On the way to the island we were blessed with sunny weather and smiling faces!
Madeleine showing off all of her coolness.
Maxy on Island time, shoes off and pigs in the air.
So sweet!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
On the way to the Island
On the way to the island we were blessed with sunny weather and smiling faces! Madeleine showing off all of her coolness. Maxy on Island time, shoes off and pigs in the air. So sweet!
Name the Fishy
When we asked Max what the Fish's name was he said "Dee".
When we asked Madeleine she said, "Bin".
So we considered Dee and we considered Bin and we considered Deebin and Bindee.
What do you think?
We are open to other suggestions.
Help.
I've attached a few pictures so you can see what he looks like.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas
Saturday, December 22nd, 2007
For those of you who don't know, Michael celebrated his 36th birthday on Sunday. It is tough to be born the day before Christ's Birthday. Michael has memories of being stilted out of gifts and birthday cake as a youngin. I try to make him feel special even though at this time of the year that is hard.
We managed to get out for a date night on Saturday. We went to Piatti, which is where we celebrated our rehearsal dinner before our wedding. I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much but we had the best meal we have had in a very long time! It was a nice quiet evening full of pasta and wine.
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007
We woke up on Michael's special day with Madeleine at 4 am ready to start the day. Forty-five minutes later Max followed up with puking. He vomited everything he had and then some. Poor little guy, he actually looked green. He clearly needed to stay home and rest so Michael and Madeleine went out for a fun father/ daughter day. They went downtown to his work to pick some stuff up. And then went and had lunch. After that they went to the pet store and bought our first family pet: a male betta fish.
Upon their return Maxy was feeling much better and we went out for a quick bite to eat at the Santa Fe Cafe. The kids went to bed and Michael and I enjoyed the night before Christmas eve. The best little present I could have asked for was a full night's sleep. Yep, I actually got a full 8 hours of sleep that night! I'm writing this with apprehension because it seems that every time I write about sleep the opposite happens that night. Hold your breath and cross your fingers that this continues. Last night wasn't as good but it certainly was not bad.
Monday, December 24th, 2007
Thank you to my friend Megan for providing a lovely brunch full of good friends and good food. Max and Madeleine loved spending time with the big kids and Michael and I enjoyed catching up with our friends.
Home. Nap.
Later that afternoon we were on a ferry in beautiful Seattle Sun on our way to Whidbey Island to enjoy Christmas eve Bouillabaisse with the Klassen Family. Thank you Bruce, Caroline, Lisa and Brandon for your hospitality and great conversation. The food was tremendous, as always, and the desserts were everywhere, as usual.
After a very late night the kids went to bed and Micheal and I stayed up two more hours assembling toys and getting the living room ready for Christmas morning. We were so excited this would be the first Christmas that would be truly fun for the kids.
Tuesday, December 25th, 2007
to be continued....
For those of you who don't know, Michael celebrated his 36th birthday on Sunday. It is tough to be born the day before Christ's Birthday. Michael has memories of being stilted out of gifts and birthday cake as a youngin. I try to make him feel special even though at this time of the year that is hard.
We managed to get out for a date night on Saturday. We went to Piatti, which is where we celebrated our rehearsal dinner before our wedding. I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much but we had the best meal we have had in a very long time! It was a nice quiet evening full of pasta and wine.
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007
We woke up on Michael's special day with Madeleine at 4 am ready to start the day. Forty-five minutes later Max followed up with puking. He vomited everything he had and then some. Poor little guy, he actually looked green. He clearly needed to stay home and rest so Michael and Madeleine went out for a fun father/ daughter day. They went downtown to his work to pick some stuff up. And then went and had lunch. After that they went to the pet store and bought our first family pet: a male betta fish.
Upon their return Maxy was feeling much better and we went out for a quick bite to eat at the Santa Fe Cafe. The kids went to bed and Michael and I enjoyed the night before Christmas eve. The best little present I could have asked for was a full night's sleep. Yep, I actually got a full 8 hours of sleep that night! I'm writing this with apprehension because it seems that every time I write about sleep the opposite happens that night. Hold your breath and cross your fingers that this continues. Last night wasn't as good but it certainly was not bad.
Monday, December 24th, 2007
Thank you to my friend Megan for providing a lovely brunch full of good friends and good food. Max and Madeleine loved spending time with the big kids and Michael and I enjoyed catching up with our friends.
Home. Nap.
Later that afternoon we were on a ferry in beautiful Seattle Sun on our way to Whidbey Island to enjoy Christmas eve Bouillabaisse with the Klassen Family. Thank you Bruce, Caroline, Lisa and Brandon for your hospitality and great conversation. The food was tremendous, as always, and the desserts were everywhere, as usual.
After a very late night the kids went to bed and Micheal and I stayed up two more hours assembling toys and getting the living room ready for Christmas morning. We were so excited this would be the first Christmas that would be truly fun for the kids.
Tuesday, December 25th, 2007
to be continued....
Saturday, December 22, 2007
18 months
Today my babies are 18 months old. They are one year and a half, exactly. Where did the time go? They have grown and changed so quickly. It has literally been right before Michael and my eyes. Even a year ago they were completely different babies than they are today.
They had their 18 month doctor visit today. They received a clean bill of health and received three vaccinations. I delayed a few of their vaccines for a bit until I knew they were safe and I felt comfortable with them receiving them. I didn't want them to have their MMR shot on their 12th month birthday. Austism. Today I was assured that my children are not showing signs of autism and encouraged to get them vaccinated. They received their MMR shot, their varicella shot (chicken pox) and a boost of prevnar. They were such little troopers with their vaccines. Maxy hardly cried and Madeleine only for a second. Michael and I then dragged them to Target where they continued to be in high spirits- greeting all the passers by.
Maxy hasn't gained much weight lately but the doctor isn't worried. He now weighs 23 lbs and 9 oz (20th percentile). He is 32.5 inches high (50th percentile).
Madeleine weighs 22 lbs 8 oz. (30th percentile) and is 31 inches high (25th percentile).
Neither kid is showing any signs of delays and is right on track in all aspects (including their toddler tantrums!).
Thanks Dr. Passloff, we appreciate your continued care of our babies!
They had their 18 month doctor visit today. They received a clean bill of health and received three vaccinations. I delayed a few of their vaccines for a bit until I knew they were safe and I felt comfortable with them receiving them. I didn't want them to have their MMR shot on their 12th month birthday. Austism. Today I was assured that my children are not showing signs of autism and encouraged to get them vaccinated. They received their MMR shot, their varicella shot (chicken pox) and a boost of prevnar. They were such little troopers with their vaccines. Maxy hardly cried and Madeleine only for a second. Michael and I then dragged them to Target where they continued to be in high spirits- greeting all the passers by.
Maxy hasn't gained much weight lately but the doctor isn't worried. He now weighs 23 lbs and 9 oz (20th percentile). He is 32.5 inches high (50th percentile).
Madeleine weighs 22 lbs 8 oz. (30th percentile) and is 31 inches high (25th percentile).
Neither kid is showing any signs of delays and is right on track in all aspects (including their toddler tantrums!).
Thanks Dr. Passloff, we appreciate your continued care of our babies!
Amputee
Sometimes we get so caught up in the fact that Madeleine is an amputee. I'm talking about myself here. I think about my child with a disability all the time. Madeleine's leg came off in the supermarket yesterday. That wouldn't have been a big deal except that a woman was walking by at the same time telling Max how cute he is.
"Oh," she said.
I laughed.
"She has an artificial leg." I said, as if it wasn't obvious!
"It comes off sometimes if the cart hits it just right."
The lady laughed a bit and said, "Well, she looks happy."
Why wouldn't she be happy? She isn't in pain, I thought.
And then I have people telling me how well she is doing walking. Yes, she is. They tell me she is amazing. Yep, she is.
Amputee will always define Madeleine. Just like her other labels of "twin" and "female". It doesn't have to be all she is though.
If you don't know who Sarah Reinertsen is you should. She gives "amputee" a whole new name.
"Oh," she said.
I laughed.
"She has an artificial leg." I said, as if it wasn't obvious!
"It comes off sometimes if the cart hits it just right."
The lady laughed a bit and said, "Well, she looks happy."
Why wouldn't she be happy? She isn't in pain, I thought.
And then I have people telling me how well she is doing walking. Yes, she is. They tell me she is amazing. Yep, she is.
Amputee will always define Madeleine. Just like her other labels of "twin" and "female". It doesn't have to be all she is though.
If you don't know who Sarah Reinertsen is you should. She gives "amputee" a whole new name.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Post-Op
Madeleine went to her post-op appointment on Wednesday. It has been almost six months exactly since her surgery and I cannot believe how well she is doing! We went to see the entire team at Children's: the nurse, the surgeon, the prosthetist and the physical therapist. We were there a long time, three hours.
Two toddlers + Three hours in an exam room = Chaos
Here is what we learned in a nutshell:
Two toddlers + Three hours in an exam room = Chaos
Here is what we learned in a nutshell:
- No, she is not in pain. There is no phantom limb pain/sensation in small children
- Her leg may be itchy after we take off the prosthesis because it gets very hot in there. Also, she has a little crease on the top of her shin where the dimple was and the incision was made- that can get squeezed together and get a little uncomfortable if the prosthesis is tight and hot.
- She is doing well.
- She has grown and we raised her leg up one more centimeter.
- She has slimmed down on the top of her leg a big so we brought in the foam liner.
- Max likes to color on walls, much to my embarrassment.
- If I notice that she can move her heel pad (the bottom of her leg) I should call and get her seen as Dr. Mosca will have to take out a chunk of her achilles tendon. Ouch.
- Her scar tissue looks good.
- We met another Madeleine there who also needs lots of surgeries but is doing well and very cute.
All and all, we are happy with the appointment and glad to be all done.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
From one of those emails about what kids say
I got this from a friend who knows first hand about the crazy things that kids say. I thought it was pretty funny too!
A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!
1.
Don't change horses
until they stop running.
2.
Strike while the
bug is close.
3.
It's always darkest before
Daylight Saving Time.
4.
Never underestimate the power of
termites.
5.
You can lead a horse to water but
How?
6.
Don't bite the hand that
looks dirty.
7.
No news is
impossible
8.
A miss is as good as a
Mr.
9.
You can't teach an old dog new
Math
10.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll
stink in the morning.
11.
Love all, trust
Me.
12.
The pen is mightier than the
pigs.
13.
An idle mind is
the best way to relax.
14.
Where there's smoke there's
pollution.
15.
Happy the bride who
gets all the presents.
16.
A penny saved is
not much.
17.
Two's company, three's
the Musketeers.
18.
Don't put off till tomorrow what
you put on to go to bed.
19.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and
You have to blow your nose.
20.
There are none so blind as
Stevie Wonder.
21.
Children should be seen and not
spanked or grounded.
22.
If at first you don't succeed
get new batteries.
23.
You get out of something only what you
See in the picture on the box
24.
When the blind lead the blind
get out of the way.
25.
A bird in the hand
is going to poop on you.
26.
Better late than
Pregnant
A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!
1.
Don't change horses
until they stop running.
2.
Strike while the
bug is close.
3.
It's always darkest before
Daylight Saving Time.
4.
Never underestimate the power of
termites.
5.
You can lead a horse to water but
How?
6.
Don't bite the hand that
looks dirty.
7.
No news is
impossible
8.
A miss is as good as a
Mr.
9.
You can't teach an old dog new
Math
10.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll
stink in the morning.
11.
Love all, trust
Me.
12.
The pen is mightier than the
pigs.
13.
An idle mind is
the best way to relax.
14.
Where there's smoke there's
pollution.
15.
Happy the bride who
gets all the presents.
16.
A penny saved is
not much.
17.
Two's company, three's
the Musketeers.
18.
Don't put off till tomorrow what
you put on to go to bed.
19.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and
You have to blow your nose.
20.
There are none so blind as
Stevie Wonder.
21.
Children should be seen and not
spanked or grounded.
22.
If at first you don't succeed
get new batteries.
23.
You get out of something only what you
See in the picture on the box
24.
When the blind lead the blind
get out of the way.
25.
A bird in the hand
is going to poop on you.
26.
Better late than
Pregnant
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)