Just an Update

Well we had our second meeting with ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) today. Ella is 9 lbs, 11 oz as of today...that's 2 more ounces than she weighed on Monday at our Lactation Consultant meeting!! She is in the 10th percentile for weight/length so we are getting better. We actually don't even qualify for nutritional assistance...which is great news.

We meet with ECI again on Monday to determine if we will need help with motor skills. Please pray for that meeting.

At the lactation meeting on Monday we realized that Ella was only getting about 1 oz. with each feeding, which is why she started losing weight when she was only breastfed. She doesn't have great muscle tone in her face and I'm not producing enough milk so we are having to work on both. I'm now taking Reglan to help on my end and we are working with Ella to help her face and suck better.

Can't wait to see so many of you on Sunday at Ella's dedication to the church. Thank you for your prayers and support through this all.

Love,
The Mitchells






Naked Girl!!










Sleeping Beauty








Ella and her friend Avery Rose (who was born 2 day after Ella to Maggie and Marc Hooper)









Playing with my friends during "tummy time".








Here I am playing after church last Sunday.











I just LOVE my daddy!!









"Hello!" Calling my Grandma and Grampa in Iowa!!

Sunday School

Here's a picture of Ella's first day at church (in her new outfit, then on here way, and the last picture is in the nursery at Sunday School):

Pictures of the Kids

Micah and Ella...just hanging out












Micah with a grumpy face...I'm sure Mimi (Grandma Roughton) was bothering him.










Aunt Andrea and Micah.

Daddy Mike w/Micah and Daddy Joe w/ Ella

Andrea, Ella, Micah, Sara, and Mimi

Micah Witschorke!!

MICAH IS HERE!!

Well, my poor sister had quite an eventful labor and delivery. Sara went into the hospital on Tuesday night, labored all day Wednesday and Thursday without progressing enough for a vaginal birth so at 630pm last night they decided to do a c-section. Micah was born and was immediatly sent to the NICU (I know...I'm not sure our family belived it could happen two babies in a row). Micah had a lot of fluids in his lungs and belly that they had to suction out. They had him in the NICU till 12:30am when Sara finally got to see him. Since he was in the NICU they ran some tests and his white blood cell count is high, which means he might have an infection, they are still checking. Micah also has a clicking noise in his hip, like the joint is catching...so they are going to keep an eye on that as well.

So far mommy and baby are happy and healthy and Michael couldn't be ANY prouder. Micah was 7 lbs 8 oz, and 21 inches long. He has a full head of dark hair, Sara's nose and Mike's lips. I think he's so handsome. We'll get pictures posted just as soon as we get some taken and loaded.

Please pray for a speedy and full recovery for Micah and Sara. They are at Medical Center of Plano, but are currently not having any guests (even family at this point) so that they can get some sleep and work on feedings.

Thank you for your love and support for our family, immediate and extended.

Love,
Aunt Andrea!!

Medical Updates

Tuesday's Eye Doctor Appointment:
Ella has her appointment with the eye doctor this past Tuesday. They determined that she can see and track light, but there is a disconnect between her eyes and her brain. They aren't sure where the actual problem is and what they can do to correct it or if they will even need correction. We have another appointment in August to take a look at her eyes again. By 6 months old this should all be fixed naturally.

This pictures was before we left for the eye doctor.

Wednesday's Developmental Appointment:

• The fact that she isn't crying or making any sounds is an immediate concern. They are looking to recheck her hearing again in a few months just to be safe. Most babies with childhood meningitis end up with a hearing loss, which could be the case here. We thought we would wait and see how she would react on Thursday at the immunizations, but still no real sounds.
• She does look to see where sound is coming from. They did a test with a bell to watch her reaction and she reacted correctly.
• When they checked her eyes and hearing the doctor said she could have what's called Cortical Visual Impairment (http://www.blindbabies.org/factsheet_cvi.htm)
• She gave the doctor a small smile which is very good. I always think it's just gas, but he seemed to think she's really smiling.
• Her head measured 35 1/4", which is less than 5th percentile (they are concerned that her brain my not be growing at the rate it should)
• Her weight was 8 lbs 9 oz, which puts her at less than 5th percentile again (but at least she'd put on 7 oz since the previous week!!)
• Her length was 21 5/8", which was in the 10th percentile (she was 50th when she was born)

The final status is that she's a month behind on development, which we knew was a possiblility when she left the NICU. She's had such an injury to her brain and wasn't moved or stimulated for weeks...so she's doing really good considering all of those facts.

Thursday's Pediatrician Appointment:

Everything went perfectly at the pediatrician. She ended up changing her measurements again:

Length 21 3/4" (25th %)

Weight 8 lbs, 11 oz (15th %)

She got her immunizations, and she didn't exactly scream and cry, but she stuck out her bottom lip and wimpered. It was so cute and SO sad...I almost started crying myself.

Here's Ella with her Uncle Drew waiting on her Cousin Micah to be born yestereday!!

Cousin Micah...prayers needed

PLEAE take a minute and pray for my sister Sara, her husband Michael and their baby Micah as he is on his way into the world. Sara has been in the hospital since Tuesday night and STILL no Micah!! They are having to decide if they should just go hom and try again next week or break her water and see what happens.

We'll update everyone on eye doctor, developmental, and pediatrian appointments soon.

Stay tuned for updates on all of this!!

The Mitchells

2 Months Old

Happy 2 months to me!! I can't believe it's been that long since I made my big showing in the world. Thank you for praying for me...it's been a long road to recovery and I'm not quite 100% yet so keep them coming. My mommy and daddy think I'm perfect, but we still have some doctors to see this week to let us know if I'm still having or going to have any problems. Oh, and remember to pray for my cousin Micah, he's supposed to show up on Wednesday...it's a big week for the Roughton side of the family!!
Thanks again for everything.

Love,
Ella Mitchell

More Tummy Times...

Caption: "Mommy, my tummy feels much better now that I've thrown up and pooped on you...thanks".

Yep, Ella has had another upset tummy. Yesterday I woke up on my 28th birthday to a baby throwing up anything she ate. By the time we went to the doctor she had also pooped on me...ahhhh, the joys of motherhood.

We went to the doctor at 3pm. Ella has an intestinal virus which didn't seem like a big concern by itself. The biggest concern is that she has actually lost weight in the last 2 weeks. She should have gained nearly a pound (she was 8 lbs, 6 oz at her previous appointment)...as of yesterday she was at 8 lbs. 2.5 oz. The biggest concern would be that she isn't getting enough when breastfeeding. We had gotten to the point were ALL meals were breastfed, but obviously it wasn't going as well as we thought. Since birth (over 8 weeks ago) she's only gained a total of 1 lbs 6.5 oz. She should have gained at least 2.5 oz.

Also, the pediatrian mentioned again that he's concerned about her eyes...so luckily we have that appointment scheduled for next Tuesday to have her sight and eye muscles checked out.

Please continue to be in prayer...I feel like I'm repetative about needing prayer, but it's so important...it's how we've gotten this far with our little girl.

Love you all dearly,

Andrea

4th of July!!

We had a great 4th of July celebration. We went to a parade in University Park at The Collins'. It was great!! Ella didn't like the sirens and loud noise, so we watched from inside. Then we went to Mimi and Grandaddy's house (the Roughtons) and had a BBQ with the neighborhood. Everyone came over eventhough it was raining.

Sidenote: My sister Sara is still scheduled for induction next Wednesday (the 12th)...please be in prayer for our family.

Doctor dates:
July 11th-eye doctor
July 12th-developmental doctor
July 13th-pediatrician

Love and prayers,
The Mitchells

Patriotic Pictures!!











Playing with Mimi:












Aunt Sara and Ella (Ella and Micah were kicking each other!!)








Pooped after a day of partying...these girls need some sleep!!

Update 7.2.06

Small update. We are doing WONDERFUL!! Ella is feeding all of her meals by breast and doing a great job. She's even had a dirty diaper a few times lately...so I think we've figured everything out. Her wrist is doing better too for those of you who remember the calcium deposit she had...it's almost gone.

We went on a road trip this weekend to Austin where Joe was in a wedding for our friends Jeff and Jennifer. It was a beautiful weekend and we had lots of fun showing off our daughter to our friends. Ella did good, except she REALLY hates her car seat. She still doesn't scream or cry, but she made it obvious that she wasn't happy.

Dates to pray:
July 11th...eye doctor
July 12th...development doctor...and cousin Micah is due (my sister, Sara is being induced)
July 13th...2 month checkup with the doctor and her shots

Love you all,
Andrea

Some photos...