Update

Ella got a decent night's sleep last night and all of her bloodwork is looking good. She had more of an appetite today and was talking and moving more than I've seen in a week. The doctor said she gets to go home Monday and Ella said she wanted to stay because she likes the princess bed and tv!

Rough Week

As most of you know, Ella was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday for infected retropharyngeal lymph nodes. She can't move her head up or side to side, as you can see in one picture. By the afternoon, her antibiotics and multiple gifts were putting a smile on her face. I hadn't realized until I saw that smile that it had been gone for 3 days. She is having good days and bad days and we are still battling fever and very painful neck and head pain, but are hopeful with time and prayer and restful medicine that she will recover soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!

We love you!!!

Baby On Board

Our favorite gal, Melly, took some family maternity pictures for us a month ago. These are my favorites. Can't wait to meet this new little addition. He/she is 35 weeks along and doing well. Mommy starts going weekly next week and finds out if he/she has flipped head down or not. If not, they will have to try a manual turn, which we want to avoid. Send your prayers and positive thoughts for a flip-a-roo in the next week!

More Miller Birthday

Some pictures from the party and look at all the help he got opening presents from his sister and cousins! Although he ended up having an ear infection that week, he had a great 2nd birthday with all the ice cream, cupcakes, family, and friends! Thanks to everyone that celebrated this boys birthday!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Miller!!

Our baby turns 2 today! We are so proud of our smart and thoughtful young man. These are pictures from his birthday party with friends and family at Chuck E. Cheese this weekend. He has been asking to go back. Tonight we get to see Grandpa & Grandma Sharon and celebrate again! Tomorrow he gets to celebrate with Grandpa Bob & Grandma Judy. More pictures to come.

Parade Fun

The 1st video was the beginning of the Pixar Parade. The kids were dancing while waiting for the floats and characters to come around. The 2nd video is the Nemo float. Our family totally loves Crush. He Rocks, Dude!

More 'Characters'

The kids loved Tinkerbell. She had the squeakiest little voice and not much taller than the kids. I think the funniest thing is to watch how each character has to autograph Ella's book. Pluto had to do it on his nose. Ella still talks about that.

Family Disney Photos

In front of Sleeping Beauty's castle and above in front of the Mickey made of flowers. The flowers were the first thing Ella noticed at Disney, since we haven't had any at home for a while and it was snowing when we left home.

Princess Dinner

We met up with Carmen, Jennifer, & Jake(who slept) for the Princess Dinner. We met Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White. Miller wouldn't stop looking at Snow White, he thinks she is definitely the fairest of them all.

Goofy's Kitchen

This last one is a picture of the kids poking their heads out of a little hole in our booth the day we ate at Goofy's Kitchen. They would scream and hide when there was a character sighting. They got to meet Goofy, Pluto, Chip & Dale, Alice from Wonderland, & Baloo from Jungle Book. I thought the Mickey shaped waffles were a nice touch.

Disneyland

Dinner with Princesses.....$30

Picture with Ariel.....$30

Feeling like a prince & princess by meeting all of the Disney Princesses....PRICELESS

Ella's 1st Case of Strep

Poor Ella came home from school last week complaining of a sore throat. The fever and rash quickly followed. For a couple of nights of feeling pretty lousy, she would skip dinner and just sit on my lap watching a show. I think Miller felt a little left out and decided to join us on this night.

Not Exactly What I Had In Mind

Jason and I hit the $4.99 sale rack at Gymboree a few weeks ago and grabbed this silk dress just in case this baby is a girl. I found Dolly wearing it later on. Ella thought it was so beautiful on her, I didn't have the heart to make her take it off. I would have felt differently had it been full price. ;)

Ella Featured in Chick Fil A

We ate lunch today and saw that Ella's picture from Valentine's day was up on their board. We took the kids there that evening and ate our family candlelight dinner. She was so proud to see it.

Debbie Downer

Miller started yelling, 'no picture' when I got the camera out to take some shots of valentine's gifts. I thought I'd try to sneak in a quick video, but he decided to attack the paparazzi's camera.

Valentine's 2009

Ella's #1 Fan

This boy so badly wants to be just like his sister. If she wears a nightgown, he wants a nightgown. If she's wearing a headband, he puts on a headband. If she picks her nose......Jason & I just laughed when we heard him shout, "Mommy, Daddy, watch". When we looked back he was doing an arabesque just like his sister does all the time.

Slip Slidin' Fun

The kids went outside on Thursday to enjoy the weather before it was gone. Several families from the neighborhood were out, and our neighbor, Amanda (aka Little Mama), was so sweet to pull the kids on the sled and go down the driveway with each of them. Look how precious she is holding Ella's hand on the walk back across the street to make sure she doesn't slip. Miller didn't know quite what to do in the sled, so he laid down, looking like a survivor of a 'search and rescue'. The finale was when all the kids decided to get in daddy's truck and stomp on the ice to break it up and throw it out.

More Ice

This is the maple tree in the front yard that lost a limb. There was so much snow and ice packed on the valley of our roof, that as it started to melt it came into the wall...nice.