Currently, because of some remodeling, we don't have internet. It's a bit frustrating but would I have written anything if we did have the internet? Maybe and maybe not. I probably would have so that way I don't get behind in the saga that is life. When you last read about the Emerson's you learned about Father's Day and Joel not getting a boy Barbie. Well, Joel didn't get his Barbie but he did find, for a $1, a Barbie pool. One that you can put water in. Oh boy. Can you imagine what happened? I can't remember why Kylie didn't want anything to do with Joel (this is pretty normal as he's off doing house projects like he needs to be). I suggested he show her what he picked up and he did. Kylie was so excited. She got out a few Barbies but only one went in the pool because she was the one wearing the swimsuit. She also let her Polly Pockets who had swimsuits swim as well. They played in the dinning room because it's wood flooring with an area rug and a nice flat surface for the pool. I don't remember what I was exactly doing when the flood came, I think I was coming upstairs from putting laundry in. Kylie said "The pool broke!" Oh no. Sure enough, one side couldn't hold the water much longer and bent (it's plastic inflatible), water came flooding out and went on the table, rug, and floor. Now we know that's either an outside toy or a tub toy.
Meanwhile, Chloe last week was not herself. It started with a cough and then turned to fever. I think the cause was the air conditioner blowing air over her at night because she is in the pac n play in our bedroom, that and she has 3 new teeth pop up. She now has 4 on top and 4 on bottom, that I can see, maybe there is more. She was just miserable last week. We can tell she is feeling better because she leaves a path of destruction wherever she goes in our house. Joel calls her Chlozilla.
The remodel. What to say about the remodel? Not that the whole house isn't in remodel already, but for the most part it was the first floor. Now it's moved to the third floor. At least it seems to moving along quickly, still not quick enough when you have 2 young children that don't really have a place to play. I feel like telling people "currently we live in a 2 bed, 1 bath apartment." That's how it feels. At least it's nice outside and we have been spending time in the backyard. Joel got a little plastic pool for the girls to sit in, they both love it. Kylie wants to go out every night and sit in it but she hasn't so far this week because by the time we have dinner it's too late to spend enough time outside to make it worthwhile.
So, new flooring, new ceiling, new window, and new paint will complete the room. We are working on clean up of all drywall dust so we can get to 'new paint' stage. I get bogged down in the details, like there are over 50 shot glasses that need to be cleaned up because of the dust. Mind you, I was not there for the "take down and store things elsewhere phase." I wish I was. Not that it matters too much, the dust seems to be everywhere. So depending on the hour, I hate this project or I love this project. It will look great when it's all done. I'll see about some pictures. I'm not sure if we really have any "before" pictures.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Father's Day
I'm a bit behind in posting but it's hard when everything in the house is torn apart, literally.
I will say this weekend was a good weekend. Our house is a mess, more than usual, but I managed to put it out of my mind, for the most part (though, women don't forget). Saturday we went to a birthday party for Joel's niece who turned one. The van we just bought in December had a cracked radiator cap and the stupid tire must have ran over something so Joel had some issues to address while at the party but things worked out and we made it home by 10. Thank goodness this didn't happen when it was just me and the girls going to or coming from Iowa.
Sunday Joel finished putting a window in our third floor (yes, we had a gapping hole in our house for a week, that story will be for another time). I made Kylie work. She swiffered the kitchen and hall floor then washed it while Chloe slept. In the afternoon we went outside. Kylie ate most of the raspberries I picked off our bushes. Joel got 5 and I had 3, Kylie had 15. Chloe loved going down the slide and the little daredevil was trying to climb up the slides we have, good thing her shoes were wet from playing in a bucket of water and she couldn't get any traction. For dinner, we took Joel to Smokey Bones. Chloe loves pulled pork and mashed potatoes. We got Joel a 59 piece tool kit so he would stop taking and using mine and not putting it back. We did not get him the boy Barbie Kylie wanted to get him. She also wanted to get him flowers which we kind of did, I got two hanging baskets and some petunias for my box garden.
I will say this weekend was a good weekend. Our house is a mess, more than usual, but I managed to put it out of my mind, for the most part (though, women don't forget). Saturday we went to a birthday party for Joel's niece who turned one. The van we just bought in December had a cracked radiator cap and the stupid tire must have ran over something so Joel had some issues to address while at the party but things worked out and we made it home by 10. Thank goodness this didn't happen when it was just me and the girls going to or coming from Iowa.
Sunday Joel finished putting a window in our third floor (yes, we had a gapping hole in our house for a week, that story will be for another time). I made Kylie work. She swiffered the kitchen and hall floor then washed it while Chloe slept. In the afternoon we went outside. Kylie ate most of the raspberries I picked off our bushes. Joel got 5 and I had 3, Kylie had 15. Chloe loved going down the slide and the little daredevil was trying to climb up the slides we have, good thing her shoes were wet from playing in a bucket of water and she couldn't get any traction. For dinner, we took Joel to Smokey Bones. Chloe loves pulled pork and mashed potatoes. We got Joel a 59 piece tool kit so he would stop taking and using mine and not putting it back. We did not get him the boy Barbie Kylie wanted to get him. She also wanted to get him flowers which we kind of did, I got two hanging baskets and some petunias for my box garden.
Monday, June 11, 2012
The Farm
Kylie, Chloe, and I arrived safely at my parents house on Wednesday evening. I stopped for an hour and a half in Illinois to let them run around. Chloe isn't as acclaimated to car trips like Kylie is. She'll get used to it. It wasn't too bad. Last year when she needed a bottle was worse. I was able to feed Chloe by reaching behind me with her food and she would grab it and eat it.
We've been having a good time in Iowa. My dad only has 24 pigs left which is quite amazing when he used to have about 2,000 on the farm at any one time. He has also been deconstructing most of the buildings on the farm. Looks very different to me. The one they are working on now I remember being built when I was in high school (I think). I just remember I had to run and tell one of the roofers his wife was in labor so he high tailed it out of there. I guess that was over 15 years ago. Wow! I took some pictures of the girls by the pigs but these pigs are not the cute little ones everyone loves. I believe these will be leaving the farm soon. I need to take more pictures of the girls here to get a good scrapbook of The Farm.
I was thinking of naming this post "Still Tired" or "Even More Tired" because I have not gotten any real rest here. I sleep with Kylie, who sometimes sleep talks and walks. The other night I caught her before she ran off the bed but she jumped up and said "I'm running" I said "no, no, no don't run." Plus Chloe is in the crib in the room and will cry out now and then even though she is sleeping. Ugh. Last night was bad because I choose to have coffee with this delicious cake my brother in law made but the coffee was regular. So I fell asleep at 11:00 but woke up periodically because of crying or feet kicking and then at 1:30 to 2:30 I was awake and couldn't get back to sleep. Then my mind was all over the place. I was thinking "I can't do this anymore." I honestly don't know how I'll make it back to Michigan, I'm going to be so tired. I'm going to try to get some naps in but it's hard because Chloe wants me whenever she sees me and then Kylie gets jealous and hangs on me too. I got away now because Chloe is napping and Kylie is busy playing with her cousins who are also staying at my parent's house. I'm suppose to be studying for an insurance test too. I'd like to take a test end of June but not sure if that will happen.
Time is definitely flying here. I've attached some pictures.
We've been having a good time in Iowa. My dad only has 24 pigs left which is quite amazing when he used to have about 2,000 on the farm at any one time. He has also been deconstructing most of the buildings on the farm. Looks very different to me. The one they are working on now I remember being built when I was in high school (I think). I just remember I had to run and tell one of the roofers his wife was in labor so he high tailed it out of there. I guess that was over 15 years ago. Wow! I took some pictures of the girls by the pigs but these pigs are not the cute little ones everyone loves. I believe these will be leaving the farm soon. I need to take more pictures of the girls here to get a good scrapbook of The Farm.
I was thinking of naming this post "Still Tired" or "Even More Tired" because I have not gotten any real rest here. I sleep with Kylie, who sometimes sleep talks and walks. The other night I caught her before she ran off the bed but she jumped up and said "I'm running" I said "no, no, no don't run." Plus Chloe is in the crib in the room and will cry out now and then even though she is sleeping. Ugh. Last night was bad because I choose to have coffee with this delicious cake my brother in law made but the coffee was regular. So I fell asleep at 11:00 but woke up periodically because of crying or feet kicking and then at 1:30 to 2:30 I was awake and couldn't get back to sleep. Then my mind was all over the place. I was thinking "I can't do this anymore." I honestly don't know how I'll make it back to Michigan, I'm going to be so tired. I'm going to try to get some naps in but it's hard because Chloe wants me whenever she sees me and then Kylie gets jealous and hangs on me too. I got away now because Chloe is napping and Kylie is busy playing with her cousins who are also staying at my parent's house. I'm suppose to be studying for an insurance test too. I'd like to take a test end of June but not sure if that will happen.
Time is definitely flying here. I've attached some pictures.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Traveling
Today I will be taking the girls to Iowa with me while Joel stays home. I did this last year by myself and I know I can do it but I'm just nervous. I don't want to forget anything. Good thing there are stores there in case I do :) I trust God will get us there safely. We've got Faith looking out for us too.
My parents don't have internet so I don't know how often I will be updating the blog, not that I've been updating it too much anyway. It'd be great to get some farm pictures.
Other than that, I don't really have too much to say. I'm not in the best of places right now so until I'm feeling better I won't say anything as I don't want to offend or hurt anyone. I don't know if I do it to myself or what. I didn't get the best sleep last night either so that doesn't help. Less sleep = emotional mess.
I sent myself an e-card saying it was from Faith. I'll see if I can post it, but it's a Rascal Flats songs "My Wish to You" or something like that. I just felt that Faith was talking to me and to Chloe through it. I sent it to myself for a reminder: "May your dreams be big and your worries stay small."
My parents don't have internet so I don't know how often I will be updating the blog, not that I've been updating it too much anyway. It'd be great to get some farm pictures.
Other than that, I don't really have too much to say. I'm not in the best of places right now so until I'm feeling better I won't say anything as I don't want to offend or hurt anyone. I don't know if I do it to myself or what. I didn't get the best sleep last night either so that doesn't help. Less sleep = emotional mess.
I sent myself an e-card saying it was from Faith. I'll see if I can post it, but it's a Rascal Flats songs "My Wish to You" or something like that. I just felt that Faith was talking to me and to Chloe through it. I sent it to myself for a reminder: "May your dreams be big and your worries stay small."
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I was sending up some prayers today and I was praying for little babies everywhere and I wanted to say "help them through their fight, whatever it may be." Why this is true that God does help babies through their fight (maybe not that way everyone on Earth wants), I said "Your will be done." That's what I prayed for Faith. I asked Him to make her stronge and get through this, but in the end I always said "Lord, your will be done, not mine."
I actually was praying that when I went into the hospital on bed rest. I wanted to stay pregnant with both girls until March, then it became one more week, one more day (I went into the hospital on Jan 13 and had the girls on Jan 22, not long at all). So I would pray that the girls stayed strong and healthy and alive in the womb, but I would also pray the Our Father, stressing the "Thy will be done" part, as only He knows the big picture.
I feel as though I have strayed from Him. It's been an on again, off again situation. Why can't I keep my focus? Too much 'stuff' is the answer. I started reading "Heaven is Real" by Todd Burpo. Todd's son, Colton, just before he turned 4, had a burst appendix and almost died, or I should say he did die and went to Heaven and met Jesus and John the Baptist. I'm about halfway through it and it is a great book, I just get chills from it.
Let me fill everyone in on the one and only Chloe Bear, risk taker galor! If only we had her assessment this week, I'm not sure if her speech would have improved, it's sometimes hard to understand the Ah's from the Oh's and so forth. But, she is walking now like a proud little peacock and she can get up to standing without holding onto something (that was asked in the assessment). She does "high five" and loves to just plop herself down on an awaiting lap. She is also getting another bottom tooth, the left canine I believe. She loves taking baths. Last night after we had gotten home from being up north, I was putting some things away in the bathroom and she was walking around and came in the bathroom. Our bathtub is exposed on 2 sides and the backside is narrower than the side. Well, Chloe pushed the shower curtain aside, and climbed on in. I didn't see her do it, I just heard something and when I turned around there she was sitting and smiling up at me like "ok Mom ready for my bath." It was so cute! She could have hurt herself getting into the tub but she didn't.
Her next daredevil act was stairclimbing! I was clearing dinner, Joel had gone outside, Kylie was eating strawberries. I put Chloe down to walk around and she was in the kitchen and then I thought she was going to go to one of the bedrooms. Next thing I hear is Kylie yelling "Mom, Chloe's going upstairs!" I said "What!" and ran to the dinning room (that's where the stairs to the third floor are, the 3rd floor is the converted attic). She was halfway up those stairs, little stinker! Either she is fast (and she is fast) or Kylie was slow on the go to tell me.
Then she found her baby swing, one that plays music and lights up. She thought that was pretty cool so she climbed on in that, with my help, and swung very happily for a couple of minutes. She is such a ham! I am so grateful to God for her, such a carefree little being.
I'm kind of worried about Chloe's upper teeth, one looks like it might not be coming in right. I realized that it's time we start limiting the pacifier. I think I may take her with me to my next dentist appoinment so the dentist can have a look, but then again, I should either make a separate appoinment for her or have someone with me to corral her and keep her busy, otherwise who knows what she'll get in to. Joel looked at them and he doesn't see anything wrong, but I'm not so sure.
This past weekend we were up north as I said. It was very nice weather except on Sunday it was stormy. That gave me an opportunity to do an art project with Kylie. I'll have to post a picture. We took tin cans and picked out two colors of ribbon and did a weaver around the can. I did most of it since we had to use a hot glue gun to get the ribbon to stay. They are very cute. I did a purple and green ribbon and Kylie did pink and blue. I told her she was Sleeping Beauty because he dress changed from pink to blue and back again. Kylie also got to play in the sand and go in the water as it wasn't too cold for her. This was Lake Charlevoix. Chloe really couldn't be on the beach, she would try and stick everything in her mouth and she'd try to be quick about it too. If I don't have gray hair now, I will soon! Actually I think I did find one the other week.
I actually was praying that when I went into the hospital on bed rest. I wanted to stay pregnant with both girls until March, then it became one more week, one more day (I went into the hospital on Jan 13 and had the girls on Jan 22, not long at all). So I would pray that the girls stayed strong and healthy and alive in the womb, but I would also pray the Our Father, stressing the "Thy will be done" part, as only He knows the big picture.
I feel as though I have strayed from Him. It's been an on again, off again situation. Why can't I keep my focus? Too much 'stuff' is the answer. I started reading "Heaven is Real" by Todd Burpo. Todd's son, Colton, just before he turned 4, had a burst appendix and almost died, or I should say he did die and went to Heaven and met Jesus and John the Baptist. I'm about halfway through it and it is a great book, I just get chills from it.
Let me fill everyone in on the one and only Chloe Bear, risk taker galor! If only we had her assessment this week, I'm not sure if her speech would have improved, it's sometimes hard to understand the Ah's from the Oh's and so forth. But, she is walking now like a proud little peacock and she can get up to standing without holding onto something (that was asked in the assessment). She does "high five" and loves to just plop herself down on an awaiting lap. She is also getting another bottom tooth, the left canine I believe. She loves taking baths. Last night after we had gotten home from being up north, I was putting some things away in the bathroom and she was walking around and came in the bathroom. Our bathtub is exposed on 2 sides and the backside is narrower than the side. Well, Chloe pushed the shower curtain aside, and climbed on in. I didn't see her do it, I just heard something and when I turned around there she was sitting and smiling up at me like "ok Mom ready for my bath." It was so cute! She could have hurt herself getting into the tub but she didn't.
Her next daredevil act was stairclimbing! I was clearing dinner, Joel had gone outside, Kylie was eating strawberries. I put Chloe down to walk around and she was in the kitchen and then I thought she was going to go to one of the bedrooms. Next thing I hear is Kylie yelling "Mom, Chloe's going upstairs!" I said "What!" and ran to the dinning room (that's where the stairs to the third floor are, the 3rd floor is the converted attic). She was halfway up those stairs, little stinker! Either she is fast (and she is fast) or Kylie was slow on the go to tell me.
Then she found her baby swing, one that plays music and lights up. She thought that was pretty cool so she climbed on in that, with my help, and swung very happily for a couple of minutes. She is such a ham! I am so grateful to God for her, such a carefree little being.
I'm kind of worried about Chloe's upper teeth, one looks like it might not be coming in right. I realized that it's time we start limiting the pacifier. I think I may take her with me to my next dentist appoinment so the dentist can have a look, but then again, I should either make a separate appoinment for her or have someone with me to corral her and keep her busy, otherwise who knows what she'll get in to. Joel looked at them and he doesn't see anything wrong, but I'm not so sure.
This past weekend we were up north as I said. It was very nice weather except on Sunday it was stormy. That gave me an opportunity to do an art project with Kylie. I'll have to post a picture. We took tin cans and picked out two colors of ribbon and did a weaver around the can. I did most of it since we had to use a hot glue gun to get the ribbon to stay. They are very cute. I did a purple and green ribbon and Kylie did pink and blue. I told her she was Sleeping Beauty because he dress changed from pink to blue and back again. Kylie also got to play in the sand and go in the water as it wasn't too cold for her. This was Lake Charlevoix. Chloe really couldn't be on the beach, she would try and stick everything in her mouth and she'd try to be quick about it too. If I don't have gray hair now, I will soon! Actually I think I did find one the other week.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
We Have A Walker!
Just wanted to write a quick note and let everyone know that Chloe can now walk. Little stinker, I was hoping she would do it last week at her assessment but the girl is on her own time. She is so darn cute and very animated and loves to laugh. I've got to try and post video (haha good luck to me). June 1 is her hearing test at the hospital so I hope that goes well.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Assessment
Chloe had her 12 month assessment this morning. It was a long morning, my goodness. We were there from 8:30 to 11:45. Poor girl couldn't take a nap even though she really needed to. That's why I wonder if she didn't perform as well on the later assessments as she did with the first few. I feel exhausted with this day, maybe I shouldn't have gone to work as it was hard to concentrate. I have mixed emotions about this morning. Overall, Chloe did great! She rocked most things. Physical therapy put her at 12 months, Psychology put her at 13 months, Occupational therapy was her best - 17 months!! She's only 15 months old. From the notes: "Chloe was able to pick up and release cheerios using a finger and thumb grasp. She stacked two blocks and placed coins in a piggy bank. Chloe was observed to hold a crayon with her finger tips at the top of a crayon and scribble spontaneously. She also imitated marks on a page. She was able to pull lego blocks apart and was observed to put them back together one time."
The bothersome items are she had to be referred on her hearing test. She now the hospital will call to set up an appointment for that. This could be because of her cold and maybe some fluid in the ear, but maybe not. On her speech therapy, she scored between an 8-9 month old. I don't really feel that's correct but we get Early On services for free so they will also be calling us to meet once a month with Chloe. Then Chloe will show them how awesome she is and we won't need them anymore. From the speech notes: "Rec. Lang: 9 mos. Turns toward bell, rattle, papper. Responds to her name as well as unfamiliar name. Does not respond to two familiar words (diaper, drink). Maintains attn during ball play for 60 secs. Responds to two spoken requests (wave bye bye, blow a kiss). Exp Comm: 8 mos. Vocalizes to speaker's attn. Heard one vowel (ah) and 4 consonants (m,b,d,y) in repetitive syllables. Doesn't imitate repetitive syllables." I was a bit discouraged at this but this assessment was the second to last one and Chloe was getting pretty tired and angry. She did asks some questions about what Chloe does and I answered as truthfully as I could because if something is wrong, we can catch it early.
Today brought back memories of just knowing Chloe is a twin. How would Faith have done? Would she be on a breathing machine or have a sever handicap? Questions only God knows the answers to. What was really strange is on the way home from picking up Kylie and Chloe, Kylie was all sad at one point and said "You know why I'm crying? I miss my baby Faith." She wasn't really crying - she got me to cry - and it lasted only a moment and she was back to happy but how strange. I said "You know Faith was Chloe's twin?" "yes" I guess God works in mysterious ways. Of course then Kylie says "My stomach and back hurt, I need to lay on my bed and play and then I will feel better." OK. She is really good about finding something to do when we get home so I can make dinner. Chloe on the other hand seems to be starving and cranky, hopefully she'll grow out of that. I gave her crackers while I made dinner so that helped a lot.
The bothersome items are she had to be referred on her hearing test. She now the hospital will call to set up an appointment for that. This could be because of her cold and maybe some fluid in the ear, but maybe not. On her speech therapy, she scored between an 8-9 month old. I don't really feel that's correct but we get Early On services for free so they will also be calling us to meet once a month with Chloe. Then Chloe will show them how awesome she is and we won't need them anymore. From the speech notes: "Rec. Lang: 9 mos. Turns toward bell, rattle, papper. Responds to her name as well as unfamiliar name. Does not respond to two familiar words (diaper, drink). Maintains attn during ball play for 60 secs. Responds to two spoken requests (wave bye bye, blow a kiss). Exp Comm: 8 mos. Vocalizes to speaker's attn. Heard one vowel (ah) and 4 consonants (m,b,d,y) in repetitive syllables. Doesn't imitate repetitive syllables." I was a bit discouraged at this but this assessment was the second to last one and Chloe was getting pretty tired and angry. She did asks some questions about what Chloe does and I answered as truthfully as I could because if something is wrong, we can catch it early.
Today brought back memories of just knowing Chloe is a twin. How would Faith have done? Would she be on a breathing machine or have a sever handicap? Questions only God knows the answers to. What was really strange is on the way home from picking up Kylie and Chloe, Kylie was all sad at one point and said "You know why I'm crying? I miss my baby Faith." She wasn't really crying - she got me to cry - and it lasted only a moment and she was back to happy but how strange. I said "You know Faith was Chloe's twin?" "yes" I guess God works in mysterious ways. Of course then Kylie says "My stomach and back hurt, I need to lay on my bed and play and then I will feel better." OK. She is really good about finding something to do when we get home so I can make dinner. Chloe on the other hand seems to be starving and cranky, hopefully she'll grow out of that. I gave her crackers while I made dinner so that helped a lot.
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