Another Ordinary Day...sort of

The Ordinary:

 Collin playing Thomas the Tank Engine and Conductor

 Olivia playing Just Like Mommy

The Extraordinary:

 I think today's Facebook status says it all:

"I don't know whether or be grossed out or alarmed or both, but I definitely just extracted two 3-inch, intact pieces of spaghetti from Olivia's nose...from last night's dinner. Um, ew?"

Well, first of all, every parent should have a NoseFrida Snotsucker or equivalent in the house. There is no way I would have been able to pull out what I did with a bulb syringe. Second, I called the pediatrician just in case there might be a blockage issue that could lead to infection. He wasn't fazed and said not to worry, that I most likely got all the food out and things are fine. But what if I didn't? What if there's a stray piece of pasta still up there? Or some couscous or broccoli that she ate for dinner tonight? Come to think of it, she did sound extra wheezy at dinner, didn't she? The whole thing is just unsettling. And gross. Really gross. Like something you'd see in sci-fi.

Super Bowl and Sick O

The biggest day in football has arrived: Super Bowl XLVI - New England Patriots vs. New York Giants. For at least the fourth Super Bowl in a row, we have no plans for watching the game. Even if we did, we wouldn't be going because of the sick-O. Poor baby sounds like a octogenarian with a serious case of emphysema (see video below). Aside from two or three cases of runny nose, this is Olivia's first real illness since she entered our world 15 months ago. She's making all of Collin's usual TEF noises (seal bark, stridor, wheezing, etc.) without the TEF, so Mommy's unofficial diagnosis is croup. Yeah, it sucks. But I have to hand it to our Livi for taking it all in stride, sleeping even, and keeping a smile on her sick little face.

 Happy 15 Months, Olivia! Sorry you're sick. :( 2/4/12

 Playing dress-up...this was taken right before she puked on the costume. :(

 Boot and rally! All clean and ready for some puzzles.

 Cuddle time with brother before bed. Feel better tomorrow, Oliv!

In other news, we met the Spartan Center preschool teacher on Friday, which solidified my decision to send Collin to Broad Run for school in the fall. The classroom and playground area are super cute, the curriculum is a gateway directly into the LCPS kindergarten curriculum, the little guys get one-on-one attention the entire time (because of all the student teachers), they go to the library regularly and have at least one field trip, and there is a bathroom in the classroom just for the kids rather than using the public ones in the main part of the school. What really did it for me, aside from having Nurse Wells available just   in case there's a medical emergency, is the fact that the teacher's own middle child is allergic to dairy, egg, peanuts, and tree nuts (just like Collin), so she is very familiar with reading labels and treating allergic reactions. She even chooses snacks for all the children that are allergy-free so I don't have to worry about it. Most other preschools in the area, if not all, take a 'you're-on-your-own-then' policy if the kid has allergies. I like that Collin wouldn't be singled out because his mom had to pack a different snack. :) 

[Totally unrelated to our preschool visit but speaking of snack, at least Collin doesn't let his leftovers don't go to waste...haha]

All this and the price is $350 for the YEAR!!! I can't even get two months of Mom's Morning Out for that! The cost is just for supplies, field trips, and snacks. I'm not paying anyone's salary since that is covered by the county. Thank God because we just don't have the money to send two kids to preschool at the same time for two years (gotta love that November birthday!). The schedule is on an alternating basis (M/W one week and T/Th the next), which will actually work well since I'll have "me" time (what's that?!?) while both kids are in school one week and then one-on-one time with each child the following week (O's school is T/Th every week). I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Collin gets in  at registration time! She said to be there by 8:30 sharp with papers and money in hand on April 27. I'm not the best at being on time for things, but for this, I will make sure I am early. I suppose if it doesn't work out, there are always programs at the local community centers. 

 Sampson is still lethargic, thirsty, hungry, and peeing a lot, despite the new insulin regimen we have been doing for a month. I tried to take him to the vet on Friday for a blood test, and it was a no-go...again. They said they would try a home visit, something they don't usually do, but it's just not going to happen at the office. He's too feisty, even for a trained professional. Ugh. 


Happy Super Bowl! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PATS!!

70 and February?? I'll take it!

If the weather this month is going to be like it was today, then BRING. IT. ON! I even changed my blog background because Winter Wonderland is nowhere in sight. To take full advantage of Mother Nature's generous gift, we hit up two playgrounds. But before we took on the slides, swings, and jungle gyms, the kids spent some quality time at home together eating their breakfast and being best friends. :)

 High five!!!!

 I think she was sneezing in this one...

Then we hit up Dinosaur Park (some of the equipment is dino-themed) to soak in the sun and fresh, warm air. Collin and I were comfortable wearing t-shirts! Again, it's February, folks. Two years ago we had one hell of a snow dump (40+ inches in two storms back-to-back), and now it's practically summer. Love it!

 This is my girl, navigating the course on two legs rather than all fours. She walked the whole time! (Notice big brother on the see-saw in the background. *smile*)

 Collin actually requested that his sister ride with him on the back of this dino. Aw, he loves her!

 How many kids can fit in a pseudo firetruck?? Apparently seven with room to spare. Collin is the driver with Oliv about to hop off the rear. Maybe there's a fire to put out??

 All that playing tuckered the kiddos out...well sort of. You'd think they'd take a nap that lasted "through a day and in and out of weeks and over a year" (to quote from Where the Wild Things Are), but the sleep time was kinda disappointing for this tired mom: just shy of two hours from Olivia (instead of her usual 2.5+) and about 45 minutes from Collin (wish I could say his usual is much longer, but it's not these days..ah, the joy of having a 3-year-old). Just as well because each kid had a friend over at 4:30, which meant Mommy got two friends all to herself, for more play time outside. Julie, Kim, and I took Liam, Emma, Collin, and Olivia on a little walk to the purple playground until the sun's bedtime. Olivia even walked some of the way herself.

All in all, it was a fabulous way to kick off February! Family, Friends, and Fun! And Warmth. :)

Olivia as Art

This last day of January...

...I'm going through pictures from this past weekend when I took the kids to Aunt Karin and Uncle Doug's house to meet up with Sarah and Mike to celebrate Auntie's 26th birthday. Everyone had fun playing ball outside, watching fish in the man cave, eating Aunt K's delicious shrimp veggie stir-fry and birthday cake, and taking in a few family movies (Finding Nemo, Wall-E, and Toy Story 3). If only everyone lived a *little* closer, but I'll take it!

I am reminded of EA/TEF Awareness Month coming to a close as Collin barks his classic, croupy TEF cough because he has a little bit of a cold, which always manifests into a much bigger deal due to his anatomy. Whatever it is, Daddy is feeling the effects more (poor guy is on a diet of TheraFlu and soup). Besides complaining of a sore throat, rocking the raspy voice, and looking a bit tired, Collin seems to be doing fine. The nebulizer is ready to go, though! Olivia and I have escaped for the time being, as usual.

...,speaking of EA/TEF, Collin's NICU buddy is currently in MN recovering from surgery yesterday. I'm not sure what he had done exactly, but he has endured many complications from this condition that needed repair. His mom posted a sweet picture of him holding her hand tightly while he sleeps. I'm praying that he recovers quickly with little pain!

...I can't stop thinking about my friend from college. Her mother, in her early 50s, just went through surgery for breast cancer recently. She is doing well from what I've read on FB, despite all that comes with battling such a relentless disease....but also from what I've read, my 31-year-old friend (and mom of two little ones) just got some news that was not totally unexpected but devastating just the same. I don't know the details, but her mom said something about hoping all this would end with her and not be passed down. I can only surmise that my friend will be going through some difficult times herself because of that ugly C word. BUT, like her mom, she is such a strong woman and has an incredible support system. God, cancer really doesn't discriminate, does it? Doesn't matter if you are young, healthy, do everything right, etc. You just never know. Anyway, a phone call is in order because relying on social media for something like this is unacceptable. 

...Olivia is walking 75% of the time and getting pretty good. Sarah made the observation that she doesn't even put her arms up in the air for balance like most babies do in the early walking stages. Never has. She is rather circumspect about the whole thing and surveys the scene closely before taking off. Olivia is also quite the talker. She is constantly babbling with confidence. All the inflections, facial expressions, and gestures are there; she just needs to work on pronunciation and enunciation. :)  

Olivia's Lexicon as of 1/31/12 (14.75 months):

WORDS	ONOMATOPOEIA	INTERJECTIONS
Daddy	Mmm (for food)	(arms up for hooray!)
Mommy	Moo “boo” (cow)	Wee!
Brother “Dada” or “Bubba”	Ruff “ra-ra” (dog)
Ball “boh”	Hoo hoo (owl)
Balloon “ba-boo”	Oo oo oo (monkey)
Baby	Broom (car)
Hi	Tick tock “dee-da” (clock)
Broccoli “boppy!”	Mmm-ah (kiss)
Peas “bees”	Ho-ho-ho! (Santa)
Diaper “dye-dye”	vibrates lips for elephant
More “mo”	clicks tongue for horse
(tired bye-bye sign for sleep)	Ah-poo (snore)
I did it “I dee!”	Ba ba (sheep)
Potty “poppy”	Mah (cat’s meow)
Home “hum”	Ding dong “nee-naw” (bell)
Bye
Elmo “Mo-mo”
Pee-pee “bee-bee”
Eye
(circles index finger for fan)
Goodnight “ga-nigh”
T.V. “tee-dee”
Olivia “ya-ya”
From Auntie Sarah: Sissy, you have to add "moon" to O's lexicon. The other night she pointed at the crescent and said "moo!"		This month started with 5-7 steps between Mommy and Daddy and pushing a stroller across the room; now Miss O is walking all over the house, baby in tow. :)

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years

Below are sentiments that I recently posted in one of the EA/TEF forums after I had quite an emotional drive in the car because of one song, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. I was instantly transported back to my state of mind from mid-November to early-December 2008 when I spent my initial postpartum period visiting my baby in the hospital instead of cuddling with him at home. I felt like I was dying every day, my core so empty, literally and figuratively. But then I saw how unafraid and strong Collin was, even at just days old, and it gave me the strength I needed to get through such a difficult time. Isn't it funny how hearing a song can bring up memories and emotions that you haven't felt in years?

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"I heard this song the other day on the radio and pretty much bawled my eyes out. Even though Collin is now a thriving, healthy 3-year-old, this song took me back to the NICU days when I was a fragile new mom waiting for my brave baby boy, whom I already loved so deeply, to get well enough to come home, each day being 'one step closer.' I still marvel at the strength of his little body to endure so much.

So to all you parents new to the TEF world, when you are feeling afraid, just take a look at your little miracle and gather courage from him/her. Your baby can feel your immense love and faith and will fight to be with you. Stay strong, and remember you have a family of hundreds right here to help you as well. Despite the hardships of this EA/TEF journey, I would do it all over again to have my Collin exactly the way he is. And it DOES get easier!"

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIdjEzZGdVI

Olivia added T.V. "tee-dee" and goodnight "ga-nigh" to her lexicon and did her thing in the pot again before nap - yay! - while Collin was busy spelling words (too, go, no, path) in the car on the way to school this morning and then learning about our solar system (his favorite planets are Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and he is very intrigued by constellations) during lunch this afternoon. That is all. :)