Here a few of the things we've been doing over Spring Break so far....
Ava was in her swing while I was preparing dinner and she made her first babble! I guess she was trying to get my attention, and she wanted me to push her. Of course I pushed her, and then I grabbed my camera and this is what I got. Of course she had everybody in the family cheering her on in the background. Isn't it sweet? She looks so proud of herself, she made her first "b" sound!
I love the expression on Ava's face in this video. I wish I could know what she is thinking as she looks into her sister's eyes. It is almost as if she is thinking, "So this is what I've missed out on? This is what sisters do? This is love?"
I had flashbacks of my childhood today when Liesel got off the school bus holding two ants. She had rescued them from some "bullies" who were stomping on the rest of their family members after school today. I was reminded of the roly poly's I used to save from my brothers' cruel devices. Once they loaded their dart guns with lizards and shot them into the air over the street. I was too late to save them. 
In our house we don't exterminate ants, we make them into our pets. We were not sure what ants eat but Liesel thought blueberry juice would be nice.
A couple of people have left comments asking me how I'm feeling. Well, I'm feeling pregnant, that's for sure!! I keep telling people I'm feeling pretty good, which is true, but that's just as long as I'm eating frequently enough and what sounds good to me. The problem is, what sounds good to me is Lucky Charms, toast with lots of butter, marshmallows, cookies, Honeycomb cereal.....basically lots and lots of carbs. So I have to decide whether I want to feel yucky or gain a bunch of weight. So far gaining weight is winning. I forced myself to eat a tuna sandwich for lunch because I knew it would be healthier for me than another bowl of cereal (yes, now there are only 7 cans in the pantry), and it was surprisingly delicious. To be honest I haven't had time to think about the pregnancy much, in fact my first doctor's appointment is scheduled for 2 weeks from today. But I am approximately 9 weeks today. Just out of curiosity I googled a 9 week fetus to see what the baby looks like. In just a few short weeks two little cells have grown into something like this.......
A tiny little heart is already beating, he or she has arms, legs, fingers, toes, and even fingerprints! Even the 5th pregnancy around, I have not stopped being amazed at the wonder and majesty of our Creator, who blesses us with such gifts as these...children.
Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
This is June and Bryan, our "adopted" college students. We met them two years ago when we signed up for our church's college ministry to host a college student. We got a two-for-one deal when we got a boyfriend/girlfriend couple. We have loved them since we first met them. I'll never forget, on the first night they came for dinner, we had asked each of the kids to ask them questions about their families, where they grew up, their interests, their classes, their majors, etc. One of the kids, I don't remember which (I think it was Liesel), asked, "Are you going to get married?" There was an awkward pause and I quickly changed the subject. Well now, two years later they ARE getting married....this summer. We are hoping we'll get to go (It's a long drive to Virginia with 5 kids).
Ava was absolutely mesmerized by Bryan, actually all of my kids are. It seems like every time we are with him he has kids climbing up his arms, or he is throwing somebody up over his head. It's been so neat to have them be a part of our lives, being role models for our kids. What a great couple, we are so happy we know them!
The Rock
The Fort
The Bruise
While I was at breakfast early this morning with my friend Marcie I got a call from John who was wondering when I'd be home. He sounded a little stressed, so Marcie and I called it a morning and went home to our families. When I got home I realized why. Ava had a bruise on her forehead! Considering the child cannot sit, let alone crawl or walk, this is going to be difficult to explain. Turns out the boys made a fort for her under the little table in their room. Somehow the blanket was weighted down with a few rocks from their rock collection. Bad idea. Oh, ouch, it hurts to think about it. I guess there are some advantages to being isolated in a crib your whole life, you don't have to experience too many bumps and bruises. Ava is the most forgiving little thing though. Liesel said she cried for about a minute, then gave her a big smile. I wish I had been here to comfort her the first time she got a bruise. :(
I'm sure this is not quite what Rachel, our occupational therapist, had in mind when she recommended swinging therapy, but Ava is loving swinging therapy nonetheless! And some other things that Ava loves:
-riding in the car
-wearing her glasses (seriously....I guess she can see now)
-snuggling on the couch
-rolling over (she learned to roll over at Physical therapy yesterday, and has done it many more times today..she is so proud of herself!)
-music
-throwing the spoon down from the high chair and watching everybody scramble to retrieve it for her
-the wind blowing on her face
-having brothers and sisters
-hearing her daddy's voice
-me singing to her
-Pediasure
-head massages
-her Aunt Marlita
I have Ava scheduled today for a follow up appointment with our pediatrician, and I have a list of things to talk to her about and questions to ask. One of my concerns is this runny nose that Ava has had since we brought her home. Never noticed it in Ukraine, but it seems like she has had it for weeks. I was going through all our digital photos last night trying to figure out when it started (is it a cold, sinus infection, or allergy?)
Ah-ha! After seeing this video clip, I think I know what the problem is!!! We've got to do something about this.....
This is our first attempt at wearing glasses, and Ava did great!! Maybe she was just too tired to protest, but she left them on and I was shocked! I took her to the mirror to see herself and she just grinned. I would love to know what she sees before and after. Wouldn't that be amazing to experience her world?
We also had an appointment with the Ear/Nose/Throat specialist today. Ava failed her hearing test. So she can't hear or see. How frustrated she must have been for all these years. The doctor said that her tonsils are huge and she has a lot of fluid behind her ears. He is hopeful that a tonsillectomy and ear tube placement will help her tremendously with her hearing and communication (not to mention the chronic runny nose, snoring, breathing, etc).
Something funny (or sad, depending on how you look at it) happened in the doctor's office. Hope was wanting to hold Ava (like always) before the doctor came in, and I said "no", which resulted in tears. So the doctor came in, gave the exam, and he and I both tried to ignore Hope's "temper tantrum" while he explained the anatomy of the ears and throat, and talked about surgery options.
Eventually he started feeling sorry for Hope, and turns to her and asks, "Are you sad that your mommy is giving all the attention to your new sister and you aren't getting as much time with her as you used to?" Hope shook her head. Knowing otherwise, I asked, "Hope, are you sad that Mommy won't let you hold Ava?" Again she shook her head. Then she pointed to her arm......that apparently had been stuck between the two chair armrests the whole time the doctor and I were ignoring her "temper tantrum". Boy did I feel bad.
And Krissi, if you are still reading this blog I know what this story reminds you of.....Several years ago when Simeon was a toddler, I got a phone call from my friend Krissi that she was on her way to my house, just stopping by to say hi. I ran through the house to do a quick pick-up, the whole time Simeon following me, crying to be held. When I answered the door, my crying toddler on my hip, I apologized for my cranky child (not my messy house though), and I explained that he must be tired or something. Krissi said, "Are you sure it has nothing to do with the clothespin that's on his finger?" HA HA Poor kid had a clothespin on his finger!! And that reminds me of another story involving a little boy and a mousetrap, but I'll save that for another blog.
Regarding our incident last night, thank you all for your sharing your experiences with tooth injuries. I had no idea how common these things are and how resilient teeth can be. Anyway, it's so nice to know that my kids aren't the only ones who are clumsy risk-takers. Here are Sebastian and Hope, they play so nicely (sometimes). He adamantly denies pushing her off the bunk bed, and I believe him, because he tells the truth.
Several weeks ago, these two were "making cotton candy" in the bathroom. They filled the sink with water, colored pink with bubble gum flavored toothpaste, placed an entire roll of unraveled toilet paper in the sink, then took toothbrushes and swirled the "cotton candy" around and around until it looked like pink fluff on a toothbrush stick. Mmmmmm. That was the night the Dads were watching football babysitting while the Moms were out for coffee.
Hope fell off the top bunk tonight. The only one who witnessed it was her 3 yr. old cousin Sebastian, so the details are pretty hazy. We found her laying on the floor, holding her face, crying unconsolably. It took us awhile to console her enough for her to tell us it was her teeth that were hurting, and not her face or her head. Sure enough, she has knocked loose one of her top front teeth. Not having any idea what we are supposed to do in a situation like that, we called the on-call nurse, who, of course recommended we bring her in to the urgent care clinic. I'm sorry, but why can they never just tell you what signs to observe for, or what you can do at home until you can get an appointment the next day? Why do they always want you to go to the after-hours urgent care clinic? And why do these things always seem to happen after office hours? Call me a bad mom, but I was not about to bring a cranky 3 yr. old, past her bedtime, wait 2 1/2 hrs in the urgent care waiting area, only to be told to schedule an appointment with the dentist tomorrow. I mean, really, what are they going to do in the urgent care clinic?
We have certainly had our share of stitches, febrile seizures, bruises and bumps, I've even had a couple of kids get stuck between the railing slats or behind a bunkbed, but tonight was our very first dental injury. Anybody know what we're supposed to do? She is now sound asleep, coherent when we wake her (although very grumpy). Will it have to be pulled? Should I have put ice on it? Will I need to take her to a dentist tomorrow? What will they do anyway?
