Happy Girl!

Happy girl is back!

She started acting better Thursday and this morning woke up in a great mood!

She's ready for some college football starting with the state in which her Daddy was raised.

Then we were in the mood for a cute outfit and some pictures! 

  

  Priceless!

Teething?

Little Ellie has been so fussy this week!  Off and on crying and short naps have been her modus operandi.

It seems the only things to calm her down are teething rings...

 and when she finds a quiet place to fall asleep even when waiting on Mommy to put the boys to bed :).

Peanut Butter

Maybe you've heard there was a television show called "Mr. Ed" about a horse that could talk.  They put peanut butter in the horse's mouth to make him look like he was saying the words that were dubbed in over the video.  

I tried to feed Ellie some peanut butter today and it went great!  She really liked it a lot.  However, she still gagged, retched, and vomited into the blanket I had nearby.

A horse is a horse, of course of course.

Holey Roller

Ellie making her way to unique and exciting spots and lands!

Every baby's dream - to play with a vacuum cord.

 Half on, half off - that's how she likes it.

Food update

Tuesday of this week was loooooong.

I'm doing my best to take advantage of the nurse being here until the end of August so I'm in a bit of hyper-overdrive when it comes to getting ready for our "new life" with homeschooling two students and two little girls.

So here's a bit how of our Tuesday went:

Ellie was fussy and warm, fever/cold/bug?

She could not keep her food down - she threw up multiple times a day, in fact...her "out" (weighing of diapers and towels in which she vomited) was greater than her "in".

In the middle of handwriting, science, math, art, grammar and all the other stuff we were doing, I had an epiphany that maybe there's another option to feed her that's higher calorie so the volume would be less on days when she can't tolerate her feedings well.

So the nurse got on it and there IS an option!  It's 1.5 calories per milliliter instead of 1 which is what we've been giving her alllllll along, including fortifying my milk to 30 calories per ounce (30 mls in one ounce - are you in the mood for some math this morning??!!).  So it's Pediasure, you've all heard of that right?!  They make a milk that's for tube feeding AND oral feeding which is even MORE exciting (so exciting, I MUST use caps!) because it can not only go in her tube, but yesterday when I smelled it, it smelled like chocolate milk!  So I put some on her lips and she licked it and leaned in for more!!

So, putting the cart before the horse like I always do, there is a hope in my heart that one day she could start taking this orally, like really swallowing it (which she is so very far from right now) and that will be the end of the tube!

And better, it's covered by insurance and there were cases ready for us the following day, no charge at all!  Of course there were 10 phone calls needed including nutritionist, doctor's approval, insurance - but by the end of Tuesday it was all in motion.

Thanks for your interest in our girl - this is exciting to us that something we give her does not smell like a chemical.  Let's see now if this will smell any better coming out the other end.  Are you that interested?

Our week

Ellie got out a little this week and had a play date come to her!

Getting ready for bed with her constant companions here at home.

Her new favorite thing is to watch a jack-in-the box pop up!

 

We had some friends visit who made Ellie her own little paper doll!

She went to bed happy - and woke up happy!

Brick Floor

Nine years ago we were experts on baby proofing and we had 1280 square feet of house completely protected and safe for our first little one.

Now with our fourth, we're in a house that's so open ("great flow for entertaining" the flyer said) Ellie finds herself on four different types of flooring in a matter of minutes.  One of the floors is brick (gasp!) and seems to be her favorite - it's nice and cool!

So, our house is not as protected and "safe" as our first house and first child were.  But, the flyer was right...she does seemed to be entertained, does she not?

Birthday fun

Jeff and the kids watch some golf for Jacob's birthday...what more could the boy want? :) 

  

A day of swimming and celebrating! 

Ellie and her debut swim!  We found this awesome float - she was covered from the sun and basically was laying on her chest kicking her little legs! 

I got out to eat and let her lick a potato chip - she seems to like that! 

This is her silly face when she's having fun!

 

Is it time to go already?! 

Happy Birthday Jacob!!!!!

On food

We had two speech therapy appointments this week with a very good therapist specializing in babies with feeding problems.

The appointments went o.k.  There's not much more to them than what we're doing at home.  And there's an element to them that doesn't quite "fit" with our family so we're making the tough decision to stop going for now.  First of all, this therapist only works during school hours so the appointment slot she has is 12:30.  She mentioned the kids bringing their school books and lunch while sitting in the tiny area where the feeding is done.  I wish life were that simple.  She also wants to feed Ellie some things that we don't even eat in our household.  I'd have to go out of my way to buy them and that just doesn't feel right at the moment.  It's negotiable and everything, but it's really just too much on our family right  now.

For now we'll keep offering several times a day and trying to make it exciting and fun for her.  We certainly are leading our horse to water even though we can't make her drink.  Except we're giving her more than just water.  And, she's a baby.

Girls

The boys and Daddy are at a golf tournament today in humid, hot Georgia in August!  I managed to convince Julia to stay home with Ellie and I and we had lots of fun with puzzles, hats and decorating for Jacob's birthday tomorrow!

Back to Work

We had a "back to work" party for Jeff last night with some homemade pizza - yum!  Ellie played along and let me put some to her mouth...but not a whole lot went down the pipes.  But I think she liked the taste anyway!

She is releasing her stress about Daddy being back to work with some yoga this morning. I think I should join her :).

Pianist

Every child born is another voice for the heavenly choir.  Ellie has decided she's going to play the piano for the angels.

Summer dining

We've been accumulating gift cards to the same restaurant for about a year now...so we decided to take the kids and get whatever we wanted off the menu!  What a way for Daddy's summer to go out with a bang!

Ellie licked some bread.  Mommy liked some bread.

 

A big day - Ellie's first restaurant high chair!  

 

 "To summer!"

 She attempts to hold a crayon.

She attempts to eat a crayon.

 She had a great time.

"Whatever" included my first time getting lobster!  What a contrast to this day last year when we were in week two of our second hospital stay.  I'm not remembering lobster tail on the Egleston cafeteria menu, but they could have added it by now...don't quote me.

Back home Ellie and I went through piles of homeschool books to plan the year.  She encouraged me to remember to feed her, love her and take her on some walks for her school.  I was happy to get distracted with a phone call :).

July

July was a wonderful, wonderful month!!!  So much to be thankful for - time with Jeff, house chores, long nursing hours, trips and outings!

We all thanked God for our summer during prayer time last night.  

Ellie found my arm :).

 She gets her own paper to do what she wants with.

 Even her own little rosary.

Then it was off to some more yogurt!

 

 The bib comes off!

I'm really not that interested but I know you want me to do this so I guess I'll try one more bite.

Ellie waking up this morning...her feet were where her head was placed last night and she'd run out of room so she made do with her legs!  She looks thrilled to have her picture taken doesn't she?!

Here's to August - I'm sure it will be filled with blessings too...I just have to remember to look for them!