Elin update & a hospital stay.

So I have decided my blogging just isn't that exciting these days. I used to blog about some fascinating adventures. Like swimming with jelly fish, scuba diving, visiting Angkor Wat and living on a remote, desert island (uhm, Guam) but these days my days are about as exciting as getting a good deal at the grocery store or getting Elin to take a two hour nap...which is a huge success by all measures for this baby.

However when I really think about it, having a baby IS a big adventure. I've just been too sleep deprived to realize it. It's funny how everyone tells you having a baby is going to be the best thing on the planet and by the end of the pregnancy you are absolutely convinced that is true, because nothing is worse in the middle of a June heatwave than waddling around with an extra 45 pounds on your body. HOWEVER, after giving birth to an cute little 8 pound baby and spending a week completely exhausted wondering how something that tiny could change absolutely everything in your life, you realize you want to kill every person who "oohed" and "awwwed" when they saw your growing baby bump. Then I realized after Elin passed the six week mark that they were right, babies are pretty much the best thing on the planet. We just had to work together to learn how to cohabitate, sleep through the night (NOT the day) and eat on a schedule that doesn't chain me to the couch all day. I can honestly say I absolutely love this little munchkin and now I understand why people have more than one child (I wasn't so sure 2 months ago), because watching them grow and change every day is just spectacular!

Our precious little Elin is smiling, cooing and well, pooping up a storm these days. I'm no longer terrified to take her to the store with me, found she loves bath time, we learned she loves to go on walks and car rides. We also learned she loves to swing. So much in fact it's the only place she'll sleep at night. We learned this during an unfortunate trip to the children's hospital in July. Elin came down with a 100.5 degree fever one night after several days of gas pains that left her screaming for an hour at a time. We decided to bring her into the ER just to be safe and we are sure glad we did.  After the triage nurse took her temperature (which shot up to 101.7) we were rushed to the back for a mind numbing series of tests. Already weary and sleep deprived we spent the wee morning hours watching our tiny daughter get poked, prodded and spinal tapped before being brought up to the oncology ward what would be a 2 1/2 day stay.

It took awhile for me to realize the reality of the situation. Fevers in newborns are taken very seriously by hospital staffs. We were in the oncology ward because they suspected sepsis and she needed an isolation room. She had a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. It took four nurses and ultimately, an IV specialist to get an IV started:

 

She ended up going on an intense two day round of antibiotics to clear her system of what the doctors felt was a bacterial infection. Colin had to be up at school for both days so I pretty much held Elin and all her wires and tubes for most of the stay. My mom was kind enough to tell me I looked "so old" in the picture we sent her. Thanks mom. 

On Elin's second night one of the nurses brought in a Fisher Price swing to help her calm down from one of her screaming fits. She ended up sleeping 7 hours. Which means I slept for 7 hours. It was amazing and I ordered that exact swing when I got home. Thank you Fisher Price! 

So all in all, Elin was a champ. She barreled through that fever like a freight train and ultimately, nothing serious came back on her cultures. We got to take her home on her 1 month birthday with a clean bill of health. She's been great ever since, something we are immensely grateful for. God is good!

They created a special "nest" for Elin since the hospital crib was too big for her. 

Hanging with dad during his quick visit from school in Williamsburg. Colin battled 2 hours of traffic each way to spend an hour with his munchkin so I could take a shower. Best husband ever!

Hospitals are exhausting, don't you think?

Home from the hospital. Happy and healthy!

Checking out the local sites with family!

So a few pictures of our adventures with Mom and Dad while they were here. This is also to prove that I didn't put them to work during their entire visit.

A visit to the squadron of course. Dad and Colin convinced Mom to climb in the cockpit. This is pretty much her "Get me out of this claustrophobic pit before I hurt you" face. =)

The next day consisted of a visit to Kitty Hawk, NC. Of course we checked out the place where the Wright Brothers made their first flights (Just to the right of the long sidewalk you see in the picture). 

Nags Head, NC

Before heading up to Washington DC we all made a detour to Charlottesville and of course Monticello! We stayed at a charming B&B called The Inn at Monticello and spent the day checking out Jefferson's cool digs. 

As we headed north we checked out the Shenendoah Valley. What a gorgeous drive!

We spent a few days up in DC with my sister. Mom, Rissy and I spent Saturday at an enormous quilt show. I'm pretty sure I was the youngest person there. But I did pick up some fabulous fabrics for future projects. Plus, I won three tickets and five free classes for next year's show. Not bad eh? To ensure the validity of their man-cards, Dad and Colin ran in the complete opposite direction (wise choice) and checked out the Air & Space Museum and Manasses National Battlefield Park. Good decision boys. 

 After DC we checked out Jamestown and Williamsburg. The first time I saw these places was on my 8th Grade Washington DC trip. All I remember is a bunch of old boats and houses with people dressed up in costumes. Not much has changed.

Overall a very busy but exciting visit with the parents! 

Parental Visit = Home Improvement Time!

Many people dread the arrival of their in-laws or even their own parents. Me? I love it! Mom and Dad arrived last month to a dreary, rainy Norfolk day and I promised them it would clear up. Well it didn't. In fact it rained for five days straight. Welcome to Virginia.

But. Considering they come from one of the sunniest cities in the country, they weren't so bummed. In fact they took one look at my house and came up with a mile long list of "ideas" to improve it. Not sure if this was an insult or opportunity but I favored the latter and went for it. Three weeks and 42 visits to Home Depot later our house is looking much more presentable. Thanks Mom and Dad!

I've included a few "way before" pics so you can see what everything looked like when we moved in. It seems more impressive that way. I think. 

Squeaky clean front door all ready for fall! Sorry, don't have a before picture but just imagine a door. That's all. :) 

New flowers!

"Way Before"

"Before"

"After"

Freshly painted shelving, fireplace and back wall. Dad had back surgery four weeks before he tackled this project. He did it while I was not home, I think he feared I wouldn't let him do it otherwise....

Mom lengthened the curtains...yay!

Some pumpkins and gourds we picked up from a farm stand on the Eastern Shore. The front one is called a fairytale pumpkin. It's adorable!

Mom has an eye for this stuff!

The pumpkin I painted at a paint-your-own place while Colin's sister was in town. If they celebrate Halloween in Africa, I think this would fit in.  

A rearranged bookshelf.

"Before"

"After"

Colin told mom he flew around the Statue of Liberty a few months back. Now he has bigger plans!

A more esthetically pleasing display in the kitchen! 

"Way Before"

"After"

"After"

Okay so the pot rack went up a few months ago, but I never posted it. Mom still felt the desire to clean it. She was on a roll. 

Curtains! 

Mom decided to teach me how to make curtains. I credit her for most of it but at least I have an idea of how difficult it is now.

"Before"

Naked Windows = No No in mom's book. 

After: Fully clothed windows!

So there you go! In a few days I'll post a few pics from our travels with the folks as well. What a great time!

Getting down & dirty in Yosemite

Colin's been traveling to his family's cabin in Yosemite ever since he was a little kid. For the last few years he's talked nonstop about this magical place he spent his summers but given our overseas situation, I hadn't been able to get up there, that is until this past week.

Now before I go any further, you have to know this cabin is miles from anywhere (you really need an SUV to get in), and even comes with it's very own outhouse and outdoor shower. That's right! Colin had the pleasure of taking our good friend James up there over Memorial Day last year while they were training in nearby Fallon. When I heard they had to park and walk the remaining mile due to snow only to arrive to a broken heater; *sigh* you can imagine my disappointment not to have been able to spend the weekend there.

Well we chose to come up a little later this year and to my delight, made it all the way to the cabin with very little trouble! After an evening celebrating with the rest of the neighbors over good ole' spaghetti and meatballs we spent the next day raking piles and piles of pine needles that had blanketed the property over the past year. Considering the cabin sits at about 6,800 feet elevation I got my workout in for the day! Sadly I must have caught something lovely as I spent our second night and third day in bed with the flu, no 4th of July for me! I can't think of anything more fun than having to sit on the porch of the outhouse all night with just a flashlight knowing there are bears snoozing in the woods. I'll spare you the details but Colin can attest that I told him at one point I just wanted to keel over and die. Good grief flu!

Fortunately it was a 24 hour bug and I was refreshed and ready to tackle an 8.5 mile hike along the perimeter of Yosemite Valley the next day. Can't say if it was the 9,000 foot elevation or my recovering immune system but I've run 1/2 marathons that were easier. My hunky husband hoofed through it like it was a mere walk in the park. I guess his Eagle Scout days paid off. Still I trooped along in the heat through a 4,000 foot descent (and a 500 foot climb thrown in for kicks) as we gazed at the GORGEOUS waterfalls that are setting records for the valley this year. The pictures don't do much justice but I'll do what I can to share my experiences with you.

Yosemite Falls 

Colin & Aunt Sharon

 A view from the beginning of our 4 1/2 hour, 8 mile, 4,000 foot descending hike. Easy peasy.

Taking a lunch break on the Merced River

 Nevada Falls

 Holy Steps! 

On the Mist Trail descending from Nevada Falls to Vernal Falls

Nevada Falls

Steep scary overlook of Vernal Falls

We took this rather quickly as the mist from the waterfall soaked us (and it felt great!)

 I'm thinking he's rather fond of having his picture taken as he posed on cue. 

Base of Yosemite Falls after our 8.5 mile hike. Yay!

On Friday Colin and I took his sister Desiree for some sightseeing and hiking. Once again, more stunning views that attract people from all over the US, Asia and Europe. 

 Colin & Desiree

Our main activity was a 3 mile hike to the top of Lembert Dome. With lots of rivers and creeks to cross it ended with a fun climb up the rock that makes up the Dome. The view was AMAZING!

Taken from the top of Lembert Dome: 9,400 feet

I could have sat up there all day!

Tenaya Lake at 8,100 feet.

Chilly!

More rock climbing. =)

All in all it was a pretty fun week. I haven't seen such amazing waterfalls since I visited Switzerland 11 years ago. If you have a chance to check them out this summer, go for it. For now I'll get back to laundry. I think our clothes and shoes collected about a pound of dirt during the trip. =)