Catching Up

Wow! It's been a LONG LONG LONG time since I've updated our family blog. Life got busy and I just kept putting it off. That being said, I don't want to skimp on family updates because someday I will regret not keeping this updated. Let's see since January.... -We discovered Bella has some food allergies--specifically to gluten and dairy. We are hopeful that we can reintroduce dairy into her diet in small amounts so that she has an easier time with things but gluten is no longer a part of our household. -Bella had surgery at the beginning of May to get her adenoids out and ear tubes put in. The surgery went very well and she has been healthy since. -Madelyn is growing SO SO FAST! We had some rough winter months. She got RSV in March and spent 2 nights in the hospital again. Then, in April, she got another really nasty cold from Bella (thank you preschool) but she is resilient! At her 6 month appointment which was May 20, she was in the 25th percentile for everything and doing perfectly. She is still exclusively breastfed. We *just* gave her her first bite of solid food a few days ago-- banana. She didn't swallow anything but she did seem to like the taste! She is sitting up now and already cracked her first tooth-- on the bottom. I can't believe how fast time has gone.

Happy New Year

Happy 2012... I can't believe January 1st has come and gone... and it's a surreal day for me since yesterday was Madelyn's due date. She's sleeping right now in her rock n' play sleeper next to me, and she is very much still a newborn. I weighed her this morning and she was 7 pounds 2 ounces on our baby scale so little peanut is definitely growing :) She is definitely still wearing newborn clothes and diapers even though she is technically 6 weeks old :) She is eating every 2.5-3 hours around the clock still and we are exclusively breastfeeding, although she does still get about 3 pumped milk bottles a day as she gains her strength at the breast.

For the New Year, I have some resolutions, which is something I usually don't do... but 2011 definitely presented challenges to me and I think 2012 will be a good year. The goals I have for this year are:

1. To lose the baby weight and get into good shape again
2. To take more snapshots of my children and hang pictures in my house
3. To make a work schedule and keep it
4. To continue to build my business
5. To make time each week for just me and Bella now that Madelyn is in our family


I have met the 6 week mark post-partum wise which means I can start exercising again! Yahoo! I can't wait although I am a bit scared to start haha. I am going to do the Insanity program at home once I feel like I can do it ;)

Bella is adjusting well to being a big sister and wants to help a lot. Although the poor kiddo has had a cold her entire Winter Break. She starts back to preschool on Thursday.

Happy 2012 to all of you :) Here is to a happy, less stressful year!

Thankful

For those of you that don't know already, Madelyn was discharged from NICU on December 22, after 33 days in NICU. I never thought that day would come truly-- after so many close calls and roller coaster emotions, it finally did though. It was the best day of the year for sure. I had been waiting for my girls to meet for 9 months, and Bella's reaction was absolutely priceless.

Here is a link to the video of her homecoming and meeting Bella for the first time


Since she has come home, we had the best low key Christmas. We didn't travel anywhere or stress ourselves out with multiple gatherings.... we stayed home and enjoyed our new family addition and my parents came over to celebrate with us. We are adjusting to life with 2 children and I am sure there are still more adjustments ahead of us, but we are in love with our two girls more than we ever thought possible.

Since Madelyn's birth, we have experienced an outpouring of support from so many people. I want to take a minute to thank everyone. I am truly humbled by the support that has come our way. My facebook page was overcome with hundreds of comments and prayers the night that Madelyn entered the world. My best friends came together and have cooked us meals, cleaned our house, unpacked moving boxes, babysat Bella, and drove me to/from the hospital before I was released to drive. We got meals and gifts in the mail from past clients of Mandy Leonards Photography, we got cards and gifts from past personal training clients of mine and online friends that I've never met in person. I had several people stop in at the hospital to see me and bring me coffee or just offer a supportive hug. It was seriously the most amazing outpouring of support I could have ever imagined. You always learn who your true friends are in times like this and there are so so SO many people that Jerry and I are overwhelmingly thankful for right now. Those of you who have stepped up and been there for us this past month, you know who you are. Thank you SO MUCH from the bottom of our hearts and souls. I don't think words can express the true gratitude we have, but we will be returning all the support when the time comes for all of our friends that have been there for us. We have made new friends in the process and grown closer with others too. I feel like my family just didn't expand by one over the past month, but I feel like it grew but a lot more by all of you who came out for us. We love you all.

Happy Holidays :)