A Few of the Latest Developments

Just as fair warning, the post below is not intended to spark a debate about being a working mother. If there was any feasible way for me to stay home and not work, I would; however it is not in any way possible for us to be able to swing that financially. The spirit of the post is to simply update folks about how we're doing, what's new with us and Eliana, and to ask for your prayerful support as we seek to resolve my work situation described below. Thanks :)

It's been much longer than I would have liked since I last updated. A lot has been going on in the Delisle house. Much of it is incredibly joyful; some of it is not.

Last Sunday, we headed to the cemetery for the first time in a while. Between the blizzards we had (and yes, we did go to the cemetery, shovel in hand, and dug a bath to our sweet Isaac's grave so that we could visit) and then Eliana's birth, it had been a few weeks. That made my heart hurt, and for some reason, made me feel a little guilty. But we made it there last Sunday, and I stood there and cried like I hadn't in quite some time. Because this time, Eliana was with us. We introduced her to where her brother was buried, and explained to her that he lives with Jesus in heaven. Spencer and I both know that a then 2 1/2 week old doesn't understand that... but it felt like we needed to tell her something.

This past week I received a phone call from the school where I teach that in order to preserve my position there, I would need to return to work sooner than expected. I had hoped to stay out the rest of the school year, and had been told that doing so (which took me 9 days beyond the 12 weeks of FMLA leave) shouldn't jeopardize my position. My thoughts immediately raced to how to manage feeding Eliana while being back at work and not wanting to interrupt our routine. The following day I received another call saying that human resources would not let me return to work earlier than I had indicated on my leave form (which, coincidentally, asks you to list your dates of expected leave), and that my position at the school would now become a vacancy. As a teacher returning from leave, I am at the "end of the line" for vacant positions within our school district, essentially being assigned any "leftover" position once the transfer season is over. The long and short translation is: my 20-25 minute commute could potentially turn into a 90+ minute commute, depending on where the vacancies are... if there's even a vacancy for which I am certified at all. If not, I would be put on leave without pay indefinitely. I'll flat out admit it: I am stressed. My principal is great and is doing his best to figure something out. Please, please be in prayer about this on our behalf... that there would be a way to retain my position at this school; that if I can't, God would provide a desirable position with a manageable commute; and that I don't end up on leave without pay indefinitely.

And lastly, just a few picutres of Eliana's sweet face that I get to wake up to each morning...

She loves her activity mat and trying to hit the purple elephant!

2 weeks old!

Thanks so much for your thoughts and advice left on my previous post.

In thinking through much of it further and in talking with Spencer and a close friend, I am realizing that part of what seems to be compounding my struggle is feeling like I should already have a better idea of what's "normal" for a newborn... the sounds, the sleep patterns, the eating habits. The whole being a "first time" mom to my second child has been wearing on me, perhaps, more than I realized. So my goal, for now, is to really just try to relax a little and to not worry so much. I trust that when the temptation to worry and fret arises, that the Lord will meet me in that.

On that note, our beautiful Eliana is 2 weeks old today! Just caught a few shots of her hanging out in her bouncy seat as Spencer and I finished up dinner...

A Quick Update

Just wanted to let you all know we're still here :) The weather is gorgeous... just got in from a walk. Our third walk since Eliana joined our family, and she has yet to stay awake for one of them.

Eliana is doing well... seems to still have her days and nights confused, despite trying to help her with that. She also appears to be having some issues with gassiness and therefore a lot of night time fussiness when we try to put her down. She isn't a great burper (we've tried every "burping position" out there...) and she seems to want/need to be held for a bit after being fed in order to help her tummy digest a little better. Needless to say, we're not getting much sleep around here. A very welcomed dilemma (the no sleep thing) in a lot of ways, but making it hard to keep up with blogging, returning emails and phone calls... not to mention laundry, dishes, and regular household things. With Spencer returning to work next week, it has me a little anxious. In some ways I feel frustrated... I feel like I should know better about what's normal and what's not, and how to best help her. But I don't. It's difficult to be figuring this out for the first time with my second child. I think that's probably been weighing on me a bit as well.

Please pray for Eliana... that we could somehow figure out a way to help her, that her tummy would be able to digest a bit more easily, that she would get her days and nights straight, and that her sleep would be more restful than fitful.

Please pray for me... I feel really helpless sometimes in figuring out what's wrong and how to help Eliana feel better. The planner in me has a hard time with a non-routine, and the "art" of nursing is hard for a planned, practical, analytical demeanor like mine.

Please pray for Spencer... that the sleep he gets would be restful. He has been so awesome about being up with Ellie and I, helping with feedings, helping around the house, and just trying to make my load a bit lighter. I have no idea what all that will look like once he needs to go back to work next week.

Thanks for praying with us through this transition of figuring it all out :)

Newborn Photo Shoot

This past Saturday we had our newborn photo shoot with Crissie Traugott, the same photographer who shot Isaac's Golf Tournament and who did our maternity pictures a few weeks ago.

Eliana was supposed to be good and sleepy during the shoot, but most of the time she was so alert! Crissie did get some great shots, though, in teh few moments Ellie actually was asleep.

Anyhow, here's a sneak peek of a few of the shots... I love the last two in particular!

Wide Awake

Eliana is wide awake this morning... we read, sang songs, and now she's being introduced to her activity mat by her daddy. When I tried it, she hated the purple elephant. Today, she loves the purple elephant. :) I love discovering all of these little things about her!


Spencer's mom and stepdad came up to visit on Friday, and they captured this picture of Eliana that just captured my heart...

I love those big eyes and her sweet little cheeks!!

One Week Old!

I can't believe that Eliana is already a week old! How did it get to be Thursday again?!

We've really enjoyed being at home spending simple moments together, like taking a snooze with dad...


And, when she's not being held and snuggled, Eliana seems to love her bouncy seat!


Here are a few shots of Ellie at one week old this morning...

I had my first "moment"this morning... you know, the ones that sort of catch you off guard? I was bringing Eliana downstairs and as we walked by Isaac's picture that is hung on the wall of our living room, she looked up at it and was captivated. She just kept staring at his sweet face... and I lost it as I whispered to her, "That's your brother, Isaac..." knowing that those pictures are all she'd know of him on this side of Heaven. While that's not a new concept for me, it was the first time it played itself out and it just made my heart ache. I am sure that there will be more moments like that... that sadness intertwined with so much joy. Today, though, we are just so thankful for the thirty-seven weeks we've had with Ellie inside my tummy, and the one beautiful week she has been here with us since her birth.

Eating, Sleeping, and Messy Diapers

Didn't want you all to think we've disappeared! Just taking an extended trip to a new and exciting land, where our lives consist of feeding Eliana, changing messy diapers, and getting very little sleep :)

It is glorious... and I mean that sincerely.

Sure, I wish I could get a little more sleep, but I wouldn't trade a restful night's sleep for any of this. It is such a gift to be able snuggle Ellie, feed her, listen to her little squeaks that almost mimic singing, and yes, even to be able to change her diaper.

Even the "unpleasantries" of these early newborn days have a strong element of joyfulness for us; we've shared many laughs over the fact that Eliana makes some of the funniest faces and the fact that sometimes when we go to change her, we have to do it three times in a row because she's that "busy."

We are doing incredibly well, as is Eliana! Even the pediatrician gave her a glowing report today!

More Eliana Pictures!

As promised, here are so more pictures of our precious baby girl!

Just after delivery!

Not too happy about her bath!

With Pop-Pop... one of the few times she showed us her eyes.

I LOVE all of her dark hair and her sweet little face!

Doing what she does best :)

Thank you so much for all of your prayers, well-wishes and encouragement! Our hearts are incredibly full of gratitude and and great joy.

Dream Baby

Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragement, and well-wishes!

Today has been an amazing day.

I mentioned before that the verse we picked for Eliana was 1 Peter 3:4, which reads,

You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Eliana has been a dream baby. She is already demonstrating such a sweet, gentle, and quiet spirit. She rarely cries, and when she does, it's a cute little cry that is easily consoled. She's so good and so easy... at least so far! I love all of her little squeaks that she makes. She is absolutely precious.

Ellie is also a serious sleeper, as most newborns are I think :) It's been a little difficult to get her to wake up to feed, but when she does, she's a great eater!

We are just so thankful she is here, that she is healthy and safe, that so many of you have been thinking of us and praying for us, and that God has truly been good in meeting us today in our moments of missing as well giving us an unspeakable joy.

More pictures to come tomorrow!

~ Stacy

Meet Eliana!

Here are a few pictures of sweet Eliana! They are from a blackberry, so they aren't the BEST quality. (I'm also a novice "blogger" so this is all kind of new to me :) ) More are coming your way.....

-Auntie Kate

She's Here!

Eliana Jane Delisle made her way into the world this morning at 9:04 am! She is 6 lbs 12 oz and 19 ½ inches long. (About the same size that Stacy was when she was born!) She has a full head of dark hair that nurse Kathy said, “you probably couldn’t even get a comb through it.”
The doctor said that the procedure went very smoothly - it could not have gone better! He, too, mentioned Ellie’s full head of dark hair. He also said that Apgar was excellent!
e, too,
Stacy, Spencer and sweet Ellie are in the recovery room doing well J
Pictures will be posted once we have some….hopefully soon!!
- Auntie Kate (Stacy’s sister)

1

In the words of Annie,

Tomorrow, tomorrow!
I love ya, tomorrow!
You're only a day away!

Today, Spencer and I are both off of work attending to last minute details like pre-op bloodwork, making sure our house is clean and in order, relaxing spa treatments (no, I am not kidding!), and a nice dinner out together. And yes, there are some baby-related tasks thrown in there as well, but we really wanted a day to rest and relax together before welcoming our baby girl.

We would love it if you would please read over the prayers of the last several days and just pray them again through the course of the day today.

I will (try to) update before heading to the hospital tomorrow morning. My sister, Kate, will be guest blogging from the waiting room as well.

I am truly humbled by the fact that about 800 of you follow this blog, have gotten to "meet" Isaac and bear witness to the story that God has been writing in our lives. I am honored that you would take the time to pray for someone whom, for many of you, have never met. And I can't wait to share the next chapter of the story that God is writing as we welcome Eliana tomorrow!

2

Today is my last day at work for the year! I would just ask that you pray for this aspect of our preparation today... that loose ends would be tied up, that the details that need to be attended to would be done so with clarity and focus (as I am sure you can imagine that I am a bit distracted by other thoughts of Thursday), that the transition to my long-term sub taking over would go smoothly, and that I would be able to maintain a calm, and stress-free state while finishing up teaching today.

3

Up until now, I've shared several ways that you can be praying for us. Today, I would just ask that you would join us in praising God for His faithfulness.

His faithfulness in guiding our decision about if and when to have another child.

His faithfulness in allowing us to become pregnant.

His faithfulness in meeting us amidst the fear that comes along with being pregnant again after losing a child, and calming it.

His faithfulness in allowing me to have a "textbook" pregnancy, free of any complications, and that even at 36 1/2 weeks pregnant, I still feel really good physically.

His faithfulness in knitting Eliana together as a healthy baby thus far.

His faithfulness in allowing us to experience a deep joy that neither Spencer or I have felt in quite some time as we anticipate her arrival.

The list could go on and on... I am just incredibly grateful.