Happy 4 weeks baby ellie!

Yesterday Ellie turned 4 weeks old. I feel like the last 4 weeks have truly been a dream. Our sweet little girl came into this world and has blessed us all so much. Ellie so far is a great sleeper, loves to cuddle, and all the nurses say she is an easy baby so far (except for eating!). Ellie is showing much more interest in wanting to really eat her bottles. We are encouraged that her suck is so strong and she is working hard to try her best to take her whole 55 cc's. Ellie is doing about the same as last week. I know this is hard for you all to understand that she has issues swallowing- it's hard for us too. Ellie can swallow she just starts to make a choking sound when she starts to swallow and then her heart rate falls- she always brings herself right back to her normal heart rate, but it tells us and the doctors how hard this is for her. We have done brain scans and all the make sure her eating center is corresponding with her mouth- and it is! Many premature babies have corrdination issue when it comes to this and we are praying it will "click" with her soon. We are hoping by the end of this week we can make a decision about what to do from here. She is completely healthy except for not taking a bottle so the doctors don't want her just living in the nicu and missing out loving time at home with us.





The greatest thing about moving nicu's last week was the fact that visitors can now come visit Ellie with Mike and I. Although all the grandparents got to meet ellie about an hour after she was born...it's been a hard thing for all of her biggest fans to miss out on the first few weeks of her life. So this week Ellie got lots of love from her Bi Bi, and Pops, and Nana. Ellie could be held all day long and not make a peep! She is really looking around more and will almost make a smile when you talk to her and love on her! So here is her bi bi! My mom couldn't be sweeter with her...what a blessing it was for me and her to see her. Our parents have been such a huge support during this time!
Here is Janet- Mike's mom holding ellie. Ellie has no clue all the prayers, love, and care she is going to get from this family. We have so many people all over the world praying for our baby girl to take a bottle- it brings tears to me- and i think how big our God is! Mike and I have days that we are very hopeful, and we have days that are much harder than others. Sometimes we feel foggy, tired, and down- then we'll see something that brings us to our knees to know that we have so much to rejoice over. It isn't easy that's for sure- but our girl little will get it we are believing it's just not going to be our timing.





I have to tell you all that Mike is truly my angel in life. As cheesy as that sounds, it's true. Mike is going to work everyday- coming home trying to squeeze in some good fun play time with Graham, and then make his way up to the nicu to be with his little girl. Mike has been a rock. He has for sure had his moments and hard days but his love, and devotion to our little family couldn't bless me as his wife more. He already gives ellie 900 kisses a night, goodness whoever dates Ellie one day better watch out!


I am holding on to all the faith I have. I have been encouraged daily by e-mails, texts, God's Word, letters, phone calls- God knows exactly what we need when we need Him, and others to surround us.

Pops got to love on Ellie some this weekend as well. He was too sweet with her. We had to put her bow in that day so she would look all pretty for all to see!

"His promises are new every morning"

Ellie now weighs 7 lbs and is 19 inches long.