Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog

I'm so excited, we're headed to Disney. Not for a few more months...but we've made reservations.

We've talked about it a bit - but thought we would wait until the kids were older. I then got a chance to go for work, and we started looking at staying a few extra day with the kids. Turns out that my work trip was during the peak season - and we could go for almost a full week if we waited until mid-Spring.

Initially, we had thought about waiting because we knew the kids wouldn't remember this trip. But, we've been surprised at how much they remember our zoo trip from last fall - and how frequently they talk about it. We loved our break last fall, and yes, it was a "vacation", but it was also a follow-up appointment for Tanner. I think it will be nice to do something that has nothing to do with his medical follow-up appointments.

So, I opted to not go for work - and we'll go for almost a full week in April. I'm sure we'll take the kids again when they're older..and it's even possible that Tanner will chose that for his Make-A-Wish trip (yes, he qualifies - MAW is for kids who have a life-altering illness - his Biliary Atresia & liver transplant qualifies him - we're waiting until he's older to do his wish trip).

But for now, the preparations begin. Any advice on what to see & do with two toddlers is greatly appreciated. We're staying at the Animal Kingdom Resort - and we're hoping to avoid renting a car. If there is something to see or do inside of the park - please pass it along!

Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog...

Two extremes

My last post was about the snow we had just been blanketed with. And, it's been cold this past week...highs struggling to make it above 30. We've just started to melt some of the snow with our balmy 40 F weather the last two days. That's good - because the high is supposed to be 12 F on Sunday. That's right 12 F - that's the high.

But, yet, my friend, she's gloating about her damn tulips. Hmph...

Winter Wonderland

We were blanketed with snow last night. It's slowly continuing to fall, but should be finished up soon.

A view from the front door...



Our lonely willow in the backyard...



The snow fort...

How do you fold socks?

Randy & I came from similar - yet very different - backgrounds. No where has the difference in our backgrounds varied so much as how we do laundry.

When we first started dating, I offered to do his laundry for him (I worked at home during the day). That night, I proudly took his laundry to his apartment - and could tell that something wasn't right. You see, I hadn't made it so all of the shirts faced the same direction. Now, I've learned to make sure that all of the shirts face to the right when on the hanger.

Now, the other half of our laundry debate has been over how socks should be properly folded. Now is your chance to weigh in:

Option 1: Match socks, put them together nicely, fold in half - stack in draw.

Option 2: Match socks, fold the tops together, toss in any drawer / basket

How do you fold socks?

When you realize how profoundly your life has changed...

Last night, I was in the bathroom, when I was joined by Tanner & Morgan. We are in the midst of potty training right now, and while Morgan has the pee thing figured out - not so much with the poop. Tanner likes to sit - but hasn't had much success on either avenue. Although we work with her on this a lot (maybe too much).

Morgan: "Mommy trying to push a poopy out?"

And, a few minutes later - not only do they flush for me - but they cheer, too.

It must be hereditary

I swear, he dances just like his father...







Whom someone once referred to as the Dancing Gopher.


Thanks to Moreena, who introduced my kids to YouTube. My kids love these videos she listed...who would have guessed it.

I cheated....and it feels good.

Randy & I finally bit the bullet. We went out on a limb and tried something we said we'd never do. We even shelled out big bucks to venture into this arena. And, it was better than I ever could have imagined.

No, not that....

We hired a housecleaner.

Randy & I talked about doing this when it was just the two of us in our house. And, we said "if we have too much house that we can't clean it, we need to get a smaller house". But, ever since the kids have been born, we haven't been able to keep up with the house, the kids, and work. And, with two kids, it's really not "too big" anymore. So, something had to give.

We gave in and hired a housecleaner to come in. Yesterday was her first day, and I was nervous. I let her in our house, and then left. A stranger - in my house! I came home about 5 hours later, and not only was the house clean, but she had swept the garage! The house smelled of Pinesol - and dare I say, it sparkled.

Last night when I got home, instead of cleaning and doing all of the "normal" things that I always feel like I'm behind on - I got down on the floor and played animals with my kids. After supper and putting the kids down, Randy sat in the chair and watched TV.

It was blissful - it was wonderful. I'm even excited at the prospect of doing it again...

2006 Reflections

I was just going back through some of our photo archives and I'm shocked at how much the kids have changed in a year.

Morgan - One year ago & then today

Tanner - 1 year ago & today

It amazes me where they are today vs. where they were a year ago. We have hair now! I couldn't have imagined a year ago that our daily routine would include picking out which barettes Morgan wants to wear - but it's the biggest obstacle in getting dressed each day.

The growth chart shows that they are both around the 36" mark. Tanner has had a recent growth spurt and is nearly the same height has Morgan. Weight wise, they are yo-yoing around the 26 pound mark. They'll get sick and drop down to 25 (Tanner hit 24#10 oz a week ago with his bad congestion) - and then bounce quickly back up to the 26 pound mark. This puts Tanner at 10% for weight & 25% for height - for his REAL age. (May not sound like much - but he's just recently hit the growth chart - my preemie friends will understand). Morgan is at about 15% for weight & 40% for height.

Tanner is finally outgrowing our 18 - 24 month clothes. Yes, the kids are almost 3, and they can still wear some of the 18 - 24 month pants, but for the most part, they are in 2T or even 3T tops. This will be the last wearing for Tanner's "Safari" outfit (he dearly loves it because of the animals) as it's become flood-water wear.

Developmentally - I think the kids are doing ok. Tanner is still delayed some on fine motor & gross motor skills (has a hard time walking up stairs or curbs and can't catch a ball yet), but definitely progressing. He's making big progress in speech. Morgan seems to be caught up in all areas. They are getting full developmental assessments at preschool this month - and we should have a full report at the end of the month.

Tanner still currently has PT/OT & Speech Therapy through the Infant-Toddler program. That will move over to the school district at Age 3 - and we'll begin that transfer process in mid-February. I had hoped by that time he'd be caught up, but I really doubt it. I'm anxious to see what the school district will do - and how that will interact with his current preschool. It is possible that he may have to go to the school district's "preschool"/therapy program.

Overall - it has been a good year. Neither child has been hospitalized, and Tanner's liver continues to do well. He'll have a full-blown follow-up appointment in mid-February. Ironically, we really aren't anxious about the appointment, but excited to go to St. Louis, see all of the doctors and nurses, and enjoy a mini-vacation. I hope all of our future appointments are so anticipated.

We are hoping for an uneventul 2007. We like to keep it simple in our household.