Nico rocks!

Nico is getting so big, sitting in chairs unassisted. Last night, we were getting the children ready for bed, and he sat down in one of the little rocking chairs (gifted by their grandma).  I'm still so in awe whenever he does something new.  I called out to RWF, "Do you have your phone?!!" I wanted this recorded.  We shot a quick video, and I grilled Nico on what sounds different animals make while he rocked. But, because it was (dangerously) close to bedtime, Bode and Gianna were screechy and whiney in the background. It's kind of hard to hear Nico. I might post it anyway.  But for now, here are some pics of the big boy rockin' in the rocking chair.

Nico is now officially 21 months! I need to write a 20/21 months post for Nico! He has made a bunch of leaps over the past month, most notably talking up a storm and being opinionated!

Our summer mornings are spent at the swimming pool for Bode and Gianna's lessons. They are doing so great at swimming.  It makes me excited to think that they just might get the whole swim thing down before summer's end. But I may be getting ahead of myself.  

After swim lessons, we usually run an errand, stop at Starbuck's, and then we are home for naps.  I can never motivate myself to take them anywhere in the afternoons!  I really need to get it together. This summer has been pretty lame so far.

Happy Wednesday.

xo

Spring showers and good news

Yesterday we had a couple of windy showers.  After I got the babies up from a nap, I looked out to see big raindrops covering our patio.  I bundled the babies up in rain jackets and rain boots and we went out.  Of course, the rain stopped immediately and the sun popped out.  But it was still fun to wear our rain boots.

Miss Mia received a letter in the mail.  The results from her "punch biopsy" (that is a horrible term) show a benign lesion.  Hooray!!!  

Today we go in for suture removal. Wish us luck!  Actually, I will gladly do this, given the results we received yesterday. 

Next up, getting ready for a certain long-eared fellow to visit our house.

Happy Thursday.

xo

First...

dermatology appointment!  Mia Gianna was referred by our pediatrician to see a dermatologist.  She has had a (ahem) 'growth' on her shoulder that was...not going away.

I honestly didn't give this appointment much thought. I mean, usually when any kind of M.D. is put with my child, a whole lotta anxiety follows.  But this time, I was like, easy-breezy, "Oh, she's going to get that thing frozen off. It will take 20 seconds."

That was not the case.  The dermatologist looked at it, pronounced it a "poly-blah-blah-la-T-da" and then said, "I need to remove it."  I nodded confidently, knowingly ("Of course you do.").   But then she went on to say, "I can remove it tomorrow afternoon."

Uhm. Wait a minute.  We just spent 45 minutes in your waiting room, another 10 minutes in the exam room waiting for you to bless us with your presence, and after looking at my baby for 10 seconds, you want us to come back tomorrow?

You want us to come back tomorrow so that you can do the thing that we came here today to get done?

I don't think so.

(This post has been edited a lot.  I cut all the yelling and complaining I did while we waited 45 minutes.  Yes, I yelled.)

I was firm. "I don't think that's a good idea. I think you need to do it now."  My blood pressure was rising dramatically.

The derm frowned and considered. She probably considered how red my face was getting, and then thought about the anger I had displayed just about 10 minutes ago.  Because she said, "Okay. As I told you earlier, we are here for the patient and that is why we sometimes run late."  Uh, huh.


She then explained that she would put numbing cream on Gianna's shoulder, and then give her 1 shot.  And then...then she would surgically remove the uhm, spot from Gianna's shoulder.

Uhm. Wait a second.

I was not prepared for that.  I hate needles, blood and all things associated with needles and blood (and doctors, really).

But I held Gianna during the shot, and then the 2nd shot (that the derm deemed necessary, suddenly).  I held Gianna while she threw up on me. And then I held Gianna while she screamed and cried while the derm removed the spot from her shoulder.  And I held my squirming, sweating, red-faced, vomit-y smelling, freaked out baby while the doctor put three stitches in her shoulder.

We did it.  We survived.  And now I get to play Nurse  to my daughter for the next 9 days, monitoring the care and cleaning of her stitches.

This poor baby. She has been through so much in her young life!  I keep telling myself that she's getting it all out of the way now, so she won't have to deal with it later.  That makes me feel a little better, anyway.

And while I'd like to say that this was Gianna's first and last dermatology appointment, that is not the case. We have to return to the derm to get the stitches removed (and to discuss the results from the lab).
Send my baby some love!
xo

A visit to Aunt Dawnie and Uncle Craig

We returned yesterday from a quick visit to Aunt Dawnie's and Uncle Craig's house.  We visited with Nana and Aunt Debbie (and Aunt Dawnie and Uncle Craig, too, of course).

I had reservations about my first solo (overnight) trip with the kiddos.  This is what the packing looked like:

This picture does not include 1 large package of wipes, 3 milk bottles, 3 sippy bottles, 2 snack cups, 1 penguin, 1 pink bunny, and the 5+ assorted cars that were brought along.

We had to stop about an hour into the journey because Miss Mia Drama Queen had to go and throw up not once, but three times, on herself.  The first time she did it, I wasn't sure and had to ask Bode, who gave me a vague answer.  So while I was searching for an exit ramp, Gianna took this long delay as complete disregard for her plight. She thought I was ignoring her cries.  And so the poor baby got even more upset, and threw up again. I guess she got car sick, and then "emotionally" sick.  It was icky and gross.  I was ill-prepared to clean up all that sickness.  My poor girl was so distraught (who likes throwing up?).  When I had changed her, and cleaned everything up the best I could, I announced that we would be on our way again. Bode looked over at Gianna and said, "Don't spray your milk like that again, okay, Gianna?"  

P-U did our car smell nice on the ride over to Aunt Dawnie's!  But we (finally) got there and seeing everyone made the "milk-spraying" trip worth it.  Smiles and hugs were exchanged. 

During our visit, the toy box was inspected, new toys were opened, more gifts were given, stories were read, tummies were tickled, and everyone giggled.

Nana enjoying her youngest grandson.

Gianna was more interested in playing with Aunt Dawnie's tchotchkes than the toys.

Uncle Craig came home from work and started his second shift as Chief Entertainer and Story Reader. He was also the Grill Master. He grilled delicious burgers and portobello mushrooms (for moi, merci!).   

While he was there, Bode worked on Aunt Dawnie's window treatments. Maybe this little guy has a future as an interior decorator (or not).

Just like Christmas, Gianna and Uncle Craig had their own special game going.  Uncle Craig would make a noise, Gianna would giggle and imitate him.  This went on for quite some time!  Gianna enjoyed  silly Uncle Craig.

I was worried how the babies would do overnight, sleeping in a new place.  They both did beautifully. Then again, they were probably so whipped by all the excitement and fun!

The next day we had a quiet breakfast and enjoyed a few more stories with Aunt Dawnie.  Then we hit the road, Jack.

Thankfully Gianna did not get car sick on the way back. We had books and music, but I turned out to be the entertainer/driver.  Bode had me tell him about a hundred different "Cars" stories while we drove.  I was having a hard time coming up with different scenarios for Lightening McQueen and Mater. Even so, I thought, "This is a memory."  We'd sing some songs. Then Bode would say, "Now I want you to tell me another story."  

We'll be back for more visits. The goal is that Bode and Gianna get to know their family, and that visiting is not a big deal but second nature.  I want them to know their Nana, their Aunts and Uncle.  I did not have that opportunity when I was younger because our family was spread out across the country.  So we are going to capitalize on our proximity to our "New York" family! 

Our weather has been beautiful.  We played outside yesterday for a long time.  The babies were definitely tired from the visit.  As usual, they were soooo good. I'm so blessed.

Have a happy Thursday!

xo

PS GO ORANGE!!!

Go Orange!

After school today