December 30, 2013

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. It was truly a wonderful day. Really the whole week was fantastic and I'm excited to have a repeat of that this week! Our week holiday festivities started off with a drive to Topeka for Christmas Eve to spend it with the Shidelers. As usual we got stopped in traffic behind a pretty serious accident. We had the joy of sitting in stand still traffic for an hour pinned by a semi up against a wall. Hopefully no one was hurt in the accident and after some bonding with semi driver we were on our way. We really have a champ of a car rider. Ella most know already that she will be traveling the world with us. Christmas Eve was so fun hanging out with cousins and my grandparents getting to hold Ella. One of my favorite things was playing headbands with my uncle, dad, and cousin. Adam says our family cheats because we like to help each other out. Really we're just as competitive as the Hildebrandts. We were so blessed with a hotel room from my parents in Topeka and when we got there had goodies waiting on our bed. Adam and I got to wear our new Christmas pajamas, read Ella her Christmas books, and snuggle in bed for the night. Christmas morning we headed to my grandparents house where we all opened presents and then had breakfast casserole. We were on the road again after that headed back to Mob town for Christmas #2. I'm so thankful for my inlaws who sat and stared at Christmas presents under the tree waiting for us arrive. Christmas with Adam's family is so fun we all go in a circle opening one present at a time to see what everyone received. We topped off a fantastic day with a delicious dinner. I can't wait for next Christmas with Ella when she gets to open her own presents and participate more. I also can't wait to explain to her over the years why we celebrate Christmas.

December 20, 2013

It's been a few weeks! Things have been busy but also great! Ella had her Posterior Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Revised. She has now been nursing all by herself without the SNS for almost two whole weeks! We are so thankful that God led us to the right doctors and we were able to finally get everything taken care of. Ella is now ten weeks old and growing everyday. She had her shots on Monday and was a champ. At her appointment she was up to 9 lbs 1 oz and 22" long. She's a little girl but growing everyday.  With Christmas coming I have been teaching Ella all about the holiday season. I finally got our Christmas tree up after several weeks of my mother asking about it. The ornaments aren't on it yet but the lights are. Adam and I have both been working these past few weeks. I've been opening at the coffee shop 1 or 2 days a week. Adam has been extra busy with basketball season and rotating holidays off for people at work. Adam and I would really appreciate prayers as a job opportunity that we have been praying about for over a year now is in the end stages of becoming a reality. Our family had been so supportive during this process and in reality without their help this job would be much harder for me to except. It is crazy to think that next year Adam and I could both be living out dream jobs while having our sweet family. I am thankful for the goodness of God in this season of our life and alway. 

Visiting Santa at Bass Pro.

Early morning play time.

After her laser procedure to release her PTT & LT. 

Already for Bedlam with her shirt from Adam's professors.

December 2, 2013

Little Ella,

You turned 7 weeks old on Thanksgiving. Your whole family got to be here to celebrate with you!  

This week you got to go to St.Louis for the first time! We went to pick Amanda so she could spend the week with us. You are such a good traveler! You didn't cry the whole trip and slept most of the time you were in your car seat. It was a quick trip but we can't wait to take you to the Zoo in the spring.

Monday we had an appointment with an ENT.  The first thing he said was that posterior tongue ties didn't exist but then later called your dad and said that you had a PTT. Unfortunately though he can't help and his suggestion was surgery so we are trying to get in with a specialist in St.Charles. Everyone even you will be excited when we aren't seeing doctors every week. 

Your Nana came to visit on Monday afternoon and then the rest of your dads family got here Tuesday night. You were so excited to see them and share your smiles! Everyone got to hold you and play with you. We got to watch some good football and eat even better food while they were here. 

I'm pretty sure that you are getting close to eight pounds. You are still wearing newborn clothes but are getting to long for some of your pajamas. I can't wait for you to be in your next sir clothes!

This week you loved...

playing on the floor. 

kicking daddy. 

sleeping in your mamaroo. 

sleeping through the night. 

Our whole family on Thanksgiving.

Cuddling on the couch after dinner. 

Hanging out with Grandma.

At the doctor on Monday.

Wearing your new hat from Aunt Amanda. 

Sleeping in your Moby before driving to St.Louis.

After your book shower at daddy's work.

Sleeping on Uncle Ryan. 

November 23, 2013

6 weeks!

Little Ella I can't believe your six weeks old. Your personality is showing more and more everyday. You're such a smiley sweet baby! You also have a super awesome fohawk most days. Even the doctor that came in to check on you this week commented on your awesome hair.  

This week was a relaxing week. We hung out at home and cuddled most of the time. Our big outing was church and you were even introduced! You were a rockstar at church. We got to stay in service the whole time and you only woke up quickly to take your bottle and then conked back out. 

Sleeping is a little interesting. You're great at it but have such a strange schedule. You sleep consistently for 6 hours a night wake up to eat and go back to sleep. The problem is you sleep from midnight to six and then don't have any awake time except for eating until after noon. I think we may have a party animal on our hands. 

This week a few of your favorite things were...

being held by Uncle Ryan.

cuddling with mom in bed. 

watching everyone from your mamaroo.

hanging out with your puppy during tummy time. 

We love you so much sweet Ella and hope that we show you more and more everyday. Keep those cute smiles and sweet personality coming. 

November 18, 2013

Ella and I are recovering from a wonderful weekend today. Saturday we had a girls day until dad got home to watch the OSU game.  We're so proud of our pokes this year! We have tickets to the bedlam game but daddy might not be able to join us. This is the first time in years that Adam hasn't made it down to a game. We were discussing it on our run the other night and how odd it seems. Hopefully though things will work out at work and we'll get to go to bedlam! If not Merry Christmas Chelsea you're invited!

Sunday started off with our usual schedule for prepping for church. I ever realized how tough it would be to prep for driving to a church that's 45 minutes away. Our schedule right now is intense anyways with pumping and the SNS but add a two drives and an hour and a half long church service. Oh my! We made it down to church leaving early and tried to feed Ella before service. She wasn't having it so we waited for her to wake up and fed her during service. She was tremendous the whole time! The church even got introduced to Ella yesterday and her cute little self was on the big screen. 

After church Adam took Ella and I on a date! It was terrific to get to go out just the three of us and for things to go so well. We went to Kobe one of our favorite new places in Columbia. It's always great to go to a place were you get a meal that day and then at least have one day of leftovers for the week. 

Ella and I's spare time this weekend was spent brainstorming for Thanksgiving. We'll be hosting for the first time! We've been scouring pinterest for ideas. Here's a few we've come up with. Hopefully with the help my friend Amanda who's coming down we'll get a few things done!

A few sides we're planning on making.

Panera Stove Top Mac & Cheese

Green Bean Casserole

Some scrumptious looking desserts!

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

Fall Sugar Cookie Leaves

And we'd think it'd even be fun to make a little photo op area with these props!

Free Photo Booth Props

And now here's some cute pictures of Zeke helping Ella with tummy time. 

I'd say there best friends.

November 15, 2013

The past few days I have been feeling a little under the weather. Nothing to rough just a little cough and drainage. I think I caught it from Adam. Womp. Feeling sick isn't any fun but it's a lot more enjoyable when you get to hang out with this cute baby.

I literally love every inch of her!

Also while I've been sick I've finally started editing my sister's 16th birthday pictures. Sorry these are six months late Olivia. Please still love me. :)

Happy Friday to everyone!!

November 14, 2013

Dear Ella,

We have been praising Jesus for your health the passed few days. You are finally past birth weight and we just got the all clear for Fabry's Disease. We knew that no matter what the outcome was that there is always a greater plan but we're so thankful that you're healthy. 

Our week has been pretty laid back. You're on a more normal schedule for eating which makes our days happier. The only problem with your schedule is that bed time isn't until 1am. It is not very fun your daddy and me to stay up all night but if we have to stay up we're glad its with you.

You first social smiles started this week and your daddy and I love every minute of them. You think your dad and I are pretty funny and I am ok with that. You've started cooing a bit in the past few days. You have the cutest little voice. I can't wait till you are talking to us all the time. 

We started training for the Frosty 5k this week so you've been getting a lot of stroller time. The first night we went running you cried our last half mile home it was very sad. Last night we went running and you started off a little upset but did great the rest of the run.

This week a few of your favorite things were...

sitting in your bumbo.

naked time. 

staring at your daddy.

Uncle Ryan holding you.

going jogging in your stroller. 

I'm so thankful that you are such a healthy baby Ella. I can't wait to see more smiles next week. 

I love you to the moon and back.

Wednesday 13, 2013

Tonight we are thanking God that Ella's test results for Fabry's disease came back negative. Dawn Peck the geneticist called this afternoon to tell us the good news.  It is such a relief to know that no one in our family has to under go more testing. Now we can relax and snuggle our sweet little girl without worries. 

Ella all snuggled up on our 3 mile run tonight.

Ella's first captured social smile!

November 12th, 2013

Dear Ella,

You are now just over a month old.  You are now taking showers with Mommy and Daddy, and learning all sorts of new things.

Right now, some of your favorite things are looking at us, and letting Zeke lick any milk that missed your mouth off of your face.  You are also starting to smile!  Your smile is one of my favorite things in the entire world.

Today, we practiced laying on your tummy and holding your head up in the air!  You started to get a little upset after awhile, so I picked you up and held you and you felt better.  Mommy and I are working on getting your room ready for your one month pictures tomorrow!  She's a great photographer so you will always have very cute pictures. :)

Something else you've been learning is OSU cheers.  On game days (and sometimes other days) I sing Ride 'Em Cowboys, the Waiving Song, and Oklahoma to you, and we practice all the motions!  You already seem to like being an OSU fan.  

Your mom and I are very proud of you, and excited to see you grow, but we love how little and cute you are now and are soaking it up every day.  You keep growing, and we'll keep watching and praying that God helps you grow up big and strong.

Love, Daddy

4 Weeks

Guess who's 4 weeks old today!! 

Sweet Ella.

Dear Ella,

You spent most of the last week in Tulsa! We had a great time shopping with Grandma Shideler at the mall. You also got to spend a lot of time being snuggled by Nana Hildebrandt. You even met your great grandparents on the Hildebrandt side and met several other family friends.

You are getting so good at following mommy and daddy walk around the room. Everyday you get stronger and stronger in tummy time. Zeke loves to lick your fingers and watch you play. You are only wake up twice during the night now. The mornings are filled with snuggling in bed and watching the Today show. The evenings you play with daddy and uncle Ryan.  Daddy even gave you your first bottle!

This week you loved...

playing with your aunts and uncle.

cuddling with mommy.

staring at puppy Zeke.

You are such a happy baby and we are so blessed to have you in our lives.

We love you Ella.

Spilt Milk

I used to hear moms complaining about spilling breast milk.  A husband might accidentally tip it over on the counter or it gets left on the counter to spoil.  I never really understood what the big deal was. Let me just say that now I get it! 

Ella has been struggling to gain weight.  Monday at a few days over 3 weeks she only weighed in at 7 lbs 11 oz.  We finally after trying several different things figured out what was going on.  A lactation consultant last week told us that little Ella is tongue tied. She has a posterior tongue tie which is not allowing her to suck milk properly. We now know why she wants to eat all the time but hasn't been gaining weight. 

So starting last Wednesday I began pumping and feeding Ella through a tube called an SNS tube. I attach it to myself and then feed Ella as normal.  It is a lot of work and now I find myself carefully guarding every ounce of milk I have pumped to feed sweet Ella. 

I don't think I would have made it through last week as well as I did without being at home in Tulsa with my family.  Thank goodness for mother in laws who wake up at night to clean breast pumps and moms who take you shopping and out to lunch.

Monday we had hoped Ella's tongue tie was going to be clipped.  Adam and I were both excited and relieved to finally have Ella thriving without the use of the SNS tube.  Unfortunately the lactation consultant we saw didn't rule out the posterior tongue tie but thinks the problem is that Ella is a lazy eater. I don't know that I'm on board with this idea so we're going to get a second opinion. Hopefully in the next week we will know what's going on with Ella. 

I'm hoping to get an appointment with a pediatrician tomorrow.  The next step will be to get a referral to see an ENT.  We will either have to go to Columbia or St.Charles if we do infact have to have the procedure done.  

I'm so thankful for the people who have been helping us and praying for us.  

3 Weeks

Dear Ella,

This week we saw Mrs.Dawn quite a few times. You still haven't passed your birth weight and we finally know why! You have a posterior tongue tie.  The left side of your cleft pallet is also a little forward. Dr.Aaron gave you your first adjustment. I'm now pumping and feeding you through an SNS tube. You're finally getting your first full serving of milk and you love it.

You spent most mornings this week bouncing in your jungle bouncer. You love to hang out in there and watch Hugo and Zeke play. We came down to visit grandmas and grandpas since daddy worked a lot. You did great on your first long road trip! 

So far you love...

laying on your side.

tummy time.

car rides.

Zeke sitting by you.

This week has been a stressful week. I'm thankful for every minute of it though because we get to spend it with you. 

Love you sweet Ella Bella

Ella Loves Bath Time

It's so great to take a bath with Ella a few times a week. It calms her down almost instantly getting in the water and she looks around at everything. I also love bath time with her because it's just like the day I had heard and we took our first bath together. I can't wait till she is a bit bigger and we get to add bath toys!

Fabray Disease

Tuesday morning Ella and I were watching the Today show.

Around ten in the morning I got a call from Dawn.

She told me a woman named Dawn Peck had called.

Ella had tested positive for Fabray Disease on her newborn metabolic screening.

I got off the phone and immediately googled it.

Not really the best idea but it was the only one I had.

After I knew what it was I called Adam.

I tried not cry on the phone as I told him that our sweet little girl might have something wrong.

Yesterday we had an appointment with a geneticist.

They were very encouraging as they shared more about this disease with us.

Right now Ella is perfectly healthy.

If she tests positive our family will have a lot of testing to under go.

For the next month we'll be waiting for test results.

We're praying it was just a false positive.

Our God is good all the time this is true positive or negative.

 

Ella at her first doctors appointment.