UPDATE!!!

So, this time it really has been forever since my last update! We're settling in, finally, and have sufficiently taken over my sister's house with our kids and dog and beds and clothes and stuff.... Sis and Tony have been so gracious and we are so blessed to have such wonderful family. Scott is getting into a routine at Redland's Paint (where he's the manager), but pray for him--I joke with him that he's now 2 years into a mid-life crisis, but we are trying to make the decisions that God wants us to make..... I'm about to pull all my hair out....but what else is new! I'm finishing fall classes through UW and winter classes start at Cal State San Bernardino on January 7th, so not much of a break. Cal State is also on a quarter system (instead of semester) so that will take some getting used to. Mia is doing very well!! She's crawling even faster than before and pulling herself up on everything she can. I think she'll be walking in the next few months. We've had MANY doctor's appointments since we've been here. She's had 3 Synagis shots (to reduce the effects of RSV, if she were to contract it), two flu shots and her one-year immunizations. She's also had an appointment with a Pediatric Gastrointerologist about her reflux. We thought it was getting better because she's not spitting so much, but she has been regurgitating (barfing in her mouth...eewww) and reswallowing. Apparently, that's worse because the acid goes up and then back down, damaging her esophagus. So, he has doubled her Prevacid dose and we see him again in 7 weeks. He also ordered blood work to check her liver enzymes (1, because they were abnormal earlier this year and 2, I guess reflux can cause abnormal liver enzymes). We go do that tomorrow--yah. She's a whopping 21 lbs., 12 ozs. and 29 3/4 inches tall! It's amazing how much she's grown!! She's still a little on the quiet side (except for grunts to let us know she wants something!). But, we're working on that too. She's not in Birth to Three here, yet. Her new Pediatrician wanted to wait to see how she was doing at her 15 month check in January before deciding because she's doing so well. We're officially in hibernation mode again. We go out for the occassional quick shopping trip and to take the girls to school and pick them up. The doctor even said that we could take her out to eat sometimes. It's not as stringent as last winter becasue she's older. Unfortunately, her doctor said that the worst place to take her would be church........she said that lots of people will stay home from work and not go out to eat if they are sick, but that they'll go to church. And when I thought about it, she's right. I've done it! So, we keep her home and are back on a rotating church schedule. Please pray for Scott and I also as we continue to seek God's will in regards to our church membership. We've been seeking His will and I know he will show us His way.......But, yesterday we made our first Urgent Care visit. Mia woke up yesterday with eye boogers and I just thought it was a thing. But then they got worse....Pink Eye!! So, off we went and the Physician's Assistant checked her ears--infected-both of them! I could and couldn't believe it! She had no fever and was in a great mood (except when the PA started to approach her...). For those of you that don't know, Annie did the same thing from the time she was 1 until she was 4--she would get raging ear infections (even perforate her ear drums) and only sometimes would run a fever and never pulled at or complained about her ears. I always felt so bad because we'd go to the doctor's and they couldn't believe I didn't bring her in sooner, blah, blah, blah.... But she never complained! So, I'm not sure if this is a sign that we're in for the same ordeal with Mia....? Today, the pink eye is in both her eyes (of course) and she was a little cranky. Hopefully, the antibiotics will kick in and she'll be better soon!! I think I'm caught up on the pictures, for now. They are not in chronological order (that takes too much thinking!!) and I noticed that the ones for Mia's Wisconsin birthday are a bit out of sync, but it would be REALLY hard to fix. But, you guys are all smart.... ;-) You'll be able to interpret what I mean!!!

Happy Birthday, Mia Part 1

Before we left Wisconsin, we decided to have a birthday party for Mia with all the friends and family that we miss so much. It was such a nice party and we feel so blessed!

Right around the end of September, Mia was doing this thing where she would lean to the side and act shy if someone was talking to her. She didn't do it for too long, but Sarah got a great picture of her doing it!!!

There was quite a bit of frosting on the cake, so I helped her get down to the cake....

and then she did the rest herself.

Annie was very helpful in being sure that Mia knew exactly what to do with her cake!

Mia wasn't really sure what to make of everything that was going on....the singing, the people, the fire.....

and I ended up "helping" her eat some cake at first. She just sat there for a minute and stared at it, but then she got the idea.

And the mess began!!

And even a little smile!!

The frenzy to open the gifts

And almost a smile from the big girl!!

Happy Birthday, Mia Part 2

Mia's second party was at the end of October at Sis' house. It was really nice for people to come see Mia (before she went into hibernation) and share her birthday with us.

This is what Mia looked like while I opened all her presents...

and then she looked exactly the same waiting for cake!!!

These are all the decorations....look familiar? Well, I got such a good deal on everything that I got enough for both states!!

The "I don't smile for cameras" Birthday Girl.....

And this is me holding Mia back from the candle because she was sooooo interested in the flame!!!

I really think Mia thought we were crazy as we all stood around her like a bunch of singing giants!!

This time, I think she knew more what to do with the cake.....

and it ended up right in her lap!

So, I had to dig it all out......

but she didn't care. She ate and played and pointed at everybody. She was really cute!!

Happy Birthday, Mia, Part 3

This Mia's actual Birthday-October 15th. And just to get it out of the way--yes, of course, I cried! Anyway, the girls and I decided that Mia had to do something on her actual birthday so we went to Gerrards's and got her a pretty yellow cupcake.

The girls wanted to present it to her and then be in every picture while she ate it...

but I told them to move it! ;-) Mia immediately dug in to her cupcake...

and dropped it right in her lap!

But we just put it back on her tray!

And she loved it!! It was, of course, real buttercream frosting made with real grease....

so when it came time to clean up, she was all greasy!!

A close-up of all the mess.....

and that little snorty face!

I wanted to get a close-up of her legs....nice. Luckily, it was warm this day and I had her shorts off.....

but I should have put a bib on her!!!!