Monday, August 31, 2009

nola and a double stroller

We headed to New Orleans with the girls and a double stroller on Saturday. It went pretty well, both princesses were on good behavior.

The oldest princess was rewarded with beignets... what else?! :)

a new school year

Grace will once again be attending a 3 morning a week preschool. She switched schools this year to be on a different schedule that will benefit little Marion. She was lucky enough to be placed in a class with several friends that she already knew, so she really wasn't too shy about the new place.

She had her first day last week and it went great! I think Grace will have a happy year, full of friends and learning!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

more pictures from asheville

Marion's first plane ride! Both girls did great on the flight!

At the Arboretum
At the Nature Center's Butterfly Pavillion


Feeding the fish at a fish farm.

Shopping for groceries at the Children's Museum.

Flossing at the Children's Museum... she may have a future as a dental hygienist!

Grace in her 3D glasses and 3D chalk art

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

asheville 09

Last week the girls and I went to Asheville to visit Nana and Paw Paw.

Friday, August 7, 2009

had a bad day

So life wasn't so peachy today. When it rains it pours.... and then lightning strikes you, the floodwaters come in, and then the house burns down. I'll spare the major drama and focus on the kids... always fun to talk about them!

Both girls had check ups with the doctor today. Grace, for her three year- yeah a little late! - and Marion for her 6 month visit. Grace's went wonderfully - no shots, no nothing! - and she was rewarded with a huge scratch and sniff Strawberry Shortcake sticker... she still has it on!

Marion wasn't so thrilled. I went in with a big concern: that she wasn't bearing weight on her legs well. Dr.Myers confirmed that her arms and legs both had low muscle tone, and that there was some cause for concern. She did say though, that Marion is sitting well for a 6 month old, so her core body strength seems to be good.

On a hopeful note, she said Marion wasn't in awful shape, and it may just be that she's so laid back and lazy, that she hasn't developed the muscle tone that she should have by now.

Step 1 is blood work. They will run a c-peptide, a complete metabolic panel, and a tsh; not that I understand what any of that means. If it all comes back normal, she will start physical therapy. If it comes back with an issue, we'll go from there and make sure little May May gets taken care of.

I loaded the girls up and drove them next door to the hospital. It was the first time Marion had been back since birth. What a nightmare! An elder nurse told two younger nurses to get the blood by pricking Marion's foot and squeezing it out.... uh, fine for a drop... but they needed two vials!! After torturing her for quite a while and getting nowhere, one of the nurses said, "why are we doing it like this, this will take forever." By this time it was both Marion and I sobbing!So I ask if they think there is a better way and they tell me yes, getting a vein with a needle. Then they proceed with the squeezing drop by freakin drop! So I spoke up from my tears, as I held my screaming tortured baby... "well then, let's do THAT!"

Next, she was stuck in the arm, and the vials filled at a rate ten billions times that of the drop by drop method.I calmed my poor baby and after three hours in the doctor's office and hospital, headed home with my girls. Marion is pretty beat up... did I forget to mention her three shots??but she seems over it :)That smile always makes me feel better too :)

Saturday, August 1, 2009

all about marion

Our little Marion turned 6 months old last week. I can't believe she's already halfway to her first birthday; where does the time go? She's rolling over easily both ways, and she can sit unassisted for a short period of time... when she wants to!
Marion in her new rain forest jumperoo.

Marion loves her jumperoo and spends lots of time with it. She especially loves when Grace plays with her. Really, Marion is happy doing anything when Grace is playing with her!

So excited to have Sissy's attention!

Marion is already getting too heavy for Grace to handle!

Marion's first time eating in her highchair. I had been using the bouncy seat to feed her. She did great! She is a much pickier eater than Grace ever was. Her favorite meal is oatmeal and bananas, and she'll clench her gums shut for peas and rice!


Oh, the struggles we have with tummy time! She has gotten much more agreeable to it, but often, she'd rather just lay her head down and relax!