Miss Lila turned 21 months old on Saturday. The time is passing far too quickly.
We've been lucky that she has held onto her morning naps and still enjoys an hour or more of nap time each morning. Lately, it doesn't happen every morning due to running errands, dropping off Ethan at school or because she just doesn't want to sleep. She happily stays in her crib talking and singing to her baby.
Lila is a dare devil and has been for quite some time. She loves climbing and jumping on the furniture. Something she learned from her big brother despite constant reminders to both of them that they will fall and get hurt.
Lila has the sweetest giggle, although sometimes this giggle is her way of convincing you that she isn't doing something she shouldn't be doing.
Lately, she's begun talking more. She now says, "tada", "What's that?", "bubba" (Ethan), and many more I can't seem to remember right now. She's a constant chatterbox and seems to not really care who she's talking to or how loud she's talking. Sounds like somebody else I know all too well.
She loves to sing wherever she is. Her favorite and the easiest song to tell and understand her while singing is "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". She absolutely adores singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" especially with her Nana who holds a special part of her heart. Finally my mom got one grandkid to want to run to her first.
Recently, she was upgraded to her very own room and loves being able to sleep in and have quiet in her room once again. It's taken some adjustment for Ethan to get used to sleeping alone.
Did I mention how much she loves her baby, Jacob. The doll was mine when I was little. It's a big doll to lug around, but she does. She pretends to change his diaper, constantly wants us to dress and undress him, feeds him and puts him to bed while singing to him in his very own cradle. She's the best little mommy.
I can't believe she's already almost 2 and soon I'll be planning her 2nd birthday party. Stop growing Lila. Stay mommy's baby forever.
I've created this blog so that my friends and family can see what's going on in the life of our family.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Clinic Update
Ethan went in for his quarterly CF clinic visit today. We also went to see his GI doctor.
Our first stop was seeing his GI doctor and his dietician. They spoke to me about his vitamin E levels and also his need for a medication he's been taking to decrease his liver enzymes. After discussing it with his GI doctor we decided to take Ethan off of the med for the liver enzymes for a month and have him retested in a month to see if his level increase. My concern was that if we took it him off it for more than a month that his levels would increase quickly and he'd have more liver damage. This seemed like a good compromise and made this mom feel less nervous about taking him off of the med.
We also talked about his vitamin E levels. They were elevated about two years ago. We changed some of his diet and took him off of his daily vitamin on the weekends. We decided to take him off vitamins some days because of the elevated levels/ We will have him take the vitamin 4 days a week and have him retested in a month.
The GI doctor did an exam and found that his bowels are clear and that he sounds great. No concerns from her. We will go to have another abdominal ultrasound in a year to see if the lymphnod she was concerned about initially has decreased or stayed the same. I like that it'll be a year before we have to do another abdominal ultrasound.
Next we met with his CF team. First we met with his doctor. He did an exam and again his lungs were clear and he didn't have too many cocoa puffs in his ears and nose. That's the joke the CF doc always has for Ethan. "What am I going to find in your ears?" Today Ethan's response was "Coconuts!"
We talked about his sleeps habits and if he's sleeping better. I told him that Ethan's been sleeping much better but now that we've moved he's coming into our room during the night to sleep on the ground. He promised him that he would give him 5 stickers if he stayed in his own bed tonight. We'll see if that happens. I hope it works!
Ethan saw the respiratory therapist today as well. Today was the first day Ethan got a chance to blow into the machine that shows the stats of how well you are breathing. He has a lot of work to do before we get true levels but he had fun learning. The respiratory therapist thinks he'll be good at it by spring, but for now we'll be practicing at home.
We go back in 3 months unless something happens. I left with a very tired Ethan who missed his nap because of clinic. We had a very busy day including Ethan's school in the morning and a lunch date at McDonald's just me and Ethan.
Our first stop was seeing his GI doctor and his dietician. They spoke to me about his vitamin E levels and also his need for a medication he's been taking to decrease his liver enzymes. After discussing it with his GI doctor we decided to take Ethan off of the med for the liver enzymes for a month and have him retested in a month to see if his level increase. My concern was that if we took it him off it for more than a month that his levels would increase quickly and he'd have more liver damage. This seemed like a good compromise and made this mom feel less nervous about taking him off of the med.
We also talked about his vitamin E levels. They were elevated about two years ago. We changed some of his diet and took him off of his daily vitamin on the weekends. We decided to take him off vitamins some days because of the elevated levels/ We will have him take the vitamin 4 days a week and have him retested in a month.
The GI doctor did an exam and found that his bowels are clear and that he sounds great. No concerns from her. We will go to have another abdominal ultrasound in a year to see if the lymphnod she was concerned about initially has decreased or stayed the same. I like that it'll be a year before we have to do another abdominal ultrasound.
Next we met with his CF team. First we met with his doctor. He did an exam and again his lungs were clear and he didn't have too many cocoa puffs in his ears and nose. That's the joke the CF doc always has for Ethan. "What am I going to find in your ears?" Today Ethan's response was "Coconuts!"
We talked about his sleeps habits and if he's sleeping better. I told him that Ethan's been sleeping much better but now that we've moved he's coming into our room during the night to sleep on the ground. He promised him that he would give him 5 stickers if he stayed in his own bed tonight. We'll see if that happens. I hope it works!
Ethan saw the respiratory therapist today as well. Today was the first day Ethan got a chance to blow into the machine that shows the stats of how well you are breathing. He has a lot of work to do before we get true levels but he had fun learning. The respiratory therapist thinks he'll be good at it by spring, but for now we'll be practicing at home.
We go back in 3 months unless something happens. I left with a very tired Ethan who missed his nap because of clinic. We had a very busy day including Ethan's school in the morning and a lunch date at McDonald's just me and Ethan.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Ethan goes to school
Ethan started preschool this week at First Covenant Preschool. He is a Blessed Bumblebee and he has 2 teachers with 12 students in his class including him.
We are very excited for this new experience in Ethan's life. He has gone 2 days now and he loves it! He talks about how he shares with other children and how he loves playing outside. The first day he took a good nap after school. He was worn out!
We love that his school is a church and that he will be learning about God every day. We love that the first 45 minutes of class every day is free time and that this school will give him the structured (knowing what's coming next) day he needs.
I hope that he learns more everyday and enjoys some free time away from us as well. My hope over the next couple weeks is that he makes friends. He's already made friends with both of his teachers.
Once I figure out how to get photos onto my computer again I'll add a photo.
We are very excited for this new experience in Ethan's life. He has gone 2 days now and he loves it! He talks about how he shares with other children and how he loves playing outside. The first day he took a good nap after school. He was worn out!
We love that his school is a church and that he will be learning about God every day. We love that the first 45 minutes of class every day is free time and that this school will give him the structured (knowing what's coming next) day he needs.
I hope that he learns more everyday and enjoys some free time away from us as well. My hope over the next couple weeks is that he makes friends. He's already made friends with both of his teachers.
Once I figure out how to get photos onto my computer again I'll add a photo.
The house is ours!
About 2 weeks ago our old house and our new house closed on the same day! A few days later we said goodbye to our small 2 bedroom house and said hello to a 3 bedroom with a den house.
The selling/buying process was much more complicated and stressful that we thought. We were told when signing our closing documents that most people don't buy and sell at the exact same time because it's hard to line everything up and it's so stressful. I know why now. I'm just happy the process is over.
We are settling into our new home. Lila and Ethan now have their own rooms across the house from each other. I'm loving how at night I can put Lila to bed first and then read books with Ethan and have cuddle time with him alone. He's been having a hard time staying in his bed during the night. He says "I can't be by myself". He ends up in our room every night sometime between 2 and 5am on the floor. It seems like he is staying in bed longer each night so hopefully soon he'll stay in his bed until 6am. Thankfully he's been going right back to sleep when he comes in and he doesn't wake us.
I love our new kitchen. Granite counter tops and a pantry! You have no idea how excited I was when I saw the pantry. It's a good thing we have the pantry because I would have had to go back to putting extra items in the garage. I have just enough space in the kitchen for everything I need and the rest I'm going to sell at a garage sale in September.
Our backyard is not very big and is undone. It has a cement patio and a retaining wall. Other than that, it's dirt and rocks. We also have a hornet/wasp problem with nests everywhere under the eaves. Also pigeons and doves love our house leaving nests for their babies in the eaves in the back patio. We love that their is a pergula in the backyard.
So far the neighborhood is very quiet despite a few loud cars/trucks across the street but we haven't really heard them. We've met a few of the neighbors including a grandmother down the street who raises her granddaughter who is 2 and will probably end up having playdates with my mother in law.
I've also met another family that has kids the same age as mine that live near the park. We are still digging our way out of the boxes. Most of what's supposed to be inside is inside, it just may not be put away yet :)
The selling/buying process was much more complicated and stressful that we thought. We were told when signing our closing documents that most people don't buy and sell at the exact same time because it's hard to line everything up and it's so stressful. I know why now. I'm just happy the process is over.
We are settling into our new home. Lila and Ethan now have their own rooms across the house from each other. I'm loving how at night I can put Lila to bed first and then read books with Ethan and have cuddle time with him alone. He's been having a hard time staying in his bed during the night. He says "I can't be by myself". He ends up in our room every night sometime between 2 and 5am on the floor. It seems like he is staying in bed longer each night so hopefully soon he'll stay in his bed until 6am. Thankfully he's been going right back to sleep when he comes in and he doesn't wake us.
I love our new kitchen. Granite counter tops and a pantry! You have no idea how excited I was when I saw the pantry. It's a good thing we have the pantry because I would have had to go back to putting extra items in the garage. I have just enough space in the kitchen for everything I need and the rest I'm going to sell at a garage sale in September.
Our backyard is not very big and is undone. It has a cement patio and a retaining wall. Other than that, it's dirt and rocks. We also have a hornet/wasp problem with nests everywhere under the eaves. Also pigeons and doves love our house leaving nests for their babies in the eaves in the back patio. We love that their is a pergula in the backyard.
So far the neighborhood is very quiet despite a few loud cars/trucks across the street but we haven't really heard them. We've met a few of the neighbors including a grandmother down the street who raises her granddaughter who is 2 and will probably end up having playdates with my mother in law.
I've also met another family that has kids the same age as mine that live near the park. We are still digging our way out of the boxes. Most of what's supposed to be inside is inside, it just may not be put away yet :)
Friday, July 4, 2014
Our House
About a month ago we listed our house for sale. We've been needing a larger home since Lila came. She spent the first year of her life sleeping in the laundry room. We made it work because we couldn't sell our house and have a down payment for another while the market was bad.
We spent about a month getting the house ready to list and it's been 5 weeks since we listed. We've had many showings but no offers. After a couple price reductions we're hoping that we'll find buyers very soon. I'm very tired of keeping the house clean especially with my little mess makers.
We've found a house we want but obviously can't put in an offer until ours is under contract. The new house will have 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and will be around 1800 square feet. It'll be nice to spread out and have separate rooms for Lila & Ethan and a dedicated office for Ken and me. Since Ethan & Lila have been sharing a room for the last 6 months it will be great for them to be separated since they think it's party time at 5am each morning.
Hopefully we'll have a big announcement over the coming weeks of our house being under contract. We're excited to move onto the next house in a new neighborhood. Although we do wish we could take our neighbors with us. We'll see how fast the house goes now that the price has been lowered.
We spent about a month getting the house ready to list and it's been 5 weeks since we listed. We've had many showings but no offers. After a couple price reductions we're hoping that we'll find buyers very soon. I'm very tired of keeping the house clean especially with my little mess makers.
We've found a house we want but obviously can't put in an offer until ours is under contract. The new house will have 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and will be around 1800 square feet. It'll be nice to spread out and have separate rooms for Lila & Ethan and a dedicated office for Ken and me. Since Ethan & Lila have been sharing a room for the last 6 months it will be great for them to be separated since they think it's party time at 5am each morning.
Hopefully we'll have a big announcement over the coming weeks of our house being under contract. We're excited to move onto the next house in a new neighborhood. Although we do wish we could take our neighbors with us. We'll see how fast the house goes now that the price has been lowered.
Ethan & discipline
I'm overdue for an update on Ethan's behavior. We are still have problems with Ethan's behavior and it's gradually getting worse. I am going to be going back for parent counselling next Friday to see if the counselor can help us navigate the next steps in discipline for Ethan.
Currently, he's saying words he shouldn't be and being rude and disrespectful to us. It doesn't appear that he does any of this with anyone besides us. He gets angry really easily and when he does he throws and hits things. He's mean to Lila which I know could just be normal behavior for siblings but it doesn't seem right.
He's still a very lovable little boy and does love one-on-one time. I think some or all of this started when Lila came. I thought by now it would have settled down now that she's been here a year and a half. I think he isn't getting enough quality one-on-one time with each of us. A week ago Ken and I took him to a Rivercats game just the three of us. He behaved most of the night and it was a late night. We need to plan more trips just the three of us or a date for daddy & Ethan or mommy & Ethan.
I'll try to update after our visit with the counselor, but I've not been great about updating the blog so it may be awhile. Please be praying for us and our family as we try to decipher what's the best game plan for dealing with Ethan's behavior. Nobody ever tells you how hard raising kids will be. If they did we all may have decided not to have kids :)
Currently, he's saying words he shouldn't be and being rude and disrespectful to us. It doesn't appear that he does any of this with anyone besides us. He gets angry really easily and when he does he throws and hits things. He's mean to Lila which I know could just be normal behavior for siblings but it doesn't seem right.
He's still a very lovable little boy and does love one-on-one time. I think some or all of this started when Lila came. I thought by now it would have settled down now that she's been here a year and a half. I think he isn't getting enough quality one-on-one time with each of us. A week ago Ken and I took him to a Rivercats game just the three of us. He behaved most of the night and it was a late night. We need to plan more trips just the three of us or a date for daddy & Ethan or mommy & Ethan.
I'll try to update after our visit with the counselor, but I've not been great about updating the blog so it may be awhile. Please be praying for us and our family as we try to decipher what's the best game plan for dealing with Ethan's behavior. Nobody ever tells you how hard raising kids will be. If they did we all may have decided not to have kids :)
Lila @ almost 19 months old
Lila is almost 19 months old now. I've lost track of everything she's doing now since I packed the calendar I was keeping track of for milestones.
At 19 months she's saying about 12-15 words including: mama, daddy, bubba, brother, baby, papa, car, Lila (I think by accident) and a few other words I can't remember. She's into everything. She's much more active than Ethan was at this age. She can walk up the stairs holding onto the wall with one hand. Something Ethan didn't do until he was 2. She's knows how and when to climb down from the couch or our bed. I'm still not completely comfortable with her being on our bed by herself since it's high but she's getting there.
At Lila's 18 month checkup she was almost 27 lbs and 34 inches long!!! Ethan is 39 inches so this came as a surprise to me. She's always been very long for her age. I believe she's in the 96th percentile or somewhere close to that for height. She's also in the 90's for head circumference and weight. My big girl!
Lila seems to still be fairly easy. Although, she can get loud (both of my kids are loud) and whiny at times. She seems to be picking up some bad habits from her brother. When she's mad she will throw her baby on the ground. It drives her crazy that she's thrown her baby down though so she immediately picks her up and puts her back into the baby's highchair.
She has quite the face when she's upset. I need to capture a photo of it. She's very dramatic. She loves to pretend she's on the phone and walk around like I do talking away as she walks.
Recently, she went swimming for the 2nd time. The first being last summer when she was 6 months old. This year she didn't seem to like the water but gradually got used to it and we're hoping the next time she's in the pool she will like it.
Sorry for the lack of photos on the blog. We've been having problems with our shared drive and I don't always have access. I'll post photos as soon as it's fixed.
At 19 months she's saying about 12-15 words including: mama, daddy, bubba, brother, baby, papa, car, Lila (I think by accident) and a few other words I can't remember. She's into everything. She's much more active than Ethan was at this age. She can walk up the stairs holding onto the wall with one hand. Something Ethan didn't do until he was 2. She's knows how and when to climb down from the couch or our bed. I'm still not completely comfortable with her being on our bed by herself since it's high but she's getting there.
At Lila's 18 month checkup she was almost 27 lbs and 34 inches long!!! Ethan is 39 inches so this came as a surprise to me. She's always been very long for her age. I believe she's in the 96th percentile or somewhere close to that for height. She's also in the 90's for head circumference and weight. My big girl!
Lila seems to still be fairly easy. Although, she can get loud (both of my kids are loud) and whiny at times. She seems to be picking up some bad habits from her brother. When she's mad she will throw her baby on the ground. It drives her crazy that she's thrown her baby down though so she immediately picks her up and puts her back into the baby's highchair.
She has quite the face when she's upset. I need to capture a photo of it. She's very dramatic. She loves to pretend she's on the phone and walk around like I do talking away as she walks.
Recently, she went swimming for the 2nd time. The first being last summer when she was 6 months old. This year she didn't seem to like the water but gradually got used to it and we're hoping the next time she's in the pool she will like it.
Sorry for the lack of photos on the blog. We've been having problems with our shared drive and I don't always have access. I'll post photos as soon as it's fixed.
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