Mike & Lori + Their Trio

Valentine's Sweethearts 2010

2010-02-14T15:56:00.000-08:00

As a last minute Valentine's' gift for Mike, I took the kids for pictures at the portrait studio. My idea was, obviously, not original because we had to wait over an hour for our turn. On the bright side, the pics still turned out quite cute, even though the kids were over it by ten. And, since it took so long, they gave me all the prints for free. Aren't they adorable?

I'm All Caught Up!!! YEAH!!!

2009-11-13T22:14:00.001-08:00

Catching Up

2009-11-12T21:06:00.001-08:00

We'll I had typed several post drafts that I typed and saved about a month ago to catch up on here but, when I went to download the photos we discovered our camera was missing. We think it is gone for good but, are hoping that it will turn up when we pack. So, I'll post the messages and, if the camera re-appears, the photos will be added. Here are our yearly holiday photos. It took quite an effort from the photographer to try to get all 3 kids smiling and sitting still at the same time. And. Reagan just wasn't into it at all today. But, we did get a few good ones!

Holiday 2009 Photos

2009-11-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty fast paced around here between the new home building process and all our other everyday things, so making three costumes this year was out of the question.
We took the kids for a trip to Wal-art and walked the Halloween isle. Keira saw a costume for a garden gnome and thought he was was Santa (the costume did look like Santa with the beard and red/black plaid outfit). Then, she saw the girl gnome costume next to it and was shrieking with excitement. There was no talking her out of being Mrs. Santa. So, one costume= done.
Devin wanted to be a train, not a train conductor or engineer- just a train. The only costume in stores was for Thomas the Train and there was nothing to it but, a poncho that had a picture of Thomas on it. Not exciting at all. So,I gathered some household items- a diaper box, a shoebox, a Big Gulp cup from 7-11 and some paper plate. And, Mike helped me assemble and paint it. He LOVED it!!!
Reagan was a toughie at first because every costume that we liked wasn't available in her size. So one day Keira had her play clothes out and she dragged out the skunk costume that I made for her two years ago. We tried it on Reagan and it fit perfectly. So, at least all those ours of manual labor to make the costume got two uses in return. The kids had a blast on Halloween. The pony company that hosted Keira's birthday invited us to their Halloween party with pony rides, a petting zoo, and a haystack maze. After playing there,we headed home to trick-or-treat through are neighborhood , where every neighbor loved their costumes so much that they emptied their treat bowls into the kids' buckets. Candy overload in this house!!

The Next Phelps.....

2009-10-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

Twice a week during the month of October, Keira and Devin took swim classes at the Australian Swim School. And, all we can say is WOW!!!!! Devin started the month with having to go in with arm water wings and would scream bloody murder if you took them off. Eight 1/2 hours classes later and he is swimming, not just from me to the edge but, jumping in, swimming around with kicks/arms, turning around and swimming back. All of his teachers say that they have never seen a kid with so much natural talent. They said they usually can get kids his age to do the rescue type swim (if they fell in they could kick a short distance to get back to the edge) but,they are amazed that he can kick, float on his back fairly good, and does pop-up breathing where he comes up for air. We're not taking classes in November because we'll be too busy moving and travelling for the holidays. But, I think that when he has some time for a little more practice, I just might be alright with him swimming and me sitting by the edge of the pool watching. We'll see.
Keira has also progressed rapidly. Each level of classes has a test that they must pass before they can advance to the next level where they learn additional techniques and styles. When you pass the test, you get to ring a big cowbell and everyone in the building knows
what it means and everyone stops and claps. You should have seen her when she rang the bell, not knowing what people did, and she saw everyone cheer for her. From that day on, every time they went to class all the teachers heard from Keira and Devin was, "Do I get to ring the bell today?"

The Great Pumpkin

2009-09-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

The pumpkin patch opened up today for the season. And, it is our yearly tradition to head right out and find the best one before the patch is picked clear. I think the kids looked at every pumpkin, trying to decide which one they were going to get. The whole idea of a huge garden is foreign to them. We went into the apple orchard which was pretty well picked. Keira and Devin were determined to pick apples, even if it was just one. Keira had just finished Apple Science Week at school. So, the whole time she is telling me how seeds grow up into trees. In the end, we wall got a big pumpkin and the kids each picked a teeny tiny apple. But, obviously, size doesn't matter because they thought that picking their apple was the greatest thing on Earth!

Hola, Puerto Vallarta

2009-09-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

We took our yearly Mexico trip to Puerto Vallarta. Mike's parents met us there to spend a relaxing fun week at our timeshare. For seven days, we ate, drank, and lounged at the pool. WONDERFUL! The resort has big long water slides, a lazy river, a kids activity pool, 2 wave pools, and lots of swimming pools (even a little one on our room's balcony). So, we spent a lot of time in the water.Since there isn't to many touristy things to see in or near Puerto Vallarta, it is the place to go when you just want to get away and relax. The food was delicious, so we never went hungry. The weather was humid but, nice and tropical. Keira and Devin did their traditional Mexico activity of pottery painting. Devin got to paint a racecar piggy bank with Grandma. And, Keira painted a doggy piggy bank all by herself. They worked really hard and it kept them entertained for a long time. They turned out great. Keira named her dog Calico and Devin's is just "racecar". I think the kids' favorite part of the trip was just being able to run across the room and knock on Grandma/pas room's door to shower, nap, or play with them.

Reagan's First Haircut (Photos on Missing Camera)

2009-09-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

To get us all ready for our Puerto Vallarta trip, I took the kids down for haircuts and decided that Reagan's needed some trimming up. As you can see, she didn't like the idea one bit. Mike was at work, so it was just me. I was trying to talk to Devin and Keira while they got their cuts and, at the same time, hold Reagan for hers while getting a picture. She wouldn't let me put her down for one second to get a picture. So, I did my best. Keira and Devin have always loved getting their haircut, so I was surprised to see her reaction. The haircut is really cute though. So, I guess it is no pain, no gain!

Just Playing Around

2009-08-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

Keira and Devin are really into game playing, now. They love Duck, Duck Goose, Hide-n-Seek, and teap parties. Keira play Duck, Duck at school-so she understands the game pretty well. Devin, however, is still learning that each person can't be both the duck and the goose. And, when it is time to run, you have to run around the circle-not around the entire house. So funny! I took this pic while laughing hysterically. We were getting changed for bedtime when the kids decided they wanted to play Hide and Seek. I sat at the table (about 8 feet from the table they're under). I told them to go find a great hiding spot while I closed my eyes and counted. While counting, I heard a lot of commotion and scurrying. So, I thought that they were really getting into the game and finding a great spot. I opened my eyes to this picture. They had run about 8 ft away and slid under the 1.5 ft wide table with their entire body sticking out. In their defense, they did lay there perfectly quiet so that I wouldn't find them! Of course I had to do the obligatory searching of the house, looking high and low for them to make them happy.
Unfortunately, the original photos were on the missing camera but, they did it again recently and I took some pics

The Enchanted Forest

2009-08-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

Mike's parents spoiled us by taking us to a beautiful hotel on the grounds of the Oregon Botanical Gardens. Amazing room and unbelievable scenery.

Mike has a photographic memory of his childhood- Not me. He can remember specifics about special events, regular days, and even what he ate at a restaurant 20 years ago. Not me! But, one childhood memory that I have is my parents taking my family to the Enchanted Forest in Salem, OR. I was excited and nostalgic to take the kids there during our OR trip. It was kind of like going back to visit your 1st grade classroom when you're grown up.....it just looks so small and unfamiliar. Turns out, I didn't recognize a single thing there and it was like my first time there ever. Oh well. I still remember that we had great fun there as kids and now I can add that my kids had great fun there too, almost 3 decades later. We went with Grandma.pa O'Leary, Aunt Becky, and Cousins Nat & Everett. The kids loved going on all the rides.
Grandma/pa had taken Mike, the kids, and I to the Chinese Gardens earlier in the day. BEAUTIFUL! So, the kids were worn out by the time we finished our day. Thursday and Friday were spent at Grandma/pa's house on the beach. We tried our skills at sand castle making but, It was evident that we were city people. On Saturday, we all met up with Mark/Becky and family and a park in Portland for some splash time in the fountains and a picnic. All of the kids loved the splashpad and it was hard to get them out of there to head to the airport to come home.
We had a great trip and loved spending time with all our family making wonderful memories.

On the Road Again

2009-07-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

So, I was pleasantly surprised to sign on here today and see that I'm only a little over 2 months behind on posts...I'm digging myself out!

The last week of July, I took the kids up to Reno for my dad's cancer surgery. Mike had to work, so it was me with the kids. I swear that my dad is a cat with 9 lives. First, he beats late-stage prostate cancer and then 7 years later he beats ureter cancer. We stayed up there for almost a week to help out and to be there for him. Then my sister, Heather, and I drove from Reno to Portland to meet up with Mike for our beach vacation to visit his family. Heather needed to get up there for a a job interview (which she got and is now living and working in Portland) and she wanted some help driving. The only way that I'd agree to drive to Portland, with 3 kids, was if we could stop in Grants Pass to visit all the O'Leary family. Reagan got to meet her 99 year old Great Grandma, her Great Aunt, and Mike's cousin + son(2nd cousin? I forget.). The kids had a blast playing with everyone and is was wonderful to see all the family. We stopped for the night there and then headed to Portland the next day to meet Grandma/pa O'Leary, Aunt Becky and cousins Everett & Natalie, and Mike at the zoo.

We're Moving On Up!!

2009-07-10T00:19:00.000-07:00

So, back in February we decided to start looking for a house with more space. With 3 kids and only a 3 room house with only one living area, we are busting at the seams. Yes, we are still planning to move out of Vegas and still have our land up in Reno. But, since the market dove and Mike gets a lot of extra perks at work over the next couple of years, it just made more sense to delay our plans a little. We figured that Mike could take advantage of all the perks at work and let the market have some time to come around before we pack up and start over in a new town where Mike would have to find a new job and he only wants to work part-time when we move out of Vegas. Also, wit ha bigger house, Mike could work from home here. And, hopefully, by the time we move out of Vegas, Medco will let you live anywhere and work from home. So we he wouldn't have to find a new job - another bonus of staying here a little longer. So, we started house hunting. We didn't find any great deals. All the cheap buys were houses that were fully stripped. no exaggeration- one house was missing every doorknob, every heating vent cover, every bathtub, and every sink and there was no kitchen. Where the kitchen use to be, was a bunch of holes in the tiles where you could see where the cabinets and island use to be and every tile on the wall was gone=nothing. So, we started looking at resales a few weeks ago, now that the price decline in the Vegas market is starting to flatten. We found the same thing-homes that needed a lot of work. For the same money with lots of incentives since the builders are have to compete, we found a brand new home that we love! It is 3,900 sq feet with 6 bedrooms, 4 baths,a loft and an office. The best part is that the property is right next to a HUGE park. So, all we see from our back windows is green, trees, the city, and the mountains and the view can never be blocked because of the park. now, we're busy picking out all the things we want in it. Things like granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances are already included, so it has a lot of upgrades already. Construction starts on 7/20 and it takes about 4 months. so, we should be in by early December, IF all goes as planned. And, I will, once again, live in Las Vegas (no more Henderson address).

Rub-a-dub-dub, Three O'Learys in a Tub

2009-07-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

Not much to say here, just thought the kids were playing so well together and looked so cute in the bathtub that I had to get some pics.

, Reagan "Playing House", Literally

2009-07-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

Reagan loves to play with the dollhouse, smacking the furniture on the floors and playing with the dolls. Today she got "more into it". She kept climbing into the second shelf and lying down. She almost fell asleep in there. She laughs so hard. Devin, of course, saw that mommy was amused by this so, he started doing it too.

Lilah's Farewell at Barnum & Bailey Circus

2009-06-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Keira and Devin's best friend, Lilah, moved with her family to Australia. Keira and Devin understand that she'll be far, far away and you'll need an airplane to see her. Keira, I think, understands. But, Devin keeps asking to go have lunch with Lilah, whenever we are near her house.
The day before Lilah left, we took the kids and Lilah to the Barnum and Bailey Circus and then out for ice cream. The kids loved the circus. Every time that an elephant came out, they would squeal. There were elephants, zebras, horses, tigers, dogs-and, at least, 8 of each. They loved the animal parts but, really didn't understand the trapeze part because the talent/skill necessary to do things like walk on a rope were a little over their heads (no pun intended). They loved it!! It was very hard to say goodbye to Lilah and her family because they have become our closest friends. We'll definitely be making a trip to Australia at some point.

The Road Trip of '09

2009-06-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

Having felt like we mastered travelling with the three after surviving Disney, we decided to bring it up a notch. We took the kids on a 9 day trip to Seqouia & Yosemite parks, Sacramento, and Reno. We "camped" one night in Yosemite. This is my idea of camping. The framed tent has cots, electricity, a campfire, tables, a food locker, and a dresser. All we had to bring was our sleeping bags and smores ingredients. We were right up against the river. Having camped very little in my life (Girl Scouts), I didn't really plan too well. I brought all the ingredients for smores from Vegas and knew they had a pit/campfire. When it was smore making time, I realized I had no matches, charcoil or wood, and no sticks to make them with. Luckily for us, our neighbors had kids and Keira nad Devin quickly made friends with them. They invited us over to use their pit, skewers, chairs,and the works. SCORE!! The kids really enjoyed the campoin part and being right next to the water where all the ducks, birds , and squireels were. After Yosemite, we went to Sacramento to visit with Aunt Nette and her family. My sis was nice enough (or crazy enough?) to volunteer and then demand that we live the kids with her for a night and go off by ourselves for a night and day in Napa. No one needs to ask us twice!! We enjoyed30 wonderful hours of all wine and no whining Bliss!1! After satying with her, we wnet to Reno to visit Grandma/pa Parkyn and Aunts Pam/Heather for a couple of days. Grandma and Cousin Brooke came with us to the old gold mining twn of Virgina City where Devin got to ride a real steam engine train. I think we had to remind him to breathe! Keira and Brooke enjoyed dressing up in old time dresses and having a photo taken. So cute!!!

Playing House

2009-06-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

We decided that Reagan didn't need any toys for her birthday but, I found this playhouse for a great price on Craigslist and I figured everyone could play with it. It turns out that this is the favorite toy for all of them, at least for now. I put it right outside our back doors. So, now they can play in it while I am cooking or folding laundry and I can see them the whole time. They never liked to play in the backyard until we got this. Keira is really into playing house where she is the mommy and Devin is either or husband or baby (depends on the day or her mood, I guess). They take things from their play kitchen and dollhouse and bring them into the playhouse. We've played for hours in it. I "pull up" to the window and place my order for them to cook for me.They have their cars out there,too, so it is a whole reality toy for them. Keira also tries to get Reagan to be her mom and as the baby she wants her mom to change her clothes for her but, as you can see and probably guess...Reagan doesn't quite get it yet! I'm just happy that I finally bought a toy that they like!

Reagan is One Year Old!

2009-05-27T23:43:00.000-07:00

My little baby is a year old! AAHH!!! It is going by too fast!!! She is now 20.6lbs and 29.25 inches. For over a month now, she has been cruising the furniture but, was never brave enough to let go. Last week, she took her first steps and then she has only tried to walk one more time since then. She has quite the personality now-always smiling and laughing. It is interesting to see the 3 kids different personalities. Keira is the socialite, Devin is the shy charmer, and Reagan is the easy going one. They are each so different. For her birthday,m we had Aunt Cynder, the very soon to be Uncle Tom, the cousins, Grandma/pa O'Leary and their 2 friends over for dinner and cake. Mike thought the piece of cake was way too big for her but, then she amazed us all by eating every last crumb. At first, she just took the smallest taste of frosting, then a little cake crumb, and then she was diving in and getting in while the getting was good since we rarely have sweets in our house and this was her first dose of the drug! She had a great birthday and first year and has come so far! My babies are growing up! STOP!!!

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend, who does photography as a hobby, invited the kids and I out for a photo shoot at the outdoor Townsquare Shopping Mall. This has to be one of the few photos or the only photo that I have where all three kid are looking at the camera and are somewhat happy. I love this pic. For Mother's Day, Mike woke up early with the kids and made me a yummy breakfast with chocolate covered fruit and the works. YUMMY!! The kids had a blast helping him dip (and taste test) the chocolate. I picked out my own Mother's Day gift this year. I planned an overnight BY MYSELF to San Francisco. I had 30 hours to myself and actually got to shop for clothes and try them on before buying them!!! My girlfriend, Karen, who I've known since my high school trip to Japan lives near the city. After a day of shopping, she and her family and my brother Tim met met me for dinner. I stayed the night at Tim's house and relaxed the next day before heading back to Vegas. The kids did pretty good without me, until it was getting close to bedtime and I could only tuck them in via the phone. And, they were barely home while I was gone between going to the gym, Keira's soccer practice and another appointment...so they were occupied and got their minds off of mommy not being there. It was a wonderful trip but, I loved coming home to my babies!

We're Going to Disneyand

2009-04-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

Before we left, i thought we were crazy for taking three kids to Disney by ourselves. It was a good bribery tool with the kids=you have to do x, y, z to go to Disney"..."you have to be good/listen/not fight etc. to go to Disney". But, it went perfectly and we all had a blast! The kids did amazing They lasted the entire day at the park, all the way through the fireworks show-while I was exhaused by mid-afternoon. Disneyland must be Keira's hevan on Earth=one place where she can see every princess and Cinderella' castle. She insisted on packing and wearing one of her rincess dresses. She did so much walking in the dres (that was a little too long) that the dress became unravelled and "mysteriously" disappeared (garbage can). But, being daddy's little girl, she just batted her eyes and he took her to buy a new one. Thank God for Grandma/pa O'Leary who volunteered to join us for a day and helped us chase the kids around the park. As soon as we got back to Vegas, Keira was already on her best behavior and askign for chores so she could go back to Disneyland...hey, whatever works!!

Happy Easter 2009

2009-04-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

This Easter we went to Auntie Mary Ann & Uncle Aaron's house in San Diego. Grandma/pa O'Leary, Uncle/Aunt Mark & Becky, and all the cousins (Sean, Natalie, and Everett) celebrated with us. We had several Easter egg hunts which the kids loved and got lots of yummy candy. Uncle Aaron also received his confirmation, so we were there to support him. It was a great holiday and we really loved visiting with all the family.

Touch-A-Truck

2009-03-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

Devin's dream come true...the only thing better, perhaps, was if there was a train there! We went to the Touch-A-Truck event where they have over 100 different types of trucks and service cars that the kids can climb on or in and pretend to drive. Devin wa in awe of the firetrucks, tractors, and the police cars. As a mom, I hope this is the only experience my kids have with some of these, like the squad car. Though, Devin loved climbing in the back seat and closing the door-like he'd been there before.

Playtime With Our Best Friends

2009-03-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

The kids love playing with each other and, usually, play very well together. They love playing with their jeep and riding around the house. Keira loves playing with her dolls and bears in her dollhouse. Here she is playing with the dollhouse with her best friend, Emma, and and Reagan's best friend, Sophie (Sophie is Emma's little sister and is a week younger than Reagan. Devin's favorite toys these days are is Hot Wheels sets, a wooden animal train from his Grandma/pa O'Leary, and some educational song CD's from Grandma/pa Parkyn that must always be playing in the car. Reagan is in to grabbing on to anything that moves to hitch a ride, as she is learning to walk. She cruises along furniture,lets go every once in a while for a second, and will soon be walking.

Soccer Score Victory Dance

2009-03-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

Today was Keira's first day of Pee Wee Soccer. The huge citywide league consists of over 40 teams of 3 year olds. The rules are only modified slightly and the halves of the game are shortened. The idea is just to get the kids out there, having fun, socializing, and learning the basics of team playing and a little about soccer, too. Her team is named "Team Lightning" and, so far, she is the only girl on the team. It was the first practice of the season, with the first game on 4/18. I was expecting mass chaos on the field, kids running in every direction. But, surprisingly, all the kids listened to the coach and did everything he said from running across the field to getting in a line and kicking the ball to each other or trying to score. Of course, none of the kids had ever played soccer before but, I was pretty impressed on how well they did - especially Keira. I think her smaller size is, actually, an advantage because she is closer to the ball and can keep it under control very well. I had a near impossible mission of finding her soccer gear that fit her (just look at those shin guards), even the Pee Wee size was too big. She is too adorable for words in her uniform and, as you can tell from her pose, she knows it!!! She created her only little victory dance whenever she scored. Don't ask me where she learned this, but isn't is so cute?

Our Boy Turns 2 Years Old!!!

2009-03-07T23:52:00.000-08:00

I still can't comprehend how two years have already gone by!1 Happy Birthday, Devin!!! You are my handsome little man! Your bright blue eyes and super sweet smile mesmerize people and show how loving you are. You are such a polite and caring boy, always saying "Peas" and "Tank you, mama!" and always watching out for and caring for your sisters. I love you!

To celebrate is day, we took the kids and a couple of Devin & Keira's best friends (Emma, Lilah, and Evan) to Chuck E. cheese for pizza and games. The kids had a blast dancing on the stage and playing all the games. Then on his birthday night, we just had our own private little party with more cake and presents. He had a great birthday and got just what he wanted- more cars, trucks, and planes!!!

Devin is quite the singer and dancer. He loves to dance to any tune that he hears. And, he LOVES to sing Twinkle Twinkle and the Alphabet Song, especially while on the potty. Devin gave me the present this year. And was the first one to get out of diapers. He trained himself by watching his big sis. He has been accident free, day and night, for over two weeks. And, to me, being truly potty trained means needing no questioning or reminding from mom or dad...which he doesn't. Keira is out of diapers, too, and is catching on very quickly....now that she has some competition. She is doing great. Her small size just makes it more physically challenging. It won't be long before she is completely done, too. And, it will be me that you'll see doing the potty dance!!! It is funny....you know your a mommy when most conversations revolve around your children's bodily functions!!!

Reagan is 9 months old!!

2009-02-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

Time flies and so does Reagan! She is pulling herself up now and has become a great eater. She is the first kid in the family to love food at this age. She can at least finish one serving of baby food at a meal. One serving would last Keira & Devin (both hated baby food) at least 3 meals. It won't be long before she is cruising along the furniture. I don't want my baby to grow up!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2009-02-14T23:26:00.000-08:00

The kids and I made cupcakes and decorated them today. Devin's favorite part was being the quality control expert. He gave his cupcake two thumbs up and looks like he is doing a Nixon impersonation. Keira got to bring cupcakes to school for their Valentine's party and we made Valentine cards for all her classmates. She loved coming home with all her "mail".

Reagan is 8 Months Old!

2009-01-27T23:03:00.000-08:00

Reagan is now a very busy, active, and fast moving 8 month old. She can now crawl around the house so fast, just trying to keep up with her older siblings. Her bottom front two teeth are in, making her look lie a little bunny...so cute! She has the most adorable and infectious laugh that only Daddy can get rolling really hard. She truly is Daddy's little girl. She follows me around the house all day when daddy isn't home and whenever I leave the room when he is home, but only daddy can make her smile so big and laugh uncontrollably.

Keira Starts Preschool & Mom Learns Something New Today!

2009-01-26T23:31:00.000-08:00

Keira's speech pathologist thought that it would be a good idea for Keira to go to school to catch up on speech by talking to other kids. So, today was her first day at the Ready, Set, Learn Academy. She'll go 3 full days a week. The school is great because they have a very close teacher-child ratio. And, they have an amazing structured educational curriculum for part of each day and then after, it is more playing and socializing like a daycare. She really feels like a big girl now!

Lately, I've been missing a lot of small items and Devin keeps losing his toys. I've searched the whole house numerous times looking for things, thinking that I'm losing my mind. I'd have something in my hand one minute and then the next minute it would vanish. Today, I was arranging some frames on top of our desk and I looked down, behind the desk, and found everything that I'd been missing. There is a small hole below the desk where you can run computer cables and electrical cords through. It turns out that Devin, like a chipmunk preparing for winter, has been grabbing everything and sticking it through the hole. I found everything from Reagan's bottles to money to my jewelry back there! Now, I know where to look first the next time I misplace my keys!!!

Just Playing and Fooling Around.....

2009-01-17T22:44:00.000-08:00

So, I was rushing this morning to get the kids ready to leave the house. I thought, foolish me, that I could leave Devin & Keira alone in the kitchen, eating their breakfast, while i changed Reagan. I mean Devin was strapped in the highchair. He couldn't get in to too much trouble while I left the room for 2 minutes, right? WRONG!!! I came back into the room and found him like this, covered in Carnation Instant Breakfast. Instant, alright. In an instant he had breakfast all over him. Granted, Keira was trying to help. He had asked for some chocolate milk and, I guess, she was trying to get it for him....or so she claims. She just must have missed the part that he wanted chocolate MILK, not to be chocolate. I really couldn't get too mad since I was laughing so hard and had to take a picture!
These other pics are just ones that I thought were so cute, brotherly/sisterly love, of the kids playing so nicely together that last few days. And, how about the bag lady? Keira put on one of Reagan's outfits and was "shopping". I had to take a picture. They don't ham it up for the camera at all, huh? Keira even asks now to have her picture taken, like she did for the picture of her posing by the desk. And, whenever Devin sees a camera, he smiles big and screams "Cheese!". They sure aren't camera shy!!!

Keira Turns 3!!

2009-01-10T16:52:00.000-08:00

Keira turned three years old and the theme for her party was very obvious = ponies. We went with our play group to a pony farm a few months ago and she has been obsessed with ponies ever since. I got a great deal on a pony party with horse boarder that does parties and happens to have his coral about 1 mile from us. So, it was meant to be!! And, as you can tell from the pictures - it was worth every penny. She LOVED it and s did all the kids~ We had many kids show up unexpectedly that had not RSVP'd. So, we had a full house with 28 kids and 29 adults. It got a little loud and crazy at times, but moms called afterwards and said it was the best party they had been to. No one in Vegas had every done a pony party. It is always the usual jump houses and pizza place parties. so, it was a hit and Keira is still thanking us and talking about Sunshine, the pony she rode. Between all the gifts she got for Christmas and her birthday, our house looks like Toys R' Us. We decided now that she has had a big birthday party (which every kid should get at least once), next year we are going to celebrate her birthday before Christmas and have people bring a gift for Keira to bring down to the Angel Tree, if they want to bring a gift. Then she can have the fun of opening them, since the Angel Tree wants them unwrapped, and she can see what she likes and get ideas of what to ask Santa or, and then she can learn the valuable lessons of giving/receiving to those in need.

Our 5th Wedding Anniversary

2009-01-03T22:21:00.000-08:00

Who says romance fades? For our fifth anniversary we had a romantic and sentimental evening planned. Marc, the owner/chef of the restaurant where our wedding reception was held recently opened up a new little bistro on the other side of town. We "planned" to drop the kids off at my sister's house and go have a nice quiet dinner at his restaurant - no not the same location as where we began, but the same staff, food and atmosphere. Well, with 3 kids, you always know that there is no such thing as a plan. A plan is more of a dream, option, or a possibility. My neice was getting over an illness and we didn't wanted to chance exposing the kids before Keira's birthday party. So, as we were loading the kids in the car to head to her house, I called her and got an update and decided to cancel the babysitting idea. We ended up taking the kids with us to dinner at Marc's restaurant. Mike wanted to change the plan to going to McDonald's, but I won. Surprisingly, the kids were the best they have ever been at a restaurant. As soon as Marc saw us (he didn't know that we were coming), he took over and treated us like royalty the entire night. He made a special 6 course meal with wine pairings for us. He even had his waitresses entertain the kids in the other room, so we could have a few moments to ourselves. It was heaven!!!It was actually the prefect way to spend our anniversary dinner, with our kids, as a family where it all started. We have a raincheck for the babysitting to celebrate a night out for our anniversary with just the two of us. Our family picture at the bistro, unfortunately, didn't turn out and is too blurry to post.

Happy Birthday Keira - 3 Years Old!!!

2009-01-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Keira! I can't believe that 3 years have gone by. You are my precious little girl. Your spirit is truly like no child I have ever met. You are outgoing, cheerful, warm, loving, and a friend to everyone. You are just a little socialite at such a young age!! I love you and admire you more than you'll ever realize!

The Holiday Haze

2008-12-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

I have to play catch up here on my posts, now that the holidays are over. We had a great, but very busy holiday season. They went so fast that they are pretty hazy. Mikes parents, Mary Ann (Mike's sister) and her family, and Mary Ann's in-laws and sister-in-law and her family all came to Vegas to spend the Christmas holiday with us. Christmas morning we had 7 kids and 10 adults all crammed in to our living room with family presents and Santa presents stacked to the ceiling. I think it took us until New Years to open them all. Keira's big wish from Santa was a bicycle (tricycle). Come Christmas morning, the trike got trumped by Grandma/pa O'Leary's dollhouse & Grandma/pa Parkyn's fairy dress-up outfit. Devin, finally, got manly boy toys. So, he no longer has to play with Keira's toys and he has no problem reminding Keira which toys are her and which toys are his. An, Reagan just enjoyed tearing up the gift wrap and watching all the excitement of her first Christmas.

Snow.....in Vegas?

2008-12-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

We left the house around 2:30pm to go downtown to do some Christmas shopping. While pulling out of the garage, I noticed a few snowflakes mixed in with the drizzling rain and we thought that was the extent of the snow we'd see this year - the usual amount. At 5:00, one of the mall clerks told us that all the freeways were shutdown due to snow!!!! This has NEVER happened in Las Vegas. And, for the firs time, our end of the valley was the hardest hit by the storm. So, we were "stranded" at the mall with no route home. You know I was miserable! HA! By the time we got home, it was close to 9pm. We took a picture, but the neighbors told us that a lot of the snow had already melt and there had been much more. The next morning, I bundled up the kids and we played in the snow. This was a foreign experience for them! It took Devin quite a while to figure out how to walk in it. They loved our neighbors snowman, claiming him as their own, and fixed him up a bit since he was melting. The snow on our block lasted almost a week. It made me feel like I was back in Reno for a white Christmas.

2008 Christmas Pictures

2008-12-10T10:37:00.001-08:00

Aren't the kids so cute?

Thanksgiving with Bama & Bapa

2008-11-27T22:12:00.000-08:00

We went to Reno to visit the Parkyn family for Thanksgiving. It was great bringing the kids to all the places that my parents brought me to as a kid. BaMa (Keira's pronunciation of "Grandma") took the kids to Virginia lake, a small pond in reality, to feed the ducks and play at the park. The kids loved being surrounded by a million ducks and tried to get a piece of bread to each and every one. They talked about feeding the ducks with BaMa for days!
Keira got her special one-on-one time with BaPa. BaPa took her to the Build-A-Bear Factory to make her own bear. She went all dressed up as Cinderella, no matter how hard I tried to get her to change. Out of the 100 choices, Keira saw this pink and white bear immediately and there was no talking her out of it or considering another bear. She had a great time at the bathing station, giving her bear a bath and fluff with BaPa. When it came time to dress the bear, she found a Christmas outfit and grabbed it. BaPA kept suggesting other outfits, but she was dead set on this one. It was actually a role reversal, usually it is the 2 year old who keeps looking and changing their mind and the adult makes one choice for them at the start. Together, they named the bear Cathy Bear.
The kids got to spend some time with their cousins - Brooke, Ava, Nina, Nathan (in picture) and Hannah and their Reno & Sacramento aunts and uncles (Uncle Greg in pic). It was a great trip and wonderful Thanksgiving, one in which we had much to be thankful for.

Reagan is 6 months old!

2008-11-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!! We have a lot to be thankful for - three happy, healthy active wonderful kids and a wonderful family. Reagan is now 6 months old. Can you believe it? She weighs 15 lbs and 14 ounces...all caught up now.

Our Puerto Penasco Vacation

2008-11-16T10:14:00.000-08:00

Most people would say that driving 3 kids to Mexico doesn't sound like a vacation, but we actually had an amazing time. Our timeshare resort is gorgeous - right on the ocean, a huge pool for the kids, great food, and a beautiful property. The kids spent their days splashing and swimming in the pool, while we sipped margaritas. Keira quickly became the socialite of the resort. Within a day, everyone knew our family and Keira would visit every table at the restaurant and get hugs from everyone. People from aged 2 to 92 would play with her in the pool and then dance with her at night in the lounge. She even sang and danced karaoke for the first time (Jingle Bells). Devin loved the all-you-can eat buffets, almost as much as I did! And, Reagan enjoyed swimming for the first time while on this trip. I joke with Mike that we have a pool in our back yard, but we had to take her to Mexico o swim. We had a great time. Now, we are trying to decide which part of Mexico to go to next year!

Fred The Turtle & Duck The Duck

2008-11-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

Meet Fred the Turtle and Duck the Duck! The resort had a little pottery shop where you could buy a piece and paint it. One morning, Keira saw a turtle on the table (her current addition is turtles and snowmen) and it was all over. We took her down the next day to paint it and it became a two day work of love. I painted the top and she painted the bottom half. Dad painted the duck. Devin was supposed to help Dad but, he found playing with the paintbrushes more amusing. Keira named the turtle and the duck. We estimate that Fred must have gained about 5 pounds from all the layers of paint that Keira put on him. We were worried that all that paint would break the man's kiln when he went to fire it. During the two days that she was painting it, all of Keira's friends came to look at her work. Fred kind of became the legendary piece around the resort. Most people take there time getting every detail just right but, we're willing to bet that Keira has started a new style of painting where you slap on 10,000 layers of paint for a tie die look.

Out of Africa Wild Animal Park

2008-11-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

Today, was the first day of our vacation down to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Since we the drive takes a little over 8 hours door to door, we decided to stop at the Out Of Africa Wild Animal Park near Sedona, AZ. Keira & Devin has a blast.
This couple bought about 150 acres of land, live on the land (you drive by their house on the tour), and started building the zoo around them. You get really close to the animals. We fed a giraffe and a camel, right from our hands. Keira and Devin got to pet a very old tortoise and a 6 foot snake. I, meanwhile, was having a heart attack while my kids touched the snake. Mike kept telling me that it was fine. If it is fine, then why did the lady keep saying, "Don't touch his head!!!" They had a lot of animals that you can get real close to, unlike most zoos. The kids really enjoyed the parrots that knew how to say "Cool, Dude" "Aba Daba Do" and a dew other phrases. We spent the night in Phoenix and then got to hear those phrases the remainder of the trip to Mexico. "Aba daba Do"

We're Off to See the Wizard

2008-10-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! After numerous Halloween parties/playdates and professional photos, their costumes have taken a beating and required some serious Super Glue and last minute mending's. Devin has enjoyed tearing pieces off his costume. At least the costume looked really good for the professional photos and trick-or-treating was in the dark, so you couldn't see all the glue. The kids had so much fun on Halloween and got so much candy. They were so cute. Complete strangers asked to take their pictures. Our neighbor (who considers them her adopted grandkids) spoiled them by giving them their own huge (1 pound?) candy bar, animal cookies, and $10 for each. Plus, she had them come inside her house to visit. This was their first house for the night. As we continued on, they thought that you say, "Trick or Treat" and then you just push the door open and help yourself to the kitchen and find whatever treat that you like. We had a great Halloween and hope you did, too. Devin's costume is the second costume that I've made. Next year, I'll make Reagan's and then I'll think we'll buy them for a while....making them is a lot of work!!!!

Reagan is 5 months old!!

2008-10-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

Growing like a weed and now 5 months old!! Time flies by! Where is my baby?

A Day at the Pony Farm

2008-10-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

I scheduled a tour for our playgroup to go to a J.R. Pony Farms today. They gave us a private tour of the farm. The kids got to pet the animals, feed some of the animals, and the highlight of the day for Keira and Devin was riding the ponies. There were about thirty kids in the group and the Keira was one of the last kids to ride a pony. The farm owner commented that Keira was the most excited and enthusiastic and had the most fun of the kids riding the pony. I knew she'd enjoy riding the pony, but I had no idea that she was such a cowgirl at heart. Now, we are thinking about getting them to bring a pony or two to our house for pony rides for her birthday party.

Picking Pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-01T23:16:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, Las Vegas has a big orchard that grows produce including pumpkins! Last year, we went on the fourth day that the pumpkin patch was open for picking and it was wiped out and was slim pickings, making Mike a sad boy. This year, like Charlie Brown determined to get the biggest and best pumpkin in the patch, Mike woke us all up at the crack of dawn on the pumpkin patch's opening day to leave the house at 6am for the long drive across town to be waiting at the gates for the 7am opening. Keira & Devin were, literally, the first kids to pick pumpkins from the patch and we were actually alone in the patch for at he beginning (it was a school day and was 7am!!!!). We actually had to wait for them to remove the fencing from the patch!!! Mike was like a kid at a candy store who got a free shopping spree. We couldn't believe that we had it to ourselves for a little bit. Last year, we were in line for over an hour just to pay for our pumpkins. As we were leaving, the buses started to arrive with the school buses for the the school trips. The orchard lady said that they were expecting 700 school kids by 10am that morning and another 1,000 the next day!!! So, if we would have waited to come Saturday again this year, we would have been picking weeds again. We got some cute pics and some great pumpkins. Now that Mike got his prize pumpkins and got us out of bed at 5 am for his favorite holiday activity, he can't say a word when I go a bit overboard buying stuff for my favorite holiday (Christmas)!

Devin is 18 months & Reagan is 4 months!!!

2008-09-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

Reagan is 4 months old and had her check up today. She definitely had put on some weight lately and caught up (just look at those cheeks)!!! She now weighs in at a hefty weight of 13 lbs. 12.5 oz., putting her in the 52nd percentile. And she is 24.25 inches which is the 48th percentile. At 2 months old, she was in the 21st percentile for weight and the 33rd for height, so she is jumping up 10% for height each visit like Devin did.

Devin turned 18 months a few weeks ago and is still off the charts for height. Everyone who holds him says he is a brick, but I think that is because their comparison is Keira and they are about equal now for weight (Keira is still taller). Devin is 34 inches, the top one percentile and the measurement is really not on the chart for his age. For a comparison, his friend just turned two and is an inch shorter and is in the 60th percentile for a two year old. So, Devin's height is tall for a two year old. His weight is 24.5 lbs and holds steady around the 50th percentile....even though he eats us out of house and home!!!!

Devin's First Haircut

2008-09-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

The big day finally came down to necessity and bribery with a lollipop. We'd been putting his first haircut off for a long time because we didn't think we could get him to sit still or not scream. The lady was smart enough to bribe him with a lollipop right away when she saw him start to squirm as soon as he sat in the chair. She had to work pretty fast, but luckily he is a boy...so it doesn't require too much precision or cutting, just shaving. He made a mess of the smock with all the drool from the lollipop, but all in all, everyone survived intact and he looks so handsome!!!

We're Growing Up!!!

2008-09-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

September is here and overnight it instantly started cooling down. Now remember, cooling down means that it stays in the nineties, but that makes going outside nice and finally enjoyable!!!! We've been going to our new big park across the street a lot and taking a lot of walks. Keira's best friend, Lilah, (whose mom is my good friend) finally got back from her month away - so we have our playdates again. Though, they are probably going to travel to Korea with her daddy for 2 months around the holidays for his work!!! Reagan turned 3 months last week and has caught up in size. Lilah has a baby sibling (born 6 days before Reagan and weighing almost 2 more lbs. at birth)and they weighed exactly the same at the doctor the other day. Her 3 month photo is above. Keira is now into completely dressing herself. I can't pick out her clothes or help her in anyway. I have to be very careful which clothes make it to the dresser because if they are stained or to small...there is no getting them off of her after they are on. At least she seems to always color coordinate her outfits well!! And Devin....all he seems to want to do these days is go sit on the potty, forget the toys- just the potty (sometimes just to sit, sometimes to read a book. I think he likes the quiet or the echo the room makes!) We aren't really dedicated to the effort of training him yet, but if there is one less diaper to change then I'm all for it! And, he gets so excited to see his success. Maybe he heard Dr. Oz on Oprah saying that we need to examine our work in the potty after using it!! Smart boy!!

Kodak Moments

2008-08-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

Every morning after breakfast when Mike is at work, the kids and I get some good fun playtime on the living room floor with all the toys and puzzles. Some days it is a tea party and dress up with dolls, some days it is puzzles and books, and some days it is just being silly. This is my favorite time of day because they are rested, fed, and happy. They play nicely with each other and we have fun. As the day draws on...the slightest bump brings drama to all. So, we all appreciate this morning time more. These are some shots I took this morning when Keira and Devin were playing with their little sister, kissing her, and taking turns holding her. They finally understand that they can't pick her up by the arm like their doll or push her away like their dinner plate!!!

Potty Party!!!

2008-08-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

Since it has been too hot to do much outside and it takes too long to load up 3 kids and apnea equipment by myself, we have been inviting friends over a lot for playdates and pool parties. Keira has been on & off on the potty training issue since she was 18 months old. Back then she started using the potty all on her own, occasionally. We put off the training until after her 2 yr. birthday when our travelling slowed down and the holidays were over. She was doing really well until Reagan was born and then regressed quite a bit. So, we put it off for a while and tried again a few weeks later. She is little Miss Independent and decides when she will/won't have good day with it. It is hard to know if the problem is in her head or her physical size (or lack there of!). But, about 2 months ago, Devin just started following suit from watching her and went in and started using the potty.No one believed he was ready until my sister came over and saw him do it several times and then told us to train him. So, now we are trying him in underwear for a few days. I still think he is just doing it to not miss out, not that we'll get him trained anytime soon (bet, we can hope!). Now, Keira, being competitive like her mom, is stepping up to the plate again. Hopefully, they'll spur each other on and we'll only have to have Reagan in diapers. Maybe, there is an advantage to having kids so close in age!!! Here is a picture of one of are recent playdates where everyone wanted to join in on the potty fun and another of the congratulatory potty dances that they choreographed!

Reagan is 2 Months Old!!!

2008-07-31T21:51:00.001-07:00

Reagan is 2 months old already!!! She had her check up and is growing fast she is now 9.75 lbs and 22 inches. Keira's best friend, Lilah (who's mom is one of my best friends, too) has a baby sister, named Amelia, who is 6 days older than Reagan. Amelia weighed 2.5 lbs more and over 3 inches longer than Reagan at birth but now Reagan weighs 3 ounces less and a half inch shorter. So, she is definitely catching up for being a preemie. She is still on the oxygen at night, just in case she has a sleep apnea episode, not because of any breathing/lung problems. She has a sleep apnea monitor and gets a caffeine medication to stimulate her breathing while she sleeps. Hopefully, she'll be off of everything in a month or two. her follow-up sleep study showed that she improved from a rating of 25 to a 10 (normal for a full term baby is 2, but preemies usually need some time to get there!!).
Reagan is starting to smile and coo a lot and she is starting to get use to her active big brother and sister. Being on caffeine might actually allow her to level the playing field around the house because it gets her so wired that she screams for a couple of hours at night. So, Keira & Devin might have met their match with Reagan on caffeine!!!!

Play Time

2008-07-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

Keira is very into dressing up and accessorizing these days!! And, Devin just loves to play along. He'll carry her purse for her or pretend to eat the dinner she made for him in the play kitchen. They (usually) play very well together. And, Reagan is adjusting to home life with two loud, active older siblings. She tries to sleep when the older two are eating or napping/sleeping....just about the only quiet times in the whole day!!

Fourth of July

2008-07-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Grandma & Grandpa O'Leary and all of us went downtown for the fireworks show. The kids were in awe. At first, Keira was scared of the firework sounds and clung to me, but soon she was standing up cheering and clapping. Devin loved all the colors. And Reagan slept through it, of course. The firework show was amazing!! The whole drive home she was looking for more fireworks and shrieked whenever she saw more.

Like a fish in water....

2008-07-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Keira's swim lessons are really paying off and by seeing her go, we realize it is time to sign up for some more sessions! She jumps right in (sometimes , she even tries without the water wings). She can blow bubbles, kick, and stroke. She motors around the pool all by herself. And, this is the same child that hated even taking a bath for the first six months of her life!!!

Like a fish in water...

2008-07-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

Having fun!!!

2008-07-01T18:28:00.001-07:00

Grandma & Grandpa O'Leary are visiting. The kids are enjoying the visit and we are loving the help. Between my parents and Mike's parents visits, I haven't done much of anything around the house - house cleaning, diaper changes,feedings, laundry....I am going to be in for a real shock when all the visitors are gone and it is back to reality!!! Reagan is now a month old (already!). Here are some pics of us playing around and having fun!!!

Reagan's Baptism

2008-07-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

Reagan was baptized today at St. Francis of Assisi Church. The paperwork required for baptism's in Las Vegas has become excessive, so I had to pull the "she is a preemie on oxygen card" to get her an emergency baptism. I never said that she was sick or that was an emergency. I just let the priest draw his own conclusions when he saw her (and I set off the alarm on her apnea monitor twice to add a little effect...he-he!).

The Cutest Kids Ever!!!

2008-06-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Aren't these the cutest kids ever? Mike goes back to work tomorrow, so, I figured that today was my last chance to get some photos taken. Taking three kids to a potrait studio by myself was not going to happen and will probably never happen!!! It will be interesting to see how I handle three kids and a house all by myself....wish me luck and pray for me, please!! Mike and my mom have done everything around here for the past three weeks. I don't know how I am going to do the work of the two of them, two people who never sit down, and watch three kids at the same time!!! Any suggestions? The amount of posts on here, after Mike goes back to work, will be your sign of how I am doing and how much or little time I have!!!

Hosptial Stay #2

2008-06-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

On the 10th, Devin woke up at 3 am with a high fever. Reagan felt warm, so we checked her's and it was over 100 degrees, too high for a newborn. A couple of hours later, it rose past the point of concern on her doc's paperwork, so I called to get the news I was expecting - go straight to the ER and we'll be admitted for 48 hours for labwork to rule out an infection. During those 48 hours, she had more episodes of low oxygen levels, like when she was born. So, the doc ordered a sleep study and G.I test to look for sleep apnea. The orders for the GI test got lost and the sleep lab made a scheduling error, so the test that was supposed to get done Wednesday night didn't get done until Friday night. Then the results took an entire day to get, so we had to stay Saturday, too. On Sunday, she was discharged with a diagnosis of sleep apnea which is common in preemies. Our living room looks like a mini-hospital. We have a sleep apnea monitor (with a very loud alarm), 6 big tanks of oxygen for times when her levels drop, and vials/syringes of caffeine (of all things) to stimulate the respiratory center of her brain to breathe more. The doc says she will most likely outgrow this in a few months. Now we just have lots of follow-ups, but thank God that she is healthy (she already weighs a pound over her birth weight) and we'll be just fine!

Catching Up

2008-06-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

When I created this blog I knew that I'd only post a couple of times a month because we get so busy, but I wasn't planning on almost 2 weeks in hospitals to keep me away. So Reagan's discharge got delayed until Wednesday because she kept having low oxygen levels. They wanted to watch her for 72 hours and if she had any episodes, they would do further testing. I had to come home on Saturday, so it was several days of travelling back and forth the 40 minutes/each way drive to the hospital. Keira & Devin did great adjusting to all the changes and comings/goings, considering the fact that mom was gone so much and they visited her at the hospital. My mom, who is AMAZING and a life-saver, came down for the birth and helped with the kids....helped isn't the right word, she did everything for them and for Mike & I. Without her, Mike wouldn't have been able to see Reagan's birth or visit her at the hospital because kids weren't allowed in and I couldn't watch them because I couldn't even pick them up after the surgery. Thanks MOM!!!!! Keira was amazed by her little sis. When Reagan got home, Keira kissed her and then ran off. She came back with her blankie and put it on Reagan and then ran off again. She came back with her doll stroller, dumped everything out, and put out her arms to put Reagan in. Devin was less amazed. As soon as I moved Reagan from the center of my lap, Devin moved right in to reclaim his territory. On Sunday, while still in the hospital, Grandpa Keith flew down to meet her. The kids loved playing with Ba-Ma and Ba-Pa (as Keira calls them). After the delays with discharge and time away from Keira & Devin, it was so good to be home - all of us!!!!!

Meet Reagan Celisse O'Leary

2008-05-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well, we have learned there is no such thing as a plan when it comes to a newborn, including c-sections. We were supposed to go in on Tuesday the 27th for a test to check for lung development and, if positive, we were scheduled for a c-section on the 28th - a couple of weeks early due to my medical conditions. We weren't holding our breath for Weds. since Devin's lung development test was negative 3 times and he kept getting pushed back. I just cook them slower!! On Monday night, for no real reason since I felt fine, I just had a feeling that this baby wasn't going to wait until Weds. to make her appearance. I told my hubby and even called my mom (who was going to fly in if we were having her on Weds.) and told her to be on standby. On Tuesday, we went to the appointment and I told the nurse that I was having the baby that day and she just laughed. She took us back for the ultrasound/monitoring and the look on her face told me that I was right. The doc came in and said the baby's heart rate was way too high and she wasn't responding movement-wise. Since her size had dropped from 35th percentile to 24th, she had a possible heart problem, and was small....he wasn't comfortable even waiting a day to deliver since the baby was showing signs of distress. He sent me straight to the hospital and at 8:08pm Reagan Celisse O'Leary was born weighing in at 5 lbs 4 oz and 17 inches. Her initial APGAR scores were great and all development tests, including the lungs, she past with flying colors. In the nursery she started to have episodes of rapid breathing where her oxygen level dropped too low, probably caused by the distress, so they admitted her. The doc said that physically she was fine, but it was normal for small babies to need to adjust to living on the outside - so it would just take time for her to learn to slow down her breathing. They gave her oxygen and tube fed for several days. The cardiologist tested her and said that all babies her size have a weakened valve and that it would strengthen as she got bigger or, if it never goes away, it will never be a problem. So she got the all clear from him!!! Today ( Saturday), they took her off the oxygen and she has been bottle feeding for almost 2 days. If she can keep her breathing under control for 24 hours, they will discharge her on Sunday - probably Monday though since it is hard to get a doc in to do the paperwork on a Sunday. I just got discharged this morning after 4 nights because my blood pressure kept spiking, a sign of eclampsia returning (who wouldn't have high blood pressure under these circumstances?). Please pray that she does good and can come home in a day or two. I'm tired of NICUs. Reagan's NICU doc is one of the same ones that Keira had and he called Mike and I "NICU pros" === something, in my opinion, that no one ever wants to be called. She is a total cutie and looks like Keira's twin, separated by a couple of years. What our kids lack in size, they make up for in cuteness!!! She has bright blue eyes as of right now (we are 3 for 3 for blue eyed when Mike and I are both brown eyed) and LOTS of dark black hair (where did that come from?). I'll keep you updated and let you know when she is home!!!

1 + 1 = 5

2008-05-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

With possibly only a week left before our third child arrives, I've been trying to spend some more one-on-one-time with each child, especially Keira. She is very into the bright colors of flowers, so we took her down to the plant nursery and she picked out her own ones and we came home and planted them. She loved digging in the dirt and watering the flowers.

Dancing Twins

2008-05-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

The one thing they LOVE to do all the time is dance. For Keira, dressing/undressing/re-dressing her dolly and herself in dress up clothes all day long is a close tie and probably beats dancing, since it requires less energy. But, you put these two kids together with any kind of music, even the background music of a TV commercial, and you will see some new moves. OK, so I had to go back and edit this post to add the clip of Devin dancing(filmed 12/20/07), when he just started taking a step or two because this clip is so cute.

Intro

2008-05-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

So, it seems we are the only O'Leary offspring not to have a blog. So, here it is. It makes it easy to update you all on all of us. I will admit that I won't be as active at posting as the others. My goal is a couple of updates a month and some cute pics. Since the invention of the digital camera and multi-gig memory card, I am terrible at getting pics printed off my camera and framed. I just buy more memory cards as they fill up or we download them to our desktop or a CD. So, like Mary Ann, I figure this can be our family album.