Well, today has been a very black day. Over the weekend I noticed some changes in Shadow's behavior. She was more irritable and kind of grumpy. Then last night things just got really bad. She was staggering around, didn't want to be touched, she was very lethargic and then she was trying to use the litterbox and not able to. Plus she was really quiet and when she did meow it just sounded like she was hurting. The last two nights she hasn't slept in my room and this morning we made an appointment and took her to the vet. He took some x-rays and did some blood tests and told us he would call with the results this evening. I hoped it wasn't anything serious, my thought it might be a thyroid problem, like Pebbles. The vet called at 5:45 with some very bad news. He said Shadow has advanced kidney disease and her kidneys are starting to shut down. He told us we could bring her in and they would give her IV fluids to try and help her improve and get her to start eating again. Unfortunately her chances of improving aren't high, they're less than 50%. We're giving it 4 days on the IV fluids and if she does not improve we are going to bring her home and make a decision. As I'm sure you can imagine, I'm not taking this very well. Shadow is my baby and if she doesn't get better it's going to be real hard for me. I knew this was going to happen eventually, I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. Not a great way to start the year

Chrismanewyears

Little Ella bean is just too cute, and getting cuter every time we see her. It was a very merry belated christmas/a fun and happy new years. We can't wait to come next weekend!!

grrrrr

you know what's dumb...the stupid blog not letting me put a new picture in for my profile because it's not 50 kb except that i can't get anything via the internet that is that size, it doesn't work and i'm grrr about it

YAY CHRISTMAS

Hey everyone!!! This is my first picture with my new digital camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was gonna try and post the picture of dad cutting the frozen cheesecake, but they're on caity's camera so I'll leave that up to her. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Today we celebrated Christmas with the Wolthuis Family...Elinore was very excited for the spiked Eggnog.  

Our little Christmas present!! 

Who Knew Your Life Could Change So Fast

I just took Elinore in for her 2 week checkup. Her weight wa 9#3, so she's back up to her birthweight. Everything looks great, and the doctor answered all of my questions, most of them with a "that's normal." She is definitely keeping us on our toes. We've had good nights and bad nights, good days and bad days. Mostly we just love her immensely and think she is just amazing. Anyway, just wanted to give you all a little update.

I guess, as a mom, you notice all these tiny things about your child. You spend hours just studying them. Well, I have noticed that Elinore has the most beautiful nostrils. Silly, I know, but I think they look like little hearts. I wanted to share them with you. 

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

I hope the anniversary of your 25th year was wonderful yesterday! While you were opening gifts here on Friday I was thinking back to when we were kids and we used to be amazed at how boring all the grown up presents were. How relieved we were to get bikes and Shera dream castles instead of clothes and kitchen utensils! Well, my dear, welcome to adulthood. I hope Elinore slept a lot yesterday and night so you could too! It was wonderful to have you guys out for Thanksgiving.. I'm so thankful for you!

Here's to Shera--

Our daughter

Caitlyn made such a great couple posts that I don't have much to say. Elinore is wonderful. Being home is making us start to feel like our own family, although it is still a little surreal. Last night was trying as she fussed most of the night, and Kevin and I got little sleep. I'll just put a couple pictures on here that we took. Enjoy them!

This is a picture of me just before they broke my water. I look like I have a bowling ball under my gown!

And this is our little Elinore, sleeping peacefully all bundled up.

Elinore Yarin Wolthuis

Elinore is here and we have some nice pictures to share. She's calm, bright-eyed, and beautiful. Where there were two, now there are three! Jen and Kevin holding Elinore at four hours old.

Just like a little angel, snuggled up with her grandma only 18 hours after her arrival.

All the girls together for the first time. It's going to be a challenge to keep Elinore from getting the little princess complex!







So content with Mom. She seems so curious about all her surroundings when she actually has her eyes open.












Aunt Laura with her brand new niece!

















Kindred spirits perhaps?























Already making funny faces at the camera! She may look like Jen, but maybe she has Kevin's sense of humor...

Sweet November

Sweet, sweet November that brings so much new! A few days ago we celebrated our first snowdusting, I found out recently that the new Naperville director at Language Stars will be arriving just after Thanksgiving, and most wonderfully of all, our sweet Elinore has finally arrived!!

She made quite a dramatic entrance into the world yesterday afternoon and we've all been struggling to keep up with her! After going almost 2 weeks past her due date, Jennifer went in yesterday morning at 8 AM to have her water broken. Thankfully her contractions started right away, and by 10:30 I had already received a progress update call from Mom to tell me that Jen was already to uncomfortable to walk or talk! At 3:20 Chicago time I got a call from Kevin telling me that they had good news! Elinore had arrived after only 7 hours of labor! She gave Jen and Kevin a little scare, greeting this world a little bit blue-faced with her umbilical cord wrapped securely around her neck. The midwife took care of that immediately, and with a little oxygen she pinked right up.

Everyone was shocked at how big she is, 9#1!! Especially because Jennifer is so small and hadn't gained weight anywhere save her enormous belly. But she is our little bright-eyed girl with just the perfect little face! She has a very sweet disposition so far and just seems as peaceful as can be. This morning she was bombarded by grandmas and grandpas and aunts and friends and she only fussed as she was passed from one person to the next. As soon as she settled into a new pair of arms she settled right down. She seems to prefer to have her eyes closed, but we did have a few moments here and there when she was alert and taking in all these new faces!

We gave her love and kisses for everyone who is far away, and as soon as we can download some photos we will post them!

Christmas List

Laptop
Digital Camera
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 2005 (DVD)
Troy (DVD)
Finding Neverland (DVD)
Peter Pan 2003 (DVD)
Love Actually (DVD)
Seabiscuit (DVD)
Phantom of the Opera (DVD)
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Soundtrack
Long sleeve shirts
sheets (beechwood or jersey supersoft ones)

Seriously now

Ok, now, Mom...Dad, I know what you guys have said in the past about buying a horse BUT I've been doing real serious investigation and thinking. And this is the horse of my dreams 1...2 there's a stable near here that charges $200 a month including food, hay, exercise...EVERYTHING. What I'm thinking is, we look in to buying this horse, and I'm going to start looking for a job ASAP, as I only have 3 courses for next semester because the fourth is filled, so I can start to get some money to pay board. Now in terms of money, I know I don't have nearly enough to pay for everything like the tack, board, vet visits and the actual purchase, BUT if we set up and IOU type thing, kinda like a loan I can pay you back the money as I can so that in all actuality I will be paying you back for the money you put into this. Well anyway, I'm way serious about this and I wanted to run it by you. Isn't she beautiful?

Go here to view the info about her: http://horse.classifieds.equine.com/horses/818048.html

Other People's Kids

So I was at Target on Tuesday running some errands when I had this moral/social dillema. The woman at the checkout in front of me was busy applying for a Target credit card, so she was distracted from watching her two girls (probably about a four-year old and a seven-year old). She had bought each of them a piece of candy. I watched as the four-year old intentionally dropped her candy wrapper on the floor, trying to do it in a way that no one would notice. Remember that mom is busy and oblivious to what is going on behind her. As it dropped from her hand, she and I made eye contact. She knew that I had just watched her purposely drop her trash on the floor. She hesitated, holding my gaze. I think she was trying to decide if she should leave it or pick it up and pretend like she had dropped it. She left it.

So, what do I do?

Here I am at 40 weeks. Today is Elinore's due date, and there still seems to be no sign of her. I had a foot massage and went for a long walk to try to help her get started, so we'll see what happens. I had no idea I looked so huge until I saw this picture!! Pray for us! 

Halloween

Kevin was Napolean Dynamite for Halloween. We keep hearing of the resemblance between them. Of course, Kevin is much better looking, but I thought you would all enjoy a photo

Baby

will you just have the baby already, the suspense is killing me lol

:-D

That's a very happy face, if you didn't know that already. As you all know, I've been having some really hard times at school and just with life in general. The good news has finally arrived and I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just got back one of the papers I had such a hard time writing and I got a 95 on it. I've turned in my RDA paper and I'm almost finished with my 5 page english paper. I also am having a phone session with Penny on thurs to see if we can figure out some ways to help me deal with my stress better. Things are starting to look up and as of now I'm in a fantastic mood and I can't wait for the baby to arrive!!!! I just wanted to let you all know that I'm feeling better, and also to thank all of you for your support. It means to much to me that I have such a loving, wonderful family. I LOVE YOU ALL!!