New Blog

I have another blog that I write (with more updates) for the girls. It is at
http://siefkergirls.blogspot.com/

Our Girls - 2 months

So, we are 9 weeks into being parents of 2 wonderful blessings from above, and you ask, "how is it going?" Well, the answer to that changes from day to day, but most days are a challenge.

You see, our newest blessing has some challenges when it comes to eating - which turns out is a crucial part of being a happy baby. She coughs / gags a lot, has reflux, has had a few projectile vomits (boy, that's so fun to clean up), painful constipation -- and many nights where we have to hold her upright to sleep because she is gagging and choking with the reflux. We are waiting to see a pediatric gastro-enterologist (takes over a month to get into see them), so until then, we keep making adjustments to her diet and medicine(s).

What we have already tried with the baby:
Formulas
(1) Similac Advance
(2) Enfamil Gentlease
(3) Isomil
(4)
Nutramigen
Medicine
(1) Zantac
(2)
Omeprazole
Thickener:
(1) Similac AR
(2) Rice Cereal
(3) Oatmeal

Currently on:
Nutramigen w/ 1 tsp Oatmeal per 2 oz formula
Omeprazole
Sleeps in her crib (when she is not choking)
with an inclined mattress in a "Tucker Sling" (google it if you
don't know what it is - it is great).

Problems:
(1) Still has problems at night keeping the food down and not coming up and choking
her every 3rd or 4th night. This results in either Mom or Dad holding her upright in their arms all night.
(2) Still has problems eating and getting food down - sometimes it works great and other times she chokes / coughs, stops breathing, swallows at the same time she is breathing (you can hear it "get caught")

Hoping to get some relief soon. I would think by now she would know how to swallow from a bottle very well (9 weeks of practice).... Of course, I also thought she'd be sleeping through the night by now. Unpredictable, for sure!

The good news is that she is starting to coo and smile - even occassionally laugh. She is also - according to Mom & Dad - so beautiful! So her smiles with those big blue eyes are such a huge reward after trying to comfort her when she is so uncomfortable. Melts your heart. :)

Our poor eldest daughter is still waiting to figure out what the blessings to being a big sister are. Poor thing is being patient, but it is hard when the lil one needs so much attention.

Here are some pictures of our girls. Hoping to get some professional ones taken soon (whenever we can determine a non-fussy time for the baby)....

The birthday girl with some birthday cupcake in her mouth.

Squeaky clean out of the bath

Look at those tall sunflowers from the itty bitty seeds she planted with Daddy!

Enjoying an afternoon on the deck. She loves it outside!

30 New Food Challenge - Updated

UPDATE: She is doing wonderful with her new food challenge. She has tried corn, including eating it off of the cob, canteloupe, watermelon, grape tomatoes, blueberries.... and has not only tried these new foods, is actually incorporating them into her regular diet. Thank you dear Lord! Our daughter finally is eating a well balanced, nutritious meal (one of Mommy's pet peeves).


Our eldest daughter (picky eater) has a new challenge. She learned about charts on Sid the Science Kid and so Mommy created a chart for her. She is to try 30 new healthy foods and then, she is able to collect the reward.... a roller coaster ride! It turns out that this is something she is obsessed with and is so looking forward to riding on one (a super fast one she tells me). So, the plan is to ride the one at the Indianapolis Zoo (hopefully that works out -- guess I had better check it out).

So far, she has eaten:
- Cucumbers
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Tortilla sandwich (using tortilla shell instead of bread)
- Spaghetti

We encouraged the spaghetti by teaching her the song "On Top of Spaghetti".

Summer 2009

We have had a summer full of excitement!

The most exciting was the birth of our beautiful daughter - a wonderful blessing from the Lord. People keep asking if she looks like our other daughter and I used to think so, but the older she gets (she's a whole month old now), the more she does NOT look like her sister. I guess she'll just look like herself (and maybe a bit like Mommy as well since her sister looks just like her Dad). :)

2 weeks after Mommy had the baby (c-section), Daddy decided to have some sympathy pains and have his appendix out. We think it might have been the black raspberry seeds getting "stuck" in there. Thankfully, Mommy was up and able to take over the house while he recovered (which was very quick!).

Now our older daughter needs to have tubes put back in her ears and her adenoids out at the end of the month.

So, much prayer is needed for quick healing of the Siefker family!!

Here are some more pictures of our beautiful daughters (still feels weird to say that in plural form).

On a bike ride and stroll in the park...

Our girls and nephew....

Dance Class

Well, our lil girl loves to dance, so these dance classes through the local parks department work out perfectly! Each week is a different theme (this week was hula week - as you can see) and she LOVES it!!! Here are some pics and videos for you to enjoy. :)

The girls were doing the limbo -- well, kind of. :)

And here are some pictures of our daughter helping Daddy in the garden....

Hiding Your Word in my heart

What the internet updates say about our baby girl's growth this week

Fetal Development This Week

Week 23 of Pregnancy: Fetal Weight Gain

At eight inches and slightly over a pound, your baby is the size and shape of a small doll. You've probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times, but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heart throb! At eight inches and slightly over a pound, your baby is the size and shape of a small doll when you are 23 weeks pregnant. (But then, you already knew that you were carrying a living doll, didn't you?) This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double (and you may feel as though yours is too). You have probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heart throb! Your baby's skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath (remember, the skin is very thin still). It also hangs loosely from his or her little body at this point. That's because the skin grows faster than the fat develops during fetal growth. But don't worry. By the time your baby is born, he or she will be pleasantly plump and filled out — from chubby cheeks to chubby toes.



I love how easily the little ones can memorize and recite the Scriptures. :) The verse is Hebrews 11:1, in case you don't catch it there at the end.

Here she is on her new princess rug. It is so fun to play cars and princesses on a rug with roads and castles. I think she'd want to put the new rug in her bed if Mommy'd let her. ;)

What a fantastic Valentine's day!

It didn't involve going out to eat, finding a babysitter, going to the movies or doing anything overly "romantic". It involved our family, spending time together and making our love for each other our focus.

Our darling daughter and I started on Friday, by making Daddy a card and sweet cherry delight (his favorite dessert). Things were a little side tracked by the minor, finger-tip amputation via sharp (who knew) children's scissors. But, our daughter is a trooper.

Saturday, we made a heart shaped (dairy & egg free) cake for the girls to enjoy - and someone's favorite part is licking the spoon (and eating the cake, of course). Daddy surprised us with some jelly beans and twizzlers (our favs) and a couple sweet cards for Mommy.

Like I said, nothing expensive, just the cost of taking time to think about the other person first. What a wonderful day this has been! We are truly blessed!

Here are some pictures of our daughter, dressed all in pink for the special occassion. The balloon has a rubber band on it, and she is wearing it like a 'backpack'. She wanted to go hunting in the hundred acre woods. :)

And if you're wondering the status of the baby..... We found out she is going to be a girl and that she is growing just as expected (70th percentile). Big sister is a little frustrated that the baby isn't here yet, but she is trying to wait patiently for summer. She is very excited about the baby girl and is now intrigued by every baby she comes into contact with (apologies in advance to all mothers we may run into at the store). :)

Winter in Indiana

We finally got the opportunity to make some snowmen. E was a little creative with hers - using the spare Mr Potato Head parts. Argh! For some reason, we don't have a picture of Daddy's finished product, but I am sure you can tell his is MUCH bigger than either of ours. :)

Mommy's snowman.

Daddy working on his.

Our darling daughter is all bundled up and ready to play in the snow. She is over making snow angels now - after getting snow on her face the last time she tried.

And, this proves it. She is a warm weather gal just like her Mama. She found her bubbles and was busy blowing bubbles while Daddy was playing out in the snow.

What a wonderful warm, winter day God blessed us with as the first day of February!!

OUR FAMILY

We are so excited to be expecting a new baby in July. I had a doctor appointment this week and they said that everything is coming along great. I kind of feel weird since I am not really sick this time around (was sick nearly the entire time with our daughter).



The baby's heartbeat was 134. According to the old wives tales, if it is below 140, it is a boy and above 140 is a girl. So, according to that, I'm having a boy. But another one says if you crave sweets, it is a girl, and if you crave sour, it is a boy. Since I cannot get enough sweet stuff (although I am eating a lot of pickles this time around) - that would make it a girl.....

According to babycenter.com, here is the status of the 15 week old baby. :)

How your baby's growing:Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Needless to say, we'll find out (if the baby cooperates) on Feb 5th if we will be reusing the pink dresses or running out to buy some blue clothes. :)


Of course, our daughter is insistent that the baby is a girl. She looks at you funny if you even suggest it could be a boy. :) I guess she'd be the expert in the house since she got a doctor kit for Christmas. lol!


Other than feeling good - we are just a little anxious about finding room in the house for another child. We are hoping to expand our living room into our current attached garage later in the year, but for now, we will have to make due with the space we have. Maybe we can just put the baby in a drawer? :)



Speaking of our daughter, she loves to dance, especially to her VeggieTale Pirate Movie songs. Here she is dancing to Rock Monster - she gets a little surprise when someone else wants to dance with her. Watch to find out more. :)