2 weeks later...

Well, let's see... in the past two weeks:

• The kids got to spend time with both of their grandmothers and one of their great grandmothers.
• After picking up Bryant's mom at the airport last weekend, we had a car accident and now have a rental (Chrysler Town and Country... don't like this van)... good news, no one was hurt and our van is repairable. Our kids were devastated when they got out of the van and saw the damage, Gracie asked me yesterday why did Silver Lady's face get broken?... Her eyes are gone mommy!
• Eli is doing great! Sleeping at night can be a challenge, but that is to be expected! Each day it seems that he is awake longer and he loves looking around... he does not love his pacifier however... which is okay with me, except during those crying nights, then I wish he loved it.
• Gracie's favorite song.... Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean, she's even starting to develop a twang when she sings! But, make no mistake she still has the entire Taylor Swift CD memorized.
• And Nathan, he is such a great helper. When Eli is starting to get fussy in his swing... we look in and there's Nathan leaning over him, holding the pacifier in Eli's mouth and swaying back and forth with the swing.
• Bryant is now back to work and it is just me and my 3 kiddos at home. So far today, everyone is dressed, fed and no one is crying... yet. Oops, I think I spoke too soon.

We're Home!

Eli was released from the hospital on Monday. So far it appears that his heart is maintaining a sinus rhythm. We were back at the hospital today for a follow up appointment and he weights 7 pounds 14 ounces. We were sent home with a Holter monitor for his heart, this will monitor his heart for the next 24 hours and will give the doctors a better indication of whether his heart is maintaining a sinus rhythm or going into flutter. Please pray that it stays in sinus rhythm!

He is so precious to us! It is amazing how you can just love someone so much instantly! Thank you Lord for this little miracle!

Quick update...

Bryant did a great job of posting the pictures of little Eli on Friday night. So, now for the details and a quick update...

On Friday, May 28th at 3am my water broke. By 3pm we were ready to have a baby. Elijah Owen was born at 3:16pm weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces, and measuring 20.5 inches long. The delivery was absolutely wonderful. They began Pitocin that morning at around 7 or 8, and then I received an Epidural at 12 noon. When it was time to push, it only took 2 minutes and he was out. Such a familiar delivery experience, Gracie was also born 12 hours after my water broke and with her I was also induced with Pitocin and then given an Epidural at my request.

Today, we are hoping that Elijah will be discharged. We have a meeting with a cardiologist at noon today and then hopefully we'll be given the thumbs up. So far, still good. Bryant and I have been staying at the hospital in a room at the NICU where they allow parents to room in with the baby. We are still conveniently located for the nurses and staff to continue monitoring Eli. We can't wait to go home!

Pictures of Eli

Praisentation...

Tonight was Nathan's preschool graduation and boy do I have some videos and pictures to post from that.... but first, here's a video from last night. His children's choir class put on a Praisentation for the parents last night and here is one of the videos.

Squirmy Wormy...

37 weeks... a diffrent angle.

A Lazy Day...

Bryant headed out this morning for a guys weekend camping trip with some men from our Sunday School class. While I had every intention of going to the playground with the kids today... needless to say that didn't happen. Pretty much it was just a lazy day around here. Nathan became a professional TV watcher and Gracie got a nap in while I did a little work in Elijah's room. For a child that had absolutely no clothes at the beginning of this pregnancy, he sure does have a full dresser now. Thanks mostly to the clothing that was passed on to us from friends at church and a few things that we had either purchased or set aside because they were gender neutral from the other kids.

One thing that I promised the kids we would do today was make cookies. But, do you know how hard that is when you are out of brown sugar?! Literally all that leaves to be made is sugar cookies... and after dinner we tackled them. The kids did such a good job taking turns adding all the ingredients (luckily it was Nathan's turn when we had to add the egg... not sure what would have happened if Gracie had to crack it open). We used my mom's recipe, it's the only one we ever use.... typically we roll them, cut them and then frost them after they're cooked. But, tonight to save time we made them the way that grandma does... sprinkled with sugar and squashed with a cup. The perfect treat to end our lazy day.