Our big move to Europe...

I had the opportunity to go into Pantera's classroom on Friday to help with a party. The night before Pantera was giving me a little rundown of what to expect, it went a little something like this: "Mom, if anyone says something like we are moving to Europe, what I meant to tell them is that we have ancestors from Europe. That's just really hard to explain to a first grader, you know?" Sure enough she has been telling everyone that she is from Europe and that we are moving back. Several of the other kids were very upset thinking each day would be her last in their class. She also told them that she is rich, has a butler and lives in a mansion. When I confronted her about this she said "Well Zeke does whatever I say, so he is kind of my butler. And I really think our house is pretty so I like to call it a mansion. And I wasn't sure if we were rich, medium, or poor so I just chose rich." I bet she has told them all sorts of other untruths, to be a fly on the wall in that room...

Zeke was really upset that his dad was gone the other night. So he carried around an old drivers license saying in a very forlorn voice"My dad, he has hers hairs on hers chin." The other day he and Jess were playing Mario Kart and Jess ran into a cow so Zeke says "I hate cows." After spending so much time wondering what was going through his head it is great to hear his little opinions, even if he hates cows.

Pantera forgot to shut the door while bathing the other night. I was downstairs making her lunch, when I hear "Mom!!! Amari is in the bathtub, LITERALLY!" Sure enough, she had climbed on in with all of her clothes. I couldn't be mad because she was so darn happy about it. She is loving having her Papa over everyday during the remodel and calls to get his attention over the safety gate we put up to keep her out. I think Papa likes helping with the house just to have another excuse to see the kiddos everyday.

Little Katurah is getting big. She giggles about once a day now and I LOVE IT!!! She is such a good baby, so happy now and she still sleeps through the night. I love being a mom!

pictures out of order post

Over the past couple of weeks everyone in our house has been sick. I think we are finally over it...knock on wood. Pantera even had to come home from school early one day. She informed me that she knew that was going to happen because she is a "side-kick." Either she meant psychic or I just figured out why Batman kept Robin around. She is doing awesome in school, although she doesn't always like it these days. I've been making her tell me 3 good things that happen during her day and it seems to really help her be a little more optimistic.Zeke had to worst of the illness...actually I think the couch got the worst of Zeke's illness. Zeke puked on each and every cushion and even with steam cleaning it, the smell was AWFUL! Luckily we were in the market for a different one, he just sealed the deal. Unfortunately, Zeke has hard time with change and we have been dealing with major attitude and meltdowns since we removed the couch. He will have to get over it. Best Zeke quote said while yelling "I'm not rude!"

Things have to even out somehow right? Amari has been really good lately. I took her out on Saturday, just the two of us. People were all over her, yeah, yeah, yeah we know she's cute...we're trying to shop here people! She talks so cute and often replaces here d's with b's, my favorite is "Wooby" for Woody. Love this girl!

Totally cropped off the top of her head trying to get her legs in this shot (the only drawback of my prime lens). Anywho, check out the chunk on those thighs...

She weighs over 15 lbs now, which may explain the tendinitis in my wrist. She is getting so much better with her hands and was so excited when she finally got ahold of one of the toys on her bouncy seat. It's so fun to watch as her little personality shows more each day.

We are remodeling the basement in the coming weeks (by we I mean my dad, with my moral support). I can't even wait!

Grandma and Papa Hammond

The kids put on a great puppet show for Grandma and I. I made them Phineas and Ferb pizza.
Grandma and Papa Hammond came to visit on the 10th. Zeke and Amari were wary at first, but warmed up pretty quickly. I'm glad they had a chance to get to know them a little better. Pantera was in heaven with someone to play with and all the extra attention. She has always had a great relationship with her grandparents on both sides, she was lucky enough to live by both sets at different times in her life.

A couple of Tera quotes:

"Mom, I'm really good at telling time. Even on clocks with Ramen numbers."

"Mom! Amari colored on you favorite bathroom!"

Isn't her hair super cute? I told her if it goes missing, don't check my head.

"Lala" twins. Katurah had her 2 month check up last week. 90% for height and 94% for weight 13lbs 13oz, now I know she wasn't switched at birth;)

Amari is super territorial, so my favorite game to play with her is "That's my bummy." I tell her she stole my bummy and tell her to give it back, she runs away giggling "no, is mine" while covering her little booty. This is also how she dances to "Squirrels in my Pants."

That song is from Phineas and Ferb, the show all my kids love. It is the only thing Amari will sit through. Zeke has picked up on their optimistic attitudes often saying thing like "This is the best (enter word here) ever!" So cute. Or when he is mad he will shout "You're so BUSTED!" Which is also a very effective punishment for him. He is putting together sentences like crazy all of the sudden. He told me "I'm getting hungry. Get me my dinner." I am so happy with his progress, it sure does make life alot easier.

Of mice and men

It is said that heros are born through adversity. I bring before you the tale of a mere lad, not yet 3 1/2 and his courageous outburst that may have changed the course of history.

Ezekiel awoke that frosty January morning to the nagging sound of his wretched mothers voice "Zeke sweetie, do you want to go potty? I will give you m&m's." "No" he replied, but she just couldn't let it go "Ok Zekie, that's your choice. I need to go downstairs and feed the baby." She would not get away with her constant pestering any longer, it was time for him to stand up and do something about it.

Quietly, Ezekiel moves to the bathroom and removes all of his clothing and sets up his potty chair. As his mother hears a diaper fall to the floor, she runs upstairs to check on him. Here's his chance, standing in his birthday suit, hands on his hips, voice like roaring thunder as if shouting for opressed potty trainers everywhere, he exclaims "I WILL NOT GO POTTY!" And he hasn't to this very day.

Some call it a tall tale, others wonder why he needed to be naked to stand up for his natural human right to pee in a diaper, but one thing is certain, potty training will never be the same.

The long Katurah story

It's hard to believe while looking at this cute smiley girl, that she is the same baby we were so worried about 3 weeks ago. Weeks 3-6 were so hard for us, I will explain for records sake and maybe to help another mom out there somewhere.
Katurah has never had the best latch while feeding. I asked the nurse about this in the hospital and was told it was fine. She nursed alright for the first 3 weeks and was gaining weight normally. Right around the 3 week mark, she got so fussy. First we thought it might be thrush, 5 days on meds and it didn't work. She was screaming when I tried to nurse her and would cry for hours at night. I cut anything and everything I could think of from my diet, maybe allergies. Then they thought maybe reflux, those meds seemed to help for about 2 days, then it was even worse. She finally started to refuse to nurse altogether despite EVERYTHING I tried. I was desperate so I started pumping, she would down each bottle so fast! After the first day she was a completely different baby, so happy. She couldn't use certain bottles and when I was talking to my mom about this she asked if we had ruled out tongue tie. This had never crossed my mind. Sure enough, her tongue is restricted and she can't nurse well enough to get all that she needs. Had the stupid nurse and doctor in the hospital done their jobs right, we could have avoided a ton of misery.

By the time we figured this all out she was 6 weeks and ready for her next growth spurt. I wasn't producing enough to keep up, since she was never an effective nurser. So I did some homework and decided on a rigid pumping schedule (every 2 hours) and some wonderful herbs fenugreek and blessed thistle. Almost 3 weeks later we are exclusively pumping and my supply is great, I even have some great food storage in the freezer for her.

Things had finally calmed down, until Monday morning. She woke up at 11am with a HUGE swollen eye. I called her doc right away and they got me in at 1:30. Her doc walked in looked at her then left, got another doc and came back in. Then they started throwing out big scary words that could lead to a brain infection...excuse me? It's a swollen eye, really?!? So they advised me to take her down to the ER at children's. My dad was awesome and watched the other kids and my mom saved my bacon by driving us down there and bossing the hosptial staff around. We waited FOREVER. The swelling had started to go down when they got her in around 8:30pm. At first they were going to send her home, but about 5 doctors later they decided to admit her. I don't think I have ever been so scared. They tried 3 times to start an IV and had no luck...thank goodness my mom stopped them before they tried putting it in her head, she will forever be my hero for that! So they wanted to observe her and give her antibiotics. Long story a little shorter, they came in the next morning and said it was a clogged tear duct, but it could have been something potentally fatal...they often confuse those. Not really, they were just being safe and I will appreciate that, until I get the bills in the mail anyway.

On some very happy notes, she giggled for the first time yesterday. The pictures above are actually frames of her giggling making them extra priceless. She was also blessed at our house on Wednesday night and both sets of grandparents were there. She is such a special little girl, I'm so grateful she is ok! We love you so much Katurah!

Christmas 2011

I can't believe Christmas is already over! Here are the highlights from our house:

-Amari got Phineas and Ferb sunglasses in her stocking. We should have had her open that last because they were all she cared about. She loves "and berb" best 40 cents I've ever spent, superclearance oh yeah!

-Pantera got some play makeup and now looks like a street walker.

-Ezekiel got his car...yes mom is a HUGE sucker, but I found an entire pack and still spent WAY too much on it. His little life is complete and he is no longer obsessed with ebay.

-Katurah got a new method of eating called round the clock pumping by mom, but that's a story for another day.

I sure do love having little kids on Christmas, I think I get more excited then they do. I already can't wait to do it all again next year.

Funny Zeke quote: "AAAAH! I'm naked! Get the naked off!"

true love

Ms. Amari is getting to big. She loves to steal everyones food by asking for a "bite." Unless it is my food then she just grabs it by the handful off of my plate or take it right out of my hand. She and Pantera have been playing together alot more lately. My favorite is "fashion club" where they get all dressed up and paint their nails, then walk around like they are so hot. Zeke doesn't get it.
Katurah was put on meds for acid reflux on Tuesday. They really seemed to help, but I think I will still have to modify my diet. One big trigger is chocolate, which I LOVE. I mean love as in I eat it so often that no other junk food really appeals to me and I will have to come up with a way to get enough fat in my diet. So Katurah, to quote your oldest sister "I love you more than chocolate cake."