Wordless Wednesday: Poor sick baby

Poor K - this was her last week when she was really sick. Even though she felt like crap, she still attempted to say "Cheese" to me. Ahhh, K, you are too familiar with the camera!

IVF #2: we have the dates!!!

I just got off the phone with the schedule coordinator: We have the dates for our "tentative" egg retrieval (well, our anonymous donor's, that is!). The tentative date is.........*drum roll please*: September 23rd!! I start my meds (will go into detail later) on August 26, right in time for my new school year to start (oye), and have my first ultrasound to check my lining on September 17. It seems so far away, but we all know how fast the time will go.
Please pray for us to remain calm, cool, and collected. I need to focus on all the positives, especially reminding myself that all of this is not MY plan, and that I need let things fall into place as they are to be. In all honesty, I'm a bit disappointed that we're doing all of this smack dab in the beginning of my school year (as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher), but I must remember that family is my most important priority and not to let stress change my focus on all things BFP!

More details soon! I have to get going to my Reiki appointment!

Now Keifer's doing the Tango!!

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Keifer's doing the Rumba!

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Oh, I love Trash!

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

Lately, everytime we turn around, Keifer is digging in the garbage. It's somewhat cute, but also not so cute, especially when you turn around one day and she's taking a chomp out of a leftover tortilla chip from last night's dinner. Eewwww. The bag of salad she is seen lifting out here? Yeah, it was a full, closed bag that mama let go to waste *sigh, so bad of me*. Keifer had a ball carrying it around the living room last night for about 20 minutes before we went to Baby Ballroom. It really IS amazing how little things, like a bag from our garbage, can light up this girl's life. LOL.

ECSE Friends: Through the years.....

Our friendship began in college, back in 1994, but I don't have our "early years" together pics on the computer yet......I just thought it might be fun to reminisce with some older pictures from a few years ago...the only ones I could round up at this time.....

Here we are in 2004, out to eat as always....this time was at Big Bowl

This was when we spent the day shopping and the night taking advantage of our hotel's free happy hour! (2005)
Louise & Kris
A much skinnier me and Michelle
Last summer: school's out for the summer and the girls meet Keifer (2007)
Last month, out to eat again......good times, and good friends!

Fun with Friends up North (ECSE Girls)

Yesterday, CJ and I packed up K and the fur kids for Sauk Rapids, and spent the latter part of the afternoon into the late evening with my college girls and their families. It was a blast. We love spending time with these families and it's just a joy to watch all our kiddos learn to play with each other and grow into true friends as well. The real highlight of the day was watching Kris's 2 year old Anna, fall in love with Michelle's ONLY boy of the bunch, Jerry. Lucky dog, Jerry- in about 10 years he'll be in hog heaven since we all have girls! LOL. K had a ball and did so well. She really is a little fish and loved "splash splash splashing' with the others in both the kiddie pool and the big pool (that Trent JUST finished the deck for, right before we arrived - WAY TO GO, T!! ).

Here's some pics of our day together, unfortunately, we never were able to get all our kiddos lined up like we wanted, and I realized after we left, we didn't get our trademark pose of the four of us ECSE girls together. Well, that just means we'll have to get together sooner than later.....and I'm looking forward to our cruise in 8 years, ladies! LOL.

Keifer and Avery, enjoying a little splash time and jams to groove to (Avery was dancing) Anna enjoys her snack while Treble supervises the droppings she may provide him
K, Avery and Anna, all doing their own thing and learning about sharing
K enjoyed the big pool with her daddy: she REALLY loved driving the car floatie Anna jams out like a rock star
A year ago, Keifer and Avery were just little babies.......
..but now they are getting to be big girls and friends, too!

the "big" girls ....Madeline, Haley, Anna, and Natalie
The adults relax as the kids do their thing.....
Louise comforts a teething Avery

Kris cuddles her dream doll, 6 month old Emma
...and I enjoy snuggle time with....ANNA! (not K, she was already passed out upstairs in the P&P)
and here they are: future lovebirds? In Anna's mind, maybe? LOL. Anna & her beloved Jerry!

Spoonfuls of Soup

*K is currently upstairs in her crib supposedly going down for her afternoon nap. Today, before her AM nap, she could be heard (as she can be now) chatting to herself non-stop. NON-STOP. Saying "hi" to who -know-what (pics on the wall? books on the floor? toys on the shelf?). Dancing, too. I popped in this AM to see what she was doing and she was dancing in her crib to the mobile (on the side's) music. Yes, dancing. Standing up, holding on to the side, dancing back and forth. When she saw me, she lit up, delighted that I'd join her party. Ahhh, K, I love you: but SLEEP!

* Yesterday was hell on earth for K and I. She had a 102 fever most of the day. It was awful. I kept her home from daycare (thankfully) because she was warm, but she only got worse all day. She literally clung to me all day, and slept most of the AM and early afternoon on my chest. It was the sweetest sensation; I actually envisioned carrying her inside me when holding her to my front all AM. She was sweaty and snotty and crying off-and-on. Her darn molars are coming in, and with the summer cold she's caught, she was a mess. Luckily, her fever appeared to break after her afternoon nap, as she woke up from that completely soaked (as if she'd taken a bath) from head to toe. Poor girl. She is in much better spirits today, in fact, so much better she's literally dancing in bed.

* CJ and I re-watched Batman Begins last night, as we are both super stoked about going to see The Dark Knight on the IMAX screen at our zoo (hopefully next week some time). I'm so glad we re-watched this, as I had forgotten much of the storyline, and forgot how it ended: with a tie-in to the Dark Knight. Christian Bale really is an amazing actor, and watching it, I kept wondering: does he have fake front teeth? LOL. Seriously, does anyone know? I'm excited to see how Maggie Gyllenhaal does as "Rachel", who was initially played by a lackluster Katie (excuse me, Kate) Holmes in the first installment. I'd much prefer Maggie over Kate any day in any movie.

*Speaking of movies, always a favorite subject for me, while I was home last weekend for Papa's funeral, I caught The Sixth Sense on cable one night. I hadn't seen this movie in years, and am happy to report, it didn't freak me out as much as it did when it first was out. I loved that movie, and the way it was done. When you know the SECRET, after seeing it, it's always fun to re-watch and see what you missed out on the first time.
I also caught Sliding Doors, which is one of my all-time favorite movies. Gwyneth has never been one of my favorite actresses, but I remember watching this and admiring her in this movie, as well as admiring her hair so much in the "single Helen" storyline that I cut my hair similar to hers. I also didn't remember her being so damn SKINNY in this movie. I'm glad she had a few kids and looks so much more "normal" in weight (although whose to say what normal in weight is, anyways?). But I digress. Driving home on Sunday, with CJ and Keifer int he backseat, thinking about the movie had me daydreaming about the "what-ifs" in my own life. What if I hadn't made the choices I did in my life back in, say 1998 or 1997? Would my life be similar to what it is now? Where would I be in all aspects, other than a teacher? I would certainly hope I had children, although I could not imagine having a better life than I do now with my family here, CJ, Keifer and the fur kids. But don't you sometimes wonder about the own sliding doors in your own life?

* Damn, Keifer. It's been an hour since I put you down: will you not nap today at all? Oye.

*I've been lucky enough to have been reading like a fool lately, thanks to the local library and the people ahead of me on the "hold" list that fly through the books I've requested. I've managed to get through the second installment of the Twilight series, reading New Moon in 2 nights, and having a min-crush on the newly-turned werewolf, Jacob. Wiebs, you can have Edward! LOL. I've also read Jennifer Weiner's latest, Certain Girls, the sequel to Good in Bed, and liked it. I've read a variety of others, nothing too special or worth posting about, but I did finally read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (and Jeffery Zaslow), and really found him inspirational. That's why when I saw on the Internet today, that he finally succumb to his cancer, it hit me in the stomach like a fist. Although I obviously didn't know him, I'm sure anyone who has read this book, or knows someone fighting with the awful cancer, knows how sad and painful it is to lose the battle. I hope he is at peace.

*Why oh why does Coke Classic have to have such a sweet, powerful hold on me? It's tasty, ice cold sweetness, that strikes me in the mouth and throat, I cannot be rid of it. I've been trying my damnedest the past few days to stick only to Coke Zero, but it's not the same. *sigh*. Counting calories isn't really all that hard, but it's hard to try to justify to myself how having my Coke (or two!) a day is really worth it in the end (it is, *sigh again*).

*Yes, I am going nutso trying to "wait patiently" for our clinic to call me again, with news that our egg donor has completed her medical information, and we are going to finally move ahead on our cycle. Keeping busy helps, but it's the down times that gets to me. That's why maybe it's a good thing that K is upstairs calling me, "mama, mama, mama" from her crib; maybe a little rocking will finally soothe her into an afternoon of slumber. Off I go to try my hardest with that.........

Wordless Wednesday: Facial hair is So intriguing!

Keifer's 15 month stats

Keifer had her 15 month check up this AM: after waiting 30 minutes in the lobby with a busy toddler who isn't feeling well, we finally saw our doctor. Apparently, the teen aged girl ahead of us refused her shots and had to be held down by her mom. Interesting.

It's not a surprise, but K remains at the top of her growth chart. I had thought she'd weigh more than she does because she gets damn heavy in my arms, but she's solid.

She didn't get shots today, because even with Tylenol, she still had a 101.7 temperature. She's dealing with a summer cold that Papa Dale now has and Mama is starting to get. Fun times. So, no shots today but we'll get them at her 18 month check up (they're just boosters anyways).

Our girl's stats:
Weight: 27 lbs, 9 ounces -- 97%ile
Length: 33 1/4 inches -- 97%ile
Head (that big Soupy head): 19 1/4 --97%ile

She' s doing fantastic for all her developmental milestones, especially her language skills, which wasn't a surprise, but yet it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy. We have until 18 months to drop the bottle completely (oh Lordy, I hope that goes well, as our girl LOVES to have her bottle at bedtimes). I know she shouldn't so I've been watering them down and brushing her teeth whenever she wakes up to help hold off the teeth germies.

A pic with mama (rare because I'm usually taking them)Enjoying a juice box Playing with cousin Austin and his carsGreat Gma H.
Matching outfits with cousin Aubrie

FINALLY!!!!!! IVF #2 UPDATE!!!!!

I broke down and called the clinic's donor coordinator AGAIN yesterday, because it's been 2 weeks since I sent the letter back accepting the donor they offered us. *tick tock, tick tock, do they not realize how time matters to us dealing with this infertility? Good LORD*. So, she was not in. Nice. She takes Mondays and Fridays off in the summer, apparently. UGGG!! Time is not on our side with the lack of communication.

She called me back this AM *props to her for getting back to me before 9:00 AM*. She said the donor is updating her medical information file and that we should be getting started on our donor cycle in the next 3 weeks, at least, that was her guess. She actually asked me when I had started my birth control pack of pills, which was Sunday night, and she said that she was guessing by the end of this pack of pills, we'd be started.
HALLELUJAH!!!

So please send prayers of "calm down" vibes, and "let's get this party started"!!!!!!

Shakin' it with her Papa

This girl is a dancing FOOL! She LOVED dancing with Papa Dale to the Solid Gold Oldies station on their TV. In fact, the first thing she did this AM was toddle over to the TV and attempted to push the TV on. Then, she looked at me and shook her head and her booty, like she was dancing. C'mon, even I can understand what that means! Dance, mama, more DANCE!


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We call her "lil Jerry"

as in "Lee Lewis" , not the chicken! LOL
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Papa

Richard A. ""Dick'' K____, 89, of Edgewood Vista in Hermantown, passed away on Monday July 14, 2008 at his residence. He was born on Sept. 2, 1918 to Louis and Carrie (Sokolowska) K____ in Lorain, Ohio. He graduated from high school in 1936. He went on to attend the State Teachers College (UMD) and majored in Chemistry where he met Virginia, his future wife. After three years of college he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He married Virginia Whitney on Aug. 9, 1942 in the Old Stone Church in Cleveland, Ohio. They moved to Duluth and Dick worked as a chemist at the Universal Atlas Cement Plant for 26 years. They raised five children. He attended Westminster Presbyterian for many years where he was Trustee and sang in the Choir. He loved to fish and bowled many years at the Stadium Lanes. Some of his best times were spent on the golf course at Nemadji with his buddy, Ted Plant. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia of 65 years; five sisters and two brothers. He is survived by his five children, Joe Ku___ of Mesa, Ariz., Dian (Dale) H.____ of Duluth, Barbara Kivisto of Island Lake, Minn., Rick (Ann) K____ of Esko, Minn., and Kim (Nancy) K___of Superior, Wis.; 14 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, two special nephews, Richard and Ralph Whitney and several other nieces and nephews. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. A special thank you to Edgewood Vista and all ""His Girls'' there. CHANGE OF DAY VISITATION AND SERVICE:10 a.m. FRIDAY until the 11 a.m. Funeral Service in ______ Funeral Home. Rev. James Goodenberger officiating. Entombment Sunrise Memorial Park Mausoleum. Military Honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.

This is NOT fat

This drives me crazy. She is NOT fat. *rolling eyes* It drives me insane about how much people judge others by their weight, and this by NO means is even CLOSE to fat. Uggg. Carry on, carry on.

Here he comes again: Bret and the girls

As if we didn't see this coming. Bret and Ambre from Season 2 have broken up and now there is a Rock of Love 3 coming next Winter. I wonder if I'll even be able to have Keifer in the same room when I watch it (for the skank factor? LOL). Well, I do know our girl would admire Bret and his headbands being back! LOL.

Wordless Wednesday: Kisses to my pup pups

So it's not entirely wordless. But it's darn sweet, eh?
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Leg hair

It's SO funny that Tara over at Two Lines on a Stick blogged about her Bailey's leg hair - because the other day, I was marveling myself at how K has hair, too! It's so amazing the little things that make me smile and feel so tickled. I was slathering K in her sunscreen, and I could see the lotion sticking to her little hairs on her legs, making me realize she's not a baby anymore *sob*. Ahhh, growing up is so amazing.

Two years ago today, K moved in to stay!

Yep, it's the anniversary of my Embryo Transfer today. Ahhh, the memories of it are still SO clear, and I honestly get a little choked up in my throat thinking about how my baby girl moved into my uterus two years ago today, and decided to stay put for about 10 months. *sigh*. I'm so blessed to have her, and we're so blessed to have had our egg angel, Mooshie, give us her eggs. Thank you, dear Mooshie. We love you.

All our playing can wear a girl out

I am not sure why this is uploading upside down, but I assure you, it's not in this position in my file. Thanks, blogger. *sorry you have to crane your neck to admire our girl conked out during nap time yesterday, kicking her heels back through her crib rails.*

Although it took mommy and K a week or so to adjust to each other and being home for the summer, we've enjoyed our time together so much!

Mommy has made an effort to set up many play dates with all her friends and their kiddos, and K has loved each and every minute. Plus, we try to swim at the gym's pool and she gets her swim lessons at Elaine's as well. K goes to Elaine's once a week, and she look so forward to this as soon as we mention "Elaine"! Throw in our walks with the fur kids, our parade outings (which we've discovered K loves), and plenty of visits with our family and cousin, and zoo outings, and we've had a wonderful summer so far!

So far, we've gotten together with my co-worker Nicole and her two boys two times. Yesterday, we stayed for lunch, and as her 13 month old Patrick waved at K across the table, K blew him kisses from her (his, really) high chair.

Today, we met at the mall with my former co-worker Courtney and her little guy, Aidan, who is so delicious and sweet, I could just eat him up in one bite. K admired him from her stroller, and he chatted up a storm with us (giving me an ache in my ovaries, I haven't felt in awhile).

Last week, we swam with Jen and Sloan in Maple Grove, and a month ago, we played with my friend Allison and her two boys. Plus, we have our ballroom dancing classes for two more weeks. In a few weeks, we have more activities set up with my ECSE girls and their families, as well as my hometown girls and their kiddos (and yay for K, they involve swimming!).

K and her pal, Christian, enjoy a wagon ride together

playing with Jackson

Sloan shares some of her Goldfish crackers with K after a fun time swimming together

I'm so thankful that we still have somewhat of a time line left for the summer. I am sad already to even think about going back to work, after getting into this routine of "all play and no work" with my girl.

In a side note, our girl has become extra cuddly and "kissy" lately: I watched her loving on her "car lovey" last night- a lovie that we keep in the car for her. She was doing her "ma-wah" kisses to his nose, and repeated this over and over. This AM, she did the same thing to her toy telephone's face, and was full of kisses for mama and daddy when we played this afternoon. When I was leaving tonight for a massage (ahh, a wonderful Mother's Day gift put to use), she immediately started blowing me kisses and saying "bye".

My heart could burst with the love I feel for this precious angel of ours.

Bye Bye, Papa: we'll miss you

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I got a call this afternoon from my dad: my Papa passed away this afternoon. I had just gotten off the phone with my mom less than an hour previously; it was very unexpected. He was too sad here on earth without my Grandma, and he had given up. He literally died of a broken heart. We'll miss him so much, and now going up north to visit won't nearly be the same without my sweet grandparents there to visit. Luckily, K and I had just visited him a few weeks ago. Even though he didn't want Keifer to sit on him and didn't have too much to say,when we left, I told him I loved him and he clearly told me he loved me, too. At least he knows how much we cared, at least, I think he does.

Rest in peace, Papa. We love you very much and I hope you are finally at peace with Grandma. We send you all our love. Tell the angels we're ready: Grandma will know what I'm talking about.

This video was made the first time Papa met Keifer last May. Here is one where he sings her the infamous "Dinky Doopa Song' that he has sung to every grandchild forever, and here he is marveling at Keifer's being, her angel self.

K is a total daddy's girl

Visiting daddy at work- where she was more interested in his Blackberry than anything else! *hee hee* (and yes, notice her headband)

Sooooo big - MN Twins girl

The merry go round
Last year at her first parade with cousin Abby & Uncle
And this year, her 2nd ever parade, which she LOVED! She waved at cars/people, clapped her hands and tried dancing to the music. The sirens were a bit loud,so daddy taught her how to cover her ears. Of course, the most exciting float for her was the one covered in balloons!! LOL

Happy 15 months, dear Keifer

For our 15 month photo session, I dressed K in my favorite outfit I bought from a friend of mine- it's an older style hula girl outfit, and is the perfect "hot summer day" outfit for a rowdy girl. K's hair today, in these pics, must be commented on. We went swimming this AM with my friend Jen, and her 23 month old daughter, Sloan, and K's hair is sunscreen-laden. It gets so greasy from the spray I put on to protect her scalp, and takes multiple washings to get out (only to be drenched in spray the next day, so what's the point, really? LOL). Anyhoo, as we were prepping (well, Mama was prepping) K found my headband and decided she wanted to wear it this afternoon, so there you go. My girl and her headbands!

Sassy gave our girl a good-luck kiss before the photo session began

Cheese! (she will repeat this now after us)
Yes, ME! It's true, I AM 15 months old!

I'm such a silly girl: I'm gonna get you!
Ripping her 15 month sign into shreds (our photo sessions don't last too long these days)

I recently posted about how much our girl is talking, and I could probably add a few more words to the list today. She is really understanding SO MUCH of what we say! She loves to brush her teeth and comb her hair, and if I even mention "brushing your teeth" she lights up and crawls to the bathroom for her toothbrush. The other night at Baby Ballroom, our teacher mentioned how the kids would go "upside down" and K immediately did her downward dog pose - as if she understood the directions perfectly! She blew me away! LOL.

She loves to dance,and she loves music (as I always say), and the last few days, she'll be humming to herself all.the.time. It's amazing to me. I love it. She loves when mama tangoes around the living room with her, and dips her upside down. She'll sign "more more more" for me to do it again. Ahh, yes, the signing of "more". K has been doing this sign MUCH more frequently lately, as she realizes it will get her more of things. Today, she even signed "more" for more swimming!

K also has learned the art of "ready, set, _ *go*"! She loves to say "go" already, but we've taught her to say this when we're on our walks or playing in the pool with her. We'll sit her on the edge of the pool, and she'll fall into our arms on "go". Well, I should say, we TRY to hold her back until "go" - our girl is fearless in the water and often takes a face full of water because she's so fast in it (in the zero entry area).

When we got home today after swimming, I reminded her that we were going to go change and take a nap, and she pointed upstairs towards her room, looked at me, and said "bottle?". Yep, she knows her routine! A few weeks back, when we were visiting my parents, when it was time for bed, K would point to her room at their house and say "nana? Nana?", because my mom is the one who puts her to bed there. Incredible.

I've also noticed, if K notices an audience on TV clapping (say, with Ellen or Oprah), she'll start smiling and clapping along with them. What a hoot.

K and I enjoyed a lunch out together today after swimming, as we had a 50 minute drive home and she needed to eat. The entire lunch was spent flirting with all the people at the surrounding tables. We had one little guy beaming; he must have been around 8 or 9 years old, and he kept saying, "that little girl is saying hi to me!". K also noticed that the Subway had fans in their establishment, that go "round and round". LOL.

Our girl still love love loves her food, any and all food. She loves to eat broccoli and peas, and I've recently commented to CJ that we should start calling broccoli "candy". She also loves strawberries and blueberries. The other night, with her blue mouth and hands from the blueberry juice, I had a vision of our K turning into a giant blueberry, just like Violet Beauregard.

Our girl is blowing kisses like crazy, and is able to now pucker her lips to "kiss', as well. When we say "I love you", she associates blowing a kiss with those words (so sweet). At bedtime, it sounds like she's saying "love you" when we say goodnight to her. Either that, or "night night".

And, as I posted yesterday, our girl is finally taking steps on her own. Funnily enough, she'll only do it when her daddy is home. Nice, huh? LOL. This girl is a classic daddie's girl: she screams (yes, screams!) when he arrives home from work, adn the first person she'll call for in the AM is "daddy! daddy!". But, overall, she is a mama's girl, too. We love our angel girl.