The Other Birthday Girl (and so much more)

Hello everyone and thanks for taking the time to stop by and check in - This is Nate signing in for the first time as lead blogger. You may know me as "Daddy" on the blog based on previous posts, but I wanted to take a shot at penning the ongoing scroll that is the Veldman life.

I doubt many of you sign in to read this blog in eager anticipation of seeing my charming face and that's fine with me as there are 3 other people in this family that are far more attractive than myself. I don't have any fancy pictures or borders to add to my words so I'm just going to write a few things I wanted to share.

I wanted to talk about the usual scribe of the Veldman family tale; the wife, mother, calendar composer, chief napper, undiscovered culinary whiz, and keeper of all general sanity in our house; my wife Steph.

Steph - The kids and I are so grateful for all the sacrifices you make on a daily basis. You are an amazing mother and an even better spouse if that's possible. Your unending love for your family seemingly knows no bounds. As mentioned in a previous post, we had a pretty rough last couple weeks in our house with pneumonia waging a tough war on half the house (Ava and I). While the rest of us were suffering (Grant fought through a cold also) my wife and her bionic immune system that does not allow sickness or disease past it's impenetrable force field took care of everyone and never complained once.

As many of you know, we moved into a new house last November and to my wonderful delight, a knack for cooking and making delicious cuisine also moved in with my wife. I had been used to doing the majority of the cooking in years past because I thoroughly enjoy doing it. However in the last few months, there has been a discovery of some culinary talent by others in the house as well. Ava does throws some awesome tea parties, but more importantly (and more tangibly) Steph has unearthed a talent I did not know was there. She has made many things and often has dinner on the table when I get home from work every night. How she manages to do this with the human tornado that is our daughter and 5 month old son running wild is something I have yet to figure out, but perhaps it's better I don't know. I just want you to know that it's appreciated.

As you may know, tomorrow is Steph's birthday and she will be turning 30 for the third time.... Guess what, she'll be spending it working a 12 hour shift at the hospital. Yet another example of her selflessness and giving demeanor.

Steph - I just wanted to take the time to publicly acknowledge you for all you do in the lives of so many. These are just a few examples that happened recently. Grant, Ava, and I are privy to your kind heart and generosity on a daily basis, but so are so many that read this blog so I wanted to share it on here as well. I want you to know how much you are appreciated and loved. The kids are lucky to have you as a mother and I don't know where I'd be without you beside me as we traverse this crazy journey called life. You put a smile on the face of so many and it's important for you to know how much you're appreciated and loved.

With love,
Nate, Ava, and Grant

Recovering

 The above picture describes our weekend.  It all started a week ago when Nate didn't feel well and had been coughing.  I actually encouraged Nate to call in sick last Wednesday and go to the clinic (this never happens because I pretty much have to be dead to go to the clinic).  I told him that I thought he had pneumonia.  Well he went, they didn't do a chest x-ray, but instead told him they thought he had a virus.  They gave him a script for a Zpack but told him to wait until Saturday to fill it, as she felt he would feel better by then.  Well by Friday he was worse and I just went and filled the script.  Today he is finally starting to sound/feel better. 

Friday morning at 2 am Ava woke up crying.  I went into her room and picked her up and she was on fire.  She had a fever of 104.4.  I changed her into cooler pjs and put her back to bed.  She was soon up again and asking to sleep on our floor (she has never slept on our floor).  So in she came with her sleeping bag.  I mainly let her sleep there because I was fearful that she would have a febrile seizure and I wanted to be able to hear her and see her throughout the night.  On Friday her fever was gone with no intervention and she was fine.  I called our pediatrician to see if I should bring her in.  She said that they usually wait 3 days for a fever before being seen, but since three days would be Sunday and the clinic would be closed, that I should make an appointment for Saturday and I could always cancel if she didn't have a fever again.  Well Saturday morning around 12:30 she awoke with a fever of 102.9 and had a constant cough.  She got probably 4 hours of broken sleep that night.  So we headed off to the pediatrician's office that morning.  Grant was up at 4:30 that morning crying and had a little cough too so I made an appointment for him too just to make sure he wasn't getting an ear infection or anything.  Grant checked out fine.  Ava actually checked out ok on her physical exam.  Her lungs were clear, but the Dr. was a little worried about the high fevers.  He did an x-ray and it showed that she has right sided pneumonia.  We watched a lot of TV on Saturday, and by Sunday the fevers were gone and she was back to normal. 

So, I'm thinking that everybody is on the mend (except for maybe Grant who still has a nasty cough but no fevers).  Hopefully everybody will stay healthy while I'm working this weekend, and will remain healthy for Easter weekend.  It sure would be nice if it would stop snowing and we could spend some time outside and open up the house to get some fresh air.  I'm so ready for trips to the park and the zoo!

 Making us some tea and snacks this afternoon.

Our little man!

Big Accomplishments

I don't know how I forgot to mention this in my last post, but every since Ava's birthday the potty training has become much less frustrating.  I told her on her birthday that 3 yr olds don't wear diapers (except at bedtime) and started to put her in big girl underwear all the time.  We've had a few accidents, but that's to be expected.  But over the past week those have been very few.  This morning she came into our bedroom at 2 am and said, "mommy, I need to go pee pee".  Granted, I was not overly excited to get out of bed at 2 am, but was very impressed that she didn't just go in her diaper.  I think that we may have this potty thing in the bag, and I couldn't be more excited about it!!!  Now, we just need to teach her how to get her pants up and down by herself.  :)

On to Grant's news...he's rolling over, or so I've been told.  I got a text from our sitter on Monday after I dropped him off saying, "wow, he's rolling a ton today".  I replied with, "WHAT, are you kidding me?".  Evidently Grant rolled over while he was at Cyndi's once last week, and was rolling constantly on Monday.  She was nice enough to send me a video on my phone since I can't get the little turkey to do it for me.  I've been working all week to get him to roll over and he just lays there and smiles at me. 

Just thought I'd share our big accomplishments.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

The past two weeks

 You would think that our life is super exciting and that we're never home since I have a hard time finding time to update the blog regularly.  In all honesty, our life isn't that exciting but it can be exhausting which leads to me falling asleep on the couch before my Grandma's bedtime.

So, a little recap of the past two weeks...

On Thursday the 28th Nate and I met Mema, Boppa, Uncle Wes, and Aunt Janna for dinner during restaurant week and left the kids with a sitter.  We have never left both of the kids with somebody who wasn't family (or just like family which is Lauryn) so I was a little nervous.  I work with a lady who lives very close to us who told me before we even moved that her daughter babysits if we were ever interested.  It's nice because she's a senior in high school so she has a lot of experience babysitting, and she drives so we don't have to worry about going to get her or dropping her off at the end of the night.  She seems extremely sweet and she said that the kids were great (although Grant cried during dinner, and Ava cried for us before bed which she has never done...the little turkey).  She said she would love to come back, so I'm glad that we have found somebody to watch them when we go out.  Ava told me the next morning that she liked Leah so it must have gone well. 

Last weekend I had to work my dreaded 12 hr night shifts.  It's amazing how well your body can function on no sleep.  Saturday morning Ava went to Mema & Boppa's for a sleep over.  This allows me to have more quiet in the house so that I can try to sleep (although Grant spent a good amount of time crying Saturday), and leaves Nate with only one child while he's by himself.  Grant and Daddy met up with Ava at church on Sunday and then spent the day at Mema & Boppa's so that I could sleep.  I got to see them for about 20 minutes before I headed back to work Sunday night. 

Grant had his physical therapy appointment last Tuesday.  The therapist said that he looks great and she doesn't really see a head tilt at all and he has great range of motion on both sides of his neck.  So, she said that we don't have to go back for a month.  They usually like to follow the kids until they are sitting independently.  So, we'll see her again in April and also follow up with the cranio/facial doctor that day as well. 

Friday morning Mema rang the door bell and surprised Ava, telling her we were going on an adventure but wouldn't tell her where.  Ava was so excited.  We went to the Children's Museum, where they currently have a special Dora and Diego exhibit.  Ava had so much fun at the museum.  We could have spent all day there.  We were going to take Grant to Cyndi's that day so that Ava could have a day to herself, but Cyndi wasn't feel well so Grant tagged along.  It worked out just fine, he was so good!  We finished the adventure with lunch from McDonald's before some stories and nap time.  It was a great day!

Yesterday we had nothing on the calendar and I couldn't have been more excited.  It was actually a productive day.  An oil change, laundry, cleaned the house, made some homemade granola (which I'm currently addicted to), went to the library, Target, bath night for Ava, and a nice pre-bedtime nap on the couch (which is becoming a regular occurrence for me).  We went to the library so that Ava could get her own library card.  It's primarily so that she can take it to Cyndi's with her and check out her own books when they go to the library.  She was so excited to get her own card.

This afternoon we got to spend some time with a bunch of Nate's high school friends, their spouses, and kids.  It was a lot of fun to see everybody and catch up a little bit.  It's always fun to see them, and of course the kids that seem to grow so quickly.  Nate had basketball tonight so it was me and the kids for dinner and bedtime.  I think that they were both exhausted.  As for me, the couch is calling my name again so I'll sign off.  Thanks for checking in on us! 

 Grant trying on his Easter outfit.  We were going to go with a sweater vest, but with his lack of neck it's not a very flattering look.

 Ava scanning her very own library card for the first time while checking out her books

 Hands up while the book scans.  :)

One smiley and drooly little boy :)

 Looking at x-rays at the museum

 Rocking out at the museum

On Piggy's pirate ship in the Dora and Diego exhibit.