Whitney

No, not Houston.

For the last 3.5 months we have had the privilege of having Whitney home with us. Whitney is our spread your wings and fly girl. She takes every opportunity she finds and runs with it. Unfortunately that means she isn't home very often. She's out living life and enjoying every moment of it!

Whitney is also one of the kindest, most giving, wonderful girls I know. She lights up Brian's face like no one can. She loves deeply. She works hard. I hope Lilah grows up to be like her. Except the living away from home part. Not sure I can handle that!

I'm not sure what's made Whit leaving this time around so hard. Maybe it's because she was home for so long. Maybe it's because she'll be gone for so long this time. She won't be home until Christmas. When I think about my kids that's a long, long time. Lilah will be walking and talking. Brian will hopefully be talking a lot more.

I know this though. We will miss her SO much. Keep flying, Whit! We are so proud of you!

Sorry, We've Been Enjoying the Weather

No posts lately, I know. We've been outside. It's been beautiful out! Last week we hit record highs several days. This week it's going to cool down a bit...mid 60s, but I still imagine we will be spending a lot of time soaking up the sun! Why not? Might as well enjoy it!

So while I have lots to blog about...Lilah turning 8 months, the tube surgeries, the plan (or lack thereof) for Brian's ears moving forward, the Jersey Shore party...it can all wait until a rainy day!

Until then, here's what we'll be doing...

Taking lots of walks...

Hanging out at the park...

and going to the "Animal Zoo!

Tubes for Two

The kids tubes surgeries have been scheduled for this coming Friday, March 16th. They were originally scheduled for Wednesday, but we had to move it. Brian will also have an ABR while he is out to check his hearing in an environment where his behavior cannot impede the efforts of the audiologist. I have to call on Wednesday to see what time the surgeries will be, but the tentative times I have been given are 11:11 and 11:33. These are easy and quick procedures, but Lilah has never had anesthesia before, and we've never been through two surgeries in one day, so prayers would be appreciated for both kiddos!

The Tornado, the Missed Flight and the Tubes

Over the weekend we went to my grandmother's 90th birthday party in Cape. We made a last minute decision to make the trip and decided it would be best for Mom and I to fly with the kids. When we booked the trip a week out we had no idea that the weather forecast would change so drastically in a week's time. By Thursday night we were more than a little nervous about the severe weather coming our way, but we figured we would just make it work.

Friday when the tornadoes hit the area we were in the last row of an airplane and were forced to evacuate back into the airport tunnels. Let me tell you, it was an adventure. I had the foresight to make Brian pee before we left the plane, knowing there were no bathrooms in the tunnels. After sitting in the tunnel for over an hour with 3000 people (give or take), we finally boarded our plane and were off to St. Louis.

The kids did really well until we were asked to buckle up and prepare for landing. Brian had an absolute fit and laid in the floor screaming. It was a joy, let me tell ya!

Once we finally got into St. Louis we were toast, so we got our rental, headed down the road a ways and then found a nice hotel to stay the night in.

The party and family visit were very nice. I will post more about that later when I get picture uploaded and I steal some from Teri!

The trip back was not so very nice. We missed our flight. It was a nightmare. I cannot even talk about it really. We ended up making the decision to drive back home because the kids had ENT appointments at 10a.m. Monday morning. I knew it would be hell, but I also knew both kids needed tubes and if we missed the appointment, that would only delay them getting the tubes.

We made it back without too much trouble. We were very tired, but okay. I was right about the tubes, and now I am just waiting on Children's to call me with the date and time. We have asked that they both have the surgery on the same day. It will be a long day, but better than two very long days! Brian will also have that ABR the audiologist has been pushing me to do while he's out. I will post the surgery dates when I have them!

One in Each Cheek

Brian got a shot on Wednesday. Two actually. The antibiotic dose was so much that he had to get on in each cheek. And since we all know how well he does with medicine orally, we opted for the shots. Do you know that kid was more upset about the band-aids than the shots?! He really is a nutter. He has an ear infection in his left ear. The one without the tube. It wasn't that bad, but the pedi went ahead and treated it for me since he's been so sick and his fever was staying around 102 even during the day.

The pedi said to just let him run a fever unless it got to 105, so we bought some tylenol suppositories just in case and let it run it's course. His fever was very low grade this morning-99 degrees, so we headed off to speech.

He an awesome speech class again this week! The speech therapist is so pleased and I am too. He's really talking so much more and so much more clearly. There are still things I don't understand, but it's getting to be less frequent.

Lilah decided to have a big week. Her first tooth (bottom left) is on it's way in. There's just the little slit where it will come in right now. I am so sad! Still nursing so OUCH and I will miss her baby gummy smile.

She also decided to start army crawling yesterday. I actually think she was doing it some the day before, but I couldn't catch her. Brian is not pleased that she can now reach any of his toys he leaves around. Ha! Maybe he'll start cleaning up his stuff. Double ha!

We have a big weekend ahead. Not going to disclose what just in case anyone who doesn't know is reading, but we will post about it next week. I just hope we make it around the crazy weather!

Monday is Lilah's ENT appointment with Brian's ENT. We are going to go ahead and take him to as his follow up is scheduled for March 13th. I am hoping Dr. Arjmand will take pity on me and go ahead and look in Brian's ear.

Brian's IEP meeting has been scheduled also. It's March 12th. I was beginning to think he would never get speech services in school this year, but it's looking like that may happen very soon! My aunt Norma is flying in for the meeting. She's been through enough of these, and we are so excited to see her and grateful for her help! Thanks to Bob too for rescheduling his business trip so she can come!!