The McGhee Family Blog

Y'all Ain't Gonna Believe This...

2009-02-10T10:18:00.008-05:00

What's the difference between a northern fairy tale and a southern fairy tale? A northern fairy tale starts out with "Once upon a time..." and a southern fairy tale with "Y'all ain't gonna believe this..." Okay, so this is not totally relevant, but Scott told me the other day and I thought it was a funny joke.

Ephraim has two more things to add to his sick list for 2009, nasty bilateral ear infections (that means both ears, folks) requiring two Rocephin shots and a 10 day course of oral antibiotics, and Rotavirus. For those of you who have never experienced Rotavirus, let me just say... oh...my...goodness! It starts out with vomiting and moves on to diarrhea - tons of diarrhea! I am sure that Ephraim has pooped an amount of diarrhea equal to his weight, or what he used to weigh. I'm sure he's lost some weight. The boy has been really sick for about a week. Bless his heart, he's finally recovering.

The medical marvel (that's Ellie) has also been somewhat sick, believe it or not. She had a fever and has had a couple of days of diarrhea. Could be Rotavirus, I guess. I read that is has much more mild symptoms in adults and older children. She loves the fact that she is sick! I guess since she never is and Ephraim seems to always be. But let me tell you, she has not acted sick for even one minute - the girl has been wild as ever.

I have been doing loads and loads of puke and poop infested items. It is good that I do not have a weak stomach (I think few moms do). Anyway, that's what is new with us and sadly it is the same old story - sickness! Oh, how I long for Spring, warmer weather, less illnesses (cross my fingers)!

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-01-28T22:15:00.003-05:00

Oh, you thought it was a children's book? No, it is our house! And their names are Ellie and Ephraim.

I know you all thought the McGhee Family blog had seen its last days. We're still here! I have been meaning to update for so long (hint, hint... here come the excuses and they're pretty good).

We've had major computer problems and major internet problems. We got a new computer and have now switched internet services. And, I just got so behind that the thought of updating seemed overwhelming. I think I'm ready to give it my best shot...

Ephraim is into everything. His trademark move right now is finding something small he can push up against something big so that he can climb up on it. I told Scott I think he is going to be a mountain climber and/or a doctor. (He likes to walk around with the play stethoscope around his neck). Anyway, he loves to play with his big Sissy, dancing, and vacuuming (toy vacuum, of course). He says new words all the time but still likes to grunt and point a lot. He eats like his Momma (picky). This year he's already had an ear infection, stomach virus, and right now has a really bad cold, bless his heart. He recently had his first hair cut and was 17 months old on January 22. He is still an angel!

Ellie is still very into the Power Rangers, but also likes to play with whatever her brother is playing with. Sometimes she decides that she doesn't want to be the big sissy anymore. She is actually a really good big sissy though, and her "Brud" just adores her. She is doing well in preschool and will celebrate her 100th day of school on Friday. I am going to have lunch with her that day. We are still looking at schools for her for next year, but haven't made any decisions. We thought her imaginary friend was long gone, but he has revisited some lately. His name is Mekin Ha-ha and he has a lot of birthday parties. It is the running joke around here that Mekin must be about 100 years old as many birthday parties as he has. She usually insists that he is only 5 years old. Oh, and he has a friend named Sha-sha that comes over sometimes. We don't "see" her as much.

I am ready for Spring. It gets dark too early and it just makes me want to sleep... we all know I can't do that all the time! And I absolutely hate being cold. I think snow might be the only redeeming quality of Winter. Not much new with me. I have just been especially busy being Mommy lately.

Scott has been having fun with the new computer. He is on Facebook now, too. Hum, I guess he may be as boring as me. What can I say but that I guess our kids are our life right now. I don't think we'd have it any other way!

Hopefully, more to come soon!

I'm All Ears

2008-12-10T22:07:00.003-05:00

I am planning a Disney World vacation for our family this coming spring. I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone there recently. I want any and all recommendations that you are willing to give me.

I know that Cinderella's Royal Table and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique are musts. I am going to reserve those as soon as I am permitted. I am working with a travel agent to book our room soon at Wilderness Lodge. Other than these things, I am still in the planning phase. We will stay for a week and have not decided if we will fly or not, but probably will.

Please post as much information as you want or email me if you prefer... I'm all ears!

Christmas Already?

2008-11-23T14:56:00.002-05:00

Wow... I just did October in review on my blog and now it seems like Christmas is right around the corner. I know, I know... we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet. The truth of the matter is that everywhere you look there is already Christmas stuff everywhere. You can't help but feel the pressure to start your Christmas shopping, figure out when you are going to get the tree up, and start thinking about Christmas cards... which brings me to my next topic of discussion.

Last year I toyed with the idea of not sending out Christmas cards. No, I'm not trying to be a Scrooge! My friends at work talked me out of it. But this year, I don't think I can be swayed. Before you shake your head in disapproval and disappointment, let me explain. I send out a TON of Christmas cards. I will not tell you how many because no one can believe I know that many people - and I promise you it is not everyone I know, but actually a very whittled down list. Anyway, it takes a really long time to stuff, address, and stamp all those cards. This is valuable time that I could spend enjoying the holiday season with my family and friends, or getting sleep so my family and friends might actually enjoy ME during the holidays instead of me being a crab because I'm tired. I know this sounds like bad excuse, but let me go on...

Money is tight for everyone this year. Gas has cost lots more than usual in the last few months, food costs more, and we've probably all lost money in the stock market. I feel like this will be a hard holiday season for the many worthy charities out there. So this year I will take the few hundred (yes, not a typo) dollars that I usually spend buying and mailing Christmas cards and donate it to some of our favorite charities. I apologize in advance for anyone that likes to put my kids Christmas card picture on their refrigerator (this is the argument that my friends at work used last year to get me to send out cards). I will post a Christmas picture on my blog, so if you really feel the need, print it out and tape it up!

Let me mention that this is also very "green" because I know some people just end up throwing Christmas cards away eventually.

It used to be the only time some people saw our kids, but now with the fabulousness of blogging, our kids are but a click away! Nothing is lost.

So there it is, the decision has been made, it is final! The Christmas card tradition that I have practiced since college has been broken. As they say, change is good.

Let me leave you with a challenge... find something you can do without this Christmas and then instead use the money for a charitable cause. That is what Christmas is about anyway - the Love of Christ.

Some of our favorite charities...

Compassion International http://www.compassion.com/

Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program www.angeltree.org/give

The Salvation Army

Children's Hope International's Help an Orphan program http://www.childrenshopeint.org/

And of course, local food banks

Ay, Matey!

2008-11-08T13:18:00.003-05:00

Last week was Disney week at Ellie's Daycare. They did fun Disney themed things all week, ending with Pirate & Princess Day on Friday. It should come as no surprise that Ellie wanted to be a pirate, not a princess. She was the cutest pirate I've ever seen!

October in Review

2008-11-04T13:43:00.014-05:00

OK, I know I did not write a single post the entire month of October. The McGhees were super busy! October was a fun month! I'll let my pictures tell you about it... they are from some of the most fun things we did... Burt's Pumpkin Farm, Monster Bash at the Creative Discovery Museum, Ellie's class field trip to Hilcrest Orchards, and Halloween - they were Tinkerbell and an Ohio State football player. Oh, there's also just a cute pic of Ephraim laughing stuck in the middle of everything! Enjoy! Maybe I'll do better this month!

Tagged!

2008-09-29T23:10:00.003-04:00

I was just telling Scott earlier tonight how I had not blogged in so long and that I just didn't feel like I had anything to say. Ephraim has not had any reactions to any foods he's been eating and I am certainly enjoying being able to eat anything I want. However, in the last month Ephraim had a nasty stomach virus that Scott & I both got at the same time two days later (Ellie, always the medical marvel, never got it). And now Ephraim has had some major diarrhea for DAYS. And of concern to me, he eats like a bird. He won't try anything new. You have to trick him to get new foods into his mouth and then he just gags himself until he works the food out of his mouth. He will really only eat baby food consistently, and now he's starting to not really want that. People always say babies will eat when they get hungry, but quite frankly... I don't believe that! Ephraim must have his Daddy's... okay, his Mommy's stubbornness.

So, on a lighter note, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had been tagged. Now I have something to say!

Angela tagged me and so here you go:

The Five Tag

10 years ago I:
1. got engaged to Scott
2. bought my first home
3. became an Aunt
4. had been out of college for one year
5. had my first real full-time job

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. laundry (remember... DAYS of diarrhea)
2. read my Bible
3. pray
4. go to bed
5. sleep

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. hummus & pita chips
2. vanilla yogurt with mini dark chocolate chips
3. Thin Mints (Girl Scout cookies)
4. pumpkin anything
5. banana chips

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. pay off our house and van
2. hire all kinds of people to do all kinds of things for me... cook, maid, gardener, etc.
3. have a real artist paint a picture of my kids to hang over my piano
4. spend almost every minute of my life with my family
5. give generously!

5 places I have lived:
1. Dalton, GA
2. Athens, GA
3. Chapel Hill, NC
4. Chattanooga, TN
5. Ringgold, GA

5 jobs I have had:
1. Pharmacist
2. Pharmacy intern
3. research assistant
4. server in a restaurant
5. receptionist

I am tagging: Shana F, Tammy H, Tamara C, Terri R, and Chelle R! I'm not leaving you a comment on your blog... you'll just have to read mine to find out you've been tagged!

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

2 Birthday Parties, Eating, and More!

2008-09-08T20:42:00.008-04:00

First of all, I am stinking at blogging lately. I have not updated you, dear friends, on the fact that I can eat a few things now! Ephraim is doing okay on milk. He will drink it though he doesn't seem especially fond of it. Most nights this last week he only woke up to nurse once. That is so fab! I mailed his stool sample to his GI specialist today - his day 12 was Saturday. But, my friend who is a nurse tested a stool sample for me Friday, only a day early, and it was just fine! Soy was the first thing I decided to add back. SO, I had Salsaritas Friday, Mellow Mushroom pizza Saturday, and Tres Amigos Sunday. I have also had a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks (a surprise from my sweet husband on Saturday), ice cream, and a chocolate bar. We will do another stool sample at the pediatricians office on Thursday. If it is okay we will add eggs next.

We have been trying some solid foods with Ephraim. He is not interested. He spits it out, makes faces, and even gags sometimes. I don't really remember it, but Scott said it was a painful process with Ellie, also, to go from baby food to solids. I've also been trying to get him to learn to use a sippy cup. He just can't get the turning it up. I know it will come, it's just a learning process for him. Bless his little heart!

Ellie turned 4 years old last week. She also started preschool. She really likes it. She has homework, which she was not excited about until she started doing it, then all she could do was giggle and say how "neat" it was.

Scott has also been busy painting our dining room and kitchen. He is such a good husband!

So the McGhee's have been busy. I will post some pictures from the past few weeks.

Ephraim couldn't stop staring at his (dairy free) cupcake. It was so funny!

They were actually playing together. This was a first!

The first day of school.

Ellie working on her homework.

Ellie's party at Creative Discovery Museum - she giggled the whole time we sang "happy birthday"!

Oh yeah, baby! Cheese and more cheese... bring it on!

MILK!

2008-08-27T02:09:00.002-04:00

It is the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday. I was sooo tired and went to bed just after we got the kids in bed. Ephraim woke up around 1:30 am for a feeding so now I am doing all my nightly duties before I go back to bed.

Monday after work we had a message from Ephraim's GI specialist that all his blood tests were negative and we could proceed with the reintroduction of milk. So this, well technically yesterday, morning Ephraim had one ounce of milk. Today he will get two ounces.

He did fine, but it usually takes about two days to see an effect. Thursday he has his one year check-up with our pediatrician, so I will get her to check his stool for blood. Keep him in your prayers and I will update when there is something to update. Thanks everyone!

Ephraim is ONE!

2008-08-22T22:27:00.007-04:00

Happy Birthday my sweet little boy!

Look how little he was when he was born!

My water broke just after midnight one year ago today. Ephraim Thomas was born at 5:33 p.m. and weighed 7 lb 12 oz and was 21 inches long.

He now is trying to walk, has five teeth, and has a vocabulary of Dada, Mama, uh oh, baby, cat, and bye-bye. He jabbers all the time. He is such a sweet and happy boy - a blessing!

Ephraim's Doctor's Appt.

2008-08-16T06:37:00.002-04:00

Thursday Ephraim had his appointment with his pediatric GI specialist about his many food allergies. If you remember, he had some bleeding when we got back from the beach. The doctor said since he'd had a problem so recently that he would do some blood tests that he usually only does if a child fails the challenge test. So, after our appointment we went over to the lab at the hospital and had blood drawn. They will check it for antibodies to the 5 most common allergens - eggs, milk, soy, nuts, and wheat. It should take about a week to get the results.

If we get positive blood test results, then the doctor will refer us to an allergy specialist. If the results are negative, Ephraim may still have allergies (the test has a high percentage of false negatives), but we are to proceed with the challenge test. For the challenge test, I will start giving Ephraim some milk, increasing the amount each day and watching for symptoms and also checking his stool for blood. The process takes almost 2 weeks.

There is something he can drink if he fails the milk challenge test. Either way I am weaning the boy. I think feeding him a year is fair. It is time for me to eat! So, maybe in a month or so I will be able to eat... ANYTHING I WANT!

Many have asked what my first meal will be... Mexican food... and I am going to pour a whole bowl of cheese dip across my plate! Yum!

Inspirational

2008-08-06T22:29:00.002-04:00

Back in May I posted about Christian singer songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and the death of his youngest daughter. ABC News did a wonderful story on them today. You can read and watch the story here... (have Kleenex close by).

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5519704&page=1

A Miracle is Occuring ...

2008-08-03T16:47:00.008-04:00

Yes, it's true. Both of my children are napping at the same time. It is truly a miracle! Ellie doesn't really take naps anymore unless she just happens to fall asleep somewhere - like watching TV today. I came home from work to a quiet house and thought, "what in the world should I do..." I'll update the blog!

The week before this past week we were at the beach all week with my family - my parents, my three sisters, & their families - a total of 17 of us. It is an annual event. (We didn't go last year because I was SOOO pregnant). Anyway, we had a great time this year. The only bad thing was that because of the tropical storm the ocean was closed for four days while we were there. Ellie didn't like that a bit but we kept her plenty busy! We drove down to Seaside one day and went to Gulf World Marine Park one day - both nice alternatives to the ocean. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment...

When we got back from the beach, the next night Ephraim was up all night, obviously miserable. You guessed it, he was bleeding again. Despite my best efforts to safely eat out a few (and only a few) times while we were on vacation, my baby boy has yet to outgrow his "protein intolerance". How frustrating! Less than 2 weeks until our appointment with his GE physician. No problems since then, though. I am back on my normal diet.

This past Thursday, we went to see Coach Mark Richt. He was in Ringgold. We told Ellie he'd sign her football, but his plane was late & then he had to leave on time so he didn't do autographs. She did, however, get her picture made with the cheerleaders. She was happy with that. And she loves Hairy Dawg. So she was especially excited that she got to see him. I didn't get a pic of her with him - maybe next time. Ephraim wore his Georgia shirt, too!

That's probably all of the major events we've experienced these past few weeks. I must mention one last thing... while at the beach I did read a really good book. It's called The Shack by William P. Young. It was highly recommended by several of my friends. I, too, would highly recommend it. For more info check out www.theshackbook.com .

Lazy Days of Winter, Maybe?

2008-07-17T01:10:00.003-04:00

So, who in the world coined the phrase, "the lazy days of summer"? They are so wrong. Is anyone out there being lazy this summer? I think not because I just got caught up on my blog reading. I was feeling bad because I haven't posted in so long. Everyone else's blog seems to be suffering as well. I'm thinking winter, now that's a time to be lazy. Being cold makes me want to do nothing. Anyway, what have the McGhee's been up to, you may ask...

Scott's brother, his wife & their three children came for a visit from Ohio over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. We don't get to see them much, so it was a really nice visit. Ellie had so much fun playing with her cousins. Maggie slept on the trundle in Ellie's room. This was Ellie's first sleep-over experience - which she totally loved!

Ephraim has been crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything he can get his hands on. I am still giving him baby food - he seems to not like solids. I'm not pushing it until we get past his "challenge test" on August 14th. Please pray, pray, pray that he will "pass" so that the little fella can have milk and related proteins. I don't want him to have to eat like I've been eating these past 8 months.

Last week we went to the Free Family Fun night at Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga. They do it once a month. We are members, so it's not the freeness we care about so much as the extended hours - open until 8pm (instead of the usual 5:30). Ellie had a blast. The book mobile was also there giving away free books. Then we walked up to the 7:15pm Lookouts game and stayed there about an hour. Such a bargain - $8.00. Ellie is such a baseball fan. She actually sat there and watched the game and asked questions. We were also on Channel 3 news - you really couldn't see me, but I'm hiding behind Scott. Check out the link below.

So far a busy month!

Ellie and her cousin, Maggie.

Ephraim - he's pulling up on everything these days!

2008-07-11T18:46:00.002-04:00

Take me out to the ballgame

Gotcha Day!

2008-06-19T22:14:00.015-04:00

Well, today was Gotcha Day. Although we really liked the idea of the Knox Zoo, we decided next year (when Ephraim is a little older) might be a better time to go. The day ended up surprising "girly". Those of you who know Ellie well will understand this. For example, the first thing she said this morning was that she wanted to go to school (what we call daycare) so she could hold her worm. (Yesterday when we picked her up she was digging for worms - she does this a lot).

Anyway, so it started off with me painting her nails and toenails - a mani and a pedi! I let her choose the color - Mango Spice was her choice. Then I painted my toes to match. She still likes for us to match sometimes. We had pictures at CLC in Dalton - they were fabulous - Curtis does such a good job and Ellie is very comfortable around him. We came home for lunch and let Ephraim catch a quick nap.

Then it was off to our primary destination... Club Libby Lu! Ellie loved it. She told them she wanted to be a princess. They did her make-up and hair (would have painted her nails had I not already done it). They used glitter hair spray and even put a tiera on her. It was really fun! The teenage girl that worked on her really took her job seriously - we were there for about an hour. It really made it special. She got to choose some lip glosses and other little things to bring home as part of the package. A big hit - and I came up with it myself! Thank you all for your wonderful ideas - we will probably use them in the future!

From Club Libby Lu we met Daddy for dinner in downtown Chattanooga. Ellie took her bag in and showed him all of her Libby Lu stuff. Then we went to her swimming lessons. This was another reason we didn't choose the Knox Zoo - she did not want to miss her swimming lessons. Overall, I think she had a really fun day. I know I did!

Bucket List

2008-06-13T22:42:00.002-04:00

So apparently there is a movie with this title. It is supposed to be a list of things you want to do before you expire (that's what we say at the hospital - its PC). Anyway, my sister is going to drive a race car next week (she is turning 35 years old). I am still so appalled by this. I can't get my brain around it - I can think of nothing that would make me want to drive a race car. Sorry Ash. And be careful!

I brought it up at work today at the lunch table and mentioned that I didn't have one - a bucket list. Then everyone started talking about what was on their list. I told them nothing sounded like anything I needed to do, that I was okay to go now if it was my time. My newest co-worker, who is so sweet, says "Bless your heart, you're so tired, aren't you?" It cracked me up - she really hit the nail on the head with that one!

So then I told Scott about the lunch conversation. He said he didn't have a list either but then managed to create one in about 2 seconds. His all revolved around sports of the swim, bike, run genre - so surprising, huh.

So what about you all? What are some of your top bucket list items? Maybe one will interest me...

"Yucky"

2008-06-04T22:22:00.003-04:00

I guess you all noticed my lack of posts in the month of May. Let me just borrow a term from Ellie and say that May was "yucky". I can't point to one thing in particular, just overall it seemed kind of "yucky". And before you say "what about Mother's Day"... I had to work.

I did get through something I have been dreading for a long time - I had to work third shift one night. When I left the house at 9pm that night, both kids were still awake and crying. Ellie wanted to know when she would see me again. After that night, Ephraim didn't sleep good for two nights, he wouldn't settle down unless I was holding him. I was so tired. I told Scott to let me lay down and lay Ephraim on my back - it worked (see above picture). To use another of Ellie's phrases, we were both "fast asleep".

So, tonight I have been catching up on my blog reading. Two things really jumped out at me.

1) Ephraim must be huge. I read blogs of several friends with babies born around the same time as Ephraim. We did the weigh ourselves with Ephraim and then without method - he weighs 22 pounds. Enough said.

2) We have a lot of friends that like to camp. I feel like I work a lot. I don't want to work when I am trying to relax. Putting up a tent, building a fire, keeping bugs swatted away, cooking - this all sounds like work to me. Vacations are good that involve a lot of sleeping. I don't think I can sleep a lot on the ground - wait, no, I probably could sleep a lot anywhere, anyhow (again, see picture above).

So, on to June. I am hoping for a fabulous June. We will celebrate Ellie's Gotcha Day on June 19th. Haven't decided what we will do yet. In the past we have done Creative Discovery Museum and the TN Aquarium. Got any ideas anyone? We try and make it a special day for her. Ellie will also start swimming lessons next week.

Ephraim is doing well. He is eating well and had no blood on his last two stool samples. Yipee!
He is starting to scoot around - not crawling yet.

So, there's our update. I'll try and do better with posts this month as well!

9 Things I Love About Ephraim

2008-05-22T16:04:00.004-04:00

Ephraim is 9 months old today. My friend from college, Carrie, had a little boy the same day I had Ephraim. His name is Nate. When he turns how many ever months old, she does that number of things that she loves about him on her blog. Such a cute idea, I thought I'd try it this time!

1. His big blue eyes surrounded by long lashes.

2. His laugh.

3. The way he adores his big sissy.

4. His chunky thighs.

5. How he crinkles his nose and breaths in and out really fast sometimes when he is done eating.

6. That he is not crawling, yet!

7. He yells "Da-da" followed by babbling - it's cute even if he's not saying Ma-ma anymore. (He said it on my birthday back in March).

8. How he jumps like a crazy man in the Jumperoo. He loves it!

9. That when he's tired he cuddles up with me and sucks my shirt.

Ephraim now has one tooth. Ellie has a new nickname for him, "Brud". This is short for Brudder (or Brother if you are not 3 years old).

On a completely different note... some of you have probably heard of Steven Curtis Chapman. He is an awesome Christian singer and songwriter. In addition to his three biological children, he has 3 little girls adopted from China. He was very inspirational to Scott & me as we were going through the process of adopting Ellie. His youngest daughter was struck in the driveway of their home in Franklin, TN yesterday and died. Please pray for this family as they go through an unimaginably difficult time. For more information visit his website at http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

And you can read the article published in the local paper at

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/may/22/tennessee-daughter-christian-music-star-killed-car/?breakingnews

Blessed

2008-04-26T00:17:00.004-04:00

Friends, thank you for your prayers this week. And thank you for being so kind to let me whine a little. I know Ephraim is relatively healthy. The things we are dealing with are so minor and fairly treatable. We are so blessed to have two healthy children. I know many people, and some of you at times, have had children with very serious health issues. I just wanted you all to know I do have some perspective. Sometimes it is hard to convey in a few paragraphs written while half asleep.

I also wanted to add, that in all the sickness I forgot a very important thing...Ellie scored her first goal at her soccer game Monday night. It was the only goal her team got that night. (She also scored one for the other team!) We were so proud of her. She is really enjoying soccer. The above picture is from her first game (see, her hair is still long). I can't get any good shots during the game - I need a bigger lens for my camera (Scott, are you reading, dear?) Anyway, way to go Elle!

8 Months Old and Sick... AGAIN!

2008-04-23T01:33:00.002-04:00

Ephraim was 8 months old today (April 22). It is so hard to believe!

Yesterday I had to take little E to the pediatrician's office. His cough was back and he was wheezing. You guessed it... we are back on breathing treatments. This time we have two different breathing treatments we have to give him, one of them every 4-6 hours until his cough is gone, and the other twice a day... FOR 3 MONTHS! He has a virus, and in a baby, with the second episode of wheezing, it is considered that your baby has asthma. So we go back in 3 months. If there is no further wheezing in the next 3 months, he can go to once a day on that breathing treatment for another 3 months for a total of 6 months. Yikes.

To top it off, Ephraim had a suspicious poo-poo diaper that morning. I took it with us to the pediatrician's office and confirmed that he is bleeding again. This, my friends, brought me to tears, and has several times since. My poor little boy! Our pediatrician recommended that I put a call in to our GI doctor. He called me back yesterday afternoon. He said not to get too excited, it wasn't even necessarily something that I ate, that it could be a virus. He had me to cut out the only new thing I've been eating, bread from a local bakery, and I have to mail in a stool sample in a week. He said he did not think I needed to switch him to formula (much to my relief).

Last night Ephraim had a fever, so I had to call out of work today. So he and I spend most of his 8 month "birthday" in bed. Oh, did I mention I am sick, too, with an awful cold. So, if you happened to think about it, pray for us. If Ephraim is not better by Thursday or Friday, we will have to add another breathing treatment. And PLEASE pray for a his little intestines to heal and that he would outgrow his food allergies soon (85% of babies do by their 1st birthday). Thank you so much!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

2008-04-18T22:55:00.004-04:00

We finally found something Ephraim will eat... green beans! It is one of the few things Ellie would never eat when she was little. She loves them now. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Ephraim loves them, but at least he'll eat them. So a small victory for us.

We are enjoying eating dinner on our back porch. These pictures were obviously taken before Ephraim ate - he is still clean.

Ellie's First Haircut

2008-04-15T15:35:00.006-04:00

Ellie got her first haircut today. I got mine cut first so she could see what was going to happen. Before I was even done she was asking for hers to be cut! Her long hair was pretty, but by the end of the day it was always a tangly mess. This will be easier on everyone. AND it is super cute!

Prepare for Battle!

2008-04-10T16:11:00.007-04:00

We have finally entered the world of baby food. After a recent setback with some mislabeled cinnamon rolls, his little tummy was all cleared up and ready to eat! We can only eat plain foods (no blends) and have to stick with only one for a week to make sure he doesn't have an allergic reation. Last week was sweet potatoes - didn't go so well. He didn't really seem to like them, but at least he wasn't allergic. Last night, as you can see above, we tried butternut squash. He didn't really seem all that crazy about it either.

So ladies (and gentlemen too, I guess). I am looking for any suggestions to get this boy to eat and like it! I feel like I'm going into battle everytime I feed him. It is very exhausting. And I have to completely undress him because it is so messy. I usually end up dirty, too, but don't worry, I'm keeping my clothes on! Would love some comments from you wise parents...

Spring Has Sprung

2008-04-01T22:40:00.006-04:00

Today was the first day we have been able to get outside and enjoy the new spring season. Scott had to mow the yard, so I took the kids out to play. Ellie had a blast on her swing set. I was surprised by how much bigger than last summer she looked out there playing.

It was lovely out. I wore Ephraim in a hip hammock, so there are no pictures of him from our time outside. He enjoyed it, too, though. I was glad he did. He has not been fond of being "worn" by mommy in the past. I think he felt too constrained - he's a big boy.

We are looking forward to more wonderful spring weather in the near future!

Sick Again

2008-03-24T00:00:00.004-04:00

Okay, I have 2 minutes until the weekend is up, and I did promise a family update this weekend...

Ellie was sick the Friday before the last (the 14th). She had to stay home from daycare. This was her first real sickness, ever, in the 3 years she's been with us. She had it all - fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, just the whole nine yards (as my friend Shana would say!). And try as we might not to, we all ended up with varying degrees of it.

I took Ephraim to the pediatrician on Tuesday. He ended up having to start breathing treatments - every four hours. And remember, he still eats every three hours. Needless to say I've been busy! I think the breathing treatment worked on me, too. He sits in my lap so the extra mist floats up my way. I'm already all better, but he's still got the cough of an 80 year old smoker.

Today we celebrated Easter at Scott's parents church in Dalton, GA. Our church has Easter service outdoors. I didn't want Ephraim out in the cold - March is early for Easter, you know!

After church Scott felt pretty bad. He laid down for a nap when the kids did and woke up with a fever! We went and had Easter dinner at his parents house - without him! I left him with strict orders to rest and get better quick!

Untitled

2008-03-19T22:24:00.002-04:00

When we started our family blog, it was a fun place. It is where our dear friends and family, like yourselves, could come and, as Scott would say, see "whazup" with the McGhees. I crossed the line to seriousness because my brother-in-law was so in need of prayers. To be honest, I've been struggling with what to post since then. Everything seems so not important in comparison. Then I attended his funeral...

Rob passed away last Tuesday, March 11. His funeral was this past Saturday. It was perhaps, the most uplifting funeral I have ever attended. My sister spoke about how six years ago, Rob, her husband, was faced with his first diagnosis of cancer. She told of how it came to be a turning point in his life and he came to know the Lord. It was an incredible testimony and I was so proud of her for being able to share it with so many people. Then they had an open mic for people just to come and share about Rob. I was reminded of what a great person Rob was. He truly had a life that was well lived. Scott and I were both challenged to be more involved with our friends, and to enjoy life more.

One of the pastors shared that Rob told her there were two differences in dying knowing God as opposed to without Him. One, was that he was not afraid - he had total peace. The other, as she said, was as profound as the first. That if just one person came to know the Lord through his death, that it would be worth it. Incredible.

No one has to post an "I'm sorry". You are all so sweet and I know that you are indeed sorry for our loss. I will leave you with a picture of Ellie having fun with her Uncle Rob. Before the weekend is over I will try to post an update on "whazup" with the McGhees!

My Brother-in-law

2008-03-05T02:29:00.003-05:00

As some of you may know, my brother-in-law, Rob was diagnosed with a tumor in his brainstem about six years ago. The tumor has been stable until recently. The short version of the story is that in the last three weeks the tumor has more than doubled in size. The doctor's feel that it is only a matter of time now, and have given Rob three weeks to a few months.

I am asking all of you for prayer for my sister, Amy, and Rob and their two children - Trey, who is 10 and Livi, age 6.

A CaringBridge site has been created to keep up to date on Rob. CaringBridge is a nonprofit organization that helps friends and families stay connected.
You can visit Rob's CaringBridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/robwilliams.
If your e-mail program does not allow you to click on the above link, just copy and paste the address into your web browser's address (or URL) location.
Please visit the CaringBridge site anytime. You can use the site to check in on Rob, read the journal entries and send messages by signing the guestbook. When you register with CaringBridge and sign the guestbook, you will automatically receive e-mail notifications each time the journal is updated. Or, you can subscribe to receive these notifications even before you sign the guestbook. (Of course, you can unsubscribe from these e-mail updates at any time.)

We all went to Peachtree City (where they live) today. We had a good visit. Just to leave you with a little laugh... as we drove home through Atlanta, Ellie looked out the window and said, "Mom, is that New York City?" It made us chuckle. I told her NYC was like Atlanta but bigger. That seemed to satisfy her.

Six Months Old

2008-02-23T23:28:00.004-05:00

Ephraim was six months old yesterday. It is hard to believe - half a year! This picture was taken last night. We had such a busy day to end a busy week that I almost forgot to take a picture of him!

Let me update on his allergies... he had his gastroenterologist appointment last week, on Valentine's day. There was less blood in his stool than before I came off of nuts, eggs, and shellfish. So he is improving. The doctor spent a long time with us. He explained that with Ephraim's kind of allergies the intestine becomes inflamed, causing pain, irritability, bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea. He basically just gave me information about his allergies. It was informative, that's about it. Nothing has changed as far as what I can eat. I took a stool sample this week and will get one more this coming week to send in. If the blood is better in those, then Ephraim can start on some rice cereal. If that goes okay then he can start some baby food. I still have to be very cautious and read all labels. At 11 & 1/2 months, they will do a challenge test to see if he can handle the milk proteins. The doctor said that 85% of children can at that point. We are praying Ephraim will be over his allergies by then!

We got Ellie signed up for soccer this week. She is very excited! She is still in gymnastics, too, so she is keeping busy. I have been working on getting her room painted - "Tinkerbell Green". I just have the trim left to do. It is very green, but, that is her favorite color!

Scott had an appointment with the foot doctor Wednesday. He is actually wearing two shoes now! He is out of the big boot and quite happy about it. He has also been approved to ride a bike as long as he doesn't use clip in pedals. He has to wait one more month before he can resume running.

I have had what I think was a stomach virus. In the past month, I have also had a cold, and what I really believe was a mild case of the flu. I used to never get sick. We have actually all been sick except Ellie. Scott says she's just a carrier. She brings home all the sickness from daycare but never gets anything herself. I'm just glad one of us is healthy! We didn't realize how blessed we've been with her health until Ephraim came along, bless his little heart.

That's all for our family update. I usually don't post stuff like this, but... anyone that knows me well knows that I love Gymboree. They are having a baby sale right now and doing Gymbucks. Also there was a mailer with a 20% off coupon (if you didn't get one you can almost always find Gymboree coupons on Ebay). And with almost all their coupons you can use them twice - once online and in the store. Just remember if you are going to use it in the store first to write down the number off of it if you plan to later use it online. All these things make for some really good deals at the Gymboree! Spring lines and the Easter line is out. All very cute, as always. And yes, I did shop there today in case you were wondering!

Chinese New Year - 2008 The Year of the Rat

2008-02-16T22:24:00.010-05:00

On Saturday, February 2, we attended the Dalton China Dolls Chinese New Year Celebration at Ryman Hall in Dalton. The China Dolls are a group we've been involved with since two years before we brought Ellie home. The DCD mission statement is to honor the adopted Chinese daughters of the greater Dalton area by celebrating this Chinese cultural holiday.

As you can see, we have quite a large group now. This is all the girls on stage. They had just been introduced in Gotcha' Day order (the day we got Ellie was June 19th, 2005 = her Gotcha' Day!).

The food was catered by the Fortune Cookie. This is Ellie enjoying a snow pea. She will tell you that she's "a vegetable eater"!

Ellie had a blast running around and giggling with her friends Elisabeth and Anna Grace.

The younger girls in the group did a chopstick dance. It was so adorable!

The girls all lined up at the stage to watch the Traditional Chinese dancing that was our entertainment this year.

Ellie got to try out the handkerchief dance.

Ephraim had fun watching Sissy dance.

Ellie was the head of the lion in the traditional Lion Dance.

We had such a fun time this year. Ellie was really the perfect age to enjoy all the fun. All of her grandparents were there to share the evening with us. There were craft tables for Chinese themed crafts and we had a professional photographer. It is truly a night that I look forward to all year long!

Gung hay fat choy! ("Wishing you prosperity!” in Cantonese.)

Nine Years!

2008-02-06T23:56:00.000-05:00

Today Scott & I celebrated our nine year anniversary. What a wonderful nine years it has been! We had... you guessed it - a big juicy steak! Do you see a theme here? Scott cooked these and they were delicious.

I know our blog has been a little quiet lately. Ephraim has been sick. We think he had a virus beginning thursday and through most of the weekend. We had a miserable night Sunday night and ended up at the pediatrician's office monday morning. Food allergies strike again. His doctor took me off of eggs, all nuts, and shellfish, in addition to the milk and soy that I have been off of for quite some time now. We are also supposed to see a gastroenterologist, hopefully next week. He is feeling much better now - back to his happy little self.

Scott was actually sick thursday & friday, also. So it was not a fun weekend at our house. We did make it to Ellie's Chinese New Year Party, though. That's a post in itself...maybe tomorrow!

A Fabulous Evening & a Trip to the ER

2008-01-29T22:45:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd start off this post with a couple of pics of the little angels. In case you were wondering... Ellie is feeding kitty - she was cracking us up! And Ephraim has no idea if his crib rocks or not because he's only ever been in it for about 5 minutes. We love the co-sleeper. He still wakes up about every 3 hours to eat - it's how football players are made!

I had to share about our perfect evening. Saturday at lunch I told Scott I wanted a big juicy steak for dinner. (Remember I'm off all milk and soy products due to Ephraim's allergies). We decided there could be no milk or soy in steak. So we took both kids and went to The Chop House in Chattanooga. I had a steak & plain sweet potato. It was sooo good! Both of our children were perfect. And I'm pretty sure we've started a trend - the people next to us were looking for a baby name & loved "Ephraim". They were still talking about it when we left the restaurant. Remember folks, you heard it here first! Then we went shopping, again the kids were perfect. We topped the night off with Starbucks. I couldn't get anything, but I enjoyed the smell of Scott's coffee all the way home!

Now I can't post without mentioning tonight's little adventure...on the way to gymnastics Ellie starts screaming and crying about a booger she can't get out of her nose. Well, that booger turned out to be the little cap from Scott's insulin pen needle. My nephew just had an ER visit for a lego up his nose, so I called my sister. They finally got it out by stopping up the other nostril and blowing in his mouth. We went on to gymnastics so I could lay her out on the floor and give it a try. I got it down where I could see it, but couldn't get it out. I took her behind the desk so I wouldn't have an audience - I did anyway - about 10 onlookers had gathered by the time we were leaving... and they all had advise. And yes, I tried every one's advise. We still ended up at the ER.

Our wonderful pediatrician just happened to be working there tonight. Ellie got to see Dr. Jung, got a coloring book and crayons, a popsicle, and they blew bubbles for her the entire time they were trying to retrieve said item. I'm thinking... why wouldn't she want to do this again! The little girl beside us was there for a second time having something removed from her nose. And Ellie has already asked a few times what happened to "daddy's needle". What do you have to do to teach a kid a lesson?

5 Months Old

2008-01-23T01:44:00.001-05:00

January 22, Ephraim is 5 months old! I can't believe it!

He had a doctors visit this past Thursday and weighed in at 17 lbs 3 oz and was 26 inches long. He is 75th percentile on weight, height, and head circumference - perfectly proportioned! What a difference from Ellie. She barely weighed 15 pounds when we brought her home at 9 & 1/2 months. I wanted to post comparison pics, but our computer has crashed a few times since then and so pics that old are no longer on my hard drive. I'll have to ask Scott how to do it.

Anyway, happy 5 months, baby boy!

We're Still Here...

2008-01-21T04:30:00.001-05:00

It has been a while since we've posted. The McGhee's have been very busy!

Let me first summarize the "behind the scenes" of December. In early December, Ephraim was diagnosed with some food allergies. I had to stop eating milk, soy, and any derivative of them. It was difficult at first. It seems like everything has soy in it - who would have thought! Scott, however, has been very diligent to find me things to eat. He has been frequenting the new GreenLife grocery in downtown Chattanooga. We've discovered some really good (though not cheap) foods that I can eat. We've even been getting fresh bread from the Great Harvest Bakery - delicious - it will be hard to go back to regular bread! Ephraim is doing much better now. As long as I am breast feeding him I'll be on this diet. Per our pediatrician, most kids grow out of these allergies by the time they are one. She said at out last visit that we could start trying some milk at around nine months.

Then, two days before Christmas, Scott broke his foot. Was he biking or running, you might ask. Neither. He says he wish it were that glorious. He was chasing a cat down the hall in his Burkenstocks. It was a Sunday and I was at work. He was home with our two kids and his parents were already in Ohio for Christmas. My mom, with my sister's 18 month in tow, and my Aunt Di kept the kids while my step-dad took Scott to the ER. It has been a difficult injury for him. All his "sports", which he cannot do now, really help with keeping his blood sugar down. So now he is "dieting" as well. Please pray for him to heal quickly and without complications.

We are having to update some of our paperwork for the adoption. As part of that I went for a physical the last part of December. When my labwork came back I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. This explained alot - my EXTREME tiredness, extremely dry skin, and possibily my inability to loose my last bit of "baby weight". I started on a drug called Synthroid, and let me tell you, it is like a miracle drug. I am feeling like myself again, instead of the near narcoleptic that I had become! And it was immediate - I felt better after the first dose of my medicine. My skin is better and I am almost back to my normal weight with no changes in what I've been eating. Thank God for having to redo paperwork because I would have never gone to the doctor.

So that was December. Do you see why our posts have been lacking?

This January we celebrated some anniversaries. January 8th was the day I found out I was pregnant with Ephraim last year. January 15th marked one year from the day our paperwork was logged in to China for baby Eva (we submitted it November 28th - well before we knew about Ephraim, but would have submitted it anyway even if we'd known about him). And we celebrated Scott's birthday on January 18th.

We are looking forward to what 2008 will bring. Ephraim is growing so fast and Ellie gets more grown up every day. We will try and do better with our posts and I'll do pictures next time - I promise!

As Promised, Christmas Pictures...

2007-12-31T03:43:00.000-05:00

First, we celebrated Christmas with my (Angie's) family, on December 15th. These are all the kids - ours and my sisters'.

Then on Monday, December 17th we had Christmas with Scott's parents. Ellie and Mam-maw used figurines to act out the Christmas story as Scott read it from the Bible.

Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning.

Ellie's "gold" gift was her Diego Rescue Center. She loves Diego and has played with it so much since Christmas - a little bit of a surprise to me. Anyway, this is how we do Christmas. And Tammy, if you are reading, I copied & pasted this from your blog...thanks!

Santa brings 3 gifts to our kids. They each represent gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold was given to Jesus because it was very valuable - a perfect gift for a king. Our gold gift is something they really want. Frankincense was a sacred substance. In Exodus 30:34-37, God commanded the Israelites to place frankincense in front of the tent of meeting to scent the place where he had promised to meet with them. Jesus was sent as a symbolic "Tent of Meeting" for all people, which is why it was a gift to him. Our frankincense is something that will draw them closer to Christ. In ancient times, myrrh was used to scent embalming liquids. Because Jesus was sent to die on a cross for us, this was an appropriate gift for him. In our family, the myrrh gift is something that is needed.

Although our kids are still really too young to understand, I know in the years to come this will continue to keep our focus on Christ, the real reason for the season!

I've Been Tagged...

2007-12-25T23:38:00.000-05:00

My friend Tammy tagged me on Dec. 18th, and sadly I am just realizing it. I've been behind on my blogging... my own, and the reading of my friends'. So since today is Christmas, or at least the next 22 minutes is, I thought I'd do this, so here goes...

Tammy tagged me to share 12 random things about myself that are Christmas related. Here are the rules:
1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.

12 Random Christmas Things About Angie:
1. I love Christmas cards - sending them and getting them. I've been sending them since college.
2. I love snowflakes. There is something so amazing about them. You know, no two are alike.
3. My Christmas wish list almost always has to do with warmth. Past gifts have included a heater, earmuffs, gloves, scarves, a coat - all by my request. This year I wanted warm pajamas. All those night feedings... I've been freezing in my short sleeves!
4. My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. I love, love, love it. And it almost always makes me cry.
5. I love the matching outfits. My kids are doomed on this one. Okay, they can coordinate instead of match, but they MUST at least coordinate. This applies for Christmas pictures and for Christmas morning - matching PJ's. The last two years Ellie and I have matched. This year she and her brother matched. When I went up to get her this morning I had on my PJs from last Christmas and Ellie said "Mom, I want to wear my PJs like yours!" Needless to say, next year I will be back to matching my kids with our Christmas PJs.
6. Nothing says Christmas like cookies!
7. Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving. I prefer it for Christmas, too. Not a big fan of the ham. Ham is for Easter.
8. I will always be proud to hang an ornament made by one of my kids on my tree.
9. My favorite Christmas movie used to be It's a Wonderful Life. But, in my adulthood, I have a need for less serious entertainment. My fav is now Elf. It makes me laugh out loud.
10. You should spend Christmas day at home.
11. The first act of Christmas day is the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible.
12. Christmas is even more fun as a parent than it was as a child!

So since it is now officially Dec. 26th, I won't tag anyone else. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I'll post some pictures from Christmas this weekend.

19 Days 'til Christmas

2007-12-06T01:38:00.000-05:00

Christmas is upon us. I can't believe it is so close! I have really been in the Christmas spirit this year. Ellie is now old enough to enjoy all the fun stuff that the Christmas season brings. And having baby Ephraim around has been a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. I think about tiny little baby Jesus and how Ephraim seems like such a miracle to us, and how much more so Jesus was to Mary, Joseph, and the whole world!

We are staying busy. Work has been going fine. Ephraim is doing better at daycare. Ellie is loving singing Christmas songs. Scott has been busy redesigning our laundry room - he is trying to make it more efficient since it is tiny and I spend so much time in there. We will have Christmas with my family on the 15th and then with Scott's shortly thereafter. They will be going out to see Scott's brother in Ohio for Christmas.

I started a new tradition this year. I gave the kids their first Christmas present on Thanksgiving Day - Christmas pajamas...matching Christmas pajamas! That way they get to wear them for a while. Our only other tradition is reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning. Scott & I have done this since we have been married, I think?!? (It is amazing what you forget. When people look at Ephraim's picture they commonly ask if Scott's eyes are blue. My answer has been...I can't remember! Gotta try and make a mental note next time I see him awake. It's 2am right now & he's snoozing!)

Let me also highly recommend my absolute favorite holiday treat - the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks AND ONLY STARBUCKS - no one can compare. In my opinion, it is well worth whatever outrageous price they charge for it. Even if it's not on the menu they can usually still make it through most of the cold months. Just ask for it - you won't be disappointed!

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season so far!

We've Been Elfed

2007-11-27T12:32:00.000-05:00

Our friends keep getting elfed. So we've elfed ourselves as well. Check it out. So funny...

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9595192221

The Battle of the Bottle

2007-11-25T21:11:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying that stay at home moms deserve a lot more praise, support, and pay!

My first solo weekend is now in the bag. Not only was it my first official Mr Mom weekend with both Lil "E" and Big "E", but it was also extended with the added Friday off to make it a Trifecta!

Lil "E" proved to be quite a spirited fighter in inning one of the "Battle of the Bottle". I was determined to to get him to take it as much as he was determined to not take it in a 45 minute screamfest for 3/4 oz. First round: Lil "E".

I went to the bull pen the second day and brought out the veteran relief feeder Mam-maw. She stood toe to toe and found the weakness in the Lil "E" defense. 4 oz taken. Round 2: Daddy.

Day 3 using the previous days scouting report, I took to the mound for a double header 9AM and 3 PM with a mommy fix in the middle at noon. First meeting was shaky, but after a 40 minute negotiation I walked away 4 oz lighter. Mom gave the boy some QFT (Quality Feed Time) at noon. At 3PM I made the call to the pen again and the old silver fox closed the door on this weekends festivities. Winner: Daddy.

I must say that my Big Bro was correct all along, 2 kids is more than 2 times as hard.

To all the stay at home moms who find themselves down all the time thinking that it's easy for everyone else...That's a bold faced lie! You guys are tougher than any Ironman and don't forget it!

Some pictures that made me smile. Big "E" helping me find the bad lights. Lil "E" Chillin with his Old Man! And man, do I feel old!

Working Mom

2007-11-20T03:14:00.000-05:00

I started back to work this past Wednesday, and Ephraim started day care the same day. It was hard to leave him. I was a little anxious about remembering everything at work, so that helped take my mind off of worrying about him.

Work is almost as if I had never left. Day care has been an adjustment...for both of us. Ephraim hasn't really had a problem taking bottles, although we have never consistently given them to him. He has now decided that he only likes his milk in the original packaging...me! So we are now trying to work on taking a bottle again. Scott has found that our little man can be quite stubborn. He is also now waking every three hours to eat during the night again. He had been sleeping about six without waking. He sleeps a lot at day care - swing induced sleep is what we call it.

At home, we got our Christmas tree put up over the weekend. I did not reach my goal of having all my Christmas shopping finished by the time I went back to work, but I have gotten a good bit of it done. And we are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with Scott's parents this year. They just live a few mile away - what a blessing!

Forgive me for not posting pictures this time. I just got up for a feeding and was semi-conscious, so I thought I'd do a few things. But it is after 3am, so I'm going to look at getting back to bed soon. I'll post pictures next time!

November Already?

2007-11-08T16:44:00.000-05:00

Time is flying by. I can't believe Christmas will be here soon! We are going Christmas shopping this weekend with the goal to finish up so that we can enjoy the holidays.

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks...

On the Mend

2007-10-24T21:52:00.001-04:00

I think Ephraim has made a full recovery. He is eating normally and his soft spot no longer looks like a big sink hole in the top of his head. He also got his umbilical cord stump removed yesterday, FINALLY! It had formed scar tissue and our pediatrician sent us to a pediatric surgeon to have it removed. All he did was pull it off and put a little silver nitrate on it. So Ephraim got a REAL bath last night. He loved it! He is also 9 weeks old today. They weighed him at the surgeons office yesterday - 12 lbs and 11 oz.

This is Ellie's third week back at daycare. She's only going on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. She is enjoying it. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Carol, and has lots of friends there. They will have their class picinc this weekend (weather permitting) and their Fall Festival next week. They are also starting to learn Bible verses.

I start back to work in three weeks. I can't believe it. The time has gone by so quickly. I have missed my friends at work, but not working. I will get to go over and feed Ephraim on my lunch break. It is a such blessing to have a daycare at my workplace.

So, that's a quick update on the family. I'll add some new pictures as well...

Ephraim sleeping in Mommy's arms.

Ellie has been learning about fire safety at daycare.

Ellie had a horse painted on her face at the Jack O'Lantern Festival.

Little E with some big eyes after his first real bath.

Paranoid Mom-of-the-Year Award

2007-10-22T14:17:00.000-04:00

I have called the pediatrician's office again today. I said "this is Ephraim's mom..." To which they said "Hold on Angie, we'll get the doctor to the phone..." I know Ephraim isn't a common name, but still, they know who we are. Ephraim has already been to their office more than Ellie at 3 years old.

Ephraim isn't eating well. He'll eat for a few minutes and then act like he's mad at his source of food. His soft spot is sunken in - a sign of dehydration. So I'm trying to feed him some every hour - yeah, fun. Our pediatrician said I could supplement with some Pedialyte and to do daily weights. We're to check back in Thursday or sooner if the weight is really dropping off. So please continue to keep him in your prayers.

The virus has left the building

2007-10-20T14:10:00.000-04:00

The little man is finally feeling like his young self again. No fever for 24 hours! PRAISE BE! Thanks to all of you for your love and support!
We are off to see some pumpkins...

The Little Man

2007-10-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

This is our favorite picture to date of the little man, as Scott calls him. It was made last week. He hasn't really felt like a photo op these last few days. Just thought I'd add a visual as you pray for little Ephraim. Based on his labwork, his pediatrician says he has a virus. He continues to run a high fever. She says he may do this even through tomorrow. As long as he is still eating well she said she isn't concerned. However, if by friday he still has a high fever we have to go back to the doctors office. We really appreciate your prayers!

Rough Daze

2007-10-17T11:01:00.000-04:00

We are really having a hard time right now. Little E has been running a fever on and off for 2 days. We have been to the ER once and the Doctors office 2 times. The little guy has been upset most of these last 2 days, which of course makes it hard times for all.
Please keep him in your prayers for healing. Pray for us to be at peace knowing he is in Gods hands. Pray for wisdom to make good decisions. Pray for strength to endure the fight!
His Peace!

Busy Couple of Weeks

2007-10-14T14:30:00.000-04:00

So it has been a while since we have posted. Scott is teaching me how to "blog". This is my first blog post (Angie).

We have had a couple of busy weeks. My sister got married the last weekend in September, we went to Disney's Princess on Ice and had a month late birthday party for Ellie last weekend, and this weekend some of Scott's family is visiting from Baltimore, MD. Here are some pics...

Ellie and some of her cousins...
Trey, Brock, Livi, Blake and Ellie

Ellie and Scott at Princess on Ice

Ellie enjoying her "birthday" party on October 7th (her actual birthday was September 2nd, one day before Ephraim's due date...

Aunt Judy loves babies! She did lots of holding while she was here. Ephraim loves his Aunt Judy, too!

Ellie also made a friend. Uncle Bob is loads of fun!

My first post is complete! And part of it done while holding a baby.

Hopefully with two of us working we can update our blog a little more often!

Future and Present

2007-09-30T08:42:00.000-04:00

Little E has been contemplating his future lately, unfortunately he falls asleep before ever really coming to any conclusions.

Big E has been enjoying her time home with Mom and Little E...

Big Sister In Action

2007-09-22T10:33:00.001-04:00

After a month, big E is now ready to get more involved in the baby care process. She now thinks it will be ok if he stays a little longer!

Little E is still wondering if this is such a good idea.

Lets get up to speed

2007-09-22T10:11:00.000-04:00

Sorry it has taken us a month to get this started, but we have been busy...

Ephraim Thomas was born on August 22, 2007 5:33 PM.

7 lbs 12 oz 21 inches and most importantly healthy.

Ellie is pretty excited about it... Sometimes!