There are times that these questions literally plague me: is it pin-able, blog-able, instagram-able, tweet-able, etc-able? Before, during, or after a craft, meal, blog post, I so often play those questions on repeat through my head; these thoughts litter my … Continue reading
I have something to tell you…It isn’t going to be pretty. It pains me to say it; I failed at every goal I set for myself last week. In fact, I failed so epically, I’m going to call it the … Continue reading
Am I a vessel worthy of serving choice food and wine to a guest of honor? Or am I a garbage bin who only consumes litter and waste? My outflow is completely dependent on my intake. If I desire to … Continue reading
We just wanted to send out a quick update/prayer request for our little Katelynn.
We had an upper GI study done this morning. Katelynn was given some contrast to swallow through a bottle and then an x-ray was performed to watch her esophagus, stomach, and intestines function. The doctors were looking for a possible kink or twist somewhere along her digestive line but, thankfully, found none.
We have one remaining ultra sound on Friday which will check her liver for any abnormalities. There is really no indication that there is anything actually wrong with her liver (at one point in time her liver enzymes appeared elevated on her blood work, but normalized a few days later in another blood screen) but they want to just check it to make sure every possible scenario is ruled out. The doctors are confident that it will be a normal scan, but just want to verify.
At this point, due to her lack of weight gain, and the fact that we have exhausted every medicinal and dietary treatment, we now have to place a feeding tube. We will need to admit our little one for 2-3 days at Children’s Hospital to learn the process of placing a tiny feeding tube in her nose, down her throat, and into her tummy. Nathan and I have to learn how to do it so that we can place the tube back in if she pulls it out or if it needs to be replaced for any reason.
We have an appointment with our specialist to go over all of the information on Wednesday the 28th. We will find out at then when her actual date of admittance will be. We don’t know a whole lot other then the fact that this procedure is necessary. The only way to avoid it is for Katelynn to miraculously gain something like 2 lbs in the next week… and since she can’t eat a diet of pure marshmallows and chocolate (wouldn’t that be nice) it’s pretty unlikely ;-). At this point, we’re doing everything we can to help her gain weight (olive oil in her rice cereal twice a day, more frequent feedings, etc) while we wait to complete this next step.
Her tube will be in place for as long as is necessary to get her weight gain steady, and her spitting up controlled. The tube could be in for a month or 10 months…She will also continue to breastfeed throughout this whole thing thankfully. The tube is used to essentially increase her caloric intake by pushing calories into her belly in between feedings.
Nathan is relieved that this is something we can actually do, the testing and waiting period has been a little bit frustrating for him. I’m a bit more nervous about the hospital admittance. Overall we’re relieved to know it’s truly just acid reflux and we’re glad that all of her other tests have been normal…those possibilities were far more frightening then a “little ol’ feeding tube”.
So if you could keep our little one in your prayers this week, we would greatly appreciate it….
I’m linking up with Gussy again for another week of her Inspiration Workshop! This week the prompt is “Front Porch” which is such a fun prompt.
We don’t have a “front porch” by definition, but we have a front yard which, as I write this post I realize, is practically an extension of our living room. Looking back through recent pictures I realize how much time we spend out there and I love it. I am so blessed by our little house and the location it’s at. It is such a little diamond in the rough, ok maybe not quite as far as a diamond but at least an imitation gemstone of sorts in the rough. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love the space to romp and roam, the horsey sounds all day long, and the old world feel of the ranch and the people who live, work, and play here.
So here are a bunch of photos of things we do on our “front porch”:
Picnics – Puppy Playtime – Orange Slice Smiles
Watch Rusty Rooster and Mimi Hen
Make Tents – Watch Tractors – Feed Chicks
Have Family BBQs – Catch Baby Lizards
Silly Pictures – Play in the Grass – Take Naps
So what things do you do on your “front porch”? Sip iced tea or lemonade? Tickle your kiddos? Kiss your sweetheart? Linkup with Gussy and share your favorite things!
Today is the first time I’m linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy to participate in “What I Wore Wednesday”. I feel totally silly doing this but it’s a great personal challenge! Photographing myself is completely out of my comfort zone, but something I’ve been working on in order to provide customers with “scale” photos of my jewelry products. Sometimes seeing a piece of jewelry on a person is much more informative than actual measurements. I know I am a visual person and need those descriptive photos for my own perspective before I buy a product.
So…. this little activity will push me to be more creative in my self portraits, challenge me to blog about it every Wednesday, encourage me to connect with other bloggers each week, and motivate me to wear something other than a tank top and baby spit up when I’m here at home. It’s easy to put effort into my appearance when I leave the house…but when I’m hanging out at home with the kiddos my motivation is sadly lacking and I know that has a significant effect on my mood, and not in a good way. So here’s to my first link up!
Shirt: Sister-in-law’s closet
Cardi: Forever 21
Skinny Jeans: Target
Ruffle Sandals: Target (favorite.sandals.ever)
Those of you paying attention might notice the finished desk I’m leaning on :). Here’s a mini reveal! Stay tuned for the complete project reveal when I put up shelves and complete my little “Creative Corner”.
In other news, any other mom’s out there wearing perfume to cover up the eau de spit-up on a daily basis? Please tell me I’m not the only one.
-Erika
I’ve been reminded of the truth that time is precious. We welcomed our sweet baby girl into the world on April 20th! She weighed in at 6lbs and 2 ozs. Our little peanut has blessed our family in so many ways. Her sweet smell, dreamland smiles, squeaky hiccups, and feisty little attitude bring smiles to our faces.
Soaking up every second of this sweet time with our baby girl has pushed a lot of “priorities” off my very full plate. But I rest in the knowledge that my Etsy shop will wait for me as long as it needs to, my twitter followers probably don’t even realize I’m absent, and the blogs I love to read don’t take it personally when I don’t have time to read every post.
I’m spending my days hugging and kissing on my two children, taking insane amounts of photographs, leaving said photographs on large memory cards to edit at a later date, making mental “wish” lists of things to do (like taking a shower before 3pm), and appreciating the little things. This time will end all too soon and responsibilities, schedules, school, business, and countless other priorities will have to be squeezed in….
But for the time being I’ve got nothing but time… time to breathe in these moments.
I’m thankful today for simple pleasures that bring a smile to my face.
Three sweet things gifted to me for my birthday :)
A fresh brewed cup of coffee from my new, and amazing, coffee maker.
Fresh tulips that bring such sunshine to my kitchen table.
A delicious smelling candle that brings a smile to my face as the scent carries throughout my kitchen.
I had such a wonderful birthday celebrating with friends and family. <3
What are some simple pleasures that have brought a smile to your face today?
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)
Choosing a name for our sweet baby has been far more challenging then choosing a name for our son, Lucas, was. Our first pregnancy was filled with so much anticipation, urgency, and unknowns and choosing a name happened so quickly.
With this pregnancy my husband and I have been surprised by our feelings of patience and peace. I think I am most surprised by my own lack of urgency throughout this pregnancy as I find myself so often saying, “there is plenty of time for that” and “no need to rush”. Lord knows, I’m not a patient person! I know that relaxed attitude is going to bite me in the butt in my last trimester, as I’m going to feel like I need to accomplish a million tasks in a short period of time.
Heading into our ultrasound to find out the gender of this little one, we didn’t have a single name for either gender that could be considered a real contender. We walked into the appointment with an excited big brother Lucas predicting that we were having a girl and adamantly declaring that her name would be “Annie”. We walked out of the appointment cracking up at our 3 year old’s foreknowledge of the sweet baby “girl” wiggling in my belly. He was adamant from the moment we announced our pregnancy that we were having a baby girl, and he was absolutely right.
After learning we were having a girl, we began thinking about the “perfect” name. Nathan and I were a little less sweet on the name “Annie” but thought it would be extra special to incorporate it into her name somehow. It will be a sweet story to tell our daughter one day that her brother helped name her before we even knew she was a “she”.
Lucas bears the same middle name as his Daddy, and his Daddy’s daddy, so we felt that incorporating my middle name, “Lyn”, into her name somehow would also continue that special tradition. Through the process of discussing names, Daddy arrived at “Katie” and declared it his favorite.
After a few weeks of trying different variations of name combinations we arrived at the perfect name; one that incorporates Lucas’s sweet name for his sister, my middle name, and daddy’s favorite name.
We would like to share with you our final pick:
Katelynn Annette
Kate- to use a variation of Daddy’s favorite.
Lynn- to use my middle name.
Annette- to incorporate Ann in some fashion to allow Lucas to call her “Annie” and it still make sense.
Katelynn means “Pure” and Annette means “Grace”. It is my fervent prayer that this precious baby girl growing within me exemplifies both of these attributes in the most beautiful of ways.
I cannot think of a more lovely combination of words then “Purely Gracious”….
Here’s a quick little test to see what this little blog baby can do.
And so it begins…
A Little Abandon 
