What is this feeling?

What is this feeling? So sudden and new…

Justin and I went out- ALONE for the second time since Brother was born.

The first time was a disaster. We went to see Sherlock Holmes, brother was 6 months or so- he went to sleep on time- woke up 20 mins later and screamed till we got home.
It. was. Horrible!

Well last night we tried again. I stressed the whole time.

Turns out he was fantastic. Eat like a monster, slept like the dead…. I almost don't know how to handle it!

Almost.

I guess 10.5 months and 6 months is a huge difference.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the night out! 

PS Anyone know where I can buy the soda, in bulk, in the second photo?

Cystoscopy

A had her Cystoscopy Sting Procedure. 

(her first surgery was 2 1/2 years ago on her kidneys and bladder)

She did fantastic. The night before Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Mark gave her a blessing, and today went fabulous.

Our biggest concern was her fasting. She had a massive snack the night before at 8:30- she then only could drink apple jucie when she woke up, until 9:30am then nothing until her surgery at 1:30 pm. 

If you dont know A personally- this is a huge deal. She eats, constantly. She usually eats a huge breakfast followed by a granola bar. Then a snack or 2 before lunch… she is such a hungry toddler she eats tons. But the Lord blessed her, she only mentioned she was hungry three times… it was a huge blessing for her to not think about food consistently.

We arrived at 11:30 am for her pre-op and tests. Aunt Krista came to the hospital and took Sister K and Brother for us. Thanks so much for the help Auntie! A's tests and pre-op took till about 12:30 then we waited.

Total time in surgery- 10 minutes

She watched Dora, colored, played with Daddy and Mommy. 

Then we headed into the OR. In fact the anesthesiologist had a daughter with the same name as A, and This time Mommy got to go with her, we went into the operating room, and she breathed in a Bubble Gum Flavored gas! She was a little nervous laying on the table with all those nurses and equipment around, but we distracted her talking about Dora and Pinkolisious! As I was leaving the OR to go into the waiting room the nurse goes "yes we got her!"  I looked at the nurse funny, and she says "We all heard about the cute little blond coming in and we all wanted her! She is so adorable!"

Dr Cook came and talked to us at 2:15- we got good news and fair news. Her bladder and kidneys look great from her first surgery. She did have UV reflux grade 3- however it was on both sides, which is not good. We had thought she just had it on 1 side, but it was both. Luckily he fixed the UV reflux and didn't have to do anything more invasive then that!

By 2:30 we got paged back to Day Surgery and she was awake. She peed right away, which is a fantastic thing, but after that she cried for about 20 mins.. But once she calmed down we got to go home! By the time we walked out to the van with all the kids, she was already yelling at K and ready to eat!

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support.

Snapshots

The pots and pans cupboard is emptied daily. Usually by Brother but the girls have been known to get in on the action.

I love this photo at Cafe Rio in Utah. Brother LOVED the inside of the wraps, he kept grabbing daddies food!

We have drivin a TON these last couple weeks!

Grr….. this little stink has colored all over her face TWICE now in the last week. The first time she just got a talking to, I thought she might have done in not thinking about it…. the second time she had to through her blue marker away… that sure hit her hard.

Mmmmm Frozen Yogurt!

This 4 year old is quickly learning that she doesn't need the same attention as her littler siblings. She is getting older but she still wants the baby attention her brother gets. So I have been trying to give her more "big girl" attention so she knows that talking like a baby, throwing tantrums and scream crying is not as appropriate way for her to get my attention.

Saying family prayers with Daddy.

Brother can know pull himself up at the big Living Room window. He loves it there!

Zoo

The Easter Bunny was sure good to the girls!!

Ok- truce- when we decided High River was the best thing for us right now, I knew this summer was going to be all about THE ZOO!!

Our first trip was soo great.

Just the kids and Mommy.

We did it Mommies way, Brother was the only one in a stroller and the girls walked the whole way.
We went for 3 hours, the perfect amount of time for us.

We stood and listened for a minute while a Zoo Worker talked to a school group about the fish in the Hippo tank. The fish eat the Hippo Poo, the girls think that is hilarious. My favorite think to remember is the look in K's eyes and the way she delightfully says "they eat Hippo Poop!"

What is with this Kangaroo? All kids want there photo taken in it… oh well.

A Snake in the cage. K really really wanted to see spiders, but I couldn't find them, do they have them? She had to settle for a snake. Brother was so good, he sat in the stroller, he really really likes this stroller, and when he got fussy I would give him a carrot and he would happily chew on it forever.

Have you seen the gorilla signs around the Zoo? They are hilarious. We stood and watched these guys the longest.

This peacock was blocking the door and it took a lot of convincing to get them to walk by.
By the time we got back to the van the girls were exhausted. They napped soo well that afternoon!

All in all, all three of us are looking forward to MANY more trips to the zoo with and without other friends! PS. Come join us for a visit!

Easy Flower Pens.

Tuesday was a slow day. Ah Bliss.

The girls, however, did not agree. They were wanting another play date with cousins, or easter egg hunt, or a trip to calgary with grandma- alas they had to deal with a day at home.

It was nice to do our daily routine. Up with grandma and grandpa, breakfast with grandma, play with brother for a while till he naps, then big kid play or a movie until he wakes, then more free play, lunch followed by naps, then our craft or activity of the day, supper, rest time and bed!

Oh it was great to be slow!

We even did a super easy craft, and the girls have been playing with it non stop.

Flowers, pens and electrical tape- VoLLA!

Here is her first drawing with a flower. "Mommy take a picture so Daddy can see my big whale and my own name"

After our craft it was so nice outside! The girls payed for 2 hours having a great time, Brother was major bummed Mommy stayed inside.

Easter Weekend

Thursday,Friday, Saturday, Sunday- Easter long weekend

Beware Photo Overload.

For our activity after naps on Thursday we made Egg-cicles and Easter cards!

The site I found this, used something healthily like Fruit Juice. Well the girls have been a Root Beer kick, so used that instead!

As we made the Easter cards, found here, K had lots of practice writing her name, and so I thought I would write A's name (all 10 letters) and have her trace it. A DID AMAZING.  Considering how long her name is, she did it like 4 times!

I love watching K write her name!

The Eggcicles were a hit!

Friday we joined a High River Mom Group for a Easter Egg Hunt and a Potluck Lunch.

Hello Sister Kacey Browning (in the Blue) and Sister Kayliegh Court (sitting with baby on her lap)

The Mom in charge did a super smart thing. Because of the age range of children and the AMOUNT of kids, she gave everyone a slip of paper with a list. Like 2 red eggs, 2 blue eggs, 1 green egg, 1 orange egg…ect. It was very smart and the kids then showed their eggs to get MORE treats!

It was really chilly. The girls were happy Mommy had them wear their hoodies AND coats. It was so cold Mommy left Brother at home with Grandma and Grandpa!

Showing our eggs. It was a great hunt, and the girls got tons of candy!

That afternoon we headed into Grandma Moxley's house to dye MORE eggs!

As always it was great to chill with cousins for the day, and K sure takes her egg dying seriously!

Oh Brother you look Dashing in that purple button up!

Aunt Sherliyn even brought cookies to decorate after the eggs were dyed! Thanks Aunty!

Then Saturday morning the EASTER BUNNY came to our house! He was sooo sneaky, he was running behind on his route so he snuck in while the girls were eating Breakfast!

He hid the eggs too, without the girls even noticing!

The Easter Bunny brought a stuffy for each, a zoo pass, a balloon for the girls and a Polly Pocket!

AND then Uncle Mark and his girlfriend Lindsey came over to roll Easter Eggs BUT the Easter Bunny had made a quick stop at Uncle Marks and dropped off some pencils for the girls.

Then we bundled up and went rolling!

A went running down the hill after her egg, and got going a little too fast. She wiped out like 4 or 5 times, but she just would jump up and keep running!

We showed Brother what to do, and by the end he was rolling right along with the girls!

Sunday we went to Church- of course in new Easter dresses!

Then for Sunday Easter Dinner Lindsey and her family had us over for Dinner!

The girls helped with the icing…. I am pretty sure they licked a bit of every cupcake. Turned out no one minded… but me.

The girls really like Lindsey!

Brother had a great time, the house was totally not baby proof, so he cause as much havoc as he could!

Thanks to Janice who made these adorable Bunny Buns! I think they may have to become a Easter Tradition!

Another great Easter Weekend! I look forward to many many many more great years of this!