I want to eat her!

This little lady is the cutest thing ever. I am so in love. I stare at her all day long!

We just had an appointment with her GI specialist. No news really. We are waiting for more test results to come back. Part of her liver biopsy is in London undergoing some very special test that can only be done there. We should be getting some answers from that this week. Ruby has lost a bit of weight since we were in the hospital, so we are going to try two more weeks of breastfeeding, and if she goes not gain quick enough, then we have to put her on a special formula. Her body is not producing enough bile which is essential in breaking down long chain triglycerides which is the type of fat in breast milk. The formula she might go on would be easier for her body to absorb fat from. Currently she has little fatty deposits that come out in her diaper.
The currently plan is to treat her sick liver the best we can and keep her as health as we can with the liver that she has. At some point, it will most likely get to the point where a transplant might be needed.
She is super happy and very content. I am so thankful that she is not in any pain. She is developing fine in every other aspect. We are so blessed to have Ruby Jane in our family. She has already taught us so much, and given us some many opportunities to strengthen our testimonies in the gospel and the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us. We love our little girl so much!
Please continue your prayers for her!

My Kate Bug

I don't even know where to begin with this little ball of fire. First potty training, then the move, then the baby, and now all this craziness with Ruby! She has really had a lot to deal with. She has definitely felt the stress, and has shown us in her own little (or sometimes huge) ways! But I am really proud of her and how flexible she has been.

She is usually her very bubbly and super happy self. She has started talking like a mouse??? Not sure what that is about...? And she adds "ie" to everyTHING! Nappie, Rubsies, cheesie, watsie, etc.

She continues to crack us up with all of her funny phrases. At dinner she put down her fork and stuttered, "What the...what the...what the....what the HECK! Where did the sun go?!"
She often tells us, "Don't freak out, calm down!" and "Don't worry, it is not a problem!" I am seriously very nervous for her teenage years!


Still obsessed with cartoons and movies. She is very scared of all the villains in the older Disney classics, and watches through her hands over her eyes!

She recently got a princess scooter to go along with everything else princess that she owns. She has a slight lisp and when she says, "Princesses" I want to die it is so cute!

Kate loves her little sister. Every morning when I bring the baby down, first thing she says is, "I want the Rubes!" She calls her "Rubes", or "Missy", or "McDubers". Last week so told me she wanted to start calling her "Sweetie".

Kate is a HUGE cuddle bug. It is all she wants to do. If she could lay on the couch with us, curled up in a blanket all day, she would!

She has got some serious dance moves. She has good taste in music, and knows how to operate the iphone remote to play music on the computer.

Her favorite things are: Milk, her Binky and Bobo, after dinner dance parties, Ruby, Daddy, Mommy, the park, and her dress up clothes.

We love her little Kate Bug! Can't believe she will be THREE soon!

Ruby Jane at 2 months

(Three weeks late, but worth the wait! We have been a little busy around here!)
(yesterday)

To say that Ruby's 2nd month was an eventful one would be an understatement! She is giving us a run for our money! (A health update will come soon).
She is the happiest little girl I know. She is SO smiley. 2 days after surgery, and this baby girl was smiling more than she ever had. LOVE her. Before we started on this crazy medical stuff, Matt gave me a very special blessing in which he blessed that Ruby and I would create a very special bond as an outcome of our trial. I am seriously obsessed with this baby girl. She is the sweetest little thing. She stares to deeply into my eyes and smiles from ear to ear.

Ruby at 2 months:
Smiles all day long
Takes 3-4 really good naps every day
Wakes up once or twice at night
Goes to bed at 830
Wakes up between 6-7:30
Nurses great
Loves her sister
Has blue eyes
Wears 0-3 month clothes, and can still squeeze into some NB size.
22.5 inches
10 lbs
Head:38.5 cm
Loves to play in her little baby gym
Loves our family dance parties
The BEST BABY!


Kate loves her sister!

I die over this little happy face.

3 days after surgery...such an angel.

Loving on my poor girl

Ruby Jane and her Daddy before surgery
The day she turned 2 months old...at CHOC.

Work out!


A heavenly nap on my chest.

First (and only) time to church!

First smile caught on camera!

(all iphone snaps, and out of order...most recent to oldest)

Prayers

Our tiniest girl is have some medical issues, and we are checking into the hospital today to figure out what is going on. They told us to expect to stay through the weekend. Will you say a quick prayer for our Ruby Jane? ...Please?

My Sleepy Girl

My Kate Bug

Kate is in love with all things girlie.
Barbies, dolls, flowers, sparkles, lipstick, nail polish, tea parties, princesses, the color pink.
One of her favorite movies right now is a Barbie version of "Thumbelina". In the movie there is a flower patch, and little fairies that live in the flowers.
I spotted a flower field by our house that I thought Kate would love, so I took her there this morning. When she spotted the field, she broke out into a sprint to pick flowers and search for fairies.
It was pretty close to a perfect morning. The sun was out, clear skies, Santa Ana winds blowing, and I was picking flowers in a field with my little girls. There is nowhere I would have rather been in that moment.

Sleepy Girl

Is there anything better than a newborn yawn?

lips

Ruby Jane's Birthday

The night before felt like Christmas Eve. We went to bed giddy. I woke up at 4:30am, and could not go back to sleep. How can you quiet your mind when you know you are about to go through labor and delivery in just a few short hours. How can you sleep when you can't stop thinking about meeting your new tiny daughter?

Matt's alarm went off at 6am, and I shot out of bed and got ready. He was a little more sluggish, and I probably drove him crazy with my nagging to hurry up!
The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever. It was cold, and a little dark outside still. A perfect day, just beginning. We pulled into the "Expecting Mothers" parking spot, and made our way to Labor and Delivery.
Our awesome nurse, Christine, met us at the front desk, and got us settled into room #290. It seemed to surreal, after being pregnant for so long to be in the room where we would meet our baby.
It was exciting to see little area she would be cleaned off, ready with blankets and a diaper.
Dr. May came in about 7:30, and broke my water. Then I rocked away on the rocking chair for about an hour to get things going.

The nurse started pitocin around 8:30, and the contractions started fast, and were very strong! Dr. May came in around 9:30, and I was a 4, and 90% effaced.
My mom, the rock!
My sister, Danielle, showed up just in time to relieve Matt, and hold my hand for the epidural. That epidural felt like an instant warm blanket, I couldn't feel a thing. It was great.
I was finally going to have the delivery I had always imagined...pain free! (HA!)
Around 11:30 I started feeling a little tightening, and it with each contraction, the pain on one side got worse and worse, until it was almost unbearable.
The anesthesiologist came back in and gave me a shot of something, but unfortunately, no relief. It felt like a knife digging around in my back/hip.
Around 12:45ish, the nurse checked me again and said I was an 8, but I was already needing to push. After while I heard her tell my mom she was going to call in at Dr. May at 12:02, I kept staring at the clock in between contractions thinking I just had to make it until 12:02. Somewhere in there, Matt faded out of my view, and I heard the nurse telling him to put his head in between his knees! Good timing Matt!!
My sister caught this shot when the nurse said it was time to push!

At 12:04, I said, "What time is it?!" And she called. He rushed in. Got things all set to go. Matt made a speedy recovery, and was at my side when I started I pushing at 1:09.

I pushed about 2 times, and Ruby Jane Taylor was born at 1:13pm. Weighing 7 lbs, 14 oz and 20 inches long!

I was so focused on the pain, and getting "un-pregnant" that is was almost a surprise when they laid the baby on me. I had lost sight of the goal! She came out perfect, sucking on her hand, and wailing, just like she should.

When I was getting stitched up, my sister came over and showed me this picture of Ruby and I remember thinking she has the prettiest lips!
Happy Daddy!



Kate brought her Cinderella for the baby.


A few months ago, Kate told me she wanted to give the baby a "shaker" when she was born. So we went to the store and Kate picked this out. She was so excited to bring it to the hospital.


Kate thought the baby's feet were so tiny and cute.

Matt, Kate and I are so happy to have Ruby in our family. She is such a sweet and beautiful baby!