February Fun!

We went to our friends' son's birthday party at a place called Scooter's Jungle. It was really cool. Kara was the youngest one there (except the 8-day-old newborn) but she had a great time. She is definitely a thrill seeker and loved the huge slide.

An update on health issues at our house--since Kara has had 3 urinary tract infections in the past 8 months her doctor wants to have a kidney ultrasound done (VCUG) to make sure there isn't any kidney damage being done. Only 8% of girls under the age of 5 get ONE UTI. Three is not good. It is most likely (hopefully) a reflux of urine back into the kidneys that 30-50% of kids grow out of. She will probably be put on a low dose antibiotic for awhile and monitored closely. Her ultrasound is scheduled for Feb. 16. The will have to insert a catheter and fill her bladder full of dye to see if it is going back up into the kidneys. She will not be sedated and I will have to hold her arms. They said it will be harder on me than her but I am completely dreading it. She is pulling both of my arms off of the keyboard right now so I must go read her a book.

Quick Post

Sorry I haven't been blogging lately. I have been taking care of Kara and Aaron. Kara had her 3rd UTI and then got the stomach flu. Aaron got the stomach flu a day and a half later---then my parents got it a day and a half after Aaron. Somehow I haven't gotten it...yet. Hopefully it will just pass me by. Aaron even took a day off of work! I have had to take a few days because my mom was way too sick to even move out of her bed!

Kara has changed so much just in the last week. She signs 'please' and 'thank you' now along with her old ones of milk, more, and hungry. She learned please because I was about to go out of my mind. All she wants is either 1. My COMPLETE undivided attention or 2. To be doing whatever I am doing or at least up close watching it. She was continually tugging on my pant leg and whining so I taught her 'please'. So now she just comes up to me (or Aaron), looks up at us with her big, brown eyes, and signs please. She is going to get anything in the world she wants with that look. She also gives hugs and Eskimo kisses that are so sweet.

Ok, one weird thing. Maybe experienced moms can give me some advice. When Kara gets frustrated now (diaper changes, not getting her way...) she either pulls her hair or bites her finger. Twice tonight she actually bit her finger and left marks. She cried like she had been beaten! What the heck?

Baby Cheesus!!!

This morning we found Baby Cheesus! We were both so excited. He was in a little backpack that she rarely uses because it has toys for her baby dolls that she isn't really ready to play with yet. I pulled out all of her baby dolls to organize their accessories. There He was. I was so excited but Aaron was sleeping and I didn't want to possibly wake anyone else up that actually got today off.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with the blogging very well. Kara has ANOTHER urinary tract infection. After this round of antibiotics we will be having blood work done. There is a worry about a reflux issue with the urine going back through her system instead of coming out. She has been very needy and not sleeping well. We caught it way earlier than last time even. She didn't even have a temperature yet. Poor little thing. Of course, she still keeps her happy spirit whenever possible.

We have a lot coming up in the next few months and with her sick it seems overwhelming at times. I have a nephew being born in the next few weeks, a friend having a baby, my sister-in-law is getting married in another state, several birthdays and we are all still getting over our own sicknesses. All of these great events have showers...etc. leading up to them so the calendar is pretty busy, especially on the weekends. We are hoping to make a trip to Washington to visit friends over spring break too. I will try to keep up on my posts during all the busyness.

So Late

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

A bit late, but better late than never? We have all been sick around here. Aaron was sick his entire 3 weeks off, Kara was sick at the beginning and I got it last Wed. It hit me hard so I was only really sick for about 3 or 4 days. Back to school this week.

We had a fun New Year's Eve. We went out to dinner with some friends and then back to their place for karaoke and visiting. We had such a good time. Our girls are 11 months apart and play so well together.

Other than that we have been around the house, cleaning up things, putting away holiday items, and gearing up for the 2nd semester of the school year.

Kara is hysterical. Every day she does new things that just make us laugh out loud. She has SO much personality and comes up with the funniest things to do. It is an hour past her bedtime but since she took a late nap today she refused to go to bed. She is sitting on the floor 'reading' one of her 2,000 books. Now she wants me to read to her...gotta go.

Long Beach Aquarium

This is my fifth post today! Be sure to scroll down to see all of the new ones.
I am not sure she could see the sea turtle but we sure were excited.

My parents got 4 free tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium and they expire on Wed. Even though my mom and Aaron weren't feeling the best we went and had a great time. The weather was beautiful. Kara enjoyed the jellyfish the most probably because we have been discussing them for the past few days and how they move. She liked the touch pools and was fascinated when the huge fish, sharks, or sea otters swam by so close to the glass.

Baby Elizabeth

Our good friends visited from Washington and we were so excited to be able to spend some time with them. Their flights were canceled several times so their trip was cut short by several days. They had their daughter on Aug. 14 and we finally got to meet her. She has such a sweet personality and a cute laugh. Kara just loved her.

UCLA Basketball!!!

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008

We were given free tickets from a friend with season tickets. They are amazing seats. Kara had such a good time and was SO good. She didn't start getting antsy to walk around until the last 8 minutes of the game. Then we walked around Pauley Pavillion and met Joe and Josephine Bruin. She was not sure about them AT ALL. Their costumes aren't quite as "friendly" looking as the old ones. After the game we went to the famous Bruin statue and to the student store. We ran into several old friends which was very surprising. Kara slept the whole way home. What a fun day.

More Christmas Pictures

Even though she had the worst night of sleep the night before she was so happy on Christmas morning. She has figured out how to open presents--though it does take quite awhile. She was our "Little Miss Who" wearing pjs that have Cindy Lou Who on them.
What is in here?

Daisy, cowering in her new sweater. Apparently she doesn't appreciate clothes as much as Ellie does. Maybe because she has more hair.

Catch Up!

Finally, the promised cabin pictures.

The past few days have been full of activity. Our friends from Washington came, we took Kara to her first UCLA basketball game and tour of the UCLA campus and today we went to the Long Beach Aquarium. Those posts are soon to come...

Merry? Christmas (More Pics to Come)

Kara--tonight before bed with her special doll from Santa.This morning when we were just starting to open presents.

What a Christmas. We have so much to be thankful for that it is hard to write this post. Kara and Aaron are sick. Last night was the worst night Kara has had since she has been born. She couldn't sleep for more than 30 min. at a time (therefore neither could we). She has had horrible coughing fits almost to the point of throwing up. We took her to the doctor the second she starting coughing on the 23rd. No infections--just a touch of the "flu" so no antibiotics. We just have to let it run its course. She has so much energy and is such a happy little thing all day but nights have been hard. She has ended up in bed with us with all three of us just miserable and exhausted.

Finally, this morning we got up at 9:30 and all showered. We thought the warm shower would help clear her up. Gramma and Papa (my parents) got here at 10. We began "Christmas." Soon after Kara had opened one present my vision started to go--migraine. I have felt awful all day. So nauseous and lethargic with a pounding headache. Aaron has been on a steady dose of Tylenol Cold and poor little Kara with her sweet spirit just making the best of it all. We went to Grandpa and Grandma K's house and the whole family was there. We all felt miserable but so wanted to be with everyone on Christmas. There was wonderful food and we got so many amazing presents.

I have been snippy with Aaron, grumpy at the fact that we are all sick on Christmas and SO exhausted. My parents brought over Christmas dinner: ham, scalloped potatoes, and green bean casserole that we ate off of paper plates and used plastic utensils. We haven't felt good enough to even run the dishwasher. Through it all we are so thankful for our little angel that the fact that we didn't even really buy each other any presents doesn't matter. She is peacefully sleeping in her crib right now--a miracle. I don't know how long it will last but it gives me a second to take some more Advil and to write this post.

So much sadness this Christmas with friends though. One friend lost her mom 2 days ago, Aunt Nicole had a horrible family fall out that may or may not be mended, a friend, my age, died in bed from a blood clot to her heart 2 weeks ago. She was 10 weeks pregnant and has a 9-year-old son. Another friend had a sad break up with lies and deception involved. The world just seems so sad this year. The news on tv is awful.

I am using my globally insignificant house and life as an example. (Bear with me here.) Kara has a tiny Precious Moments Nativity set. Baby Jesus has been missing for several days and we have looked EVERYWHERE. She looks around and says "Cheesus" as we search every day. I think this applies to the whole world tonight. Jesus has been left out of Christmas. He is lost to so many of us. So much hurt and pain that can only be filled by Him and we just don't have the time or energy (or faith) to allow Him in. My prayer for this Christmas is that we find our "Baby Cheesus."

Cabin Trip

We had a family trip to the cabin planned for last weekend but had canceled it due to road closures from the snow. Pretty much last minute we found out the roads were open and we threw together what we needed for the weekend. I was dreading packing so this was probably the best way for me anyway! Other than a few minor mishaps (no hot water) we had a great weekend. Aaron's WHOLE family was able to be there. We got a whole family picture out in the snow. My brother-in-law hasn't gotten us those pics yet but as soon as he does I will get them on here.

It was so much fun to watch Kara play with her cousins. She especially loved combing Katelyn's and Emily's hair. She followed Logan around (as well as she could keep up) and LOVED having SO many adults that would gladly pick her up and read to her when she walked up to them and handed them a book. She laughed so hard when Uncle Kyle tickled her and loved it when Uncle Julio tossed her in the air. I have said it before and I will say it again--it is so wonderful to be a part of such an amazing family that are all close by.

Good Things Come in Threes

Today started out with our Home Mortgage consultant offering us an INCREDIBLE fixed 30-year home loan rate. It will incorporate our "baby" loan and our current mortgage. I almost fell out of bed when she called with the offer. I could tell she had a smile on her face while she was talking to me.

Second, our refrigerator has been HOT all around the frame of the freezer with a strange hot smell once in awhile for the past few weeks. The repairman came today and within 30 seconds of opening up the back of the fridge found a styrofoam packaging peanut stuck in the motor fan. He pulled it out. Charged me $75 for the service call and was on his way. Our fridge is 13 years old and we were already preparing to pay $1500 for a new one soon. Yea!

Third, the Dell guy came and fixed my laptop! It is glorious. Let's see how long this screen lasts. It is my 5th screen replacement since we bought it in January. Hmmm.

The only major bad part of today is that Kara figured out how to remove the thick plastic crib rail protectors and totally clocked me in the eye with one. It is already swollen and the lid is cut. It hurt SO bad. At least we already did our Christmas card pictures.

Ok, now on to birthday pics. Kara had her first birthday party last Sunday and it was a success. I just invited family and a close friend with her almost 2-year-old. It was really low-key with only snacks and cupcakes but Kara had a good time. I made the mistake of saying to Kara, "Oh my, you got it in your hair?" She immediately put both hands up and stuck them on her head. So much with, "Where is your nose, where is your tongue..." She definitely knows where her hair is!

Laptop

Sadly I must say that my laptop is in need of repair...again. It will be getting its 4th screen this week, its second motherboard, a new fan and cooling system. Good grief. It isn't even a year old yet. Until then I probably won't be blogging. I may use Aaron's computer but we will see. Today is Kara's first birthday party. She is in such a cute mood right now (11:45am) I hope it lasts until the party at 3.

Quick Pics

Kara is doing much better. Thank goodness for antibiotics! Today we got her pictures done. Unfortunately she decided she didn't want a morning nap so she was exhausted by the pics at 1. I was very disappointed in how they came out since the photographer had her on a white background for almost all of them. I had no idea how washed out she would be. Kara wasn't feeling the best, she was tired and the photographer had the personality of a wet paper towel. She got to go on the carousel in the mall for the first time and got to meet Santa. A very exhausting day for all. We took a two hour nap together when we got home. What a little angel.

Worry, worry, worry

The worrying began...

...long before the day Kara was born. But here she is on Nov. 30, 2007.

On this day last year we flew to Michigan, we met Kara's birthparents, we marveled at the hospitality of the people, hotel staff, and hospital staff in Michigan. At midnight tonight we went with the birthparents to the hospital to check her in. We heard Kara's heartbeat for the first time. Our lives completely changed---and the worrying began. Would the birth go ok? Would she be healthy? Would this all really go according to the way we dreamed?

Tonight we continue to worry. Our poor little bug has another urinary tract infection and we spent the evening last night at First Care. We spent the whole night with her in our bed with a fever that would not break, with towels around her waiting for her to start throwing up. We spent all day today trying to keep her fever down and trying to keep anything down her. The emotions of parenting are completely unable to describe. The love, the worry, the helpless feeling when she looks at me with huge tears running down her face and there is nothing I can do about the pain. Having to wake her up to give her antibiotics when she finally is able to sleep.

I had to cancel her 1st year pictures today (rescheduled for Wed.) and also had to cancel her birthday party for tomorrow. What a way to spend her first birthday. This evening about 8 her fever finally broke, she kept down 8 oz. of formula and went to sleep pretty quickly. She has slept soundly now for almost 3 hours. I sit here exhausted, emotionally drained, wanting a shower and so in love with a tiny 23-pound little girl that I am sick to my stomach. Kara and I slept through our Thanksgiving dinner that we were to have with my parents today. My dad cooked everything, brought it ALL over to our house and they ate it alone. Aaron ate a bit later--alone--and I was too sad to eat it. I went out and got Mc Donald's.

We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving on Thurs. I will post about that when I feel up to it.