To Pee or not to Pee!!

Two words for ya.... Potty Training. What comes to mind? Maybe you've already been through it or maybe you are in the middle of it now or maybe the thought of it scares you to death. The bottom line, potty training is a part of parenting. Some kids (and parents) catch on quickly and some not so much.

I remember when Grace was about 2.5 years old and we started the Potty Training journey. We had no idea what we were doing but combined a little of what we read online with a little of what friends had tried before us. I am happy to say, after 2 weeks Grace pretty much had it down. We still had our accidents from time to time but we were, for the most part, diaper free! What an accomplishment and a reason for celebration. Two in diapers is not fun nor easy on the wallet.

Now we are at the 2.5 year mark with Reese. A few things are different though. Reese hasn't really let us know if she has a wet or stinky diaper. Grace at that point had started to let us know. So, instead of putting Reese on the same regime, we've decided to go a different route. Not sure how long this "route" will take us but I know every child is different and I'm determined to not get discouraged or put an unrealistic time line on when I feel she should be potty trained.

So, with that said. I would like to celebrate a small yet very big milestone for Reesie cup. Tonight, after having her sit on the potty for two nights, before bath time -- Reese pee pee'd on the potty for the first time!!! I had no M&M's or stickers for an elmo chart (like we had used with Grace) but I yelled and clapped and kissed her little head. She knew I was happy and excited and that made her happy. Was it an "accident" or was she really trying? I may never know but I now have hope that Reese too will be out of diapers and into big girl panties one day. And I'm feel I'm ready to face this pee pee journey once again!

1,460 days!

Today is the 1,460th day that we have had the honor of being Gracie's parents. I will never forget the night she was born; it feels like yesterday. No one can describe in words the feeling of overwhelming love and joy you experience when you get to hold your child for the first time. All those long months of waiting have arrived and you get to kiss and love on the baby you have felt grow inside of you for the last 9 (technically 10) months.

Although the first year came with it's up and downs and questions and doubts, she has risen above her circumstances and continues to amaze us (Dr's, therapists, family, friends, and teachers) with all she is able to do when she puts her mind to it.  Just last week at our annual Neurologist appointment, the Dr. expressed that Grace is doing the best that she is possible able to do... she get's an A+ when some thought she might fail.

Grace has brought us so much joy and has taught us so much about life, challenges, perseverance, and love. She is my hero and I'm so blessed to be her mommy. It's hard to watch your baby grow up but it's exciting to see the person she is becoming and I know she will impact this world in a positive way.

Happy 4th Birthday Grace...we love you and are so proud of you. Here is to many, many, more birthdays and fun memories to be made. xoxoxoxo

Here are just a few of my favorite pics of her over the past four years....enjoy!

The Illness!

I know my title sounds like a Stephen King movie, but that is the best way to explain the "funk" that came in and settled into our healthy household for over 10 days! I have never, in the four years of being a parent, had both of my little girls so sick at the same time.

It started Thursday night around midnight when Grace came running into our bed crying that she had thrown up. Then came a croup cough that continued for at least 7 days continuously, to the point the sound of it was driving us crazy. Then poor Reese caught hold of the bug by Friday afternoon. Thankfully I was able to squeeze them both into the pediatrician before closing that day. Flu test came back positive for Reese but negative for Grace. They gave us some generic info on keeping fluids in them and giving them both breathing treatments for the next 48 hours. If not better to come back Monday.

To make matters worse, I was not feeling too hot myself, and Matt had a rush cabinet job he had to complete that weekend. So he set up a huge pallet of pillows and blankets and there we lay all day Sat. and most of Sunday. Poor Reese was so out of it she literally slept 24 hours on Sat. Just waking up occasionally to drink some water. My poor babies were sooooo sick and there was nothing I could do.

By Sunday, I'm very concerned as both have been spiking high temperatures and not eating at thing. Sunday afternoon, Grace had a temperature of 106. With fear of a seizure or something worse, I took her to the CHKD ER. There they did another flu test but it came back negative. They checked her ears and said she was "close" to having an ear infection and took a chest x-ray to see what was going on. They concluded she had a small area that looked like the beginning of pneumonia and prescribed us amoxicillan and sent us home.

Monday, was not much better. Not only was this my birthday, but we were back in the Dr's yet again with both girls. This time we discovered that Reese now had a double ear infection and both girls had RSV. They gave me a stronger antibiotic and steroid and instructions to keep up with the breathing treatments.

I attribute this time as being stuck in the twilight zone. The only time I got out was to go to Target to get meds filled. Our pharmacist felt so bad she even offered to deliver the meds to our house. I felt so helpless and just so desperate for them to get better.

Thankfully I have a husband who does everything and anything I need him to do without me even having to ask. My mom was also very helpful during this time.

After about the third or fourth day on the antibiotic my happy girls began to return to me. They also started eating and smiling again. The fog had lifted and the "Illness" had moved on. We enjoyed one full week of complete health. Then the "illness" returned. Grace started coughing again on Sat. night and has since been coughing every night. Reese also started getting sick again but today she woke up feeling much better. I am praying, praying, praying that this is shorter, weaker version of the "Illness" and that it does not leave such a destructive trail this time around.

So I apologize for my lack of communication but you understand, if you are a parent, that when the kids are sick and need their mommy...nothing else in the world matters. :)