We survived sickness!!!

So I am realizing that whenever I write something on the blog that it soon becomes untrue. For instance, last post I stated Addyson is still not sick. Last Wednesday Addyson got a runny nose which by Thursday afternoon had progressed to a terrible cold. Her eyes were so red and her nose was running constantly while she coughed and sneezed. By late Thursday afternoon she had a fever and had so much drainage that her tummy was upset. Since Addyson LOVES to eat on a normal day (ha!ha!) she wasn't even going to think about it when her tummy and the rest of her was feeling so yucky. But she was drinking her Pediasure and formula so I thought we were good. Late Thursday she decided to throw up anything that she drank. We tried apple juice and she would take a couple swallows but wasn't able to keep that down. Poor girl - I have never felt so bad for her as when she is dry heaving over the kitchen sink while I'm holding her. All those tubes in NICU didn't make me feel as bad as watching her feel so sick and seeing that I wasn't making it any better. We went to see the pediatrician Friday morning. She had ear infection and a bad cold. She got a shot, some antibiotic, and some of the coolest Phenergan - instead of a suppository it comes out of a syringe and you just rub it in her arm. This did wonders and by afternoon she was sipping pedialyte and we avoided a hospital stay for IV's. Only Addyson would end up in the hospital over a cold. But we didn't - we made it! She was feeling much better by Friday night and tons better by Saturday. We are still on antibiotic but her cold seems to be gone. We survived!!!! I can only imagine how rough this would have been at 2 months old - she definitely would have seen some hospital time. I'm so glad God kept them both well as long as he did.

Braden was such a good boy during all of this. He just played by himself and was so happy. I have realized lately just how laid back he is. He comes over for a hug if he falls down or gets too frustrated or scared, but most of the time he just smiles, laughs, and plays and enjoys life. His smiles have pushed me through so many rough patches with Addyson. What a blessing he is! On Thursday night when Addyson was feeling crummy she was laying on the chair sucking her thumb and Braden pulled himself up to the chair and reached out his hand to her and they were holding hands. It was the sweetest thing. Even though he knocks her over more times a day than I can count and steals her toys, he loves her so much. I think he has started to try to hug her. He just buries his head into her and sometimes grabs her with his arms. She's not impressed but I think he is really trying to love her. It is so cute.

So that's pretty much what I've been up to. Taking care of sick babies for 2 weeks straight. Boy am I glad for happy smiles and snotless noses. I'm sure they'll be back again soon but at least we made it past the first ones with God's help! And Dr. Patron - we are so thankful for a great pediatrician who works hard to understand Addyson!

I haven't gotten too many pictures but here are a few. Braden is obsessed with climbing into everything!

Here's the best picture I have of Addyson - proof she's feeling better!

All over the place . . .

Addyson and Braden are busy!!! Let's see what all they've been up to . . .

They are crawling and climbing over, under, through, and around everything. They can both climb a full flight of stairs flawlessly (with supervision of course!). I have found them all kinds of crazy places. Addyson is such a climber and loves to sit on top of whatever she can find. Braden does his fair share too.

Braden has his first cold. The first day was pretty rough. His eye was watering constantly and his nose was stuffy and running. He thought life was pretty tough. But since then he has dealt with it amazingly well and we are surviving. As much as we dreaded the day they would get sick at this point in their life it is sort of nice to just have it out of the way and be surviving it. He is starting to feel better and so far Addyson hasn't caught it yet which is just crazy as much slobber as they share!!!

Braden is down to 2 bottles a day. Addyson will continue to get bottles for a while to make sure she gets plenty of calories. They are also down to 2 naps a day.

Braden is taking a couple tiny steps with lots of encouragement. He stands by himself more often. Addyson is doing great walking behind things and getting more mobile all the time. They'll be walking all over before we know it!

We have been able to get out a little bit and take walks which we all love! Here they are after our walk this evening. They look so grown up!

They love standing at the window and watching the dogs.

Maddie, our black and white dog, had puppies. Both of them died. One lived 3 days. I was looking forward to the kids playing with her (we named her Marley) and then hopefully giving her away to a family to love. It was so sad to watch Maddie look for her puppies. She was so confused. And she and Chloe were not friends for a while but now they're the best of buddies again. I realized again that I'm such a softy for puppies.

That's all for now - just a couple cute pics.

Having Fun Turning 1

On Addyson and Braden's birthday we kept it fairly low key. It was a pretty day outside so Addyson and Braden both got their first horse rides with daddy and a stroller ride home. Since I would be making a whole bunch of cupcakes in a couple days I decided on birthday bread instead! Bread is one of Addyson's favorite things to eat so I put Rhode's rolls in a muffin tin and we put candles in those. They had a great time playing with their bread, especially Addyson. This girl can eat bread almost as good as Braden can eat applesauce!!

We managed to sing happy birthday to both of them through our happy tears. Several times lately we have just sat and watched them just crying for joy at how great they are and in disbelief that our tiny babies are 1 and moving all over the place. They used the birthday bibs we bought before they were born. We were praying they would both be around to use them so it was special to see them wear them. It was a good time for the 4 of us. Then it was time for baths - another of their favorite things. Check out Braden's curls!

Friday we headed to the pediatrician for their 1 year checkups. They're both developing fine. Addyson weighs 13 pounds 11.2 ounces and is 2 ft. 1 inches tall. Braden weighs 24 pounds 4 ounces and is 2 ft. 4.5 inches tall. Both weights are with all their clothes on - that was the first time for that!! They're such big kids now!! Addyson will go back for monthly weight checks now that the RSV and winter sickness seasons are winding down. Otherwise they're done until their 15 month checkup in June.

The big birthday party was on Saturday. All of their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and great-grandmas made it as well as some other special guests! We were so excited they could come and sad for our other hospital friends that had to work. Addyson surprisingly had a great time. While we were opening gifts she was busy playing and wandering away from mommy!! I was so proud of her!

They had a great time eating their cake. Braden picked it up and squished it in his hand and then pounded it with his hands. What a mess, but they had a wonderful time!

Here is the birthday cake and cupcakes I made them.

We had a great time celebrating God's precious gifts to us and their amazing first year. Here are some other pictures from their first birthday party.

Blowing out the birthday candle

Opening presents - thanks everyone!!

Trying out the chair

Braden relaxing in the chair. He has the remote; now all he needs is a cold beverage in the other hand!!!

Addyson showing you that she is 1 - totally an accident but boy does she look smart!!

Daddy and the birthday boy

Happy Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday Addyson and Braden!!!! Look how tiny you were 1 year ago!!!
What a special day this is. Your daddy and I are so happy to have you in our lives! What a first year you have had!!! It is so hard to believe that one year ago today we got to touch you both for the first time. We were SO happy to hear both of your cries in the operating room and were so surprised and excited that we got to see you before they took you to NICU. It wasn't exactly the way we would have picked for you to come into this world, but God has always had better plans for us then we've come up with for ourselves. We loved you then - we held your tiny fingers and thought you were so cute even behind all the tubes. Now we think you are cuter every day. You are so much fun and our lives would be boring without you. We didn't know we could love you so much but we love you more every day.

We have so much to be thankful for. We didn't know what to expect since everyone said that Addyson had to have something wrong because she couldn't just be that small. But our tiny little girl seems just perfect! We have made it a whole year without ANY sickness - no sniffles, no coughs, no hospital stays!!! You are both growing and developing just like you should. We have so much fun playing with you. Addyson, you have the most beautiful eyes and smile. All those fights trying to eat have made us the best of friends and I love being your mommy. You make me laugh every day. Braden, you are the snuggliest, funniest, most handsome little boy in the whole world. I love playing with you, holding you, and rocking you to sleep. I love being your mommy. You both get so excited when daddy comes home and he loves you so much too. I love watching you play together. We can't imagine life without either one of you and I'm so glad that God sent us you - and at the same time (even though there have been a few times that I told God that I didn't sign up for this. But boy am I glad he signed us up himself). I am so excited to see all the plans that he has for both of you as you grow and grow and grow!! Your daddy and I love you very much. Happy, happy birthday!!!!

Check back next week for birthday party pictures!

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1