More Busyness!

November 26, 2009

Today is Thanksgiving, and we have had the usual "busyness"! Cooking, watching the parade, Dad doing Christmas lights outside. The little girls just RELAXING! They don't get to do that very often with the dance stuff they do.

I have loaded the dishwasher three times and ran it today....I think that's twice to many! Oh, well, dinner and pies and cheesecakes were worth the work I guess.

Bright and early in the morning, while normal people are still sleeping, the girls and I will be in line at Kohls. There are a couple of gifts we need to pick up there, and then on to Target, Home Depot, Radio shack, and the mall. We will go out to breakfast after the Kohls pay line, and see how much energy we have to plow through the rest of our lists. We might have to come home around 9-10am for a little cat nap before going back out. Christmas shopping is almost done this year....not as much as last year, but we want to go to California as a family in March to hug on baby Eden. We want to have the entire family, so we are not spending as much on Christmas this year. Dad thinks we are weird for going shopping in the wee hours of the morning, but it has become a fun tradition for the girls and I. We just wish Britni was here to go with us again this year.

I made a whole jazz costume for Cymbre today....it was pretty easy. I had bought a hot pink leotard, and then just made a blue coverup for it. Turned out really cute...I'll post photos later. I just have to figure out a headpiece for it. We got some hairbows down on Harwin street that Cymbre wants to use, but I need some feathers or something to go with them. I am trying to order a buckram hat form, but have to send a letter to the company to open an account. The next costume is Cooper's tap, and that's just taking a dress up to make a top, and then decorating it. It should be easy. I've ordered rhinestones, and they should get here sometime the beginning of the week. We found the jewelry we needed on Harwin street, and even found the beginnings of a bird hat for Cooper's pointe solo - Firebird - this year. I have ordered the red pancake tutu, and will start constructing the costume using her white one until the red one gets here. Also picked up some feather boas at Hobby Lobby this week...they were on sale. I also found a flip flop decoration that I want to turn into a strap holder for Cymbre's tap costume. I made narrow straps, and they tend to fall off her shoulders, so I wanted to have something to hold them together on the top of her shoulder. Just have to figure out how to attach the flip flop thing to get it to stay where I want it. Ms. Casey wants Cooper to look like a bird, so I have some pictures to go on, but that costume will be my challenge this year. Cooper will look really good in the bright red costume though. I need another trip down to High Fashion to look for some fancy material for the bird costume.

I am hoping that I might find some time to do a bit of sewing for the family this next week. We'll see.

Dad wants to put up the Christmas decorations this weekend. He will be gone next weekend, and then to London for a while. So it's either now, or wait until the middle of December. I love to have them up, so I guess we'll do it now.

I got out the snowman cookie jars, but rarely use them for cookies. They humidity ruins cookies down here. However, they look great sitting on the kitchen counter. We also got out the Christmas Spode dishes today. I love to use them for the month of December....we bought them in England so many years ago.

I bought myself a Christmas tree to put in the front entry to use for just my snowman ornaments. I am getting a good collection, and the other tree is so full that I decided to make my own snowman tree. I hear you all moaning....it won't do you any good! In fact, you can contribute to my snowman Christmas tree anytime you feel the need.

And those of you who are curious will be glad to know that yes, I have bought a new snowman this year. He is a really cute cookie jar! Hallmark stopped making the singing snowmen, so I bought a new cookie jar instead. I may have to go to Hallmark and get a couple of those cute snowman ornaments for my tree though.

My face is still quite numb, but not getting worse...guess those steroids at least did something. I am tired of it stinging all the time though. And I look like someone slapped my cheeks they are so red! Who knew Bells's Palsy can return just because you get sick with something else? It has something to do with inflammation in your body when you are sick. Pretty dumb if you ask me!

Dad has decided to use the driver's ed in a box approach to teach Cooper how to drive. She can get her pemit in February...heaven forbid! It sure doesn't seem like she is old enough, but I am looking forward to when she can just take them both to dance and come home when they are done. No more camping out at the studio for hours! I enjoy having a teenage driver in the house. They are so great for quick trips somewhere while I get something else done.

I am trying to come up with things to write in the family Christmas newsletter, so if you kids have some ideas, please send them my way. I have a reputation to preserve you know.

Well, must try to sleep at least a bit before the grand shopping expedition! Those two girls are crazy at 3am! By 5am we will be at Burger King eating french toast strips! We will beat Dad up tomorrow.

Love you all,

Mom

Eden Photos Again

November 20, 2009

More Baby Eden Pictures....

Her dog from Auntie Cooper...everybody needs a lucky dog...

Out to lunch with Grammie and Mom at Red Robin.

Her blessing dress is a bit big....she will grow into it.

Snuggling Grammie...

Using Auntie Cymbre's blanket...

More Baby Eden!

November 20, 2009

Here's some more photos of our new Baby Eden....Shyla's new little one! She is SUCH a CUTIE, and no this Grammie is not biased at all!

Eden's Boo dress...she was supposed to arrive in October...but waited to November.

Trying out her swing from Grandpa and Grammie.

Just Grammie and Eden!

Her first doctor's appointment.

With Russell and Cymbre's rhinos rattle...go Cymbre.

Getting Ready To Come Home

November 10, 2009

Here's Daddy Duck!

My new suckie...Daddy likes my purple one!

I'm waving to Auntie Cymbre... HI!

Getting dressed to go home.

My denim dress

More First Day At Home...

November 10, 2009

Mommy Duck came back to the hospital to dress me in the dress Daddy chose for me to come home....

Here's my striped onsie, purple socks, denim dress, and my cover from Auntie Sissy! Love those pandas...

I'm so happy to be leaving this place where they poke you, and everybody looks like a duck.

In the car with Grammie...we are going straight to see Daddy!

Meeting Daddy for lunch..

Just Daddy and Me!

Coming Home and Daddy Finally!

November 10, 2009

Here's me taking my first bath...drying on my lion towel from Grandpa!

Mommy is drying me....I didn't really like my first bath...I was hungry!!

Mommy is helping Floppy Bear meet me....I hope he is friendly!

These are my rhinos jammies for Aunt Cymbre! They have a tiger on for Grandpa too!

Daddy is finally home from work....


More coming home pictures on the next blog....

A Very Quick Update!

November 9, 2009

Here's just a very quick update....

Baby Eden will hopefully come home from the NICU unit tomorrow after 11 am...if her bloodwork looks ok! She is looking great, and is recognizing and following her Mommy's voice. It has been a bit of a challenge to figure out just what we are supposed to do each visit because there is no consistency in what each nurse tells us. One day she can have her bear, the next she can't. One day we can unplug her monitors to hold her, then the next day we can't. I have decided that with two different nurses everyday, the parents just don't stand a chance! So Shyla and I have pretty much been doing what we want, and we figure they are there to work, so if the baby cries...or stays awake after we leave....then they will just have to do their jobs.

We have the house in good order, and all the baby stuff ready. Once we get Eden home, we are going to try to not expose her to too many people....we don't need har back in that hospital! Then her Daddy will finally get to love on her.....those doctors are still keeping him away. Totally mean I think. I understand, but he hasn't has d his fever since Friday, and his cough is sound much better. They just won't believe that he is doing better.....mean, I say!

The baby seems to like to be awake for a couple of hours around 8pm, so we are hoping that she will do that for her Daddy tomorrow night. She has gained a couple of ounces....so they say she is good to go once her bloodwork and medicine is finished.

Shyla and Russell are really blessed compared to some of those parents we see in the NICU with their babies. One baby, they won't let have any stimulation....don't know why, but sad anyway!

Well, my camera battery is charging, so no photos right now, but I will put some on later. Must run and put my feet up for a bit...all these stairs have my toe swollen....oh well!

Grammie Paparazzi Stirkes Again!

November 8, 2009

Grammie Paparazzi strikes again.....at the request of Mommy Duck! Here's some new photos of our Baby Eden!

Last night when we went to visit she was awake the entire time. We had so much fun playing with her. She had a British Nurse named Rosie. She didn't want us to hold her while she got her antibiotics, but she let us get her out when she was done getting it. We fed her just before we left, and then gave her back to the nurse. She showed us a really cool way to wrap her up so she can't get loose to sleep.

Eden LOVES to have her one foot and one arm out of the blanket....guess she got that from her Mommy.

The nurse had her try a different nipple on her bottle last night, and it made it so she wasn't so slobbery!! We told the nurse that we liked that new nipple. The nurse was also going to pput her name on her card on her bed and her file.

Shyla is moving around a bit better, but still tires very easily. We go hug Eden, then home to rest, the go hug Eden, then home to rest. We stop quickly at a store if we need something....

Needless to say...this Grammie likes the go love the baby part!

Mommy Duck!

Baby Eden

My diaper snowboot! They don't want me to kick and scratch my IV out....silly nurses!

Grammie likes this picture...

I'm practicing my head banging!

Mommy Duck, Grammie Duck, and Me!

This suckie thing doesn't work...nothing comes out. And Mommy doesn't like it because it covers up my pretty face. We are going to change it when I leave this place.

Grammie caught my pretty smile....

This picture is for Auntie Cooper....see my muscles!

Just me and Mommy! Nurse Tina makes me wear this funny hat....she thinks I might get cold in my sauna room!

Finally I Got Mommy!

November 4, 2009

I FINALLY GOT TO HUG MOMMY!!!!

Isn't Mommy funny all dressed up in her garb to come and love me....

Here's my special awake look for Daddy!

This is my pirate look for Uncle Caleb!

My Stitch Bear in my cool bed....although it's really HOT in my bed.

I don't really like this stuff Mommy is trying to feed me....so I mostly just eat a little, and let the rest dribble out of my mouth. Mommy thinks she has to wash my face then....oh Mommy!

Ok, Mommy....I'll eat just a few swallows....then no more! I mean it!

Check Mommy's facebook for more fun photos of us snuggling.

Shyla's Little Miracle

November 3, 2009

Here's Russell and Shyla's little miracle.

We are having a great time snuggling in the NICU because I thought I might try on a little infection just to throw a little trial to Mom and Dad.

Grammie and Me spent an hour and a half snuggling and talking about everyone in my family that loves me.

As you can see I am sporting a really cool IV, and that means they don't poke me so much. It has the medicine for my infection.

I'm still learning how to suck, so I really kind of make a mess when Grammie tries to feed me my bottle, but my very nice nurse told Grammie I will figure it out in the next day or two.

I have all these cool wires monitoring everything...and a really interesting bed that closes like a box. I have my own private room in the NICU until they can help me get rid of my little infection. The Doctor told Grammie tonight that I would be fine, and now I am just anxiously awaiting my chance to hug on Mommy. We are hoping that will happen around midnight tomorrow. I think that might be a good time, don't you think. Mommy doesn't need to sleep since Grammie and me had such a good time after nine o'clock tonight.

Grammie is coming back for more loves around lunch time tomorrow. I have to see my doctor, and get all cleaned up and ready for visitors. Did you know they make Grammie wear a funny mask, and just from my viewpoint....I think it makes her look funny! I can't wait to see Mommy and Daddy in their masks!

Grammie and I rocked and rocked, and she told me all about the very big family, and everyone who loves me tonight. She said Mommy and Daddy love me best! I think my Grammie might be just a little bit biased though....

Shyla's Little Pretty Baby!

Here's my cool IV...it hits my face every once in a while, and I like to taste the tape!

And yes, I have ten little tiny toes, and ten long fingers!

This is that crazy Grammie I was talking about in her mask...isn't it funny!

I like to just stay awake and look around.

Just so everyone knows...I'm going to be fine...I weighed 7 lbs, and I am 17" tall. I don't like to suck on that sucky thing, and I can't quite get the hang of all this sucking stuff my nurse thinks I should....but I am trying my best to learn quickly. Grammie fed me some of my bottle tonight, but I mostly slobbered it on my burpy rag....I will try harder tomorrow! I also LOVE to wiggle and I especially like staying awake and looking around!

Love you Mommy and Daddy!!