I Was Just There!

Yesterday when I took the kiddos to the doctor, I told the pediatrician that Owen had a bad barking cough during the night, but since being up in the morning, it didn't seem too bad. He's had the humidifier in his room and going for the last several nights. Then came Friday night. Friday night Owen's cough sounded horrible! It sounded like an adult coughing and like it just hurt him.

Saturday morning I called my dad, again, and he heard Owen barking, but told me I still needed to get him checked out to make sure his lungs were clear. I called the doctor's office and after being on hold for 5 minutes (20 minutes after they opened), I got an appointment. I took Owen back to the doctor and had his lungs checked out. Fortunately, his lungs sound great. Unfortunately, he's got a bad croup/bronchitis along with pink eye.

Did I forget to mention that when he got up from his nap yesterday and by the time I got the Vaseline cleaned off of him, his eye was goopy and the eyelid was red!

Why can't these kinds of things happen while I'm AT the doctor's office. I was just there, I don't want to go back!

A Different Kind of Bath

He's only 3 days into being 2 years old and already Owen has made a mess beyond mess. I put Owen down for his nap after we got back from the doctor's office, Target, and him eating lunch. It was approximately 11.45 by the time he went down. For the most part, it was quiet and Cari and I had a good afternoon.

I started preparations for dinner (chicken noodle soup from scratch), like chopping vegetables, boning a chicken, etc. Things were humming along just fine. I was about to put Cari down for a nap, when I had a hunch that I should probably go get Owen. By this time it's about 3 hours later, or 2:45. His usual nap is between 2 and 3 hours.

I went into Owen's room and saw this and that:

Whereupon I deduced he had been into the Vaseline. I use Vaseline in a thin layer before applying any type of diaper rash cream which does a couple of things. First, it provides another layer of protection and is very soothing. Second, helps the cream to spread a lot easier. So, as I turned him around and went to pick him up, so as to not get Vaseline on my person, I saw this, this and this:

Now, the pictures may not do it justice as to how bad this really was. The Vaseline was in his hair from about the top of his ears, clear down to the collar on his shirt. I remained calm and didn't get mad, but tried to think about what in the world is going to get it out of his hair. I stripped him down and got him into the tub. Owen proceeded to get Vaseline all over the edge of the tub from his two little hands. After wiping that off, I began to scrub and scrub and scrub some more. Nothing was working. A quick call to my hairdresser, whom I heard laughing hysterically in the background, to find out what I could use. He told me to use the product that "cuts grease with just one drop", a.k.a.:

2 For 1

This morning both kids had doctor's appointments for their well-kid check-ups. It was kind of nice having 2 appointments for 1 trip to the office, especially first thing in the morning. We got to the office right on time and were out of there after all was said and done 35 minutes later.

Owen weighed in at a hefty 33.8 lbs. and is 37" long. The weight is 95th percentile and the height is the 97th percentile. His head is still huge and somewhere around the 95th percentile. I wonder if he will ever grow into his head. Then again, it all seems to be proportional.

Caroline weighed in at 19 lbs. 15.5 oz (let's just call it 20 lbs.) and is 29 1/4" long. Her weight is the 75th percentile and her height is the 95th percentile. She still has a "pea head" and I wonder if her head will ever catch up to her weight/height. I looked back in Owen's records and Caroline is EXACTLY the same length that Owen was at 9 months. She is, however, 2 lbs. lighter than Owen at 9 months.

Overall, the doctor loved the kids and said they are healthy, happy, and growing really well, regardless of neither one of them being too happy to see her this morning. Just reconfirms what I already know....I am blessed each day to have healthy and happy children.

Happy Birthday Owen!

Today is Owen's birthday. He turns 2 today and let me tell you he is "2" in every sense of the meaning. My sweet little boy has been 2 for about 4 months now, but it has definitely been more evident in the last 6 weeks or so. Nevertheless, my baby is 2.

I never thought this day would ever be here. Adam and I struggled for 4 years to have children. Countless trips to handfuls of doctors, hundreds of miles driven, dozens of unsuccessful IUI's, a failed attempt at IVF, thousands of dollars (literally) spent without any success, numerous prescriptions and pills taken, hours spent on my knees in prayer to my Father in Heaven, millions (or so it seems) of tears shed, endless phone calls to my mom, multiple and multiple pages written in my journal, 1 move out of Utah (whew!) and, then, a physician who finally listened to me, one blood test, a $3.00 per month prescription, one miscarriage, 6 weeks later getting pregnant again, 20 weeks of daily, and sometimes hourly puking, 55 lbs. gained, 1 absolutely fabulous OB/GYN, 4 days of postponed induction, 26 hours of labor, 1 c-section and at 2:38 p.m. on January 15th, 8lbs. 14 oz. and 21" long, Owen was born.

My "little" Onie B has been an absolute joy in my life. This doesn't mean that he is a perfect child, and that I don't have my struggles with him. This does mean that when I lay him down for a nap, after I've sung him a few songs, he kisses me good night and as I crawl off his bed, he blows me more kisses, right up to the point of closing the door. It also means that he will stay in his bed and talk to himself until I can drag my butt out of bed to get him in the morning. Further, I know that at the beginning of each new day it will bring multiple smiles and moments of laughter, kisses, and quiet time when he just wants to sit on my lap to read books.

Onie B, we love you more than you will ever be able to understand. We waited many, many years to have you and we are so blessed to have you in our family and call you our son. Happy birthday, Owen. WE LOVE YOU!

Owen 2006-2007 :

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Owen 2007-2008:

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I Knew It Was Just a Matter of Time.....

And my time has run out! Today while I was doing chores and picking up the house before Adam got home, I let Baxter outside to do his business. I'm running about the house and I see through my bedroom door, a little boy who strangely enough is dressed just like Owen...jeans and an orange striped long-sleeved shirt. Oh wait a minute! THAT IS OWEN! What the freak is going on here? Then I realize what my little monkey had done. He unlocked the sliding glass door, the screen door, and then proceeded to walk outside with no shoes on, but with only his white socks on his feet.

The best part about this is as I rounded the corner from the hallway to our kitchen, I see his little sister crawling (doing the army crawl) through the doorway on her way outside in her white shirt! I don't know how, but we've got to figure out a way to get a better (read higher) lock for the slider and a better (read childproof) lock for the screen door. If any of you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Splishin' N Splashin'

Tonight was bath time for both of the kids. I plopped Owen into the tub and then decided to create the ever popular "bubble beard." At first, he didn't really like it, but then decided that it was pretty fun and he would add bubbles to his beard.

Once he was shampooed and washed, it was time to add Cari to the mix. She loved having a bath with big brother. These will be pictures to bribe them with later, but they certainly turned out cute.

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Birthday Time

Yesterday was my niece, Jaymie's, birthday (she turned 12). For Jaymie's birthday, I joined her at Power Nail & Spa for a pedicure and had a "moment" to myself in the crazy day that was yesterday.

My sister, Jenny, nor I were in the mood to have a cake for Jaymie and then 3 days later have another cake for Owen. So, we celebrated their birthdays last night. Jenny and Jaymie met "the boys" of their family here at our house. Our brother, Scott, and his family came over to join in the fun, too.

I made a carnival cake for the adults and bigger kids. The little kids each got their own cupcake (jumbo muffin size) that they got to decorate however they chose. They had a ton of fun doing that and really enjoyed eating the fruits of their labors.

We sang, blew out candles (Owen even blew out his candles), opened presents, and all around just had a great time. We'll have a simpler little gathering on Tuesday for Owen's birthday, which will be fun, too.

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Finished!

Well, today was THE day for my lesson. I think it went well, despite R.S. seeming exceptionally full today. I don't know what the deal was, but I swear it seemed like every seat was taken with some sisters (with babies) standing in the back. It's not like I'm some sort of scholar or anything, or a great orator.

Anywho. It's over, it's done, I'm finished and it was good.

What More Can I Say?

The Hokies blew it!

Can the Hokies Do It?

Tonight is THE BIG GAME. I am excited and very optimistic that the Hokies will not only play well, but will win the Orange Bowl tonight. I know Adam is very hopeful and will be glued to the TV once the game has started. I am even going to the gym early tonight so I can get back to help with the kids so we can watch the remaining part of the game together. I am confident that they will win. On the other hand, I hope I didn't just jinx them.

GO HOKIES!!!!!!

Not Off to a Good Start

I seriously thought 2008 would get off to a great start. After all, I set goals, was excited to start working on them and wanted to see just how many I would achieve. Caroline, on the other hand, has not gotten off to such a great start.

At the end of 2007 Caroline had cut 3 new teeth and was beginning 2008 with cutting a 4 tooth, all on top. Therefore, the running nose, fussiness, and continual grumpy baby syndrome was all attributable to that, right? Well, not so fast! Tuesday morning when Cari woke up, she had a nose full of, well we all know what, and it was very unsightly. I thought I'd keep an eye on it and see how the rest of the day went.

Yesterday, same thing when she woke up. By about 10 a.m. I noticed her lower right eyelid was kind of pink, but again I'll keep an eye on it. Then, as I was feeding her she started throwing her head over her right shoulder like she was trying to itch her ear. I called my dad and talked to him. He thought maybe she had some fluid behind her eardrum, an infection, or wax and suggested I call the pediatrician to get her in right away. I called, no cigar for the appointment, all booked.

Later on about 4:45, Caroline's eye was looking worse and there was goopiness coming from her eye. Great, just what I need....pink eye on top of everything else. Called my dad again to confirm my suspicions of the pink eye (Owen had it exactly this time last year). He thought it probably was pink eye.

I put Caroline back down for a nap and when I woke her up again, her eyes were practically glued shut with the goopiness and matter. She was miserable. So, for the third time in one day, I called my dad and he called the pharmacy to get her going on a prescription for not only her eyes, but also for the very suspicious ear infection.

I got Caroline into the doctor this morning and sure enough, she has a right ear infection and pink eye. Fortunately, she was already on an antibiotic for both eyes and ears. The pediatrician made the comment to me "Wow! You're dad did a great diagnosis without even seeing her." I wanted to tell her that's what 35 years of being an M.D. and practicing a medicine specialty will get you.

Sanks 'o sanks Dad.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008! It seems like just yesterday that I was saying hello to 2007. Where has the time gone? I remember in grade school, the years just seemed to drag by. My 5th grade teacher told me to wait and that they would only go by faster as I got older. I never thought that would be possible, but he was so right. I never would've imagined an entire year screaming by and I would not know where the time had gone.

I've decided to try something new this year.....set some resolutions. I've never done it in the past and thought it would be pointless for me as I was sure to break them by January 2nd. But, I'm going to have a positive outlook and know that I won't meet all of my goals, but I should be able to meet some.

The resolutions I've set aren't difficult, but they are monotonous and extremely ambitious, even Adam said that. I told him that was a polite way of saying I wasn't going to make them all. He just shook his head at me and said, "No, I'm just saying your ambitious." We'll leave it at that.

Some of the resolutions include: Running 6 miles by June; writing in my journal more; spending money more wisely; taking at least 1 college course; making at least 2 new friends (can you really have enough friends?); being more patient with the kids (I'll probably have to reset this resolution weekly, if not daily sometimes); running 13 miles by the end of the year (that's a 1/2 marathon); being in better shape, etc. You get the drift. That's not even 1/2 of my list. Hence, the ambitious comment. I agree, it is ambitious. But why not set a bunch of goals and achieve a handful, than set a few and make none?

Anywho. I just wanted to wish you all a happy, prosperous, joyous, and harmonious new year. May peace continue to be with you from last year to this year.