{ this may be long winded for anyone to read.. but they are for my records mostly. Just thought I'd post them here for fun).
November 9, 2010
Dear Ellery,
This has been one of the best months of my life. Being your mom feels like I have finally stepped into the role I knew I was designed for. You keep Dad and I very busy but we love you so very much.
You have had a very busy month!! While you were in the hospital you were given some IV antibiotics because there was concern you might have acquired an infection. You handled the IV like a brave little girl and we were so sad that you had go to through that- but so thankful you didn't end up very sick with an infection! You also became jaundiced and had to go under some light therapy. It was so sad to have you lay in the newborn warmer in only your diaper with a mask on your face to protect your eyes from the lights. You had so many visitors while you were in the hospital and everyone thought you were so beautiful- which you are!
I was discharged from the hospital on Monday October 11th but the doctors needed you to stay overnight to monitor the infection and give you antibiotics as well as take care of your jaundice. We hadn't envisioned leaving the hospital without our baby but we knew you were in the care of some very loving nurses overnight. We came back around midnight to feed you and kiss you goodnight, and then came to feed you again in the morning at 6am. You were so beautiful and we have the prettiest picture of you looking right up at Dad. The nurses said you were feisty at one point and scooted your way up to the corner of the warmer!! We took you home on October 12th but had a doctors appointment with an Orthopedist in the afternoon to check up on your hip. There is a possibility you might have a condition called hip dysplasia- and if so, you might need to wear a brace for a little while. We aren't excited about that but are just happy that it is a treatable condition! We had to wait 2 hours in the doctors office with you and we were mad that we had to wait that long with a 3 day old baby! You also came home with a little portable bili blanket to use for the next few days to help with the jaundice. By Thursday October 14th you were given the all clear from your pediatrician.
We took you out and about a fair amount during your first month of life. We went to Thousand Oaks when you were 1 week old to visit family. No one felt like they were able to hold you long enough in the hospital – and we wanted to show you off more! You slept a lot your first month. As soon as we would put you in the carseat or someone would hold you you were fast asleep. You just had a hard time at night when it was time to put you in your crib – it seemed that from 6-11pm you had bad gas pains. No fun for either you or Mom and Dad! After one week of getting up and down to soothe you we decided to camp out in the family room for 1 month. Dad slept on the pull out couch and I slept on another part of the couch while holding you in my arms. I didn't mind- I hold you any chance I can get. I just can't get enough of your snuggly, warm body.
Over the month we had so many visitors. Family and friends came by to see you and brought us meals. You went to church with us on Sunday mornings and to MOPS with mom on Tuesday mornings.
When you turned 1 month old your Aunt Egg (Erin) flew in from NYC to visit with you for the week. By the end of your first month you weighed 8lbs 12 oz and were 23 inches in length! You are slowly becoming more aware of your surroundings and we can tell you look straight at us. You use lots and lots of diapers. You don't sleep through the night yet but feed around every 2-3 hours and sleep soundly in between. Every once in awhile you sleep 3-4 hours. Dad and I take turns with the feedings in the middle of the night since I pump you breastmilk to drink out of a bottle. So far you don't like to fall asleep in your crib but require that you are held until you fall asleep- then we gently place you in the crib. You sleep swaddled. One of your favorite things is “kitty” - a stuffed animal kitten attached to your pacifier. It soothes you and we like to joke that it is your first love. Also, for Halloween we put you in a “flower” costume and it was adorable.
I could go on and on but just wanted to write that you are the most beautiful thing to Dad and I and we love you so very much. We cherish every day with you and love being your parents already!
Love,
Mom and Dad
December 9, 2010
Dear Ellery,
You are now 2 months old! We can't believe how fast time has gone and yet at the same time it feels like you have always been a part of our lives. We can of course remember what it was like before you came but it just feels like you are such a natural addition to our family. You have MADE us go from being a couple to a family- something we have always looked forward to.
This month you have gone from being a tiny tiny sleepy newborn to a cute, spunky, and beautiful baby! You look around at things and look at us in the eyes. You are growing like crazy and although you are still small it is amazing to see how much bigger you are than when you are born. You still fit in size 0-3 months (which are your smallest clothes) but now they actually fit you nicely instead of being too huge in them. This month we went to the doctor to check up on your hip and it is close to being okay but not enough yet. We will re-check it in January and see if it requires a bracing at night.
Sometimes you make breathy cooing sounds like “ahhh-eehhh” and “eeeee-ooooo” and we think it is adorable. We place you on your tummy on a play mat and you lift your head up until you get frustrated and then sometimes you fall asleep or we turn you over onto your back. You also started to enjoy your swing this month. Sometimes you nap in it even.
You still have beautiful blue eyes and your hair is a light brown to blonde color depending on the lighting. You sleep in your crib every night now instead of in mom's arms. Sometimes it takes a little while to get you to sleep and we are working on having you go to sleep in the crib versus holding you until you go to sleep. We love holding you but know that eventually it is good for you to know how to fall asleep on your own! You are on a flexible 3 hour schedule of eating, playing, and sleeping. You still have your fussy periods in the evenings- unfortunately right when Dad gets home from work.
This month at Thanksgiving you met your Uncle Matt and future Aunt Anna who are living in San Francisco and couldn't leave their work (Matt is in hospital Residency) until now to visit you. We also picked out our first Christmas tree and took you along with us. We take you everywhere and most of the time you sleep in your car seat. When we are at friends' or family's houses we take you out of the car seat and you are held almost the whole time. You still love being held by people and usually fall asleep in their arms. If you are a little fussy usually all it takes is giving you your pacifier “Kitty” and you are all better.
We thank God for you every day and pray for your health and safety. You bring so much joy to our lives and so many people that know you and we are just so happy to have you be our daughter!!
January 11, 2011
My sweet daughter. This week you turned a whole 3 months old!! In some ways that seems so old, and in some ways, so young still. I am cherishing every single moment I have with you. The days are going so fast and you are changing so much! You are loved by so many (but especially dad and I!).
This month you have learned how to hold your head up! Such a big achievement. You are very close to rolling over when we put you on your play mat, except those pesky arms seem to get in your way. You still enjoy being snuggled and held but usually only when you are ready for a nap or for bed. Now, you prefer being held by mom but will still let others (like Grandma and Nana!) hold you and they rock you to sleep. Dad and I have loved seeing your personality come out. You play much more now. Sometimes you just burst with smiles and coos and we just love it. The smiles are much more frequent now so we have finally captured a few with the camera! You still have such beautiful blue eyes, and dark blonde hair. Everyone comments on your pretty hair- you have so much of it. Also, we can't forget to mention your big droopy cheeks. They are just one of your super cute features (including your button nose, long eyelashes, big pink lips, tiny fingers and toes, long soft back, pot belly....obviously there are quite a few!).
The week before Christmas you had a BIG milestone: you started sleeping through the night! We laugh because it was after a Christmas party and you had slept the whole time. I remember being worried that you would be awake all night, but it turned out to be quite the opposite! We are so proud of you, as many babies do not sleep through the night for awhile. During the day you still nurse every 3 hours or so. I enjoy our snuggle time together and am so happy to give you the best food for you!
This month you started enjoying playtime on your play mat and sitting in your pink bouncy chair that vibrates. You still enjoy the swing but it is not used as frequently as it used to be. You also like it when Dad holds you in front of his chest so you can look outwards. Each month you make more and more sounds and noises. Sometimes we just look at each other and laugh at how cute or silly some of them sound. My Grandpa calls it “pre-speech.” At your 3 month check-up you weighed 12 pounds, 6 ounces, and are 24 inches long. You wear size 0-3 month clothing and I have started trying to put you in 3-6 month clothing just to try on new outfits. They are a little big but some of them work.
This month has also brought a little health scare. The pediatrician has been measuring your head every month and it seems to be growing too big too fast! We knew you were developing completely perfect and showed no other signs of anything wrong, but the doctor had us look into it anyways (which we are thankful for). You had a brain ultrasound on Friday December 31st and on the next Monday we got the results that you had some fluid building up around your brain, which was making your skull grow outwards too fast. The week that followed was one I will never forget. We were so amazed at how God provided everything we needed and watched over our precious girl. We needed to see a pediatric neurosurgeon (and the BEST!) and a friend of mine from high school contacted me and said that her Aunt (Sue) was a nurse who worked with one and could get us in quickly to see him. Then, your great Aunt Ginny, who also works at UCLA in the Operating Room worked her connections to get us a brain MRI on Thursday January 6 to look into the problem a little further. All the nurses and doctors kept saying how cute you were, and you handled the sedation and the procedure (and an IV!) in stride. You cried a little and we felt very sorry for you but were so proud how strong you were. The nurses warned us that we may need a body guard for you because everyone wanted to steal you!
Well, the results came back that you have a condition called Hydrocephalus- simply meaning that for some reason there is either extra fluid produced or not enough absorbed. It hasn't affected your little brain at all and we Praise God that there is a very successful fix! The only sadness is that it requires brain surgery- the placement of a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt. We are assured that you should go on to live a completely normal (and active!) life. The surgery is scheduled in 2 days at UCLA and will be performed by some of the best doctors around. Dad and I, and all of your grandparents will be there for you and will be right by your side as you recover. It makes me sick to think of you being scared or uncomfortable. Also, there are hundreds of people (seriously) praying for you, Ellery. There are so many people who love you and care about you. You are one popular girl and are so very, very loved by many!
February 2011
Sweet girl,
You are a big FOUR months old. Your fourth month of life has been a whirlwind. You had a VP shunt placed at UCLA hospital a couple days after you turned 3 months old. It was very very sad for us to have to put you through, and you were a sight for sore eyes for a few days after the surgery. However, the day after surgery you already were smiling back at dad and it warmed our hearts. You made a quick recovery considering all that you went through and we are so so thankful for the hundreds (YES, HUNDREDS!!) of people praying for you. You are one very special girl and so many people love you. People continue to say what a cute baby you are. Also, you have a great personality and Dad and I consider you to be the “BEST” baby. We constantly remark on how good you are and how proud of you we are. We couldn't ask for a cuter, sweeter, or more perfect little girl. We pray for you each night as we tuck you in bed.
Speaking of bed, you were sleeping through the night before the surgery. For a few weeks after the surgery you woke up every few hours (and a few really bad nights right after the surgery you woke up multiple times each house... but we understood and mainly just felt sorry for you). Lately, you wake up only once in the middle of the night...sometimes you just want your pacifier (“Kitty”), other times I just feed you because you go back to sleep right away when I do. You usually get fussy right around 7 pm, practically asking to be put to bed... so we do. Sometimes we have to let you cry a little bit in bed and you settle down just fine. You found your thumb this month and it is adorable. I am sure we will be regretting this when you are 2 years old and we can't get you to stop, but we just think it is sooooo cute.
You still hate tummy time, and prefer to “stand” up while mom and dad hold you. You still enjoy your car seat and go along with Mom or Dad just about anywhere! You are wearing size 2 diapers and eat around every 3 hours... every once in awhile less frequently or more frequently. You wear size 3 month clothing.. and you are quite LONG... so sometimes the size 3-6 month clothes fit you in length (but you are fairly petite so they don't always fit in the waist).
At your 4 month check up you weighed 13.2 lbs, were 24.5 inches long, and your head circumference was ¼ inch smaller than it was right before the surgery. It probably won't continue to get smaller... but when you are about 6 months it may start growing again :-) You have started making sooo many noises... very high pitched (VERY CUTE) and we love every minute of it. Dad and I love you so much and enjoy just about everything you do. Even when you are asleep we talk about you, your sweet faces, sounds, and the little things we love about you. (Also, you must know that you have the best Dad in the entire world. He loves you VERY much!).
Love,
Mom & Dad
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