Kisses

Dearest Miracles~

Grace, you went down in your bassinet at 11:30pm last night.  Then, the cat woke everyone up an hour later!  Ugh!  I was nursing you back to sleep at 12:30am this morning.  The cat is so annoying!  We stayed up close to 1:15am and then I just continued to hold you.  I was back nursing you at 5:15am.  I don't think I got any sleep and stayed pretty tired at work.  :-P

You two had fun with Penny.  You all walked up to the park and had play time.  There was a 'beautiful black and white cocker spaniel' at the park that you two played with.  :-)  Joshua, you got in trouble today though .... you threw a hard toy and hit Penny on the shin!  Ouch!  You know you're not suppose to throw toys!  Tomorrow you're going to have to say 'sorry' to her. 

I had some excitement at work today.  A man came yesterday as a 'walk in' appointment and threatened one of our other medical sites (the one in Apex).  The police were called to file an incident.  As I was driving into work this morning, one of the other dentists called me to tell me that the man was back and that I should come in the back door and that the police had been called!  Yikes!  In case I haven't told you all before, I work in a Community Health Center .... so we see a lot of 'interesting' patients .... and this was not the first time the police was involved.  :-P  The man eventually left with the police officers, but it was certainly not the way I wanted to start my day.

Also, on a sad note, I saw a little boy this afternoon with two abscesses on the lower right.  I ended up extracted two primary molars (teeth #S and #T) on him to get the infection out and placed him on antibiotics.  He's only five years old and I felt so bad for him since he was in pain.  I pray you all stay healthy.  I thanked God for you two once I finished the appointment.

Grace, you're playing with your feet a lot more now and your tongue.  It's really cute!  As I was nursing Grace this evening, Joshua came by and gave her 5 kisses in a row .... before he 'playfully' hit her head.  :-P  I got an adorable video of you two playing and giggling on the bed this evening.  Joshua, you were giving Grace more kisses!  I will cherish this video when you two are older!

Tomorrow's another workday, but I'll come home as fast as I can!  

Sleep tight you two!

I love you so very much!

~Mommy

Open Cup

Dearest Gifts~

You two must be having some trouble sleeping recently.  Joshua, you got up from your toddler bed at 11pm crying last night.  Grace, you woke up at 12:50am this morning.  Daddy changed you and then I nursed you back to sleep.  I held you for a long time and then placed you back in the bassinet around 4am.

This cat was so annoying this morning.  He ran around the room and played with the blinds at 6am.  I was trying to go back to sleep at that time.  I ended up getting back up and nursing Grace at 6:20am.  I would much rather prefer the cat stay out on the screened in porch.  There's really no reason why he has to be in the house.

Grace, you almost sat up today!  I looked over and you were propped half way up!  Wow!  I wonder when you'll sit by yourself.  

Joshua, we back pedaled to a dry spoon for your food aversion appointment with Kim.  Mary Beth was out of town, so we didn't have your OT appointment.  I'll keep waiting for UNC to call me (I don't have their number).  But, you did something for the first time today .... you drank independently from an open cup with no spilling!  You did it several times and took several sips each time!  Kim and I were so impressed!  Woo hoo!  I've never seen you do that before!

We played a lot today.  It feels so nice under our new fan.  Joshua, you took a nap at a reasonable time this afternoon (you've been off recently and napping later or not napping at all).  You fell asleep around 1:45pm.  I even got to rest for 45 minutes until Grace woke up from her nap!  Once she woke, I nursed her as Joshua continued to nap.

We did your brush exercises, joint compressions, and worked on the chewy tube once you woke up little man.  And, you made some 'car noises' for me as we were playing together with your bus!  You tried to imitate my 'brrrrooom!'  :-) 

I took you two to the park later this afternoon.  There were people using the swings when we got there, so I just kept walking with you two in the stroller.  I walked for almost an hour around the neighborhood.  I got my exercise!  ;-)

Daddy got a haircut after work and was pulling in as we were walking up the driveway.  It looks good!  He mowed the lawn after we all had dinner together.  The three of us were in the bonus room while daddy mowed lawn.  When Joshua heard daddy start the mower, he looked out the window.  I said 'there's the lawn mower' to him.  Joshua ran to his toy lawn mower and picked it up!  I cheered and laughed since it was so cute!  Then he looked out the window again and back at his mower.  It was so adorable!

We all played a lot this evening.  You two have the cutest giggles.  Joshua, you're getting better at playing 'wheelbarrow' .... which is one of our OT exercises.  You can take a few 'steps' with your hands as we hold your legs up.

Tomorrow I head back to work so Penny will be here.  I'll come home as fast as I can!

Sleep tight you two!

I love you both!  :-)

~Mommy

Imitating Noises

Dearest Blessings~

I woke up at 3:15am this morning and tried to change Grace as fast as I could so I could nurse her.  It was after 4am when you were done, so I just held you at that point.  My back was really sore though when I woke up later.  :-P

This morning we did some chores around the house.  I baked some potatoes for the week, did a quick pump so Grace would have mommy milk for wednesday, and did some laundry.

Joshua, you sure love books!  I went through a book with you as I nursed Grace in the playroom.  Then, we read some Bible stories together .... one was about little children listening to Jesus and being blessed by him.  :-)

Oh, Grace, you've found your tongue.  You love to play with it and make noises with it.  It's so cute!  I popped a CD on in the playroom and we had a lot of fun together.  You two both giggled at each other!  I played with Grace's feet and flipped Joshua all around.  I took a video of you two playing.

Therapy went well today .... it was better than last week.  Today we had speech therapy with Kim.  Joshua, you didn't resist the movements to the sign language as much.  You're not signing independently, so I have to move your arms and hands, not you didn't fight it when someone touched you during the appointment.  Last week you pulled away every time.  Also, you attempted to make a 'car noise' for Kim when we played with a bus!  You're imitating sounds now!  Yippie!  You're making some progress, which is great!  Kim gave us some homework.  We have some flash cards of 'actions' to go through.  They're pictures of people doing things like: eating, drinking, running, brushing, etc.  You correctly identified half of the cards she put in front of you today, which she thought was great.  :-)

I had to change you both when we got home .... diapers and outfits .... just because it was so hot.  This afternoon, I put more CD's on and read more books to Joshua.  Grace played on the floor and rolled all around.  I folded some laundry.  I tried to get Joshua to take a nap, but he resisted. 

I ended up rocking Joshua to sleep a little before 4pm.  Grace was napping so I took advantage of my time holding him!  I cherished the moment and listened to him breathe while sleeping on me.  We stayed that way for about 20 minutes and then Grace woke up.  I put him on a pillow to continue napping and I nursed Grace and read.

Joshua, you ate some pasta for dinner .... it was some of the lasagna from yesterday!  Woo hoo!  I was so happy! 

We all walked to the park after dinner.  It was such a beautiful evening to spend with you all together outside as a family!  I took some pictures of you two.  Joshua, you ran around the grass and went on the swing.  Grace, I took you out of the stroller and walked around with you.  :-)  Afterward, we relaxed in the play room.  :-)

Sleep tight you two!

I love you both so much!  :-)

~Mommy

So Blessed

Dearest Miracles~

Wow!  You kids never cease to amaze me!  I woke up this morning in some pain.  I looked over and Grace was still sleeping.  So, I got up and pumped in the play room.  Grace, I didn't nurse you until 8:30am this morning!  Whoa!  The milk I pumped I put in the fridge for wednesday.  I heard you noodle around in your bassinet throughout the evening, so I kept checking on you, but you never woke up.  Joshua, you woke up from your toddler bed around 12:45am this morning and then noodled into our bed.

This morning you two helped me prepare the crock pot.  We made a lasagna with little pasta pieces.  It turned out pretty good, so I wrote down that recipe.  We're on our way to making our own family cookbook.  ;-)

Grace, you're rolling all around now.  You had a huge poopy diaper this morning.  I was expecting it since you didn't poop yesterday.  Joshua, daddy helped you go through your ABC book this morning as I was finishing the crock pot.

We had some company for lunch, but before they came over, I nursed Grace and watched Joshua play.  I couldn't help but thank God for you two.  You all are so precious.  I sat there amazed at how blessed I am to have you both.  As Joshua played and Grace ate, I thanked God for you both!

Mimi and Grandpa Mike came over for lunch.  They brought over some turkey and potatoes.  Joshua, you didn't eat much.  You all visited with them for a few hours.  I vacuumed and swept the downstairs once people were done at the table.  I didn't get a chance to do that yesterday, so I took the opportunity while you two were occupied.

Plus, to be honest, I didn't need to be around your Mimi.  Her comments about you two and my brother were so uncalled for and hurtful.  It still stings that she would 'diagnose' her grandchildren with needless and absurd 'conditions' (colic, autism, comments about having you 'checked out' and comments concerning your therapies).  And, when asked about why she would even think something so hurtful, she said 'Well .... you know .... James .... lets be honest' (this is a verbatim quote diagnosing your uncle as autistic!).  Obviously talking about my brother.  She has no right to say something so painful about someone's family.  I honestly don't know what her problem is and she clearly has some sort of mental problem herself if she truly feels this way.  Who would say something so damaging about their own grandchildren?

Precious children .... God made you just the way you are .... perfect in His eyes and mine!  I love you two unconditionally and I will not let anyone speak ill about you two!  If she feels this way, and wishes to express it, then I honestly do not need to be in the room to take such verbal abuse.  I pray that by the time you all read this, she would have expressed some sort of an apology for her words.  And, I'm not the only person who feels this way .... others know and have heard her harmful comments.

Grace, I tried to weigh you this afternoon.  The scale said you were 14.5 lbs.  You go back to the pediatrician later in the month for your 6 month check up so we'll see how accurate that is.  I can't believe you'll be 6 months in a few weeks!  

Later in the afternoon I put some music on downstairs and we danced a little and I sang.  Since Joshua never took a nap, I packed you two up and we went to the park.  Joshua played in the swing and ran around in the grass with daddy.  Grace, you stayed in the stroller.  :-P  I took some more pictures of you all.

This evening Joshua couldn't fight his sleepiness any longer .... Joshua, you fought a nap all day and never took one.  At dinner, you were so crabby.  Once we gave you a sippy cup of milk, you fell asleep while drinking it on the kitchen table!  We took a picture of you!  It was so funny!  You slept for a little over an hour once daddy put you on a pillow.

This evening we did some laundry and played in the bonus room.  We had the Disney movie 'Aladdin' on.  I uploaded some photos of you all and then backed up my computer.  :-)

Joshua, you pulled my hair late this evening as I was nursing Grace.  Daddy gave you a pop on the bottom and you cried.  You need to learn not to pull people's hair.  I sang to you and you slowly calmed down for bed.  We all eventually fell asleep with thunderstorms starting outside our window.  

Sleep tight you two!

I love you both so very much!

~Mommy 

Player Piano

Dearest Precious Children~

It's very hard to keep my eyes open at 2:20am.  :-P  But, I managed to do so as I stayed up to nurse Grace.  I changed you quickly in the nursery and then fed you as the boys were sleeping.  It was after 3am before you were finished.  I held you afterward so I could get some 'rest' even though you were squirmy as you slept.  You woke again at 6:15am and I nursed you a second time.  At that point I just stayed awake.

Daddy made some pancakes for breakfast and Joshua ate a little bit of one.  He also ate some cheerios.  :-)  Everyone had a nice bath this morning after breakfast and then daddy tried to cut Joshua's hair.  He at least got the back part cut so it wouldn't be long against his neck.  It's too hot to have long hair.  :-P  Joshua, you did not want to stay still, but daddy did the best that he could.  We may have to wait until you're sleeping before we attempt the front.  Joshua, I did your brush exercises and joint compressions this morning as well.  :-)

We had a road trip today.  We were invited to (Great) Uncle David's house in Hillsborough for lunch.  Your Great Grandfather from Tennessee was in town.  The last time he and Rosemary were in town, they got to see Grace but not Joshua.  The last time they had seen Joshua he was still crawling around!  Now, you run all over the place!  ;-)

It stormed as we were driving up there, but we still made it by 12:30pm.  Gigi, Uncle James, (Great) Uncle Laurence and (Great) Aunt Marti, cousins Erik and Mia, and Kevin were there too.  They were all happy to see you both.  There was lots of food and everything was so good!  ;-)

We saw some wild turkey as we were driving up to his house.  We also saw some deer in the back yard and some humming birds near his house!  Humming birds are so cool!  Daddy said he's seen a few at our house, but I haven't seen any.  We may have to get a feeder if we have them here!

We had some fun with (Great) Uncle David's player piano.  We sang a few songs together, though we're not that great at singing.  ;-)  The important thing was that we were having fun together and enjoying each others company.  Nobody cared whether we were in tune .... we were just having fun!  ;-)

Now, your Gigi can actually play the piano.  In fact, she and your Great Grandfather are probably the most truly musical people I've ever met.  They can hear a song and pick up an instrument and just start playing it.  They don't even need the music in front of them.  Your Great Grandfather can play just about any stringed instrument out there.  Gigi also plays percussion instruments, like when she plays at church.  Gigi was a music teacher for many years.  I pray that you two grow up with a love of music.  Daddy and I love music as well.  :-)

We got home by 5pm and I nursed Grace as Joshua had something to eat with daddy.  An hour later we headed back out to Target for some groceries.  We were all out of stuff .... milk, wipes, diapers .... you name it.  :-P  Daddy had to put air in my tires while we were out.  I think I have a slow leak in one and I just need new ones.  My car is due for its inspection, so I might just get new tires at the same time.

You two played this evening and daddy read us more Bible stories before bed.  Tomorrow is suppose to be nice, so hopefully we can go to the park to get some fresh air.  

Sleep tight you two!

I love you so much!  :-)

~Mommy

Rolling Rolling Rolling

Dearest Blessings~

Hummm .... Joshua, you only made it until 11pm in your toddler bed.  I wonder why you don't like to sleep by yourself.  Your bed is right next to ours, so you're not far.  Grace, I put you down after 10pm last night in your bassinet.  You stayed sleeping and didn't wake up until 6:40am!  Whoa!  The cat, however, meowed and meowed all night.  I'm such a light sleeper so to say that the meowing was annoying is an understatement.  :-P  It was hard to get some sleep.  Plus, he pooped back in the study on the plastic that we have covering the carpet.  That cat better shape up or he'll find himself back on the porch.  :-P

I took Grace downstairs this morning after I nursed her so I could eat something and unload the dish washer.   I steamed sterilized the pump pieces and straightened some things in the kitchen.  As I was doing this, I looked over and Grace had rolled from her back to her belly!  I've never seen her so that before!  I brought the pump pieces back upstairs and checked on Joshua (who was still sleeping). I came back down and Grace had rolled from her belly to her back again!  I then brought her back upstairs to start some laundry and brush my teeth (Joshua continued the sleep) and she rolled from her back to her belly again!

Once Joshua awoke, he took a sippy cup and I told him about his sister.  It's official .... she can roll all around now.  ;-)  Apparently, Grace did some of this last night for daddy while I was at my meeting!  He said she kept twirling all around!

As the laundry was going, I vacuumed the bonus room and had some music on for you two.  Grace fell asleep in her swing so I played with Joshua. I did his brush exercises and joint compressions.

For lunch, Joshua ate two pieces of hotdog and a lot of gold fish and a boost.  I vacuumed the living room as he ate and tried to get a video of Grace rolling from her back to her belly.   She didn't do it for the camera but she did it a lot today.  We also had lots of music time while downstairs.

Oh, we have Joshua in a booster seat now at the kitchen table and not the high chair.  The high chair is falling apart so we'll need to get a new one for Grace.  This high chair was already used from (Great) Aunt Allyson, so it's been through a lot.

I took you both to the park after lunch.  Grace napped and Joshua went on the swing and played in the sandbox.  He got sand everywhere!  I took more pictures of you both.  Daddy worked a half day and met us at park.  He walked back home with us.  Everyone was hot when we got back home, so we all had a fresh cold drink.

This afternoon was relaxing.  Grace, you have such a cute gummy smile!  Your eyes are still blue, so I wonder if they'll stay that way like Joshua.  You're over 5 months old, so I'm thinking they may stay blue.  And, I don't know if I've told you this before or not, but you're such a smiley baby!  I love your smiles!  Joshua, you giggled a lot this afternoon while playing with daddy.  Oh, and you love Grace's little squeaky giraffe toy!  I may just have to get a second one!  ;-)

I had to rock Joshua to sleep since he fought nap time.  He fell asleep at 4pm and woke up crying at 5pm from his toddler bed.  Daddy and I went in to calm him several times and then waited to see if he would adjust to the bed.  You cried for at least 45 minutes before we got you out, even though you could have gotten up yourself.  For some reason you just stayed on your back staring at the ceiling crying.  Grace was napping in her swing so I cut her nails.  

Daddy took down the old fan in the play room while Joshua was napping.  The old fan was 52" (at most) for this huge room.  This new fan is 70"!  We ran into some problems with putting up the new fan since we needed different screws to fit the existing electrical box.  But, it's up now and it looks and feels nice!  It took several hours to complete the project, but was worth it!  We relaxed under it before going to bed.

Tomorrow we're going on a road trip!  Your Great-Grandfather from Tennessee will be in town, so we're all gathering at (Great) Uncle David's house to visit.  He got to see Grace the last time he was in town, but not Joshua.  We'll head over there for lunch.  

Sleep tight you two!

I love you both!  :-)

~Mommy

Long Day

Dearest Precious Children~

Oh my goodness .... we got no sleep last night.  Someone decided she wanted to be held all night and not sleep in her bassinet.  Yeah, I'm looking at you Grace!  :-P  You cried every time I put you down.  So, I held you in my arms as I leaned back in the bed to 'sleep'.  You squirmed and wiggled as you slept, so I didn't sleep well at all.  I was so exhausted going into work this morning, but holding and kissing you both before I left made it worth it!  I miss you both so much when I leave on wednesdays and thursdays! 

Grace, you had a 'blow out' poopy diaper today!  I was hoping you would have one since you didn't poop for me all day yesterday.  You got it all over your outfit and papasan chair!  Daddy rinsed everything so I'll run your laundry tomorrow.  I got home late so I didn't run it today.

Penny walked you two to the park again today.  You all apparently met a little friend named Cooper.  Grace, you took a nap.  ;-)

Our pediatrician's office left a message on my phone today.  They sent a referral to UNC for the 'feeding team' to take a look at Joshua.  I hope we can get him in soon.  I pray his eating gets better. 

I had a late quarterly Providers Meeting after work.  Every three months all the doctors from all the sites at Wake Health Services, Inc (where I work) get together for an organizational update.  I sat next to the CEO.  I was on maternity leave for the last meeting, so the CEO 'welcomed' me back in front of the group.  :-)  The meeting lasted until 8:20pm since it ran late.  I didn't get home until almost 9pm!  Yikes!  Daddy had plenty of mommy milk for Grace.  In fact, there was about 11 ounces still in the fridge when I got home, plus what I had pumped at work today.

I kissed you all when I got home!   Daddy read to us in bed as I nursed Grace.  Tomorrow daddy's only working a half day, so we'll be able to spend more time together as a family!  

Sleep tight you two!

I love you both!

~Mommy