Two Months

Happy Two Months Gage!! Gage has an adorable smile and pretty blue eyes that capture your heart and complete attention! When Gage smiles you can't resist smiling right back at him and you will stop what you are doing to smile and laugh with him. Gage loves baths, being pushed in a stroller or a grocery cart, being swaddled, car rides, his Sweet Dream musical Lamb, vacuum's (just like his mom) and being held. Gage hates taking his medicine, tummy time, neck exercises, and getting his diaper changed.
Gage's stats for his two month check up:
Weight - 10 pounds 15 ounces
Height - 22 3/4 inches
Gage was in the 50% for weight, height, and head circumference. Gage still spends most of his sleeping time in the swing, as he needs to be upright due to his acid reflux. Gage doesn't nap very well during the day but is usually ready for bed between 8 - 9 pm. Gage is very consistent with waking up for his am feed between 3-5 in the morning.

I know these pictures are all similar but I love them all and couldn't leave one of them out!

Random Pictures of Gage

I LOVE the way Gage sleeps, he always does the cutest things with his hands!! This little guy melts our hearts everyday.

I can't stop taking pictures of Gage! Here are a few that show how fast he is growing. He already looks so different from when he was born.

Sick little Gage

Gage has had a rough start to life. Gage would cry and scream in pain for HOURS a day. There were a few weeks were Gage would cry for 15 hours out of the day. Gage had no periods of calmness or being content. Even after eating Gage displayed signs of being in severe pain as he screamed, shook, and alternated arching his back and being stiff as board. It has been very emotional for me, my mom, and Rob. It breaks your heart to watch your little guy in such pain and nothing you do appears to ease the pain or bring any relief to him. Gage has had several trips to the pediatrician to help with the intense level of spit up, as he was not gaining weight. Gage’s endless crying and pain also initiated a few more visits to the pediatrician, which lead to an ultrasound. During the ultrasound it was decided that Gage had borderline pyloric stenosis. The doctor urged us to take Gage immediately to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital. The emergency room and hospital stay was HORRIBLE. Three different nurses tried to put the IV in Gage’s arm but he was so dehydrated the veins kept collapsing. They eventually called one of the Flight for Life guys who thankfully was able to finally get the IV hooked up. We were in the hospital 30 hours with Gage. Gage had to have an empty stomach for the surgery so he couldn’t eat. It was one of the worst things I have gone through this far, to watch him crying and hurting and not being able to eat. The surgical doctor ran a few more tests and decided not to put Gage through the surgery. Gage was put on new meds and after a week he was like a new baby. We are finally getting to see him happy, smiling, and cooing.

Gage still has days with severe spit-up, we go through about two bibs, one burp cloth and sometimes one outfit at every feeding. Mom (Nonna) and Grandma Hirschi made Gage some triple strength burp cloths that are adorable. They are like mini towels! Gage has to see a Gastro-Intestinal doctor every two months to regulate and monitor his medicine. Rob was able to give Gage a blessing with a friend from our ward before we admitted Gage into the emergency room. I am continually grateful that Rob keeps himself worthy to bless our family when we need it.

Gage laid patiently for his ultrasound

Waiting in the ER lobby

Gage and I in the ER room
(the smiling is because Gage has NOT been poked 7 times yet)

Rob pretending to be a doctor and explaining the procedure to Nonna Marilyn

Poor little guy hooked up to the IV

Gage with a headache

Nonna rocked Gage all day and all night

Gage's Blessing

We were so excited and grateful to have my dad and Grandma and Grandpa Hill come to Milwaukee for Gage’s blessing. Family has been such an influential and important part of my life and I am so appreciative they flew hundreds of miles to be with us on this special day. Gage Robert Cerniglia was blessed on Sunday September 12, 2010. Rob gave a beautiful blessing. Gage has been struggling with severe acid reflux and spends most of the day crying in pain. Surprisingly Gage was quiet and asleep all through sacrament and for his blessing. It was a gorgeous day and I am grateful that Rob honors his priesthood and was able to bless our son.

Gage in his blessing outfit that Grandma Hirschi got for him
Mom and Gage getting ready

The family after the blessing

Families are Forever

Gage smiles his first smile for Great Grandma Hill

Meeting Grandpa for the first time

Great Grandma Hill feeding Gage

Gage chillin with Great Grandpa Hill

Gage's Birth Story

On August 9th, 2010 I went in for my 40 week (and three days) check up. I still was only dilated to a 1 and had not dropped. My doctor told us that she was going to schedule me to be induced and that I could either choose to be induced the next day, Tuesday August 10th or I could wait until Sunday August 15th. Rob and I both were really wanting to go naturally and decided we would wait until the 15th, hoping that Gage would come on his own before that. Each day came and went and Gage stayed nice and snug inside, exhibiting no signs that he was ready to come. I was to be at the hospital at 5 pm on August 15th. At 4:00 pm I got a call from the hospital. The hospital informed us that they had several births that afternoon and that I was to come at 7 pm instead. Rob and I had spent many moments talking and laughing the past nine months as we role played different scenarios of what the crazy and rushed drive to the hospital would be like once labor began. But Gage had different plans for us and instead we had a short peaceful drive.

We checked in and at 8:20 pm I received my first dose of Cytotech. At 12:30 am the nurse checked me and said my cervix was softening very well and that I would not need the third dose. After giving me the second dose she told me they would wait until 7 am to start the Pitocin. At 7 am they had me shower and order breakfast, as it would be awhile before I ate again. The first dose of Pitocin is administered at 8 am. I am dilated to a 3 and 60% effaced. My contractions were getting closer and closer together but were not increasing in strength so they decided to break my water. At 1:15 pm my water is broken by the on call doctor. Things went a little faster from there. At 2:10 pm my epidural is given. I am only dilated to a 4, however, if the epidural is not given now it will be awhile before the anesthesiologist is available. The anesthesiologist hits the wrong place and has to do it again! The epidural was like a shock wave of pain. I almost jumped off the bed and ran out the hospital. They increase my Pitocin and at 5:15 pm I am dilated to a 9.5 and 100% effaced. The surgical set up begins. By 6:10 pm I am at a 10. The nurse says she wants to have me “labor down” so that I don’t have to push as hard. I am not feeling any pain at all, not even pressure during a contraction so they call someone in to turn down the epidural. The worst and pretty much only pain I felt was when the epidural was given. They call the doctor on call as well (which unfortunately was not my doctor). Dr. George arrives at 8:45 pm. At 9:04 pm Gage is born, 9.075 pounds, 19 ½ inches long. Rob cuts the cord and then quickly follows the nurse who is going to clean him up. My first response is, “why isn’t he crying?” About thirty seconds later he cries and Rob runs over to me to tell me he looks beautiful. Rob is so excited and he tells me that Gage grabbed his finger. The nurse puts Gage on my chest and I blink back tears as I hold my little boy.

Having Fun and passing time at Lucille's Rockin Piano Lounge

Our Future Linebacker




Meeting Nonna for the first time

The Cerniglia Family of two now becomes three

Sweet Baby Gage

Welcome to the World

Handsome dad and son

Heading for home sweet home

Little Leo is..................

Little Leo is now officially Gage. Our sweet adorable little boy was born August 16th, 2010 at 9:04 pm. We named him Gage Robert Cerniglia. Gage was 9 pounds 7 ounces and ten days late from his original due date! We are elated to finally have him here and are grateful Heavenly Father blessed us with his precious spirit.

Manjia!

Since this little guy seems to be taking his time, I decided to pre-make a few dinners and put them in the freezer so we can have some quick and ready meals on those days where we are all exhausted. Of course the Cerniglia household freezer would not be complete without a couple batches of lasagna!

Summer Ball

One of my favorite things about summer is going to watch Rob’s softball games. Of course Rob is the best player on the team! He usually plays second or first base. I am so excited to take little Leo to Rob’s games next summer so he can help me cheer on his dad. (Rob is in the white shirt, black shorts).