Annual Cardiology Visit

Justin went for his cardiology appointment this month.   He hasn't been having any problems so I didn't have any concerns.  I had to take Alaina with me so that was the only thing that made it interesting.  The cardiologist was the last of Justin's doctors to meet Alaina so I was hoping it would go well.  We went to the same satellite facility as last year after I learned how easy it was to get it and out and while it was a little busier than last year, it still wasn't bad.  MUCH better than the main campus!

Justin is an old pro at getting his vitals signs taken.  Weight, height, and blood pressure don't phase him.  But this time they had to do an EKG and he did NOT like all the stickers on his chest.  So the nurse brought him a present.  She gave him a matchbox car which he thought was very cool, so he suffered silently while they finished the test.  But forget about taking the stickers off.  No way, no how.  I just waited for bathtime and used baby oil and that dislodged the remaining offenders.

The it was on to echo.  He knew he was getting to watch a movie because I let him pick out one to bring to the appointment.  That really helped.  He did fine and even Alaina did okay watching the movie.  At least because it was a smaller facility I could step out into the hall and not bother anyone else or be too far from Justin.  Very good arrangement.  I think the echo has to be the longest test Justin has to do regularly.  Even I get impatient for it to be over!  Maybe if I got to pick my movie...

Then we had to wait for the cardiologist.  Alaina was so good.  She crawled up and down the hallway and smiled at all the nurses.  She made lots of friends!  And Justin enjoyed his matchbox car.  It races really well down hospital hallways!

In the end, Justin's heart looks the same as last year.  No real changes.  Still high mild/low moderate regurgitation.  No need for meds or surgery.  We go back in another year for another echo and ekg.  All good!

Seattle

I know, I know, bad blogger.  I have no excuses.  Please forgive me.  My goal is one blog a night to catch up.  It's going to take a while because there is a lot to report.  Thanks for your patience!

 

We did a lot of hanging out in Seattle.  I am not sure if I said before, but we went to Seattle to celebrate my sister's baby shower so that was our only big event.  The rest was just rest and play.  Mireille and her family had not met Alaina so everyone did some bonding.  And Alaina was used as a tester to see how Thatcher would do with a baby in preparation for his own little sister's arrival.  He did GREAT!  And he had lots of fun with the cousins.

 

They did some running.  Okay, LOTS of  running.  Their favorite was deck racing but they also used the tennis count in the back.  I love Thatcher's big time arm pumping going on here! 

 

Mireille is pushing Justin in a swing and holding Alaina.  Alaina did very well with her Auntie and my arm got a little break.  Aren't they cute!?

 

There is a nice little secret path through the little woods and we went on lots of missions exploring the area.  Very serious work!

Alaina showed off her new skill of stair climbing.  Scaled them right to the top.  Very proud of herself!

And what trip would be complete without a cousin picture? 

Or some famous Olympic Mountain ice cream?  Our evening ritual included Mr. Jim setting out the flavor array and being our server.  So good! 

Travis and Justin both agree, Olympic Mountain is pretty darm tasty.  Especially when Travis got his favorite flavor, Chocolate Oreo in a gallon and a half to take home with us!

And Justin liked getting not one, but two flavors!

We did take one little trip to the zoo where Travis tried to stalk a peacock and get a feather.  Fortunately for the peacock, he came home empty-handed.

The kids area was loads of fun.  Here's our three little chickadees.  Alaina rode strapped to my chest so no pictures of her.  It was pretty funny seeing all the other kids in their shorts and short sleeves and we were in our jackets.  Very thin blood down in Texas!

The playground was a lot of fun and this bucket spinning seat was a blast.  Just a little push and Travis spun long enough to beg to get off, stumble around, fall down, and ask to go again.  That's what Justin is doing, recovering for another go around!

And this is just one of those "Awww!" pictures:  Justin hugging Thatcher as they check out the tigers.

So the most notable part of the trip was the night.  We stayed with Mireille's in-laws and they have an amazing house.  Our room was huge so we all slept together.  This was the first trip with Justin's CPAP machine and I wasn't sure if I should take it or not.  I ended up taking it and I am glad I did.  My mom stayed with us and she has a Bipap machine so the low hum of them both made for some excellent white noise to aid in sleep.  And boy, did we need whatever help we could get!  Here were the sleeping arrangments:  My mom had the sofa bed, each boy had an air mattress, Alaina had a pack and play, and I alternated sleeping with the boys.  My sister, whose son is an early riser, foolishly bet me that Thatcher would wake up before my kids.  Silly girl!   Alaina had Thatcher beat by almost 2 hours!  And Justin and Travis came in not far behind.  So how early would that be?  Alaina: 3:45 am  Justin: 4 am  Travis: 4:20 am.  Oh yeah, was I exhausted!

So the second night I tried another option.  Alaina needed a little more separation for the rest of us so she moved into her own secret little room.  See where the jackets are hanging?

Voila!   Perfect solution.  Alaina slept SO much better and by the last night I got to sleep until almost 6 am.  Did I mention how much better we all slept?

We had so much fun relaxing and visiting with family.  It's terribly sad that they have to live so far away, but the little visits make it a little easier.  We are hoping for a more extended visit this Christmas with the rest of the family too.  And then there will be 2 more baby girls to enjoy!

11 Months

My little girl is almost a year old!  And she is developing a personality for sure.  I took her 11-month birthday crown picture but I like this smile better so this is the one you get.  This is her "cheese face".  I think she learned it from her brother.  Whenever I get the camera out, she makes this face!

 

 

I found Alaina and Travis playing with legos and when I went to take the picture,

 

she turned around and gave me this grin!

She likes to be the center of everything, much to Justin's frustration.  "No Lana!" is his favorite phrase for her.  She just flashes him the grin.

Other fun developments:

• She is standing unsupported but she won't take a step.  She can cruise everywhere she can hold on to something, even little boys legs or heads.  Whatever is closest.  Poor Justin!
• She can say "mama" and "dada" and her new favorite "uh-oh!"
• She can go up stairs very quickly.  And she thinks it's funny if you go up after her and try to catch her.  It makes her go even faster.  She hasn't mastered down just yet...
• Alaina's favorite way to sit is just like her brother's (check out the picture of the two of them playing with legos).  She is a master "w-sitter".  I try to move her leg around front and she just keeps in moving back around to the back.  You see how successful I have been at discouraging Travis from the position.
• She is eating all kinds of yummy table food.  She likes the soups and casseroles I have mashed and pureed for her.  Apparently not oatmeal though.  She spit it all out.  I guess she is waiting for me to add brown sugar.
• She slept through the night last night, although this is the exception rather than the rule.  Justin still wakes up so it's not like one or two more wakings really make a big difference.  That's what I keep telling myself anyway...
• The boys both love her to pieces.  Justin loves telling her she is "so big" and working on getting her arms up high.  He is such a good teacher!  And Travis can make her smile and kick her legs all around with glee.  She adores them both right back.
• She is exploring the lower portion of her vocal range which has caused quite a few very un-ladylike noises to erupt from the back in her throat.  One might even call them growls.  She thinks it's funny and laughs.
• She likes playing peek-a-boo with her bib while she's eating.  It was cute the first couple of time, but when her bib gets filled with bits of food that subsequently get dumped on her head, not so cute.  She pretty much needs a bath after every meal.  I found food plastered to her scalp this afternoon.  Kind of gross.
• She has seven teeth and lots of hair (one might even call it long).  She won't let me put anything in her hair to keep it back, but she spends all day pushing it out of her face.  With her food-covered hands especially.  See what I mean about the bath?
• She is very attached to her lovey we affectionately call Bear.  (Because it kind of looks like, well, a bear.  We're very creative at our house.)  It goes with Justin's Bee.  She is a thumb-sucker too.  We're already saving for orthodontic care.
• She is still in her mommy phase.  Desperately, passionately, completely, over-the-top a mommy's girl.  We're coming up on 5 months of only mommy soothing and comforting.  I am going back to work next month.  We could use a few prayers on this one.

I think that's all that's new around here.  Our last big first birthday is coming up quickly!  I had better start planning that soon...

Sweet Rest

When Justin was about two years old he started waking up from his nap before he was truly finished sleeping.  I would sit with him in our recliner and rock.  For a while I got frustrated that I was having to sit and hold him, and why couldn't he just sleep by himself, and I had lots of other things I needed to be doing.  But then I realized that this was the perfect chance for ME to get some much needed rest too.  And I learned that if I pretended to be asleep, Justin would lay his head on my shoulder.  He would pop up a few times and look at me and if I was still "asleep", he would sleep too!  That way he would finish up his nap while I sometimes even got a little nap myself.

And oh, what wonderful sleep!  Justin is such a cuddly, snugly sleeper!  I love sleeping with him.  His sweet little gurgling sounds and thumb-sucking smacks melt my heart.  When I do red-eye trips I look forward to getting to nap with him from start to finish.  He thinks it's a special treat for him, but really it's the other way around.  He cuddles right up to me and gets his head stuck right in the crook of my neck and I think there is no way I could possibly get comfortable enough to fall asleep, and then I get lulled into blissful peace by the rise and fall of whatever body part is within my line of sight and his body heat relaxes me.  I can fall asleep in no time flat!

And the best part?  It still works!  He sometimes wakes up before he's done sleeping and if by some miracle Alaina is asleep too, I can get him back to sleep with some rocking and pretend sleep.  Only now, it's not pretending at all!  I settle down for my own two winks and hope that he gets back to sleep before Alaina stirs.  I love it when the stars align and I get some sweet rest in the middle of the day.  A few Justin cuddles give me the burst of energy to make it through the rest of the day.  Yesterday, I even made it through an half-hour walk pushing two kids in the double stroller while Travis rode his bike.  Sweet rest rocks!

One Mom, Three Kids, and an Airplane

Let me begin with a confession.  I am going to come right out and confess that I took Alaina on her first airplane trip and I have not one picture to prove it.  I didn't even save her boarding pass from the outbound leg, only the return!  I know, I am a terrible mom and that's part of why I have taken so long to write this.  I was embarrassed that I failed to memorialize such an important event in my child's life.

 

Okay.

 

I feel better now that I got that off my chest.

 

Now, from the beginning...

 

 

I started planning how I would travel with three kids while I was still pregnant with Alaina.  I considered the supplies I would need and how I would transport them all.  It was rather daunting I have to say.  Fortunately, my mother was also planning and she was prepared to delay my first solo trip by offering to accompany me.  That was a relief.  We talked over the phone about how this all would work, considering she would be starting her journey in another state and then coming to join me before traveling to a completely different state.  Specifically, Washington.  Our plan was her traveling from Wisconsin, through Chicago to Houston, meeting me and then all of us going to Seattle.  Unfortunately, the most difficult part about the way we travel (stand by) is the changing nature of flight availability.  And of course, things changed and we quickly moved on to plan B: Me traveling alone on a four hour flight with three children.

 

I honestly wasn't worried.  Not about the children anyway.  I was more concerned with my stamina.  Picture this (since I don't have a real picture):  I carried Alaina in the front pack; I had a backpack on my back weighing easily more than Alaina; and I pushed Justin's car seat on a handtruck with Alaina's infant carrier hanging off the back and Justin's CPAP slung off the side.  I think I carried more weight than a Marine going into combat!  It was crazy but we made it.  (I also checked Travis' car seat and one very large suitcase with all the clothes for 4 of us for 4 days.)  We got our seat assignments and the agent was quite taken aback with my declaration that I was the lone adult for the three kids.  It's difficult to find seats together at the very end of boarding.  I felt for her; she did great!  We started down the jetway and Justin started getting nervous.  I debated long and hard about whether to put Justin in a diaper for the trip.  I decided to go with underwear and I brought one spare outfit.  Only one.  He started crying going onto the airplane and when he cries and gets upset, he pees.  I implored him to hold it and when we got to our seats I dropped our stuff and raced for the bathrooms.  We made it!  Then it was back to our seats for take off.  Justin cried the whole time so I couldn't even get Alaina's car seat strapped in.  (I always get my babies seats because the extra space helps so much and then I don't have to hold them when they fall asleep.)  Justin and I did a lot of talking about how God was with us even on the airplane and how much fun we were going to have with his cousin and he finally calmed down.  Then I could get Alaina's car seat set up so she could take a nap.  Whew, good timing!

 

I had planned to let the boys watch Direct TV on the airplane, but our change of plans also brought a change of airplane, and no Direct TV.  Since I cannot guarantee we will sit together, one DVD player/computer is not enough.  And I simply could not carry 2 entertainment devices.  The ipad is my weight limit.  I downloaded movies and they switched off watching them.  That worked really well.  Why does my family have to live at the limits of our country's boarders from where we live?  Four and a half hours is a long time to fill!  But we were trucking right along:  Alaina slept, we ate some lunch, we watched movies, and then Justin said he had to go to the bathroom.  I looked down to pick him up to take him and I noticed the lake in between his legs.  Fortunately we were sitting on leather seats so it didn't soak through and the flight attendants were SO nice about the clean up, but there went my back up outfit.  And we still had an hour to go.  Fortunately we were incident-free the last hour and we landed in Seattle dry and happy.

 

Then we had to get our luggage.  With all I was carrying I then had to add the suitcase and another car seat.  I did a little switcheroo and put Alaina's car seat on the suitcase and the CPAP on top of Justin's car seat and I pulled them both through the terminal.  Some sweet women offered to help and they took Alaina's car seat off the suitcase and the CPAP off the car seat and left me to pull the rest.  Not much help, but the thought was there!  By the time I got outside I realized that I had forgotten Travis' car seat and the fact that everyone needed to potty before the hour and a half trip back to where we were staying.  So we trekked back inside and I got to the bathroom and stared at the door wondering how I was going to get through it with all my stuff when a wonderful woman offered to watch our luggage while I went inside with the kids.  She was my hero!  I breathed a huge sigh and we did our business before heading back out to the curb for our ride.  Taking Alaina out of the front pack was the biggest relief.  I was so sweaty!  It wasn't even all that warm but I was ready for a icy bath after all my hauling.  I could have settled in for a long nap on the way home but alas, it was not meant to be.

 

All in all, it was an awesome first trip with all three by myself.  I know lots of people were praying, including my mom who felt bad she couldn't be with us.  She ended up flying in a few minutes after we arrived so we could all go home together.  I had everything I needed and the kids behaved so well.  I really want to brag on how great they did.  Travis was such a big help and he didn't complain a bit about having to sit across the row and back from us.  Once Justin settled down he was a doll.  And Alaina didn't cry one bit.  She took her nap and woke up happy.  She ate and played and giggled.  (And it turns out she even cut another tooth that day!)  The person who sat directly across from us was watching us the whole time and she even talked with Justin a little bit and helped pick up things he dropped.  When we were deplaning she even stopped to say, "You are a really great mom."  I thought I was going to cry!  God really was with us on that plane and he was helping me say the right words to calm Justin.  Flying with any number of kids is work, no doubt, but those words were straight from God.  Words every mom needs to hear every day, but I especially did that day.  We made it through the first trip, and I think we might even do it again.  :)

Bammel Night Live

Our church does a variety show/fundraiser for the youth group's summer mission trips.  This year, Travis was in the show.  He spent the weeks before the show practicing and serenading us.  I love that he is learning Bible verses through music.  Travis did a great job but the microphone prohibited good picture-taking.  Travis really liked being in the show so I hope he can do it next year too.

 

 

Justin will never be in the show.  It is way too loud for him.  He got scared and Randy had to leave with him so they didn't even get to see Travis sing.  When Justin gets scared, he goes to the bathroom.  At least Randy managed to get him outside so he only messed up the parking lot.  I had to go find them to get Justin some clothes to wear home.  Now that Justin is on his fourth car seat I know that after safety, ease of removing the cover to wash is out number one priority.  I certainly love our car seat!

10 Months

Alaina keeps growing up.  She is already ten months old!

 

Her hair has suddenly started growing really fast and she has quite the little swoop of hair across the front.  She is wearing 6-9 month clothes and mostly size 2 shoes.  When she wears shoes!  She is about 17 pounds.  She is small like Justin!  (Given all the doctors and weigh-ins she had to endure for her surgery, I have no idea what she weighs anymore!  The hospital uses kgs and I have no ability to convert instantaneously to lbs.)  She eats most everything I make.  She even likes green vegetables, unlike her brothers!  She is starting to make sounds that a mother can make out to be the beginnings of "mama".  I have been doing a lot of coaching.  She is my last chance for "mama" to be her first word!  She is pulling up and cruising but she won't let go and try to take a step. 

Her greatest skill is clearing everything off any horizontal surface she can reach.  She loves the table with books at Justin's therapy.  It's just her height.  She reaches out and with one swipe she clears half the table.  A moment to reposition and she takes the other half.  The other kids at therapy see all the books on the floor and they are quick to pick them up and put them back on the table.  Ready for another pass!

Alaina's other great skill is vacuuming.  She can pick every tiny little speck off the floor, making it spotless.  I know kids are supposed to eat their pound of dirt without any terribly ill effects.  I think she is well on her way.  When Travis was little he went through a book-eating phase and I had to take away all his board books.  Alaina is definitely his sister.  She ate the paper off these spice bottles and whatever else she can find.

Like library books. She got about 2 or 3 before we caught her. Then she went after Justin's Veggie Tales books. He wasn't pleased. She had this whole part of the page wadded up in her mouth.  She has a big mouth!  We definitely have to keep an eye on her.  She is pretty sneaky!