RUBY ROCKS!

The fundraiser was an enormous success. A great deal of money was raised to help our family pay for all of the medical expenses for Ruby’s care. We are, simply put, awestruck by the kindness shown to us. There was more than one time during the event on Saturday when I had to hold back tears as I looked about and saw the bustling crowd of people all coming together for a little six month old baby.

Sometimes I think back to our experiences and ahead to the unknown and I feel so weighed down by Ruby’s condition. Then I sit back and realize that I’m not even the one who has to go through all of this horror. It’s my little girl who in her 6 months of life has had to endure more pain than I can imagine, and it isn’t over. But she is still able to smile, as so many of you thankfully got to see on Saturday. And it’s that immense outpouring of love that I witnessed that makes me smile too. That, and of course playing with my daughter each day.

Anyway, what I really want to say is THANK YOU! There are way too many people to thank by name. All of you who volunteered your time to make this event possible are truly good people, right down to your core. I also thank everyone who came and showed their support. I would give anything to rid Ruby of her health problems but I am so grateful that these past few months have shown me the amazing compassion and love that we are surrounded by. I can only hope that I will be able to show how much you all mean to me, because there are truly no words to express it. I hope all of you sleep a little better at night knowing you made the world of a difference to a family that has seen very little good these past months. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

A very happy Ruby thanks to all of you!

The Witching Hour

Since we've brought Ruby home she's had a HORRIBLE time going to sleep. She's a big napper, and sleeps every 2 hours or so during the day. And don't tell me to keep her up more during the day because that just makes for a rough day in addition to a rough night! She usually starts getting tired for bed around 9:30 or 10...but sometimes later. And then the screaming starts. Some days are better than others. For instance, on a "good" night Ruby will only cry intermittently for an hour. A bad night will mean around 1-2 hours of continuous crying and waking during the night. Thankfully the waking during the night is rare. Usually she just stirs a little for a diaper change around 4am and then it's back to bed until 8 or 9. I LOVE that she sleeps in this late because I am so not a morning person. I could easily sleep in until 10 most days. I'm actually kind of glad that Ruby gets me up and going so that I don't sit around in bed all day.

Anyway, this whole issue brought me to do some internet research on why babies have a hard time falling asleep. Turns out their isn't a lot out there on why, more about how to stop it. And I gotta say...not so happy about what I found. I personally do not approve of the "cry it out" method. Babies are meant for cuddling and they cry because they want to be held. I'll be damned if I'm going to let my kid, who has been closer to death then I'd care to think about, cry alone in a room...that's just not going to happen! Ruby sleeps in a co-sleeper next to us and that's where I like her. And when she's crying I hold her...SHOCKING I know!

But back to the sleeping baby research. Pretty much all of the other advice was useless for Ruby for various reasons. "Try breastfeeding right before bed." Well that's not going to happen unless we can back track to when Ruby was 2 weeks old and stop the docs from adding Similac to her diet. That whole incident sensitized her to milk and soy protein and she had to stop breastfeeding while I purified myself of all dairy and soy...and despite my persistent efforts she hasn't been able to breastfeed since. (This by the way, is the thing that saddens me the most on the long list of things I've missed out on).

Tip #2: "Try giving them a bottle right before bedtime." Well that's not going to work either considering Ruby can not eat. So I say, "OK internet what else have you got for me?" The answer, "Try giving your baby a nighttime bath." HA! Ruby absolutely hates baths! I keep hoping one day she'll surprise me and turn into one of the smiling splashing babies you see on the Johnson & Johnson commercials but it has yet to happen!

So until I hear of some new bedtime miracle I guess Dan and I will just keep using ear plugs and trying our best to soothe little Rubert. We just keep telling ourselves, "She will grow out of this." She will right?

Goin' to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo!

Kissy Papa

Danny in his cute hat

The tiger thought Ruby was a kitty treat

Here kitty, kitty

In the nocturnal mammal room

iPhone quality pictures...note the blur on the bottom in the cage

Getting sleepy

Fishy!

"Entertain me, Papa"