Day 4 (Feb 6)

Esmé is making small improvements. Last evening she nursed for 3 mins which was very exciting. Generally she is too tired to nurse but the more she is fed through her tube the stronger she'll get and then she will have more desire/ability to nurse. We have an appointment with the cardiologist in London on the 16th so we will know more then. She is still on antibiotics as the results from the blood culture have not come in yet. Today when the midwife came, I got to listen to her heart. It sounds swishy instead of 'lub-dub'.

Update

(I see my sister has been posting information for us on her blog. How nice!)

Esmé is doing quite well today. I was able to attempt nursing her. Yesterday afternoon the doctor was quite concerned because her breathing had become very labored throughout the day. They put her on an antibiotic through IV and are doing a blood culture to make sure there is no infection. So far the blood culture is not 'growing' anything so that is a good sign. The pediatrician this morning could barely hear the heart murmur which means it is improving. Esmé is beginning to be weaned off of the oxygen. Her condition changes quite rapidly. For example, yesterday I was supposed to be able to try nursing but then within hours we were not even allowed to hold her because of her breathing. Then in the morning the report was great. Please continue to remember us in prayer-it is so comforting to know that we are being prayed for!!!...especially when we leave her for the night.

Day 1

Day 2- Sisters get to see her all decked out in hospital gowns.

Keeping a close eye on the nurse.

Day 3-showing some temper...she is quite feisty and the night nurses are generally not impressed with her from about 11:00-3:00. This also corresponds with the time of her activity in utero! Hopefully this pattern changes by the time she comes home. :0)

He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom. Isaiah 40:11a This verse is so comforting when Esmé is left for the night. We know that God is with her and carrying her in 'His bosom' like a gentle shepherd.

In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul! Psalm 94:19

Esmé Margaret Elizabeth Van Dyk

Esmé (Esmay) meaning 'Esteemed or Loved'

Approx 10hrs old

First Ride to London and back again.

Finally get to hold her

oops didn't rotate pic but don't want to restart posting.

Esmé is in St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital being monitored. She has an abnormal valve and it is causing old blood to mix with new blood. Also the 'new' blood in not oxygenated enough and in turn causes blueness and discoloration when she is active. So for now she is on oxygen and is tube feed. Time will tell if the valve will begin to function better, the prediction for that is hopeful.

For those wondering how to get the accent on the é, you have to press 'ctrl' + 'apostrophe', then let go and press 'e'.

It’s a Girl!
Esme´ Margaret Elizabeth
Was born at 4:08am this morning
Weight: 7lbs.12oz.

Esmé has a heart murmur, so she is being admitted to London Hospital for further testing (since St. Thomas has limited equipment) Mel will not be admitted to London, but her and Dan will be able to visit Esmé in London.

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” - Psalm 139: 13-14

Hmmm...Something to Think About

This is a quote my Mom emailed me. How relevant for everyone but especially for mother's of young children.

"The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's "own" or "real" life. The truth is, of course, that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life ~ the life God is sending one day by day; what one calls one's "real" life is a phantom of one's own imagination. This is at least what I see at moments of insight, but it's hard to remember it all the time." (The letters of C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves ~ 20th December 1943)

39 Weeks

This is for you Melissa! :0)

On the Mend

Ksena has been sick since last Tues. She is eating again today and slept through the night last night so thankfully she is feeling better.

Sen is saying bye to Dan and Mia on their way to church.
Acting very sick!

BOO!

Some needed rest!

My Crazy Family-(The last Name Explains it all!)

As strange as her Daddy
I ALWAYS come across lovely pictures of my wonderful husband when I'm downloading them from the camera.

Gotcha!

Gotcha back!

Just another sick day...

Ha, ha. Sounds pretty negative eh! Actually I'm feeling quite chipper right now. Ksena has been sick since Tuesday. Mia and I got sick last night and we were all a bunch of zombies today. Mia has perked up and so have I but poor Sen is still not well.

I was supposed to go to the midwife today but had to cancel the appointment. That was a huge bummer! I always feel reassured after a visit with the midwife.

Blogging off...

False Almarms!

Grrr...thought for sure the baby was going to come last night but no. I never had false alarms with the first two but I was sort of counting on it this time since this is the third pregnancy. I imagine it will happen a few times before the real event. Apparently if you can 'walk it off' then it's not real and that's what I did and it went away immediately. I remember my Mom having a false alarm with one of my sisters and when Mom & Dad came back from the hospital shortly after they left we were pretty disappointed! I think that was Emily because when she was born I woke up the morning after Dad and Mom had left to go to the hospital and was happy to see that they hadn't come home yet. I almost strangled Taun when her answer to my first thought of the morning 'I wonder if Mom had the baby?' was 'Yea, she did.' HELLO!!!! You'd think she would have woken me up when she took the midnight phone call but she just went back to bed without telling anyone the good news. I've never let her live that one down.

-So sorry Taun and Janet if I freeked ya'll out last night when we were playing Settlers. No more games at my house for a while if this baby is going to keep tricking me.

What Does He See?

Just a cute story about my nephew Caleb: The other day I was pointing on my belly to where the baby's head, back and legs are positioned. This prompted some questions.

'Does he have eyes?'.

'Yes, it has eyes' I said.

Caleb then asks 'Well what does he see-just your shirt?'

Kids are clever.

Last Day at Right to Life!!

I'm officially done today...that is after I head over to the office and wrap things up. By 4:00 I should be done and I'm excited. I loved the position but not now that I'm pregnant (or due I should say). It took way longer to find a replacement than I'd hoped but when people did start to apply it was a flood of response. Hope you ladies enjoyed coffee at Janet's today. Who's house next week?! :O)

Counting Down the Days

37 weeks 2 days

19 days left

SLIPPERY!

Here's the picture my camera took when I slipped in our icey world! Just thought I'd post it to freek you all out. Don't worry-no contractions yet. :O)

ICE DAY

Watching Mom
Frozen Porch
Frozen Cloths Pins

Frozen Clothsline

Frozen Pots

Frozen Berries

BRIAN and Rebekka are BLOGGING!!!

Hey guys, check out the link to Brian and Rebekka's blog (listed under 'Friend's Blogs). Nice to see you're blogging guys!

Who Needs Boys When Girls do This?

36 Weeks and 2 Days!

That means 3 weeks and 5 days to go until this baby's due date!!! Dan is taking 8weeks paternity leave!! I can hardly wait. It's barely sinking in and because it is too good to be true I'm trying not to think about it. He will of course be working upstairs most of the time but he'll be here when his ladies (and possibly a little man) need him. I would say he's a brave man!

HAPPY 3rd Birthday MIA!!

This morning Mia opened her presents. Daddy is home sick today so she didn't have to wait till he came home. Tonight we will have a little party with family and eat Mia's favorite-'Cheezy Cake'.

A new chair

Hair clips

LeapFrog learning pad...we had bought puzzles a while ago that fit this system so now Mia can play the games incorporated into the puzzles. She somehow new that the puzzles weren't just puzzles and she couldn't wait till we made the 'song' work on her puzzles.

Silly 'Sena'