Emilys and Abbys pics from Sept

EMILY ABBY SEPT PICS

MERRY CHRISTMAS~!

HO HO HO

Ok... so I havent updated this in awhile... When you get 3 emails in a space of about 1 hr then you know you better get your butt busy, right? Here's a cheat ... I emailed this to a friend of mine... and Im busy so Im gonna just copy n paste.

I havent updated the blog in awhile because I am working 3 jobs. No, you didnt read that wrong. I work about 10-15 hr at Childrens place.... about 4-8 hrs at Lane Bryant and about 2-4 hrs at the insurance agency. We needed money for the holidays and bills so I did what had to be done. I despise that I have to work this much because, while I do like to get some "adult" time.... I dont like leaving the care of my children for 20-25 hr a wk to someone else. Plus, because they are scattered hours its hard to get anything done. I will do that this week though... I have to take both girls to the Dr today--both caught a chest cold (this was today by the way and Emily has the start of bronchitis but Abby is just good ole sick).

Abby is talking! She says Hi, Bye Bye, Momma, Daddy, and That- (she points to things and says That...that...) and all three of us (Canio, me, and my M-I-L) thought she said, "whats that" a few times. She pulls herself up and creeps along things, she bounces in her johnny jumper like she is going to fly away. She eats EVERYTHING.. grilled cheese, cheese steak, bannanas, eggs, veggies, fruits, bagels-- I have yet to find anything she really doesnt like. SHe also blows raspberries and plays peek a boo. No words can tell you just how cute she is. She is so loving and so sweet. She loves to be snuggled, but also wants to be free to explore. She is really trying to do whatever Emily does and Emily has turned into her protector. She hushes her gently when she cries, likes to help put her to bed (but this is NOT helpful), and she plays with her.

Emily is getting SO big. She had her 3rd birthday and is going on 16 now. She started potty training and has the peeing down pat, we rarely have an accident. The "other" thing is another story. She just wont do it... I have coaxed her with hershey kisses, but that doesnt work every time. She is such a story teller. Currently we are stuck on stories about Santa and the "green guy".... we have NO idea who this green guy is...but she plays with him and makes up stories with him in it. Our dear friend Kim... or Aunt Kim as we call her has been so good to her in sending her good, wholesome videos and movies and music. Aunt Kim is her favorite because almost every VeggieTales thing she has (her current big kick) has come from Aunt Kim. (so aunt kim we love you and think of you every day but seldom get the chance to tell you...but I have choc.s to come your way hehehe)_

Emily likes singing now....shes doing great in church... has made a new friend... but may have to get some help w/ gross motor skills (jumping etc) as she is a little behind in that...but her vocab has got to equal a kindergardener if not 1st grader! And abby is following the same way.

We are NOT ready for Christmas. I have read some great articles... about Christmas and how it is the season of Angels... great thing.... i fyou want a copy let me know.

Ok a few quick pics and then off I go to work from 5:30-11:30 I loveyou all

Aug Pics

Budda Baby -

Like my shiner? Emily has a black eye!

You talkin to me?

And shes OUT! This is how Emily often looks when she naps in the car

"heheheheee Yea, I got my thumb... its all good!"

We have TEETH

Well, August has come and gone already. Who knew that having kids made time fly?? I started working back at the Children's Place this month. It has meant a lot of babysitting sharing with another friend of mine. It has been an adjustment but at just 2 days a week, we seem to be doing well with it so far. Abby is growing like a weed. She solidly fits in 6-9 mo now. She can grab at things and switch hands. On her belly she can roll to get what she wants and on her back she does this "arch the back and push with the heels" move that seems to get her around pretty good. She seems to constantly laugh at Emily and ALREADY tries to do what she does. And if you didnt guess by the title--we have teeth. Abby cut 2 teeth at the same time and I found them on Friday 8/17 (the first night of the Tomato festival). She is a hoot to watch. She giggles at just about anything and already does this "shy" smile. Her hair is still red. And I find it real funny how both sides of our family claim responsibility for it hehehe. Speaking of the Tomato Festival (a bazaare in Pittston PA where they actually have an even where people throw tomatoes at each other).... as I said, we went... and Emily just HAD to play the goldfish game (you know the ping-pong ball into a small tank game...where you win a little fish you know what live through the night?)....But luckily for us, shes not a good aim... so she lost.... not lucky for us that she is cute.... The owner of the game gave her a fish anyways because shes "just so cute". So we now have a fish that Emily insists we keep. I convince her that its going to go live with Angela's fish (a friend just got a small tank for her 2 girls). Neither Canio or I could really flush it. So it ended up in a disposible sippy cup and survived the night. Canio and Emily drove the fish to Angela's. Angela adopted "Bruno" (the shark from Nemo). However, sadly, Bruno passed on shortly after going to live there. And he took the rest of Angela's fish with him. Ooops! Emily is doing good. She is loving to play store. She sorts out things you can buy from her toys. She has a cup of "coinies" that she or you pay with. She knows all her diff. coins. She will tell you if it is used, or haggle you down in price. Its funny... and then she will say...thanks, come again. Canio started broadcasting HS football for Dunmore HIgh this past Friday. You can listen to the games at http://www.audiosportsonline.com/ then go to Football...then Dunmore High School Bucks. If you do tune in...he starts at 6:45pm on Fridays.... please let us know you are going to listen and he will send a hello. And....drum roll.... I GOT A VERY NICE DOUBLE STROLLER! And I love it! I even braved taking both the girls to the mall ..by myself... and we stayed PAST bedtime on Friday night because they were both so good in the stroller. A lady who works with me told me its like a "Freagin Hummer". It is big but so easy to access. Congrads to my friend AMY in NC who gave birth to a very CUTE little boy. I hope she believes me that the first 2 months are really hard but it just keeps getting easier. But as you can see from the video... Abby is just hanging out laughing....Emily comes by...Abby starts to cry. I guess Abby figures its just a matter of time. =) By the way...its grainy because its from our digital camera which is only 3 yrs old but is a dinosaur now.

Photos

Summer Update

Summer ....

WOW time is FLYING!

I can hardly believe that July is ending already. I dread winter so much that the mere thought of it makes my stomach do twists. When we first moved to PA it was a fear of driving in the snow. That has since been pushed aside by the fear of having Emily basically couped up inside for 4-5 months straight.

I am a little disappointed to say that we have yet to go swimming. Our neighbors got a pool this year but on the only day they offered us to swim--it downpoured 15 min later (before I could get everyone dressed). We had to cut out the Y swim lessons in an effort to save money on our budget and because they had switched pools for a few weeks and Emily didnt like the big, cold pool. I had hoped to take her swimming a lot more. The weeks it was nice, we were busy and the weeks we were free it was cold.

Our weather has been strange to say the least. Unbearably hot and humid and then two days later freezing like autumn. Today happens to be a hot day. Emily, Abby and I were out for about 40 minutes (sufficent for me to sweat - even under the boobs).

We really havent done anything extremely fun. We went cherry picking and that was great. We are so tight with money now that even a trip to the zoo is out. Friends gave us Hershey Park tickets that we used 2 Saturdays ago. The weather was great! Emily loved riding the rides...she had a BLAST! Abby enjoyed looking around but mostly enjoyed sleep. We also saw 3 innings of a baseball game (Emily got to run the bases after the game and LOVED IT). We spent a week at my sisters house in Warren PA. First half was great...dont ask about the second half. But I know for a fact now that I would win or at least be a finalist if a contest "Most Disfunctional Family" existed. Canio and I got to go to NY for 1/2 a day to see the Hill Cumorah Outdoor Pagent. It was a rushed trip to get there/get home...but we did enjoy it. It did however get frigid that night...

We are currently reading the Harry Potter book outloud at night once the kids are asleep. Its a great bonding time and we enjoy sharing our ideas about what is going to happen. (I told my brother in law how upset I got when he blurted out ----- lives!) ERR. I love the suspense.

Emily is starting to go pee and poop on the potty. Its going slow but she has now done is quite a lot. She has pooped twice and claims to have pee'd at least 7 times...but she isnt ready to give into it completely yet. She has started sleeping with a night light. This helped at first but now I dont know-- we are back to not sleeping. We will have to see. We got a tinkerbell one that spins, only to have the bulb burn out the 1st night (and sent me into a panic attack) and then moan the next night (sending Emily into a panic attack). I gave Emily a hair cut that is to DIE for. Its awesome. It is layered and it falls and frames her face beautifully. Yes, I will be cutting hair now for a charge! HEHE. Emily's last check up said she was 35.5" tall (almost 3 ft) and 30.3 lbs. She now eats ravoli (her fave), pizza, chicken nuggets, roast beef, turkey, french fries, bruschetta, onion rings (yes I said ONION rings) and after 2 yrs of trying--mashed potatoes and also hot dogs (as long as we call it ham...this is the same for HAM, and Bacon too). Her sayings are getting funnier than ever. She now likes Abby. She likes to pretend with dolls...or anything that maybe laying around (example-- the shampoo bottle is the "doctor" when she is taking a bath). She is trying to learn to color inside the lines. When she thinks I am hurt/sad/etc she will say... Its ok Honey. If you discipline her- she will say afterward... Are ya happy mommy? If you say no..she cries and says Please dont be mad at me mommy. The funniest thing of this week is when she wanted to clean the toilet (yes she is strange but she gets kicks from scrubbing the toilet) and as she first started cleaning the one she pooped in she sniffed and then said.... EEEWWEE Peee You. Cucky. Mom, dat smells like old poop.

Abby had her 4 mo checkup this week. (Time is flying there-- it seemed to take us forever to get to 4 mo w/ Emily and when I see Abby I am constantly shocked at what she can do). A friend said its because w/ the first you are waiting for them to hit milestones so it takes longer... with the second, you are just happy they are eating/pooping and sleeping, and with the 3rd you are just happy you can account for all 3. Abby is growing like a weed. She now wears 3-6 mo and easily fits 6 mo. She is 26" long (thats the 97%) and 14.5lbs (75%) and her head is 20" (95%). She is laughing, giggly and full of smiles. She only cries when hungy or tired or attacked by Emily. She goes to sleep without being fed, rocked, or held...but does need the binky but only for sleep! She loves her stuffed pig that she got in the hospital. And has now begun to notice EVERYTHING. She can grab things and play with them and she is teething. She likes to stand or be sitting up. Her hair is still red/auburn/or some call it strawberry blonde. My mom recently saw her and said she looked JUST like me and it made her feel like she was holding me. Oh and she talks....aaahhhh akkk and blows raspberries.

Here are some recent photos. if you want more photos email me.

We survived the hospital!

We are alive. We survived a combined 9 days in the hospital. I spent 5 days... Ive said to my family---they just dont stick an adult in the hospital for 5 days if you arent deathly ill. And those 5 days I would have rather been dead a few times...esp. the night my fever was 104.7. I have never coughed so hard, had my lungs hurt so badly, have such an intense sore throat, or have my body ache like I did during this virus. This was such a nasty virus that it made my liver stop functioning correctly and it enlarged my spleen. Talk about sick! I have true pity now for anyone with cancer as I can only imagine how one could be any sicker than I was. It all started when I FINALLY convinced my family doctor to send me for an outpatient chest x-ray. When I almost past-out and was shaking from high fever- they put me on a bed. Although that same quacky doctor told the nurses just to send me over to the office, Canio insisted I go to the ER. And I was first told it was just a cold, until they discovered my liver was inflamed (also known as hepatitus...but not the "bad" kinds).

With me in the hospital, we had to figure out what to do with our kids. My friend and live saver, Annie watched Abby 24/7 and I can honestly say the Lord comforted me so that I would not worry about Abby's care. Once Canio's parents returned from Europe on Saturday evening, Canios mom generously stayed all week to watch Emily. Emily on day 3 of my hospital stay ended up in the ER from throwing up. Personally I wouldnt have taken her to the ER, I would probably have just not given her anything to eat/drink for awhile because that poor kid really throws up once she starts. But she was checked out and sent home.

On day 5 of my stay (Tuesday), Annie brought Abby to spend a few hrs with me. The day before Abby had seen the dr about her red eyes (diagnosed w/ eye infection) When I saw how sick she looked I told the nurse I was leaving. The dr had thought I would be released on Tue (day 5) but had changed his mind saying he wanted me in at least one more day. However, I did get out on day 5 with a list of 5-6 medicines. We took Abby back to the Dr. that day, who said she should be fine and gave her an antibiotic. That afternoon she became so congested she could hardly breathe - so as I was packing her up to go to the ER, she started choking. I called 911. When they got to the house they whipped her into the ambulance and started oxygen and then transported her. The same amb. driver that we had when Emily had her seizures 2 yr ago was one of the responders....he remembered us. How sad is that? Anyways, despite me trying to explain to the ER doc that all her test would come back negative because she had the same mystery virus I had but that she should still be admitted....he refused to keep her stating that her tests came back negative. We went back to the Dr office and saw her reg. dr Wed morning. He admited her. He thought she would be in a day or so...get some fluids and get the congestion broken up. She ended up staying 4 days. She had a humidity tent and breathing treatments that helped. Her dr...Dr. Kile... figured out what we had... asked the hospital dr to test her....and indeed...mystery solved. Adenovirus. Nothing earth shattering but if you get allthe symptoms it can really kick your butt - esp. if you are an adult.

I am still weak. I dont realize it until I slow down at the end of the day and find my body aches so bad, it hurts to hold my head up. I still have a cough that hurts and I am still expelling phlem from my lungs. Abby is MUCH better. She is so cute.

Emily missed us, as we missed her. The first few days back she was an angel. She is not quite so great now but she is a LOT better than pre-hospitalization. She has even decided to start to try to use the potty.

The garden is in and watered...but that is about it. Canio is busy as ever as the fiscal year nears an end at his work. I am sure he is still tired too from work, playing with Emily and stopping in every day for an hour or so at the hospital.

My spelling stinks

Hope my English/grammar teacher never read this.......my spelling is awful..Especially like "brived" instead of bribed.

Family update

Hi all..

Well time is flying past us here. Seems like we just cant seem to keep up!

Here are some updates on us:

Canio---

He is busy busy busy. Not only has he been helpful to me around the house, but he now gives Emily a bath every night and puts her to bed 90% of the time. He also dug out the new garden spot (I did the last one) as we are moving our garden further back in our yard to give Emily more play area close to the house. The end of June marks the end of his work fiscal year - so he has been working hard to hit goals. Not to mention the WVIA auction will be coming up at the end of May. On Sat. they have their Knoebels Day. We (Emily, Abby, and I) may or may not go to Knoebels. I dont know if I can do 3 hr in the car by myself with them, because Canio has to go very early.

Me---

I am trying to adjust to 2 kids. I have good days and bad days. I scraped off the old paint off the one porch we have and then repainted it...because of the 2 kids, it only took me 1 1/2 wks to do this! UGH. We also have flowers to plant, but I have to get the weeds out first. I also repainted Emily's used (and dying of old age) swing set. I had one day off last week. My mother in law took Emily for the day (from 10:30am-6pm). It was a very needed day. Emily is still a challenge. I "fight" her to do just about everything all day long, 7 days a week. So it is tough to do anything. I needed a mental break and it made all the difference the rest of that week-- I had more patience, I had more energy, and I just felt refreshed. She came down this Monday too...but I was running from the dentist (had a filling) to therapy with Abby. I had enough time to stop to buy a laundry basket and then rush home. So this Monday was not the same (although if I had to take Emily with me I am sure it would have been even worse). Yesterday was a bad day. Emily woke up in a devilish mood...then found candy and after 20 min screaming, I gave her some. Meanwhile, Abby had a terrible screaming fit. My house was trashed after spending 2 days cleaning and Emily screamed every 5 min about whatever happened to catch her attention. Oh, and I had a killer migrane. Emily threw a fit and threw her goldfish to the floor and stomped on them because I was trying to chg Abby's diaper explosion while Abby screamed as if i had ripped her legs off. I put Emily on the couch for time out...and I set about cleaningu p the messes around the house. But not before calling Canio to tell him how awful everything was going and nag him about some things I wanted him to do. (He took it very well). When I was putting a glass cup back on our hutch, I dropped it... and of course, the GLASS on the HUTCH (not the cup) shattered! It was a RED letter day. But at least I did get to take a bath (a rare commodity). Other than that...really havent been doing anything or going anywhere which isnt great for my mood.

Emily--- Growing like a weed. She now is a wiz at the computer. She is really into Max and Ruby now and Curious George. She likes playing their games online. Our dvd player broke, so she has been watching movies on the computer. She recently got a new Veggie Tales movie from Aunt Kim (and she LOVES IT). I dont think she is old enough to "get" the msgs yet,but she does love the stories. She loves going for walks. She picks up rocks that she thinks are neat (ie gravel rocks of any variety), goes "ewe" if she finds a bug, likes to chase birds and bubbles, and especially likes our "bumpy road" (ie gravel alley). She is a real story teller. She recounts the day to Daddy when he gets home - complete with sound effects. For example... I got onthe computer and clicked and Mommy said thats enough and I said No and mommy said Im not happy with you and I said no and mommy said get down. And I cried. I said WAHHHHHHH. The end. (Periods placed where she actually takes a breath). But she is now playing Dollies. I have a new appreciation for why my sister Jen hated me growing up. She was forced to play "Dolls" all the time with me... We play dolls with the mini doll house she got for Easter, her pez dispensers, her McD toys, sticks, crackers, Mr. Potato Head arms, and of course.... our fingers. She is still into books but now she wants to "read" them to us to tell us the story. She keeps asking...whats that word? She is not so mean to Abby now... but has become protective of her when other kids are around. She is playing a lot with Abbys toys and I have decided, I dont care-if they break, they break.

Abby--- WOW she is SO big. She is growing expedientally (and no, I refuse to spell check to see if I spelled that word right!). She coos now. She says oooewww and gooewww. Smiles and even sort of giggled once. She is very alert and can follow an object back and forth (for about 4 wks now -which the doc says is early--great, another smart one that will challenge me mentally). Unlike Emily the first time in the swing she LOVED it. We have a little musical/light seat too that she has taken a liking to. She can already make it light up by hitting the toys. Something Emily didnt do til she was 3 mo. old. She has a love/hate relationship with the binky. During the day she needs it to go to sleep, but she hates sucking on it and would rather try for her thumb. She gets frustrated with it and will spit it out, then cry because she wants to suck...but press her lips if you try to give it back. She sleeps WONDERFUL. Goes to sleep at 8:30pm...wakes up at 4am. If I get her up to eat at say 11pm...she will STILL wake up at 4. But she doesnt really "wake" up...she mooches and whines a bit. I feed her, chg her diaper, and by then she is normally completely asleep again. She was diagnosed with Torticollis (tight neck muscles on one side that makes their head tilt and pull to one side) She also has one eye bigger (so they say), one ear, and one leg longer. She will have physical therapy twice a week for several weeks, then once a week/month, etc until probably she is 1 yr old. Left untreated, it can cause many problems. Already Abby's head is getting a flat spot on the side. The bad thing is the co-pay, 20.00 each visit. This modivates me to do her exercises at home!

So thats about it! Thats enough! I brived Emily with Marshmellows to be "allowed" to sit at the computer!

SHES HERE!

Abby is here! I went into WB General to be induced on 3/14/07 after having a great breakfast with Canio (per the docs orders) at Bob Evans. We arrived at 11:20am where we filled out paperwork, I got an IV and antibiotics, and had blood work done. At 2pm the doctor came and broke my water and slowly started pitocin. I got my first contraction at 2:30pm. At 2:40 the doc attached the internal heart monitor to Abby. At 4ish I got my epidural - though it took about 10-15 picks of the needle to get it in. The doc checked me at 5pm and I was 8cm. They checked me again at 6pm, and I was 9cm but stretchy so they had me try to push through a contraction. The doc said he would be back in 30 min. Again, wasnt quite ready. At 6:40 I called for the nurse (Allison) who said I was still only 9cm but stretched to 10. They called the doc back to the room and after pushing through 3 contractions, Abby was born at 6:51. Canio cut the cord! Abby immediately started crying (and didnt stop for at least an hour). They called out that she was 7lbs 11oz. Interesting because those numbers are reoccuring in our family.... Canios bd, my bd, Emily's bd...

She is beautiful. She's had a bad bout of jaundice....we went to the hospital every day for 7 days... then had one day off and went for another 4 days in a row. The day we didnt have to go for Abby - I fell down the stairs and hurt my tailbone and back so we went to the ER. It is very painful!

Abby sleeps like a dream! She gets up at 3:30am to feed. She is a WONDERFUL baby and we know that our family is truly blessed. Emily had some really rough times but we are already seeing that she is getting better....we still have a huge hill to climb but it is not fighting her 24/7 ( just 22/7 hehehe).

Here are some pictures!

Oh - our neighbors/friends/church/family have been great - gifts/food/phone calls for support. Which was needed because our little Abby was much smaller than they had told us to expect her to be (Canio had to run to Wal-Mart for a premie outfit for her hospital photo). We received such generous gifts... and for those of you with extra tight budgets...your generous gifts to Abby & Emily are very appreciated (you know who you are).