Lanaya

We went to the doctor this last week to check height, weight, growth and just health in general.  We have a big girl on our hands... 97th percentile height, 95th weight and 93rd head circumference.  She's also cruising along furniture at 9 months and clapping, waving and babbling like there's no tomorrow.  All of these things are advanced for her age.  As of today, she is also making specific sounds like "ba" for bottle and is actually playing peek-a-boo by covering her eyes and making a 'p' and a 'b' sound in a row afterwards when I say "peek-a-boo".

She is also just a delight to have in our house.  She is constantly moving, just can't stand to stay still.  She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth and you can see her little mind working to piece things together.  She has big, blue eyes that twinkle, she laughs all the time and she is the pride and joy of her parents and siblings alike. 


She now has 4 teeth as well... sleeps like a dream (most nights) and eats pretty much anything we offer her.  She has been such an amazing blessing in our lives and we just can't get enough of her!

St Patrick's Day and Some Randoms

Jaymeson was so excited for leprechauns and gold and many other things green.  Thankfully, his amazing teacher satisfied his dream by hosting a leprechaun in their class and having a Green Party.  I made these tasty treats, but otherwise, our St Patrick's Day was limited to green pancakes!

We did, however, end our day with a little hair cut.  As you can see, it was getting a little longer than his standard military cut...

In my defence, I was up quite late the night before making a South African recipe for Kienna's 'International Feast' at school.  Milk Tarts became an instant hit in our family!  I got to deliver them, along with the Green Rice Krispies Squares, to the school in the morning (I felt a little ill and didn't get it all packaged up in a way I would trust the kids walking them to school).  

Otherwise, things have been a little more typical around the house.  Thought I'd share a few little pictures that I quickly snapped with my phone.

This means trouble!!

I've moved all nautical theme into our den and have been working on adding some more colour in our family room.  I'm excited to see how it all works out!!

Jarett frequently does the dishes at night while listening to a show on wireless headphones.  He had left the base plugged in over night and Benson wanted to watch a show while I taught piano, so he figured it out quickly and loved this new experience!

Lanaya fell asleep in her high chair... Not the normal direction.  She has since began to climb much more and is strapped into her chair before I turn my back for a minute.

Love Lanaya's new hat!!

Benson got a new snowsuit (awesome clearance!) and wouldn't take it off - even indoors - for a couple hours. (I'll have to search a little for this picture)

 

We also started to do flyers.  Kaia and Kienna have each taken on a route and we are delivering about 200 flyers each week.  Just some of the folding that we've been doing each week. The bag is holding between 40-60 flyers.

 

Flathead Lake - 2012

We had so much fun at Flathead Lake!  All the cousins from the Cahoon side were there.  It was a little difficult to go camping with a broken foot, but I had a lot of help and was able to even get in the water a few times (on a floaty).  The kids, however, had a BLAST!  The girls all were in and out of the water constantly.  They were playing games, coloring and swimming to their hearts content.

Kaia was so excited to spot on the wave-runner.  She went on the tube, knee-boarded and swam a whole lot.  She always had a smile on her face!

Kienna loved the hammock and the games, but she too loved the water.  She was a little more nervous to do anything behind the wave runner, but she had a blast swimming out on many a flutter board to keep up with the "teenagers".

Saryn was in heaven with the 3 other girls that were her age.  They colored, played games and ran around playing with ponies.  They had so much fun making the ponies swim and playing fetch with each other.

Jaymeson LIVED in the water.  He would only come out by demand, if it was dinner time.  Otherwise, he was in a tube, or walking in the water, shooting his water gun.

Benson loved to sit on the shore and throw rocks in the lake.  He really would've been content to do that all day long.  Unfortunately, naps and eating and LOTS of dirt, got in the way.

They all loved painting rocks too!  We have a huge box FULL of painted rocks.  Some are cowboy themed to put in the boys room, but most are just multiple colors and I have NO idea what will happen with them.

Overall, though, it was so much fun.  I loved the hot chocolate every morning, the reading, the campfire, the food and the weather, but most of all, I loved the company!  We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to go camping again next year (sans the cast).

It's Greek to me

It's all Spanish to Benson.

If anyone speaks in a language that he doesn't understand, it's Spanish.  In fact, even if it's a silly word like "banana pants", it's Spanish.  This has happened ever since my Dad read him a story in Spanish.

This includes baby language, we've discovered.  Whenever Lanaya talks, Benson says, "Mom, she's speaking Spanish again!"

He also introduces her to everyone, "This is my sister, Lanaya, she speaks Spanish."

She also is definitely crawling now - And it looks like she's climbing too.  Yikes!

Measles, Mumps and Rubella, oh my!

I have had a few things that I'd like to post over the last week, but I don't because I haven't posted about this yet.  So, here goes.

Wednesday morning, almost 2 weeks ago, Benson woke up crying.  He had snuck down to the girls room in the night and Kaia brought him upstairs looking like this (and the picture doesn't really do it justice):

He had been a little sick for a few days, but this was a whole new kettle of fish!  After a mild freak out and consoling words from a brother-in-law, we went in to see a doctor.  His verdict: he has mumps.  Say WHAT?!?

Backstory:
Over 6 pregnancies and many blood tests, I have found that I'm not responsive to the MMR.  I have no antibodies in my blood that show that I've ever had it.  Each pregnancy had a different doctor, so I was sent in over and over to get, yet another, MMR.  I have probably had 8 MMR's now (including the ones as a child).  I have officially been labelled as a "non-responder" and they've given up.  Apparently this is quite rare and is officially the third weird medical thing about me.  (I also have a Protein S Deficiency and a family history of Malignant Hyperthermia - doctors want to sit down and talk about my chart every time I come to the hospital in labour).

The first question the doctor asked me after looking at Benson was, "Is he immunized?"  Yes.  *pause*  But I don't respond to the MMR, if that's something to take into consideration.  He was almost certain that it was mumps, but sent us for a blood test to confirm it.

Benson wasn't too keen on having his blood drawn and kept on insisting, "Mommy, I don't want a blood contest!!"  He was so adorable.  He cried for just a second after he saw the blood coming out (despite my best efforts to divert his eyes) and cheered up for a spiderman and hot wheels sticker.  Plus, there's no needle that ice cream can't fix. 

Blood results came in... he has no antibodies against mumps at all.  For something completely random, it seems to run in my family.  I began to panic a little about Lanaya (as she is too young to have the MMR), but she has been fine and the mumps are long gone by now.  We put Benson under quarantine for about 5-6 days and  he was as happy and normal as can be (just with large bumps on his ears).  Apparently, this is only contagious from people who have not had the vaccine, so the kids were still good to go to school, but Benson, Lanaya and I had to stay home.

After a second blood test (10 days after the beginning of symptoms), which he didn't cry at - at all, we will get the results again to send over to a Pediatrician that specializes in abnormal responses to vaccines.  They will, more than likely, test everyone in the family and see who we need to worry about and what precautions we will have to take because of this.  Such fun! 

So very luckily, Benson didn't develop any severe symptoms of Mumps and it was very non-eventful. I did, however, have a chance to really think about vaccines over this experience.  If those people who choose not to vaccinate, would vaccinate, people wouldn't be able to spread this to Benson, or myself or anyone else who doesn't respond to vaccinations.  I felt very upset that someone else felt they could make that decision that affects so much more than just themselves.

Bishop's Ball

We had SO much fun on Friday night!  My Mom was put in charge of decorating and my sister, Kim, was in charge on putting on a 15 minute floor show.  We were easy recruits and were signed up for the Swing and Disco numbers.  I was a little apprehensive at first, but it was so much fun!

We really bonded with the other couples, got some good exercise at rehearsals and really had a blast performing!  We enjoyed each others company so much we even went and took a group shot at the photo booth!!

My sisters and I had a blast trying on all the dresses at my moms house and getting ready for the ball!  It was such a fun night!

 Jarett was asked to sing "The Way you Look Tonight" with the Big Band and he sounded amazing!  It's a song I've wanted him to sing since we were dating.  He even dedicated it to me and I got to stand in front of the stage and stare at him with a cheesy smile. 

 
Karen Baker came up to me during the number and said, "I just told Don that if he dies before me, I'm holding auditions for the new husband.  He's going to have to dance and sing."  Apparently Jarett is making the cut.  ;)  Lucky for me, he's all mine!

Of course, those of Mullen & Co. who were present had to get a shot.  What a fun place to work...

My ever supportive Gran and Aunty Beryl came up to help and see all the decorations, the dancing and hear the music.  We love having them around SO much!

One of the highlights of the night actually happened after the ball.  We came home to this note taped to our closet.  "Mom and Dad,  I cleaned up the main floor a bit so that this Saturday can be fun.  We can spend the morning cleaning our rooms, practicing and such, then we can have fun.  -Kaia"

Sometimes I just am overwhelmed by how thoughtful our kids can be.  I came home to a perfectly clean main floor.  The kitchen sparkled, the dishes were done, the toys put away and it was wonderful!  It was the perfect end to the perfect evening!