New Traditions

A holiday idea that I found online is to wrap 24 Christmas/Holiday books individually. Each evening of December leading up until Christmas, the kids get to unwrap a book and we read it together as a family. We started a day early, to add in an extra book and another new tradition - The Elf on a Shelf.

Decorating the Tree

I really wanted to get the house decorated so that I could focus on other tasks and hopefully get to relax and enjoy the Holiday season.  Once I got the tree up and lights put on, it was time for ornaments.  I got brave and let the kids help.  They both really got into it!  Brendan wanted to group all of the red glass balls together.  Otherwise, we ended up with a lot of ornaments on the bottom couple feet of the tree, but that's ok.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving

After spending most of the day in pjs and playing around, it was time to head over to Mamaw & GrandBob's for dinner.

We spent some time just hanging out, coloring, building towers, and of course playing trains!

Bobby tried to take some steps while playing with some of Brendan's trains.

The kids both made Indian head dresses at school, so we brought them to wear during dinner.

The kids both enjoyed dessert. Brendan finally ate some "turkey" with his ice cream. I think that Katelyn had 3 scoops of ice cream...and would've had more if A.J. had his way. ;) He was having a hard time saying "no" to Katelyn's sweet little "more?".

Happy Turkey Day!

A co-worker posted a picture of these oreo turkeys that she had made earlier in the week. On a whim, I decided that I wanted to make some too. It was kinda tedious, but I loved the finished result.

Thanksgiving Eve

We went up to Anderson again to celebrate with the extended family for Thanksgiving Eve. Brendan and Bobby enjoyed playing trains together.

Katelyn and Brendan both enjoyed burning off a little energy and running in the hallway.

20 Months

Obviously this picture was not taken the day of her tubes being placed. ;) The biggest thing that I wanted to do at this milestone was to document what words she says and compare to next month how many more words she picks up now being able to actually hear! Mama Dada Baby - usually means herself ;) Brother Mamaw Milk Juice Also signs "drink" Also signs "more" Snack Book Ball De-Do (Blanket -just like brother) Me-Me (paci) Dora Dog Ellie Dog No-No! Go Bye-bye Night-night She probably has a couple more words

Tubes!

I was really hoping for an uneventful night prior to Katelyn's tube placement, but I did not get my wish.  She was not allowed to have anything to eat or drink after midnight, so the plan was to wake her up at the last possible minute and just put her in the car pjs and all.   Unfortunately, Katelyn woke up crying at 11:30pm.  We gave her a dose of Tylenol and tried to get her back to sleep.  Just about midnight, we heard a terrible coughing fit over the monitor followed by near hysterical crying.  Poor baby had gotten sick all over her bed and was so upset.  She had a terrible runny nose, cough, and was pulling at her ears.  The night kind of spiraled down from there.  We ended up changing her bed two more times before she finally stayed asleep between 3 and 4am.  At which time, I fell asleep in the rocking chair in her room.  Needless to say, I was so glad to see 5:30am and our 6:30am departure time!

She finally passed out in the glider during on of her crib changes, but woke up when I laid down on the floor next to her.  Granted, I was terrified, she'd fall out of the chair in her sleep!

We checked in without major incident.  Katelyn was pretty quiet, but didn't seem to miss her breakfast, which was good.  She had a low grade fever, but luckily there was no discussion of postponing her procedure.   We met briefly with the anesthesiologist, who I happened to have shadowed his wife (a local pediatrician) back in high school.   Dr. Isenberg also stopped by to say good morning.   After some coloring for Katelyn and paperwork for Mommy, one of the surgery techs came to take Katelyn to the OR.  (I was very proud of myself and did not cry when they took her away!) 

Waiting patiently.  :) 

We then went out to the waiting room for about 10-15 minutes while the procedure was done.  Dr. Isenberg met with us afterwards and said that her ears were terrible!  They both had pus behind them and one had a blood blister between the first and second layers of the ear drum.  No wonder the poor thing couldn't sleep!
 Then we were able to go back and see Katelyn.  She was sucking on her juice cup while being rocked by one of the sweet nurses.  I was so happy to see that she wasn't crying.  (The girl in the next room woke up before she even got back to her room and was so not happy!)   After a few minutes of drinking her juice, she did wake up and was definitely upset.  :(   She kept pointing at the door and saying "go".  She was very much done with all of this.  I fully expected to have to spend a significant amount of time afterwards sitting there while they monitored her, but it was luckily only 30 minutes.  We tried to pass the time and make her happy with snacks, and Elmo movie on my phone and walking around, but she just wanted to "go"!  Finally, we were allowed to go.  They gave Katelyn a balloon as well as one for her brother.  :)

I got Katelyn buckled into her seat and stuffed the balloons in the car.  We pulled out of our spot and were almost out of the parking lot, when she puked all over herself and her seat.  :(   So, I got to drag her back into the hospital to find a place to change her...complete with the two "Get well" balloons tied to the diaper bag.  ;)    Once in clean pjs, and back in the car, she fell asleep and slept for about an hour even with being transferred to the pack n play at Mamaw and GrandBob's.

She was definitely a little happier once she woke up there and was even better after a second nap at home later in the day.    I'm not sure that this is how Katelyn wanted to spend her 20 month birthday, but I know that she'll be so much better in the long run!

ENT appointment

Katelyn's been off antibiotics for six days now.  Today's her appointment with the ENT to decide on tubes or not.  She's been acting OK, with just a little bit of a runny nose.   When we saw Dr. I, one ear had some clear-ish fluid, but the other had more gunky think fluid in it.  He said that she's a tube candidate if he's ever seen one.  We made arrangements for her surgery to be done on Tuesday morning, so just 4 days from now!  Nervous, but very ready for this to get done.  I'm so glad that I called and made the appointment even though the NP wasn't convinced. 

A November Day

Almost long enough for a pony tail!

Making some ghost cookies...yes, it's a little past Halloween. ;) They really didn't care...they were thrilled to get to eat cookies!

Watching them bake

"cookies!"   Not that she can actually say it, but I know that she was thinking it.  :)

I don't remember what I was doing, but I realized that Katelyn was quiet and I saw her moving around on the other side of the island. So I went over to investigate...this is what I found...

Reading "Brown Bear" to the bears.  :)  She's becoming such a good little Mommy!