and....she's off!

We've gotten a bit lazy providing updates on Ruby-roo.
She's walking! She is almost out of the zombie-walk stage and has been gaining speed and agility. Good thing she likes to practice.

Here are 2 videos: one of the kiddo WALKING (yay!)

and one of her stealing my iphone and grooving to the dance tunes.

The only problem with this whole walking thing is that Ruby HATES shoes. Hopefully we can find a pair that she'll tolerate before her toddling goes "off-road"!

5 am at our house

Lately, Ruby likes to wake up at 5am. Yes, 5am. Picture Scott or I groggily climbing out of bed well before our alarm is due to go off. As soon as the obligatory diaper change is complete, with eyes at half mast, we usually take her into the living room (which now resembles a toy store-help!) so she can entertain herself for a little while as we wake up completely.

Instead of playing happily with her toys, she immediately makes her way over to the large plastic pink and purple car that is sitting near the front door. Hey, who says you have to wait until your 16th birthday?? This lovely ride which has been dubbed "the pink-mobile" is Ruby's favorite birthday present. (Thanks Uncle Jason & Aunt Jen!- I think...).

Anyway... so yes, she mosies on over to her pink-mobile and begins patting it. The patting quickly becomes more insistent and is accompanied by whining. At this point, Scott or myself yawns, groans, and - with effort- gets up off of the rug which we have been pretending is a bed. By the time we get over to the pink-mobile, Ruby is crying and slamming her hands on the hood of her ride.

...and so... we put her in the driver's seat, buckle her in, and off we go. Still in our pajamas, we push her back and forth (and back and forth...and back and forth) around our tiny living room, kitchen, and hallway. Did I mention the pink-mobile has a horn? yup. So just add the sound effects and there you have it, the complete picture.

...because come on, what else would we be doing at 5am???

(**disclaimer #1- above picture was taken on an afternoon, outdoor pink-mobile ride. Pictures do not happen in the McVeigh household before 6am).
(disclaimer #2- you will notice that Ruby is drinking and driving. we do not condone nor promote this behavior)

California girl returns

Look who's slackin'! Time to catch up on my blogging habit.

We recently returned from a very special vacation. One year after leaving the intensive care nursery at UCSF with our superhero, we returned so that Ruby could get a check-up at the CDH specialty clinic.

Here we are leaving the hospital last year:

- so relieved but a little scared to be on our own!

and here we are again this year. wow :)

celebrating a beautiful and happy baby :)

Now let's be honest... we didn't really have to go all the way to California for her annual check-up... but there were a lot of reasons it made sense. First, the doctors and nurses at UCSF are ahhhhhh-maaaaaaay-zing and, although she has clearly kicked CDH's butt, it is comforting to know that Ruby is being monitored by people who really know what they are talking about.

Second, we will take any excuse possible to visit Napa and San Francisco. Sunshine, ocean, wineries, good food- sold! The area is also home to some wonderful family members and the amazing friends that adopted me for a month when I resembled a beached whale on crack (err I mean during the last 5 weeks of my pregnancy when I was waddling and hormonal!).


We made a little present for the nurses and doctors- no matter how hard we try we can't seem to thank them in a way that feels satisfactory. We are very happy; however, to be supporting Dr. Keller's research on CDH through sales of "Ruby's Recipes." We've raised well over $3000!!! (thanks everyone!)

It was a bit surreal to step back across the hospital's threshold- thinking about how we were feeling and what we all went through last year and how much different things are now. The folks at UCSF were so amazing they put together a little lunch so that Ruby could get together with her favorite doctors and nurses.

The pics are a bit fuzzy... oops.

Ruby was excited to see everyone.

Posing with Dr. Gonzalez

Flirting with Dr. Keller...

2 of Ruby's favorite nurses.

ID badges make great toys!

Here's Ruby in my belly last year... posing by the golden gate bridge.


and here we are this year.

hip hip hooray! we did it!!!! we kicked CDH's butt!

Even though Decatur is home, San Francisco will always hold a special place in our hearts. For our family, San Francisco is where miracles (named Ruby) happen.