Breathe Kelcie.

I've been so busy with life that I haven't had anytime to post. Time is definitely catching up to me and most days I forget to even brush my hair. Throw it in a pony and go. Seems to be my routine lately. 

Let's see...Eli has been doing amazing. Therapy once a week now along with a few other appointments. His extensive hearing test is Thursday and we can finally have a clearer answer to what exactly he is developmentally behind in. This hearing loss could have a major impact on how we move forward with his therapies. 

He is eating very well. Baby food 1-2 times a day with 6-8oz bottles all day long. He is a hungry growing boy. Still on allecare formula but will be switching to vitamin d milk for good! I'm excited to have a normal smelling baby instead of gross formula permeating from his skin. IICK. I HATE IT! 

We now have 4 teeth. Finally! These top 2 are rough. Eli is struggling but I am glad they finally came! He is going to be so dang cute :)

Most days I can get by with no emotional episodes. Depends on the day. I see newborn babies and just stare. Like I never knew what it was like to have that newborn baby feeling. But I do. I had Lucas. We had an amazing first year with Lucas and now he is 3! Eli, is a different story. I don't expect anyone to fully understand what it's like but parts of me never felt like I was a mom for 5 months. I just watched my baby from a hospital bed and prayed one day I could be half as strong as he was. I try everyday to thank God we are where we are because their are those less fortunate. They have lost children to severe heart defects and never were able to take them home or hold them like I can hold Eli now. I am very grateful, don't get that twisted. 

I just struggle. I struggle with development. Seeing younger kids more developed and bigger and more alert and acting true to age. I want that so bad for Eli. I dread being around other kiddos solely on comparison comments. I cry everytime I see a Facebook post of other friends babies wanting to crawl or sitting up that were born months, many months after Eli. I know...I know. You don't have to tell me. Eli has been through a lot. He's doing awesome for where he is at and how he got here. I KNOW! I try to tell myself that everyday. 

But I struggle. I'm entitled to that. I just wish things were a little easier for eli...

And for Lucas, to be able to have a 1 year old brother who could play and chase eachother around the house. 

And for Danny who has to deal with me and all my emotional and crappy days. 

And for myself. To just be thankful I even have Eli to write about. 

Xoxo 

Rally! Rally!

In our 5 months at CCHMC, your support and generosity was extremely overwhelming. We are so grateful and appreciative of what everyone has done for us and our family. And you still continue to show support for Eli. One of the hardest things during our five months stay was our financial status. I went back to work early and Danny continued work full-time the entire time Eli was in CCHMC. We always feared losing our home, our cars, and our insurance. Your amazing support help to prevent that. 

I posted a few weeks ago about a friend that has a baby with a heart defect. Today she has informed us that she has been let go from her current position. She is officially unemployed at 37 weeks pregnant. Her employer has forced her to take her leave early, as an unpaid status. This is heartbreaking for me. While I was fortunate enough to have time off with both of my children as paid leave, not everyone gets that chance. Sarah has one daughter and baby Chloe on the way. Her medical costs will start piling up and she will start wondering where her next meal will come from. I cannot even fathom what I would do if I did not have the means to get my child food. So this is why I'm posting. 

You all were so generous with your donations and support for Eli, that I'm asking you to match what you donated for baby Eli, please donate for baby Chloe. Baby Chloe has her own page to follow, i've attached the site where you can make donations and follow her page and her upcoming heart surgeries. 

http://www.gofundme.com/8z4jk8

Please just take five minutes-$5 dollars and donate to this precious little baby and her family. This hits very close to home for me knowing this family and what they deserve. They deserve support. 

We went into Eli's situation financially stable and while we never became unstable, it was a very big fear of mine and it still is knowing that his medical bills are piling in. Sarah's family needs our support and a little less fear. 

Thank you for any donation that you can give to her and her family. 

God Bless all of you. 

Kleckner family