Hospital Pics

Here are a few hospital photos I wanted to share.....I will upload some more tomorrow : ) I can't believe that was a month ago! The days are flying by.

Libby's Speech...Or Lack There Of...

It is hard to believe Libby will be 18 months October 13. Where has the time gone? Before I know it she will be two. I cannot believe how fast they grow. Kynleigh is one month today. I love both my girls more than anything. I can't imagine what my life would be like without them. Sometimes I ask Brandon if we rushed into everything too fast and if he regrets it. He says no...what else would we be doing? I'm not gonna lie and say everything is easy because it is definitely not. Having two under two years old is not ideal but I wouldn't change it for the world. Brandon and I are constantly running around like crazy people all the time...one is being disciplined while one had a massive blow-out, one needs to be fed while the other needs to be put down for a nap, one needs a bath while we are running around making bottles for the night, picking up Libby's mess, getting Libby's backpack ready for school...it's never ending...but there is NOTHING I would rather being doing. It's funny how you think you are so busy with one, and then you add another one with more responsibilities. Well to add to our already chaotic life, we carry a concern about Libby not talking. She says a few words here and there...bye, hello, uh oh, what's that, about 6 animal sounds, nose, eyes, thank you, and bless you. Sounds good right? Well the problem is that she doesn't use her words on a daily and regular basis. We have no idea why. The only word we hear every single day is uh oh and animal sounds. Other than that she uses the other words when she feels the need. Libby is so smart. She knows her body parts, several commands, etc. She just doesn't talk. Who would ever imagine a child of Joni Reynolds would not speak. I know crazy right? So I called First Steps which is a gov't program that provides early intervention services for children under 3. They have speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. I did a questionnaire and Libby got approved for a face to face evaluation. Her evaluation is on Thursday morning. I am really looking forward to it. I hope she gets what she needs to start communicating verbally with us. She shows frustration to the point of self injuring when she can't communicate with us what she wants. I have been really impressed with First Steps so far. They promptly return phone calls and set up this evaluation in less than a week. Praying all goes well! Love my Libbs!

Will I Ever Catch Up??

Will there ever be a day where I can just enjoy my children and then when it is their time for nap I would be completely okay with myself to take a nap too? No probably not...at least not anytime soon. I am having the inner struggle with myself lately balancing time with my babes and getting everything I want accomplished. Does anyone else struggle with that? I feel that I am constantly going non-stop and when I do check facebook for a second or look at a magazine I feel so guilty. I can't stand that feeling. On top of that, I can't really run any errands by myself because if I were to go to the store I would need to push two carts which would require four arms. sheesh. We get around this by Brandon running errands with me, or Brandon running the errands, or finding a babysitter aka grandparents to let us get stuff done. The joys of having two under 18 months. I am a firm believer in God doesn't give us more than we can handle which is why I know Kynleigh is such a good baby for that reason. If she was another Libby I would not be able to function. For those that don't know I am selling thirty-one gifts, working at a dance studio, and full time mom. I squeeze in laundry, cleaning, and managing our funds, paying bills, and all else in between. I really am amazed by families that both parents work full time. How do you do it all? I mean cleaning up after every meal, washing bottles, cleaning the bathrooms, changing two in diapers, balancing the checkbook, taking one of the two for a checkup, making a grocery list, disciplining the "midget bully", dropping Libby off at school...opps gotta hurry and feed the baby before I go back to get her, unloading the dishwasher, switching the laundry over..folding it...putting it away for me and 2 girls, couponing, getting two dressed, giving two baths, getting myself ready for the day, opps someone had a blowout..oh crap no wipes..gotta refill them...oh no gotta go spray the outfit before it ruins... feeding and scooping for the cat...how does one keep up...the list goes on and on... Don't get me wrong...I am not complaining...I love my role in the family but I struggle with allowing myself to take a break without feeling guilty. I feel that I have to be doing something productive at all times and if not then I will get behind and then be more stressed. Not only to mention that I feel guilty when Libby is seeking out my attention while I am cleaning up her mess from breakfast so I stop what I am doing and chase her and then feel like that is just something else that needs to be done later. It is something I need to pray about for sure. I am putting too much pressure on myself and need to just sit still and know that it will get done and it doesn't have to be right now. Libby has been acting out aggressively lately and that has been a whole other thing added to my stress. We are having a bit of a time with her. Not to mention I am concerned for her being non-verbal at her age. We get "uh oh" all day everyday and then the other words she uses are on her terms only. Nothing ever consistent. I wonder if I am doing something wrong, what else I can be doing. I try my best not to worry because I know I am to give it to God. However I also realize I am human and when something isn't going right in my eyes I want to fix it right then and there and it can't nor should be that way. I am so thankful for everything that I have and all that God has given me. I need to remind myself not to worry...it doesn't get me anywhere...but to let go and let God.

Back Home!!

Well a lot has gone on since my last post. Kynleigh was having some abdominal discomfort beginning Thursday and lasting through the weekend. We were told to use a rectal thermometer to try to stimulate her to go. Good thing we did because she had a temp in the 100.2- 100.8 range. That's on the high side. They say once a baby's temp reaches 100.4 then that is considered fever and they need to be hospitalized. I had a thirtyone party Sunday afternoon and came home to check KG's temp. It was 100.3. I called the pediatrician and he said go to UK peds E.R. Brandon and I gave Libby a bath and headed to the hospital around 8 pm. They did a spinal tap, started an iv, and put in a cath. I was a wreck. I cried and cried. I was not a fan of the E.R. resident. She acted like she was scared of babies. Awesome...you are gonna do all this to my newborn but you can't even put her diaper back on right which caused her to pee all over herself and clothes? Great! Brandon ran home to get my clothes and clothes for the babe and came back with my things only to go back home to stay with Libby. KG did not sleep well at all. I was up basically all night with her. The next day was long and draining. doctors, residents, students, nurses, techs, in and out all day long. Right before bed they discovered her iv was leaking and had to redo the iv. I asked that the doctor require a new iv before they stuck her. They called and he said it was necessary. I watched them stick her twice and fail. They had to call in the transport team (helicopter peps) to come because they stick babies all the time. One mention of doing it in her head I about flipped. They ended up finally getting it in her foot. Ended up KG had a virus which caused aseptic meningitis which was the cause of her fever. We were released around 7 pm the following day. I am so glad it was nothing more serious and KG is feeling better. We are so blessed to be back home in 48 hours and I am so thankful. The kids and families there are so sad. It melted my heart. KG's next door neighbor was a baby a week older than she that had a fever they cant get down with the antibiotics. I hurt for them. God continues to bless us and take care of us. I am so glad it wasnt something more. I have the best family and friends that anyone could ask for. Everyone stepped up and helped out with Libby. My husband is amazing! He juggled Libby, me and KG at the hospital, and work. I love him dearly! Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. It was greatly appreciated and we feel so loved!

MY LOVES

Photos are done by Amanda Mitchell Photography. She does a great job! No words can express my love for these girls. Looking at these pics bring tears to my eyes. It just doesn't get any better than this....Thank you God for your gifts!

Time Flies

Oh my gosh last week was such a blur. The week flew by. Brandon started back to work today and it was cut short due to a sick big girl and well baby check up appointments for the baby girl. Libby has a virus. We learned she weighs 20.5 pounds. She ran around the office like a wild banshee and threw herself in the floor when I tried to guide her into the office area. Yep thats my girl! People were giving me looks like "woman...control your kid". Never ever will I judge another parent with their child because you have no idea. Libby is so strong willed already at her age. She is this diva princess that does what she wants and when you stand in her way she throws down! I have already gotten past embarrassment. If you think you can do better with her...go ahead and take her on. Brandon was feeding the baby while I was chasing the wild banshee around the office. I wish I was a patient cause I would have been cracking up. Anywho...Kynleigh is now 8 pounds 4 ounces and looking great.

Okay lets take it back to last night....Brandon had a fantasy football draft. Mom came to help me with bippy and boppy. Just as I told my mom to go on home all hell broke lose. Libby threw up all over her bed and self. The baby was starting to stir cause she was hungry. I called Brandon to come home asap and he started heading our way. He got pulled over for speeding. The officer gave him a sobriety test. haha. cracks me up. When Brandon told him he has two girls under 17 months, hadnt drank anything..the officer continued to carry out the ordeal. He gave Brandon sobriety tests and all. Another cop pulled up who played football with Bran. He told the other officer to let him go. Thank goodness he didnt even get a ticket. In the meantime Libby was a hysterical mess crying, fussing, trying to pinch Kynleigh, etc. I finally got Libby's clean sheet on and got her back down only to turn around and feed the baby. Brandon got home and the fun started again when Libby woke up screaming and Kynleigh woke up to eat. Libby did not like seeing Brandon feeding Libby and got mad again. He finally got Libby down and I took over Kynleigh duty. We got back in bed only to wake up an hour and a half later for Brandon to go to work and me to feed the baby again. Shew. Yep those are my days lately. However I would not trade them for the world. God has blessed us so much. I wouldnt change a thing...however it is days like these that I think of when I get the random idea to have baby number 3....no way no how! The Cecil clan is complete!