Where did June go?

It has been far too long since I have blogged but my hands have been a little tied up holding Libby. At about 2 weeks old she developed colic and the screaming started. We are exhausted and trying our best to figure out what makes her more comfortable. Since Ella was colicky, we are very knowledgeable on how to handle it and what to do. I was breast feeding her and have since stopped that, as we switched her to hypoallergenic formula. This is what Ella was on as an infant. It has helped with the gas and taken the edge off her screaming. Hasn't been quite as bad. We couldn't figure out what it was that I was eating that was making her so gassy and uncomfortable... so we called it a day and put her on formula.

I have taken her to the doctor 2 times and to the naturopath/midwife for suggestions. I know it will just take time for her to grow out of it. We have had a little success with some of the remedies in making her more comfortable but she still has very unhappy times during the days and nights.

I am hoping in my next post to have good news, that she is better and we are getting more rest! She is such a good girl and really tries not to be so unhappy. We are doing our best to keep up with Ella's schedule and not have the colic impact her so greatly. We have been getting her to the park and other fun activities so she doesn't feel put on the back burner with Mommy and Daddy giving Libby so much attention. She is a good big sister.

The baby milestones are wonderful and we are enjoying each and every one of them. Since Libby is our last baby we are making sure to be present in the moment and enjoy the time we have with her where she is happy. She is such a darling little being and a blessing. Sometimes it is hard to see that through the fog, but we are making sure we make light of it and remember how fast it all goes by.

Ella's big school bus ride!

It's official... we are tired! Miss Libby is the cutest thing ever and has a vivacious appetite! Daddy is getting very little sleep since Libby is in the basinette in our room and he is woken up every time I nurse. I haven't been able to pump yet... things are still too sore! ;0) TMI, I know. It would be much easier if someone could give her a bottle, but it just isn't in the cards right now. We have given her a little bit of formula and it upsets her belly, so it is all about the boob!

Daddy had his Central Welding golf tournament over the weekend. It is nice to have that completed and off his chest. It was a very nice event. We girls loaded up and went to visit with everyone after they were finished with the golfing. There was a nice luncheon and we got to introduce Libby to lots of the company family.

Ella had a big day on Friday. She got to go on her first bus ride. The bus picked her up from preschool, it went around the lake and we met at Lundeen Park for lunch and pictures with Clifford. It was a VERY fun day for her that she had been talking about for the last couple of weeks. SHE LOVES THE BUS!!! We have been trying to add things into her schedule that are fun for her and gives her special one on one time. She is doing reasonably well with the adjustment of Libby, but is also over the top INSANE with her energy level. It is all due to the adjustment but I am getting sick of telling her to stop jumping on the furniture, running through the house yelling and other things she KNOWS are NOT acceptable in our home. I feel bad putting her in timeout so much, but... she knows the rules. She is VERY sweet to Libby and a BIG helper to mommy. If we could just get the energy thing under control. You can only go to the park so many times in the day!!!

I am having to watch what I eat. Libby does NOT like fajitas (our regular friday night dinner with the neighbors). Anything spicy or containing preservatives seems to make her belly hurt.... Ate a costco hotdog the other day... that was a NO GO for the Libs! No big deal though, it is a great reminder to keep my diet to my normal plan. Lots of water, fruits, veggies and such. I don't know how it is possible, but I weigh the same today as I did when I got pregnant with her... I feel great, other than being tired~!

One week old!

I will post more pics in a few hours (gonna grab a nap while I can).

Miss Libby is now one week old. We are setting into a routine that is pretty doable. She is a nursing champion. I can't believe the difference between her and Ella. She is so content and very scheduled with her eating. There has been very little fussing and she is sleeping a lot. Some of that will change after she gets closer to a month old, so I am trying to take advantage of it while it lasts. Libby is DEFINITELY the second child... she is so used to hearing the busyness of Ella from the womb that NOTHING phases her. I swear a freight train could run through the house and it wouldn't bother her. Ella can, well be Ella, and the Libs is quiet and takes it all in stride. I can remember tip toeing around the house with Ella. EVERYTHING would wake her up or upset her. Libby is the polar opposite in that regard... well, at 8 days old anyway.

I am doing really well and am putting my all into it. Dale is wonderfully supportive and a great cheerleader. Anything I need he is right there helping out. I have cut out most of my busy schedule to focus on her and trying to stay healthy... without the exhaustion that I experienced with Ella. So far it is working! I am taking my vitamins, grabbing sleep while I can and have been grateful for friends meal deliveries that have helped feed the family and made my life much easier. We are so blessed to have such supportive friends that keep showing up and feeding us!

Dale's mom is coming over once a week and taking ella on fun playdates. This week they went to the park and rode her new bicycle that my mom brought over for her. She is learning how to ride it. Very cute. EVERY opportunity we have to burn off some of her energy is helpful. That is what we are relying on other most for... Ella play dates!!! This week Ella had a ride on a school bus for a pre-school field trip where we met at a park and got to have our picture taken with Clifford. I will upload a few pics of that shortly. It was a VERY fun time for her!

Alyssa (Sasa) is here helping out for anything/everthing I might need during the day. Right now she is taking Ella to pre-school so that we don't have to cart Libby around and can keep her out of the public for a little while longer. Her immunity, I am sure is better than yours or mine, but they recommend not throwing them into any environment that is germ infested for a while.... which I would say a room full of coughing and busy 3 year olds would be!

Our little family is thriving. I am LOVING every minute of it. It is difficult at times, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Milk Drunk... Straight out of the Gutter!

Libby is now 5 days old! The cutest little bug ever. We are doing great. Tired, sure... but we are adjusting and getting into the rhythm of a cafeteria that is open 24/7 and taking shifts to be sure everyone is getting enough rest. Ella is doing great adjusting to being a big sister and having some of the attention diverted towards Libby. We are making GREAT efforts to be sure she has lots of things to look forward to and special one on one time with mom and dad. We are making sure her schedule stays the same with pre-school and fun. Since she has sooooo much energy, we are getting her to the park to burn off steam. We have our college age helper Alyssa ("Sasa") to thank for the moments of needed relief. She is out of school for the summer and lives next door. We are blessed to have had her in our lives for the last 3 years. AND SHE LOVES BABIES!!! Ella kinda looks up to her as a big sister.

We had a doctors appointment yesterday and all is a'ok with miss Libby. She was 7lbs 3oz when we came home from the hospital. She has maintained that weight! She is an eating and pooping machine. MUCH different than the experience we had with Ella... Ella wasn't a good eater right from the beginning. I am trying to limit my VERY busy tendencies and be sure I am getting the rest I need. Our friends have been amazingly supportive with meals and keeping us well fed. That is sooooooo appreciated. I haven't had to think about what would be on our dinner table every night. We all get full bellies without any planning by mom!

Our first night home...

We did really well for our first night home. Had a great night last night. Feedings every 2.5 to 3 hours. I got a good 3 hour stretch of sleep (oh la la!). Daddy had a slumber party with Ella last night and slept until 1:30am in her room. He took over following the wee AM hours nurse and woke me up when she was ready for the next feeding. As a first night home from the hospital goes... it was perfect. Libby is a nursing champion. It seems as though I have enough to sustain her, which was not the case when Ella came home. We have this little device that I call the "boob straw" that is a mini plastic straw thread type thing attatched to a syringe that we can give her a few teaspoons of formula by lacing it in the corner of her mouth and SLOWLY pushing on the syringe while she is nursing. The exctra couple of calories has made the difference in her feeling full and happy. I ran to Target to pick up a few things I needed while Sasa watched her and Daddy took Ella to work. Sounds like we have some friends coming over tonight (Millers and Hansens) for a little visit and the Millers are bringing dinner. Doesn't get much better than that. Now... on to that nappy that I am needing~!

She's Here!

Elizabeth Marie Wilton
7 lbs 5 oz.
I woke up on the thursday morning at 6:30 told Dale I would see him after he got home from work that I was going to lay low for the day and hope to make it to a singing concert that Ella was supposed to be in with her preschool. Libby was riding very low and had been for the last few days. Contractions started at 7:00 am. I called Dale to come home at 7:10, we were at the hospital at 8:00. Dialated to 8, they got me in a bed, and she was born at 8:48!!! I had intense contractions and pushed 3 times. We hit a fair amount of traffic with all the construction in Lake Stevens... Thank god they finally let us through!

After she was born we had lots of visitors, fun and a little birthday celebration with the cupcakes that I made for her that were in the freezer waiting. The nursing staff enjoyed the sugar on the night shift and was very attending to our every need. We were comfortable and grateful to be in such great hands. It was nice seeing folks at the hospital and helped to pass the time!

We are home from the hospital now. We had the one night there that wasn't very restful and are glad to be home in our own beds. Libby has been wonderful. She eats like a nursing champion, is happy and pretty much is out like a light between feedings. We are trying to take advantage of the "rest" time she is giving us and HOPING this will be her pattern! Ella is VERY excited that her little sissy is finally home. She is adjusting to the idea that she needs to curtail some of her energy and try to contain some of her 3 1/2 year old excitement!!! There will be LOTS of trips to the park and utilizing "opportunities" to burn off the extra enthusiasm! She will be a BIG helper with all the "jobs" we will give her to help out in caring for Paby.