Just a snippet

A couple days ago I took Emmi to work to visit with my coworkers.  While we were there, I decided to weigh her...and our littlest peanut is growing!  At 3 1/2 weeks old, she weighed in at 8lbs 11oz.  Nate didn't think she was gaining weight.  On the other hand, me being the one who carts her around for a good chunk of the day because of nursing, I knew she was getting plumper.  I guessed she'd be about 8 1/2 pounds, so she was just a little heavier than that.  Can someone please find me a pause button? 

Today I took Addi and Livi to a self serve yogurt bar.  The excitement on their faces when they get to pick out which flavor of frozen yogurt they want and then the types of toppings they want is simply precious.  What I find funny is when there's about 15 different flavors to choose from (banana, expresso, mango, blueberry, etc)...what do the girls pick?  Addi wants chocolate and Livi wants vanilla.  Addi loves her chocolate milk.  Livi loves her white milk.  When we go to DQ, Addi wants chocolate ice cream in a cup.  Livi wants vanilla in a cup.  So here we are at this self serve yogurt bar with multiple flavors...and they pick chocolate and vanilla.

That's about it.  More pictures to come soon!!

More camping fun

We went camping for possibly the last time this year.  The big girls stayed with grandma and grandpa on their "bus" (it's an RV) while Nate, Emmi and myself travelled back and forth between the campsite and our house.  Luckily, the campground we've always gone to is only 20 minutes from home.  I'm not sure I would've enjoyed an overnight stay with a 3 week old!

The girls absolutely love camping.  This weekend the campground's theme was a pirate one.  So on Saturday morning the girls got to decorate a pirate hat and a pirate eye patch.  But that's about all they wanted to do with the pirate stuff...instead of actually wearing it, they made grandpa wear it.  Luckily, grandpa was a good sport!!  It's always sad when the weekend comes to a close.

Emilia's first experience camping.

They were tracing each other with chalk.

I think Livi is meditating...I'm not sure she trusts Addi's work!

Walking to the pool.  How sweet.

Pretending to be a seal.

She just yelled at me to stop taking pictures.

Just chilling on the RV.

Pictures!!

10 days old with her Bunny

BIG yawn!!!

Getting ready for bath time!

I know she looks like a sleepyhead, but she's really not!

Don't mind Addi.  She didn't feel like cooperating.

Everything else

So remember when I was talking about the busy week I was supposed to have at the clinic?  The one where Addi had an appt with Audiology on Monday, ENT on Tuesday and followed by my own OB appt on Wednesday?  Well, my OB appt was canceled because little Miss Emmi decided to make her arrival.  However, Addi's appointents still needed to take place.  Emmi's birth put a little curveball into the plans, but we managed to get everything accomplished.

Nate took her to her audiology appointment because I was still in the hospital and Nate's dad stayed home with Livi.  We found out that her hearing has decreased somewhat.  It's not terrible, but it's definitely down from when she had her testing done after her first set of ear tubes.  The following day we saw ENT.  For this appointment, knowing there would be a discussion about a second set of tubes, I wanted to be there.

We were essentially given three options.  First option was to take a wait and see approach because her hearing isn't that bad.  Second option was to schedule the second set of tubes.  The third option was to schedule the second set of tubes in addition to having her adenoids removed.  I guess it's now fairly common to recommend having the adenoids removed if a second set of tubes is warranted.

We've decided to take the wait and see approach.  If it beomes apparent that her hearing is further decreased or if she starts to complain about increasing pain in her ears (she has pain because of the fluid behind the eardrum even without an infection), then we will move forward with tubes.  And if it comes down to having a second set of tubes, we'll likely have her adenoids removed as well.  We're just hoping that we don't even have to go that route!!

Other than that, the girls are doing well.  Livi, my more tenderhearted child, continues to be a little mother hen.  She takes such good care of Emilia.  She covers her up with her blanket, she takes her nuk to her, she strokes her head nicely, etc.  It seems like she's always aware of what Emmi is up to.  She is such a sweetheart!!

Photo Shoot

I have a friend who I used to work with on 7th floor in the hospital who contacted me shortly after Emilia was born asking if she could come take some pictures of our sweet addition.  Of course I jumped at the chance!  She's working on her photography skills and wanted some extra practice with a newborn.  Who could pass up the opportunity?  So here are some pictures of our sweetie at just 5 days old.

And on Friday, at 6 days old, she had her first well baby visit with Dr K.  She's the first of our children to have gained weight by this visit.  The other three girls were still losing weight.  But she actually gained a couple of ounces.  When she was born, she was 7# 10oz.  And when we were discharged from the hospital, she was 7# 3oz.  But at Friday's appointment, she was actually 7# 5oz (and measured at 20 1/2 inches)!  Woo-hoo!!  All the other girls had to go back for weight checks.  But not this sweetie!!

She was also the first of our girls who didn't have to get poked in the heel for a bilirubin check at this visit.  The first three were bordering on jaundice at 5-6 days old.  But her coloring looked completely normal, so we got to escape the clinic without a lab draw.  Hooray!

Overall, Dr K has deemed Emilia perfect...and we agree.

Well........

SHE'S HERE!!!  Our beautiful new addition arrived on August 4th at 11:39pm.  Emilia Lynn weighed 7# 10oz and was 20 inches long.  The older girls predicted all along that this baby was going to be a girl...and they were right.  I have so much more to say, but for now, some pictures will have to make due.



Taken just 1 hour and 40 minutes before the arrival...and I'm still smiling!

First bath.

Two hours old and she has a tendency to purse her lips.

Chilling with mom at 6am.

Sleepy.

Just making sure all my fingers are there!!

Being a day old is rough work.

So precious.

This was the best picture she would let me get of her feet,

The big girls first introduction at home.

They wanted to take her for a walk.

So peaceful.