Elsie Rothacker

Early December, Moriah went in for a check-up and her midwife noticed Elsie was tiny. Smaller than just "Sweet! No stretch marks." kind of tiny. 

This coupled with several other yellow flags that were discovered with additional ultrasounds and tests, caused the doctors to refer Moriah (and Elsie) to specialist at Rockford Memorial Hospital. These Specialists determined a scheduled c-section, three weeks prior to Moriah's due date, would be the best course of action, because it ensured she was born at a hospital with a level 3 NICU and all the necessary specialists were present.

Elsie Jean Rothacker was born December 22, 5 pounds, 3.5 ounces, 17 inches long. Right away she amazed the doctors with how healthy and whole she was. Some of the scariest potential scenarios doctors had prepared Moriah and Greg for, were ruled out immediately, with even more ruled out as further testing and scans were done over the next couple days.

After all the initial scans and tests, doctors found just one major difference in Elsie-a suspected tethered spinal cord. This is something that will require surgery to correct down the road, but Elsie miraculously didn't have any of the typical symptoms. Her feet are ticklish, indicating she has full feeling all the way to the tips of her toes. She had full range of motion in her legs, and she's filling diapers like a champ, which means all her internal systems seem to be in working order. 

The last order of business before she could be released from the NICU was to transition her from a feeding tube to being bottle fed. There are some days she does really well with that, and other days she doesn't seem to have an appetite or the energy necessary eat on her own without the tube. (You'll find more updates below.)

Elsie has continued to confound doctors by having some markers that somethings not right, but none of the scariest or biggest complications. We know there's an army praying for her and that God is already at work in her tiny body and through her life. 

This page is meant to be a home base for her prayer warriors, friends, and family who are looking for updates so they can pray and find tangible ways to bless and support Moriah and Greg. Stay tuned for the latest updates and of course sweet pictures of our baby girl.