Weekend of Birthdays

We had 2 birthday parties this weekend for two beautiful 5 year olds - my niece, Thea and our friend, Morgan.

Saturday we picked Leah and Amber up for Sara, Mike and Michael's house (they watched them for the night so Joe and I could go see Kenny Chesney - GREAT concert) and took her to gymnastics. After gymnastics we headed to Medina for Thea's bowling party. The girls had a great time. Leah bowled without the "helper" and did great. Amber tried a little bowling, but I think she had more fun trying to climb on the "helper and trying to do what the big kids were doing! Amber finished off her cupcake and even was trying to lick her fingers clean as I washed her up! HAPPY BIRTHDAY THEA!!!

After Thea's party, Leah was still complaining of an earache which had started the night before. So, off to same day clinic for us. After a long wait, we got the diagnosis...left severe ear infection, right mild ear infection. So, off to the pharmacy for amoxicillen. The pharmacist is really getting to know us this winter!

Leah had a rough night, but was feeling well enough, so we were able to go to Morgan's birthday party today. It was at the Cambridge Fire Hall with a big jumper. While the big kids were jumping, Amber tried to steal their shoes! Again the girls had a great time. They were both asleep within minutes of leaving the party!

Leah is always looking out for her little sis!

Amber's first tantrum

So, I know I shouldn't think it's cute...but I do. It is cute when a just one year old throws a tantrum, just not cute when the 6 year old does it!! We have not been able to change Amber to whole milk since she has been dealing with double ear infections since her 1st birthday. The antibiotics cause the same side effects as lactose intolerance, so we have been advised to hold off until her ears clear up. Well, we have a least 2 more weeks as we just started another round of antibiotics and don't recheck for 2 more weeks. So, we decided, ditch the bottle and move to the sippy cup and give her formula at room temperature (she prefers it warm- almost hot, but I am not going to be warming up milk)! She has done well...during the day! Well, tonight, she wanted her bottle and probably some warm formula. So, she screamed in my lap pushing the sippy cup away, then pushed herself off of me, walked away to the other side of the ottoman (still screaming), got down on the ground with her face on the floor and her knees bent up under her and her hands under her head (still screaming). This went on for a few minutes. She just was not ready to give in! Joe finally picked her up and tried to give her the sippy cup again. She would drink, then scream, drink, then scream. So, we tried our sippy cup with the soft top to see if that would calm her down. Well, it worked. She was still not too sure about it, but at least she stopped screaming, and she drank most of it. Compromise!

2/27/11 Skating with Thea and Delila, and some other stuff

My mom, Leah and I met Renate (Tiffanie's Mom), Tiffanie, Thea and Delila at the Plymouth Ice Arena for some opening skating. What a fun afternoon. I really can't believe how far Leah has come this year. She has some speed to her now...and she glides!!! It was also fun to see the progress that Thea was making. She's a natural. Plus, I spent most of the afternoon working with Delila. She had so much fun going "fast." She would glide her feet along the ice in a downhill ski motion while I skated fast. She did start to get the idea near the end. I think once she understands, she is going to be fast. Leah and Thea were cute to watch as they tried to "help" me teach Delila. After, we headed to Chili's for dinner. Fun day.

I am happy to report that we now have a healthy household. I spend some time in the Same Day Clinic yesterday. Why, well, it seems I now have a new antibiotic allergy. I started to get the same lovely rash that I was too familiar with during past reactions to penicillin and sulfa, this one is now to Keflex. Fun stuff. Guess I am going to have to just stay healthy, cuz who knows what they can give me now.

Amber is a walking machine. It is so rare to see her crawl anymore. In fact, she will come close to a run when she really wants something. Amazing to me how fast that transition happened. Seems 1 week she was wobbling around, then the next she was a natural as can be. This age is so much fun. She is getting another molar. She does handle it well, but she has had some more crabby times than we are used to, but nothing that baby orajel and tylenol doesn't help!

Leah had a fun weekend. Friday night she spent at Nonna and Grandpa's house and Dan, Thea, and Delila were also there. Can we say late bed time? Then, of course, Leah still gets up at 5:30am. Why, you ask? I have no idea, I wish I could figure out how to turn that internal clock off that tells her to wake up early. Any one now how to teach a 6 year old to sleep in? Saturday morning, Nonna took her to gymnastics where Grama Mary, and eventually Dan, Thea, Deilila, and Grandpa all came to watch. Saturday night, My mom, Leah and I met Deb, Jaci, Kaysee and Kurtis at the Children's Theatre for their new show "Barrio Girl." It was cute. Not my favorite, that is still held by "Babe the sheep pig." We will see next month if "Annie" will take the top spot. So, today, again Leah wakes up at 5:30...seriously. Off to church where we faced a melt down (likely due to fatigue). Finally, after I was able to calm her down, she was quite pleasant. She then fell asleep in the car as we headed to her friend's birthday party. So, she made it home today at about 4:30 and had a low key evening. Hopefully she is not too tired at school tomorrow!

And, as a final note, I just love this project that Leah brought home from school a couple of weeks ago. How I hope they will always be friends!

Update

So, last Monday (2/21), Leah, Amber, My Mom (thank goodness she was with and I headed to the clinic. I had made a 10:40 appointment for Leah. She got in promptly. Doctor didn't think it was strep (she apparently didn't have classic signs), but he did do a quick strep. He asked if I was going to wait. I said yes...because Amber and I were also experiencing the same symptoms, and if Leah had strep, then we probably needed to get checked. Doctor says it'll take about 20-30 minutes. After 40 min, I go and ask...sure enough the results are back (not sure why we were not notified). Leah has strep. Okay, so can Amber and I get seen? Let me ask the doctor what he wants to do. Okay. So, 20 min later, I go back up to the desk. Well??? Oh, he sent down prescriptions for all 3 of you (okay, but still not sure why I wasn't notified). So, go to the pharmacy to let them know we are going to wait. Then we head to the cafeteria to kill some time. Get back to the pharmacy. I have pills, Leah has liquid, Amber has pills. Really, pills for a 1 year old????? So, again we have to wait as they get approval to change Amber's medication from pills to liquid. FINALLY we leave the clinic at 1:15. I was exhausted as were the girls. So glad I was not driving! Thanks Mom. Once we got home, first dose of meds...Amber to nap and Leah, my mom and I watched Toy Story 3.

On Tuesday (2/22), Amber had her 1 year check up. We were told to still come, so we did. Not only did she have strep, but a double ear infection. WoW! What a trooper she is.

Amber's 1 year stats:
Height: 28.75 inches (38%)
Weight: 22lbs 6.4oz (72%)

I am happy to say that we all are doing much better now. I would say I am fully recovered and that the girls are between 80-90%.

Leah and Amber's Birthday Party - Family 2/19/11

We had a fantastic turnout to celebrate Leah's 6th birthday and Amber's 1st birthday.

Nonna, Grandpa

Grama Mary

Auntie Sara

Uncle Steve and Aunt Linda

Aunt Karen and cousin Chris

Aunt Pat

Nikki (niece), Cory and Emilee

cousin Chris S

Amber's Godparents Rick and Jaclyn, Kaylee, Kurtis, and Kaysee

Surrogate Aunt Sara and Michael

Coming a little late, but so glad they could make it...Beth and Rob

I hope every one had a great time. I know I was so happy that all of them made such an effort to help us celebrate our girl's birthdays. It really meant a lot too me. I know it got crowded in our house, and made me wish for a bigger house, but we managed. Unfortunately Dan and Tiff and the girls couldn't make it because the girls had strep. Bummer.

Leah had had a rough night the night before. She threw up at about 1 in the morning. She seemed to be doing better, so we went along with the party (I warned the parents). By mid party, I noticed that she didn't have her usual zest, but she did have a great time. After most had left, with Nonna and Auntie Sara remaining and Rob and Beth just arriving, she told me she didn't feel good. I asked her if she felt like she was going to throw up. She said no, but not 10 sec later, Amber and I were showered with it. Ugh. Leah and Amber got baths and I took a shower. Glad mom and Sara were there to help out! Thought that Leah was feeling better this morning. So, Joe and I went along with our plans to go to the Wild game with Dan and Tiff. My parents are watching the girls until tommorow since there is no school. Leah, it seems, is sick. She took a 4 hour nap this afternoon (unheard of). She has an appointment with the doctor tommorrow. I will keep you posted.

Amber was great during the party. She did have to go take a nap midway threw opening the presents. I guess the craziness of the day wore her out! She had fun playing with the kids and entertaining the adults (and even playing with some of them). We discovered that she is a fan of mega blocks (good call Rick and Jaci). She was not a fan of cake, eating it anyway, but she did have fun playing with it (especially the candle). She required a bath after her cake as she had frosting everywhere- face, back, legs, chest, tummy!! This was the first bath that she would take in 3 hours! She was so worn out by the end of the day that she fell asleep in a matter of minutes when she went to bed for the night.

What a truely fun day (with the exception of the last incident of the night) shared by our family and extended family!!! Thank you all for helping us celebrate.

Amber is ONE - 2/19/11

It is so hard to believe that it has already been 1 year since Amber made her entrance into our lives. I have enjoyed every minute of watching her grow. It truly is an amazing adventure. Here is what she has been up to over the last month. It's been a fun one!!

*WALKING
*Sings herself to sleep
*2 moods: Happy and Hungry
*First time on an amusement park ride - Nickelodeon Universe 1/23/11
*Plays peek a boo with her blanket when she is put to bed
*She gets upset when mommy or daddy is holding Leah...that is Amber's lap. She has pushed Leah, pulled Leah's hair, and screamed at Leah. Oh, and the looks that Amber gives! Wow!! We have been told that this is something she does at daycare and with Nonna as well! She is a bit possessive of her "laps."
*Daddy has nicknamed her "The Enforcer." She seems to be very strong willed and determined.
*Eating more and more table food. She just loves mac and cheese.
*Another molar - 2/3. She has been a breeze when it comes to teething!
*She is perfecting getting down from the couch all by herself
*She follows simple directions (sit down, get dolly)
*She understand things (goes to her highchair when asked if it is time to eat)
*She can squat without support, pick something up, and stand back up without falling
*Sleep great at night, take 2 naps during the day
*She waves hi and bye
*She is learning how to blow kisses
*She snuggles when she is tired
*First Ponytail (put in at daycare) - 2/7/11

Leah's 6th Birthday Party - 2/13/11

Leah had her birthday party at Brunswick Zone in Blaine. She had a lot of fun with all of her friends - Austyn, Michael, Thea, Kaylee, Haley, Rachel, Abby, Morgan, Bailey and Delila. They got to bowl (moonlight bowl style) for 1 1/2 hours, eat pizza, have cupcakes (the only thing that we had to provide) and then they got a $5 card to play games. Intermixed in the bowling was some dancing, opening presents and eating. At first Leah was a little worried when the lights went out for the moonlight bowling, but she got over it quickly. We were able to stop the "bowling pin man" from coming over to our lanes as he made his rounds. Leah did notice him, he was okay at a distance, but she did get worried if he got too close! All this was organized and run by our "Party Hero," so mom and dad got to enjoy the show which was great. Leah came home with a signature bowling pin signed by all of her guests as well as a bowling pin water bottle.