Some good news......

Yesterday afternoon we took a family trip to Lowes where after getting Isabella into the carseat as we were leaving, Walter said he would be put in a mental hospital if he had to take two kids to stores all the time. We actually had a very successful shopping trip though. Walter removed the bottom portion of the kitchen cabinet that was hanging over the island and it's really amazing how it's opened up the kitchen. Every time I walk in I'm surprised by how different it looks--I love it and now I have even more counter space to use! Sorry, I forgot to take a picture, but I promise it looks good.

A couple days ago we enjoyed yet another snow storm (I say that sarcastically). I woke to find our front window plastered with snow and ice to the point where we couldn't even see out of it. I just so happened to be in a funk all that day. Mainly because I was out of coffee, had hardly slept the night before, and we were in the midst of a snow storm where it was so windy that taking two kids out of the house just didn't sound appealing. But by three o'clock in the afternoon I was either going to fall asleep while I was reading stories to Isabella or we were going to go somewhere. So we went to Target, because falling asleep on the job really isn't an option. While were in Target Isabella overheard a mom disciplining her daughter who wouldn't stay seated in the cart. Isabella walked over and boldy announced, "my mommy just lets me walk around." Oh dear, now my three year old is trying to make another tired mother feel bad for her parenting. I quickly apologized for Isabella's comment and felt mortified but also felt a little cool because Isabella had just affirmed what an amazing mom I am.....that didn't last long. Shortly after the comment Isabella picked up a garden decoration and whacked the car seat where Isaac was sound asleep. Then she had to go to the bathroom which always takes forever; and then we'd walked back to the other side of the store she said she had to go to the bathroom again because for some reason that I do not understand, she can't pee and poop at the same time. By then what little patience I had was gone and once we got to the car I wasn't paying attention and opened the car door a little too fast and whacked her on the side of the head.....how's that for attesting to my awesomeness!

Last weekend Walter and I discussed ways in which we can make Isabella feel special since Isaac is getting so much attention and I'm trying to devote extra time to nursing him. We worked out that each of us would take Isabella on a date during the week, so yesterday I told Isabella that she and I could go to the pottery painting place with just me! She seemed excited about it but then told me that we could go in five minutes and then when I told her we should get ready to go she told me she was too busy and we could go another day. So we didn't go. Yeah, whatever, I let her walk all over me but I wasn't about to force her into doing something she didn't really want to do when it was supposed to be a fun thing for the two of us. I'll try again later this week.

I took Isabella to the dentist last week and she did really well! Before we went I explained everything that would happen but I was still a little unsure of how she would react in the situation. Over a year ago I took her to a pediatric dentist and it was fairly traumatic and I wasn't that impressed with the dentist so this time I just took her my dentist and they were wonderful! They explained everything to Isabella and showed her all of the tools they would use and let her touch them--it was great and she was so brave! Since the appointment she keeps asking me if her teeth are still sparkly and I assure her that yes, they are still very sparkly.

Thursday we had a follow up appointment with Dr. Gosain, Isaac's plastic surgeon. He was so pleased with Isaac's head and how he is healing that I felt relieved to finally have some good news about Isaac. They took more pictures and said that because of the drastic transformation they want to use Isaac's case and pictures on his website. Pretty cool, right! And the best news of all.....we no longer need to use the helmet!!!!!! Next November Isaac will have another CT to see how the skull is forming/growing but until then we won't see Dr. Gosain.

A picnic....

new shoes and tights....

After all of our sickness I decided that all of the toys needed to be washed....

Isaac waves at his reflection and claps for himself.....and chews on the oven drawer (don't worry, I cleaned it)......

Isaac is extremely cuddly. He loves to snuggle and give hugs and giving them to Isabella is no exception.....

While Sarah went to an appointment last week, we watched Charlotte, and Isaac was more than happy to have two cute girls paying attention to him.......

Isaac spends much of the day flapping his arms......

At story-time.....

Aren't they the most fashionable girls ever?!

 And when they actually get along it's really nice.....

At the dentist!

Isaac loves going through the toy baskets.....

It doesn't take him long to dump everything out......

He's a snuggle puppy.....

Opa tries to hide from pictures.

They're actually starting to play together!

a babushka.......

poor polly pocket

Isabella and I started our first batch of seedlings! She's been wanting to plant sunflowers so that's all we have planted so far. As we covered the seeds up with dirt she said, "we'll see you when you bloom!" And as soon as she woke up this morning she told me she needed to go in the basement to check on them. 

Isabella's phrase last week (that she would say randomly) was, "never fear, Isabella is here!" Unfortunately, Isaac did have fear when she spontaneously tickled him, which is just another word for attacked him. I think Isaac is feeling a lot happier now that he can move around on his own a bit. He's starting to let me out of his sight every once in a while and there hasn't been quite as much screaming from him. On Wednesday he will have his first evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic's Feeding Disorders Program. As far as I know he will have occupational therapy once a week for one hour. I'll let you know how it goes and what we find out! 

Never say never......

From the moment you find out you're going to have a baby, you learn that life is full of surprises, and sometimes, you stop liking surprises. I guess maybe in trying to be optimistic you always think, "oh, that will never happen to me, or, I'll never do that." Then the baby comes along and all of that changes as you are daily put to the test.

Do you want to know what really sucks (and I hate that word so know that I'm not using it lightly)? Isaac's latest diagnosis is Failure to Thrive. I can't think of anything else that a mother would take so personally. Sure, he's developing and learning new things but he isn't growing and really hasn't grown since his surgery. Obviously this is a problem and a problem that I take very personally but I'm trying really hard to separate myself and my emotions from what is going on because deep down I know it isn't my fault, but it's really hard not to feel like it's my fault.

It's been about a week and a half since we've found out that something needs to be done and it needs to be done sooner than later. Unfortunately the solution isn't as simple as, supplement with something, feed him more, feed him baby food, feed him avocado...no, actually he'll see a gastroenterologist on the 7th and we'll start working with a team of doctors centering around occupational therapy some time in the next week. In all of this I've become very aware of parents who have children with special needs. I'm not saying that Isaac is or will be developmentally delayed, but what little part of spending time on the phone with the health insurance people, and spending time on the phone with doctors, and going to lots of doctor's appointments, I feel like it's some glimpse into what some families deal with. Therapy for kids costs a lot, by the way. And do you want to know something that makes me really mad.....occupational therapy is not covered for developmental delays...........WHAT!? What idiotic moron made up that rule? Thankfully our doctor was willing to use some other diagnosis so that the insurance will cover it, but some people aren't so lucky. I guess this whole experience is making me appreciate and respect parents who give up a lot their time to spend in hospitals and doctor's offices. I'm sure Isaac will be fine and start growing but this is all very stressful right now and I'm really hoping that his second year will be much less eventful.

To take a break from the fun we'd been having at home last week, Isabella, Isaac and I went to Columbus for a quick trip. I'd scheduled to take pictures for a friend (sorry, the cute baby pictures aren't ready to share with the world yet) and of course we had lots of family to visit. I think Isabella appreciated the change of scenery considering she was happy for a solid twenty-four hours without even the slightest meltdown. I'm not even kidding when I say that about three minutes after we walked into my grandparent's house Isabella had her clothes off and was changing. Then, about ten minutes later she was changing into something else. My grandpa said, "boy, you're a clothes changer!" You have no idea grandpa!

Isabella is turning into quite the little artist--I know, roll your eyes, whatever, I'm proud of her!

In case you didn't already guess, this is a person, specifically, this is Isabella. And just in case you didn't know, legs are attached directly to heads.

Walter came home from work one day and I super excited to show him this (FLOWER) and he said, "cool, what is it?" WHAT IS IT!? Can't you tell it's a FLOWER!

I love watching the relationship between Stella and the kids. She really does love them and I can already tell that she and Isaac will be best buddies because she is incredibly tolerant of laying next to him and just letting him repeatedly hit her head. We're working on being gentle!

Isabella helped Jesse make noodles for chicken and noodle soup and she also helped make a royal disaster!

Molli was thrilled to get in on the action. Everyone was freaking out because Molli was eating flour and Walter and I were like, "man, that's nothing, Stella ate a stick of butter last night and a diaper."

These "cute chick" pj's are one of two pairs that she will wear during the day and will wait until the dryer is finished to pull them out and put them on.

If you've been following my blog for a while you know I can't resist photographing a cute dog....

If you look closely you can see one eye.

I told Isabella that I wanted to take a picture of her sitting with Isaac. She wasn't really into the idea and since she's all about making a deal she said she would do it if she could take a picture too.....

Yeah, not really the picture I was going for.

Isabella's pictures.....

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This next picture is extremely edited, but my grandpa was whistling to Isaac and I love the look on Isaac's face, so it was worth trying to save the picture.......

My cousin's baby, Leo, is one month older than Isaac and I'm pretty sure he's the cutest little ball of energy I've ever seen.........

Isaac wasn't so sure.....

I do think Leo inspired Isaac to start moving. Leo is a super speedy crawler and Isaac is a super slow scooter but he gets to where he wants to go--it just takes ten times longer.

Isabella talks about Maresa (my cousin) constantly. Ever time I talk about Columbus she talks about going to see a-resa. While they were sitting at the table coloring I overheard Isabella say, "a-resa, I'm really going to miss you."

Isabella was very intrigued with watching my grandma sew and had many questions.....

And because the snow finally melted (but only for a few days) and it warmed up a bit, we met up with Isabella's cousin Gabe at a park on our way out of town.....

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Some quotes (if you are my friend on Facebook you may have already seen some of these):

--"mommy, what are taxes?"

--"mommy, when I suddenly came out of my room I didn't have any underwear on!" Apparently she was so excited to put on her "cute chick" pj's (that she waited to have washed and dried) that she forgot to put underwear on....very sudden, right?

--"I dreamed I was a little green mushroom in Mario!"

--After a meltdown, I instituted a "no talking rule" so that I could eat my lunch...

Isabella: "mommy, what kind of cheese is on your sandwich?"

Me: "Isabella, I said I'm not talking right now."

Isabella: "well, it SEEMS like you're talking!"

Me: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

--"mommy what does 'holy' mean?" After a discussion about the meaning of 'holy' she asked why God is special and after we talked about that and I told her that when she tells Jesus she loves Him and accepts Him into her heart then she will go to heaven, she thought about and said, "oh, well, I hink (think) I just love Maya."

--"Isabella, did you push Kendall?" "No, she just pushed herself."

--"Isabella, we need to brush your hair." "Well, what do I get if you brush my hair?" "You can have three chocolate chips." "How about five?"

Quotes from Jesse.....
--"Jesse I so ecited (not quite able to say the excited) to help pick up dust in your room with this special attachment (swiffer duster). I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!"...best part...she crawled under my bed to catch the dust and then wanted to fling it everywhere.

Jesse favorite part of the day.....

--my mom telling Isabella to pick up any money she sees on the floor like the dime by her foot and Isabella looking very confused saying she doesn't see any diamonds on the floor....sigh, if only there were diamonds scattered on my ...bedroom floor

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And I can't leave out Isaac so here's what he's been up to....

--scooting

--clapping

--waving

--saying da da

--saying ba

--and being a lovey dovey as ever!