Well, we've gone through round 2 of winter colds and came out unscathed. We did end up spending a few afternoons cuddled up on the couch watching movies and eating popcorn:
Ellie had to miss a couple more days of school, and the littles and I missed another ECFE class, but we're all finally healthy. Knock on wood!
We even got to watch this cutie on Friday for our neighbors:
Nolan's mommy gave me permission to post these photos of her sweetheart that I took while we had him. Our kids had a blast keeping him entertained and he seemed to enjoy watching their antics as well!
This weekend was Apple Valley's Mid-Winter Fest, and we were so happy to get out of the house and head over to the community center for some fun! Ellie got to ride a dog sled (the littles were too scared to try it - maybe next year).
And of course we had to stop and admire the ice carving:
We got there just in time for the magic show, and like last year, Ellie made sure to get the attention of the magician so that she could be his assistant for one of his tricks:
Ellie was also the only one brave enough to give a hug to the Mid-Winter Fest mascot, Klondike (you'll have to trust me, the other kids were there and had fun too):
Finally, we got to what the kids really wanted to do, the jumpers! OK, at least Ellie and Aidan. It only took Aidan a couple minutes to work up the nerve to try one, and once he did, he was hooked. One had a slide, and he would pretty much throw himself down it:
Maddie and Zoe tried the jumpers just a couple times but both had a hard time keeping their balance, and so they quickly got out. Hopefully next year when they're a little bigger, and steadier, they'll enjoy it more! All 4 kids did get balloon animals/sculptures: Ellie got a heart wand, Aidan got a fish on a fishing pole, Maddie got a "doggie" (what else??), and Zoe got a mouse! How appropriate for Zoe... I'm sorry to say, though, that it wasn't long after we got home that they all turned into "snakes", and I had to be a mean mom this morning and discard what was left of the balloons while the kids were otherwise distracted. They haven't missed them yet!
Finally, we happened upon a karate demonstration and Ellie was so excited to give it a try- as was Klondike!
In other news, Zoe finally saw an endocrinologist at Children's after waiting about 3 months for an appt. The good news is that he doesn't think there's anything "wrong" with Zoe - though the celiac test that I thought was done long ago actually never was completed, so her blood was drawn to make sure we can cross that off the list. Zoe's size is likely due solely to her IUGR -intrauterine growth restriction due to her 2 vessel umbilical cord. He explained that kids with IUGR either catch up, or they simply don't. And if they are going to catch up, they usually do by age 2, and definitely by age 3. He said her growth to date would suggest that she's not going to catch up on her own and suggested she may be a good candidate for growth hormones, which can be started anytime after age 3. An x-ray of her hand and wrist was done for a "bone age" test, which they can use to get a good idea of how tall she may be at full maturity and then determine if hormones might be an option. So, we're waiting to get those results and then follow up with that doctor again this summer!
Ellie had to miss a couple more days of school, and the littles and I missed another ECFE class, but we're all finally healthy. Knock on wood!
We even got to watch this cutie on Friday for our neighbors:
Nolan's mommy gave me permission to post these photos of her sweetheart that I took while we had him. Our kids had a blast keeping him entertained and he seemed to enjoy watching their antics as well!
This weekend was Apple Valley's Mid-Winter Fest, and we were so happy to get out of the house and head over to the community center for some fun! Ellie got to ride a dog sled (the littles were too scared to try it - maybe next year).
And of course we had to stop and admire the ice carving:
We got there just in time for the magic show, and like last year, Ellie made sure to get the attention of the magician so that she could be his assistant for one of his tricks:
Ellie was also the only one brave enough to give a hug to the Mid-Winter Fest mascot, Klondike (you'll have to trust me, the other kids were there and had fun too):
Finally, we got to what the kids really wanted to do, the jumpers! OK, at least Ellie and Aidan. It only took Aidan a couple minutes to work up the nerve to try one, and once he did, he was hooked. One had a slide, and he would pretty much throw himself down it:
Maddie and Zoe tried the jumpers just a couple times but both had a hard time keeping their balance, and so they quickly got out. Hopefully next year when they're a little bigger, and steadier, they'll enjoy it more! All 4 kids did get balloon animals/sculptures: Ellie got a heart wand, Aidan got a fish on a fishing pole, Maddie got a "doggie" (what else??), and Zoe got a mouse! How appropriate for Zoe... I'm sorry to say, though, that it wasn't long after we got home that they all turned into "snakes", and I had to be a mean mom this morning and discard what was left of the balloons while the kids were otherwise distracted. They haven't missed them yet!
Finally, we happened upon a karate demonstration and Ellie was so excited to give it a try- as was Klondike!
Ellie was a little disappointed, though, that she wasn't given a karate uniform for the demonstration:
In other news, Zoe finally saw an endocrinologist at Children's after waiting about 3 months for an appt. The good news is that he doesn't think there's anything "wrong" with Zoe - though the celiac test that I thought was done long ago actually never was completed, so her blood was drawn to make sure we can cross that off the list. Zoe's size is likely due solely to her IUGR -intrauterine growth restriction due to her 2 vessel umbilical cord. He explained that kids with IUGR either catch up, or they simply don't. And if they are going to catch up, they usually do by age 2, and definitely by age 3. He said her growth to date would suggest that she's not going to catch up on her own and suggested she may be a good candidate for growth hormones, which can be started anytime after age 3. An x-ray of her hand and wrist was done for a "bone age" test, which they can use to get a good idea of how tall she may be at full maturity and then determine if hormones might be an option. So, we're waiting to get those results and then follow up with that doctor again this summer!
And, speaking of doctors, we scheduled Maddie's next visit with her cardiologist for April so we can find out if the hole in her heart has closed on its own or if it will require surgery. Please keep her in your prayers that she won't need surgery!
We've also registered the triplets to start preschool next fall! Assuming they're potty trained by then - keep your fingers crossed for us! Aidan actually is on his way, he told me this morning that he had to go, so off we went to the bathroom and....success! But I digress.
They'll be going on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for 2-1/2 hours. I'm so excited! Er, I mean, they're so excited! I think they'll love it - it's the same school that Ellie attends now, so they're at least a little familiar with it.
And, we've placed Ellie in the lottery to attend full day kindergarten starting next fall! I've been buried in paperwork lately between the kindergarten and preschool registrations, and it's a little bittersweet to think about these kids growing up SO fast. I guess it's a good reminder to slow down and enjoy every day that I get to be home with them!
Zoe and Maddie are talking a lot more lately, and Aidan is having complete conversations with me. It's a little surreal. Ellie dropped a slice of pizza on the floor the other night, and Zoe said, "Oh, man!" I wasn't looking at her and actually had to ask Dave, "Who said that?" as I didn't believe it was her. Too funny!
Comments
He does look like he's enjoying the ride!