Kara, Kara, bo beara...

Let's talk about sweet Kara.  I've been compiling a list for the past 2 weeks (as long as "blogging" has been on the to do list, yikes!)  What would we do without our sweet Pearsa, Kara-boo, and Bearsa?  She is so much fun, and definitely keeps us on our toes.

*Health note.  She has received ZERO calories through her tube for 3 weeks now.  And she's gaining weight, hooray!  She needs to keep this up for another 2 months, and then we will take her "port" out.  Her 15 month appointment yesterday was great.  Her pediatrician noted that her breathing rate looked normal (instead of elevated due to lung issues).  She's also been going to church nursery now that we're past RSV season.  It's quite surreal to be able to fully pay attention to the sermon (and quite wonderful!)

*She can WINK.  On command (well, when she wants to =), as well as an adult.  Picture below... tough to catch on film, but we did pretty well.  We have several videos, too.

*She has a bumblebee pillow pet (thanks, Logans!) that she adores.  She will lay on it and "coze" it.  When we ask if she wants "bumble?" she's started saying "bum-buh-bee."  Um, 3 syllables?  And we thought Katie could talk early =)

*A few weeks ago was her first experience with footie pajamas, due to her needing the tube overnight.  She was quite confused and kept trying to pull the "socks" off.  I explained "Pajama!" and showed her Katie's.  She responded "jama" and seemed happy with that explanation.  It did take her a few days to figure out how to walk safely on our wood floor with those footies, but she's got it down now =)

*Occasionally she will play with Katie's curler backpack (you know the foam curlers? Found some in a backpack at a garage sale).  She'll put the backpack on her arm, and then walk around, patting it, saying "Bah-Pah"

*One morning she decided not to nap (which in itself, is quite normal) but instead occupied herself with taking off her pants.  I can't even picture the kind of gymnastics she had to do to accomplish that feat at 13 months!

O.k., thanks for humoring me, two more:

*She has been carrying around squirt bottles for about 2 months (Connor and Katie have squirt bottles that they use to help me spray while we mop our floors).  I consoled myself for this poor decision by noting that she could not spray it and it would probably be a while.  Yup, you guessed it.  She can now spray it.  About a week ago she saw Connor spraying himself in the face with the squirt bottle.  She worked at it until she figured it out, and now she'll just show up in a room soaked, squirt bottle in hand, and oh so happy!

*On the water note, I was on the phone the other day and Kara came into the room with wet hair.  I assumed squirt bottle, but she was smiling and pointing to her hair and then pointing in a direction.  I followed her (she wanted to show me).  She proudly showed me how she could put her hands in the potty and wet her hair with the water.  *sigh*  Needless to say, we're working on "no touch potty!" currently in our home.

Hello Again!

Hmm, how to recap over a month??? (sorry it's been so long).

Update on our plans.  Our current plan, we are praying through, is to rent our home (instead of sell).  It will be available  June 1.  If you hear of any prospective renters our way!  We are in downtown North Bend, our home is 3 bd (study could be 4th bd), great open family room and living room, large level lot (.34 acre) and a large, heated 800 sq ft shop (originally built to house a firetruck... so we're told by our neighbor).

We are enjoying being here in the meanwhile!  Here's what the kids are up to.

Kara!  

Kara loves to keep up with all of us.  She is constantly on the go so she still can't keep up with her caloric needs (is waking at night for a bottle... for her that's a good thing, though - for Mommy and Daddy... well...).  She is only on one large tube feed, at 9 p.m. So that feed is very sustainable for our family long-term.  Her pulmonologist said we do not have to come back in until she is 6 or 7!!! for lung function test.  Wow.  What a blessing.

Kara seems to be our most strong-willed child.  We are thankful God gave her that strength to overcome, as surely it has been an ally this past year.  She is also incredibly sweet.  A few days before she turned one, she started walking up to give us "leg hugs", and she loves hugging and kissing her brother & sister when she wakes up from naps.

Kara walking around with Katie's panda bear hat (which Katie put on her)

Oh yeah, the only thing better than sunglasses... 2 pairs of sunglasses!

Mmmm... chocolate cupcake on my birthday!

Hooray!  We have a piggy-nose picture of the other kids at this age, and we got one of Kara.  

Great job, Daddy!

Crazy hair!

Kara has a name train to match Connor & Katie's, yay!  Thank you, our friends.  Now Mommy needs to paint it to match.

Katie!  Our precocious little 2 year old.  She has recently been singing make-up songs quite often.  On a 45 minute drive, she almost sang for all of it.

"Daddy, do you want to hear my song about the toothpaste?" "Toothpaste, toothpaste, I love you. Connor brushes his teeth with you."  then...

"Daddy, do you want to hear my silly song?"  "Silly Sally went to town, eating backwards, upside down! *laugh laugh*" and this one was the other day...

holding her water bottle which has a straw that folds down into the lid a 'hiding straw'  "Don't let Sata (Satan) *blows hard* the hiding straw!"  (an adaptation from "this little light of mine" the verse about "don't let Satan blow it out"

I have a hard time remembering that she's only 2... she can do so much: e.g. completely dress self (socks, shoes, pants, shirt, jacket including zipping) and get on/off potty without a step. 

One of Kara's new acquisitions from her birthday party.  Katie needed googles "to go swimming" last night.

Papa reading to his girls.  Kara LOVES books, just like C &K.  She often brings a book to any adult who will read.  (She also has an intuitive sense of how/when to pose for the camera)

Connor!

What would we do without big brother?  He sees what needs done, and does it.  He is very thoughtful, kind, and a good protector of his sisters.  He is an astute observer.  When we go on a walk, Katie would prefer to run with Mommy whereas Connor likes to sit on the stroller and take in everything within sight.  He is often going to find things Kara might like to play with, and if he gets a hat for himself, he asks Katie if she would like hers too.  He and Katie have fun in their make believe world and stories.  This morning they donned backpacks to go to the airport to visit Grandpa Fred.

He has told me a few stories about his "sister-in-law".  Apparently she had a very scary run-in with another car in a dark tunnel (no lights!) and was in a crash. She also lives incredibly close to her church (unlike us who live about 30 min. from our church - he decided this on the way to church yesterday).  If we ask who his sister-in-law is, he's a bit puzzled.  So, we asked if she has a name, and he said "no."  Guess she's just like the generic "my friends do 'such and such' ".  This definitely is going in the journal so we can laugh about it later.

A Valentine's Day treat, thanks to Aunt Irma.  We loved making these chocolates.  We did it again for favors for Kara's party - so fun for the kids (and yummy for everyone!)

Connor loves that Kara!

We are so blessed to have Grandma Dot here now (which, in part, explains me taking the time to blog!)  She is so willing to read, and clean.  I, particularly was blessed Friday/Saturday to sit in the sun for about 20 minutes during naptime (yes, we had sun!!) since the dishes has "magically" been cleaned!

What's going on - quotes and staging our home

First, let's start with a few quotes from today and yesterday.  I just love overhearing the kiddos from the other room. 

Kara has lots of words (or words we give her credit for, in any case).  Just so she doesn't get left out, let's start with her:  "Bum-buh" (for bumblebee) "Buh-bun" (for her bunny, Bun Bun) "Ma Ma"  "Da Da"  "Meh Meh" (Mimi) "Bru-ber" (brother) "Day-dee" (Katie - she doesn't say this one very often) and my favorite, she already had plenty of food on her tray, but she said over and over while freaking out after I sat down with a plate "Na Na... na na... na na..." - yup, she knows a banana when she sees one.

Katie - "O.k!  I'm going to church now."
Connor - "Mary!  You forgot your baby Jesus."
Katie - "Oh... he's too whiny and fussy.  I'm not taking him to church."
Later, when I was telling this to Grandparents and Daddy, Connor added that he, Joseph, had taken baby Jesus to a small church just for him.  Phew!  I was a bit worried. ;)

Katie, while building a tower with dice. -  "O.k.  I have a tall tower, now the righteous will run into it."  (Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into and is safe."

Connor - "O.k., Katie.  Let's get on the Pharisee Boat!"   (yeah... no clue about the context/idea behind that one).

In other news, we are planning to list our home next week.  Yikes!  It's been, well 5 years really, of getting the house really.  But we've been planning toward this from when we were pregnant with Kara. With Kara being, shall we say, high-maintenance we new last year was not the year and aimed for this March.  Looks like we will (Lord willing and weather permitting) take pictures next week and list next week also.

So, what's the plan?  Just that.  List the house.  If the house sells, we'll be in North Bend until we figure out our next move.

Oh, have we mentioned that Kara's walking?  11 months, beating her sister by a full 2 months (and her brother by 7 months).  Wow.  God has been SO gracious in that anxiety/worry about her gross motor has never even been a consideration. 

That Katie...

Mom: "Katie, are you going to go outside with the Boog?"  (it just snowed here =) =) =)
Katie: "I'm not avai-ya-ble."

Between the 30s

Between the time Jeremy hit his 30s, and I hit my 30s (recently), we have:

*moved from CA to WA
*both changed jobs (Jeremy one time, Meg 3 times)
*had 3 children
*traveled plenty in the U.S. plus Japan (with Connor, to visit Jeremy's sister), Thailand (with Connor, Katie on the way, to visit Meg's sister), and China (Connor & Katie, Kara on the way, to visit Meg's sister).
*said goodbye to 2 of our Grandparents
*been so thankful that God brought us together and look forward to His best for our future.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

Apparently...

... we have profound conversations while in the restroom.  I can think of several, but here is today's:

Katie (not yet 2 1/2) said, I was down the hall "Mom!  Can you come here?"  I had already given her toilet paper, so I was wondering what was the deal...  After I got in the restroom, she said "Um, apparent-yee I got some poop on my hand." 

Connor came to see why Mommy was laughing, so I told him "apparently, Katie knows the word apparently."  He smiled, rocked back and forth with a gleam in his eye and said "I know it, too!"

Catching up

Since my last post, we have been to Idaho (great time with family!), we now have a crawler, and a 4 year old.  My, how time flies.  Here's the best I can do in catching you up with pictures.

Grandma enjoyed all 4 of her Great-Grandkids

We all loved spending more time with Uncle Terry (and Aunt Ruth).
They graciously hosted us for a few nights.

Being up in Cascade with Grandma and Grandpa (and the snow) was a blessing.

Daddy (sporting his Movember Moustache) read plenty of books.  The Boise "Steak" shirts were from Grandma Dot.  It was a treat to match and support the local team.

Grandma got to love on her girls (and her Connor, too)

Both Connor and Katie LOVED riding on the 4 wheeler.  Next year when Kara is bigger, I suppose we'll have to learn to take turns (instead of just switching which kid is behind vs. in front)

We LOVE the blankets from the Scotts.   So cozy and so much fun.  This is the "party".  Apparently a party is when you spread out a blanket and sit on it with your siblings.

The sign says "Stop.  Mistletoe - kiss me quick!"

This is Kara's leash - er, I mean feeding tube.  This picture is from a few weeks ago, when she was scooching on her bottom (not crawling).  Working on figuring out a new feeding solution.

Birthday Boy with his Birthday Breakfast!  

"Yucky Charms". 

Sadly enough, both Connor & katie can now say their "L"s

Birthday cards and presents!

The favorite - Daddy's old tractor with wagon, "Dicky Disk", "Chucky Cultivator", and "Perry Plow"

Kara just barely fits into this Christmas dress.  And she sure does love to move. She does not fit into the matching hat, hence the hairclip.  (I believe the clip lasted 10 minutes before it was pulled out).

Katie loves her snow coat.

Kara LOVES her "baby".  She cozies her, and loves her, and chews on her 2 little ribbon hairs.  

(Kara says baby, Mama, her version of Grandma)

This is what Kara did this morning.  Crawled from 10 feet away and got into a toilet paper roll (which I thought was on the end table... can she pull up too??  Yikes!)

Papa & Mimi took Connor and Katie on the "Santa Train".  It's been around since the 70s (or earlier), and was a treat.  They rode the train, had hot chocolate, ate cookies, and sat on Santa's lap.  They've been asked at least 2 times "what they want for Christmas" and they look perplexed.  Trying to process "Does that have anything to do with anything?"