Miss Sabine

We saw the plastics doc this past week to check out Miss Sabine's birthmark.  I was told that her birthmark is in the mole family and will grow in size as our pretty girl ages and may potentially turn cancerous years down the road.  The doc advised seeing little Miss Sabine again in 4 months time to evaluate any changes in the birthmarks size, shape and color and to see how physically strong she has become.  Why does it matter how strong she may be?  Well, the doc wants to put her under general anesthesia so that she wont move while they slice the birthmark down the middle, remove the center and sew up the incision.  3 - 4 months later they will repeat the process.  I asked why they couldn't use a laser instead of actually cutting her.  The doc explained that a laser only changes the pigment of the birthmark and Sabine's needs to removed.  I'm not sure how I feel about her going under general anesthesia.  I think we'll be getting a second opinion. 

This close-up of Sabine is to remind me of the scant, long hairs on top of her head.  She has a nice crop of new hair coming in.  Wonder what color hair she'll have a year from now or even two, four or eighteen years from now?

Marlo looks like she's sporting a combover most of the time, poor thing.  She had a pretty rough day today and ahhhhhh, yesterday too.  Any takers?  She's such a little pill till the point where you're about ready to heave-ho her out the window and then... she'll smile at you.  We're so seriously gonna have to watch out for this one.  She is gonna be t-r-o-u-b-l-e, trouble like Hugo has never thought of before.  Shhhh.  I think I can hear my Mom laughing, or is it cackling???!  She is so desperate for one of her offspring to suffer like she did long ago by the antics of her son Joshua.  He was t-r-o-u-b-l-e, trouble - and still is!  Ha, ha, ha!  Love you Josh!

See that red dot on the left side of Marlo's nose?  Evie the cat poked her while she dozed next to Papa in our bed as I nursed Sabine in the nursery this morning.  Lovely.  Evie has been fired from her nursemaid duties.  Marlo screamed bloody murder a second time today when she also rolled off Papa's tummy onto the floor bonking her head this afternoon.  It was not her day.

Chores

I attempted to fold the laundry 

all - day - long 

today.  

It was finally finished at 10 pm.

Hugo & The Indians

Hugo's box of much longed for Indians arrived today.  He could not wait to see what Popeye had picked out for him one minute longer so we ran up to the house lickity split! 

As Hugo played with his new figurines at the kitchen counter, I did bedtime with the girls.  Once I was back downstairs, Hugo helped me to whip up some blue, and I do mean blue, cupcakes for his preschool class.  Birthday celebrations continue...

Hugo's Birthday Dinner

I whipped up an apple spice cake with goat cheese frosting for Hugo's Birthday weekend wrap-up.  Hugo wasn't so keen on how the frosting tasted plus, he reminded me how he had wanted blue frosting.  Everything needs to be blue these days.  I promised that we'd have normal tasting, blue frosting on his cupcakes for preschool on Tuesday.  He ate a little of his cake.  A little.  He wanted to move on to present time.  By the way, just before dinner, Hugo asked if we'd be wearing party hats.  I ran for the scrapbooking paper!

Hugo gave his first talk in Primary today.  His subject, nothing less than the restoration.  Papa hooked him up.  I had hoped to help out by whispering the words into Hugo's ear, but Sabine wouldn't extend her nursing schedule any longer, Papa stepped in for the talk whispering rescue.  After church I heard from another mom that he spoke well and loudly into the microphone. 

We gave Hugo the Batman Cave plastic tower thingy and a t-ball shooter.  Vava gave Hugo a load of books we found together at Savers and Hugo has been watching the mailbox for his Indians from Popeye.  The Indians, cowboys and soldiers were all mentioned in the boy's prayer tonight!

Guess Who's 4!

And look how tall he's gotten!

Spring Dreams

It has been completely beautiful outside the past few days.  What is it about both Spring and Fall weather that make you want to spend each waking moment out of doors?  Is it the temperatures rising and then eventually falling?  Could it be the wind itself, which ushers in the seasonal change?  I love opening the windows to hear and feel the wind flooding through the house, reviving us from our winter slumber.

I want to eat, sleep, run and play out in the warmth of the sunshine.  Hugo asks daily if we can go to the pool.  Rodrigo begs to be let outside every 10 minutes or so, eager to resume his game of chase with the squirrels.  Evie has been dreaming of chipmunk delight all winter long, we hope!

What I would really, really like to do, is work in my flower garden, even for only a few minutes a day.  I've got to make it happen.  Walking past while carrying the girls out to run errands, I long to stop, pull on some gloves to dig and weed and move and trim my way through the garden.  Cesar complimented the weed patch that it is, for it's organic beauty of the plants sowing themselves where they pleased last year.  Lots of work is in store for me.  When I close my eyes a new project appears, I have big dreams for the beginnings of a lovely and productive vegetable patch in the yard.  Where to put it?  Will I be able to convince my husband?  My weekend list of errands includes a stop for grass seed and a peek at the offerings of young herb plants.  One year we'll fill the yard with fruit and nut trees, move the raspberries, dig a salt water pool, add a pond, fence the yard, build a garage, a shop for Cesar, a fort for the kids, asphalt the drive and one day I'll finally get my chicken coop.  Maybe by that time, Cesar will have softened so as to be convinced into a pet goat, or two.  Maybe.

Doctors

I took the girls for a developmental screening last week. It was a horrible, no good, driving rain type day. Hugo was dropped off at a friends house to play while Ruth Ann met me at the screening site to help with the girls. The door to the school was opened for me as I ran with the girls all tucked in and heavy in their seats. The women had all assumed I'd be a no show that day. I smiled and assured them that this appointment was very important to me. The paperwork was handled quickly and the girls were gushed over. Everyone loves the girls and their quick smiles. All and all, it was a good visit. Because our girls are so young the head of the screening department was called in to asses them. I liked her a lot. She picked up on my concerns quickly and asked questions which made me think. The screening results led to a recommendation of a full evaluation for both girls. I still am not sure what the difference between a screening and an evaluation is, the answer I had been given was funding. As I left the warmth of the school building for the blustery day outside I felt peaceful. I felt settled and happy that I had listened to my gut and brought our girls in. I think that Marlo and Sabine are and will be fine, we just need a little help.

A week has gone by and already Sabine has made a great deal of improvement with her floppy neck. I've been trying out a few physical therapy tips that were advised. We've been assigned a case manager who is coming to the house this Thursday afternoon. She has papers for me to sign and wants to see the girls in their natural environment. I wonder what Hugo will think of all this?

Yesterday the girls had a well baby appointment with the family doc. Dr Amy said they looked great. Marlo is 12 lb 1 oz and Sabine is 11 lb 1 oz, both are about 25 inches long. I asked her about Marlo's rough skin and the cradle cap upon her head, she recommended a vinegar bath to reset the ph of her skin. Dr Amy agreed with my decision to get the ball rolling with Early Intervention. Near the end of this month we have an appointment set up with a developmental pediatric doc, its standard for preemies who spent time in the NICU. Also this month we'll be visiting plastics to follow up with the birth mark upon Sabine's leg.

So, so many doctor visits happening. Cesar wants me to schedule a check-up for him on the next available Friday morning. I was supposed to have done it today, but I forgot. I hope by typing this here it will trigger my brain to remember for tomorrow. Sorry Hunny!

Life is good. The kids (plural! yeah!!) are great. Evie the Cat is awesome. Rodrigo is ancient. Cesar is fabulous. And I, well... I am sleepy. Good Night!

Easter Sunday

Late Saturday night I made this apple pie for Cesar while he snoozed on the sofa. In the morning Hugo jumped all over us in our big bed. Finally, he left us in peace for the downstairs. Cesar took Marlo into the nursery to change her pants. I nursed Sabine in our bed. Then, my ears perked up as I heard a noise from down below. Oh no. Off the breast I removed Sabine and booked it down the stairs in my nightie. Our resident long nosed, sweet toothed mouse, named Hugo, had discovered the pie. Hugo is in love with cinnamon sugar. The little turkey ran and hid behind the couch as he heard me race down the steps.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sooooo sorry Momma!"

Yeah, uh huh, sure you are.

In between sessions of Conference we heard the Easter Bunny scratching at the front door and went out to explore...