Thursday Thoughts: Happy Heart Variety

Oh my. What a week. I am so so so so so happy to be on this side of things. So happy.

So.

So.

So happy.

Jeremiah is on his way to meet his dad at the halfway point and bring home our missing kiddo's.

So.

So.

So excited.

Let me tell you, their grandparents know how to have a good time. Swimming every day, trips to the beach, the zoo, glamour shots (yes, they still have those!), and ice skating...it's a wonder Ella and Ezra didn't throw a mutiny over coming home to us.

Now that we are over the surgery and the worst of recovery...I am fighting off feeling very antsy to have this baby. Ella came less than 2 weeks away from where I am now and Ezra came around 3 weeks away...so I have to remind myself that it really could be sooner rather than later. Or not. But I have learned my lesson not to be caught off guard and want to be all ready for her arrival.

Last night Eli was giving Jeremiah wet willies...
























Of course, Jeremiah was happy to return the favor...

























Obviously, Eli's sassy self is slowly coming back.

And other than some light swelling on his left side of his face...you really would have no idea what he just went through 6 days ago. Amazing, I tell you.

Happy (happy!) Thursday!

Eli update: Home 24 hours

We've been home from the hospital a little over 24 hours now...just trying to catch up on some sleep and things around the house. I have absolutely no energy right now and would happily just lay on the couch if could be.

Can't be.

Eli is doing great. He slept well last night and continues to perk up a little bit more each day. He tires very easily and still doesn't have much appetite, but will drink for me (I'm the drink nazi around here, ha!) and we've been able to manage any pain with just tylenol.

Amazing to think that his entire head was cut open and his skull taken out just 5 days ago...and he is on tylenol. Crazy.

This boy is amazing.

His swelling is going down little by little and his left eye made a reappearance yesterday, woohoo! His head looks A.MA.ZING! I seriously have to search for his incision scar. And get this...they kept his hair. I was all geared up for his head to be shaved...but no, every last curl is still in place.

Maybe I was a little more attached to his hair than I realized =)

His hair is a hot mess at the moment because I can't put any product in it for a few weeks and I am not about to traumatize him by trying to comb anything out for a good long while. It'll just have to stay a hot mess for a little while.

And, today marks the 1 year mark that we first met our sweet boy. What a crazy wonderful year. I plan on documenting much more later...but right now, I need to get back to my dozing on the couch. After all, all of my kiddo's will be home with me by tomorrow night!

Not Me Monday (and Eli update)

I did not collide with a doctor while exiting the elevator.

And I was not carrying TWO grande cups o' joe that got um...squished, during the collision.

And it did not spill all over the both of us.

ALL OVER.

And I did not just stand there in shock for a full 30 seconds with my mouth literally hanging open in disbelief over what did (not) just happen.

And of course the elevator and lobby was not full of onlookers.
And of course everyone didn't get OFF the elevator to help clean me and the enormous mess up.

And of course it wasn't a group of OB/GYN doctors who were probably disdaining the fact that I was even consuming caffeine.

And again, of course, I had a complete change of clothes with me to change into.

Ahem, of course.

Therefore, I did not smell like eau du vanilla latte all day long.

Nope. Didn't happen. NOT ME.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Eli Update: Eli is doing great! Once we were able to get the throwing up under control it has been all progress since. He is off all monitors, IV's and drain tubes and has been drinking and eating (a little) for me all day today. He went for his CT scan this morning and everything looks great and we are on schedule to come home tomorrow!

Eli Update: Saturday Evening (i think?)

I am so tunnel visioned right now after 2 days in the hospital that I don't even know what day it is?! It is weird how quickly that happens.

Eli had a very rough night last night and this morning with nausea and throwing up (every hour, bleh) but has seemed to turn a corner this evening. He is still throwing up and hasn't kept anything down, but at least seems to be more comfortable. We were also moved out of the PICU into a regular pediatric room this evening and that has seemed to have a calming effect on him. Less tubes and IV's and monitoring and a quieter environment for getting some rest. We also have a bathroom and little fridge in the room and we are allowed to sleep in the room with him, so Jeremiah and I are much more comfortable as well.

His swelling is peaking and his left eye is totally closed tonight. However, we were warned of this and know that it should start receding in the next 48 hours.

Being in the PICU and any kind of pediatric hospital environment will give you such a dose of perspective. I have been an emotional mess all day on account of this blasted perspective.

We listened to a kid in the next room down code and I will never ever forget the sounds of it.

Don't take your children for granted.
Don't forget the blessing they are.

I can't wait to get all three of my blessings home again.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of you that have called, texted, emailed, prayed for us, mowed our lawn for us (you know who you are!), and brought us meals and snacks. I'm sorry for being a slacker and not returning all the messages or texts...but I have appreciated every single one.

God is so good.

Eli Update: Out of Surgery

Eli is out of surgery, as of about 4:30 this afternoon. He did well and the doctors seemed really pleased with how well it went. We moved up to the PICU and got to see him around 5pm. Overall the last few hours have gone relatively smooth...although he is throwing up and obviously is uncomfortable. We are working on staying on top of his pain meds.

I left the hospital around 9pm to get some sleep at home tonight (so thankful we only live 15 minutes away from Duke!) and will head back early in the morning to "change shifts" with Jeremiah.

I have to say leaving them at the hospital goes in my top 5 list of things I've had to do in my life. Didn't expect that. But I know I need to be careful and take care of myself so that Jeremiah doesn't end up with 3 patients to look after. Even if he is superman.

So thankful for your prayers and that the surgery went well. Will update more tomorrow once we move to a regular pediatric room.

Eli: 3pm update

Well, we are still waiting. The latest update came just a few minutes ago saying that they were still working and that things were going fine.

So, nothing really new to report. Just trying to kill some time.

Thanks again for all your prayers.

Eli: 10am Update

We made it here at 6am and they started surgery around 8am. For the most part Eli was very calm and relaxed going into surgery...and Jeremiah was able to go back with the anesthesiologist while they put him under and he did amazing. I think the presence of his pillow pet helped =)

We've been getting updates every hour and so far so good.

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement...Jeremiah and I both mentioned how we could feel them this morning. God is good.

Thursday Thoughts

I got the privilege to take bridal portraits for a sweet friend of mine this week. And while I obviously have to keep the photo's underwraps until after the weeding, I do have permission to give a tiny little sneak peek.

























It had the added benefit of getting my mind off the stresses of the week.

Which, by the way, is seeming to fly by. Thursday already?

Eli and I have had a blast together this week. While he asks me numerous times a day when his buddies are coming home, he has been eating up all the extra attention. And he has been talking my ear off. Seriously, the little boy that is so quiet when we are in public places is quite the chatterbox at home. We have gone swimming every day this week, numerous times a day, as he won't be able to swim for a good bit after his surgery. And if I have to be big and pregnant, I might as well have a tan with it, eh.

Our garden recently exploded with vegetables and we have been enjoying cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini all week. A lot of zucchini. Time to get creative with zucchini recipes.

Since I have had some extra time to read the past few days I am working on a "worth your time" post as I've read so many good articles about the orphan crisis and the appropriate response from Christians. Really good stuff people.

I've also been working on a mobile like this for Zoe's room this week.













And last but not least...my parents are home! And my three newest siblings are just cutie patooties! Here is a picture of Stephen with the biggest smile you will ever see...



I am sad not to get to meet them soon...but we are anxiously awaiting the day when we can get together.

Happy Thursday!

p.s. I plan on giving updates on Eli's surgery on here or on facebook throughout the weekend.