I have not gotten better at updating this blog since going back to work. I made a New Year's resolution that I will update twice per month. Since I'm so far behind and this past month included Vivien's Birthday, a visit from the grandparents, the school program, Christmas, and a hospital stay, there will be no videos in this post. I might have to do another one with just videos because there are some real cute ones.
Vivien is now 5. She spent four days in the hospital last week with pneumonia. Silas has had multiple bouts of ear infections. He is 17 months and still not walking. ECI is supposed to come later in the month to assess him. Right around Christmas day, he started taking 2-3 unassisted steps. But he's still fighting the urge. We really think he is scared more so than lazy. He says what sound the doggy makes (FFFFFF) and what sound the chicken makes (bahbah). He says bye-bye and kisses everyone. He has become aggressively interested in nursing recently. He LOVES Speedy. He also loves to take a shower.
Here are some pictures from the month of December...
Our first snow this year was on December 3rd. Or was it the 2nd? See? I can't remember because I waited too long to post.
Vivien and I decorated the Christmas tree after Silas went to bed one night. The tree was very heavy with ornaments on the top. It took him a couple of days to really realize there were things on there he could pick off. Then he started sly maneuvers like pretending he was going to look at a book under the tree while reaching up with his other hand and pulling an ornament off.
My parents came for their annual weekly visit for Vivien's birthday. Here we are enjoying lasagna on their first night in town.
Bedtime with Grammy and Mama.
We did a felting party for Vivien's birthday this year. Amba owns a company called The Felting Pot. She teaches workshops. We thought it would be fun to make ornaments for the kids. The kids (and parents) seemed to have a lot of fun.
All of our guests' finished snowmen.
I have no idea.
Grampy was so excited when Silas crawled up and reached up for him on the 2nd day they were here. Grampy had just undergone his colostomy surgery right before Silas was born and suffered major neuropathy in his hands. It was hard for him to really hold Silas in the prior visits since he was born. This was the first time Grampy could really hold him well.
Vivien was class VIP on her birthday week, so she had Marvin the Monkey for a couple of days. Marvin helped her and Daddy make banana bread.
Grampy made some star ornaments for the kids to decorate. Even Silas made one.
Snuggling with Daddy before bed.
Vivien and Grammy shared a bed all week. Grammy is buried under there somewhere.
Silas enjoyed hanging out with his snack while Grampy worked on his computer.
Vivien's school Christmas program happened to fall on her birthday. She was so nervous leading up to it. Once she got up there, she did fantastic. We were so proud!
MommyJan brought over a suitcase filled with fun costume jewelry. The kids had so much fun playing in it.
Our dishwasher was who knows how old. We've lived in this house for 6 years and I'm pretty sure it wasn't very new when we bought the house. The thing is a piece of junk. We finally broke down and ordered another one to be delivered on the 24th. A few days after we ordered it, the front panel fell off of the old one. So we made our own Advent calendar on the dishwasher for the arrival of the new one.
Mom and I went to a painting class at a place in Frisco called Painting with a Twist. It was so fun!
Our second snow came on Christmas Eve. It snowed harder that I think I've seen in several years. We had a white Christmas for the first time in twenty-something years.
Santa brought Vivien the scooter she asked for.
He brought Silas a ride-on Tonka truck.
The LaGasse family (my step-family) has had this 1982 calendar circulating since....well, like 1988. What? Did you think I was going to say 1982? It is the gift that keeps on giving. And I got it this year. I can't believe that dreadful thing is still alive. I can't wait to think about who gets it next year. And I hope to give it to them in person.
Hey Silas, give Speedy a bone. Huh?
Before heading to Aunt Liza's f0r Christmas lunch, Vivien got to play in the snow for a bit.
Silas modeling all of his new gifts.
MommyJan was helping Silas work on his walking.
I don't even know what to say about this picture.
I love this precious boy.
My poor munchkin got sick Christmas night and had to be hospitalized 3 days later for pneumonia. She was in the hospital for 4 days. It was awful. At the same time, Silas was sick with a double ear infection. Jim and I had to swap places back and forth. I couldn't stay with Vivien at night because I had to be home to nurse Silas, so Jim stayed at night. I would hang out with her during the day. The very first night, it happened so suddenly that she had to be admitted. My friend, Kandice, came to stay with Silas so that I could go see her for a bit. MommyJan stayed the next two nights and helped us out tremendously. Silas had a vomiting spell on Wednesday night, and I was so grateful to have her here to help. We are very fortunate to have such good family and friends.
