Christmas Wish

Well, it looks like I am not going to get my Christmas wish.  All I wanted for Christmas was for the all the girls health issues to be over.  Except for some speech delays, Leeza has overcome all of her medical issues and is healthy with good results on all her tests. She is now at normal height and weight(although I would like her to gain a few pounds). Sasha has moved up the growth chart and is just a little short and at normal weight, but Sasha has one remaining health issue.  We had another blood test last week to see if it was resolved or not.  I was sure it was going to be in the acceptable range now, but it is still slightly high.  It is so close to acceptable that her Doctor isn't worried, but I am Mommy so I get to worry.  Now I have to wait another 6 months before we test again.  They have come so far and overcome so many issues, I just really wanted this last one to be gone. 

Vacation

We went to Arizona the first weekend in December for a visit.  The trip started off with a 3 hr drive to St Louis to get on the plane.  It shouldn't have taken that long, but we stopped to eat and had to go to the potty 3 times.  Then as soon as we were back on the road, Sasha declared she had to go potty and we had to stop at the next rest area.  Of course, once we got to the potty, she mysteriously no longer had to go.  This should have been a warning because Leeza will do that, but Sasha usually has to go when she says she does.  We pull into the airport parking lot a little late, but not too late and just as I say "Yeah! We made it!", Sasha pukes all over her clothes and car seat!   So we change her clothes standing in the middle of the parking lot in the freezing weather, throw the puke covered clothes in the trunk and hope the car is not going to smell too bad when we get back in 5 days!  We hurry through the airport and end up walking right onto the plane and it takes off about 15 mintues later.  The rest of the trip there was uneventful.

 While there, Grandma and Grandpa took us to the zoo.

 We watched a wild animal show while the girls had a gummie bear snack break.

 Later on, we took a train ride.  The girls had a good time and had fun running around the zoo.

 Niki and Debbie came with us and had fun on the train ride too.

 I'm glad the fence was there as the girls would have walked right up to the lion if they could have.

 It was a long day at the zoo and something about the car seats they had out there made them fall asleep every time they got into them.  Sasha found a good use for her new hat.

 Leeza just fell asleep.

 We had Christmas while we were there and the girls got to wear their Christmas dresses.  Sasha loved to pick the oranges and lemons off the trees in the yard.

 Aren't we cute!

 The girls helped to set the table and reset it and rearrange it.....

 They had a good time playing on the chairs in the living room after the tables were moved around for dinner.  Sasha fell asleep shortly after this picture and missed dinner.  Too much excitment and no naps proved to be too much.

 We also made our traditional gingerbread house with Debbie and Niki.  Well, since we have done it 2 years in a row, I am calling it our tradition!  We had so much candy on the roof that the whole roof kept sliding off.

Cousin Niki gave the girls red sparkly shoes for Christmas.  You gotta have red sparkly shoes if you are a little girl!  They go great with the dresses.

 Leeza  loves to get presents.  She is really good at opening them now.

 Sasha loves books and she got a pile of them for Christmas.

 The girls were really good travellers on the plane.  They had their own backpack stuffed with a blanket, stuffed animal, necklace, water bottle and coloring book.  Everything a girl needs for a 3 hour flight.

Oh, you can't forget the suckers and gummy bears- the other essentials for a good flight!!

CHristmas tree

We put the tree up and it only took 2 days.  Having help really slows down the process, but last year I had to put up a fence so they wouldn't pull it down on top of themselves.  This year Leeza put on about half the ornaments. 

 She did really good on the bottom half of the tree.  She ever put them on the back of the tree.  OK, that may have been so she could go back there and play with the tree, but she did spread them out.

 Sasha put a few on at the beginning and a few at the end, but she just wanted to hang out.

 Leeza had a system and I was given the ornaments she wanted me to have.  She was in charge of the ornament box. 

They picked their outfits out this morning and dressed before I even got to the room so no holiday clothes today.  Leeza did have pants on at one point, but that didn't last long.  Sasha is looking off at the TV since Dora was on at the time.

Sasha spent most of the day looking like this.  The pants are Leeza's and are 3 inches too long.  She was sweating in the stocking cap and mittens.  If you look close, both shoes are for the left foot-one is hers and one is Leeza's.  but she loved how she looked!

Thanksgiving

I had big plans for this weekend.  A big dinner on Thursday, train ride Friday, decorate tree Saturday...  In the end, so far all we have done is partially decorate the tree.  Both girls were sick.  Leeza has a bad chest cold and can't sleep or breathe when she lies down.  Saturday, Leeza had a bloody nose and it was a gusher.  When I pinched her nose, it kept coming and she ended up her coughing it out her mouth. It went everywhere. Sasha wasn't as bad She had a cold and then she got a stomach upset Friday.  So noone wanted any turkey.  We skipped the train as there was no bathroom on it and it was an hour ride.  The tree has lights, but no decorations yet and everyone is still sick.  I hope Christmas is better.

6am Daily Fashion Show



Mornings now bring a surprise everyday.  What will the girls get into this morning??  Some mornings they drag all of their blankets and stuffed animals into the closet.  I can hear Sasha on the monitor telling Leea to get into the closet so the monster doesn't get her.  I always thought the monsters lived in the closet.

 The good thing is that they are now old enough to clean up their own mess.  Although some mornings it takes a really long time.

 And then there is the daily fashion show.  They get into the bottom drawer of the dresser which is all their PJs.  This morning they decided to put on their monkey blanket sleepers.  I am assuming Leeza helped Sasha with hers and then tried to do hers by herself.  If you can't tell, it is twisted aroound her body about 3 times. 

  I like the view from the back.  Leeza could barely move it was so tight.  She went to bed with Dora PJs and pullups on and ended up with underwear, a sponge Bob shirt and a monkey blanket sleeper on.  She did put her pullup away in the underwear drawer so at least she picks up her clothes!

 There is my girl Leeza swimming away after her 4th lesson.  Of course, she has a floatie on to help her as the girl has 0% body fat and is all bones and muscles so she doesn't float well.

 She can go the whole length of the pool doing a modified front crawl stroke and doggie paddle combo. 

 Floating is a lot harder as you can tell her legs do not float at all.  She has grown an inch in the last 2 months and has not gained any weight.  She is getting tall and skinny.

 Sasha has a good time at the lessons too.  Of course, she only gets in at the end, when they get to play around with the toys in the pool.  She does love water, but she wants nothing to do with the instructors.

My little swimmers!  Once the lessons are done, we will probably take a break and then maybe sign Leeza up for the next class level or try gymnastics for a change.

Toddler beds

I knew the transition from cribs to toddler beds would be rough.  They are feeling the freedom of the little beds and taking full advantage of it.  I now am staying in their room for about 15 minutes after our song time to make sure they go to sleep and not stay up playing.  Once Leeza falls asleep I can leave- Sasha will still be awake, but her playmate is out so she is calm and stays in bed.  They get up in the morning and go to the potty before I get up now which will eventauly be nice, but now they run up and down the hall(pants around the ankles of course) giggling and calling for mama to wipe the little behinds.  Normally I get up, let the dog out, get a few things ready in the kitchen, feed the dog and then go get the girls.  Now they are standing there at the gate to the living room waiting for me to come out of my room and want immediate attention.  I miss that 5 minutes of organization time in the morning.
Nap time Saturday was good, but they were so tired from the week and swimming that they went to sleep without a fight.  Sunday they never did sleep!  I finally just let them play in their room as I had things I needed to do without my little shadows.  I found them with all their blankets and all their stuffed animals in the closet.  They had made a little bed in there and  were having a good time.   At bedtime, I put them in bed 20 minutes early and they were out within 5 minutes.  Leeza had purple rings under her eyes - she was sooo tired.  Even Sasha needed her nap today and was yawning at 6:30, but at least bedtime was easy!

Nap TIme

Bedtime last night went surprising well.  Nobody up roaming and no issues.  Nap time with the new beds has been rough.  They spent an hour switching beds back and forth.  They ended up in the same bed and then in no bed on the floor.  They discovered they could open the door and go to the bathroom- they did this 3 times.  They took off all their clothes on one of the potty trips.  Of course, they have to do everything together.  Finally, I had to go in and sit in the room until they fell asleep.  So the 2 naked girls are at least in the right beds and a sleep-for a while.
I took the cribs apart today.  Leeza has asked for her crib back.  I'll have to see if she really wants it back.  She doesn't deal with change well and this is a big change for her.  I will give her a few days to get used to it, but I can convert her crib into a toddler bed so if she want it back, I can make it work.