Chunky and Spunky

Miss S is 7 weeks old today and such a delight! She's really waking up and so alert and happy. I love her smiles and her soft chubby cheeks. And she's got such a spunky little personality with lots to say. She squawks when she doesn't like the position she's in or when she's done with tummy time, but other than that, she's really an easy baby. She sleeps really good at night (meaning she's only up twice to eat), a fact I'm thankful for after the first few weeks of no sleep. And she seems to really like the sound of Arden giggling - an understandable fact, we all love that sound. Here are some pics and video from a few days ago, she still looks alot like Arden, but I see her own look more and more as she grows.

Good things

So my goal for this week is to remember to be grateful. It's been a rough couple of months for us and I might end up losing my mind thanks to anxiety about sick kids, lack of sleep, claustrophobia from being stuck inside, and the freakin coldest, darkest winter of my life. With all this going on, I feel like alot of it is in my attitude and if I just think for one second how blessed we are, I realize the good things are so much more abundant than the bad. So here are some things I want to remember about the good things happening for us right now:

• Mitch and I are best best best friends. He rocks as a husband and we are a stronger, closer couple because of the trials and blessings in our lives.
• Arden is a really good kid. She is definitely my daily happy pill and I can't imagine having to be stuck inside for months with anyone else.
• Susan is at a heavenly stage. While there's alot of hard things about her age (unexplainable crying, anxiety, no sleep, as mentioned above), there's also some of life's most treasured moments during these months. She is preciously delicious to hold and smell. I love the complete trust and vulnerability in her eyes. It's something I wish I could put in a glass box and keep forever.
• I have a warm, safe, comfortable home. Our needs are all met here (without much from the outside world, I've learned).
  
• American Idol is in full swing. It's ridiculous to be thankful for a TV program, but when you can't leave the house and your days all seem to run together, you'll take whatever you can get as far as something to look forward to.
  
• Prayer is in abundance in my life. I need it, I love it, it reminds me to think outside my little life and to be thankful.

A deep post for me, I know. But I have alot of time to think lately. Not much time to do, but alot of time to think. So thanks for indulging in that moment of reflection with me.

-Nicole

Visitors!

Grandma Susan, Lizzy, and London stopped by for a visit yesterday. It was so great to see them and to introduce Susan Jane to her namesake. Arden was especially thrilled to have some company - poor kid has literally been stuck inside for a month with Susan's RSV fiasco. London and Arden were in heaven playing teaparty and dressups and I thoroughly enjoyed our visitors too! Only another month and we can do more of this and less of the cabin fever - yeah!!!




Here's a little clip of them in the princess outfits - if only they got to do this together more often. They were hilarious!

My Girls

Arden is so great with baby Susan - not too curious, but loves to pat her head and tell me where her eyes and hands are. Since Arden was sick when we brought Suzy home, we had to keep them apart; but now that they're both doing better - they've been able to interact more. The other night Arden got to hold Susan for the first time and it was sooo so precious. Oh how I love my two girls.

Here's some video of the precious moment:

A Birthday Wish

A conversation between me and Arden about her upcoming birthday:
Me: Arden, are you excited to turn two?!?
Arden: Yeahh!!! Two!!! (Using thumb and index finger like an 'L')
Me: Do you want to have a party with your cousin Rachee?
Arden: Yeah!!! Rochee!
Me: With cake and icecream? What color of cake do you want?
Arden: Punk! (Pink)
Me: What do you want mommy to get you for your birthday?
Arden: APPLEJUICE!!!! YEAH!!!
If only it were always so easy to please. I love this kid.

Update

We had a bit of a rough time this week, with our sweet Susan testing positive for RSV on Tuesday and a hospital stay with her over the weekend. After Tuesday's check up, her pediatrician told us the RSV symptoms weren't too bad and we could remain at home as long as her breathing was stable and she wasn't fevering. All seemed well until her follow up visit on Thursday, during which they did an oxygen test, did not like what they saw, then immediately put us in an ambulance headed for Primary Children's Hospital. I have to admit, my emotions were in high gear getting into an ambulance with my 2 week old baby, but once we got to the hospital and were admitted, I felt relatively calm knowing they were literally watching her every breath. The other HUGE comfort to us was knowing that our friends and family were fasting, praying, and putting Susan's name in at the Temple. There has been an outpouring of support and love - I get emotional just thinking about it. If I could give every one of you a big fat hug, I would. And on top of all that, the Priesthood has been a powerful instrument in our home - I'm so grateful for a husband who honors and remains worthy of this special power.

Throughout all the drama, Arden maintained her calm and complete adorableness. I love her more every day and missed her so much while I was at the hospital. Mitch was able to take Friday off so he stayed home with her and she has really been very easy-going about the whole thing. Thank goodness for her as my first child - she makes me remember why this is all so worth it. Susan, on the other hand, is a little spitfire already. She is actually a very good baby, not fussy or requiring any special treatment - but when things aren't working her way, she doesn't waste any time letting you know. What a fun and spunky little doll. I just adore her! And she's so alert - all the nurses at the hospital were enamored with her, then laughed so hard when they discovered her little temper.

So the happy ending for now is that we were only at the hospital for 2 days and we're now back at home, with doctor's visits every other day next week. Susan just needed help maintaining her oxygen for awhile and after 12 hours of breathing well on room air, she is okay to be at home for the time being. We just have to watch her like a hawk for any other scary symptoms. RSV can actually last up to 3 weeks, so we still have some yucky days ahead, but I think (keep praying!) that we're over the hump and can definitely handle the weeks to come. So there's the scoop, in case you wanted it. Here are some pictures from the hospital: sad but cute.

Ya I know, I'm looking less than my best with 2 days of no sleep and no shower, but Suzy Jane looks cute and we're just glad to be getting outa there.

P.S. Happy Anniversary to my cute husband today! We had to postpone the celebrations for obvious reasons - but I really feel sooooo lucky to have spent 6 amazing years with this incredible best friend of mine. Barfy, cheesy - I know, sorry.