We're Ready and Waiting Irene!!!

Big Girl

Today Lilly met her kindergarten teacher!  

Andy, Lilly, and I went to Bret Harte to see her classroom and meet Mrs. Francolino. 

She is so excited about starting school!

Freedom

I was on the phone with my girlfriend Stephanie this morning discussing our constant struggle for home perfection.  Staying home to raise our kids is an amazing gift and we are so grateful, yet finding a balance can be so difficult.  As we were chatting about the battle we fight to keep our homes clean and children entertained and happy I heard the familiar clanking of dishes in the background.  My friend was unloading her dishwasher and I was cleaning up breakfast dishes.  

The weather outside is perfect.  There is no humidity, not a cloud in the sky and it is 70 degrees.  It's a nice break from the record breaking temperatures or rain we've had lately.  Suddenly I thought of a blog I read where the mom wrote about being present.  We're all torn these days with computers, cell phones, schedules, work, housework, appointments, kids ...  It's hard to be 100% present and takes a very conscious effort.  At that moment we decided we would step over the laundry and crafts scattered across our floors and meet at the park for a picnic with our kids.  

 And that's just what we did.  This is how I left our house...

 We headed to the park with lunch.  It felt really great.  I felt free.  No more laundry.  No cell phone.  No computer.  No fighting.  No toys.  Just a beautiful day and kids running and having fun.  Ahhhh....

Ella seems so big to me lately.  Tall.  Grown up.  Big girl.

The babies had a blast.  I have more pictures of Luke since he is more mobile and I held Gabe a lot since he is injured.

 I think it was the first time the boys were in swings!

The crew.  Steph has 5 kids so it's always fun when we get them all together.  I wish Ella was looking!!

 After the park Steph had an idea to go for a bike ride.  I was a bit nervous since I had never ridden the bike with our new seat for Ella but we did it and we were so proud!!

 Finished with our ride.  The kids were wiped.

 

We had a great day.  In my mind I wish every day could be this great. I know it's not reality with the other obligations to keep the house running smoothly but for today I will relish in the feeling of sweet success.

Friends

We received a unique gift in the mail today.

My great friend Krissy sent Gabe a ball!  It is the cutest idea ever and Gabe and Luke love it.  In fact, the girls love it too.  

Thank you Krissy!

 The ball says, "Bounce Back Soon!"

 It was perfect timing as Gabe started crawling around today for the first time so he was able to play with his big red ball!

 I am so grateful Gabe is on the road to recovery and am also grateful for good friends.

Frist Break

We experienced our first broken bone. 

Poor Gabe.

On Sunday, Andy and I were celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary by hanging low with the kids while it poured rain.  Andy was doing some electrical work on the addition and I was watching movies with the girls.  Gabe was standing on the couch petting the cat when he fell.  I was sitting right next to him and quickly scooped him up.  I had experienced worse falls from the girls and wasn't very concerned.  He did cry more than he usually would so I took him upstairs, nursed him, and put him down for his usual morning nap.  He slept a couple of hours but when he woke he was not standing in his crib to greet me.  He was lying on his back crying.  He wasn't moving his legs.  I talked to him in a sweet soft voice and said, "Come see Momma" and he stayed very still on his back and continued crying.  I went downstairs to get Andy and when we both returned he was still in the same position.  I'm pretty sure at some point I panicked and called out, "Is he paralyzed!?!?"  Andy seemed concerned which scared me even more.  We quickly and carefully scooped him up and headed to the Emergency Room. 

I was happy to see one of our pediatricians was working in the Pediatric ER.  I told him what happened and expressed my serious concern over an injury to his back.  The doctor and nurse palpated his spine, tail bone, etc. and were able to get him to move his legs.  They felt he just had some painful internal bruising and sent us home with Motrin.  The doctor (whom I love and respect) felt we should not expose Gabe to an x-ray unnecessarily. 

I left feeling unsettled. 

The rest of the night Gabe lied listless on my chest crying and sleeping intermittently.  I knew something more was wrong.  If he was simply sore I felt he'd be moving around once the Motrin kicked in.  I put him on the floor to play and he couldn't reach for a toy, crawl, or pull himself up.  He screamed out in pain when reaching.  I called the after hours pediatrician and they suggested a warm bath and more motrin and a repeat visit or to take him back to the ER.  I put him to bed and he cried some through the night but fell back to sleep each time (I am still sleeping in a room with him).

This morning he was not any better.  He was clearly in pain and would not crawl or stand.  When he attempted to crawl he cried in pain and returned to a sitting position.  I called my pediatrician very early and asked if Dr. K was working today (the ER doctor).  He was and they left him a message for me.  Shortly after he arrived the nurse called and told me to bring Gabe in for Dr. K to check again.

I began second guessing myself on the way to the doctor.  I thought I saw some improvement and felt silly taking him back.  I talked to Dr. K and told him Gabe just was not himself but I hadn't a clue where he had pain.  He checked him over thoroughly moving each limb instead of focusing on the back.  I told him how he couldn't crawl or stand and what I'd noticed about him reaching and crying.  He then gave his arms a good check and noticed Gabe wincing when raising his right arm.  He ordered an x-ray of his right humerus and clavicle.

The x-rays were hell.  

Here is Gabe in the waiting room after the ordeal:

They came and got me from the waiting room in radiology to tell me my doctor was on the phone.  I knew he had a break.  

Here is his clavicle fracture:

 The doctors assure me it is in a great spot, fractured nicely (?), and should heal easily.  Usually they sling the arm but since Gabe has been very good about keeping the arm still and not using it we will let it hang free while it heals.

Sweet baby boy was a real trooper.

The Boys' First Year

School Shopping

I was so excited to take Lilly school shopping for her very short list of supplies.  If my memory serves me correctly, my mom did not love shopping with us so I vowed to always be chipper and fun when shopping!  I actually find it enjoyable but I do understand that not everyone shares my excitement.

Yay!  Kindergarten!!

Ella thinks she's going to Kindergarten too.  Here she was saying, "Mom?  I get my bolder too?" (*folder)

Woo hoo!  Family outing!

I can't believe we have a child entering elementary school.  

Sniff, sniff.

We survived the Target run.  Andy loves family outings.  Hee hee.

It took everything out of me to allow Lilly to pick her own folders and composition notebooks.  I was envisioning nice coordinating primary or pastel colors with her name written carefully in black Sharpie.  Andy told me to let it go.  Here's one of her folders...

Since Lilly has been dressing herself and creating her own very unique outfits for a good year now, I have given up on buying anything I think matches and forget cutesie.  When we go out I let her pick one or two items that she loves so I know she'll wear them regardless of whether or not they coordinate. 

She picked this top and these sparkly leggings.  Ack!!

She also picked a very tacky Hello Kitty skirt.  She seriously loved it and that means we'll definitely get our money's worth (though she paid for the clothes with her own Target gift card).  When we got home I had her try on all the clothes (love to do this but Andy and Lilly dislike my love of this ritual).  She loved them and sang a song about them...

The skirt... Help me Lord.  The skirt has a big Hello Kitty metal face.

Very into her song...

Singing from the rooftop.  Literally.

I assure you she will put the outfit together as you see it here.  The turquoise top is a tunic and does not belong under a tacky skirt.  Deep breaths...

I think Lilly will do awesome in Kindergarten.  She is so excited and I can't wait to watch her fall in love with learning. 

Hail

We had some crazy hail the other night.  I have never seen anything like it in all of my life.  It lasted about 20 minutes and then it was gone; as if it never even happened.  So glad the kids got to see it.  Mother Nature can be so cool (and cruel).

Baby Boy Walks

Luke took his first real steps the day before his 1st birthday however he's been hesitant to walk on his own.  Just this week he started letting go and walking everywhere.  My baby boy is walking.  I can't believe it.  He's so proud too.  In this video I took today Gabe says, "Uh oh" when Luke falls. 

Visitors

Last week we had visitors!  That doesn't happen often. :)

My great friend Kevin and his awesome wife Amy stopped by with their son Reece on their way to northern New Jersey.   The last time we got together we were both pregnant with our boys who are less than a month apart.  We enjoyed lunch and good conversation before they headed on their way.  Reece is so darn cute and is walking up a storm.  The babies were adorable together.

 How is it that my babies are always bald!?

It's so nice to catch up with friends when life is otherwise so busy.  I really enjoyed our visit.  Seeing Kevin feels like home and I'm so happy they took time to stop.

Big Girl

Ella moved into a big girl bed!  It was unexpected but it worked and I can now breathe a huge sigh of relief.

We have had her new bed in the basement and it was taking up space. That little fact coincided with Ella resisting bed and naptime so I figured we could try it out on her floor next to her crib. If she followed in her sister's footsteps and got out all night long, I would just put her back in her crib.  Well, she loved her bed, stayed in it all night long, and was just excited to go down for her nap! 

No, that brown fitted sheet is not part of her set.  Her white fitted sheet was still in the wash so we used one that was clean.

Thank you God for this easy(ish) child!

 Her crowded room...

There are certain things I've found I dread along this parenting journey and transitioning to a big bed was one of them.  I'm so glad Ella loves her bed and I can't wait to set her room up.  I will leave the crib for a few days just in case but I think there's no looking back now.  Yay Ella!