Flowers, flowers everywhere!

On June 1st, after Donavyn got out of school, I got an idea to do something fun. My cousin contributed to that with her blog and fun craft things she does with her boys. For those of you that know my son, he likes to be included in EVERYTHING, and if he is not he will butt his way in until he is part of it. This project is a great way to use up those old, empty milk jugs...

You will need:
plastic milk jugs
glue
construction paper
scissors
markers
any embellishments you may want to include






First cut the jugs off right below the handle. Wash the icky milk smell out and dry them very well.






Cut your construction paper to the height of the cut down jug and cover with glue, place the paper around the jug.

Decorate the paper any way that you want, it might be wise to add stickers to the paper seams
so that it will not separate from the jug.


Add some dirt and seeds to the jugs and put them in sunlight. Make sure to water them everyday so they grow.

Now we are off to bake some yummy bread! We'll be making Amish white bread.

Ingredients:

2c warm water(110*F)
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups of flour

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about one hour.
3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
4. Bake at 350* F for 30 minutes.


Have fun!

Summer break here we come!

Today was kindergarten graduation here. Donavyn's last day of school is tomorrow, June 1st. He looked so cute in his little paper cap. They even gave him a diploma.

I was inspired today by my cousin Nina. She is a teacher and has a blog on here that I'm following. I got an idea to start a summer activity binder with all sorts of neat and fun things for the kids and I to do. So far I only have seven craft things to do. I'm looking for more stuff to put in there and am also typing up a daily/weekly schedule that has a day set aside for cleaning and such. Hopefully it will work.

I  also have something to be proud of. I quit smoking. It's only been about 2, almost 3, weeks but it's a start. It's hard. There are days where I am pretty cranky and want a cigarette so bad but then I think about playing outside with my kids and being able to breathe properly. It gets me through.

I have some goals too for the summer. I want to start working out and trying to lose some weight. Not quite sure how I will go about that but once I do I will track that.

Today has been quite a busy day and everyone besides me is sleeping. I think I'll do a few things around the house quick and head to bed myself.

Update...3 years later!

Just found my blog. Imagine that! I'm hoping I will be able to keep up with it now.

Emma and Aubrey are 3 years and 4 months old. We recently had a HUGE scare with them where they were in the hospital for a few days. On Sunday, April 15, 2012 we left home to go grocery shopping. The girls seemed a little out of it but we didn't really think much of it, figured they were just getting sick. On the way into town they were acting sleepy but asking for food so we stopped at McDonald's to get some food for them then headed to the gas station down the road. They were acting super thirsty the whole time. Once we got to the gas station I went in back to give the girls their food and they didn't want it, they just wanted their cups. They NEVER turn down french fries. I also noticed Aubrey felt cold and her hands were shaking really bad. I wrapped her in her blanket and figured she was cold or something. When Adam came out of the gas station he opened the back door to fill the girls cups and noticed Emma was shaking as well and Aubrey's hands and feet were discolored. We then made the decision to take them to the walk-in. We got there and explained what was wrong and they took us to the ER right away. After blood tests, xrays, and a urine test they told us that their blood glucose levels were in the high 300s and then asked if we preferred Marshfield or Wausau hospital more. I was confused but told them Wausau as Adam's insurance prefers Aspirus affiliated hospitals. So they called down to Wausau then told us they had to send us to Marshfield because Wausau didn't have a properly equipped Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. WHAT? You are sending my children where??? That's all I could think. Then I started to cry as they said they would get the ambulance crew to help get the girls ready. The girls had eaten by this time and were acting like their normal selves but they still needed to be seen. The ambulance crew told me that it would probably be easier to transport them in the ambulance in their carseats and sent me to get them. Adam stayed with the girls and I walked out in the lobby where my parents were and broke down. I was so scared. Mom had Aubrey at this time since they were prepping Emma and figured hooking up IVs would be easier on both of them if they didn't see the other cry. We all went outside and Dad helped me with the seats. We finished getting prepped to go to the PICU and I called my mother-in-law and step mother-in-law while my dad called my grandma. Then we headed out. We were in the Medford ER for roughly 3 hours. I rode down in the ambulance with the girls and Adam followed behind. That ride was hard but the ambulance crew kept me talking about stuff to keep my mind off of what was going on. We got to the PICU at 9pm and Adam arrived shortly after. The ambulance crew stayed until we were all settled in. I hugged them all and cried as I thanked them for being so wonderful. That night was hard on all of us as the girls were monitored every hour. They hooked them up to insulin and checked their sugar levels every hour. They were allowed at first to have some water as they were so thirsty. Then later one of the nurses melted down some sugar free popsicles for them. Adam and I left for a little while and walked around Walmart after the girls had fallen asleep, we hated leaving them but we needed something to eat and needed some air. We were both very stressed out. We got back and I took a shower and we sat in the family room and ate. We went back in by the girls and tried to sleep a little. Monday morning the doctors said the girls could eat! Emma ate no problem, Aubrey threw a tantrum but finally ate. Then some doctors came in and told us that after lunch we could move out of PICU and go to the regular pediatric unit as the girls sugars were in a normal range by then. Once we got there my parents and Donavyn got there and Mom, Emma, Vyn, and I walked around while Dad and Adam stayed with Aubrey. It was nice to walk around. We met with a few more doctors to discuss the girls and then were told that if morning sugar checks were fine we could go home on Tuesday. Tuesday before leaving we were given blood glucose meters and shown how to use them. For two weeks after that we had to take their sugar readings 4 times a day, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime.

Two weeks after their hospitalization we met with a pediatric endocrinologist, or a pediatric doctor that deals with diabetic children. She said because of their readings she didn't think we had to check them anymore unless we noticed the same signs as before in them. We were so happy! She also was concerned about how tiny they are, Emma at the time was 28lbs and Aubrey was 26lbs. Both girls come up to my waist. So they are tall but skinny. That mixed with some developmental issues(speech problems and they don't run)had the doctor schedule us to meet with a genetic counselor. So in August we get to see the pediatrician again as well as a geneticist.

So far everything is fine and the girls are normal...well as normal as they can be!

first appointment!

Ok so the girls had their first appointment today. Upon discharge on 1/9 Aubrey was 5lbs 12.8oz and 18inches. She is now 6lbs 3oz and 18 1/2 inches. Emmalee was 5lbs 14.6oz and 17 1/2 inches. She is now 6lbs 2oz and 19inches. So the have grown quite a bit since birth. They eat every 2 to 3 hours usually and take between 2 to 4oz every time. Some preemie clothes are too small and some 0-3month clothes are too big. Gerber 0-3mo onesies seem to fit them the best out of everything. We found a big way to tell them apart. Emmalee has a small hemangioma on her back. It's dark red but isn't raised. There are other ways to tell them apart too though. Like Emma is lighter and has chubbier cheeks. Aubrey has a bit of an upturned nose and has a longer face. Otherwise there is no difference really.

Home!!!!

After only 11 days in the NICU the girls are home. They came home on Friday, January 9th. They are doing very well. It's not as hard as I thought it would be with the girls and Donavyn. My mom has been here to help today and yesterday but she's mostly here for Donavyn. The girls sleep a lot and eat a lot. They have been waking about every 2 to 3 hours and eating 2 to 3 ounces at a time. They have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so we'll see how big they are now. They are both longer now though, that's noticeable. Aubrey likes to roll on her side and sleep. It's cute. We will go in to check on them and see her on her side so we put her on her back and a few minutes later she's back on her side. They are noisy eaters and sleepers, constantly grunting and groaning.

Donavyn is a pretty good big brother. He needs reminding to be careful with the babies but he's always trying to help. He likes to hold the bottle when we are feeding the girls sometimes. He does get jealous at times but not too bad.

Well time to stop for now, time to feed Emmalee and then pump. I will put some pictures up soon. Or if you have facebook or are from babyfit there are pictures on my profile.

Emmalee and Aubrey

Good news!!!!

Emmalee is off the IV just like Aubrey is. Also they don't have CPAPs anymore! All they are in there for now is their apnea. As soon as they don't have anymore apnea spells then they can come home. They are being fed on demand now so when they eat it is how much they want when they want it. They have been eating up to about 2 oz each.

Emmalee without her CPAP

Aubrey without her CPAP

Great news!

Woohoo they got moved to beds yesterday!!!! No more isoletes!!!! They have been taking all of their feeds by bottle now. Aubrey got her IV out today too! Emma still has hers but should get it out soon. They are completely off oxygen and only on room air. They still have their canulas to help them get extra room air. They have had a couple apnea spells but nothing too bad and they always come out of them right away. Emma is at 40CCs and Aubrey is at 38CCs of BM. That is roughly 1 and a half ounces. They are good eaters. Emma guzzles hers down but Aubrey takes her time. Iam pumping roughly 10 ounces now. They have been regulating their body temperatures very well. So now it's just a matter of time before they come home.

Emmalee in her bed

Aubrey in her bed