Let the Vacations Begin

I am going through vacation withdrawls. We spent two days at Disney and California Adventure, then one day at the beach. Scott and his brother, Dave, talked back at the beginning of the year and Dave had mentioned that they might be going to Disney. We did not have a problem inviting ourselves. It was such a fun trip! Our girls are not car girls and they did suprisingly well, even in the almost two hours of traffic that we got stuck in on the way down. 

Dave and Emily went up a day before we did, so when we arrived, we headed to Downtown Disney for some dinner and Build-A-Bear. 

These pictures are somewhat out of order, but I am not going to fix it.

 So many to choose from

 Ivy was grabbing every stuffed animal she could reach, rubbing her face in it, then moving on to the next

 California Adventure:

We met up with Dave and Emily's fam. Ivy and Zoe were too small to ride the car ride in Car's Land (so awesome), so we watched cars zoom past, hoping to see our kids. As fun of a ride as it is, it was a bust for the kids. "Too fast," was Ada's thought.

 Waiting in line. We lucked out. It was supposed to be a busy week, but the waits really were not that bad

 Ivy did great. She didn't love going on rides. She would usually shake her head and say, "Noooo..." when we were about to get on one.

 Bugs Land

 Love Noah's face

 Really fun parade in California Adventure

 Disney:

We spent the morning as a family then met up with Dave and Emily's fam for lunch and the rest of the day. We had to convince Ada that the ride Peter Pan was not scary. She went on it last year. She held my hand the entire ride and told me that it was too scary. 

 Scott get's sick on any ride that spins or twists, so I took the girls on Dumbo. Of course the first thing they do is fight over the joy stick. Ada loved this ride and Ivy was indifferent.

 

 I can't remember the name of this ride, but you sit in a boat and it takes you along a lazy river with a tour guide. We waited a long time for this one and I was a little underwhelmed. So were the girls. They were super tired. Scott was with us for most of the line when Dave called and told him that the line for Splash Mountain was super short so the brothers hit the ride then got passes for me and Emily.

 Toon Town:

Ada loved all of the houses and we got to see Minnie and Mickey. Ivy even said their names. So cute

 Ivy liked the characters from a distance. Once too close, she would shake her head and hide her face

 Eating at the Horseshoe Saloon. You will notice the jar of peanut butter. Our girls are super picky and peanut butter is one thing they will eat. They hardly ate anything on our trip.

 Back at California Adventure. Scott, Dave and the kids waited in line for a Disney Jr show while Emily and I hit Splash Mountain. Emily sat up front and I sat right behind her. I am glad I didn't sit up front...she got soaked. Ivy got bored in line and was hugging the other girls. 

 Disney Jr. Show. Ivy fell asleep in my arms during this. I took the girls back to the hotel for a couple of hours after the show to get a nap. 

 Check out Ada's tired eyes

 Jungle Cruise Tour. 

 Disney Parade. We got pretty good seats for this, thanks to Scott. The girls loved it. Well, Ada did. Ivy was licking the ground and trying to steal a little boys toy while waiting.

 Ada loved the Teacups. She squealed during the whole ride. I was glad when it was over. Luckily, I had an empty stomach, otherwise, I might have been sick

 We had to force Ada to go on Small World. Seriously?! She loved it though and so did Ivy. When the ride was over, Ada immediately said, "Let's go again." Sadly, it was the last ride of the day.

 Back to Day 1 (here is where the pics are out of order). Ivy hanging out with Dad

This was pretty much the end of Day one for us and day two for Dave and Emily. You could see that the kids are getting a little tired, with the slap happy Ada and Zoe missing a shoe. We did a ride swap. Dave and Emily rode Tower of Terror while we watched their kids then Scott and I went afterwards. Scott has not been on that ride for years and was a little nervous. There was a little girl sitting next to him, maybe 12 and she said that Scott could hold onto the side bar, since she wouldn't be needing it. She would be holding her hands up the whole time. She then told him that the first time on the ride, she cried. Ha. When the ride started, she grabbed his hand that was holding the side bar. We got a good laugh over that. 

 Back to Disney: Scott had stayed with Dave's family while I took the girls back to the hotel for a nap. While we were waiting for him at the entrance after their rests, we ran into a couple of friends. Ivy only wanted to see from a distance

 Waiting for the Disney parade to start. You can see who runs the show with these two.

 But you can tell from Ivy's stare down, that she doesn't hold back with her big sister. 

 

 Our last day, we went to Newport Beach with our two families and Scott and Dave's Aunt, Uncle, and cousins. We were all pretty tired by then and didn't have all of the beach equipment that we wanted, but it was still super fun. Chilly, but fun!

"Beach Bums"

 Cute, and very funny girls

 Ivy wasn't overly thrilled of the water

 Dave and Scott before the big plunge. 

 After. I meant to get Dave in the picture, but I guess he "Slipped" away. Pun intended.

 Our best group shot. Ada decided to be super difficult and Ivy was watching Ada be naughty

 We headed back to the hotel for a swim and shower before going over to Uncle Craig and Aunt Connie's for dinner. We had a great visit and enjoyed getting to know them and their kids better.

The girls did great on the ride home. Ivy was done the last two hours, though. Absolutely done! 

So much fun! I miss Dave and Emily's family and wish we lived closer! Ada loved her cousins and especially clung on to their oldest. Poor kid. I am sure he was done with her hand holding, poking, and space invading by the end of the trip. Thanks Dave and Emily for letting us join you and Connie and Craig for spending the last day with us. We had a great time.

Ear Infections and Allergic Reactions

I feel like 2013 has been a year of sickness so far! It has been so frustrating to get one kid healthy, with the next one getting sick all over again. Back in Feb. Ivy got her usual ear infection so the Doc put her on Amoxicillin. No big deal. After seven days, I started noticing some bumps on her arms and legs. They looked like hives. I wasn't TOO worried until the following morning and she woke up looking like this.

Her poor face was swollen and her body was totally covered in hives/rashes.

 She wasn't itchy yet...that started a few hours later

 It was my turn to teach Joy School this day and I had no idea how bad things were going to get. Luckily, my parents were there so I could have them help me with Ivy so I could teach five kids. My parents covered Ivy in anti itch cream (can't remember the name of it) and all that did was make a huge mess. By this time she was constantly twitching and so uncomfortable from all of the itching. There was no relief for the poor baby

 The bath helped a little. If anything, the warm water and fun toys took her mind off of the itching. This was mid afternoon and I noticed that the swelling was getting worse so I took her to the doctor. The doctor wasn't too concerned because her airways looked good. Of course, I was a bucket full of nerves, because the swelling kept getting worse.

Ivy went to bed and just before we went to bed, I checked on her. She woke right up and I pulled her out of bed because this is what I found in the crib! I was so freaked out. The poor girl was so uncomfortable and since the swelling had gotten so much worse, I was really nervous that her airways would close during the night and we wouldn't hear her. So, after getting off of the phone with a 24 hour nurse hotline, we decided to take her to the ER. The ER was so traumatic for all of us. Ivy was so scared. She was getting poked and constantly touched by strange people and all she wanted was to sleep, but the itching was so intense, she couldn't.. She had a pretty high fever so the docs gave her Motrin to help it come down and also gave her steroids to help the swelling come down. Once the swelling came down a bit and the Motrin kicked in, she was able to start falling asleep. We got to the ER around 11:30 and got home around 3. It was a long night for us and I wish I could say that everything was fine and dandy after that. 

 This is the morning after. You can see that the swelling had decreased dramatically, but was still there. The problem that we ran into for the next few days, was crazy bad itching on her legs. She would kick so hard when the attacks came. It was so sad. She had claw marks on her legs, and drew blood from scratching so much. Also, the doc prescribed Prednisone to help the swelling  come down, but that particular drug totally wires people. Ivy could not calm down. She was so fidgety and shaky that she had a hard time falling and staying asleep. She would wake up at 5AM jabbering a mile a minute. After all of the swelling was gone, I just took her off of it, even though the doc told me to give it to her for a week. I just couldn't imagine lasting 4 more days with a crazy, non sleeping baby. 

I will never give Amoxicillin to Ivy again! This whole experience was such a nightmare. She really was a trooper through it all. 

The Small Things

I have been thinking about writing a post like this for awhile. Things get so hectic and stressful, that I have needed to just step back and appreciate the little things. 

Little Thing #1: Ada and Ivy love to play with each other right after naps. They each have their binkies (Yes, Ada only has one only for naps and it has been perfect!) and as soon as I pull Ivy out of  her crib, she bolts to Ada's little bed and goes for the binky. They belly laugh every time. 

Little Thing #2: Ada is really into Little Einstiens and she will sing conversations to us or to her animals. It is really funny to listen to.

Little Thing #3: I guess this is more a BIG thing, but every night when Scott gets home from work, he helps me right away with the girls so I can either finish making dinner, or have a break. There is a new meaning to the primary song, "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home."

Little Thing #4: Ada has to sleep with almost all of her "friends" or stuffed animals. I go and check on them every night and her "friends" are always strategically placed. She also perfectly places the soft side of her blanky on her face
Little Thing #5: Ivy is starting to walk around like a crazy girl and make funny faces just to get laughs out of us
Little Thing #6:  Ada has really been into "reading" to Ivy and Ivy loves it
Little Thing #7: The weather has been awesome this week
Little Thing #8: We got a nice tax return
Little Thing #8: Watching Ada zoom around on her scooter is so fun. I love how coordinated she is and her love of being active
Little Thing #9: My Gym time. Whether it is at 5:30AM or late morning, it always feels so great to get a great work out in, especially when I am feeling stressed
Little Thing #10: My girls nap at the same time! That is probably more a very BIG thing. I seriously take a nap just about everyday!
Life really is great. It is hard sometimes, but I could not have asked for a better family.

Hanging out at the state capital with Dad

Ada's new camera face

 When a mom gives her baby yogurt to eat by herself

 Going to the zoo

Gymnastics coming into good use

2/14/13

The last couple of days have been draining. Ada and Ivy are out to get me...I swear it. Okay, maybe I am being sarcastic, but with some honesty.

On the way home from gymnastics the other day, I was asking Ada how she liked it and without missing a beat, Ada said, "Mom, can you just not talk to me right now?" She is three. Ivy, is into everything. I have to watch her like a hawk. She will get into my parents flour/sugar bin and her favorite thing these days is to play in the toilet water. She has attacked my parents toilet water (with pee in it) twice now and just last night the three of us were in the laundry room and Ada was going to the bathroom. I had my backed turned and as Ada jumped off of the toilet, Ivy reached in and played in the pee water. I yelled like never before. Its just so gross. Ivy is still tackling babies. Yesterday at the park she grabbed a hold of a little girl and pulled her down and today at the library she did the same thing. It is so embarrassing. I don't know how to get her to stop. So I just watch her.

I am not sure what to do with Ada. She just is mean and insubordinate so much lately. It really wears me out. Sometimes it is really funny because she will crinkle up her nose and pretend to get mad. Those are the times that I need to turn away because I am about to laugh. On the way home from the library today, Out of the blue, Ada told me to not talk to her. My friend told me that when her son says stuff like that to her, she says back that she is his mommy and that she loves him and will always talk to him. I tried that. I thought it went well until Ada said, "Oh Mommy, you can love me AND not talk to me." What will I do with that one?
Ada has been saying, "No," a lot lately. I will tell her that it is time to take a nap or something and she will start shaking her head really hard while saying, "No." Or, when she does something naughty, she will shake her finger while saying, "No, no, no, no." It's really cute until she is doing that in the toilet!!!!
 Scott took me to a well needed date for Valentines Day. We went to Cheescake Factory and ate ourselves sick. At least I did. It was nice just hanging out. I just love him so much and am so grateful for who he is.