Fairy Wings & A Stuffed Bear

After my first Grand baby was born I went to the gift shop and bought him the cutest little stuffed cow and placed it in his bassinet.  When Kaitlen was born I bought her a stuffed unicorn with a crown.  Wayne's was a Lion.  I kept this little tradition and the girls looked forward to the animal I would pick for each baby.

Then Sage was born.  We had little money so I didn't get to buy him a stuffed toy but I was always thinking about it.  Then one day I found the perfect one at Target.  It was a really cute puppy with a bandanna around his neck and it reminded me of Sage.  Still broke I resolved to save the $10 I needed and prayed one would still be there.  A few months later with money in hand I went to Target and was SO happy to see that there was one Stuffed puppy left! 

Crystal had given me a gift card to JoAnn's for my birthday and I found the perfect matching puppy fabric.  I decided to wait before I gave Sage his puppy until I made his matching quilt.

As I stood on the sidewalk and watched the coroner close the door on the van that would take Sage's little body away I was devastated.  I turned to go back into Crystal's home and as I reached the front door I remembered the puppy and the quilt I never made.  My knees buckled under me and I sobbed.  I was so angry with myself for not giving Sage his puppy immediately.

Three weeks later Isabelle was born and I did not buy a stuffed animal.  I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  Then Caden was born and again I did not buy him a toy.  But after Crystal gave birth to Ellie she called me the next morning and gave me a list of things she needed me to pick up at Target to bring to the hospital.  Then before hanging up she said, "Oh and Mom buy her a stuffed toy."

It was very emotional buying Ellie's toy but after some looking this little bear in a tutu just seemed to shout "Ellie Mae".  I also got her the matching set of fairy wings.

A few days ago we dressed Ellie in her wings and took some pictures.

I still have Sage's puppy and quilt fabric.  I don't know what I am going to do with them but I have a feeling that Heavenly Father will guide me and let me know.  I am also thinking that it is time Isabelle, Caden and now Nolan get a stuffed animal from Grandma too.

Nolan Michael Griggs

My new grandson is here!  That's makes my third Grandbaby this year---I am truly blessed.

So for the "birth story".  Amanda sent me a text message around midnight telling me that she just had a horrible shooting pain in her left rib cage.  I replied, "Okay this OLD lady needs some zzzzzzz's so please hold off till morning."  I was kidding her, of course, and new that she couldn't control the time of arrival.  But still a grandma can only hope for a good nights sleep.  Right?  A couple hours later she sent another text that said they were on their way to the hospital.  So I woke up Crystal we showered and headed for the hospital.  On our way there Amanda text's me again to say she is dialated to a SIX!  So I told Crystal to "Step On It" because I didn't want to miss the birth.  That was about two AM.

We arrive in time and shortly after they discover that baby Nolan is positioned diagonal and face up.  Poor Amanda worked so hard trying to bring him down.  They brought in an ultrasound machine to check the size of the baby.  They had a couple of surgeons on stand by and the Operating Room booked for an emergency C-section.  If Nolan was 7lbs and larger to the OR they would go.  Anything smaller they thought she might have a shot at delivering him on her own.  Spencer was out in the waiting room with Ellie so we had him come in and help John give Amanda a blessing.  I am SO thankful for the priesthood and for my worthy son-in-laws!  What a comfort and source of strength it is.  Such a calm peaceful feeling filled the room and we just knew Amanda would be able to deliver Nolan without a C-section.

His heart rate started dipping down into the 50's everytime she had a contraction but would quickly shoot back up to normal when the contraction was over.  They said their was some compression going on with the umbilical cord.

So for a re-cap.  Baby is face up, entering the birth canal diagonal and there is a problem with his cord and heart rate.  But he's little and Amanda was being SUPER mom and working really hard to deliver him on her own. 

It was the day of RaLee's "Forthcoming" game. So she went to school in uniform and they released her for a few hours. She had to be back in school before noon to get to cheer at the game that night...."No Pressure Amanda. But HURRY!"

She was 9-10 centimeters for nearly six hours!  But she had a wonderful team of sisters there, a supportive husband and her mommy.  I have to say we are a great team!  I love love love watching my girls helping each other give birth.  At one point I looked up and saw this....

...and it made me cry.  There is RaLee coaching and working with her sister you should have heard her she was amazing.  She is 17 and this is birth number 7 for her.  She's going to be a pro by the time it's her turn to be a mother.  Crystal is always so encouraging, Jessica is wetting cloth's and putting them on Amanda's head because she was burning up.  I was pushing her button that controled her epidural med's, feeding her ice chips, wetting cloth's, counting and trying to take pictures.  John was holding her other leg and encouraging her every step of the way.  The nurses said, "You guys are the best!  We don't have to do anything."  I was so proud of my girls.

They put Amanda in all kinds of different positions.  Then they would have her push for thirty minutes in that position then move her into another and repeat.  She was amazing and so strong!

I will WARN you this next picture is not for the squeamish!  But little Nolan turned out to be not so little and the delivery was quite bloody.  I had never seen so much blood.  He was bigger than the ultrasound showed and caused some damage to his momma because of his position.  So close your eyes and scroll ahead if you don't want to see the photo!

We joke with Amanda that Nolan's birth looked like a scene out of some horror movie!  He had the cord around his neck and was laboring to breathe after he was born.  He was so pasty white that it was scary!  They gave him oxygen and worked pretty hard on him to make him cry and move.  Gosh it's such a relief when you see them starting to pink up a bit and cry.

His lips, nose and basically his entire face was very swollen from being face up.

No body got to hold him.  They placed him on his mom's chest for some "Skin to Skin" therapy.  They said he would be able to hear his mother's heart beat and feel her breathing.  This would help regulate his own heart and breathing.  So he lay on his mommy's chest for a couple of hours.  We didn't get to hold him until he was home.

Here is is today with some color and no swelling and is he ever a cutie pie!  He looks just like his big sister Isabelle only BOY-ish.

I am so thankful for this new little spirit that has joined our family!  It's fun to see Amanda with TWO little ones.  She just beams with happiness!

Welcome Baby Nolan Grandma sure does love you.

Nolan Michael, 8lbs 2 ozs  October 22, 2010  10:03 am

She's About To POP!

First I have to tell you about the amazing baby shower we gave Amanda!  Crystal came up with the theme and we worried that we wouldn't be able to find enough decorations to pull it off.  We managed to find everything we needed in fact we felt like it was just "meant to be". 
Amanda gets quite a big baby belly and the last couple of months she must hear, "Oh WOW!  You look like your about to POP!" a couple times a day.  So that was our theme, "About to Pop!"

We made these cute little favor boxes and filled them with bubble gum.

A cute "pop"corn machine and it made the house smell so yummy!

There was chedar, white cheese and caramel flavored

"pop"corn too.

We also rented a hot dog warmer.  For some reason Hot dogs taste better cooked on a warmer.  I wish I had taken a picture of this table after all of the food was on it.  We had so many wonderful salads and side dishes.

Old fashioned Soda "Pop" in glass bottles!  My favorite was the vanilla cream.

Then we had a Lolli-"Pop" table...so cute!

The cake

Lots of cute clothes

Including one of her favorites from Uncle Royal and Aunt Charlee. 

 A little Camoflauge outfit.

This little man, Caden, was standing next to a metal chair and chewing on the edge of it when he started to scream.  He had managed to pull his bottom tooth almost completely out!  It was laying on it's side pointing straight out.  We called Crystal's Sister-in-law, who is a Dental Assistant, and she advised us to gently push it back into place.  So we all voted and John was nominated to be the "bad guy" and push the tooth back into place.  Afterwards Jessica called her husband, also a John, and they took him to an ER.  They declared that John, the other John, did a perfect job pushing the tooth back into place and sent him home.  But sadly Jessica missed the baby shower.  I felt bad for her because she was so upset.  Here is a picture of Caden just before he went to the ER.  Did I confuse you with all the "Johns"?  Don't worry I confuse myself too! 

I wanted a picture of his tooth but he was not very cooperative!  His little tooth is crooked but he still has it and it seems to be pretty solid. 

One excited Mommy of a Baby Boy to Be!

This is the daughter of Amanda's friend Shannon.  Mandy and Shannon met when they both worked at a pizza place called Pappa Kelsey's during high school.  This is Shannon's daughter, Stacy, she is a walking miracle.  She was born with a hole in her heart and has endured many hospital stays including open heart surgery.  She is doing so well and is such a CUTIE pie!  She loved the Lolli-"Pop" bar.

Over all it was an awesome baby shower.  Next Post---Baby Nolan!