Monday, June 30, 2014

Evanna | Two Months



We’ve had two wonderful and blissful months with you Miss Evanna! Every day we fall more in love with you, and we love it when you do something new (for example – the smiles and grins you’ve displayed over the last few weeks). We continue to be so proud of you and how well you are doing despite your special little heart. Keep it up little one as you have soo many people that care and pray for you every day!

Weight: 8lb 14oz 

Height: 53cm | 20.8 inches 

Clothing size:  You are just getting out of newborn and slowly fitting into 0-3 month depending on the brand

Diaper size: Though size 1 diapers are a little big on you, we’ve just decided to stop buying newborn ones because they’re starting to get too small. 

Feeding: We’ve got a nice little schedule going on right now. You eat about 80-120mL (still adding formula to my breast milk) every feeding, and you eat at 7am, 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm and 11:30pm (which means mommy can get about 6 hours of sleep at night – and longer on dad’s days off). 

Milestones:  You’re slowly getting better and better at holding your head up, though I wish you wouldn’t fight tummy time so much. You definitely don’t sleep as much as you use too when you were a newborn and you’ve started to smile. That’s my favorite thing – your smiles! You make lots of noises like you’re telling me a story and I just love it when your face lights up when you see mine or your daddy’s face.

Loves: You still love being held lots, but you’re also content with being in your swing, so if I need to get something done I just throw you in there (with the mobile and music going of course). You also love bath time with mommy or being held by your dad.

When it comes to sleeping, we eventually have to pull you into bed with us at some point in the night. I always start out by putting you in your basinet, but eventually you make such a fuss and the only way for you to settle is when you’re sleeping between your mom and dad (it’s amazing how you can tell the difference). 

Dislikes: Being hungry or left alone for too long. That’s about it – you’re a pretty content baby if you are feed and bundled up. 

Adventures: We’ve had a busy month including walks with friends around the McKenzie Towne pond, coffee dates, a Slurpee walk with twins, your baby blessing, a day trip to Fort McLeod to see family, BBQ and hot tub party at Grandma’s, and a birthday dinner for Nona at Tango.  

Mommy and Daddy could not get through the month without: The swing, omeprazole (reflux medication), swaddle wrap (or as daddy likes to call it – baby jail) and your soother.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Cardiology Update

Evanna admited to Unit 2 at ACH
ECHO - June 26, 2014
We’ve had quite the week here in the Irvine home. Last Saturday, Evanna and I went to Fort McLeod for my cousin’s bridal shower. Evanna was really fussy the whole evening – she wasn’t eating very well and overall was not her content and happy self. Finally around 9:30pm, my mom and I packed Evanna up and headed back to Calgary. We got home around 11pm and I noticed that her breathing was very laboured. Her diaphragm was also sucking in more than usual and her colour was also a little off. So after only being home for 5 minutes, we packed Evanna back up and headed to the hospital so she could get checked out.
The nurse in triage took us straight to the back (skipping registration) and the pediatrician saw us right away (last time I was in that same ER for myself, it took 6 hours before I even saw a physician). They took her history and vitals and called the pediatric cardiologist over at ACH (Alberta Children’s Hospital) for her opinion. We told them that her feeding had been decreasing over the past week, and she didn’t eat very much the past 24 hours. Just as a precaution they decided to straight admit her to Unit 2 (the heart and lung unit) at ACH. It ended up being that Evanna’s reflux (spitting up) was hurting her, which explains the decrease in feeding over the past week. After giving Evanna a reflux medication the next morning, she started improving immediately. They kept us for 24 hours so they could observe her and once they felt she was fine, we finally went home on Monday morning. Though all together it was only 38 hours, it was emotionally and physically exhausting. Being in the hospital sucks, and I was soo glad to be discharged. Thankfully Nick was at the start of his 4 days off from work on Monday, so when we got home, I had a hot bath and headed straight to bed while Nick completely took over on baby duty.

Yesterday Evanna had her ECHO and appointment with Dr. Fruitman. Dr. Fruitman was pleased with Evanna’s oxygen levels and weight gain, and couldn’t believe how much bigger she’s gotten since she last saw Evanna. Every Tuesday Dr. Fruitman meets with the Edmonton team for rounds by teleconference, but because this upcoming Tuesday is a holiday, she will present Evanna and her case at the following Tuesday (July 8) meeting. From there they will schedule a Cath (Nick prefers to use the term Angiogram) up in Edmonton sometime at the end of July/beginning of August, and call to let us know when that will be. The Cath will be able to provide a better picture of her heart and how everything is flowing. This will enable them to figure out a surgery plan as there are many different scenarios to consider right now, but only after they can see the whole picture of her heart will they know which direction to go. I asked Dr. Fruitman if she could guestimate a surgery timeline, and her best guess is this Fall, but we’ll know a lot more after this Cath. We also found out some other information about our sweet Evanna, but I’ll save that for later as it deserves a post of its own. Thank you everyone for your continued awesome  support – we truly appreciate it.

xo The Irvine’s

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Evanna's Baby Blessing

Last Sunday, not only did we celebrate Nick’s first Father’s Day, but we also had Evanna blessed. When Bishop Blum offered to let us bless her on Father’s Day it just seemed so perfect, that we said yes automatically. Close friends and family attended the blessing, and then were invited back for a BBQ at our house.
Nick gave the most beautiful blessing. I know I put a little pressure on him to do a good job (I knew he would do well), but he exceeded my expectations. I guess he had been thinking about what he wanted to say for weeks and you could tell that he put a lot of thought into it. He blessed for her mind to be smart, to know right from wrong and make good decisions. To be a good example to future siblings and grow strong in the knowledge of the gospel. He blessed for her heart to be strong – quick to love, easy to forgive and care for everyone around her. He blessed her body to be strong, to always support her, quick to heal and never fail her. He then blessed her future to be filled with luck, love and happiness and to remember that many people care for her and that she’s a blessing to her family. And finally he said that Heavenly Father loves and cares for her.

Nick with his dad and Evanna
My grandpa, dad, Nick (holding Evanna) and Nick's dad Ray
Nick and I with my grandparents
Danika, my mom, dad, Nick and Austin surrounding me and Evanna
The Blessing Dress. This was made by my great-grandmother (so Evanna's great great grandmother) and I wore it when I was blessed
The Blessing Blanket. Made out of material from my wedding dress.

I have many people to thank for making Evanna’s blessing that much more special: my mom and grandma for helping make food, to sweet Whitney for the yummy chocolate covered strawberries and marshmallows (and then helping take photos at the end). To my dear grandpa, dad, Bishop Blum and Spencer for being a part of the circle. Finally I have to give a final shout out to my friend Sarah and her mom for taking material from my wedding dress and making it into a beautiful blessing blanket that I hope to pass down someday.