Helpers

It has surprised me how little Isa wants to hold Stella. Isa is always 'tending' to Stella--bouncing her, talking to her, stroking her cheek, kissing her, getting her burp cloth (which I don't use because she has not spit up once-awesome!), but she isn't interested in holding her. I am guessing that is because she would have to sit still to do that and that's not Isa's style.

It has surprised me how much Samuel asks to hold her. While Benjamin is at school and Isa at preschool, he spends many minutes sitting on the couch holding his sister. He giggles and says, "She's so cute." He asks me, "Please my watch Super Why and please take my picture?"

End of Benjamin's Soccer Season

Tuesday was Benjamin's last soccer match. His team did an awesome job and he was very pleased with the goals he scored to end the season.

They all got a medal and Benjamin had to take it to school the next day to show his class.

You wouldn't know from this picture that 5 minutes before this was taken Sam and Isaac were screaming at each other and fighting over this chair.

2 Weeks Old

Stella Claire is two weeks old today. Time flies. At her appointment this morning, she weighed in at 8 lbs 2 oz (50%) and 22 1/2 inches long (90%). She has been the best little baby. She wakes me up for about 10-15 minutes every 3 hours at night to eat and then goes right back to sleep. She sleeps most of the day and when she is awake she just stares at her siblings or the window or the light. She does despise having her diaper changed and lets you know about it. Her siblings are getting the biggest kick out of the little smiles and frowns that she performs in her sleep. We are all smitten.

Stella, this beautiful blanket was made with love by your 'Auntie' Kristi (my dear, dear friend). She said it was a tangible way to pray for you and your impact on our family. She wrote:

"As I made it I prayed for her and her unique place in your family. A few words came to mind as I prayed-gentle and light. I believe she will be gentle in spirit-kind, thoughtful, full of grace-a sweet fragrance for Jesus. And I believe she will be a light-a light of truth, of wisdom, of peace-of hope in dark places. Where she goes I trust she will bring the light of Christ."

I am not ashamed to say that I quietly wept when I read these words and looked at this beautiful blanket. I miss my friend deeply and feel very known and loved by her. Kristi's prayer echoed my own prayers for you as we awaited your arrival. From the time I found out I was carrying a little girl, I have prayed that you, my daughter, would be given a gentle, wise and sweet spirit like your dear Aunt Sara. And I pray that you are also given a faithful, loving and generous friend to walk through life with like I have been blessed with in Kristi.

Big Sunday

First of all, happy birthday to my wonderful husband! Seriously, I could not be more blessed to walk through life with this faithful and loving man. Benjamin and Eloisa made this Mario cake for Drew's birthday. Benjamin was very, very excited to make it all week because what 31 year old man doesn't want a Mario cake?

Today was Stella Claire's first Sunday at church. She cleans up nice.



Benjamin pretended to be Luke Skywalker today and spent forever in his closet trying to figure out what most looked like a jedi knight's outfit.

Stella got to meet more family today. Darling cousin Charlotte...
Uncle Travis...
and Auntie Annette.

Visit from Papa and Nana

Drew's parents came up and spent this morning with us. Papa brought pumpkins for the older three that he grew in his garden.

Nana brought the beautiful quilt she made for Stella Claire.

Bed

A friend of mine let me borrow this sweet Moses basket for baby girl. Stella Claire just looks so precious in it and is sleeping like a champ. Stella baby is no longer on the billi light--this makes for much easier nighttime feedings and diaper changes. Update on my health: I have been headache free all week! Hallelujah! I had :) to get a massage this morning for some muscles that were seized up in my legs and lower back but we are on the mend in the Moser house.

Soccer, PhD and Puppies

Benjamin was so excited to have his new baby sister come to his soccer game on Tuesday. She slept through the entire thing.

Drew got a new book in the mail for his PhD and it made me laugh seeing him look through it while standing and holding his newborn.
Isa and Sam's new favorite thing is pretending to be puppies and kitties. Here is Sam in the bed that Isa made for her puppy dog.

The Gang

The only time...

back, neck and shoulder hair is cute.

Meeting Family

Stella Claire got to meet her Uncle Matt, Aunt Julie and Great Grandma Ruth on Sunday. She liked them. :)

Stella had her heal poked again this morning and she is still too jaundice to be released from the billi blanket. We go back Wednesday and hopefully will be able to get rid of it then!

Big Brother

We were really worried about this little man's adjustment to a new baby in the house and having to share his mama. He has far, far exceeding our expectations and has been such a little sweetheart. He attends to her when she cries, he kisses her little heals because he is concerned about her 'owies' from all her pokes, he snuggles up next to her when I'm feeding her, and sings her songs when she is sitting in her bouncer. Keep it up, sweet big brother.

More Stella Claire

My boys are at church this morning, Isa is with Grandma Pam, and Stella and I are hanging out on the couch spending some good time with the Lord. Because I have spent more time on my back than I ever did when the boys were newborns, I have about 1/16 of the pictures of Stella's first week of life than I do of theirs. Instead of looking at my newborn through my camera lense, I have just been soaking her in with my eyes. She's incredible. Here are a few pictures I do have to share.

Sisters!

Sam is the paci police. He thinks she needs it in her mouth at every moment even when she is completely content. She has a pink one and a white one. If the white one is in her mouth, he is asking 'where her pink boppy?' Once he finds it, he makes sure it is next to her.
Our little glow worm. Stella Claire has been jaundice so we have the pleasure of laying her in the billi (sp??) blanket. She'll get poked again tomorrow to check her levels and then hopefully we can get rid of the machine.

On my back

I am writing to ask for prayer. Prayer for healing and prayer for wisdom.

I had a blood patch done on Wednesday before I left the hospital to relieve a severe epidural headache caused by a puncture to the dura or a 'wet tap' when the epidural was administered. The headache went away for 48 hours and then yesterday morning came back and leveled me once again. I cannot stand or move about without severe pain in my head. The terrible pain is caused by having a low pressure of Cerebral Spinal Fluid around the brain, and the brain rubbing painfully against the skull with very little cushioning of CSF each time you are upright.

We have lots of help from family and friends but life on my back with 4 children and a husband that has to work is not sustainable. Our options are to try a second blood patch in hopes that it will work the 2nd time or to wait for it to heal on it's own which no one can say how long that would be. We would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and also pray against discouragement and fear.

Stella Baby

First peek at her eyes!

While doctors tried to figure out what to do with my spinal headache, Stella did nothing but sleep and eat. She was such a good little thing.
Daddy is very smitten already.
Yay! On our way out! I had a blood patch done this morning to relieve the pain in my head and the relief in my head was instantaneous. However, my spine is incredibly sore now from all the needles and pushing. I'm just so thankful to be home!!!




A welcome home sign from the Morris PAs. :)
The first thing Benjamin wanted to do was put her in her bed with the lambie he picked out for her.
A very proud big brother.