Elese and Brynn turns a year old!

Elese and Brynn were born on the same day. Brynn was born roughly 6 hours before Elese. We had a birthday party for the girls. Tara, my B.F.F., had no idea that the party was for Brynnie, too. It was fun being able to surprise her.

We had a ladybug themed birthday. We had chocolate suckers, made by Auntie Jen , black and red M&M's, black and red licorice, red hots, and hot tamales.
Elese and Brynn had their very own "smash" cakes!

Elese was very spoiled by all her presents!

Elese, Nana and Emily getting ready for her grand entrance!



And the party continues:



The gifts!

We went to visit my grandfather who is very ill. He loves to see Elese but can only take visits in small doses. Hopefully he enjoys the time he spends with her.

I know you can't even see it but trust me it's there. Today I was leaving my house with an arm full of stuff, including Elese in her car seat. As we were walking out the door I dropped a water bottle on her head. She of course cried but she wasn't the only one. I think I cried more than she did. I have never felt so bad and she took it like a champ. So here's the evidence that her mom gave her her very first bruise.

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today was my Mom's birthday, my Aunt Robin flew into town for the weekend, and we all went to breakfast at Mimi's Cafe. Yummmy! Elese typed up a little message for her Nana but she thought it was best to try to eat it first.

Elese's Hosptial Visit

Elese was exposed to RSV. My mom took her to see the pediatrician on Thursday. He said that she sounded fine and the likelihood that she would develop RSV was pretty slim. So she came home. By that evening she was wheezing and I felt like something wasn't right. I took her to the ER and they did a chest x-ray and tested her for RSV. The x-ray came back clear but the RSV test was positive. The PA was not very nice to us. She treated us like we were crazy for bringing an infant to the hospital for a cold. Oddly enough, once she found out that her RSV test was positive, she was really nice. So we took Elese home with no direction other than wait and watch.
Friday I stayed home with Elese and as the day progressed, so did her symptoms. She began labored breathing, and was really wheezy. It was apparent that breathing was becoming work for her. So, back to the ER we went. This time they were much nicer to us. Elese's pulse ox was 85 and her respirations were in the 190's. The Dr. decided to admit her which to anyone who has ever been admitted into a hospital knows that mean an IV. So the fun began. Thank God Garrett has a much stronger stomach than I do. It was awful! The nurses tried to place Elese's IV in her 8 times (2 times in each foot, 2 times in each hand, both arms and a few other places that I can't even remember). Finally they got the sense to call the NICU nurses down to the ER with an ultrasound machine. All her available veins had been blown, so they went for her head. Elese was exhausted and I was in psychical pain watching her endure this. The NICU nurses were able to find a vein in her head. Once we got her IV figured out and two hours later, we were told that the Peds. ICU was full and that we would have to be transported to Banner Desert Hospital. So off we went by ambulance. Once admitted, Elese did well. Her IV stopped working and the nurses tried to put it back in her head and then finally they got a vein in her arm. They put so much tape on, there was no way she was getting it out. Her arm was on a board for 3 days. She slept like a champ and never tried to pull her IV out. She seemed happy as long as her needs were met and I never left her side. I held her Against the nurses advice, I held her all night long.