Barney at the Zoo

Today we introduced Laurie to a classic must-see video of all young toddlers - Barney at the Zoo! Daniel picked it out for her - he still loves it! She loves the dancing Barney scenes. Now, don't get me wrong, when Laurie watches tv, that means she stands still for about 10 seconds then takes off to do something else. Other TV shows that catch her eye - Backyardagins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dora and a new one called Yo Gabba Gabba. And of course, she will watch her Baby Signing Time Videos and signs along with the songs.

She can even "sing" a few songs now. The Baby Signing Time Theme song, the Barney "I Love You" song, and one more that I can't think of at the moment.

Birdie has also started really babbling, like she is telling you something important. This week, she waved Bye Bye at me when I told her we were going Bye Bye. And now she also kisses and blows kisses at you.

Lastly, I must mention that the sweet little easy going baby is gone. She is still sweet, but she know what she wants and will let you know about it. Lots of personality! It is interesting because we will be out and you will see her scream and fuss when I stop her from doing something. I think I'm having flashbacks to about 4 1/2 years ago to a curly headed little girl we affectionately called Wumpy. Yep, I think this one has the same strong willed personality as her big sissy. That will bring it own positives and negatives. And lots of challenges.

Update - she has 8 teeth with barely any hair on top, but is growing quite the mullet in the back. Oh, and with NO curls. I am shocked.

The pictures in the pink shirt were at cousin Brenna's birthday party last weekend (to see more pictures, check out the All Things Kelly link above on right). Above is a picture of Laurie with her friend Kai, and the two others were taken at home trying on Ashley's old clothes.

First Day of School

We now have a Kindergartner!

After preparing for Kindergarten for several weeks, Ashley was extremely excited to go off to school this morning. We had no problems, no anxiety, only shear excitment.

While she didn't know anyone in her class - or at the school since we just moved, it didn't bother her. Or should I say, didn't faze her. Her teacher, Ms. T, has been a teacher at the school since it opened 10 years ago and has received teacher of the year several times. (The other parents told me.)

Brian and I with Daniel & Laurie all walked Ashley in the first day, she remembered where her classroom was and immediately went to play with the other kids. I don't think we were there 2 minutes, and didn't even get a good bye from her. The teacher was sweet and gave us a little bag with a poem and tea bag in it. Cute.

When Ashley found out last week that she could buy her lunch at school, she decided she was goign to do that ALL the time. Then I told her maybe we should check the lunch menu to see if there is something she likes. Whoops, the first day of school, they are serving PIZZA. When I told Ashley, she said "Ok, I will take my lunch the first day." The second day they are serving Chicken Nuggets, so she is planning on buying her lunch tomorrow. Of course, then we discover the kids have an id number they need to memorize to order lunch (you put money in their "account" by id number). So, its elementary school, you might think the number would be 4 digits? Nope, its 6 digits. Would you believe that she had that number memorized within 2 hours of orientation so she could buy her lunch (before we found out it was pizza). Actually, when we went into the cafeteria to put money in her account at orientation, she asked if she could buy lunch that day.

We live just shy of 2 miles from the Elementary school, which for me, is just too far to walk with 3 little kids and we haven't met anyone to carpool with yet. So we have to drive her to and from school everyday. (No bus service within 2 miles). The first day was absolutely crazy at drop off, or I should say, park and walk in. That was expected. To pick her up, I left about 10 min before school got out and didn't even make it a mile (not out of my neighborhood) before the line started. It took over 30 minutes of sitting in that line to get her. Hopefully that was first day chaos. The school has 1120 kids at it (built for 740), so they actually have 2 different carpool lines depending on where you live and a 3rd for "HOV" riders (cars with 3 or more students). I gotta met some people to get in that HOV lane. Of course, in 4 years, I'll have my own 3 in Elementary school together and we can get in the HOV line ourselves. For now, I will have to play with what time I leave the house to get in line.

When Ashley got home from school, she had lots to tell us, about her new friends, about the teacher, all the new rules. She can't wait to go back. We celebrated with fun cupcakes and dinner out - her choice. I was personally expecting to go to McDonald's, but she wanted Chinese food. Go figure.

It's going to be a good week for Ashley.

Uh-Oh

Yesterday, I left the baby downstairs to go referee a fight upstairs with the other two. While I was in the playroom, I kept thinking, I need to check on Birdie. After a few minutes, I went to the top of the stairs and there was the Bird. About two steps away from the top. She had managed to climb over our barrier and get all the way up the stairs very quickly. Our barrier on the stairs is a kid bed rail. While some of the other kids a little older than her are now able to climb over it, she had never even tried before. I really didn't think she could do it, or had the inclination to do it. Guess that theory is blown. I'm already looking on the internet for a new gate - I want a fabric mesh that retracts when not across the stairs. We just got really lucky she didn't take a tumble onto the tile below.

Now the trick is, to keep her from doing it again when I am not looking until I get the gate!

Update on Me

It's been 5 days since my "procedure" and how do I feel? Well, the throat swelling is gone, but my throat is still killing me. It feels like a bad sore throat when I swallow, so eating and drinking has gotten more difficult. Today was the first day since the day I had the procedure that I took pain meds. I haven't been sleeping well and Brian was home today, so I took one and slept the day away. When I woke up, I was more than a little jealous because he had all three kids out in the pool having a great time.

The question everyone is asking me is - has it helped at night yet? Brian would be quick to tell you that it has made everything worse for the time being. With my throat and soft palate such a mess, I'm not sleeping well, and when I do, I'm waking myself up with the noise. We have to wait until after the "wound" heals and then a few more weeks before we hear any results.

Oh, and if I could take a picture to show you, I would. My throat looks nasty. Directly above my uvuala, where it attaches, my palate has this great big white ulcear mess with some black stripes in it. Yuck. You don't want me to describe how it all tastes in my mouth. Really, you don't.

Even though it hurts more now than it did on Friday, there are a few up sides. I don't really sound funny anymore. People can understand me without asking if I'm sick or if something is wrong with me. And my throat feels mostly clear, not like before, where it felt like something was constantly sitting in the back of my throat.

Hopefully, only a few more days and I'll feel a little more normal.

1 Year Check up

Birdie went in for her 12 month check up today. She weighed in at 22 lbs 6 oz and was 30 inches long. No big surprise, but she has a green yucky nose again. The Doctor is sending us in for an EKG because she once again hears a heart murmer. (She heard one at Laurie's 9 mo appointment also). She believes it to be an innocent murmer but would like to get it check out to be sure. I haven't scheduled the EKG appointment yet, but should do it soon.

The Birdie had a great office visit, entertaining everyone in the waiting room. I'm not sure she is going to forgive Nurse Randi for the 4 vaccination shots she received at the end of the visit.

What we do for Love

This is a topic I don't discuss much, my snoring. After many many years of my nightime noises causing sleep problems between Brian and I, I had Injection Snoreplasty yesterday. It is a nonsurgical treatment for snoring that involves the injection of a hardening agent into the upper palate. It was an office procedure that basically involved the ENT rubbing a numbing gel on my uvula and palate, then using a really long needle, injecting a sclerosing solution into my palate at the base of my uvula in three places. The injection part hurt, but was tolerable. It was the burning afterward that just about did me in. The injection site just burned and immediately started swelling. It felt difficult to swallow and I really couldn't talk. Everything came out like I had marbles in the back of my throat.

I had little tears in my eyes when I got back in the car and noticed I had only been inside the Doctor's office for 19 minutes. After dropping off my prescription for pain meds (I decided not to be a martyr and just accept that I'm a baby), I headed to my mom's. She had Laurie and I didn't know where else to go. I just didn't want to go home by myself and get hopped up on narcotics.

The burning stopped after 2 hours or so, and by 8 hours my throat just felt sore when I swallow. I was able to eat dinner without any trouble, but didn't have much of an appetite. Today, my throat is better but it feels as though my uvula is hanging into the back of my throat. That my throat is swollen almost shut. After taking pain pills twice yesterday, I've only had Advil today. I still sound very very funny. Everywhere I went people asked me if I was sick and when I told them what I had done, they looked at me in horror.

I forgot to mention what the procedure does. The sclerosing fluid creates a big ulcear on my soft palate that will scar up. Evidently, this ulcear is very very ugly. The Dr. told me not to let it scare me. This scaring will stiffen up the palate to prevent it from "fluttering" when I sleep, thus making snoring sounds. They can't make promises about its success rate, but it helps quiet about 90% of patients snoring to some extent. Some people do have to repeat the procedure for increased success.

It should take about a week for my palate to scar up and heal, but almost a month before we see the final snoring results. I'm hoping that every day my throat feels a little better and that I sound more normal soon. Keep your fingers crossed that this procedure helps on the first try.

It's My Party...

And I'll Cry If I Want To...

But Once she got a taste of the Cake...

She loved it!

Birdie Boo had a great party.

I can't believe she is One already. Where has the year gone?

Birdie is 1! (well, almost)

We had Laurie's 1 Year pictures taken today.

Her birthday is next Tuesday.

Playing Chase

Birdie Boo has figured out how to run and play chase. What Fun!