The White House

Happy Holidays!

2010-11-29T20:14:00.003-06:00

Tot School

2010-07-16T20:44:00.003-05:00

The school year is only 5 weeks away and I've started thinking of some learning activities that Caitlyn and I can do together while the boys are at school. Here's one activity that she picked up on right away. I put a block of each color on the floor, apart from each other. I handed her a red block and asked her where it goes. She knew right away, and started in on all the other blocks. She had this finished within five minutes! And she didn't hesitate to have her picture taken with her work...

What's missing?

2010-07-12T20:30:00.003-05:00

He was four months old when it came in. He was six years old when it came out.
Aidan lost his first tooth!

He didn't want to put it under his pillow. He doesn't want the tooth fairy to come and take it away. He's starting a collection of baby teeth. He's sentimental just like his mom.

Aidan and Soccer

2010-07-07T20:47:00.000-05:00

Aidan is really enjoying soccer this summer, and has gotten pretty good at it. He attended a week long soccer camp for skill work, and I think it really helped. He even scored his first goal today! Most importantly, he really loves this sport.

Alex takes his seat as he watches Aidan play.

Caitlyn watches too!

Happy 4th!

2010-07-05T20:16:00.000-05:00

This 4th, we met neighbors and friends at the Coralville parade. The kids got a TON of candy, which we don't need! We also got coupons for free kids meals at Chili's, so we went there for lunch afterwards.

Later that night, we met more neighbors at the fireworks in Iowa City. We thought they were going to be rained out, so we decided to go out to eat at a nearby restaurant. Sure enough, as soon as we were walking out of the restaurant, the fireworks began. It couldn't have been planned any better.

The next night, we went across the street for sparklers!

Aidan and Tennis

2010-07-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

Aidan started the summer off with four weeks of tennis lessons. Two other kids from his kindergarten class just happened to be in the lessons with him! He was actually pretty good, but decided not to continue after the four weeks.

Aidan was the only left-handed kid in the class, so he was always facing the opposite direction.

Father's Day

2010-06-20T20:12:00.000-05:00

We spent the day cleaning out the garage and putting up new shelving, but hey...at least I remembered to take a picture this year!

Summer Fun

2010-06-18T20:09:00.000-05:00

We've been busy filling out our summer reading logs. This summer has been especially awesome, because now Aidan can read to the other two! And I can't believe all the books that Caitlyn will actually sit through. She will sit through a book of any length, as long as it has pictures. Aidan gets points for reading a book (or multiple points if it's a chapter book), and Alex gets points for listening to a book. It's perfect!

On another note, our good friends, Brad and Jen have moved back to Ohio. They lived right across the street, with their 3-year old daughter, Maren. We miss them so much already, but look forward to our trips to the Cinci area!

Happy Birthday Caitlyn!

2010-06-11T21:52:00.006-05:00

Caitlyn's Birthday Party

2010-06-08T20:02:00.001-05:00

Caitlyn is two! We met friends at the Children's Museum in the Quad Cities for her birthday. Our good friends live about equal distance, on the Illinois side, so the Quad Cities is a great place for us to meet up. What a great museum it was...they had this awesome outdoor water area that the kids just loved.

No birthday party is complete without a cake, so it made the trip with us.

Mmm..yummy!

Kindergarten Graduation

2010-06-01T19:59:00.001-05:00

My little Aidan has graduated from Kindergarten. Heritage Christian School put on a wonderful graduation ceremony and reception for the kids. It started with a slideshow presentation of all the kindergarteners, complete with "then and now" pictures.

They recited a couple very long Bible verses that they had worked on memorizing during the school year. They also sang us a few songs.

Aidan was one of four kids that got to introduce a part of the ceremony. He introduced the Attributes of God. They learned an attribute of God, for each of the letters of the alphabet.

He is accepting his "diploma" from the principal, Mr. Annis.

Hugs for Mrs. Vahle.

And a new chapter begins next year. First Grade will be the first time he goes to school 5 days a week. And his little brother will be joining him for 3 of the days!

Aidan can tie his shoes!

2010-06-01T07:58:00.000-05:00

It's a start!

Alex and Soccer

2010-05-27T19:47:00.001-05:00

Alex started playing soccer through the Coralville Park District this spring for the first time. It seemed as though he really enjoyed it, but at the same time, was not very interested in playing. He liked the warm-ups and drills the most, but when the games began he just wouldn't pay much attention. So, we decided to give it a break and try again next year. He does look really cute in shin guards!

A floor full of Scripture

2010-05-19T19:39:00.001-05:00

Our new school (Heritage Christian School) is being built right across the street from our house. You can look out our front picture window, and see it. The boys have been so excited as they watch the progress each day. Today, we had the opportunity to go in and write scripture on the floor of the media room. It will eventually be covered with carpet, but what a great idea!

Spring Concert

2010-05-18T19:35:00.001-05:00

I know, it's been a while. These pictures are from back in May, when Aidan had his spring concert for school. Heritage Christian School puts on a really great concert each and every year. Can you find Aidan?

This is Mrs. Vahle, Aidan's kindergarten teacher. He actually had her for pre-k last year, so we've been blessed to have her as a teacher two years in a row. Alex will have her for pre-k next year, too!

Alex is Four

2010-04-11T19:50:00.006-05:00

This was a big birthday for Alex this year. Not only was it his golden birthday, but it also fell on Easter. The next time it falls on Easter, he will be 15 years old.

We spent the afternoon at a local park with friends, eating awesome food and hunting for Easter eggs.

His party was two days later. It was supposed to be at the Par-tee Zone, but they changed their hours and when we arrived, the doors were locked. So we made a quick decision to go to the Children's Museum, followed by lunch and cake at the mall.

I took Alex out for his 4-year pictures, and he was not very cooperative. Hopefully you can't tell from the photos. I never would have thought his 4 year pics would have been more difficult than his 3-year pics.

This last one is one of my favorites. You are so stubborn, yet so adorable at the same time. You will always be my baby, Alex! Happy 4th!

It's Your Thing...

2010-03-28T23:10:00.002-05:00

For Aidan's birthday, Alex provided us with a little entertainment...

Aidan's 6-Year Pics

2010-03-24T22:47:00.003-05:00

Our Kitchen Remodel

2010-03-22T12:58:00.003-05:00

We got new granite countertops, and Brian spent the last month adding a backsplash and under-cabinet lighting. The pictures don't really do it justice.

Before (please ignore the clutter):

After:

Before:

After:

We have a 6 year old!

2010-03-21T21:49:00.005-05:00

Aidan turned six years old on March 9th! He was able to invite six friends (since he turned six) to the bowling alley for 3 hours of bowling!

He wanted a Super Mario Bros. theme, with a Yellow Toad cake. This is the first time I've drawn an image on a cake (usually I use the shape pans), but it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!

Our Garden

2010-03-04T13:30:00.011-06:00

Today, Aidan and I started our organic garden, out of recycled egg cartons. For those interested, here are some great directions. When we're ready to transplant them outside, all we have to do is cut the carton into sections and plant them right in the pot. The egg carton will break down in the soil!

We also made a chart (sorry if it's hard to read, I can't figure out how to upload pictures correctly in Blogger) showing what we planted, how long it takes to sprout, the date we might see it sprout, and when the fruit should be ready for harvest.

I love it when they say things like this...

2010-01-15T06:42:00.003-06:00

Aidan has the sweetest reply when I told him that he had early dismissal from school today.

Me: "Aidan, you get out early from school tomorrow."

Aidan: "Good! That means I get to spend more time with you, Mom!"

Those are the moments that make the difficult days so worth it.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T14:21:00.003-06:00

Ringing in the new year with our official 2010 pancakes.

My Baby is 18 Months!

2009-12-27T20:25:00.001-06:00

Our Christmas Morning

2009-12-25T20:14:00.013-06:00

Here is our Christmas tree, the night before we went to bed. Notice how nice the presents look under the tree.

Aidan came into our bedroom early this morning...asking for permission to play the Wii. Brian and I were a little confused...because wouldn't Santa's visit be a little more exciting than the Wii? With a little prodding, we discovered that Aidan and Alex were already busy downstairs opening presents! And we hadn't heard a thing!

As we walked downstairs, Aidan was explaining to us how he sorted all the gifts by name. This is what we saw...

We put off opening the remaining gifts until Caitlyn was awake. When it was time, Alex was in the basement playing with his cars (he's had them forever), and did not want to be interrupted to open presents. "Alex, it's time to open presents. Alex, do you want to open your presents?" We were answered by a stubborn "No! I don't want to open presents!"

So, needless to say, I was a little disappointed to miss their original reaction to Santa's visit. And a little disappointed that Alex didn't want to open anything. But they made up for it with all these great expressions...

She's walking!

2009-12-22T19:12:00.001-06:00

At least a little bit. She took her first step on Monday, and today she took ten. She's the first one of our children that didn't need the encouragement of us stretching our arms out to say 'come here, you can do it'. Instead, she just stood up and starting walking away! 2010 is going to be full of adventure for this family.

Can you call it toast if it hasn't been toasted?

2009-12-15T18:15:00.000-06:00

Aidan woke up early this morning, and to my surprise, had made breakfast for us all. We enjoyed cinnamon-sugar toast (not toasted), strawberries (not washed), water and our vitamins. He was so proud of himself. At the end of the meal, he told me (with tears in his eyes) that Alex hurt his feelings because he didn't eat his entire breakfast. (This was a teaching moment for me! I got to explain to Aidan how I feel when he doesn't even try some of the things I make for dinner.)

First Snow

2009-12-11T12:48:00.005-06:00

Our first "real" snow came Tuesday, December 8th. That's actually 8 days later than last year.
Santa was going to bring kid-sized shovels for Christmas, but I couldn't wait and the boys got to open an early Chrismas gift! They had a lot of fun at first, but quickly became cold and gave up, so I ended up finishing the driveway and sidewalks by myself! They joined Caitlyn in the van, parked in the garage, watching a movie (I later found out that you should not do this for a long period of time, because your car won't start the next day!).

2009-12-11T12:31:00.003-06:00

I am reminded every day when I read all the other blogs, how important it is to write about even the little things.

We have a tradition each December of making a countdown chain to Christmas. On the inside of each link, we write the date, and something we are supposed to do that day. Sometimes it's something like donating a toy, or food for those in need. Sometimes it's something fun like watching a holiday movie, or making a gingerbread house from scratch. Other days, we read and learn about Hanukkah or Kwanza.

A few days ago, we were to learn a new Christmas carol. Aidan had different plans though, and decided to write his own Christmas carol. One that has never been sung before. So here is what he came up with, and I love it. It also shows how much he is developing with his reading and writing skills. They are taught in kindergarten to sound out the words and spell them as they think they are to be written. He does just so with the words "selubrates" and "brth". My favorite is how he shortened the word "because", just like he does in regular coversation.

Brotherly Love

2009-11-30T22:28:00.004-06:00

We have a new game we play at the grocery store to keep the boys occupied. I give them a quarter, of which they have to hold in their clasped hands as they walk throughout the store. If they still have the quarter after checkout, they get to use it for the candy machines at the front of the store. This really works well for us, because it helps the boys keep their hands to themselves.

Well, Alex has some trouble keeping his hands clasped while walking. He just can't seem to hang on to that darn quarter.

But, I know we've raised our children well when Aidan, who was concerned for his brother, said the following:
"Alex, if you don't have your quarter at the end, I'll give you mine."

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-02T22:14:00.003-06:00

The homemade lion costume I made 5 years ago for Aidan's 1st Halloween (he was 7 months old) fit Caitlyn this year, at 17 months old.

Some of the kids from our awesome neighborhood.

The Super Mario Bros.! They really got into character this year!

The boys were all business this year. They were on a mission for candy, and no one was going to get in their way. Luckily, it only took one street and their bags were full. Quote of the night was by Alex as a neighbor handed him candy: "Thank you, witch". She was dressed up as a witch.

Checkmate

2009-10-13T22:15:00.003-05:00

Aidan was teaching me how to play chess today.
He was explaining that whoever gets the other person's king wins the game.
Alex was sitting right next to me.
Before we even began the game,
Alex grabbed Aidan's king, and exclaimed in excitement "I won!"
Game over.

A Potty Blessing

2009-10-07T19:46:00.003-05:00

Alex today while sitting on the potty,
leaned forward and clasped his hands together:
"Dear Jesus, thank you for this potty. Amen."

No more diapers for...

2009-10-02T11:24:00.004-05:00

Alex!
We tried potty training a couple months ago, with no luck.
We went NOWHERE for 5 days.
We stayed on the hardwood floors.
He just wasn't getting it.
He would sit on the potty for an hour without going.
He would have an accident right after getting off the potty.
He turns 3 and a half on Sunday,
and we really wanted him trained before then.
So we tried again.
This time, we said "who cares".
Who cares if he get the carpet dirty.
Who cares if he has an accident in public.
We went on with our regular week.
And on the third day, he did it!
He made the connection.
No more accidents.
Great job, Alex!

Wilson's

2009-09-15T20:15:00.005-05:00

Our favorite apple orchard. We came home with enough apples for apple cider, apple pie, and applesauce. The boys are so excited!

15 Months

2009-09-11T21:00:00.005-05:00

Caitlyn should have turned one today. God, however, had other plans for her and she is now 15 months! She really has been a joy and a blessing for our family. Happy should-have-been birthday, Caitlyn!

Only in Iowa

2009-08-27T17:51:00.002-05:00

Brian couldn't find his wallet this afternoon, and his car was in desperate need of gas. Can you believe the gas station let him put $20 in his tank? All he had to do was leave his University ID with them and promise to come back and pay tomorrow. Only in Iowa.

Holy cow, I have a kindergartener!

2009-08-24T20:38:00.003-05:00

Aidan was super excited to start kindergarten today at Heritage Christian School. All weekend, he kept saying "I'm so excited, I'm so excited." He went right in, put his things away, and sat down at his desk. He is going three days a week, all day.

Alex also had his first day of school today. I have decided to homeschool him for preschool. He feels like such a big boy when we come home from dropping Aidan off at school and start our school work. Today, he learned about Henri Matisse and his collage "The Snail", and Alex made his own collage. We're following the "What Your Preschooler Needs to Know" book from the Core Knowledge Series, and he loves it!

May Days

2009-08-17T09:03:00.005-05:00

I missed the month of May entirely, so this entry is dedicated to the fun we had that month.

The excitement started with a couple graduate-school graduations. My neighbor Amy rented this limousine to pick us up at all of our houses to take us to her party at Hotel Vitro. This limousine even had a dance floor in it!

Next, we went to Austin, TX to visit my brother and his wife. We had a really great time. They live in a penthouse condo right on the lake in the middle of downtown Austin (next to Lance Armstrong).

Look at all those turtles!

After Austin, we drove to Alabama to visit Brian's parents. The boys had a really good time, especially when we got to tour Talladega. If you know Aidan at all, you know how much he loves race cars.

And now we need to babyproof...

2009-08-09T19:18:00.007-05:00

Caitlyn is crawling! She just started today :)

All Day (or just 8am-2pm)?

2009-08-08T15:38:00.003-05:00

Brian and I ran across this sign in the pedmall last weekend. Just thought it was kind of funny.

Is it still July?

2009-07-28T16:13:00.007-05:00

Am I too late to post my pictures from the 4th?

We spent the entire week in Chicagoland, with a quick stop at the Niabi Zoo on the way. We had a GREAT time with family and friends!

Downtown Chicago

Fireworks on the beach

Soccer

2009-07-28T16:06:00.004-05:00

Aidan's soccer game has greatly improved from when he first started this year. He went from running around next to all the other kids, just looking at the ball to running around and actually kicking the ball repeatedly towards the goal!

Tee-Ball

2009-07-28T15:44:00.004-05:00

Most of Aidan's games were rained out this year, because there always seemed to be a storm coming through on Tuesdays. Here are some pictures from the last game:

The Total Gym

2009-07-13T10:08:00.003-05:00

I'm upstairs eating breakfast when I realize I hear the tv on downstairs and it doesn't sound like cartoons.

I walk downstairs to see Christie Brinkley on some infomercial.

Me: What are you watching, Aidan?
Aidan: The total gym. It helps you lose weight, mom.
Alex: The total gym. The total gym, mommy.

Needless to say, I turned it off immediately.

Is there such a thing as...

2009-07-09T20:31:00.004-05:00

sleep eating?

Sunburns

2009-06-17T11:40:00.007-05:00

On the way to vacation Bible school today:

Aidan: "Sunburns are always trying to catch me while I'm on my bike, but I'm just too fast for them."

I just had to laugh. He was so serious.

Speaking of bikes, here's a video of Aidan. He learned to "start" on his own, so now I don't have to follow him around to give him little pushes. We are so proud of him, doing this at only 5 years old. I think I was at least 7 before I learned :)

Caitlyn turns one!

2009-06-09T14:46:00.003-05:00

Caitlyn's 1-year pictures. I've seen babies in these adorable tutus before, so I decided to make my own! Keep your eye out for more pictures to come!

Look who's riding his bike...

2009-06-09T14:35:00.002-05:00

...without training wheels!

Happy Birthday, Caitlyn!

2009-06-08T17:09:00.006-05:00

Today, my baby turned one. With her first 101 days spent in the hospital, the time really flew. We celebrated with friends and family on Saturday, in our backyard. We also took a cake to the NICU today and showed off our little Caitlyn. We really have been blessed.

She is really enjoying hearing everyone sing...

She especially likes to hear Daddy sing...

A little bit of frosting...

Mommy's first attempt at a tiered cake...

Thank you everyone for making this such a special day!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T21:29:00.005-05:00

I think I might possibly have the sweetest husband in the world. He snuck around all weekend (and took the kids with him) creating this really awesome Mother's Day gift. It's a 27x33 inch frame, with a very special poem:

Sometimes you get discouraged ,
Because I am so small.
And always leave my fingerprints,
On furniture and walls.
But as the times are passing,
I'm growing every day.
And all those tiny handprints,
Will surely fade away.
So here's a little handprint,
Just so you can recall.
Exactly how my fingers looked,
When I was very small.

On another note, I have one sweet little 5 year old. He must get it from his dad. I can't even count how many times Aidan said "Happy Mother's Day" and "I love you, Mommy" to me today, unprompted. He is one great kid.

11 Months!

2009-05-08T17:42:00.004-05:00

Only one more month and my baby turns one! She's a whopping 17.5 pounds and 28 inches long :)

Alex's 3 Year "Photo Shoot"

2009-04-19T15:37:00.005-05:00

It was a crazy windy day, but we got some good shots with a little bribe from the icecream fairy...

Happy Easter!

2009-04-14T20:20:00.004-05:00

A little Wii action...

Caitlyn was worn out from all that Wii playing...

I love it when she falls asleep on the floor like this...

10 Months

2009-04-08T21:38:00.003-05:00

Where has the time gone? My baby is only two months shy of turning one. We had a fun photo shoot this afternoon. She actually hated being naked on this cold hardwood floor, so I had a really hard time getting a good picture. Oh well...I still think they are cute!

Birthdays!

2009-04-06T21:31:00.004-05:00

It's been a little while, but I wanted to upload some pictures from Aidan's bday party. He was able to invite 5 friends (since he turned 5) and he picked all girls and one boy! We went to the Par-Tee Zone, where they spent their time climbing through tunnels and playing mini golf. I always enjoy making the kids' cakes...Aidan picked out a race car. Racing is an old obsession of his.

Alex turned 3 on April 4th. His birthday party was a bit bigger, since he doesn't really have friends of his own. We invited our neighbors and friends over for a big bash. Alex decided he wanted a baseball cake for his 3rd birthday.

Opening presents

Blowing out the candles

The messy face afterwards

Oh...and Brian celebrated his birthday right in the middle of the boys (March 23). We have a lot of spring birthdays around here!

Aidan's 5-Year Pictures

2009-03-15T18:55:00.007-05:00

We had a beautiful day today, so I took Aidan out for his "5-Yr old" pics. He was a bit tricky this year, just like last year, because he has this really cheesy fake smile. I'm hoping by next year that he grows out of it. Anyway, they turned out pretty good and we had a lot of fun. Bear with me, there are a lot of them!

My personal fave:

Happy Birthday, Aidan!

2009-03-11T09:06:00.007-05:00

My baby turned 5 years old on Monday, and I can hardly believe it. He had preK, so Brian and I took some cupcakes to class in celebration. It was also pajama day, so that is why he is still in his pjs.

Here's a little flashback to when he was only six months old, and really was still my baby:

4 years old was a big year for him. He became a big brother for the 2nd time. He went to school for the first time. We went to Disney World. He learned to read books, and write sentences. He learned to count to 100 in Spanish. He really is a truely amazing kid and we are so blessed he is a part of us. Happy 5th birthday, Aidan!

February Recap

2009-02-27T20:21:00.003-06:00

Aidan's Valentine party at preK

Alex being his usual silly self

Caitlyn's first time eating baby food!

Doorway Fun

2009-02-09T15:58:00.003-06:00

Caitlyn just loves this doorway bouncer so much. So much that she'll even fall asleep in it.

Alex's 1st Hawkeye Game

2009-02-09T15:51:00.004-06:00

Alex got to go to his very first basketball game on Monday with his Papa. We had to wake him up from a nap, so he doesn't look real thrilled in these pictures, but he did warm up and have a good time. He REALLY loves basketball, he got to eat icecream while he was there, and the Hawkeyes won, so you couldn't ask for a better night out :)

Star of the Week

2009-02-09T15:42:00.006-06:00

Aidan was star of the week in PreK last week. At the beggining of the week, he had to give a little speech about his family, all of his favorite things, and what he wants to be when he grows up. I didn't get to see it, but I was told he did a very good job, going into much detail.

His teacher, Mrs. Vahle came over to spend a morning with him. They bowled on the Wii and Aidan read her a book. On Friday, Brian and I got to eat lunch with him at school. It was so much fun getting to meet the other kids in his class and to see how they all interact.

Snow Fort

2009-02-09T15:34:00.004-06:00

Just catching up on some pictures I took in the last 2 weeks.

No More Oxygen!

2009-01-29T13:34:00.004-06:00

Caitlyn had an appointment with the high-risk clinic yesterday, and she passed her oxygen saturation level test with flying colors! So off came the oxygen, and what a happy girl she is! We still have to use the heart monitor for a month, and until we feel comfortable with the change. What a burden has been lifted off our shoulders (literally). It is so nice to just pick her up and take her wherever we want in the house without having to worry about catching her tubing on furniture, or tripping over it. We are free!!!!!

Just Playing Around

2009-01-22T09:15:00.006-06:00

With new logos. Wanted to see what this one would look like online.

Caitlyn as my model

2009-01-19T19:14:00.004-06:00

We got some new photography equipment this weekend, so I was excited to try them out. Caitlyn was such a good sport being my little "model." I wasn't trying very hard for smiles or posing, but I think I do like the new equipment :)

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T17:08:00.001-06:00

Our New Year tradition...

Thank you Santa

2008-12-26T21:37:00.013-06:00

We had a fabulous Christmas, quiet at home with just the five of us. We must have been good, because Santa sure was good to us this year.

Caitlyn was exhausted after all the festivities...

Aidan mastered his new Leapster within an hour. He can even play it upside down now...

Aidan's Gingerbread House

2008-12-17T10:28:00.004-06:00

6 Months Old!

2008-12-11T14:53:00.003-06:00

I can't beleive Caitlyn is six months old already! She still hasn't been home for as long as she was in the hospital, but we are getting close.

At six months, she weighs 12 pounds, 4 ounces and is almost ready to come off the oxygen. Her high-risk doctor said that would probably happen at her next appointment, which is in January!

Gotta Love Marshmallows

2008-12-04T02:22:00.001-06:00

Now that the weather is cold, we've been making a lot of hot chocolate. Of course, the boys' favorite part is the marshmallows...

1st Snow!

2008-11-30T12:12:00.005-06:00

After church, we all bundled up and went outside to enjoy the snow. A snowman was built, a hill was sled, snow angels were made, and a driveway was shoveled.

The day after Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T12:13:00.000-06:00

It is a tradition at our house to decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. We put on Christmas music and burn Christmas-scented candles. We put up the tree, stockings, and all other decor around the house while we sip on eggnog. And it's the first night we turn on the lights outside.

And she is baptised...

2008-11-24T14:19:00.004-06:00

Our good friends Kim and Tom drove up from Illinois to partake in the baptism and be Caitlyn's Godparents. Brian's dad (an episcopal minister) also took part in the ceremony. We had a wonderful service at the Coralville United Methodist Church and joined family back home for lunch and cake.

I made the cake, my first time using fondant frosting. It was a lot of fun, but I used too much pink coloring and what was supposed to be a pastel pink cake turned out to be a hot pink cake. Oh well.

Leaving Comments

2008-11-19T12:10:00.001-06:00

Okay...I changed my setting so anyone can leave a comment now :) So please do!

Conferences

2008-11-18T13:11:00.000-06:00

We had our first parent-teacher conference EVER Monday night, and it went really well. I took a bunch of pictures to show what Aidan's pre-k classroom looks like. His teacher, Mrs. Vahle, said that he is doing really well and is a pleasure to have in her class. She said he does need to work on self-control when answering questions. He really likes to answer all the questions, and he's been doing better at raising his hand, but now he needs to remember to stay in his seat while raising his hand. I thought that was pretty funny, and I wish I had the opportunity to watch Aidan in action. She also said he has an amazing memory. When they all gather in the foyer at the beginning of the day during dropoff, and it's approaching 8:30am, Aidan can tell her which students are still missing. He can also remember the first and last names of all the artists they've been learning in art class, and they only meet once a week!

Here is Aidan's locker (the one with the red mat):

His desk:

Go Hawkeyes!

2008-11-18T10:42:00.001-06:00

Brian took Aidan to the last football game of the year at Kinnick. They had a great time- watching the game and eating LOTS of food. Plus, the Hawkeyes won! Aidan was all bundled up in two pairs of pants and his snow suit!

Brian and Aidan on the bus to Kinnick from the parking lot:

Hawkeyes won!

Potty Training

2008-11-17T16:30:00.000-06:00

We're not quite there yet. Alex is terrified of the toilet. But he is constantly taking his pants and diaper off. I've taught Aidan to yell "ALEX IS TAKING HIS DIAPER OFF" as soon as he starts to, so that I can avoid all accidents.

He wants to wear underwear, but he doesn't want to use the potty. What should I do?

Caitlyn is 5 months old (last Saturday)!

2008-11-13T11:27:00.001-06:00

She is really doing well. She sleeps through the night! All the way until 6:30, eats without waking up and then doesn't get up again until 9! Now if I could just get the boys to do that :)
She is a very easy baby...doesn't cry much and really well tempered. She just fell asleep on the couch next to me without me doing anything. vote for the picture you like best...I want to get one enlargment for our house.
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Chicago

2008-11-13T09:44:00.001-06:00

Brian had a conference in Chicago earlier this week, so we decided to make a mini-vacation out of it. The weather was cold, but we bundled up and braved the elements. We really didn't do much, as it's very difficult with three small children. But I did get some shopping in.

The tall building on the left is where Brian used to work when we lived in Chicago. This is a view from us looking into the "bean" at Grant Park.

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-03T14:14:00.001-06:00

We had such great weather this Halloween...75 and sunny! We didn't have to wear coats or bundle up underneath our costumes for a change :)

Aidan was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and very excited about it. He got a big smile on his face anytime anyone would ask what he was going to be this year. He originally wanted to be Spiderman, but changed his mind a couple weeks before the 31st.

Alex was also very excited about being a cowboy. But when it came down to it, he didn't want to wear much of his costume. We tried to get a good picture with the hat, but didn't have much luck. And there was no way we were going to get the chaps on him. He had a blast trick-or-treating. He would go up to every house and say "trick-or-treat" way before he got to the door. Then he would take his time deciding on a piece of candy, changing his mind several times. At the beginning, he would take one piece of candy from one house, and deposit it at the next house. I guess he thought he had to keep trading pieces.

Caitlyn was a pea (in a pod), but several people thought she was a caterpillar (on a leaf). I guess it could go either way. I did sew this costume myself (and Alex's too).

Election Day is around the corner...

2008-11-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

Election day is almost here and the 2008 campaign is nearing an end. Thank you to those that have voted early and to everyone that has passed the word of Brian's campaign along to friends and colleagues. We are now in the home stretch and every vote counts!
To celebrate the end of the campaign and the beginning of a new democracy, we are going to gather at the Vine in Coralville on election night. Anyone and everyone is welcome – Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens and the independents in all of us! The festivities will begin around 6PM and last until everyone leaves or they kick us out.
In these last days, remember to keep spreading the word about the campaign and directing people to the website: www.brianwhite2008.com. Thank you!

What: Election Party – Brian White 2008

Where: The Vine (on the Coralville strip)

When: 6PM …Who: Family event – all ages welcome

Stuck inside...

2008-10-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

We are pretty much stuck in the house all winter, because we can't risk getting Caitlyn sick. We can't go anywhere where there are other kids, and we can't have other kids over to our house. So I am bored! Her high-risk doctor told us that she has a 50% chance of being hospitalized because of RSV or Flu this season.

So...I am now trying to think of lots of indoor activities I can do with a 2 year old and a 4 year old. If you have any ideas please let me know!!!

Yesterday, we made pumpkin bread in our pajamas :)

9 pounds, 10 ounces

2008-10-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

Everyone probably remembers this picture of Caitlyn. It was the day after she was born, and she has Brian's wedding band around her foot.

Well, here she is at over 9 pounds, the same size Alex was when he was born. Her feet are still small, but much bigger than before. The ring now fits over her toe!

Top 5 Things I Hate to Admit

2008-10-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

Okay, I was tagged by Molly a LONG time ago. But at least I'm getting around to it!

1. I have not worn my wedding/engagement rings for a year now. Mostly because they didn't fit while I was pregnant, but also because I'm lazy. I finally decided to put them on today.

2. I pile the dished up all day long, and then let Brian come home and do them. He's such a sweetheart!

3. I hate talking on the phone and emailing. Don't ask me why.

4. If my kids are watching TV in the car when we arrive home, and I need to get something done quickly I'll leave them in there with the doors open so I can get it done. Usually it's putting the groceries away.

5. I eat a lot of junk food, and I never exercise. I'm going to start exercising this week.

That's it...and I'm not going to tag anyone else, because I hate being tagged.

Google Reader

2008-10-21T11:15:00.000-05:00

If you don't already have Google Reader...you should get it. It's a lot like Outlook Express, where you can tell right away if you have new emails, except it's for blogs and it lets you know right away when someone updates their blog. Just enter all of your friends' blogs and you no longer have to jump from blog to blog to see who's updated.

http://www.google.com/reader

It's Been a While

2008-10-07T15:33:00.000-05:00

Sorry...things have been pretty crazy around here. Along with Caitlyn coming home, we've had our share of regular bloody noses and one trip to the emergency room. I will try to be better at posting more often.

Caitlyn is up to 8 pounds, 11.5 ounces!

Here is one of the bloody noses from the month...

I never even had time to take a picture of Aidan's forehead, but he sliced it open pretty good by jumping off the couch and hitting his head on the play kitchen. I had to call on the neighbors to come over and watch Caitlyn and Alex while I took Aidan to the emergency room on a Sunday. Brian wasn't home, which is just my luck. Thank God for great neighbors!

Here's Aidan at the UI Homecoming Parade. He had a lot of fun handing out candy for the Brian White campaign.

Day 100: She's Home!

2008-09-16T21:26:00.000-05:00

After 100 days in the NICU, Caitlyn is finally home! Aidan just told me "I love my Caitlyn", and can hardly keep his hands off of her. We are all so happy to have her home. Now we have 3 kids ages 4 and under, and it is crazy!

Caitlyn came home on oxygen, and we have to take it along with us wherever we go. Here are the oxygen tanks we have in our house. They gave us smaller, more portable ones for travel.

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers. We are so blessed with great family and friends!

Lots of Pics & The Big Game

2008-09-13T13:39:00.000-05:00

I had a fun morning with Caitlyn today. She looked so cute, so I just kept taking pictures. She is back to 7 pounds, even. I think the extra weight last week must have been IV fluids and swelling.

This is Caitlyn getting her hearing exam. She passed in both ears!

Two of Caitlyn's favorite nurses!

Caitlyn's view of the Iowa vs. Iowa State game:

Caitlyn geared up in her Hawkeye jersey:

Fussy Day

2008-09-13T01:35:00.000-05:00

Caitlyn back on CPAP...

Caitlyn had a very fussy day Thursday. She was very angry, and wouldn't stop crying. Here she is getting an x-ray to make sure nothing is wrong. Fortunately, they discovered it was just a lot of gas that needed to be worked out.

3 Months Old

2008-09-09T07:38:00.000-05:00

Caitlyn turned 3 months old yesterday and she is up to 7 pounds, 6 ounces! It was a crazy day. She was finally extubated after 3 days, and put back on .5L nasal cannula. After they did that, it was discovered that Caitlyn's breathing was effected by the intibation tube. Her voice was extremely raspy and her breathing looked painful. She was also wheezing and gasping for air. They took an xray and determined that she is not using her lungs to full capacity, so they put her back on CPAP.

Here she is getting "bagged" after they removed the tube:

Here she is on the .5L nasal cannula before the wheezing started:

7 Pounds!

2008-09-05T21:56:00.000-05:00

Caitlyn hit seven pounds today! It was quite a big day for her, as she had surgery as well. Everything went well, and they were able to repair the hernia. The damage inside was bad, so it was a good thing we did the surgery right away. They say now, that if everything goes as planned, she will be coming home in 7-10 days.

We weren't allowed in the operating room, so this was as far as we could get...

The doctors and nurses in Caitlyn's room after the surgery...

Caitlyn during recovery...look how big she is! Some of this weight could be from the IV fluids they've been pushing. She's back on the ventilator, but should be coming off tomorrow.

Go Hawks!

2008-09-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

We went tailgating this Saturday, which was really convenient, since the stadium is right next to the hospital. Even Caitlyn wore her Hawkeye gear. She is twelve weeks old now, and weighs 6 pounds, 10.5 ounces! She has been taking almost all of her feedings, without supplementation from the feeding tube. We found out today that she will need hernia surgery, which will delay her trip home by a day or two.

We're getting closer!

2008-08-27T21:49:00.000-05:00

38 weeks gestation, 11 1/2 weeks old, 6 pounds 5 ounces. Caitlyn is doing great! She continues to do better each day with her feedings. They took her off high-flow cannula, and in one day weened her down from 1L regular cannula to 1/2L regular cannula. This is what they expect her to come home on. They told us yesterday that she would probably be coming home on her due date (Sept. 10)!

Here, Caitlyn is getting her last blood transfusion (see her left hand). She's had quite a few of these over the last 11 weeks, because of anemia.

80 Days

2008-08-26T15:18:00.000-05:00

Caitlyn is 11 weeks old now, and is still doing great. She has been in the hospital for 80 days! She has been hovering around 6 pounds, 2 ounces now for the last week. She is down to 1 Liter on her high-flow cannula. The next step would be a regular cannula, and then once she can take all her feedings by bottle or breast for 72 hours, she will be able to come home! It's just a waiting game now...

Six Pounds!

2008-08-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

A whole pound in one week- unbelievable! Caitlyn has one more day of antibiotics, is down to 2L on her high-flow nasal cannula, and is starting to stay awake for longer periods of time!

We are trying to move Alex into the lower bunk in Aidan's room (need some prayers here!). This picture was one of Alex crashing in his crib for a nap (hopefully for the last time!). Kipper's book was just too much for him to handle.

First Day

2008-08-19T20:31:00.001-05:00

Monday was Aidan's first day of school- ever. He started pre-K at Heritage Christian School in North Liberty, and just loved it. When I walked him to the front door, he couldn't stop telling me how excited he was for his first day of school.

Caitlyn update: I started feeding her tonight! And she's up to 5 pounds, 13.5 ounces!

We have ourselves a five pounder!

2008-08-15T14:30:00.000-05:00

5 Pounds! Almost the size of a full-term baby. Caitlyn is back in her crib, and now on a high-flow cannula. She's doing great. She sleeps all of the time. I haven't seen her awake for about 2 weeks now. The nurses say she gets pretty mad when they change her diaper, though.

Our neighbors, Amy and Rebecca bought Caitlyn this little outfit and blanket. It's a newborn (5-8 pounds) outfit, and it fits her perfect!

36 week update

2008-08-14T20:18:00.000-05:00

Caitlyn was supposed to be born 4 weeks from now. She is 4 pounds, 15.5 ounces, so we are fully expecting her to hit the 5 pound mark tomorrow. She's back up to 20cc's of milk (by tube) and they went down a bit on her oxygen. They also moved her back to a crib! She seems to be feeling much better, but they did decide to extend her antibiotics to a total of 16 days. The best news is that nothing is growing in her cultures, so they took her off precautions. Nurses and visitors no longer have to wear a gown or gloves if they want to hold her :) We were told to expect that she will probably come home 2 weeks after her due date, so the end of September.

Two Months Old

2008-08-09T15:08:00.000-05:00

I can't believe my baby is 2 months old already. Caitlyn is 4 pounds, 2 ounces and 16.25 inches long. Her length was taken in an isolette, so the nurse wasn't sure how accurate it is.

It was confirmed today that she has sepsis. They started treatment early, so she should come out of it quickly. The doctor seems to think she looks better already. She will not start eating again until they're finished with the antibiotics, so she continues to receive fluids. Her little face is so swollen from all the fluids they've been pumping into her. She also received another blood transfusion.

We want to thank everyone for their continued prayers. If you'd like, please leave comments here for Caitlyn. I'm sure she'll love to read them some day.

A view of Caitlyn's current room: