Prenatal Reunion

This week was a fun week for us. Ellie and I had our 6 week check-up, our first interactive (and repeated) smile, a trip to Grandma's, a Hitmen hockey game, and our Prenatal Class Reunion!

Our Prenatal Class Reunion was a blast. There were 8 couples in the class and everyone knew what they were having except us - everyone was having a girl. We had been getting huge boy "vibes" during our pregnancy, and our instructor, Gloria, was sure we were also having a boy by the way I was carrying the baby. I figured she knew what she was talking about as she'd been nursing for 30 years, so it was fun telling everyone that we had a girl. Only 6 families were able to make it to the reunion class, but it was a lot of fun playing with all the girls and seeing how cute they are.

The oldest baby was born on July 5, and Ellie was the youngest, born on September 10. The next youngest baby was 3 weeks older than Ellie, and I was just in awe to see the developmental differences that a mere 3 weeks will make.

Oct 10 - 1 month old

At our doctor's appointment this week, Ellie weighed 5 lbs 7 oz and was about 19.5 inches long! She had dropped to about 4lbs 2oz in the hospital, so her weight gain is something we get very excited about. We knew she's grown in length, as we've had to lengthen her harness, but we had no idea that she's grown two-and-a-half inches!! I look at her and think she's gotten so big, and then laugh at myself and think she's still not the size most babies are at birth.

Ellie has started interacting with us and her mobile, though at this point it's still mostly her mobile - she mainly looks at us with a "what are you doing?" type look on her face. She's an awesome baby.

Watch me Grow!

September 14, 2008
4 days old
about 4 lbs 3 oz
17 inches long
(still in the hospital)








October 11, 2008
1 month old
about 5 lbs 8 oz
19.5 inches long
(at home, protesting her bath)

Ellie's Hip - update

On Monday, October 6, Ellie and I made a trip to the Children's Hospital to have an ultrasound on her hip. My Mom was able to come with us as this was Mark's first day back at work, so that was really great. Ellie was very calm and relaxed during the entire ultrasound, but it was a real blessing to have an extra pair of hands.

The following day, Mark was able to come with us for our results appointment with Dr. Harder, our Orthopedic specialist. He said that the ultrasound showed that the cup of her hip joint had stabilized so her hip was no longer in danger of dislocating and she could go into a less-intense brace (as opposed to her harness) until the joint strengthens and solidifies. Praise the Lord!

Well, our little angel was too little for the pelvic brace - a brace that will go on outside her clothes - so she is still in her harness. The good news is that we are now able to take off her harness and bathe her normally (as opposed to sponge baths), without fear of injuring her hip at all.

We head back in 2 weeks for a status check on her harness and hip - originally, Dr. Harder had said it would take 3-6 months for Ellie to grow out of this, and he hasn't changed the time-line which is great it's not longer.

We are very thankful for the prayers and encouragement our friends and family have provided over these initial weeks and as we continue along this journey to complete healing.

Ellie's Hip

At her birth, the pediatrician discovered that Ellie had a displaced right hip. We had an Orthopedic Specialist from the Children's Hospital visit us while Ellie was still in the NICU - he said that it would be a 3-6 month process and that she would grow out of it. What he explained was that the socket that the hip sits in did not grow properly in the womb, so she needed to be placed in a harness to allow the hips to sit at the proper angle so this growth could take place.

During our first week at home, we had an appointment at the Children's and Ellie was dressed in her harness. We were told this harness would be on for a month, we would go back for weekly check-ups during this month, and at the end of the month her progress would be evaluated and the next step would be implemented. It was difficult to watch her go into this harness, but it doesn't phase her one bit.

Our Week #1 visit revealed that Ellie's hip had stabilized and the doctor couldn't pop it out - great news! He also said we did not need to go back until her ultrasound, which was great - we had a free week with no doctor's appointments!!

Ellie's ultrasound is on Monday (the 6th), so we will have a better idea of how her hip is progressing. We have lots of people praying for us and family and church friends have been great supporters to Mark and I through this.

I had to make a trip up to the Children's yesterday to see our nurse - Ellie has been growing so her harness had to be lengthened - very exciting to see!! At 3 weeks of age, she is now 5 lbs and 2 oz and has graduated from Preemie-sized diapers into Newborn-sized diapers - it's great to see her growing and plumping up.