Pictures of Christmas Joy!

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We hope your Christmas was a Merry one!

Stats...

The girls had their three and two year check-ups this past Wednesday. Jake went into the pediatrician that morning (croup). Plus I had tons of treats yet to make for gifts. This meant the girls got to take their daddy with them. (Have I ever mentioned what an awesome dad the doctor is? I love that he is always more than willing to do the things I don't want to. I was especially glad he went since they both received immunizations.)

Lucie taking a mid-morning nap, after a 4 am wake-up.

Anyhow, Lucie is my healthy, strong little girl. She acts shy at times, which I think is hilarious. Once she feels comfortable around you she will cuddle up and talk your ear off! She is now just over 3 feet  2 1/2 inches tall (79th percentile), and weighs 36 pounds 12 ounces (90th percentile). Right now she is on antibiotics for the same thing Jake has.

Holly taking her mid-morning nap, after Lucie's 4 am wake-up call.

Holly is an angel! I'm grateful that even if she does not feel great, she is still a sweetheart. At her appointment she was 2 feet 10 inches tall (61st percentile), and 28 pounds 8 ounces (71st percentile). The pediatrician did notice her eyes were filling with discharge, so now she is receiving antibiotic eye drops two times a day for an infection. Last night she was struggling again to breath, so the doctor took her to the emergency room. They diagnosed her with croup, gave her a steroid shot, and sent her home. (By now we have learned to automatically take her to the children's hospital and pack a bag in case she is admitted. Thankfully she was not admitted!) Today her breathing was much improved and her cough does not sound so terrible.

I love these two girls! I love that they play house and fill up their doll strollers with Jake's hot wheels together. I love that Lucie shows Holly how to diaper her baby doll, and when Holly gets hurt she'll search out Lucie for a love. Although they can sometimes fight like teenage sisters (hair pulling and pushing) they also love sharing clothes and dressing up together.  I'm finally beginning to see why Heavenly Father prompted us to have these two wonderful girls so close together. They will not only be great sisters, but great friends. They are lucky to have each other.

Update

I just wanted to keep everyone up to date about Holly. Last Saturday the doctor took her in for a follow up chest x-ray. Her pediatrician called late yesterday to say that they looked okay for now. She still has some infection in the middle lobe on the right side. Apparently this is good, according to the doctor, since fluid starting to pool in the bottom lobe would mean she would be getting worse. She has also finally finished the course of two antibiotics, which means no more yucky side effects, or waking her up at 1 a.m. to giver her meds. (Yippee!)
The pediatrician assured me that whatever infection is still in the right middle lobe should clear up in four to six weeks. That means another round of x-rays in a month. (Of course the pediatrician didn't say "whatever". There is a term for what is still there. I just can't remember it.)
Other than that, Holly is back to her usual shy, silly, sweet self. I noticed at dinner tonight she ate two slices of pizza with two helpings of broccoli. She ate more than even Jake! This is great, considering she's lost some weight, and now is two pounds lighter than baby-zilla! (Although, I must admit we saw that coming. Holly and Will have worn the same size diapers for the past few months.)

(So here I am on my soapbox...)
I wish I would have known more about pneumonia before this whole thing. Hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it. I'm going to link you here, http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/pneumonia.html. Holly had some of these symptoms; wheezing, coughing, fever, chills, even pink-eye for a day. (That, of course, came home from school with big brother.) Yet she did not have the heavy, labored breathing, vomiting, and bluish lips or nails. Pneumonia did not even cross my mind. I thought she had the flu and it would just pass. Why on earth would I even connect the pink eye? I simply had no idea what pneumonia was. Please, learn from my ignorance and be informed.
We were amazingly blessed! I am convinced her outcome would have been different had it not been for the prayers and fasting given on her behalf. We are so grateful to Heavenly Father for listening, for easing her suffering, and healing her with the help of the wonderful doctors, nurses, and medications. I am also thankful for the doctor who followed the prompting that this illness was not like the other illnesses we have seen.
Please just read up on pneumonia. Learn the symptoms, and do not hesitate taking your little ones to the doctor! By far, my biggest regret!
(Okay...I'm off the soapbox.)

Our sweet little angel posing for portraits... and I love the photo of her feet above. She loves these shoes, and is excited every Sunday when I put them on her feet. A fashionista in the making.

Conversations with Jake

Jake: Mom, have I ever been to daycare?
Me: No
J: Awww...they have lots of fun stuff there. Why haven't I ever been to daycare?
M: Well, when dad and I had you, I stopped working so I could take care of you.
J: Grrr...I really just wanted to go to daycare.
M: Jake, you are lucky to have parents that can take care of you during the day. Most kids in daycare don't have that. Their parents have to go to work and can't play or take care of them. That's why they go to daycare. Plus, as nice as daycare teachers are, they can't love you like dad and I.
J: ARRR...GRRRRR!! (Foot-stomp, foot-stomp) That's not what I wanted. I really just wanna go to daycare!!! (Stomping to bedroom.)

*Sigh* I guess some days are like that...even for a stay-at-home mom!

Just thought I'd share...

I saw this movie when it came out a few years ago and thought it was an okay film. Now, after watching on instant netflix 5 times in the past two weeks, it's a favorite! I love Blanche, the sweet, well meaning secretary, and of course I love Harry Connick Jr. as Tom. But I think more than anything I love how the main character, Lucy, doesn't just fall in love with someone. She falls in love with the little town. It reminds me how much I can't wait to be back in a small town. Plus, it's a great chick-flick to cuddle up with on a cold night. Just thought I'd share.

Recovering...

As many of you know Holly gave us quite a scare last week. On Monday she and I got sick with the flu. I was better in no time, but Holly would seem to get better, then later seem worse. Friday night the doctor took her to the ER where they found her right lung full of fluid, and the left starting to do the same. The prognosis was serious, pneumonia. Holly was then taken by ambulance to the Legacy Emmanuel Children's Hospital. The treatment plan included oxygen, two types of i.v. antibiotics, and surgery to insert a chest tube.

Saturday night the surgeon ordered an ultrasound of her lungs with plans to put in the tube the next morning. That night at bedtime she was on 3 liters of oxygen. By 3 am the nurse turned it down to 2 liters, and when I woke up at 6 am the nurse said she had been off oxygen for the past hour. All the while her oxygen saturation numbers stabilized. The best news came from her doctor that morning, "No surgery!! She'll be out by tomorrow!" A complete turn around in the matter of hours.

Holly is still tired and has lost a few pounds (due to the side effects of two antibiotics), but today her pediatrician said her lungs sound great. Tomorrow her lungs will be x-rayed, and we are hoping they will be clear. 

I know Heavenly Father heard and answered the prayers given on Holly's behalf. We feel blessed, and so thankful to Him for allowing us this small miracle of a recovering child. There is no feeling so helpless and hopeless as watching your child's health deteriorate before your eyes. On the other hand, watching a sick child gain their strength and health back is a great feeling!

Thank you again to all our family and friends for your prayers, fasting, love, concern, and help! We appreciate you more than you know!

Getting ready for a walk in the halls and children's garden. I was so impressed by the caring nurses and doctors at the hospital. In fact, a funny thing, when I got to the hospital and met Holly's nurse she looked really familiar. Then when she told me her name, I knew why. She was the same nurse Holly had when she had the flu at 2 months old and spent a week in the hospital. I knew Holly was in good hands, which was a great comfort. I told the nurse I was glad to see her, but I didn't want to see her again anytime soon. We laughed about that.

William came to visit on his birthday Sunday afternoon. Holly loved being with her siblings and singing happy birthday. Here you can see she barricaded herself in the stroller, hoping to go home with them. Poor little girl had to stay behind, but was able to walk us down to the hospital lobby.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

We had to celebrate Will's birthday without a couple family members. Somehow I don't think he minded. His donut still tasted good. Will is a great, easy-going little guy!

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