Time to play catch-up again, I just can’t seem to stay on top of this eventhough I really want to! I can say we’ve been having tons of fun, enjoying the beautiful weather we’ve been having! So time to back up…
We had a busy but fun Memorial Day weekend! Friday the kids’ NICU photo shoot (a picture of the trio is going to be displayed outside UofM’s new NICU) was rescheduled to this Friday because of the weather so instead we went to Art Van to look at new bedroom furniture for the girls (at minimal their beds will be deemed manufacturer’s defect, possibly the whole set - *the whole set was deemed defective and we’ve since picked out their new set, just waiting for the beds to come in*) and to Babies R Us to look at carseats for baby #4.
Saturday we all went for Annabel’s hippotherapy session, which she thankfully is doing much better with again! Afterward we picked up the slide I’ve been wanting to get to work with Annabel on, can’t wait for her to start being able to do it on her own!
Sunday we went to our friends, the Krohn’s, for the day. Everyone was having a great time until the storms came thru, then it became a little rough with me needing to keep all 3 inside (they wanted to be out running and playing in the mud with the other kids in the rain but due to Johnathan’s hearing aids, orthotics, and needing to be with Annabel it wasn’t possible) while B.J. was outside cooking our kabobs. We made it thru though and all 3 ate very well. They had played so hard that Mady fell asleep on the way home before we had even turned off the road they live on! The other 2 were shortly after.
Monday my cousin Julie came to see us and we all went to Brighton’s Memorial Day Parade. We hadn’t ever been to one in town because we’re usually either in NY or camping over Memorial and 4th of July. It was nice to go but there wasn’t much to the Memorial Day one, thinking we will try again for the 4th. That afternoon the kids played outside with our neighbors, playing with their large waterslide (Johnathan was the only one fearless enough to do it), sprinkler, and their kiddie pool. That night we went out for some ice cream and probably the best finish to the weekend was that both Mady and John went #2 in the potty before bed!!! I was finally able to give John his new MAC truck and Mady her 1st purse!
June 2nd as the trios last day of preschool. It’s hard to believe they’ve already gone to school for a year! They have grown and developed so much this past year, I can’t wait to see what this next year will bring!
The trio also had their dentist appointment on the 2nd. Mady and Anna lost it again while John was a big boy and sat in the chair all by himself this time. Still no cavities so that was good news! This week we also started Mady and John in individual swim lessons at Leaps and Bounds again, alternating who goes each week. So far so good, they are now working on wearing goggles and diving under the water to pick up toys, it’s amazing how far they’ve come in a year! We finally had the NICU photo shoot on the 3rd and I think the photographer got some cute shots, I can’t wait to see them at the reveal of the new hospital! The 7th the trio saw their PM&R doctor, Dr. Hornyak. He just kept shaking his head in amazement at how well they’re all doing given their very rough start. He said that we definitely need to make a trip to the NICU soon to show them off! That afternoon my parents and I took the kids to Kensington Splash Park with their cousin Ben and they all had a ball! It is a great place for kids!
On the 9th Annabel and Johnathan had audiology appointments. Overall they did well but when testing for fluid in their ears both of them still had some from their ear infections a few weeks back. Since we were there I had Lori check Mady’s ears too (she was the only we didn’t treat a few weeks ago eventhough she had an infection too). Sure enough, she had major fluid in her ears so I got her in to the doctor yet that day and got her started on an antibiotic.
We celebrated Father’s Day on the 19th, going to church with my parents and then to Stillwater for lunch with them and my sisters family.
June 9th I also had an OB appointment that morning. It was decided then that I’d have my last ultrasound/cervix measurement on the 24th and as long as everything looked good we’d be able to start putting more time in between appointments. On the 24th B.J., John, and Mady came to my appointment with me so they could see the baby while my parents watched Annabel. Little Miss Honeybaby (as Mady’s been calling her) wasn’t real cooperative so we only got one 4D picture that day. Unfortunately the ultrasound tech zipped right thru the appointment too so the kids didn’t get to comprehend much (that’s what I get for making the last appointment before lunch). The measurements were great though with baby weighing 2 lbs 15ozs and my cervix at 3.9cm, with me having officially gained 25lbs. Because everything was so good it was deemed that I’d return in three weeks, which will be this Thursday. I am 31 weeks today and overall feeling well. Starting to have achy legs, especially noticeable at night and therefore not sleeping well. I’ve also been having lower back pain and a little bit of reflux but nothing too major. I do have Braxton Hicks from time to time but I’ve been good about getting my feet up, resting, and drinking lots of water on days that I’m not feeling so well. She continues to move like crazy which is such an odd feeling but I love it! I’m just so happy to be at this gestation and to not be on total bedrest! I’m so glad that overall the pregnancy hasn’t affected all that I want/need to do with the trio! Here are some pregnancy pictures of the past few weeks. I get asked quite often if it’s multiples or if I’m due really soon!
That Saturday we took the kids to Howell Balloonfest. They rode the Dumbo ride and the train. We weren’t sure how Annable would do on the Dumbo ride being that it lifted off the ground but she loved it! Definitely a good sign for our trip to Disney next year!! What we need to work on now is getting off the rides, she wants to keep riding and therefore threw some pretty good fits. : ( The weather was iffy that night and we were all getting tired so we didn’t stay for the balloon launch but we had a good time anyway!
On June 26th I took Mady and John to the Holden NICU reunion. Annabel was having symptoms of a migraine that day so B.J. stayed home with her, such a bummer too because I would have loved for the doctors and nurses to see all of them now, defying the odds!! Mady and John had a great time though, really got into the magician and I was able to catch up with people so that was nice!
The next day the trio had their dance recital at Leaps and Bounds. Thankfully Annabel was fine by then and she completely knocked our socks off at the recital, doing so many of the moves appropriately and/or tolerating her assistant Becca helping her. All 3 did so well, we were very proud and there were quite a few moments when tears sprang up, it was quite the moment being able to watch all 3 of them doing something like that together!
July 3rd we went to our friends house for a 4th of July party. The kids loved swimming in the pool and then going on a boat ride!
The 4th of July we went to the Brighton Parade and the kids “ran” the Hungry Duck run before, Johnathan and Mady with Auntie Brenda and our neighbor and Annabel with Daddy and Grandma. Anna was last to finish but she did it! Mady and John really liked this parade, seeing all the people/cars/etc. going by, the planes flying overhead, and learning to collect their candy! Later in the day we had my sisters family over for a bbq and later the neighbor girls (who also came to the parade with us) came over to swim and play. Mady and John really like them and play with them often.
The next day my parents and us went to Frankenmuth. The kids had never been to Bronners so we stopped there first and they were amazed at everything there. Of all the Santas to pick Johnathan picked the one with the John Deere tractor as his favorite. They had large Precious Moment wedding statues there so I took a picture of the trio with them since that was B.J. and I’s wedding them. There was also a special phone that Santa called the kids on – it was cute listening to their “conversation”, telling him what they wanted for Christmas (Johnathan included for him to bring something for baby sissy) and if they’d been good. After Bronners we went into town and had a chicken dinner and shopped a bit. Annabel ended up cashing out in the stroller which she hasn’t done in forever.
Therapies are going well for the kids. Mady still has PT and OT once per week, although PT will be ending soon. Johnathan is on a wait list to get back into speech. Annabel has PT, OT, and speech once a week but we will be taking a break from PT for a bit come mid-August and she is currently waiting on insurance to resume OT. She is having an AAC evaluation on the 18th to try to find a communication device that will help her be able to express herself better while her speech is still developing, hopefully eliminating some of her frustrations. She received her new orthotics and therefore new shoes this week and seems to be adjusting well to them. She has overall been having some great therapy sessions and we are very proud of her! We have been working hard on her behavior issues at home, being very consistent with our expectations of her and letting her know when she does things that aren’t appropriate. She is understanding us and has been acting better towards the end of this week. She really is very smart, she just needs to be able to express herself. It has been hard staying on top of it with being pregnant and having to manhandle her at times/get her to pick things up when she’s throwing a tantrum/etc. but I know that it needs to be done and will only help all of us in the end.
Here’s a few random pictures, including Annabel’s new orthotics and shoes, playing outside, and Mady & John’s prizes for consistently going #2 on the potty (which they earned Memorial Day evening).
B.J. and I both had this week off and it has been so nice! We’ve done lots of fun things, been outside a lot enjoying the weather, but have also got some work done around the house. There’s quite a bit more we’d like to get done before the baby comes so hopefully we’ll be able to! I can’t believe the trio are going to be 4 in a week, where does the time go!?!
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