Videos are Fun

 

It's been a crazy couple of weeks.  Emma had her first dance class on Saturday morning and it was more traumatic for Daddy than Emma.  Emma did SOOOOO well.  She paid such close attention to her teacher and followed directions so well.  She really enjoyed the class.  We were both so proud of her.  I think she's the youngest kid in the class but she's definitely the most active.  

After dance class we took Emma to the mall to get her ears pierced.  Daddy said she couldn't have them pierced before she asked but he didn't think it would happen so soon.  Emma's been asking for almost a year so I thought it was time.  She picked out red studs.  Emma cried after the first one was done but sat up in the chair like such a brave girl for the second one.  She's so proud of her earrings.  She told me all weekend that she was going to show her friends on Monday.  

My favorite acoustic Def Lep song . . .

Video

Rob & Jen took some video of the kids while they were sitting the other night.  The bathtub is by far the best.  Enjoy!  

Pix, Pix, and more Pix

Reese in the pool

Emma smooching on Keegan

Emma in the pool

Annie and Kurt (Mimi and Emma in the background)

Annie & Kurt (yes, there are two Annies and two Kurts)

Keegan and Reese in the bounce house

Emma jumping rope

Reese and Emma on the swing

Gram & Grandpa with Emma

Kurt, Kurt, Annie & Annie (confused?)

Kurt, Annie & Annie

Gram & Grandpa with Emma

Annie, Kurt, Heather, Kurt, Annie & Father Jason

Aunt Mimi & Emma

It's official!

Busy Week

School started this week and it was crazy with having a schedule within a schedule (we're doing a freshman academy within the regular school day) but it really worked well.  The freshman seem to have a completely different mindset when they're not competing with upperclassmen.  I'm still not used to having 55 minutes rather than 80.  Now, if I can just make friends with the new textbooks and software, I'll be in good shape.  

Annie had her swallow study on Tuesday morning and the speech pathologist found no physical impediments that would prohibit Annie from swallowing or sucking.  She felt that frequently Annie chokes and gags because she brings up acid and then doesn't know what to do with it, especially when she's eating.  She reassured me that Annie is not aspirating anything.  She wants us to continue using the new bottles as they make Annie use the appropriate muscles in her face.  She would also like us to stay on the formula we're on because there is a concern with lactose intolerance but to add rice cereal to the beginning of each feeding instead of only at night.  The acid is bothering Annie's nasal passages only because she frequently brings up acid with such force that it also comes out her nose.  It's not a concern though.  The speech pathologist also recommended allergy testing for lactose, etc., especially given my history with allergies and asthma.  It was all good news for Miss Annie.  And, as messy as Annie is with the cereal she is really enjoying having more of it.  I see a chunky baby in the future.  

Both of girls had their check-up on Friday morning.  Emma is 37 1/2 inches tall (an 1 1/5 taller than last year) and weighs 35 1/2 pounds.  Annie is 25 1/4 inches and 13 lbs. 8 oz.  She has grown 6 inches and has gained almost 7 lbs. since she was born.  Annie's got the green light for food.  She's been doing awesome with cereal.  We tried peas last night but those made her spit up and gave her gas so we'll go to yellow food and come back to green in a week or so.  Dr. Lisa was so impressed with Emma and suggested a gymnastics or dance class.  Needless to say, mommy couldn't be happier about that.  Emma starts her first dance class after Labor Day.  

On Wednesday night, Kurt got tickets to my favorite 80's band, Def Leppard with Billy Idol opening for them.  Rob & Jen graciously watched the girls for us.  Rob got some awesome video of the kids playing together.  I guess Emma and Celest had a blast in the tub together.  Anyway, we had a great time at the concert.  I wasn't too excited about seeing Billy Idol but was really surprised.  He is definitely showing his age, and then some, but he was awesome on stage.  This is the third time we've seen Def Leppard and they were good but I thought they were better the last time we saw them.  We had AWESOME seats, though.  They did my favorite version of Bringin' on the Heartbreak where they start all acoustic and finish electric.  I was really happy to see them.  

Baptism Weekend Pix

Annie's Special Day

More pictures are coming but it's been a crazy weekend.  Here's "the moment" to tide you over 'til then.  

 

Last Day of Summer Vacation

Today is officially my last day of vacation.  I've been off work since April 21st and you'd think I'd be ready to go back but I'm not.  

Annie's baptism is coming up this weekend and we are so excited.  Mom bought Annie a new gown because the family gown too small.  Annie's still a peanut but she's a bit older and bigger than Emma was.  The family gown was worn by my sisters, Tricia and Tammie, myself, and Emma.  I took Annie's gown and some gifts to have them blessed.  I can't wait to see Annie's godparents, Kurt and Annie, (this is going to get really confusing, I know), and everyone else who is taking the weekend to travel here.  

Kurt and I are making some progress.  Our therapist has been establishing rules for discussions, particularly regarding conflict.  Essentially, he's teaching us how to fight fair.  The issues are to be dealt with later.  We are understanding the perpetual cycle we have established with each other - me being vocal and Kurt being reserved.  Our therapist also wants us to spend 20 minutes a day and 2 hours a week for time that is not centered on kids or issues.  The 2 hours is supposed to be for a date and with school starting it's going to be a challenge.  The 20 minutes will be a challenge since we won't see each other until after 10 at night but a 2 hour date concerns me.  I hate to take time on the weekends away from the girls but as a good friend was kind enough to point out, I'm "addicted to [my] kids."  We're not "fixed" and I feel this is more of a change of lifestyle than a repair, but we're headed in the right direction.  What we both noticed after last weekend is that the resentment is dissipating.  It's a huge improvement from this time last week when we were discussing separation.  But, it's just a start.  I think the hard work is yet to come.

I'm supposed to be working on things for school, cleaning my house, and getting my homework done (yes, I too have homework - I have two classes this semester) but I'm posting instead.  Annie's case manager is coming at 3:30.  She tried to tell me yesterday that I had rescheduled from yesterday morning to this afternoon and I know I never would have done that.  She was an hour late the last time she was here so hopefully today goes well.

Thanks again for all the well wishes and notes of encouragement.  Please continue to pray for all of us.

And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. 'My Father,' he said, 'if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.'  - Matthew 26:39

Cutie Pies

Some More Pictures from this Weekend

Emma helping Daddy with dinner.

Annie in her Bumbo.  She loves being able to sit up and look around. 

Emma's been wearing her watch.  If you ask her what time it is, she says, "13-9 and 7-8."  

A Day at the Beach

Annie's first steps in the water

Big sister Emma is helping Annie.  Annie really loved having her feet in the sand.

Playing in her cabana

Little Miss Monkey Face

Emma's ready to hit the waves

Annie's beach cabana - as you can see, she's got the whole relaxation thing down.

Yes, Mimi, Annie does have red, RED hair.  

Emma and Daddy have a chat at the shore.  He's probably telling her how great it will be to be a nun when she grows up.

Playing in the sand.

We spent the day Saturday at the beach at Pokagon State Park in Angola.  We had a great time and Emma came home filthy.  The sand is more like dirt than sand - strange.  Emma loved playing in the lake and at the playground.  She came home with a battle wound, though.  She fell off the jungle gym - twice - once falling on her face.  She's even cute with a boo-boo on her chin.  

A lot can happen in a week.  Annie is eating cereal now.  She really struggles with it so I'm hoping to start therapy SOON.  She loves her cereal and she tries so hard but she just can't seem to get everything coordinated.  We have to tap her tongue with the spoon or use a binky to get her to swallow.  Annie also wants to sit up very badly.  She's trying but just doesn't have the strength to do it yet.  Have I mentioned that she's only 3 1/2 months?  She's finally sleeping through the night, also.  She slept for 8 hours last night and 10 the night before.  She wakes up so happy and so do Mommy and Daddy!  It doesn't take much to make Annie smile, though.  She's very much a people person.  She wants to be where the people are.  I think that's what's encouraging her to sit up - she wants to see what the people are doing.  She's also working on 3 teeth.  Annie's baptism is next Sunday after 11 am mass.  We're so excited and can't wait to see all of our family who are coming to town.  

Emma's recovering from all the birthday excitement.  She's all about the princess.  She bought with one of her gift cards a Cinderella doll that sings.  I have to get that on video.  She'll tell me and Kurt, "No, don't sing.  Only I will sing."  Emma continues to impress us with how much she knows.  She's still terrified of "buggies," though.  The other day I was feeding Annie in the living room and Emma was at the patio table playing Polly Pockets when she let out a blood-curdling scream.  I ran to the patio and there stood Emma in a corner of the patio, telling me, "it's a bad, bad buggie, Mommy!"  I saw nothing but she obviously saw something.  

I guess I should say something about the elephant in the room.  Some of you know that Kurt and I have been struggling.  At one point last week we seriously discussed separating.  It has most certainly NOT been a day at the beach, but, a lot can happen in a week.  I always used to think we were fine because we never fought.  After 11 years of not fighting there are a lot of things that go unsaid.  We realized that we have a pattern of not communicating (the irony being that both of us have professions in, of all things, communications) and have let life get in the way.  We've put everything else ahead of our relationship and let the relationship drift.  Unfortunately, we drifted apart.  We're essentially putting our relationship - which I think we forgot about - on life support.  We started therapy Friday and it went very well.  It's going to be about 4 to 6 months but we're learning new patterns and dealing with conflict resolution.  We're also doing a Retrouvialle and a Marriage Encounter weekend - everyone says great things about both weekends.  It's going to be a challenge but as we sat in mass this morning and listened to Fr. John's homily we saw the ginormous, flashing, blinking, neon sign, telling us that we're not alone and we'll get through this.  Here's a little story to let you know where we were:  Our therapist asked when we last had a date.  It was when Emma was 6 months old (she's 3 now) and the time before that was when I was still pregnant for her.  And we wonder why we're here.  Keep us in your prayers.  We need a lot of support.  

Heather