of the cube from me :-)  Needless to say I cant wait to see her and my other coworker friend Megan to catch up and ask Lisa all sorts of random mommy questions!!  Daddy and Maci will have some good quality time until I get home later tonight.  Maci loves her cuddle time at night with Daddy - see the last time they had some quality cuddling!!

Catch up soon!
Love,
C, K & M

Maci is 1 Month!!!!

We cant believe our lil Maci is already 1 Month Old Today!!!!  What an eventful month it has been but ironically we topped off the month with a very low key week at home.  Maci and I have gotten into quite the routine through the week, mainly based around Maci's feedings, napping time and mommy's new favorite day time TV (Ellen especially)!  However, mommy is very excited that next weekend marks the month of March which means we are finally going to start to get out and about a bit, cautiously still of course :-)  We already have plans for dinner at our house with some friends, a work shower at Cargill in mid March and several tentative visits from friends/coworkers.  Mommy is ready for some socialization again :-)

Key 1 Month Milestones/Notes
* Loves her hands!!!
* Stares in awe at mom & dad (every once in a while throwing in a smile)
* Loves to sleep on our chests while laying on the chaise lounge in the living room with the sun coming in from our bay window :-)
* Has BEAUTIFUL big eyes that she uses to stare at all of her surroundings now, very alert lil lady!
* Eats her bottles like a champ after a full month of fickled eating!!
* Sleeps like a ROCK STAR in her bounce chair near our bed, other than her 11p, 2a and 6a feedings!!
* Her Best Friends are her Binky's (Pacifiers) - Purple one in her room, Blue one on the main floor and Pink one in the basement - Daddy is NOT allowed to get these out of order or mommy has an OCD meltdown :)
* Has a wardrobe that most adult women would be jealous of ;-)
* Loves to cuddle!!!!

Maci wasn't a big fan of the camera today but I couldn't take her 1 month pictures on the wrong day!  Also, mommy was out for a good part of the afternoon running errands and buying some more clothes for this cutie - UGH I just cant help it :-)

Enjoy our birthday girl's pics and we look forward to sharing more in the near future.

Needed the Binky to Keep her Happy in Her Rocker!!

This is What Clint Calls "The Kellie Cry Face"

Our Peanut Chilling in her Crib with Her Monogrammed Pillow

Love,
C, K & M

We LOVE Long Weekends!!

This weekend was awesome!  Maci, Clint and I got to spend a lot of fun time together since Clint had President's Day off - thank you Cargill!!  Most of the weekend we spent cuddling on the couch, watching movies and taking turns running some errands since Maci still isn't out and about in public locations, at least not until March.  Maci was quite a good girl all weekend and still is a minimal crier!  She loves to be held and has been sleeping for a four hour stretch each night which makes life easier for mommy and daddy.

Below are some pictures of our Maci playing on her jungle mat.  Thanks so much Brandenburg's for the awesome gift!!  She loves the music, lights and animals - we have to say she is quite advanced and seems to enjoy playing with it already.

Today was an awesome day because we had a weigh in follow up appointment from our great progress last Thursday.  Maci has been eating like a champ ever since we switched to a bottle only regimen with rotating formula and pumped breast milk.  I wish nursing had gone better with her and maybe we will try it again at some point but it gives us so much peace of mind knowing that she is eating enough and finally gaining weight again post RSV!  Also, as the pediatrician assured us, she is still getting all the health benefits of breast feeding since I am pumping and feeding her the same food :-)  We were very excited when we saw that Maci tipped the scale at 5lbs and 15ozs today, finally back to birth weight!  They would have liked to have seen her there at 2 weeks (~2 weeks ago) but that was when she was admitted to Children's for RSV so they fully understand why we are slightly behind.  We have a follow up weigh in 2 weeks from now to ensue she is still on the right path but we know it is no where but up from here!!!  Maci may be long but is quite lean, wonder what side of the family that takes after HA HA

Also, in addition to Maci getting out and having visitors in March (cautiously with all visitors scrubbing their hands of course HA), we also got the clear from her pediatrician today to start taking walks.  She said the sunshine and fresh air is great for babies, even if it is freezing cold right now.  So with that, we bundled up today and took our first walk around the neighborhood with Boomer in tow.  We cant wait until the spring when we can take WARM walks around the lakes :-)  Mommy wishes she would have been as bundled up and warm as Maci but it was a good first attempt!!!

Lots of Love,

C, K & M

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Today was an AWESOME day!!  Not only is it Valentine's day and a reason to put Maci in a themed outfit but we had our 3rd Dr appt of the week (UGH) to continue our weigh in saga.  I haven't posted about this but Maci hasn't gained any weight since our trip to the hospital with RSV last week.  She hasn't been the best nurser and with the RSV they knew she wouldn't gain weight quickly because her immune system was down as well as her energy levels.  However, now that we are a week post admittance to the hospital, she should be gaining weight again.  Yesterday, we decided to try only bottles with a combo of me pumping what I can to feed her and some formula supplement.  This way we can see exactly how much she is taking and ensure she is getting at least 2 oz every 3 hours.  Maci did great yesterday with her feedings through the bottle and mommy was very excited going into the appointment today because she swore there was a weight gain.  Sure enough, Maci was up 2oz from yesterday's weigh in and that is HUGE progress.  Now we are sticking with this plan through the weekend and coming back in on Monday just to ensure the weight gain continues but we are hoping this was our turn towards healthy times from here on out!!!  No more sickies in our house with the RSV/Colds gone and now good weight gain on the Maci front :-)

Mommy was so happy with Maci's weight gain, she didn't even mind that Maci spit up on both of her Valentine's day themed outfits.  Mommy was able to get some pictures of Maci and mommy/daddy with at least one of the outfits! 
Happy Valentine's Day from the Mondell's and much love to you all!!
C, K & M

Maci Newborn Pictures are Ready!!!

Maci’s newborn photo link is here!!!  We can’t wait to start filling the walls of our home and baby announcement with these cute pictures!  You are welcome to order prints off this website if you are interested in doing so but as a reminder Clint and I get the rights to all of these pictures which means we can print as many as you want in any sizing you would want as well.  So please let us know if you want to order certain pictures and the sizing you are interested in and we can print/send them to you which may still be cheaper than ordering off the website. 

In the meantime, enjoying checking out this lil cutie, we feel these turned out amazing and capture how excited we were to have finally met our lil daughter!!!

http://www.createdbymephotography.com/ and visit the customer proofing link.

Password and access code is MACINEWBORN

Much love,

Kellie, Clint and Maci

Clint Got a New Job!!!!

Today our family got some super exciting news!!  Clint got offered an asset security specialist position within Cargill's Corporate Security Department.  He has been trying to get into a corporate security vs private sector position for several years.  For almost the past year, Clint has been working for G4S Security as the account manager on site at Cargill.  He has enjoyed the learning and opportunity to manage a large team but he was extremely excited when this position opened up a few days before Maci's arrival.  Clint managed to interview and keep it all together in between the birth of Maci, her hospital stay and our no sleep at night :-)  Not only is the new position exactly what Clint has been trying to do for a while now, it is also more money, better vacation and he and I are now 100% at the same great company and headquarters building which is only minutes from Maci's daycare and our home!!!  We couldn't be more proud of him and all the hard work and dedication he has put into his job pursuit and networking since the move to MN! 

Maci was so proud of her Daddy that she wanted to stay awake after a 5p feeding just so she could personally give him a big congrats when he got home from work!!!  We love you babe!!!

Good Bye Grandma Janet (SAD)

Grandma Janet, Mommy and Maci went for a follow up RSV Pediatrician appointment on Friday morning and thank goodness Maci is doing great!  Poor mommy now has a bad cold as our lil sickie baby passed the RSV to me but at least I know how to blow my own nose and handle it better than a 2 week old baby!!  Here is a pic of Maci showing off her Valentine's outfit from Clint's boss Isaac at the Dr Office on Friday :)

Today is a poopy day!  We knew Grandma Janet's visit would go fast but we cant believe just how fast these last 10 days flew!  We had so much fun together, as we knew we would!!  In the time my mom was here, we were able to shop, get our nails done, bond over the newest grand baby and she was able to still be a mommy to me when our lil Maci took a horrible turn with her RSV sickness.  There are no words to describe just how appreciative we were to have her with us during the time at Children's.  Grandma Janet fought for us to get up into a room and out of the ER when I couldn't stop crying, she helped me wake up in the middle of the night with this lil angel, she gave Clint peace of mind by having someone with me at the hospital while he had to work and she danced with Maci and I when we found out we were going home sooner than we had thought!!  =)  Maci had a few more bumps in her first 2 weeks of life than we would have liked but I couldn't imagine having anyone else by our side helping us get through these few hurdles.  When Grandma Janet left today, there were lots of tears throughout the house but we know she will be back in no time at all and we are only a phone call away!!  After Clint took Grandma Janet to the airport, mommy and Maci decided to take a little nap and look who finally started bonding :)  Boomer hasn't quite been the same with Mommy since she brought the baby in the house as the new cuddle bug but he is slowly coming around and trying to get use to this new noise machine!!!

Lots of Love,

C, K & M

Maci's Home - AGAIN!!

Today was a great day for Maci!  She did well at home last night, still slightly congested and had her cough but woke up to eat and would rest the way a new baby should :-)  Today, mommy and grandma continued to disinfect the house and enjoy cuddle time/naps with our lil cutie!  We go back for her follow up Dr appointment tomorrow morning so please say some prayers that she is still heading in the great direction she has been headed thus far!!  We will keep you all posted!

In the meantime, enjoy this cute pic of Daddy and Maci chilling in front of a good movie tonight.  I am sure you can tell she is happy to be home, almost as happy as we are to have her back home!!

Love!
C, K & M

Maci, The Rock Star!!

After a super sad post early yesterday, we are happy to announce that Maci continued on the positive path, had an amazing night last night and an even better day today!  Maci was down to room air last night and just had oxygen to help with her flow and then today the pediatrician decided since she was so awesome that we would take her off all oxygen to see if she could go 8 straight hours without dropping.  Not only did Maci go her 8 hours, she also danced with mommy and grandma and she continued to have every nurse falling madly in love with her :)

Around 4p the pediatrician came in and told us the best thing yet "you are going home!"  Mommy is the typical nervous 1st time mom but for the 100th time the pediatrician reminded me that I have great mommy instincts and to contact the Dr or hospital if things get bad again but they have no reason to believe Maci hasn't over come this nasty RSV virus!!

Grandma, Mommy and Maci will go into the Dr Friday morning for one quick follow up appointment post hospital stay.  Mommy is being a bit protective, which I hope is understandable!  We made sure to have an early appointment and they know to not have us wait in the waiting room at all so that we don't have to spend any time near those sick kids!!  After this appointment, Mommy plans for Maci and her to live in a little Cedar Lake Rd bubble for the rest of February to allow plenty of bonding and immunity to build up.  The goal is then to have all our great visitors and fun outside the house during Mommy's leave March through mid April!

Thank you so much for all the prayers, love and support!  This was by far the hardest thing mommy ever had to deal with and I am sure Daddy would say the same.  For now, this is a memory we are trying to file way in the back of our mind and go back to enjoying our precious daughter!

LOVE,
C, K and M

RSV SUCKS!!!

Mommy and Daddy have some sad news to share today - Maci is back in the hospital but this time at Children's :-(  Yesterday (Monday), Mommy and Grandma had a Pediatrician appt as a follow up lactation consultation.  While there mommy wanted the Dr to check out Maci's ongoing congestion.  Maci is such a happy go lucky baby that beyond the snotty nose, we haven't seen any other problems.  The Dr listened and agreed it was most likely a cold until she heard lil Maci's cough.  She decided to be cautious we would test Maci for RSV which is extremely rampant this year and very concerning in lil babies as it can stop their breathing.  They also checked Maci's oxygen levels.  Lil Maci tested at a 88% Oxygen and should be around 100% and she was confirmed RSV positive.  Mommy and Daddy are so concerned about how she got this nasty disease since we have been very cautious about visitors and beyond the Dr and Pictures, Maci hasn't left the house :-( 

Once it was confirmed she tested positive, the Dr wanted to be extra cautious and told Mommy she would be going with Maci to Children's and an ambulance would be at the office soon to take us.  Needless to say, Mommy didn't handle this too well and was a hysterical mess, our poor lil baby.  Thank goodness Grandma Janet is here visiting so she took our car home.  Daddy left work right away and met mommy and Maci at the hospital.  Later Daddy picked up Grandma Janet who will now stay with Mommy and Maci in the hospital while daddy takes care of the house, works and visits in the evenings.  They aren't sure how long we will be here.  It can range from a few days to about a week.  It just depends on how well she responds to the treatments.  Since RSV is a virus, there aren't any meds they can give her but they can assist with the symptoms.  She is on oxygen, has an IV and they continue to suck all sorts of nasty mucus out of her lil nose :-( it is almost too much for mommy to watch but lil Maci continues to grip my finger so I know she needs me to help her through this!

The Drs are quite impressed with her strength!  As I write this today, she has already had her oxygen assistance levels dropped twice, she continues to SCREAM when they suction which is a great sign for a lil baby with respiratory issues, she continues to nurse and she is taking favorably to all treatments.  She is just so SMALL.  I wont post any pictures because it really is a sad image and I believe she feels much better than she looks with the tubes.  Mommy and Daddy are confident this is just one lil hurdle we need to overcome before we can enjoy our baby fully at home and the rest of mommy's leave!

Maci has all the nurses wrapped around her finger and she cracks all of us up by figuring out how to take the socks off her hands (quietly of course) and then ripping out her oxygen tube.  She sure is a strong lil mighty one.  Now we just need to get the sickies out of her so we can go home!  Our plan is to really limit the amount of visitors to potentially zero the rest of February just to allow her to fully build back up an immunity and then enjoy the leave with mommy and others in March-April.  We really appreciate any thoughts and prayers that can be sent this way and I will keep everyone updated on Maci's progress. 

Lots of Love,
C, K and M

Newborn Shopping & Super Bowl Celebration!

On Saturday, Daddy took great care of lil Maci who started to seem to have some congestion and a cold :-(  During this time, Mommy and Grandma Janet went shopping at Mall of America!  It was nice for mommy to get outside and do some more intense walking since the C Section!  Also those that know the Gilroy women know we will find any reason to do some shopping damage and mommy was quite excited to buy itty bitty clothes for her itty bitty little girl!  Those at Carters, Gymboree, Baby Gap and Macy's now know Maci's mommy quite well :-) Check out Miss Maci's newborn shoes from baby Gap.  We figured lil moccasins were quite appropriate since she is a MN native!  Mommy is somewhat practical and plans to buy no additional shoes until at least 3 months and thanks Aunt Meghan for a great 3-6 month pair already!

Maci still had her congestion but seemed to feel a bit better on Sunday!  Mommy and Grandma Janet got their nails done and Grandma bought a brag book for pictures of her lil ones (Preston & Maci)!!  The whole family then prepared for a fun super bowl game.  Mommy made a chili/cheese dip, Daddy made some drinks and Grandma Janet made some yummy heath/chocolate treats!  We had way too many snacks for a party of 3 + Maci!  Maci's favorite part of the game was definitely when Beyonce taught her how to be "Sasha Fierce" and she danced along with Destiny's Child to Single Ladies!!  Please ignore Grandma's horrid video taping abilities - I am fairly sure she was dancing when she was supposed to be recording :-) - ENJOY THIS CUTIE and know that Daddy had no part of this HA!!!