Ellie's Top Ten

So, I am SO sorry I have been a horrible blogger lately! This past week had it's normal busyness of school, work, mommyhood with grad hiring and duty for Jardine! Busy! Busy! But let's just say it's a good thing Spring Break is here. I'm still actually working and on duty, but I'm praying things are a little lower key around here this week! Starting tonight...we got some good smile pictures!

From March 2009

From March 2009

So, I decided I would update all you faithful readers on Ellie the past two weeks with a Top Ten list, in no particular order however! I love this picture...Ellie still plays with her snoodle from the NICU!

From March 2009

1. Friday we paid a visit to Dr.Duff's office because we had noticed (well, and the home health nurse when she came to give Synagis Friday morning) that he breathing patterns had changed - it's almost like she didn't have real rhythmic breathing patterns, just noticed more pauses. Which maybe they've been there most of the time, and I haven't noticed, I'm not sure. Well, anyways - she also had a rash on her tummy that had been getting worse. I called and the nurse said to bring her in. Dr.Duff said that it was a good rash that's for sure, but must be a viral thing, so might have to just take it's course. She hasn't had a high temp, her eating patterns have been pretty normal, just red bumps! He recommended vanicream or hydrocoritsone 1% and it's actually been clearing up her rash already quite nicely! We also talked to him about the home apnea monitor and her breathing. He wasn't concerned with her pauses - because she's not turning blue, etc. So phew, no worries there. He also said that we can start weaning ourselves off the monitor. We can let her be off the monitor if she's awake and if she's where we can watch her during the day. So basically it's at night that she wears it consistently. Wahoo. We'll see next week when we go to her 6 month well check what he says about everything else. (It was a quick visit Friday because there were lots of kiddos in that waiting room!) 2. Her latest thing is sticking out her tongue - mirroring us. It's pretty cute. She's even got a little curl at the end. I tried to get a picture of it.

From March 2009

3. She got her synagis Friday morning and her weight was 12 lbs. 5 oz. (although it was 12 lbs. 8 oz. earlier that morning at the WIC office...so we're going with that one! :) Prayers because we aren't sure if insurance will approve Ellie to get another Synagis into next month. It's supposed to go through April, but since Ellie got her's "mid-month" we're not sure if they'll provide another one. 4. Clothes - she's in 3 month stuff for sure, some 3-6 month and I just got some 6 month sleepers out because this girl is LONG! 24 1/4 inches at the WIC office! Yep! long, long, long! 5. This week's goal for Team Gramkow is to take Ellie on a walk in her stroller. Hopefully this Kansas weather will cooperate! 6. Ben had his interview with Lockheed Martin on Thursday and he said it went well - mostly behavioral based to see if he's a good fit for the company - supposed to hear back in a couple weeks and apply to some jobs on their web site online. The jobs he's finding are far away! :( Texas, Florida, Washington, Vermont....we'll just have to wait and see. Until then, he has to do more homework...I think Ellie must have already figured out this problem!

From March 2009

7. Apria Health Care (the home monitor company) paid a visit to our house because Ellie's monitor was going off like crazy (just ask our babysitter Lori!) Anyways, she had it go off pretty frequent and it just wasn't like Ellie, so we called Apria to come go through the episodes with us to see if they were "real." Only one of them was technically real, so that was good! We just have to make sure to put water on the leads to increase the conductivity and decrease our false alarms! 8. RECORD EATER here - Ellie on Friday ate 155 mL - yes, that's right 5 whole ounces. Good job on that one Ben! Gold princess sticker for ELLIE! Wahoo! Her eating patterns are getting so much better, I'm sure you can tell from the pictures, she's working a little more on those cheeks and jowel! The arms aren't doing to shabby either!!

From March 2009

9. Thumb sucking - yes, she's always got her hands in her mouth these days and will manage to find her thumb too! We'll see if that sticks. 10. She's focusing and grabbing things a lot more now! It's pretty fun to see her look at us and then oh, all the sudden she gets distracted by her hand! :) She wiggles and still won't keep any socks on!

From March 2009

From March 2009

Well, it's pretty much taken us two days to get stuff cleaned and laundry caught up. We've been napping a lot lately too! Check out these adorable pictures! Sleep is good!

From March 2009

From March 2009

Oh, there are some good videos on our PICASA SITE you'll have to check out! Too funny!@