Christmas in the NICU

So we have this little family tradition of a Christmas picture in our matching Christmas jammies.   But this year our little buddy Brian is stuck in the NICU - so we went to him.  

We broke a few rules to get it done (like the number of people in a room and no kids except siblings), but as Emily put it -- what are they going to do - kick Brian out?? Ha! 

Charlotte kept trying to grab her cousin.  

This was Elise's first time meeting him too.  She kept saying "He's so cute and little!!"

Merry Christmas!

Christmas In Pictures

Our Christmas in pictures - in no particular order...

How I spent a lot of my time...

How Charlotte spent a lot of her time...

Elise painted a picture of Ollie.  And wrote his name herself!

Charlotte took a little nap on Grandma's bed...

Nick and Elise both got flashlights for Christmas.

Best dad ever right here.  

Again - best dad ever.  Totally did the Easy Bake Oven, which turns out is not so easy.  We may have had a minor emergency needing flashlights and half-cooked cupcakes.  

Elise has now mastered Wii bowling and baseball.  

She was SO excited to go to the Lake.  Right before this picture she whispered into Lambie's ear to "smile for a picture!"

Baby in a bumbo. 

And a random collection of video clips...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Coming up...a giant family NICU visit!

all about elise

We've got quite the grown-up four year old over here.  She refers to us as "you guys" and says things like Charlotte "is just not interested in that bottle, mom" and knows all the words to 'Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer'.  She spends her days building forts, "snowman golf courses" (see video below), and cutting and taping anything she can find.  She's very busy.  

HCS Preschool Christmas

Today Elise's class had a little Christmas program today.  

Just a 15 minute little thing where they sang a few songs. 

It was the cutest.  She knew most of the words and everything.  

I took a couple videos for the grandparents that couldn't be there:  

Merry Christmas from HCS preschoolers!

a little picture update

We've been having quiet time in her room on sundays. 

 She insisted she wasn't tired at all.  

We went to visit Santa.  I can't even believe the cuteness.  

Forts.  Every day there are forts.  Oy.  

Seriously the happiest baby ever. 

See?  She loved watching me wrap presents. 

Grandpa Goote stopped by with a donut for Elise last week. 

She's a lucky girl. 

She even doesn't mind tummy time.  This girl's head will not be flat. 

We had our friends over for a Christmas party on Saturday and the girls slept over at the Lake.  She plays hard over there.  

instagram update

Life is busy at our house these days!

Here's a few pictures from my phone the last couple weeks.  

charlotte {3 months}

Charlotte is three months old!

Unfortunately she spent her three-month birthday with a cough and cold.  She's kind of lost her voice and when she cries she sounds sort of like a kitty.  It's so sad.  I caught her in a (medicated) moment of happiness today so I went with it.  

This girl smiles all the time, loves her sister, and before she got sick, was sleeping 7-8 hour stretches at night.  Now we hear the poor thing cough/cry in her sleep.  (My PICU nurse sister Lauren says it's nothing to be worried about though since she doesn't have a fever -- for all you worrywarts out there.)    

hello monday

yep.   this pretty much sums it up today. 

I'm kind of impressed I got a shower in already.  

Sweet Charlotte is sick.  She's a coughing, snotty, really sad baby.  It's heartbreaking.  

I'll try and post some more pictures soon!

all clear

Last week I returned to the good old Lemmen Holten Cancer Pavilion for my first CT scan in a year.  CT scan are super quick.  I just need to drink the barium smoothie (yum...ick) and then they do a contrast IV.   I usually get a latte on the way home.  Then on Friday I went to see Dr. Lakhani who gave me the all clear.  It's been nearly three years since I finished treatment and we're still cancer free.  So that's super awesome. 

I brought Charlotte with me to the appointment and Lauren walked across the street from the NICU to join us.   Charlotte was all smiles and completely stole the show.  Elise was thrilled because Grandma got to pick her up from preschool.  

I still get a stomachache sitting in that waiting area.  I totally sympathize with all those people waiting to be called back for chemo.  I don't think I'll ever forget that feeling.  Ugh. 

In other news...it's been snowing for days.  Before Thanksgiving.  I'm pretty sure when it looks like a winter wonderland out there Christmas decorations are warranted.  I mean really - we're supposed to get six more inches today.  Every school here had snow days today and I'm pretty sure our road hasn't been plowed yet.  Only kids get excited about this much snow around here.  

Elise was SO excited. 

Oh my gosh I LOVE this baby. 

 

My mom lets Elise roam free in Sephora.  She knows where all the makeup applicators are.  She thinks she looks "super duper beautiful".  She also walked through the mall to the car like this.  

We tried the bumbo!  Charlotte liked it for about three minutes.  

Two of my very favorite people.