Sick

I woke up yesterday morning feeling kind of crummy, but spent the day trying to convince myself that I wasn't sick. But today I woke up and I have a cold. I don't feel that bad, I just have blown my nose like a million times. A funny thing though...it's almost 8pm and I JUST realized that I can take cold medicine! Haha!! After being pregnant, then breastfeeding the last 3 times I got sick I am so used to not being able to take anything, that I completely forgot I can now:) Yes I am slow!
Reese kind of has a runny nose too, but she doesn't seem to be feeling bad. So let's just hope it stays that way.
I'm going to bed early hoping I wake up feeling good!

Reese's new hiding place

Like I was afraid of, Reese thinks her sissy's new bed is a lot of fun to play under! Oh man this girl is getting to be a handful!Oh and her other new favorite thing to do is to LICK the hardwood floors! So what can I use to mop my floors that isn't toxic to her but will still kill bacteria??

Green Belt for Caleb

Caleb tested for his green belt in karate on Tuesday! He did great of course! But you can definitely tell it is getting harder and more difficult. He is also going to start adding a sparring class 2 times a week. So I am very curious to see how he likes that. Here are a couple of pictures from the belt test
Getting ready to break the board

Doing their forms.

Here is the video of him breaking his board. I can't for the life of me figure out why it is sideways! It is normal on my computer but for some reason when I upload it to here it is turned

Just a little nervous

I have been avoiding preparing for Katie's hip surgery(March 8th) I think ALL of us are kind of in denial about the whole thing. Even though the gtube surgery and recovery went so well, and flew by, this on the other hand is going to be A LOT more intense. For those of you who don't know exactly what she is having done, here is a short summary: her hips are dislocated. Not because of injury, but just because of the fact that she doesn't move them, so they have grown "out of place" We think this is the source of her constant pain and agony(could you imagine living with your hip dislocated and have people jerk you around all the time) So they are going to put the hip back into it's socket and hope that it stays that way. It will be pinned in place and then she will be in a cast from her armpits all the way down to her ankles for 6 weeks so it can heal. Are you starting to understand why I am dreading this?! Then when the 6 weeks is up they will remove the cast and the pins. I am so worried that she is going to be in lots of pain, and be so uncomfortable. I think I would lose my mind in a full body cast for 6 weeks!
To make life easier for Katie and us, we have leased a hospital bed and a lift. The HUGE equipment was delivered today. So my already too small too crowded house is now even SMALLER! Ha!
Now I just need to get sheets(lots of them) and some more pillows to get the bed ready for the princess.
So please say lots of prayers and keep Katie in your thoughts everyday! But please say a special prayer for her on the 8th-surgery is at 7:30am.
Our new living room arrangement.
The new addition to our house! Oh and on a side note I am looking for a babysitter for Reese for the day of Katie's surgery...if you are interested let me know:)

Reese is six months old!

Reese was six months old on Saturday! Hard to believe it! She went for her check up today, and here are her measurements: Weight-17lbs 4 oz. Height:27 in. Head circumference:42.6 cm

She got her one booster shot today as well. I have to take her back in 4 weeks for another shot and the oral vaccine, because the last 2 times she has gotten her vaccines she has had a really bad reaction. She screamed for 2-3 hours each time, so the pediatrician wants to split them up and see if we can figure out what causes her to react like that. She also had me give her Tylenol AND ibuprofen together this time. She just woke up from a 2 hour nap, and is acting normal. So I really hope she continues to feel good, because Jim is at work tonight!

This is what she is doing right now:

Reese and Ash went to Grandpa and Grandma's house

Reese and I had a great time at my dad and step mom's house last week. She did great on the plane. I on the other hand was a nervous wreck. I don't like flying in general, and the added stress of not knowing how she would do on the plane almost put me over the edge. But she was great on both flights, drank her bottle and passed out. She didn't even wake up during the landing!
So we spent the week, just hanging out. We went out to a nice dinner, visited my great uncle Olin, and just relaxed at the house. Reese slept like crap all week, being out of her routine and element I guess. So I'm not sure how much traveling we will be doing until she gets a little older....


Reese, her Great GREAT Uncle Olin, and I. I think she was about to sneeze

Uncle Olin and Reese really loved each other

Reese also loved his goat

This was an accidental picture, but the martini and the look on her face are priceless.

My dad and step mom

Boo loved her new walker

But most of all she loved my parent dog Paris. She was obsessed with her!

Hanging with grandpa

We made it!

Reese and I made it to southern Ca safe and sound. She didn't make a single peep on the plane. She fell asleep after her bottle, and didn't wake up during landing or anything! I was so relieved.
No plans today, just hanging out. I think we are going to go into Temecula for a nice dinner tonight.
Reese is in LOVE with Paris the dog. She thinks she is pretty funny. Paris feels the same way so far.
I can't upload pictures because I forgot my USB cord, so I will have to post them all when we get home on Friday.
xoxo

Leaving on a jet plane

Our suitcase is packed, and we are as ready as we will ever be. Reese and I are flying ALONE to grandpa Chuck and Grandma Judy's house for the week. I am a little nervous that Reese's ears will bother her, and she will scream. But she is such a good baby, I'm sure she will do just fine. I've got bottles, paci's, and toys in the bag to entertain her.
I will post how it went tomorrow. I will also post pictures of Reese in her adorable Valentine's Day outfit. Complete with a custom made tutu from Auntie Lynsey!
Now wish me luck:)

Valentine's Day date night

Since Reese and I will be out of town for Valentine's Day, Jim and I had our date night tonight. We finally went to Norman Rose for dinner! I have been hearing so many great things about it. It was SO yummy! It is funny to have gone to cocktails, dinner, and to be home in my jammies at 8:15 on a Saturday night...but I guess this is what Vday is like with an almost 6 month old:)

What are your plans for Valentine's Day??

Did you know that I LOVE everything to do with Valentine's Day? I do:)

xoxo

Running

Some of you know that I am attempting to become a runner. I had hit a stall trying to lose the rest of my weight I gained when prego(could have been the massive amounts of ice cream I ate) so I am giving running a try. I am starting out with a walk/run routine right now. It's a challenge, but each time I go it gets easier, and I feel great after.
I don't have a specific weight goal, just a pant size! I told myself that when I get to my goal I am going to treat myself to a VERY nice expensive pair of jeans. I have never paid more than $30 for a pair of pants. But since I pretty much live in jeans, I think they would be a good reward for me.
So wish me luck out there:)
xoxo

Whoa Wednesday

So first I should start off with what kind of blog this is going to be. I want to be completly honest and open about what our lives are like day to day. So I will NOT sugar coat anything. I will write about the good, the bad, and the gross. We have LOTS of gross in this house, so consider yourself warned. :)
Wednesday's are always hectic here. Caleb has a half day at school, so that already shortens the day. Then he has karate after school, and has an hour of basketball practice at night. And somewhere in there we have to fit in homework and dinner.

Today seemed extra busy though...here it is in words and some pictures:
The morning started out with a bathroom "incident" with Katie@630 am. Gross.

My grandparents were in town visiting. This was helpful, they entertained Katie and Reese for me while I got some things done.

Reese missed her nap today and cried most of the day unless I let her play with my slippers. Gross but I pick my battles.

I broke not one but TWO glasses.

I hooked Katie up for her evening feed, and somehow forgot to close the side port on her tube, which caused the formula to just leak down her back. And mind you I had just given her a bath yesterday. Awesome.

Here is a picture of her new g-tube, since some haven't seen it.
But she didn't seem to mind

Lastly, I slacked off on my laundry the last couple of days. So this is what I have to fold before going to bed tonight. Oh who am I kidding, Jim is at work so I will probably shove it onto his side of the bed and fold it tomorrow!

xoxo Ash

Family update

I feel like time is just flying by. I keep looking at the calendar in disbelief!
Caleb is doing great. He helps me so much with Reese and Katie. Those two girls keep me running all day(and sometimes all night) He is doing great in school, and is loving karate. He has stripe testing next week. They have to earn 3 stripes on their belt before they can test for the next belt level.
Katie is doing good. I think we are all still adjusting to life with her gtube. She has her good days and her not so good days. We are anxiously awaiting her hip surgery in March. All of us are VERY nervous and stressed about it.
Reese is so funny. She is keeping me on my toes constantly. People keep asking me "are you sure you don't want to have anymore kids?" I just laugh and tell them to spend a day at my house!:) She is rolling all over the place. She has her two bottom front teeth. She weighs about 18lbs. She loves ALL fruits and veggies.
As for Jim and I, he is working and going to school. I am still at the salon on Saturdays, love that time away from home.

One more try at blogging

Lisa you inspired me to give this blog another try! I'm not sure if anyone will actually read this, but I love reading the blogs that my friends write. I like that little glimpse into their day to day lives, and since our family and friends are so spread out, I thought it might be fun for them. Who knows though, I have tried to do this before and always neglect it!
Our house has been CRAZY busy the last few months, as you all know. I will write a update post tonight and put up some new pics of the kiddos.
Stay tuned.....