Happy Kids = Happy Birthday

I didn't really want anything for my birthday but happy kids so that my day would be enjoyable. =) I took the kids to the mall so that Karis could buy a doll she's been wanting for awhile. She used some gift money to buy it herself. We then split a shake and an ice cream cone and everyone was happy. 

Derek made a surprise visit home in the middle of the day to drop off some flowers. He also sent me a sweet note via Facebook earlier in the day.

 

In the evening, we had dinner delivered and then enjoyed ice cream cake for dessert (sugar makes my kids crazy).

The Start of Our Summer

Summer is in full swing! It is hot and most days we're confined to the indoors. Our air conditioning runs around the clock. 

I've been trying to keep the kids busy so we all don't go crazy in the house. Thankfully the kids are easy-going and there's plenty to do around here. Since I now have three kids with me at all times, we rarely go grocery shopping or run errands. Those trips have proven to be ineffective (I get so distracted I always forget to get something I need) and not very fun for any of us (but mainly me). Instead, we've been meeting up with friends, playing at church's indoor play areas and occasionally, we have lazy days at home. 

Here are some recent pics.

Hanging out on Daddy's motorcycle, longing for the day when they'll be able to go for a ride.

Ready for a "big girl" bike, Makena loves to ride Karis' bike every chance she gets.

Fun at a water park with some of Karis' preschool friends.

Cooking up stuff in the kitchen.

Reading books together at home

From Sweet Baby to Crazy Kid!

I can't believe we've already been here in Texas for six months! The photo on the left was taken shortly after we moved here. It was the first time Kyle was in a swing. I took the photo on the right earlier this week. What a difference six months makes!

It's Heating Up!

When we wake up, the temp is already in the mid to upper 70's. By dinner time, it's in the upper 80's/low 90's. Aunt Stephanie gave the girls a sprinkler ball awhile back and today was the perfect day to use it. In the morning, Derek took the girls to get some donuts and then to the mall to stay cool while I napped with Kyle. When they came home, Daddy blew up the big ball and it was time to get wet!

It's fun to notice the difference in the girls. Child A goes full force and runs around the ball -- lovin' every minute.

Child B, not so much. A bit hesitant and not really wanting to get wet. 

What will Child C be like??

The girls went back out after dinner. Notice the wardrobe change.  

The girls being silly.

His Biggest Cheerleader

I posted a video the other day of Kyle walking. That was one of the first times he took some good steps and not just a few steps while falling forward. Surprisingly that day, he just kept on walking. He didn't even need us to call to him and encourage him. He just decided he would try to walk everywhere he needed to go. By the end of the day, he had significantly improved in his walking.

The girls have been anxiously waiting for Kyle to be able to walk. Here is video of what goes on all day with his biggest cheerleader:

This Week's Photos

The kids and I have spent a lot of time at home since Karis has been sick. I haven't even taken them to a park because I don't want another child to suffer like Karis. Instead, we've taken lots of walks around the block. The girls love riding their bikes and Kyle loves to be outside. I love watching Makena pedal her little legs on her little tricycle!

  

They've been watching lots of TV and playing with the iPad, so I made some moon dough for a little diversion.

The favorite activity by far has been "swimming" at home. We had the tub filled with pit balls, since D and I rarely take baths, so we took those out and filled it with water. The girls were so excited to put on their suits and life jackets -- this is how desperately they want to go swimming! The first day, they spent most of the day in the water.  

As of yesterday, Karis started eating solid food (and a lot of it!). Her sores look so much better. We even lightly flossed and brushed her teeth last night. Still no sign of Makena and Kyle having it. Praise God! It would truly be a miracle if they come out of this unscathed.

Look At Him Go!

On a more fun note, the orangutan is walking!

A Long Week, Ridden with Guilt

I can't believe it's only Thursday. It's been a long week. Derek and I have been feeling a lot of guilt concerning Karis. First a little background. We took Karis to the dentist about ten months ago. She had a great check-up. Unfortunately, we didn't know and the dentist didn't tell us that Karis has tight teeth and that we should be flossing her teeth every day. Fast forward to about a month ago and Karis starts complaining of her teeth hurting on the left side. We took her to a dentist and found out she has six cavities. Yes, SIX in her tiny mouth, all due to not flossing (the cavities are on the edges of her teeth). We didn't feel comfortable with the dentist we went to, so we started asking for referrals and trying to get a second opinion. All the while, Karis is now complaining of her teeth hurting on the right side. The dentist we went to was not working with us to quickly get copies of our X-rays and the process was taking longer than we would have liked. Karis continued to complain about her teeth hurting.

As we're working on getting Karis' teeth fixed, Karis develops two bumps on her fingers. 

We noticed it last Thursday, the same day we hear about Hand-Foot-Mouth (HFM) disease spreading around preschool. Derek looked online and learned that the bumps from HFM doesn't look like the ones Karis had. I took some photos of her fingers and Derek asked his pediatrician friend what it could be. 

On Sunday, Karis develops a couple bumps on her lips. On Monday, Derek's friend says it's probably a form of herpes that she has and not HFM. I call our pediatrician that day and tell them about Karis' symptoms, HFM going around her preschool and a few bumps not characteristics of HFM. The nurse told me to treat it like HFM, let it run its course (5 to 7 days) and giver her Tylenol to ease the pain.  With each day, Karis is in more pain, eating less and has more sores in her mouth. This is a photo of just the start of it on Monday.

On Wednesday, she had sores all in her mouth, her upper lip was swollen and crusted with sores, she could barely open her mouth from sores in the corner of her mouth, and she had blisters on the outside of her lip. We took her to the doctor and got some medicine for her. Today it seems like her blisters are starting to dry out and she's been able to drink/eat more. 

We feel so bad we didn't act on it being Herpes last Thursday. We could have stopped it from getting so bad. It's such a helpless feeling having your daughter miserable in pain and not being able to do anything about it. She couldn't eat and she couldn't sleep. She has slept with Fluffy with two fingers in her mouth since she was six months old. The last few nights she has been going to bed crying for Fluffy (she can't hold him because it triggers her to put her fingers in her mouth). I hear her a few times each night crying in bed.

When it first started, I had Karis wash her hands frequently and asked her not to touch Kyle's toys. I resolved in my mind that the other two were going to catch it. But as I saw her in more and more pain each day, I tried harder to keep things clean and protect the other two. I'm praying and constantly wiping down toys, the toilet, sink, etc. The other two have not shown any signs but we're on the look out. If they do catch it, we can at least treat it early on. 

So of course Karis hasn't complained about her teeth hurting this week because she hasn't eaten anything solid. Who knows what condition her teeth are in now after not being able to brush all week and eating yogurt, applesauce, popsicles and ice cream. We have an appointment for her next Wednesday (the dentist won't see her until she's all better). Hopefully, we'll be able to get her teeth fixed and she'll be pain free in the mouth!

We're also sad that Karis is missing her last week at preschool. This week they reviewed and celebrated all that they learned. Today they had a bounce house, a movie and popsicles. I'm sad that she's missing the time with her teachers and friends. 

Oh, one last thing, just to put salt in the wound. Yesterday we got Karis' medication and the pharmacy put Tablespoon instead of Teaspoon on the medication and instructions. We gave Karis 3x what she was supposed to receive! Thankfully, the doctor and poison control said it wouldn't harm her. Perhaps, that sped up the healing process...

Auntie Linda in Dallas!

Auntie Linda and Uncle John were in the area visiting family. We got to spend an afternoon with them at the house. We pulled Karis out of preschool a little early so she could spend more time with them. 

When they walked through the door, Makena wanted to show them her room. They went up to her room and Makena asked Auntie Linda to read her a book. They picked up right where they left off six months ago! 

It was sad to say good-bye, especially when the girls had to say good-bye to grandma the day before. I think that made it especially hard. Karis burst into tears when Auntie Linda was getting ready to leave and asked for her the next couple days. We hope to see her again soon...

A One Year Old Boy

  

Kyle is now 1! Here is a snapshot of what he is like now:

• Loves to eat and is not a picky eater. Favorite foods are avocado, cheese and Korean rice cakes
• Is sleeping through the night!
• Takes two naps, usually 1 1/2 hours each, and typically stays up for a 3-hour stretch
• He can say mama, dada, night-night and nana (I think... he started saying it after she left, perhaps he's looking for her)
• Is now comfortable standing up on his own and has taken a few steps/lunges forward
• Has recently taken an interest in things with wheels and even makes car/truck noises as he's playing with them
• Loves to cuddle and give kisses -- the open-mouth, drooling kind
• Loves to take walks outside
• Climbs up and down stairs - he's good about going down backwards
• Loves to pull the girls' hair
• Has always been and is still jealous when the girls are in my lap
• He's been cranky and clingy the past few weeks as I'm trying to wean him from being breastfed  -- he's not enjoying it at all. We're down to two feedings a day!
• Is now trying to figure out how things work -- jar lids, stacking blocks, etc.
• Likes to play peek-a-boo and move to music
• Is pretty good about obeying when we say "no" (yet still sticks crayons in his mouth)