Tarica had her baby!

My sister and Tilden had their new baby boy yesterday afternoon around 4:43 pm.  

The details:

Masen Robert (middle name is after my dad)

Born:  4:43 pm on April 28, 2008

Weight:  7 lbs 13 oz (Keatyn had been 8 lbs 1 oz)

Length:  20-3/4 inches 

Tarica went in yesterday morning to be induced, and it took a little bit to get things going.  She didn't have to push very long though (she did some sporadic pushing for the nurse for a few minutes, but it only took about 2 pushes for the doctor before he was all the way out).  My mom got to be in the delivery room, and Tilden cut the cord this time (he didn't with Keatyn...my mom did).  

We are all super excited.  Masen is the first boy in our family for a couple of generations.  My dad is the oldest of 7 boys and 3 girls.  My mom is the second oldest of 4 girls.  I have 3 girls, and my sister already has one girl.  It's about time we add a little testosterone to the bunch, I guess!  LOL  

I'll be driving up there this weekend to spend a few days helping Tarica out, doing laundry, stocking her freezer, helping with Keatyn, and stuff like that.  I'm sure I'll be able to get pics then.  Plus, I still have a bunch from the last few weeks to post when I get a minute......

Love Thursday (Shutter Sisters)

On this, Love Thursday, I remember that 10 years ago today my husband proposed to me.  We were at the Olive Garden, which is where we went on our very first date.  He was so nervous, and I had just taken a mouthful of salad.  Then he asked, and I was sure I hadn't heard him right, so I made him say it again!  I'm giggling now, just thinking about it, but it was perfect.  As of next month, we will have been married for 9 years, and I couldn't be happier, amidst the craziness, of course.  

I took this picture last summer on our motorcycle trip to Door County, WI (my first motorcycle trip).  We had a great time, and we only really got rained on once!  Thank goodness our room at the B&B had a cozy fireplace!  

Quickie Update

Lily got sick again about 10 days ago.  We started steroids right away.  Then last Friday morning, it seemed like she had turned the corner and was doing better.  However, Monday during the day she just seemed kind of sleepy and wasn't eating great, then Monday night, I checked Lily's O2 sats, and they were only 88-89%.  We ended up putting her on oxygen.  It got to the point that she was up to 5 L of O2 through the nasal cannula, and not keeping her sats up.  I got ready to head to the ER with her, but then she'd stabilize a bit.  I told Mark that I thought she had mucus plugs moving around and blocking things because when she'd cough, her sats would go back up.  Plus, Lily really didn't seem to be in respiratory distress.  She wasn't really retracting, nasal flaring, or appearing to "work hard."  I gave her a bunch of nebs, and she and I spent the night in the recliner.  We did finally switch her to a non-rebreather mask, and that finally helped her keep her oxygen levels up above 90% (on 5 L).  

Yesterday she was on and off O2.  She was on it all night.  I did a couple of nebs during the night, and now today things are going okay so far.  Lily isn't on oxygen right now, and her sats are fine.  We'll just have to see what the day brings us.  

I have a ton of pics from the last couple of weeks, so I'll try to post some later on.    

YUMMY!

On Sunday, I made Blueberry Orange pancakes for brunch (vegan).  They were so good, like eating a blueberry muffin.  You didn't even need syrup on them!  Since then, I've been craving blueberry orange muffins or scones, so today I tried the scone recipe in Vegan With A Vengeance (VWAV).  I added the blueberries and a bit of orange extract, and YUMM-O!  Is your mouth watering yet?  Can't wait for tea time!  

Cropping Heads

I came across a new blog recently called http://shuttersisters.com/

Here are a couple of pics I've taken using this technique.  This one of Lily and Mark was taken at the conservatory a couple of weeks ago.  It's one of my newer favorites.  I've found that I use this technique quite a lot, although perhaps not to the extent as some of the others I've seen.  I may have to try it more!  

This one of Elise is an older pic.  I took it a few years ago....it was one of the first times her hair was long enough for piggies!  :-)  

Spotlight on Leah

At some point, I'd like to do this for all 3 girls, but it takes some time to put together, so it may not happen right away.  

Leah Mae born January 11, 2004 at 4:30 pm.   She weighed 4 lbs 13 oz at birth.  

Leah and mommy

Leah - looking sweet

The first time the girls were together since they were born.  Lily even got to be tube-free for the picture (well, tube-free on her face anyway).  This was taken the day we brought Leah home from the hospital.

Elise and Leah

She loved the swing--I used to let her take naps in it.  Thank goodness she always slept well in her bed at night.  We were very blessed that she was a good sleeper!  You also get a really good view of her strawberry hemangioma that we had to have laser treatments done on (it ulcerated and got really nasty looking).  She does still have a bald spot there, but you'd never know unless you were looking for it.

Lily finally came home from the hospital, and now they could be together all the time!

Leah rolled over and sat up in the same day (both firsts)!  Puzzle piece courtesy of Elise.

Happy together

Yes, the falling asleep at the table happened even then!  That avocado must've put her right to sleep!

Showing off her tricks....(you can see Lily's tubes in the background)

More tricks

Her flashy side

Fun at the park

Let me help!

Do you need something, Mama?

Playing with sidewalk chalk

Fair-do's!  We did this at the state fair a couple of years ago.  It was hysterical, but oh, what a mess!

Leah and me, taken at the Conservatory in Des Moines last year.

Gotta love that smile

There was a little girl who had a little curl..... 

Taken at Como on Sunday

When you're mad at mommy, there's no one quite like Elise to comfort you!

They started out so tiny, and here they are:  4 years old!  Leah is writing her own name, and very close to being able to write Elise's (she can do most of the letters but gets the order mixed up).  She loves snuggles, stories, and special moments where she can have mommy and daddy all to herself.  We're still working on potty training (she ALMOST had it before Lily went into the hospital back in Feb.....TWICE), but I don't think it will take her long.  She can do it when she wants to.  

We are so blessed to have Leah as a part of our family!    

Knock Knock

Lately, it seems I've been bombarded by endless knock-knock jokes, which would be tolerable if the knock-knock jokes actually made sense.  However, it usually goes something like:

Girl:  Knock knock.

Me:  Who's there?

Girl:  Banana?

Me:  Banana who?

Girl:  BANANA UNDERWEAR!  (and dissolving into gales of laughter, while I pretend to be amused)

Or a joke like this...

Girl:  How can you tell if Tinkerbell (our bird) has been in your refrigerator?

Me:  I don't know.  How?

Girl:  FOOTPRINTS IN THE BUTTER (and more fits of laughter)!  

This is actually my favorite knock-knock joke, and Elise finally figured out how to tell it yesterday, so I heard it about 20 times until I finally had to say enough.  And, just so you all can enjoy, I'll share it with you now...

Me:  Knock knock

You:  Who's there?

Me:  Interrupting cow.

You:  Interrupting Co--

Me:  MOO!

Pictures are of the girls playing dress up the other day.  

This Blog is amazing!

I was introduced to this blog yesterday by a mom on my mommy board.  Her little boy has a trach like Lily did.  I'm giving you the link for the post that will give you the background information on this family.  I know they can use all the prayers they can get!  http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/2008/02/fast-track.html  And, here are the more recent updates:  http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/