Birthday Baby!

My bitty baby is ONE! How did that happen?

Noshing on her birthday dinner of mac n cheese w/ broccoli and chicken.

Maybe she doesn't like our singing?

Well, she liked the cake anyway!

Games Hannah Plays!

Hannah has really been big on mimicking these days. She and Natalie were playing together the other day and I got this video. I'm so thankful for the easy access and use of technology these days so that I can document and share little every day fun like this.

School days!

We pretty much do school year round, but a beginning of the school year post seems like the thing to do. Natalie is starting "2nd grade." I don't really think grade levels serve much purpose in home school, but it does serve to clarify for others roughly the kinds of things she's doing in school. We're doing some things differently this year; more organization, more structure. I'm not a very organized or structured person, but it has come to my attention that perhaps the kids would benefit from more structure. Perhaps it will be beneficial for me as well.

I subbed for Mason's Sunday school teacher yesterday. Turned out to be a good week to be there. Mason read the scripture and they sang to Natalie for her birthday. It was fun to teach the little Sunbeams, and I was thankful for my 2.5 year stint in primary as it made it rather easy to step in and sub. Fortunately 4 year olds aren't a too tough a bunch to teach. Give them some Cheerios to munch and some crayons and paper and you're pretty much good to go.

Hannah turned 10 months old this past weekend, kind of sad and fun all at once. She's growing up TOO FAST!! She'll be a year old before I know it! I think I might like to freeze life right where it is right now. It's funny, when Natalie was this age I was thinking how big she was getting, but Hannah still seems so little. Funny how perspective changes.

Just stuff

Ok, so I'm stinking lousy at this blogging thing. I feel rather a lack of motivation since I don't know what I've done with the cable that connects my camera to the computer, and therefore, can't add any pictures. Pictures are worth how many words, again? However, there are many things going on in our little lives, and if this blog is to serve as some sort of record of those things it might be wise if I document them here.

Hannah is such a great little person. She's just so great! Does that sum it up? She's a wonderful, tiny, sunshiney, toothy, grinning girl. She's still a seriously clingy mommy's girl, but in all honesty, I kind of enjoy being the favorite. Soon enough she'll outgrow the clinginess and and mommy won't be the greatest person in the world, so I'll enjoy it while I can. She can crawl like a champ. Her beautiful little face just lights up when Andy gets home from work and she crawls as fast as her little legs will take her, and that's pretty fast these days.

Mason, while still his typically challenging self, is growing too fast. He says the most completely random, witty things. He told me semi-recently that the batteries in his hands were dead. And once as Natalie and I were doing homework he asked what we were doing. I told him we were "wrinkling Natalie's brain." He replied, "We could wrinkle my brain, but it's off." Crazy boy! He's four, but seems rather older lately. I don't know if that's part of growing into his role as the older brother or what. He's still....well, himself....for lack of a better description, but somehow older. I think we're going to try a first grade curriculum with him this year, I think he can do it.

Natalie is excited to start a new year of school. She's made a lot of progress in her reading ability lately, which I'm very excited about (and I hope she is too). She seems to be more inclined toward math, which I'm DEFINITELY excited and a bit relieved about. She played softball this summer and had a good time. She seems to have picked it up pretty quickly, based on my limited understanding of softball. I always feel a little conflicted about organized sports. Uber sporto parents who push kids and start training them in whatever their personal fav sport from the moment the child emerges from the womb make me crazy. The jockeying for position, and favoritism of the coaches takes away some of the fun, as far as I'm concerned. Regardless, Natalie went and had a good time and didn't seem to be at all aware of the stupid b.s. She took a little break from piano lessons this summer due to scheduling issues between us and the piano teacher, but we'll be back at it in August. She really seems to enjoy piano, and is definitely picking that up well.

For vacation this year we went to Mema and Papa's house, stayed a few days and then headed back on our little vacay adventure through the southwest. We camped the first night at Flagstaff and then Papa, Andy, Alex, Natalie and Mason went to check out the lava tube. Then we broke camp and headed up to the Grand Canyon (or Grand Candyon if you're Mason). It was STINKING HOT! The car said it was only 88, which doesn't seem too bad, but it felt a lot hotter. Heat aside, it was great. It's really quite an impressive hole in the ground. We got the kids some super fun park ranger hat's. It's so stinking cute. After we were done there we headed out on the road and traveled along to Tuba City, where fortunately there were lodgings to be found. Interestingly, nary a tuba to be found in Tuba City. The next day we moved along to Monument Valley. Surprise, surprise...it was stinking hot too. We got there and discovered that the admission to the park is cash only, I don't know why that hadn't occurred to me, but it didn't. Fortunately Mema and Papa bailed us out on that. It was really quite amazing, so beautiful. It was a little hair raising initially. I sort of wonder whether our little Toyota minivan would make it through. The road isn't so much maintained. But I was encouraged when I saw similar vehicles coming out of the park, and as it turned out the van did great. I think I speak for everyone when I say we had a great time. We then thought we'd go to four corners, however, it closes at 8 p.m and we got there at 7:58....7:58!!!! The little gate guard man wouldn't let us in! How long could it possibly take to go in, snap a few pics...seems like we could have done that with minimal time. However, gate boy did advise us that while he wouldn't let us in we were welcome to trespass after he left, which we declined to do, thank you very much. So four corners, not quite checked off the list. So on our caravan went...and on...and on...and on. I had foolishly thought we'd be able to drive along in Colorado, and just find a hotel with a room when we got tired. WRONG! Somehow it hadn't occurred to me, AT ALL, that we were traveling on a holiday weekend. *note the drool at the corner of my mouth* So we stopped at every hotel along whatever that miserable bit of highway that goes east-west through southern CO and that wasn't a single room. Even in the places that looked like there ought to be horror films being shot in them were full(and bizarrely, there seem to be a lot of those type places in southern Colorado)So anyway, we finally crashed and burned somewhere in CO at a gas station for a couple hours and then kept chugging along. We got home that day, thankfully, because after the night in the car I think everyone was glad to be someplace where one can lay down properly. We then spent a fun 4th of July holiday together blowing things up. What could be more American than gorging ourselves on grilled meat and, literally, burning our money!? Good times!

And now that I've written a small novel, I'll stop. Perhaps I'll find the cable for my camera and then I can add some pics.

Alex's b-day!

Everyone came up to the house yesterday for Alex's 30th. I find it hard to believe he's 30....that can't be right! That means I'm almost 30 too. I got him all joke presents. He's always getting ridiculous songs stuck in my head, so I based my presents off the songs. First is a Raffi song called "Bananaphone" COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS! I can't get it out of my head. Even typing it is going to have it in my head all day. So that was easy, took some thumb tacks wrote numbers on them, stuck them in the banana and voila, bananaphone. Second is Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual." At first I thought I do something like undies...pretty not unusual. I finally decided on a roll of TP, its very, very not unusual. And last but not least, the present based off of "Bird is the Word." A bird. I got him a little zebra finch, which I was surprised he actually liked, and wanted. I figured he'd want to leave the bird at my house, or let it go or give it to someone else. But he actually seemed to rather enjoy the bird. So I was extra glad my joke gift turned out to be something he liked anyway. Alex decided to name this tiny little bird Mr. Oppenheimer. Too funny! I also made him a cake, also based on another Alex-ism. At church activities he usually brings a package of Oreos and says they are his own recipe or some such thing. I was at Target a couple weeks ago looking at pans and saw one shaped like an oreo cooking. So I made him an oreo cake with cream cheese icing with crushed oreos sandwiched between the two cookie shaped cakes. What could be more Alex than a giant Oreo?

Spring things!

We had such a busy weekend with all the Easter goings on. There was an Easter egg hunt in town in Valley on Saturday. Then we did our own hunt at home Saturday evening, cause the forecast said that the weather Sunday was supposed to be about 55 and raining. It didn't turn out to be raining or as cool as 55....Sunday we went to Andy's grandparents house AND we went to Leavenworth to spend some time with my side of the family. It was a very exhausting weekend. I think next year I may do all the secular Easter things on Saturday and do the REAL Easter related things on Sunday. Somehow I just think the secular Easter celebrations get out of hand and overshadow the real things we should be remembering and celebrating.

Last week I did a lot of teaching the kids about the Atonement. We talked each day about the things He did in the week leading up the resurrection. We read scriptures, watched scripture dvd's, used the friend magazine, drew pictures and I still feel like I didn't get much across....I often feel like I'm just not getting the info into their little brains the way I'd like. I think, all-in-all, they did learn and retain something about why we celebrate Easter. Line upon line, eh?

In news not related to Easter, Hannah is six months old as of last Wednesday! Hard to believe she's that old already!! She's working on growing both her bottom middle teeth, she's started rocking on all fours in preparation for crawling. She's, overall, a more agreeable baby....cries less, laughs more. She likes jumping in the jumper as long as I'm sitting right next to her. She really likes people. Although I've noticed she also seems to like a little alone time. She doesn't cry when I put her down for a nap or when she wakes up from her nap. She just kind of hangs out playing by herself until I come get her.

Doughnut Anyone?

Awhile back I saw a show about places to get the best doughnuts in the country. One of the place on the list was a place in KC called Lamar's. So I filed it away as something to do next time we were in the area. Last Friday we went to KC for Hannah's appointment with the urologist, perfect opportunity for a doughnut since the Dr's office and the doughnut store were in the same area. We get done at the office and head on over to Lamar's...turns out they close at 2:00 and it was 2:10. So we're loading back into the van when a lady comes out and tells us to go ahead and come in. I'm thinking, "very nice." Little did I know she proceeded to say that we could have whatever we wanted for free since. We ended up with way more doughnuts than any family of five (only four of whom eat doughnuts) should have. I think I counted 40 doughnuts. I sent a bunch down to the shop with Andy the next day and threw some in the freezer to save for later. Either way, it was a very fun surprise. We'll have to go back next time we're in KC and actually buy something!

Mason's 4th Birthday!

It's hard to believe Mason is four! He's such a great kid. He's a wonderful big brother, a fun little brother, a creative person, playful, fun, exuberant, and smart. It's so much fun watching him grow up. I just love this little guy!

I got the idea to make a meal of tiny food for his birthday dinner.

We had sliders, cocktail wienies, fingerling bananas and fingerling potatoes as "mini baked potatoes." It was so fun. For his cake I went with a dinosaur theme, cause he's BIG into dinosaurs. I was rather pleased with how the cake came out. I must be getting better, it was far less frustrating than previous cakes.

We had crummy weather all week leading up to his birthday but it was really nice on the actual day...warm and sunny! Overall it was just a really great day with my really great little man! Happy Birthday Mason!

In non-birthday related info; Hannah has finally figured out that she can sit and play, without someone holding her and NOT cry! Yay! She's been having a great time hanging out with Mason playing with his new trains. I'm so glad she's finding things she can enjoy that aren't sitting on my lap. Makes her little life more fun, and mine a little easier.

If I wipe the baby barf off....

Laundry...the bane of my existence. Who'd have thought that adding one child would increase the laundry load by 1000 percent? I used to be able to keep up with doing the laundry, but holy moly, there's too much laundry to keep up with. I find myself sorting through sort of dirty shirts thinking, "if I wipe the baby barf off does that count as clean?" I'm thinking not.

I find my clothes last on my list of things to wash. I think it relates to the fact that nothing fits quite right. I find myself lacking motivation to even wear clothes, unfortunately public nudity is frowned upon.

This line of thought makes me think of Mom, and other moms who have three kids in diapers at once, or some equally hectic timing of children. I wonder how they ever manage to keep kids in clean clothes. How do they do anything but change diapers and sleep? I feel like all I do is nurse, change poopy diapers (thanks antibiotics), wipe snotty noses and do laundry.

Thankfully, however, Hannah has recently decided that she doesn't have to eat at 3 a.m. And boy am I enjoying the sleep. She still wakes up and fusses around, but thanks to earplugs I just go back to sleep. Ahhhhhh sleep! Sleep makes everything better! : )

Spring?

I don't think spring is quite here yet, but we keep getting a taste of it here and there. Today the temperature was in the mid 60's, tomorrow it'll be snowy (or so they say). Either way we've been enjoying the nice days when they come. Mason will finally go outdoors since he isn't either too hot or too cold so he's been running around having a good time. He came in and told me today that he wants to be a dragon when he grows up. Not sure how to tell him that isn't really on the list of possibilities. He's sure a fun kid. Natalie, of course, practically lives out doors when the weather is nice. She asked me if she can sleep outside in her tent tonight. Boy wouldn't she be surprised to wake up to snow and sleet. I went for a walk during lunch, it was so nice outside. I'll be glad when the weather is consistently warmer.

Thoughts of spring remind me that Mason's birthday is coming up. Glad Easter is late this year, it was the same weekend as Mason's birthday last year. I have several ideas for birthday cakes for him. He asked me to make him something completely impossible the other day...I don't remember what it was, but whatever it was, it was way beyond my skill set. We'll see what he and I settle on. Hard to believe he'll be four in just a few weeks!

Collage

I made a collage using picasa and I really like the way it turned out. I used the pics we had taken back in October, right after Hannah was born. I think she was eight days old....I already don't remember exactly. Thank goodness for my iphone, yes, she was eight days old.

Everyone else

There are still people at our house who aren't Hannah, even if the blog hasn't reflected that recently.

Natalie is doing great at school. She's getting past the point where reading is a chore and seems to be enjoying it more. She's really enjoying the snow we've gotten recently. She LOVES snow! She's quite the little outdoors person. She doesn't seem to mind when its super hot or super cold....guess she got that trait from Daddy cause I sure am an indoor kinda gal! Natalie is also excited about Valentine's day. She's already got plans to make V-day cookies using the cookie cutters Mema and Papa gave her for Christmas. I never really know what to do for v-day cause they both want to get a box of v-day cards at the store, but since we don't have a whole class of kids to give them to then we just have 80 trillion cards floating about the house for the next month. Oh well, at least they're cheap! : )

Mason....well....he's Mason. Still working on the whole potty training thing, but now that I think of it he's only had a couple accidents since I've been back from the hospital which is a marked improvement. He's been interested lately in learning letter sounds, so we've been working on that. We were watching coverage of the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction the other day and he asked what the car that was on the tv just then was. It happened to be a 68 Camaro, which I told him. Then he walked around talking about 68 Camaro this and that for quite awhile. There's something funny about a 3 year old talking about classic cars. Also he's been taking apart the booster seat with his screw driver. I saw him doing it the other day, but I thought he was putting it back together....turns out his was taking it apart. So Andy put the arm back on the chair and then a few hours later it was back on the floor with the screwdriver sitting next to it. So Mason put it back together that time and now he's left it. He's a funny guy.

Andy semi recently acquired a new (to him) truck to tinker with since the frame on his brown truck is nearly rusted through. So he's been spending some spare time playing with that. I'm never quite sure what he's up to with that cause I don't speak car-ese, but I try to listen and pick up some info along the way.

And then there's me....what am I doing....it seems like I'm awfully busy but its with boring mom stuff like a zillion appointments and and household chores and paying bills...nothing too exciting. Lydia and I recently started a workout plan(ish) together. It's not much of a plan, but she and I are trying to work out on our own throughout the week and then together once a week with a weigh in. The thinking being that if we do it together maybe we'll each have more success.

So that's it in a nutshell.

Hospital stay

Boy did that turn out to be a way longer stay than we'd anticipated. Turns out that her U.T.I was caused by an antibiotic resistant bacteria called pseudomonas. They don't really know how she might have picked it up. It's kind of an uncommon cause of UTIs, not unheard of, but not very common. She (and I) had to stay at the hospital for the entire ten days of antibiotic treatment because there isn't an oral medication to treat it, only IV. When children her age get a UTI they check the renal system for problems. So they did a renal ultrasound and a voiding cystourethrogram, where they use contrast dye to look and see if there is urine backing up the ureters. They found that she has grade III vesicoureteral reflux on the left side, which means that she is, in fact, backing pee up into the ureters and the renal pelvis. Hopefully it'll be something she grows out of, but until then she is on prophylactic antibiotics.

We've been very thankful for friends who've made dinners both for me while I was staying at the hospital with Hannah and for Andy and the kids at home. It's also been a blessing that Andy has a job that easily allows him to be off for ten days to be with the kids without a lot of hoop jumping and paper work and taking sick days. And I've been extra thankful for mom's knowledge of all this peds nursing. It helped me keep on top of things at the hospital when I knew something wasn't quite right, but didn't know what was right.

In non hospital related news its snowing, and very lovely. We had to go to a doctor's appointment for Hannah today, and we had to head down just as the snow was starting to collect on the roads. We had quite a scare on the highway when a semi passed us on the left and then decided to come into our lane without regard for the fact that we were there. I'm glad to be home and not out there driving, and that I don't have any place to be the next several days. It's much easier to enjoy the snow when I don't have to drive in it. : )

Hannah....

So, we find ourselves in the hospital with Hannah again...she woke up Wednesday night/early Thursday morning to eat and she felt warm, so we checked her temp (always a less than pleasant experience in and of itself.) She had a temp of 101.8, so we called the Dr's answering service since they drill it into ones head to call for infants with a temp over like....100. So the health connections nurse said to bring her to the E.R, so we did, certainly not thinking we'd be admitted. Well, guess what! We were wrong. Turns out she has a urinary tract infection, which puzzles me exceedingly, and a respiratory infection (i.e cold). So, to be honest, I'm not sure why they didn't give her a prescription for oral antibiotics and have us follow up with her regular pediatrician but they didn't. So she's admitted at Stormont getting IV antibiotics and waiting for cultures to come back....again...familiar situation eh? Results should be back early, early a.m Saturday so hopefully they'll cut us loose this weekend. I wish I'd just given her the tylenol, managed the fever myself overnight and called the peds office in the a.m, but I didn't.....I did what they told me to do and now we're paying for it, quite literally. I can't imagine the the treatment plan would have been remotely the same if I'd just gone to the office.

Christmas and other merriment!

Well, we all made it through the holidays in one piece. After all the busyness and people around its kind of weird to be back to regular life. We had a great time with everyone and were glad Mema and Papa could come up and spend the holidays with us. We had a relaxing couple weeks of doing a whole lot of nothing, which was great! No appointments or schedule or worrying about school stuff, it was nice to have a couple weeks "off" and some extra hands to help with little people. : ) It snowed the day before Christmas, and it stuck on the ground just long enough to make a giant snow man. Mason even got out and helped roll the snow around, and he really doesn't like the cold. I think this was the biggest snowman I've ever participated in making. I think it was probably six feet tall.

K-dad installed our reverse osmosis filter in the kitchen so we now have clean water right out of the tap rather than having to filter it through a filter pitcher, which is a little tedious. Every time I turn it on I'm so thankful to not have to remember to filter water all the time.

Natalie started piano lessons today. She seems pretty excited and did a good job. Hopefully that excitement will translate into good practice habits.

Mason is doing his usual kid stuff. Not really much going on with him right now. Although it's hard to believe he'll be four in a couple months.

Hannah has realized in the last couple days that she can have her eyes open, and NOT cry. Thank goodness. It seemed like for the first couple months if her eyes were open she was crying most of the time, needless to say it was tiring. I'm very excited about the happy awake time.