My Sweets

Here are some recent pictures of my sweets:  

 Amy went on a mission trip to China a couple of years ago and brought back these little dresses.  I forgot that I had put them under the bed, but I found them the other day so we pulled them out and I knew the girls would love them.

And this sweet little pumpkin has started sleeping on her belly the last couple of days.  And she is finally back to 2+ hour naps!!!  Woohoo!  I've also found her sucking on her thumb lately and I just think it's so sweet.  She never did take to a pacifier so I am so thankful that she is learning how to soothe herself.

We have been rolling right along with the solids.  She has tried squash, avocado (pictured below), bananas, pears, and sweet potatoes.  I was able to find some really good deals on baby food so I have a lot.  I kind of miss making some baby food, but I know that I really don't have the time anyway.  She was doing the funniest thing yesterday where she would do a closed mouth smile and scrunch her nose.  It would cause her already very chubby and kissable cheeks to puff up like a squirrel with bunch of nuts stuffed in its cheeks.  I tried to catch it but she wouldn't do it when I had the camera out.  The 2nd and 3rd picture are the closest I came to catching it.

We have been keeping very busy at home, but having a lot of fun.  I try to make it to the gym at least 3 times a week and am still doing my 2 bible studies along with all of the other errands I run.  I'm hoping to slow down a little soon, but who am I kidding with the holiday season coming up! 

Plus, I have an exciting NICU ministry opportunity that is in the works.  I will give you some more details when things get more planned.   

Answer to Prayer

Just wanted to let you all know that Nora pooped so surgery is on hold for right now!  As her mommy told me, "Thank you for your poopy prayers!"  Glory to God!  She still needs our prayers though as she has a very long road to growing and coming home.  Thank you all!

Calling All Prayer Warriors

Hey guys!  Some friends of ours in our bible fellowship class are friends with a couple who just had a baby girl, Nora, at 26.5 weeks.  She weighed 1 lb. 8 oz. (sound familiar).  The mom just wrote me today and told me that Nora is having surgery tomorrow due to what they think is an obstruction in her bowel (sound familiar again).  I can easily recount my fear at being told that my 1 lb. 8 oz. baby could possibly be having surgery.  I can't imagine the fear and uncertainty they have right now.  PLEASE pray for Nora!  Thank you!  I will let you know how it goes.

3 Strikes & Yer Out

For all of you baseball fans, you will appreciate my sports analogy.  Hang with me while I explain.  I woke up yesterday with a sore throat and thought maybe it was just because we slept with the windows open.  I just finished my antibiotics for strep throat on Monday morning.  As the day wore on, I began to feel worse.  I barely slept last night so I called the doctor this morning. 

Strike #1: The doctor's hours are from 9-4.  Really?  And they take an hour lunch.  How does that leave you time to see patients and to treat people who are sick?  At first, they couldn't get me in until 2:30.  Then they called back and said they could get me in at 9:45.  I said that was fine, but I would have to bring my children with me.  There is a sign in the lobby that says, NO children under the age of 12 will be allowed in the exam room or the lobby because of health concerns for both children and adults.  The receptionist said it would be okay.

Strike #2: The doctor walks in the room asks me how I am doing and says, "Oh, I see you brought your babies.  It really is dangerous to bring children to doctors' offices, the hospital, or nursing homes.  You might want to rethink that next time."  I guess we shouldn't tell him that I take them to the hospital (gasp...even the NICU with sick babies) to show the love of Jesus.  Okay...have a little compassion, doc.  Let me tell you what was not on the top of my list of things to do today.  Wake up feeling like crap after barely sleeping last night, wake up a sleeping baby, drag 3 children with me to a doctor's office where I know I am going to be glared at, and then listen to you chastise me about how it's not safe for me to bring my children with me so I can start feeling better so I can better care for my children.  Maybe that's not how he meant it, but it sure did come out condescending and belittling.  I'm so sorry that I can't afford to have a baby-sitter in my back pocket.  Did you forget to take your compassion medicine this morning?

Strike #3: This is the 3rd time I have seen him since July and every time I come in, he asks why I am on a certain medicine that I take to prevent UTIs.  Shouldn't you write that in your chart somewhere so I don't feel like you are as incompetent as you sound?  I know he sees many patients and I don't at all expect him to remember me and my medications, but at least write it down to remind you.

Strike #4: You think I'm a baseball idiot, don't ya?  I know baseball only has 3 strikes, but I'm not done complaining.  I at least got my medicine.  He didn't think it was strep, but gave me a z-pack in case.  But as soon as he recommended the medicine, he asked if I was breastfeeding.  When I said yes, he gave me this, "Well, that stinks look," because now I have to figure out something else.  Problem solved though.  I have a deep freezer literally full of breast milk and some is set to go bad in the next couple of weeks so I can just use that milk and pump and dump.  

So I am thinking that it is time to change doctors yet again.  I am grateful that I have family & friends in town that can help me in a bind, but ultimately my children are my responsibility and if they are not welcome at your doctor's office, than I think I will take us somewhere else.  

On a bright note, I was going through old posts recently and found this picture of Kate.  Today when I went to put Reagan (2nd picture) down for her morning nap, she had fallen asleep on the floor, wearing the exact same outfit Kate had on in her picture.  Right now, Hannah and Kate are at Sarah's (THANK YOU) house and Reagan is napping in her crib.  Time for me to catch some sleep, too. 

What Do They Call You?

Hannah and Kate finally got to use their princess umbrellas.  We bought these with some of their birthday money and they just couldn't wait for it to rain.

 They have been in the habit the last couple of days of going into our closet and pulling down some of my shirts and wearing them.  I thought this picture was cute because they were in the same pose watching TV.

Reagan finally mastered rolling both ways this past week, which has led to some major napping disruptions and the complete dropping of the swaddler.  She is also slowly getting past her cold.  I almost think she might have a tooth coming in, too, because her daytime sleep has been horrible lately.  She's as sweet as can be though!

 And this is what happens when Reagan is left home with Daddy.  She ends up "riding" Bella. 

On a positive note...ta da!!!   Yes, it's about 85 % of the way there, but all of the tile is in the shower now.  It still has to be sealed, grouted, and, oh yes, the hole for the shower head needs to be cut (minor details, right).  I know that George is excited to have it almost done and I am, too!  His next project is to make the vanity. 

Ever since Hannah and Kate were babies (like a couple of months old), I would hold them over my head, sing a little song, and wiggle them to make them dance.  It usually generated smiles so it's stuck around.  The song is just, "They call her Kate Elizabeth, Kate Kate Elizabeth." or "They call her Hannah Grace, Hahannah Grace."  Well, we have now opened it up to all sorts of other people and variations.  I'm not sure when the girls actually learned to sing it themselves, but I got it on video the other day.  At the weekly Sunday Lantz lunch we were singing it and Hannah and Kate were inserting everyone's names in there to the right tune.  I was impressed!