Eli's Surgery

Eli had his surgery on his Achilles tendon on Wednesday. We knew that it was going to happen for a week or so, but the days leading up to it were very hard for me. Eli was such a trooper the whole time. I knew the worst part of the whole procedure would be that he wouldn't be able to eat seven hours before the surgery. The morning of the surgery we got up and fed him early and then he went back to sleep. We left for the hospital around 10:30 am and Eli woke up very angry with us. He wanted to eat so bad and the car ride up there was not fun. We got to the outpatient surgery center and after a little while of waiting we went into the pre-op room to answer some questions.

Here are some pictures to explain the day...

He didn't ever get in the crib, but I wanted to take a picture of it.


Eli laying on Daddy before the surgery. His eyes are red because he has been crying for awhile...

Mommy and Daddy with Eli before the surgery...

Answering questions and getting his vital signs...

Waiting in the step down room for our little "mister"...


Us with Eli after his surgery and getting to feed him a diluted bottle...

He is happy to be in his mommy's arms and getting to eat more than anything...

We are so thankful for our little trooper. He is such a wonderful baby. Thank you all so much for your wonderful prayers. We defintely felt them during the whole process. We are so thankful for the whole process to be over and on to the next adventure.

All castings...

Eli has been a trooper through this whole process. We can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Eli's feet have responsed remarkably well to the castings. He is having his surgery next week and then, after that set of casts he will have those on for three weeks. After those casts, we will go back and hopefully, we will get the bar and shoes. Man, these past six weeks have gone by really fast. We are so blessed and thank God for every blessing that He has given us.


Here is the progression of his feet from when he was born to this last week...

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate each one of you!

Happy Birthday, Madison!

Today is my beautiful daughter's birthday! I can't believe that she is already TWO years old! It seems like just the other day our lives completely changed when this beautiful girl came into our lives.

Madison, Daddy and I love you so much more than you will ever know! When we first saw you in the hospital we knew that you were special...

Over the past two years you have taught us so much about our lives, marriage, our walk with Christ, and each other. We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished in your short little life.

Madison at 12 months...


We had a party at our house for Madison with our family...

She is really into "rella" these days, so I got a Cinderella cake for her...

Madison you are such a great BIG sister to Eli. You always want to know what is going with him and make sure that he is "Ok".

Madison,

We love you so much! You leave a lasting impression on everyone that you meet. Your personality is so inviting and you really enjoy anything that you are doing. I can't believe that you are two years old. You have taught daddy and I so much since you were born. You amaze us everyday. I can't wait to see what all God has in store for you over the next year.

Love you,

Daddy and Mommy

5th set of casts

Well, we went to get his casts changed again today. His feet looked good today except for his little foot is swollen. Poor guy! He was such a trooper. I fed him a bottle again and he did so well. I got to wash his legs today which was not fun for the little guy because no one has touched his legs for five weeks. Here are some pictures from today:


His little swollen foot:

Side by side picture of his feet from last week to this week:


We are look forward to his progress each week. He is doing so well and really doing well for his feet being so bad. He is such a trooper!

Happy Mother's Day

I first became a mother when my precious daughter Madison was born...



She grew into a beautiful, funny, energetic, fun-loving little girl...


Then, she had a brother and I became a mother again to a handsome boy...

Thank you, God for making me a mother of two beautiful children...

God, please help me to be the mother they see in me. I am so proud to be their mother. You have truly blessed me.

Two Months Old...

Man, time flies by way too fast! My little man is already two months old. He really likes to be around his sister and follows her wherever she goes (with his eyes of course). She loves having a "brodder". Eli has already been through so much in his short two months of life. He is such a trooper and already such a strong boy. We are so proud of him and he makes me smile everyday with his many faces. He is smiling a whole lot at everything especially his sister or when you smile back at him. I love it! We are on more of a predictable schedule, which is nice for Mommy.

We are continuing to do his stretches everyday and see more range of motion in his arms, but his hands are still clubbed. I think he will have to have surgery to correct or maybe even the splints will work, who knows? He is really doing amazingly well with everything. We are so excited to see what God has in store for him.

I will return to work this month also which will be very hard because I have been at home with him for so long this time. When I was on maternity leave with Madison I was only gone for six weeks. Way to short!

Here are some pictures of our little two month old:

Having some playtime with sister... (she always wants to get down and play with her brother when he is on the floor)


Eli smiling big for mommy...


Looking at all of his toys hanging above his head. So cute!


Sleeping in his daddy's arms...


Thank you God for our precious angel! We love him so much and are so proud of him. Please help us to be the parents that we need to be for him. Thank you so much for keeping him safe and healthy these past two months. Please continue to watch over him in the coming months as we know that they are going to be difficult. Through you we can make it though.

Eli, Daddy and I love you so much and are so excited to see the little man that you are going to grow up to be. You look so much older to me everyday. You have such a calm spirit. We are so proud of you! You have already been through so much as a little boy, but have handled it with grace and ease. Such a trooper!! We love you more than you will ever know!

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4th set of casts

Today, Eli got his fourth set of casts. He did very well today. He didn't cry very much at all. We gave him a bottle after his first cast was put on. Man, why haven't we been doing that all this time. I didn't really take a whole lot of pictures this time, but did get some good ones of Eli with his daddy. The doctor said today that we will continue to do his casts every week until they get into a good position and then, they will do the heel cord lengthening surgery. After the surgery he will have his last set of casts before the bar and shoes on for three weeks.

Here are a couple of pictures from today's appointment...

His feet are slowly started to look like normal feet. Thank you God for modern medicine and for doctors who know what they are doing...


He got to move his legs a little bit in between castings. Man, they look so much alike...


Eli, you are such a trooper. Daddy and I were so proud of you today. You just fussed and would look at me like why are you letting them do this again. We are getting to see your wonderful personality and everyday is a new adventure for you. Thank you God for our beautiful angel, Ellis Bradley. He is truly a miracle in our lives. XOXO Daddy and Mommy

Goin' Strawberry Pickin'

Today we got to go and pick some strawberries out in Marble Falls. We are making it a tradition each year. Last year we went to Sweet Berry Farms and Madison was about 11 months. She didn't do much, but just sit in the wagon. This year was a little different since she was older. It still took her a little while, but so much fun! I will let the pictures tell the story of our fun trip to Sweet Berry Farms.

Here are the kiddos starting out, Madison didn't know what to think at first...


I told her to pick the red strawberries that looked good to her.

At first all she wanted to do was pull her wagon...

Then, eat the strawberries, I know that all you moms out there are saying, how could you let her do that without washing them, what we do for our kids...

Then, she wanted to hold the basket and do it herself...
Man, she is an old pro...

After all of the pickin' it was time to play in the strawberry fields...

Eli was just his smiley self during the whole thing. I love this picture of him...

Then, it was off to feed the goats or be chased by them. Madison didn't really know what to think about them...

Here are all of the kiddos minus the babies sticking their heads through the ladybug...

All in all we had a wonderful trip. After we were done pickin' strawberries, we went to the Bluebonnet Cafe to eat some yummy lunch. We had a wonderful day and hopefully will make it a yearly tradition.