Cough cough

Poor little babies with coughs.  It's 2:18 am and I am sitting in Nathan's room listening to him toss and turn in between coughs.  He won't let me leave the room but is in bed at least.  I can hear a Maura coughing in her room every so often as well but she hasn't woken up yet.  What better time is there to update?
We have had a very boring and ho-hum week, the really warm weather left us so we are back to about 60° highs which isn't cold unless you add the gale force winds to it.  Maybe after this next round of rain leaves we will warm up just a bit.
I guess nothing much is happening.

Easter Recap

This was Maura's first Easter but Nathan's third.  Sadly, I forgot to get bunny ears so nobody wore any for pictures like in years past.
The bunny did make a stop on Holyoke St, I don't know if it's like Santa and you have to be well behaved for a visit, but either way we made the cut.  The kids had fun looking in their baskets, Nathan was especially fond of the bubbles which he learned to blow the week before.  The stuffed animals were from a fundraiser and have these "scent packs" in them, they smell amazing.
I made a new recipe for breakfast, Cinna-bites.  I highly recommend, it's like Monkey Bread but it won't break your teeth if it sits.  It was a sweet dough (thanks for the flavoring, Mom) rolled in cinnamon sugar and put into 2 cake pans instead of a bundt.  In the bottom of the cake pans I put some maple syrup and poured butter over after the bites were added.  Overnight in the fridge (I love that trick) with a quick thaw and re-rise before popping in the oven.  They disappeared before I could grab a picture!
We all ate the fresh bread and forgot about eggs, so we had those with the leftover breakfast for lunch.  Maura is not a fan of eggs, Nathan likes them warm instead of cold like the hardboiled ones.  He was a fan of whacking them on the table to break them though.
During Maura's morning nap Nathan was able to go and see if any eggs were left in the yard for him to find, and sure enough there were tons.  There was a piece of chocolate inside each egg, which he quickly figured out and started just eating the chocolate while leaving the egg behind.  Then he was disappointed when there were only open, empty eggs left.  The horrors of being 2.
I made a ham dinner, with awful rolls that started a fight (long story), roasted brussel sprouts, glazed carrots, mashed potatos and roasted potatos.  I also made lemon meringue pie for dessert!  It was amazing.  The vanilla cupcakes were over mixed and on the tougher side.  Maura didn't seem to mind, though (see picture on facebook).
It was a good holiday overall, although not complete without my family.

Maura's Basket

Nay Nay's Basket

Not sure what to expect at the bottom of the stairs

Happy boy

He painted with the craft that the bunn left him

Egg Hunt Time

There is something in that one still

I think he spied another egg and wouldn't look at me

I didn't leave her out, she is always blurry though, she moves too fast.

Thursday

I notice I seem to write a lot on Thursdays.  I don't know the significance, maybe because it's Therapy Day so there is actually something to write about that has meaning?
Today was Physical Therapy for M.  She got so tired, rubbing her eyes, crying, trying to snuggle.  Kate wanted to spend some more time with her but it wasn't happening, On her notes she states that Maura is presenting with a longer right leg and really is right side dominant as well.  We need to work on making her use her left hand more as well as her legs if possible.  It means attempting to have her climb the stairs and prevent her from using her right leg.  I'm not looking forward to that, I tried it once and she screamed at me.  While using her walking toy we were able to watch her gait better, and it seems as though one foot points in (left) and the other (right) points out, so both feet are pointing to the right instead of straight ahead.  Usually if there is a direction they will both point in or out so this isn't typical.  However, by holding pressure on her hips (pushing in a little as though something was around them) both feet straightened out immediately.  This just indicates the likely cause of this, her hips.  Yes, I am kicking myself more today.
But we have things that I can work on, a list of exercises to do with her.  She will improve, we will figure out what is going on.  It may not be in the time frame I would prefer (like tomorrow) but it will happen.  I just have to learn some patience.

I will just add this to show how things can change in a year....and to make you smile.

Easter 2013

The Easter Egg Hunt
This day and event was saved my technology.  I was looking for information on the Peabody Egg Hunt and downloaded a 16 page flyer to my phone in order to view the blurb they had about the "Spring Fair" and all the activities.  Long story short, the flyer wording saved the day and we were allowed to join the hunt, which Nathan loved.  Here are some pictures from the day.

First exposure to sidewalk chalk

Nathan's Haul

Mmmm, plastic egg!

Nathan wanted nothing to do with sitting near the "bunn"

Hello Again

I don't know where the day goes.  I've been meaning to write but haven't gad a spare minute really, these kids are a handful.  Life is trucking along and we have been keeping very busy.  I have pictures to share but they are scattered between my Nikon and my old and new phones.  

Maura finally got her ortho referral straightened out and has an appointment at Childrens Hospital in Peabody on May 28.  It seems so far away.  The process of getting an appointment in nuts, the doctor won't make the referral without you having an appointment and the hospital doesn't make appointments without the referral.  Talk about going in circles.  

I've been trying to do her exercises with her daily, baby leg presses against my chest and squats as well as achillies stretches.  She just laughs at me, flips over and crawls away.  I got a little sad earlier looking through pictures of Nathan around his first birthday.  She is nowhere near walking.  She limps and drags her right foot when she pushes the walking toys.  I know she doesn't know that she is moving awkwardly, but I feel sad that she is.  She gets stuck on her left leg when sitting sometimes, it must not be very strong.  I guess it is something to work on.

We went to an egg hunt this weekend at a high school football field.  Nathan had a lot of fun running around and watching the other kids.  He didn't want anything to do with sitting on the bunny's lap or next to him.  But from a distance he loved the "bunn" and I saw that look of wonderment when he first saw him/her.  It was priceless.

Last Friday Jackie came with us on a trip to one of my favorite stores, Ikea. I timed it nearly perfectly for am nap during the drive there, shopping, break for lunch, more shopping and then napping on the way home.  

Nearly perfect timing.

My main purpose was to get a new tv stand to replace the old one I had with glass shelves that made me nervous.  I scored an amazing deal, getting instead of a stand an entire entertainment center that looks like it was designed for my tv.  And it is gorgeous.  And on clearance.  For $49.00.  I felt like I was stealing from IKEA.  

I will write more next time and share some pictures from our Egg hunt.  

It wasn't just another day

I had an idea in my head about how today was going to go.  I was wrong.

Maura had her evaluation with the Physical Therapist and the a Developmental Specialist scheduled for an early 8:00 so she could still nap at her usual time.  Kerry and Kristen (who has been working with Nathan) started talking and getting Maura comfortable with them.  I explained how I think she favors the leg, has a unique tummy crawl, and stands on her toes a lot.  I essentially assumed she just needed help with her muscle strength on the left side, maybe I would learn how to help her a little between visits.  But it became apparent that baby girl still has some more complex issues.  They want her seen at Childrens or Mass General in the pediatric orthopedics departments, with x rays, scans and accurate measurements taken of her legs because one is noticeably shorter than the other.  I could see it plain as day, the therapist kept trying to get a different result but it didn't change.  She talked about braces and therapy and inserts for shoes and surgery.  It's not a life threatening issue, but it's a complication.  

I am kicking myself now for not looking into this sooner, for not making her doctor see the issue, for not speaking up more.  As her mom, that's what I should do, and I feel like I failed.  All I can take from this is to trust myself more.  I know my baby girl, I know basic anatomy and physiology, I know when something isn't quite right.

Another Rainy Day

Today was a bust for Scott working so instead of sitting at home we ventured out to the indoor playground!  It's amazing how much more Maura can do in just a month or so, and how much more daring Nathan is.  Maura was climbing over the mats, peeking into the tunnels, and enjoyed the baby slide.  Nathan ran around and went down the big slide head first! 
Both fell asleep on the ride home but woke up when we tried to move them inside.  Bummer. 
It was a nice family day though, sometimes the rain can be a good thing.

Playing on the mats, Maura crawled up there on her own!

This was new, running down the baby slide.

Such a happy little girl!

Fast asleep, for now.