A turn for the worse...

Miss Ava seemed to be making some improvement on Tuesday (especially after a dose of Motrin) but Wednesday morning she took a turn for the worse. She was exhausted, miserable and developed some strange symptoms. By noon I was beginning to get frantic as her symptoms seem to closely resemble those of Kawasaki Disease. She had just been to see the pediatrician on Tuesday for her 2 year well (or in her case not so well) baby visit. He thought she had Fifths Disease which is potentially dangerous to a fetus in utero. By Wednesday, however, it was clear that she has something else. We arrived at the doctor's office at 3 pm. After looking at her, our doctor was quite certain that she did in fact have Kawasaki's (the leading cause of heart disease in children). He was just waiting on the labs to confirm. She had one lab that did confirm and one that was too low for him be be sure. They drew blood (again) and tested her for Adenovirus. We got those labs back this morning and they were sky high (not good), but she seemed better. So we've sat and waited all day (it was our doctor's day off) and she did not develop a fever again until this evening. So we'll head to the doctor again in the morning so they can make a final decision about whether or not to treat her (12 hour IV--overnight hospital stay). Please pray for her recovery. It has been so hard to see our sweet girl so miserable.

And the winner for most creative dinner is...

Henry, of course. We had BBQ chicken sandwiches with sweet potato fries and broccoli tonight. Henry created a ketchup, sweet potato, broccoli, and cheddar cheese sandwich. He loved it. We love him.

Scheduled

I had another OB appt. this morning and they've scheduled our big ultrasound for August 18th at 11 am. We'll be glad to have a more detailed view to make sure baby is healthy (we have chosen not to do the other screening tests) and to find out what we're having! Stay tuned!

Sweet, sick girl

We noticed that the afternoon of the wedding that Ava had some hives on her back. Seeing as our children have sensitive skin and allergic tendencies, I didn't think too much of it, she acted completely herself. Saturday morning, however, she was a mess. She woke up with a full body rash and in the afternoon started throwing up and developed a fever. After a Sunday visit to the doctor's office, they have determined it is just a virus, but our otherwise healthy, happy girl has felt just miserable this weekend.

Rehearsal and wedding

Our precious Leah (former student of mine who lived with us in 2006-2007) married Andrew Herr this past Friday. The wedding was at her uncle's home about 10 minutes east of Salem. Ava was the flower girl and Henry, the ring bearer. The kids were stellar and quiet through the entire ceremony (a miracle unto itself)! Carl and I were privileged enough to stand in as her parents for seating purposes (so we had great seats!) and the morning of I put together the reception table flowers and arrangements for the altar (thankfully they turned out ok--I really wanted them to be great!) We are so thrilled for Andrew and Leah and know that they will have a beautiful life together! Here are a few photos from the rehearsal and wedding.



The rehearsal--what a beautiful setting...


Practicing the ceremony


Henry chasing chickens


...and more chickens


A sweet moment with Andrew and Ava



The quintessential tree swing. Henry couldn't get enough and Ava loved watching the branches above.


Henry pushing Ava



She loves it!



Henry, the poster boy for Coke, as we helped him find an enjoyable way to stay up late. He was a dancing machine!


The reception flowers



The beautiful, happy couple

The Birthday Girl

Ava's 2nd birthday was today! We had a great day. We had our annual breakfast at The Pancake House with Gigi and Papa, took a trip to the carousel, made souvenir pennies and went out for gelato. It was a great day to celebrate an amazing girl! Some Ava-isms: 'Do Mickey puzzle?' (her favorite activity of late), 'Up..eee' (her version of Up, Please), 'All by self', and 'Hi! What doing Daddy?' One of my favorite parts of the day is tucking her in. She mouths the lullabies I sing her and then repeats my 'I love you. Sweet dreams. See you in the morning'. She loves her brother and he is taking on the role of watchman and protector of his sister (so wonderful to see). She is a precious child of God and we are grateful for her.


Early morning present opening


Breakfast with Gigi and Papa


I love horses!


Fun park time afterward

Party day!

Today we celebrated Ava's 2nd birthday at the carousel. We were blessed to be surrounded by family (and the Herrmanns, her godparents). Ava had a great time! She must have ridden the carousel at least 10 times with different companions accompanying her each time! For a girl who does not crave the limelight, she even enjoyed the rousing, "Happy Birthday" song and her birthday hat! We are grateful for her--what a joy she is!


Ava and Gigi (you'll see some of the many faces of Ava as you scroll down--this is the skeptical Ava)


Papa and Henry enjoying a turn on the carousel too!


Ava with Grandpa B (she loves him and Lulu so!)


There was a lot of mingling by the adults as Ava was on the carousel in between present opening! And Nana and I even snuck in a carousel ride ourselves!




This is "cheese"-sy Ava--not her genuine smile but still cute!


Inquisitive Ava surrounded by her gifts...


Bryce keeping the boys busy by "making things" with the leftover twisties and plastic from opening Ava's gifts--putting those boy scout skills to work!


Henry has really enjoyed Ava's birthday. He was greeted with a special treat on Saturday morning--3 real peacock feathers that Aunt Holly got for him. He wore them in the back of his pants all day like a peacock tail! He was (and still is) in heaven. Can't you see that sheer joy on his face?


Opening gifts--she really did quite well with the myriad of gifts and thanked each person with the sweetest thank you you've ever heard...


On her beloved carousel. One of many horses she rode...


A sweet moment with Uncle Mark

Two big

Ava is a master climber--very adept and generally fairly safe. She decided to master her crib this week (and climbed out several times) and so on Friday I took it apart. So now, just before she is 2, she sleeps in a toddler bed. She has made the transition very well but does not seem too impressed with her new arrangements (maybe because they're so similar to her old ones). Here she is sound asleep the first night...

It looks like day because of the flash!

Celebrate good times

Ava has begun a celebration dance. It is seen most often when playing ball in our hallway, though she'll do it anytime she's excited. After she throws it, she puts her hands in the air, stomps her feet quickly, and goes, "Aaaahhhh!" in a darling, squealy voice. Here are some stills of her in action.

The O's

Cravings...I've had them with each of my pregnancies and they've been different each time. As I was pondering this fact the other day I realized a striking similarity with all three.

Henry: I craved Newman O's--Hint 'O Mint (basically the health food store version of Oreos).

Ava: I craved bean and cheese burritOs (mostly obtained from our local Muchas Gracias drive thru).

Baby #3: Well this time it's an American original--Fritos--they always sound delicious! Thank goodness for Frito-Lay!

The box

Henry loves peacocks and so Henry loves India (where peacocks are native, oh the things I learn as a parent!). So he took it upon himself to make this box 'India' and he tucked in the quilt Nana made for Carl (when he was little) and found homes for each of the animals who reside there (and even some who don't). After hours of play, he decided it was not big enough for all the animals and so it has become his cuddle box (name given by him). He can be found squeezed into it at any time during the day. It is stocked with plastic animals, his dog 'Pluto' from Auntie Norma (his great great aunt), the aforementioned quilt, and often various books or other treasures. As evidenced by this photo, it must be delicious too!

The sweetest thing

What could brighten the day of a mother of 2 1/3 who is feeling overwhelmed and tired? Why, a husband who comes home at lunch toting a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Not only did he get them for me, but he actually went back to the florists' coolers and chose them all himself. Boy do I feel blessed! They are beautiful! Of course, you're stuck with one of our un-rotatable photos. They still look beautiful from the side!

The bump

For any of those curious as to how I am growing--here you go. It is a little crazy to imagine that I have six months of accelerated growth in front of me! I am 14 weeks today.

Gabriel

Here are our beloved photos of him!


Glowing mama Erin (holding Gabriel) with Maddie and Theo


The beautiful boy

A little miracle

We have a new nephew (and the kids--a new cousin)! Gabriel Benjamin Sanders was born this morning. He is healthy and weighed in at 7 lbs. 5 oz. My sister-in-law, Erin, persevered and delivered their third child without an epidural! We are so happy for them and to have this new life among us. I'll post a photo as soon as we get one. Congratulations to Nathan (Carl's oldest brother), Erin, Madeleine, and Theodore! We thank God for this little miracle.

Pulling the plug

I've done it...binky extraction. Miss Ava was waking 5-6 times per night for the past week and then rising at 5:45 am WITH the binky. In the middle of the night on Wednesday, I'd had it. She would intentionally pitch it out of her crib (against the wall) and say "Where binky go?" when we'd go in to address the screaming. Since it didn't seem to be helping her sleep, I decided, at 3 am, that she was done. It was a rough night, but really it already had been. Since she's done amazingly well and does not cry at all when put to bed. I think this is further evidence that it was not really helping her sleep after all. She still requests it several times a day but sheds no tears when her requests are denied or ignored. Occasionally she does pipe up with, "Why?" (in what is the sweetest, most innocent voice you've ever heard) and to which I answer, "Because it wasn't helping you sleep sweetie". She seems satisfied with that and does not push the subject further. Henry had a little chat with her too explaining that he doesn't have a binky either and that "it's ok without one". I LOVE watching them together.

Teacher Libby

Henry has not uttered a word about missing school since it ended on May 22nd. This week, however, we have turned that corner. He rediscovered his backpack and first thing in the morning is ready for Teacher Libby to do circle time and get on with the lesson of the day. I have to say I was taken aback the first day with nothing in particular in my teaching arsenal and getting Ava to go with the program is its own challenge, but we've been able to put together some simple lessons that have satisfied his curiosity and....next week he has Wet n Wild Pirate Science Camp at his school! The timing could not be better and it will give me some time to organize my thoughts and activities for the rest of the summer!

The food fairy and the fourth

We must have been visited by the food fairy. This week Henry made and ate his own pizza (just pizza dough and cheese but melted cheese nonetheless) and today....steak. He continues to insist that he likes both though he still approaches them skeptically. We will take what we can get and are thankful that he is at least trying them! We had a very relaxing 4th of July with a yummy dinner and strawberry shortcake for dessert. No fireworks for us this year as the kids were both tucked in by 7.



Henry and his homemade pizza

My little peacock

Since we've been home, Henry's love of peacocks has been renewed. He announced this week that he wants to be a peacock for Halloween. Hmmm....I have some serious costume hunting to do! He really wanted a peacock beak and crest so I streched my creative juices, took him to the craft store, and we created away! I am not too crafty but grateful that he was satisfied with our creations. He expecially loves the crest (pipecleaners and pom poms). It is a bit difficult to see in this photo but at least you can get the gist!