St. Patty's Day at the PICU

Green beer days have long been an event from our past but being at Children's Memorial Hospital for St. Patrick's Day was not where we ever thought we'd ever be. Alex had complications from the virus that causes the common croup cough and the poor little guy had trouble breathing only hours after his cough started, which landed us in the ER. After 3 breathing treatments from a "dragon" mask that Alex really didn't think was fun, we were admitted for a night to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to have his breathing monitored. Thankfully, the 3rd treatment was a charm and he rested well that night in his crib which was more like a cage. As for Will and I...we were more comfortable on the top bunk at Richard Hall but managed to catch a few moments of rest on the chair/bed. We are so happy that our little leprechaun is 100% better and home!

The first 6 months...

Micro Black as we referred to him before he arrived was born on August 8, 2007 after 14 hours of labor and quickly made his presence known as the "siren"!

After we got the feeding thing and sleeping thing figured out - he turned into quite a mellow, rather serious little guy and he's been making us laugh for 18 months!

The first month was a blur but we managed to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary in Grand Haven and Alex got together with his 2 youngest cousins: Ada Gilmartin & Jackson Weiland.

I went back to work, Alex took his first trip on a plane to San Francisco with Will to meet me there and we introduced Grandma Phyllis to her first great - grandson.

We celebrated our first holidays as a family of 3!

Our serious guy at 6 months old, solid foods, sitting up, getting the hang of napping, sleeping through the night and making us work hard for a giggle.

Lover of ALL fine foods...

and wines.

(that's TR Elliott of course)

Micro isn't so micro!

I vowed to be a very organized pregnant lady and new mother - I'd have everything ready for Micro Black's arrival, a journal online to keep you all updated and would send photos and videos monthly. And as our little guy turned 1 years old, I would proudly display his baby book for all to read.

And then reality struck and 2 years later, I'm posting my first blog entry, I still don't know how to download pictures from our camera, I always take sideways videos and Alex doens't have a baby book. But we sure have had a great 18 months getting to know the little man we called Micro.

Thanks to our friends the Hagan's, when I posted a comment on their blog today - I was reminded by technology that I too had created a blog, in May of 2007. So here we go....

Alex Black, formerly Micro Black turns 18 months old next week. My sister Elizabeth leaves on an Asian Adventure next week and Alex's grandparents have to plead and remind me to send photos. And I like to journal so I'm going to give it a shot and hope you will bear with me as I navigate this blogging thing...