The last week of January!!!

This year is going by so fast! The end of the first month, in 2011 is almost over!
Let me start out by saying, this week has been one insane week.
My mom had a doctors appointment on Wednesday. My boss was super awesome and let me take time off work to help take my mom and dad to the doctor. It was a great visit. We got more information in that two hour visit than we had in the entire time my mom has been in the hospital! I felt that it was the best doctor visit we've had. And I felt fortunate enough to be able to go and ask all the questions that were needed.
On Friday however my mom went downhill...she made another doctors appointment. She went, and they told her to go straight to ER. She did, and we all thought she would be admitted again. After about 5 hours of getting a few fluids, and meds, they sent her on her merry way. Saturday I took her back to the doctor for a doctor visit between activies I had going on. They are going to meet with her weekly...maybe even a little more, until they can figure out a solution that works to get my mom comfortable. At this point, everyday is a day full of pain. She is thin, frail, has no color, no strength and her feet are completely swollen, they look like battle ships (or big bricks). Its crazy. I've never ever ever seen my mom look like this. I've been doing my best to try and be there as much I can.
As I've said, this week has been crazy. Ava had a day at home with nanny Kajsa on Monday, since the daycare lady had an out of town emergency. Ava had fun. And I'm super happy nanny Kajsa was able to come over on such short notice.
Tuesday was back to normal. Ava did good at daycare this week. She loves the other kids. She talks to them. This week we made really big progress. When I dropped Ava off in the morning, she reached for Doris. That has never ever happened before! She whimpered a bit, but we didn't have the full out "lets make mom feel bad" cry like we always do. It was great! I think she knows the routine now, she is beginning to get used to the other kids, she likes having other people her size to play with.
Saturday was the craziest day out of the entire week.
Ava and I went to Starbucks. We were deciding what to do, and we decided to go and visit Mom since we didn't go and see her on Friday after she got out of the hospital. While visiting, my dad was leaving to go on a trip with the boys and he got a call that Mom could get into the doctor. So I offered to take Mom to the doctor.
After visiting for a little while longer, Ava and I left to go to the Weight Watchers meeting. We met Cheryl and Addison. While it was a good meeting, because I lost weight. I lost 2 lbs!!! And I thought the meeting was so much more organized that the other meeting we went to last week. It was a bad meeting because Addison was sitting on the chair and fell off. She smashed her teeth. It was terrible!
Cheryl and Addison left shortly after the incident and I didn't stay much longer than that.I've stuck with WW all week. I'm really proud of myself, I even tried making some of their recipes, like their beef stir fry.


Since I had a little time, I thought I would be good and go to Port of Sub for lunch since Ava loves their sandwiches and I can have it because the sandwich I get doesn't have too many points (for weight watchers). We got there, I started ordering my sandwiches...AND Ava projectile puked all over the place. Not just once either. The wall was covered, the floor was covered, my shoes were soaked, my jacket was no longer gray....Ava's jacket was no longer white. So after helping clean up, we booked it out of the store. Without ordering anything. I was mortified. We took off the most soaked clothes before getting in the car. Then we rushed home and took a bath.
Come to find out, Ava is now cutting molars, again. So that explains the vomit experience.
After cleaning ourselves, we went to get my mom for her appointment.
That was an experience getting Ava in the stroller, then getting my mom from the car in a wheel chair and sitting in a office with both the stroller and wheelchair. It was a good visit. Didn't get as much information this time but the doctor was still really helpful.
After the appointment it was off to drop Mom off and then go to Cheryl's for a party!
It was a nice party. Ava was alittle cranky and I was totally un prepared for a cranky baby. Luckily Cheryl had teething tablets and crackers. It was a very nice party.
The pictures are a little blurry but you can see the girls playing together.


Ava is such a great little girl!
Yesterday while getting ready I was giving her a choice of a cracker (rice cake called mum mum) or a fruit stick. I started to give her the cracker she looks up at me and says "not that one, the other one". I was in shock and I ran out to tell Phil! I couldn't believe my baby girl can now tell me EXACTLY what she wants!
She is amazing. She says so many things. She tells us everything. She pretends. She plays, she says things out of now where. Its weird, amazing and super cool!
Ava was a great eater this week! She ate so much!!
One night we came home, she ate 3 inches of sandwich (the entire thing, including lettuce) 1 cup of pasta noodles with carriots and broccoli and had a cup of milk.



We are off to start another week! Wish us luck on our incredible journey, not only as a family, but with my mom's health and well being. Pray for our sanity for the new few weeks. I have a feeling we will be needing it.
Have a wonderful week!

What a week!

First off I'd like to say, I love my mom. She is the most amazing person you'll ever meet! She is smart, loving and one of the most caring persons I have ever met!
My mom came home from the hospital MLK day. My poor mom has been through the ringer!
When she went in, they found blood clots, and not just one, or two, lots in her legs, by her neck and they were unsure if they were by her heart or not.
I'm not a doctor, and I don't know much about blood clots, and I have to admit, I've done some research but I don't know too much about schleraderma either.
They put a massage on her legs to try and work out some of clots. Other than giving her liquids and pain medications, not much else was done.
My mom had follow up blood work and tomorrow we go to get the results from the tests.
I want to think that this journey will be short lived, my mom will wake up one day, have all of her energy back, play with Ava and get to hold her again and everything will be peachy. That is my hope. I hope not to lose sight of that. I want my mom well again. This suffering, isn't fair to her. Its hard to watch someone you love so much go through so much pain. I watch my mom, and I watch Phil. Its not a fun journey with either one but I am right there by their side for the long run. I love them both dearly and with all my heart. Its hard to watch the people you love, go through so much and not be able to do anything for them except love them and support them.

On another note, Ava got more teeth! I think (not certain because Ava is protective of her little teeth) she got all of her canines in! So with that said...she now has 16 teeth, at least! Crazy! I'm glad we are getting through all of this!
On Friday the new babysitter had an emergency, and Phil was great and took Ava for the entire day. Ava had her blood drawn for her allergy testing. Then they did a few other things. They had a great day together!
Friday night we had a scentsy party at our house. It was awesome. I was impressed with how many people showed up! I seriously must be one of the luckiest girls alive! I have so many wonderful people in my life! I love the people I work with, I have wonderful friends and a great family.
Saturday was a great day! Phil went riding. So Ava and I got to spend the day together! We headed out to Starbucks. Yum! Then we stopped at the park for a few minutes.


Ava likes the slide and running all over the place.


We then went to a Weight Watchers meeting with Kellie and my friend Cheryl! After the WW meeting Cheryl, Addison, Ava and I went to lunch.
We had a good weekend.
Ava is growing up! She says so many words! She tries so hard to tell me what she wants. Its frustrating for her so she is throwing more tantrums.

Second week of 2011

It was a busy week last week! It was my first full week (of the year)back at work. Our students are crazy, I've come to that conclusion.
On Monday I was invited to be a sub at a bunco group. It was a blast! My friend Roni from work was totally amazing! She and her two kids watched Ava until bunco was over. Ava had fun playing with Celeste and Julian.
Thursday Ava popped her first canine tooth. Saturday she got her second one. Sunday something came through on the top but she refuses to open her mouth to let me see.
Friday my mom ended back up in ER. By the early evening she was checked into the hospital into a room.


Saturday we had family pictures. JLM Creative Photography took our family picture at UNR. Ava was a little crabby but I think it went ok. I can't wait to see the fabulous pictures she took!
Sunday we had excellent weather! It got up to about 67 degrees!! I took Ava to the park. I let her run around. We walked a little bit. We came across some guys playing flag football.


Either Ava likes football or she likes guys. She watched them for a good 10 minutes then wanted to walk onto the field to get a closer look! We then walked back to the play area.
First thing Ava did was walk up the slide. Yes, walk up the slide. Then all by herself she figured out how to go down the slide. She did really well playing on all the play equipment for not playing at the park very often!






We came home I gave Ava a bath (the park is really dirty!!) and attempted to put her down for a nap. She didn't nap. Then Ava and I went to visit my mom in the hospital.

Today Ava and I woke up early and we went to Walmart. We got everything on the list, and we got through our shopping trip in a half hour. At about 9:45 Nancy, my parents cleaning lady came over to our house. My dad was at the hospital with my mom. So I had Nancy organize our bedroom. Our bedroom looks like a model room!!! I'm so excited!
After Nancy was done, Ava and I went to Costco to order Jackie's baby shower cake.
This afternoon Ava and I went on a walk around the block. It was nice. It was a little cooler this afternoon but it was still much nicer than it has been.
Ava says so many words now!!
She says so many things I can't even remember them all. She always tries to say what we say. Some of the words she says now are:
Cool
Awesome
MeMe (for Grandma)
Este (for Ce lest)
Nacks (snacks)
Cheese
Cookie
WaWa (for Water and bath)
Shoes
Jacket

I asked Ava if she wanted to go on a walk and she walked right over to the front door and knocked on it like she wanted to go outside.
She's so smart!!! We are so lucky to have such a great daughter!

Our first week in 2011

Our first week in 2011 has been a very busy one!
I had a holiday on Monday so we tried out Ava's new daycare. I dropped Ava off at 8am and I was able to run a bunch of errands. Phil and I went on our ever famous Walmart run (we both hate walmart with a passion but it has been 3 weeks since our last shopping excursion. Phil and I went to pick up Ava from daycare. She seemed to have a pretty good day. At 5pm I got my hair cut. And I mean cut.


This week Ava went to daycare all week. She did pretty good. She was really glad to see me everyday when I picked her up. Phil even picked her up one day. Ava looked at Phil and said "Daddy" then looked around and said "Mommy?". Ava is getting smart! She was even looking for me when I wasn't there!
Ava was so tired when I picked her up. I guess she isn't used to being around other kids. There are two little boys about 2 or so, and a baby and then the ladies two kids. Ava has a good time. I think she likes playing with the other kids. If not, she really needs it because she doesn't really interact with other kids very often.
Friday we had bunco at my house! It was fun! Good times! Phil did a wonderful job cleaning the house. We also had a cleaning lady come on Wednesday. She cleaned the entire kitchen! Scrubbed it clean! Phil did the rest.
We had a lot of freezing fog this week. This is what our street looked like every morning.


Saturday we didn't do much, in the afternoon Ava and I had a birthday to go to so we left a little early. I was able to clean my car, get it vacuumed and we even stopped at the park for a little while.


Then we were off to Gymboree for one of Ava's good friend's 1st birthday party! It was a blast! Cheryl did a great job of putting her daughters first birthday together!


Today we went Carson City. Then we came home and Ava and I met my friend Nicolette for lunch. We went to sushi! YUM!!!! Ava did pretty good for sitting for two hours. We had a small area of stuff to clean up...banana's, cookies, apple juice (ALL over). Yup. But it was a good time.
Phil and I had a fun evening of playing with Ava.
We had a pretty good week of the new year.

2011

Hello All!
Welcome to 2011!
So far...this has been a lazy year! Phil, Ava and I have taken it easy and mostly stayed at home! It has been super awesome! I love it!
Ava has really changed a lot over the last week. At least I think she has. She has really become a little toddler! She speaks, she says words, she repeats almost anything that is said to her. She has added about 15 words to her vocabulary this week, if not a little more.
Some of the words she now says are:
Luka
Nuno (for Juno)
Weee (for Billie)
Steeee (for Steve)
Me-mo (the name of her new doll, she named it all by herself)
cookie
snack
juice
sip
more
bite
ni-night
baba -for bottle
baby
wheee (having fun)
Ewwww (if something spilled or she wipes her nose on my sweater)
nice (for petting the kitty she will say nice then pet the kitty nicely)


She can throw a ball in a straight line and she can throw it to the person she is throwing the ball to.
She can play with cars and make car sounds.
She understands what we tell her. She doesn't always do what we tell her, but she understands.
She can tell us what she wants.
This week Phil was taking care of her, she walked up to him and says "Daddy, ni-night". She will come up and ask me for a drink or a snack. She can tell us what she wants.
We haven't really worked with potty training but this week I swear she said "poop" but I don't know if she understands exactly what that means yet.
We've had a pretty good week.
Also my Aunt Claire and Uncle Jamie came to visit! We had a good visit and a good dinner. Ava entertained us all! It was great!
I also wanted to note that this week Ava is 17 months and she is 17 lbs! LOL Thats a two for two! She is finally in almost all 12 month clothes. She still has a few 6 month and 9 month clothes but she has mostly 12 month clothes! I'm so proud! My baby is getting bigger!
She still has a little trouble