Smiler!

Here is my brother, the smiler! He is sooo cute when he gets all excited and smiley. I just laugh at him when he smiles. Mommy tried to get this picture centerd...but it didn't turn out that way!!!! More smiley pictures to come soon!!!

What a Christmas it was!

Wow...what a great Christmas we had! I had too many pictures to choose which ones to post on the blog, so I decided to just add a little show of my holiday pictures. We opened up gifts that Santa brought me at home. I got a baby cradle! I was so excited! I didn't open any other gifts after that one. I just wanted to play with it! How exciting that Santa brought this gift to me!!!! Then, we had more Christmas at Grandma and Pappy's house. Uncle Aaron got me a fish and a purple tank! I haven't named him yet, but Aaron thinks his name should be Frank. I am still thinking about this one! Then, that night, we went to Cousin Debbie's house for a great night. Guess who was there??? SANTA! He was so busy...and he made time for me and all my cousins. That was pretty awesome! We had a great day. I am glad I was able to spend my time with my family. Reid liked meeting all our family...and he was a very good boy. We are blessed to have had such a great Christmas. Love you all...and Merry Christmas!!!!!

New Look

Since my baby brother is here and sharing my blog...I thought maybe I should change the color of my blog to something other than pink. So, I am playing around right now with some changes. Who knows what I will decide on. For now....this is my choice. Welcome to my website...and hope you enjoy your visit! More to come soon!

A day with Emily

I am sooo lucky! I went to the Boothby's house for a play day with Emily. She is a senior in high school and she invited me to come over to her house today. We made cookies, built a tent, had a picnic lunch, and played with her family. I had fun with her sister, Ella, and her brother, Aaron, too. They are all very nice to me. Mr. and Mrs. Boothby were there, too. I really had a great day. Thanks for letting me play at your house! I love you all!

Another friend visits!

Wow...what a great day I had! Mommy's great friend, Claire, from high school visited us yesterday!!! It was sooo much fun. I wanted her to spend the night like she did awhile ago...but she had to go back to Columbus to be with her family. We had such a great time spending time with each other. I love Claire!!!!

A small smile

Here is my baby brother with a small smile. He smiles really big....but Mommy misses it every time with her camera! She has been trying...and will keep trying until she gets it! Sooner or later it will happen!!!! Love you cute boy!

My friends visit!

I want to introduce you to two of my friends. My mommy and their mommy are teachers together. You can see Brooke and me sitting in the chair together. We are only 6 weeks different in age. She also has a baby brother! He is almost 4 months old and his name is Chet. They came to visit and play with me today. They even brought us dinner. I thought that was very special! Thank you for coming over today!!!!

Happy Birthday Great Grandma Wilson!

It was my Grandma Wilson's 80th birthday yesterday. We went to Grandma and Pappy's house to visit her and help her eat her cake! It was fun. Grandma Wilson got to hold Reid, and Nina, Pappy's dog was also interested in Reid. She sat with Grandma and Reid as you can see from the one picture. How funny. We are glad we could be with you, Grandma Wilson for such a special day! Love you!

Looking for Santa Claus....

Hey...it's me. Have you seen Santa anywhere??? Mommy and Daddy keep talking about him coming soon and how I need to be good so he will leave me something other than coal! So, I have been looking for him. I was under the tree last night looking really hard. I haven't seen him yet, except for a few stores....I did see him walking around. I do wonder why he is always shopping at the same places Mommy and I go to. Oh, well. I am off for now. I need to go practice being good some more, so Santa will visit my house soon!!!! Only 6 more days!!! Yipppeeee!

Soooo tired!

My Grandma Karen came over today while Mommy and Reid went to the doctor. I played hard with her. It was a fun time. I thought I wore her out....but maybe she wore me out, instead this time! I was so tired that I just conked out on Grandma's lap while we were watching one of my movies. It was a really fun day. Thank you Grandma for watching me. I love you!

Daddy's invention!

Ok, if you know my dad...he is quite handy. Give him a job, and he will do it right. Well, Reid wants to suck a pacifier so badly, and he gets mad easily. So, my daddy did some work. He took 5 of my hairbands and cut them up! Yes...I know...this made me mad, too! Then, he tied them together. Then, he attached them to Reid's favorite pacifier. Now, get this.....he put it over Reid's head...like a headband....and it fits loosely around his head and holds the pacifier in place!!!! Reid can push it away if he wants to...or suck away! Good invention, Daddy!!! See for yourself!!!!

Reid Eating

Here is my brother doing what he loves to do....EAT! Mommy and Daddy have found a good way to feed Reid. He wants to suck badly...and gets irritated when he can't. So, the syringe and tubing is not real great for this. It is too snall for him to really feel like he is sucking on anything. So, Mommy had the idea of putting the pacifier in his mouth on one side and the feeding tube on the other. Yippeee! Everyone is happy! Reid thinks he is sucking away...and he is content and doing well. He obviously is getting enough...look at our little chunky monkey!!! He is doing great!!!!!

Here I am blogging away!

Just wanted to show you how good I am at navigating the mouse now! Daddy showed me! I can really blog now!!! Watch out world...here I am!!!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!!!

I think these pictures speak for themselves. Merry Christmas to you all!!! We thank you for all your love, support, notes of encouragement, phone calls, meals, time given to Ellie, and prayers. Our journey contines...and we will continue to keep you on track and updated. Love to you all...

Reid's trip to school

It's Ellie's mom again....to thank all the wonderful friends I have at school. What a blessing to work with such AWESOME people. Reid had a great time today, too! It was apparrent to me when he stayed up and didn'tr really nap much for the entire time we were there! He loved all your snuggles and hugs! This is my 4th grade class all standing around Reid and myself. I miss all those little guys! They loved seeing Reid...and were so gentle and sweet. What a great group of 4th graders! Then, Mrs. Plant our Dean of Students snuck some time with Reid. She had the touch!!!! She put him to sleep and he was nice and cozy in her arms. I am so blessed to have had to chance to come in and visit. We will be back soon!!!! Next time, maybe I will be brave...and bring Ellie, too!!!! Until next time...

Venting moment

Ahh....It's Ellie's mom...taking a moment to vent. I feel that Brian and I have been pretty positive in this whole adventure with Reid....but I had a rough day today. I really should not even start to complain..because so many others have something so much rougher that us that they are dealing with. I need to remind myself of that. But, I am going to vent anyway. Reid is going to be seen Thursday morning bright at early (8:00) at Rainbow Babies hospital to visit with the craniofacial dentist that will be making the impression of his mouth and the prostetic piece for his mouth. When I spoke with them today....I just had one of those moments where I wish we didn't have to go through this. Let me rephrase this....so Reid wouldn't have to go through this. We are merely going for a consult on Thursday...and who knows when the procedure will be done. Reid's lip surgery has been scheduled for Jan.. 29 assumming all goes well with this other mouth piece. I guess Reid will have to go back weekly for fittings and adjustments on the palate piece until surgery is my understanding. I really don't know the details....we will know more on Thursday, I guess. I just feel defeated today. More appointments for Reid....more babysitters for Ellie...more decisions to be made. Just continue to keep us in prayer. I know you are...and we thank you. I just needed some time to vent outloud in words, I guess. My feelings are strong that we are blessed to have Reid. I just wish this process could be a bit simpler for him. I usually have really positive days...but today is just not one of them. Continue to think of us often....we so need that...and thank you for all you have done. I don't mean to be a drag here today....but I needed to just let off some steam. I don't really do this too often to Brian....he has enough on his plate with work not being real supportive to him. (another prayer topic, please!) You know, we are blessed to have the hospitals around so close that we do. I should be grateful...and I am. I just needed a little time to just let my mind speak. Thanks for listening.....more updates to follow soon.

Plastic Surgery Appointment Monday

Just a quick update to keep Reid in prayers on Monday. He has a plastic surgery visit. We will meet with the same surgeon who did Reid's surgery. We hope for a good meeting and some news to talk about the next round of surgery. We feel lucky to have such a skilled surgeon working with Reid....but we still have unanswered questions and concerns. Please keep us covered in prayer that we will feel like our questions have answers that we accept and believe in. We will keep you all updated when we find out more! Thanks for your love!

My first dentist visit

Here I am! I was being a big girl today at the dentist!!!! Mommy was proud of me! You can see me waiting my turn in the waiting room. I was reading magazines to pass the time. Then, I got to sit in the big person chair like mommies and daddies do. It even moves!!!!! Miss Jan cleaned my teeth and counted them for me. I liked the strawberry toothpaste. I have 20 teeth!!!! Then, Dr. Kiefer came in to see me and also count my teeth. I guess he didn't believe Miss Jan or something. Yep....20 of them!!!! Then, I got to wear those cool sunglasses because Dr. Kiefer was using a bright light to look at my teeth. I even got to pick out a cool toy when I was done. Thanks for a great day, Dr. Kiefer!!!!

Yipppeee....Mommy has a new camera!

Just wanted to say that we are back up and running....and our new camera works great. This is me just trying to look smart by wearing my daddy's glasses. Funny, huh? Just being me! You never know what I am going to do next! It's always a surprise!!!!!

Scary doctor visit

Another doctor visit today...this one was not planned, though. I changed Reid's diaper around 11:30 pm last night and everything was normal. When I changed him again around 4:30 am...he has this gross blistery looking pimple thing on his inner thigh. I cleaned him all up and put cream on him to see if that would do anthing before his next change. When I changed him again around 7 am...it was still there and really hard to touch. Reid was not fussy at all and didn't mind anyone touching the blistery looking thing. (nice and technical, huh?) Anyway...I called in Brian to look, and he just thought it looked like a huge pimple head. I still didn't like the looks of it. So, I called our doctor, and he wanted to see Reid today. To make a long story short....Dr. Strong had to pop the mass to drain it and take a culture of it. They want to make sure it is not any type of staff infection. SCARY. Dr. Strong does not think it is a harm at all. He thinks it is (spelling????) impetigo. So, poor Reid...here we go again with meds and appointments. We have to put a warm compress on it hourly and he is on an antiobiotic for the bacterial infection (strep infection). Poor kid. I have to watch the mass and report in the morning what it looks like. If the doctor does not like what Reid's leg looks like, we will be back in the office for blood work. Hopefully, we won't have to go this route. Say a little prayer tonight that this is just a strep infection. We hope so. Ellie has her first dentist appointment tomorrow morning. It should be a treat. I will take my camera!!!! Prayers for Reid tonight.....

Love to you all....
Janeen

Wooo- Hoooo!! Back in business!!!

Wooooohoooooo!!!! We have a new camera...yesssss! Now, I just have to learn how to use it!!! I will have Brian give me the low down, and I will post pics soon!!!! I've only been without my camera for a little more than a day....but man, I missed it!!!! So, watch out...new pics to come soon!!!!!

Oh no!!!! Say it isn't so....

It's not looking good....Mommy's camera looks like it has died. She is not taking this well. How will she survive without taking pictures???? I think she already put my daddy on the mission to look for a new one online. Sooo...you won't see too many pictures of me...at least for a few days. Mommy can't believe that her camera has died...but I told her that after about a million pictures....something has to give!!!!! So, bear with us...we will still be posting...just no pics for a little while. A very little while if Mommy has any say!!!! : )

Look who is ONE month old!!!!

Just a little note to show how big Reid is getting! He is one month old today! He went to the doctor with Mommy. He weighs 10 pounds and 6 ounces already! He has exactly gained one pound since he was born. The doctor was glad to see how well he has grown!!! Way to go, Reid! He was also 21 and 3/4 inches long. He has grown about an inch and a quarter in just four weeks! Mommy thinks he is growing too fast for her! She wants him to stay tiny! Well, tiny might not be the word...he was never real tiny!!!! He is a little above average for height and weight...and the doctors are glad to see this! We are proud of you, Reid!!!! Keep on growing!!!!

My Family

Hi, everyone! I made this picture with my Grandma Carol when Mommy and Daddy were with Reid in the hospital for his surgery. Mommy has it hanging on the fridge..because she loves it. I love my family....especially baby Reid.

Almost asleep.....shhhhh

I had to post thie picture! (it's Ellie's mom). Reid was rocking in daddy's arms today and just really loving it. His little arm was tucked up behind his head for who knows how long. When I looked closer...it was blue!!! He had it all tucked under his head in a wierd position and was losing circulation! Brian felt so bad! The little guy was too comfy to even complain!!! What a peanut!!!! Just as a sidenote...he is sleeping in his cradle now and his arms are both back to the original color that they should be!!!! : )

Just being Ellie!

Hi, guys! I was just wearing my backpack around the house today singing about Blackbirds....I like the part that says, "Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie." I usually say, forty two blackbirds...and my mommy smiles. I love to sing, and I was just really happy when my mommy took this picture this morning. Just being me!!!!

By the way....thanks Annika for the pants!!! I love them, and they fit great!