Congratulations, Fletcher!

We went to Iowa City for Fletcher's baptism. It was a great weekend! Cael and Flynn had a great time together...they definitely act like brothers! Here are several pictures of the weekend...

Playing dress up...Cael the firefighter


Pajama party!!


Looks like Kiera just fell asleep against Fletcher...


Cael loved holding onto Fletcher


The boys finally stopped moving...to watch "Thomas"
Evan Schulte and I are honored to be Fletcher's godparents!

Congratulations, Fletcher!!

The crib

We have officially transitioned Kiera to the crib, in Cael's room. Looks like we are going to have to keep a close eye on them....I think Cael is starting to figure out that he could crawl into the crib if he wants to! One of these days we will come into the room in the morning to find Cael in the crib with her...it's only a matter of time!Don't they have the same facial expression? They are beginning to look more alike!

Kiera is watching Cael's every move!!

A proud big brother!!

Finally...we're back

Ok, so it took me a really LONG time to get into a routine apparently!! Sorry about that! This first month back to work has been a whirl-wind experience!! The kids are doing well at daycare...they are sharing everything, including germs! Last Monday we made an appointment with the pediatrician for Kiera for several reasons (she has extremely sensitive skin, cradle cap that was oozing, not sleeping at night (thinking ear infection), etc). Well, last minute I made an appointment for Cael because he had a cough...again, more to just check out his ears to make sure he didn't have an ear infection. Come to find out, Cael had croup, and neither kid had an ear infection. Cael was put on Prednisone and Kiera was put on a steroid ointment for her skin. Cael says "no like it mommy" when referring to the Prednisone...not sure if he ever got a full dose of medicine before spitting it all back out.

A week later, the kids are much better. Cael doesn't have the cough anymore, and Kiera is actually sleeping MUCH better, and her skin is definitely improved!! Jonathan, however, came down with a pretty bad cold which lasted 2-3 days (he is much better now). Somehow (knock on wood) I am doing pretty good.

Yesterday we took Kiera in for her 4-month appointment (a little early, but I had the day off, so we had to take advantage of it). She is definitely growing!!! She weighs 13 lb 12 oz (64%ile) and is 25" long (86%ile). She certainly didn't get that height from me!! Before we left, I just asked the pediatrician how often we should bring Cael in for periodic ear checks, or anything, since his next check up isn't until 3 years old. So, Dr. Berry took a look into Cael's ears and low and behold...he has a bilateral ear infection! SHOOT!! I thought we were going to make a whole winter without one!! Cael only has 1 tube left, and the ear without the tube is more inflamed. So, again we go in for Kiera and Cael is the one that should have been in! Cael is taking the Amoxicillan much better...at first saying "no medicine, no like it"...after I had him lick it he says "Mmmm...I like it" and he is taking it like a champ! He is actually calling it his medicine juice!! Funny boy, and he will tell you that "I'm funny".

As for me...work has been going well! I had yesterday and today off because I work this weekend, and then the following 5 days. When I was on maternity leave, the weekend rotation changed so we are working every 4th weekend, but we get 2 comp days around the weekend we work, so we will be working 7 days in a row. Nobody likes it, and everyone complains about it, but to look at the positive, at least we have jobs!!

Hopefully everyone is doing well!! Have a great day and weekend!!

Random pictures of the kiddos...

Kiera is learning a lot from her big brother...good or bad?

Trying to get back into a routine

Kiera started daycare with Cael on Monday, and it seems to have gone pretty well! Cael said "it was fun", so I guess it must not have been too bad! She was pretty exhausted yesterday when we got home from daycare, and slept pretty well last night!

Cael and Kiera are now sharing a room. We decided to brave it out, and see what happens. We put Kiera down after Cael is asleep, and try to get to Kiera before she starts crying too loudly and wakes Cael in the middle of the night. It seems to be going pretty well, with Kiera getting up once a night to eat...not bad! I can handle that when I go back to work. However, when they both wake up in the night and "need" mommy, that is more difficult. The other morning, Cael woke up before Kiera and said "baby awake?" as he was standing on the base of the crib looking in at her. No, she wasn't awake, but she woke up very quickly after!

I return to work on Thursday, and kind of looking forward to it, but kind of not! I am finding it difficult to get out of bed when the kids are both still sleeping, but that is going to have to change! I will want to get up before them, I just need to force myself to do it! My time home with the kids has been amazing, and something I will cherish forever (12 weeks went way too fast!) I am looking forward to the kids getting into a routine of going to daycare to play with other kids full time. I am not looking forward to the new weekend rotation (every 4th weekend, the full weekend), but I guess it comes with working in a hospital!

Kiera likes to be in the bathroom during Cael's baths...must be the warm temperature!

Go Packers Go! Cael loved being able to watch TV while eating...very special treat! Our own Super Bowl party!!

Cael and the big boy bed-part 2

Getting Cael to take a nap in the big boy bed is a different challenge. Not sure if it is the daylight or what, but Cael usually takes at least 90 minutes to go to lay down on his bed and go to sleep. He doesn't protest too much, usually. I was watching him on the video monitor, and couldn't see him, but I couldn't hear him either, so I figured things were good. Well, when I opened the door to wake him up, this is what I saw! He emptied out the diaper drawer, and his clothes drawer (he left Kiera's alone thankfully). Thankfully he didn't open up the wipes containers and throw those around! Notice he is sleeping nice and soundly in his bed! Yes, he did help me clean up!

Kiera, the "princess"

Kiera is proving to be the little "princess" of the family. (Cael may call her princess sometimes, too). My goal before I go back to work is to have Kiera in the crib in Cael's room...not sure we can do it, but we are going to try! Right now, we have Kiera sleeping in the pack n play in the living room (no longer in our room) to see how she does before we put her in Cael's room. So far...she has done great! She is sleeping about 5 hours at a time...hopefully this keeps up!! She still likes to be swaddled...with the arms tucked in tight!

She doesn't sleep all day, don't worry, but she is so peaceful when she is sleeping!!
She is definitely smiling a lot, and loves to be talked to!



What a joy a little girl is!!!

Cael and the big boy bed!

Cael has been doing pretty well with the toddler bed. One morning, I heard him on the monitor, I looked at the screen, and didn't see him. Oh, no...I thought. Luckily, his door was still closed so I knew he was in there. Low and behold...here is what the little man was up to!


What a good boy!