Back to School

Hi everyone!

Tomorrow is my first day back to work since February 28th of last year. So crazy to think that I was off for ten months. I have gone into the classroom a few times, some with kids, some without and I am actually really excited to be back. I think that once I leave our house tomorrow I may get a little sad, but I know that it will also be good for me to get out of the house a bit. Having Ella's condition in my face constantly is really tough. The reality of the ventilator and condition of her heart can get really sad and I think having two or three days a week where my brain is distracted by work will be a good thing.

Just a little update on Ella... She is definitely progressing physically and can grab things and move a lot more than she could when we left the hospital. The main concern we have right now is the continued vomiting. I can count on her throwing up on me almost every time that I hold her so it makes me nervous to do so. I don't want to make her feel nauseous or uncomfortable so I feel like I can't hold her as much as I want to. We have a GI appointment to change out her Gtube and to figure out what's going on in her little body. Yesterday she threw up a yellow vomit which we have never seen before. I am worried it is bile. Praying that we get some answers on Friday. (I will normally work Thursday and Fridays and every other Monday, but my job share partner switched with me so I could make it to this appointment... Don't know what I'd do without her!!!💜) We have have to go to the hospital and get Ella's digestive tract scoped... 😞  In other news! She has been sprinting off the vent again! Yippee! The progress is definitely slower than I would like, but I am trying to be patient! I have decided to look for the good in the vent: 1. We are able to hear her breathing in the middle of the night and quickly wake up when we hear the pattern shift when we are on "Ella duty" 2. I think it has kept her from getting sick this season because it has a filter 3. It's keeping her alive and breathing, which is a pretty big deal 😉.

Please pray for the vomiting to cease and for some answers on Friday.

Here are some photos from recently!

Eli got fake tattoos for Christmas and wanted Ella to have one too. She's a girl so she had to have a LADYbug.

Wearing beanies with some of his best buds

I LOVE this photo of Eli. He is getting so old!!!

Matt and I FINALLY got to go on a date! (First time since before Ella was born--other than when we were in the hospital, but I don't consider them dates-- we went to one of our favorite restaurants for lunch and to the river. It was beautiful. Thank you to my mom and friend, Sheila, for watching the kids!

Happy girl with piggy tails

Love,
Jillian