Alice turned 1!

Alice and her "Mini Mouse" train. Birthday present from Grandpa Sam.

We have had a big year of changes with our little Alice, who isn't so little anymore. She is loud and bold! I think Aaron will have his work cut out for him with this strong headed little girl. She has learned the word "no" and says "daddy," "mommy," and "ya" like a true North Dakotan.

Our first day with Alice.

The big one year old.

Grandma Kross came from Florida to the Luau

We had a big party to celebrate Alice's first year with friends, cake, bubbles and everything that makes a party a PARTY! Alice DOVE into her giant cupcake that our friend Karla made for her. A lot different than her brother's reaction on his first birthday.

Alice getting into the cake right away.

Miles was a little more timid about the experience.

Karla our cake baker. I can just hear Alice's thoughts in this picture. "Thanks for the cake Karla! Now I want to smear frosting all over your face!"

Alice's friend Sulli and her mom Courtney.

Daycare buddy Nora, Alice and her are about a month apart.

Emma, Ana, Murray and BUBBLES!

This is Alice's original party dress, she got into the spilled bubble solution and decided to taste it. Lots of fun until she got it in her eyes.

I am really happy that our kids have summer birthdays. Having a party in the back yard with water games is really the best way to entertain adults and kids.

Frosting kisses for Nana Linda!

Water table splash fun!

A perfect chair for twins!

I went on a road trip with the coffee girls to see our friends who moved to other states. This was a kid-less weekend and it was well needed. For Justine it was the first time she had been away from her little one over night. We all survived and had a great time!

We made it to Wisconsin! Madison here we come to see Lisa and Melisa.

The kids are growing. Miles will be 3 at the end of July. Although he has told me "I want to be 2 forever!" Haha...that kid.

Miles at 38.5 inches

Alice at 31 inches

We are enjoying our summer. We have had lots of rainy days, but those are getting fewer and fewer. Now we just have to deal with the windy days.

Very windy day at the reservoir. But the sun was out so we wanted to get outside.

Me and Alice.

Grandpa Sam and Nana Linda bought a farm near Chaseley, ND and we have been spending some of our weekends up there with them. We celebrated the 4th of July there and Miles and Nana shot off fireworks.

Grandpa Sam and Alice watching the fireworks. Notice how light it is...this is 9:00 pm up here in NoDak! Seriously you need blackout curtains in your room.

Grammie Julie came for a visit too. Our daycare provider took a vacation for a week and it was perfect timing for Grammie to come visit and take care of her grand kids while Aaron and I could work. Thank goodness for grandparents.

Grammie and Alice having a snack.

One of Grandpa Sam's projects on the farm is taking down an old barn. We went up there one weekend with our friends Andrew and Courtney and their little one Sulli to salvage some wood from the barn. Andrew and Courtney are building a house and plan on using it to make a bar. Aaron and I are going to panel a wall in our kitchen. We are going to use the opportunity to do a small kitchen makeover.

Aaron and Andrew in the loader bucket tearing off the wood.

Alice and Miles on the Power Wheels 4-wheeler at Grandpa's farm.

Hiking makes baby sleepy.

We are headed to Florida next week for a vacation and my 20th high school reunion. I've come a long way since 1994! We are also making a stop at Disney Hollywood Studios and the Disney World Resort "Art of Animation". I wanted to take Miles there for his 3rd birthday. Grandma Kross is coming to watch Alice while Aaron and Miles and I go to the park. I can't wait!

Miles is going to LOVE Disney!

Alice's Helmet saga

As some of you know Alice was diagnosed with plagiocephaly. Medical term for flat and lopsided head. She was favoring laying on the right side of her head and that side started to get flat. Her head was also vaulted, meaning it was a bit pointed at the top. So we had her evaluated by a physical therapist in November then took steps to get her in a helmet to correct her skull shape. We got her helmet in early January and she has been wearing it all day every day since then (except at bath time and when we changed her clothes).

Getting measured for her helmet. Those are photo dots to help the scanner pick up the shape of her head. 

She was 7 months old when we got the helmet and the Orthotist said that we needed to get her in the helmet right away because she was getting to be at the age when her skull plates begin to fuse together and the helmet is less effective after that happens. He also said that the treatment would be considered a success if we just stopped the progression of the plagiocephaly.

First meal with the helmet. I wasn't sure how I was going to keep it clean.

She adapted to it well and didn't mind wearing it. I'd say it was almost a positive to have it because when she would bump her head, she wouldn't feel it and just keep on going. When she started walking, (YES! She is walking! She started around 8/9 month mark) It helped keep her from hurting her noggin too bad.

Not so bad.

Standing and taking steps.

So now we are at the 4 month mark and she has had about 85% correction. The plates in her head are pretty much fused together and we might not get too much more correction beyond this point. So we have decided to remove it. Her head is still a little flat on one side and her ears are about a millimeter asymmetric, but once her hair grows in, no one will know except her hair dresser. 

No more helmet.

Now the down side to all this, we have had to appeal to our insurance company because they didn't cover the cost of the helmet treatment. The way our policy reads is that they would have covered the cost of a surgery to correct Alice's problem, but not this simple, effective treatment with the helmet. Kids with plagiocephaly can have all sorts of problems if it isn't corrected. Plagiocephaly can have detrimental effects to hearing, sight, and jaw position. There is also research that suggests she could have mental developmental problems.

So we are waiting to hear the results of our appeal. I am hoping coverage comes through for it because this was an expensive crash helmet. Many other parents have struggled with getting this treatment covered by insurance. I am hoping my appeal and the appeals of others will push insurance companies to change their policies and cover this treatment. This is a fairly common condition in kids these days, so common there are even people who specialize in making art out of kid's helmets. 

Yay! Swimming!

That's the update. We are taking baby and me swim class and getting ready for summer fun. Grandma Kross will be visiting for Alice's birthday in a month and we are looking forward to spending some time outside. 

Well...here we are

Gosh, I didn't mean to go this long without posting. But here we are 9 months after Alice was born and I haven't found time to blog. Aaron is out of town this week in Denver for a conference for work. I am working on keeping things together here. Two kids can really take it out of you.

We have moved Miles to his own big bed downstairs. Although he doesn't like to spend all night there and prefers to sleep on a sleeping bag next to our bed. I'm not sure how long this will last, but our daycare provider says she still has to cuddle and lay with her daughter who is 18 to get her to go to sleep.

Look how sweet. Who would think he is the element of the waking you up in the middle of the night torture?

Alice is wearing a cranial remolding orthosis, medical speak for a helmet to fix her Plagiocephaly (flat head). We noticed her head getting a flat spot on one side around the 5 month mark and had her evaluated for the helmet. She has been wearing it since January and we have had 50% correction already. The orthosis technician says he is impressed with the results and we will remeasure her in another month and discuss how much longer she may need to wear it. She has adapted to it well, although there are some times when she doesn't want it put back on after a bath. She wears it pretty much all day and night. It has just become a part of life these days. I must say though, her head is becoming a nice symmetrical round shape.

Head getting rounder and more symmetrical.

With her helmet. She still looks cute.

Some things that have happened since Alice was born (and since my last post 8 months ago):
Miles turned 2

Barney Party!

We enjoyed a baseball game with our friends the Listopads.

It was hot that day, see how Alice is coping?

We rooted for the Gators!

Grammie Julie came for a visit.

Miles, Alice and I went to Florida for a visit and to say happy adventuring and congratulations to one of my good friends who moved to South Africa with her family.

Michelle, Vicki, Me and Alice and Natalie (She was the one who moved to South Africa). All great friends I have known for a long time.

Natalie and Nicole and me and Alice. It was a great celebration and lots of emotion.

Breast feeding moms! This was a such a fun moment between two friends who have known each other since elementary school. I love you Natalie!

We enjoyed the furlough. Aaron got furloughed from his government job in October so we got out and enjoyed his time off at a WPA (which they opened up due to public demand for hunting spots).

Alice started pulling up on things and standing. She is walking around the coffee table now and she will probably be walking on her own by 12 months.

She is always sticking out her tong.

We dressed up as the Scooby Doo Gang for Halloween. I just had to get this yarn wig for Alice and I need to find another excuse for her to wear it.

I just love this wig on her, she looks like a Cabbage Patch Kid.

Shaggy, Freddy, Daphne and Velma

Miles decorating Halloween cookies with Uncle Luke when he and Grandpa Sam came for a visit right before Halloween.

Pumpkin carving

Miles and I got haircuts.

He had to sit on my lap or he wouldn't sit still.

We spent Christmas in Florida.

The Family, Aunt Sue, Uncle Bob, Grandma, Grandpa, me, Miles, Aaron and Alice

Grandma Kross, me and Alice

Finding treasures on the beach (a penny)

 

Playing wet dog with Maggie.

Aaron and Alice both came home with shiners

We saw Santa!

Our couple's get away in Vero for a night. It was nice to have some time to ourselves while Grandma and Grandpa looked after the kids.

Playing in the lake behind Grandma and Grandpa Kross's house. Watch out for the alligator (honestly I was really worried that an alligator would come up and snatch my kid, you know that happens in Florida)

We have some plans for traveling in April, but I can't say where just now. Aaron will be traveling for work again in April, so we will be on our own again for a week then. That trip will be the end of his travels for a while, so we can cruse into spring after that. We are really looking forward to the end of the snow and ice and having to wear our heavy coats. Things are melting so there seems to be an end in sight. We need to get outside and play on the play ground. But for now we will have to settle for splashing in the muddy puddles.

The arrival of Baby Alice - The Birth Story

I think I had a pretty good guess when New Baby would arrive. On Memorial Day (May 27) Alice Grace was born at 9:15 pm. She weighed 7 pounds, 4.5 ounces, 20 inches. Can you believe It's a Girl?! Enough with the boring stats. Here she is...

Turning from blue to pink

Alice on the scale, delicates discretely covered.

I knew the baby would come over the long weekend when all our friends were out of town and we would need to use our backups for child and dog care. Things went pretty similar to Miles' birth, except we knew which hospital we were going to and when we walked into the maternity ward there was a full staff and no boxes stacked in the hallway. I started having contractions around 3:00pm on Memorial Day. I was actually at Hugo's (local grocery store) when I started feeling them. I had been feeling similar contractions all weekend so I wasn't too concerned yet. I started timing them when I got home and realized this was it.! Aaron and I took a walk around the block with Miles in the wagon to keep my labor moving. We thought we would be able to keep walking to the park, but I realized the contractions were progressing and we cut our walk short.

We had had our bags packed for two weeks, so we were ready to go. We took Miles to Teresa's house (our daycare provider who is wonderful and said she would take care of him over night for us). Miles was a little confused as to why he was going to her house in the afternoon, but he was happy to stay with her.

At the hospital, before the puking. Contractions still manageable. 

After the puking, contractions getting stronger. That smile is really forced.

We got to the hospital about 6:00pm. I was 4 centimeters dilated and the contractions were consistent at about 3 minutes apart. We probably should have gotten there sooner, but we just weren't sure exactly how fast it would go. The nurses put us in a room right away and I settled in for the ride. Aaron was a great coach. He helped keep me relaxed and calm during the contractions. He thinks he can be a professional birth coach now. So ladies, if you are prego and need one, Aaron is available.

I moved around a lot, I brought my yoga mat and was on my hands and knees on the floor for a while. This position worked well when I was in labor with Miles too. My body just seems to know what to do during birth. I didn't have any pain meds so I was managing the contractions by breathing and listening to Aaron's voice telling me to relax. I had a few rough patches and kept repeating out loud "I can to it, I can do it" and I heard Dr. Sorlie saying, "yes you can Jen, yes you can." Another great part about the experience was our friend Janelle was my nurse. She was great, she was also talking me through contractions and being a supportive part of the team. 

All swaddled up and resting.

Oh yah, and there was puking. I don't understand why my body does this, Dr. Sorlie said "that is just part of the process." But it sucks! Why does there have to be puking during labor? From our experience with Miles we learned that I shouldn't eat a big garlic and sausage filled meal before I go to the hospital. So I only had a small snack. But up came my stomach contents shortly after we got to the hospital. I had a respet from the puking and could concentrate on "opening my lotus flower" (sorry if that is too graphic, it's an image they used on my yoga DVD).

I wasn't keeping track of the time, that was Aaron's job, but honestly I didn't want to know what time it was. I was at 8 centimeters and everyone was just waiting for the pushing urge to come. I could hear Dr. Sorlie and Janelle asking me questions, but all I could do was focus on me and wait for the next contraction. I think I heard Aaron answer them, but I was in no shape to talk. Then I experienced this weird lull where I could catch my breath and even speak a few sentences. Janelle said this happens a lot during labor right before the big push at the end and the final birth of the baby. I was happy to have this time to catch my breath. Then there was more puking and as soon as I asked for the puke bag everyone jumped into action. Apparently you use the same muscles to barf as you do to push the baby out and vomiting is a sign that the pushing is going to start. Again I asked "why must there be puking?"

Mom and baby soon after birth.

Aaron told me there was a lot more screaming (from me, not the Doctor or Nurses) this time than there was with Miles. I remember at one point feeling the baby's head move down then retreat back in. It is a little hard to tell, but I think I had three good pushes and she was out! Like I said, I think my body just knows what to do when it comes to birthing a baby. I feel pretty fortunate.

Dr. Sorlie put Baby right on my chest and I was so happy to see her. Aaron announced loud and clear this time, "it's a Girl!" I couldn't believe it. It is really an indescribable feeling when you give birth.To finally see the little being that has been growing inside you for 9 months is really incredible. It is also a little surreal to think that Aaron and I created this little person.

Mom, Dad and Alice a few hours after she was born.

One of our first impressions of Alice when she came out was the length of her fingernails! It was so weird! They were like cat claws. We were also a little relieved to find out she was a girl because we didn't have a boy name picked out. We just couldn't decide on one. So luckily, we didn't have to deal with that issue. 

Another cool thing that happened was soon after she was born, maybe 10 minutes, she started rooting and looking for food (i.e., my boobs). I couldn't believe it, I don't remember Miles having that instinct right off the bat. She also latched on right away!  It is probably a combination of my experience and her ability, but with Miles it was a lot different. He had trouble latching and he didn't have a very powerful suck. Breast feedings with him would last over an hour. But Alice is a Champ at breastfeeding. We go about 20 to 30 minutes and she latches great. We do have to use a nipple shield like we did with Miles, but so long as she is getting good milk and I'm happy.

Taking of the footprints, look at those little black feet.

It was late before we settled down and were able to get some rest. Aaron stayed at the hospital with us and tried to sleep on the fold out bed in the room. My mom arrived the next day to see Alice and stay for a while to help out. Miles needs a lot of attention and Grandma was happy to give it to him. Miles also got to meet his little sister the next day. He didn't warm up to her right away. I think it was a little much for him to take in at the time. But once we got home he started to hug and kiss on her. He is going to be a great big brother.

Grandma Kross and baby Alice the next day.

Miles' first look at his sister.

Our friends Lori and Murray came to visit in the hospital and deliver cute girl clothes.

The next night in the hospital was a bit restless. It seemed like as soon as I got Alice to sleep and myself settled one of the nurses would come in disturb us. They were just doing their job, but I was longing to go home.

The ride home from the hospital

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At home with Dad.

He's got to feed the Monkey, Man! (Miles practicing feeding his sister)

First family photo.

Siblings

So that's the long story. We are all adjusting to the new life with baby. The dogs seem to be doing ok. The Grandmas (my mom and Aaron's mom) have all come an gone. They were great to have here. My house stayed clean but now it's up to us to manage everything. This two kid thing is going to be a challenging change. But we can do it! We can do it!