March 2013

So everyone that has my blog knows how busy I have just been and have had no time for blogging.
This is just a little summary of this month.
Besides the great trip back to the hospital the beginning of this month....
Liam is full of appointments. Mainly for June but has been seeing Neurology and Vision and Physical Therapy.
They haven't started exercises yet but hopefully soon. 

Since we were at the hospital for my birthday, a friend stayed and "baby sat" Liam while Casey and I went to City Creek mall in Salt Lake, by the hospital.
I got a little makeover.
It was not my style but hey it was relaxing.
I bought some expensive makeup.  I deserve it.
We ate at the Cheesecake Factory at my parents expense.
And just had a great time. It was a little hard. Maybe you can tell with the pics but it was still fun.

Eliana got to visit her great-grandma who is 98 going on 99 in April, with her grandma in Delta.
Heard she had a blast using her chair.
I know I had fun when my grandpa taught me how to use his electric wheelchair.

Eliana has developed a thing for hair.
She likes to play with my hair.

I was able to finally get a haircut since November. Phew it was a mess.
She cut it too short but in the end it worked out.
I have no time to deal with hair.
But I may grow it out after today.

We finally moved from our apartment. Thank you Nancy for helping.
Who knew I needed to clean every day so that I didn't take weeks to clean?
I was sore the next day. Should have just paid someone.
We now live in a great apartment, where I am not scared someone will break in.

We live in an apartment where you next a code to get in.
Underground parking.
3rd and 4th floor.
Yes it's a cute townhouse.
2 story.
Beautiful windows and high ceilings.
Eliana loves the stairs but I must be careful with her.
We have a pantry!! YAY!
2 bathrooms and a luxurious closet with a sink.
And a beautiful view of the temple or how Eliana likes to call it "Pentoe!"
Hopefully we never move again.
Well at least until Casey is done with school.

We also sold A LOT of our things and yet it feels like I sold nothing.
I use to tell my mom she needed to burn everything. At times I feel like I need to do that.
We also went to IKEA for the first time in our lives.
What were people thinking not convincing us to go before.
I mean really?
I wanted to buy EVERYTHING!
Since we sold a lot of things we bought new things.
We had our first new bed.
Note to self: (and others) When you buy an Ikea bed...do not buy one with drawers. You have to build it yourself.
We took 5 hours.
But in the end it was great. I somewhat felt like we were finally situated...in our bedroom.
Eliana thought we were building her a play ground.

Eliana found a new place to nap. The bottom of the staircase. IT must be comfy.

She is an Elmo fanatic.

Casey and i are talking and eliana is in the pantry when I start to sing an Elmo song. She quickly says "ELMO!" Gets out of the pantry closes the door while saying "OK! Elmo! OK! Elmo!" Runs in front of the TV points at it nods her head and puts both hands at her hip. "Elmo ok." She must have ADHD because as soon as that TV came on she went to the dining room. Ookaaay....

 As soon as the fridge door opens, everything becomes "Apple"

She has learned her ABC's but gets to g while skipping d and so on lol

Casey and I were able to go on a Date to the Beach Resort here.
It was a ton of fun. We ate, bowled and played some games.  
It's so nice to have a little time together.

 
The only thing that was not so great this month and it happened today, happened to Eliana.

Eliana has been picking at her ears for a while and we took her to the Dr.

She apparently had an ear infection. So they prescribed her some medication.

As a mother if you know something is not going to work do voice your opinion. 

Even though I did it didn't work, so be louder than me.

It has been exactly a week from Friday that she began to take it.

This morning as we got ready for church Eliana seemed red to me as I bathed her. 

Once I was done it had gotten worse.

I ended up taking her to the ER.

She had an allergic reaction to penicillin.

It was I suspected from the beginning, which did not take me long to take her to the ER.

I had a more deadly reaction to penicillin as a baby, I nearly didn't make it.

I was around Eliana's age.  

These children of mine and ER, Hospitals, Dr.s

I'm glad they were faster with Eliana and we were home soon. 

No matter what she was still the happy child she always is.

It was quite a month but I tried to make it short and sweet.

Moving

Its Sunday and I can't help but think all the things we have left at the other apartment.
Yes. Other.
We slept for the first time in our new apartment.
We love it.
Minus the carpet.
And the fact that last night for at least an hour we had two fire alarms going off. Not only beeping but repeating "battery is low" 15 seconds between each other.
It wasn't great but the dishwasher, microwave, awesome pantry, 2 toilets and the walk in closets make up for it.
The best part is I get a sink all to myself. We have an extra sink in our walk-in closet.
I think after the past month and the year to come Casey and I really deserves this home.
We finally feel relaxed and our kids love it.
Our neighbors seem really nice and a family introduced themselves last night in the elevators.
That's right...elevators.
I will post pics when I have more time but for now I will enjoy my little man who fell asleep on my chest.

Chaos...just chaos

So many things to do and I feel like I don't have all the time I need to get them done.
Liam is finally home.
We were able to bring him home last night.
What torture.
For him more than for us.
We finally found a new place.
Sooo much nicer and a great price.
I think.
That's all that matters right?
If it was just Casey and I,
I would pick the cheapest.
We have two kids now so cheap isn't always the best option.
Call me what you'd like,
Judge me if you must
BUT
The new place HAD to have
Dishwasher. My kids need me more than the dishes.
Washer and dryer hookups. I don't want to be taking the kids out for that. This place comes with washer and dryer. That's even better.
Tile in the dining area. This was the only thing that I couldn't find.
AND security. This place has it. The whole place is gated.
What do I love? We have the 3rd and 4th floor. It's a townhouse.
What's even better? No train to shake the walls.
Now the waiting for approval.
It was so hard to find a place sitting in a hospital.
We tried booking views of apartments in the same night and morning we'd be in Provo.
Nothing like it.
We had one night and morning to run errands before heading back to the hospital.
We had to squeeze it all while still trying to make time for Eliana.
The place is a total DISASTER!
And I don't feel like cleaning.
I just want to be approved, move everything we want to keep, keep the rest in the old apartment and have an indoor sale.
Much more easier.
I had many appointments to book and my heads going to explode trying to remember it all.
Now that the worst is over I'm starting to feel it all.
Finally relaxing and I'm getting nauseous, headaches, body aches,  the whole enchilada.
I'm just glad to finally be with my two babies.

16 months 3 months

It's been a while since I last posted something here.
Sorry for those who check.
The last couple of weeks have been crazy.
I have been working on Liam's new blog
So look out for that one.
Liam had been doing fine,
Or so we thought.
At exactly 3 months Liam was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
That evening he went into surgery.

Eliana.
My sweet little girl.
We didn't see her the last week of her 16th month.
We did see her on the 21st.
We took her to Wendy's while a friend stayed with Liam in the hospital.
When we left her she was talking and walking.
The week we had to leave her my mom took care of her.
She said "Eliana is the boss. You have taught her well and knows her schedule."
"She wakes up at 6 am.
I try bringing her to bed with me but she says 'Come!'
She stand in front of her high chair says 'UP yum yum!'
When she is done she pushes her tray and let's me know.
She gets down and straight to her "Your baby can read" 
CRYSTAL SHE CAN SAY GORILLA!!
What? We have been trying to get her to say it and now she says it when we are gone.
When she is done. It's time to eat again.
When she done she points at the TV.
She watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Elmo.
She eats.
It's back to baby can read.
She eats and then plays.
She eats before bed.
Oh! and she asks for her toothbrush too."
Oh sweet girl. You are so smart and only 16 months.
She knows so much.
We miss her.

We hope this month is full of better things and that our love as a family grows stronger and we learn from all of this.  

A Great Day!

Every day this semester Casey has class early and has to leave at 7:30 or 8:30. 

This means I have to be up at this time as well.

Unless the kids decide to sleep in.

Today I felt like Super Woman.

Only because Casey stayed and I was able to get several hours of sleep.

Thanks Love.

When I was finally up 

I made breakfast and off he went to school.

I had to give the kids a bath and couldn't just leave them unattended.

So I put the high chair by the bathroom while I bathed Liam and Eliana had some snacks.

After that I fed him and he fell asleep.

Which worked perfectly because I was able to give Eliana a bath.

Wish I had the camera for it.

Then Eliana had her nap.

After that I was on a roll.

I did laundry...making sure I didn't leave a single dirty thing...of course with kids that didn't last.

And surprisingly folded it all. Normally I put clothes to wash, forget to switch, or leave it in the dryer.

I cleaned the kitchen, put away the clean dishes, washed dishes, bottles.

Cleaned the bathroom, swept, mopped. 

Vacuumed. 

I had so much energy and by the end I was out of it.

But I was ready for Casey to just be home and be able to relax.

After I gave Eliana her bath I let her play.

I just watched.

I loved being able to sit and enjoy that moment.

To watch her and just think how much she has grown and learned this past year.

It was as if it was just yesterday that she was Liams age.

I enjoyed watching her play and laugh.

She was amazed at what she could do with a cup and water.

She would say "WOW" and giggle and look at me.

She would speak her own little language and I would pretend to know what she was saying.

I could tell she was having such a great time.

Liam was just all smiles during his bath.

Of course because I was talking to him.

I am so thankful with my Heavenly Father for giving me these two precious babies and Casey for giving me the opportunity to stay home with them.

We may be in debt with school loans but I don't regret having them at this time and being home with them instead of working to make money. 

I just love my husband, my kids, my life.

It happens...

What is it with moms?

And by moms I mean me..

I don't exactly know how many moms do it

But

I think I'm a little too overprotective of Eliana.

Is it because she is my first child?

I think at times I feel like I need to be like my mom.

I don't hear of many times of things that happened to me.
So I expect my kids to be safe from harm at all times.
Or that I can at least prevent it all.

I would say I have been a little of a freak with introducing solids to Eliana.

I'm always trying to be careful that she doesn't get hurt.

You know the whole stressing myself out.

Today I think I learned something.

While I layed Liam down in the playpen I believed Eliana to be perfectly fine sitting playing with the monitor on the couch.

I promise I made sure of it.

It was only seconds that I turned my eyes away.

When I turned back around Eliana was on her way to hitting the floor.

It was as if it was slow motion.

Happened faster than I wish it did.
She was trying to reach for something that had fallen off the couch.

I almost wanted to dive like in volleyball or slide like I learned to do in softball.

Instead I yelled "NO"

It scared Eliana and she took her hands out of her way, hitting the floor with her face.

Poor child.

I think it would have been better if I just let it happen.

There it is.

Just let it happen.

Somethings you just can't do anything about.

I think I have told Eliana a million times not to get on the arm of the couch.

She's a baby I know.

She's little, I know.

That's why I want to protect her.

But I learned that it is just not possible to keep your eyes on your child every second.

And even if I could I can't always protect her.

After she finally quieted down, she took a nap.

When she woke up she kept crying and crying and complaining about her arm.

We called the after hours clinic and they asked us to come in.

They checked her but she was so frustrated that people kept touching her.

The Dr. said she was fine but if she kept giving attention to that arm for a couple days to come back to get x-rays.

I sure hope it's nothing that bad.

I'm hoping it's just that her arm is sore. 

My poor little girl. 

I'm just glad I have a husband that makes me feel better when I feel like such a terrible mom.

He's right.

I do have two kids that I have to keep up with, something was bound to happen.

After the Dr. was done he tried giving Eliana a sucker.

She had never really seen one before much less know what to do with it.

She began to cry.

When we finally told her what it was she licked the wrapper and said "mmmm"

We had to help her a little more.

She then enjoyed that sucker and even used the arm she was complaining about. 

Yep. The hand that is holding the sucker is the one that hurts. A miracle right?

No after a while it was hurting once again.

Especially after she threw a fit and tried picking up her sippy cup then throwing it she cried from the pain.

Wish I could make it all feel better.

May I just add that every time she cried Liam thought it was funny and would get this big smile on his face.

No idea why.

Every time.

Don't mind the "Thank Heaven for Little Boys" bib. We only carry Liams bibs. lol

Fun in the snow like little kids.

Casey and I are more in love than when we got married...

But with a 1 year old, new baby, housework, and school

It's so hard to go on dates.

When we first move to these apartments I had an idea

 but never spoke of it.

So last night I invited Casey to sneak out with me.

When the babies fell asleep we snuck out to the porch.

We plugged the monitor to an outlet we have by our door and we played with the snow.

It was probably one of the funnest times I have had in a while with just Casey.

Sure we have left our kids with our parents and went out 

but I was never at ease.

Last night was different.

My kids were close and we had the monitor to hear and watch them.

So it was fun and relaxing.

Casey built an awesome snow man. 

It was probably 9 inches tall.

well...the snow wasn't how we would have liked it to make a my size snow man.

But hey 

I tried making one and it just ended up being an ant hill. It also began to snow some more while we were out there so some of the pics are blurry because it would focus on the snow flakes instead. Anyways we had lots of fun and can't wait to come up with other fun things to do to spend time with each other.

I thought I could also share a picture of Liam where I finally caught him with a HUGE smile. It's so adorable.

I can get him to smile huge now. 

He is also wearing a size 3 mths here. As you can tell his feet don't quite fit right and his legs are bent most of the time. This has been the first and only time he has worn this outfit and probably the last.

And little miss Eliana has begun pretend playing. From the time that she was 10 months she would take Casey or my phone and put it to her ear and pretend that she was hearing someone.

Now she picks up the phone, puts it to her ear, and actually begins to speak jibberish, pausing at times as if someone is answering back. She also plays with her stuff animals like they are saying things. She also has mega blocks. We recently bought them two mega block trucks and she really likes playing with those as well. She just cracks me up everyday. She has so many facial expressions and I would have to say that my favorite is when she is about to do something she is not suppose to. Her eyes widen, brighten, and her smile is one of a kind. We just know.
Eliana learned her toes, arms, and "open your mouth" within 2 days. Just from watching a video. She's a smarty pants. So now she knows Head, hair, nose, eyes, mouth, arms, and toes. I believe. She also likes to wear some of mamas stuff and tries to put it on herself. She also knows how to take off her jacket. Just needs a little help at the very end when her hands are caught. She also helps when I'm taking off her shirt. She can get it off once her arms are out. And well she's been a pro at kicking her feet out of her pants when I'm trying to change her diaper for a long time now. Trying to grow up so fast. Slow down baby girl.