Just a Hello

I haven't been great about blogging lately and I apologize. My days get away from me and I don't seem to have much time to myself!

We are doing well. I had a visit from homehealthcare today and my nurse drew my "numbers." Unfortunately, I was a bit low - meaning my blood wasn't thin enough. I need to be between 2.5-3.5 and I was a 2.0... I knew I was a bit thick when she poked my finger to draw the blood and I clotted immediately. But, that's okay. I will continue to do what I am supposed to do and continue to cover myself in the BLOOD OF JESUS each day and I believe that clot will go away as soon as possible. No matter how thin my blood is.

Ellyotte is doing great. She's such a precious baby. I mean it: she never cries unless she's famished or just exhausted. Her bedtime is between 6:30 and 7 each night, she sleeps till about 1-2 am and then sleeps till morning. It is wonderful. But even when she wakes, I run in to hold her. I just can't get enough of her smell and her sweet baby girl noises.

I stopped nursing her last week. I was the worst quitter ever! I think I "quit" nursing about 4 times before I actually stuck with it... I couldn't let any of the last times be the last time. I just wasn't producing enough and was supplementing about 3 ounces of formula each feeding. With a toddler running around, it became too much. But I did nurse her for 8 weeks and am so thankful that I was able to do that - it was much more than I was able to do for Noah and I am grateful. Drying up was not fun at all... extremely painful. But I was glad I made the decision to go to strictly formula. Nursing exclusively isn't for everyone and I did give it my best shot. We are much happier now that everyone can be included on the feeding of Baby Ellyotte.

Noah continues to amaze us each day. He's wearing 5T clothing! He's huge. People can't believe he's only 2 1/2. He's such a big kid and talks so much. His vocabulary is incredible. I love being with my little guy as much as possible. He helps a lot with his baby sister and showers her with kisses. He's done great - never been rough with her and the only thing we have to watch is that he doesn't hug her too hard! Noah's been a great big brother so far.

Things are going well here. We are looking forward to fall - it's been in the 50s the last few mornings and is so gorgeous. I am slowly hitting the pavement again. I never exert myself too much but am grateful for the ability to get out and push the jogging stroller. I look forward to that each day.

I start work again next week. My Term 2 class with Troy University begins. I took Term 1 off because of Ellyotte's birth and I am excited to get started again next week. New term, new students!

Till next time!

Tummy Time!

Roller Coaster

Maybe the exhaustion of the past 2 months is just catching up with me finally, or maybe I am just hormonal, or maybe I am just thankful... Maybe it is all of the above? Whatever it is, I am a roller coaster of emotions right now.

I think my kids are both going through massive growth spurts right now. Noah's sleeping 13-14 hours at night and Ellyotte is waking up constantly (after sleeping 8 hours earlier this week...) and refuses to go into a deep sleep. It is leaving me wasted tired.

However, this time around, I am not stressed or negative or put out by her wakefulness. With Noah, I was constantly tired and complaining. But after surviving the blood clot, I have come to realize that each moment with my babies matters - even the late night, constant feedings. I delight in this baby girl God's given us and I might crawl out of bed, but you will not hear me complain. Praise Him for that strength and joy this time around. I wish I had had it with Noah.

Yet, I am still emotional - and probably a lot of that has to do with the exhaustion. This morning, Noah and I started our day by watching some old videos of him when he was a baby. I was overcome with sadness at how FAST time has gone since he was learning to roll over, stand, walk, talk. Even in a year, it is remarkable how much he has changed. We watched "talking pictures" (what he called the videos!) for about an hour and I just got more and more melancholy. It is unfair how fast life changes. And yet, I am overjoyed by the new life in our house and the stage of growth Noah is in right now.

Tonight was my first time trying to get both kids to bed alone! Dan had to volunteer out in Shreveport leaving me at the end of a long day with both of them hanging on me all day. I couldn't figure out how to bathe Elly, dress her, feed her all while bathing Noah, doing our bedtime routine that he will not allow to be changed in the slightest! Whew... two kids is SO much more challenging than one! If those mommies-of-one realized how much easier it is with one, they might put off having a second one for a bit longer (I might have been one of those mommies!).

It was quite a stressful first time for me - but I have a great sleeper in my firstborn and he was out for the count as soon as he laid down. I then had to spend the next 2 hours getting my secondborn to sleep! I had forgotten how incredibly unpredictable newborns can be in EVERY single thing that they do - including bedtimes. But, I was successful and am now officially going to bed an hour after Ellyotte :)

I have to remind myself constantly that things should be a lot different for our family - had Satan had his way on 27 July, I wouldn't be here to be tired, happy, hungry, in love, a mommy.... Complain? I will not - I might be super sleepy but the elation of being a mommy to these babies (sleeping or not) counters any negativity that creeps into my spirit.

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." - Deuteronomy 30:19

Videos of Ellyotte (a few days old)

Baby Sister Ellyotte 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZmZcpKuqPA
Baby Sister Ellyotte 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTtbUb-tH98

Let Fall Begin!

We had a wonderful time in Alabama these last two and a half weeks. Dan had to go TDY to D.C. and to Nebraska so he drove us home to Bama over the Labor Day weekend then travelled from there while we visited my family and many, many friends.

We went to TROY football games, visited friends, had playdates, rode the golf cart, went out to eat, and overall just had a joyous time. I needed the help with the kiddos as I continue to heal from the clot.

My girl friend, Amy Hall, and her kids, Ava and Cy, came down to see us from Nashville. We had SO much fun! Amy is a talented photographer (Grace Images) and she took Ellyotte's newborn portraits while we were at my parent's house. I am very proud of those pics - see post below for a few of the best ones.

Ellyotte is growing so fast. And is a delight - just pure joy. She eats 3-4 ounces every 3 hours and is a long string bean with the longest toes and fingers we have ever seen! She's very predictable - the only time she cries is when she's hungry, her pacifier falls out or when she's ready for bed.

She goes to bed each night at 6:30-7:00 and sleeps for about 7-8 hours before waking for a feeding. Then she goes back to sleep for 3-4 hours then wakes for a little bit if it is morning. And if not, she goes right back to bed. Her nap schedule isn't so much a schedule... she still sleeps soooo much. Literally, she naps for the majority of the day. Whoo hoo!

We are back home and slowly getting back into the swing of things. It is nice to be back in our own home and have our animals back from the boarder where they stayed for 2.5 weeks. It is still hot here in the Bayou and we are ready for FALL weather!

Enjoy the pictures. More to come.

Newborn Portraits

Little Miss Ellyotte Pierce is 7 weeks old now and my very talented girlfriend, Amy Henderson Hall, took some beautiful shots of her when she was visiting us this past week. What a blessing it is to have Amy as one of my dearest friends - and what a cool thing to have her be so extremely talented with the camera!!!

Ellyotte is one of the sweetest babies I have ever experienced. She sleeps so much and when she's awake, she is so happy and observant - we are overwhelmed by our love for her. And isn't she so beautiful?!

Trojan Boy

At the Troy University/Bowling Green game last Saturday, my dad took our little band boy to the sidelines for the pre-game show. To say he had fun is an understatement. There were several times Dad took his eye off of him for a few seconds and Noah ran onto the field to march with the band.

He even got to get some shots made with former Trojan/Dallas Cowboy Demarcus Ware but Noah couldn't have cared less: he was first and foremost concerned with the band. He's a musical little guy!

One Month Update

Ellyotte had her one month appointment yesterday. She's growing so fast and is doing so well.
~ Weight: 9.9 pounds (50th percentile)
~ Length: 22" (75th percentile)
~ Head circumference: 14 centimeters (25th percentile)

Her head is a little bitty one but don't worry: I told her that she was still extremely smart despite having a tiny head!

She's still being supplemented on formula because my milk production isn't what it needs to be to sustain her at this point. I am still nursing but am taking it a day at a time and will see how long I can continue to do both nursing and formula - doing both is a pain.

We had to try two different formulas this week to help her out - she's been getting so gassy that she just screams in agony. And this is a baby that rarely cries - only if she's hungry or sleepy. So, we are now trying the Similac Sensitive stomach and so far, so good.

Everything else is going well in our house. Dan's busy with work and I am definitely busy being a mommy to two beautiful ones. I continue to take it easy because of the blood clot but am feeling pretty good. Still get a bit short of breath which scares me but I am trusting God that this thing isn't going to travel and will dissolve soon. But, man... I MISS my daily runs! It is driving me bananas not to be able to exercise. Oh well....

Here are some pretty shots from our house this week!

Aunt Annie

What a wonderful, wonderful week we have had. Dan's brother's wife, Annie, came down from Ohio to be our "au pair" (as she called it!). We had SUCH a fun time with her - and she was so much help.

I still require a lot of rest since I tire easily from the medicine and also have to rest as much as possible per doctor's orders as this clot remains. So Annie took over not only Noah duties, but she CLEANED MY HOUSE! Like, deep cleaned my house. I kept telling her she is neurotic about cleanliness like my mom - and I didn't complain! It meant that my kids' bathroom is cleaner than it has been in a while!

She made dinner, cleaned up afterwards, took Noah swimming, played soccer with him - she was super woman. She even changed most of his disgusting poop diapers (our potty trained 2 year old has gone back in diapers.... *SAD*). Annie was awesome to have around. And we laughed so much and just spent hours catching up.

I love my sister in law and am so blessed to have her in my life. I can't wait to return the favor when she and Todd have little ones!!

What?! No Exercise!?

Before I get to the title of this post, I must tell you that I had a wonderful start to my day...

When Dan was about to leave for work, he took Ellyotte from me to give her some kisses and low and behold: that sweet 4 week old little girl gave him her first smiles (I got a smile on camera!)! Noah gave me his first smile at 5 weeks old and I felt so blessed. I was thrilled to be able to see Ellyotte's first smiles as she shared that moment with her daddy. She's a precious little miracle and I am in love with her.

A bit of a disappointment but, well, not really, is that I am not allowed to work out until this first round of Coumadin (blood thinners) are over in 9-12 months. I was ready with my "30 Day Shred" videos! I bought them because I thought I'd be able to work out in the a/c but come to find out, I am absolutely not allowed to work out. I am allowed light walking outside once the heat subsides but that is it.

It is a disappointment because I love to exercise - and I wanna be back to pre-baby weight and strength sooner rather than later. But, I am realizing more and more that my health is of the utmost importance and if this clot is sticking around indefinitely, then I need to heed doctor's orders. And for now, that means no working out. *Sad*