More words, officially crawling, and TV appearances

So Kathryn is official crawling. Mind you, she is not a speed demon by any means, but she goes all over the den floor now!! She also has perfected da-da and she loves to call Greg from across the room and then she gets tickled when she succeeds and gets his attention! Much to Greg's dismay however, she also gets my attention and Maddie's attention by calling us da-da too!

Gotta run, Greg and I are giving testimony in church services this morning and we will be on the noonday news on ABC3340 tomorrow. We are speaking tomorrow on behalf of an upcoming event next Friday called Breakfast for Babies in benefit of the March of Dimes. As you may remember, we are the ambassador family for the Blue Jeans for Babies event in Birmingham coming up in November. This coming Friday there will be a $6 breakfast at Chappy's Deli that benefits the March of Dimes as well. We are being interviewed tomorrow about the event and how March of Dimes has touched our lives. We will also be at the breakfast on Friday so we hope to see you there. Email us if you would like more details!

Faithfully, Kelly

Lucky me!!

I was fortunate enough last night to get to see Jim Brickman in concert at the Hoover Library. It was a very small setting and very neat to get to see him play. Greg kept the girls and I went with my mom and two of her friends!

First words, Pizza, and Gas

Kathryn said her first word last weekend - she is now a huge proponent of "Bye-Bye!" Our nanny, Miss Cheryl taught her that and low and behold it was her first word. She has since moved on to the occasional "da-da" and of course who gets left out in the cold as the last word spoken (again), but ma-ma! (Can you tell that Maddie said da-da first too?) I am trying to reassure myself that da-da must be easier to say!

Maddie came home from school on Friday and told me that they had pizza for lunch and that she had brought some home for me. I am looking at my dear thoughtful almost 5 year old like "yeah right" when I look into her school bag to find a gallon sized zip lock baggie with a styrofoam plate holding a large slice of lunchroom style cheese pizza. I turn around to tell Maddie thank you and am slapped in the face with the world's largest grin and Maddie says, "I love you mommy!" She said that they got two pieces of pizza each and she didn't want her second one, but she didn't know if I had eaten lunch so she asked her teacher if she could bring it home to mom. I didn't eat it, but what an adorable thought!! Madelyn has such a kind heart!

Friday afternoon I was feeding Kathryn and about halfway through her bottle she rared back and pushed the bottle away. I am the self proclaimed Nazi baby feeder because I desperately want my tiny tot to grow, so of course I shove it back in her mouth and she again pushes it away. I can't figure out why she is being so ornery as Kathryn continues to squirm in my arms. After a few seconds, she lets out the largest poot I have heard from that small of an individual and then get this . . . she laughs. The little devil actually thought that passing gas was funny!!

I love being a mom. Faithfully, Kelly

First Soccer Game

Madelyn and her friends had a great time at their first soccer game. The girls played so well and went head to head with the boys. I was so proud of Maddie!! Her team wears burgundy jerseys and they picked their name tonight, so we are now routing for the Red Strikers!! Here is a quick picture or two from the game!!

Here are a couple of other photos too from the last few days. The first one is of Kat this past Saturday. She was all dressed up in her Auburn gear and I was changing her cannula and stickers so I snapped a photo of her without both - doesn't she look beautiful without them!!

This next one is of Kathryn in her new dress that our dear friend Kate made for her!! It looks just adorable on her!! Thanks Kate for making it. (Here she is showcasing her ability to go from lying on her back to getting back up to sitting - you heard me right!! - And Daphne, you won't believe how she does it!)

Here is one of Maddie and Kathryn snuggling in Kathryn's crib.

Kathryn's new favorite way to play. She thinks her toy bucket is an excellent hat!! (And she thinks that it is very funny to put it on her head.)


Last but not least, a new video of the girls playing in Kathryn's crib. Kathryn thought that this was very funny. Turn up your sound and listen to the giggles!!

Faithfully, Kelly

Camping, First Day of School, & First Soccer Practice

We had a wonderful time camping this weekend. It was very nice weather and the girls and Greg and I enjoyed being outside all weekend. We got up to the campground on Friday afternoon and got our stuff set up while we waited for Nini and Pawpaw to arrive that evening. (The camper was already there!!) We enjoyed a weekend full of fishing, relaxing, swimming, football, and enjoying some really great camping food like wings, hotdogs, and steaks!! The campground was just outside of Gadsden so only about a 45 minute ride for us!! The van looked like we were leaving for weeks (concentrator and oxygen will do that to you), but after two nights we were headed home Sunday afternoon!!

When we got home, we decided that Sunday and Monday (Labor Day) would be great days to finally tackle some outdoor projects we have wanted to do such as putting up lattice around the base of the deck and tilling/seeding a part of our backyard. Well you can sense what happened next, it ended up that Greg did all the work because someone had to watch Kathryn (who by this point was a little put out with the idea of spending anymore time outside). Poor Greg spent all Sunday afternoon and Monday from 8 am til 5pm working so hard and he finished!! It looks so great - I really do wish that I had been able to help!

Tuesday I had one more day away from work and Maddie had her school tea in the morning. It was so nice to get her back to school and seeing all of her friends! She seemed so excited to see everyone. Here is a picture of her on her first day back to school!




Tuesday night, Greg and I had to split up for events! It was parent orientation at Maddie's school so off goes mom to that at 6:00 and at the same time was the first soccer practice for Maddie (Greg got that duty). (And Kathryn stayed home with Nini!) Here are some pictures from her first soccer practice.




Let me just say that I love her new teacher this year. Miss Cassie seems just great! She is very detailed and organized which is right up my alley!! They are going to learn so much this year in 5K - they are scheduled for math, spanish, phonics, writing, reading, etc. They have homework every week, fieldtrips every month, and tons of neat things that they will do in the classroom to learn responsibilities. I can't wait to see how much she grows this year!!

I'll leave you with some random pictures from our house lately - sorry it's been so long since I have posted pictures!!






Faithfully! Kelly

United Way Video??

Ok, so I am trying to figure a way that I can share the video. I am hoping to cut only my part, but the only way I can share it is if I make it a private post. So, if you are interested in seeing it, please email me or let me know and I can forward the password. I will let you know when I get it posted.

Kelly

The zoo and our upcoming weekend!!

So yesterday, I took the girls to the zoo and then we had lunch with Nini and Pawpaw and went by Pawpaw's office to meet his work friends. Both of the girls behaved themselves quite nicely. We were planning to go bowling in the afternoon because it said on the website that it is smoke free - WRONG!! Poor Maddie was so sad that we couldn't go bowling but when I explained to her that the yucky smoke wasn't good for Kathryn's lungs, she said that if it meant not going bowling, she just wanted to make sure that Kathryn could breathe - AWWWWW, too sweet!! Maddie is such a protective big sister! Anyway, last night Maddie had choir so she was pretty thrilled with that and quickly forgot bowling.

Greg is headed home in just a little while and we are taking the girls to the McWane Center for the afternoon. This evening and first thing tomorrow we are preparing for another camping weekend away. This is only our second time to go away from home with Kathryn but we really enjoyed the last camping weekend so much and it seemed like a mini vacation!! We are going to a campground near Gadsden and will get to stay for two nights with Nini and Pawpaw in their camper. We figure we better travel now before fall/winter comes back around and we have to go into semi "lockdown" again during the flu season! Hopefully this is the last winter we have to worry about this with Kathryn!

We hope that everyone enjoys a long Labor Day weekend. We should have plenty of wonderful pictures to share from our weekend!

Faithfully, Kelly

Celery, Soccer, and the Big Movie

So, I'll bet you are confused by the title? Friday night we went to eat dinner with Nini and Pawpaw at the Cheesecake Factory and Kathryn remained fussy at the beginning of the meal. Puffs were not keeping her satisfied. So I gathered her up and sat her in my lap - which is a little tougher now that she is a reacher and a grabber! Anyway, she reached and then she grabbed my celery from my plate and then she gummed every single piece! So we have a celery gummer!!

Maddie is all ready for soccer - we got her cleats, shin guards, soccer socks, soccer shorts, and her new bag came in the mail. She and Greg practiced on Sunday and I must say that she seems to be a natural! Of course, both of her uncles played so I think that she comes by that talent in the family genes!

I am on vacation this week and am spending the time with my girls (and cleaning the house during rest time and in the mornings while they still sleep). Anyway, yesterday we went to the big movie and Kat did so wonderful!! She feel asleep at first and then woke up as soon as the first loud noise started. She never fussed, watched some of the movie, and then took a nap. Of course, it was a Monday afternoon 2:00 movie and luckily, Maddie, Kat, Nini and I were the only people in the entire theater!! Our own private showing!

I think I have been failing to mention Kat's milestones, so I thought I would give a brief update:

• she has been sitting unassisted for several months now
• she is attempting to belly crawl, not very well yet though
• she is "eating" some finger foods - like Gerber puffs, small amounts of bread, mushy banana
• she still has no teeth
• her bottles are still only 4 ounces or so
• she does ok with baby food, but she could easily take it or leave it
• she pulls to standing from her knees in her pack and play
• she loves the exersaucer and her bebe pod (like a bumbo)
• her favorite toy to play with appears to be books
• she still takes the type of paci she had at the hospital as a preemie - she won't even consider another kind
• she still wears 3-6 month clothes and some 6-9 month, and about to move to size 3 diapers
• she adores bath time!
• she looks beautiful without the cannula and stickers (I get to see it briefly when I change them)
• she still has never slept a night in her bed
• she smiles a lot and she does a lot of baby babble - no words yet
• she adores Maddie - they already have the sister bond
• she loves pulling a blanket up to her face and "hiding"

Better run - time to feed the munchkin!

Kelly

Ellis Household Happenings!

Kathryn is now officially pulling to standing as of this past weekend. She only does it in her playpen and her bed, but still enough to frighten you when you walk around the corner expecting to see a baby sitting down and there she is staring at you!!

Madelyn is signed up for soccer this fall -- her first stint in organized sports. Well, she's almost 5 - I don't know that you can call it organized, but I think that she will love it!! We ordered her a soccer bag for her cleats, shin guards, and ball. She is so excited!!

Greg and I are just the boring parents - we know you check the blog to see what's going on with the girls!!

Faithfully, Kelly

Maddie and Dad at "work"

Maddie and Daddy hard at work at Camp Cosby! Maddie thought she was something else in her girly pink hardhat!!

I love my family!!

The rest of our week

Kathryn is doing just great on 3/4 L of oxygen - I think we will have no problems turning her down to 1/2 L in another week!! I am so glad to see her dropping her oxygen levels and handling it so well!

Wednesday of this week we had our Wednesday night kickoff program at church so the whole family went!

Thursday, Kathryn had her six month follow up with Cardiology and they gave her an excellent report. They advised us to come back in a year and a half when she is almost 3 - isn't that wonderful!? One less doctor visit!! Thursday was also my first meeting with the Children's Hospital Patient Parent Advisory Council that I was asked to be a part of. We were able to see some information about the new Children's Hospital that they are building in Birmingham by 2012 and it looks fantastic. I hope we don't have to go back to living at Children's again, but if we ever do, I hope we wait til then!

This weekend has been filled with snuggle time and errands for me and Kathryn. Madelyn and Greg went to Camp Cosby yesterday to help clean up with a group from his work. Maddie was so excited all week about going to work with Daddy!! She told me when they got home that Daddy works pretty hard when he is at work - I think Maddie thought that was what Daddy does everyday. She said she helped pick up the biggest sticks I ever saw - Greg says they were about the size of a ruler, but she thought they were huge. Isn't that cute?

Faithfully, Kelly

Oh - and I got my United Way video back from Regions. It's very neat!! I'll figure out a way I can share my part (if I can).

Clinic Update and the United Way Lunch

Clinic Update:

Great Clinic visit. We got the ok to drop two meds!! We also were told to ween Kat to 3/4 liter of oxygen for the next two weeks and if she tolerates it, then go to a 1/2 liter!! (That is amazing!!) So far today, she has done excellent!! Kathryn's weight gain has slowed the last two months to 10 grams a day where for the previous four months she was at 14 grams a day, so that was a little bad news, but the doctors aren't making any changes right now. So. . . . until October, that's the clinic news.

United Way Lunch:

All went well - at least I thought so!! I think I was asked to do another one right after I spoke, but I am not sure. Will update more on that later!!

Thanks for the prayers for the United Way event. My fears were calmed!

Kelly

Monday Madness at the Doctor

BPD Clinic visit today at 2:00. I am hoping for some changes today!! Will update later . . . .

Chocolate milk - am I allergic?

Well for those who know Maddie well, you know that she has thrown up every time in her life that she has had chocolate milk. So recently she told my neighbor that she was allergic to chocolate milk just as she had ordered a chocolate milkshake for Maddie (because that is what she had asked for with her lunch at Krystal)! Of course I received a panicky call at work from Christine . . . "um, Kelly, is Maddie allergic to chocolate milk? She just asked for a chocolate shake, I ordered it for her, and now she tells me she is allergic to chocolate milk!!" So I of course tell her, "no, she's not allergic" and then I explain why Maddie might have said that.

So yesterday afternoon, Maddie says that she would like to have some chocolate milk and here is the conversation:

"mom, can I have some chocolate milk?"
"no maddie, you know that you always throw up when you drink chocolate milk"
"well, moooooooom, you said I'm not allergic"
"that's right, maddie, you aren't allergic, but you still throw up each time you drink it - do you really want to get sick"
"well, I just won't talk to you each day I can't have any"
"that's wonderful - it will be a very quiet week - thank you maddie"

PAUSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 SECONDS (probably less)

"but mooooooooom, pleeeeeeeeeeeease?"
"i thought you said you weren't talking until you could have some"
"well that starts tomorrow"

What a simple and adorable conversation with a 4 1/2 year old. It reminded me of how quickly we, as adults, abandon our convictions too! Whenever it becomes inconvient for us to stand up for what we believe in, we jump ship. I challenge myself and each of you to hold strong to your convictions and be steadfast in what you stand for and the choices you make! Wow, I hope to uphold my challenge!

On another note, I ask that you start praying feverently for me and my upcoming speaking challenge - I mean engagement! I speak on Tuesday at the Birmingham area United Way Agency Kickoff luncheon about our blessed receipt of services offered and funded in part by the United Way through Children's Hospital. I haven't been nervous until today when I began to talk through my "speech" and started to wonder how I will make it through without tears in front of a large group of executives! The only way I know is with prayer - so I humbly ask for your assitance in joining with me to pray that words from my mouth will make a difference!

Faithfully and humbly his servant!

Kelly

Oh shoot - I got called!!

In the mail today was my notice that I have been called to my first ever jury duty. September 15 it is. Like I really have time for that right now. Oh pooh!

A nice relaxing night

Last Friday night, Greg and I spent the night away from home for the first time since Kathryn's birth (other than Children's Hospital - which doesn't count!) For our anniversary in May, my dear sweet husband gave me a gift certificate for a night to Ross Bridge Resort. Well we finally were able to use it and we checked in Friday afternoon around 3:00 pm. We spent the afternoon around the pool and I was able to enjoy a massage. For dinner, we ate there at the hotel and had a nice time relaxing on our balcony overlooking the pool. Around 6:45 pm, a bagpipe player stood overlooking the pool and the golf course and played Amazing Grace. We had a wonderful uninterrupted night of sleep and woke to a fantastic breakfast buffet!

All in all, it was time wonderfully spent and a very relaxing night away from home. My mom, Nini, stayed at our house with Madelyn and Kathryn and they enjoyed every minute of their time here too!

The rest of the weekend was spent with fun chores, yard work, church, and a diaper shower on Sunday.

Nothing eventful this week so far. Gearing up for next week when we have three doctor's appointments, Wednesday Night Kickoff at Church, a speaking engagement for Birmingham United Way, and a meeting at Children's Hospital for the Patient/Parent Advisory Council that I was asked to participate in!

Please pray for the Birmingham United Way event. I was asked to speak at the United Way Agency Kickoff luncheon for the Birmingham area next Tuesday August the 12th. From what I was told, the attendees are executive directors of the agencies that benefit from funding through United Way. I am speaking of behalf of my association with Regions Bank and our experience as a family with Children's Hospital. I know that it will be easy to speak since Kathryn's story is so easy for me to tell, but please keep me in your prayers that the right words are spoken and the right meaning is conveyed!

And last but not least, it appears that Greg and I will be appearing on local news on ABC 3340 on September 22 at the lunchtime news hour. There is an event in Birmingham on September 26 that is called Breakfast for Babies that will benefit the March of Dimes. Since we will be the Blue Jeans for Babies Ambassador Family in November, they asked if we would be willing to help for this event too. Sooooo, . . . . we will be interviewed during the lunchtime hour that day and talking about our association with the March of Dimes and about our beautiful preemie daughters!

Faithfully, Kelly

The photo shoot

We had a great time at our 1st birthday photo shoot! They took 108 pictures - here are a few of the best ones!! Sorry it took a little time to get these posted!


Look Who's One?








I love my girls!!! Kelly

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GREG!!

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

Love, Maddie and Kat

Our Birthday Weekend

We had a WONDERFUL weekend celebrating Kathryn's first birthday!! Here's a recap:

Friday - Kathryn and I spent some time together just the two of us on her birthday morning while Greg was at work and Madelyn at gymnastics camp. She and I then took a little trip to the Brookwood NICU where it all started and we were able to see many of the nurses and Dr. DiCarlo. He was so amazed at how big she is. Kat and I picked up Maddie from camp and had lunch with Nini - just the girls (which was very nice)! Friday afternoon, Greg and I took the girls to have professional photos made and they turned out incredible. (I'll try to share a few in the next few days!) Friday night, Greg and I and the girls had dinner out with Nini and Pawpaw to celebrate Kathryn's birthday at Firebirds.

On Friday Kathryn received many birthday phone calls from Nini and Pawpaw, Uncle Beau, Aunt Brit, Uncle Eric, Nana, Pops, our dear friend Nurse Ginny, our sweet nanny Miss Cheryl, ans so many of our close friends. It was so nice to hear from everyone who remembered Kathryn on her very first birthday!!

Saturday - We spent lunch time with our dear friends, the Redmonds, for Jacob's first birthday. Many may know that Alex Redmond and Madelyn plan to marry one day, so Greg and I have decided, along with the Redmonds, that Kathryn and Jacob will marry in the same ceremony. Much cheaper that way and much easier since both children have the same set of inlaws!! (And we really enjoy spending time with the Redmonds, so that makes holidays very easy!!)

Saturday evening we had Kathryn's first birthday party. We were very fortunate to have a house full of people! We shared our evening with college friends, the Mungers and Sawyers; new friends, the Redmonds, the Anglins, and the Randalls, our nanny Miss Cheryl and her husband William, and family of Nini and Pawpaw, Nana, my Aunt Dahl and her roommate and about 10 children!! It was a wonderful celebration of the last year with Kathryn and of Greg's birthday tomorrow!!

Sunday, as you can imagine, was a wind down day from the weekend festivities! We were all very tired but we enjoyed every bit of our celebration and our time with dear sweet friends and with wonderful family!

We look forward, with anticipation, to what the next year holds for our family!!

Faithfully, Kelly

Happy Birthday Kathryn!!!!

What a difference a year makes!

Birthday Eve

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet Kathryn!

I wanted to take some time tonight to think about how I felt this time last year on the eve of Kathryn's birthday. Of course this time last year I didn't know that tomorrow would be her birthday. What I felt was extreme pain, a throb in my head that sounded like someone pounding on a drum, a thump in my heart that felt like someone jumping up and down, and the buzz of several nurses and family members when my blood pressure elevated so much that they were concerned I would have a stroke. Throughout the night, the doctors and nurses monitored me constantly. I was fairly knocked out on pain medication. Over the next 24 hours we experienced God's grace and the prayers of many friends and family.

The next morning, July 25th, 2007, they started my magnesium sulfate (or mag sulfate to my fellow pre-eclampsia mothers) around mid morning. The first thing I told Greg when they mentioned the drug was that they must be considering delivery because that was what I had received prior to Madelyn's birth as well. He assured me that it must be precautionary, but my worst fears were that they were preparing us for Kathryn’s birth. I say worst fears because our meetings with the neonatologists up to that point had been very grim. I mean it’s their job to inform us that babies born this early have very strong possibilities of brain hemorrhages, feeding concerns, lung concerns, and fear of infection. So, as bullet proof as I wanted to feel, I was terrified!

Greg later told me that he knew early that day when they started the mag that they were planning for delivery later that afternoon, but that he couldn’t worry me. I spent the afternoon in pain, anticipation, and fear and then at 3:00, Dr. Kennedy said that she could no longer wait to deliver or it would endanger both of us.

Around 4:45 they took me back to the delivery room and prepared for delivery and a few minutes before they started Greg came in to the Operating Room. I remember feeling so helpless, but I also remember feeling like I was floating. I think that I knew that feeling was the prayers that were surrounding our family of three, soon to be four.

Kathryn Bryan Ellis was born at 5:01 pm on Wednesday July 25, 2007 at 14 ounces and she was beautiful. Greg said she was moving and she made a small cry before they bagged her and then rushed her to the NICU. I’ll never forget the first time I visited her in the NICU as they wheeled me in still lying in my hospital bed. I was amazed at how tiny she was.

On the eve of Kathryn’s first birthday, I can’t believe the last year of our lives. We have experienced a miracle. Madelyn and Kathryn adore each other. Greg and I have grown stronger in our marriage and the four of us have a bond that is untouchable. We thank everyone who has prayed for us!

Faithfully,

Kelly

Please send up prayers

Today is the day one of our NICU friends is having her colostomy reversed. Please pray for Addie and her parents and that everything will go just perfectly!! I know that they are ready to move past this chapter!!

Kelly

Gymnastics Camp,Where do Babies Come From, and the Mystery Curve

Gymnastics Camp:

Maddie started gymnastics camp today and she said that there were two girls in her class that were sassy and popular and weren't nice. I asked her what popular meant and she said, "not sharing, not nice to you, and just mean." Hmmmmm. . . .

Where do babies come from:
She also told Greg and I tonight how babies happen - she said that you ask God for a baby in your tummy and you get one. Then you wait lots of weeks for it to get bigger and then your tummy hurts. Then your doctor says it's time to get your baby and you go to the hospital and they cut your tummy and reach in and get the baby. Then they rinse it off and give it back to you and you both stay in the hospital until you aren't sick and then you go home. So, Greg and I asked how long does the baby stay at the hospital and I kid you not, Maddie said, "ummm, like 16 weeks." Well, I guess in our family that's not inaccurate!

The Mystery Curve:

Maddie kept asking me for help in how to write the mystery curve. I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she tried to draw it for me and I realized what she was drawing - ? So, a question mark is also called a mystery curve.

She is so smart. It's great learning through a child's mind!!

Kelly

One Year Ago Today

I was admitted to the hospital around 6:30 am for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). Little did we know that we would meet Kathryn in just 4 more days!

Only one more week . . .

til Kathryn is one year old!!! I absolutely can not believe it has been a year almost.

We have a busy week coming up. Next week Maddie has gymnastics camp and private swim lessons. Kathryn has physical therapy, Greg has a day trip to Tuscaloosa and a second day trip to Memphis, I am working and getting ready for the birthday party and then we are taking the girls for some professional photos next Friday on Kathryn's birthday. It will be Kathryn's first time! I can't wait to see how they turn out!!

Have a wonderful weekend - we sure plan to!

Kelly