Happy Birthday, Kramer!

Kramer turns 5 today!!!!! 

Over the weekend, we celebrated Kramer's 5th birthday with a doggie cookie!

Rob and I got Kramer a few months after we got married...and for the first 3 years of his life, Kramer was our baby....with LOTS of clothes!  He has a Bears jersey, letterman jacket, raincoat, numerous sweaters, fisherman vest, Christmas sweater (that lights up), numerous Halloween costumes, and more!!!  Although Kramer may get a little less attention know, I'm pretty sure Kramer thinks he hit the jackpot with the arrival of the girls.  There is food for him EVERYWHERE!  And plenty of garbage to get into when we leave.  And there is always someone to cuddle with!  Krazy Kramer may cause a little bit of trouble in our house..but he gives us a lot of love!!!!!!

Kramer has been such a great member of our family!  He wears lots of hats:

Best friend (who needed a haircut)

Nurse

Entertainer (and could this picture of Abigail be any funnier???  She dressed herself..can you tell?)

Pillow

Playmate

Armrest

One of the kids!

Happy 5th Birthday, Kramer!!! 

(And now that you are 5, we expect you to STOP going through the garbage!!!!!!  Sorry buddy, with age comes responsibility!)

Relaxation

With all that has been going on with Caitlin (read below for more details) we were ready for a weekend of R & R!  We headed up to the cabin after Caitlin's tests on Friday and spent Friday just spending time together hanging around.  It was wonderful!!!!!  Saturday we helped with all the tasks around the cabin...and enjoyed a few pop n' wines along the way!  Sunday we headed back and did some chores around the house, and just spent more time together.  It was a great family weekend!!!!  Here are a few pics...and I bet I'll have a couple more to post soon (hint, hint Nana and Papa)...

One of the big tasks of the weekend:  help with the bathroom.  Look at how great this bathroom looks!!!  Nana and Papa have done all the work, and it's beautiful!!!  We have a working toilet!  We were happy to be able to help, even if it was only a little bit!

Taking a much needed Bubble break!  Look at that girl go!

Caitlin and Daddy just hanging around!

Daddy and Papa put the pier in this weekend...yeah!  That's the official sign that spring is here in the Wennerstrom family!!!!! Abigail decided to get a closer look!

Caitlin Update:  On Friday, we took Caitlin in for her swallow study.  Luckily, it showed she has no major issues in her throat (we were expecting to see a hole or her aspirating).  Although we were a little surprised, we were very happy with the results!!!!  We were even able to see she was able to swallow thinner liquids now (and are sure she isn't choking anymore) so this weekend we began thinning out her formula.  She had a really great weekend...and we are praying she is outgrowing whatever this is.  While we were there, the speech/language path saw a couple things that concerned her (sounds of liquid in her lungs and indication of low oxygen levels while eating) and she wanted Caitlin to be admitted to the hospital for 23 hours so they can run a battery of tests.  We thought it was a for-sure thing for Monday (today) but as we are learning, nothing happens without authorizations and insurance!  So we are waiting to hear from our pediatrician what they want to do.  She had such a GREAT weekend that we'd hate to put her through this if we don't need to...but the concern of low oxygen while eating is something we want to make sure we follow up with either way.  This morning I tried boiling her water before adding it to her formula and it was the first time I can remember (EVER) that she didnt make the reflux sound, so maybe this will help.  And we may switch her to a prescription formula (which is just ridiculous priced...it would literaly run us $280/month for formula...who the heck is pricing this stuff...is it  made of gold??????) that may help because it has NO milk protein in it (even soy has some milk protein)....we would LOVE if the answer would be that easy.  So we will keep you posted, and in the mean time, we will enjoy our happy, easy going Caitlin today..who is babbling up a storm today! 

Tomorrow is a big day in our home...I'll give you a clue:  5!  Can you guess????  No giving the answer nana and papa!  Check back tomorrow for the answer!

EDIT:  I didn't realize that the #5 could also be a clue if we were expecting #3....NO...that is not it!!!  I promise....the #5 has nothing to do with a new family member...it has to do with a family member already here!  So no rumors that I'm pregnant....I can promise you that is NOT the surprise!!!!!

145 days....that's 5 Months!!!!!

Our baby is 5 months old today...and what a 5 months it has been!!!!  We wouldn't label these past 5 months as "peaceful" or "relaxing"...but we would label them as wonderful all the same!  Just looking at Caitlin's big, BLUE (who knows how long they will stay) eyes makes it all worth it!!!

So, what's Miss Caitlin Elizabeth up to????

We have been working a lot at tummy time,which is challenging (more on this below):

Caitlin is beginning to roll over!  Here are two action shots from today!  This is her belly to back roll, but she's also very close to getting her back to belly roll.

Miss Caitlin used to be a big talker, and then she stopped talking for a while...but it's coming back and it's as adorable as ever!  Today I got an action shot of her as she was "talking" to her friends...and giving them raspberries, which she just started doing today!!!!

Caitlin has also discovered her toes and likes to play with them while laying on her back!

As for feedings, she is still exclusively on Soy and seems to tolerate this better (which is sad because we have months of milk frozen which we won't be able to use...but this is best for her).  She still gets 2 types of reflux medicine 3 times a day.  She also still has to have her bottle thickened...she is not able to tolerate liquids, even if she's using a preemie bottle.  We are working with Central Dupage Hospital to figure out what is going on here.  Tomorrow she is having a swallow study performed (she'll drink a bottle with barium in it, and then they will x-ray her as she drinks to see what is going on when she swallows the food.)  They think she aspirates (the liquid comes back up) but are looking to see if there is a physical reason (hole in espophagus, etc) or what is going on.  More answers to come on our never-ending feeing saga tomorrow (we hope)!

In addition to the swallow study, she has seen a few doctors this week and today we had a great finding (if something had to be wrong, this is a great diagnosis....very easy fix)!  Caitlin has a mild case of Torticollis.  Torticollis is a condition which affects the neck of many infants.  Torticollis literally translates to "crooked neck".  It is usually caused by a condition in the womb.  Caitlin was wedged against my pelvic bone during a lot of my pregnancy and almost didn't make it out naturally cause she was stuck, but the vacuum got her out!  Anyways, I have always noticed her head tends to tilt to the side, but never thought much of it.  Until lately...whenever I did research on reflux, I ran across this word.  I decided to look it up...and it's Caitlin!!!  Her left side neck muscle is stiff and so her head is tilted to the side.  It's only noticable when she's laying down, it self corrects when she's sitting up.  There is a big correlation between Torticollis and reflux.  Also, it delays babies from rolling, sitting, etc until it's under control.  It really bothers babies when they are doing tummy time, and babies with Torticollis want to be held all the time because it takes the pressure off the neck.  I have been stretching her neck, but now I have actually stretches to do.  Our pediatrician is going to give it a month and then decide if she needs to start physical therapy to help it, or if Rob and I can correct it ourselves.  It does cause flat part of children's heads (Caitlin has the very beginning of a flat head forming) which often requires a helmet (and we've had lots of friends who's children had to wear helmets...some who read this actually) but we think we caught it early enough that we can fix it with streches alone!  As her neck gets better, so will her skills!!!!!  We are so happy!  Below are 2 pictures so you can see what we are talking about...and these are literally just the 1st 2 pics I pulled up....she does this in all pics!!!!

So we are on our way to finding out what Caitlin is trying to tell us...and help her!

Happy 5 Months, Caitlin Bug!!!!!!  We love you so much! You are a beautiful, smart, loving baby who brings so much joy to our lives with those big blue eyes, cute cheeks, and joyful smile!!!!

While we were at the dr with Caitlin today, Abigail's eye started to get swollen.  So we squeezed Abigail into our app't...and we left with 2 meds for Abigail because she has a double ear infection and an eye infection!  And we didn't even know, we just though she had a cold!  So she's up in mommy and daddy's bed watching "Potty Time Elmo" for the 3rd time today!  She could watch this movie over and over! 

 Before we knew she was really sick, we went to her 1st ballet class today!  She did great...especially when the teacher told her to jump!  I think her favorite part was when they did a princess dance and she had to act like Cinderella!!!!!  Next week after ballet is over, we are headed home to switch kids (Caitlin for Reese) and Abigail and Reese are going to gymnastics.  Abigail is much more excited about that!!!!  Here's a picture of Abigail in her 1st (of many) leotard!

Stay Healthy!!!!  I know we are trying.

Happy 1st Easter!!!

Wow...what a weekend we had!!!!  Caitlin had her 1st Easter, and we celebrated our 6th anniversary!!!!!

Saturday was our 6th anniversary!!!!  We can't believe how fast 6 years went!!!!  It seems like just yesterday we were on the Odyssey having a wonderful reception.  The girls spent the night at my parents on Friday (Thank you so much mom and dad) and had a wonderful time going to the park and having ice cream sundaes!!!!  We were able to get away for a night.  We stayed at a fancy hotel in the city and went to our favorite steak place (Saloon).  Then, we went out for drinks at an amazing roof bar in the city (Roof) and then to a fun bar where we had a tap at our table (Bull and Bear).  Our closest friends, Bill and Katie, met us out for drinks to celebrate the big night.  Then, the next morning we even got to go from a quick run in the city (the weather was cold and rainy so we called it quits early), enjoy coffee together just talking, and ran some errands before returning to the girls.  It has been an amazing 6 years...6 years ago I never could have predicted how lucky we would be in life with 2 beautiful daughters!

Also on Friday, the girls and I went over to Cosley just to enjoy the weather.  But while we were there, we got to see a baby sheep that had just been born that day...it was pretty cool!!!!

Abigail gearing up for the big opening day today...Go Cubs Go!

New baby with her mama!!!!!  Just born!!!!!

Sunday was Easter.  We have been talking about Easter for weeks now and Abigail was so excited.  However, she was sick on Saturday with a fever, and unfortunately spent part of the night throwing up...so we weren't sure what to expect.   She was definitely under the weather, but sucked it up and enjoyed the day!

The Easter Bunny visited our house!!!!

Abigail with one of her gifts from the Easter bunny...and zhu zhu pet!  She also got the Cinderella movie and book..and a hamster wheel for her zhu zhu pet.

Happy 1st Easter, Baby!!!!!!!  It was Caitlin's 1st Easter...and today I was thinking how next year she'll be walking at Easter, so crazy!  She got this cute bunny blanket...and the Lion King movie and a duck book.

Abigail did the leg work and found all the eggs that the Easter Bunny hid.  There was money in the eggs (no candy in our family yet...but there were some graham crackers in some eggs).

Abigail enjoyed putting the money from the eggs in her bank.   It was so cute because she put 1 in her bank, and then 1 in Caitlin's (somehow Caitlin got most of the pennies and Abigail got most of the quarters...smart girl).

After a quick visit to Great-Grandma's place, we went to my mom's for brunch.  The brunch was delicious.  And the girls got big baskets full of presents from Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Julie and Uncle Joe, and Aunt Katie....they got so many presents!!!!  Thank you so much for all their gifts!!!!!  Abigail also went on a major egg hunt there and found 18 eggs!!!!

Grandma with Caitlin on her 1st Easter.

Grandpa with Abigail....probably singing "Go Cubs Go" since they have been practicing it!

Aunt Julie, Uncle Joe, and Caitlin's 1st Easter!!!!!

Caitlin and her godmother, Aunt Katie!

After a great brunch at my mom and dad's, we headed over to Rob's grandma's house for Easter, part 2.  It was a great meal with homemade Raviolis....and great family!!!!!  Thanks Great Nani and Papa for a beautiful Easter dinner!!!!  We had a such a nice time...but also missed Aunt Jam and Uncle Al who spent Easter in Florida this year.  We hope they had a nice, warm Easter...and can't wait to see them in Bass Lake soon!!!!

Great Nani, Caitlin, Abigail, Auntie Brina, and Nana.  The girls were just hanging out after dinner.

Look at the cute lamb cake Nana made!!!!  And it was delicious.  Abigail and Auntie Brina are posing with the cake!  Great job, nana!!!!  I don't have a picture of it, but Auntie Brina gave Caitlin her first taste of Jello...and apparently she liked it!  You never know what the kids will eat when they are with Auntie Brina!  ;)  The girls LOVE her!!!!!!!

The girls spending time with Cousin Kim!  It was great to spend time with Kim, Steve, and their boys Nick and Joe.  We can't wait to see Joe play Lacrosse later this month!!!!

I missed a picture of Papa, but I am sure someone (Nana) will send me pics she took...and I will post them!!!!

We had a great Easter, sick and all.  By the time we got home Abigail's fever was up to 101.5, so she was definitely feeling pretty lousy....but her fever broke last night and she seems to be feeling better today!!!

Thank you to everyone who helped make our anniversary and Easter so wonderful.  Caitlin seemed to really enjoy her 1st Easter!  Happy 1st Easter baby, we LOVE you!!!!

Underwater Eggstravaganza

Last night we took the girls to a water Easter Egg hunt at the Schaumburg Park District.  It was a great event..and it was actually put on by one of my sorority sisters from college so that was really neat to see her!  We had a lot of fun and look forward to doing it again next year!

Apparently she's striking a model pose...showing off her new swimsuit!

She loved finding the eggs....

Now that's a girl having a fun time!

Caitlin had fun too.  She put her feet in the water, but wasn't too excited about it.  I can't wait to see how she does in swim lessons this summer...I am really looking forward to my 2 weeks of swim lessons with each girl individually!

love....love...love!!!! 

Yesterday we also got to meet our new friend, Campbell!  Campbell and Caitlin are 3 months apart (and Campbell and I almost shared the same bday, but she decided to hurry along the process and came a few hours too early).  She's the sweetest little girl...and she's a Pooh Baby too so we love her already!!!  Congrats Tracey and Andrew on Campbell...we can't wait to watch the girls grow up together!!!!

Abigail is obsessed with this baby doll she got from Jakie and Alex when Caitlin was born.  She actually got twins, but doesn't really realize there are 2 of them....but yesterday she realized she had both in the car and it was hilarious...she was freaking out!  She was so excited...she kept yelling "mama, I have 2 babies!!!"  And yes, they are both without clothing..she does NOT like clothing on these dolls, no matter how hard we try to dress them!!!!

Caitlin watching Mickey Mouse this morning...she's a BIG fan!

What I call the 4 M's:  Morning, Milk, Mickey Mouse!  Our morning ritual.

Have a great day!!!!!  (And if you didn't read the post from yesterday, check it out below...I'm obsessed with that first picture of Caitlin).

Eggs, Dresses, and Smiles!

I had to begin with 2 of my absolute favorite pictures of Cailtin lately...she's becoming such a happy, adorable baby!!!!

Next, this is how Abigail came downstairs at 6:45 am!!!  We have been talking about how it will be warm and she could wear a dress today...and this girl doesn't forget a thing!!!!  Bring on the sun!  (I would also like to add that Abigail made herself breakfast today:  Grape Tomatoes.  She put a bunch of tomatoes in a bowl and was eating them for breakfast.  It's bizarre-o world here today).

Abigail & Mommy baking project this week:  Easter Egg Rice Krispie treats dipped in chocolate.  Yumm-o!  Abigail picked out the sprinkles at the store and ate them...all!

We colored eggs this week.  This may come as a big surprise, but Abigail picked BLUE for her egg.  Caitlin got purple (close to blue). 

On Saturday we went to a little Easter egg hunt at the local plaza.  Basically, you go into each store (Subway, Dunkin Donuts) and they give you an egg...wasn't the world's greatest egg hunt (or very hard to find the eggs) but we had fun as we always do!

Abigail has a new favorite doll (who never wears clothes by the way) and she likes to teach her doll how to do everything.  Here is her dolly coloring!

Caitlin has been really loving her exersaucer (Thank you Auntie Nay Nay and family)!  It's great because it keeps her upright after she eats...and she's very very busy with all the gadgets.  It's wonderful for her!  We also got a great jumpy swing from my sister and Joe, and we put it together and can't wait for her to start jumping!!!

Can't wait to post all the pictures from Easter!!!  Enjoy the 80's in April!!!!!