Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter 2011

Easter was three times exciting this year, due to the addition of Cale!

Here he is on Good Friday in his "Somebunny loves me" outfit.



The back view of the same outfit


Emmalee coloring eggs


Tori coloring eggs


Dad and Cale while the girls were coloring eggs


Tori on Easter morning


Emmalee on Easter morning


Tori all dressed up for church


Emmalee all dressed up for church


Cale smiling before church (he wasn't smiling once we got there...)


My three loves on Easter morning



Gamma, Pappi, and all seven grand kids


Cale in his "just hatched" shirt


It was a great first Easter for Cale and a great Easter overall for all of us!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tori Turns 4

One of the things I love the most about Tori is that she's all about breaking the mold. She doesn't care about what most 4-year-olds would do for their birthdays, she wanted a pajama party for hers because she LOVES her jammies. So of course, we obliged her. We had a party with family where the kids (and some adults) wore their p.j.s. It was so much fun! Here are some pics from the day.

The treat "bags"



Tori helping me make cake pops


The finished product


Emmalee helping with the cake pops


Emmalee, Tori, and Emma in the pajamas before the party started


Tori's birthday cake was shaped like a bed


She was a bit shy about all the attention...


as you can see here


She had school on her actual birthday, so this is what she chose to wear.


Isn't she precious?!?

---------------------------------------------

My 4 favorite things about Tori at 4:

1. Her absolute LOVE for life

2. Her smile

3. The way she loves her brother and her sister

4. Her giggle


Happy birthday Tori Faith!! We love you so much!!!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Blind Faith: Take 2

So Cale had his 6 week check up on March 17. I fully expected to go in, get his stats, talk about his development, and then leave. However, I was completely blindsided when the dr. asked if I had received a copy of his newborn screening results from the state. I had not. He acted surprised, then told me that Cale's hemoglobin levels came back abnormal. He said, "It is probably nothing, but..." This was followed by, "Don't look this up on the computer because everything you read will be bad and scare you." Apparently he doesn't know me as well as I thought he did because, of course, the FIRST thing I am going to do is look it up. He was right...

What we are looking at in terms of abnormal reporting is called hemoglobinopathy. We have to retest Cale at 4 months (per state recommendation) and wait to see if it comes back abnormal again. Duane and I will also have to be tested. There is no history of blood disorders on either side of the family, that we know of. However, we will both be tested, as this is a genetic condition. If it comes back abnormal, then we have to begin genetic testing to see exactly what it is and if he is just a carrier or if he actually has the blood disorder. Waiting until he is 4 months is the most difficult part for me. I feel like everything about my pregnancy and now his short little life has been "wait and see". I am not very good at waiting for the unknown, but I suppose we are going to have to do it again. Right now I am holding on to the fact that he seems perfect, is developing on target, and God's promise that He won't give me anything more than I can handle.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Two Months


At 2 months you:

*Smile often and really big

*Love to be held

*Love to spend lots of quality time with Mommy at night

*Would sleep lots better if we let you be a tummy sleeper

*Hold your head up really well during tummy time

*Love to play with your hands

*Coo randomly and try so hard to respond to us when we talk to you

*Laugh-it is such a beautiful sound

*Grow, grow, grow


You are an amazing addition to our family, and we can't imagine our lives without you!