Jenna the ever-entertainer / instigator ....
curtain call from Casey Little on Vimeo.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
How is it time for a big girl bed?
Can someone answer the question???? The time I have dreaded came up on us recently. I have handled all of the other situations that came with multiples just fine, but for some reason I was freaking out over moving the kids to toddler beds! We have been so blessed to see the rewards of hard sleep training in the first few weeks - with two babies, we were expecting alot less sleep! So when I began to think about moving them to toddler beds, I had visions of it all going down the drain: late night jumping parties, Jenna crawling out to go play with brother, Caden going into the closet to get his beloved Choo-Choo shoes, clothes thrown all around the room, and cranky, tired babies the next day from partying all night. In addition to this, the twins are great about sitting in their cribs for a while after they wake up in the mornings, they stand up and talk to each other, laugh, play, jump around etc... Now, in a toddler bed, can't they just get up whenever they want!? ahhhh
We briefly considered just buying another crib for Easton so the twins could stay in their cribs as long as they needed to - neither of my kids ever tried to climb out so they could have stayed in them MUCH longer. However, the only families that need 3 cribs in a house are those with triplets! Good gracious! Plus, we had my cousins' toddler bed so we technically had all of the bedding surfaces needed if we just switched one twin to a toddler bed. Since Caden is our resistant-to-change child, Jenna drew the short straw:) We decided to switch her when my mom was up here visiting so I would have an extra set of hands during the day if we were up all night. They just seem so small to be in a toddler bed! It can't be time! They are 22 months old. Anyway, I wont lie....I was eager to put her new little bedding set on her big girl bed...its adorable!
Before we moved her, I had an idea that calmed my fears....I would just get a bed rail, put it up on the toddler bed, then it would still be like a crib, right? It made me feel better anyway so this is what we came up with:
From Toddler Bed....
to Casey's fortress toddler bed....
Here we are getting ready for night-night in the big girl bed!
And my moms famous last words.....she thought Jenna would do great since she wasn't sick or feeling bad. haha. Jenna definitely had a harder time falling asleep that night. We had to go in there twice to calm her down, but she eventually fell asleep and stayed that way most of the night. I think we went in there twice all night. I slept the worst out of anyone in the house worried about her!
The next morning! She looks good to have a yucky, thick cold, doesn't she ? :( yes, the child woke up with a rough, rough cold the exact night we transitioned her. There was no moving the crib back in the room since Ryan had to take the door off to get the crib out (still assembled, mind you:) ).
And Caden wondering what all the fuss has been about! :)
Anyway, after about 4 days of some rough nights (I blame the cold on half of that), we got into a better routine. So good in fact, that Jenna got brave. One day, about an hour into nap time, I still heard someone singing and talking away. I walked in and found Jenna on the changing table right next to Caden's crib. She was sitting on the edge just singing away, kicking her feet like she was sitting in the park! I have no idea how she made the climb, then the jump over to the changing table without the top moving off (its not strapped down) and I have no idea how long she had been there! Caden was out like a trout asleep. This is a re-enactment of course, but look at this crazy girl!
So we rearranged the room to put a tall dresser in between their cribs. The next nap time, Jenna figured out how to stretch and open the drawers and pull out ALL of the clothes. oh my! So, some of the worries of the transition have occurred, but getting out of bed, staying up for hours, getting up at 5 am have not and I pray they stay that way! Good job, big sister! Easton thanks you for a crib to sleep in at night :)
We briefly considered just buying another crib for Easton so the twins could stay in their cribs as long as they needed to - neither of my kids ever tried to climb out so they could have stayed in them MUCH longer. However, the only families that need 3 cribs in a house are those with triplets! Good gracious! Plus, we had my cousins' toddler bed so we technically had all of the bedding surfaces needed if we just switched one twin to a toddler bed. Since Caden is our resistant-to-change child, Jenna drew the short straw:) We decided to switch her when my mom was up here visiting so I would have an extra set of hands during the day if we were up all night. They just seem so small to be in a toddler bed! It can't be time! They are 22 months old. Anyway, I wont lie....I was eager to put her new little bedding set on her big girl bed...its adorable!
Before we moved her, I had an idea that calmed my fears....I would just get a bed rail, put it up on the toddler bed, then it would still be like a crib, right? It made me feel better anyway so this is what we came up with:
From Toddler Bed....
to Casey's fortress toddler bed....
Here we are getting ready for night-night in the big girl bed!
And my moms famous last words.....she thought Jenna would do great since she wasn't sick or feeling bad. haha. Jenna definitely had a harder time falling asleep that night. We had to go in there twice to calm her down, but she eventually fell asleep and stayed that way most of the night. I think we went in there twice all night. I slept the worst out of anyone in the house worried about her!
The next morning! She looks good to have a yucky, thick cold, doesn't she ? :( yes, the child woke up with a rough, rough cold the exact night we transitioned her. There was no moving the crib back in the room since Ryan had to take the door off to get the crib out (still assembled, mind you:) ).
And Caden wondering what all the fuss has been about! :)
Anyway, after about 4 days of some rough nights (I blame the cold on half of that), we got into a better routine. So good in fact, that Jenna got brave. One day, about an hour into nap time, I still heard someone singing and talking away. I walked in and found Jenna on the changing table right next to Caden's crib. She was sitting on the edge just singing away, kicking her feet like she was sitting in the park! I have no idea how she made the climb, then the jump over to the changing table without the top moving off (its not strapped down) and I have no idea how long she had been there! Caden was out like a trout asleep. This is a re-enactment of course, but look at this crazy girl!
So we rearranged the room to put a tall dresser in between their cribs. The next nap time, Jenna figured out how to stretch and open the drawers and pull out ALL of the clothes. oh my! So, some of the worries of the transition have occurred, but getting out of bed, staying up for hours, getting up at 5 am have not and I pray they stay that way! Good job, big sister! Easton thanks you for a crib to sleep in at night :)
Friday, September 7, 2012
What we're up to
There is no rhyme or reason to this post....it is basically a photo dump from my phone....but it will give you a glimpse into what the everyday has been like up here this summer.
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| Jenna insisting on wearing headbands she chooses. |
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| This is our favorite park to go to: hannah park. The kids have mastered the slides! |
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| Running in the fields at Hannah Park |
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| Mom's poor attempt at building a tent one day... |
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| Our neighborhood has a park area that has a gazebo. The kids love throwing their balls around in it and going up and down the stairs.....it truly is the little things, huh? |
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| LOVING their chairs....and yes, they know exactly which one is theirs. Panic ensues when someone ventures over to the others chair. |
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| That is some good sleep! |
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| The twins have recently become obsessed with broom/mops. I'll give you one guess as to what they are getting for their birthdays. :) |
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| I had to take Jenna to a drop off daycare when Caden had his Feeding Clinic evaluation. I was SO unnerved but she did great and even finished her first craft...a green snake. She did wonderfully as I knew she would. |
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| The twins love our digital photo frame. I turn it on and it is like a movie! They watch all the pictures pop up and point and say who is in the picture. Funny stuff! |
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| MOM, there is just too much to carry with these braces, my shoes AND socks? |
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| Jenna Girl looking especially grown up |
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| This would be our three day ordeal with Jenna biting Caden. It only lasted 3 days and we haven't had a problem since...but poor buddy....he was one bruised boy! |
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| Jenna's hair getting so long! |
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| This is what we looked like the entire 2 weeks the Olympics was on :) |
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| Lazy day hanging on the couch on a day mommy didn't feel too well |
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| Jenna being very particular about her shoes these days....at least they matched on this day! |
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| What a beauty! |
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| She needs to be on a southern sass magazine |
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| LOVING our pinterest activity of bathtub paint. |
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| Drawing with Nana |
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| Book time in our pj's and shoes.....this was a Dad-dressed day. |
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| They decided they wanted snack by the door on this particular day.... |
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| Oh man, kids really do watch everything we do.....look at that remote form from Jenna! |
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| If you try to eat anything yourself, prepare for two little birds to come snatch it up and not skip a beat! |
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| And what one does, the other must! And yes, this is how I get Caden to eat sometimes....pure peer pressure. |
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| This was my Tupperware drawers that I had organized with Pinteresting precision....it took me 20 - 30 minutes to get it all right....took the twins 20 SECONDS to clear it out. |
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| Somehow I'm 7 months pregnant already?!? |
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| I have to be so careful leaving the TV on during the day....this girl LOVES TV! |
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| We went to a carnival at a local church and rode the train around the parking lot |
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| That's a sweet boy right there! And it looks like there are crumbs on this bib! He must have eaten something this sitting! :) hehe |
Monday, September 3, 2012
Our (unexpected) Ohio Hospital Tour
So, I mentioned that Mr. Easton took things into his own hands to get some attention around here in my last post. Thankfully I can write about it jokingly and light now; but at the time, it was a very scary few days up here.
Rewind to the first week in August....I told Ryan that I thought I was having really strong Braxton Hicks contractions! I never had them with the twins so I was just assuming this is what they must feel like. I texted a few friends who had several children (since I know they come on earlier and earlier the more children you have) to see how early they experienced them. Well, no one wrote back 25 weeks! :( I figured it was another "blame it on the twin pregnancy" moment and moved on. About a week later I instantaneously felt horrible one day...something was way off and I was knocked to my feet. I called Ryan who came home early to help me. That night we decided (or rather, Ryan insisted :) ) I go to the Urgent Care near our house. I rolled up in the parking lot at 7:50 when they closed at 8:00 - I know they hated me walking in! I told them I felt like it could be a UTI with my symptoms but that I had never had one while pregnant and this felt different! After a some quick tests they said I had a high white blood cell count and agreed with me it was probably just a UTI. They gave me a low dose, safe-to-take-while-pregnant antibiotic and sent me on my way. I had a rough night of sweats and chills but figured it was the medicine taking care of the infection. The next day I felt better but the next day I found myself calling my OB because I was NO better and now I had a horrible, deep, pure nasty cough. It was a Friday so I didn't want the weekend to go by without knowing what my Doctor wanted. They called in a stronger antibiotic and said to call on Monday if I wasn't any better.....this medicine should knock it out in 3 days! oh haha, they would be hearing from me much sooner than Monday morning.
That Saturday, I took it easy for the most part. Ryan took over cooking and twin duty which was awesome. I started feeling strange when we went to put the twins down for bed that night and by the time I was downstairs sitting on the couch, I was OUT. People.....I mean stabbing, sharp, would NOT let up pain all along the left side of my back and stomach. I could not sit still it hurt so bad! I had many, many kidney stones in high school and college until I changed my diet so I know what they feel like, but this was so different! Anyway, I squirmed and walked and balled up in a ball and cried until about 11:30. It was then I told Ryan I had to get some help. So, what do you do when you don't know anyone well enough to come to your house at midnight to watch your twins? You drive yourself to the ER praying you don't a)pass out b) throw up or c) die (kidding but it felt like it at times). Anyway, I cried 50/50 over the pain and having to be by myself without Ryan but it is what had to be done. I'm too cheap and didn't think I was that serious to call an ambulance :)
So here comes a big ole' pregnant woman walking into the ER...I didn't even sit down....they escorted me straight to the back in front of everyone else sitting in the ER! That was nice for once! The ER had me for 5 minutes then sent me straight up to Labor and Delivery where I was hooked up to all the machines you would expect. My blood pressure was HIGH, out of control for me...Easton's heartbeat was all over the place and I still had a very high level of white blood cells in my labs. Anytime you say your having back pain and pregnant, they jump to the labor-conclusion...I didn't think I was, and told them I thought it might be my kidney, but they had to do their due diligence and be extra cautious. After an hour of monitoring, running labs and me crying/rolling around on the gurney bed....they said they were going to admit me, give me something for the pain and have a full kidney work up done. They gave me Delaudid and oh my mercy.....better than an epidural! Within 1 minute I was relaxed, airheaded, happy and in NO pain. Too bad it put me in a deep coma or I would totally ask for it when it comes time to deliver E! :) hehe Anyway, I managed to get a text out to Ryan updating him then woke up several, several hours later in another room on the L/D floor. They were going to keep me until my "work up" was complete. Oh, and by the way, I couldn't eat or drink anything til the tests were done. TORTURE! It was afternoon before they got everything done. I think I started to cry b/c I was so hungry at one point...that and I was so lonely! I wanted Ryan to be with me. Oh, and one more thing.....my phone died and I didn't have my charger :) So I couldn't talk or text Ryan unless I saved up my battery and made a quick text updating him. Oh...and one MORE thing....I had to take the Pilot that had the carseats in it b/c the Audi wasn't driveable...something about a fluid/coolant thing. So Ryan was stuck at home with no way to transport himself or the twins. This is Soap Opera Drama people! :)
Anyway, at some point late afternoon they come in my room and say I have a kidney stone still in my kidney, both kidneys are swollen and backed up with fluid, a UTI, a nasty respiratory infection and.....oh yes.....I'm having real contractions! I semi fall apart thinking I'm in labor, no one is up here, Ryan is not even here...the girl in the room next to me just had her baby without an epi that she wanted so she was SCREAMING, I have to stay another night, the stone is still in there, every time I cough, Easton's heartbeat goes wacky........etc. etc. :) ugh. ugh. I call Ryan and tell him someone needs to get up here (ohio). He had to go to work the next day, someone needed to stay with the twins until this settles down. So, his mom commandeered a plane...haha kidding...but really, God provided a seat on the non-stop that is very frequently sold out so she was able to get up here by that night. Ryans coworker got a SOS call from Ryan and graciously drove to the hospital, got our car, drove it back home to Ryan and helped Ryan get the twins to the hospital to come up and see me. Bless his heart! They moved me to the high risk floor since I wasn't in "active labor." You are treated like queens up there let me tell you!
They let me eat dinner and Ryan brought the twins by....my heart and stomach were healed! Ignore, puffy, full-of-fluid Casey here...
I spent another night in the hospital because they wanted the head Urologist to decide what to do with me next and since it was the weekend...well, he wasn't in :) My contractions stayed the same and even went down during one monitoring....my cervix hadn't changed so they felt confident it was due to the stress/pain of the past few days. The next morning (7:00 am early!) the Urologist came in and explained he wasn't comfortable running the tests needed next with Easton still in there. Since the stone had stopped moving, I was more comfortable now and able to function. We agreed that if I keep having trouble and can't pass the stone, then the benefits will outweigh the risks to take the next step in putting a stint in (no please), blasting the stone or surgery. They also believed once the infection was taken care of, my kidneys would function normally again and the swelling would go down to the normal amount during pregnancy. So, as of now, I have a follow up with him once I deliver Easton to check on the kids...kidneys that is :) So that was our whirlwind tour of Riverside Hospital....needless to say, I cancelled the tour that I had scheduled for us to go on a few weeks later :)
What a scary time, but what a time we saw God's provision and protection! I didn't have anyone in the room with me, but (once I got my phone charger) I had so many of you sending prayers and encouragement to help me through. Please pray for God to DISSOLVE that stone and that it would be a thing of the past! For my kidneys to go down to normal and for Easton to continue to thrive and be delivered safe and on time.
Oh yes, and to officially end the debate....I have now gone through labor/delivery (of twins, mind you!) and had a kidney stone recent of each other to compare to. Hands down....kidney stone pain is the winner of pain. So, if you have had one....you are prepared for labor! :)
Rewind to the first week in August....I told Ryan that I thought I was having really strong Braxton Hicks contractions! I never had them with the twins so I was just assuming this is what they must feel like. I texted a few friends who had several children (since I know they come on earlier and earlier the more children you have) to see how early they experienced them. Well, no one wrote back 25 weeks! :( I figured it was another "blame it on the twin pregnancy" moment and moved on. About a week later I instantaneously felt horrible one day...something was way off and I was knocked to my feet. I called Ryan who came home early to help me. That night we decided (or rather, Ryan insisted :) ) I go to the Urgent Care near our house. I rolled up in the parking lot at 7:50 when they closed at 8:00 - I know they hated me walking in! I told them I felt like it could be a UTI with my symptoms but that I had never had one while pregnant and this felt different! After a some quick tests they said I had a high white blood cell count and agreed with me it was probably just a UTI. They gave me a low dose, safe-to-take-while-pregnant antibiotic and sent me on my way. I had a rough night of sweats and chills but figured it was the medicine taking care of the infection. The next day I felt better but the next day I found myself calling my OB because I was NO better and now I had a horrible, deep, pure nasty cough. It was a Friday so I didn't want the weekend to go by without knowing what my Doctor wanted. They called in a stronger antibiotic and said to call on Monday if I wasn't any better.....this medicine should knock it out in 3 days! oh haha, they would be hearing from me much sooner than Monday morning.
That Saturday, I took it easy for the most part. Ryan took over cooking and twin duty which was awesome. I started feeling strange when we went to put the twins down for bed that night and by the time I was downstairs sitting on the couch, I was OUT. People.....I mean stabbing, sharp, would NOT let up pain all along the left side of my back and stomach. I could not sit still it hurt so bad! I had many, many kidney stones in high school and college until I changed my diet so I know what they feel like, but this was so different! Anyway, I squirmed and walked and balled up in a ball and cried until about 11:30. It was then I told Ryan I had to get some help. So, what do you do when you don't know anyone well enough to come to your house at midnight to watch your twins? You drive yourself to the ER praying you don't a)pass out b) throw up or c) die (kidding but it felt like it at times). Anyway, I cried 50/50 over the pain and having to be by myself without Ryan but it is what had to be done. I'm too cheap and didn't think I was that serious to call an ambulance :)
So here comes a big ole' pregnant woman walking into the ER...I didn't even sit down....they escorted me straight to the back in front of everyone else sitting in the ER! That was nice for once! The ER had me for 5 minutes then sent me straight up to Labor and Delivery where I was hooked up to all the machines you would expect. My blood pressure was HIGH, out of control for me...Easton's heartbeat was all over the place and I still had a very high level of white blood cells in my labs. Anytime you say your having back pain and pregnant, they jump to the labor-conclusion...I didn't think I was, and told them I thought it might be my kidney, but they had to do their due diligence and be extra cautious. After an hour of monitoring, running labs and me crying/rolling around on the gurney bed....they said they were going to admit me, give me something for the pain and have a full kidney work up done. They gave me Delaudid and oh my mercy.....better than an epidural! Within 1 minute I was relaxed, airheaded, happy and in NO pain. Too bad it put me in a deep coma or I would totally ask for it when it comes time to deliver E! :) hehe Anyway, I managed to get a text out to Ryan updating him then woke up several, several hours later in another room on the L/D floor. They were going to keep me until my "work up" was complete. Oh, and by the way, I couldn't eat or drink anything til the tests were done. TORTURE! It was afternoon before they got everything done. I think I started to cry b/c I was so hungry at one point...that and I was so lonely! I wanted Ryan to be with me. Oh, and one more thing.....my phone died and I didn't have my charger :) So I couldn't talk or text Ryan unless I saved up my battery and made a quick text updating him. Oh...and one MORE thing....I had to take the Pilot that had the carseats in it b/c the Audi wasn't driveable...something about a fluid/coolant thing. So Ryan was stuck at home with no way to transport himself or the twins. This is Soap Opera Drama people! :)
Anyway, at some point late afternoon they come in my room and say I have a kidney stone still in my kidney, both kidneys are swollen and backed up with fluid, a UTI, a nasty respiratory infection and.....oh yes.....I'm having real contractions! I semi fall apart thinking I'm in labor, no one is up here, Ryan is not even here...the girl in the room next to me just had her baby without an epi that she wanted so she was SCREAMING, I have to stay another night, the stone is still in there, every time I cough, Easton's heartbeat goes wacky........etc. etc. :) ugh. ugh. I call Ryan and tell him someone needs to get up here (ohio). He had to go to work the next day, someone needed to stay with the twins until this settles down. So, his mom commandeered a plane...haha kidding...but really, God provided a seat on the non-stop that is very frequently sold out so she was able to get up here by that night. Ryans coworker got a SOS call from Ryan and graciously drove to the hospital, got our car, drove it back home to Ryan and helped Ryan get the twins to the hospital to come up and see me. Bless his heart! They moved me to the high risk floor since I wasn't in "active labor." You are treated like queens up there let me tell you!
They let me eat dinner and Ryan brought the twins by....my heart and stomach were healed! Ignore, puffy, full-of-fluid Casey here...
I spent another night in the hospital because they wanted the head Urologist to decide what to do with me next and since it was the weekend...well, he wasn't in :) My contractions stayed the same and even went down during one monitoring....my cervix hadn't changed so they felt confident it was due to the stress/pain of the past few days. The next morning (7:00 am early!) the Urologist came in and explained he wasn't comfortable running the tests needed next with Easton still in there. Since the stone had stopped moving, I was more comfortable now and able to function. We agreed that if I keep having trouble and can't pass the stone, then the benefits will outweigh the risks to take the next step in putting a stint in (no please), blasting the stone or surgery. They also believed once the infection was taken care of, my kidneys would function normally again and the swelling would go down to the normal amount during pregnancy. So, as of now, I have a follow up with him once I deliver Easton to check on the kids...kidneys that is :) So that was our whirlwind tour of Riverside Hospital....needless to say, I cancelled the tour that I had scheduled for us to go on a few weeks later :)
What a scary time, but what a time we saw God's provision and protection! I didn't have anyone in the room with me, but (once I got my phone charger) I had so many of you sending prayers and encouragement to help me through. Please pray for God to DISSOLVE that stone and that it would be a thing of the past! For my kidneys to go down to normal and for Easton to continue to thrive and be delivered safe and on time.
Oh yes, and to officially end the debate....I have now gone through labor/delivery (of twins, mind you!) and had a kidney stone recent of each other to compare to. Hands down....kidney stone pain is the winner of pain. So, if you have had one....you are prepared for labor! :)
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