Isabella's Hospital Portrait

Here is a link to Isabella's first portrait, taken at Chandler Regional Hospital:

http://www.chandlerregional.org/Patients_And_Visitors/Online_Nursery/index.htm?&vnMode=details&bId=24880&nsw=e

Introducing Isabella Juliet Taylor

Two firsts in this blog: 1) Jake's adding a message for the first time and, more importantly, 2) Isabella Juliet is now in our lives. Isabella was born at 6:03 PM today, August 27 2008.. She measured 20 inches and weighed in at 6 lbs. 2 oz. and a about a ton and a half of pure beauty! We're so excited to have her with us!
The delivery went well, in fact as she approached delivery, before the Dr. arrived, the nurse turned to me and said "once we get her feet in the stirups, if she sneezes Isabella will be here!" Elisa did excellent. We are very fortunate and feel grateful for our new baby/blessing/sweetheart.

Induction Postponed till Tomorrow

Last night, I was so proud of myself for getting the house ready, packing my hospital bag, painting my toenails, and typing up the babies' schedule for my mother-in-law. I thought I had everything ready for Friday night. But, as many of us have learned the hard way (maybe one too many times), just when you think you've got a grip, life laughs at you. That's what happened to me last night. Jake and I turned in at 11:30 PM, and not 30 minutes later, my baby girl starts screaming and violently throwing up. This went on until 4 AM as I sang to her continuously while sitting her up in our bed. She probably would have continued this till morning, but I couldn't take any more and neither could she, so I gave her some Benadryl (feeling like a bad mom the whole time) and it knocked her right out... until 6:30 AM. Gabe woke up not too much past that with a fever (it's been a persistent low grade fever of 101* for four days with a snotty cold). I was just about to lose it completely, with two screaming sick babies and going on 2 1/2 hours of sleep, when I went downstairs to find that Chewy (our very well behaved dog) had also made an accident during the night. I realized that there was no way that I would willingly submit myself to another consecutive sleepless night (in labor), and I told my OB that the induction would have to be rescheduled for Saturday morning. So, 7:30 AM it is.

Our Honda Odyssey

In true Taylor form, we sold our Acura MDX and replaced it with a Honda Odyssey minivan just in the knick of time. It was almost an even trade, because even though our Odyssey is just the base model, it is nearly brand new (2007 with only 9,000 miles). We're happy with the new purchase -- with 3 babies in car seats, it was high time we got a more appropriate vehicle for the fam (in terms of space and convenience especially). Although when we were younger, Jake and I both swore that we'd never own a minivan, life gives you perspective. And since we had our kids close in age, it should only be a few years before they're out of their carseats and we can eagerly reclaim a more posh vehicle. Until then, move on over hunny because mama's driving the Odyssey!

38 Week Pregnancy *Update*

I went to my weekly OB appointment today and had my weekly ultrasound. I have gained 21 lbs. since the beginning of my pregnancy. I am dilated to 3 cm. and am 80% effaced. Like at 35 weeks, the ultrasound tech at my doctor's office measured Isabella as really small (5.4 lbs -- 3rd percentile), and freaked me and my doctor right out. He sent me straight over to the Perinatologist for a 3-D ultrasound, stating that he would induce me today if they got similar results. Also like at 35 weeks, they did not get the same results (thankfully). They measured Isabella in the 12th percentile at 6 lbs. even. They said that they didn't think that there would be any cause for concern as everything else seemed to be looking great as usual (breathing, amniotic fluid level, movement, tone, etc.). My OB called me later this afternoon, saying that because I am a "complicated woman" (I assume he meant a complicated patient), he would like to see the baby come sooner rather than later. He stated that he would leave it up to me whether to get induced today or at 39 weeks (next Tuesday), which would be the latest he'd let me go. He said that if I chose to wait till 39 weeks, I'd need to come in to the office twice for ultrasounds over the next few days. My choice? Neither, of course. I told him that I would allow the induction, but at 38 weeks and 3 days -- more specifically, on Friday evening at 8 PM (so I could make sure that my kids were tucked in bed, I had the weekend ahead of me, and my mother-in-law would have had ample notice to drive down to the valley). He told me that he could almost guarantee my request, because he has "a lot of pull at the hospital" and that he would call me to let me know for sure by noon tomorrow. So tentatively, that's where it stands... meantime, my contractions are coming about every 10 minutes right now -- no thanks to all the prodding and checking at my visits today.

Update: The induction is scheduled for this coming Friday at 10 PM.

On a side note, we have a new respite provider (nanny)! Her name is Brooke, and I like her a lot. She has been with us since last Wednesday, but I waited until now to mention it because of the incident with Julie earlier this month -- I didn't want to have to put my foot in my mouth again. Brooke couldn't have come at a better time -- I feel like she is really getting to know my kids and their schedules, which will make her beyond valuable once Isabella comes. She only works in the afternoons (usually), but it's still a big relief. I think she likes us, although she laughingly tells me that she is usually ready for bed at 8 PM on the days she works :) (hey, me too!). I'm praying this one sticks around.

Quirks Tag

Because my friend Kassidi tagged me, I am having to share with you seven of my quirks... so bear with me. I know the reason she tagged me is because I have to be one of the quirkiest people on her bloglist ;)! This should be funny -- for you, not for me.
1. I'm obsessed with clean floors. I know what you're probably thinking -- 'Elisa, your floor is not that clean', and while I know this to be true, it doesn't hinder my neuroticism in the least. Everyone that comes into my house must remove their shoes at the door, or I have a silent heart attack. When someone (or someone's kid) comes onto the carpet with shoes on, I will bust out the Resolve carpet cleaner and start spot cleaning right on their heels. My excuse is that I'm half Asian, so ha. In Asia, you just don't wear shoes anywhere there's a floor under your feet and a roof over your head. When I'm feeling too lazy to sweep or vacuum the tile, I 'sweep' the floor with my bare feet and brush the dirt off into the trash. I will not allow my dog onto carpeted areas ever... under any circumstances. Unfortunately for many pet owning friends & relatives, it follows that pets that cannot consistently obey this no animal on the carpet rule is banned from the house (and that leaves no pets).
2. I hate Walmart. Don't get me wrong -- I don't hate what they sell. I can definitely appreciate inexpensive groceries and other miscelaneous items. I just hate the place itself, and yes, I have my reasons... and they are many.
3. I love almost every food and am willing to try the most exotic dishes. The only exceptions are cucumbers, watermelon, bananas, baked potatoes, celery, and bell peppers -- I hate these foods. I don't think this is quirky, but other people seem to.
4. I have a nervous habit of biting the inside of my cheek. It looks rediculous, and I really just need to stop. So, if you ever have the displeasure of witnessing this, please call my attention to it immediately.
5. I'm very excitable -- for better or for worse. I'm not saying that I'm tempermental, because I'm not. I'm just really... passionate. I'm can be pretty opinionated, and when I get this way, I tend to raise my voice (even if I'm not upset). At these times, Jake lovingly calls me a "cat on a hot tin roof."
6. Just the thought of wet toilet paper makes me gag. I use table napkins, paper towels, and burp cloths for tissues because I can't stand to have a piece of detiorating damp tissue in my hand.
7. I've mentioned this in previous posts, but I'll say it again. Although I'm, by no means, a violent person, I'm really intrigued with the lives of CIA agents, arms dealers, military snipers, or any other dangerously smart profession. I'd love to have a hidden talent like that -- you know, like being a master at Kung Fu or secretly a pro at card counting in blackjack. One day, I'm just going to bust out and surprise you all. And you thought I was just an ordinary stay-at-home mom!
I tag Erin Buggy & Amber Larsen.

37 Week Pregnancy Update

This is just a brief update to say that my OB finally checked me (per my request), and as I suspected, Isabella is pretty close to coming. I am 80% effaced (out of 100), 2 cm. dilated (out of 10), and the head station is -1 (on a scale of 3 to -3). Although he said that many doctors consider 37 weeks term and the rest consider 38 weeks term, I'm still a little nervous about it being so early. I wish she would wait just a little longer... I guess we'll just have to wait and see. :)

36 Week Pregnancy Update

I'm happy to say that there isn't any major news in these last few weeks of my pregnancy (as of this moment). At 35 weeks, I had an ultrasound, which measured Isabella pretty small, my belly was measuring only 30 weeks, and my weight is 114 lbs. (19 lbs. over my pre-pregnancy weight). The small measurements were a little concerning, so I was sent to get a second ultrasound at my perinatologist. That ultrasound showed that although Isabella is measuring a smallish (15th percentile), she has been measuring that way pretty consistently -- which means that she is following her own curve and growing. Her weight was 5 lbs. at 35 weeks. Since I was a small full term baby (5 lbs. 13 oz.), this isn't too surprising. Everything else has been checking out fantastic -- her biophysical profiles show that she is breathing well and moving great (as if I needed someone to tell me that!). Isabella hid behind her foot for her 3-D ultrasound, so I only have her profile pictures in 2-D. She, without a doubt, has the Taylor lips. This morning was my last Lovonox shot, as tonight I am switching to Heparin. I never thought I'd say this, but I think that I'm going to miss being on the Lovonox. Reason being is that I have to inject a larger amount of Heparin for the same effect as the Lovonox. But seeing as though I only have 2 1/2 more weeks of it, it's probably a trifling thing to complain about.

Other than that, I think I'm starting to feel "ready," in the sense that my body is getting tired of the pregnancy. I'm pretty short of breath most days, and it's very difficult to carry Ariana up and down the stairs on my nonexistent hip bone. I don't feel quite as "ready" when it comes to thinking about being in labor, leaving my twins at home while I'm in labor and during my hospital stay (I've never been away from them that long), and having three babies 19 months and under... but I'm sure I'll get there with the help of a heavy dose of reality.

So far, I have to say that I've been very fortunate with this pregnancy. It has not been too strenuous, and I often have found myself, at times, forgetting that I am even pregnant at all. I look foward to meeting my little cookie, Isabella, and can't wait to feel the joy that she brings to our family. I'm aware that my belly pictures look pretty rough, but that just goes to show what I'm willing to do for my baby.

Best Mac and Cheese Ever

Serves 12
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for casserole
6 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to l/2-inch pieces
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons coarse salt, plus more for water
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar cheese
2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyère or swiss or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 pound elbow macaroni
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place the bread in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour the melted butter into the bowl with the bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside
.2. Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When the butter bubbles, add the flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
3. While whisking, slowly pour in the hot milk a little at a time to keep mixture smooth. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick, 8 to 12 minutes.
4. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar cheese, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyère (or 1 cup Pecorino Romano); set the cheese sauce aside.
5. Cover a large pot of salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook the macaroni until the outside of pasta is cooked and the inside is underdone, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir the macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.
6. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyère (or 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano), and the breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes (though we needed a bit more time to get it brown, but your oven may vary). Transfer the dish to a wire rack for 5 minutes; serve.

Our Respite Provider Quit

I normally don't like to use this blog to rant, BUT I think I'll take this as a special excepetion. In July, I started looking for respite providers, knowing that I was coming up on the time when I would need somebody to help me with the kids during the day. I think this goes without saying as I currently have 3-4 doctors appointments every week, twin 18 month olds, and a third baby whose due date is coming right up. I responsibly posted an ad on Care.com, to which I had several replies and interviews. I hired a 46 year old woman, named Julie Wils*n, who was nice and caring and seemed to be able to meet all of my job requirements. I specifically asked each interviewee about their long term plans, because I'm not that desperate for aid that I would want to have strangers in and out of my house every other month. I do have standards. Julie implied that she had every intention of nannying indefinitely. I turned down many a wonderful, qualified candidate, mostly on the grounds that Julie already had CPR & First Aid Certification and would be able to start work immediately. Julie began work on September 2. She worked four afternoons. Julie called today (July 8) to quit, stating happily that she got a job in her field (accounting!) and that she would be starting tomorrow. She seemed apologetic for totally stiffing me, which didn't change the fact that I made sure to tell her that she could not count on me as a reference. With only three weeks till my induction date, I'm feeling a little perturbed.

Our Acura SUV is for Sale :(

We have come to that sad, sad point in our lives where we have outgrown nice things and need to replace them with... shall we say, family things? We're buying a minivan, and need one in a hurry (with only 3 weeks till my induction date). If you're on the market for a beautiful, luxury SUV in excellent condition that gets great gas mileage, priced to sell, then click here to view the Craigslist ad for our baby (the car):
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/832041984.html

Can you Believe This Guy? --> Obama

I know that if you read my blog consistently, you must be a lover of babies. If not, you would have tired long ago of my incessant babble about the joys and sorrows and the miracles that they are. So this video is for all of my fellow baby lovers, regardless of your politics (although I don't indulge you often enough, I'm sure you can tell where I stand). Pause my playlist at the bottom of the page to hear the video.

What's New at 18 Months Old

On the one hand, I can't believe that my kids are 18 months old, because it seems like just yesterday they were my chubby little lumps that only smiled and drank breastmilk every 3 hours. On the other hand, they seem like such big kids to me recently that I think to myself, of course they're 18 months old -- they act practically all grown up at times!

Ariana has improved so much with her sitting and overall trunk support. All of her therapists are so proud of her -- we sometimes just sit and revel at how far she has come. She has some days that are better than others, which is to be expected, but she can generally sit without support for several minutes before needing some help getting readjusted. On her best days, she doesn't even need anyone to help her, but only remind her to "sit up Ari", to which she immediately responds by correcting her posture and flashing you a big grin. Ariana has also started making the "ba" sound with regularity. When I ask her to say "bye" to someone, she will give her famous enthusiatic wave and proudly say "ba," but I swear it sounds just like "bye." Ariana is more than ever responding to simple commands like "put the toy in your mouth" or "splash the water" or "give mommy a kiss." Her breadth of verbal understanding has grown so much lately. Another thing that Ariana is doing this month that she hasn't done before is retrieval of a dropped item in a sitting position. When I am taking my shower, I sit Ariana in her Bumbo seat (which offers hip support but no back support, so she needs to hold herself upright). When she's sitting in her seat, she gets to play with a toy or my cell phone to keep her occupied. Up until recently, once she dropped the toy the first time, it was lost to her until I came out and resued it. Now, she can drop it and pick it up over and over again all by herself (provided that she drops it to her left and not her right side). Ariana is also initiating a roll from right to left onto her tummy. While she can't complete the roll on her own yet, she gets so close and she knows it. She sometimes cracks up laughing while she's teetering on her side. It won't be long before she's rolling in all directions. Another gross motor skill that Ariana is slowly developing is the beginning of a crawling pattern. Ari has been trying to pull her legs up under her while using her arms to pivot or reach towards an item out of her reach. I get so excited every time I see her do this, which is increasing in frequency all the time. Sadly, Ariana is also beginning to get pickier with foods and is trying to turn herself into a vegetarian (she did not get this from me). It used to be that I could get her to eat chicken and ground beef, but she is protesting most dinner (savory) foods these days and spends many a dinnertime screaming every time we try to slip a bite into her mouth -- very frustrating. Her favorite foods lately are fruit (all kinds), crackers, scrambled eggs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cereal, yogurt, macaroni and cheese, and sometimes veggies like beets, carrots, and green beans. She would eat an all fruit diet if I let her. This week, I'm venturing towards new sources of protein like hummus to see if I can win her over -- wish me luck. As sweet as she is, my little peach is starting to get a bit of an attitude at times. I guess it comes with the territory, but she can be pretty demanding of my attention and she does not like to share with Gabriel anymore. By 6 o'clock PM (my pumpkin time), I've pretty much had it with the whining and Jake playfully calls me a "baby hater," which is an exaggeration... but not by much.

Gabriel has turned into a big boy practically overnight. I know I say this every month, and I'm starting to sound like an old lady, but I can't deny it. It would be impossible to name every one of his many little achievements and milestones, so here are just a few. While Gabriel's spoken vocabulary is rapidly approaching 50 words, Gabriel has about a 20 word sign language vocabulary. It blew me away that he had learned more signs than me from his sign language DVDs, so I literally had to play catch up just to figure out what he was trying to communicate with me. The signs he uses most frequently are milk, help, please, blanket, and bear (referring to his teddy bear). Gabriel has recently gotten so attached to his blankets and teddy bear that he wants to carry them around with him everywhere. He hoards blankets (literally), by gathering all of the baby blankets in the house (4-6 at a time) and dragging them behind him. He also loves playing in piles of pillows. Gabriel's favorite toys this month are cars and his flash cards. While cars "ca" and trucks "tuck" are no brainers for little boys, the flash card thing just cracks me up. He begs me to drill him with his color flash cards. And as a result, my 1 1/2 year old (I'm going to brag here, so skip over this if excessive pride makes you cringe) knows 4 colors: red "ray", green "geen", blue "boo", and purple "poo poo". While he gets it right only about 75% of the time, I still think that's pretty dang good for a baby. Gabe can also identify about 10 animals (his favorites are lion and dog, which he signs all day) and 10 body parts (his favorites are belly button, teeth, and "pee pee"). Some of Gabe's gross motor developments include coming down the stairs by himself (safely). He can come all the way down backwards (which I prefer) or scoot down on his bottom. He opens the doors to the garage and the front door, which scare the crap out of me. I've found him playing happily in the garage on more than one occasion. Gabriel is also walking up his wedges in the playroom and sliding down on his own (something his physical therapist has been encouraging for a while). Gabriel is starting to climb on furniture, and he is trying on our shoes (which involves balancing on one leg and requires a lot of motor planning). Gabriel and Ariana have both started going to nursery at church and they love the socialization. I think that Gabriel learns so much from being around older kids. He and Ari had the time of their lives when their 3 and 4 year old cousins, Brayden and Trevor came to visit this past weekend. I only wish they lived closer to us. Of course, there are pros and cons to every age and stage (or that's what I tell myself anyway): Gabe has acquired a award-winning toddler attitude. Don't get me wrong, he is as loveable and affectionate as little boys come; frequently lunging into my arms for a hug and a kiss, cuddling in my lap while I read him a story. But he can throw a tantrum with the best of them. Needless to say, time out isn't a game anymore. What really gets me is that Gabe already knows how to push my buttons. For instance, when we are out in public and the babies are in the side-by-side double stroller and Gabriel wants my attention, he knows that all he has to do is hit or scratch Ariana. I can't help it -- I instinctively react. I've sworn that I'm going to get a front-back (tandem double stroller) if it kills me. If anyone has a used one that they don't need anymore, please lend it to save Ariana from Gabe's wrath. And it wouldn't be a month if there wasn't a sickness, would it? Gabe has come down with croup. He was having really awful sounding breathing so we took him into our favorite urgent care on Labor Day. They did a chest x-ray and came up with the diagnosis. It's viral, so he's only on a steriod medicine for 5 days to help ease his breathing. I hope it will pass soon, without Ari catching it.

18 Month Pediatrician Well-Check

Gabe and Ari had their 18 month old well-check today with Dr. Sudha, and here are the stats:
Gabriel is 25.8 lbs (45th %tile for weight), 33 in. (65th %tile for height), and has a head circumference in the 100th %tile (he has lots of brains). Ariana is 23.5 lbs. (50th %tile for weight), 32 in. (55th %tile for height), and has a head circumference in the 75th%tile. They are growing well, and we feel fortunate for their present health.
Dr. Sudha was also able to diagnose Ariana's past sickness as Roseola. Roseola is a viral illness that typically occurs in young children between 6 months and 2 years old. It is marked by several days of high fever (over 103 degrees F) and followed by a distinctive rash that occurs on the trunk and spreads over the rest of the body just as the fever breaks. This is exactly what happened to Ari -- glad to know some doctors have the answers.
Auntie Marci came to hang out and help us with the doctor appointment. The kids had so much fun having her here -- they hardly fussed the whole time. Though I think Marci won't have any trouble sleeping tonight... and tomorrow...

32 Week Pregnancy Update

I can't believe that I'm past 32 weeks already. I keep remembering how at this point in my last pregnancy, I was on bedrest, dilating, with only 1 week left in my pregnancy. This time is, thankfully, so different. At my ultrasound appointment, yesterday, Isabella was measuring 3 lbs. 13 oz., which is slightly small for her gestational age (14th percentile), but nothing to worry over. Everything looks as perfect as it can be and she seems to be progressing right on track. Unfortunately, she was very camera shy and despite my prodding, she wouldn't move her right hand from in front of her face so I don't have any new pictures. I have one more shot at a good picture before she comes (36 week ultrasound), so hopefully she'll be in a posing mood that day.
As you can probably tell from the belly pictures, I have started my Lovonox (blood thinner) injections. Unfortunately, the twice a day injections do nothing to make my belly look pretty for pictures. Instead, I get a ton of ugly bruises and marks (and I'm showing you my good side). I guess I should just count my blessings that bruises, unlike stretch marks, will fade in time. The bruising is, frankly, the least of the side effects that comes with the Lovonox. Lovonox has put the fear of blood in me (my own blood that is). Everytime I shave my legs, I will bleed for apparently no reason at all. So, naturally, I'm worrying about what the heck is going to happen to me when I'm in labor? Granted, by the time I go into labor I will have hopefully been switched to Heparin, which has an antidote (whereas Lovonox has no antidote or reversal). But still... it makes me nervous. On a lighter note, I have turned into a mosquito magnet. This is not a documented side effect of Lovonox, but there is no denying it. I am swarmed by them the second I step outside -- I have 15 new bites since the weekend!
It seems that I have entered into the phase of pregnancy where exhaustion strikes. It's not the sleepy feeling I had in the first trimester, but a winded and hot sensation that's entirely new to me. I feel like an old woman in menapause (or so I'm told). Needless to say, Gabe has nearly mastered all the sign language on his Baby Einstein signing DVD and Ari immediately recognizes and claps to the Barney sing-along songs. Yeah, they watch their movies now... and not just when I'm making dinner.
I'm not proud to announce this, but my strange cravings are back. They happened late in my last pregnancy and they've returned once more. I crave towels -- yes, fluffy bath towels straight out of the dryer. And the smell that comes from my car air conditioner. And Home Depot. If I could sit in my cleaning closet all day, I would. I have not given in to these cravings with the exception of the towels (obviously, they don't get eaten, just chewed on). I've learned that I'm not alone in this... it's called Pica, and in my defense, it's fairly common in pregnancy and not a sign of mental illness :). One of the most common Pica cravings is laundry startch and soap. Pregnancy is so strange.

Summer Fun

Well, even though the temps outside are still high, I can't say this summer has dragged on for us, because it has flown by. Ariana has fully recovered from her mysterious fever, and has since began eating like a champ and smiling and laughing non-stop once again. I was really getting down for a few days there when she offered not one smile even though her fever was gone. Well, my little peachy peach is back, and she even has a shiny new molar to boot. With Ariana's impossibly high fever, we were given a little blessing... no seizures. And what does this mean (other than a miracle)? Ariana is off her Phenobarb for good (we hope). Now Ariana is completely medication free! On a tangent to that, Ariana's standard constipation issues that have plagued us since she stopped breastfeeding seemed to resolved themselves as well.Gabriel is changing so much every day that I feel like I can't even keep up with all that he does. He has at least 10 new words since the beginning of the month, which include "shoes," "cup," "bowl," "Ari," and "movie." He has been practicing his sign language, and my favorite new sign word of his is 'please.' Of course, he will sign please when he wants something to anyone other than me. Still, I'll take what I can get.
Jake and I took Gabe and Ari to the splash pad on Sunday evening. It was their second visit, and they had so much fun. Gabe was still a little apprehensive about water in the face, but he loved running around and yelling "bop-um" (his word for water, a.k.a. 'bottle') with hands waving. Ariana was a trooper and went under the water fountains with only smiles the whole time.

Yesterday, Jake had a networking meeting for work at the IMAX theater, so we got to take the kids to see an IMAX movie for free. They had so much fun stuffing their little mouths with popcorn and taking in the big screen animation. They lasted for a whole 45 minutes without a peep.

Happy Birthday to Me (July 29th)

Just wanted to say -- look what Jake got me for my birthday! It's an ASUS eee laptop computer. It weighs 2.5 lbs. in all and is 9" x 11". It has all of my programs and pictures already on it, and it has a built-in wireless nic card so I get internet anywhere there's a signal. And it fits oh so nicely in my diaper bag, so I carry it with me wherever I go and use it as my planner. It has been written up in magazines and has A+ reviews -- I love it already. And because it is the most affordable computer out there (look it up!), we could afford to upgrade the RAM and get the extended battery. I feel so chic and mobile. (The cell phone is in the photo for scale.)

Ari is on the mend

Ari is finally recovering from her strange sickness. Wednesday and Thursday were cranky days for Ari. If anyone has ever met Ari, this should come as a surprise in and of itself -- Ari is never unhappy. For a minute there, I was beginning to think that this was the beginning of her tantrum toddler stage, and I nearly lost my mind over it. On Friday evening, we noticed that she seemed to have a fever, so we gave her some Tylenol and sent her to bed. Saturday morning, it was apparent that she had definitely come down with something. Jake took her to get checked out at the urgent care right next to our house, and they diagnosed her with an ear infection and possible intestinal bacterial infection. They put her on an antibiotic called Bactrim that makes you heave just smelling it. Well, it goes without saying that things usually get worse before they get better, and they sure did. Ariana peaked at a 106.7 degree fever that night, and Jake took her to the emergency room. They gave her 700 mg. (plus the 200 mg. I already gave her) of Ibprofin, ran all kinds of bloodwork on my poor baby, gave her a catheder, and ran an IV because the fever had severely dehydrated her (all not without sticking her a dozen times before finding a vein). The bloodwork & urine came back normal (white blood cell counts normal, etc.). They were left with no diagnosis. Somehow, we manage to stump doctors a lot -- very frustrating. They suggested we admit her due to her dehydration, but seeing as though it was already 2:30 AM and she needed sleep desperately, we elected to bring her home. The next morning, her fever had gone down, but not substantially -- she was at 105.5 degrees. We kept her on her increased doses of Ibprofin (because the Tylenol doesn't really work for us) and tried to keep giving her fluids as instructed. Well, we needed to get her to eat, because the Bactrim is to be given on a full stomach, but she refused. We are still on the Bactrim (1.5 tsp. 2 x per day), and it is pure torture for everyone. She refuses to swallow it, and when she does, she often throws it right back up. One documented side effect of the medicine is a decrease in appetite. Ariana will barely eat a thing. She'll scream if I put her favorite foods in her mouth (blueberries, cheerios, yogurt, whatever). It is a chore to get her to eat cake! All this, of course, exasserbates the problem of her keeping the medicine down. I called the urgent care today for a change in antibiotic, and they told me that I could either keep her on the Bactrim until Saturday or switch to Amoxicillin (which is only 6 ml. versus 7.5) but keep her on it until next Thursday. I am torn. I think I'll get the new med and let Ari decide which she prefers. I think that I remember Amoxicillin tasting pretty good actually. Anyway, today is the second day that Ariana has not woken up with a fever, convincing me that she is finally on the road to recovery. She is still pretty darn tired, so I've been giving the kids two naps a day instead of one (Gabe loves his naps still!). Hopefully, we'll see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

What's New at 17 Months Old

I tend to treat at my blog as if it were my journal. I like to keep a record of the little things that we do and experience as a family that I might not remember when I'm 50... or in a couple months when I'm making their annual scrapbooks. Besides the vacation, which was an obvious one, this month was full of small developments and new acheivements. Every day, I see my kids grow up a tiny bit more, and it fills me with a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and a little sadness at how quickly time passes.

This month, Gabriel is getting into everything (as if I thought he'd discovered everything last month!). He cannot enter a room without leaving it in shambles before he departs. Gabe is my little chatterbox -- he is constantly babbling sentences and asking us questions that we can't quite understand yet. He has a vocabulary of about 25 words; including his latest "bird," "blankie," "bear," and "car." He is constantly imitating any sounds he hears around him, especially funny noices and laughter. He likes to talk about things as he's pointing at them. He plays games and loves to laugh at Ariana (they are getting to be such great friends!). He is willing to share all of his toys, food, and sippy cups with her. Whenever I put cereal on his tray and not hers (because she can't feed it to herself yet), he lovingly puts one on her tray every time he eats one. He willingly gives her one toy after another when asked. He loves to socialize and has no inhibitions whatsoever -- Jake and I can't hardly recognize him, because we were both so shy as children. Gabe will go up to any child (he prefers older kids) and say "hi" and wave and start babbling and laughing as soon as he makes eye contact. I love that he loves people! He is so affectionate -- loving to give hugs and kisses. Gabe loves typical boy things like cars (he pretends nearly all of his toys are cars and zooms them across the floor), playing catch with balls, making a mess with his sippy cup, a being roughhoused by Daddy. He tries repeatedly to somersault, but always falls to the side. He is also very focused and can concentrate for long periods of time on one activity, such as matching shapes in a puzzle, putting pegs in a pegboard, building towers with blocks, or putting little balls down his rolly ball ramp. I frequently find him "reading" books in a corner aloud to himself. He can take off his shoes and tries to put Ariana's on. Gabe can identify body parts (ear, tongue, teeth, nose, hand, foot, belly button) and can name one... can you guess which? He is learning animals and can name three. He likes to scribble with pens (on the couch) and with his magnadoodle. Gabe is starting to learn to use a spoon at mealtime. Like last month, Gabe is getting a little more demanding of attention. Whenever Ari is sitting on my lap, he will try to push her off or sit on her lap. This will definitely be a challenge when the third baby is vying for her spot on my lap too! Ever since our vacation, Gabe is getting so attached to Daddy. He wants Daddy to tuck him in and he throws and all out tantrum whenever Jake leaves the room or the house to go to work. Gabe is now getting to be very aware of what is right and wrong. When he repeatedly does something that he's told not to do, he will throw a temper tantrum and have to spend a minute in time-out. It's very odd, but it seems like Gabe likes time out, because he quits crying the second he's facing the corner and he often peaks over his shoulder and grins at us, trying to get us to smile back. When the minute is over, he always runs over and gives us a hug and a kiss. I love this boy, and I feel so lucky to have him in my family.

Gabe loves to play catch with Chewy.Gabe had a blast playing the games at Peter Piper Pizza. His favorite was bowling, as you can tell by the crazed look on his face.Gabe got to bond with his Uncle Ryan. While Ariana has not had as many formal skill developments, she has definitely grown and is seeming more mature and like a big girl every day. Ari loves to use her left hand -- she claps with it to music, waves (and says "hiiiii!"), splashes in the water, feeds herself (large foods like bread, green beans, chunks of cheese), reaches and grabs toys, scratches and pulls my hair when she's frustrated with me, and so much more. She belly laughs and plays games with Gabriel anytime they're together (especially in highchairs & carseats). Her favorite games are peek-a-boo and word play nursery rhymes (like "itsy bitsy spider"). Ari has a keen awareness of her surroundings and a great sense of humor. She laughs at almost any incongruity (even the most subtle ones). Ariana is getting to be more and more vocal. She frequently babbles sentences with many different consonants. When she wants to get my attention, she'll yell "mamamama." She will also ask for food by shoving her chest out, waving her hand, and saying "eh eh eh." She loves to play with whatever Gabe has and wants more and more to be treated like he is. She loves to practice drinking out of a sippy cup (she brings it to her mouth with the handle but only chews the spout) and use a spoon. Although Ari's expressive vocabulary isn't where Gabe's is yet (she says three words), she understands most of what we say. When we ask her a question to which her answer is 'yes', she will nodd her head vigorously. She is also very responsive to direction. While sitting in her highchair or practicing sitting independently, Ari sometimes slouches foward or to her right. When I ask her to "sit up please," she corrects herself to an upright position and smiles at us. She also likes to take her sweet time when drinking her bottle. When she is getting distracted, I simply say "Ari, drink your milk" and she gets right on it. Ari is eating all kinds of regular foods -- pretty much anything we eat as long as it's room temperature, and she hasn't had baby foods in over a month. She can take her hat and sunglasses off, throw her toys, and turn the pages of her books. When we put objects in her right hand (her weaker hand), she will use them functionally (brush her hair, feed herself, attempt to push a ball). Ariana is getting so close to sitting, and although it is a gradual process, I now have no doubt that she will get there. I am so proud of my baby girl. Her sweet angelic (and sassy!) spirit keeps me strong. She is my sunshine.My princess is all smiles.Bowling with Grammy.