Two Weeks Old

Riley is two weeks old today! I can't believe it...it seems like she just got here and at the same time it feels like she's always been here. She's still as sweet as ever but has finally found her *voice* and will let it be known when she is hungry (which is often these days)! She's so bright eyed when she is awake and reminds me a lot of Sawyer. But all of this picture taking just wears her out :)

Speaking of Sawyer, he's been extra moody lately and not always on his best behavior. I know it's because his whole life has changed but am hoping that things get better soon! He is very loving to Riley but will act out at the drop of a dime...any of you that have gone through this feel free to pass on some advice!

Kids say the darnedest things...

Sawyer has been saying the funniest things lately. I've already mentioned his obsession with why Riley doesn't have shoes. Here are a few more funny things I'd like to share:

• I had just changed Riley for the night and put some lotion on her. Sawyer was kissing her head and smelled her. I asked him if she smelled good--his answer--"She smells like poop." No, she did not.
• Every time he leaves, he kisses Riley and tells her to "be a good boy."
• Sawyer has an old camera of mine that he likes to play with in the car. He wanted it the other day, but it was in the floorboard and I couldn't reach it. He asked "Can Riley get it for me?"
• Riley was looking around the other day and my mom asked Sawyer what he thought Riley was thinking about. He said "she thinks like a tractor."
• My mom had taken him to the park and by McDonalds on the way home. He was asking for french fries and Mama told him that they were hot and to "hold your horses." He said, "Biggie, I don't have any horses. I have cows."
• And finally, he was eating chicken nuggets and green beans for supper last night. He burped loudly and I said "Excuse you." He laughed and said, "Mommy, I mashed a chicken!" (he refers to passing gas as "mashing a frog" hence this funny interpretation)

Surgery Date

Riley's first surgery date has been scheduled! It is going to be Thursday, May 28th. We will see Dr. Mulliken on Tuesday and have pre-op on Wednesday. I can't believe it's moving this fast! So I guess that means we'll be traveling to Boston on Memorial Day! Please pray with us that Riley stays healthy, we have safe flights, that Brock and I stay healthy, for wisdom for Dr. Mulliken, and for a successful surgery...

Surgery Plan

I just got off the phone with Dr. Mulliken in Boston. He wants to do Riley's surgery in 2 stages. He will do a lip adhesion and some work to the nostril on the left side (because it is more cleft than the right) within the next month or so. This procedure will take approx an hour to do and we will spend the night in the hospital. Her stiches will dissolve and the trip should take about 4 days. He will do the complete lip repair when Riley is around 5 months old. This will be a much more involved surgery and will take around 8 hours. We will spend atleast a week or longer in Boston for the 2nd surgery. Doing the repair in 2 stages will give Riley the best, most symmetrical result. Dr. Mulliken says she will not have any of the problems that normally come with clefts--speech difficulties, ear infections, differences in facial growth--since her palate is intact! We are so thankful!! I will let everyone know as soon as we get her surgery date. Please pray that Riley stays healthy and her first surgery goes as well as planned.

Riley is doing great. She sleeps like an angel--which I am not used to b/c Sawyer was not a good sleeper until around 7 months old! I hope she stays that way! She's feeding well and is staying awake a little more during the day.

Sawyer is a great big brother. He loves to hold her (by himself) and help me feed her by holding her bottle (by himself). He takes diapers to the trash for me and helps me bathe her. He is so funny in the things he says. He can't understand why she doesn't have shoes, "Her lost them, Mama?"

Sweet Baby Riley

We are home! Riley is doing great. She slept like an angel last night and I was able to get some much needed rest. I forgot to mention her vitals in my previous post. She weighed 8lbs 1oz and is 2o inches long.

Riley is here!!

Riley Elizabeth was born yesterday, April 16, at 7:51 am. We are so blesssed that she only has a incomplete bilateral cleft lip--her palate is intact!! Praise God!! She does have a small indentation (I'm not sure at this time what to call it) in her gumline on the upper left side, but all looks great. The pediatrician mentioned she "might have a submucosal cleft" but her palate is strong and so is her suck reflex. We started off nursing yesterday and she did great, but during the night decided she wasn't very happy with it. I think she has a tougher time getting a good latch because of her lip, so I'll go ahead with my plan to pump and feed her with the Haberman. She's doing great with the Haberman. She is beautiful and so perfectly sweet. I'll post pictures when we get home tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for all of the prayers--God has certainly answered them!!

One more week!!

This time next week Riley will be here! I can't believe it...the pregnancy has really gone by quickly. I am getting so excited/anxious/nervous. I am praying that she will be healthy and feed well. That's what I'm most worried about--feedings. I don't want her to be treated like a "sick" baby when she's born (although I don't think she will but it's still on my mind). And that Sawyer will be a great big brother--I know he will be. I'm just going to have to watch him like a hawk. When I ask him how he's going to help me with Riley, he says "I'm going to hold her." We've been reading his "I'm a Big Brother" and "Our New Baby" books and talking a lot so I think he's ready. Am I ready? I hope so!!

But I think he's just as excited to be going to see Disney on Ice (Lightning McQueen and Mater will be there) next weekend :)

Easter Party

Sawyer had his Easter party as school yesterday. Although he was terrified of the Easter Bunny, he had a great time. He was much more interested in playing than looking for eggs. He did find the golden egg and won some sidewalk chalk as a prize.

Whoops!

In a previous post, I announced that my brother Adam and sister-in-law, Heather, are expecting a little boy...well, not exactly. They're expecting a GIRL!! They had a "sneak-peak" ultrasound at around 17 weeks that was in fact wrong. It is most definately at girl! We're looking forward to the arrival of baby Lilah (they're not sure about spelling yet) in August and hope that she and Riley will be like sisters.

Speaking of Riley, the count-down is on! Two weeks from tomorrow and she will be here! Fourteen days! I can not wait!! I have been having a considerable amount of contractions but really hope she'll wait for her scheduled day (I've got all of our nurses lined up). I will complain about gaining 4lbs this past week. That's right 4 stinking lbs--don't ask me how, because I have no idea. Unless of course it could have something to do with eating a piece (or two, maybe three) of home-made red velvet cake for several days in a row?!?!