Getting Out!

Well, we are finally getting out of the house. Shelby is 4 weeks old now and I am taking her out some. Over the weekend we took the girls to Jungle Java. It was our first time. This was the only picture I could get because I could not keep up with Ellie and Jeff. Still recovering from surgery I stayed seated with Shelby and Jeff braved the "jungle" on a Saturday afternoon. I'm not sure who needed a nap more, Ellie or Dad?!?

Life with 2!

Well, we've been home for 3 weeks and it's been crazy. My mom left last Monday and I've been managing on my own this week. We have been staying home mostly because Shelby was a preemie and weighed so little and doc said their is a lot of respitory stuff going around right now. Rachel and Ashton came to visit yesterday and Liam came over while too. I'm eager to start doing things again.

The other thing holding me back is the recovery from my c-section. UGH! A lot harder this time then last time. I've had quite a bit of pain and it is limiting everything. Hopefully I'll be fully recovered soon!

Shelby is gaining weight rapidly and is a great eater. She gets up 2 during the night, so that is not too bad. I miss having my mom here to help, but I guess we need to figure it out on our own at some point.

My Dad and Kath come for Thanksgiving and to meet the newest addition to the family. Looking forward to that.

Ellie is doing great as a big sister, I really couldn't ask for much more. Now, Puck on the other hand, is pouting and thinking his life has just ended!

Raachel brought to my attention that I haven't put pictures up for a long time, so here are a few!

It's good to be home!

Well, after 3-4 days in the hospital it sure is nice to be home. Ellie was so excited when I came home. It was nice to have some time with her before Jeff arrived with Shelby. I was a little unsure of how Ellie was going to be because she had a rough week with me being gone, but she was great! She is all about being a big sister and helping out. Hope that continues. It is easier taking care of Ellie plus Shelby then it is Ellie plus recovering from surgery. UGH! It's been hard and she doesn't really understand. My mom is here and although some times it seems crowded, she has been a huge help! Hope to download pictures tomorrow.

Testing! Testing!

So, is it the age...2-1/2? or is it her stubborness she inherits from her parents? or is it just trying to learn or expand her limits? I don't know, but some days are better then others. Someone mentined maybe she senses the baby coming and is just acting out. Hope it ends soon! She's not all bad, but we try to figure out what triggers certain things. Once we figure something out, it changes. Welcome to parenting, right? How am I going to manage 2!!?? Ok, so I am getting a little nervous, ok, a lot nervous!

Baby update... doc said everything looked good today and felt confident that we will be able to deliver at Herrick and not have to go to Toledo. I am going back to Toledo tomorrow for another doppler ultrasound so they can track her and make sure things are consistent. It shows the blood flow and fluids. I'll be going back next Friday too. Really bummed I am missing the field trip to the Pumpkin patch. We just found out today we have to go back down and tomorrow morning was my only option for an appointment. On the up side, we joined Costco that just opened and it is awesome! So, I'll do a little shopping while I'm there.

Simple Saturday!

We got a good, long night sleep last night, so we were all ready to go this morning. We stripped wallpaper border in Ellie's room to get it ready to paint. Went and bought paint and Ellie fell asleep in the car and only slpet about an hour today. We took Puck to a new vet today and finally found out that he is allergic to the food we are giving him. So, after spending too much $$ on drugs the other vet said he would have to take forever, this was good to hear. Now, we just need to find a food that will work. Until then, they will give him an injection (instead of daily drugs that his pregnany mom always forgets to give him) that will last 6-8 weeks. Also, MUCH more cost effective then drugs. I hate to say I feel we were getting ripped off at the other vet, but someone is paying for all of those renovations.

After that we went to Hidden Lake Gardens for the Fall Foliage Festival. It was HOT! But We had a great time. Ellie had her first face painting and thought that was the best part. She also had a doll made for her out of corn husks and had her first snow cone. She was exhausted tonight and passed out easy and early! I'm not too far behind. Tomorrow, paint Ellie's room!

Ups!

Well, good news for now. Everything looked good today with baby Shelby. I will be monitored closely and hope to go at least 3more weeks, but would be great to the full 6. We'll see!

Ellie has been great. She has been at Grandma's more then she is used to. She loves going, but was really missing mom and dad today. I was there when she woke up from her nap and then took her to the homecoming parade. We met Beth, Lauren and Jenna up there and ran into Ehtika, Chris and Brennan. She seemed to enjoy herself.

We took Grandma to The Stable tonight for supper to thank her for help this week and the help she will be giving us over the next several. It was a good meal and Ellie was such a big girl. She fell asleep on the way home, so all is quiet. Neither Jeff or I had a great night of sleep last night, so we are crashing early.

This weekend Daddy promised to take Ellis somewhere special and also to paint her room. Yeah!

Ups and Downs

Last week my blood pressure went up and I have been taking it easy since then, as much as you can with Ellie. Today we went back to the doc and my bp was down but Shelby has slowed way down on weight gain. So, I headed over to Herrick for a Non Stress Test (NST) and everything looked good. Tomorrow we head to Toledo for a super duper ultrasound to see if we can find out if she is getting the nutrients shs needs to grow inside. If not, looks like we are having her early then anticipated. If she is and she is just another small Fordeck baby, then we have weekly NST's and Ultrasounds.

Ellie has been spending time with Grandma, so that has been a relief knowing we have someone to care for her. Jeff cancelled his 5 day business trip, so that was good too.

Jeff and I both feel like everything will be okay, but we are just hoping to go another 3 weeks. If not we will be having her in Toledo.

Please keep us in your thoughts as we continue this pregnancy.

What a great Saturday!

We had such a great day yesterday! We started our day with our usual Saturday treat of Lev's donuts for breakfast. Then we packed up and headed to Ann Arbor. We went and got Ellie a new Michigan t-shirt and treated ourselves to Starbucks! Yum! There were so many people walking around downtown it was crazy, but we fit right in with our blue and maize attire. From there we headed to Greenfield Village. Ellie took about a 30-40 minute power nap and she was great considering such a short nap. We had packed a picnic lunch and took the wagon and weather was just perfect. We rode the carousel twice and the model t cars. We stayed until the closed at 5pm. We went to Sam's on the way home for some shopping and ate supper there. Ellie wanted some milk when we left and we had to go to 4 gas station stores to find it. We couldn't believe it. We were laughing so hard, even Ellie thought it was funny that Daddy kept coming back out without milk. Jeff needed (more like wanted) to stop at Cabelas on the way home. Ellie and I were driving around the parking lot when we spotted a little helicopter parked out back. Well, ever since Dad took her to see one last week she has been wanting to see another. So, that made her day. She was asleep a few minutes later. Oh, and best news yet. 3 DAYS WITH NO POTTY ACCIDENTS!!!! YEAH!

Busy week!

We finally got the baby's room painted over the weekend and Ellie knows it's Shelby's room. She still has her clothes and books and some toys in it, but somehow is okay with the fact that it is not her room anymore. One of these days we will get Ellie's room done and I can move her stuff in to it. It is not a favorite subject with me and there are things I can't do, but I am getting ready to paint without waiting on Jeff to do the window seat first. AAGH!

Monday we went to the Treehouse in Chelsea with the MOMS Club. Ellie had so much fun and I was exhausted. We rode with a friend. Ellie slept about 20 minutes on the way back to where we had parked my car and then she was up. I really could have used a nap that day, well every day, but I was counting on one that day.

Tuesday was playgroup and all of the kids got along just fine. It sure is different without the 3 older ones there. I'm actually surprised Ellie hasn't asked where they are.

Today I took Ellie to Lenawew's Child large motor skills group. We haven't been since April or May. She had so much fun. After clean up at the end, Ms. Kim always has them run back and forth across the long ways of the gym floor. Last year Ellie was one of the last to make it. Today she was one of the first. My big girl is growing up!! The group did 4 lengths and Ellie and a few others continued on. She was on her 3rd length when she was running and turning around looking at me and ran into someone. No one got hurt and no tears, but she was done.

We went across the street tonight with a friend to let Puck swim. Our friend has 2 large labs. So, 3 large dogs and a toddler are a mess. Ellie was soaked and covered with mud. She had a blast though. Those are the times when I don't care how dirty she gets as long as she is having fun doing it.

No Zoo today!

Beth and I loaded up the girls and headed to Toledo with plans to go to the zoo! Went to Sams Club first and when we came out it was pouring down rain. Here we had 2 little girls who REALLY wanted to go to the zoo. We decided to go the mall and see if it just passed, but by the time it did it was too late to try and go. They needed naps. We will try again soon!