Bits And Pieces

I technically have had time to blog in the last week. We are finally falling into a routine. I'm keeping the house...well...sanitary and we kinda have a schedule. This is due in part to the fact that my mom was around helping us out and visiting with us. It is also due to the fact that Rosebud is now 9 weeks old! She weighed 11 lbs at her 2 month checkup, but they weighed her with a full diaper and clothes on. Not the way I'd do it, but oh well. I weighed her on our digital baby scale (the one I weigh her on weekly) and she was 10 lbs 8 oz.
But instead of blogging I've been trying to spend lots of time with the kids. When Snug prayed "Thank you God for this food so we can eat...and help mommy to stop yelling at 'Little Monkey'." And when Snug told daddy to "just yell at it" when the chainsaw wouldn't start...well we decided we'd better work on the not yelling. I'm reading a couple of books, he's got accountability in some friends. We're trying. We are so not perfect parents.

Rosebud is modeling her new bathing suit. I'm not quite sure why they sell bathing suits for little babies. I bought it so I guess I am the reason that they sell them :o) This one is size 3-6 mos. I think it she may grow out of it before 3 months!!!

She actually was quite happy to look at the grass, don't worry. This picture looks more torturous than it is. I just wanted to remember how cute the back was too.

Rosebud spends much of her day lounging about in the backyard.

And she smiles all the time. She is such a blessing.

Little Monkey Man keeps himself busy with his water table...and anything else he can get his hands on in the backyard. He usually doesn't play with toys. Here he is using the watering can we use for our deck railing garden. Oh well.

We also get to as many of #1's softball games as we can. He plays at least two times a week.

I just had to post this picture. He cracks me up. Some days his speech seems like it is really coming along. Some days all I can get is pointing and grunting and screaming. I know there is so much in that little head of his. He understands SO much and he is really smart. He just has a hard time telling us what he knows.

Snug has recovered nicely from his surgery. Here he is entertaining Rosebud during her mandatory tummy time (not her favorite). Keeping him "quiet and still" was no easy feat. This toy I picked up at a garage sale last year helped.

Snug just loves his sister. Sometimes too hard, but he truly tries. He is constantly in her face kissing her and talking to her.

Another activity this week was putting in the clothesline. My dad built the poles and #1 and I put them in.

Snug is very proud of the job "he and daddy did". Snug sprayed the hose for daddy. And on daddy.

I am just so happy to have my diapers out sunning themselves. I never like how stiff my inserts, doublers, and AIOs are after a day outside though. My pocket diapers and covers are always ok. I found the solution. About 10 minutes before another load of clothes is done, I quick stick all the "stiff" diaper pieces in the dryer and then they are not only sunned and smelling nice, they are also back to their normal soft selves. Problem solved!

8 Weeks Old

Just a quick update on life here. Busy. Always busy.

Rosebud is 8 weeks old today. She weighs 10 lbs even. I measured her last week and she was 21 inches long. She is still a quiet and happy baby. Lots of smiles, pretty easy going.

Snug is recovering from surgery. He is pretty cranky and his voice sounds like an animated movie character...but other than that he seems ok. He doesn't know how to take it easy.

Little Monkey went to the ER yesterday (our doctor is out of town...his first vacation in 2 years so we can't get too upset) and he has Croup and Pink Eye. Fun times. He isn't supposed to be too near Rosebud because she could pick it up easily. The doctor tells me that as he is thrashing around and rubbing his face (and snotty nose and goopy eyes) on me, my shirt, and the sling that Rosebud would be riding in a few minutes later to exit the hospital. Riiiiiight. I'll keep them oh so far apart.

Rosebud was in a sling and Little Monkey was in the umbrella stroller because out Sit and Stand double stroller was in the van...and the van was in the shop. It is one of those days weeks.

I'd take an 8 week picture...but the camera card is full. Sorry.

Tonsils & Adenoids & Tubes, Oh My!

Snug had his tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday, and tubes put in his ears. He has had trouble hearing a week or so here and there-to the point if he's not looking at you he doesn't know you are talking. We didn't want that to interfere with school in the fall. He also has had fluid (not always infections) on his ears for months. His tonsils were coming out because they were HUGE and he had sleep apnea.
Snug was very excited to go to the hospital. He thought it was going to be one big vacation. He proudly marched in at 6:30 am (ugh) with his suitcase and blue bear in tow.

In the waiting area, there are video games. He also got some Peanuts coloring sheets and crayons.

Once in his pre-op room, we spent a good two hours. Nurses, the surgeon, anaesthesiologists, etc. came in and out and seemingly asked the same questions each time. By the end Snug knew how to answer. He spent some snuggle time with his sister and watched Nick Jr on TV. We don't have cable, and his TV is typically limited to 30 min. a day-if any, so he was thrilled.

Our pastor came and prayed with us and talked for awhile which I thought was so nice. Once in his hospital gown, Snug then got some Valium and Tylenol3 which made him very...happy.? He kinda acted drunk. Once it all kicked in, they took him to surgery.

We were asked to wait in the pre-op room until the surgery was over (about 30 min.) and we had talked to the doctor. Dr. B said he had huge adenoids as well as huge tonsils. Everything went well except they had to drain a bunch of pus out of his left ear. Apparently he had a big ear infection.

This is how Rosebud was transferred around for the day. No siblings were supposed to be there, but I got permission to bring her as long as I didn't have a stroller. They don't want extra noise and junk around, but she wasn't noisy and we only had her sling and a diaper bag.

Post surgery we met Snug in his room. He was having trouble with his O2 levels, but refused oxygen in the recovery room. They gave him a party blower to take deep breaths and blow. It worked. Our children's hospital is good like that-everything is super kid-friendly.

Snug got a Diego balloon from Rosebud and Little Monkey and a Woody "doll" from us. He loves all things Toy Story right now. He woke up in a great mood and wanted to run around. It was very hard to keep him in bed. Slushies and TV helped. They were amazed at how fast he drank 4 oz of apple juice and immediately wanted a popsicle and TV. We told them he never drinks juice, rarely gets things like popsicles, and very limited TV...he had been informed all of those things would be available at the hospital. He was right!

The good mood and happiness wore off about 6pm. He finally started to act like he had had surgery and it was a very long night for daddy who stayed with him. Today he is quite unhappy with everything but won't stay down...because he "isn't tired".

Thank you so much for your prayers. I"ll let you know how he progresses

Snug's Surgery

Please pray for Snug as he is getting his adnoids and tonsils out, along with tubes in his ears this morning. He is super excited to go to the hospital...we've let him be excited but have tried to tell him what will happen. I'll update later. Thanks

7 Weeks & Memorial Day

Rosebud is 7 weeks old today. She weighed in at 9 lbs, 10 oz this morning. I was a little surprised, because I thought she'd be more like 14 oz because she usually gains more than that each week, but 6 oz isn't bad. I think I am a little paranoid after all the trouble Little Monkey had. Our doctor is too, that is why he has me checking her weight every week (we have a special scale at home we bought when LMM was having trouble).

Look at her smiling! She started looking at us and smiling at about a week and a half. Not gas-truly smiling at us. It is really hard to capture on camera, but I've been successful a couple of times now.

Here is a peek into our Memorial Day activities.

We started the day at a local outdoor mall to walk around and enjoy the weather.

These two munchkins hung out with daddy...

...while this munchkin played in the fountains. He wouldn't even get close to them last year, but this year he was very excited. I wasn't very prepared, he was in jean shorts.

I tried to convince Little Monkey Man that it was fun, but he was having none of it.

No, his right arm isn't bleeding, it is a tattoo. That is a post for a different day.

Next we went to a park that is close to our house for a picnic lunch and some playground time.

Is that not the longest slide you have ever seen? It goes right down the the left hand side of the picture. We call this park "big slide park". It has a real name, but everyone here knows what you are talking about when you say "big slide park".

LMM makes his feet stay to the sides so that he goes down very S L O W. The other kids get upset that his turn takes so long and I think he likes it that way. I don't think he is concerned about going too fast, he loves to whip down out slide at home and fly off the end.

Snug loves every minute of it!

The plan was to next go to a Memorial Day service in our town, but when we arrived it was well over 80, there was no shade anywhere at the Veterans Memorial site, and two of the three needed naps-badly. It was in the early afternoon, right during our nap time. We turned around and headed home instead.

That evening it was more fun at a friend from church's house. They had a big picnic and there were tons of friends in attendance. Snug wanted to hold Rosebud after he noticed other people were getting a turn. He'll go a day or two and never ask to hold her...and then the minute someone besides mommy or daddy has her, well then it is his turn also!

Except for being called a "cute little girl" on the slip n slide, LMM also had a fun time. Post being called a "girl" I stuck his "dude" shirt on him. He was really embarrassed at being called a girl. I think because he doesn't always communicate clearly to us we forget how much he understands of what is going on around him. Actually, his speech is starting to really blossom and he is doing better each day.

There's that smile again!

And another smile (LMM's twin is in red...seriously they could be twins).

So aside from the fact that LMM got hold of picnic food and has had diarrhea ever since the party, it was a really great day!

I know it is a little late because I am SO not good at posting right after things happen, but the Drays would like to thank all of our veterans who have served our country past and present. We appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in our great country.