Eleri is 4 weeks old

Eleri just "turned" 4 weeks old about 10 minutes ago. I really can't believe that she is this old. I'm trying hard to treasure her as a little baby and not rush the time until she grows up. Eleri is doing great. In celebration of turning 4 weeks old, she slept all night in her craddle and I didn't bring her to bed with me at all. Now, by all night, I mean in between feedings. She is getting up about 3 times a night to feed, which I don't anticipate ending anytime soon. She is a great eater though, and is fairly quick. If only I could get myself to be more disciplined at night. It has been hard to get up with her because she just stirs and makes noises and grunts around. Mali would scream, so I didn't have a choice. But God's sustaining power is getting me through the nights. If only I could take a nap more than once a week, I'd feel 100%. Back to Eleri, she loves her big sister. I'm not really sure how much you can tell from the videos below, but she stares and stares at Mali and looks for Mali. Eleri even moves her head towards Mali's voice instead of mine and Eric's if we are all talking. It is so sweet, and what I've looked forward to in having two girls, and what I've prayed for. Mali has started to call her "El, El" as her nickname. Eleri is spending a lot of time awake and just being a baby. We can see that she is turning into her own little person. In the sun, her hair is looking lighter and maybe as if it will be more red. With Eric's color hair, his mom's and each of our grandpa's having red hair, her chances look pretty good of having some shade of reddish hair. Eleri's disposition is still very sweet and loving. She loves to be held and snuggled still. We did find a pacifier that Eleri can hold in for the most part, and that has cut down on her fussiness, although she still sometimes fights having a pacifier, and last night preferred to go to sleep without it by just grunting until she got comfortable. We still think that Eleri is very sensitive. She hates a dirty diaper and is particular about her positioning and comfort. Mali continues to do great with her, but I think that Mali's tank of attention is running a little low. I feel like I'm always neglecting one other the other; I'm feeding Eleri and Mali needs something and I can't take care of it, and then I finish with Eleri and have to neglect her crying while I get Mali's lunch ready. And in the mean time I don't eat! All you mothers out there understand. But it is all so wonderful and special at the same time. I have a friend that keeps reminding me what a gift we've given Mali in having Eleri. We are starting to see the fruit! Even though days are tough (especially when Eric doesn't get home from soccer games until 2:30am), there is so much that is wonderful in it all too. I absolutely love Eleri's little smiles and it warms away all the sleepiness and grumpiness that I fight off. Overall, God has sustained me and has been so merciful to me!

Terry stopped by to see Eleri and took some great 4 week pictures:
http://albums.phanfare.com/2791467/3509938_3831271#imageID=62015124

My pictures of the month
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94647&id=620254096&l=fb573

Video

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So I'm new at using this application, so if you can't view the full length of the video you can click on it and see it on the website, does that make any sense? Eleri loves talking to her big sister! You can't really hear it in the first clip, but the longer clip you can! It is sweet. She just looks and looks for Mali!

3 weeks...where did my easy baby go?

Eleri will be 3 weeks old tomorrow! I can't believe how fast it has gone, especially with all the time I spend awake now!:) She is stilling doing great, I think I'm the one that is starting to struggle now. However, a few days ago she became "fussy" and we are wondering where our easy baby has gone. Right now being in the swing is what calms her the most easily. The good news is...she can be calmed (unlike her colicky older sister who could not be calmed). Dinner time is our hard time of the day. It seems that this is Eleri's fussy period of the day. I'm always trying to juggle keeping her calm, Mali fed and me fed. Eric is rarely home when we sit down to eat, and I can say that I miss him the most about 6pm each night! Still, this is life, and it is still really good and we are still so thankful for our sweet baby girl (who is still sweet, just fussier than before). Now, I'm going to "vent" a little about mothering issues, so if you are a man reading this, you may want to stop, although I will be discrete. Yesterday, I spent $70 on a compound prescription that is called Magic Nipple Cream...it really better be magic for the cost of it (insurance doesn't covers compounds apparently, although I didn't know that until it was time to check out.) This is supposed to help me with the pain that I'm having, although I know I will persevere. I just keep reminding myself it is at most 1 minute of pain each time, which is way worth it in the big scheme of things, and hopefully it will go away SOON! I had my 3 week checkup today to have my steri-strips removed. Eleri was a hit at the office and drew everyone's attention and affection! My incision has healed well and everything looked good. The pathology report was back and my OB said that the tissue came back normal. He did say he still feels like it was a little bit bad, but not bad enough to show up on the report. He said that there should be no concerns for the future...yeah!!!!! I also asked why I had a new incision and not one over my old scar (something that made me cry the other night when I discovered it.) I'm not sure why I cried, it is not cosmetic at all, trust me, but it was just a shock that now I will have two incision scars. Anyway, he said that the scalpel slipped down a little and that his wife gave him "the look". I reassured him that it was no big deal to me, but that I was just curious. Sleep has been hard too, but that is normal. Eleri really does great at night not waking except for feedings, but about the 2-3am feeding she DOES NOT want to go back to sleep, so I end up being up for a while putting her down and then right back up to feed her. Mali has been getting up at about 7am each morning (usually Eleri is eating around 6am) so sleep has been hard to come by. But, seriously by the grace of God, we are making it. We've also had to venture out of the house, and it is going surprisingly well. Feedings have worked out around taking and picking Mali up and all the appointments we've had. We are making it!!! I started "working" on Monday and will slowly add back in the days that I work with my client at his home. I'm glad for this opportunity, and although it isn't always easy, I know that it is a gift from God to me and to him and his family. It is just as much of my calling as being a mom is my calling right now! It was good to see him and get out of the house, although my head seemed a little foggy at first!:) I'm thankful that they are trusting me with their son!
Last night was my first "heart break" experience with Mali. I had put Eleri in the swing to "nap" while Mali and I had a "girls night" shower/bath. On the way to the bath, Eleri started crying, so I told Mali to wait and I would check on Eleri. When I left the room, Mali started crying. So both girls were crying, since Eleri was "safe" I came back to Mali and she was just pouring out tears. I asked her what was wrong, and through her tears she said "I wish you didn't love baby Eleri so much" and said something to the effect of wanting me to take care of her (Mali) and that another person could care for baby Eleri. I held Mali and we cried together (all three girls crying). I explained to Mali that I loved her just as much as baby Eleri, but that Eleri needed someone to take care of her and that Mali was a big girl and could take care of herself! It was sad, I was so sad for my big princess. Some funny Mali things have been; her nursing her teddy bears (and they get to eat banana pudding instead of milk). The other day, an Ambien commercial came on and Mali said "look mom they have stuff that you can just sprinkle on you and you can sleep." Now, I HAVE not talked to Mali about how little sleep I'm getting, she is just a smart girl, and this was a funny moment. If only it worked like that!
I just had to vent and get these things out! Life really is great and I'm so thankful for both my girls, we are just adjusting and learning what our new normal is.

Happy Valentine's Day

Two Weeks Old

Yesterday, Eleri was two weeks old! It really has flown by but at the same time I feel like we were just meeting her for the first time!:) At her two week pediatrician visit, Eleri weighed 7 lbs 10 oz which is nearly a gain of 1 lb since leaving the hospital. Her pedi was very proud of her and said she must be a "little piggy". She is a good eater that is for sure, at a small cost to my comfort, but we are thrilled that she gained so much weight. Her weight is in the 34th percentile and her height (21") is in the 75th percentile. Her head measured at 34cm, so still tiny. Mali's head size was similar and she was always in the 25th percentile on head. Every thing went well and Eleri is very healthy (even though Eleri pooped and I didn't have an extra diaper with me!!!!). I love our new pediatrician (and Mali will be able to get in to her soon too). The pedi said that she thought Eleri was going to have blue eyes just like her big sister!! Mali was thrilled to hear that and all day has told me different versions of how Eleri is going to look like her and not mommy and daddy. I'm so glad Mali is proud. She is moving around more and stretching her body out. She loves to stare at us and open her little mouth in cute expressions. Eleri is starting to babble a little too. I'm learning more and more about her each day, some lessons over and over again. I'm not sure I can't get it, but if she is fussy and not consolable, she is poopy! Every time! Her demeanor seems to be very sweet and content most of the time. She does seem to have a fussy period each night between 5-6 which has been hard to deal with. I'm usually trying to get Mali's to eat and eat myself while care for whatever ailment is causing the fussiness...so when Eric walks in the door around 7, it is always such a relief. Eric has enjoyed cuddling in his "Daddy chair" with both his girls almost every night this week. Mali is still doing amazingly well. We've had some fights for attention, but nothing horrible. Today I've been able to spend time playing Don't Spill the Beans and Chutes and Ladders with Mali and hopefully making deposits in her for attention from Mommy. My first outing was to her Valentine's Party on Wednesday. I left Eleri with a friend in her car in the parking lot while I went inside. Since then, and since I can drive now, we've had several outings and we've survived. I took both girls to BSA yesterday for Eleri's PKU test and to visit the lactation consultant, then we stopped at CVS to get a good deal on diapers, and then through the Burger King Drive thru to get "Crowns" for Mali. Today, we survived the trip to the pediatrician too. I'm doing pretty good. I'm really at the point of exhaustion though. Today, I was on Mali to put her shoes on, etc., so we could leave and she said to me "I think you're grumpy because you didn't get enough sleep." I replied that her statement was true, but just because I didn't get sleep doesn't mean I can act grumpy. We had a little bit of a rough night last night, and so I am tired and so wishing for a nap. Eleri is wide awake and Mali is napping. I have 30 minutes left before Mali gets up and probably right when Eleri will fall asleep. Needless to say, all I want for Valentine's Day is....a nap. I'm thankful that God has taught me that we will get through this and make it, but that I do need to rely on Him to sustain me every day and keep me from acting grumpy when I haven't had enough sleep!

Eleri's real first bath...with big sister...it was interesting. I think we will be doing separate baths from now on!

This isn't the best picture, but I thought it was a sweet moment captured of Eleri looking at her big sister:

1st Bath

Eleri had her first sponge bath last week, just now blogging about it though, so I can remember it when I get ready to scrapbook it!:) Nana helped, or mainly did it all, while I tried to calm Eleri. She was not happy. Eleri does not seem to like to be cold at all, she screamed and screamed. Eleri kept trying to eat the washclothe too. Afterwards, she was wide awake and we got some great pictures!

How we are fairing

The last 1 week and 5 days have been really great. We are adjusting to life with two girls. Eleri is doing great. So far she has been pretty easy. She loves to be held and cuddled, and stays happy as long as that is happening. Eleri loves cuddling in the crook of her Daddy's neck and loves hearing his voice when he comes home. We certainly are spoiling her and not as strict with her "nap time" as we were with Mali. Eleri hates having a wet/dirty diaper and even more than that hates having her diaper changed. She will scream at the top of her little lungs when she is getting changed. She has been doing great at night, sometimes going 3.5 to 4 hours between feedings. I'm usually up each time with her for about an hour with feeding, diaper changes and getting her back to sleep. Overall, she has been great at night, the last few nights at her 4am feedings she has wanted to stay awake and look around. Her eyes are so precious and alert, but I am exhausted at that point. (Which may in fact turn blue, we'll see). I've toughened up and am putting her back in her craddle instead of bringing her to bed, and she is doing great with that after a little bit of protest each time I lay her down. Eleri is attentive to her big sister's voice and loves when Mali sings to her, it always works to calm her down when she has had a diaper change. We are also pretty sure she has started smiling and ready to live up to the meaning of her name (cheerful). She "smiles" at Eric and Mali most often. Eleri has been really wonderful and such a precious addition to our family. Overall, I'm doing great too. My recovery has been 100x's easier than with Mali. I even mopped the living room floor today! I'm off my pain meds and feeling pretty good about that. Besides sleeping in two hour stretches, I feel really great and am so thankful when I get a little nap. I feel so blessed to have been given these beautiful girls and such a great family! Well, princess #2 is waking up to eat!


Can you see the "smile"?

Who do I look like?

We aren't really sure who Eleri looks like, probably just like Eleri!:) She has a few of each of our features. Here are pictures of Mali and Eleri around the same days old. Who do you think she looks like and can you tell which baby is which?

Sweet Big Sister

One of Mali's special big sister jobs is singing to Eleri, especially when she is fussy. Mali is doing a great job as a big sister, and adjusting as well as we could have hoped and better than I could have imagined (Thank you God for more answered prayers). Here is a video of her sweetness.

Eleri's First Week

Here are pictures from Eleri's first week.
I can not believe last week at this time, Eleri wasn't even here! I am thrilled and so in love with her! I'm thankful for the almost week she has been in our lives and blessed us! Enjoy the pictures, you do not have to be a member of Facebook to see them.

Try copy pasting this link if the above link doesn't work
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=89377&l=1568b&id=620254096
also pictures of the week at
www.terrywhitephotos.phanfare.com

Sisters

Mali is doing amazing with Eleri...and has been my prayer that she would adjust amazingly to Eleri. She has been sweet and kind and just enough interested in her. Mali has assigned herself of a job of diaper patrol! She can sure smell wet or dirty diapers and lets us know. Also, as we change diapers, Mali likes to be the one to take them to the diaper trash. She loves singing to her little sister. The day we came home from the hospital, Mali was sitting on the hospital bed with us as I nursed Eleri one last time at the hospital. The nurse was doing my discharge and taking my vitals all while I nursed Eleri. In the "background" Mali was singing "Hush Little Baby" to Eleri with her own words! Also, the night we got home, Mali was such a big girl. She wanted to do everything herself. She even gave herself a bath, however, she used an entire bottle of my body wash and my shampoo in the mean time! She has done great and has been sweet to her sister. Here is a picture from their sister photo shoot. Wow, it is hard to get TWO girls to smile and be ready at the same time. If Mali was up moving, Eleri was happy, and if Mali was still Eleri was crying! But I got at least one good one.

Eleri's Birth Day

I finally have a few moments while Mali is gone to ballet and Eleri's is napping, to blog about the "big day". I really just want to get it down before I forget everything and so that one day Eleri has her arrival story. The delivery actually went so well and 100 times better than my delivery with Mali.
I woke up that morning and knew I had to put TRUTH in my heart and mind to help calm me through the whole experience. I read Psalm 145 and Psalm 121. The words in Psalm 121 were what I kept saying over and over to myself "my helps comes from the LORD."
We arrived at the hospital around 9:30 and were put in triage to get ready for the c-section. I was having a few contractions and was extremely anxious to just get it all over with. I probably should have asked for something to calm me down, because inside I was just going crazy thinking about it all. Eric handed me his iPhone while they wheeled me to the OR so that I could listen to "Be Thou My Vision" to be okay (he downloaded it while we were waiting in triage). About 11:45am they wheeled me into the OR. At one point, while I was waiting in the OR, I just thought "okay I can't do this, I don't want to do this." But it all went well and God answered so many prayers and details about the whole day. The spinal went well, at first he poked me and shot shooting pain down my leg, but then stuck me again and got it. I haven't had any pain with that at all or headaches, so praise God! The spinal was so much better than the epidural. I just felt the usual tugging and pulling and just the anticipation for her birth. I remember my doctor saying "there's the head" and feeling like it took forever for her to actually be born. She was born at 12:20pm, so in fact the c-section was really quick. I loved hearing her cry, it was sort of like a cat, just lots of little cries and complaints. Eric did great and got to cut the umbilical cord. He said it was actually pretty hard and felt totally different than what he expected. I asked him what she looked like and he said something like a baby covered in baby powder, because she was all white. I got to give her kisses and just see my beautiful girl. I was relieved and happy to see her. More answered prayers. When they were sewing me back up though, I did start to loose a lot of blood. My doctor found a spot where the placenta had started to grow onto my uterus and had to work hard to get that off. At that point, he told me that if I didn't stop; bleeding I would need to have a hysterectomy. I felt total peace at his words and trusted God to be in control of the situation, but prayed nonetheless. They got the bleeding under control and sent the tissue to the path lab. We will get the results from that hopefully this week. But I do ask you to pray. There is a chance it is just a consequence of the D&C I had or could be more molar tissue. I felt great though, compared to last time. Eric said it just goes to show what a true miracle baby Eleri is. Also, when I was getting ready to post this, I was thinking about why it might have been God's plan for me to have a c-section instead of delivering vaginally, and I felt like for whatever reason, it was because of this tissue that I was supposed to not deliver vaginally. Anyway, back to the story, I was shakey, but other than that I was fine. I was alert and had clarity of mind the whole recovery. The best part and my favorite part of the day, was when they brought Eleri to me in recovery. She was so beautiful and her eyes were open and alert. I just fell in love with her sweetness and beauty and just her being our baby. I got to nurse her and it went amazing, no problems at all!!!! She is a "champ" like Eric said. We had some sweet moments and got to spend time together (Eric too). They then took her to get a bath and I finished up and headed to the room, still feeling pretty great. I was so happy to see everyone and to see my other beautiful girl, Mali. Mali did not want to kiss Eleri because she had "chicken nuggets on her face". We still are not real sure what that was, but I'm guessing part of the white stuff she had on her since Mali saw her on the way to the nursery. When they wheeled me into the room, the first thing Mali told me was "Daddy lied" because we had bought her "The Jungle Book" DVD as a gift from baby Eleri, she finished by saying "and Baby Eleri is just a baby, she can't buy me a present." So I explained to her that she was right, that mommy and daddy picked it out and bought it for her. I was glad I was coherent to answer that one!:) Mali is just too smart! I was a little tired and did end up getting sick and really really hot (just reactions to the morphine in the spinal and because it just seems that I do that to Megan, Beth and Melissa:)), but once the nurse realized I was getting sick because my head was elevated above 30 degrees, I felt much better. I had a good night and no more bleeding problems or sickness. We just got to share and enjoy our new baby girl. Mali did great and hung out in the room for a while, she wasn't as interested in Eleri the first day. I just LOVED the look in her sweet little eyes when she came to the room at night to nurse (no we didn't have her room in, although I thought I would this time.) We enjoyed the added rest, but I did cry when Eric wheeled her back down to the nursery. We just adjusted and enjoyed this time around so much more. God was and is so faithful. Saturday my doctor came in at 6am and was ready to release me. We didn't have much of a choice, but Eric thought maybe we met our deductible so they wanted us out!:) The nurses and staff were so great to us. I wasn't quite ready to come home, so we pushed it to late afternoon. Eric was gone that day to a soccer game from about 8 until 2pm, and when he came back we packed up and checked out. We tried to get Eleri in her car seat before we carried her out so that we could get the straps adjusted right, and she would not fit! She was so curled up that her arms and legs would not go where they were supposed to. She was just a little ball of cuteness and coziness. It was pretty chaotic leaving the hospital with all of our stuff in tow, Mali and a bouqet of balloons on a windy day and our entourage. It felt good to get in the car and just breathe. We were thankful to have all day yesterday at home before Eric went back to work today. We were so blessed and continued to be blessed by prayers, meals and service! My mom did so much for us by stocking our pantry, cleaning and just preparing for our arrival home. Mali got lots of grandparent time with MeeMee, Papa, Grammie and Nana and Grandpa. She was spoiled and loved on by Aunt Megan and Uncle Chris and all the visitors that brought her a little present too. Thank you guys so much.
So how is it going now? It is great. I feel so great, I'm in a lot of pain and keeping that under control is my only issue. Eleri and feeding are going great. We have lots of poopy diapers, but are thankful for them. She is beautiful and great. Eric is enjoying getting to hold and cuddle with his two girls. He is doing amazing as a Daddy of two girls. Mali is doing so great too, and I will blog about that next, but I have to go change one of those aforementioned diapers!:)

There are so many pictures, that I can't put them on blogger, but they are on Facebook, here is the link, I think you can access it even if you don't have a Facebook account.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=88882&l=287b4&id=620254096