Ellie's loving preschool. She loves the teachers and the adventures and activities they plan. We get regular updates from her teacher. And here's the one we received this week. I know we're biased but it's nice to "see" Ellie from another adult's perspective.
"I can't tell you how much I enjoy having Ellie in group! She is such a
caring, generous, loving little girl with a wonderful smile! She is
always excited to come to CDC, and has the easiest drop-offs I've ever
seen! :) She shows kindness toward other children, and offers to get
them ice packs when they are hurt."
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Eva's First Week
Oh what a week! Eva's been home now for a week. Every day has been different from the previous one. When we brought Eva home last Tuesday, she was pretty cranky and hungry! We ended up supplementing her with formula a couple times just to try to satisfy her little tummy until my milk came in.
Fortunately, that wasn't too much longer after that. By Wednesday, it was coming in and we started to turn the corner with her crankiness. By Friday, she was a happy camper and eating like crazy. Saturday was a growth spurt day and she was eating almost every hour.
Sleep has been great. She was in her newborn phase the first couple of days and would happily sleep hours at a time. A real blessing as we adjusted to her continuous and frequent newborn needs (8-12 feedings and diaper changes a day) So far, she has been sleeping thru the night (although we don't expect that to last as she becomes less and less a newborn). She wakes for feedings but then falls right back to sleep.
We went for her first checkup on Thursday. She'd lost half a pound but we weren't too worried since milk was newly available. Everything else checked out! She was 20ins, 6lbs 9ozs with a head circumference 13.25ins.
Here are some of our favorite pictures of the week. Eva is holding Ellie's hand in the first picture. We have been blessed with a very loving big sister. Ellie's given us a hard time but has been soooo wonderful towards Eva.
Fortunately, that wasn't too much longer after that. By Wednesday, it was coming in and we started to turn the corner with her crankiness. By Friday, she was a happy camper and eating like crazy. Saturday was a growth spurt day and she was eating almost every hour.
Sleep has been great. She was in her newborn phase the first couple of days and would happily sleep hours at a time. A real blessing as we adjusted to her continuous and frequent newborn needs (8-12 feedings and diaper changes a day) So far, she has been sleeping thru the night (although we don't expect that to last as she becomes less and less a newborn). She wakes for feedings but then falls right back to sleep.
We went for her first checkup on Thursday. She'd lost half a pound but we weren't too worried since milk was newly available. Everything else checked out! She was 20ins, 6lbs 9ozs with a head circumference 13.25ins.
Here are some of our favorite pictures of the week. Eva is holding Ellie's hand in the first picture. We have been blessed with a very loving big sister. Ellie's given us a hard time but has been soooo wonderful towards Eva.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Week 37 - Full Term!
We made it! Today we cross the full term finish line. Almost didn't make it given a string of crazy moments on Thursday. But with great relief, we're here!!
We were admitted to the hospital for overnight fetal monitoring Thursday evening after a set of strange circumstances unfolded (possible fetal heart rate issues, complications due to compromised liver functionality for me and concerns over umbilical cord blood flows). I wasn't thrilled. I was trying to be brave and calm about the whole thing but was just feeling really anxious. When the high risk dr. released us with good news Friday morning, I wanted to hug her!
Good news included great baby responses (aka placental health) to the small contractions they were monitoring over night. No specific indication of my liver being compromised at this point. And umbilical cord blood flow is spot on for this part of the pregnancy.
Although I wouldn't ask for it again, it was strangely nice to go thru the admittance process and get a "dry run" of sorts. (Being glass half full :) ) By process of elimination, we figured out where to put the saline hep lock, what is and isn't provided by the hospital, and even tried out some of the very nice "room service" menu.
I feel like Eva and I were given reprieve for a couple of days (tests continue on Tuesday). I really hope she gets to decide when she's ready. But with all the continued testing, there's always a possibility that the medical world decides for her. I'm trying to keep my zen about it all, realizing I am merely along for the ride no matter who decides. Thank God for massages, prayer, yoga, acupuncture and all the meditations I've been working on :)
We were admitted to the hospital for overnight fetal monitoring Thursday evening after a set of strange circumstances unfolded (possible fetal heart rate issues, complications due to compromised liver functionality for me and concerns over umbilical cord blood flows). I wasn't thrilled. I was trying to be brave and calm about the whole thing but was just feeling really anxious. When the high risk dr. released us with good news Friday morning, I wanted to hug her!
Good news included great baby responses (aka placental health) to the small contractions they were monitoring over night. No specific indication of my liver being compromised at this point. And umbilical cord blood flow is spot on for this part of the pregnancy.
Although I wouldn't ask for it again, it was strangely nice to go thru the admittance process and get a "dry run" of sorts. (Being glass half full :) ) By process of elimination, we figured out where to put the saline hep lock, what is and isn't provided by the hospital, and even tried out some of the very nice "room service" menu.
I feel like Eva and I were given reprieve for a couple of days (tests continue on Tuesday). I really hope she gets to decide when she's ready. But with all the continued testing, there's always a possibility that the medical world decides for her. I'm trying to keep my zen about it all, realizing I am merely along for the ride no matter who decides. Thank God for massages, prayer, yoga, acupuncture and all the meditations I've been working on :)
Monday, October 7, 2013
Napless in Ann Arbor
I love three! Ellie has been a joy recently. She's putting pieces of the world together faster than we can give them to her. And she's loving preschool. Her teacher Megan has been a wonderful source of all kinds of new activities and learning. So she's a happier person with all her new skills and abilities.
A recent causality of getting older though is her naps. One week she just stopped taking them. I thought they were going to get shorter and shorter until they just disappeared. But it's more like they just fell off a cliff. One day they were there and the next they weren't. Although I miss the afternoon breaks, the lack of afternoon sleep has resulted in earlier bedtimes. Take the good with the bad.
She's become a biking machine (on training wheels). Supposedly she went about 2 miles to and from a park with my brother this past Friday. She's really mastered steering and stopping. I think her tallness/size is super helpful because she can get good leverage on the pedals. We've already invested in equipment for next season so that we can all hopefully get out more as a family.
I've been meaning to write down some of the recent stories and funny things she's been saying. But of course I can't remember any of them at the moment. So I'll just post what I've got tonight and make a promise to myself to be better about getting them to "paper" over the next little while.
A recent causality of getting older though is her naps. One week she just stopped taking them. I thought they were going to get shorter and shorter until they just disappeared. But it's more like they just fell off a cliff. One day they were there and the next they weren't. Although I miss the afternoon breaks, the lack of afternoon sleep has resulted in earlier bedtimes. Take the good with the bad.
She's become a biking machine (on training wheels). Supposedly she went about 2 miles to and from a park with my brother this past Friday. She's really mastered steering and stopping. I think her tallness/size is super helpful because she can get good leverage on the pedals. We've already invested in equipment for next season so that we can all hopefully get out more as a family.
I've been meaning to write down some of the recent stories and funny things she's been saying. But of course I can't remember any of them at the moment. So I'll just post what I've got tonight and make a promise to myself to be better about getting them to "paper" over the next little while.
Week 36 - Last Month
Where did the last month go??? I can't believe my last post was as long ago as it was. I've thought often about posting but guess just haven't gotten to it.
Eva continues to grow. At the last ultrasound (Sept 24), she was guesstimated at over 5lbs. And the tech noted her long arm and leg bones and lots of hair. We were able to get a great 3D picture this time too.
She also seems to have developed daily cases of hiccups recently. And they are always later in the evening. Just interesting. Ellie seemed to have hiccups a lot through out the pregnancy.
And we're in week 4 of non stress tests. I'm actually not as frustrated by them as I thought I was going to be. I've gotten in a routine and have used the time to get to know the Birthing Center staff. I think it'll make my actual laboring time easier because I've spent so much time there leading up to Eva's arrival. Plus I think I'll be able to administer my own non stress test by the time these are done. I've gotten pretty good at reading all the charts and numbers.
Braden's been hard at work at Eva's room transformation and is almost done. It just needs one more coat of paint and then it'll be ready for filling. It feels like one more step closer to being ready for her arrival.
Speaking of her arrival, I've reached the end of the pregnancy. She running out of room and continues to contort my belly as she rolls around trying to shift here or there. (At today's doctor appointment, the circumference of my belly was 38cm) I'm also physically slowing down and crave sleep all the time. I also find myself spending a lot of time mentally preparing for our special day. And think to myself how grateful I might be if she decides to come early.
We also got back her maternity pictures. Here are just a few that make us smile.
Eva continues to grow. At the last ultrasound (Sept 24), she was guesstimated at over 5lbs. And the tech noted her long arm and leg bones and lots of hair. We were able to get a great 3D picture this time too.
She also seems to have developed daily cases of hiccups recently. And they are always later in the evening. Just interesting. Ellie seemed to have hiccups a lot through out the pregnancy.
And we're in week 4 of non stress tests. I'm actually not as frustrated by them as I thought I was going to be. I've gotten in a routine and have used the time to get to know the Birthing Center staff. I think it'll make my actual laboring time easier because I've spent so much time there leading up to Eva's arrival. Plus I think I'll be able to administer my own non stress test by the time these are done. I've gotten pretty good at reading all the charts and numbers.
Braden's been hard at work at Eva's room transformation and is almost done. It just needs one more coat of paint and then it'll be ready for filling. It feels like one more step closer to being ready for her arrival.
Speaking of her arrival, I've reached the end of the pregnancy. She running out of room and continues to contort my belly as she rolls around trying to shift here or there. (At today's doctor appointment, the circumference of my belly was 38cm) I'm also physically slowing down and crave sleep all the time. I also find myself spending a lot of time mentally preparing for our special day. And think to myself how grateful I might be if she decides to come early.
We also got back her maternity pictures. Here are just a few that make us smile.
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