One strong little girl...

Elyse has been battling back--complete with a 25 minute coughing/choking spell tonight. The nurse assured me that though it sounded distressing it was actually good she was able to clear some of the gunk out of her chest...

Hopefully they'll send us home tomorrow for some recuperation there. I cannot tell you how glad I'll be to be home with my husband, my kids, and my shower...

Here's our little fighter!

Better

Tonight Elyse seems quite a bit better than this time yesterday. She has gone the whole day without any breathing treatments and her congestion is improving tonight. Her breathing is still labored and she still is retracting (using her upper chest muscles to help her breathe). Her eating is decent but still needs to be better to go home. I am so grateful for the improvement. She was much more bright-eyed today. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

We know drama

It may be the tag line for the television station TNT, but should also be adopted as our family motto. Not only because we are now a house of 3 females to 2 males but because with regard to health issues, we've had our fair share and probably some other people's too!

Elyse was admitted to the hospital yesterday with RSV. She is doing fairly well (though eating very poorly) and they are hoping we'll go home some time this weekend. Her color is good and her respiratory rate is more normal now that she's had several breathing treatments. She has not needed oxygen at all so far and is resting peacefully. Please keep her in your prayers. We'll keep you posted.

Giddy Up

Cassi (our wonderful weekly babysitter) took the kids to visit her sister's horse last week. Henry thought it was fun and Ava was beside herself with the experience. She has been talking about 'Jasper' ever since!




Note: Henry is holding on for dear life while Ava's hands are gingerly resting on the saddle!

2.5

Today is Ava's half birthday. She is in true 2 and a half year old form. She continues to bring us joy with her silliness and sweetness. She is often very silly even when she is naughty--running away from us with a big grin and giggle that says 'you can't catch me'!. Ava has made the transition to big sister with ease and she always wants to know where her 'baby Elyse' is. She continues to adore her big brother and wants to be with him always. We are blessed by her each day and thankful for the continued healing of her body--slow though it may be. We love our Ava Bun.

P.S. Today Ava had her first successful trip to the potty, YEAH! (We'll see how long before we can kiss those daytime diapers goodbye...).

You decide...

Here are some photos of each of the kids at about 1 month...who looks like who? You decide.



Elyse




Elyse




Ava




Ava




Henry




Henry

Goggle giggles

We had a special visit from Deana and Trisha Freres this afternoon. Not only did they bring a delicious dinner and a plethora of goodies for Elyse, but they also brought Henry and Ava gifts--including these awesome goggles. No need for a pool, they had a great time with them here at home!

So very, very behind...

I have high hopes of one day catching up on all the posts that are tucked away in my heart (and camera!) but as we are trying to soak in these early days with Elyse--they will have to wait for a bit. I hope to make some progress soon.

She is now a month old and just as wonderful. Both Henry and Ava are really good with her. Ava is so nurturing and Henry really understands that he needs to be gentle and loves to 'teach' both of his sisters about all the things he is so interested in. This morning he assured me that there would be some amphibians around Niagara Falls because 'Canada has 39 species of amphibians.' Truly, he is astounding (and correct about that fact) but such things are uttered from his mouth all day long.

Ava is a peacemaker and nurturer--anytime Elyse is crying (usually while her diaper is changed) she runs in and sings her Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. It is the sweetest thing. The other night Henry was crying at the dinner table (he was overtired--shocker--that is pretty much his perpetual state as he has trouble letting that brain of his rest) and she kept repeating over and over in the the calmest voice 'it's okay Henry, it's okay...'. Henry and Ava continue to enjoy their time together. The past few days they have been playing 'Coral Reef' where they are the beautiful fish swimming in the reef. They pull all the sheets of Ava's bed and add any colorful accoutrements they can find!

Elyse is just as sweet as the day she was born. We are enjoying her tiny, cuddliness immensely. Here are a few photos of our crew from this week.


When I need to have my hands free, Elyse spends much of her time at home tucked in this wrap



Perpetually sleepy girl...



The three musketeers



Henry's cool Antworks gift. These are all the tunnels that the ants have dug!


Bigger view--our boy in the playroom



Ava cooking in the kitchen with her new 'do



Cutie pie



More sleeping



Sibling fun



Sweet sisters