Elsie washes in the sink

Click here for a short video of Elsie washing her legs and feet as if she were the dinner dishes.

Big yawn and big brother

Elliot got home from Disney World yesterday. It was clear that Ezra had missed him. We heard all about Splash Mountain and new toys, the fireworks and the bears singing. It was a dream come true for a 5 year old Elliot. He was beside himself with happiness, wearing his Lightning McQueen Micky Mouse ears, of course.

Ezra had his weekly checkup this morning. He is up to 6 pounds, 2.5 ounces. He gained 7 ounces in 7 days and is now a full 19 inches. His reflux seems to be just a bit better and he is wanting to eat more and more. He just this week is growing out of some of his premie outfits. He's about 4.5 ounces smaller now than Elsie was at birth...

In more pressing news, Dr. Robert Gordon, Michael's dad, was admitted to the hospital last night for heart related issues. After a cardiac catheterization revealed a major blockage in one of his arteries, he is being moved to a larger hospital in Atlanta. Michael is going with him, and Elsie is staying in Griffin with Aunt Gail, whom she loves. Please pray for Dr. Gordon who will probably undergo surgery and possibly be given a stint today.

"It's fun having a baby, isn't it mama?"

I'm glad she thinks so. Especially when he stops crying. Thank God for Dr. Jones and Ezra's acid reflux medication. I think it kicked in this evening. I fed him at 7pm and he was awake for a full hour, with no screaming. It was soooo much fun.

Some recent quotes from Elliot:

While he was at a friend's house playing,

Sam: Elliot, I wish you could stay here and play all day.

Elliot: Sam! I can't do that! I have a new baby at home!

When playing house with Elsie in her room,

Elliot: I'm going off to work. When I come home, you have to have some dinner ready for me. (?)

Ezra was up to 5 lbs 10 oz at the doctor yesterday. His little legs actually have one very small roll on them. Can't wait for more.

We've been a little tired around here lately

Ezra visited Dr. Jones again today. He's up to 5lbs 10 oz, 18.25 inches. He also got a prescription for some acid reflux medication. I'm really hoping it makes him happy. The poor guy cries more the more he's awake. The doc says premies are usually reflux kind of people. I remember giving Elsie Prevacid. In 4 days she was a completely new baby. I would love that for Ezra. He now usually screams for about an hour after every feeding. Pain. In a very little body.

Stripes

Lately Elsie has been on a stripes kick. She constantly wants to wear every article of clothing possible with stripes. Stripes on her hat, her shirt, her pants, her tights. Here you see her sporting some stripes with Ezra, who loves his striped bed. Elsie is wonderful at keeping Ezra entertained. When I ask her to keep him awake during the day, she will dance, sing, bring him pets, and share her toys with him. We all know she is a champion talker, so Ezra has a little chatterbox next to him in the mornings while I get Elliot ready for school. She loves to help me with him, often holding the bottle for me when he eats. If he's been asleep for awhile and happens to wake up, Elsie will yell, 'Elliot, his eyes are open! His eyes are open!' She's not one to miss an opportunity for an audience. Even one that doesn't talk.

Big brother

The other day when I asked Elliot if he was enjoying being a big brother he said to me, 'yeah mama, this is my second time.' Most days he says to me at least once, 'mama, isn't he great?'

This is one of the things I love about Elliot - his gentleness. Yes, he and Buggie fight and he can be rough when he's mad, but over all he's a gentle, sensitive little boy. And he LOVES babies, especially his new little brother. The other morning I found him in the living room, telling Ezra all of the things he is going to teach him how to do. It made me cry, and made me think about how much richer we will all be, and already are, because of this tiny little person.

He's alive!

So far there have only been still shots of this little "cocoa puff", as Miss Emily calls him. Click here to see a short video of Ezra.

A little perspective

So we took Ezra to the doctor yesterday. He got an A+. He had gained 5 ounces in 5 days and was looking great. Here are a few pictures to provide some perspective on how small he really is. He is up to 4 lbs 13 oz. At this rate, in a month he will be up to Elliot's birth weight! Which is about right, since that will be approximately his due date...