Summer Haircut

Colin's hair was seriously getting a little too floppy and out of control. Especially with the last several days being sunny and warm, it was getting really nasty from all the sweat and sunscreen. Apparently, Chris had to wash it 3 times last night to get all the gunk out. So, today I took him to get his summer haircut. He was so excited to go, he threw a fit when I asked him to take a before picture... or maybe he just wanted the sucker.

Tummy Time

I'm a little late in posting this, but last week I started tummy time with Eli. The poor kid looked so miserable, I haven't had the heart to try it with him again. But Colin had fun! In fact, I think that was the moment when Colin really started insisting on being in every photo with Eli. I took a couple of the two of them and then wanted a few with just Eli. I asked Colin to help me take the pictures, but he kept saying "no, cheese!". The kid cracks me up. The last picture is Eli all tuckered out after a grueling workout. :)

Annual TPG Go Fly a Kite Spring Picnic

On Sunday the whole family attended the annual Toledo Parent's Group Go-Fly-a-Kite Spring Picnic. It was a perfect day for flying a kite - sunny and *very* windy. Unfortunately, Colin preferred to play with the kite's tail while it was on the ground rather than watch it fly in the sky. Maybe later this summer we can attempt kite flying again.

Despite Colin's lack of interest in flying a kite, the picnic was still lots of fun. It was great to be able to get together with everyone, catch up with some of the mom's I haven't seen in awhile, and get a peak at some of the newer babies. The food was delicious (as always), Eli cooperated quite nicely by sleeping most of the time, and Colin had a blast playing at the park.

Eli is 1-Month Old and Goes to the Zoo

I can't believe Eli is already 1-month old! In some ways, it feels like he's been a part of our family for years, but I haven't felt like the last month has dragged on like Colin's first month did. I think the big difference is that I now have such great friends in the area. Thanks so much to everyone who has come to visit us, bring us meals, and just been there to support us! :)

When I took Eli's 1-month pictures today, Colin insisted that I take some shots of him too. Of course, I was using his monkey, Bananas, as a prop, but it just cracks me up that 2 months ago, he cried whenever we tried to take his picture and now he's the biggest ham.

Eli went on his first trip to the zoo today. He slept almost the entire time, but I still wanted to document his first visit. Colin had a blast with his buddy Sam and kept talking about the monkeys all afternoon.

An Update

Just wanted to post some recent pictures of the boys. Eli's continuing to do well - he had his follow up appointment with the surgeon who said the stomas are healing nicely and he's continuing to gain weight. He'll go back to see him in 2 months to recheck that everything's going well and we'll talk more at that appointment about scheduling the next surgery.
Colin seems to be adjusting well to his little brother. In fact, when I carry Eli into Colin's room to wake him up in the morning or from his nap, he no longer tells me no and calls for Daddy. Now he just says "Baby!" and smiles. Yesss - I finally trump Chris! :)

Happy Birthday Baby Eli and Welcome Home!

After only 3 1/2 hours of labor and arriving only 12 short minutes after we got to the hospital, Eli Daniel was born on April 15 at 9:12 AM. He weighed 7 lbs, 2.4 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. It was a crazy, whirlwind start to our morning, but the day got even more surreal when we were told that he was born with a birth defect called an imperforate anus. We got to spend only a couple hours with our new baby before he was whisked away to Toledo Children's Hosptial. Chris left Flower Hospital to stay with Eli and thankfully I was discharged a few hours after that so I could join them too. Eli spent the next week in the NICU where he underwent a colostomy and was tested for a variety of other possible defects that are associated with an imperforate anus. We were incredibly relieved when all his tests showed that he was healthy in every other way and he recovered like a champ from his surgery. He's our little trooper. We got to bring him home on April 21 when he finally got to meet his big brother Colin. Colin was so excited to meet his baby bro and immediately wanted to hold him and kiss him. He is absolutely in love with Eli and is incredibly sweet with him. We're still trying to adjust to life as a family of four, but we're so happy to at least have everyone home together.

Happy Birthday Eli!

Enjoying some time together before Eli was transported to Toledo Children's Hospital

Eli with Daddy in the NICU

Our sweet baby all hooked up to monitors, IVs, and a feeding tube

Finally off the monitors!

Ready for discharge :)

Colin *loves* his new baby brother

Eli

Colin

Happy baby

Welcome home!

Happy Easter!

We didn't have big plans for today because we weren't sure if Eli would have decided to join us yet, but just in case, I asked the Easter Bunny to swing by and drop off a few treats for Colin. As soon as he came downstairs he ran into the family room and excitedly ripped into his basket, instantly knowing it was filled with treats (I still don't understand how a kid who is rarely given candy or desserts can always recognize sugary confections for what they are). He was a little unsure at first about searching for eggs, but once he realized that there were treats inside that he could eat right away, he had a blast. He ran around the family room and as soon as he found an egg would rip it open and inhale the fruit snacks. I realized a little too late that maybe one fruit snack per egg would have been enough, but hey, what's a holiday without kids on a sugar-high? The rest of our day was very low-key, but Colin did get another treat after dinner. His first Peep! Yum. :)