Bella's raspy voice

We went to Children's Hospital this past Monday...not because of any emergency (thank goodness!), but to take Bella to an ENT. It was suggested to us that we take her to see if her rhaspy voice was being caused by nodules.

So...we took her and the doctor wanted to scope her throat. We had been warned that would probably happen so WE were prepared. Bella, on the other hand, was NOT. She didn't like the doctor to check her ears and even asked the nurse "Where did that boy go?" when he stepped out of the room.

Well, the actual scoping was pretty cool (other than the fact that my baby was screaming). The doctor showed us right then where the nodules were on her vocal cords and how they couldn't close because of them (they are like caluses). He said she also had reflux (news to us!), and that more than likely when she was a baby the reflux made her throat uncomfortable so she compensated by using her voice inappropriately--hence the rhaspy voice that I have come to love so much.

An hour and a half later, we left the hospital with a prescription for Zantac, a bunch of stickers, a stuffed puppy and a lollipop. We will need to get her voice therapy to teach her to use her voice appropriately. Looks like I need to get out my video camera to start recording as much of that sweet voice as I can now...before it is gone.

Oh, Christmas Tree; Oh Christmas Tree...How stressful you can BE!

A few weeks ago, I went to a ladies' event at church focused on making the holidays less-stressed and more fun. One of the things that was mentioned was letting the children be more involved with the festivities...for example, decorating the Christmas tree. I had always taken that task for myself because...well...I can be a little OCD about how it looks in the end. But this year, I decided to go with the flow--I let the girls decorate it how they see fit (and turn my head when the ornaments get put on the same 3 branches...).

My first order of business was to get 2 hat boxes to put each girls' ornaments in... That way, they can be in charge each year of putting up, and taking down their own ornaments. I will be in charge of any extra-special ones I don't want broken, but for the most part, they will be THEIR ornaments to take care of. I found some fun, funky pink and green boxes at Hobby Lobby and started sorting ornaments. The girls were so excited to have their own set (even though Liv had a TON more than Bella did since she's had more Christmases than her sister...).

I also bought a pre-lit, hinged tree. Before, it would take us over an hour to assemble our old tree and another 1-2 hours to put up lights. This year, it literally took 15 minutes!! Ya-Hoo!!!

Then the girls put up the ornaments. And just like I figured, Bella put all her ornaments on the same 3 branches...and I loved it! I remembered when the lady that spoke at the luncheon said to cherish when the ornaments are all at the bottom of the tree--because when the little ones grow up, it won't look the same... Since I have been having a hard time with Bella getting older it is a great way to cherish (and remember) the little hands that decorated my tree this year.




Then, in her mother's ways, Olivia asked if she could spread Bella's ornaments out... LOL! I told her "No Way! We are leaving them right where you both put them!"

One more tradition we have is for the girls to one ornament that represents their year. This year, of course, it is DANCE, DANCE, DANCE! Bella's is a little ballerina since she started dance this year, and Livie's is a dancer with pink and white since they won National's this year. I still need to get Bella a 'Hope' ornament though. Each year her ornament usually is one that says "Hope" somewhere on it (because of her middle name) and I want her to have a tree of Hope some day when she grows up... Maybe Liv will have a tree of dance. Literally, over half of her box was full of dance ornaments already!

A Lost Art

A few weeks ago we attended a birthday party for one of the girls' neighborhood friends at a skating rink. I was thrilled when they said that even the adults were to skate! I LOVE roller skating (even though I haven't been in a skating rink in over 10 years!)

Well, we all got in our skates...even Bella (we had the tiny skates' wheels tightened so they wouldn't roll very fast) and went out on the floor. I was pretty bummed the disco ball wasn't going, and no one would come do the hokey pokey with me in the center of the floor...(yes, I am a child of the 80's) but other than that, it was SO much fun!




And then I got to thinking about how lively skating rinks used to be. Don't you remember the carpeted walls, pin ball machines, nasty bathrooms with tile floors and metal plates for mirrors, the round mushroom-looking benches and the concession stands with pickles!?! I even went to a birthday party once and they were showing music videos on the wall (literally, the entire wall was the video--at the time, it was awesome!) And should I mention the video they were playing was 'Thriller'? LOL. At that party they also had these triangular schooters that had handlebars you would put your feet on and move them side to side to propell yourself. Then they had ramps in the corners...oh MY what fun!

Luckily, Liv had a great time too and is thinking about a skating party for her next birthday. Maybe I'll get to skate again... (if so, I'll bring my REAL camera. These were taken with my iPhone so they aren't the greatest...)

One more thing about 3...

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... Since Bella's birthday was on a Monday this year, she got to see everyone at dance and tell them it was her birthday. Well...Mrs. Karen and Mrs. Julie changed the song "...this is my right hand..." to "...this is my right birthday hand...this is my left birthday hand..." just for her! It was so cute! Then, instead of the usual star she gets on her hand for doing a good job, they made her a birthday cake with 3 candles. How special she felt!!

The Big Three!

I couldn't decide what I was going to do for Bella's birthday party this year. I really wanted to have a big gymnastics party, but when I called to schedule it, they didn't have her date available due to a gymnastics meet.... So, I decided we'd keep it small at the house with just family, have dinner and make smores outside. (Why spend more when I don't have too, huh?)

Well, a few days before her birthday, my dad said he'd like to come out for the party. Cool! So, we continued with our 'family' party until the weather got cold (and bad). The day of the party, Brian and I discussed our options and decided it would be fun to take everyone to Playtime Pizza. They had a walk-in party package that gave us food, play cards for everyone and one 'big' attraction (like lazer tag, go-karts, etc...). We called everyone and made the switch hours before it was to begin.

So at 4:00, we got to Playtime Pizza. It was so loud and crazy in there! Wow! But it was really neat. The food was pretty decent and there was so much to do! We got 10 of the $10 playcards so we all got to do all kinds of games. Brian, Liv, Belle, and my dad (now, affectionately called "Dude-Dad" by Belle) went to do the go-karts. They all had a great time. I was saving my 'attraction' fee for lazer tag. Emily, Justin, and I went to sign up for a time. I had never done that before, and was afraid I wouldn't like it since I don't like anyone to chase me (ever)...but I absolutely LOVED it!!













Bella opened her gifts and got some great things! Some of them were a parachute, ball hopper, dance-camera, princess pillow, ABC learning desk, umbrella, boots, etc... So much fun!





Then, Brian and I took the girls on the bumper cars. We were trying to use up all the passes (although I don't think we actually did...). Olivia was barely tall enough to ride alone, and Bella rode with me. She did not enjoy it at all. She cried when people bumped into us (not to mention, everytime someone did, she bumped her mouth on the bar!) I kept us away from the others and she was ready to get out (and go home...) when we were done. It was late and the babies were tired. But all in all, a good party!



And best of all...my house stayed clean. No mess there at all! Yeah!

Happy Halloween!

We had a fun Halloween this past weekend! Bella got to wear her costume to school for their little party. Then we came home and got Livie dressed in her cheerleading costume and went to eat. We met the Bewley family at the new Larry's Pizza (YUM!), and headed out to the Fall Festival at our church. My mom also met us there and the children had a great time. There were a lot of blown up-bouncy things and even a climbing wall for the older kids. Emily and Justin came with Cooper after a little while. The weather was perfect...and we all had a good time.

Then, we came home to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood a little before bedtime. I was not feeling very good (allergies/sinus 'stuff') so I was ready to get home and in bed! But it was a great night. Not much candy to speak of (yea!)and sleepy kids. What could be better? Ha!



Olivia was able to do all of the jumpy-things. Bella tried, but she was so little, she couldn't get up the climbing parts to go down the slides...even with help.


Bella loved the toddler-jumpy thing with balls inside it. I couldn't keep her out of it! But I did talk her into playing a few games...



Can you believe it? We actually got one shot of all the grandkids! That NEVER happens!


Happy Boy, Cooper as Handy Manny.


Brian took Liv around to do the 'big kid' stuff so I didn't see them most of the evening. I stayed with Belle and the rest of the family.


Bella LOVES her Uncle JJ!


We ran into the Schnaitman's while we were there!


Cooper got scared by loud noises a few times. He really did have fun. I just thought this was an adorable 'pitiful' face from him. :)


Liv waited in line to climb the wall again this year. Bella stood watching at the fence. It was so cute.

Such a stinker!

Our Bella sure is cute, but BOY she is... Um, what is the right word for it? Creative? Adventurous? Ha! Well, Sunday afternoon, the girls were playing out in the front yard with a neighbor (which they rarely do). A few minutes later, Olivia runs in saying Bella is in Brian's car. What?

Well, we go outside to find this...



Apparently, Brian had left his car unlocked and she climbed in the driver's seat, hooked the seatbelt, and started working his iPod! What an observant child!



I can't decide if I should take this as a sign of a genius...or a Wild Child! Either way, I think she is going to keep us on our toes for the rest of her raisin'. What do you think?

New Addition!

Last Sunday I started thinking about Olivia getting her ears pierced. Brian has wanted it done for a long time, but I wanted her to wait until she could take care of them. We talked about it and decided it would be a good responsibility-building activity. (I also had in the back of my head that it would be so much easier on her to have pierced earrings for competition than the clip-on ones that she can't stand because they hurt her ears...)

So, after lunch, we went to the mall and strolled into Claire's. We asked her about getting her ears pierced and she said "NO!" (And it didn't help that a well-meaning mom standing near us told her it was like a shot, only a little better... Don't EVER say that to my child!!) However, she kept picking out earrings. Well, to make a VERY long story short, we left the mall with ears still in tact.

She and I talked about it at home. She said she did want it done, but was afraid it would hurt. We talked and all of the sudden she decided she would do it right then. So, we got our shoes, and she and I went back to the mall.

When we got back to Claire's there was two other girls (older) getting theirs done as well. I was afraid for Olivia to watch them because I wasn't sure if she had actually thought through how the earring was going to GET in her ear and didn't want to leave the store AGAIN...

When it was Olivia's turn, she was brave and excited. The girls marked her ears and very quickly pierced them (at the same time). Olivia just said "Ow!" loudly, and then laughed. They asked her if it hurt and she said no.

She saw herself in the mirror and loved it. She is so proud of her earrings. She tells everyone now that, "My mom said I have been taking good care of my glasses so now I can get my ears pierced". And she has done a very good job making sure to treat them daily.

All of these pictures were taking with my iPhone. Not great quality, but I'd say I got some good expressions, wouldn't you?

As of today... (an update)

So here we are on the 9th of October. I have so much to update you all on that I thought I'd put it all in one post.



Fall has come... It is my absolute favorite! One thing I love about it is a 'fall' cleaning/organizing wave I get every year. This year, I also included a visit from a decorator for furniture rearrangement. He came last week and I was pleased with his work. I'll attach a picture when I finish accessorising the room.

Work has gotten a little bit better. I have yet to have a visit from administration, but I have had other visitors watch and were pleased with what they saw... I am still nervous constantly, but I can only do my best and hope that is good enough. :)

Brian and I celebrated our TENTH wedding anniversary last weekend! I cannot believe it! (oh yeah, I did post about that earlier...)



Sweet Olivia... We are one step closer to getting an ADHD diagnosis. Her teacher and I both have filled out forms that indicate ADHD tendencies. The doctor even noticed she was all over the place while in the dr's office. She has to go for a follow up hearing screening at the audiologist at Children's Hospital, but I am sure that will be fine. Her grades are much better (but I am sure it is because her teacher is wonderful and understanding). However, this girl can SPELL!! She has been getting 110% and 120% on her spelling tests...and her tests are HARD! She can spell Mississippi, friends, learn, first, people and other 'patterned' words (like short 'a' or 'fl' blends). We are so proud of her! She is also on a mini Pom Pom team at school. It is a club she is in in the afternoons. I think she will be in a parade in December...



Then there is our adorable Bella. She has gone to dance class several times now on her own and loves it! She thinks she needs her dance bag every time we get in the car...even when her class is only on Monday nights! She loves to sing/yell her ABCs and she can count to 10. She knows most of her colors (although she WANTS everything to be PINK). She loves to sing 5 Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed, and has gotten to where she rarely takes naps in the afternoon (wonderful!). She is still just as 'spunky' as ever, but now everything is about 'tap' or 'ballet shoes'. This next picture just about says it all.



The only other new thing going on (other than a nice striped snake under our back deck a few weeks ago...) is that we got a Wii today. How fun! We are having a blast with it. The girls both love it too!

My, how the time flies!

Yesterday was our TENTH wedding anniversary! TENTH! Oh MY! I told Brian it honestly feels like it has been only 3 or 4 years...tops. But then I think about how we have known about Olivia for SEVEN years and it blows my mind! Can time really pass so quickly? I guess tomorrow we'll be taking her to college and celebrating our 30th... ha!

So, how did we celebrate? My mom had the girls for the evening and we had a date planned (our cruise will be in March). First, we went to Cantina Laredo and then to the new IMAX theater to see Eagle Eye. We shopped a little before the movie and grabbed some ice cream. So much fun to just be with my honey. :) Then, (the best part of all) we slept in till 8:30!! I should mention that I slept till 8:30 and he slept until 10. Can anyone say lazy? Just kidding, honey!