A Story for Ellie

Over the past few weeks, Ellie has started asking to hear stories from when she was a baby. She loves these stories and prefers these "Baby Ellie" stories to her standard bedtime book. She has several favorites, like Baby Ellie falling into the ant bed and Baby Ellie smearing squash all over her face, but her absolute favorite story is the night Baby Ellie was born. Since this blog was created to chronicle the girls' lives, I think today would be the perfect day to include it on the blog. So, exactly five years later...here is your story.

Daddy and I had waited a long time for you to grow in my belly and couldn't wait to meet you. We went to the hospital on Tuesday, March 28 at 6:00 to get ready to meet you. We spent the night and the entire next day waiting for you. The doctor kept coming in to check on you, but you weren't ready to come out. They gave me medicine to help you come out and it finally worked!! After waiting all night and all day, Baby Ellie was born at 9:21 at night on Wednesday, March 29. When the doctor held you up and I saw your red hair, I cried. When the doctor put you on my chest, I cried. When I looked up and saw your daddy's face, I cried. Ellie, I was so glad to finally see you, that my heart filled with joy and tears just fell out all over your little pink blanket. Within minutes, our entire family was in the room looking at you, talking to you, hugging you, and thanking God for your safe delivery into our arms. After visiting for a while, everyone went home to rest after such an exciting day. Alone in the dark, quiet room, Daddy and I sat on the hospital bed together just holding you and thanking God for sending us such a perfect little baby girl. 
Five years later, Daddy and I sit on your bed, watch you sleep, and thank God for our compassionate, energetic, loving, and perfectly created baby girl.
Momma and Daddy love you...everyday!

Ellie's birthday party was this evening at the gym where she takes gymnastics. She had a blast and I think her friends did as well. She invited friends from both church and school and was so thrilled to get to play with everyone at once. It was so heartwarming to watch Ellie playing, laughing, and acting silly with each of her friends. Here are some pictures of Ellie and her friends celebrating "the big 5".

A Yellow Apple

Big news...Ellie earned her necklace and first charm by memorizing a Bible verse and reciting it for our children's minister at church Sunday night. She picked Galations 5:22 and earned a yellow apple charm. Can you quote it?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."       Galatians 5:22

Day 10

She's come a long way in 10 days!



Ellie-1 hour after surgery



Ellie- day 5

Ellie- day 10

A Great Start to Spring

I was sooo ready for spring break! Between Ellie's surgery, catching up on school work, flower beds hidden under weeds, and a house screaming for a good scrub, I was desperate for a week off. The beginning of the week found us still nursing poor Ellie, but by mid week, we were ready to get out of the house. Thursday, the girls and I went to visit my grandparents and dad in Marengo County. We had a great visit and I was astounded by the progress my grandfather had made since December when we were just praying he would be here for Christmas. I have to admit that the sight of him playing baby dolls with Ellie and Sadie Kate made my heart so thankful to my awesome God! Although Ellie still can't "play outside" until next week, she made the most of her afternoon with Pop (my dad) and MaMa and TaTa (my grandparents)...poor CiCi (my stepmother) was suffering through spring break at the beach. They hid eggs (hen, not Easter), played baby dolls, ate chips (not on Ellie's soft diet), ate ice cream (to make up for the chips), broke the swing, and got lots of hugs and attention. It was a great day in the country!

Ellie, baby doll, and Pop hide eggs for Sadie Kate.

Can you find the hidden egg?

Now that's one happy grandfather!

Playing Catch Up

Found myself with a bit of free time after the girls went to bed and wanted to catch up on some of the latest happenings with our family.

Mom and I took Ellie to the "Power of Pink" gymnastics meet at the university last month and thought, given her interest in gymnastics and all things pink, she would love it...we were wrong! She was ready to go after the first event but managed to stick it out for the entire meet.

P.S.    Bama won!!!



My mom and Ellie at UA gymnastics meet

Ellie patiently awaiting the first event.



The only person who can get me to wear pink!



Sadie Kate was "driving" around the house, stopped in front of the TV, pulled a book out of the "trunk", and started to read aloud to everyone in the room. This child absolutely cracks me up!

At least she isn't texting and driving!



This makes me laugh everytime I look at it-it's so Sadie Kate!

 

A Pitiful Patient

The first few days of Ellie's recovery were remarkable! She did not complain of pain very often and even said she didn't think she needed her pain medicine. She was sleeping through the night and playing around the house during the day.

UNTIL TODAY...

Last night she started trying to clear her throat and complained of some pain, then during the night, the pain really kicked in. She cried on and off during the night and begged me to make her throat stop hurting. She was miserable!!! After a 3am dose of pain medicine, she finally went to sleep and slept until around 9am. She still isn't eating anything and says cold and warm foods hurt too badly to eat or drink. I have been told that days 4-8 would be the most uncomfortable and painful and that has proven correct. Please keep this precious little girl in your prayers and pray that day 9 gets here quickly!!

Twas the Night Before Surgery

It's been a busy couple of days... I have notified daycare that Ellie will be out, made arrangements for Sadie Kate to be picked up, written out lesson plans for my sub, cleaned the house, filled the prescriptions, dug the blender out of the cabinet, and borrowed dozens of movies and games. I have explained to Ellie several times what will happen and even broken the news that there will be one heck of a sore throat coming her way. She's just excited about all of the attention and hoopla surrounding her, so I don't think she realizes that this is not going to be pleasant. We have to be at the surgical center at 7:30 in the morning, anticipate surgery starting around 9:00, and hope to be home by noon. Please say a prayer for Ellie, the staff, and our wonderful doctor in the morning...Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Overheard...

On our way back from dinner tonight, Mark and I are talking and somehow the word "engine" is mentioned. Ellie, from the back seat, pipes up and says, "Injuns steal pies!" Mark and I share a confused look, ask her to repeat herself, and begin to laugh. Mark takes a stab in the dark and says,"Like cowboys and injuns?" and Ellie replies,"No, like injuns that do karate and kick". Mark and I look at each other, still bewildered by our little one, until he finally says,"...oh, ninjas!" I'm still left wondering...where does she get this stuff and why do ninjas steal pies?
          
Sadie Kate came in from school one afternoon this week and declared that her friend, Lawson, had gotten a time out and had to sit in the "sad seat". We then talked about making good choices so we won't have to sit in the "sad seat". Curiosity struck and I asked if she had gotten a time out. She smiled and proudly replied, "Yep, I got two and Lawson only got one! Yay, Sa-Kate!" Makes a momma proud!

Our Little Gymnast

Ellie started taking gymnastics lessons in September and absolutely adores it. She has always bounced and tumbled around the house so Mark and I decided to add a little structure, and hopefully safety, to this activity. We have been really pleased with the interest, attention, and discipline the lessons have brought about. She will take a few weeks off to recovery from her surgery, but will resume lessons in the next developmental class. Here's a picture of Ellie during her last lesson in the preschool class.

Sadie Kate loves to watch her sister.

The rope swing into the foam blocks...Ellie's favorite!

Getting ready to try the vault.