Daycare Christmas Party

Last Friday the girls had their daycare Christmas party at Sam and Louie's Pizza.  It was just as much fun as it was last year if not more.  They have kids from year's past that come to it, so there are a TON of kids running around!  It takes a special person to take care of someone elses children and we have been truly blessed to have found Stephanie and Becci.  These two sisters do an AMAZING job with our girls.  I know that they are well taken care of and I know that they are having fun when they are at daycare.  They still only go two days a week, but I think Lily would like to go more often because she has a lot of little friends there. 

A lot of time and effort goes into this party each year.  Each child gets a present from Santa and every mommy and daddy gets a special gift too.  AND...Santa and Mrs. Claus make a special visit to deliver these gifts to the kids.  Lily was so excited to sit on Santa's lap...Avery...not so much!

 Cheeeeese!

 Avery with Stephanie and Becci

 Avery says, "I don't think I like this mom!"

 Lily so happy to see Santa!

 Lily and our neighbor, Anthony, showing off their Santa gifts

 Lily and Becci

 Lily and Stephanie

Stephanie and the girls

Avery's Follow-Up Lab Results

I took Avery in last Thursday to have her hemoglobin rechecked.  She was low at her one year check and she has been taking iron twice a day for the last month...never missed a dose.  This time they poked her finger and ran the lab right there in the office.  I wasn't expecting the nurse to come back in and tell me she was even lower.  Her hemoglobin was 10 at her one year check and after a month of taking iron she had dropped to 9.2.  I teared up and was feeling a little panicked.  Because the finger pokes are less accurate than a venipuncture (blood draw from a vein), Dr. Russell decided to have her drawn this route.  The first nurse that drew her missed...HORRIBLE.  Now, there were 3 people holding her down including myself.  I not only had a baby who was screaming and turning 3 shades of purple, but I also had Lily with me who didn't quite understand what was happening to her little sister.  So, the poor staff in the office had Avery crying, me crying and Lily nearing tears.  Dr. Russell talked with me for a while and she still felt that Avery was going to be just fine.  She called me later with the results...and she was right...Avery was going to be just fine.  A huge sigh of RELIEF!  The labs that were drawn were a CBC(complete blood count) and iron studies (Ferritin, Total Iron Binding Capacity, and some others).  On her CBC her WBC (white blood cell count) came back at 11.9 (slightly elevated, but she has a slight cold too so to be expected), hemoglobin 11.2 (NORMAL range for a one year old...HOORAY!), and platelet count slightly elevated at 429,000 (normal for a baby is 150-420).  So, nothing wrong with her bone marrow.  Her RBC's (red blood cells) were "small" appearing, which Dr. Russell told me could be indicative of Iron Deficiency Anemia.  Another MD called me on Saturday morning with the results of the iron studies, and they were NORMAL...the low end of normal, but NORMAL.  So...what does this mean for Avery?  It means she will continue to take iron twice a day.  She will have levels checked again at 15 months and 18 months and at 2 years.  If she continues to stay within the normal range we will stop the iron.  I can handle that.  This is good news.  Praise the Lord for good news.

Similarities...

 I had to post these winter pics of Lily and Avery.  I can definitely see that they are sisters in these pics.  I am the one always saying they really don't look alike at all...I may start to think differently.  Lily would have been 15 months in these and Avery is almost 14 months.  Yes...they are wearing the same coat, pants, and boots...got to love "hand me downs!"



First Snow!

The girls and Jason bundled up and enjoyed the first "real" snow of the season on Saturday!  I went out just long enough to snap a few pictures of them playing.  I love, love, love little kiddos all bundled up in their snow gear.  There just something so cute about being so snuggly bundled up and not being able to barely move!  He pulled them around in the sled for a little while and then they made a few snowballs.  Avery kept pulling her mittens off and not liking the cold snow on her little piggies, so she came in early with me.  Little Lily bit stayed out with her daddy for a long time and played her little heart out.  We ended up getting a few inches, not too impressive, but still fun this time of year!  I am a person who loves the winter and loves the snow.  As my luck would have it, I did have to say goodbye to my 2.5 week vacation that day and go back to work on Saturday night...BOO HOO!  I love sitting at home all snuggled up with my girls on a snow day!

Angel Raymond A. Sena

Dear Ray,

I know this letter will reach you all the way up in Heaven.  You may not have been my Grandpa by blood or even by marriage, but you have always been my Grandpa in my heart.  I don't even remember the first time I met you as it was over twenty years ago.  I just always remember you being a part of our family.  I do remember all of the wonderful things you have done for me and for my family, especially my Grandma.  I remember you being at my softball games as a young kid, in high school and even at some of my college games.  I remember you always opening the door for my Grandma and always pulling her chair out for her and always calling her Doll. I remember you and Grandma always going dancing and to the casino.  I remember you being present at the birth of both of my daughters and being at all of their special events.  I remember your artistic talents and I have even kept the cards you sent to me throughout the years with your beautiful handwriting.  I remember you always telling me that you were proud of me and that you loved me as if I was one of your own grandchildren.  You were always doing thoughtful things for me. I remember your kind heart and tender ways.  You are one of the kindest, most caring people I have ever known.  You were so good to my Grandma and to me and my girls.  They know about their Grandpa Ray and they know that you loved them very much.  I have wondered so many times over the past year why such a wonderful person had to become so ill and why did he have to leave this world so early.  You never said a mean word about anybody and you would have done anything for anyone.  You were a hardworking man and you were genuine in your ways.  You left this world too soon and you will be missed very much.  I talked to Grandma tonight and she told me not to cry because you were up in Heaven dancing and playing the piano.

Love,

Missy

You were gone 3 weeks after this last picture was taken.

January 13, 1934-November 29, 2011

Avery is Standing

Last night Avery started standing up all by herself...not holding on to anything.  She hasn't taken any steps yet, but I don't think it will be long!  She gets all excited and claps her hands as if saying she is so proud of her little self!  Then she falls back on her bum.  I am betting that by Christmas she will be up and walking.