Brian and Joelle

Its been two weeks since Emmelia was introduced to her little pink body brace, and for the most part, she is getting used to it….when its on.  She wears it for about 23.5 hours a day but we take it off for diaper changes and for baths.  You should see how happy she gets when we are taking it off her…she kicks her legs and stretches and smiles big because she has her freedom back.  But that quickly turns into hysterics and screaming as soon as we lay her on her back to strap her in again.  Surprisingly she is sleeping quite good with it on and we are very appreciative of the prayers everybody has prayed for her.  I need to take a picture with her in it so you can see what what I’m talking about. 

This three day weekend was great.  I worked in the yard and laid sod down with the help of my brother Harry (thanks dude!) and boy does it make a difference….big difference.  I feel like w’ere really getting close to finishing the front yard.  It is nice to have the neighbors walk by and compliment the yard too…although they may just simply feel sorry for me since I’m out there EVERY single weekend.  They must think I’m whacked.  But the best part of the weekend though (hands down!) was sleeping in with my wife every day and being there to watch Emmelia wake up and be the first thing she sees.  I bring her in to our bed so Joelle can feed her and then we play.  We take the brace off her and sing and talk to her and she makes the funniest faces.  She is so happy in the morning.  She’s just in her diaper and I LOVE holding her skin so close to mine….it is like silk.  She can’t make up her mind between watching the ceiling fan or the windows…back and forth….back and forth…..turning her head.  I tell Joelle that I think she sees dead people.

Anyhow….we have 20 days left with the brace and then we go back to the specialist to see if she has been healed of the displysia (hip problem).  Pleas pray that this works and that she doesn’t have to wear this any longer.  It’s funny how you never hear of some things until you go through them or until they happen to you.  We’ve never heard of hip displaysia but since Emmelia has it….loads of people have told us about their experience with it.  Some people have had to wear the brace for two years!  And back in the day, the brace was metal and rigid plastic…at least it is a velcro contraption now (although pink camouflauge would be cool so it will match her swaddle blanket).  Nonetheless….six weeks is enough.  She’ll probably cringe at the sound of velcro when shes older

We have noticed that her vocal chords are getting stronger.  The screams that she used to bless us with have now reached new decibles.  It is incredible.  Actually, if we are in public or even outside it is very embarrassing.  People look at us like we’re beating her.  Sometimes we wonder if she is ok or in pain but she just gets going and she can’t stop.  Take a look at the photos above….all within 3 seconds.  Our little blessing….our little monster….our little drama queen.

      How is it that time can seem so slow and so fast simultaneously?  What a paradox indeed.  Our little Emmelia is such a wonder of God’s handiwork.  She is so beautiful it blows my mind.  I love staring at her.  She is becoming so much more aware of her surroundings and of mommy and daddy.  She smiles when she sees us and there is no feeling like it that I’ve ever experienced.  When she gets cranky (which is often), her little lower lip sticks out like a mile long and she gets soooo dramatic….it is hilarious. 

We got the news last Monday that she has hip displaysia (sp?) and we were pretty bummed to put it mildly.  Basically, it is common with breech babies that their hips get jacked up and the socket doesn’t form correctly so they put this brace on them that holds their little legs in a fixed place.  It is sad to put her in it because she cries and it was incredibly emotionally draining on Joelle.  I’ve never experienced a deep sorrow and helplessness than when your child is crying hysterically and looking in your eyes.  I know she’ll never remember this…but it is still difficult.  After wearing the brace for a week, she still cries but it is obvious that she is getting used to it and is accepting it.  At least the thing is pink…that’s kinda cool.  The hope is that when we go back to the specialist in five more weeks that she will not have to wear it anymore (Joelle wants to burn it).  I understand that some children have to wear them for years and we hope that isn’t going to be the case with our little Emmelia.  We went to the pool over the weekend and Joelle is pretty concerned what people will say when they see her in this contraption so of course the first people we see (total strangers) ask…’what is she wearing?’  Whatever.

We must thank those of you who have been praying for our little Emmelia…it means so much to us.  She has done much better in the past few days and is sleeping better too (always good for mommy). She can’t really wear any of her super-cute clothes because of the brace….but we’ll makeup for it later.  She is starting to drool quite a bit which makes us think she may be teething soon but it seems a bit early.  Who knows.

 God bless you all.

After a wonderful Mothers Day, we come to find out that our little girl has hip displasyia.  We would certainly covet your prayers during this time that her little hip grows normally and also for Joelle as this is proving to be very emotional for her.  Emmelia is wearing a brace that can’t be comfortable and apparently prevents her from sleeping well.  The pediatrician says that she needs to wear the brace for 5 weeks, 23.5 hours a day.  We’re kind of stressed out as this is coming on the tail end of her colic episodes. 

Thank you all for your support….we cherish your friendships.

 Brian

It was such a great today.  Joelle and I (with the baby of course) went to the 9:30am service at church today and she was such a good girl….she hardly even fussed.  Even better, she didn’t cry on the way to church or the way home….she actually passed out!  For those of you who think this is normal and wonder why I’m wasting precious internet space writing about it….this is not normal.  In fact, this is the first time she has remained quite in the car seat and by quite I mean not screaming bloody murder the entire trip.  Joelle was elated.  After church, we went over to my parents house to celebrate Mother’s day with my family (Joelle’s parents are back in Atlanta celebrating my brother-in-law Dante’s graduation for obtaining his PhD….congratulations Dante!!!!) and she continued to be a good girl…not fussing or screaming or anything.  It was such a good gift for mommy :)  She was so good that my family didn’t believe the stories we’d tell them about her….until that is….we gave her a bath. Ah yes…..the monster came out to play.  Like Lou Ferrigno and the Hulk….she magically transforms into a miniature beast that turns beat red….veins popping out….belching sounds and squeals at decibles that humans shouldn’t make.  It was quite the moment.  I kick myself for not getting that on video

 For all of you moms out there…you are amazing and what you do is unparalleled in any profession.  I am in awe of the emotion, dedication, devotion, sacrifice, tenderness, and love that my wife has displayed in the past ten weeks to our not-so-easy colicy daughter.  I have a new and deep respect for my mom and the manner in which she and my dad raised me and Harry.  Never give up moms!!!!

 Enjoy the photos of the family….

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here’s a little video of my nephew….

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So, last week, she was eight weeks old and weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and grew to a huge 20 inches! Yeah, we were happy to see that she has gained some weight. She is only in the 10th percentile, just a little slow-grower. For such a little girl, she is very loud. We have a screamer here…..boy can she get pissed off in a hurry! When she wants something, she wants it NOW! We keep saying, “Good thing she is so cute!” Ok, really, we do feel very blessed by the Lord to be trusted with such a huge responsibility. Here is the update:

The Lord has heard our prayers and taken some of the colic edge off. She still has colic and she still screams daily, but at least it isn’t for as long of a duration as it has been. She cries for maybe an hour or two consecutively instead of three or more. It seemed like week six was really the peak of the colic and we are hoping that it subsides more and more by the time three months rolls around.

We cannot believe that she is aready nine weeks old! She is sleeping really well at night but fighting all naps during the day. It makes mommy crazy and she can’t get anything done during the day, but this is just the season that we are in right now. We love the short times during the day just after she eats when she is happy, smiling, and cooing at us. She is just so beautiful. We are hoping that those moments last longer and longer as she grows older. We managed to get to church today for the first time in nine weeks and it was great to be there. We really missed the fellowship and the Word; but, the cry room just isn’t the same folks!  We are learning how to praise the Lord, no matter what season we are in; and, this is a good one. We are enjoying every minute of it.