Happy Birthday Pops!!

Missing you Pops! Can't wait to see you this weekend! Hope you have a Happy Birthday!! (This is our 'just waking up' look!)

Caelyn update...

Our visit to the pediatrician..

Caelyn has fractured her third metatarsal, or the third bone in her foot. It is minimally swollen and she still has a little limp. Luckily it is a hairline fracture and the only treatment is to wear a hard soled shoe.

This morning she woke-up with a fever of 102.7! Argh!!

On another note... my mom came into town yesterday and we decided ot brave the movies. We saw 'Marley and Me'. While a very cute movie, not appropriate for kids. Caelyn fell asleep about 1/2 through and Carson was ready to leave. He did pay attention as he could tell us all about how Marley was. It just wasn't the best movie for kids. Oh, well. Carrigan completely enjoyed the dark, and being held.

...and to all a good night!

Wow! What a tiring day.

First, thanks to Nana for a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. Even Caelyn enjoyed the ham. Very hard to believe that both of my children were not too fond of fried apples... hmmm...

Carrigan still has a stuffy nose and still slept amazingly well. She went to sleep about 10:30 and slept until 6:00! She enjoyed all the excitement, as it meant more people to hold and snuggle her. We are truly blessed with another Michael angel this Christmas. Who knew this was in our future, she is beautiful and... amazing.

The kids started the morning off very early, waking Pop and Nana first. They both received lots of great toys and clothes. Thanks to all! Chad prepared a great Christmas breakfast and we were joined by James, Jody (Madeline- their puppy), Gary and Judy. Even Jake got in on the action. Needless to say Pops and Nana gave Jake some extra attention he has been craving.

Here are a couple quick pics!

The big gift this year was a Wii. Carson was really quick to pick it up, Caelyn really doesn't care. Chad however, seemed to think he was a kid again. After the kids went to bed, well you can see from the picture. Poor Carrigan was suckered into watching.

Now, Caelyn's injury. Christmas Eve we were eating lunch at Chick-fil-A. Caelyn was playing in the play place and apparently went down the slide, stood up and jumped onto the ground. She had been doing this at least a dozen times when the last time proved fatal!! She twisted her ankle/foot. Complete drama, screaming and carrying on. We were unable to put her shoe on and she was carried to the car. Now, she was shaking and almost hysterical. Thinking how hard it would be to take her to the pediatrician on Christmas Eve we took her home. We get home, still won't walk. Down for a nap (naps cure everything don't they?) After nap I found her standing beside her bed on one foot... in tears. So, needless to say she spent over 24 hours putting absolutely no weight on her foot. Luckily Nana was able to teach her alternate ways of transportation. She was quite quick. And yes, even waking Christmas morning... still nothing. About 4:00 Chad told Caelyn they were going outside and she was putting a shoe on. She was hesitant, but was able to put a little weight. She walked slow and with a limp. But she was upright. She has been walking since, but no quicker. I'm not sure if I am a terrible mom for waiting 48 hours to see a doc & making her walk on her fractured foot, or being suckered by my dramatic 4 year old. Dr. Mike will tell us in the am. I am now on a first name basis with our pediatrician. I have seen him more in the last 5 weeks than in the last 5 years... honestly. I promise to update you on her status...

Merry Christmas.

Oh, here is one from last year.

Angels, due dates, and silent nights...?

Angels....

So I just can't resist. I was made aware of this about a week ago. The story has since been on our local news and now the Morning Show. See what you think... Oh, this is the hospital where I work. Obviously I work in the ER not the PICU, but still totally cool. I'm a believer. CLick the link at the bottom, it tells the story a little better.

Written by Sarah Batista
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - An image caught on a security camera at Presbyterian Hospital has everyone talking.
It was taken by the mother of a 14-year-old patient who wasn't expected to survive. She says the image is an angel who brought a miracle into her family.
Chelsea Banton was born 5 weeks premature and has endured chronic health problems her entire life. But this past September, a battle with pneumonia almost ended her life. Doctors at Presbyterian Hospital gave her mom, Colleen, devastating news.
"He said we've done all we can do," said Colleen Banton.
So Colleen made the heart-breaking decision to take her daughter of off life support. An hour later, something caught the hospital staff's attention.
"I was in the waiting room, my sister was inside and she says, you have to come and look," said Banton.
What she wanted her to see was a image on the security camera near Chelsea 's hospital room. It shows a bright light in the shape of an angel just outside of the doorway.
"I said oh wow, that's an angel and the nurse practitioner she's standing there and she said I've been working here for 15 years and I've never seen anything like this," said Banton.
While doctors and nurses crowded around the monitor, something else was happening-- Chelsea was getting better. "About an hour later, we took the mask off and her sats were higher then they'd ever been, doctors and nurses were amazed," said Banton
Three months after she arrived at the hospital, Chelsea got to go home. She'll live to see her 15th birthday on Christmas day and Colleen has no doubt what she saw on that monitor saved her daughter's life.
"I've never seen anything so bright, so beautiful," said Banton. "I don't think I would have brought Chelsea home from the hospital if the angel had not appeared."
To see more about "The Angel" click here

What would a post be without pics of my angels...

Just an example of our chaos....

Caelyn cookin' cookies for daddy!

Yup, a Jakers hug!

Caelyn at her Christmas party. Mrs. Deanna and friend Abby. Abby totally loves Carrigan. One day last week Abby was overhead saying to Caelyn, 'Your sister is so cute, she just makes me sick!'

Cousins Ben and Lorelai. Ben is 2 weeks younger than Carson. Lorelai just turned 2.

Due dates....

This picture deserved it's own post. This was Monday December 15th, my due date. I was at my postpartum check up with the best Ob in the whole world! You are my hero Dr. B! She is 32 weeks pregnant here, with her 3rd!

Silent nights....

Carrigan had her 1 month well-check today. Completely hard to believe it's already been a month, now almost 5 weeks. She is officially 9 pounds and 21 inches long (we sure are glad she was early!) She did have a fever yesterday and a snotty nose. So no immunizations. She did sleep the best she ever has, last night... silent night huh? She went to sleep about 9:00 and at 5:00 I heard her being snotty. I felt bad because she hadn't eaten in many hours, so she ate, and went back to sleep until 8:00. Absoutely crazy!

Kids are wildly ready fo Christmas!

Total bliss........

Complete and total bliss for someone... She seems to sink into our bed and pass out for hours on end. Gone are the days I could sleep like this!

She is still sleeping amazing. Usually waking just once, last night it wasn't even to eat. I think she just wanted me to remember that she was there, then back to sleep.

Carson participated in the Millbridge tradition of Christmas Author's Day. Everyone had family attend, the read stories they wrote and there was food, of course! This is Ms. Lindsey, Carson's assistant teacher.

All 4 of us went to kindergarten this morning for about 4 hours! This is Mrs. Ritchie, she let Caelyn play kindergartner all morning... boy was she happy! Mrs. Ritchie was a great sport, allowing all of us to participate and help (somewhat). We are so lucky to have a great teacher for Carson. We can already see how much he has grown.

I couldn't resist this. About 30 minutes before all of the parents arrived the kids were going to

'help' clean off the tables. To do this the teachers would put shaving cream on the table, the kids would spread it around while cleaning the tables at the same time. They are Saints!!! I don't know how they do that. I just kept telling Carson he'd better be glad he gets to do that at school, because it definitely wasn't happening at home!

2 weeks out of school? Who's idea was this?

Christmas card...

This should have been our Christmas card.Here is a picture of 'the building'. Chad has been working diligently... almost done!

Baby eyes!

Just couldn't resist these eyes!!!

Baby pics!!!

I wish I could say I had tons to do all day...

At one of her best moments...

Week 2 and counting...

So far Jake has had the most difficulties adjusting to having Carrigan around. He pouts and stays to himself most of the time. He has growled at Chad now and he seems to have forgotten where the correct place to use the restroom! He is very attentive to Carrigan, it seems he just isn't fond of how attentive we are to her (instead of him!).

Carrigan's well visit went.. well...? She has passed her birth weight and now weighs 7 pounds 8 ounces. The black eyes and jaundice have subsided and she looks 'great'. She is still sleeping amazingly well, waking just once a night.

We all attended Lorelai's 2nd birthday party on Saturday, in our panic to get out of the house we forgot the camera. But we did remember all of the kids! The party was great, and Lorelai is turning into a beautiful little girl. All of the kids played so well together! The Pooh ears are from the party...

Friday evening we took Carrigan for her first Christmas Party. Chad's station had a party at an upscale restaurant in dowtown Charlotte. We still weren't crazy about leaving all 3 of the kids with a babysitter so we took Carrigan with us. The valet staff were quite surprised when we pulled and infant and diaper bag out of the back seat! (No we didn't take the van!) She was a champ! I wished I had my camera when she was placed on the bar! She enjoyed being passed around, we enjoyed a quiet dinner. I had forgotten how easy this stage is!

We just couldn't resist this pic! It was actually Carson's idea!

12 days old...

'Tis the season!! It's definitely Christmas when Caelyn walks around the house making up her own Christmas carols!

I'm really not sure what this was all about...? She was really happy though!

Have I mentioned how nice it is to not be pregnant? Not quite to my pre-pregnancy body!

We have officially run out of mom's great leftovers :( Chad is very sad...

We spent the weekend putting up Christmas decorations. The kids picked out a great tree, too bad they weren't the ones that had to get it into the house! Yes, we put up all 3 trees again. Carrigan is just going to have to wait until next year to get her own.

It's very different around here at least for an hour every morning. Not only is it taking 2 of us to get 3 kids dressed, fed, and to school on time...but it requires a whole lot of preparation! We are still working out the kinks. We're getting better though.

Here are some baby pics. She is beginning to stay awake for longer periods of time. No intentional smiles yet. She loves to be warm and snuggle, then again who doesn't? She is still sleeping great, we'll see what tomorrow brings. Her next check-up is Thursday. Can't wait to see how big she's gotten!

In memory of Sydney... I was looking back through old photos to see how much Carrigan resembles Caelyn. I found this pic and I just couldn't resist! This was February 2005!