Happy 3rd Birthday Evie Jayne!! (:
How do you put into words three years of God's ourpouring of love and hope! We are thriled to have shared the past three years with both of our girls, and watch them grow into amazing kids!!
Evie has had an EXCITING birthday month. Excitement here in the Elsaesser home can be good and bad. We'll start with the good. Evie had an amazing birthday week, filled with family lunch, the zoo, and a birthday party at the nail salon with a girlfriend from school (: Her walking is getting amazing!! Here is a video from the zoo:
Unfortunately Friday night after her birthday party she fell in our basement and was in a lot of pain. We went to the ER and they thought she may have just bruised it but we saw her Orthopedic Surgeon on Monday who confirmed that she has a fracture. He sent us over to the orthotics company that makes her AFO braces and they made her a fancy HKAFO (hip knee ankle foot orthotic) so she can still move around and keep exercising her leg. After a pretty miserable weekend it was great to have a solution that would help her get around. She was back to school Thursday and back to music class today.
So we have a new brace for the next three weeks before her next x-ray. Hopefully things will heal well and the brace will keep the fracture from getting worse. We feel super blessed to live in a city with so many pediatric specialists (:
I can't get my photos to upload, so Big Girl Birthday Photos will be coming soon.
Here's to many more years with our sweet Evie!!
Love you friends (:
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Warning:
This post may cause tears and uncontrolled shouts of "Hallelujah!"
Hi Friends (:
After about a month of working on her skills...
EVIE IS WALKING!!!
There is nothing better for me right now than watching Evie take new strides! When Evie's physical therapist was wrapping up a few days before school started she took her first few independent steps, now she is walking independently across the room. She still crawls at times but is more consistently standing up to walk. It's slow and steady and she still uses her walker for long distances (and when she wants to go FAST - as she puts it).
I can't express in words how it feels for me to see Evie walk. Waiting for her to walk these past few years has humbled me and broken my heart (in a good way). It has caused me to stop hoping for the next thing and be content in the present.
I AM SO PROUD of our sweet girl and her determination. When our computer decides to cooperate I will post pictures of her FIRST day of swimming lessons yesterday.
and a big THANK YOU to Suzie from the park... who couldn't wait to meet Evie as she has been following our blog since the beginning. It was a good reminder for me that I need to get on here more often and share our JOY in the craziness of life!
and... we have another new family member! Our first foster placement went home after two months, and four days later we took our second placement. We are back to same-sex children and enjoying a bit of a slower pace (i have a new appreciation for mothers of boys!!!)
LOVE YOU FRIENDS! (:
Evie's life verse (capitals added by myself):
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
THEY WILL WALK and not faint.
Hi Friends (:
After about a month of working on her skills...
EVIE IS WALKING!!!
There is nothing better for me right now than watching Evie take new strides! When Evie's physical therapist was wrapping up a few days before school started she took her first few independent steps, now she is walking independently across the room. She still crawls at times but is more consistently standing up to walk. It's slow and steady and she still uses her walker for long distances (and when she wants to go FAST - as she puts it).
I can't express in words how it feels for me to see Evie walk. Waiting for her to walk these past few years has humbled me and broken my heart (in a good way). It has caused me to stop hoping for the next thing and be content in the present.
I AM SO PROUD of our sweet girl and her determination. When our computer decides to cooperate I will post pictures of her FIRST day of swimming lessons yesterday.
and a big THANK YOU to Suzie from the park... who couldn't wait to meet Evie as she has been following our blog since the beginning. It was a good reminder for me that I need to get on here more often and share our JOY in the craziness of life!
and... we have another new family member! Our first foster placement went home after two months, and four days later we took our second placement. We are back to same-sex children and enjoying a bit of a slower pace (i have a new appreciation for mothers of boys!!!)
LOVE YOU FRIENDS! (:
Evie's life verse (capitals added by myself):
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
THEY WILL WALK and not faint.
Friday, August 17, 2012
It's the end of the world as we knew it!
Hi Friends...
It's official, we have joined the scores of people waking up early and driving their kids to Elementary School! No more sleeping in until afternoon preschool. I'll be honest, I think I am more tired than the kids!
Lyla started Kindergarten this past Tuesday. I had a few weeks of intense prayer over her teacher and classmates and she is off to a good start. I am praising God that she likes it so much! She was very apprehensive about it this summer which made for a very apprehensive Mama, but she (and I) have survived our first week.
Evie on the other hand can't wait for me to get her walker out of the car so she can run inside and play with her friends. She started school on Tuesday morning with the intention of her going two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday. I took Lyla to school on Wednesday morning and while pulling back into the driveway heard a little voice from the back seat "No mommy! Evie's school! Go Evie's school!!" It was an intense negotiation but I got her inside the house. Many tears were shed. A few minutes later she was sitting on the living room floor, put her backpack back on and said nicely, "Evie's school please mommy? Please?" followed by big round hopeful eyes. It was her last ditch effort to see if I would take her to school if she asked nicely (: Needless to say we are going to try three days next week (: She uses her walker the whole time and can finally take some independent steps. I am really proud of her.
Lastly, and least importantly... mom. I did so good the first day, no tears, it was really fun to see the girls start a new chapter. It wasn't until last night that I finally had to cry out the fact that I just really miss Lyla during the day when she's gone. The three hours that Evie goes to school are do-able, but the 8 to 3 thing is really hard for me.
I'm praising God for the giant leaps both girls made this, and praying for restful weekend days, or "family days" as Lyla calls them (:
Love you friends!
It's official, we have joined the scores of people waking up early and driving their kids to Elementary School! No more sleeping in until afternoon preschool. I'll be honest, I think I am more tired than the kids!
Lyla started Kindergarten this past Tuesday. I had a few weeks of intense prayer over her teacher and classmates and she is off to a good start. I am praising God that she likes it so much! She was very apprehensive about it this summer which made for a very apprehensive Mama, but she (and I) have survived our first week.
Evie on the other hand can't wait for me to get her walker out of the car so she can run inside and play with her friends. She started school on Tuesday morning with the intention of her going two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday. I took Lyla to school on Wednesday morning and while pulling back into the driveway heard a little voice from the back seat "No mommy! Evie's school! Go Evie's school!!" It was an intense negotiation but I got her inside the house. Many tears were shed. A few minutes later she was sitting on the living room floor, put her backpack back on and said nicely, "Evie's school please mommy? Please?" followed by big round hopeful eyes. It was her last ditch effort to see if I would take her to school if she asked nicely (: Needless to say we are going to try three days next week (: She uses her walker the whole time and can finally take some independent steps. I am really proud of her.
Lastly, and least importantly... mom. I did so good the first day, no tears, it was really fun to see the girls start a new chapter. It wasn't until last night that I finally had to cry out the fact that I just really miss Lyla during the day when she's gone. The three hours that Evie goes to school are do-able, but the 8 to 3 thing is really hard for me.
I'm praising God for the giant leaps both girls made this, and praying for restful weekend days, or "family days" as Lyla calls them (:
Love you friends!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
love this girl.
Evie had a big day today!! During her PT session she put on some of Lyla's old Christmas shoes that squeaked... this must have been what she needed as motivation to walk with just one cane! Later we found some similar shoes in her size and shot some more video (: Here she is!!
We are back to a family of four, and after being gone two weekends in a row we are looking forward to some good old family down time.
Thanks for checking in!
Love you guys, Lindsey
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
big days!!
Evie had her first day of preschool yesterday!! This is her "transition group" for younger kids who will be entering preschool in the fall. She loved it!!
She had to find her purple "Evie" fish...
take it into class...
and put it on the wall.
Here she is afterward, walking her proud self to the car (: She is amazing!
Last month, Lyla graduated from preschool...
turned -
had a birthday bash with her preschool friends...
and celebrated with family...
at Lyla and Papa Steveos annual birthday party (:
Love you friends!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
We're okay! and we're a family of 5 (:
Hi Friends! Or should I say long lost Friends?
I sincerely apologize for taking so long to update my blog, about a week ago people started asking me to update... now they are just plain telling me I have to. I agree, it's been way too long.
So where were we... During my last post I was talking about the big decisions we have for fall. Those decisions have been made and we are pretty excited about it. Evie is starting "transition group" for kids entering preschool in the fall!!! PRESCHOOL!? Yes. We decided to send her 2 days a week instead of the usual 4 to get her introduced to preschool, get her some extra time with a speech therapist and social time with other kids. Evie may be the only two year old who doesn't need help socializing, we were out to eat the other day and a little girl shouted "Hey mom! That's my friend Evie from the gym!" It was pretty darn cute.
Lyla will be going to full day Kindergarten in the fall. We have been having a really hard time deciding, but I think we have decided she's ready. Lyla loves structure, activity, routine, and playtime so we are praying that full day kindergarten is the right fit. She has a pretty soft heart so hopefully we can tackle the "hurt feelings" as they come. Lyla turned 5 on May 19th. I think her 5th birthday has been the first that was a little hard for me. It's hard for me to imagine that we have a "school aged" child. She has promised that she will still hug me when she's 13 and wants to live at my house forever, so I'm just going to have to hold her to it (:
Lyla's 5th birthday questionnaire:
What do you want to be when you grow up?: nothing. ("what do you mean nothing?") nothing, like you mom. (ha!)
What is you favorite thing to do?: play, color, and play games.
What's your favorite color?: pink
What's your favorite thing to eat?: breakfast and golden grahams.
What's you favorite TV show?: PBSkids.org
What's the best thing in the world?: movies and My Little Pony
Best present?: Twilight Sparkle (pony)
If you could be an animal what would you be?: a flying squirrel
And to address my blog title, I'm most certainly NOT pregnant for those of you who were wondering! We took our first foster placement two and a half weeks ago, and so far it has been great. The first week was a tiring transition but I think we're definitely getting the hang of things. For the sake of confidentiality let's just say we have a new little person, between the ages of our girls, who prefers trains to barbies. It's been an adventure! I wish I could write more about what's been going on, God has shown up around every corner and it's been amazing to watch Him grow in our family.
My next mission is posting photos! Our computer is on the verge of death and sounds like an airplane taking off every time we turn it on, so hopefully we will be upgrading and blogging will be easier and more frequent. Thank you for being patient with me, Three kids is a lot more than two!!
Love you friends, promise to be back soon.
I sincerely apologize for taking so long to update my blog, about a week ago people started asking me to update... now they are just plain telling me I have to. I agree, it's been way too long.
So where were we... During my last post I was talking about the big decisions we have for fall. Those decisions have been made and we are pretty excited about it. Evie is starting "transition group" for kids entering preschool in the fall!!! PRESCHOOL!? Yes. We decided to send her 2 days a week instead of the usual 4 to get her introduced to preschool, get her some extra time with a speech therapist and social time with other kids. Evie may be the only two year old who doesn't need help socializing, we were out to eat the other day and a little girl shouted "Hey mom! That's my friend Evie from the gym!" It was pretty darn cute.
Lyla will be going to full day Kindergarten in the fall. We have been having a really hard time deciding, but I think we have decided she's ready. Lyla loves structure, activity, routine, and playtime so we are praying that full day kindergarten is the right fit. She has a pretty soft heart so hopefully we can tackle the "hurt feelings" as they come. Lyla turned 5 on May 19th. I think her 5th birthday has been the first that was a little hard for me. It's hard for me to imagine that we have a "school aged" child. She has promised that she will still hug me when she's 13 and wants to live at my house forever, so I'm just going to have to hold her to it (:
Lyla's 5th birthday questionnaire:
What do you want to be when you grow up?: nothing. ("what do you mean nothing?") nothing, like you mom. (ha!)
What is you favorite thing to do?: play, color, and play games.
What's your favorite color?: pink
What's your favorite thing to eat?: breakfast and golden grahams.
What's you favorite TV show?: PBSkids.org
What's the best thing in the world?: movies and My Little Pony
Best present?: Twilight Sparkle (pony)
If you could be an animal what would you be?: a flying squirrel
And to address my blog title, I'm most certainly NOT pregnant for those of you who were wondering! We took our first foster placement two and a half weeks ago, and so far it has been great. The first week was a tiring transition but I think we're definitely getting the hang of things. For the sake of confidentiality let's just say we have a new little person, between the ages of our girls, who prefers trains to barbies. It's been an adventure! I wish I could write more about what's been going on, God has shown up around every corner and it's been amazing to watch Him grow in our family.
My next mission is posting photos! Our computer is on the verge of death and sounds like an airplane taking off every time we turn it on, so hopefully we will be upgrading and blogging will be easier and more frequent. Thank you for being patient with me, Three kids is a lot more than two!!
Love you friends, promise to be back soon.
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