Fun Friday!

Today we decided to do something new and fun, so we headed to Ko.hl's Children's Museum in Glenview.  And I have to say...it was a little disappointing.  It was so busy and crazy!  I was literally holding Abigail by her shirt to not lose her.  And we had to wait in lines (like 10 minutes an exhibit) to play in areas.  There were so many school groups there..and so many nannies!  Now I've been the teacher with my classroom and I've been the nanny, so being the mom was a whole new experience.  The kids were running around unsupervised and were rude.  Abigail constantly got knocked down by kids who wanted to do what she was doing.  And there was no one there to correct the kids.  It was pretty amazing...shocking...frustrating!  So I think this crazy day may have warped my opinion of the museum. 

The museum has A LOT to do there..but I think it's better for older kids (like 3-5).  It's a lot of imaginative play...and a lot of learning (things to read, etc).  That's why I still LOVE LOVE LOVE Dupage Children's Museum.  It's more age appropriate for Abigail at this age!  Anyways, after lunch, the museum emptied out a little and we were able to enjoy some of the activities.  We still had a great day at the museum...they have a lot of great exhibits.  Abigail enjoyed making pretend pizza, going grocery shopping, playing in the water, and playing in the pretend house.   I look forward to going back when it's a little emptier (like a Monday because teachers hate Monday field trips) and when Abigail is a little older.  Also, it will be nice when Caitlin is older because I couldn't get the stroller into the rooms with the crowd, so I had to carry her.  Luckily, I had my sling so she was "slung" around!  Here are a few pictures from our day:

This reminds me of my days at Target!

Little Miss Checkout!

Abigail got a grocery list and we had to go find the items.  That was fun!

Enjoying the water area

This is how Caitlin explored the museum...in her sling!

Okay...here is my favorite part of the day!  I put Caitlin down in this "baby" area and I was reading Abigail a book and watching Caitlin.  I went to take a picture of her, and when she looked up and saw me, she gave me the biggest smile!  SHE RECOGNIZED ME!!!  I did it again to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and she smiled again!  SOY MILK...I love you!!!!!  Thank you for this happy baby!

Looking up...

and realizing it's me!!!  Ahhhh!

Yesterday we were stuck at home in the cold...here's a cute picture of her painting!

Hope you have a great weekend!!!!!

Catch Up...or should I say Ketchup...Time!

It's time for a little catch-up time with Abigail and Caitlin!!!!

Abigail is doing great potty training! She's basically fully potty trained, at least at home. No more accidents. She has even gone in the car and on errands with no accidents!!! Go Abigail! We still use Pull-Ups at night and when we are gone for a long time because...well, because I have enough going on and don't have the energy to deal with all the clean-ups too! But she's doing great..and it's so nice to not be putting diapers on her. However, she has already learned that if she wants my attention, she says she has to go "pee-pee on the potty"! Especially at bedtime, mealtime, or when I'm on the phone. She's smart!

Her vocabulary has really taken off! For example, every meal when I ask her what she wants, she says "ketchup!" From me, she gets it with like one meal a day, but from Daddy, she gets a bowl of ketchup when she asks for it. Literally, for lunch when I was gone, she had a bowl of ketchup. At least I found a healthier version of ketchup (the salt intake is insane). She also is a parrot and repeats everything. For example, she calls me "Honey" now. And if Caitlin is crying, she says "Sorry Charlie". She loves to put on "cheeks" (makeup) and "arms" (deodorant) when I'm getting ready! My favorite time of day is to listen to her prayers at night. She says the names so cute...especially "Aunt Julie, Aunt Joe, Aunt Katie, Miles (dog)" which she says in one breath like they are all one person! Everyone once in a while she'll throw a random thing into prayers and that's so cute!


We are going to enroll her in a music class in February because she loves to sing and dance! Right now, one of her favorites is "Pants on the Ground" (from American Idol). It's hilarious..we were signing it when she was going to the bathroom and she caught on! I will have to videotape this!

These pictures are actually ones I just downloaded off my phone from the fall...but I thought they were too cute not to share!

Last week we had a great visit with Great Grandma. Abigail really loves her...she will just sit in her lap and listen to stories or sing songs. She really doesn't just sit with anyone, so it's so special to see! Great Grandma also had a great time holding Caitlin. She rocked her for a good 15 minutes...it was so cute and peaceful!

This week I took the girls to the Children's Museum. We had a really great time! Caitlin loved to look at the lights and mirrors! Abigail had a great time, especially in the water area. We are definitely experiencing Cabin Fever in our house, so the museum is a great escape. We are actually also going to Kohl's Children's Museum this week. We are taking advantage of our member's pass!

Caitlin is also doing great! After our visit with the feeding specialist last week, we made some changes that seem to be really helping. Caitlin is now on Soy Formula. In addition, we use a thickening agent to thicken the milk. I think the combination, in addition to her medication, is helping. Basically, the medicine helps her reflux, the soy helps what we assume is lactose intolerance (Abigail had it too at that age), the thickening helps with the liquid coming back up and going down the wrong pipe (I think it's called asperating), and the thickening helps her feed better because she wasn't breathing when eating. This is what we hope is the magic combination. So far, while she still has her moments, this is a happy Caitlin.

She is much more observant...she loves to watch TV and mobiles. She is happiest when she is being held. She is only getting up once during the night! Right now she is still in our room, but this weekend Abigail is transitioning to her big girl bed (we bought her a toddler bed) and Caitlin will then transition to her own crib. She does nap in the crib! I'd like to say she's on a schedule of 3 naps a day, but she's more on a schedule of 1 real nap a day and 2 catnaps when we are out doing errands. I am hoping once she gets the crib to herself, she will be on a better schedule. She's so beautiful..she looks just like Abigail, but has a few different features. Her eyes are still so blue! Here's a happy picture of her this morning:

There's our family catch-up!!!!

Caitlin's Update

Miss Caitlin Elizabeth had her appointment with her feeding therapist today.  Her therapist works in the NICU (but didn't start here until right after Abigail left the NICU) and last night I went out for drinks with a family from the NICU and one of our favorite nurses, so the nurse talked to our therapist ahead of time and we got extra special treatment!  :)   Anyways, this lady (who we really like) thinks it's a feeding issue as well.  She realized that  Caitlin doesn't breath when she eats...her coordination of sucking and breathing isn't developed yet....and it sounds simple and you may wonder why we didn't notice this, but the truth is she does breath, just not often enough so she chokes. 

Anyways, long story short, for the next 48 hours, we are only bottle feeding (no formula though, just pumping) and using a preemie nipple on the bottle.  Rob and I were trained on how to feed her by reading her signs and basically every 5 or so seconds we have to stop the liquid flow and wait till she breathes, then give her more.  It's tedious, but she really thinks it's gonna help!  If this doesn't work, she gave us

some special stuff to thicken the milk and we'll see if it's thicker, if that helps.  So we are going to try this and get back in touch with her (She's actually leaving for a mission trip so we have her home number...people like to give us their home numbers)!   We hope this coordination develops...she sees this a lot with preemies (Abigail had this but she was so little and we expected it) and thinks this will help.  Rob and I aren't 100% sure this is the problem, but we are willing to try it and we really really hope this is the answer!  If this isn't the answer, then we will see a different Pediatric GI at Children's Memorial in Chicago.  In addition, we just have to continue to control her reflux because that's a seperate issue that is just adding to it!  For Caitlin's sake (and our sanity) we are praying this is the answer we have been looking for!

Other than that, Caitlin is starting to look around more and we are starting to get the cutest little smile!  During tummy time, she will hold her head up for a few seconds.  We expect a lot of progress once we get her breathing under control!!!  Here are two pics of our little lovebug!

Our Princess

Bring on the smiles!!!!

Dr Updates

The girls went the doctor this week for their 2 year/2 month checkups!  Both girls are looking good!  Here are the stats!

Abigail

Weight:  21lbs 1oz (1%)

Height:  35.5 inches (93%)

Height (1 yr to 2 yr)

Weight [1 yr to 2 yr...they wouldn't accept 3lbs 3oz as the birth weight :) ]

And yes...her weight cracks me up.  21 lbs???  She should still be facing backwards in her carseat!  This little bean of energy eats A LOT...and the dr. is actually happy with her weight gain.  2 whole pounds???  It's just her genetic makeup...and looks like Caitlin may follow in her footsteps!

Caitlin

Weight:  8lbs 12 oz (8%)

Height:  23 inches (83%)

Weight (birth-2 month)

Height (birth-2 months)

*Good thing I got a sewing machine for Xmas...once I learn to use it, I think I'm going to be hemming (or unhemming) a lot of pants for the girls...who makes clothes for such tall and skinny girls?

Also, Caitlin had her dr app't with the pediatric gastroentonologist at Children's Memorial this week.  The dr seems concerned with the same things we are concerned about (gagging when eating, congestion in chest, crying, etc).  He thinks it's related to how she's eating and isn't reflux. In fact, he said we could take her off her meds, but we will wait till our follow-up appt with him to do that. 

Caitlin is scheduled to see a feeding specialist next week to have a feeding evaluation (who even knew this job existed?).  He is hoping she'll notice something in the way that Caitlin eats which is causing her colic.  If not, then the next step would be to have x-rays to see if everything is going where it's supposed to go once she swallows it.  I am really hoping this feeding specialist will notice something easy to help Caitlin.  But we can't seem to every do things easy...between Abigail in the NICU, my high-risk pregnancy, and now this...wouldn't it be great to just be boring??  I like when the nurses give me directions around the hospital cause if it's there, I've probably been there! 

In GREAT news, Caitlin's crying has gotten so so so much better.  This week she seems to be a much happier girl who will lay and look around..which is something she never did till this week...if she was awake, she was crying.  It was funny though yesterday because the girls had their new babysitter who watches them when I work and she called me really concerned because Caitlin wouldn't stop crying.  She was so worried she had done something wrong...Poor Sitter.  And yes, I gave her a nice tip for the crying!!!

However, yesterday evening was wonderful.  The girls got bathes and they were both so happy and it was a wonderful family moment!  We can't wait for more of those...and for Caitlin's smile!!!!  We are so grateful that Caitlin seems to be more comfortable and hope this dr next week can get to the bottom of it!

On the potty-training front...we are having less success than hoped for.  We are going to stick with it..but our washing machine sure is getting tested!!!!  She really could care less...unless a toy is involved.  Yesterday after about 10 accidents, I put a My Little Pony up high and told her if she wanted it, she had to use the potty.  She used it like 5 minutes later, got the pony, and went back to having accidents.  That little stinker..she knows how to use it..now it's just a power struggle!  Luckily, a friend of mine from my mom's group is doing it this week too so we can talk about it...and may be having wine together soon to help our sanity!!!  We'll keep you posted!!!

Abigail's Bee-Day Party

We had a small birthday gathering for Abigail's 2nd birthday!  We decided to have a Bee Theme since Abigail has a slight obsession with bee's..and it was just cute!  Thank you to everyone who came!  I was so busy that I forgot to take pictures of all the guests, but we are so grateful for those who decided to spend their Saturday evening celebrating with Abigail!!!!

Her Bee Cupcake Cake

The family eating

This moment made the whole party worth it.  Abigail was in AWE as everyone sang Happy Birthday to her.  She just kept looking around..not sure what was going on.  It was so cute!  Since we had to cancel her 1st birthday, I'm so happy she got to have her big party!

Our family picture...yep, that's about right!  (And we have great news about Caitlin that involves less crying...more of that to come next post).

Abigail and Aunt Julie (Julie and Joe gave her the bday tiara and sash!)

Abigail with Grandma

Opening presents...between 2 days of birthday and 2 days of Xmas, she really is an expert now!  Thank you to everyone for all of the wonderful toys...most of which were opened and used by Rob's aunts before the end of the night!!!  We have some great ideas for Rob's aunts for Xmas...like a shopping cart!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Abigail!  We hope you had a great day!!!!  We love you!

Potty Party!

It's a Potty Party in our house!  That's right, we are in the midst of potty training.  I received a copy of the 3-Day Potty Training book.  Yesterday while out shopping, Abigail got some new undies and decided she wanted to wear them. So out of the blue, at 4pm yesterday we started the potty training.  We went through all 9 pairs of undies by 7pm! But this morning, she woke us up at 6am and told me she had to go to the potty...it's now 8am and she has gone on the potty 5 times (update, 6th time while typing) with no accidents.  Now, I know this isn't going to last all day and I'm sure there will be some accidents once she gets playing, but so far, we are off to a great start!  By Thursday, I hope we can go out in public without diapers!!!

Her new princess chair she got for her bday from Auntie MoMo and Uncle B is vinyl...makes for a perfect potty-training chair!!!  Lots of water in involved in potty training!

It's like the 80's revisited in our house!  Leg Warmers!!!  Since Abigail's in them...Caitlin joined the party!   Abigail insists on holding hands during pics!  So cute!

Miss Caitlin being a good sport with all the trips to the bathroom!

(Updates on Abigail's 2nd birthday party, the girl's dr app'ts, a trip to Monkey Joe's and Abigail's new name for me to come soon)

2 Months Old!

Time sure has flown by...2 months already!  It's really hard to remember what life was like without Caitlin (although I think I had smaller bags under my eyes)!  I think it's fair to say that Caitlin has had a rough 2 months of life.  She has what her pediatrician is calling an "abnormal" case of colic and reflux.  Basically it's "abnormal" because she cries all the time, where normal colic is usually 3 hours at the same time of day...and if you spent a day in our house, you'd understand why we'd do anything for 3 hours of crying...we are more like 8-12 hours of crying a day.  We feel terrible for her and are doing everything we can to help her.  She has seen her pediatrician so much that she actually gave us her home number so we can just call her directly!  We have tried different types of medicine, but don't seem to be finding the right combo.  The good news is the dr. doesn't think it's anything serious because Caitlin has been sleeping very good for us...she usually goes to sleep around 11 and gets up only 2-3 times during the night.  The dr said if it was more serious, she'd cry all night too!  However, in the last 2 weeks, Caitlin has not gained any weight at all (she lost 1 ounce and weights 8lbs 6 oz) so we have to figure this out soon. We are seeing a pediatric gastroentologist at Central Dupage next week and hoping he'll have some answers, or at least some suggestions to help.  The good news is colic usually disappears around 3 months (from the due date) so we technically only have 6 more weeks (maybe less) of this!

Caitlin is the sweetest baby!  She has the most beautiful big blue eyes (and yes, we think they will become brown like Abigail...but the pictures show the beauty of them) that light up our lives!  While we aren't getting smiles all the time, every once in a while, she'll give us a little mouth-open smile that makes our hearts melt...we can't wait till she feels better and the smiles come more and more!  She is our cuddle bug and loves to be close to us!  She's become my little buddy and I know I'm going to look back one day and miss the time when the only thing that made her happy was me holding her!  :)   Caitlin loves her paci, but what's so cute is if she doesn't have her paci, she sucks her middle fingers.  It's really cute, but we want to keep giving her the paci so she doesn't become a thumb sucker.  We hear it's much easier to break a kid of a paci than of sucking her thumb! But it's really cute to see her sucking her fingers!

We just love her more than anything and are so happy to have 2 amazing, sometimes loud, but wonderful months with her!

2 months

Blue Eyes

Our little snuggle bug

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Comparison Pics

Newborn in her seat

2 months in her seat

Newborn with her lamb

2 months with her lamb

We love you Caitlin!!!!!!!