SNOW!!!

Turns out it does snow here!
Arlee was so excited to see the snow on the ground. This is was the first snow of the season that was worth playing in. Other times it would melt or be just a skiff. Since it was deep enough we went out and got her some snow boots. After we got home she hurried and put them on and was ready to go. I told her she needed to wait for Hans to get home. 4 PM couldn't come soon enough. She was so excited that she took a nap. Once Hans got home I woke her up so they could go.
Arlee getting ready for a day of play with her Dad in the snow.

 Wooooohoooo!

 Arlee's first snow angel.

 I don't know how many for Hans ; )

It was a great time. Seems to be the only time they are getting for a while since she just broke her arm that can be read about in the next post.

NO MORE MONKEYS...

You know the song No more monkeys jumping on the bed? Well, the moral we know to be true. Except there weren't any monkeys on the bed or jumping. We had an Arlee climbing on her daddy's back. I guess this is close enough and it will have to do.
Friday last week was pretty crazy around 4PM. Hans and I were trying to clean up the house and get some other things done. Hans was holding a fussy Lydia and Arlee was trying to get him to play. She was climbing on his back and lost her footing and down she went like Humpty Dumpty. who had a great fall.
She was crying and I went and picked her up off the floor. When she falls like any parent, I checked for any blood, bumps or anything out of place. Well... something was out of place. I looked at her face, mouth and head, but I didn't see anything wrong. It wasn't until I touched her forearm that I noticed something nasty, gross and rather out of the ordinary. I quickly moved my hand back and said, "Hans I think Arlee broke her arm." I was holding back tears- Hans says. Hans said, "She does!" frantically as he popped off the bed with Lydia still in his arms.
He put Lydia down and ran and got his shoes and said, "We need to go to the hospital." Hans was ready so fast, but I wanted to take her too. So we got Lydia ready and grabbed Arlee's blue blanket and off we went. Arlee only cried for about 10 minutes and then fell asleep in the car. Hans and I were shocked. This is amazing. She is such a champ. We got to the ER and waited for about 30 minutes.
Then got some X-rays and sure enough our little monkey/ Humpty Dumpty needed to be put back together again. She broke both the bones in her forearm. They put a splint on her and told us to call the doctor on Monday and see when we could come in. After about a week they would put a cast on her.

Getting wrapped up

 After we got home she watched a movie and took it easy. It was hard for her not to get up and dance to the music, but for the most part she did really well. She was icing her arm at this point.

 After doing this we had to go out and get her new shirts. The ones that we had for her we couldn't get her arm in.

 On Monday I got her arm "waterproofed" with 2 grocery sacks and tape. Turns out it wasn't so waterproof. The grocery sacks leak. So I called the doctor and asked what they wanted me to do. They were going to call us anyway to come in, but I guess I beat them too it. The doctor wanted to look at her arm himself and take more x-rays. After seeing the x-rays it was obvious what needed to be done. We had to take her in the next day (today) and put her out to realign the bones. Her radius was 35 degrees off where it should be. There was no way that a cast was going to correct it. We needed to do it quickly too since little kids bones heal or harden so quickly after something like this. Adults- not so much! This through us for a loop since this is not what we were told in the ER a few days earlier. Honestly, it really frustrated me. I kept thinking, 'how is this little messed up arm going to heal the right way when it looks like the pictures below?' I guess I was right in thinking that. There was no way.
Of course, this is going to make me nervous, but it is what needed to be done. Our poor little Arlee. After we left the doctors I was started thinking. "What am I going to do? I am nursing and I need to be with Arlee. Hans is working- is he going to be able to get off. Hopefully I can figure something out." I called Hans and told him the news. He was pretty surprised and then told me that he would call the other pharmacist and see what they could work out. After I got home and got the girls unloaded and happy. I called my friend, Sara Coyle and told her what was going on. She asked me if I was a little stressed out? After that question I really started to think about it and sure enough I started crying. To tell you the truth I don't do very well with the anesthesia and I knew Arlee probably wouldn't  like it either. Sara and I talked for a little bit and I calmed down. I was okay and everything that I was worried about was getting better. Sara said that she would watch Lydia for us so I could at least be there.
Hans called me a little later and told me that he would be able to make it. This was a huge relief.

This was taken at the doctors on Monday after the bath.

 As you can tell it is not normal at all

 Arlee smiling away. She is such a tough little girl.

The next day (today) was surgery day. We were to there at 6:30 AM. I dropped off Lydia at Sara's and nursed her and met up with Hans and Arlee. The only thing that I missed was getting her dressed .

 You have to admit. She looks pretty cute. In the picture above she was telling us to take off the bracelet.

 The nurses were great with her. This nurse got a mask on and had Arlee color her a face on it. We also drew spiders and ducks on it too. Arlee loves drawing ducks-started with her potty training charts. We made sure to tell Arlee this isn't okay to draw on our own faces and she agreed. Smart girl.

 They showed Arlee the gas mask and had her play with it. They even put stickers on it for her. They showed her how she could smell it and blow into it. This is to help her when putting her to sleep.

 Hans and Arlee colored together too.

 They also gave her this toy to play with after they gave her some drugs to relax. She got pretty funny after that. Her speech got to be a little lazy and she started laughing about things. That was a good time.

Once she was relaxed then it was time to take her back to the operating room. Hans and I went out to the waiting room. After about a half hour a nurse came out and you could hear someone screaming. Then she said, "Can you hear her?" Then I said that is Arlee? I couldn't wait to go back and comfort her.  Five minutes later they came and got us. We walked back to a room full of nurses and Arlee screaming. She was not a happy camper. The poor thing was so upset. I took her and tried to comfort her while Hans talked with the anesthesiologist. She kept saying it hurts and we kept trying to figure out what she was talking about. Then she got even more mad. She would calm down and start right back up again. This went on for what seemed like forever. She kept trying to rip out the IV, which was put into her elbow pit as I call it. She had to keep her arm straight or it would hurt more. She didn't keep it straight. She wanted it out.
Anytime that a nurse would come in and touch her Arlee would start screaming and bending her arm again. They wanted her to drink juice before she could go home, but I didn't bring her sippy cup and I guess she had to have it. After trying to convince her to drink it we decided to just put it in a syringe and force her to swallow it. Once she got some of it down we could give medicine and take the IV out. Once that was done and over with she was better and did not scream anymore. Nice now we can go home...

Now that we are home. She is sleeping so perfectly. They said that she would be pretty groggy and she is just that. I hope she sleeps tonight. After waking up that early we all need some good sleep.  Here's to hoping.

The life of a mother

The girls and I went out and ran a couple of errands today. Since it is snowing outside I thought what could be better than a nap since we all seem so tired. Not really whinny, but tired just the same. Since Lydia wasn't going to sleep on her own and Arlee seemed to need something to do. I asked Arlee to come and get Lydia to sleep with me. I was laying along side Lydia and Arlee came and laid right in between us. Arlee and I were cuddling while I was holding Lydia's binky in place. Then Lydia was quiet. Then Arlee and now I was dozing off. Then Lydia started fussing and Arlee was still quiet and dozing. I was just praying that Lydia would be quiet long enough for Arlee to sleep. A couple minutes went by and sure enough, Arlee was asleep. Lydia was still fussy and I was not getting to doze off. I went to get my camera to take a picture of them laying next to one another and I came back to the picture below. 

 But hey, Arlee is still asleep! That is oooookay. One child is asleep means one step closer to me being asleep. Right?  Seems as though Lydia was a bit hungry. I guess we were laying there longer than I thought. So I got up and fed her and covered Arlee up with Lydia's blanket.

 Then I went and got another blanket of Lydia's and swaddled her tight so she would go to sleep. Well.... She was asleep for all of ten minutes.

Just long enough for me to capture some pictures and start blogging. Now she is awake and fussing every now and then. But until she starts screaming. I think we can just let her try and fall asleep by herself. What a marvelous idea! Even if I do say so myself.
Now as for me... I am blogging and having quiet time to myself. This is rare. Hans should be coming home soon and then I think I might just fold the heaping pile of laundry just waiting next to me. Oh, how I hate folding and putting away that laundry. Much like doing the dirty dishes. Putting those away I don't mind at all. Now that is weird.
Ah ha! My plan worked! (QUIETLY, celebrating to myself and you few readers. But celebrating my victory just the same.) Lydia and Arlee are both asleep! Now as for me, I better just fold the laundry.

Lydia- 6 WEEKS!

By the way,
Lydia is now 6 weeks old + 2 days and weighs almost 10lbs. She is smiling and cooing at me and Arlee more and more. Arlee and I enjoy trying to make her smile. Hans has not had the chance to see her smile or coo, but he will soon. Lydia still has her hair or at least most of it. I haven't been getting it on my arm like I did with Arlee. So I guess I am hoping she doesn't go bald. Her eyes are still looking closer to blue, but I am not holding my breath. I think they will change to brown like Arlee's did. Actually, I am hoping to have all brown eyed kids. They both look so much like Hans it is nice to have something of me. I am not saying that blue wouldn't be cool too. I was the only one in Hans' family to have brown eyes until Arlee came. So if having brown eyed kids would make it somewhat closer than right on! haha.

Bohmans came for a visit!

We had some visitors. The Bohmans stopped for about an hour on their way from Salt Lake City to University Place, Washington. They stopped by to see us, but Lydia mostly. They stayed just long enough to say hi and hold Lydia so I could take this picture. Whether we have long or short visits we love them!

Tanya holding Lydia.  I didn't get any with Alyia. She loved holding her. Arlee wanted to hold her too. Those girls are so funny when they are together.

Thank you for stopping by Bohmans. We already miss you. : ) Maybe spring break?

My little Tutu Girls

Well I decided that I was going to make Lydia a tutu for some pictures that we are having done. Hans and I were out running errands and so we all went to the craft store to get the supplies that I needed. Arlee is loving her tutu that my sister gave her for Christmas that she wanted one to match "Witty-ya". Since they were matching I thought I would try and take their pictures. I am not a photographer, but I love trying to capture little moments and the girls in matching tutus was a 'moment'.

 I have to say this is one of my favorites. Arlee loves to hold Lydia and this is what they look like most of the time.

 Arlee kept asking me if her tutu was done yet. I kept telling her no not yet. About 5 minutes later she would ask me again. This brought up me mentioning to Hans that it is going to be a sad day when Arlee doesn't want to play dress up. She is seriously the cutest little girl and she has a whole new world in her dress up.

 I love this one too. I don't know why Arlee is kissing her on the lips. I love Arlee's positioning of her legs. So dainty.

 Arlee looks huge in this one. But I was standing closer to her. Although she is still a lot bigger than Lydia obviously.

 Not focused, but still a favorite.

 My little Miss.

The camera died so I couldn't capture anymore pictures. However, Lydia was kind of done at this point. It was eating time.

Hope you liked them even though I am not a professional. Anyone who would like to teach me is more than welcome. : )

Our Life to Date

With Lydia coming into our family and having a toddler during the winter this is what our fun out in the sun has become.

 Arlee being a little mommy to Lydia

 "Its okay Witty-ah!"

 Our spare bedroom/office has become a stage for a dancing queen and dress up diva.

 Minnie and Nala get to participate if they like it or not, but I think they like it.

 She'll even through in a bit of drama when the song is over. Almost like ring around the rosies ashes ashes we all fall down.

 Dancing and dress up can go on and on with this girl. I am so thankful she is easy to entertain with: a tutu, music, toys and enough room to shake it all about.

 Now they can just chill after a long day

or play with something else while I cook dinner, make lunch or anytime she is free. This also has a little bit of music on it to go along with her dress up... oh I mean tutu! She wants me to call this one thing a tutu and the rest of her old stuff is dress up.
What a funny girl. I love my little Arlee Bug.