Potty Chair Challenge

Okay, here's the scoop on the potty chair. We haven't been doing it. Well, consistently anyway. We have had a few hit and miss instances. I didn't want to really start it until after our baby arrived, but then we were back in the hospital and life seemed so up, down, back and forth for Georgia I didn't want to push it. But now I feel like it's time.

But Georgia is allergic to the potty chair; she hates it. Once in a while we can get her to sit on it without crying. And occasionally she'll actually go potty (never #2 though).

But today I'm trying something new. Recently I bought her some big girl panties, hoping that would be good incentive and today we're trying them out. (They are huge, by the way. The smallest size was 2T/3T and Georgia is still wearing 18 mo. Can we say saggy-bottom droopy drawers?) I keep reminding her that she is not wearing a diaper and so she has to tell me if she has to go potty. Of course I do plan to take her on my own too. I'm kind of nervous and a little skeptical as to how she'll do. I know we'll have some accidents along the way, and that's fine, I can live with that. (Which, by the way, how do you clean pee out of carpet? Suggestions, please.)

It'll be nice to have only one child in diapers. On the plus side, I imagine that all the running back and forth will help me lose some of this baby weight.

What do you know...before I can even hit 'publish post' there's pee on the floor...

Bedtime Blues

In the last week we have had a difficult time with Georgia falling asleep at night. She'll still go to bed okay, but she lays awake, sometimes for a couple of hours. Is this a normal phase that toddlers go through?

We can hear her through the monitor, sometimes singing songs to her 17 stuffed animals that she HAS to sleep with or she spends her time fake crying and trying to get me or Andy to come and talk to her or bring her milk.

The other night was the same scenario: bed at 8:00 and we read a story, sing a few songs, say prayers and lights out. After just a few minutes I heard the singing begin and the chatting with her stuffed animals. Then the fake crying, "Mama-uh-uh-uh-uh..." The fake crying stopped and then started again (as if she was pausing to think) and I heard her say, "Waaaa-uh-uh-uh, 'smy birfday-ay-ay-ay-ay!" She must have thought that would make me more likely to check on her even though it wasn't her birthday. It didn't. It did, however, make me laugh.

Funny Faces

I have this weird thing. I don't know what else I can call it. Ability? No. Gift? Ha! It's just a thing. You see, sometimes I look at my daughters and see the expressions of famous people. It's true! Surely I can't be the only one this happens to, right? It only seems to occur when they are newborns. It happened with Georgia and I thought it was a fluke - but it has happened with Lola, too. And you won't believe who I think they look like...

When Georgia was born I saw two expressions on her face that reminded me of someone famous: one reminded me Bill Cosby and the other was a strong resemblance to Emilio Estevez. Are you cracking up? Me too! But it's what I saw. Now, I didn't think that she looked like either of these guys all the time, but it was just fleeting expressions that made me think of these actors. Tell me, am I a cruel mom for thinking that my daughter looks like a black comedian or the son of Martin Sheen?!

Now for Lola: I definitely saw Christian Bale once and Patrick Swayze another time. I know it's so weird! At least these two guys are good looking. However, I will even go so far as to say that when Lola is crying her demanding "feed me now!" cry, she totally reminds me of Chunk from the Goonies - the part where they are threatening to put his hand in the blender if he doesn't talk and he tells about the time he made everyone in the theater throw up on each other.

You don't have to tell me, I know this is crazy talk. :) But why is it that on my beautiful girls' faces I see the expressions of men? Who knows?!

One Month Old

taken tuesday, march 22

Doctors Orders

We took Lola in last Thursday for a follow up appointment after being released from the hospital. She's not contagious and she's doing really well. The doctor said her lungs sound clear and her color is better. I told him she still had a cough and he said it could be weeks before that goes away and it can take months for airways that small to reconstruct. Yikes! Her cough is minimal now, just a few days after her appointment.

However, just because she's better, doesn't mean she can't get sick again. It's so serious in such a little one because she hasn't had her vaccinations yet and people are germy! So the doctor told us we need to keep her away from people for another six weeks. That's a long time! There are many that haven't even met her yet and probably won't until Easter. Thankfully, two sweet women from church have offered to come over on Sunday mornings so I can still go to service. I did take one of them up on their offer today. I haven't been there in almost a month!

It also means Andy and I have to take turns running errands. It's actually a nice break to get out for a while without my arms full. But we both enjoy the one-on-one time with our daughters so it works out quite well. Before we know it spring will be here in full force and we'll all be out and about again.

Our Little Mermaid

Can you tell we've been watching The Little Mermaid a lot?

Home Sweet Home

Yes, finally we are home! I am so thankful to be in my house, with my things, in my bed, but most importantly that Lola is doing well! We have an appointment in a few days just so the doctor can monitor her progress.

Yesterday morning I woke up to nurse Lola and was waiting for a respiratory therapist to come and give her a breathing treatment. After that, the nurses had their shift change and I met our nurse for the day. Lola had spent all of Sunday and through Sunday night without oxygen. Her levels were a little low, but they remained consistent and her lungs were clear, so the doctor was not worried about leaving her off. However, Monday morning, the new nurse decided she needed to be back on. I was frustrated. Lola was in a dead sleep which often means lower oxygen levels. So all the nurses left our room and I went back to sleep. When it was time to feed Lola again, a nurse came in and told me that Lola had removed her oxygen tubes after about a half hour of having them in and had been doing fine without them. I was very relieved!

We were visited by the doctor again and he said that Lola sounded good, she looked good, and if she kept it up, there was a good chance we'd be discharged. As the day progressed they checked her oxygen twice and both times she was at 93%. We continued to wait and finally, they let us go around 5:30 pm. Woohoo! I was thrilled that Lola had done so well for two days without oxygen and she did well here at home last night. We have to prop her up a little in her basinet and put a rolled blanket under her neck to keep her head up. I think that now she might actually prefer to sleep that way.

So we'll see what the doctor says this week. We're still asking for prayers and good health for both of our little girlies.