tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69464403520469846482024-03-05T21:59:59.001-08:00Miracle Baby EllaChristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-2909928877185156722012-11-26T19:47:00.002-08:002012-11-26T19:47:08.061-08:00<a href="http://dordals.blogspot.com/">Ella is 2!</a>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-54903804696043054542012-10-24T14:11:00.002-07:002012-10-24T14:11:44.069-07:00ella is almost 2!2nd year of reflection on the birth of ella:<br />
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<a href="http://dordals.blogspot.com/2012/10/then-now.html">Dordal Family Blog</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sephsqjUhlI">Video of her birth + 1st year</a>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-33971193842932079162012-03-21T15:00:00.000-07:002012-03-21T15:00:29.650-07:00transitioning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">i guess it's about time to transition this blog into a 'dordal family' blog. i have always been hesitant about starting a blog and then everything with ella happened and we thought it would be a good way to keep people updated and praying for specifics. as i have blogged over the past year and a half it has grown on me. i can hear a few friends saying, "yes! i knew she would be sucked in!" :) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">i feel like it will be a good way to document the kid's milestones, family happenings, update faraway family, and have something for our family to look back on as a 'journal' of words and pictures. posts may be few and far between at times, but to know i have this space to 'jot things down' from time to time will be nice.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">so here it is: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://dordals.blogspot.com/">The Dordal Family</a></span><br />
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</span>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-48811149385136781152012-01-20T10:10:00.000-08:002012-01-20T10:10:02.729-08:00by god's gracewe brought ella home for the first time 1 year ago today! such a happy, happy day. tears and laughter all rolled into one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Gf3wlHarAh3lrO9FMmcYGZ7nMuLU6cuHnFVXBXAKbBJd5T-kB5gC9-u-Hmd83ihsQo5P9N6SQ6qCzGi-JaTvseukVP3z6oyPFrJbGV4JeZV1g-dmlhf6mZMINR1VEpPHbdnoR8Fa2qt-/s1600/Ella%2527s+Homecoming-55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Gf3wlHarAh3lrO9FMmcYGZ7nMuLU6cuHnFVXBXAKbBJd5T-kB5gC9-u-Hmd83ihsQo5P9N6SQ6qCzGi-JaTvseukVP3z6oyPFrJbGV4JeZV1g-dmlhf6mZMINR1VEpPHbdnoR8Fa2qt-/s320/Ella%2527s+Homecoming-55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye and thank you Deaconess NICU</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWsXtYx6TvAF9684hzgcbHgx9ptBbnAExstnbMHGjF1lKLKEpT2qGLWzUwymA0X6RqmBrSEoOJuiFxxgKHMtLyWIfIYYlE9umAX4-6uHLfu39nGdxECaqODJTMk-0dztUsGlwmAG8DgVO/s1600/Ella%2527s+Homecoming-61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWsXtYx6TvAF9684hzgcbHgx9ptBbnAExstnbMHGjF1lKLKEpT2qGLWzUwymA0X6RqmBrSEoOJuiFxxgKHMtLyWIfIYYlE9umAX4-6uHLfu39nGdxECaqODJTMk-0dztUsGlwmAG8DgVO/s320/Ella%2527s+Homecoming-61.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking our for the last time after visiting twice a day for 70 days</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRudWWke0y5vKdJ5-t6P5w-VjGmLK_Nj91VWvSJP3ppsPB4otZ8W6Cbyq3F5NvcedfFCoY63nTxEkkKxc4wLC9q9xLvDJJEDR1GVSalOd8oAcNsRxjr0E4B7G_Cevnw07yR955rJKjrxjR/s1600/Ella%2527s+Homecoming-70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRudWWke0y5vKdJ5-t6P5w-VjGmLK_Nj91VWvSJP3ppsPB4otZ8W6Cbyq3F5NvcedfFCoY63nTxEkkKxc4wLC9q9xLvDJJEDR1GVSalOd8oAcNsRxjr0E4B7G_Cevnw07yR955rJKjrxjR/s320/Ella%2527s+Homecoming-70.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last ride down the elevator with our baby!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOME!!</td></tr>
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</div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-75843006946025702642011-12-29T11:43:00.000-08:002011-12-29T11:43:58.347-08:00happy birthdays and a merry christmasthe dordals celebrate like no other from november through january. such a happy, happy, busy, busy 3 months that include:<br />
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nov 10 - ella's b-day<br />
nov twenty something - thanksgiving<br />
dec 4 - ayden's b-day<br />
dec 10 - erik's b-day<br />
dec 25 - jesus's b-day<br />
jan 1 - new years day<br />
jan 3- elijah's b-day<br />
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lots of celebrations of thankfulness. so thankful for family, Jesus, His promises, and births. here are a few pics of recent happenings. happy faces everywhere.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih94JQ3BG07lGTDCEY8R9t6Ja0V8GYOAgWhdCbzoePLK-DnagV5KCtiFpL5n4r7e6hFFqsFSjiD83UU22zcQ-ssmJDmoPe9xBg2_vXBgL33oAbfBfPNMjDYTTVNqIstvYLXQ9qxKpO0haN/s1600/DSC_0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih94JQ3BG07lGTDCEY8R9t6Ja0V8GYOAgWhdCbzoePLK-DnagV5KCtiFpL5n4r7e6hFFqsFSjiD83UU22zcQ-ssmJDmoPe9xBg2_vXBgL33oAbfBfPNMjDYTTVNqIstvYLXQ9qxKpO0haN/s320/DSC_0622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-63290427349991752002011-11-22T15:23:00.000-08:002011-11-22T15:28:20.414-08:00Ella's 1st Birthday Party <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We had Ella's birthday party about a week and a half ago. We really wanted it to be a celebration. I really feel like there was this huge build up to her party for Erik and I. A lot of processing. I 'processed' by planning the biggest and most decorated party I have ever done and Erik 'processed' by putting together the most touching video of Ella's first year of life. I know....who's the shallow one. ;) For some reason, though, this party was a big deal to us. Like a milestone that we just wanted to get past. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We invited so many people because we wanted it to be a celebration of life that glorified God for all that He has done. Also a celebration of our friends and family, a wonderful community that surrounded us with love, food, prayer, laughter, and tears when we most needed it. We are so thankful for all of them and wanted an opportunity to say 'thank you!' in person. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So enjoy pictures of a grand birthday party. If you know me, I am not one to go all out for my children's birthday parties. I usually try to keep it simple, but this was a lot of firsts: first birthday, first girl....so that's my excuse. Thank you all for your support. On to a new year of growing and trusting.</span><br />
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We've been reflecting on her 1st year a lot lately & it's really brought us back to her beginning. Even with something as wild as Ella's 1st couple of months, as time passes it becomes easy to forget what it was like. So its been good for us to reflect on it. To replay the sequence of events, to remind ourselves how we felt. To remember how God healed her & carried us through. <br />
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We also remember how much love & support we received from all of our friends, family & even strangers. Thanks again for everything!<br />
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I finally completed this video which kind of sums up Ella's journey so far. It's a bit over 10 minutes long, but we had a lot of content. :) Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sephsqjUhlI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-88253191573288013892011-10-12T15:00:00.000-07:002011-10-12T15:00:42.994-07:00the weather is changingthe weather is changing and we are approaching november 10th when ella was born. it seems like a lifetime ago, but it went by so fast at the same time. as the holidays seem to creep up on us i have been surprisingly sentimental and 'reflect-y'...i can say that right? i look out my window at the wind, changing leaves, and drop in temperature and can't help but let my thoughts wander back to this time almost a year ago. <br />
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so i was going to officially write out that day and the days that led up to it as i remember it. <br />
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i had been experiencing unusual and, at times, unbearable pain for 2-3 weeks. my personality usually pushes feelings, emotions, and physical pain away and tries to tell myself 'oh it's nothing'. my husband can attest to this. ;) so i really tried to continue on with the tasks of being a stay at home mom. our family went on a trip to tacoma the weekend of nov 6-7 for my grandparent's anniversary and i was in such pain just walking around and so uncomfortable even sitting. i kept thinking how odd this was and how different this was from my first 2 pregnancies. of course this made everyone assume i was having a girl since it was such a different pregnancy (we were waiting to find out the sex). we did the normal walk around downtown seattle, looking at shops, people watching, eating yummy food, but i could not keep up. i usually sat somewhere, waited, and met up with the rest of my family here and there. my sister was so surprised and thought something seemed strange since i would not even look around the shops....she knows me so well. ;) <br />
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we left seattle and started the drive home. i would sit in the car in tears over the pain. piercing pressure. we stopped for gas and i got out to use the bathroom and was stopped in my tracks because of the pain. i was riding with my husband, 2 sons, and my mom and dad. there were 2 nurses at starbucks who noticed i was in pain and asked when i was due. i told them i had 2 more months! they were so surprised and told me to take it easy. my belly really was sticking out there and people would always comment that i looked ready and ripe. my parents and husband were all saying that we should make an appointment monday morning for me and baby to be checked out. i agreed, but told them they will probably just tell me to stay in bed and drink water...maybe it was because we were traveling.<br />
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monday morning (nov 8) i called in and they said my doctor wasn't available, but i could come in and see a nurse. so i went in and they hooked me up to a monitor to see if i was having contractions. no signs of any labor going on. they told me that if i feel the same tomorrow to call in for an appointment. <br />
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i woke up the next morning (nov 9) with no changes: i could barely walk around without unbearable pressure in my lower abdomen. i called in and they set up an appointment. i decided i should bring my mom just in case i needed some advice or pushing in getting things checked out more in depth. sometimes i just don't want to be a bother so i just nod and move on when i should be questioning things more. a little quality of mine that i am working on. so my doctor saw me and questioned me and he decided i should have an ultrasound done just to check positioning and to check if we could see what the problem was. he scheduled an ultrasound for the next day, november 10th. i said 'ok' and then as we were walking out i told my mom that maybe we should go back and ask him if it is really necessary. ultrasounds were expensive for us even with our insurance so i didn't want anything frivolous. i told my mom 'they will probably just tell me to rest in bed and drink water.' i really just thought i would have to ride this pregnancy out and just bear with it. my mom went back and snagged our doctor in the hallway and asked if it was really necessary to have an ultrasound and because of financial reasons, we wanted to be sure we needed it. our doctor assured my mom that we should go in just because this has felt so different from my first 2 pregnancies, which he was also my doctor for. so it was confirmed that i should do it.<br />
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the next morning it was wednesday, november 10th. i remember waking up and looking at my belly, talking to it, rubbing it, and just laying there not feeling like moving to provoke any pain. erik was sleeping downstairs because i just needed space. you know how that is sometimes, right moms? :) he had his phone close by and i had my phone close by.....just in case. so i took a picture of my belly and texted it to erik with the caption 'baby and mama say good morning to you papa.'<br />
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so we got up for the day. erik got all of his things ready for work because he was going straight to work after the ultrasound. i showered and put the usual suspects on...sweats, t-shirt, and a zip up hoody. my mom came over to watch our boys and we were off to deaconess.<br />
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we were in the waiting room doing the normal day-to-day things. erik was working on his phone for work and i was looking at a parenting magazine glancing at a morning show on the tv every once in awhile. they called for me. we walked to the ultrasound room without even looking back at our normal day-to-day waiting room. the tech started the ultrasound asking if we wanted to know the sex of the baby. we told her we were waiting. she moved around on my belly checking the baby's positioning. the ultrasound lasted an hour or so....she did a lot of checking and asking me to change positions. there was a point when we saw the baby's heart and i furrowed my eyebrows and looked to erik. i asked her if it was normal for the heart to look that big. she said that was what she was checking out. <br />
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to be honest, as i type this i am getting dizzy, shaky, and becoming numb.<br />
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she told me to get dressed and that she would take her findings to the doctor. that kind of raised a red flag for me. i asked erik if that was normal for them to take it to a doctor. i didn't remember them ever doing that before. he began to be my wonderful support right then and there and told me to not worry. we will be taken care of.<br />
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another nurse or tech came in, red flag again because it wasn't the same tech, and told us to follow her to a room where the doctor would tell us about his findings. i followed her, kind of in a haze. we sat at a circle table, in a bright room, erik to my right. the doctor walked in and said 'i have very, very bad news.' i chuckled and i clearly remember thinking 'silly doctor joking with us'. then his face didn't crack and my body went numb.<br />
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then there was a yellow tablet of paper, boxes of kleenex appearing, erik leaning in, the doctor writing on the tablet, tears streaming down my face. words popped out at me from the paper....cardiomyopathy, left ventricle, heart, fluids. more tears and closing of my eyes. i opened my eyes and the doctor looked at me 'we need to get your baby out in the next couple of hours or your baby could die. to be honest we don't really know what the outcome will be, we just need to get the baby out.' i remember sucking air in a breathing out an "ok". the doctor walked out and erik and i completely broke down. i cried out 'we are going to lose our baby!!' erik said 'don't say that.' i grabbed my phone thinking we need people to pray right now. i told erik that he needs to call my mom since she had our boys. erik sobbed out what was happening to my mom. i texted close friends through eyes blurred with tears telling them to pray, which they received and spread the word. <br />
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a nurse came back to get us, guiding me to a wheelchair. she pushed me by the normal day-to-day waiting room that seemed like a lifetime ago. i looked into the eyes of the waiting people with tears streaming down my face wishing i could go back. <br />
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from here, i feel like things got really choppy.<br />
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dressing in a gown, putting my clothes in a white plastic bag, laying on a bed, nurses asking me questions, iv's going in, monitors hooked up, my mouth numb. being pushed into the operating room, people everywhere, epidural, tubes in my nose, my arms being strapped straight out like a T. my eyes searching for erik, my doctor showing up to my side with tears in his eyes. teeth chattering, a curtain being raised above my belly...and then a weight lifted. my baby. a few minutes went by and my mind was blank. a nurse said i had a baby girl, tears streamed down from the corners of my eyes. erik came to my side and said 'we have a baby girl!' i smiled and someone asked if we had a name. erik looked at me and said 'ella louise?' i nodded, thinking 'good thing it was a girl' because we had a name for a girl, but didn't have a name for a boy yet. <br />
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erik left to be with ella and they finished closing me back up. no thoughts, blank. not even 'is she going to make it?' just blank. they wheeled me into a recovery room where i lay there chattering and shaking and my family came in. mom, dad, matt, andi. if you know this family of mine, we are a quiet one. i could not explain how much i appreciated this right then. they came and sat with me, squeezing my hand or my leg, feeding me ice, looking into my eyes telling me all i needed to know only with their eyes. <br />
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erik came in and looked at me and said we could go see ella. he helped push my bed into the nicu where i saw ella for the first time. she was so little and innocent. i stared at her and a nurse said i could touch her. i reached out and rubbed the back of my hand on her shoulder. i wasn't sure how or what to do. i saw a nurse with a camera so i mustered up a smile. i had a daughter after all. <br />
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then they wheeled me out to take me to my room. as i was being pushed out i saw friends and family standing in the hallway. again, all i needed to know was in their eyes and i appreciated it so much.<br />
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erik and i got to our room. i stared at the empty baby bassinet. so many times during our stay there, i would look at that thing with anger and sadness. i told myself that if i had the strength and physical ability i would get up and shove that thing over as hard as i could. something i am ashamed to admit, but it's true.<br />
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as soon as i had enough strength i decided being wheeled up to see ella would be a good choice. <br />
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our stay in the hospital and ella's first year of life has pretty much been documented with the ups and downs. i just wanted to put down on 'paper' the details of how it all transpired as i remember it.<br />
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it really is unreal to think back on and to revisit all these feelings i had.<br />
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i am still struggling and searching. <br />
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why save my baby and not the many others? then i remember His love and sovereignty and it makes me think pretty hard about things.<br />
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will her heart be ok as she grows and gains weight? then i remember to give my children to Him again.<br />
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as a mom i want to protect and guide my children. i always feel like they define me right now in this stage of life i'm in. but....i am not in control and i need to continue trusting Jesus to hold them. i need Jesus to define me, which will in turn pour into my children. not sure if that makes sense, but like i said, i am searching.<br />
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i love you my dear, sweet daughter ella. you are almost 1 year old! can you believe it?Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-56540301590253650172011-08-27T14:00:00.000-07:002011-08-27T14:00:15.060-07:00Ella's first family vacation!Just a few updated pictures of little missy moo! We went on a family vacation just the 5 of us to a lakefront cabin in Idaho. It was a great time of swimming, sun, and fun and a much needed getaway. So in love with our little family.<br />
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Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-9088358346287522132011-07-04T20:28:00.000-07:002011-07-04T20:28:18.760-07:00just rightsince we have been going out more and more these days, we get more and more 'comments' these days. 'she is so small, she is teeny, wow 7 months'. being the prepared, ready type, i feel like i need to prepare this whole speech or disclaimer to explain her whole situation. should i? what is the best way to show His love through all of this? something to think and pray on.<br />
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when i got home tonight from the 'she's so small' comments i told ella that she was just right. i want her to know that she was made just right. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'i </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">.' </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">psalm 149:13</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br />
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as i texted my husband about the interaction and my frustrations, he reminded me that 'we need to remember to be the good, positive voices for them. cause not many otherwise are.' again, i'm reminded that as we live out life we really need to be the good, positive voices. <br />
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if we choose, we can live out a life that God has made for us......a fulfilling one. YOU are all made juuuuust right! you are made just the way God wanted you to be. you have so many talents that He has bestowed on you to use for His kingdom. use your talents, failures, strengths, weaknesses, LIFE to glorify Him. this is what we are called to do. i mean after all, He has given all that is good. He gave His only Son! the very thought of giving my flesh and blood for others gives me the true sense of sacrifice. the only response that makes sense is to give back ALL that i have......what is your response?<br />
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i pray and pray for what my children will respond with......<br />
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for they have been fearfully and wonderfully made.Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-26435500527256578992011-06-20T10:45:00.000-07:002011-06-20T10:45:31.787-07:00ella's first wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz911hAhK4iWuY4991Q1d_455lnK40wZLf27dtNCnVQ1vnsAluUN2qX6KdIv8taBPtpDgTQy7q_YGlJ81uAkgXffyGHahcOb9Exem3Z99SgX82-HUZq_kNE9_qotD-i06nRjoYOhs1KPx2/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz911hAhK4iWuY4991Q1d_455lnK40wZLf27dtNCnVQ1vnsAluUN2qX6KdIv8taBPtpDgTQy7q_YGlJ81uAkgXffyGHahcOb9Exem3Z99SgX82-HUZq_kNE9_qotD-i06nRjoYOhs1KPx2/s400/DSC_0114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">my sister, andi, was married to bob this last saturday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was a beautiful wedding. a great celebration and a wonderful day overall.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> my family was able to participate from erik officiating the wedding to me being the matron of honor.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> everyone was so beautiful, inside and out. happy. joyful.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">ella showed her resilience. she has a beautiful temperament. i love my family so much and, once again, feel so blessed by them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">the end</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-85486675437542282202011-05-11T20:35:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:40:06.255-07:00appointment with the cardiologistElla's heart continues to do well and blow people away. I mean her cardiologist even specifically said, "she's the bomb." Her echo showed that the function has improved since the last time and her heart size is basically normal. There are only a few trivial concerns, but they are small enough that they are comfortable taking her off of her main heart medication (digoxin). Also took her off of zantac, which was for reflux. So now she is down to 1 blood pressure medication, which if she continues to show improvement, they will most likely take her off of it in 2-3 months. ?!?! Off all medications by the end of the summer?! Can't say how amazed and thankful we are. She weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces at the doctors today. She's still at the very low end of the growth chart, but she is growing. Just waiting for some fat rolls! <br />
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We also stopped by the NICU today and saw a few of the nurses that Ella had. It was great to hear the comments about how good she looked since it has been a while since they last saw her. We hope it brightened their day to see how far she's come and to see the fruits of their labor as they continually work with premature and sick babies. Forever grateful for the nurses' caring hands and hearts.<br />
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We think Ella has probably had cabin fever for pretty much her entire life, and with some nice spring weather finally here, we are itching to get her out more. She's got so many people to meet & places to see, so there will definitely be more Ella sightings in the very near future!Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-58326312493699073122011-05-09T10:28:00.000-07:002011-05-09T10:28:10.493-07:00priorities<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">trying to juggle, remember, enjoy, simplify.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">i really do love my kids and husband, but (going to put myself out there) find myself constantly having to remind myself that it is all a gift and to be grateful. grateful for breathing, laughing, living, togetherness, just being. trying not to get stuck on the shallow ins and outs of life, but truly enjoying and remembering what is and has been given....life.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">i want to cut back on all that complicates and focus on what matters. trying to picture what that means and how to do it.....random thoughts.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ella has an appointment with her cardiologist on wednesday. she is taking different combinations of 3 medications (digoxin, captopril, zantac) 4 times a day. hoping that she will eventually not need these medications. she weighs 10 lbs 4 oz. she has only been nursing and really loves it, but i think i am a little concerned for her weight. need to make sure she keeps an upward trend. she has been sleeping really well and is establishing a routine for naps, eating, and awake time. makes it a little easier to plan our day with her having more of a schedule. all in all we are still in awe and so thankful for her in our life....for all 3 of our kids. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span id="goog_1557237080"></span><span id="goog_1557237081"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ella</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuS3SLbT6EmdMaLKkhiZitC_L1fGm2g1yXkMXbmjj_GAP5aXnUAVd0YVFLHrYoBy-KVTkodB84S6fID8P3xr16FoTfakwt1rw4hHurgu5INzfxWzYBVXkJeGNdJulHLfbEu9x4cwg_LcU/s1600/DSC_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuS3SLbT6EmdMaLKkhiZitC_L1fGm2g1yXkMXbmjj_GAP5aXnUAVd0YVFLHrYoBy-KVTkodB84S6fID8P3xr16FoTfakwt1rw4hHurgu5INzfxWzYBVXkJeGNdJulHLfbEu9x4cwg_LcU/s320/DSC_0619.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">elijah</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMPnzF4rxjQaC3EEJ-yNJqd7G92CD2Uww-LThUWUQiUka5Qvfg1UnRVH6fs_7Odtbz7gLKxs5FCGIEF_FfFITHqeiOd4AFezdW2I0oW0P26QnBzNhDO0F2z9tduGAC3WDEjc5L6xi3eWM/s1600/DSC_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMPnzF4rxjQaC3EEJ-yNJqd7G92CD2Uww-LThUWUQiUka5Qvfg1UnRVH6fs_7Odtbz7gLKxs5FCGIEF_FfFITHqeiOd4AFezdW2I0oW0P26QnBzNhDO0F2z9tduGAC3WDEjc5L6xi3eWM/s320/DSC_0611.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ayden</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> they are little miracles.</span>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-45132733723174359222011-04-11T12:52:00.000-07:002011-04-11T12:52:42.648-07:00my cup runneth overthese past few weeks were such a blessing for many reasons. a beautiful, thoughtful baby shower was thrown for me and ella by my sister and a group of wonderful girlfriends. it's funny, but i felt honored to be at my own daughter's shower. the sheer power of ella being alive and well is still mind blowing to me. it is still very hard for me to hold my composure when i think about all of my beautiful family and friends and how they were an extension of god's love for me and my family. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaEv72kAjo9tTZXuGAD9L6aYaW8W5U7trUZreZyn-rNGHq67MVihZ7A-Nm5lwHfeoItwHG1Ti30lMKMQ4OOsHcgNhLBFZZGr3sQ6QnuW06aLDSXX1eTjcwfE_hc54lnY-2aaNTpb5CftK/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaEv72kAjo9tTZXuGAD9L6aYaW8W5U7trUZreZyn-rNGHq67MVihZ7A-Nm5lwHfeoItwHG1Ti30lMKMQ4OOsHcgNhLBFZZGr3sQ6QnuW06aLDSXX1eTjcwfE_hc54lnY-2aaNTpb5CftK/s320/DSC_0315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me, my sister, and ella</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfIqDxEsdqMu82YO8rSYACw7eXSr73mOk4q5bJbuviJd8iCE6m31tSF1Sy9rPS_4a8UDbjKfzUCSe3KYI_qBPdza_QxDIjm7R1Z6T_5eirFmnjjPpkOmcz5pDhyqSciAZikM6l9cJmF0h/s1600/DSC_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfIqDxEsdqMu82YO8rSYACw7eXSr73mOk4q5bJbuviJd8iCE6m31tSF1Sy9rPS_4a8UDbjKfzUCSe3KYI_qBPdza_QxDIjm7R1Z6T_5eirFmnjjPpkOmcz5pDhyqSciAZikM6l9cJmF0h/s320/DSC_0353.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a few beautiful friends inside and out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cookies that looked and tasted amazing by kenz</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiTBwXNclEsoN8sSO4JuRwwC7L36NOuFS1Nr-HS5VkulmEKWn9a97f0HuLJmDOItTakQamhendTIzrY8ytX6_UL3o-bE2qkGf_W85qMmIumTjtKJNFgD6NPsLArh8MN6SbYe5PG2sQreN/s1600/DSC_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiTBwXNclEsoN8sSO4JuRwwC7L36NOuFS1Nr-HS5VkulmEKWn9a97f0HuLJmDOItTakQamhendTIzrY8ytX6_UL3o-bE2qkGf_W85qMmIumTjtKJNFgD6NPsLArh8MN6SbYe5PG2sQreN/s320/DSC_0382.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplzd5xl2cEDKRr5B31vG4FQE9PrfkXKOcnqV9RA1s5DAB368DhJCJlx7WfEM31byZXqF3Dwu8aTcRH2sbhZjV7l9459f0hBYeIkiRI8_o8JmQQ0InUWJaNATDUM1ELo_rPNzIpw9PplwG/s1600/DSC_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplzd5xl2cEDKRr5B31vG4FQE9PrfkXKOcnqV9RA1s5DAB368DhJCJlx7WfEM31byZXqF3Dwu8aTcRH2sbhZjV7l9459f0hBYeIkiRI8_o8JmQQ0InUWJaNATDUM1ELo_rPNzIpw9PplwG/s320/DSC_0392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lovely ladies at the shower where amy was the gracious hostess</td></tr>
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<div>i was presented with a photo album from my sweet friend andi of andi mae photography (she's a professional ;) ). she was able to capture our journey as we packed up at the hospital and headed home with our ella bundle for the first time. she did an amazing job capturing the emotion and anticipation of ella's home coming. i will be sharing those pictures soon.....simply amazing.<br />
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<div>ella has been reaching great milestones. she rolled over this past week. we were beyond excited!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbmD6Osv7QBEhH6motw-jZwpzUYT_0eE9mzoUJvqOGDTnLZcwaaAT0e4g3l8VsJ9oSW86GG5FtaZi59lDlDwcvsWzfrQGVIpGcukaHzB4EINWvkx-0e_5cXqZVouJ-PAU3hSwCLzFFmgQ/s1600/DSC_0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbmD6Osv7QBEhH6motw-jZwpzUYT_0eE9mzoUJvqOGDTnLZcwaaAT0e4g3l8VsJ9oSW86GG5FtaZi59lDlDwcvsWzfrQGVIpGcukaHzB4EINWvkx-0e_5cXqZVouJ-PAU3hSwCLzFFmgQ/s320/DSC_0417.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some tummy time to work on rolling over</td></tr>
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some of erik's family has been able to visit for a few weeks, which has been wonderful. to have his sister, niece and nephew, and mother around to witness ella's beautiful life has been so fun for us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some of erik's family </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V3UCLbBS534xFFrPfj3mCBF6ger4D3T-jNBJehITE3gBF5CwqgCxbPmr-a-f4HNigVIK1dvdJQtCb0XLpwPQLTiGiIuIEtRYYwlO566e6GdSBGKRDa92dRARBio4OsedD9bMvaKDC7Xo/s1600/DSC_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V3UCLbBS534xFFrPfj3mCBF6ger4D3T-jNBJehITE3gBF5CwqgCxbPmr-a-f4HNigVIK1dvdJQtCb0XLpwPQLTiGiIuIEtRYYwlO566e6GdSBGKRDa92dRARBio4OsedD9bMvaKDC7Xo/s320/DSC_0423.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dancing with tante sonja</td></tr>
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some of my aunts and uncles were also able to visit. family is wonderful.<br />
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thank you, thank you to our jesus, family, and friends. i really can't say it enough.<br />
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my dad, being the musician that he is, also wrote a song for ella and put video of ella's life in the hospital leading up to coming home to his music. it really brings erik and i back to the beginning and is such a good reminder of how miraculous ella is. so hard to go back, but good to remember how jesus is so faithful and full of grace.<br />
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view the video at <a href="http://www.bryanbogue.com/">my dad's web page.</a><br />
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all wonderful things that jesus has used to fill my cup. i am overwhelmed and so, so grateful.</div></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-10250763918186238872011-03-23T17:21:00.000-07:002011-03-23T17:21:04.073-07:00Getting bigger!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Ella has passed the 9 lbs mark! She is gaining weight steadily and doing so well nursing and sleeping. She is smiling so much more and interacting with us. She is such a happy baby. I am pretty sure that I get watery eyes every time she smiles at me. Such a joy. Here are a few pics of our growing Ella! God is so good. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK3t6MCgo4ib880MuaNwmnRaTq4QjqR8XbkUAESPwmUabdOYlIbxtQhThbdrkPhNhc_LYYbf0Yg_Yijy42Hx4HcAZucXXwq5vWhvw_u0qNFUFlWzvPxW88ticEXK2D0vlNf4spOILT6a5/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK3t6MCgo4ib880MuaNwmnRaTq4QjqR8XbkUAESPwmUabdOYlIbxtQhThbdrkPhNhc_LYYbf0Yg_Yijy42Hx4HcAZucXXwq5vWhvw_u0qNFUFlWzvPxW88ticEXK2D0vlNf4spOILT6a5/s320/DSC_0171.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Bath time with her brothers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-40119029167592048982011-03-17T20:12:00.000-07:002011-03-17T20:13:06.290-07:00Just loving her<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I just can't help smiling when I look at her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My heart swells when I look at her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">God feels the same way, magnified, when He looks at us, His children!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQnGVHXUWD2cHEiuMSTy62FcUr_7CLil1blmpsDpWS4PKVcmJwOvXtToV7lK0qVHf84xkTp5e7SlI4x4O4GkL0wK2Lhh0y5aKq04rWwiSX5AnL7AOkxNWVL4IS3KhRXSDmmV7X6Rbembg/s1600/IMG00415-20110301-1005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQnGVHXUWD2cHEiuMSTy62FcUr_7CLil1blmpsDpWS4PKVcmJwOvXtToV7lK0qVHf84xkTp5e7SlI4x4O4GkL0wK2Lhh0y5aKq04rWwiSX5AnL7AOkxNWVL4IS3KhRXSDmmV7X6Rbembg/s320/IMG00415-20110301-1005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4HWlQ0nbTYmaYlPv75U4k5QJrft4oEPw1mz6cuorACQ4eyd-Tm_zjaguNo4vQSailqCFqZHzZYq1-MniRV5SKhyy4TSxFgV5NRXEOPMbxIkNJybyDbmKa9hCVyk6YP9G1KhHQFyInPRw/s1600/IMG00435-20110311-1332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4HWlQ0nbTYmaYlPv75U4k5QJrft4oEPw1mz6cuorACQ4eyd-Tm_zjaguNo4vQSailqCFqZHzZYq1-MniRV5SKhyy4TSxFgV5NRXEOPMbxIkNJybyDbmKa9hCVyk6YP9G1KhHQFyInPRw/s320/IMG00435-20110311-1332.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXPima6YKHS4jgM-dzSQuwbEnrPLeju-yT0RJPlbVFTW0hUkxFdKynZtM5fE9f96sYgZZpJRsl3VvnlxA-cR0RXNaJHKy6YbBtXLi9pdtOQwV8-BvBg_B4hJjombECxr-wixNwVVMmsZ2/s1600/IMG00439-20110317-1954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXPima6YKHS4jgM-dzSQuwbEnrPLeju-yT0RJPlbVFTW0hUkxFdKynZtM5fE9f96sYgZZpJRsl3VvnlxA-cR0RXNaJHKy6YbBtXLi9pdtOQwV8-BvBg_B4hJjombECxr-wixNwVVMmsZ2/s320/IMG00439-20110317-1954.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">To know that He loves her more than I ever could is so comforting. </span></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-21787818811889728962011-03-03T14:47:00.000-08:002011-03-03T16:48:51.125-08:00Swing of things<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1tea3TtH4kF8UCN3z9Mvu9CgKwtRMJJpG7FHOrh8pRmeT5XEB2NPSS0VglY6efB0R_kpN5daAsoVEKsg_psYLX690Otr1rp9uCP_681v_pqAnnxadWkTLeq3LhG3FpKGtNv00f2F_83g/s1600/IMG00396-20110220-1507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1tea3TtH4kF8UCN3z9Mvu9CgKwtRMJJpG7FHOrh8pRmeT5XEB2NPSS0VglY6efB0R_kpN5daAsoVEKsg_psYLX690Otr1rp9uCP_681v_pqAnnxadWkTLeq3LhG3FpKGtNv00f2F_83g/s320/IMG00396-20110220-1507.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The usual suspects. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>So I feel like we are getting into a rhythm. A good one. The last two-three weeks have been pretty good. You know.... the boys are kind of over the hype of having baby sister home and seem to be as normal as a 3 and 5 year old can be. I am able to get meds and food to everyone in a timely fashion. I am able to get kids down for naps or quiet times or whatever seems to be needed that day. I am able to have people help take and pick up Elijah from preschool. I am able to keep a pretty decent schedule to train for a half-marathon. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5RZMjSpTJyzMsOQmGq4eEzuaIpyaLKzeHeKVH3y44Z0kAs67DJC6_hYn1ktEuFjJZ2aRkOUSaYapvPwH2XDc2pTYNiQAWt5iOU1NzdHMVR9P9qXTNxUvMwq8IeNrYGRPBEzQOvTKiAmM/s1600/DSC_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5RZMjSpTJyzMsOQmGq4eEzuaIpyaLKzeHeKVH3y44Z0kAs67DJC6_hYn1ktEuFjJZ2aRkOUSaYapvPwH2XDc2pTYNiQAWt5iOU1NzdHMVR9P9qXTNxUvMwq8IeNrYGRPBEzQOvTKiAmM/s200/DSC_0485.JPG" width="132" /></a>And all the while, Miss Ella seems to be thriving and behaving "normal". She really seems to be adapting well with having 2 brothers and all the commotion and bustle that comes with it. She has been strictly nursing and gaining an average of about an ounce a day. Yesterday she weighed in at 8 lbs 10 oz. Just the fact that she has enough stamina and energy to nurse has really been amazing and a huge blessing. For me, it has always been easier to nurse than to mix a bottle. Both of my boys ONLY nursed and did not like a bottle at all. We have been giving Ella bottles here and there just because she takes oral meds and we need her to be used to taking a bottle every once in awhile. She really is a sweet, interactive little girl with the most engaging eyes. I love her. Love, love seeing her smile and soak in every word I say to her.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieUWd-pPo1tw8umtQCbU-za0SPjMDsdnXYsRdo9bXrYRfHKtellG-KaGdIIhA77lqgUHskUrEKvxS0JUgex2f2imC8GY4dVgWYB9b6uAxQPKkvEXJH9KFd2YFRtcECtcsL5JrjUZ3Nyg8/s1600/IMG00407-20110223-1542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieUWd-pPo1tw8umtQCbU-za0SPjMDsdnXYsRdo9bXrYRfHKtellG-KaGdIIhA77lqgUHskUrEKvxS0JUgex2f2imC8GY4dVgWYB9b6uAxQPKkvEXJH9KFd2YFRtcECtcsL5JrjUZ3Nyg8/s200/IMG00407-20110223-1542.jpg" width="200" /></a>She had a cardiologist appointment yesterday. It went well....heart seems to be doing well functioning at a normal range. The walls of her left ventricle are still thick, but it is pumping and functioning. There was some improvement on a 'leak' that she had before that wasn't a major concern, but it isn't there anymore. The cardiologist said we could take her off of aspirin and ween her off of the coreg. Erik will have to hop on here at some point and let you know exactly what they said....it has always been hard for me to completely understand everything that's being done and the reasons. Her heart is doing well is all I really hear and I am happy. Is that being too naive?<br />
<br />
Ella did have a little scare on February 21st. She had a little spell of a huge spit up, a slightly high fever, and troubles breathing. We were very nervous and called our cardiologist, family doctor, and a family friend in the medical field. She was fine and our cardiologist seems to think it was a reflux issue and it really just tired her out. <br />
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It was a reality check AGAIN for me about how fragile our lives are. It's so funny how we learn lessons and then we have to keep learning them over and over again. God is so patient and loving. Love is patient, right? Right! I need to remember that when dealing with my kids who are still so young and learning. This little daughter of mine has been teaching me so much and I am so grateful for every second I have with her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcvXJ1V372tRrF9O2wknNNFT9g2-2CB7agvjeE2cCsLaGs9QSaoCfCDbw2QAwJOydE3X1YGyxBf8yvNLBjIsKws7FIZT_Ia7JlMz4QnIjdCCKT7dgx0nRc3b-s_-2UpG_0hUnAxqju-Az/s1600/IMG00400-20110220-1636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcvXJ1V372tRrF9O2wknNNFT9g2-2CB7agvjeE2cCsLaGs9QSaoCfCDbw2QAwJOydE3X1YGyxBf8yvNLBjIsKws7FIZT_Ia7JlMz4QnIjdCCKT7dgx0nRc3b-s_-2UpG_0hUnAxqju-Az/s320/IMG00400-20110220-1636.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mother/daughter talk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I really cannot wait until spring shows it's face and cold and flu season tapers off so that I can return to my mom's groups and get out a little more. As for now, we are enjoying each other at home. We have been letting people come and visit as long as they have no symptoms of being sick, which has been nice so that we can stay in touch with friends as much as possible. Thank you all so much for your prayers, meals, groceries, and words of encouragement. It all really kept us on our feet and going. We feel like things are settling down and we have a handle on life........until the next "lesson", which we will embrace. ;)Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-83313343449894032182011-02-03T14:52:00.000-08:002011-02-03T15:05:22.092-08:00At home and loving it.I have to admit that it has been so busy being home, in a good way. These are blessings not burdens. ;) We love being under one roof and not feeling 'torn' between our children. The boys have mentioned many times that they are so glad we are all together as a family. Amazing how even at a young age they want to feel that 'togetherness'. I really love that they love being a family so much. Or is that too much love in one sentence. Anyways, we have been having fun adjusting to Ella being home. There are many things that this entails....let me just list what comes to mind:<br />
medications, kisses on her forehead, washing bottles and syringes, dry dry hands, cuddles, running Elijah to preschool, enjoying Ella's smiles, walking her in the night bouncing back and forth, washing burp cloths and baby girl clothes, sanitizing everything, sitting on our own couch to feed her, washing my hands and little boy hands, listening to baby squeeks, making bottles and normal food, sitting at the dinner table as a family of 5......I really could go on and on. Like I said, it's a good busy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIBxRV9jmMQO-CdrH94XhJ2l9HH4QfBGd1XqaX69Mh7Tq3z8DpBslK8PjlEYyL-rbdtMxa__FkFBsXNdhS2clZCkq9yup7UTuUcv4PN2Ei9houpB2lLK2slQoe6VRTDXvoyaEQzN2Sb1v/s1600/DSC_0476_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIBxRV9jmMQO-CdrH94XhJ2l9HH4QfBGd1XqaX69Mh7Tq3z8DpBslK8PjlEYyL-rbdtMxa__FkFBsXNdhS2clZCkq9yup7UTuUcv4PN2Ei9houpB2lLK2slQoe6VRTDXvoyaEQzN2Sb1v/s320/DSC_0476_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We had our first cardiologist appointment (is that what those are called?) yesterday since being out of the hospital. Ella's heart is doing well. It is still functioning at a normal level and they have no reason to believe that it will deteriorate. The walls of the left ventricle are still thick. Time will tell if it is scar tissue or muscle from the heart remodeling itself. She was taken off one med (lasix) and given a higher dose of another (digoxin) because of her weight gain. She weighs in at 7 pounds 6 ounces and is rapidly gaining. She really put up a fight during her echo, which the cardiologist was happy to see because he said she was too sick to put up a fight before. She's a fighter, as we all know. :)<br />
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Soooo another issue is trying to stay germ free with 2 young boys also in the picture. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzE-x1lhTKY6t4kmR86EprifJ6YhNAHICMxynZy6ePyq7WYdVt6qgo6xR6tmrgWL7K0DifnLni4T6xhCv0zyHqpEVuupAeTyvTTDwWxe40g01hFZPsJNsgKCIyeIMB2cyI6mJ0kUXXKJX/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzE-x1lhTKY6t4kmR86EprifJ6YhNAHICMxynZy6ePyq7WYdVt6qgo6xR6tmrgWL7K0DifnLni4T6xhCv0zyHqpEVuupAeTyvTTDwWxe40g01hFZPsJNsgKCIyeIMB2cyI6mJ0kUXXKJX/s320/DSC_0344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It would not be good for Ella to get sick right now. I am learning to let this go to some degree. I can do my best with what God gives me....I will be a good steward, but there is also a point where I just have to trust Him to take care of the rest. I will not be able to get rid of all the germs in our house 24/7 and I would die trying to. As with everything, from money to friendships to the physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of your very own children, we need to do our very best with our gifts from God and He will take it from there. It's kind of freeing to know that and to be in that posture of 'hands wide open, looking up'.<br />
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And that's where we are at.....home and loving it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYmZ7vmRN9_Z7JTkyIVjpfkEIkieV0fsEgcKVF55XvabwtTvo0I43kmzKphME5Wlq5Ne0-uQSkHQZLLm-HH_amxL4UDP5jRpIb4OVOSdVre60M64jqd-cLP8N-BGy2A3uJU_KqVvFipnS/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYmZ7vmRN9_Z7JTkyIVjpfkEIkieV0fsEgcKVF55XvabwtTvo0I43kmzKphME5Wlq5Ne0-uQSkHQZLLm-HH_amxL4UDP5jRpIb4OVOSdVre60M64jqd-cLP8N-BGy2A3uJU_KqVvFipnS/s320/DSC_0349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-68989268448546966872011-01-25T21:45:00.000-08:002011-01-25T21:45:18.576-08:00Homecoming Queen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoUbpVQLVQ-fFOgyRWAbaCnPmcgJJ1Jbd3Tp-LDl2HVUtEhH2Bluar45zYvfokha1LsSOQ6yqWqJjrCDip5qnXqz24UQE9kyfhoZ1zH2TVAnYdb4XehumFHSn1ttiJoKOwXqCvZ9y0Ka7/s1600/In+crib+at+hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoUbpVQLVQ-fFOgyRWAbaCnPmcgJJ1Jbd3Tp-LDl2HVUtEhH2Bluar45zYvfokha1LsSOQ6yqWqJjrCDip5qnXqz24UQE9kyfhoZ1zH2TVAnYdb4XehumFHSn1ttiJoKOwXqCvZ9y0Ka7/s320/In+crib+at+hospital.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her last moments at the hospital</td></tr>
</tbody></table>...As in "Drama Queen!" Well maybe not drama, necessarily. Just that she started out her first couple days at home acting like we should somehow be at her every beck and call (good guess, Ella), and refusing to acknowledge that you're supposed to sleep at night (as many babies do). It was a little concerning, though, because she seemed to be very uncomfortable and unconsolable, like her tummy was hurting pretty bad. Then, of course, we wondered if she's not handling her medications well and if that will cause a problem. But mostly, we think she was just used to getting pampered by all those great nurses at the N.I.C.U. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwVz3lkqCaazA8GuncUMzsTAQpaseoFw4w8cGu1JjdqPS9pphJ7rM_LXgS0bPhnNp3rXYhwADne_7imM7dnbF7XY0BHSHRnio541blEElcWgGOAxzv5o55qldbS4hekK2hhN4xjdjen5H/s1600/Whole+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwVz3lkqCaazA8GuncUMzsTAQpaseoFw4w8cGu1JjdqPS9pphJ7rM_LXgS0bPhnNp3rXYhwADne_7imM7dnbF7XY0BHSHRnio541blEElcWgGOAxzv5o55qldbS4hekK2hhN4xjdjen5H/s320/Whole+Family.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Together at home. The boys were uncontrollably happy.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div><div>However, she's really getting quickly acclimated to a routine at home. Last night was our best sleep yet and she hasn't been spitting up her milk nearly as often. Part of it might be because we have been able to get a rhythm started with regard to handling her feedings and administering her medications. She has 7 meds that need to be given in various amounts 4 times daily. We think we've figured out a pretty good system of giving them to her so that she has the best chance of keeping them in her belly. And she has been doing good at that lately. By the way, you'd think it would be quick & easy to give Ella her tiny amount of medication but it takes a deceptively long time (pretty much the same as getting our boys ready to go somewhere - no matter how quickly you think you can get it done, it somehow always takes a half an hour. We know all you parents out there can relate to that.)<div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2lk2uWjgM0jRLKRTEFTXjR2o_AMdalLrZsuMR8qsB0aL4XNh3OaGNtHY8bSLNR5KUiR37LHfHNx0Wq_rT5mDcU4C-hjYEiloPnsM98gAn5QwVT-hKisJw_6i6mx5wuF04glQwWjdC78O/s1600/with+Elijah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2lk2uWjgM0jRLKRTEFTXjR2o_AMdalLrZsuMR8qsB0aL4XNh3OaGNtHY8bSLNR5KUiR37LHfHNx0Wq_rT5mDcU4C-hjYEiloPnsM98gAn5QwVT-hKisJw_6i6mx5wuF04glQwWjdC78O/s320/with+Elijah.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Thing 1...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYjC1IM6eUbTXvXX-kaasYx9HPyWAq0FQFA30_hVuTpXhn3JLPoOonPMlfF8fJbSoWxL2krD2YFKTkU5l3lA14hCxXfa3I0dJI_thprRVtHL0if1xbeltKrf4wQshn0K5STjjmUpZPfY/s1600/With+Ayden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYjC1IM6eUbTXvXX-kaasYx9HPyWAq0FQFA30_hVuTpXhn3JLPoOonPMlfF8fJbSoWxL2krD2YFKTkU5l3lA14hCxXfa3I0dJI_thprRVtHL0if1xbeltKrf4wQshn0K5STjjmUpZPfY/s320/With+Ayden.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... And Thing 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, back to the day we got to bring her home: We were a bit unprepared for how emotional it was leaving the hospital. It hit both of us hard and unexpectedly. It was a culmination of all those days & nights spent by her side. All the blog updates, phone calls & texts. All the prayers & requests for healing. The ups & downs, the times we felt totally drained and the times we were energized. The relationships we built with many of the nurses & doctors - and, somehow, even a few of the other babies there (we love you baby Harris!). Mostly, it was the realization of just how far little Ella has come that brought unstoppable tears of pure joy to our eyes. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once we pulled up to our house, the tears turned to huge smiles when we saw how excited our boys were to have their little sister home. They were just so happy and proud, it seemed, to be her big brothers. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So in all, getting Ella home was definitely worth the wait. Even if she is a drama Queen, </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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(special thanks to our good friend, Andi with "andi mae photography" for helping us document her homecoming!)<br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaIbB8BOhs7nHndx-2VLdBjYKBRdxH1DExr7Al9Q6s7-m8-rn-jQ58cupiGOmpPsxQZupfYBuf7vBIEybXDruN5utfxEl4WQc9AL51uPHQ8LarsKYpQxHMUUwkEmenD3AbL93L4wM5ZUO/s1600/Papa+Kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaIbB8BOhs7nHndx-2VLdBjYKBRdxH1DExr7Al9Q6s7-m8-rn-jQ58cupiGOmpPsxQZupfYBuf7vBIEybXDruN5utfxEl4WQc9AL51uPHQ8LarsKYpQxHMUUwkEmenD3AbL93L4wM5ZUO/s320/Papa+Kiss.jpg" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjeTgtXmAQUhxOCKQZYsTULgLNDCyHSj5OrPtAf6IADnMBjoqqnCjxS_WeAY9Ag8JSSGnsaE2NSjiCxko6CATzjlMIItc0nscsnIQTDa18gMmDUTRZxTyvvxcxobBQ1JgWEz0GmPYqpzg/s1600/Mama+Smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjeTgtXmAQUhxOCKQZYsTULgLNDCyHSj5OrPtAf6IADnMBjoqqnCjxS_WeAY9Ag8JSSGnsaE2NSjiCxko6CATzjlMIItc0nscsnIQTDa18gMmDUTRZxTyvvxcxobBQ1JgWEz0GmPYqpzg/s320/Mama+Smile.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the way, we didn't intend for our last blog to seem like it was the end of our sharing. Not at all! It was just a quick thank you & "wrap up" of her time at the hospital because we were so exhausted from our stay there. But its good to know that people want to continue following her journey! :) </div><br />
</div></div></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-91158125553795264382011-01-19T21:59:00.000-08:002011-01-19T22:02:16.135-08:0070 Days & 70 Nights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG-lbqv0ggoz6LC61wg6tLhDOBjvmoCuVodBPjcQ6D7PNtg4gbfnZh0X_tLEielW-GNwoV8hwhqfBPUxiQaeZQBsQF-AehoA48dSY19wZgiO72wWSb3JRyYvyI5_A1zLj78urh9IquYdr/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG-lbqv0ggoz6LC61wg6tLhDOBjvmoCuVodBPjcQ6D7PNtg4gbfnZh0X_tLEielW-GNwoV8hwhqfBPUxiQaeZQBsQF-AehoA48dSY19wZgiO72wWSb3JRyYvyI5_A1zLj78urh9IquYdr/s400/DSC_0314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This will be Ella's 70th - and final - night at the hospital. Our exhaustion is outweighed by the joy & anticipation of her first night at home, where she will complete our family. By tomorrow, Chapter 1 of the life of Ella will be complete. An amazing beginning to a book that appeared as if it might never be written. We don't know what future chapters will look like or how it will end, but we believe that God's grace has already made it more beautiful than we could've imagined. Thank you for being a part of it with us.Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-57668679732771168172011-01-18T00:24:00.000-08:002011-01-18T00:24:07.343-08:00Is this really happening?Sorry for the gap between updates! We have been pretty busy catching up on a lot of things we were behind on. But we promise, this post will have enough eventfulness to hopefully make it worth the wait.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcONMvd75whZ5ZJMJHLEX21WRKIs3D23FAb1xfPeIgewSL2t1CsdfIHseyAZkY0z-1YRMpiDtm64fBcFdDxk-DYUzXLbAxPRyaN1luIZviu6-KTTR56ySlt97VCO1z2qIxGFZWwrguWS-/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcONMvd75whZ5ZJMJHLEX21WRKIs3D23FAb1xfPeIgewSL2t1CsdfIHseyAZkY0z-1YRMpiDtm64fBcFdDxk-DYUzXLbAxPRyaN1luIZviu6-KTTR56ySlt97VCO1z2qIxGFZWwrguWS-/s400/DSC_0304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice anything missing? This Saturday was the 1st time in her life (after 67 days) that we've seen her face without a single tube sticking in it somewhere. Wow, she is beautiful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
To cut to the chase, it looks like Ella will be able to come home within the next couple of days! (insert today's equivalent of an old "Hip-Hip-Hooray" chant here). I know, kinda short notice. But we'll roll with it! We knew that there was a possibility that she'd be able to come home by the end of the month, but there always seemed to be something holding it up. In fact, she had been recently throwing up certain medications that she gets with her feedings so we figured this would take a while to get past. But apparently she's at the point where we will now "room in" with her at the hospital for a night or two to familiarize ourselves with her medications & round the clock needs while under the nurses' supervision.<br />
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This has really snuck up on us, and we are both excited & a bit edgy - mostly because we weren't really prepared for this yet mentally (or household wise). The biggest cause for our nerves is the way she has been handling her meds (well, that and a hundred other things). We just want to make sure she is going to consistently tolerate them so we don't run into any problems that we'd be unable to solve without the constant care she's been getting at the hospital. So we're praying that she'll handle them well and that they'll help keep her heart strong & allow it to continue healing. <br />
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We are heading in tomorrow afternoon and will keep you posted on progress when we can. We are simply amazed & humbled that the day we once thought might never come is close upon us. <br />
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Thank you, Lord for your great love.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZstf0vuW27qsbyVizffElOwNHKqxKrvWB_X7kBiEXUUcuvtvcmK5vyTZs4ouqyYYBjk3z6I8WPHTBT7aR4VkPt_FweVGUe_ARZVdZtvfTwAc9SestuOGnhu_d5Q7Bw88SV9Pyi5QAcUn/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZstf0vuW27qsbyVizffElOwNHKqxKrvWB_X7kBiEXUUcuvtvcmK5vyTZs4ouqyYYBjk3z6I8WPHTBT7aR4VkPt_FweVGUe_ARZVdZtvfTwAc9SestuOGnhu_d5Q7Bw88SV9Pyi5QAcUn/s400/DSC_0298.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-23579950587132220142011-01-08T10:33:00.000-08:002011-01-08T16:23:08.581-08:00TGIF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeFr7fgGbQnfBnEbN0m5OqIxjn73jyc4Vj64OflYLufJkvshg_WXOyht3DQ0AUMPOAmAhQk587neGfhep8Z-kjm_WKZVRF9IeIpnFpwCbEpv2OhfiT3zhon0hIKQ-9esVp200pqaSA0Qo/s1600/IMAG0384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeFr7fgGbQnfBnEbN0m5OqIxjn73jyc4Vj64OflYLufJkvshg_WXOyht3DQ0AUMPOAmAhQk587neGfhep8Z-kjm_WKZVRF9IeIpnFpwCbEpv2OhfiT3zhon0hIKQ-9esVp200pqaSA0Qo/s400/IMAG0384.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only 1 nose tube left! :)</td></tr>
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</div>It wasn't "Good Friday" yesterday, but for us & Ella it was a great one. Our little lady just continues to surprise & amaze us with her fighting spirit. We are excited to share all the latest news - which has been plentiful & encouraging the past 2 days - so here's what's been happening since our last blog:<br />
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1. Ella has handled the feeding well. So well, in fact, that as of this morning she has already moved from a continuous drip feed to bottle feeds every 3 hours (including nursing time with Mama twice a day). Since the bottle takes less energy than breastfeeding, they are going to see how she handles this set up before transitioning toward more frequent breastfeeds. Given how "enthusiastic" Ella gets when nursing (and who could blame her, since she's basically had an empty belly for 2 months), we suspect & hope she will progress to more nursing times very quickly.<br />
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2. I spoke with the cardiologist about the latest Echo and basically its all great news. Her ejection fraction was estimated at 70% (!!!). Pretty much normal & acceptable. What?! Its just amazing... There are a couple of lingering, minor concerns - mild thickening of both a left ventricle wall and the pulmonary artery, as well as some evidence of diastolic dysfunction (for all you medical people out there who actually understand). But all-in-all, her heart has shown that it is "remodeling" itself & becoming functional & sustainable. Even her heart size is essentially normal now, after being so grossly enlarged. <br />
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3. Last night she weighed in at 6 lbs, 1 oz - breaking the 6 lb barrier! Now, it might not be like Roger Bannister running the 1st sub 4-minute mile, but it is definitely cause for celebration!!<br />
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With all these exciting progressions we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we have a sense that perhaps we are glimpsing the beginning of the end of her healing process. Its a scenario that once seemed impossible, but now appears that God foresaw, planned & is now pleased to bring to reality - to the amazement of us all. <br />
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Now we are just looking forward to the end of this hospital stay. If she can prove the ability to handle normal, regular feedings & gains a little more weight, there's no reason she can't come home. We will be able to continue to give her the medications she needs (which are quite a few) in the comforts of our own home. Our dreams may not be that far off! Stay tuned... We love you all!Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-76323304705747382982011-01-05T19:40:00.000-08:002011-01-06T07:21:07.332-08:00Mercy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ryiQHd4-meZL1f8ECvxtcg8I1uv23cPHRJaixa_4WQt5pFSXjHJQrIb1f_jBMQTNB9TPGDr3tNH7sUgFp29EQneaP7f7jzf38eapE0Syi5VNbEjUgUe9wOdwPZRYmTEFhTpt660-Dcgc/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ryiQHd4-meZL1f8ECvxtcg8I1uv23cPHRJaixa_4WQt5pFSXjHJQrIb1f_jBMQTNB9TPGDr3tNH7sUgFp29EQneaP7f7jzf38eapE0Syi5VNbEjUgUe9wOdwPZRYmTEFhTpt660-Dcgc/s320/DSC_0234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>By His mercy He proves He is love. I had to remind myself of this today. God has shown great mercy in all of this. I felt so weary last night and started worrying and becoming anxious about Ella's stomach. She had an ultrasound on her stomach Monday and we hadn't heard the results until today. When I start looking too far in the future, I really become so anxious. I need to remind myself and take notice of what God HAS done and what He is doing.....He is showing His love in one of His many ways by how merciful He has been. We are loved and I really need to remember that.<br />
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Ella's ultrasound of her stomach was "normal". So now they are going to pull back the tube that was put in past her stomach and before mentioned narrowing in her intestine. Pull it back into her stomach and put it on a slow drip to see if her stomach will process the feedings. I have been praying so hard for her stomach to start working, so hard that at times I don't even have words to pray, but I know God hears my heart and I will continue to trust in Him. <br />
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Her heart continues to be functioning in the lower end of the normal range, which is a huge blessing. <br />
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It's hard not to look beyond today and imagine the day that we might take her home. I am going to continue to be thankful for each day we have with Ella. I partly write these things to remind myself....be thankful for His mercies......His love.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPzWZDstditmLnVsRu3aFMVbkFQrA1If5l65Vzj-15c5ZoLYztZEv1GmdDrPiN7hDrMGecgDJgvEOsR4OBw-cqSJVwhhwa2sHGhzjOL2qPhcQv5-tAv5cgGOmlyB1-vccEdIN_47kZZjD/s1600/DSC_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPzWZDstditmLnVsRu3aFMVbkFQrA1If5l65Vzj-15c5ZoLYztZEv1GmdDrPiN7hDrMGecgDJgvEOsR4OBw-cqSJVwhhwa2sHGhzjOL2qPhcQv5-tAv5cgGOmlyB1-vccEdIN_47kZZjD/s320/DSC_0225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-2562045326255360262010-12-30T10:23:00.000-08:002010-12-30T10:25:30.470-08:00Eventful, but notWe have, for the most part, been hanging out with Ella and waiting. We are waiting for her to gain some weight and waiting for next week when the doctors and surgeons will take a look at her belly again. In all this waiting, we have really been enjoying Ella. To just look at her.....hold her......bathe her......nurse her......to just "be" with her. <br />
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She had her first bath a couple days ago. She did not make a sound, but instead soaked in the experience. Her eyes got instantly huge (like they always do) and she started moving her limbs around slowly and fluidly. It was such a special time with her. The nurse said, "I had a feeling she would enjoy this." <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_bVBwmAYcrn9gqd3YGEaysKIjehLdPoUDsjwgbd7TFCauQn3nW-cfP2x9lgN_cu1qnUdHDeoK4sU8dc4x8a4ItHZSD-mJhO85XEbQuuZV8HuDL862V4c6Ecmd5-creM8sR3fUUsj3dVx/s1600/IMAG0296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_bVBwmAYcrn9gqd3YGEaysKIjehLdPoUDsjwgbd7TFCauQn3nW-cfP2x9lgN_cu1qnUdHDeoK4sU8dc4x8a4ItHZSD-mJhO85XEbQuuZV8HuDL862V4c6Ecmd5-creM8sR3fUUsj3dVx/s320/IMAG0296.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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That little Ella is so curious with those eyes of hers. She doesn't fuss much probably because of all she has had to endure. We have seen this as a great blessing that she has a great temperament since her heart would not have been able to handle much. She is so pleasant and just likes to observe, interact, and visit. <br />
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She also was able to try "nursing" for the first time last night. The doctor said to try nursing her right after I pumped so that she wouldn't get too much milk. Plus, if she does get a little milk then we can see what her stomach will do. Kind of a mini test. Ella has always rooted and tried to nurse when I hold her so this was kind of a treat for her. She did ok....I could tell she was getting frustrated because this was the most I've heard her cry and grunt. Luckily, our nurse for the night was a former lactation specialist and she helped Ella latch on. It was wonderful.....I can't express in words how close it made me feel to Ella. <br />
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A couple more events while we have been waiting include Ella being moved to a crib and she had a big visit on Christmas day in the viewing room. Family was able to see her all together including far away family over Skype from Olympia, Norway, and Hawaii. It was great to be with family and Ella at the same time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3EyBKdGCKIyj1e9_VPgzgfeEKfI-Pdmr8t3SodrEIgTcMkSt9xerAhRo-rASUcxF6lbh032Fb2FIyVkM1ZLK8AcQrEvsRXZ21tG0AlSJo_lliupMSZZl9tC6MU90I9WjUVKpu0PQlfpO/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3EyBKdGCKIyj1e9_VPgzgfeEKfI-Pdmr8t3SodrEIgTcMkSt9xerAhRo-rASUcxF6lbh032Fb2FIyVkM1ZLK8AcQrEvsRXZ21tG0AlSJo_lliupMSZZl9tC6MU90I9WjUVKpu0PQlfpO/s320/DSC_0168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So really, we have been doing a lot while we are waiting. Kind of seems to be the case....when Jesus has us "wait" He is doing a lot in us to help us grow. Amazing.Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946440352046984648.post-7684053636942183602010-12-24T22:25:00.000-08:002010-12-24T22:40:53.173-08:00Silent NightWe hope this Holy Night is joyful & peaceful for all of you & your families. Enjoy a couple of pictures of our peaceful little angel and a little video of a typical interaction with her when she is awake & alert.<br />
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We love you all... Merry Christmas! -The Dordals <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycwGJKCjmyJPOVryxhHd3UMTncn7OxuFWGH3A9DQGQngnohf2cpVtT0py9ybmwjFcJVeC0ar2FckhfjaObeA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Christahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560036124969735234noreply@blogger.com11