Tag Archives: Ma

Super Nachos LI

Sunday mornings- making waffles and watching cartoons. It was the LEGO movie, so Des and dad were enthralled alike.

Des woke  from his nap to find dad brewing in the kitchen (the first time in over two years). Dad explained all about the beer and the little yeasties swimming around and going, “omp chomp chomp!”

Des reading the original gravity in the refractometer. He concurs, 1.054.

Ma and pa came over for the super hockey bowl game (Des kept shouting hockey chants, apparently all sports are now just “hockey”). Also pictured, Ella getting her second peek of the day at the bright moving screen.

But that’s enough screen time, let’s go play with pa

A play mat built for two

That look: the combination of watching the halftime show, but really ready to go to sleep

Women’s March

Ella is dubious. Why? Dunno.

No longer “cool baby,” but “cool toddler.”

Des lounging on ma enjoying his special post-nap lollipop. He was a trooper during the morning’s extended NFM outing.

Three generations of strong women.

Grandma and the boys head to the food hall for dinner. Des discovers the foosball table, and despite being broken, happily spins the knobs anyway.

Baby’s first protest march.

New Years Eve 2016

With countless toddlers with noisemakers, we once again rang in the “noon year” at the Durham.

Des not impressed with the band

Waiting for those balloons

So many balloons to catch/stomp

And confetti!

Eleanor hanging out with Lindsay and mom

…and with Billy and the girls

Des says, “hi” to the gentlemen viewing the arrivals and departures board

Walking out on 2016

Spending the last night of 2016 with friends

High fives to the new year!

Christmas 2016

Christmas morning began at 6:47am. Des wasn’t quite ready to start the day, so he lounged in mom and dad’s bed for a while, then watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the third time this season while the lightning storm passed. About an hour later, he was ready to shuffle downstairs and see what Santa brought. Or go get a pretzel.

All things “rocket ship!”

Des balanced being very thankful with wonder and distraction. About right for a toddler.

Eleanor slept through most of the morning activities, but woke up in time for breakfast

Desmond was most enthralled by his new train set

Assembling and reassembling, then further reassembling

After waking up from his nap at ma and pa’s house, Des was ready for round two. Proudly holding the R2-D2 ornament from aunt Megan, Viv, and Liam’s recent trip to Disney World.

The rainstorms continued, with 25mph wind gusts

More swirly, light-up toys

Ella relaxing with aunt megan

Playing with Liam’s new race cars and trying to bump each other’s riders off. “OVERBOARD!”

Back home, Des shows off his train to grandma

Ella, before everyone was just tuckered out.

A wonderful Christmas together, the first as a foursome.

Union Hall Christmas

Everyone met at pa’s union hall to continue the tradition seeing Santa Claus. Desmond has only seen the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer since last seeing Santa a few weeks ago, but we’ve been talking him up.

Des decides just one grandchild on grandma’s lap isn’t enough

Eagerly waiting, which was notably streamlined this year with family numbers and reduced line time

Des still shy. If you look closely, that thumbs-up appears to be sarcastic

Aunt Megan and Ella

Yup, mostly slept

Hamming it up for ma

After unwrapping his new set of cars, Viv and Des instinctively got down from the table and paraded them, hand-in-hand. The sheer cuteness was apparently a distraction, as the two rounded the corner before any parent thought best to go get them 😉

Des unwraps—and immediately bogarts—his sister’s present. To be fair, the blanket outsized him, let alone her.

It was also a frog blanket, possibly establishing an annual theme.

Thanksgiving 2016

With the entire family having a cold to one degree or another, the morning was fairly low-key with some parade watching.

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Early in the afternoon everyone was bundled up for Thanksgiving meal at ma & pa’s house. And of course, Eleanor just slept.

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Desmond finding that tablets are easier to draw on than dad’s computer and mouse

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November 5th, 2016

After an early start to the day with early 90s educational videos, Dad caught the sunrise during a hunt for coffee

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Got all of the discharge tasks completed early, ready to head home

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Baby’s first car ride, to the tune of My Life is Sweet by Simon Joyner

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Back at the house with Grandma and Des

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Dad woke up Des from his lap. He said, “hi!” and ran over for a hug. Mere moments later, he said “baby sister” and ran downstairs.

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Ma getting in some extra cuddles before taking Des for a cousin slumber party

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Quick stick and dirt pit stop in the front yard

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Grandpa came over to meet Ella, though it’s still near-constant napping

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Cousins watching The Lion King

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Eleanor Marie

Thursday began like any other day, getting Desmond ready for daycare, going to work. While Anne’s blood pressure was moderately elevated earlier in the week, further test results showed all other levels within norms. Anne had a minor headache persist through the prior evening and the morning, and being one of the signs we were to keep an eye on, checked with her nurses. While the perinatologist’s office said she was likely fine, Dr. Gernhart asked her to stop by for blood pressure check. Her pressure was again elevated during this visit even after a prolonged test, so she was admitted for a what was presumably a 24-hour observation followed by bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy.

In order for Anne to avoid some of the interventions that complicated Des’ delivery, Dr. Gernhart ultimately made the recommendation to induce. 37 weeks and six days. By mid-afternoon we had shifted into delivery plans. With Des at home with grandma, and Anne’s family joining us at the hospital, her water was broke at 5:10pm.

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Anne continued to progress as the evening wained on. Lots of calm breathing, focus and back rubs. By 10:00pm the contractions were both regular and intense, so an epidermal was administered. The nurse was busy at one point when Dr. Gernhart called, so I had to answer the phone and give her the stats- 100% effaced, 0 station, 7cm. She said, “that’s what I was looking for, see you in a bit!”

Dr. Gernhart arrived at 11pm, and after a few minutes of small talk, measured and found Anne at nearly 10cm. She began pushing and we were all just so surprised how quickly we saw our little girl. The second labor really does go that much quicker. Six hours of labor and about 15 minutes of pushing later, we met our daughter, Eleanor Marie Shreffler.

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With this being more of a normal birth experience, Anne was able to enjoy the moments following the delivery with increased clarity. We were so grateful as baby Eleanor rested on her stomach for over an hour before getting measurements etc.

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Eleanor showing off her sense of humor pretty early 😛

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Eight pounds, one ounce. 20.5″ long.

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Our new little girl

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