Very Very Very Brave!

This morning when I went to wake up Zoey, she wasn't herself. She woke up crying about her tummy hurting and wouldn't stop. She felt a little warm. Of course I was conflicted, because Zoey sometimes just wakes up a little crabby and then after a while is just fine. Today was the day we were suppose to go down to Rochester for the birthday parties. But I soon figured out that we would not be partying today. Zoey just kept persisting that she hurt and her temperature seemed high--so I took her to Urgent Care. Since I didn't really know what was hurting her, I wasn't sure what to tell the doctor. She was definitely sick, though. Her ears were fine, but her tummy was very hard. So she went for X-rays and we worked off the diagnosis that she was just a bit constipated. So she had an enema--poor baby. She was so good. The nurses told her exactly what was going to happen and Zoey would just whimper, "Ok." Then they needed a urine sample, so they tried the catheter. It was now that we realized that she was dehydrated--they couldn't even get a sample. So the doctor and nurses observed her for awhile after the enema and sent us home with these instructions: If she isn't back to her old self and playing by 3 or 4 pm take her to the emergency room.

So I took her home and napped with her in her bed--she was very hot and sleepy. She didn't want to do anything. When she woke up she was still in a lot of pain. Nana came over to take care of Zander while Tyler and I took Zoey to Children's Hospital. At the ER, everyone who looked at her could tell that she was sick--but really no one really new why. Her temperature was now 102 degrees. But other than the pain, she didn't have any other symptoms. So she had another x-ray, another urine test, and some blood tests taken AND was hooked up to an IV. By the end of our evening, the doctor said that Zoey has really puzzled him, but he is going to say that she has a virus (flu like) because she did finally vomit at the end.

In the car, on the way home, Zoey started to gain a little of her spirit back. She started to tell Tyler and I about her experience in the hospital. "I saw doctor. I very, very, very brave. There lots of people there." Then when Tyler and I stopped at the drive through for a late night dinner she wanted to order chicken nuggets--so I think we are on the road to recovery.

13 Stickers and a lolli-pop later, we are home now keeping a close eye on her. Zoey and I have spent 10 hours at the hospital and we are all tired. Nana and Poppa took Zander for the night so that Tyler, Zoey, and I can all get a good night's rest. THANK YOU!!!

Mommy's Birthday

Zoey at the park.

Zander at the park.

It was my birthday last Saturday. Zoey is always excited about birthdays and loves to celebrate them. I told Zoey that for my birthday I wanted to take a picnic lunch to Pioneer Park in Stillwater. She was all for that. So all four of us spent a nice morning at the park. Then we came home and napped. What I also wanted for my birthday was a cake from Cold Stone Creamery--so I told Zoey that after nap we would all have some cake before Mommy and Daddy went out on a date. She was excited about the cake. Then Nana came over to brave the evening with the kids while Tyler and I went out for a dinner and a movie. Zoey burst into tears, wanting to celebrate Mommy's birthday more. From what I gather, she is used to birthdays being big to-dos with lots of presents and people around. My birthday was a big let down for her. So I decided to take her out for lunch the next day to continue my birthday celebration at the place she always has wanted to eat--Target. It was a fun time for all. Luckily for Zoey, she gets to go to Rochester this coming weekend for a double birthday party celebrating Aiden's 4th birthday and Kiera's 2nd birthday. That will make up for my birthday (which by the way I truly enjoyed!) Thank you Nana for watching Zoey and Zander! Tyler and I enjoyed our night out.

Yummy! Target food!

Zander is 7 weeks old.

I am back at work now and everything is going great--so far the kids are very cooperative in the morning and things have gone smoothly. Let's hope that it continues.

Pictures of Pictures

We took Zander to his first day of daycare today freeing me up to get a heck of a lot done before I go back to work on Monday. I worked non-stop from the time we dropped him off at daycare until we picked him up at the end of the work day. It is important to me to have the house in order before I go back to work--so today I cleaned almost every room and put pictures on the wall and around the house. What a difference that makes! It really makes our house feel more like home. My favorite pictures are the ones of both kids' first smiles. It really does show the resemblance.

Here is Zander this morning at daycare. Zoey and Sean will take good care of him!

Here is Zander. Just hanging around.

Me and my kids!

Got it!

I finally captured the elusive smile of Zander the Great! It was so worth the wait. Enjoy! I am sure there will be more to come.And for all those Zoey fans out there--here is a picture of her BIG Muscles. She is SO strong!

Precious Moments and Milestones

I did it! I stayed home and took care of two kids all by myself. I know that seems like a silly thing to be proud of, but it has been a little phobia of mine since we have had two kids. Especially since Zoey is so into "testing her boundaries" these days. But on Friday when Tyler went to work, Zoey, Zander, and I had a great day. I even had a short time where both kids were napping--it was heaven!

Here are the two kids when Zander and I were trying to wake Zoey up from her nap.

This is a cute picture of Zoey getting ready to go to the fair last weekend.

Zander is 5 weeks old now and is spending a little more awake time during the day.

I am calling it--his official first smile was on Aug. 24th. Grandpa must have tickled just the right spot. I have been able to get him to smile about once a day since then--but just can't seem to get it on camera. Tyler witnessed the smile yesterday, so he believes me now. Trust me--it is adorable!

Last week, Zoey and Zander's daycare provider, Mary, came over with her daughter, Katie, to see the house. Zoey was very excited to give them the grand tour. Mary also brought presents--this is the quilt that she made for Zander. It is so cute. Thank you Mary for the very thougthful gift. It is a perfect blanket for him to hang out on.

I have one more week at home before I go back to work full time. Zander and I are really working on his routine. Hopefully he will continue to follow it when he starts daycare. He is doing very well so far.

State Fair 2007

Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen came to town this weekend with the main goal to take Zoey to the State Fair. Tyler and I stayed home with Zander and got some things done around the house. Zoey woke up ready for the fair and kept telling Grandma and Grandpa, "5 minutes until the fair!" I think it was her way of saying, "Hurry up, I want to go!" They left the house at around 9 am and didn't get back until 5:30ish. What a day! These are pictures that my parents took:

Zoey the Corndog

Zoey is a Carousel Maniac!

Kiddie Rides. . .More and More and More and More!

Time to work on the farm. I guess at the fair there is a farm that kids can "work" at. They go through and do the farm chores. Zoey fed the animals, drove the tractor, and other things. Then at the end they paid her and she could spend her (paper) dollar at the store. Zoey bought Cheerios.

This was her nap for the day. She is still trying to catch up on her sleep today--but I can tell she had a blast!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for visiting this weekend and taking Zoey to the Fair.

A Day in the Life of Zander (or Evening the Score)

I start my day off right with a little bit of tummy time.
Who is that handsome guy?

This is how Mommy and Daddy keep my big sister off me.
As a special treat today--to break the monotony of the rain the past few days we went the Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater. Zoey really enjoyed it and wants to bring Kylie there the next time she is in town. She also thought that Aiden and Kiera would enjoy this park. It really is cool!

I am not sure that I got much out of the park though as I slept through most of the adventure.

I did wake long enough to be fed.

Zoey enjoyed the slides and rock climbing.

I love my big sister!

Thank goodness we are home--now I can nap. Again!
Mom! Why are you waking me up?Here I am again on the floor.

Whew! They are letting me nap. Again!

Finally it is time for bed. I could really use the sleep!

And for those of you keeping count (GRANDMA!), there are 11 more pictures of me on the blog. That should even the score between me and Zoey for the time being. Thanks for reminding us to take pictures.

3 Weeks Old and The Delightful 2s

Zander is 3 weeks old now. He likes to be held all the time and is still in his "all I do is eat and sleep" stage. He does feel and look bigger to me everyday. He is getting better at staying awake during the day--but that hasn't made the nights any easier. He will usually go to bed between 8 or nine and sleep just fine until the next time we feed him. If I go in to feed him, I usually end up falling asleep and he and I sleep in the rocker until the next feeding--it is a bad habit--but I am so tired that I can't stay awake! Tyler and I believe that he is uncomfortable and a little gassy at night--hopefully we can figure out why he can nap just fine in his crib during the day, but at night he must be held. It is a mystery.

Zoey on the other hand, is happily testing her limits every day. She is learning the art of stalling at bedtime and trying to get Tyler and I to come in her room after we have put her to bed. I have to admit she is pretty good at it--I hear her now--Let's see what she needs. . . milk. Fortunately, Tyler and I have watched enough Nanny 911 to know that we need to be firm and consistent. (Easier said than done--but we are working on it.) The one thing we can count on is how Zoey wants to help out with Zander. When Zander cries, Zoey is right there telling him that it will be okay and tries to cheer him up. She lays down next to him during tummy time and keeps him company. She asks to hold him a lot. She also loves to help with bath time. Tonight was the first time they took a bath together and Zoey thought that was pretty cool.

One of the things that I have been meaning to do for sometime now is to make a list of Zoeyisms. Things that Zoey says and what they mean. I will add to this list as I remember things or new things arise:

1. Boppers = diapers
2. Uh-oh Jello = her interpretation of Uh-oh Spaghetti-os
3. Naked Baby = before bath every night Zoey goes on a naked baby run--which means she runs around the livingroom in her diaper and hides until Daddy comes and finds her.
4. Horse Rough = her combination of horse play and rough housing--which she and daddy do almost nightly.
5. Hi, Juice! = She likes to play jokes on us. So while sitting at dinner, for example, she will look at us and say, "Hi, Juice!" Then we are suppose to say hi back. so we say, "Hi, Milk." She will usually reply with, "I not Milk. I Zoey!"
6. That's my joke! = Her newest joke on us is putting in her pacifer and running out to the family room to show us. She knows that she is only suppose to have her pacifer at nap and bed time. But she likes it when Daddy tells her to put in her room and then chases her around. She told us the other day that it was her joke.
7. My nockers = her word for her binoculars. "I use my nockers to look at animals."

This list will grow. . .

Thank you for the Bears!

Zoey and Zander received a treat in the mail yesterday. These two bears are from my cousin Lorri and Steve, and my Aunt Evonne and Uncle Ted. Thank you so much--Zoey loves her bear and I am sure that Zander will enjoy it in the future.

Zoey has had a tough time napping in her room--she does ok staying in there and having "quiet time"--but the last few days have been interesteing as she hasn't napped at all. So today I was a little tougher about it because I didn't want a crabby 2 year old this evening. She was adamant that she didn't want/need a nap. So she read her books. Above is a picture of her napping.

Zander is growing well. At his two week check-up this week he weighed in at 8lbs. 6oz. He is still not sure about the day vs. night thing--he does super well during the day, and then at night he just can't settle in right--sleep is something that I am looking forward to getting again in the future. Zander has also graduated to the big tub--he takes his bath right after Zoey does. Zoey is the big helper.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAMMY!

For Tammy's birthday, Zander thought he would show a glimpse of what his smile may look like. I think that he may be leaving a present in his diaper.

This is Zander's first trip to the park. As you can see he really enjoyed it.

On Thursday, we went to the Coin Carnival at Casey Lake Park. Zoey got her face painted, played some carnival games, and danced along with the Teddy Bear Band.

Some good news, my INR number on Friday was 2.0--so that means I don't have to give myself injections anymore. Yea! Now it is just the medication--I can handle that. :-)