Good Reports

Ellis had a marathon check up yesterday with several specialties in a row. We like these kinds of visits, even though they are exhausting, because it's much more efficient than making separate trips up to Cincinnati. Yesterday we saw high risk doctors, speech pathology, nutrition, and squeezed in an audiology referral. Everyone was very happy! Except Ellis. But all her doctors gave her very good reports, and we are now scheduled to return a few times in the next couple of months for follow up testing. She's still in the 75% range for weight and 65% for height, with very nice growth and mental development that is off the charts. Her speech is coming along nicely, although she does still have a long way to go in that area. We hear new little sounds every day. We thank everyone, as always, for your prayers for Ellis's progress.

Here's a new favorite picture of Ellis and Greg playing in the sprinkling rain. She insisted they switch umbrellas and like a good Daddy, he relented.

And she is becoming a very big help in the kitchen, especially on tasks that require sorting or tasting.

Blooming Beauty

I'm so excited to share these pictures! Greg and I took them one perfect afternoon, just after it rained and the sun came out. I think Ellis gets more beautiful every day.

Mess Maker!

Ellis is a mess maker, but this time it was our idea. She was glad to help out our buddy Moe make some colorful new wrapping paper!

The other really fun thing we did this weekend was to make another visit to the game farm! Ellis loves to feed the ducks with Janny and Granddaddy. 

Shout Outs

What a busy, busy week and weekend! I haven't gotten to be very bloggy lately. Let's have a catch up day!

First, happy birthday to Robin Granny and Sgt. Uncle Grant! Ellis loves you both very much, and we do too!  It was great to have an extended visit from Uncle Grant and buddy Rachael. Ellis loved playing with you both and showing off some of her new signs. Come back soon! And Ellis hopes Robin Granny had a great celebration with lots of gifts and special treats. She worked very hard to make your present, which we hope Grant has delivered by now. We hope to see you again soon, too!

Next, happy actual BIRTHday to the newest member of our extended family, precious baby boy E.M.! We are sure he and Ellis are going to be fast friends, and we can't wait to spoil him in person. Baby Boy E will be making a debut on his own blog at the right time, so I'm not going to spoil the fun by leaking too many details. But we are so excited!!!!! Ellis did a happy dance when I told her she had a new friend.

And another big happy BIRTHday to the sweet baby Abel! Ellis's buddy Owen is a big brother! We are so happy for this amazing family and can't wait to squeeze his little cheeks. What a tremendous blessing!

So in other news, Ellis has been doing great with her trach cap, wearing it all day, every day. She's still not ready to sleep with it on, but all that hard work during the day will surely pay off by strengthening the muscles around her airway. She's also learning new things every day. It's such a fun age to watch. She knows lots of colors now, all her letters, and numbers from 1 to 10. She can't write them, of course, but she can find these things on a page (or the side of a truck, building, puzzle, etc.) when asked. And now we are working on the sign language signs for letters and numbers. She's got the color signs down. I am constantly amazed at how her little mind works.

We want to thank Rachael Sherman for taking these pictures this weekend and letting me share them here. Maybe soon you will be hearing her name listed among the best professional photographers out there, and we can say we knew her when. :)

Colors & Shapes

Ellis had a good checkup yesterday at her eye doctor. We will continue patching her eye two hours a day, but maybe it won't be long before we can quit. She was a perfect baby through the whole day, even in spite of extremely long waits and one terrible blood test experience.
I have managed to get a little more video of Ellis showing off her newly acquired knowledge. She's on to my usual camera hiding places, so I have had to become a little more creative. In this one, she will show you some shapes and colors. You'll see the signs for red, blue, green, yellow, and orange. She also knows the signs for brown, black, pink, and purple. Yes, this is what I do for fun now. I document every new thing she learns. I promise not to wear you all out with it, but every now and then I just have to share. So proud of our sweet baby!

Patience, Polka Dots, Pigtails

 We had some disappointing news this week. We were all set to go for Ellis's capping trials in a couple of weeks, but it has become apparent to us lately that she is simply not ready. She's still doing great during the day with her breathing, even wearing her cap up to 12 hours at a time. But the few times recently she has fallen asleep with it on let us know that she is still struggling at night when everything relaxes. After speaking to her doctor we all agreed that putting her through a 48 hour capping trial was unnecessary right now. He recommended postponing for six months to let her get bigger and stronger and then trying again. We can always consider more surgery to open up breathing room, but none of us want to rush into that right now. We had gotten our hopes up, I suppose, that we were coming to the end of living with a trach. We are still on track, just delayed. So, now we wait.
This verse has been in my mind this week.
"...we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)  I've been thinking this week about how those words are in exactly the right order.

In the spirit of keeping things positive around here, let's look at some pictures.

Ellis has really enjoyed playing with her removable wall decals, including these colored dots. She very carefully considers each one, usually telling us its color first, then places it purposefully on the wall. I think she has a better grasp of composition at two than I did when I entered architecture school.

Seriously. Who do I call at MoMA?

In another happy moment this week, Ellis was agreeable to trying pigtails, which tickled me to no end. 

It's all I can do not to smother her in kisses every second of every day.

As always, we appreciate your prayers for Ellis's strength and progress and of course, our patience. Thank you!

Baby Genius

One of the things Ellis got from us for her birthday was a set of animal alphabet decals to go over her bed. She had the most fun helping us put them up, and she was doing so great identifying her letters and signing her animals that I asked Greg to grab the camera. 

I just have to brag on the baby for a minute. I am such a proud Mama. She knows most of her letters, some of her numbers, and the basic colors. I am trying to get more on tape so in twenty years when someone says I am making it up I will have proof. We are so proud of her, especially in light of all the challenges she has faced up to this point. She would have every right to be a cranky, difficult baby who just waited on others to do everything for her. But she is exceptionally motivated to learn and be independent. We thank God every day for our biggest blessing.