Catching up on the last month...

I went back to work on March 17th and I'm not at all thrilled about it. Oh well... I guess it's not that terrible and I see great things in my future (that don't include RRD)! You gotta do what you gotta do - right?

Averie actually really enjoys being back at KinderCare. Carson seems to like it too. He has some really good teachers in his room who I can tell care for him because they are loving people, not just because it's their job. This puts my mind at ease and makes it easier for me to work.

As the kids grow, it's so much fun to see their very distinct personalities. Averie and Cameron are pretty similar, I even catch Averie giving a "Cameron" look now and then.

-Cameron and Averie are both "doers". As a toddler, Cameron liked to dis-assemble and re-assemble the vacuum. Averie likes to sort anything small into any type of container (i.e. beads into muffin tins or rocks into small bowls).

-Averie was alert even as an infant... Carson is sleepy and laid back.

-Averie liked to be swaddled... Carson likes his hands free.

-Cameron and Averie always wanted to sleep in our bed (Averie still tries!)... Carson prefers to sleep in his crib.

-Carson is as content as can be in the arms of pretty much anybody... Averie's pretty picky about who she gets close to and Cameron took a while to warm up to people.

-Carson is a little chub... Averie was a pretty average baby... Cameron was pretty thin.

-Averie absolutely loves to play dress-up in anything girly or princess. Cameron loved to dress-up at this age, but he was in to super heros and Peter Pan (I can think of a really cute picture of Cameron in a Peter Pan costume, I'll dig it out and post it).

I could go on and on. I just enjoy their sweet little spirits!

Believe it or not, Carson enjoys tummy time. He's pretty strong and can hold himself up very well (in this picture he had a little assistance).

Averie had a lot of fun coloring Easter Eggs this year. This is also the first year that she really seemed to understand the meaning of Easter. It's still engrained in her head because she speaks alot about Jesus' death and resurrection.

Averie and Carson on Easter morning. The Easter bunny must have known about Averie's obsession with my "cumbrella" because she got her own pink "cumbrella" maybe now she won't break anymore of mine!

This is about the time that Averie told us that "I'm so happy in my heart!".

Poor baby!

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later... I was just hoping for later... Carson got sick. Poor little guy started with a big, adult-like cough. He had a few more coughing spells throughout the weekend and by day three seemed really uncomfortable. Since it was Sunday and I didn't think it warranted an Emergency room visit we treated him with Tylenol and some time in the steamed up bathroom. Monday morning he seemed better but I called the pediatrician's office anyway. Carson happened to have his two-month well baby visit the next day and he did seem to be better so they suggested we have him checked when we came in for the regular visit. By one in the morning he had gone downhill and was really uncomfortable. He finally fell asleep around two and slept the rest of the night. At his Dr. visit the nurse took one look at him and told us she didn't think he would be getting any vaccinations. They checked his oxygen levels and gave him a breathing treatment. The Dr. evaluated him then admitted him to the hospital. At the hospital he was put on oxygen and an IV. His RSV test came back positive... Poor baby had RSV and pneumonia! I felt like such a terrible mom for waiting as long as I did! He ended up staying for four days. The pediatric unit was full and we had a shared room with another little baby who had RSV. Just like Carson she was two-months old and was also born at 35 weeks. The room was cramped, especially in the evenings when we squeezed two cots into the room on top of the two hospital cribs. By day two he was better and day three really well. The Dr. reduced his oxygen and took him off the IV. If all went well that night he would go home the next day. He did well that night and the next day was given the OK to go home.

Poor Carson went into the hospital sick and pathetic and he came out a brand new guy! Friday evening during some quality time with Dad he was in a good mood and smiled a lot. Since then he's been smiley and coos a lot. He's still a bit wheezy at times and gets breathing treatments, but he's so much better.


We are so blessed to have family and friends who kept Carson in their prayers, our Home Teachers who made a trip to the hospital on a very cold night to give him a blessing and the McBride's for keeping Averie through it all.

Disney on Ice

A few weeks ago I bought tickets to Disney on Ice, Princess Wishes. I knew Averie would love it and thought it would be a good family activity. The day of the show was the day Carson got out of the hospital. I was exhausted and frazzled from the week's hospital adventures and not really in the mood for an ice show. Since Carson was sick Justin stayed home with him and we invited Molly to go with us. (Truthfully I think Justin was relieved... Disney Princess' aren't really his cup of tea! I still give him credit since he agreed to go in the first place.)



In true Vivian form I was late and had to rush through the parking lot and to our seats, with two princesses in tow, Molly as Ariel and Averie as Aurora. The usher at the door directed us to the wrong section and we walked quite a distance before realizing the mistake and trekking (yes, it felt like a trek) back to our section... Not a good start. Meanwhile, the show started and we were still rushing to our seats. To top it off our seats were in the middle of a row and we had to disrupt a family to get to them. My mood was terrible and I just prayed time would pass quickly... I was already anticipating the 30 minute drive home and finally crashing into my own bed.

...Once we got settled my mood changed. Averie and Molly's faces were priceless - they were captivated. The show was really cool! It was amazing what talent the skaters had, especially those who had to navigate on iceskates in bulky costumes. I can only imagine the hours spent training. I could even see Jasmine's six-pack abs from our seats - wow! Suddenly, I didn't feel so tired, I enjoyed the show almost as much as Averie and Molly. During intermission we stepped out for a bathroom break. Lots of girls were dressed up as princesses, but I didn't see any Ariels and I only saw one other Aurora. Needless to say Averie and Molly thought they were pretty cool. We ended up having a great time even though Averie had a melt down at the end (she was tired from the rough week too), but nothing a couple Disney theme songs couldn't calm.

I'm really glad we went and will even consider another Disney on Ice show next time they come to town.

Visit to PA!

Bugga, Bama and Rosie visited us this past week. We had such a nice time and took lots of pictures. We met them at the airport and as soon as Averie saw them she went running to Rosie... after that Averie and Rosie stuck together like glue. It was bitter-cold most of the trip and we even got a small snow storm.

After we met them at the airport we stopped at Baltimore Inner Harbor and had dinner.

Getting bundled up to go outside...

Sunday afternoon we went for a walk to the Chickies rock overlook where we had a nice view of the Susquehanna river.



We went to Hershey's Chocolate World where Rosie and Averie got to "work" packaging Hershey Kisses. We also watched the "Really Big 3D Show" and went on the chocolate tour.

Tuesday we visited an antique shop in Adamstown (supposedly the antique captial of the country) then drove through Amish country.

We stopped at a little road-side stand and bought two loaves of homemade bread. Payment was honor system and you just put the money in a small container. It was very windy and as Bama was walking back to the van Rosie started screaming that the money was blowing away. Unfortunately it blew across the street.

These pictures were taken from the inside of a buggy. We went on a buggy tour of the countryside. It was quite informative and I learned many things about the Amish and Mennonites that I did not know. It was something I probably never would have done had we not had visitors, but I'm glad we did.

We had a small snow storm and Rosie and Averie went out to play in the snow. This same evening there was a lunar eclipse. We all bundled up and went outside to watch. It was bitter-cold and pretty soon Justin and Bama went in where they discovered we could watch through the windows of our living room. So, we came inside and enjoyed the eclipse from the warmth of the house!


Carson is growing so quickly. He's smiled a couple of times here and there, but not consistently and with long spans (days) between each smile. However, during this visit he really developed his smiling muscles and smiled more often than ever before. He's also developing his voice and cooing much more. He likes to suck on his hands and makes little smacking noises. And, he slept through the night for the first time! Since then it's been sporadic, but he's slept through the night a few times.

Saying goodbye... Needless to say, it was a tearful goodbye. We enjoyed our visit so much. Sadie and Carson will probably have Grandma withdrawls. Averie gave Rosie a stuffed purple monkey and kept a pink one for herself so they will have reminders of each other.

Averie would not come outside to say goodbye. When Justin, Carson and I came back in from waving goodbye (just minutes later) she was sound asleep on the couch. Later when she woke up her first words were "Why does Rosie have to go on a plane?" They had such a good time and we can't wait until we're all together again!

Random Pictures

Today Carson is eight weeks old. He likes to be held and gets bored when in the same position too long. This makes it difficult to get much done. He loves his big sister and enjoys it when she entertains him. The other day I was getting ready and propped him on the bed, he was fussing and pretty soon began to cry. The crying didn't last very long and I just assumed he'd fallen asleep or found something interesting to look at. When I peeked in Averie was holding him and he was quite content... she's a very helpful big sister!






In jammies that Grandma Johnson made...

Snow Day!

Ready to go outside!



Snow Angel

Doctor visit

Today we had a follow up Dr. appointment for Carson. The Dr. was thrilled at how well he is doing. He has gained weight and is now 7lbs 10oz and 20 1/4" (that averages to a weight gain of two ounces a day since his last visit). His face is beginning to fill out and he's starting to lose the old man look. We went in expecting to just have Carson checked but ended up getting a flu shot for Averie. Poor Averie was not expecting a shot and it pretty much ruined her morning. She was quite dramatic about it and needed to be cuddled, so we went home and the three of us snuggled on the couch while Averie and Carson took a nap.

Today is Cameron's birthday. We went to the post office to mail his B-Day package (late as usual) and Averie miss-understood and thought we were going to visit Cameron. She was so disappointed when we got to the post office and Cameron wasn't there. Needless to say she had a rough day, but finished off on a good note by watching Shark Boy and Lava Girl (a Disney Chanel movie). It was the highlight of her day!

Ready for bed...

While I was making dinner Averie was playing with Carson's swing. I thought she was just playing with the mobile (which she usually does), but when I walked in this is what I found. She was quite pleased with herself...