Still not doing well keeping up on blogging!

It has been over a month since my last blog. I just don't know where the time goes!

Gavin's surgery went well. He was off daycare for a week and talked very funny for awhile but is pretty much back to normal now! There were a couple rough days but we made it and I think he will do much better now!

Abby has been a handful lately. She seems to always want what she can't have. If she is home she wants to go to our friends house, when she is there she wants to be home,etc. And she is AWFUL at bedtime lately...she fights it and comes up with every excuse possible to not go to bed!

here are some pictures from the kids night of painting!

Gavin is having surgery

Gavin is having his tonsils & adenoids removed on November 3rd. I am a little nervous becuase last time he went in to have ear tubes put in they had a hard time waking him up and his dad also has issues with being put to sleep. I also hope he does okay with the surgery...it seems like such a scary thing for a 3 year old to go through but I am very optimistic that once they are taken out he will start to feel much better!

I keep reminding myself that this is a pretty minor procedure compared to what some of my friends children have had to go through so if they can do the big procedures we can make through a small one!

more illnesses

Gavin was sick over the weekend and his tonsils are huge so we are taking him back to the ENT on Wednesday! wish us luck! I am pretty sure he will be having his tonsils and/or adenoids out!

Abby's ears are also still draining so she is back on ear drops but I am guessing she will be going back to the ENT very soon!

Maybe once all these health issues are taken care of they will sleep through the night!!! wishful thinking for me!! :)

Pumpkin Carving!

Last weekend we had friends over to carve pumpkins. The kids had a lot of fun (along with the adults!)

Gavin actually put his hands inside the pumpkins this year and Abby was very stubborn and insisted she do hers all by herself. so with very little assistance she cut out her own pumpkin face!

Meet Molly!

We picked up Molly our new puppy on Sunday and then made the four hour drive back home! Her father is my best friends dog and the mother is another friend of ours from Rice Lake area. Molly did better on the ride home than the kids did! My children are just not good travelers!

so far things are going pretty good...Abby runs screaming anytime Molly comes near her and Gavin likes to pick her up! She tolerates it very well! Yesterday in the rain she didn't want to go potty outside and preferred the living room carpet but we made her stay outside until she went and that seemed to do the trick!

It's been awhile since I last blogged...

Here are some pictures from the past few months...my proud kids in their big kid undies, on a ride at the fair, Gavin wearing his sisters Packer cheerleading outfit to make her mad (and it obviously workes) and Gavin wearing his Packer helmet!

The kids went back to daycare on Monday, August 31st. On Wednesday afternoon I got a call that Gavin had a temp of 102.5 so he had to go home and was home all day Thursday. On Friday afternoon Abby got sent home with a fever...then the next week Abby got sent home again on Wednesday with a fever. I took her to the doctor to find out she had a virus and it was almost done but she should stay home from daycare on Thursday. so Pat and I have used up quite a bit of leave time in the 2 weeks since they have been back to daycare!

Weight loss is very slow. Since I started I am only down 2 lbs. but I am happy to be 2 lbs in the right direction rather than the other way! We are hoping to go on vacation with friends in February so now I have incentive to lose weight...I want to be comfortable wearing a bathing suit since that is what we will be wearing most of the trip!!

and the last piece of news I have is we are getting a puppy! We are getting an 8 week old Viszla puppy this Sunday. I will post pictures of her next week. Her name is Molly! Wish us luck!!!

My Babies Turned 3

I cannot believe that Gavin and Abby just turned 3. I can still remember the day there were born, their stay in the NICU and bringing them home! Where does the time go!

On Saturday, September 12th we celebrated thier birthday at our house with family and friends. Instead of writing all about it I will just post pictures from the party!

I can't believe Summer is almost over!

In less than 2 weeks the kids go back to daycare and in just over 3 weeks they will be 3 years old! I just don't know where the time goes!

Both kids are pretty much potty trained now. they still have some accidents but are doing great overall! This week we started working on getting them to go to bed on their own without mommy or daddy in the room or in the doorway! We are putting a sticker on there row on the weekly calendar for each night that they go to bed on their own. I told them if they do it all week they can get a Cinderella dress and a baseball glove! so far so good! After we get them going to bed on their own then we will tackle the nuks!!!

Weight loss is at a standstill...this week 0 lbs change! I need to get my butt exercising but am having trouble finding the energy to do it!

We need a bigger house!!

Here are some photos of the kids playing with their new toy! (not really intended to be used in a living but until the basement is finished we don't have too many other options when the weather isn't cooperating for outdoor play!

And weight loss is at a standstill...no loss but also did not gain! This week I started walk/jogging on the treadmill so hopefully that will help! I am really out of shape and can't jog very long or very far but my goal is to someday be able to jog 5 miles!

Good news!

My doctor's office called yesterday and told me my CT scan came back normal so that was great news. Now just have to figure out why I have headaches all the time...I am thinking sleep deprivation might be a large part of cause!

Also have to have my blood pressure looked at again...and this time I will not have any coffee before I go!!

Can't seem to find enough time...

I have good intentions of blogging at least twice a week but so far have not been doing a very good job! I am attempting to study for the CPA exam (BEC section) and have not been doing very well at that either. I take the exam August 27th so hope to have a little more time after that (at least until I start to study for another section!)

Updates on everyone: Abby is still in dance and loving it. She is a very independent child that can be rather difficult but can also melt your heart! She picks out her own clothes and doesn't want help with anything. She is going through a "mom has to do everything with/for her" stage so Pat doesn't get to do much with her lately.

Gavin just finished his 5 week tumbling class at the Y and loved it so we signed up for the next 5 week session. that starts next Wednesday! He also LOVES hitting his ball off the tee and having someone "catch" it for him! We also went to the Barron County Fair last weekend and he loves animals. He didn't want to leave. His sister spent the entire time at the fair glued to mom's leg or being carried.

Since my last post I have lost 1/2 a pound! better than going up I guess. I also went to the doctor on Tuesday because I have been having lots of headaches. At my appointment I also had very high blood pressure, which is very unusual for me. I have never had a bad blood pressure reading. So...today I went in for a CT just to rule out anything abnormal in my head causing the headaches. I go back to the doc on Friday for a follow up and will discuss plans to stop my headaches. so wish me luck. Last night at home I realized that my high blood pressure is most likely related to two little kids that won't listen to their mother and are constantly testing the limits!!!

Never a normal illness at our house!

Last Thursday Abby woke up in the middle of the night with a 101 fever. I gave her Tylenol and that helped for about an hour and then the fever started coming back again. She went to the doctor on Friday. They did a strep test and it came back negative. The doctor thought it was something viral and sent her home.

She had a fever all weekend and kept complaining that her mouth hurt. I thought maybe she was getting her 2 year molars. We did the Tylenol/Motrin cycle all weekend to keep her comfortable and took her back to the doctor on Monday. She ended up having Aphthous Stomatitis...little canker like sores on her tongue and throat! So no wonder she was complaining that her mouth hurt! I looked in her mouth several times and could not see anything but it is also very hard to get a good look in a 2 1/2 year olds mouth!

She is finally starting to feel better so hopefully now she will start sleeping at night again! Well as well as she did before anyway! (she has never been a sleep through the whole night kind of kid!)

Gavin loves to play with his bat and ball! He likes to hit the ball when you throw it to him but misses quite a bit...so we got him a t-ball set and he is really, really good! I was amazed how well he did and how far he can hit it!

And I am going to steal an idea from a fellow Mother of Multiples club member and start posting my weight loss progress (failure) on here!

I don't want to share my actual weight but will share that to start I would like to lose 35 lbs! I will try to post weekly on how I am doing

I just stepped out of the room for a second...

Busy 4th of July Weekend!

Thursday night my friend Crystal and I took her almost 5 year old and my two almost 3 year olds to see Half Empty downtown Appleton. They were really good and had a great time chasing each other in the grass and dancing to the music.

Friday I took the day off and the kids and I met a little girl from daycare for a play date at the park. They were very happy to see each other. I think the kids are enjoying being home for the summer but also miss their daycare friends! Hard to believe one month of "summer break" has gone by already! Friday night we went to a friends house to watch the City of Appleton fireworks. We grilled steaks, hamburgers & hotdogs and the kids played on a slip n slide. They had a great time. Gavin loved the fireworks and Abby started crying at the finale...must have been too loud for her!

Saturday we headed down to Grafton for a 2nd birthday party. It was a pool party and we learned that Gavin has no fear of water. Pat got in the pool and the kids were standing on the edge of the pool checking it out. They were taking their time so Pat turned to say hi to a friend and heard a splash...he looked over and didn't see Gavin and then realized he was at the bottom of the pool! Definitely time to get them in swimming lessons! We got home around 4 PM and my in-laws came down to visit the kids. Pat and I went to a movie (the Hangover) and out to dinner. It was nice to have a date with him, we don't get to chat much at home with the kids these days! I also found out that my in-laws are going to try taking the kids overnight this Saturday! I am so excited!!! I hope it goes well so it can happen more than one time!!!

Sunday we hung out at home and played/worked outside! It was nice to not have to go anywhere!

Not much new...

I finally remembered to bring my camera to work so here is a picture of Abby walking on the top of her toes.

Abby is still enjoying dance class and Gavin is loving tumbling at the Y!

Here are some other random pictures of the kids!

Making progress on getting rid of the nuks!

I have learned over the past week that the kids only "need" their nuks when they are with Pat and/or I! They don't use them at all during the week while we are at work. On Saturday they spent the day with my in-laws and didn't use the nuks all day...not even for nap. the minute I got there to pick them up they started whining and asking for their nuks!

so yesterday we didn't give them their nuks all day until bedtime. both kids had a few meltdowns and tantrums when I told them their nuks were only for bedtime. I am hoping within a week we can get rid of them for good. I am tired of looking for them when they misplace them!

Potty training is still going really well for Abby and Gavin will occasionally go on the potty. I think he will be a little bit yet!

Gavin started Tumble Tots at the Y last Thursday...he loves it and it allows him to run off some energy! Abby still loves dance class and likes to show off the things she has learned!

Is Summer ever coming?

Well we are into Week 2 of the kids being home for the summer and not at daycare! So far it is going really well. Gavin gets to sleep in and I get extra time to get ready for work and have actually been on time most days! that is a big change!

Abby just finished up her Spring dance class. She loves it and has actually learned some stuff! After watching her on her tippy toes I am confident we got her in the right class! she curls her toes under and then walks on them...my camera needs to be charged but once it is charged i will add a picture! She is also doing really well potty training! but when she doesn't make it to the bathroom she cries "I didn't make it" as she pees all over the floor wherever she is standing. it is actually quite comical!

Gavin is definitely all boy! He is very into wrestling, climbing, hitting and biting right now! We are working on controlling these behaviors but Abby gets most of it directed at her! I am looking for something to get Gavin in since Abby has dance and Pat doesn't really want him in that! Hopefully we can find something at the Y for a boy not quite 3.

Wordless Wednesday

Same old...

Don't have much to report...my recovery of my wrist surgery is taking longer than planned. I had physical therapy on Tuesday and thought that would be my last one but I still can't bend my wrist as far as prior to surgery so have to go 2x per week for the next 2 weeks and then hopefully will be done. But at least I am done with the big bandage and the splint!

Gavin is doing well...he is such a sweet boy. Lately he has been so nice to his sister. When she throws a tantrum about something he will get her whatever she wants or even give up what he has to make her happy (or maybe he just wants her to stop screaming...)

Abby is also doing well. She has been doing really well at daycare wearing her big girl undies and staying dry. Now if she can just figure out how to do that at home we will be well on our way to being potty trained! She is enjoying dance class and also has a new talent! She curls her toes under and and then walks on them. I am in pain just watching her but doesn't seem to bother her at all. I will try to post a picture to show what I am talking about...hard to explain!

Back to work!

I am finally back to work!! I got approval from my doctor around 10:30 yesterday!! I am still typing with one hand so am pretty slow getting things done but it beats sitting home!

Abby had her first dance class last night. She did great and had lots of fun. At the beginning of class she didn't want to go in and started crying saying she needed Gavin...I guess maybe we need to split them up once in awhile!

While Abby was at class Pat took Gavin by the river to see the ducks and geese. He thought that was great!

What's new with the Kennedy's

Last Wednesday I had a ganglion cyst removed from my left wrist. I thought I would be back to work on Friday but my doctor has me off until May 19th. I am trying to get him to release me early but so far no luck. I should be making good use of my time off and be studying for the CPA exam but I always seem to find better things to do!!

Abby has a follow up appointment on Friday for her ear infection. She has been on 2 antibiotics and it still isn't completely cleared up...hopefully soon!

Gavin went to the allergist and they didn't anything he is allergic to but he did have a slight reaction to cats and since we have 2 cats we have to keep an eye on him! So I guess all his health problems are related to his tonsils/adenoids.

Abby starts dance class tonight...I hope she has fun. I am still looking for an event for Gavin to do!

The illnesses continue!

We met with the ENT doctor last week and he thinks Gavin is on the path to having his adenoids and tonsils removed...but thinks he is too young to do it now. So his advice was to try and get him through the summer and re-evaluate in the fall. He did not think it was allergy related so I cancelled the allergist appointment!

Gavin is still miserable so I called our regular doctor and he thinks we should see the allergist so we are back on for Tuesday!

Abby went back to the doctor last Thursday...her ears were still draining and they stink! So we found out the antibiotic she was on did not work and she is on a new antibiotic that she hates so medicine time has become a real challenge...thank goodness for M & Ms!

The kids did get to play outside quite a bit this weekend...Gavin has a new motorcycle that he LOVES and rides it all the time. Abby sometimes rides with him or she rides her little 4 wheeler but gets really mad when the battery drains (which is quite quickly when they ride in the grass!)

I will post pictures of them riding together tonight or tomorrow and will keep everyone updated on our illnesses!

More illnesses

Last week Friday Gavin went to the doctor for a cold. Deep cough, runny noes, fever. He was put on antibiotic and then Wednesday I got a call from daycare that his ears were draining and he said they hurt. I was in Madison for work so I told daycare Thursday morning that I was going to call and get him into the doctor sometime during the day. Between leaving the daycare and getting to work (about 15 minutes) I got a call from daycare that Abby's right ear was also draining so I might want to get her in also!

So we got the kids in at 3 yesterday and Abby is now on antibiotic and Gavin is going back to the ENT doc next Tuesday and the allergist on Wednesday. Our doctor said that Gavin's glands are swollen in his neck and his sinuses are not draining properly which is creating the ear drainage. So he wants us to see the ENT doc to check out Gavin's adnoids (sp) and tonsils. He also thinks it could be allergy related so we scheduled the allergist appointment but have to see what the ENT doc thinks.

Wordless Wednesday

Crabby, Crabby, Crabby

Today Gavin woke up on the wrong side of his toddler bed!!! And it continued until bedtime! This morning he screamed (not cried, screamed) about having to get dressed. He didn't want clothes on, he wanted to wear his PJ's. Then he screamed because he didn't want shoes on, or his coat. After we finally got everything on so we could head to daycare then he didn't want to get in mommy's car, he wanted daddy's car. We finally get in mommy's car and he is screaming because he doesn't want to be buckled. So I try some reverse psychology and close the door and get into the drivers seat...of course then he is crying because he wants to be buckled! We get to daycare and he wants to be carried in. When we get inside the teacher peels him off me and I tell them good luck, have a good day and head to work. I like my job but I have never been so happy to go to work!

Abby is still having sleep issues. She has to have someone in her room to fall asleep and she ususally wakes up between 12 and 1 and comes in our room. I keep hoping it is a phase that will pass but I am starting to think we might have to go back to the cry it out method to get her to go to sleep on her own. Usually when she comes in our room I carry her back to her bed but sometimes I don't even really know she got up until I wake up and she is next to me! I might try the sleeping bag on the floor next to our bed and tell her she can sleep there!

Both kids are really talking a lot and their "stories" are quite entertaining! Both kids heard a girl at daycare say someone was having a pity party for themselves and they were all excited and wanted to have a pity party! If they only knew!!

Not sure I will get back on before the weekend so if not Happy Easter everyone!

Fun with Stickers!

The kids had lots of fun decorating my car for me with their stickers! We were on our way back from the play area at the mall and they kept themselves very busy! I was brave one night and took the kids by myself to the mall to run off some energy! I was happily surprised at how good they were...sometimes they run wild and don't listen to me!

Abby is now in her big girl bed! She likes her bed but she started last weekend not liking bedtime so she wants someone to sit in her room with her until she falls asleep and often wakes up in the middle of the night and ends up in our bed! Hopefully this is a stage that will soon pass!

Yesterday Gavin got sent home from daycare because he threw up. He continued throwing up until about 8 PM and then was fine. The weird thing is he really had no other symptoms than throwing up and he wanted to eat, he just couldn't keep any food down. I am hopeful he is the only one that gets it!

Weekend

Friday night Pat and I went out with some friends and had a blast! (a much needed break!)

On Saturday I took the kids to an Easter egg hunt put on by the mother of multiples club. Our babysitter Shanel came with to help out with the kids so I could help set up. The kids didn't really get the concept of finding eggs and putting them in their bags. They would find them and tell us they found them but just leave them on the ground! Abby is scared of the Easter Bunny so she would cling to whoever was near her when the Easter bunny came around!

Saturday night Abby screamed when it was bedtime and did not want to go to bed. She wanted mommy or daddy to sit in her room with her and when we would leave the room she figured out how to climb out of her crib and would scream at the door. So Pat laid on the floor in her room to calm her down. She has a cold so I thought maybe that was the problem but she did it again last night. She is also a huge fit/tantrum thrower and it is very trying on the patience!!

Sunday we just hung out at home and did some cleaning and playing!

oh...the kids had a lot of fun on their field trip but I forgot the camera so no pictures! both kids went down the big slide by themselves!

I wish I known this 2 years ago!

At my twins club meeting this past Thursday people were sharing their tips on saving money. Two moms said they make their own baby wipes. I had never heard of this but it sounded so easy! I bought all the ingredients over the weekend (the hardest item to find was a container to put them in!) and made some on Sunday! I LOVE them! They smell great and are gentle on Abby's sensitive skin!

I only wish I had known this when they were born...I think we could have saved a lot of money and maybe even saved Abby from some nasty diaper rashes!

Tomorrow the kids have another field trip that I am helping with. Gavin asked if daddy was going and I said no...then Gavin said Daddy not going, Daddy too big. it is so cute! I wil try to remember to bring my camera and post pictures tomorrow after the field trip!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

My goal is to blog at least twice a week (hopefully more!)

Updates on the kids, Gavin had to call me from daycare last Friday to tell me he went poop on the potty! He was so excited!!! He is starting to do really well going potty so I am hoping by the end of summer we will be completely potty trained! Abby is still doing well but not ready for training pants quite yet!

I got the kids a little store that came with play money and a play credit card. Abby asked what the credit card was and I told her that when we go shopping you use it to charge it. Now she says we go shopping, charge it! it is very cute! and we because we laughed at her she says it more often.

Here are some photos of the kids in their St. Patrick's attire!

I need more hours in my day

I am so far behind in blogging...I just can't seem to find the time to blog! I always have intentions of doing it before I go to bed at night but I get busy doing stuff after the kids go to bed and never get to it!

Not much new to report...Abby is still working on potty training and I think Gavin is getting closer...he now tells me when he has pooped and wants to be changed! The kids still use their nuks! We will get rid of them by the time they turn 3! I am just not ready to deal with Abby's tantrums when she can't have her nuk!

here are some pictures from our trip to Funset Boulevard last weekend!