Keeping Everything in Perspective

A lot of people have told me that they can't really tell how small Eloise is from the pictures I've posted. 
Here is one to put her size in perspective. 

This picture was taken during Eloise's 'carseat test'.  This 'test' involves buckling the baby into the carseat and having her sit for 90 minutes while her vital signs are monitored.  The purpose is to make sure the baby's small body can withstand the 'rigors' of sitting upright in her seat for an extended amount of time without anything going wrong.  Eloise passed with flying colors!  (That is if flying colors means fussing a bit then falling asleep for the duration.) 

This is one more big step toward coming home!

(The hat in the picture is one from Eloise's new collection, made (of course) by her Grandma Williams.)

Vocation

I am so thankful for vocation and for people who remind me of my vocation.  Five weeks ago a new school year started.  I never would have imagined that three days later my vocation would drastically change.  I went from the daily routine of teaching school and keeping a house to being on bedrest in the hospital.  Now I sit in the nursery at Tacoma General and watch my baby Eloise sleep.  (I do change her and feed her, as well, but she mostly sleeps.)  Instead of teaching math, I am learning math.  I count grams as she grows.  I now know that thirty grams equal one ounce.  Eloise is now 1994 grams, or 4 pounds & 6 ounces.  It's incredible how happy each additional ounce makes me!  Eloise is my vocation.  She is what I am doing. 

One week old

Two weeks old

Today - two and a half weeks old