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!

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?!?

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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!!!

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.

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!

Revolution Dance Competition

Emmalee started competitive dance this year and had her first competition on March 27 at The Music Hall in Kansas City. It was a bit emotional for me because my baby was dancing on the same stage as The Nutcracker is performed. How awesome is that?!?! She handled herself with such grace and style; I couldn't be more proud! She and her group took first place in both dances and received a platinum rating, which is the highest you can receive. Their teachers were very impressed that they scored so high with this being the first time that the majority of them had competed! Here are a few pics from the day. Emmalee backstage before "Tea Party"

Getting ready to perform "Tea Party"

Before "Cha Cha"

A close up of my tiny dancer

Daddy and Emmalee sharing a snack before the awards ceremony

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We are excited for the next competition and for her future with Shapes Dance and Acro competitive dancers!

6 Weeks

Cale had his 6 week check up today. He is growing quite nicely... He is on target developmentally and, as expected, hated his 3 shots. So did Mommy.

His stats:

Length-22 inches 50th percentile

Weight-10 pounds 50th percentile

Head Circumfrence-15 inches 25th percentile

We are STILL loving every minute of this little guy!!

Mutual

After just 4 short weeks at home with our newest bundle of joy, I have to return to work on March 2. I spent most of today crying when I would think about it.

Apparently the feeling is mutual!!!