2 months old

Can you believe that my baby is already 2 months old? This has been the fastest 2 months in my life and at the same time, by far the longest.

Its been a whirlwind with so much going on. What with Dave's first quarter at DU, family visits, getting settled into a new life in CO, our trip to CA, the ever-so-fun hospital stay, Dr's appointments and outpatient hospital tests. But its also been so amazing and slow-paced. Watching my baby learn and grow more each day. Literally seeing her eyes change as she comes to know the world and people around her. I get to hold her, listen to her many coo's. She smiles often and beautifully. She even laughed yesterday. I love all these first that I have the joy of being a small part of. Its the greatest gift and I hope to always keep these sacred memories.

Having been through so much with Olivia has made me love her all the more. I have desperately adored all of my babies but there is something different and sweeter this time. I need her in ways that I cant explain. I literally miss her when she's asleep. I cant stop kissing her and her smile can make a hard day feel like it never happened.

Enough sentiment. Her stats today were as follows:

weight- 9lbs. 2 oz.- 10th %

height- 22 1/2 inches- 50th %

head... cant remember but it was the 15th %

Its so strange to have a small one and to hear Doctors use the word "peanut" to describe her. I love it and hope she stays small and petite.

Just a few cute words from the kids

These are not necessarily the most whity or clever quotes. Just a bit that made me laugh these last few days. I am going to do these entry's much more often. Time goes so quickly and I forget way too much.

"Mom, you're frightening!" said Luke as I laid with him to go to bed lastnight.

"Ashley, you're driving me CRAZY!!!" Ella said when her friend colored a picture with the "wrong" color.

"Hi Baby girl. Is this a bumpy ride? Huhh? Is this a bumpy ride. Yes, its so bumpy, huhh? You're a cute baby girl, yes you are. Don't cry, its ok. We're almost there." Luke said to Olivia while she was crying in the car.

I pulled Ella away at a Primary party to use the bathroom. After she went she said, "You were right!!! Mom's really do know when its time for the pee pee to come out." 

"Im.... 88!" Ella tells everyone who ask's, "How old are you?"

"Papa's going to be so happy to see me, he'll be so excited to hug his Ella!" My overly confident Ella says when we count down the days till CA.

We drove by the Hospital where Olivia was born and I jokingly suggested we go back. Luke lit up and exclaimed, " Yes!!!! Boy baby now!!!"

"You have to marry someone pretty, that's why Im going to marry Ava.... cuz I cant marry Olivia, can I mommy?" He asks with a shred of hope.

My Sister was showing her Wedding Ring to Ella today, telling her how sparkly diamonds are. Ella replied, "Ohhh!! I love diamonds!!!" As her eyes lit up.

We love Primary!

This was so bad that it's good. This is Luke's new friend, Lance. He always picks the cutest friends!

Doing the "Turkey Dance" My friend Ashley made 40 of these cute hats. Ella put it on and said "Arrrgh me matey." She thought it was a pirate hat, it was so funny.

They were together the whole time, it was sweet

Luke working his magic

Ella hard at work

The kids got to go to one of their first Primary activities, Ella's first! They did an activity where they drew what they were Grateful for. Ella did food while Luke opted for the less obvious; Robots. Then they sang some songs and watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving, complete with jelly beans and popcorn (just like in the movie)

We had a great time and are really happy that we moved into this Ward which we love so much! 

That's a negative...

We're happy to announce that Olivia's VCUG came back negative. That means no more cath's, no more Hospitals and tests... but most importantly, no surgery!

Hooray!!!

And she is 8 lbs. 14 oz. now at 8 1/2 weeks. That's almost a pound growth in 3 weeks. We're thrilled.

Sleep!

We went to the park and she just sat in her seat while the kids all played. She's such a good girl. And notice her tear duct is still clogged :(

Just a cute picture taken with iphoto... so its terrible quality. It just makes me happy because she was fighting the binky for the past 2 weeks and I thought she was going to ditch it completely. Then I tried the Nuk brand again, this time she took it and loves it. Plus she can hold it in better than the hospital one, which use to be the only one she's ever take (with a fight at that)

Olivia has slept for 10 hours straight for the past 2 nights!!!! I am really loving this girl.

On a side note she is 8 weeks old today... blows my mind. And her VCUG is tomorrow along with a urine test and weight check today. I will pass along the news. I know she is growing better and faster now, I can see it in the way her clothes are fitting. She just grew out of her last preemie outfit and is finally into 0-3 month clothes. My guess is that she's almost 9 pounds... we'll see. 

She is still being a good, sweet baby. Its amazing the changes in her. She's no Christian, my Nephew who was the absolute best baby I have ever known, but she's still our easiest now.

Let it snow!!!

We finally got the first snow of the Season. The kids have been waiting for this day since we moved here, in July. They were outside in their gear by 8am!

We love the snow so... bring it on Denver. The Wirthlin's are ready for you.

The big 8 tag

8 Favorite TV shows

1. The Office

2. Arrested Development

3. One Tree Hill

4. Friends

5. My So-Called Life

6.Heros

7. Grey's Anatomy

8. LOST

8 Favorite Restaurants 

1. Ruby's

2. Islands

3. Maggiano's

4. Cheesecake Factory

5. Corner Bakery

6. Pot Belly

7. Panda Express

8. Club 33

8 Things that happened yesterday

1. Made Thanksgiving crafts with the kids

2. Talked to Jana

3. Cleaned the Kitchen

4. Kissed my Husband

5. Hung with my Colorado BFF, Ashley. She came over to watch a movie and we chatted the night away without ever putting the DVD in!

6. Ate too much candy

7. Snuggled and kissed my kids

8. Took Luke to and from Pre-School

8 Things I am looking forward to

1. Luke switching to morning preschool

2. Olivia getting a little older. Im excited to see the kids play with her

3.kissing my Husband

4. My next massage

5. Going to CA

6. Olivia's blessing and her beautiful dress that my friends Mom is making

7. Getting a family picture

8. Olivia sleeping through the night

8 Things on my wish list

1. Clothes

2. Flat ab's (gym pass)

3. The rest of my dinnerware (from our Wedding)

4. new floor mats for my van

5. a clean house

6. a clean car

7. a facial

8. shoes

Mr. Wirthlin

Its been 6 years, 5 months and 18 days since our first date. 6 years, 3 months (tomorrow) since he asked me to be his Wife. It's been 5 years 10 months 15 days since we promised one another that we were in it, good or bad, for Eternity. I  counted because those days were important. They were among the best one's I'd have. Or ever will for that matter. Its when the most important chapters of my life began.

There was something about Dave that struck me from the moment I first noticed him. We were in a meeting for Church and our Bishop reminded us all that Stake Softball was getting ready to start up again. He singled Dave out, who was of course in the back of the room. He spoke of how he'd never seen anyone throw a softball quite as far or as fast as Dave did. That is when I first singled him out. When it all started for me.

From that point I looked for him. I looked at him. I wondered if he'd ever do the same. I watched as he would approach the same group of friends at every activity. They'd come, find each other, and stick together the whole time. It was as though they thought there was no one else there. A snob, I thought. Too cool is what I called him. How would I get him to even see me?

I moved into a house with some girls who were friends of his.(this was unrelated to Dave, im not a stalker) Now he came to my house. Watched our TV and hung out in our living room until 1am. That's when I got to know him, And thats when I knew it was he who I'd be loving forever. It took a little longer for Dave, he needed a little motivation. In fact it was me who asked him out the first time. It was worth the blow to my ego. After that date we were hooked. I couldn't, and didn't, go a day without seeing him until we were married 7 months later.

And I am still obsessed. I adore him. He is all of the things I would write on my list's as a teenager. There is not one person in this world who gets me or loves me like he does and no one could be better for me. I still smile when I think of him and how lucky I am to have married this boy. I  am so happy and so blessed that he is mine!!!!

Ella's first day of Pre-School

I remember, vividly, Luke's first day of Pre-School. He walked into the classroom in his new shirt, looking so big and so darn handsome. He appeared as though he had been going to School for years as he towered over almost every single person in his class. He was ready. He told me that it was time for me to leave. I wanted to stay and watch him the entire time. He wouldn't have it. Luke was ready but sadly I was not. Here it was, the first time of many that I was dropping him off at School, in someone else's care. And driving away.
I can not believe that Ella is actually in Pre-School. We weren't going to start her until she was 3 but her Teacher met her and said she though she was ready! This time around I was ready with her. This time around she was the youngest and though she's tall for her age, she looked so small compared to all of the older 3 and 4 year olds.
Ella is so excited to be big like her brother. And I am still in awe as I realize how old my babies are getting.

Sweet Relief!!

Our now calm and peaceful Olivia

We are now home!!!

They released us on Saturday. The Doctor was going to keep us 2 more days so that Olivia could be on her IV longer but she said that if I promised to follow-up on Monday with our Dr. and to keep up with the at-home antibiotic that she'd let us go. I never promised something so adamantly. 

I must say that though that was a long, hard week I couldn't be more grateful.

Grateful for good Health Care and Care-givers. Grateful for Maternal Instinct that we Mothers have been blessed with. For the medications that were invented that have made my baby girl so happy and provided such relief to her little body. Grateful for Family and friends who were praying for us, calling us and sending their thoughts our way. Grateful for our health. There were kids there in that Wing who were sick. Really sick. One boy had a seizure while we were there and all I heard was him Mom in hysterics saying over and over again, "he just started shaking and convulsing. I didn't know what to do!" Im just so thankful that we were able to get the reflux resolved and to be able to discover, in the meantime, the other issues that were effecting this girl.

I always had that voice in my head telling me that Olivia was a sweet, calm baby. Though we rarely ever saw that. I just knew it to be true. And now I see it. Everyday. She is sweet and calm. She smiles. She nap's. She is happy and content. I realize now how much pain she must have always been in from the severe reflux she had and the UTI. It makes me sad. But it makes me so happy that we figured out the problem and that we're now able to get to know this beautiful little girl we've been blessed with. I love her more and more every day.

Something to make you smile

I love all of these. She is really reminding me more and more of Luke. Though she also looks so much like Ella. I seriously love that she links the 2 older kids together, its exactly what I hoped for.

Thanks Tonee for these. They came to me at the perfect time too, you're amazing. Its so nice to see Olivia in this light rather than with IV's in her hand wrapped in hospital blankets.

Hospital Update

such a big IV on such a tiny hand

crashed out after the cath and IV

Yes... we are still here. And have been since Monday. And will be until tomorrow.

I know we are doing what's best for this tiny baby but its hard to not want to be selfish and complain. Im tired. Im done getting no sleep and holding the patient all day. But I am grateful we are here and discovering what's going on with Olivia. And getting her better.

We discovered this morning that her urine test came back positive for a UTI. So it was a really good thing that the Dr. who wanted us to stay and do some basic tests did what she did. Though I cursed her name at the time.

They did a cath on her this afternoon, to do a more detailed urinalysis, and started her on an IV. Its sad to see her poked and prodded. And to see this needle resting in her tiny hand.

She will have a special ultra-sound this afternoon to rule out any kidney deformities and stay on the anti-biotic for 10 days. After that 10 days we will need to do a VCUG to see if she has reflux in her uriter, which Ella had. And possibly surgery if it is. Which Ella did.

This poor baby. No wonder she's been such a sad baby. This may have also been intensifying her acid reflux and her problems with digesting without pain. She's just had so much going on. Im happy we're getting it all fixed, each puzzle piece at a time.

And a huge thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. They are certainly felt and we are humbled by them all. We love you all and Olivia is so lucky to have you in her life, in all of your varying degrees.

An unexpected end to our week

....... The Hospital???? Read on.

Our weekend started like this.......

(we went to CA for a wedding. I only wish I took more pictures, we saw so many friends and family. It was great fun.)

And ended like this.......

taken after a very long night for the both of us.

in her iron crib

this bed on the right is about to be my resting place for the third night in a row.... lucky me! Dsve got to visit this night because of our friend, thanks Ashley! And to Charity for having the kids, on top of her day-care kids, so Dave could go to School this morning. She even had to clean up Luke's throw-up... he got sick. She's the greatest.

we have been in the Hospital for the last 3 days and will be here until tomorrow morning.

Olivia stopped breathing while we were in the elevator on the way to the baggage claim at DIA. I grabbed her from out of her car seat when I looked down and saw her going from red to purple. I was terrified yet surprisingly calm. I stimulated her by hitting her on the back as hard as I could until she let out a muffled cry and spit up a bunch of thick spit-up. It took her about 10 minuted to get her nice creamy complexion back and a sweet Family stayed with me as we waited. Then the panic and shakes set in.

We took her to the ER where they admitted her and started medication right away. To make a 3 day long story short she is fine now. They changed up her med's a few times and her formula a couple as well (she's now on a prescription only, $45 a can formula!!!) As of 11pm last night she has been "episode-free" so they will watch her through the night and send us home tomorrow. 

After some tests and x-rays we discovered he has "medically severe" reflux which was causing her voicebox to shut off. I always assumed she has had reflux but never thought it was this bad or could cause such severe problems. She'll see a GI and run a few tests but we think we've got it under control now.... hooray!!! And they think that she'll now put weight on as she is only 8 lbs. at 6 weeks.... she was 6 lbs. 15 oz. at birth.

We're both so happy to go home tomorrow. And so grateful all is good and well for our sweet, now happy girl. Im excited to get to know the new Olivia that we just met last night.

***** update******

as of today, Thursday, they're keeping us here for one more night and we should be ok to finally go home tomorrow.