Addison Enjoying Her Bouncy Chair and Conversations with Regan

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2607532729510038041&hl=en

Addison's First Bow

I don't know why I have never put a bow in Addison's hair, since she has always had hair. Maybe because she never went very many places. In any case here is a picture of her with her first bow.

Addison's Vegetables

Addison seems to like her vegetables. She didn't like her squash (the first one we tried) right away, but did like it eventually. Matt thought it was funny that I would start her on the vegetable that I like least. We have since moved on to carrots and she liked them right away. A lot of times she eats the whole jar. She should really start to fatten up soon. We are hoping, anyway.

Salmonella Update

We are cancelling our trip to Florida. We have learned that salmonella stay's in the system for 6 mos, and it is unsafe for Regan to swim in swimming pools. So, rather than have to deal with the drama of her not being able to go in the swimming pool....we have decided to stay home. We are currently trying to think of a replacement get away that will not involve swimming in a pool. So far Addison and I have managed to stay Salmonella free, and I hope to keep it that way. Matt has not been so lucky.

In other news. Addison has finally learned to roll over. I no longer think it is an accident. For the past week she has been rolling over on her tummy to sleep, and she wakes up in the morning and is mad because she can't get back to her back. I figured she would eventually learn, and as long as she wasn't waking up in the middle of the night it was fine. So, then she started pushing herself so far up on her arms that she would sort of topple over. But today she rolled over the traditional way. However, she bumped her head on the hardwood floor in the process (carpet is so much better for babies). So, I don't know how quickly she will want to do that again. If she is in the mood tomorrow, I will try to get video. I will also try to get a picture of her eating her vegetables...which she started a week ago. A combination of her being the second child and being tied up with this whole salmonella thing has put me behind. But stay tuned....I will try to get new pictures up soon.

Salmonela

They think Regan has Salmonela. It has not been a fun few days, but I think we are through the worst of it. She at least has been pretty understanding about not being able to have milk. I know she wants it, but I blame it all on Dr. Baumbouree and she has accepted it so far. She seems to be getting better, so hopefully we will be able to give her milk again soon. She hasn't eaten well in a few days and has lost some weight, but ate her whole waffle this morning (which she never does) and some corn. She slept pretty much all day yesterday. She layed on the couch all day and then took a four hour nap, but is fighting her nap today. Hopefully we will be back to normal by tomorrow.

New Orleans Visit

We went to New Orleans this past weekend to attend our friends welcoming party for her kids that she is trying to adopt through the foster care system. We stayed a few days to go to a Zepher's game with Phil's family. We were supposed to see fire works, but Regan didn't make it that long. It was a nice visit. We were able to see some friend's that we haven't seen in a while and Regan got to spend time with her cousin's.

Addison's First Cereal

Addison had her first cereal today. She wasn't to sure about it, and I think that more ended up on her than in her. But I think we got most of it down.

Fairies

This week is our babysitter's last week. So sad! Her sister nannies two little girls Regan and Addison's ages, and the one that is Regan's age goes to kindermusic with us. So, since it is Jennifer's last week her sister brought the girls over for a playdate. I told her she could bring them over even after Jennifer moves, but Jennifer told her that she couldn't. I think she is going to miss my girl's, and we are going to miss her.

At one point the girls were both in fairy costumes, but I missed it. However, they were really cute with the bubbles. They spilled the spillable bubbles (as I knew they would) and they are trying to pour the spill proof bubbles into the spillable bubbles. For some reason they like the spillable bubbles better.

Addison Cleft Repair - Update 2

We went to see the surgeon today. After being up with Addison for 2 hours two nights ago I was really hoping that he would say we were through the recovery period. The nurse said it is always harder on the parents than it is on the baby. I feel a little whiney, because we have been really lucky with all of this that she only needed one surgery. However, I am a person that needs her sleep. I do not function well without it. And Addison does not sleep well with the arm bands on. I don't think I would sleep well either if I couldn't move my arms. Anyway, the surgeon said that her mouth looks good and that some of the stiches have started to dissolve. He said that on Thursday we can start giving her a bottle. Only two more days!!!! I will be counting down the hours.

Princess Regan

Regan is really into princesses right now. She wore her cinderella costume down to our neighbor's last week and she wore her Sleeping Beauty costume for a good part of the day today. We went out to dinner last night at the local diner and she wanted to wear her Sleeping Beauty costume and crown to the restaurant, but we drew the line at the crown.

Addison Cleft Repair - Update

Three days down and seven to go on the recovery. Addison is doing really well. She still doesn't enjoy the syringe feeding (we don't think she ever will), but we have discovered that she does best if we put her in her bouncy chair, stop it from bouncing, shoot some milk in her mouth and let her bounce and swallow. She loves to bounce. She still got aggravated towards the end, but she got a lot down. She also does pretty well if I sing to her while Matt shoots it in her mouth. We have also taped her arm bands to her suit and it is keeping her from being able to get out of them. I guess her future as a magician is over before it started.

Sue left today and Matt goes back to work tomorrow, so from her on out it will be just me and Ms. Jennifer. We were very grateful to have Sue come stay with us and help with Regan. This morning I tried to convince Matt that he could work from home these next two weeks, but he didn't agree with me. But now that we are getting better at the feedings, I think we will be okay.

I took a picture of Addison smiling. Regan, not one to let her sister have all of the spotlight, wanted to be in the picture. I think she got a little more than she bargained for.

Addison's Cleft Repair

As many of you know, all went well with the surgery. They started at about 7:30am and she was in her room by 9:30am. She slept most of the day yesterday and got up three times to eat last night. Not bad. She still doesn't like the syringe feeding. But we are able to get food down her. We feel like we are back in the infancy stages..... getting up several times a night and we are excited if we can get her to take an ounce. The really hard part is getting her to keep her bands on her arms, so that she won't put her fingers in her mouth. We woke up twice last night to find her right one off. I have now nicknamed her Houdini. She was pretty fussy all day yesterday...the few times that she was awake. But she seems to be getting back to her normal smiley self. If we can just get her to eat and keep her arm bands on.....

Addison 6 mos.

Today was a rough day. We went for Addison's 6 month well visit, and she got her immunizations. The nurse measured her height and head circumferance and weighed her. Her measurements were/are:

Height: 26 1/2 (70%)

Weight: 15 lbs. 11 oz. (45%)

Head Circ.: 18 in (99%)

Well, when the doctor came in to look her over he wanted to check her head again. I asked him if it looked smaller, and he said no bigger. So, he measured again and got 17 3/4 which is 97% . That is the same percentile she was in for her head at her last well visit. At first he said that we would keep an eye on it. I wasn't overly concerned, because Regan has a big head. But even when you are not overly concerned as a mother you still are concerned. Or at least I am. Then he said because she has a cleft....let's go ahead and get a catscan just to be on the safe side. Which at this point, I am all about being on the safe side. So, we went to get the catscan...which of course was an ordeal. Addison was not having being confined like that. They wanted her to be asleep, which she wasn't going for either. Finally she went to sleep and they were able to get a good read. And this is why I love my pediatrician. The tech told me the results would be ready around 3:30pm. At 3:30pm I was considering whether it was to soon to call my pediatrician's office to find out if they had the results when the phone rang and it was them. So, all is well. They said that the brain looked good. I would give you all of the scientific information, but words like that do not stick in my brain. The pediatrician cleared her for surgery and now we just have to go to the hospital on Monday.-

Pre-op Appointment

We had Addison's Pre-op Appointment today with the surgeon. We were there forever, but it looks like everything is a go. I have to do pre-admit tomorrow. Her 6 month well visit on Thursday, where the pediatrician will clear her. And then her surgery on Monday. They said that typically the babies don't like drinking from the tube at first, but they get hungry and then do fine. They said the worst will probably be the first couple of days. I can't believe we are almost there.

Regan's Swim Lessons

Regan has swim lessons this week. I took her for her first day yesterday. She did a lot better than I thought she would. Jennifer had to take her today as I was at Addison's pre-op appointment. I think she was a little more wary today, but Jennifer said that once she got in and was distracted by the toys that she didn't do to badly. I am thinking about putting her in swim lessons year round.

Mike and Chris's Visit

Mike and Chris came to visit to see the girls. Regan really took to them....especially Mike. They brought her two baby princess dolls, which she was very excited about. I think they are her new favorite toys. We had a lot of fun. And I think they really enjoyed Lafayette.

Regan's Artwork

Regan has been drawing things that actually look like what she says that they are. Here is a picture of a face and an octopus that she drew.

Addison Laughing

Addison has been giving us some belly laughs lately. We shot this when she was tired and hungry, so by the end she had had enough. Also, pay no attention to me calling her by the wrong name. It is a family trait and happens often. Poor Addison is going to think her name is Re-Addison.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1311491256887949572&hl=en

Conner's Birthday

One of our good friend's little boy's turned eight this weekend. He had his birthday at a rock wall climbing place, and I think Matt might have enjoyed it more than anyone. Our friend's asked Matt in advance if he would help with the party, and he was more than happy to do it. He also climbed a little himself. It was also the perfect birthday party for their kids as they are spider monkey's. I didn't think Regan would have any interest in climbing, but she wanted to sit with the big kids and listen to the rules. She then decided that she wanted to climb, so we let her put a harness on. But the the reality wasn't as appealing as the idea of it. So, she decided to color princesses instead.