Great Visit

I realized that I posted lots of pics, but didn't really write anything about my Mom and Nana's trip here. We had a great visit! It was a little rainy to start off, but the weather improved. Jason had a business trip Sunday morning through Monday night. I was able to tag along with him to Harrisburg thanks to Mom and Nana volunteering to watch the girls. It was SO nice to have hours of uninterrupted time to visit with my husband. I didn't realize how long it had been. We had such a nice time. We got to sleep in on Monday morning, which was awesome! While Jason was in his meetings, I walked around and explored a little bit of downtown Harrisburg. The girls were great for Mom and Nana. I did miss Addy's gymnastics show on Monday morning :(, but she was well represented. Mom took lots of pictures/videos (she is sending them to me so I will post them when I get them). Mom and Nana took the girls to see the new Shrek movie. Katelyn did great they said (her first movie). We grilled steak and fish one night with fresh corn on the cob. Yummy! We went to the petting zoo one day which was a blast. Wednesday came before we knew it, and they had to leave. Addy cried. She was really sad. It was a great trip and I am so thankful to Mom and Nana for making the effort to come all the way to PA!

Addy's Bears

When Addy completed her chore chart last week, she picked out a little newborn bear that she named Honey Bear. It makes sounds and snores and comes with a bottle. Addy was instantly in love with Honey Bear. She took this bear everywhere. She wanted to make Honey Bear a bed to sleep in. I got an old shoe box down from my closet and let her decorate it. She said she needed to make her bear a blanket and pillow that matched. I knew that Mimi and Gigi were coming so I asked Addy if she would like to go to the fabric store and pick out some fabric to make Honey Bear a blanket and a pillow. She was all over it. We looked through the entire store and she selected the fabric she wanted. We even had to bring Honey Bear into the store to make sure that the fabric coordinated with Honey Bear's coloring. While we were in the fabric store she tells me, "I think I am going to go ahead and get some material to make a blanket and pillow for the panda bear that I get when I complete my next chore chart." How did she know about the panda bear?? I should have known...we are dealing with Addyson here. So we looked until we found the panda material. After she completed her next chore chart, she got the panda and named him Fuzzy Bear (he is the same brand as Honey Bear so he does all the same 'stuff'). Gigi was kind enough to spend an entire day while she was here sewing blankets and pillows for the bears. She even decorated the shoe boxes with coordinating material. What a lucky girl!!! Thanks Gigi!

Recipe

Addy chose a recipe from one of her cookbooks, and we made it yesterday. They were tart cookies with a filling. They turned out great. We chose to do a heart shape. We had one mishap during the baking. As I went to press the 'eject' button on the beaters, I accidentally turned the mixer on and it shot icing all over the place...including Addy's face!

Please excuse the hideous picture of the elder chef, she was heading to the gym!

Pony Ride

Addy went on two different pony rides while we were at the petting zoo. She had so much fun. Maybe, when I get a little bit more brave, I will let her do the camel ride!

Living Treasure Animal Park

Gigi, Mimi, the girls, and I went to a place called Living Treasure Animal Park. It is a petting zoo. We ended up getting a membership while we were there. Addy loves it, and besides being a little bit of a drive (45-50 minutes), it is super easy! The Pittsburgh Zoo is amazing, but it is huge and always crowded. Addy had a ball. She went on two pony rides, fed all kinds of animals, got her hair chewed on by a goat, and got a couple of gifts from her Mimi and Gigi! Katelyn got her toes licked a few times and also got a gift from Mimi and Gigi! We can't wait to go back!

The Ball

Mimi, Addyson, and Katelyn were playing in the basement so I had to snap a picture! Addy and Mimi were dressed to go to the ball and Kate had her tiara (headband) on as well! Addy said, "Come on Mimi, let's go marry a prince!" I was thinking how funny that was because she thinks you just go to a ball and marry a prince! If it were only that easy, right?

Katelyn

Katelyn is such a happy baby! Whenever I put a pillow behind her (to lessen the blow if she falls). she snatches right out from behind her back and then just dies laughing. It is so cute!

Katelyn's Airway Issue...

We went to Kate's ENT doctor yesterday. I dread these appointments because I know it is going to be miserable for Katelyn, Addyson, and me. Each time we go they have to put a camera (scope) down Katelyn's nostril and slide it all the way down her airway to look at her vocal cords. It is not a pretty sight. She is screaming and choking the whole time. Addy just looks at her in horror and I fight to hold back my tears. If Addy weren't there for me to reassure everything is fine, I would for sure break down. Our last appointment was in January so it had been a while since we were there. After the torture session was over, the good news was delivered. I knew it was going to be good because I saw an improvement myself, and I'm no expert at looking at vocal cords (coupled with the fact that I have only ever seen Katelyn's so I don't know what a healthy set of vocal cords look like). Dr. Maguire said that she is pretty much healthy now. He saw her vocal cords open all the way and close all the way, which we have never seen before. He didn't see her do it the entire time, but part of that could have been because when you are cranked up crying and upset like that you tend to tighten everything up. So he said that she is 75-100% healthy. She no longer has paralyzed or weakened vocal cords. Wooohooooo! We never have to go get another scope down her nose/airway again (barring any future changes). She will, however, have to remain on the Prevacid, maximum dosage, for a while because she is still spitting up after each feeding. We will try and wean her from the medication at a year of age (Prevacid has a side effect of bone loss). Hopefully it is one less doctor for my little Katelyn Reese. Praise the Lord!!!

Playing Outside

Here are the girls enjoying some much needed time outside!! We had a great time until all of our bottoms started getting wet from the wet grass! Fun times in PA!! BTW- Addy wants to dress like her sister everyday, but I don't have that many matching outfits so on this day we compromised with matching polka-dots!!