Lyla video

So I finally figured out how to get video from our camcorder and my phone onto the blog.  I'm super pumped about it!

Lyla's morning work-out.  :)

The quality is not great because I shot it with my phone, but I thought it was still pretty cute.

There will be more to come...

2 Months Old

Happy Birthday sweet Lyla Jane! Today she is 2 months old and is doing great. She had another doctor's appointment yesterday. She is now a whopping 8 lbs 2 oz! She gained exactly a pound since her last appointment. She is just about 21 inches long now too. Dr. Jedele continues to be amazed at her development and at how well she is doing. Lyla is our little tiger--she refuses to fit the mold. Thank you Jesus! Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. They certainly are being heard and answered. :)

Here's her progress report and some of the new things she's doing:

-she's cooing more and more (so cute!)

-she continues to have better head control--can hold the noggin up for a few seconds at a time

-she tracks items of interest to her (brightly colored things and familiar faces) with her eyes and head

-she's starting to half-smile in response to things that amuse her

-she's getting close to rolling over (almost rolled herself off the exam table at her doctor's appointment yesterday!)

-her eyelashes are getting quite long and pretty, and the hair on top of her head is starting to catch up with the hair on the back of her head!

-she's growing a bit of a pot belly and a little double chin :)

-about the gagging issue--Dr. Jedele said that she is no different than any other newborn in that respect--we just need to keep her more upright after she eats for about 30 min.

-everything else looks good according to the doctor! She continues to be an absolute bundle of cuteness and sweetness every day.

*A specific thing you could pray for her would be that her muscle tone and strength continue to improve. Thanks!*

Also, Lyla got 3 shots in her legs yesterday--Mom couldn't watch but Dad did and said her little face looked just shocked. :(  But she stopped being bugged by it about an hour afterward and hasn't been fussy at all since. What a trooper, as usual.

The Birthday Girl!

She's doing a birthday dance :)

Look at those red eyebrows!

We give God all the glory for the amazing things He is doing in Lyla and our lives. Thought these verses were fitting--

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:1-2

"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18: 1-2

He truly is our strength, our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our refuge, our shield, our stronghold.

Uncle Foz and Lyla's hands

Movies

I don't know about you, but Joel and I tend to watch a lot more movies in the winter, simply because we're indoors more (especially this winter when it seems like every day it's either snowing or below zero).  There aren't too many movies that we've seen that are really very inspiring.  However, recently we've viewed two movies that are excellent.  I was so inspired by them that I felt the need to make a post about them!  They are Young At Heart and Expelled.  

Young At Heart is about a choir of senior citizens that travels internationally performing modern rock songs.  You will laugh, you will cry, but mostly you'll laugh. :) 

 

Expelled is by Ben Stein and is based on the debate between Darwinism and Intelligent Design.  It will surprise you and make you think.

  

These explanations may not sound extremely riveting, but the movies are.  I hope you will go and rent them if you haven't already!      

Daddy's Girl

Daddy loves when his girl wears camo...

Auntie Bryana customized it :)

Big yawn!

One of Lyla's many funny faces.  Sometimes she keeps her lips like this for a couple minutes.  She makes us giggle. :)  

Little L

Here's our happy-dappy girl. :)

Here's Lyla with Grandma Carol.  She's just nuts about Lyla--as you can see, the feeling is mutual. :)

A few more pics

Just thought I'd post a few more pics from around home. :)

This is Lulu's birthday sweater (she turned 2 on November 12th)

A beautiful winter day (yes that's our Christmas tree planted in the snow bank--I'm afraid it will remain in front of our little blue house until spring)

Also I just thought I'd share this neat quote by Rick Warren that my aunt Mary sent in an email.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.

  

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.

  

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.

  

Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

  

Every moment, THANK GOD.  

Joel and I thank Jesus for all the many blessings in our lives. 

Joel, the friendly gangster

Katie sent me these pics and they absolutely cracked me up so I thought they should be shared.  Also, I figured it would be nice to dedicate a post to my dear husband.  Here's a small taste of Joel--always keeps us smiling for sure. :)

Enjoy the progression... (he's doing a supposed gang symbol, not putting up a bad finger!)

This pic is entitled "Something's Growing"  (oh no, please no, not another 'stache...)

Friends

Forever Friends

Katie and Lyla

The Little Angel

Lyla after her bath

So Katie just sent me a bunch of awesome pics that she took with her super-cool camera.  I can't help but post a lot of them because they're so great!

Mom and Katie

Grandma's Love

Eskimo Mama--isn't she cute!

    

    Well, this past week Lyla had some more visitors.  My mama arrived from Tucson on Monday--risking life and limb to see her granddaughter.  There was a huge snow storm on the day she flew in so her flight got diverted from Minneapolis to Duluth and then back to Minneapolis. When she finally landed in Minneapolis the shuttle she was going to take from there to La Crosse was full so she had to take a shuttle to Rochester instead.  I was getting ready to pick her up from Rochester in the storm when she called and said she was offered a ride from a nice gentleman who was driving to La Crosse anyway.  Praise the Lord!  He happened to be married to an anesthesiologist that Joel's dad works with--small world. :) So she finally made it to our little blue house in one piece--one frozen piece!  It's kind of ironic because the week she was here was the coldest week of the winter so far--the wind chill got down to 40 below zero.  Needless to say it did not make her want to move back to the Midwest. 

   Then on Wednesday my dear friend Katie flew in from Los Angeles.  She also had a harrowing drive from Minneapolis--she rented a car and drove through the snow arriving at our house at about 1:30 am on Thursday.  Despite the struggle to get here, Mom and Katie and I had lots of fun-- we did lots of talking, did a little shopping, did some crafting and of course took lots of pictures.  And, most importantly, Mom and Katie got to bond with the peanut. :)  Also, Mom did all the cooking--let's just say we did not get any closer to our New Year's weight loss goals!  She is, hands down, the best cook I know.  It's always so amazing to me how she can just kind of dig around in the cupboard, find some ingredients, and whip up something delicious in no time at all.  She's gifted. :)  And Katie is the creative craft queen--she came up with some cute decorative crafts for Lyla's room.  A couple nights we stayed up until 3 am just crafting and talking.  Good times. :)  All in all it was a wonderful week and Lyla & Joel & I miss them already!  Hope you all had a blessed week too.  Keep in touch!  Love, Jenny

P.S. Please continue to pray for Lyla--lately she's been having some gagging episodes after she eats that can be kinda scary.  :(   Thanks!

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

  

Tour of Lyla's Room

Just thought I'd share a few pics of Lyla's room because Katie, who is super crafty and tries to help me be crafty (a hopeless pursuit), and I made the caterpillar wall decoration and the ribbon board (on which I put a bunch of Lyla's cards) and we hung the flower pegs and made the cute magnet frames. It was a craft-a-thon! Thanks to Katie, Lyla's room is cuter than ever. And admittedly, Katie probably did 95% of the work--she's amazing!

We hung the paper lanterns over Lyla's changing table--Katie will be sending some pink ones too--the lanterns are from Katie's wedding--so they're extra special :)

This is the ribbon board we made and the magnetic frames too.

The happy little caterpillar :)

 

Fun

Cutie-pitootie (compliments of Susan)

Check out the belly  :)

Sarah and Lyla

I am realizing that part of the fun of having a new baby is that you get a lot of visitors--even from far away.  I love it!  And so does Lyla. :)  This past weekend my friend Sarah came to visit from the Cities.  She got to meet Lyla and have some baby fun.  Sarah is expecting her third bundle of joy this May!  She also brought some delicious meals so we didn't have to cook the whole time she was here--what a blessing.  I think I may have forgotten how to cook anyway... 

Thank the Lord for friends--

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!  Though they may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

Coming soon... lots of pics of Grandma & Lyla--she's on her way from Tucson right now (and I'm afraid she's in for a rude awakening--it's been snowing non-stop ALL day!)

6 weeks

Happy 6 week Birthday Lyla!  She had another visitor tonight--our friend Amber.  She brought a delicious Friday night fish fry (with Blizzards for dessert--yum!) and lots of love and hugs for little L.  Amber's visit was a special birthday blessing. :)  

He hears our prayers...

Just thought it would be good for everyone to see how far she's come--she was 2 days old in this picture.

A sneak peak of Susan's photo shoot. :)

Some of Lyla's health care team--Dr. Josephson (geneticist), Dr. Jedele (Lyla's main doctor who is a geneticist and pediatrician), and Theresa (Lyla's care coordinator).  They're all wonderful!

Well, today was Lyla's second doctor's appointment since she's been out of the hospital.  Joel's parents and Joel & I made bets on what her weight would be.  She weighed 5 lbs when she was born and when she was discharged from the hospital.  At her first doctor's appt she weighed 5 lbs 7 oz. Since that appt she has gained 1 lb 11 oz for a grand total of 7 lbs 2 oz!  She never ceases to amaze us and the doctors!  She also grew 1 and 1/3 inches in length!  The girl does like to eat. :) And everything else is just fine too.  Her doctor (Dr. Jedele) said she is truly amazed at how well Lyla is doing.  All we can say is praise the Lord.  He truly hears our prayers.  So thank you for your continued prayers for our precious little miracle, Lyla Jane.     

Psalm 33: 20-22  "We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us O Lord, even as we put our hope in You."

Cutie

Big yawn!

This is Lyla's favorite position--laying on mom's chest=instant snoring. :)

Got some cute pics of little L today--thought I should share.

A special visit

Lyla and "Auntie" Suz

Thought this was a cute profile shot and you can kinda see her hair in the back!

Over the weekend my friend Susan came to visit and to meet Lyla.  She is like a sister to me, so Susan is considered an "auntie" to Lyla as I am considered an "auntie" to her 2 girls too.  She is super talented in all things creative, especially photography and computer stuff (she's a graphic designer).  So she did a special photo shoot of Lyla.  We had lots of fun, especially since she had to stay an extra night due to an ice storm!

Recently God has helped me to realize all the different ways in which He chooses to comfort us, including friends and family, precious people in our lives, who are so willing to just listen and love.  

These are some very fitting verses that I ran across:  

2 Corinthians 1:3-5  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."  

PS--I guess there really isn't a problem with making comments on this blog--so comment away!