Welcome Baby!

I'm incredibly sleep deprived so bear with me if this seems a little all over the place.  But I have a spare couple minutes and wanted to share with you all that we welcomed our perfect, little baby last week.  

Let me introduce to you, Turner William Hinton.  He was born last Wednesday, August 17th at 2:30pm.  He was 8lbs 13oz and 21in of total cuteness.  Everyone is healthy but all desperately need sleep!  

Elena and Calvin were so excited to meet their new baby brother.  Calvin was all giggles meeting Turner, Elena a little more subdued.  But for good reason.  Elena came down with a stomach bug Wednesday night (great timing, right?) and was so, so sick that night and all day Thursday.  Gramma Frey took good care of her and we are all so thankful that she seems to be the only one who got the bug.  

We are all adjusting to life as a family of five.  Our days have been fairly routine but our nights have been much more lively with little Turner.  He is quickly reminding Chad and me what life is like with a newborn.  Funny, how quickly you forget the power of sleep deprivation!  Elena, thank goodness, has been sleeping much better....not sure we could handle soothing two little ones all night long.  

Today, Elena is back at school and Cal is at preschool....which means Turner and I are going to go take a nap!  I can't think anymore!

First Day Recap

Elena had a great first day of school!  Her bus was right on time.  Her outfit was adorable.  And Mom remembered everything needed to send!

It was a success until 2:30 when she was to get on the bus to go home.  I got the dreaded call from the teacher and I already knew.....she barfed.  Right before walking out to the bus, Elena threw up.  So, I headed over to the school to pick her up.  I felt terrible for her teachers and aides who had to clean up barf on the first day of school.

Her report for the day was great though.  She had fun, no tears and everything else went smoothly.

I did ok too!  Of course there were tears when I saw how big and adorable she looked in her first day outfit.  And when I wheeled her down to the bus.  And when she got on the bus.  And when the bus pulled out of the cul-de-sac.  And as I walked back into the house with just Calvin.  BUT!  I survived.  The phone was glued to my hip all day but I survived.

Now if we can just get through day 2 without any puke (at school)!

Anniversary, SCHOOL & Surgery update

Today is back to reality.  Not that the last four weeks haven't been reality, oh they've been real all right.  But today starts us back into our new routine.  Elena goes back the Jackson Center for therapies and tomorrow, gulp, she starts school.

Not only that, but today is Chad's and my 7th anniversary!  I was recently going back through some wedding pictures to switch out some frames here at home and gosh, looking at us SEVEN years ago, we were just babies.  So much life has happened in just seven years.  I just kept thinking how lucky, fortunate, blessed that I've done it all with Chad as my partner.  Marriage is a funny thing.  I'm certainly no expert....at ALL....but when I think back to our actual wedding day, it's such a blip in time.  It's funny that's what a girl dreams about, not the everything that comes after.  And as momentous as that day is, it's the life that happens afterwards that matters.  I knew I loved Chad with all my heart that day in August 2009, but I never could have known the partnership we would build together.  I never dreamed of the deep friendship, constant support of one another or how our love and respect of each other would deepen with time and life.  I'm thankful for him every day.  And man, what a life we are building together.  We are SO blessed!

And here we are about to welcome our third child (ahhh!).  I'm so (so, so, so, so, so) ready to be done being pregnant.  I love what a miracle it is, but man, is it hard on my body.  I'm so uncomfortable I can't even remember what it was like to feel good anymore.  I've done my best to stay healthy, working out all the way through 35 weeks, being active, but I'm hurting!  It officially feels like I've been pregnant for a hundred years and I have the body of an 80 year old.  So, needless to say, baby, I'm ready to meet you!

Then, there's my baby starting KINDERGARTEN tomorrow.  I mean, what?  I don't even feel like I've been able to process this.  I have a feeling I'll get her on the bus tomorrow and cry until 2:30 when she gets home.  I'm so excited for this step in her life.  It's going to give her such freedom and opportunity, but I, of course, just want to keep her all to myself forever and ever. That being said, she's going to do great.  Much better than me, but knowing my girl....this is going to be her time to shine.

This life milestone for her isn't without those familiar twinges of pain, however.  The reality of it is, she won't come bounding down off the bus, running to tell me all about her first day of school.  The friends she met, the things they did, who she sat with at lunch, who she played with at recess, all of that will be missing tomorrow.  For me, reading through the school supply list is even hard.  Markers, crayons, scissors, glue bottles...all items Elena can't use by herself, for a classroom she will have limited time in.  Elena will have two teachers, two classes, a Life Skills class and a regular curriculum class.  I know it's the best fit for her but just the word "Life Skills" is hard to say sometimes.   I've been intently praying for both her teachers, and especially her peers.  Peers are hard.  As she gets older, kids become just a little harsher, a little less interested in her, all of which is heart breaking.  There's been several times lately where I notice kids her age just staring at her.  And I know their little hearts and minds are innocent, but my heart wants them to being staring at her because my Elena is stunningly beautiful, not that she's "different".  I know how much she loves peer interaction and it breaks my heart at the thought of her being left out, being ignored or the worst, being stared at.  Oh my heart.

Yes, this will all be bittersweet.  There are crazy emotions swirling around (and crazy hormones, ya'll!).  Mama fears are real and hard and come at random times.  But, at the heart of it all there's God just whispering to my heart to "Be Still" and just like every other hurdle before this, He is in control.  His plan is bigger, better and more beautiful than my silly fears and anxieties.  The next few days and weeks will be a roller coaster, my goodness.

And to totally change the mood here to close out, I should probably update all you sweet people out there who have been praying for our girl and her trusty new hip!  She's doing great, making great strides in PT in the last week.  Her pain and sensitivity is decreasing, as she is getting back to her normal, happy, easy-going self.  We've struggled several nights in the last couple weeks...like struugggggggggled.  Like, please give me a newborn who will no doubt sleep better than my five year old right now.  But, it's hard to say if it's behavioral or hip related.  All I know is that I'm sleeping terribly in my last few weeks of pregnancy, coupled with a five year old who is up literally all night, making me sleep deprived, before I'm going to be sleep deprived....Lord help me!  She gets some follow-up xrays tomorrow that will give us a better idea of how she's healing.  I'll keep you all posted.....and of course, share with you her FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PICTURE!

Love you all for your prayers and support! xo

The Home Stretch

Hard to believe it's been two weeks since my last update.  It's bizarre, the weeks have flown by but the days have been L-O-N-G.  Our calendar, for the most part, has been clear, which is weird.  In the last five years, that's never been the case.  So, I guess it's nice to take a breather and not to be hustling to get out the door every day, all day.  But, it has made for some difficult days.  Like never-ending, what seem like 40 hour days.  However, this scenario is not likely to happen again, oh, for the next 15 years so I guess I won't complain too much.

Elena has been doing really well.  She has definitely had some good days and some bad days, but in the last week, it's becoming evident that she's on the mend finally.  She's happier, more interactive, less tired and can be moved around a lot easier.  We've been fighting some major reflux issues for whatever reason, but that's been the worst of it lately.  That, and the nights.  We get a good night (two or less wakes) about every four terrible (awake every 30 minutes) nights.  I mean a newborn may be easier than Elena has been at this point!  It's hard to figure out with Elena if it's reflux, her leg, or just wanting to make sure Mom and Dad stay close.  I tend to ALWAYS think it's the latter, but Daddy (whom Elena has wrapped tightly around his little finger!), usually disagrees with me, shocking I know!  This happened with the last surgery.  She got used to us running to her with every little peep and kept up that routine for like a year until something that I can't remember that we did to fix it.  I'm really looking forward to being awake all night for the next infinity.  Maybe the newborn will be like Cal and win all awards, ever, for sleeping?  Please?  God, help us!

Now that we are emerging from the post-surgery survival mode, I'm beginning to feel the anxieties of the beginning of the school year arising.  It's reallllllllllly scary sending your five year old to Kindergarten, especially with all the needs and accommodations that come with Elena.  The whole process is a lesson in lack of control, which of course, I hate.

Oh yeah, then I'm having a baby sometime in the next four weeks.  So there's that.  I do have the car seat washed, a set of white onesies set aside, newborn diapers ordered from Amazon and three swaddle blankets on the ready which means I'm pretty much ready.  It's hilariously opposite from the preparations of a first (or even second) time parent.  Poor third child.  I can say that because I am one.  I promise we'll figure out a name for him/her but for now, there's A LOT to do.

I do want to thank all of you who have been so thoughtful and kind to us the last couple weeks.  The meals, the prayers, the texts, the encouragement has all meant so much.  It has definitely made the surgery awful-ness, much more doable.  

Home

We're home.

We got home last night about 8pm and I don't think I've ever been happier to be here.  My shower, my couch, my bed....Calvin!  We left the hospital yesterday morning at 9am and drove straight through.  Elena was the champ.  She never fussed one time.  We stopped twice to get her out, change diapers/dressings and move her leg around, popped her back in the car and off we went.  We have been amazed at how well she has done thus far.  Riding in a car seat 72 hours after a major orthopedic operation for 11 hours is unimaginable to me, but it was nothing for her...Chad and I complained more than she did!

Last night she woke up just once (hallelujah!) so we were all pretty darn well rested this morning.  We've been able to manage her pain with just Tylenol and overall, she's doing really well.  Granted, she's still "off", lethargic, painful to move around, her digestive system is a little awry and her little body is bruised and swollen but she is doing so much better than last time. And we are SO thankful.

We are so appreciative of all the messages, texts, prayers, meals and love we have received.  It has been such an encouragement to us.  It's definitely a crazy (and I mean cuh-ray-zeeeeee) season in our life but our support network has been amazing, and we are thankful for each one of you.

The last month of our lives has been so beautifully orchestrated.  Everything came together fairly easily for this all to happen and I totally recognize the blessing that is Dr. Nuzzo.  He was worth the trip all the way to New Jersey a hundred times over.  The fact that we were able to have an alternative to what 99.9% of orthopedic doctors would do to our little girl (that literally has a 100% failure rate over time and an up to 2 year recovery) makes all the difference.  We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity for him to fix our precious girl.  That being said, we won't stop praying that this was the LAST orthopedic surgery she'll have to face for a long, long time, if not ever.

For now, we'll be hunkered down here at home, enjoying a freed-up summer schedule with the sweetest little patient and adorable 2 year old.  That, and waiting for this other little babe to make his or her arrival AND give me that looooooong over due glass (or bottle) of wine. Cheers!

Here's Elena yesterday on our ride home, happy as can be!

Happy Birthday to Our Five Year Old!

What a fifth birthday.  While obviously not ideal, she had a really decent day.  We had some major vomiting issues over the night that we can pretty much chalk up to the anesthesia.  That curtailed this morning and we actually had an above-average-expectation day.  

Elena seemed comfortable and pain-free, except when we had to move her and the four needle sticks that it took this morning to get a blood draw.  Other than that, she napped on and off (as did we).  We read her some books, watched a couple shows and listened to her usual tunes.  Medication has been minimal and she even braved a brief PT session today.  

All of this reminds me of her incredible strength and resiliency.  This girl has endured far more than any five year old should.  She presses on through every challenge with her brave face and even a smile.  My heart aches that we have to put her through this but to see how she gets by is incredibly inspiring.  If only you could see her incision today or hear us describe what the doctor did to her and know that she was giggling today when we would flush the toilet, squeal when I read her Dr. Seuss or smile when Daddy was kissing on her; the trauma her body has taken is no match for her happy spirit.  

And today, of all days.  It's supposed to be a day where you have a Pinterest-worthy party, celebrate with her little girlfriends, eat cake, open presents, blow out candles.  But for me, it's a bittersweet day, one where I remember how perfectly healthy she was.  Where I dreamt of all that her life would hold, as all new parents do.  It certainly wasn't this.  Yes, today we always celebrate the blessing that she is in our lives, but I also grieve for what it was supposed to be and for what she has endured the last five years.  And what a reminder as here I sit, in another hospital room, comforting my birthday girl as she winces in pain with every movement.  

But my Elena, my precious five-year-old, Elena.  You my girl, are our light.  And even though we grieve for you, we thank God for the constant blessing that is your every breath.  You are brave, resilient, beautiful and exude joy.  From the moment I laid eyes on you, I was changed for the better.  I love you more than words can say and am so proud of you.  My sweet girl, happy birthday love.

Day 1 Down

This will be brief because I am exhausted.  Our day started at 4:30am and it has been incredibly long.

Surgery went well.  The doctor remained perplexed by Elena's case all the way up until he had her in the OR under anesthesia and could really examine her.  Fortunately, he was able to manipulate her enough for her not to have to have the more invasive procedure.  She had the same procedure she had on her left hip with a bit more extra, what he called "bone shaping".

Overall, she's done fairly well today.  She was pretty darn uncomfortable from about 5pm to 8pm, we think from pain and nausea.  We are hoping she can relax longer than the 20 minute increments she's been able to most the day.  Considering we are all running on little sleep, this would be a huge blessing to have a somewhat peaceful night.

Our hope for tomorrow is to be able to start her feeds again, with no vomiting and to be able to see her a little more comfortable than she was today.

Thanks to you all for the encouragement, prayers and messages.  Knowing Elena's team and our family has been covered in prayer has been such a comfort.  I say it all the time, but we could never get through this without the enormous support network we are blessed to have.

Xox
Chad and Emmalee