Tired and Sad

David just drove his mom to the airport. We are really going to miss her.  In fact, we really don't know how we would have made it without her this last week.  Rachel has been so unhappy - she has needed round the clock care and we are so wiped.  I wrote in the last post that maybe this was normal baby stuff.  But Rachel does have other challenges that my first two didn't.  By this time (7 weeks tomorrow) even our very collicky son was sleeping for short stretches at night.  And we are realizing that Rachel will likely never have what we call a "sleep pattern". She still needs to eat often because she tires quickly. Sometimes she will drink 20 mls, then fall asleep and want more 15 min. later.  Pooping seems to be a big strain on her.  We know that crying doesn't hurt her but we do have a rather heightened awareness of her - I can't relax totally at night because I wonder if she's silently gagging on her puke. (she seems too tired to clear it herself sometimes) So what's normal and what isn't?? We don't know.  But please pray that we can get some sleep soon.

We feel a deeper sadness these days and I'm sure that our exhaustion has something to do with that.

Here's a picture taken just before Mom (Grandma) left for the airport. Both Grandmas find it hard to be away and to leave us knowing they might not see Rachel again.  Rachel is growing on us all.   

It was so good to have her here - one morning she watched Rachel so that I could walk Ethan and Abigail to the splash park. I had shared awhile ago that I was feeling blob-ish (is that a word?) with lack of exercise. That really helped! And I finished off the brownies;) so the temptation is reduced for now!

Also, here are a few pictures that Jaci Enns took for us at Westwinds Park a few weeks ago.  I just got them today.  Thanks so much Jaci! (and Jolynne for being a great assistant) We had good weather and the kids were semi co-operative.  Rachel fussed for the last part which is why she has a huge green stopper in her mouth for some of the pictures.