Sunday, March 04, 2012
Friday, March 02, 2012
Novena Prayer for Leo's Surgery
Leo's surgery is coming up in just over a week. I'd love it if you would all pray this Novena (Nine days of prayer) for him. His surgery is on March 12. Please begin the Novena on March 4 and say it every day until March 12. Thank you so much for joining us in prayer. I feel very peaceful about the whole thing so far, and I KNOW it is because so many people are holding us up in prayer. Thank you!
Dear Heavenly Father,
We commend Baby Leo into your care during his cleft repair surgery. His body is your creation, O Lord. Please guide the surgeon's hand and be with all who care for him. Pour your strength and grace into the hearts of his parents and all his family and grant them your peace.
In your loving mercy, minimize Leo's pain, shorten his recovery, and heal him quickly so that his life may continue to give glory to your Holy Name.
We consecrate Leo to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to St. Joseph.
Amen
St. Madeleine, Blessed John Paul, and St. Leo the Great, please pray and intercede for him.
Novena Prayer for Leo's surgery
written by my mom (thanks Mom!)
written by my mom (thanks Mom!)
Dear Heavenly Father,
We commend Baby Leo into your care during his cleft repair surgery. His body is your creation, O Lord. Please guide the surgeon's hand and be with all who care for him. Pour your strength and grace into the hearts of his parents and all his family and grant them your peace.
In your loving mercy, minimize Leo's pain, shorten his recovery, and heal him quickly so that his life may continue to give glory to your Holy Name.
We consecrate Leo to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to St. Joseph.
Amen
St. Madeleine, Blessed John Paul, and St. Leo the Great, please pray and intercede for him.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
I used to be sad....
When I had to feed him his bottle instead of nurse him. Now I love feeding him his bottle and i will miss it! Less than 2 weeks...
Friday, February 24, 2012
I'm not gonna lie...
I will be sooooooo glad when I'm done pumping. I will not stop until the boy is recovered from surgery (which is 2 weeks from Monday!) but probably soon after he's feeling better and cold and flu season is over. Can. Not. Wait.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Road trip!
Monday and Tuesday we decided to hit the road and visit our good friends in Chicago. (Side note, we met on the blogs almost 5 years ago, when these girls were weeks old.... Now they are great friends too!)
Since these pics are all out of order, we headed up Monday for Mary's birthday party, spent the night and finished off our trip with a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. It was so fun and I can't wait to go back! (Or for them to come here!)
Leo went too but apparently I got no good pictures of him! (He was on my back for most of the Museum!)
This was Madeleine's first sleepover with a friend, and she and Mary had a great time in sleeping bags on the living room floor, staying up til midnight being goofy! (Cathy and I had a great time staying up til midnight enjoying some adult beverages!)
Thank you Cathy and Joe, we had a GREAT time! We love you guys!
Since these pics are all out of order, we headed up Monday for Mary's birthday party, spent the night and finished off our trip with a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. It was so fun and I can't wait to go back! (Or for them to come here!)
This was Madeleine's first sleepover with a friend, and she and Mary had a great time in sleeping bags on the living room floor, staying up til midnight being goofy! (Cathy and I had a great time staying up til midnight enjoying some adult beverages!)
Thank you Cathy and Joe, we had a GREAT time! We love you guys!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Blog slacker update
Lots of good news and a little bit of frustrating news, I guess.
I'll start with the frustrating news. I'm still pumping at 14 months, however my supply is SO low. I seriously consider stopping just about every day. I get maybe 4 oz a day if I'm lucky, pumping about 45 minutes total. Some days I doubt that's even worth it, and some days I just want to hold on until his surgery. So who knows what'll happen. The good news is he is doing well on mostly whole milk, and he is also eating SO well. The boy can pack it away. He even had chicken and fries! All kinds of veggies, fruits, cheese, nut butters, etc. He's almost 24 lbs!
So some good news. Last time I went to the surgeon, I asked him if I could talk to another mom who has been through this surgery. (Which is 4 weeks from yesterday!!) He put me in touch with a mom who had two kids with cleft palates (out of 4). That kind of scared me a little but I guess I can't worry about that now. She was SO encouraging! She said her kids both got to go home the next day, and were feeling better very soon after surgery. She even said they didn't mind the arm restraints after a few days, and just kind of adapted. She said her 4 year old has graduated from speech therapy and speaks very clearly. Her 2 year old is saying quite a few words too. I felt a lot better after talking to her, and now I just want the day to get here so we can get it over with and move on!
Other big, huge news over here is that I did not register Madeleine for kindergarten, so we are officially starting out homeschooling! I am really excited about this. She is doing so well, we have more good days than not, she soaks everything up like a sponge, and she loves "school with mommy" as she calls it. John Paul is participating and listening in more and more, and it's interesting to see some things he learns just from being around. Madeleine is about halfway through first grade reading, so I guess we are going to do a kindergarten curriculum (Probably Our Lady of Divine Grace) but use the Catholic Heritage Curriculum's second grade reading program? She is flying through the first grade program. I don't even have to tell her any of the words. It's really amazing. She is working on writing and spelling too, and loves our math workbook as well. After a few years of really discerning and struggling with this decision, I feel very at peace now. She is turning 5 in just a few weeks. I just can't believe it. I was just thinking about Valentine's day 5 years ago. I even blogged about it! Ken got me a sling and we were weeks away from having her. It was very exciting :)
Today she was very naughty at bedtime. I sat her down on my lap and had a talk with her. Afterwards I said, "Do you know that Mommy still loves you?" She looked up and said, "You do?" I told her I would love her forever no matter what she did. I want her to be a good girl, but no matter what she did I would still love her. I also told her that Daddy, John Paul and Leo would always love her, and most importantly, God would always love her and always forgive her if she asks Him. Then I told her how happy we were when she came into our family. She said, "Were you sad before I got here?" I told her we were, and she said "Did you pray for me?" I told her we did. She got a big smile on her face. Then she said, "And I prayed for John Paul and Leo! And now I'm asking God for a baby sister! I think God knows I have enough brothers." :) (No baby sister yet, in case any of y'all are wondering!)
I'll start with the frustrating news. I'm still pumping at 14 months, however my supply is SO low. I seriously consider stopping just about every day. I get maybe 4 oz a day if I'm lucky, pumping about 45 minutes total. Some days I doubt that's even worth it, and some days I just want to hold on until his surgery. So who knows what'll happen. The good news is he is doing well on mostly whole milk, and he is also eating SO well. The boy can pack it away. He even had chicken and fries! All kinds of veggies, fruits, cheese, nut butters, etc. He's almost 24 lbs!
So some good news. Last time I went to the surgeon, I asked him if I could talk to another mom who has been through this surgery. (Which is 4 weeks from yesterday!!) He put me in touch with a mom who had two kids with cleft palates (out of 4). That kind of scared me a little but I guess I can't worry about that now. She was SO encouraging! She said her kids both got to go home the next day, and were feeling better very soon after surgery. She even said they didn't mind the arm restraints after a few days, and just kind of adapted. She said her 4 year old has graduated from speech therapy and speaks very clearly. Her 2 year old is saying quite a few words too. I felt a lot better after talking to her, and now I just want the day to get here so we can get it over with and move on!
Other big, huge news over here is that I did not register Madeleine for kindergarten, so we are officially starting out homeschooling! I am really excited about this. She is doing so well, we have more good days than not, she soaks everything up like a sponge, and she loves "school with mommy" as she calls it. John Paul is participating and listening in more and more, and it's interesting to see some things he learns just from being around. Madeleine is about halfway through first grade reading, so I guess we are going to do a kindergarten curriculum (Probably Our Lady of Divine Grace) but use the Catholic Heritage Curriculum's second grade reading program? She is flying through the first grade program. I don't even have to tell her any of the words. It's really amazing. She is working on writing and spelling too, and loves our math workbook as well. After a few years of really discerning and struggling with this decision, I feel very at peace now. She is turning 5 in just a few weeks. I just can't believe it. I was just thinking about Valentine's day 5 years ago. I even blogged about it! Ken got me a sling and we were weeks away from having her. It was very exciting :)
Today she was very naughty at bedtime. I sat her down on my lap and had a talk with her. Afterwards I said, "Do you know that Mommy still loves you?" She looked up and said, "You do?" I told her I would love her forever no matter what she did. I want her to be a good girl, but no matter what she did I would still love her. I also told her that Daddy, John Paul and Leo would always love her, and most importantly, God would always love her and always forgive her if she asks Him. Then I told her how happy we were when she came into our family. She said, "Were you sad before I got here?" I told her we were, and she said "Did you pray for me?" I told her we did. She got a big smile on her face. Then she said, "And I prayed for John Paul and Leo! And now I'm asking God for a baby sister! I think God knows I have enough brothers." :) (No baby sister yet, in case any of y'all are wondering!)
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Before and after
Big boy bed style!
As you can see he liked to have a TON of stuff in his crib!
Look at that face!! Is he thrilled or what? He got bunk beds, new bedding, bed rails, and his room moved all around. He's up there right now for his first nap in his big boy bed... so far so good!
Madeleine also got new bedding which she loves! I can't believe we have two kids in big kid beds, and can't believe we have bunk beds in our house!!
As you can see he liked to have a TON of stuff in his crib!
Madeleine also got new bedding which she loves! I can't believe we have two kids in big kid beds, and can't believe we have bunk beds in our house!!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Mommy daughter day didn't happen
Well we were supposed to fly to Philly for the day on Saturday to visit our good friends. Ken got home from his gig at 2:30 and said the roads were terrible and he thought maybe we shouldn't go. I got up at 4am and looked at the roads outside, and decided to try it anyway. So I got ready, got Madeleine up, went to the airport, got breakfast, got on the plane, and sat there. And sat there. And sat there. We got de-iced and then the captain came on and said that there was something wrong at the Philly airport and they were working on fixing it. They said they weren't planning on leaving for another hour and 50 minutes. We were already pushed back from the gate, but I decided then that if we got back to the gate we were getting off the plane. Since we were flying standby, if there were cancellations there is no way we'd get back on a plane in Philly. About half an hour later I was really HOPING we were going to go back to the gate. We finally did, so we got off the plane. Whew! Later we found out that our flight home, which was supposed to land at 10 something, didn't get here until 1am something. That is if we even GOT on that flight. I could not imagine leaving Leo for longer than a day, especially because I only have a 2 day supply of milk at any given time. We might try again next weekend ;)
Madeleine was SUPER on the plane and in the airport, and I had a great time with her. I think we need to do more things like this since so much attention goes to her brothers.
Anyway, it's a good thing we got home because today Leo and John Paul woke up with colds. John Paul kept looking worse and worse through the day, we gave him two breathing treatments and he was still wheezing and had a barking cough and a fever so I took him to the ER. (Our favorite ER in town, we've been to all 3 multiple times.) He got another breathing treatment, steroids, a big stuffed snake, a homemade fleece blanket, about 50 stickers and 4 red popsicles. He was having a great time (except for the rectal thermometer!) Also a doctor and a nurse both said he talked better than their 3 year olds! They all loved him. He was feeling much better by the time we left a few hours later. Whew! If y'all need me I'll be laying on the couch.
Madeleine was SUPER on the plane and in the airport, and I had a great time with her. I think we need to do more things like this since so much attention goes to her brothers.
Anyway, it's a good thing we got home because today Leo and John Paul woke up with colds. John Paul kept looking worse and worse through the day, we gave him two breathing treatments and he was still wheezing and had a barking cough and a fever so I took him to the ER. (Our favorite ER in town, we've been to all 3 multiple times.) He got another breathing treatment, steroids, a big stuffed snake, a homemade fleece blanket, about 50 stickers and 4 red popsicles. He was having a great time (except for the rectal thermometer!) Also a doctor and a nurse both said he talked better than their 3 year olds! They all loved him. He was feeling much better by the time we left a few hours later. Whew! If y'all need me I'll be laying on the couch.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Big week for Leo
Leo had a surgeon appointment on Monday. We got the date for his surgery, March 12. Also, Dr. S told us that we needed to get rid of his paci, because if we try to do everything at once (surgery, no more bottle, no more paci) it would be traumatic for him. So I came home that day and threw them all away. I had been dreading getting rid of it and putting it off, because he had NEVER gone to sleep without it. He is such a great sleeper, I was terrified he wouldn't sleep and start waking up at night again. He probably cried for 3 minutes that day before his nap, and then slept for 2 hours! Then that night he laid right down in his crib with NO crying! It's been 4 days and he is still a wonderful sleeper and the best baby who ever lived! I cannot BELIEVE it. People must have been praying for him because it was so easy.
Leo also took his first steps this week! He has taken about 4 or 5 steps and practices and gets better every day. He still crawls super fast! He is eating so well. He turned a corner with his cup too, and his speech therapist was really happy with his progress this week. She said two weeks ago she didn't think he was quite ready for surgery (with drinking from a cup being the goal) but now he is! If they called me next week and said they had an opening, and everyone could get time off work, I would go for it. I actually think it would be easier for me if we had little notice, than if I have to wait almost 2 more months.
In the waiting room at the surgeon, there were several kids there with their parents who had cleft lip repairs. There was a 20ish girl, a teenage boy, about an 8 year old boy and also a sibling set adopted from China who both had cleft lips and palates (adopted siblings.) The older boy had already had his repairs, and looked great. The younger girl they JUST adopted a week ago, and this was her first appointment with Dr. S. She had just turned 3. I talked to her mom just for a minute before the nurse called us back. I asked her how the surgery was. She said that there was a lot of blood coming out of his nose and mouth, she wasn't expecting it to be that bad. But she said her son was ready to go home that day! And that he bounced back so quick. It was really neat to see a young boy and a teenage boy with Leo's same issue, being totally normal kids. He is going to be fine! That made me feel good.
So, best case scenario, Leo will go home the next morning if he is eating and drinking. If he refuses to eat and drink, they'll have to keep him there til he does. So everyone pray that he does! He will eat soft foods for 4 weeks, and wear arm restraints for 2-3 weeks, then gradually add more foods. The arm restraints are padded and wrap around his arms so he can't bend them and put things in his mouth. He won't be happy about it but we'll just have to try to make him as happy as possible for those few weeks.
On another note, Madeleine and I are having a girls day out tomorrow, and Ken is having a boys day in. More details later on that :)
Leo also took his first steps this week! He has taken about 4 or 5 steps and practices and gets better every day. He still crawls super fast! He is eating so well. He turned a corner with his cup too, and his speech therapist was really happy with his progress this week. She said two weeks ago she didn't think he was quite ready for surgery (with drinking from a cup being the goal) but now he is! If they called me next week and said they had an opening, and everyone could get time off work, I would go for it. I actually think it would be easier for me if we had little notice, than if I have to wait almost 2 more months.
In the waiting room at the surgeon, there were several kids there with their parents who had cleft lip repairs. There was a 20ish girl, a teenage boy, about an 8 year old boy and also a sibling set adopted from China who both had cleft lips and palates (adopted siblings.) The older boy had already had his repairs, and looked great. The younger girl they JUST adopted a week ago, and this was her first appointment with Dr. S. She had just turned 3. I talked to her mom just for a minute before the nurse called us back. I asked her how the surgery was. She said that there was a lot of blood coming out of his nose and mouth, she wasn't expecting it to be that bad. But she said her son was ready to go home that day! And that he bounced back so quick. It was really neat to see a young boy and a teenage boy with Leo's same issue, being totally normal kids. He is going to be fine! That made me feel good.
So, best case scenario, Leo will go home the next morning if he is eating and drinking. If he refuses to eat and drink, they'll have to keep him there til he does. So everyone pray that he does! He will eat soft foods for 4 weeks, and wear arm restraints for 2-3 weeks, then gradually add more foods. The arm restraints are padded and wrap around his arms so he can't bend them and put things in his mouth. He won't be happy about it but we'll just have to try to make him as happy as possible for those few weeks.
On another note, Madeleine and I are having a girls day out tomorrow, and Ken is having a boys day in. More details later on that :)
Sunday, January 15, 2012
He always hugs me when I get him out of his crib
Also, please check out my new favorite blog, Sugar Pie Blessings, on my sidebar. She's one of my oldest and dearest friends and has amazing writing talent!
Monday, January 09, 2012
Surgery
I know it's coming up. Most of the time I try not to think about it. But it is NEXT month. It will be here before we know it.
Leo went to the ENT this week to see if she recommended ear tubes at the same time as his cleft repair. While we were there she diagnosed an ear infection (I had NO IDEA!) and recommended tubes. It only takes 10 minutes during his other surgery, and anesthesia is the biggest risk. He'll already be under so it is fine with me.
The nurse practitioner came in and asked when his surgery was, I said February (that's all I know so far and it's making me annoyed they haven't called me yet). She said, "Are you excited??" I was like.... "Uh, I am excited to get it over with, but not looking forward to that day and the recovery." She said, "Oh he'll breeze right through it."
I don't quite believe that, but it was nice to hear a medical professional say it.
The truth is, he has to get the top of his mouth peeled like a banana, bone, muscle and skin stitched together, anesthesia, arm restraints for 3 weeks, soft foods for 4 weeks, and no more bottle and paci afterwards. He doesn't even know anything is wrong, yet one day he'll wake up and go to the hospital and everything will be different, he'll be in pain, and he won't get two of the most comforting things ever again. This makes me very sad and scared. I'm actually having some anxiety about it.
However, when it's over and he's healed, he will be able to eat so much more food, he'll be able to drink out of a cup, learn how to suck, learn how to talk, and start his normal life.
Sometimes I wonder WHY WHY WHY did this have to happen to him (to us?) But, then I think, what an honor it was to be chosen by God to be his mother! He trusted me enough to give me a child who needs some extra care. I will always do my very best to take care of him. He's changed all our lives for the better. I'm so happy we have him, cleft and all.
So everyone, please pray us through this. I know that Grandma will be praying for him up in heaven too, and that definitely gives me comfort. I'm hoping we get this thing scheduled soon.
Leo went to the ENT this week to see if she recommended ear tubes at the same time as his cleft repair. While we were there she diagnosed an ear infection (I had NO IDEA!) and recommended tubes. It only takes 10 minutes during his other surgery, and anesthesia is the biggest risk. He'll already be under so it is fine with me.
The nurse practitioner came in and asked when his surgery was, I said February (that's all I know so far and it's making me annoyed they haven't called me yet). She said, "Are you excited??" I was like.... "Uh, I am excited to get it over with, but not looking forward to that day and the recovery." She said, "Oh he'll breeze right through it."
I don't quite believe that, but it was nice to hear a medical professional say it.
The truth is, he has to get the top of his mouth peeled like a banana, bone, muscle and skin stitched together, anesthesia, arm restraints for 3 weeks, soft foods for 4 weeks, and no more bottle and paci afterwards. He doesn't even know anything is wrong, yet one day he'll wake up and go to the hospital and everything will be different, he'll be in pain, and he won't get two of the most comforting things ever again. This makes me very sad and scared. I'm actually having some anxiety about it.
However, when it's over and he's healed, he will be able to eat so much more food, he'll be able to drink out of a cup, learn how to suck, learn how to talk, and start his normal life.
Sometimes I wonder WHY WHY WHY did this have to happen to him (to us?) But, then I think, what an honor it was to be chosen by God to be his mother! He trusted me enough to give me a child who needs some extra care. I will always do my very best to take care of him. He's changed all our lives for the better. I'm so happy we have him, cleft and all.
So everyone, please pray us through this. I know that Grandma will be praying for him up in heaven too, and that definitely gives me comfort. I'm hoping we get this thing scheduled soon.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
And I was worried about the third kid getting attention
Madeleine: Mommy, Baby Leo is the most wonderfulest baby in the world.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Madeleine reading on my new kindle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peEYj7Zd9dc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
Robin hood
I'll write about the trip to Alabama and Grandmas funeral soon but right now I'm exhausted. So here's a picture of John Paul's Christmas present I made for your viewing pleasure.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Seriously.
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Sunday, December 25, 2011
May the souls of the faithful departed
Through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
What a day to enter heaven, Grandma. We sure will miss you.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
I guess we're going couch shopping .
Her: We don't REALLY need new couches.
Him: You're not the one who has to prop it back up on the paint can every night!
Him: You're not the one who has to prop it back up on the paint can every night!
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Set your DVRs!
My good friends Cathy and Joe will be on the TODAY SHOW tomorrow because of this awesome story!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Letdown.
I was thinking Awwww, What's she going to write??
:)
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Big boy bed???
So, John Paul will be 3 in April. He's climbed out of his crib a few times now. Last night Ken heard him crying and went to his room, started opening the door and John Paul opened it before him. A few days ago he climbed out of his crib and hurt his knee and got a big bruise on his head (right before Christmas pictures.) I was hoping to keep him in the crib as long as possible, but I don't want to hurt himself. What age do you move your kids into big kid beds? We moved Madeleine about 3 months before she turned 3. (She was potty trained then, and one day she climbed out of her crib, went potty, and climbed back in!) So we moved her to my old daybed. At first we put a rail up but after awhile we put it down. She also got out of her bed quite a bit when we first moved her, and she'd get into a lot of things in her room. She took things off the wall, got into her closet, climbed up on the dresser, etc. So I instituted a rule - if you get out of your bed, no tv the next day. Took about 3 days of zero TV before she decided she'd stay in bed. And really, they only watch 2 shows a day so I didn't think it was that bad of a punishment - obviously it was! I'm not sure that'll work for John Paul... and I'm also afraid he will wander the house at night. He can get through the gate at the top of the stairs.
We don't have another bed for him, so I really want my dad and Ken to build this for him, and eventually Leo. They LOVE bunk beds. I'm not ready for this! He's been potty trained since June but wears a diaper to bed. Decisions, decisions....
We don't have another bed for him, so I really want my dad and Ken to build this for him, and eventually Leo. They LOVE bunk beds. I'm not ready for this! He's been potty trained since June but wears a diaper to bed. Decisions, decisions....
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Slacker!
Me that is!
I was hoping to have some first birthday party pics to share today, but Leo woke up crying all last night (of course Ken was gone at a gig) and then had a fever this morning so we postponed his party til next week.
I can't believe my baby boy is going to be one is just a few days. With the other two kids I was sad when they turned one. With Leo, I'm not sad one bit! I'm so proud and happy with how healthy and chunky and happy he is. And I'm SO happy I've been pumping for almost a year, and he has never had to be supplemented. That was a huge personal goal of mine, and I honestly can't believe I did it!
Last weekend we went down to see the big tree on the Soldiers and Sailors monument in downtown Indy. Ken and I got engaged there 10 years ago exactly - no pictures then, but here we are now.... we've multiplied :)
The one picture I got of the kids in their Thanksgiving turkey shirts I made - John Paul looks thrilled.
For Leo's birthday I wanted to make him something special. Madeleine and John Paul are getting one homemade Christmas gift each but I didn't have an idea for Leo, until his speech therapist said something. She wants him to be really good at pointing at things, and suggested books with one picture on each page to practice pointing. I decided to make him an "I spy" quilt - each square on the front has a different picture so we can play "I spy" and find all the pictures and he can practice how to point. I seriously thought of buying one on etsy.com but then decided to make it myself. I wanted to make the back flannel so he would like sleeping with it. I'm also kind of hoping he gets attached to it like John Paul and his "kiki" so giving up the paci will be easier! I was extremely happy with how it came out!
We got our tree up this weekend, and Nativity Set and stockings, and advent wreath and calendar. The kids are enjoying watching Christmas movies and I'm spending most of my time keeping John Paul away from the tree. Leo's been pretty good with it so far! It looks very Christmasy around here, I love it!
I was hoping to have some first birthday party pics to share today, but Leo woke up crying all last night (of course Ken was gone at a gig) and then had a fever this morning so we postponed his party til next week.
I can't believe my baby boy is going to be one is just a few days. With the other two kids I was sad when they turned one. With Leo, I'm not sad one bit! I'm so proud and happy with how healthy and chunky and happy he is. And I'm SO happy I've been pumping for almost a year, and he has never had to be supplemented. That was a huge personal goal of mine, and I honestly can't believe I did it!
Last weekend we went down to see the big tree on the Soldiers and Sailors monument in downtown Indy. Ken and I got engaged there 10 years ago exactly - no pictures then, but here we are now.... we've multiplied :)
The one picture I got of the kids in their Thanksgiving turkey shirts I made - John Paul looks thrilled.
For Leo's birthday I wanted to make him something special. Madeleine and John Paul are getting one homemade Christmas gift each but I didn't have an idea for Leo, until his speech therapist said something. She wants him to be really good at pointing at things, and suggested books with one picture on each page to practice pointing. I decided to make him an "I spy" quilt - each square on the front has a different picture so we can play "I spy" and find all the pictures and he can practice how to point. I seriously thought of buying one on etsy.com but then decided to make it myself. I wanted to make the back flannel so he would like sleeping with it. I'm also kind of hoping he gets attached to it like John Paul and his "kiki" so giving up the paci will be easier! I was extremely happy with how it came out!
We got our tree up this weekend, and Nativity Set and stockings, and advent wreath and calendar. The kids are enjoying watching Christmas movies and I'm spending most of my time keeping John Paul away from the tree. Leo's been pretty good with it so far! It looks very Christmasy around here, I love it!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Our trip to St. Francis
Today Leo and I traveled to my alma mater to attend Brian's funeral. We got there early and were able to see some old friends, see the campus, my old dorm and house I lived in for two years, the Newman Center, and I even took Leo on a date to the MT Cup, my favorite coffee house where I used to go on dates with Ken! Leo was very well behaved considering it was a LONG day and several hours in the car.
Here's the cottage right next door to the Newman Center where we lived. First year, 4 girls, second year, 5 girls. 1 and a half baths. It was fabulous :)
I'm so glad we went! May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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Here's the cottage right next door to the Newman Center where we lived. First year, 4 girls, second year, 5 girls. 1 and a half baths. It was fabulous :)
I'm so glad we went! May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Brian
My friend from college, Brian Eckstein, died suddenly on Monday. I lived at the Newman center at Ball State for 2 years, and played guitar and piano with him every Sunday. He was legally blind, but one of the most amazing musicians I've ever met. He was kind and loving and hilarious. I got to see him a few months ago when I went up for the music minister's last mass at that parish. I got to hear him lead the music and play piano, then a bunch of old friends got pizza together. I am SO glad I got to see him that last time. One of my best memories is of him playing one of my favorite songs, Let the Peace of God Reign. He would always play that for me and told me that song always reminded me of him. I'll write more after the funeral, but someone took a video of him leading the recessional hymn on Sunday, the day before he died. Here are the lyrics of the song he sang:
John tells us of city so high up above
LIGHTS OF THE CITY
John tells us of city so high up above
Where we'll be in a Spirit of Love
We'll meet over yonder in that heavenly place
There, we'll see each other face to face
I can almost see the Lights of The City
Shinin' down on me
I can almost see the Lights of The City
Forever Lord, I shall be free
John tells us of a time when time will be no more
In the day when the trumpet shall blow
We'll meet over yonder in that heavenly place
There, we'll see each other face to face
(chorus)
John tells us of a water which will bring us to life
For when we drink, we will thirst no more
For when we're born in that water, a heavenly place
There we'll see each other face to face
And here is the video: Brian is the one in the blue shirt in the middle
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Leo's surgeon appointment
First of all, another view of this boy standing. He stands constantly now! He just got it. He's trying to cruise around furniture already, and standing straight up even holding on with just one hand. He's already causing destruction! The other day Madeleine was eating a bowl of grapes on the couch and he came over, stood up, and threw the bowl on the ground, scattering grapes everywhere. And now he can get the small box of little, miscellaneous toys off the toy box and scatter it everywhere! Silly boy!
So the surgeon said that we could do the surgery in February. He'll be 14 months. He is going to see an ENT in January to evaluate whether to do ear tubes at the same time, while he's already under. Even though he has only had 2 ear infections in his life (VERY good for a cleft baby!) they might do it to prevent future ear infections - apparently the eustacian tubes are attached to the muscles they pull together during the surgery, causing them to flatten out, so kids can have trouble with ear infections afterwards. He's also going back to the surgeon in January, and they'll tell us everything we need to know. I do know that he will have to stay in the hospital probably one or two nights, until he starts eating there. He said some kids refuse to eat or drink and then they have to stay longer. He'll have to wear arm restraints for THREE WEEKS to prevent him from putting anything in his mouth. And he also has to eat very soft foods for 4 weeks - off the side of a spoon.
This is all really scary, especially thinking about him being in pain and recovery being hard on the whole family. But after it's over, he'll be able to start making lots more sounds, learn words, and eat a LOT more different kinds of food than he can now. I'm definitely looking forward to that. I'm trying to focus on that instead of thinking of him being scared and in pain. Poor baby. :(
So the surgeon said that we could do the surgery in February. He'll be 14 months. He is going to see an ENT in January to evaluate whether to do ear tubes at the same time, while he's already under. Even though he has only had 2 ear infections in his life (VERY good for a cleft baby!) they might do it to prevent future ear infections - apparently the eustacian tubes are attached to the muscles they pull together during the surgery, causing them to flatten out, so kids can have trouble with ear infections afterwards. He's also going back to the surgeon in January, and they'll tell us everything we need to know. I do know that he will have to stay in the hospital probably one or two nights, until he starts eating there. He said some kids refuse to eat or drink and then they have to stay longer. He'll have to wear arm restraints for THREE WEEKS to prevent him from putting anything in his mouth. And he also has to eat very soft foods for 4 weeks - off the side of a spoon.
This is all really scary, especially thinking about him being in pain and recovery being hard on the whole family. But after it's over, he'll be able to start making lots more sounds, learn words, and eat a LOT more different kinds of food than he can now. I'm definitely looking forward to that. I'm trying to focus on that instead of thinking of him being scared and in pain. Poor baby. :(
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