Two-year-olds DO NOT like hospital beds!!!

Julia was released from the hospital yesterday after a short stay for a urinary tract infection and all I can say is HALLELUJAH!

We were only there for twenty-four hours so she could get IV antibiotics and fluids, but it seemed like much, much longer. I learned some lessons during our stay.

First, toddlers don't like to be confined to hospital beds with IVs in their hands. They will use all of the tools God gave them to break free, including their teeth.

They also have super human strength. It took three adults holding her down to place the IV.

They will not wear the round stickers that you are supposed to wear in the hospital to monitor your oxygen, heart rate etc. I just had to tell the nurse, "I'll let you know if she stops breathing, I promise!"

Last, I learned that in order to avoid waking the "savage beast," as carefully as if I were disarming a bomb, I can remove her diaper, catheterize her and put on a fresh diaper in the dark and without making a sound at 3:00 a.m.

I kept telling the nurses, "she isn't usually like this." I am not sure why I cared, but I didn't want them to think my baby was always a monster.

Luckily, she is feeling much better and she is almost back to her sweet self again! We wouldn't have survived the last couple of days without major help from Emmy and Memaw. Thanks for coming to the rescue!

A big thank you...

I want to say thank you to the friends and family who have called to congratulate us on Julia's big accomplishment. Walking is a HUGE milestone for her so thank you for celebrating it with us!

Words can't express how proud we are of her. It is her tenacity, determination and hard work that has enabled her to walk and we are beyond excited for her.

During her last therapy session her therapist told me not to be discouraged about her using a walker. She said that she might need it for another year. That was on April 30th. She walked on her own May 10th. I think she likes a challenge!

I only wish I had a video to share of the moment Maggie saw her babysister walk for the first time when I picked her up from school on Monday. Maggie is Julia's biggest cheerleader. The look on her face and her squeals of excitement were priceless. It was such a precious moment, it even made her teacher cry!

Julia can walk!!!

I have to admit I was irritated yesterday when my babysitter called at the last minute and said she couldn't keep Julia because she had an emergency.

I did not want to use my last sick day for this school year to stay home just because I didn't have childcare. Usually in this situation I call my mom and ask her to babysit, but for some reason I didn't. I used my last day and stayed home with Julia.

After the morning chaos of getting everyone dressed, fed and off to school the house was pretty quiet with just Julia and me. We were sitting in the living room playing when she asked me for her walker like she always does in the morning. I said okay, but you don't need it anymore, like I always do in the morning. I went to get her walker while she waited for me by the couch.

As usual, I stopped a few feet away from her and said, "go get your walker, you're a big girl, I know you can do it." Usually this is when she gives me the "stink eye," falls to the floor and crawls to her walker. Unlike the hundreds of times before she let go of the couch, steadily got her balance and slowly and carefully walked to me. She put her chubby little arms around my neck and said, "I'm a big girl!" As the tears began to flow, I said "yes, you are!"

She walked back and forth between me and the couch about fifteen times and then decided that she could venture off around the house.

That's what we did yesterday. She walked around the house as if she was exploring a place she had never been before and I followed her around with the video camera.

I can't think of a better way to have used my last sick day. If I have to take another day off for a real sickness and I get docked my salary it will be worth every penny!

Impromptu photo shoot

Wade took some pictures of Julia and Maggie on Sunday morning right after they woke up. I think he was trying out some new camera gear. I thought they were cute enough to share.

Choir Festival

 

Gracie had her last performance for the season with the Cherub Choir at church this past Sunday. They were too cute!

Daddy and the Girls Day Out

Wade took the big girls to the Dallas Museum of Art on Sunday to see The Lens of Impressionism exhibit. He said that they loved it and they were really well behaved. They even whispered the whole time they were inside the museum. Photography was not allowed, but Wade snuck a few photos without getting caught!

Soccer Season

Gracie just completed her first season playing soccer. She loved playing soccer and she was pretty good. She played on a co-ed team and she didn't let playing with boys intimidate her one bit, probably because she has six boy cousins she is used to wrestling with. I am thankful for all those boy cousins that are making sure my girls are tough! She even liked soccer so much she tried to tell me she didn't want to take ballet and tap anymore. I told her we were going to stick with dance and soccer for a while.