Annual Photos

We finally got our the remainder of our Christmas pictures today. I like them except that I look hugely pregnant in the first picture.

Disgusting

So, this evening while the girls were in the tub I was kind of in and out of the bathroom. One of the times I was out I heard Lizzie cry out, "Mommy! We have a problem in here!"

I raced into the bathroom to see Alaina trying to hand Liz one of the multiple clumps of poo floating around the tub. Disgusting.

As I pulled the girls and toys out the tub Liz said, "I am never taking a bath with Alaina again!" I wouldn't blame her. Of course once I cleaned up the poo and washed the tub, Liz happily hopped back in with Laines to be disinfected.
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On another note: Alaina is doing much better. She just finished one of her four medications today. She'll probably finish another tomorrow. Another medication she'll continue taking for a couple months as a preventative measure because apparently she's more susceptible to wheezing and other lung crap because she was born a bit early and had RSV last year.

We went to a follow-up appointment at our pediatrician on Friday and he commented that Alaina seemed to be doing well and wanted to know if I thought she seemed to be feeling and acting better. I didn't quite know what to say. The way she was behaving--happy and herself--was exactly how she was behaving on Tuesday morning (the same day she was sick enough to be checked into the hospital).

Hospitalization

Last Tuesday afternoon I took Alaina to the doctor to humor Andrew. I didn't think she seemed very sick so I was a little surprised when the pediatrician found double ear infections and crackling in her lungs. Laines had a nebulizer treatment, a dose of steroids, and then another nebulizer treatment, but still her blood oxygen level was too low (in the 80's instead of the 90's) so . . . . The pediatrician sent us downstairs to the E.R. where Alaina was traumatized by a chest x-ray and painful antibiotic shot (so painful that they already had lidocane built into it). She also had another nebulizer treatment, another dose of steroids, and then, because her oxygen levels were still too low, she had a "continuous" nebulizer treatment while we waited for the ambulance pick us up and take us to the hospital. Incidentally, I was just as surprised to be admitted to the hospital and taken by ambulance as I was when we were sent to the E.R. in the first place.

Laina did not like being strapped down to the gurney, but once secured she calmed down and even seemed to find the ambulance ride interesting. It was my second time in the back of an ambulance and both times have been light and siren-free.I assumed we would only be in the hospital for one night. We were there two nights. The doctors and nurses kept asking me when the symptoms started and I had to keep telling them that I didn't really know. Alaina hadn't seemed that sick to me. She'd had low-grade fevers, a runny nose, and a cough off on and for two months because it's winter and she's teething. Plus she'd been acting like her normal self. It's hard to pinpoint when symptoms you hadn't really noticed got worse. It's also hard to know if the treatments seem to be alleviating said symptoms if you hadn't been tracking them until hospitalization.

To keep Alaina entertained in the hospital we had to be resourceful. Among other things, she pulled tissues out of their boxes, played with her hospital-issued toiletries, and put towels on her head. The hospital also gave her a picture book and a teddy bear, both of which she enjoyed.

We were very happy to avoid an IV in the hospital, but Alaina still had some unpleasant experiences. She had her nose vacuum-suctioned frequently (traumatizing for all of us), regular medication, and lots of nebulizer treatments. The suctioning was the worse, especially when we had to wake her up at night. She was so upset that she vomited after the first suctioning and got a bloody nose after the very last one.

One of the respiratory therapists gave Laines a little face mask so she could give her teddy bear nebulizer treatments too. She also enjoyed putting the face mask on mommy and daddy. The circular bandage on her cheek was to hold her nose tubes in place.

Sometimes Alaina got to the point that she freaked out whenever anyone approached.We were very grateful to take her home this evening. Thanks to everyone that offered help and prayers and who watched Liz for us.

New Years Traditions

We did some New Years celebrating last night since we didn't get around to doing anything traditional over the weekend (well, we put away some holiday decor).

Actual New Years Eve: Lizzie fell asleep on the way back from skiing, Drew and I stayed up watching random t.v. We did officially countdown the new year, but only because we overheard people outside counting down and paused Myth Busters to participate.

New Years Day: yummy breakfast of crepes, quiche, and baked olives with our friends, the Davis', then an afternoon of shopping and Wii playing with the Pomeroys and Celia.


Last night we finally got around to some of the New Yearish activities I had planned: Christmas card puzzles. We also set goals (family and individual) while we ate our kid version of Three Kings cake. The cake wasn't really a holiday tradition, just the first activity from a kid's art (and activity) book that Drew gave me for Christmas. Love it.
Still to do: predictions, interviews, measure the girls.

Luckily Drew is been willing to play along with everything (so far).

16 Months Old!

LIKES: her teddy bear, baby dolls, pushing things with wheels (and the laundry basket), hummus, pinching mommy and daddy (somehow it's comforting to her when she is tired or sad), cuddling, baths, coloring, "talking" on the cell phone, upside-down binkis, her toothbrush, having Lizzie brush her teeth, board books with lift-up flaps, climbing our mini kitchen ladder, being held, pushing her own stroller, sliding down stairs on her bum, and tickles.

DISLIKES: when mommy brushes her teeth, naps, laying down to have her diaper changed or get dressed, and strawberries (so sad, she used to love these).

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: many new teeth (has about nine now) and seems to finally be adjusting to the daycare at the gym.

ICE at the National Harbor

It was cold, but not too bad. The ice sculptures were impressive, Liz loved the slide, Alaina was content to be bundled in her stroller the whole time, and it was expensive so honestly I'm not sure we'll do it again next year (though Lizzie already wants to go back).

The rest of our December activities:

We decorated for the holidays. New this year: wrapping paper on our bedroom doors, and a paper chain and hand-painted nutcracker, both done by Liz. It's funny to me now to think how particular I was about my tree decor in the beginning. I was actually anti-kid-made ornaments until my own cute kid started bringing them home. We saw the holiday lights at the DC temple. It was crazy crowded.Alaina wore Lizzie's old holiday dress. It was so fun to see her in it. Liz, on the other hand, didn't get an official holiday dress this year.

We made traditional sugar cookies. Hearts are "traditional" right? I attended the second annual ladies "Ugly Sweater Party" and white elephant gift exchange where I won second place thanks to my built-in collar.

Drew took Liz skiing a couple times. Notice the snazzy new ski coat that daddy just had to buy his little girl. New this year: Liz held on to Drew's poles and skied on the side of him (instead of in front, leaning back on his legs). She still likes to go fast and is not a big fan of snowplowing on her own.

We wore Alaina out holiday shopping (check out the stylish metallic shoes from great aunt Margaret). We watched Santa arrive in Old Town by Fire boat.

The girls and I braved the weather to see Andrew's two bell choir performances (but oops, no pictures of Drew).

We made and delivered holiday treats. Actually we only delivered about half of them and then we got lazy, opened all the packages, piled the remaining chocolates on a plate and took them with us to a holiday party.

Things I intended to do but never got around to: National tree, drive-thru light display, give gifts to Lizzie's teachers and friends.

Things we did, but did not photograph: Christmas gift to Toys for Tots in memory of Jake, Christmas cards, and for Lizzie, the dreaded thank you notes.