Tubes on the 26th

It's 7:40 in the evening...I can hear the birds singing outside, it is not yet dark, and there is only one small pile of snow left outside by our driveway. I think that spring may have actually arrived!!! Yesterday and today Ava and I were able to enjoy wonderful morning walks (wonderful except for when she kept whining and wanting me to read her a book that she brought along). It was so nice to finally feel the sun on my skin and not be covered in layers from head to toe. It's also nice to get out and move to hopefully shed a couple of the many pounds that I've put on since I stopped the breastfeeding!

We had Ava's ENT appointment this afternoon. Nate got off early from work so that he could meet us for the appointment. They did a hearing test as soon as we got there. Ava evidentally did not do well. The Dr. said that this is most likely due to all of the fluid that she has on her ears, and most likely does not have permanent damage to her hearing. He said that with Nate and my history of ear infections, as well as Ava's ear infections and persistent fluid that she definitely needs tubes. We'll be heading to Children's Hospital in the wee morning hours on Tuesday April 26th. It will be a quick procedure and they said that she should be fine by afternoon (after the anesethia wears off). I have to say that I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm tired of worrying every time that we leave town that she'll have another ear infection. We've had too many bad nights away from home due to ear infections! Hopefully this will be the answer to our problems.

An afternoon at the park

What a beautiful day!!! We couldn't help but get outside and enjoy some of the sun and warm weather today. We started our day in Blaine, attending a 3 on 3 basketball tournament that Nate was supposed to be playing in with some co-w0rkers. He unfortunately slipped on the wet grass last week while taking the trash out. He laughed about it that night, but hasn't been laughing since. He's been having really bad back pain that goes into his rear end. He started seeing a chiropractor last week. I'm hoping that will make a difference. Needless to say, he was unable to play today, and will not be running the 5K that he planned on running next weekend either.

We came home for lunch and a nap. Then it was off for a walk (a very slow walk thanks to Daddy) to the park. We got to leave the winter coats at home and broke out the spring jackets. We all had a great time swinging and soaking up the sunshine. Enjoy the pictures!

Yes, it may look like winter due to all of the snow that we still have on the ground, but it really was a nice spring day.

Meeting Miles & Getting Molars

It's been quite the week. Ava went to daycare Monday and Tuesday. We lucked out and had beautiful weather on Wednesday so Ava and I were able to run some errands in the morning and went for a nice long walk that afternoon.

Thursday was a fun filled day. That morning Ava, Grandma, and I went to the mall to look for a dress for cousin Jenny's wedding which is next month in Kansas City. A dress for me that is. Ava has obviously had hers for a couple of weeks now. That afternoon Bill, Riley, and Baby Miles arrived. This was the first time that we got to meet Miles. He is such a little cutie with the most beautiful blue eyes! We just hung out, but did make it out for a quick walk to the park. That evening Mike, Kristi, & Cora came over to hang out and have pizza with us. It was so much fun to have all of the kids together (except that Ava wasn't exactly in a fabulous mood all day yesterday and today for that matter). We hadn't seen Bill & Riley for over a year, and oh how much had changed in a year! Miles amazed us with how much he can spit up, and with his amazing core strength as he did his pilates work-out. Cora amazed us with how she practically runs around like she's been walking for years. And Mike & Kristi amazed us with their musical talents while playing Ava's piano and drums while singing along. It was a great evening to catch up with one another and share some laughs. We're already looking forward to our get together next year!!!

Like I said earlier, Ava has not been her happy go lucky self the last couple of days. She started pulling on her ears more yesterday so I was sure that she had another ear infection since she started off with a cold last weekend. I took her in to the pediatrician today and they said that she just has a lot of fluid on her ears but that it's not infected. He said that we could start an antibiotic prophylacticly, but there is no way that I'm giving her that augmentin again unless she absolutely needs it. Besides, we'll be seeing the ENT next Thursday. We did find out that she's probably pulling at her ears because she's getting her 1 year molars!!! Her bottom left one has already broke through, and both of the ones on her right side are getting ready to. The Dr. said that the nerve that is in the ear is the same nerve that is in the jaw. Therefore, if she is having pain in her jaw she will probably be pulling and her ears. She has been clingy and cranky all day so I'm hoping that this teething thing doesn't last too long. I didn't even now when she was getting her other teeth, so these molars must really hurt!

We'll be hanging out at home this weekend and hoping for happier days ahead. I'm working quite a bit next week so Ava will be at daycare and there won't be a lot to update. I'll keep you posted on what we find out at her ENT appointment on Thursday. Have a Great weekend! She's cute when she's awake, but sometimes she's even cuter when she's sleeping

Bill even got to read Ava "Busy Bunnies"

Miles needed a sweatshirt and some gloves for our walk. I think he looks pretty darn good in maroon and gold. I'm not so sure about the pink mittens though...sorry Miles.

"The kids" Ava, Miles & Cora

Ava "loving" Miles The girls + Miles...Cora, Kristi, Riley, Miles, Ava, & Steph The Daddies...Mike, Cora, Bill, Miles, Ava, & Nate

Slumber Party

Ava got to have a slumber party at Grandma & Grandpa V's last night. Daddy worked yesterday morning and then we all went over to Grandma & Grandpa's around 4:30. Ava got to stay so that Daddy and I could have a "date night". We went out to dinner and then met up with some friends and went bowling. A big thank you to Grandma & Grandpa! It was great to get out for the night and not feel like we had to rush home.

We met up with Ava at church this morning and then the five of us and Uncle Wes went out for brunch at Granite City to celebrate my birthday. It was delicious as usual. The rest of the day was spent just hanging out.

We have a pretty slow start to the week, with Ava heading off to day care to play with her friends tomorrow morning. We're looking forward to seeing our friends Riley, Bill, baby Miles when they arrive on Thursday. We especially can't wait to meet Miles!!!

Hoping that you all have a great start to your week!

Ava seems to love Chinese food. She had egg rolls last week, and this week she got into the Lo Mein.

We had noodles everywhere!

I thought it was spring

Spring arrived this week, and so did our winter storm. We were under a winter storm warning today. It was windy, cold, and we got some very wet snow! Ava and I ventured out this afternoon after the snow slowed down, as we needed a change of scenery from our house. Other than that, it's been a pretty low key week.

Ava has had no blow-outs since she was kicked out of day care last week. So I'm hoping that we're done with all of that. I'm just praying that she doesn't get another ear infection before we go and see the ENT Dr. next month. Otherwise she'll go back on the Augmentin and we'll have issues once again.

I worked this past weekend so it was Daddy and Ava time. Ava also got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa V. They came to watch Ava Sat. evening before I got home so that Daddy could go to a "baby shower" for our friends. Then she and Daddy headed over to their house after church on Sunday. Grandma was nice enough to watch Ava while I got a facial yesterday as well. What a treat that was for me!

Nothing else too exciting planned for the rest of the week. Tomorrow is my birthday, the big
3-0. I actually picked up a day shift at work, and then Nate and I are just doing dinner at home. I have to say that I was more excited about Ava's birthday than I am about my own.

I hope that you are all having a wonderful week. Thanks for checking in!

Ava can often be found rocking out on her piano. It's even better when she stands with her butt up in the air and dances while shaking her butt.

If she's not standing up next to the table pulling stuff off, she's climbing under it

I don't think that she quite gets the concept of what the spoon is for yet. She held it in her right hand while shoveling food into her mouth with her left hand.

Make it stop!

I walked into Ava's daycare yesterday afternoon to pick her up and noticed that she was wearing different pants than what she was wearing when she was dropped off in the morning. This is never a good sign! I guess that she had a "big blowout" or an "uncontained BM", with some even getting on the carpet. Not cool! So, Ava was not welcome at daycare today. So, after talking with my work I am now working an evening shift today (not ideal since I'll then be sleep deprived for my lovely 12 hour shifts this weekend) and Grandma V will watch Ava this afternoon. I sure hope that this doesn't last much longer! She's been off of the antibiotic for a week now.

So, as you're all tipping back your glasses of green beer tonight to celebrate St. Patrick's Day I'll be at work hoping for less poop there and here at home. Cheers and Happy St. Patrick's Day! :)

1 yr Dr's appt.

We had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Ava and I ran to the mall and hung out while Daddy reffed on Saturday morning. I put Ava down for her nap and then went to get my oil changed. Nate called me two hours later to see if I was almost done. I thought maybe they were at the grocery store. Nope, Ava was still sleeping!!! She took a THREE hour nap! This is after she didn't take any nap for me on Friday. Why is it that she only sleeps for Nate?!? Once she finally woke up, we had a snack and then went over to Grandma & Grandpa V's to hang out with them and Uncle Wes. We had dinner over there and then came home.

Sunday we went to church and then Auntie Lisa #2 and Uncle Craig came over to hang out. They brought Ava a nice loud birthday present. She loves it, so that's the important thing. We'll see how much Daddy loves it when Ava is playing the piano when he's trying to watch ESPN. :)

Today Ava had her 1 yr well baby check. I was anxious to find out what her ears looked like. She still has fluid in both of them (more in the right), but they are not currently infected. We got a referral to see an ENT, which we will do on the 7th of April. I'm actually looking forward to tubes, and hope that we will never have to deal with a month long ear infection ever again. Ava is 32 inches long, and weighed in at 23.13 lbs, with a head circumference of 18 inches. This puts her off the charts for height, 80th percentile for weight, and 90th percentile for head circumference. So I guess that means that she's long and lean with a big head. :) She also got a stronger prescription for her yeast infection which looks Horrible!!! I cringe every time that I change her diaper. She does have an umbilical hernia (which we've known about since birth). It hasn't gotten worse or better so we'll continue to watch it. I'm still hoping that it will resolve on its own in the next couple of years (most do by age 5). They did do a finger stick to check her hemoglobin and lead levels. Her lead level was great, but her hemoglobin was low at 9 (it should be 12). Her Dr. is thinking that it is low due to her being sick for so long. We'll recheck it at her pre-op appointment. Ava did so good and was kind of funny when they pricked her finger. They poked her and her jaw dropped as she starred at the nurse as if saying, "what did you do that for". She didn't cry or even fuss, her jaw just dropped in disbelief that somebody would do that to her. She also go two shots, but did cry with those. It was pretty short lived (I once again gave her ibuprofen before her appt. in hopes to decrease the pain) and she's been fine since.

The sun was out today and it felt SO good. It's even nicer now that it stays light so much later. Nate, Ava, and I were able to go for a short walk when Nate got home. It was nice to just get out and enjoy some fresh air. It's back to work for me tomorrow morning which means that Ava will be heading back to daycare. She hasn't been there for 2 weeks (since she got kicked out due to her diarrhea) so hopefully she'll quickly adjust and be able to nap there.