My Monster

Does this look like the face of a MONSTER?

 

I know it might be hard to believe, but this sweet little face...those puppy dog eyes...those chubby cheeks...that bald head... is hiding a huge MONSTER!!

Seriously, all day long, Leah goes from doing one crazy thing to another.  She NEVER stops!!  She might go from getting into my mascara, to climbing on top of her changing table, taking off her diaper, wiping her bottom with 15 wipes, then getting off the changing table and pulling out 5 outfits and putting one on (without a diaper but she might throw on some underwear) to getting into the kids bathroom and dumping out the whole bottle of soap down the sink, to going downstairs and getting in the pantry and getting out the Cheerios and then pouring them in a bowl then spilling the rest of the box on the floor, to climbing up on the counter to get a cup and fill it up with water from the sink, to then spilling it all over the floor, to cleaning it up with the closest towel she can find, to getting into the fridge and getting an apple and taking 3 bites, to going to find a step stool so that she can reach my purse to get out a tube of lipstick (and not cheap stuff) and putting it all over her lips and cheeks, to running upstairs to sit on the toliet all by her self, then goes back in her room to change her outfit again......

And this is all in 10 minutes time!!

(like when I am in the shower)

You might think I am exaggerating, but I am not.  Ask anyone who has watched her.  This is what my whole day is like, no joke!

Then you say...."Well, at least you can rest when she takes a nap..."

The follow pictures are how I find her during her nap time:

These pictures were taken 2 days in a row during nap time.  She has climbed out of her crib and who knows where her pants are or diaper for that matter...Seriously, on top of the changing table....really?!!

Now I know some of you are thinking..."at least she is napping..." 

Well, she doesn't do that much these days.  When I put her down she will get out of her crib after 10 minutes or so and open her door just a crack sneak out and close her door.  From there she will go into Travis's room and close the door behind her so I won't know she is there and quietly play.  Seriously, a sneak at 27 months!  You might recommend that I put those things on the door nobs so she can't open a door...they don't work with her. 

I MIGHT NOT SURVIVE RAISING LEAH

HELP!!!!

Happy Birthday Leah!

2 Years Old
For the last couple months she has claimed to be 2. Now she is!

How is my baby getting so big?
Where is her hair?
How did she get the funniest little personality?
Why will she not smile for the camera?

She had 2 little birthday parties...one in LB and one in C-bad.
She didn't like everyone singing "Happy Birthday to You".
She loved to sing it to herself...don't think there is anything cuter than that!

She really "gets" the opening present thing...Christmas is going to be great!!

At 2, Leah is into...

• Elmo & Micky Mouse
• Loves to sing (primary songs, Hanna Montana, By Baby Bunting, Twinkle Twinkle & ABCs)
• She doesn't know how to walk...only RUN (she is making up for lost time)
• Loves Gymnastics!! (she tells everyone she sees "gymnastics")
• Loves books & dolls
• Puts on make-up everyday!!
• Wants to do anything her brother and sister are doing
• Love to talk on the phone
• Always asks to go "shopping"

We love this girl!

She Turned One!

November 1st, my baby turned 1.

I can not believe it! She is growing up way too quickly!

We are so lucky to have Leah in our family.

She loved her cup cake.

She ate it all!

My parents and Jay's parents came over for some pizza and cup cakes.
I felt so guilty that I didn't do some "big" party for her. I know that she doesn't know the difference, but I do (I even cried about it afterwards!).

Leah is starting to stand all by herself.

We don't have to worry about her walking for a while.

Her other favorite things are:

playing with her brother and sister, anything with daddy(she lights up when he is around!), crawling to the stairs (both up and down, keeping me on my toes!), ripping up magazines, clapping, and putting her arms in the air when you say,"How big's Leah...So BIG".

A Day of Miracles

Yes, this is Leah standing...but no, that is not the miracle...

Miracle #1...

Today Leah had a doctor's appointment with her orthopedic surgeon. She has not had x-rays for 3 months on her hips, so today they took some. Don't get too excited, her hip displacia is not cured, but there has been significant improvement. This is the first time since she has had the brace that there has been any change in her hip at all. It looks really good! The doctor said that he does not think that she will have to have surgery anymore. It was not a promise, but still. She still has to wear her brace to bed, but that is it. That means no more guilt for me that I don't always have her wear it 16-18 hours a day! I am really excited about this. Honestly, I did not think that the brace was going to work at all. I really thought that she was going to wear it all that time and still have to have the surgery. I thought that she would be really physically delayed, have funky-crazy flexible legs that won't go together and miss out on all the cute outfits all for nothing! I guess I was wrong...THANKGOODNESS!!!

Miracle #2...

Many of you know that a couple months ago I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Crohn's is an incurable, auto-immune disorder that attacks anywhere from the esophagus through the rectum. For a couple of weeks I was really upset about the diagnosis. I wondered how I could have this. Most people who have it seem so sickly. Mostly, I could not stop wondering how bad it might get someday. Lately, I don't think about it at all. I feel fine, other than the occasional achy joints, but no big deal.

Recently, I took a new blood test that is usually pretty accurate at distinguishing Crohn's disease from some other ones. My gastroendonologist called today and told me that the test came out NEGATIVE for Crohn's. Interesting, especially since some biopsies revealed that I had it and I have a lot of the symptoms, some of them for 14 years. She told me that she is not going to label be with Crohn's now, because the label will never go away on my medical records.

I really see this as a miracle. Since I had my colonoscopy and endoscopy, many of my symptoms have been in remission. Actually, everything except for some minor, annoying joint pain.

Who knows if I have it or not? I guess that it really doesn't matter when it comes down to it. I feel good. It can't kill you, just make life uncomfortable. Lately though, I am comfortable and happy. I feel like this test result was some sort of little miracle...THANKGOODNESS!

Who Would Have Thought...

I can not believe that Leah is over 7 months old. Where has the time gone? She is growing up too quick! She just got her first tooth (and it is a sharp little thing!). There have been no miracles with Leah's hip. There has been no change, but it takes time for it to reshape. At Leah's last doctor's appointment, we were told that we should take off her brace a few hours a day so that she will not be super physically delayed. She loves her freedom. The moment I take off that brace is just wiggles her legs and gets a huge smile on her face. Well, last weekend she was not wearing her brace. I sat her down, and she can SIT UP! Then Jay was watching her and she ROLLED all the way across the loft! Then when she lays on her back she SCOOCHES across the floor! Maybe she isn't going to be that far behind!!

Little Leah

Friday was a long day...Leah had a doctor's appointment with a pediatric orthopedic specialist because they thought there might be a problem with her hips. Let me back track for a minute...when she was a couple of weeks old, her pediatrician noticed that her legs were different lengths. She had to get ultrasounds twice on her legs and that led us to this appointment Friday. Her legs seem more even now, which made me think there was really no problem. I used to joke around that my daughter was going to have to wear "special shoes". Let me tell you, "special shoes" sound pretty good to me about now!

To make a really long story short, Leah has a severe case of some type of hip displacia. Her right hip socket is not formed properly. For the next 3 months she has to wear this splint 24 hours a day. After that, depending on if it is doing any good, she will have other splints and hopefully wear them less and less (night only) until she is about 3. By then, she will be able to take it off herself and they will not do much good. If the splint does not correct the problem, when she is 4 or 5 she can have a surgery where they reshape her hip bone and she can live a normal life.

You know, I know that this is not really a very big deal. This is not some sort of terminal illness. But it is really hard. When the doctor told me, I just about had a heart attack. While he was telling me about it, he was putting this splint on her and I was just thinking, "my little daughter has to wear this 24 hours a day for at least 3 months." "My daughter can only wear oneies and socks for the next 3 months and I just took the tags off and washed all of her 3-6 month clothes." "People are going to look at her everywhere I go and wonder what is wrong with her." "Leah may never be able to go to gymnastics, or ballet, or play soccer...." You get the picture. I know these are things that don't matter, but I do have a crazy brain. It was a hard, hard day!!

I am feeling much better about it now. Leah has yet to wear it for 24 hours. It is a little uncomfortable to sleep in, so we cheated the first night (she kept waking up ever 30 minutes screaming and when I finally took it off her she stopped immediately) and the second night (had a babysitter and wanted to make it easy on her). I did put her to bed in it tonight. We will see how it goes. I know that we will both get used to it and it will be no big deal.

There is a harness on top

Leg straps on the bottom, and velcro straps connecting the top and bottom in the front and back holding her legs in an open squatting position (New nickname...froggy). She has to wear socks past her knee so the velcro doesn't irritate her skin. Does anyone know where to get those leg warmer things at? Those might be perfect if they come small enough. At least the splint is pink!

SISTERS

Couldn't resist putting this one in!!

Time Flys

I can not believe that Leah is already 3 months old. She is the greatest!

My favorite things about Leah today are:

• her smile-she is a very smiley, happy baby
• her noises-she is very talkative and it is so cute
• her cheeks-the bottom picture says it all & I love them!
• her bottom lip-so big and so cute
• her baby blues-I hope they stay that way!
• putting her to bed-she will only fall asleep for the night with me laying down next to her on a bed. I don't need to be feeding her, but have to be right next to her. If she falls asleep anyother way, when I go to lay her down she wakes up and cries until I lay down with her. I just can't resist. She just stares at me while she is falling asleep.
• the way she looks at me-I love when she gets the biggest grin when she sees me

Too Soon!

Leah is getting too big too soon. I miss the skinny little newborn. Don't get me wrong, it is exciting watching her develop, but she is just growing up quicker than I thought she would. Today she is 10 weeks old.

Today Leah....

ROLLED OVER!

Leah's Blessing Day

On Sunday, Leah was blessed. Jay gave her a beautiful blessing.

These are the people who were in the circle. We were thankful to have a lot of our family there for the blessing.

Nate, Roland, Grandpa, Jay, Clint, Joe, Brad, & Dad

I could not resist putting this picture of Travis kissing Sara before church! After church we had our families over for dinner. We had a great time.

Leah Camille

Leah is such a joy! Dare I say that she is a perfect baby so far. Good thing! All she does is sleep and eat. She is very tolerant of her big brother and sister kissing and poking her. They love her very much! I have been very lucky to have lots of help. My mom and dad were sick last weekend and early this week, so my sister-in-law Becky came up on Tuesday and my sister JC came up on Wednesday. My mom came up on Thursday and Friday. Better not forget MR. MOM. Jay has been a great help too!! Thanks guys! As for me, I feel ok. I think that it is taking me a little bit longer to heal this time. I don't remember being so sore and needing so much medication for this long. We are so blessed to have this sweet little girl in our home!

birthday

7lbs. 9 oz-19 inches-just a little dark brown hair-blue eyes-big lips-big cheeks-little bum-

looks just like Travis did

1 day old

Meeting Travis and Sara

2 days old

still nameless
3 days old

4 days old

Going home with a name...finally!

5 days old

Lots of kisses

6 days old

Travis and Sara can't get enough

1 week

Leah stayed awake for 1 hour...record so far

8 days old

Travis has to hold Leah before he goes to preschool and wanted to take a picture of her for "share". Too cute!

*Thanks Becky for posting the pictures of Leah while I was at the hospital*