7.10.09

We're starting this blog so that family/friends can keep up with our family in pictures, stories, daily life in general.  

Ella has been home with us for 3 weeks now (as of yesterday).  We are starting to get into the swing of things.  Kaitlyne loves her little sister, and so far, hasn't shown much jealousy at all (lucky for us!)  She wants to touch, kiss, and hold Ella all the time, though, of course!

Ella has been to the doctor 3 times since she's been home.  Twice to our regular pediatrician, and once to the surgeon.  All reports are that she is doing fabulously, and the visit with the surgeon went great as well.  She is up to 8 lbs.  1 oz. We found out that her left lung has expanded to fill up her chest cavity, and you can't tell that it's any different or has been any different from her other lung.  YAY!!!  Thanks to all who prayed for her once again.

For our Illinois readers :)  We all will be coming back to the IL in October for my best friend's wedding (wait, isn't that a movie =D )  My friend Melissa is getting married October 24th, so the whole family will be making the trek back to the midwest around that time (not sure of the exact date yet).  I am a bridesmaid in the wedding, and Kaitlyne is the flower girl!!  It should be a great time, and we're going to visit as many people as we can while we're there also.

This month is already flying by.  My mom will be coming to visit at the end of this month, I'm really excited about that.  She will be staying for 5 days or so.  My dad, grandma, and brother Jeremy came shortly after Ella was born and stayed for a week, too.  It's always great when family/friends come to visit.  

Kaitlyne's 3rd birthday is next month--August 17th.  So hard to believe that she will be turning 3 years old!!!  We haven't decided yet what the party details will be, but I'm sure there will be one!  She has been going around lately telling everyone who will listen "I will be three in August!!!"  Too cute.  In September, she will be starting Discovery kids preschool at the local YMCA.  It is a great program, 3 days a week from 9-12.  Nothing too long, but I wanted her to have some interaction with other kids, and have fun as well.  The program has swimming, Spanish, as well as all the pre-writing/reading, and academic type aspects.  She is SOOO excited about it; she can't wait.  She asks me all the time when she's going.  

Tuesday of this week, I took the girls to the free summer movie at Brier Creek theater.  During the summer, all of the regal theaters in the area (and across the country) offer free kids movies on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.  We went last year, and so I decided to take the girls again this year.  Obviously Ella doesn't get much out of it, she slept in the sling the whole time, but Kaitlyne really enjoys it.  We saw Island of Nim this time, it's a cute story about a little girl who has her own island with her scientist dad.  Afterwards, we headed over to Chick-Fil-A for lunch and to let Kaitlyne play.  She's finally big enough and brave enough to climb up the entire playland and actually slide down the slide.  Every single time she slides down, she runs over to me and screams in excitement.  It's hilarious.  Oh--also, as she climbs the stairs she counts them REALLY loud.  And, of course, she always skips #6, so it's "One, Two, Thee, Foe, Five, Sevent, Eight, Nine, TEN!!!!"

Wednesday was our appointment with Dr. Helmrath, Ella's surgeon at UNC Children's hospital.  He is such a nice guy!  He is very mellow, calm, etc.  He made us feel very at ease (as much as we could at least) whenever Ella was about to have her surgery back in May, and he was like that again on Wednesday.  As I said before, the lung looks great and she will follow up with him in 6 months, and then once a year after that.  Here's a pic of him and Ella bell:

After the appointment, we went out to eat with Michael's mom Debbie at Mama Dips restaurant. YUMMMMY!!!  Then we headed back to the bank (where Debbie works) and Kaitlyne and Ella had some presents there from grandma Debbie and Grandpa Steve, as well as a few presents from some employees at the bank too.  Such cute stuff!

Yesterday was sort of a down day for us.  Michael had to work until close, so the girls and I ventured out to McDonalds and then did some shopping/coupon hunting at Kroger :)  Today has been fairly uneventful as well.  Not sure what we're going to do over the weekend.  Michael has to work both days :(  boooo  

Here are some new pics of Kaitlyne and Ella, some of them are from my iphone, so the quality isn't all that fabulous.