Elan's Blog: 2013

No big update, just trying to keep above water with all going on the past 3 weeks with 4 (yes 4!) kids! All has been going quite well and we have really found a bit of a stride. The girls are nursing quite well and growing according to what they should now. We had about a week of every other day weight checks, first with Greta not catching up and the Heidi stagnating, but now both on track. It was a crazy time, nursing every 2 to 3 hrs and then pumping right afterwards, so basically only about 45 minutes without some type of nursing... glad it is over! Now they are 2 to 3 hours day and I can go to 4 hours at night... this is the same schedule as any single newborn.

Erik and I are getting at least 3 hrs straight sleep now, which has been quite amazing. A few nights I had him go to the guest room so he could think at work. It was rough though to be honest, having 2 is a BIG job at night. We have them on the same schedule so this helps. We did have a few nights were I literally had 20 minutes of sleep... so if I seem or seemed spacey, please understand!

Elan has been doing great, as always. He now has braces for his ankles to help with balance. He has now worn them for 3 days for about 1 1/2 hr a day and he does look better with them on. He squats more symmetrical, jumps and lands on both feet etc. They just come up to where a high top shoe would so really not too uncomfortable.

I also took him to just a regular old doctor appt with Dr. Lye. So good to see him! I made the appointment basically to talk about everything as well as his height. Guess what? Elan is totally on the growth curve he always has been! So that is a HUGE relief as we really thought otherwise. He is in the negative percentile but has always hovered there. He is still growing according to the "curve". We are seriously watching it as it is a big side effect of the radiation and if not caught early could be a severe issue - like a 2 ft difference from true height and can have complications due to that. Hopefully it will only be a mild height difference and not need aggressive intervention as growth hormones on top of the cancer just leaves me with a nervous feeling. Just nice we don't need to address this early.

We did have a "cancer" scare this week, no need to go into the details, but it ended up being nothing. Just really brought everything up again and made my watchful eye even more aggressive, as if that is possible. I relived all of the emotions in a 30 second period, so needless to say not fun. Thankfully the very next day we had our Dr. Lye appt and he really put my mind at ease. Now of course Elan is doing more today than any other day so that is a big help to me too.

My parents have been here every single day that Erik is working, which is the only way I have been keeping sane. My mother has done probably every load of laundry since the girls have been born and my dad has done every grocery run. What a blessing to have them here! Mom and Elan have such a great relationship now, he even wants her to take him potty over me :). It is crazy how almost every day the first two weeks when the girls were home someone had to be somewhere... now a bit less crazy since they are at birth weight again. Dad has been picking Elan up from pre-school too so that I don't have to cart the girls out. So kind!

SO here are some pictures and videos...

gifts from aunt Sally and uncle art!

Finn as a motorcycle rider, apparently how he sees them look :)

Dad off for the week, rockband time!

Our friend from a Spanish congergation Lila visiting! She is also a cancer fighter!!!!

1 week old!

Finn on his very first field trip! Erik was able to go too!

Finn with his teacher Ms. Russell!

our dear Ms. Margaret - Elan's Hearing Audiologist

Greta - today

Hanging out today in new swing

FIrst hike on the greenway

old neighbors from Plaza Midwood, they were so loving to bring over dinner! Oldest named Greta!!! Younger is Sophia and cute as a button as well. They are Finn and Elan's ages.