A Very Happy Girl!

Lorelei celebrated a great birthday, both on the day of her actual birthday and at her party a few days later.  We decided to celebrate at The Little Gym this year and she ended up with 19 friends that were able to join her.  The party was large, but I think overall everyone had a great time!  We had wanted her to have a day that was all about her, and it ended up she had two such days. 

For her birthday dinner Lorelei wanted to have McDonald's and then we surprised her with an ice cream cake.

Of course family and friends alike spoiled Lorelei for her birthday.  And despite this posting not being about Ethan, he too benefited from Lorelei's birthday.  I had to post the following picture of his newest toy and his reaction to it...it was just too cute!  Thanks Omi!

Back to Lorelei - this year we decided to use some of the points on one of our cards to get her a Nintendo DS.  We figured in addition to it being something she would really enjoy (she's been asking for one for a while), it could come in very handy for any appointments she needs to attend for Ethan.  She was obviously stunned by the present as she asked, "Did you guys really get a DS for me?"  Although she really loved that present, it didn't stop her from enjoying each one she opened afterwords including stopping to flip through a book before moving on. 

Since I did not ask anyone for permission to post their children on my blog, I will not include any of the party, but here is one of the cake...

...and one of her when she was taking a break to pose while opening presents later at home in her fairy halo.  During this time too, she stopped to read a book before moving on to the next present.

I still can't believe my baby girl is already 6 years old.  Where has the time gone?

A Day to Celebrate...

Six years ago today, we eagerly welcomed Lorelei into our lives.  As mentioned around Ethan's birthday, my water broke at 3 am and we arrived at the hospital at 4 am (the same times 2.5 years later with Ethan).  Only with this trip, my mom joined us...and of course they both had to shower and grab a coffee before we could leave (Seriously? My water broke, we should get in!).  Our car had been acting up and we had no lights (except high beams) for the drive to the hospital.  We did pass a police car, but thankfully did not get pulled over.

Lorelei just shy of 1 year old, in Alberta.  Notice the yellow tag?  It was from her hospital stay in Alberta.  She caught a GI bug and required IV fluids.  It was a scary period for us (not being used to hospitals or children in them).  It took several tries and a fair bit of extra money but we eventually got to fly home.  She was still a bit sick when we came home but recovered well enough.

Once in hospital, they hooked me up to the monitors and let me pace a bit before they decided to induce me because I was not progressing in labour.  I remember it being the worst feeling, it felt like I was going through all the labour pains but there was no real change in the actual progress of the labour.  A long 25 hours, an epidural (after 12 hours and their promise the baby would not come that night) and two emeses (sorry mom) later and we were thrilled to hear the cooing of our new baby.  She made the sweetest sound when she was born.  All around us we could hear the screams of babies (and in some cases their moms), but our little girl came out cooing.  We later found out you really want them to cry to clear their airway, when she threw up the next day or so.  It was exciting and so new to us...the lack of sleep as we settled into life with a baby was difficult to deal with at the time.  She came home before we named her as we could not settle on a name, but within the next couple days we decided on Lorelei.  A beautiful name with a beautiful folk tale for a beautiful child.

Just before her 2nd birthday, Lorelei was helping daddy build a deck.

Here she is hanging out with her baby brother, just before her 3rd birthday.

Just after Lorelei turned 4 we brought her and Ethan to the park.  It was Ethan's first time at a park.

Now six years later she is still as chatty as ever and will be entering Grade 1 in September.  She has been in mixed ages care (up to 12 years old) and wants to shed a lot of the 'baby' things from her life.  They grow up so fast and it is hard to think of her as growing up.  She will always be my baby girl!  And I want her to hold on to as much of her youth as she can.  There is always time to grow up later!

Last year she was delighted to celebrate with her Nan & Pop.

On a side note, Ethan did great at his MRI today and we got home earlier than expected so we were able to have dinner, cake and presents with Lorelei.  :)

Sometimes Things Just Come Together...

(Quickly touch wood!)  Things seem to be really coming together for Ethan right now.  He is stronger physically than he has been in a long time; he is in good health (except his odd poops); he is in good spirits; he passed his preadmit appointment today; the GI doctor was able to check out his bottom and suggested something to treat the sores he has right now, he doesn't think Ethan is still c difficile positive (but we have yet to test that part); and as we were heading out of the hospital today they came to me to see if we would be able to fill the 4 pm MRI spot for tomorrow.  Life is good right now (again touching wood - we've become a bit superstitious when it comes to his health), and I am excited for him.  On Friday we see his orthopedic surgeon to see how we will proceed regarding his scoliosis.

Update Since Hospital Stay

Ethan was discharged from hospital on Sunday, June 26.  He came home still somewhat congested and still having active signs of C difficile.  The morning before his discharge, we noticed he'd lost a tooth.  They did some blood work and his results came back okay.  But on Wednesday, he lost another tooth...and then another.  In total he is now missing 6 teeth.  I brought him to the dentist last week and new x-rays were done.  We know he will be losing another two teeth soon as they no longer have any roots to keep them in.  We're not sure if he is just swallowing them or what is happening with them as we have not seen any of the teeth, just the hole that is left behind.  The dentist also thinks there might be some bone loss happening, and hopes to consult with a bunch of people to see if we can find a reason for his rapid resorption and to try and stop it.

He has been home over a week now and is doing well.  Without the dirty details his stools have changed and we think he is well on the way to recovery now.

Auntie Ashley and Pepere came to visit over the long weekend and I copied out the pictures Auntie Ashley took (or let us take with her nice camera).

On her first day of summer vacation, Lorelei went to the before/after program and they celebrated Canada Day (note her tattoos).  On Canada Day, Lorelei had a busy one.  We started the day at our neighbour's house with a pancake breakfast for those who live on our street.

The balloon Lorelei is playing with came from the pancake breakfast.  Once they had tidied up after the event they brought her the balloon.  (I thought that was awfully sweet of them.)

She then spent the rest of the morning outside with her Auntie Ashley and Pepere.  The afternoon was spent celebrating her friend's 6th birthday and she was to join us for fireworks that night so I had her take a nap against her wishes.  When she got up from her nap she did not feel very well and put herself back to bed.  She essentially slept through to the next morning and missed all the festivities.   I think she may have had too much sun as she was feeling fine the next day.  Luckily there were more fireworks near our house on the 2nd that she was able to watch and we had front row seats.  I was impressed that the noise did not startle her.  She loved it and journaled about it later at home.

Although he looks serious in the picture above, Ashley took consecutive pictures of him so she caught him when he'd closed his mouth to swallow.  He is busy watching TV.

The above and below pictures are to show how bad his tooth loss is becoming.  The two teeth you see above, are the two we know do not have any roots left.  :(