Well, I think I can say that this has been one of the longest months of my life...very eventful, exhausting, and happy (mostly) all at the same time. You would think that just the fact that we have a new baby would constitute an opening like that, but no, we've had way more fun that JUST that.
Our beautiful baby girl was born on the 3rd and we are so happy that she is here! She has proven to be such a sweet little baby and has a really calm, gentle little spirit. My mother came up for the week after she was born and it was such a blessing to have her here to take care of all of us!
The weekend after my mom left, we went over to western Idaho to attend our niece's baptism in Twin Falls. It was wonderful to see Nels' family and by the time we were leaving Twin, headed back to Mnt. Home, we were all pretty exhausted! As we were leaving the city, our poor van got a very rude "kick" to the bum by a Toyota Tacoma. The girls didn't think it was that fun either. We spent an hour or so with a cop and the driver of the truck (who I believe was lighting a cigarette at the time of the accident) in a Wendy's parking lot. Other than a bent frame, demolished bumper, and doors that are difficult to open, we all are fine, but it's been quite a pain taking care of all the insurance stuff related to being rear-ended.
The day after we got back from Mnt. Home, I packed the girls down to my parents house for a brief visit to drop off and pick up a few things. We left my parents home at 6:00 one morning to make it back to Idaho Falls in time for a dentist appointment for Hazel, a 2 week check up for Elsie at the pediatrician, and another appointment here at the house that afternoon to get new windows installed. (They look really fantastic, by the way)
At her appointment with the doctor, Elsie had a bit of a cold that she had picked up from her lovey sisters, but she was doing just fine and growing well, just needing regular cleanings with the bulb syringe. By Friday night she had started doing strange little grunty sounds every time she breathed and we decided to take her to the ER to just make sure that she was okay and to make sure she didn't have RSV or something. That night they not only checked for RSV (a miserable experience in and of itself) they also drew 3 vials of blood, started giving her fluids and antibiotics through an IV, did a catheter to check for a UTI, an x-ray to check for pneumonia, put her on oxygen to help her breathe better, and a spinal tap to check to meningitis. (By the time they did the spinal tap, I was crying too.) They then admitted her so that they could figure out what was going on and to keep an eye on her. Four days later, she was doing much better and finally able to breathe okay without the oxygen, so they sent us home. The doctor figures that it was possible that she had a touch of pneumonia or possibly a new virus (very similar in all respects to RSV) called meta pneuma virus. It's quite the experience to got to the doctor expecting to stay a few hours and instead be admitted for FOUR days!!! While I stayed at the hospital with Elsie, Nels's spectacular sisters practically lived at our house to take care of Hazel and Lilie. By the end of our stay at the hospital, poor Elsie would squirm and boob every time someone would even come in our room and check her vitals. I think she had learned that pretty much every time someone comes in they would hurt her. Needless to say, she is really happy to no longer be hooked up to three different machines and to be dressed and to be home with her loud sisters.
This is the face she made when I asked her how she liked her trip to the hospital. ;) I wish I'd gotten some pictures of Elsie at the hospital, hooked up to all the little machines, but alas, a remembering a camera just wasn't on my list of essentials...especially when I hadn't showered in days! :)
My sweet mother once again made the 3 hour trip up to Idaho Falls this week to help take care of my little family. She was only here for a day, but she helped me get done all the "catch-up" things that would have taken me a week to complete. I just can't even express how thankful I feel to have such a spectacular mother who is so willing to serve and bless us. I love her SO much! Nels and I have both been blessed with truly wonderful families!
Elsie is doing so well here at home and I'm so thankful for the blessing of modern medicine! The Lord has blessed us immensely! Now our biggest concern is trying to get the leaves in the backyard raked up and trying to find or make some costumes for the girls for Halloween!
If all else fails, maybe these self-made costumes will work for Halloween!
Friday night we went and picked pumpkins at our local pumpkin patch.
The other fella standing around in this picture is not just some random person, by the way. We have had the privilege of Nels' best friend from high school staying with us this past week. I think it's been a real experience for him to be surrounded by all our crazy girls, but he seems to be enjoying it. :) Lest you think that I having him stay here simply for the joy of having two grown men staying up until the wee hours of the morning playing video games in my basement, I'll elaborate. Andrew recently got a new job working for the railroad in Pocatello and is just staying here until he finds an apartment. :)
Hazel and Lilie loved the green pumpkins!
