I"m really not good at doing this often.

Sooo, .... its been over 3 months since I've last updated our blog! We've went through some horrible winter weather and now it seems spring has sprung! Kaelyn has since started a new Evaluation for ECSE (early childhood special education) through our school district. Last week She had, PT (physical therapy) come to her preschool and observe her and then just ask a few questions afterwards. This next few weeks she is going to have Speech come in to school. The first few times just to get her used to talking to the lady and then to really get down to it and start the evaluation process.  We've got a tummy bug in the house today. I popped into the girls room to see if Aria was awake and then VOILA! I smell PUKE. Uck. mostly dried so sometime in the middle of the night she puked and fell back asleep. Unlike her father, she is a silent puker. :D

We have Kaelyn's birthday party this saturday. Just a small little gathering with some friends for the evening as every year less and less people want to make the 2 1/2 hour drive up here for cake and presents. Completely understandable and it takes a little pressure off of me to have the house SPOTLESS for the whole weekend and plan a HUGE party. We'll be home the following weekend to play in the Worlds Largest Trivia Contest. Should be fun and a chance to visit family and they can see Kaelyn as well and wish her a happy birthday!

Our newest obsession is "Frozen" and she sings "let it go" the best she can whenever it comes on! (which is quite often. Lets be honest.)  It's super adorable. I'll have to put a video up of her singing and dancing.

So for those who thought I forgot I had this blog, I Assure you I did not. It's just hard to sit down and blog when your day is full of frozen, tantrums, preschool, a hyper dog, and life's little details. Thank you all for reading! We love you tons!

For now, its off to snuggle up with her my little ponies (the big stuffed ones from walmart were a birthday gift last year (rainbow dash) and she's now gotten 2 more! love those things and how much she loves them too!) and watch Turbo, i think. If Aria is done being sick.

love you all!!

Happy New years!

Well, it's 2013... WAIT! It's 2014! The last time I blogged was July. Seriously? Guess I fell out of the habit of blogging and into the habit of all sorts of other things.  So I will try my best to do a real quick recap.

Aria crawled and is now almost exclusively walking! Yay!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCG6s0oDU9o (for the video.) This means the knees on her pants will last a little longer and the BOTTOM of her socks will look dirty instead of the tops and toes of her socks. Yay!

This fall Kaelyn started 3-k preschool through our church twice a week! Twice a week I have to have all 3 of us girls fed, dressed (presentably), hair done, out the door, and TO SCHOOL, down the stairs, and have Kaelyn ready to learn by 9am. Which can be a struggle. I am NOT the moms (and there are several) who show up at 5 to 9 and have their coffee and chit chat outside of their SPOTLESS minivans while their children eat organic granola or something equally rediculous. (Yes, my kid eats healthy but some mornings, cap'n crunch is my hero.) But Kaelyn loves her teachers, she loves most of her classmates, and she hates leaving at 11:30. Which means she has to hug her teachers twice. Not consecutively. but each one gets a hug and then she goes back and gives them all a second hug. Makes me feel great that she loves it there but its lunch time, she's getting cranky and now that Aria isn't in a baby seat....it's hard to keep them both in ONE SPOT long enough to bundle her in now that its winter. OY! Her speech is improving. Her vocabulary is never the issue, its her shortened sentences. But they are getting longer. She is catching up, but still behind all the same. Her new favorite phrase: "Aria come here now!" and "oh good boy my Odie" (after giving him a treat). Every once in a while there is a doozie. I woke up to hear "OH NO! POOPS COMING OUT NOW! PUSH!" and thought i'd wake up to a mess. Turns out her doll was using a potty (some toy that she thought looked like a potty chair) and she was verbalizing for her dolly. It was hilarious after I got over nearly tripping over Odin in order to save myself from a mess. The joys of motherhood.

We had a great christmas where my kids got far too much. Too many toys, too much candy, too much spoiling. The girls also got my little tikes doll house from when i was little. ITS AMAZING! We had to leave it at my inlaws, sadly due to the fact that if we brought it home, we might have had to strap Odin to the roof and I DOUBT that would have gone over well with anybody.

Kaelyn went sledding for the first time since there is a great sledding hill back home. it only lasted 45 minutes before our legs were sore from trudging back up the hill, carrying a sled and a toddler, but it was fun and kaelyn got to spend even more time with her cousin.

Kaelyn also had her first Christmas party at preschool. Parents were invited (required) to stay and they sang us some songs, made a snack, did some art and playing and was a nice way to cap off 2013 before they had their winter break. 

We also joined the 1k before kindergarten book club at the local library. SO MUCH FUN!

Kaelyn has also since upgraded to a BIG GIRL BED! She had a toddler bed but now has a twin bed and LOVES IT! Naptime and bedtime are so much easier with the twin bed and with the trundle drawers for clothing storage, we now have more space and dont have to store as much in totes in our closet! YAY!

All in all, 2013 ended well and we see only great things in store for us in 2014. Thank you for reading and letting us share with you! It's been a great ride and it's only getting better!!

midnight rambling

I sit here at midnight, Kaelyn's been asleep since before I got home and Aria just went down after a quality snuggle/nurse session. I realize the girls are growing so fast! There will come a time when Aria wont be sleeping in a crib. Heck, she's already outgrown the bassinet sized crib in our room and migrated her way into the "big girl room"! There will come a day when she wont need to nurse and snuggle up before snoozing the night away. I wont get to see her milk-drunk smiles first thing in the morning. It makes me sad, but at the same time, both girls are learning and growing and its so much fun to see how they develop into their own amazing little people. Aria is more and more mobile every day and is beginning to show a little temper and independence too! And Kaelyn? She is an amazing and caring little girl. Just last week us girls were all cuddled up for a pre-lunch nap since I was fighting off a migraine and i wake up to the foot rest pulled up and a blanket pulled up over us. Kaelyn figured out that she could pull up the foot rest by pulling up on it and she didn't need to have the strength to use the arm-lever. She is always doing things to be kind and sweet. Coming up and giving a quick hug or rubbing your back. She'll catch me on a bad day and tell me "Momma's pretty." Or telling me my hair is soft. or yelling out "Love you Momma!" as I leave for work. Or the fact that no matter how sleepy she is, when I come in to lay Aria in her crib, she makes a smooch sound and waits for a goodnight kiss. So, as much as I am so sad that they are growing up, that one day they wont fit into my lap for a story or a hug, I am so happy to watch them learn and grow and I can't wait to see what they become! I can't wait to see the friends they surround themselves with, all of the ways they will grow and learn and further develop their personalities and quirks, likes and dislikes. Most of all, I can't wait till they wake up tomorrow for another day of cuddles and smooches and fun times and "hold still" from yo gabba gabba.

Thanks for reading, thanks for caring, and thanks for letting me share my family with you. For hearing my struggles and triumphs and bearing witness to them all. All our love, Mommy and the Girls.

another belated post.

I truly do mean to update more, really I do. But life with 2 little girls and a busy family tends to get in the way and the next thing I know its been a couple months!

I never mentioned in my last post that I had Kaelyn's thyroid results before we even got home! (*Reminder, we WALKED home due to my car being in the shop. yeah. LOADS of fun. Both girls got poked in some fashion and there was much screaming on the way. Thank goodness its less than half a mile.) But I digress. Her thyroid levels are NORMAL.  Yep. Just like all of the other tests they do because of her partial duplication, this one was also normal. But not knowing exactly what on the chromosome affects what in a duplication, they can't really tell us what to expect. Also mentioned her 2nd bday being lady bug themed but never mentioned that her 3rd bday was ELMO themed. Elmo invites, Elmo cake (I made it) and an Elmo shirt for the party girl!

Kaelyn is now in Tumbling for Toddlers classes on Thursday nights. It's been great for her confidence and her balance, although she still doesn't jump. I'll be honest when I say it's been hard. lol. She's never been in a structured style class and the "wait your turn" concept is something we are working on. We are improving though. She also needs to learn fear. You cannot simply go up to a class mate and hug them. Especially when they are on the rope swing. And headed in your direction. lol. We have gained some skills and I swear i saw her jump (with both feet off of the floor) the other day but have not been able to get her to duplicate it.

In other news, the girls very much enjoyed going down to the lake for fireworks. Aria did well considering she is only 8 months and never heard fire works before. Little sweetie slept right through them! We had friends over during the day to grill out food, play some games and then we all met up for fireworks. Had a LOT of fun and Kaelyn even got to go in a bouncy house. I strongly suggest against it if your toddler isn't bold and sassy cuz she ended up getting bounced all over the house on her butt by the older kids. But she still had fun and didn't want to get out when they were closing them down.

Aria is an army crawler now, much to Kaelyn and Odin's dismay. She crawls after Kaelyn's toys and Odin's tail. Loads of fun watching her chase them. She is so very close to regular crawling. She is also a big fan of cheerios. LOVES cheerios. You shake the box and smiles. I wish I could hug the person who invented cheerios. Big time lifesaver at this house sometimes.

In other news last night I had a friend request on facebook from someone that i assumed was some sort of relation due to the last name but she actually had read this blog and has a daughter with the same diagnosis! I'm now up to 2 other people besides Kaelyn with a partial trisomy of the 21st chromosome! And all girls. It's amazing that technology and being able to connect so immediately online with people has allowed me to talk to these 2 mommies. So HELLO to Erica and Lisa!! (And both of your little girls!!!) Kaelyn sends some "mooches" to her new-found buddies! Hope everyone has a great day.

Hug your babies!!

Lara and the girls.

Where has the spring/winter gone?

Time is flying. No..... REALLY!  Aria is almost 8 months old. She's scootching (is that even a word) and all she needs is to get up on her knees and we'll have a crawler! Kaelyn starts her Toddler Tumbling class next thursday and i'm DEVASTATED that my bosses didn't get my change of availability in time so I will miss her first class! But holey smokes, she looks adorable in her "tu-toot". lol.

I think we are all a little stir crazy. The weather has been raining and storming off and on. Living across the street from a park.... I think we can ALL imagine the whining. "See?! SLIDES! SLIDES! SWINGING!!!!"

Allergies be damned, It's been a pretty good last few weeks. Despite going home for the funeral of a friend who died too young (33 years old! From complications due to pneumonia? What kind of world is this?), and not being able to medicate my allergies/sinuses while breast feeding Aria, I'm finding myself locked into all of these little moments. An early morning cuddle with Kaelyn. She loves to run into our room and hop up into our bed and cuddle. "Cudd-oh momma!".She loves to give affection lately. Hugs and kisses are handed out liberally and happily. Watching Kaelyn with Aria, playing on the floor. Kaelyn "reading" books to her or sharing her hot wheels with her sister. And the moment tonight was playing on the floor with Aria and watching her wobble her way up to my face and smiling each time she looks up. It was almost as if she was saying "SEE!!! Look what I can do! I'm proud of myself! Are you proud of me too?". I can't help but crack up because the smiles she gives you are from ear to ear and all the way up to her eyes.  Her happiness is contagious and you cant fight it if you try!

Guess I better run off to bed. Aria is sleeping in the "big girl" room now and she gets up at 4am to eat and then go back to bed. Lets hope she sleeps later tonight since i have tomorrow off!

All our love from my family to yours!

Lara

Everyday minutia

The weather here in Wisconsin has been quite... bipolar.  Yesterday it was gorgeous, sunny and warm. Today it is cold, cloudy and rainy.  Just no good.  But we are just enjoying the little things. The minute details. Yesterday we enjoyed the afternoon outside, listening to music and drawing on the chalkboard side of Kaelyn's beloved easel.  Today, it is snuggling up on the love seat, reading stories, and watching Aria roll around the floor. She's been able to roll for quite some time, but just lately she's beginning to use it for traveling. She's good but watch out once she hits something that stops movement. Aria has QUITE the temper. I have no idea where she got it from, but she sure is a feisty little booger.  yep she is!

We had hoped to go to the children's museum today but we looked at their calendar of events and they had 2 large field trips. No way would you get me taking TWO kids there by myself.

Aria has slept for the last week in her crib, transitioning from the bassinet in our room. Kaelyn handles it fairly well, but if Ari wakes her up, she needs to say prayers EVERY TIME to go back to sleep. It's cute and endearing. the first few times. But by the end of the week, i find myself telling her "now i lay me down to sleep.... AMEN!" :D

Anyways, naptime is in full progress and my favorite littlest lady is in some need of quality mommy time. One of my favorite times of the day, since it is one of the only times that I am able to spend time just with Ari.

Later folks,  Hug your babies and call and tell your momma you love them! Because one never knows!

Lara and the girls

3 year check up and drama

Well, We have had quite the busy last few weeks. Between the freak snow storm that took out a tree in our back yard, yet another break down in my car (towed to the shop TWICE in one month) and 3 year check up for Kaelyn and 6 month for Aria (both on the same day, might I add.) and this mommy is exhausted.
Both girls, I am happy to report are healthy and happy. It took some stickers and chocolate milk, but I think Kaelyn is over the blood draw.  The St. Paul Childrens' hospital recommended getting a thyroid test done yearly since other children with full, traditional Trisomy 21 often struggle with thyroid issues. It was a DISASTER.  It took two tries and so many tears just to get the first one and she was too strong! So we had to call the pediatrician's nurse back in for a little extra muscle. And of course, since my car broke down, I walked the 7 blocks to the hospital. It wasn't the worst walk since it hadn't heated up. We walked home at NOON, in the heat, with two ANGRY children. She screamed the whole while. I can't say as I blame her. But if we thought the blood draw pissed her off, 3 shots in her little sister truly took the cake. She cried the whole way home, muttering "It's okay Ari. It's okay. It's okay!" sweet and endearing but man. two girls, 7 blocks, too many degrees on the thermometer, it was most DEFINITELY a day for a nap. As anybody with 2 kids knows, if you can time the naps just the right time, its AMAZING! More updates later. Today's naptime has come and gone. and now the fun starts.