Merry Christmas, Ollie Baby!

Ialso posted some photos of little Ollie Claus with his big sister on Sophie's blog. :)

The Sultan of Guatemala!

The Sultan of Guatemala...

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and his double chin!

Shana & Michael's Baby Carrier Review!

Is this a great picture, or what? Michael (aka Ollie's Daddy) is sporting a traditional Guatemalan "Cargadora" baby carrier... and loving it! You should see the looks he gets from the local women on the street! I think they all agree- soooo cute!!!

Mommy & Ollie Bear with my new best friend Heather and her darling baby girl Soli! We met through our blogs back in the states!

I brought several carriers with me... but the only one I can seem to get Ollie comfortable (as of now) in is the Moby Wrap (which is a very long piece of soft, stretchy material that you wrap and tie). So, I think this is Oliver's favorite carrier, but my favorite is still the Mei Tai. I don't know if it is because he is a boy or because he is so young, but I can't get his little legs to go in the Mei Tai comfortably. I know that infants are supposed to fit into the Mei Tai in the infant position with their knees bent, but he just isn't cozy like that yet.... I'm going to keep trying though! The Mei Tai is the ONLY carrier that seems to take all pressure off of my back- and it gives me the mosts freedom with my hands. I also tried him in the New Native and the HotSlings pouch- but he (nor I) liked either of those much. So, for now- it's the Moby Wrap for me and the Cargadora for Michael!

Ollie Bear!

Oliver was a little fussy at first, but is settling in quite well with us! He is feeling much better now and has received a clean report from the lab (no more Rota-virus)! He came to us with a bit of a cold but is feeling better with each day. He sleeps well and loves to eat... he makes these sweet little grunty sounds that remind me of a baby piglet (so sweet)! And he has the cutest little double chin and chunky legs (3 rolls on each side)... We think he SO adorable!


His little smile cracks me up!

Ollie makes the funniest faces... I love his little lips! I'm going to try to get some video of the girls singing La Lechuza to him- they really love their little Ollie Baby!

Oliver is here!!!

Oliver was a couple hours late, and poor Sophie Lu just kept waiting and waiting for him... She was so excited to give him his baby lamb!

Finally, the doorbell rang.... Sophie yelled, "Ollie Baby, Ollie Baby!"

Here is our first glimpse of Ollie Bear! He is much smaller than we had imagined!

My first moments with Oliver.... see the little hands reaching up to help me hold him?

Sophie was so very sweet- she offered her baby brother some watermelon and ice cream!

And then she gave him a soft pat on the head...

Then she said, "Ollie baby... no can walk!"

And she brought him his lambie.

I must say, Sophie Lu never ceases to amaze us. She was so gentle and sweet with Ollie- she just kept looking at him very closely.

Oliver is on 2 different medicines as well as Pedialyte... Here, Sophie Lu *helps* feed her Baby Ollie! (yeah- she pretty much ripped the bottle out of my hand!)

And, of course, no feeding would be complete without a soft kiss on the head!

This girl really loves her baby brother!

Daddy and his boy take a very brief rest-

.............................A happy Daddy!

.................. And a very happy Mommy!

Just look how tiny he is! I can't believe it- I have a son! Having a step-son (my very handsome and loving Mikie) has been such a gift- we share such a special relationship... If it weren't for him, I think I would have wanted another girl. Ollie is going to love you, Mikie!

...........................That face!
Much to my surprise, he fits into 0-3 months size clothes!

I love his dark eyes and that sweet pouty lip!

................"I'm gonna knock you out!" (little tough guy!)

And here it is- Ollie Bear's first smile for Mama! Welcome, sweet Ollie, welcome!

I'm SO nervous!

Okay, they were supposed to be here 20 minutes ago (not that I expected them to be here right on time).... and I am sooooo nervous! It's not quite the same kind of nervousness that I had just moments before being handed Sophie Lu.... It's a sick kind of nervous like are they really coming? Are they going to be very late? How late? Is Sophie going to freak out? Are all my camera batteries charged? Oh my gosh- I think I'm going to throw up!!!

Oliver update: good news!!!

Oliver is expected to be released from the hospital later today, and they are planning to bring him to us this Friday at 11:00am!

I received many comments asking why I could not visit him in the hospital... Believe me, I really wanted to; but he was in isolation in a hospital full of very contagious RV patients and was not allowed any visitors. I am told that there was a nurse with him throughout the night, and was very pleased to hear this. I know God was carerfully watching over him too, and I am so thankful that our baby was not alone.

Thank you, everyone, for your very special prayers and well wishes! I am so blessed to have such an amazing support system of friends from all around the world. Your comments and emails have meant more to me than you could ever imagine.

So... Ollie Baby on Friday!!! I just can't wait!

Oliver has been hospitalized

Everything was ready for his arrival when I got the call. Oliver is very very sick- apparently, he took a turn for the worse, was taken to the emergency room and has been hospitalized. Just as I suspected, he has Rota-Virus and is now also dehydrated which is very serious. They are trying to get him hydrated and better, but I am so worried- I can't stop crying- I just feel so helpless. I have been advised not to visit him and that even when out of the hospital, he must wait for a while to be brought to me. They want to make sure he will survive before he is brought to me. I just can't believe this is happening.... I am so so so sad and worried- I just keep picturing him all alone in the hospital with IVs in his tiny arms... My heart is aching so badly. I know I need to have faith, but it's so hard. Please help me pray for him...

Tomorrow at Noon!

Finally! Oliver is due to arrive tomorrow at noon! I don't know if he is still sick, but there is a wonderful doctor here in Antigua that I will be taking the kids to; and also, my mom arrived today- so she will be of great help. Thank you all for your kindness and prayers! I will post Ollie Bear photos just as soon as possible! :)

No Ollie today, and I'm so worried...

I just received some bad news... apparently Oliver is very sick and will not be delivered to us today. Our contact here said he will be taken to the doctor tomorrow. I asked what was wrong, and she said he is going to the bathroom (#2) a lot, and that's all they were able to tell me. I am SO worried- worried about Rota-virus, dehydration, etc. I know there have been baby fatalities due to this virus (and that is one of the symptoms) - and I just feel sick not being able to do anything or at least see how he is. I was so excited, and now I'm fighting back the tears...

Ollie News at Last!!! (& advice please!)

Oliver is being delivered to us on Sunday at 5:00pm! It has been so hard to wait for him knowing that he is so close, but I know in my heart I've done the right thing. We really needed this time alone with just the 2 girls so that they could adjust to one another and so that we could put all of our energy into the initial attachment with Isabella and any jealousy issues with Sophie Lu... Ideally, we would have much much more time than this- but this is what we had.

Speaking of which, I am very concerned with how Sophie Lu will react to Ollie and him being held by me so often. I think having her sister will help her and keep her busy, but my instincts tell me that she will be okay at first, and then it will hit her and she will freak out- and that it will just take time and lots of extra love and reassurance... Does anyone have any advice?