Well, David is CRAWLING!!!!! Ha - I went to the kitchen to make their oatmeal, turned around, and David was half way across the room! In the video, he doesn't get very far, but you get the idea...
Amazing - after this, he went to the sofa and tried to pull up. Next week, they'll be riding a bicycle or something!
xo,
Heather
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Would you like some cheese with that whine?
Mary Louise is. teething. UGH!!!!!! Her first tooth is coming in on the bottom right. I noticed 2 days ago. In hindsight, it's likely been coming for awhile. She's been clingy, had a few very mild rashes that went away within 24 hours, a little bit of an upset stomach. Of course all of these symptoms can very easily be explained away by our daily outside time and birthday excitement...
So I was doing her OT exercises and felt the little bud. Otherwise, I honestly wouldn't have known. The top was already mostly through and has since come completely out though it's very hard to see (sort of opaque). She's been playing just fine, sleeping ok, etc...until last night.
We'd been playing outside all afternoon. They didn't nap at all yesterday as when I finally got them sleeping, the phone rang 10 minutes into their slumber. Once awake, it was all over as far as nap time. So, I put water in their little pool to warm in the sun and we played under the carport for quite a while. As such, they were exhausted so they went to bed a little early - at their old bedtime.
At about 7:30, the fiasco started. Mary Louise was absolutely wild. Needless to say, she woke David who was really none too pleased about it all. He actually watched her for awhile in astonishment before really getting upset though. She would laugh, then burst into tears wailing so loudly. She would cling to me to the point that if I wanted to hand her to Brent, I would have to actually pry her off of me. In between clinging, she would throw full blown fits complete with slapping and flapping around.
We rocked, and bounced and sang. I tried teething tablets, cold bottles, warm bottles, ice, frozen apple slices. She went on until midnight before finally wanting Brent again and pooping out on his shoulder...only to wake up at 5 am (for good - she woke up at least 3 times before that.)
I should have known I would never get off that easy...the only thing she isn't doing, is drooling! (ha- perhaps for the first time ever).
In other news, she is definitely able to stand for a few seconds on her own now - and she looks so proud when she does it!
Sweet David is now getting into crawling position and looks like he really wants to get around. So, he's making wonderful progress. He can also get from crawling position back into sitting position which is wonderful. Where eating is concerned, he is actually chewing rather large slices of banana without difficulty. Funny that he is the one who had the tongue problem and no teeth as of yet but is chewing and eating just fine.
They are both doing very well with eating yogurt. David loves it, Mary Louise has good days and not so good days - but usually eats some. I've also started them on a dose of flax oil daily. It helps digestion, heart health, and adds an extra 100 calories to their daily diets.I mix it with pears and oatmeal and they actually seem to like it. The yogurt and flax oil have pushed them both to fill out a little more - David has a tiny wee belly for the first time ever! They also seem more satiated than before as they were going through another phase in which they were miserably hungry all the time.
Keep up the good (hard) work my lovies! You're growing and developing beautifully! We're so very proud of you! Umm - Mary Louise? How about a nap?
xo,
Heather
So I was doing her OT exercises and felt the little bud. Otherwise, I honestly wouldn't have known. The top was already mostly through and has since come completely out though it's very hard to see (sort of opaque). She's been playing just fine, sleeping ok, etc...until last night.
We'd been playing outside all afternoon. They didn't nap at all yesterday as when I finally got them sleeping, the phone rang 10 minutes into their slumber. Once awake, it was all over as far as nap time. So, I put water in their little pool to warm in the sun and we played under the carport for quite a while. As such, they were exhausted so they went to bed a little early - at their old bedtime.
At about 7:30, the fiasco started. Mary Louise was absolutely wild. Needless to say, she woke David who was really none too pleased about it all. He actually watched her for awhile in astonishment before really getting upset though. She would laugh, then burst into tears wailing so loudly. She would cling to me to the point that if I wanted to hand her to Brent, I would have to actually pry her off of me. In between clinging, she would throw full blown fits complete with slapping and flapping around.
We rocked, and bounced and sang. I tried teething tablets, cold bottles, warm bottles, ice, frozen apple slices. She went on until midnight before finally wanting Brent again and pooping out on his shoulder...only to wake up at 5 am (for good - she woke up at least 3 times before that.)
I should have known I would never get off that easy...the only thing she isn't doing, is drooling! (ha- perhaps for the first time ever).
In other news, she is definitely able to stand for a few seconds on her own now - and she looks so proud when she does it!
Sweet David is now getting into crawling position and looks like he really wants to get around. So, he's making wonderful progress. He can also get from crawling position back into sitting position which is wonderful. Where eating is concerned, he is actually chewing rather large slices of banana without difficulty. Funny that he is the one who had the tongue problem and no teeth as of yet but is chewing and eating just fine.
They are both doing very well with eating yogurt. David loves it, Mary Louise has good days and not so good days - but usually eats some. I've also started them on a dose of flax oil daily. It helps digestion, heart health, and adds an extra 100 calories to their daily diets.I mix it with pears and oatmeal and they actually seem to like it. The yogurt and flax oil have pushed them both to fill out a little more - David has a tiny wee belly for the first time ever! They also seem more satiated than before as they were going through another phase in which they were miserably hungry all the time.
Keep up the good (hard) work my lovies! You're growing and developing beautifully! We're so very proud of you! Umm - Mary Louise? How about a nap?
xo,
Heather
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
So many blessings...
Mary Louise and David had their official blessing in church today. Father Jack recounted their actual baptism (the service today was a baptismal service - but without the water) where he dropped a tiny drop of water through an eye dropper on each of our 3 little ones' foreheads just after they were born. We were all petrified. I was devastated...
Today was absolutely beautiful. Mary Louise wore Auntie Zoo's baptism gown and looked as if she belonged in a 1920's Victorian style photo. David wore Brent's gown and, though his dear dad was none too pleased at the feminine implications of his boy wearing a (uhem) dress and bonnet, he looked perfectly angelic in Ma Mere's gorgeous handiwork.
The service (amazing) was followed by a fabulous reception and birthday celebration complete with a surprise table of gifts and cards and too much food and cake to devour.
After my dad passed away so suddenly in October of 2007, Brent really started to encourage me to turn to the church for support. At the time, I'd been frequenting a different location and though I enjoyed the traditional flow of the service, I felt like I was missing something there - for lack of a better and I'm sure much longer explanation. To poke me along- as I'd become rather ambivalent in my personal crisis- Brent went with me, and one day suggested we try our current church. I walked in, smelled the familiar wood wax, incense, just old church smell, saw an old friend, and was home. That was it, just that moment, just those few steps through the door. The decision was made. We spoke to Father Jack quite often, but really sort of came and went rather quietly otherwise.
When I started having trouble with the pregnancy, I'd never seen a parish so ready with a helping hand. It didn't matter that we weren't born here, didn't grow up here, were just that couple in the back most of the time. They became an extension of our family. Immediately. As if they'd always been there. We've had so many cards, visits, meals cooked and quietly dropped off, and the prayers, my goodness, we'll never know all who sent happy thoughts, healing words and prayers our way...all with such intense and insistent compassion.
To our church family. You have made such a difference, such an impression, such a beautiful mark on our family. To put it simply, heartfelt, honest, soulful: thank you.
xo,
Heather
The following is quite a mix of photos and videos. I didn't quite realize how much I'd been slacking on the uploads...
Today was absolutely beautiful. Mary Louise wore Auntie Zoo's baptism gown and looked as if she belonged in a 1920's Victorian style photo. David wore Brent's gown and, though his dear dad was none too pleased at the feminine implications of his boy wearing a (uhem) dress and bonnet, he looked perfectly angelic in Ma Mere's gorgeous handiwork.
The service (amazing) was followed by a fabulous reception and birthday celebration complete with a surprise table of gifts and cards and too much food and cake to devour.
After my dad passed away so suddenly in October of 2007, Brent really started to encourage me to turn to the church for support. At the time, I'd been frequenting a different location and though I enjoyed the traditional flow of the service, I felt like I was missing something there - for lack of a better and I'm sure much longer explanation. To poke me along- as I'd become rather ambivalent in my personal crisis- Brent went with me, and one day suggested we try our current church. I walked in, smelled the familiar wood wax, incense, just old church smell, saw an old friend, and was home. That was it, just that moment, just those few steps through the door. The decision was made. We spoke to Father Jack quite often, but really sort of came and went rather quietly otherwise.
When I started having trouble with the pregnancy, I'd never seen a parish so ready with a helping hand. It didn't matter that we weren't born here, didn't grow up here, were just that couple in the back most of the time. They became an extension of our family. Immediately. As if they'd always been there. We've had so many cards, visits, meals cooked and quietly dropped off, and the prayers, my goodness, we'll never know all who sent happy thoughts, healing words and prayers our way...all with such intense and insistent compassion.
To our church family. You have made such a difference, such an impression, such a beautiful mark on our family. To put it simply, heartfelt, honest, soulful: thank you.
xo,
Heather
The following is quite a mix of photos and videos. I didn't quite realize how much I'd been slacking on the uploads...
 |
| Birthday and Kuylen's Special Day |
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Beautiful Day for an Angelversary
Our families made it to us safely last night and we had a wonderful meal cooked by Chef Brent before everyone turned in a little early in preparation for our day today. Last night and this morning was so muggy, dreary and rainy. Then suddenly this afternoon, the sky cleared completely, the humidity lifted and we were left with an absolutely gorgeous spring day to celebrate the all too short life of our little Kuylen.
We went to the lakefront spot Brent and I had scoped out earlier this week - a large patch of green with some small trees providing just enough cooling shade to spread a blanket for our Mary Louise and David. We sat and played until Brent and Nanny Pan arrived with the balloons.
Amanda said it best when looking at the now crystal clear sky and whispering, "it's almost as if you wished this beautiful day."
We had our moments and with each balloon I let go, a little release and calm resulted. We never had a service for our little one. The first time I left the hospital since walking in 5 weeks prior was to sign papers for the release of our Kuylen's ashes at the funeral home.
After quite a bit of reluctance on my part, the balloon release turned out to be some much needed therapy for me. It was absolutely beautiful. It was time.
My Kuylen, I will hold your memory in my heart always. I know your playful spirit smiles down on us constantly. I miss you terribly. I miss you for who you were and for all of your many many possibilities. My angel. Thank you for carrying our thoughts, hopes, and love over the trees, into the vast and beautiful sky and into the heavens. Forever in my thoughts and dreams. - Mom
xo,
Heather
We went to the lakefront spot Brent and I had scoped out earlier this week - a large patch of green with some small trees providing just enough cooling shade to spread a blanket for our Mary Louise and David. We sat and played until Brent and Nanny Pan arrived with the balloons.
Amanda said it best when looking at the now crystal clear sky and whispering, "it's almost as if you wished this beautiful day."
We had our moments and with each balloon I let go, a little release and calm resulted. We never had a service for our little one. The first time I left the hospital since walking in 5 weeks prior was to sign papers for the release of our Kuylen's ashes at the funeral home.
After quite a bit of reluctance on my part, the balloon release turned out to be some much needed therapy for me. It was absolutely beautiful. It was time.
My Kuylen, I will hold your memory in my heart always. I know your playful spirit smiles down on us constantly. I miss you terribly. I miss you for who you were and for all of your many many possibilities. My angel. Thank you for carrying our thoughts, hopes, and love over the trees, into the vast and beautiful sky and into the heavens. Forever in my thoughts and dreams. - Mom
xo,
Heather
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
PHEW!
It's already Wednesday?! (I think it's Wednesday anyhow)...We had a really fantastic day for the babies' birthday. We spent the day as a family - Brent stayed home from work. We got ourselves together and went to the hospital - sounds funny right? We brought cupcakes to the Labor and Delivery nurses and the NICU staff and let them see our little ones.
It was so surreal to walk back in - a year later. The smells, the sounds, the door where we would wait and wait to go into the NICU...the dark corner I'd be happy to never see again on the personal side of things - professional? who knows... There were plenty of nurses there who knew our story - who contributed immensely to our babies' success. We were so proud to hear, "they look so good!" over and over.
Brent and I stopped at a little patio bar and grill on our way home for a quick bite to eat. With a baby on each of our laps, we took a little time to chat, giggle, smile, and enjoy that moment - the one in which we were all there, all healthy, all ok.
As we tucked our precious bundles to bed that night, we stared a little longer than usual, smiled a little larger than usual, and sighed a little louder than usual at our 3 sweet angels- 2 snug in their beds and one safe in our hearts- how lucky lucky lucky we are.
We have tons to do for the weekend as our families are both coming out to enjoy the blessing and Kuylen's afternoon balloon release. Of course we won't get it all done, and I will have to just let go of the unimportant things as I've learned to do by the hardest. But, we can try anyhow...
One day I'll get those stinkin' photos up that I keep taking!
xo,
Heather
It was so surreal to walk back in - a year later. The smells, the sounds, the door where we would wait and wait to go into the NICU...the dark corner I'd be happy to never see again on the personal side of things - professional? who knows... There were plenty of nurses there who knew our story - who contributed immensely to our babies' success. We were so proud to hear, "they look so good!" over and over.
Brent and I stopped at a little patio bar and grill on our way home for a quick bite to eat. With a baby on each of our laps, we took a little time to chat, giggle, smile, and enjoy that moment - the one in which we were all there, all healthy, all ok.
As we tucked our precious bundles to bed that night, we stared a little longer than usual, smiled a little larger than usual, and sighed a little louder than usual at our 3 sweet angels- 2 snug in their beds and one safe in our hearts- how lucky lucky lucky we are.
We have tons to do for the weekend as our families are both coming out to enjoy the blessing and Kuylen's afternoon balloon release. Of course we won't get it all done, and I will have to just let go of the unimportant things as I've learned to do by the hardest. But, we can try anyhow...
One day I'll get those stinkin' photos up that I keep taking!
xo,
Heather
A Letter From Dad
To my dearest Kuylen,
I still can not get over that it has been a year since you, Mary Louise and David were born on the evening of Sunday April 19, 2009. This year has been tough without you here. I miss you my little jelly bean. I feel as if a part of me is missing. I think of you every day, and that is what helps me get through the tough days. I miss that I will never have the chance to see you smile, laugh, and cry with your first broken heart. I will miss not being able to teach you to cast a fishing pole, throw a baseball, kick a football, or hit a fastball. I will never have the chance to be a dad to you and help you grow into a handsome young man with honor and dignity.
I do have a request for you. Please help your sister and brother as they grow up. Please be their guardian angel and help lead them away from danger, and to stand up for what is good and moral. I am going to need help, because if they are like me they will always do the opposite of what I suggest or warn against. I am counting on your help with this.
I hope you have found your grandfather David, and your great grandparents, Mommom, Poppop,Grandma Jeanne, Grandpa Charles, and the rest of your family. Tell God I am still bitter he took you from us so sudden and soon, but I understand that he has a bigger plan for you.
Son, I just want to tell you that have been a huge inspiration to me, and I am lucky to have had those few days with you. You are the strongest little man to fight so hard to be with us. I will always cherish our 5 days. I love you Kuylen Stafford LeBlanc, and you will always be in my heart.
Love,
Dad
I still can not get over that it has been a year since you, Mary Louise and David were born on the evening of Sunday April 19, 2009. This year has been tough without you here. I miss you my little jelly bean. I feel as if a part of me is missing. I think of you every day, and that is what helps me get through the tough days. I miss that I will never have the chance to see you smile, laugh, and cry with your first broken heart. I will miss not being able to teach you to cast a fishing pole, throw a baseball, kick a football, or hit a fastball. I will never have the chance to be a dad to you and help you grow into a handsome young man with honor and dignity.
I do have a request for you. Please help your sister and brother as they grow up. Please be their guardian angel and help lead them away from danger, and to stand up for what is good and moral. I am going to need help, because if they are like me they will always do the opposite of what I suggest or warn against. I am counting on your help with this.
I hope you have found your grandfather David, and your great grandparents, Mommom, Poppop,Grandma Jeanne, Grandpa Charles, and the rest of your family. Tell God I am still bitter he took you from us so sudden and soon, but I understand that he has a bigger plan for you.
Son, I just want to tell you that have been a huge inspiration to me, and I am lucky to have had those few days with you. You are the strongest little man to fight so hard to be with us. I will always cherish our 5 days. I love you Kuylen Stafford LeBlanc, and you will always be in my heart.
Love,
Dad
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