Adventures of Rick and Kailey: Overdue Update

It's been a hectic last few months! September was my (Kailey) birthday, and my friend Katie flew all the way from Maryland to be with me! I was so thrilled! And what a great surprise! She hadn't seen Ellery since we had left the NICU, so I was very excited to show her off. :) Katie stayed for a few weeks, and her husband, Brian flew in for work for a few days also! It was such a great visit! Brian and Katie used to live here in Idaho Falls, and just recently moved in May, and it has been very weird not having them close to us.

My parents also visited in September. They got to see how big Ellery had gotten, and Mom got her to crack up. Rick had posted the video below. I had a great time seeing them, and having them see Ellery too. It's hard being so far away from everyone!

For most of the month, Ellery had been doing so great on her oxygen! She was able to go up to 4 HOURS with NOTHING! We were amazed! Then, one Friday night, she choked on some drool or something, (we still aren't sure what) and quit breathing. We had to go to the emergency room. We spent a looooong 4 hours there, and were eventually discharged with NO answers, and to follow up with the pediatrician the next day. When we took her in to the pediatrician the next day, they think it might have been related to her reflux. Luckily, we haven't had an episode like that since. However, it severely set us back on her oxygen. For a while, she was unable to be off at all. We are finally getting back to the point where she can go an hour or so with nothing. It seems like such a rollercoaster; sometimes she does GREAT and other times she does not so good.

Rick's parents were here just this past week. We had a good visit with them, and they were able to see all the progress little Ellie Bug has been making. We played a lot of card games and watched some movies. It's hard not being able to leave the house much.

As for the progress, here is where we are at! She is able to sit supported, with minimal support by placing your hands behind her, or against the couch or a firm surface. She can stand by being pulled up from the sitting position, which has been a lot of fun! My mom got her to start belly laughing, and she doesn't do it all the time, but when she does it makes my day! She's trying very very hard to roll, she just doesn't have the muscles to get all the way over. But she sure does try! She's also trying very hard to sit up on her own, but can only get her head up a few inches off of the ground. But that's an amazing step for her! I am so excited and so proud! She is finally starting to grab at toys, but only a few. She has certain ones she likes, and the others she could care less about. She's also been very talkative, doing raspberries, A-Boos, A-Goos, and lots of AHHHHHHS. Her new thing is to yell. She is not crying or upset, just yelling. She has also recently learned how to shriek, and honestly it is the cutest thing EVER.

The last weight and height I had for her was in mid-September, and she was 14 lbs 9 oz and 25 inches long. She made the 3rd percentile for her actual age in height, and the 9th for weight. WooHoo!! Solids have been going really well, although we are still only doing it once a day, because any more and she quits taking as much in formula. And we really really need her to get the most from the formula.

Therapy sessions have been going great. We have a new therapist; our old OT had too busy of a schedule to continue with us. So he set us up with a wonderful lady from his company. And her husband works out with Rick...small world! She's been with us for about a month or so now, and she said she's noticed lots of progress from Ellery. That makes me so happy! She is definitely doing things on her own time, but they said as long as she continues to progress, that's all that matters!

This coming up Friday, our pastor is coming to bring us communion (since we can't get to church) and talk about baptism plans for Ellery. I'm very excited! He is going to do it at our house, since we aren't supposed to be taking Ellery anyplace now. I need to get her gown dry cleaned still. She will wear the gown that Paige and I were baptised in, which I think makes it even more special. I'm so excited to get it done! It's very important to me.

Since we are on "lockdown", I've discovered a WONDERFUL website called pinterest, and I've been getting a TON of ideas for Christmas Crafts, and just things to do in general. I'm hoping it will make the winter go by a bit faster. One of the projects I'm working on is little amigurumi crocheted animals for Ellery for Christmas. I would also like to make her a blanket, but I don't know if I will have time. I'm going to try to make some no-sew tutus as well, but I figure I have her birthday coming up also to spread around the gifts. :D

I promise I will try to be more on top of updating. It's been such a crazy whirlwind last few months, I still feel like I'm forgetting a lot. So if I am, and I left you out, I'm sorry!

I leave you with a huge photo bomb!!