Lia has been going full-throttle with Calle and Christian in the day while I go to work. Often, when I get home from work she is really ready for some time out of the house! Talk about cabin fever! I’m happy to oblige and I enjoy the time with the kids. We save up most of the shopping, errands, etc. for Lia to do in the evenings, which gives her a little time to herself and gives me the fringe benefit of not having to do it!

We bought some little backpack / frontpack carriers for the kids (see the photo album). These carriers are so great! I can’t believe we’ve waited this long to get them. The kids can face forward or backward in them, and they can be worn on the adult on the front or back. While we’re enjoying using them around the house, when we finally get through with the oxygen tubes we’ll actually be able to put them to a little better use.

Both Lia and I have had the somewhat unexpected experience of the illness that has been working its way through our little ones. I guess we’d much rather get a cold from them than the other way around.

We continue to feel blessed as the kids get stronger each day. If we can just make it through the last little bit of winter / spring and beyond the RSV / flu season we’ll feel tremendous relief!

We thought for a while that Calle was going to escape the sickness her brother had. Our pediatrician told us that we should pretty much resign ourselves to the fact that whatever contagious bug either of them get, the other will eventually get it too. He was right – Calle started with the cough and the congestion about when Christian was on the upswing. She followed pretty much the same course as Christian, so we had some idea what to expect. She is finally back on the upswing herself, and her oxygen needs are getting back to normal levels (it is typical for oxygen needs to increase when they are sick, especially if congestion is involved).

Calle is such a mellow, easy-going little gal. She is often content to just relax in her bouncy chair and watch the world around her. She’s been working really hard with her physical / occupational therapists to increase her range of motion, dexterity, and development. She had an appointment this last week with Ophthalmology at PCMC. This was a follow-up to the R.O.P. laser surgery she had several months ago. The doctor was very pleased with her vision. We just know it is another in a very long line of blessings.

Christian finally made it through his illness and has (mostly) returned to being his happy, high-energy self. He went to see the surgeon last week for a follow-up visit for the hernia surgery. The surgeon said everything looked A-OK and sent us on our way. He is a fast little healer! The incisions were pretty much healed within a week and now are nothing more than little scars.

He’s been working out with his physical and occupational therapists to improve his range of motion and eating/swallowing. His oxygen needs have been reducing – he’s down to 1/16 liter per minute, and we’re getting ready to move him to 1/32 liter. 1/32 is the lowest setting, and after that he’s on room air! We can’t wait. When he is done with the oxygen tank, not only to we get to lose the oxygen tube, but the wire for the oxygen monitor. Between Calle and Christian we’ve got quite a rat’s nest of tubes and wires.

He’s growing like mad. As we’re updating the website we noticed that when we posted last (earlier in the month) he was 10 lb 14 oz. As of our doctor visit last week he had gained an entire pound, up to 11 lb 14 ox. That’s not too bad considering he’s been sick for a share of the month!

We are constantly striving to catch up on much-needed sleep, this week, especially. Lia's overnight-stay at Primary Children's with Christian was a typical night in the hospital, where quality sleep is concerned.

It seems like we're endlessly washing their clothes, bibs and blankets, but what a blessing, to have to wash them.

Calle has been making great strides in development this past week. Not only does she spontaneously smile from time to time, she will usually smile on demand. Her infectious little grin most certainly qualifies as a “cheesy”. She has been working hard with the therapists to increase her bottle-feeding skills and has been doing well. Her head-control is outstanding and she seems to enjoy her “tummy-time” (PT’s orders!).

Christian had his hernia surgery on Tuesday, March 2nd. We had to check in at the hospital at 6:45 am. Between the early check-in, the stress of an upcoming surgery, and a very hungry little patient, we didn’t get much sleep Monday night. After check-in, we weighed him, changed him into some scrubs, and handed him off to the anesthesiologist. It is really an emotional moment to hand an innocent, happy baby off to a stranger and then walk away. The surgery took about 50 minutes and was very successful. Lia was able to go in to see him right away in recovery. Because Christian is on additional oxygen and was so premature, the doctor wanted him to stay overnight (mom was happy to stay with him).

They came home Wednesday morning and we spent the next several days trying to manage his discomfort with Infant Tylenol. He seemed quite a bit better by Friday, but on Saturday he started to develop a serious cough…

By Sunday night his little cough had evolved into a much wetter-sounding one. I’m sure after just having double hernia surgery it didn’t feel good to cough. By Monday evening, it was clear he needed to be seen by a doctor. It turns out that he has some sort of respiratory virus (mom is certain he got this at the hospital). At the doctors office they gave him an Albuterol breathing treatment from a nebulizer and that seemed to do the trick. We have now incorporated his treatments (every 4-6 hours) into his already busy daily schedule. We just hope he can ditch the virus quickly and prayerfully spare Calle in the process!

We have seen some little smiles, but we’re expecting his big boy, super happy smiles to return any day.

Happy Anniversary to us! Count them...6 great years.

Do we look happy? We just had our favorite Chinese food, but could we have the translation for Char Shu Sub Gum?

We are anxiously awaiting spring...the snow has worn out its welcome.

Our sweetheart girl is breaking her own bottle feeding record every week! Go Calle! Go Calle! Go Calle!

You've got to see her smile, it is so infectious! As soon as we get it on camera, we will publish it onto the site.

Christian is more fun than ever. He loves to smile for you and will even have his own little conversation.

Hopefully, by the end of the week, he'll be smiling again...he's having is hernias taken care of on Tuesday.

It's full steam ahead for our sweet Calle! We new she was a very determined little girl from the beginning, and she hasn't stopped reminding us. She is doing better than ever with her bottle feeding, late last week we had a huge breakthrough in volume. Calle is still having a tough time with reflux...is this how changing outfits several times a day starts?

Mom's immediate goals for Calle is help her track (following with her eyes) her toys better and smile more, along with continually helping her eating improve.

She is such a sweetheart and loves to cuddle- we're so grateful to be able to do this anytime we want.