Family pictures

This morning we had family pictures scheduled.  As I mentioned before by some miracle we all had outfits picked out that I was pretty pleased with.  I was actually looking forward to this morning's session.  We met our fantastic photographer in approximately 100% humidity.  Seriously.  It was supposed to rain today and the air was sticky, thick and gross.  Despite sweating our asses off I think we got some good shots.  I think the best picture came at the very end.  We worked so so SO hard to get Logan to smile.  In the very last shot we finally got him to smile and we all collapsed.  We were literally jumping through hoops!  Isabel was her usual model self.  Girl cracks me up.  Brian and I had sweat pouring off of us, so hopefully our pitted out clothes and sweaty faces can be somehow photoshopped out!

After the photo session we came back home and did nothing.  We got rid of DirecTV and our new uVerse service hasn't been installed yet, so we are without TV.  Big mistake during football season!

It finally decoded to start raining a little while ago.  Logan and I sat outside listening to the thunder for a while.

Hopefully we can listen to the Aggie game in a little bit.  Wish we could watch!  It's breakfast for dinner, so need to start the pancakes, eggs and bacon!

9 year old and a tough lesson in tights

Isabel saw the pediatric cardiologist today.  Dr. Finnegan did another ECHO and EKG and cleared her.  He said she should come back in 5 YEARS!  That's when she'll be NINE!  Crazy.  Dr. Finnegan said we won't be seeing him.  Boo.  I guess he plans to be long retired by then.

It's too bad because he's amazing. I know I've said it before, but he's the best medical professional I've ever come into contact with.  He has a photographic memory, doesn't take any bullshit, has a great bedside manner and expects greatness from everyone who works with him.  This extends to the front desk.  While we were there in the waiting room he popped in to see what he could do to expedite patients getting in the exam rooms.  I guess they were down a nurse and he was taking patients back himself.  I know he can be tough for the nurses to work with because he will call your ass out in a second (as I overheard in the PICU while we were there), but for patients, he is seriously the best.  I really wanted to put this on the blog because too often I can complain and whine, but I really want to recognize this great doctor.  I need to write him a letter before he retires.

Back to the exam.  So the doctor said if Izzy faints again and recovers quickly (as she did before) that we do t need to head to the ER.  He said to call the office and he will refer us to a cardiac rhythm doctor  to get to the bottom of it.  It can be totally harmless, but with our family history we need to make sure.  He said it was likely due to her being in one position (a canoe) and then moving around before her body had time to catch up.

We went to the mall after the long appointment.  Why?  Why do I do this to myself?  It's really not worth the free underwear coupon I was going to redeem.

Izzy had dance class today.  I took her and her friend (who was over this afternoon to play) to class.  Her friend had a little hole in her tights. After class the hole was pretty big.  Isabel was wearing a brand new pair of tights.  Somehow between picking her up from class and getting home she had a huge hole in them.  I knew she purposely either made the hole or ripped it so that it became bigger.   Soooooo I told her that she would have to buy new tights with her own saved money.  She cried and ran up to her room.  I heard a loud noise and went upstairs to investigate.  This is what I saw:

And she begged me not to take all of her money.  I told her that I would take however much we needed to buy the tights and that she could still keep the rest.  She asked how much tights cost.  I told her $4 so we counted out $4 in coins and with dollar bills.  I asked her how we should pay and this is what she came up with:

$3 in bills and $1 in quarters.

I have a feeling she won't rip a hole in her tights again.

Room Parent....M&Ms

We're in the 2nd week of school (for us).  Isabel continues to do really well.  She's making new friends and is slowly asking about her BFF from last year less and less.  Today when I dropped her off out of the blue she yells across the room 'MOMMY!' (at this point my 'INSIDE VOICE' yell is about to happen) YOU LOOK REALLY BEAUTIFUL TODAY!!!'  Oh my heart.  She must have known that I'm sick, feel like shit, have been eating like shit, haven't worked out, etc, etc.  What a way to make Mom feel good, right?!  Especially in my shorts with two tiny holes in the back pockets (I forgot and wore a thong for the first time in, oh, 5 years, today...hello butt cheeks) and pitted out shirt.  High five little miss!

I'm somehow room parent, but that's ok with me.  If we hadn't been gone the first couple of week of classes I would have volunteered anyway.  It's just so much easier with Izzy's allergies.  It seems like it should be a pretty easy job this year.  The teacher is amazing and said she prefers to plan most of the parties herself.  Score!  I think I'll just be in charge of teacher bdays and appreciation gifts.  We will go see the cardiologist tomorrow for her exam post-fainting spell.  Her regular pediatrician wanted her to see the cardiologist to be cautious.

Logan is still adjusting to his new class.  Actually, I think his teacher is adjusting to him.  She seems geniunly surprised by him.  This is the same lady who taught Isabel all last year.  She saw Logan all the time.  I'm not sure what she expected.  She has made a couple of concerning comments that lead me to believe that maybe he is not in the right environment.  I gave her Logan's OT's phone number today and I hope she calls her.  I told his OT what his teacher said about him and she was really surprised.  She told me that if I hear anything like that again to have her call.  So that's exactly what I did today.  Logan's evaluation with the school district is on Thursday.  I am really hoping that he gets into the program.  I would be very surprised and upset if he didn't.

Logan has been doing well.  He still is pretty rigid and tantrums frequently, but full meltdowns are becoming fewer and fewer.  His repeating has gotten SO much better, except with books, and where he holds consonants for a long time (can't remember what the clinical term is) has gotten much much better.

We have had a lot of stressors in the household recently and I remembered that we have tons of M&M bags leftover from the flights.  Bad bad thing to have in the house.  Sure, I could save them and give them away with Halloween candy (Isabel can't eat them because they are a 'may contain' food), but no, we just eat them.  So good.

We have family pictures this Saturday.  I bought a voucher last Christmas when my favorite photographer was having a promotion for a mini session that donated half of the amount to charity.  A cheap session and a charity donation?  Yes please!  I have the perfect outfits for everyone.  That never happens.  Usually I'm running around trying to find things that semi don't clash and I forget about myself and then end up wearing a black shirt.  Not this year!  I am ready.  I just had to get a tiny bit of pink nail polish out of the dress that a certain little princess will be wearing.

I think Brian and I both would kill for a date night.  It's been a really really really long time since we've gone out just the two of us.  I actually can't remember when it was.  My goal is for this to happen in the next 4 months.  It probably won't, but I can wish.

And I'm now very excited that New Girl is new tonight.

First Day of School

Today we had our first day of Pre K for Isabel and first day of preschool in the 3s class for Logan.  Drop off went better than expected.  Isabel did great.  Logan was a little confused and wanted to go back to his old room.  Since we missed almost 3 weeks of school I was a little worried about how they would fit in with new friends, etc.  Isabel's BFF isn't in her class, but I think she is already finding new friends and catching up with the other ones from her old class. 

Isabel wants to be 'a princess (Cinderella)' when she grows up.

Logan wants to 'play. Buzz lightyear' when he grows up.  Last year Logan wanted to be a dinosaur and I'll have to check to see what Izzy said. 

Logan's teacher made an odd comment.  She said his day was 'interesting' and then said something about the way he plays with toys or something.  She looks like she was about to pass out/cry/take a nap, so I didn't ask her what she meant.  His teacher is Izzy's old teacher so I know her.  I was a little confused about what she said.  At the end of our conversation she said 'overall I think it was a great first day.'  So strange.

I took Isabel in for a follow up after our ER stint after her fainting spell while on vacation.  The doctor wants us to see the cardiologist just to make sure everything is ok.  So we have that appointment next week.  We also have Logan's school evaluation for the PPCD program next week too.

I'm hoping to blog about our vacation at some point, but it might not happen.  Right now I'm tired.

Last Day of School

The kids had their last day of school on Thursday.  They have a week break and then they move on to their classroom for next year.  They both had great years!  I was beyond thrilled with both of their teachers.  I will miss Logan's teachers tremendously.  They have both been huge cheerleaders for him and I really really appreciated that.  Isabel's lead teacher will be Logan's teacher next year (yay!), but this means that his classmates will not be in his class as they all have a different teacher.  I think this was the best decision for him.  Because he already knows the teacher and room I feel like it will be an easier transition on him.  At least I hope so.  We will miss his friends, but honestly, it wasn't a very cohesive group.  I'm excited to see what this year has in store for Logan!  We're still waiting on his AISD evaluation and to see if he will go into the PPCD program.

I'm so pleased and excited about Isabel's teacher for next year.  I've heard great things about her and I'm so excited that Isabel will be in her class!  She is very sweet and has a masters degree in early childhood education.  She has had children in her classroom with peanut allergies, so it's not new to her.  She was very receptive to the letter we gave her to pass along to the other parents in the classroom about Isabel's allergies.  We also printed out the snack safely list that I printed out online.  She was happy to have that information and hand it out to the parents as well.  Isabel was excited to demonstrate the new Auvi-Q epinephrine injection trainer.  She nailed it again!  I know we (obviously) can't rely on Isabel to inject herself, or know when to inject herself, but the fact that she knows how to do it and hopefully will not be as afraid if we ever need to use it on her.

I'm currently writing lists and then more lists trying to prepare for our Montana/California adventure.  There is a lot to think about.  We packed and sent a suitcase ahead in the RV, so I'm trying to just take carry on luggage.  I'll have a car seat, carry on luggage and both kids to wrangle with a 37 minute layover in Denver.  Oh, and I also have to try and be really nice and ask the passengers around me to not open peanuts during the flights. At least Frontier doesn't serve peanuts during the flight.  We'll have at least 6 auto injectors of epinephrine with us.  We also need to carry on our nebulizer and all of our liquid xopenex.  It's not huge, so that's a plus.  Just lots to strategize and organize.  I'm really really excited though!  Isabel has been talking about going to GGBs house and the trail she pained with chalk last year.  Can't wait to see my brother and sister and nephews!  We all miss Tank too, so it will be nice to see him again!

Ethan, Joanne and Gramma come for a visit

After much begging, we got Aunt Joanne, Ethan and Gramma over for a quick visit!  Joanne and Ethan were feeling super fresh being just 2 days off of a quick 17 hour plane ride from China.  No big deal, right?  Sunday the girls minus Isabel went to San Marcos to the outlets in search of wedding shoes.  We left Logan, Isabel and Ethan home with Brian.  Ethan is a super easy going little guy.  I think fun was had by everyone.

Brian said it was pretty much gang up on Logan day.  Poor Logan.

He can't get any cuter.

Except Tank.  I'm pretty sure the food Ethan sneaks Tank doesn't make up for the hair pulling!  I'm sure Tank is thrilled to be in Houston waiting to go on the RV with everyone.  Just thrilled.

Monday we got up and were either headed to Sea World or the Children's Museum in New Braunfels.  Since it was supposed to be 100 degrees we decided to stay indoors and go with the Children's Museum.  I had heard fantastic things about this place, and while it was fun, nice and clean, it was nowhere near the caliber or San Jose and Houston.  San Jose is still hands down the best Children's Museum.  One day we will go back!  We did have a lot of fun.  Isabel pretty much stayed like this:

She lifted the veil to check out the baby crocodiles

 

 

 

Check out this adorable little astronaut!

According to Isabel it was raining and we needed to seek shelter.

Just a little camping in the wedding dress.

We went a little crazy and decided that Isabel could have a sleepover in Logan's room.  I was fully expecting her to end up back in her room in her bed with Gramma.  But, those two talked for a bit and actually went to sleep!  Isabel woke up once form a leak and Logan woke up once just because, but other that that it was great!

I peeked in to get a picture.

Wish Lucas could have been here!

Joanne captured this pretty picture with her fancy new camera.

Isabel is pretty smitten.

The kids had fun, ate some lunch I packed and then had some more fun before heading back to Austin.  I was a great hostess and had no food in the house.  At all.  It was food or clean sheets.  I think everyone appreciated the clean sheets.  So I made the fun trip to the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon.  We made some delicious fajitas and relaxed.  Monday the group saw where Isabel and Logan go to preschool and then were back off to Houston.

New Allergist and an IMAX

I went in for Isabel's appointment with a new allergist yesterday.  I wasn't anticipating a long wait as it seemed they had wide open availability when I called to make the appointment the day before and I wasn't actually seeing the allergist, but her nurse practitioner.  We ended up waiting about 30 minutes.  30 minutes is a long time for a 3 and 4 year old.  Logan was doing ok until we all had to go to the bathroom.  Then the nurse rounded the corner and startled him and he had a full on meltdown.  It took a long long time to calm him down.  Once he was finally calm Isabel went to do some testing and the nurse took note about what has been going on.  The nurse practitioner came in and was great.  She was very understanding and receptive of my fears and anxieties, especially about our upcoming trip.  She renewed all of our prescriptions and gave us a prescription on prednisolone to take just in case (something our old allergist wouldn't do) and a prescription for the newest epinephrine auto injector, the Auvi-Q.  It talks!  Isabel took the trainer from me and listened to the directions and injected herself the fist time correctly!  I was very impressed.  Hopefully we will never have to use it, but it's good to know she understands what this is all about.  That is, as well as a 4 year old can understand.

I'm excited to meet the new doctor.  She trained at National Jewish Health in Denver, the leading allergy and asthma hospital in the US.  A friend recommended her very highly and the NP said I was going to love her.  :-)

Today we packed a picinic lunch and ate on the grounds of the state capital.  There are tons of trees and shaded spots to pick from.  We ate quickly and headed over to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum to see an IMAX film!  We saw 'Rocky Mountain Express.'  It was all about the trans Canadian railway and it was so good!  I don't think Logan had the full perspective when he was sitting in his own seat, but as soon as Brian put him on his lap his little hands went crazy!  He was shaking them and his feet any time a shot of the moving steam engine came on the screen.  It was really cool.  I could have spend the entire 43 minutes just watching Logan watch the IMAX.  Isabel fell asleep about 2/3 of the way through.  I think the Benadryl kicked in and she couldn't resist it's sedative forces.  The scenery of Canada was stunning.  Seeing a restored steam train make the cross country journey was pretty spectacular.

She had to try on brother's 'conductor' outfit.