I want my sister..

While Allie-Ann was in the hospital her number one request was to see her sister. She was so sweet, she just kept looking up at me saying, "Are we finished yet, mommy." "Can we see my sister now." It just broke my heart but now that we are home she is getting some quality time back with her little sister.

Hospital Pics...

I took some pictures of Allie-Ann at the hospital just before we left that I thought I would share.

Allie-Ann just LOVED this rocking horse!

THE playroom...

Allie-Ann meeting Timbo, this dog weighed 140 pounds.

Arts and Crafts time!

"Peace Out, Mommy"

Heartfelt...

Allie-Ann had to be admitted into the hospital last Thursday. She was dehydrated and running a very high fever. It all started Wednesday morning when I heard her coughing and when I went to check in on her, she had a fever. I kept her home from preschool thinking she caught another bug of some sort but it just progressively got worse. By that afternoon her temp. had risen even with ibuprofen. So I took her to the doctor. While at the doctor we found that her white blood count was high so they ordered for a UTI test which was awful because Allie-Ann can't tee tee in a cup. Then they gave her two shots of antibiotic and sent her home only to return the next morning. While at home she seemed okay but was not talking or moving which by Allie-Ann's standard is not good. We got her to bed and I started to research high blood count in toddlers and began thinking the worse. I spent the rest of the night praying and crying. At about 3:00 in the morning she woke us up with coughing, high fever and vomiting. We gave her some more medicine and she continued to be just miserable. So I picked up her listless body and we went back to the doctor.

All I wanted to do was to get her to the doctor as fast as I could. Kyle went with me, thank goodness, because I couldn't do this again on my own. While waiting at the doctor's office she wanted something to drink, so I gave her some juice, but within five minutes of time she threw it back up. I didn't bring any spare clothes so Kyle had to go out to find Allie-Ann and me something to wear. To add some humor to this story because now that we know Allie-Ann is going to be okay we can laugh about things, right. So he went to CVS and picked up some sweatpants and t-shirts. Poor Kyle did the best he could, but let me tell you, when I put those sweatpants on, they looked like tights. It was awful but at the time that wasn't my concern. I think I must have looked like some kind of crazed mommy. Anyway, the doctor ran more test and checked her blood count that was still high, and with a 104+ temp with dehydration she was admitted into the hospital. No parent wants to hear that their child is too sick to be at home in your care, I immediately started to cry but knew deep down that that was where she needed to be. We still didn't know what was causing her to have such a high fever. The doctor told us that he thought it was a virus but wanted to inform us on Kawasaki disease, which can lead to heart problems in children. Allie-Ann had some of the symptoms associated with the disease and said that she needed to stay in the hospital and if she had a fever for 5 days that they would have to treat her for it.

This is the fourth day and as I am writing this post, Allie-Ann is fever-free. She is also starting to eat and drink, which is a great sign that she is getting better. Our stay at the hospital has been a humbling one. To see sick children really does break your heart. And sometimes I think we take for granted our healthy children. So if you are reading this and you have a healthy child or children give them a big hug because I know that going through this with Allie-Ann, I have a whole new perspective on things and your world can change in an instant. But God somehow gives you this strength to deal because quite frankly I don't know why I just didn't lose it. I mean I have a 3 month old at home that wasn't taking a bottle, my breast pump broke while at the hospital, I was scheduled to have my final oral defense and I was traveling back and forth late at night to nurse Belle at 3:00 in the morning and returning to the hospital. And through all of this, I haven't felt tired or worn. I just knew it was what needed to be done. Allie-Ann needed her mommy and it was only through the Lord that I was able to continue to be there at all the moments she needed me.

The staff here have been wonderful and they really have special hearts to work with sick infants and toddlers. Allie-Ann has enjoyed the attention now that she is feeling better and she has really enjoyed the playroom. But it still breaks my heart to go in the playroom to see the sick children trying to play, many of which are playing with one hand because the other hand is used for their IV, Allie-Ann included. Many of the children couldn't even get out of their wagon (used to transport them to the playroom), who were covered in blankets. Some children didn't even have their parents present to be with them. Either they were working or they possibly didn't have parents. Your heart just aches at the sight of this.

We are hoping to be able to come home soon, she just needs a 24 hour period of no fever and eating and drinking. We are just so thankful that she is doing better and that we WILL get to take her home when many parents are still having to stay. You just never can take things for granted, and when you are having a crummy day and think you have things bad, don't forget that there are sick little babies out there that can't even play.

Allie-Ann's artwork

Not meaning to brag or anything, but I think this is pretty darn impressive if I say so myself. Can you guess what she drew?

It's a witch hat with a pumpkin on top....well, at least that's what she told me when I asked her. What I was impressed with was that she colored pretty much within the lines and the curve of the hat. Maybe we have a future Pablo Picasso!

Belle is 3 months today!

Belle is 3 months old today...has it been 3 months already?!? Well Belle is continuing to be the champion of mellow, I just love her personality, happy-go-lucky kind of baby. She is pretty content at all times except when hungry or tired. I relish in the fact that she loves to be held and cuddled. I kiss her ALL the time and she just makes this adorable little smirk, it melts my heart. I fear I may be suffocating the little munchkin because she is just so darn cute. As far as her development is she starting to roll and with some help she can roll from back to stomach, stomach to back. I believe she will be able to do it pretty soon on her own. I find that when I lay her in her crib at night and when I go to get her for her next feeding she has turned in a completely different direction.


Belle is cooing A LOT, I think she's going to be more vocal than even Allie-Ann...if that is possible. She loves to be held in a sitting position to look at her toys and she follows sound and objects quite well. The only thing that our little Belle is struggling with is that she is refusing the bottle! We've been having a time trying to get her to take a bottle. Since we didn't have trouble with Allie-Ann, I thought Belle wouldn't be any different. But she is refusing it and I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I've gotten some pretty good advice from some friends that had the same issue but honestly I wasn't planning on nursing her for a year, my goal was 6 months but this may change. I think I'm just going to continue giving her a bottle a day with only an ounce at the late feedings and work from there.

Okay...so maybe they are starting to look like sisters. I think these two shots look very similar, do you think?

Belle's First Trip to the Zoo!

We took Belle to her first trip to the zoo! Overall, it was a great experience. She did wonderful and cooed most of the time until she got sleepy and was put back in the stroller. I can remember taking Allie-Ann to her first trip to the zoo, so I was excited about Belle's first trip. I must say that it was interesting keeping up with two little ones. Kyle and I did rock-paper-scissors to decide who would watch Allie-Ann, I won! So Kyle spent most of the time chasing after Allie-Ann through the busy crowds. It was such a beautiful weekend which made the zoo a very popular place, but it was still a lot of fun.

I had to compare photos!

With my girls!

I love this shot of Belle..look at those eyes!

Daddy wrestling the beast Allie-Ann!

These little guys are so much fun to watch. I believe it was mating season because they were wild! Look at this shot, I never knew tortoise growl?

Not the best shot of Allie-Ann but it's still cute.

With my big girl

Oh My...

So I took Allie-Ann to her 3 year check up this morning and I should I known that things were going to go downhill considering I was early to the appointment. All morning the stars seemed to align because everything went so smoothly. Both girls were calm, we didn't have any meltdowns and like I said I was EARLY to her appointment...which never happens. I kept thinking in the car to the appointment that I have this parenting down...bring on some more babies. This quickly changed and 2+ hours later all I was thinking is...why am I a parent!!!!Ha. Let's just say Allie-Ann did not handle her appointment so well. She screamed when they checked her pulse, she screamed when they checked her ears, she screamed when they checked her blood pressure and I tried to reassure her that none of these things hurt, I even bribed her with a milkshake if she didn't scream but to no hope, she was way over the edge of uncomfortable. It was just so miserable for both of us. Then the shot came....I don't even want to begin to tell you how that went. Finally the doctor told me to have Allie-Ann go pee pee in a cup......WHAT!!!???!!! How am I supposed to get a delusional 3 year old to pee pee in a cup when she REALLY is just now starting to use the potty to which my doctor tells me that she must be very strong-willed...you think??? We managed to leave all in one piece with Allie-Ann decked out with stickers and lollipops. The drive back home didn't make matters better with Belle walling in the back, oh my. So overall I have a pretty healthy 3 year old and a more content 3 month old at home now.

How could this sweet girl cause an entire Pediatric office to go into shutdown mode????

She must be strong-willed like her mommy!