Out of Sorts

Thank-you everyone for reading these updates and for keeping us in your thoughts!! We also want to say Thank-you to an anonymous Giver - we received your generous money gift in the church offering two Sundays ago! We have been blessed by all of you in so many ways.  Thank-you. 

We are all feeling out of sorts this week. Although living at the Hospice has given us more rest - we are finding scheduling a challenge.  With Ethan starting playschool this week, dentist apointments, Dave's work and one vehicle, we have been a bit frazzled.  Living out of two homes is crazy sometimes, although we are so incredibly thankful for the Hospice!  This morning, Dave brought us all home for the day before going to work. Usually the kids seem happy about being home - but I can tell that the kids also feel out of sorts - they are probably picking up on our stress. 

Rachel is doing very well. Sadly, the new formula mix is not helping her to go longer between feeds.  And we think it might be making her more constipated.  So we are going back to the original mix.  Good news is that we have been approved for 50 hours of night respite care.  We were really surprised and thankful to get this much! The downside is that is has turned out to be more complicated than we thought.  This means doing payroll, and possibly paying more out of our pocket to make it worthwhile for someone to consider taking the job.  We have found a few people who are very interested but we haven't had time to get the details worked out yet. 

Rachel has been so responsive to us.  The staff have taken her into the Multi-sensory room at the Hospice a few times - it is a room to stimulate the senses (intended for kids with developmental challenges) - with lava lights, vibrating tables, a water bed etc... Rachel really loves the lights. She has also been doing a bit of tummy time!! She is even lifting her head a little bit from this position.  It's great seeing her do these things!  She is so tiny, newborn size and yet she is developing in her own way - and looking like an older baby.

Dave's parents were just out for five days.  They lived at our house and visited us at the Hospice.  It was wonderful having them here!  One huge gift they gave us was a birthday party for Abigail.  (it's actually her third party but this time she had some little friends her age - three sisters that she is quite enthralled with!) They cleaned the house and got everything ready, and even made little take-home bags for the kids. 
   
I think my cold is finally on its way out - three weeks later.  I slept last night for the first time.  Sleep makes such a difference! Two more nights before we are back on full-duty Rachel care.  We will be home Saturday morning.