Vala's!

First trip to the pumpkin patch for 2012 is in the books!

It was a quick trip, but jam packed full of fun!  I just LOVE it there!  And the kids had a blast.  And since they will just squeek under the cut off for being FREE (2 and under) this year, my guess is we'll spend a good portion of the month of October there! 

I love seasonal activities, like Vala'... just as a glimpse into how much your children grow & change year to year.  Today & October 2010. 

If you want a glimpse back. 2010.   2011.  More 2011.  Final 2011.

Here is what we did today.  Jeff subbed Social Studies in Elkhorn today :)  While I fully enjoyed a much needed "Mommy day!" with the kids!

 

Bunnies

... and what would a trip to Vala's be without feeding goats!

We took the wagon.  But actually they walked a lot.  Infact, I kicked them out of the wagon to go up hills.  I could not pull their combined nearly 100 pound selves up them!  I might just attempt it wagon/stroller-less next time?  My only concern would be parking.  We got ROCKSTAR... like literally the 14th car from the entrance, rockstar parking today.  If we had to park all the way out there, the treck across the parking lot with them walking just to get in might kill me? 

A tractor-wagon ride!

 And jumping!!!

 Even Logan jumped!  He was scared last year.

 They are just so grown up!!

 After jumping, they were all coughing, so we needed something a little less active. 

 

Happy Fall!!

 

Speaking of fall....

How much do 3 year olds grow?? 

Trying to decide on fall pants sizes between the presumedly "will be high-water waders in 2 months" or the "need to wear high heels for 2 months" pants for my short legged boys.  I have so much trouble with pants for them!!

Livi is a 3T. Everything fits well. Easy. She is like the 50% for her height & weight. 

Logan is like 20-25% for height & weight. Hayden is 65% for height & 85% for weight. Hayden needs 4T tops, Logan 3T tops. Those fit well. The problem is boys pants. I've always had trouble with boy pants!   Last year they wore 2T & 24 month. This year, 2T looks like it will be 2 short in a hurry on Logan, some of them already are.  Yet they fall right off his waist.  But 3T pants look HUGE.  Mainly beause he has a scrawny waist, chicken legs & absolutely no butt. He looks ghetto ganster in his huge pants! I at least found some that are adjustable inside the waist so they don't fall down!   What he really needs is 3T skinny jeans!  And since Hayden is a good 2 inches taller than Logan, it seems silly they would both be in 3T pants?  3T seem to fit Hayden pretty well, but I don't want to buy all new in 2 months. And 4T seems to fit him about like 3T fit Logan loose wise. Maybe they both need 3T pants & they'll just fit differently??? Plus to consider how they look with shoes on? Ugh!!

Fall

Oh fall.... you have fallen.
And hence our routine of fall allergies, humidifiers, Albuterol, croup & all our other presumed post-preemie crap has resumed.  Umph!

I had an appointment for Olivia with Dr. Thomas (respiratory doctor) scheduled for Monday to hopefully get her back on her inhaled steroids before she plants herself in the hospital (which happened last winter & the winter before was an ER visit for pneumonia).  We successfully self wean her off those steroids every summer.  Give her body a break.  And she does well.  No more respiratory issues per say than the boys in the summer months. 

And as fate would have it.... Sunday night sucked. 
Humidifier.  Albuterol.  Cough, cough.  Retract, wheeze.  Toss, turn.  ZERO sleep. 
Sucked.

So when Dr. Thomas said at the beginning of the visit "So the question is do we re-start steroids this winter or try her without after the summer success?"  I more or less replied... let me tell you about last night & have you take a listen to her first.  Then lets re-visit this discussion.  So after a double dose breathing treatment of Xopenex (to top off the Albuterol she had before we left home) the lung "squeeks" (as Dr. Thomas called them) resolved & we got a new prescription for steroids, a new Albuterol inhaler & spacer & hit the road.  Will see her again in spring & work out a plan for summer.  (Or we'll be bad patients like we usually are, skip that visit, wean her off ourself & go back in fall?)  Guess it depends on how the winter goes?  After last winter I just didn't have in me to go to one more dr. visit!

Then the kids & I ran errands.  Had a mommy-kids lunch date.  Went shopping for some fall clothes.  Everyone was healthy breathing, ornery & in great spirits.  I was sure Livi's issue was all just allergy related.

Infact, we briefly discussed the possibility of allergy testing her.  But since she has no food allergies (at least that we know of), we decided we already more-or-less knew what the results would be.  She is allergic to all the fall allergens.  Pollen, ragweed, etc., etc.  And furthermore, the course of treatment would be no different if we had results.  A daily antihistamine (Claritin), fall inhaled steroids & Albuterol as needed.  So we'll spare her that torturous test for now. 

So we had this busy & fun morning.......then they napped.

And then Hayden woke up.  Croupy.  CROUPY.  Inspiratory stridor with activity, barky-barky cough.  Croupy.  Crapy.  Retractions between those lungs when he breathed.  So off to Urgent Care a 6pm he went.  Some steroids.... and he's on his way home.  (Take that 3am ER visit- we just outsmarted you!!)  Jeff actually took him.  I think thats the first time I haven't gone to an urgent type visit.  I was pacing at home!  And Jeff enjoyed an actual 1-on-1 discssion with the doctor to learn a few things. 

Sadly, I feel a little better about Olivia & her winter outlook knowing that Hayden got sick too.  Is that twisted??!  Meaning, hopefully this is something viral vs. a display of her asthmatic tendencies already responding to winter weather/allergens/dryness/etc.  Then there is Logan.  Mr. stuck on a wisp of 12.5cc of oxygen in the NICU for.ever.  Who tends to be our kiddo with the least residual respiratory issues.  Infact even with RSV it was really the 104 degree fever for a week= dehydration that did him in, not his ability to breathe. 

Oh fall.... you're here. 
And while I do enjoy your crisp weather & jeans & boots.
As far as or health is concerned.... I'm ready for summer back.


Oh and for what its worth, Liv & Hayden got weighed at their respective visits (with clothes on & shoes off).
Livi was 29.5 pounds & 37in tall.
Hayden clocked in at 36lbs 2.5 oz!!  Holy buckets!  (\And I would guess that makes Hayden 38in tall.  (No wonder instead of triplet comments, we get asked a lot how much older the older brother is?)
And Logan didn't get weighed, but he's always neck-&-neck with Livi in weight & about an inch shorter.

Kids' NEW bathroom!!

We've been figuring out the little "glitches" in our new house.  You know... every house has them.  The little things that are the "tricks" to your house.  In our old house for example, we had a big tree in the front yard- meaning a yearly Roto Rooter visit to keep the main line clear of roots.  In this house, an on the small side tankless water heater means not doing dishes, laundry & showering all at the same time.  An easy adjustment.... We're learning. 

Meanwhile, Jeff's been working in his man cave... AKA garage work shop area.  Even painting out there!!  Trying to get organized so we can get a car or 2 in the garage before winter hits.  And trying to create a good space to create my ever growing, Pinterest inspired, vision for the boys' room.  "Santa" just e-mailed me & told me their bedding from him for Christmas is in to pick up.  So I can go get some matching paint & have it for a rainy day & store the bedding away until Christmas.

And I have been finishing up the kids' bathroom.  On one hand I love that our new house is very, very neutral.  Most every wall is painted tan.  Meaning nothing horrible to live with in the meanwhile.  But tan is just really so not us.  We are wall color type people.  So for project numero uno we went big & bold!  Jeff calls it teal... I call it peacock blue.  Maybe because I always wanted a peacock blue room?  I can't remember what is truely called, but I love it!  The project got me digging my sewing machine out of a box already & got me working on my minimal sewing "skills" so I can brave a Livi bedding project before Christmas, hopefully.

I neglected to get a picture of the bathroom with the nasty old shower door on.  I'm sure you can imagine.  That came off literally the 2nd day we lived here.  Try bathing 3 toddlers in a bath tub with a sliding door on it!  Never.going.to.work.  As I was working, I named this project "Perfectly Imperfect."  And I think I'll give all my house projects a name after this.  But hear you have it.   The before, the during & the after!

 Blank, white walls.

 Opposite wall.

 Awesome 90s pulls & knobs.

 Even awesomer light fixture!

 Holes & caulk left from the shower door.  This is still on Jeff's to-do list.

 Paint!!!

Painted Border.  (Reason #1 this project got its name.)

 Yup... used an old TP roll to make my border! 

 Wrapping paper & mod podge= shelf/drawer liners.

 See :)

 Re-do on a budget & not knowing what we want to do long term with things like light fixtures & door knobs in the house = spray paint old fixture for now.  Even did a little 2 tone look to match the other things I got for the room.

MUCH BETTER!!!

 Making my own shower curtain.  (Reason #2 for the project name Perfectly Imperfect!)  Anthropologie inspired.  But since a $118 shower curtain wasn't a reality... Pinterest to the rescue.  I crafted my own $10 version.  Two $5 twin white sheets from Walmart will become my shower curtain.  Just you wait & see.  (And just FYI:  If I had a re-do, I would buy 3 sheets.  And do my cuts length wise vs width wise to have more fabric to ruffle & make my curtain wider.  But, I LOVE it! 

 P.S. I HATE ironing.  And for this shower curtain & all my hems, I did a LOT of ironing. 

 Old shelves long ago boxed up also got some spray paint.  And some little pails & a big pail from the Hobby Lobby birthday party decor aisle got some new life as bathroom storage!  No longer a blank white wall!!

 Newly printed old pictures in a old frame.  This was such an after thought & I just LOVE it.  Its so perfect in there!

 Another Pinterest inspiration.  $3 black Walmart frames.  My computer & printer.  And 8 pieces of scrapbook paper.  Plus, some kid height towel hooks!  Equals another not boring white wall! 

 New knobs & pulls make the cabinet look so much nicer!  (Would love to "splurge" on new hinges too.)

 Ok- so this is a little cheesy.  I might turn it around backwards.  A once $14 tissue cover from Menards... clearance priced for $2!  Yes $2.  Added a frog just for fun. 

The frog was an idea because of this soap dispenser, which is so perfect!  P.S. this soap dispenser with all the perfect colors for the room I honestly found AFTER I had gotten paint, scrapbook paper & the little pails.  My jaw hit the floor when I found it while I was waiting at Walmart for my paint to be mixed!!

We got a new TP roll holder to match the wall hooks & new cabinet knobs.  And the room even got new light switches & outlet.  Just makes things so much cleaner feeling!  We will be doing this room-by-room as we re-do each room.  Did it in our other house too.  I like the push switches rather than the toggle ones & also the fresh crisp clean white plates.  Someday down the road, maybe, along with a new light fixture will come a new faucet to match too. 

And... drum roll.... my shower curtain!!  I need some more orange ribbon to finish hanging it.  And its definately not perfect.... but I LOVE it!  It looks exactly how I envisioned in the room.  Its spunky & kid oriented, yet this gives it a little fancy touch. 

 

A final look side-by-side.  I think Project #1 was a success!!

My Little Cheerleader

Football Saturdays & Sundays at home with dad, while mommy works, has at least taught her the right thing!!!



Dare you not to watch it again :)

Double Spider!

Since my boys, primarily Hayden, think 0630 is an appropriate wake time at this new house, naps have been getting longer & longer.  2.5 hours has become norm.  3 hours, not unheard of.  Todays 4 hour nap was insane though. 

We tried out a new church... and they were SOOO NOT WELL BEHAVED! 

We wanted to spend ALL day outside, the weather was BEAUTIFUL.  But instead came home & put them down for a nap, & since they took a FOUR hour nap, instead I got lots done on making my new shower curtain for the kids' room.  Yes... making.  By the way, its a good thing I'm a nurse.  I would not cut it as a business-woman.  I HATE ironing.  HATE!  And its a good thing I have 3 little kids so I have an excuse for wrinkly clothes. 

*Hoping to finish up the curtain tonight or tomorrow.  We'll see how it goes?
*Wasn't a big fan of the new church.  Would have been nice to have a church so close its in walking distance, but really 15 mins away to our old beloved faith family is a short drive.
*Made it to the park for a while this evening at least.  We have a new park just 3 blocks away!  Its an itty bitty little park, but it has a slide & swings & does the trick for a brief outing.  It only has 2 swings though, which is a practice lession in turns & sharing.  Or sometimes we have to improvise.  Enter--- Double Spider Swingging!!

 

LOVING how the kids' new bathroom is coming along.  Might be my favorite house project of all time.  Makes me both nervous & excited to do the kids' rooms.  Getting close to done....

Project: Numero Uno!

Officially bought our first 2 gallons of paint for the new house!!

Strangely, my first project is taking on the kids' bathroom.  I wanted to start somewhere small so I didn't get too overwhelmed and get my creative juices flowing.  Thank goodness we have pinterest so I don't have to be too creative all on my own! 

Sneak peek at whats going on in there....

Meanwhile.... doesn't everyone have a tipi & basketball hoop in their entryway??  Still LOVING all our space to play!!!