It's On

At least we hope.

Tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

She's ready.

Mommy and Daddy are ready.

Pray it happens.

Hello again.

Surprise! I am still here. Maybe you are as happy to hear from me as Reese usually is.

I left you just a few days before we went to Carillon Beach for Labor Day week.

And we had the entire beach to ourselves for a week.

Unfortunately, I was too busy enjoying myself and my family that I have very few pictures of our time. Not one of the five of us together. Or any of the multitude of family members that joined us at various times over the week. You will just have to trust that it was absolutely wonderful.

We did have to spend the first night in a different place because the air conditioning wasn't working at our house. The thermostat read 99 degrees. But upstairs, it was only 91 degrees. I kid you not.

My husband did manage to get us two free nights for our heat strokes/trouble. My favorite quote as he was talking with the property manager: "I don't know how much money you make. But I don't make a lot and we had to work really hard to save to come down here for the week." And we'd like to think it paid for air conditioning...

I had a naked photo shoot with Reese. He was naked. I had my clothes on.

He got a little tired of it. Or maybe he just wanted some clothes.


We threw a WALL-E party for Elle. She finally stopped sucking her thumb and this was the motivation for it all. If I'd only known the power of WALL-E a few months ago. Oh well. All in good time.

We are so proud of her. And she is so proud of herself.

One thumb sucker down, one to go. And yes, he is "feeding" Mickey. At least he got the Boppy first so he could be comfortable.

For any of you wondering, Elle is scheduled for surgery on Monday. But, she is sick again so we will probably be postponing again. I'm taking her to the pediatrician tomorrow morning. I really should get frequent flyers miles from my pediatrician's office. I would be racking up.

I love preschool

We tried to move Elle's surgery up. Unfortunately, the cold she was recovering from had her lungs in a mess. The anesthesiologist would not go ahead with the procedure. This was after we had planned, prepared, grocery shopped for all the right foods, arranged childcare and spent 2 hours at Children's on Monday morning. It was disappointing to say the least, but we trust it was for the best and the Lord wants us to wait for His timing. But this is how her throat looks:

You can see why we want this done as soon as possible.

The surgery nurse called yesterday. Apparently, the anesthesia department won't allow you to try again for another four weeks if someone has unclear lungs. A new date of September 28th is scheduled. I just hope Elle will be 100% healthy so we can get those monsters out of her throat.

Since she didn't have surgery, she got to go to school today. Can I get a Hallelujah from the chorus! Grady also started Mother's Day Out. Elle will be going Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Grady will be joining her on Wednesdays. I have forgotten how easy it is with only an 11 week old to take care of. It has been a wonderful break from the norm. And it will make me a much better mommy. Happy Wonderful Wednesday!

One way to discipline

We are in the process of making our upstairs "bonus room" Elle's bedroom. After much consideration and deliberation, we decided in favor of Elle and Grady not sharing a room for now. Yesterday, Steven and I were upstairs rearranging, organizing, rearranging, straightening, moving furniture, etc. I'm not even sure what it was, but Elle did something that required discipline. Steven turns to her and in his stern, fatherly-disciplinarian voice says, "Elle, go to your room." She turns to head down the stairs, and I said, "Well, this is her room." We both bust out laughing. Elle was still crying, unsure of what was so funny. We all had a good laugh and forgot the reason she was supposed to go to her room in the first place.

Firsts

Grady got his first big boy haircut Saturday. I thought it might be a scream fest. Steven said all it took was a sucker and he sat still the entire time.

The before shot:

Why is he always eating at the table in every picture?

And after:

Reese got submerged for his first big baby bath Saturday. Yes, I have just been giving him sponge baths since birth. He's not dirty and the other two didn't like the baby tub until about two months anyway. He was so relaxed the whole time. (I know that doesn't look like a relaxed face. You'll just have to trust me on this one.)

Elle's first will be September 21st. She is having her tonsils and adenoids removed. I wish it were tomorrow. Her tonsils have always been what the doctor called "generous". She had strep throat this summer and now they are just huge. The ENT called them "kissing tonsils". There is almost zero space in the back of her throat. She is snoring like crazy, waking up like crazy. She can barely swallow and her voice sounds like her mouth is full of cotton. I cannot wait to have this done. I think she will be a much happier, well rested, and healthier little girl.

Two and Two

"No."
"Mine."
"Right Now."
These are the words I hear at least once every five minutes.

Grady turned two yesterday.
He is the epitome of everything "two".
He loves to sing and dance. My current favorite is his rendition of The Fray's Over My Head.
He can name several colors, count to five, and recognize most of the alphabet (Thank you, Super Why.)

He has a very ferocious dinosaur roar.
He loves to read books (when he is not tearing them).
He loves to play with play dough (when he is not eating it).

He LOVES his big sister and loves to play with her (when he is not hitting her, biting her, or ripping a toy from her hands).
He loves Reese, too. He just doesn't notice him that much. I think that is probably a good thing.

He loves his Daddy the most (even though you're supposed to love every one the same amount).

He drinks a lot.
He pees a lot.
I change his clothes and the sheets a lot.

He makes me laugh every day (when he's not making me furious).
He loves to hug, snuggle and kiss (when he's not trying to put you in a head lock with his legs).
He loves to suck his thumb... even more than his sister (who hasn't sucked hers in 14 days!).

He is tough as nails and hardly cries when he falls.
But he will scream like a little girl if a fly comes within ten feet.
He is mesmerized by lawn mowers, weed eaters and blowers.

He has the best hair and most gorgeous blue eyes.

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord,

children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are sons born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them."

Psalm 127:5

Grady James is our two year old reward. And we are blessed because of him.

This little guy turned two months old yesterday. He met his great grandmother for the first time. You can tell it was love at first sight for both of them. My grandmother used to keep babies back in her prime. And she loved it. She tells me stories of having nine in diapers at one time. Holding Reese and him smiling and cooing at her made her day. Maybe even her week. At least it made the 2 1/2 hour drive up here worth it.

It's been a rough week for the two of us. Long story short, I was not making fat enough milk for my big boy. He lost 2 ounces since his one month check up. I pumped for a day and a half and fed him formula. We went back to the doctor and he had gained 4 ounces... in a day and a half. I thought I would nurse him and give him formula until I could wean him. After the day and a half of the bottle, he wouldn't nurse. I am now pumping to slowly wean myself and he's getting half breast milk and half formula. I am spending more time with the pump than I care to. Maybe we'll go to the movies again.

I can tell he's putting some fat on those bones now. And he's happy. So I am happy. And a little sad. And I just wonder why. I am sure a lot of you can relate.

Pump Patrol

Not gasoline.
This time I'm talking breast milk.

A card from my mother

A few weeks ago, Steven, my sister and I went to see the Harry Potter movie. I am not ashamed to admit I am a big fan (Big might be an understatement). I have read all the books, most of them twice. I wasn't about to miss the latest installment on the big screen just because I was nursing a newborn. So I did what any desperate lactating mother would do... I threw my dual electric pump in to my purse and took it to the theater with me. And pumped during the movie. No other patron was any the wiser. Steven and Madison got a good laugh though.

I'm interested in your craziest pumping story. Please share with me. I know there have to be some great ones out there.