Tyler Update

I just thought is would be easiest to update you on Tyler's ENT appointment rather than call a million people! So as you may or may not know Tyler has had some touble drinking, breathing, spitting up since he was born. As Dr directed we waited until he was 4 Months old to have him checked out by and ENT (Ear Nose and Throat ) Doctor. My primary physician said they would probably scope his nose and throat, so waiting until he was 4 months was best. Anyhow, yesterday Jeff and I took him to Dr Taquina at Robert Wood. I have never been to an ENT before so I was surprised that they did not have tables for the patients, but chairs that resembled those from the dentist! I was not overly impressed with her office, but she seemed knowledgeable. So the scope was horrible. He screamed terribly and I cried that I was putting him through this! But we did find out that he has rather large adenoids. So what does this mean?? Nothing really for now. She gave us an antibiotic to see if that helps make them a bit smaller, but really that is only a temporary thing. We may have to do it again and again! Then she said he may grow into them or they may grow with him. If they grow with him, he may suffer from ear infections and other things related. And may one day have to have them removed! But that is a while down the road! She said if he is still like this when he is one we can bring him back. I am crossing my fingers that the antibiotic helps and he grows into his adenoids! Poor guy! I still feel bad that I put him through that. I think next time (if there is) Jeff is holding him and I am leaving the room! I will keep you updated on the affects of the antibiotic!

Snow...

Today we had a little snow fall. Just enough to throw on coats and boots and play for a few minutes. This was Savannah's first time in the snow as a walker. She would not touch the snow and was amazed at the falling snow. She could not stop watching it! Here are a few pics! (Note: I am not a bad mom...they were only out there for a few minutes)

Twins??

I have been looking at a lot of pictures of my kids. I love to compare them and see how they all look different, but so much alike. I can not get over how Savannah and Tyler look so much alike. They too have thier differences, but so much is the same! And I love that they look like me!!! See for yourself! Tell me what you think. I will dig out a picture soon of Maddie too so I can put them all together so you can all see!

And we take one deep breath!

I am sorry for my lack of posting, but I have been super busy! Other than chasing after 3 kids, I have myself over involved. Why does this always happen around the holidays? Amy (my SIL) and I have started a small possible business. We are making custom cards. This includes photo xmas cards, valentines day, halloween, etc. And invitation/announcements. We really are having fun doing it, but it was work. Esp to work out the kinks! Anyhow, we had our fist display last night at the girls preschool. They had a vendor night, so we thought "what the heck!" We had more fun than we did official business, but that was ok. We are hoping to get calls from atleast 6 people from last night. We will see! I am not disappointed at all. I just know we will work on this for the next year... website is next!

I am glad vendor night is over and now onto the next thing, MSE gift baskets! And somewhere in there I am supposed to xmas shop, have kids pics taken, and sleep! Lets see how that all happens... with tons of help!

Christmas Lists!

This year seems hard for me. I am not sure why. So I will begin to make a list and will add to it as I think if things... look here often for more ideas!



Madison:

Anything American Girl (these are her most recent requests)
Bitty Baby Crib
Bitty Baby Highchair
Bitty Baby Starter Collections with out Doll
Bitty Baby Birthday Set
Bitty Tees Gift bag
Bitty Bath Towel
Snack Bar and Treats
Feel Better Kit
Flower Girls Outfit
AND AND AND AND,... I think she picked everything in the catalog, so you choose beyond this list!
Melissa and Doug Magnetic chalk board and letters
Melissa and Doug Magnetic Calendar
Movie passes
Clothes size 4T PJ's 5

She loves music CD's : Kids Bop are always mom and dads favorite.

Barbie movies (She does not have any!)

EVERYTHING... we go into stores now and she picks out everything... I swear anything would please her!


Photo Frame from BRU for their first year http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3072018



Savannah:

Hats (Anything to put on her head!)
Fisher-Price Baby Gymtastics Bounce & Spin Zebra
Fisher-Price Sesame Street: Singing Pop Up Pals (or a toy like this one)


Photo Frame from BRU for their first year http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3072018


Tyler:
Enfamil Lipil Formula
Size 3 Pampers baby Dry diapers
I would like him to have a cute BOY "memory Box" this is a place I can put special things from his life!


Family Gifts:
Sesame Place Season Passes or Entrance for 1 time!
Kiddie Kandids Gift Certificates

Nikki:
I want a new wardrobe badly... so gift certificates are really what I want... Gap, ( I have not bought clothes in many years so I really dont even know where to go!)
Remote car starter... but one that will work with my remotes

Jeff and I want a new Pots and Pans set
Cuisinart ® MultiClad Unlimited ™ Cookware Set (crate and barrel!)

Jeff:
Thinking outside of the box... a commercial leaf blower
LED Christmas lights
Flemington Department Store G/C
Home Depot GC

I am an Aunt Again!

I am happy to announce that my sister, Tina, and Tommy welcomed a baby girl into the world this morning. Riley Paige was born at 12:03 am. Tina had to have a c-section as Riley decided to be breech! Silly girl! Mom and baby are doing well!

Christmas Cards!!!

Amy (my Sister-in-law) and I have been creating Christmas cards to sell at Madison's Preschool as a fundraiser. We have been busy. I am determined to make at least 10 cards before Sunday. Here are a few samples... Please send me feedback!

Also, if anyone needs holiday cards, please call/email me. I am also accepting photos if anyone wants me to make them a card with out any obligation. I need to build my samples! We are also making invitations and announcements! Need anything??

Warning to ALL PARENTS!!!

Today was had a scary moment with Savannah. It really opened my eyes to the danger toddlers can face in a house that you think have totally childproofed!! Well, I was sitting in Tyler's room folding laundry and I heard Savannah in another room. I heard her so I was not really that concerned. Then I hear a "funny" cry. You know the kind that you just don't know what it means the first time you hear it. Then I heard it again, but it was a scared panicked and painful cry. I ran as fast as I could wondering where the hell she was. I found her in my bathroom with her head wedged in between the sink and she shower wall. Her feet were dangling so she was suspended in mid air hanging from her head/neck. She was so upset there that she vomited. I think she was only there for a few seconds, but it was enough to cause pain and worry! She climbed up on my garbage can, which I am throwing out, and slipped! Who would have thunk? I see so many places in my house now that that could happen again. This really bothers me! Savannah hurt her ear in the process. I was worried about it, but the swelling is going down! Her ear swelled so bad that it was much larger and stuck out of her head. Poor baby! See pictures below! And to all parents... look around you house for spaces that could pose this hazard. I can not stop thinking about how bad this could have really been. Needless to say we ran out tonight to buy child proofing stuff that we hope works, if not we will be buying new door knobs and locking them so she can not go in the bathrooms. The first picture is the bad ear, the second is the good ear!!

I am still here!

I am sorry I have been lacking on blogging lately. To say the least I just don't have that much time lately. I am trying to do too much in my life right now. There are not enough hours in a day. So let me catch you up on our doings!!

I am trying to make money. I am an ebaying fool (well, I need to post more stuff.) Ebaying really takes up a good amount of time to post and then you just sit and wait for the stuff to sell. It is fun, but post office runs are not that much fun with 3 kids. I am going to do more printing my postage online to avoid the post office. Then I am making Christmas cards to sell at Madison's preschool. They are doing a vendor night to raise money for the playground equipment they would like to install in the spring. So if anyone wants to support the school please come to the vendor night on November 14th from 6-9pm. I am doing this along with my sister in law, Amy. We are hoping this will generate repeat business for other events. I will post some of my samples soon! I am also approaching the Christmas season where I generally make gift baskets. I am contemplating this for this year. I really just do not know when I will find the time to do this without totally stressing out. All of this is done in the few free minutes I have daily while chasing around 3 kids!

Madison has grown up so much since school started! I am so proud of her! Although it took 3.5 years she now goes to bed at 8 pm and SO GOOD! No fights, no need for food in bed, no more procrastination. She really wants to have no more pull-ups at night, (like her cousins.) So when she woke up dry today she was so proud and asked to sleep in panties tonight. I am going to let her knowing I will be changing sheets in the middle of the night. She loves to play with her American Dolls. A dear friend of mine gave her her daughters AG stuff. And I mean a LOT of stuff. We are so lucky to have such great and generous friends. She is in hog heaven. Madison has started ballet and loves it. She is learning a lot and looks so cute. I do not think she will do this forever. She tells me she liked gymnastics better. And that is fine, we can do gymnastics again as soon as I find a better gym than the one she was going to!

Savannah is still a bit of a handful. She is a climber and of course she does these things when I am in the middle of feeding Tyler. All she does is follow and mock Maddie. It is really funny. She is a very funny kid and such a good girl. She goes with the flow! But I guess the middle has to be that way!

Tyler has pink eye. Poor little guy woke with only one working eye yesterday morning. She is dealing very well with it, but I feel bad for him. A few doses of medicine and he was looking great again. Today it is not crusty anymore, but pink a little. He is sleeping great. Only getting up once in the night. I hope that stays! He too goes with the flow!

I just have to add one more thing... I HATE DINNER TIME, LAUNDRY, AND DISHES!!! I told Jeff last night that those are the 3 things that totally stress me out. While I am cooking every night Savannah crys and Tyler needs to be fed. I am almost in tears most nights as Jeff walks in the door. The crying stresses me out! And cooking with 2 kids in my arms is impossible! I have always hated laundry.. and not I am doing laundry for 4 people (Jeff does his own.) My worse nightmare. I can wash it and dry it but putting it away takes so much time! Ugg. Then the dishes... and to know that is never ends! Ok, that was my gripe for right now.

And the 2.5 hours of preschool has already passed and I need to go get Madison! I hope to post some pics and video soon. But it took me a while to get this typed! We will see!

Maddie's First Day of Preschool 2008

Here we are again... September. Madison went to Preschool today for the first time. She loved it and loves her teachers. She is in a class with most of the same kids from last year. There are a few new kids, but she knows them from the neighborhood! I hope she continues to love school! Tomorrow is her first day of Ballet, which she has been waiting for for about 3 months! She is going to be fluttering around this house all day tomorrow!

Its Raining, It's Pouring...

Today was a great day with the family. It is amazing how the dynamic of our family is so much better when there are two if us. We can both pay attention to a girl and Tyler is just here for the ride right now. We did nothing special, but spend time at home waiting for the rain!! Madison and Savannah went outside to play in the sprinkler. That was pretty funny to see Savannah react to the sprinkler, but she loved it. When Savannah and Tyler took a nap today Maddie and I played with my Cricut machine, which she has been asking me to do for weeks. She is making a large picture for our friends Effie, Sophia, and Demi. She did not get to finish it today but if she asks me one more time if she can use gorilla glue to do it we are going to have a problem. The gorilla glue is put way out of reach because she really wants to use it, not realizing what it really is. Anyhow, after we were done cutting out fun shapes with the cricut, Maddie wanted to go outside with Daddy as he organized his van. But by then it was pouring, so I decided to let her play in the rain. She was almost naked running around my front yard in the rain... SO MUCH FUN!! She really had a great time and it was a great way to tire her out! (Ok, so a little more work to dress them again, but I suggest it to any parent!!) And to top the day off, she was asleep by 8:15. And if you know Maddie at all, that is a great accomplishment!! Now, if we could just get Tyler to sleep!

Update!!

Ok, so you ask for an update... here is goes!

Tyler: He is doing great! He still sleeps a lot and I have to force him to wake up every night around 7 so he is asleep for a night cycle by 9pm. Most nights I run to bed as soon as everyone is in bed. Tyler has been projectile vomiting atleast once a day and everytime I think he is doing better and that is over... he does it again. Today I changed my clothes 3 times! Ugg... I am looking for that to be over. I am not really concerned about it... he is just adjusting to the bottles. Sound familiar?? Oh please God do not let him be like Savannah was!! Anyhow, I have no idea what he weighs, but he is growing well. He loves to be held when he is awake.. but Savannah does not like to share my arms! Mothers should be able to grow extra arms and loose them when they are no longer needed!

Savannah: Well, I am not really sure what to say about her... Is she just a BRAT?? Or is she suffering with Middle Child Syndrome?? Or is she sick?? She was given the chicken pox vaccine a week and a half ago and broke out in a rash. This is a side affect of the vaccine and it is not contagious. Is that her problem?? All the kid does is cry to be held! She is a faker... so hard to deal with! As soon as I pick her up... it is over. Oh and if I am feeding Tyler and she does not have a bottle too that ticks her off! She will do what ever it takes to get what she wants. She is a climber and is into everything. She is very tall for her age and can open doors and reach to the table and counter tops. She can get on my bed as well as the couch. If she cant get where she wants to go she will find something to stand on to get what she wants! She is a very funny kid also. Jeff and I can not wait until she can talk so we can understand her. She says alot that cracks her up, but of course we have no idea what she is saying!

Madison: Maddie is still Maddie. She is an awesome big sister to Tyler. She loves him to death and misses him after a nights sleep. She can not hold him and feed him enough. I thought it was best to teach her the proper words for Tylers body parts that were new to her. For Tylers first 2 weeks I can not even tell you how many times we talked about a penis and testicles. I then had to talk to her about private parts and private words. I am so scared she is going to ask a boy at school if he has a penis. She really has not mentioned it at all this week, so I think by the time school starts the penis will not really be something on her mind! She is still Maddie... when she is quite... watch out! Always means trouble! She is in love with our neighbors and can not get enough play time with them! It is a saving grace for me that they are there and it gives Maddie a constant playdate! (Thank you Nicole, George, Nick, and Andrew)

Jeff: Well, he has been home and has not traveled in a while. He is currently in Tennessee but will be home tomorrow afternoon. Nights a tough for me when he is not here, but somehow we make it through with the help of family! Jeff did take a week off when Tyler was born and has no vacation time left, but we are going to try to make a trip to see friends in MD as soon as Tyler sleeps a little longer than 3 hours at a time at night.

And Me: I have recovered well from surgery! I am SO happy that i am not pregnant anymore and will never be again. I love my kids but I hate pregnancy! I am almost ready for weight watcher... and I say almost because I have some yummy cakes and pies I need to consume before I never eat that crap again. I have a goal to be ME again by xmas. I better get cracking. Anyone else wanna join WW with me?? I have obviously been busy with kids with no time to myself. But I am ok with that for now. I will request some more ME time in a few months. I am still trying to figure out how to get out of the house with 3 kids by myself. What stroller do I take? Who will sit where?

Overall, we are all doing great! Everyday gets better!

Oh how our lives have changed AGAIN!

I have so much to tell you so this might be a long post! Yes, as you know we now have 3 little bodies in our home now. Life has gotten more challenging than before. But, surprisingly enough I am so excited for this challenge. I just wish I felt better to tackle the challenge right away. I am still feeling tired and sore. But, everyday is better for me.

Tyler is the light of my life. I remember when I had Savannah I was not sure how I could love two kids as much as I loved just one. Well, some how I have so much love for all 3 I don't know how that happened! Although I love all of my kids equally, I have a very special place in my heart for him. I think that is because I know he is my last. He amazes me minute. I can not believe that they develop such a personality in the womb that they carry into the world with them. Tyler stretched out inside of me all the time. I would feel his head, arms, legs, and butt push all at the same time. Today he is always totally stretched out all the time. Both of the girls were curled up in fetal positions for a few weeks after birth. Every time I look at him I realize over and over again how special the miracle of life children are. It is simply amazing!

Ok, enough of me gloating over my son. Here is a little Maddie story. So she is the same Madison she was when Savannah was born. She realizes that I am down and a bit slower and her little brain turns and she gets into trouble. Today I was watching a little rash she had on her chin. I kept telling her is was a rash and I might have to put some cream on it. Later in the day she decided to take the problem into her own hands and covered her face and hands in Desitin (the nighttime one... if you know desitin at all..it STINKS!) She said she was "taking care of her rash!" We could not help but laugh and then force her in the tub!!

Savannah has been acting like a great big sister. She has decided that she likes to help me burp Tyler. Or should I say... BEAT Tyler. She means so well, but any excuse to be allowed to hit someone... Great! She is so cute with him. She loved to hold him and gets very upset when we take him away when she was not really ready to give him up! But you better be ready when she is done... she pushes him away so fast and goes onto the next thing.
This picture is of Savannah dogging some donuts. Jeff has just replaced the child lock on the snack drawer and Savannah had to prove to him what she wants she gets. She was so happy she broke the drawer again and got her first lick of chocolate! We could not help but laugh!!!




When we were in the hospital we put Savannah in Tyler's bed and just as we were going to swaddle her up and wheel her to the nurses station, my nurse walked in. She thought it was so funny!

Here are some pictures!!

TYLER JOHN YOUNG HAS ARRIVED

Yesterday, August 8, 2008, TYLER JOHN was born via c-section. He was born 8lbs. 6oz. and 21 1/2 inches. He is healthy and doing well. I am too doing well. I am up and out of bed, but still really sore.

Madison is such an awesome big sister. She fed him his first bottle and she thought she was so cool. She wants to be here for every feeding. I am so excited for her. It is amazing how different she is this time being 1 year older than the last time she was here.

Savannah on the other hand has no clue and it is very hard to have her here in the hospital. She is a little recking ball. She is really going to bond with Mema this weekend.

I want to thank everyone in advance for all of your congratulations!!

Today's Excitement!!

Today we had a whole day planned and it went so nice! First we were on a mission to the library for new books and movies. That plan was a little altered because Maddie would not eat her breakfast so we just dropped off books. Then we came home and Maddie was picked up by Aunt Amy and taken with A & G to Aunt Judy's birthday celebration. They went swimming while Savannah and I napped. Oh it is amazing how much better I feel when I sleep a little during the day. Poor Aunt Judy had to celebrate her birthday with a bunch of 2/3 year olds and they made a mess in her house and she had to buy pizza! What kind of birthday is that? But I am sure she enjoyed every minute of it!

I promised Madison that we would go chase hot air balloons tonight for the first flight of the weekend. She passed out in the car on the way home from Aunt Judy's and I was sure she was not going to wake up to go. Barbra and Will came over and decided to come chase with us. We did not go far. We ended up in Laurel Ct and every balloon landed in each backyard. It was fun. We have friends that live on that street so it was even more fun for Madison. Savannah was in aww. Some balloons even gave rides. Maddie wanted to go, but there was no way my pregnant self was going in the balloon with her. Which really sucks because that is one thing I will go before I die.... Take a balloon ride!! Here are some pics from our fun night on Laurel Ct. (And to top off my evening, I got to see Demi, a friends new baby. She was the cutest thing ever... I just wish I knew for sure that I was not going to get sick from my kids! I would have scooped her up in a second!)

Upcoming Birthdays!!

I just thought the best way to convey this message to many was to blog it! Between the birth of our son and Jeff and my birthdays there are things we need. So I thought I would let you all know. These requests can also be carried out until Xmas. I have officially started my xmas shopping. So I am accepting all requests from those I buy for as well. Most of my shopping will prob. be done online this year because I am pretty convinced that after 8/8/08 I will not be getting out much for the next 365+ days. Anyhow, Jeff needs a whole new wardrobe. And when I mean whole I mean whole!! Tee hee hee. He realized when he was getting ready for a wedding this past Saturday that he need a new suit too!! Anyhow.. I am not really sure where we want to shop for him. In the past most of his clothes are from GAP. And that is still fine, but now that he is a normal size we may actually be able to buy some clothes on a store and not online. (He was previously too tall and skinny for the stores.) So I guess money or amex gift cards are the best for him! As for me.. all I want it black picture frames of all shapes and sizes. We would like to make a full wall of pictures and we need frames. I feel really bad that there are many pics of Maddie in my house and I think one of Savannah. If I don't get frames soon, the new baby will not have a chance!

As far as the baby there are some more things that I need. We need more burp cloths (Gerber), and bibs. I also need a new mobile (Savannah officially killed the last one.) I loved the one I had and I would like to have it again (Tiny Love, Symphony in Motion). I would also like to have another monitor like the one I already have (Fisher Price, 900mhz long distance monitor). I also need more sheet savers in blue. I think that might be it for now, but if I remember more later I will add.

I hope I have answered most of the question, "what do you still need?" and "what do you want?"

SAVANNAH IS ONE!!!!

On Sunday we had a small party for Savannah's first birthday. I say "small" lightly, our immediate family alone is over 20 people. Anyhow, Poor Savannah was so sick with a super runny nose and a cough. She did not want to be put down nor was she interested in the fuss of a first birthday party. She did play in her pool a little and swim with Daddy in the big pool. With Madison's help she opened a present from us in the morning before everyone came over. That she enjoyed. But all of the other presents, Madison was more than happy to open for her. She just want to go to bed all day! I felt so bad for her and I certainly am not up to my full potential right now either. Thankfully I have awesome family that took Savannah from me when I need them to and cleaned up some where needed. Savannah cried through the birthday song and pushed away her cake. So on Monday I let her try the cake thing again. And this she enjoyed. After she was done, all I could think was, " what was I thinking?? now i need to put her in the bath and I can not bend over!! Ugggg". Oh the things I do for pictures and so that my kids can never tell me when the are older that they were gypped! LOL.

Jeff is away again until Friday and it is only Tuesday. Days are long and nights are longer!! I am so glad I only have 17 more days!! Although I looking forward to being "me" again, please pray for me that I do not go into labor before the 8th! My girlfriend just had her baby a week before her scheduled c-section and the thought of that is really making me nutty!! Will I be ready?? God, knows I am not keen on surprises, so maybe he will let me hang on for 17 more days!!

Here are some pics from Savannah's birthday!

She wanted nothing to do with the cake or the song!! Poor baby!These pics where the day after her birthday. You can kind of see how sick she was, but she enjoyed it a bit more! I just loved this pic so I added it. This is Maddie "listening" and feeling the baby's movements. She loved him so much already!! I can not wait for her to meet him!

Savannah is ONE!!

Savannah is turning ONE on Sunday. I can not believe it has been a year already. This gives me insite to my next year. I have to remind myself that it goes fast! Anyhow, today I took the girls to have their pictures taken. I tried Kiddie Kandids this time and I think I liked them. Kiddie Kandids are much more expensive than Target, but I think it might be worth it. They really seemed to care and tried hard to make Savannah smile. She was over due for a nap!!! Anyhow... here are our results!!! I will be passing out picures as soon. Thank you Uncle Chris for the pictures!