Eli's First Christmas

Our baby boy is growing up, he is now 7 months old. We are having so much fun. He is talking and walking (running) in his walker. He is eating "real food" and loving it. Also cutting a couple of top teeth.
This Christmas was bittersweet. We were not able to be with our extended families in Arkansas and Missouri. Elijah's great grandfather, Eulis Grant Walker, passed away on Friday, December 23rd. Eli was able to meet him on our recent trip back to the states, so we are thankful to God for that!
The community here has wrapped their arms around us during this time of mourning! We are so grateful for all those who have opened their doors and hearts to us. It means so much.
Now for the fun part. Eli got two really cool Fisher Price Little People trucks. In our amazement, he played for a long time with them without getting bored. This is a daddy trait for sure. I think Eli enjoyed the wrapping paper too. He played with it for quite some time.
Overall, we laughed and cried a lot over the past few days. Thank you, Lord for our baby boy. He is truly the best present we could have received.

Our first trip back to the U.S......

Physical Therapy

Our little Eli has been such a strong b-o-y.  After a regular doctor's visit, it was recommended to us that he visit the physical therapist.  Our German doctor noticed that Eli's neck wasn't getting any better, Jonathan and I both agreed.  We have been visiting the pt, now for 2 weeks and he has had some increased mobility in his left side (hands, turn his head left...etc.)  We have been practicing like crazy with his left hand.....he doesn't like to use it at all.  This is a result of his tight neck muscles.  He also has two bones in his head that are tilted due to the stressful labor.   One bone is behind his eyes and the other is the very back bottom bone in his skull.  Eli is still young enough for the bones to be put back in place with the proper care.

Elijah absolutely loves going to physical therapy.....I think it is b/c he gets constant attention.  The only thing about his visit is that he crashes after every visit b/c it is such hard work.  Jonathan and I are both in agreement that God can heal this in order for Eli to live a normal life.

Bigger and Better

Well, Eli is approaching the 4 month mark.  He is getting so BIG.  He is getting BETTER with sitting up, eye hand coordination, cooing, rolling over...etc.  Yesterday was his first taste of solid foods.  He had a mixture of bananas and apples.  The kid ate like a champ.  I was impressed.....guess he was hungry.

We will find out his weight and length tomorrow during our next doctor appointment.  He is getting his next round of shots and we are going to find out more about his neck.  His head is still tilting to one side, due to his position in the womb and the difficult labor.  One side of his neck muscle is shorter than the other, plus there may be some scar tissue that is not reversible.  The doctors discovered this while we were still in the hospital, so they asked us to keep an eye on it.  So we are doing some little exercises everyday.  Unfortunately, I don't think it's getting much better. I'm praying for peace tomorrow at the doctors office.

Family Tree

A couple of weeks ago, Jonathan's uncle (Ron) sent us a detailed newsletter on the Griesse Family Tree.  Lots of work went into this and we are very thankful for his work!!  I have loved reading and re-reading the newsletter.  It makes me want to research my family background.

The Family Tree couldn't have come at a better time......I loved finding out about Eli's great great grandparents and great grandparents.  Sooooo  here are some interesting things.  Eli's great great grandparents were Rev. August Griesse and Lydia Wassman who were both German.  They spent some of their lives in Hanover, Germany before migrating to the states.  I believe their parents were instrumental in establishing the German Lutheran Churches.  The couple had 10 children, 7 guys and 3 girls.  Six of the guys were Reverends, Eli's great grandpa Griesse and grandpa Griesse were farmers.  (Jokingly) This explains why Eli sleeps during church and loves being outside.  Both my grandfathers, grandpa Walker (who Eli is named after) and Grandpa Pierson were/are farmers too.

Isn't it fun to find out about our ancestors.  We are so blessed to have Godly ancestors.  Our job as parents is a hard one, but what a great opportunity to teach our little guy about the bible and Jesus.  We love our little MK!!
 

U.S. Citizenship

On Thursday, we took a trip to the U.S. Embassy in Frankfurt, Germany.  It took weeks to get all the documentation for Eli's passport and SS#.  They require everything but the kitchen sink.....which I guess is good.  Jon and I had to prove we were U.S. citizens by having W2's for 5 consecutive years, plus an original copy of our marriage license (who has the original...not us, only a copy).  The list goes on and on.  We left at 5:00 a.m. Thursday morning and arrived in Frankfurt at 8:30 a.m.  Once we arrived in Frankfurt, we prayed for a decent parking spot.  We read online that parking was difficult.  Thank you Lord, we got the first (and ONLY) parallel parking spot on the street.....5 steps from the Embassy.  Once we got Eli out, and entered into the line.  A police/security officer waved us up to the front of the line (which was wrapped around the corner).  WOW, thank you again Lord.  The experience was great, now it is just a matter of waiting for his passport and SS# card.  We walked out of the Embassy at 10:30 a.m.  Eli is now officially a U.S. citizen!!  Yeah baby boy!

Our little trooper

Our little trooper, Eli.  Yesterday afternoon, Jonathan and I noticed that one of Eli's testicles was swollen and red.  So we called the after hours pediatrician clinic.  In just 1/2 hour we had a German doctor at our doorstep.  The doctor did an exam on Eli and said that it could be a twisted testicle or a hernia.  So we asked if we could take him to the doctor the next day......he said "no go to the hospital, now".  Holy cow.  Jon and I prayed that Jesus would heal little Eli's body.  We were both at peace with taking him to the hospital.  My first reaction was to panic, but God really gave me a peace.  So about 9:30 p.m. we headed to the Kinderhospital in Basel, Switzerland.  The doctors and nurses were so nice and all spoke very good English.  They also told us that it could be twisted or a hernia, but only an ultrasound would tell.   After the ultrasound it was confirmed there was only fluid build up and nothing was twisted, plus there was no hernia.  Praise the Lord.  Only time will heal the fluid.  We are so proud of our little boy.  He did so good at the hospital.  During the ultrasound, he just starred at me and didn't make a sound.  My heart just melted.  We love our baby boy so much!!  So thankful that he is okay.

Surreal Moment

Monday, Eli went to his very first play group.  It's with a group of German women and children.  As I am sitting there holding and taking care of Eli, I was in amazement that this is really my life.  I have felt at times that I have to give Eli back to "his mom"....no wait, I am his mom.  It was such a surreal moment for me.
The play group is designed as a ministry outreach.  There are only a couple of Christians in the group, but mainly non-Christians.  Even though I can't speak the language, I'm learning more how to  be the body of Christ through actions and not words.  The entire play group is getting together on Sunday with spouses and siblings.  This is a great opportunity for the Griesse family in Germany.  Thank the Lord for Eli, who at his young age is already showing me how to love deeper and stronger!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULY 7TH to Julie Hamlin (Eli's Aunt) and Zach Dineen (Eli's cousin)!!

Our German Midwife, Karin

So living in Germany has its challenges.  We have learned a lot and grown as parents.  Once I found out we were pregnant, I was terrified.  Especially about having a baby, but in a foreign land.  One of the first things I was told, was that a midwife will deliver your baby.  I was like "a who?".  I mean I had heard the term before, but didn't really know their role.  Well, let me just tell you, I LOVE MIDWIVES!  Instead of your regular nurses, Germany has midwives.  They take you through the entire labor and delivery, plus help you with prenatal and postnatal care.
I became especially close with my Lamaze midwife, Karin.  She came to the house for 2 weeks after Eli was born.  She listened and observed.  She was a true lifesaver.  I can call and ask her anything at anytime. She taught me so much....thought I would share some of her best practices.
1.  Johannsubeer nektar - for low iron during pregnancy
2.  Sab Simplex - gets rid of bubbles in formula
3.  Quark - soothe breasts after breast feeding
4.  Baby massage and gymnastics
5.  Massage oil for your lower back during contractions
6.  Still tea - Add to formula in order to soothe babies tummy

Life as we know it......

Eli turned 5 weeks old today.  He has changed to much!  He is eating every 2 to 2.5 hours.  Needless to say, he is quite the little chunk.  Jonathan and I are trying to find a routine that works for Eli and both of us.  

 

Eli has had colic.  Any of you mothers out there that have experienced this.....WOW!!  It has been one of the most challenging things I have ever dealt with.  I have been online everyday reading about colic and ways to help soothe your child.  We should be on the up-and-up because colic peaks at 6 weeks.  We are getting close.

A friend from the states sent us the book "What to expect the First Year" (thanks, Dede).  It is from the series "What to expect when you are expecting".  I highly recommend it!  It has pretty much anything and everything you need to know about your baby.

We have had 2 really good days and nights, so I am hopeful that Eli is past the colic stage.  We will keep our fingers crossed.  

On a sad note, Eli's great-grandfather isn't doing well.  He is in stage 4 cancer.  Eli is actually named after him.....Elijah Walker Griesse.  His great-grandfather's name is Eulis Grant Walker.  I hope and pray that they will get to meet in person when we travel back to the states in September.  We love you great-grandpa Walker!!!

Elijah - 1 month old

Our hopes of being parents came true on May 21, 2011.  Weighing in at 9lbs 1oz, our baby Elijah Walker Griesse was born at Helios Klinik in Mullheim, Germany.  Four years ago, when Jonathan and I married.  We knew that we wanted to have children.  After trying for a couple of years, we did get pregnant, but it ended in a devastating miscarriage.  The doctor in Arkansas, actually classified us as "non-fertile".  Jonathan and I knew that only God could make that decision.  Thankfully, God did know and showed us his way.

Our plans to become missionaries and move to Germany were still in full action.  We arrived here in August 2010 and shortly after our arrival, to our surprise, we were pregnant.  What a great experience it has been.  Our Black Forest Academy community has been outstanding.  The doctor's and midwives were wonderful.  Our friends and family in the states have sent numerous packages.  We are just overwhelmed with the generosity!

On June 6th, Eli's Pawpaw and Lala Walker came to visit.......AND Aunt Emmy.  He was showered with many kisses and hugs.  Jonathan and I barely got to hold him during their 10 day visit.  While they were here we visited Triberg, Heidelberg, Lorrach, Freiberg Germany along with Basel, Switzerland and Riquewiher, France.  So our little one month old is a world traveler already!!

Currently, Jonathan's doing summer work at Black Forest Academy.  Next school year he will be the BFA Videographer and I will work part time in the Personnel Office.  We love working here and being a part of the Missionary Kids lives.