Mini Vacation

Dave took some time off this holiday break to help me with the kids, so we decided to take an overnight trip to Ocean City, Maryland on Sunday. It was a perfect day for it. Temperatures were in the upper 60's! We started the day in Lewes, Delaware. Stopped for some pizza and then to the beach at Fort Henolopen, Delaware. It was so beautiful. It was warm and hardly anybody was there. We took a walk, and the girls got crazy running around and playing in the sand. We then drove to Ocean City, took a walk on the empty boardwalk, had dinner, and the kids really enjoyed swimming at the hotel indoor pool.

Everyone was excited to sleep in the hotel. Amelia in the pull out sofa bed, Dave in one bed, Ava in the pack-n-play, Drew & I in the other bed. Ava and Amelia were telling knock-knock jokes about poop. You know the one, "Knock-Knock", "Who's there?", "Poop-poop". Oh, that was funny...... Then about 7:45pm, Amelia told Dave to turn the TV off for bed. This was the first time in our "hotel career" that a first night away from home went so smoothly. I went to the bathroom about 9:45pm. While I was gone Andrew let out a noise, "Where are you Mom?" and the minute I got back to bed, his eyes were closed, I laid down next to him and he gave me the hugest grin I've ever seen.

We woke up Monday for more swimming and then a leisurely out of the way drive home, and a stop for lunch at my favorite crab house on Kent Island.

Christmas 2008

The kids were off school Christmas Eve. Dave worked and got home about 4:30. I had picked up frozen easy to prepare appetizers which we ate, and then off to church for Christmas Eve Mass. After church we drove around the neighborhood checking out all the neighbor's Christmas lights - every house with lights received a "Jingle Bells" serenade from the girls. We got back here, set cookies and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer, left the window unlocked so Santa could come in and deliver presents, and put the kids to bed. Dave and I stayed up wrapping for a few hours. I barely slept that night myself in anticipation of the morning and the kid's reactions.

We all got up around 7:00 am, came down together where Amelia was ready and (is still days later ready for Santa to deliver more presents), Ava wasn't so sure, and Drewsie was ready to dive into his presents with his dad. Andrew's favorite gift is his James Taylor CD, he loves the song "Sweet Baby James", Amelia loves her talking parrot which she witnessed us purchasing by accident at Target the day after Thanksgiving, but hasn't put two and two together, and Ava loves her Christmas PJ's Barbie and her Tinkerbell hair comb (she hasn't stopped brushing her Barbie's hair since).

We then got dressed (yes the girls matched in their red polka dot dresses) and Drewsie looked handsome as always in his red striped polo. Grannie and Uncle Jon stopped by with many more gifts! Thanks Jon & Grannie. We then went to Uncle Josh's house where he made some awesome food and the Kozlowski side of the family ate and the kids exchanged gifts. We then drove straight to Grandma and Grandpa's house (everyone took a snooze on the way) and once there hung out. Uncle Steve and his family arrived. We opened gifts, and had a delicious roast for dinner. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma! We arrived home tired at about 8:30pm (pretty late for us :)!!! Some photos from our day are above.

Have I mentioned my strong desire for chocolate and peppermint?..... I must have.... I now have a wide array of chocolate and peppermint treats!! :))

Doctor Appointment Update - GOOD!!

Went to see the doctor today. All is GOOD!! The sonogram tech first checked the baby's heartbeat - 153 beats - GOOD! , then all the standard baby measurements - measuring 2 days ahead, and actually weighing 1lb 4oz (44.8%) - GOOD! The kidneys have not shown an increase in fluid - GOOD!, the "lake" is no longer there or hardly noticeable - GOOD! After the technician did her job, Dr. Pinckert came in and was very kind to say that he is happy things are going so well for me - GOOD! My BP is 116/63, weight 168lbs and urine fine - GOOD!!

All is GOOD!!! My next appt. will be in 2 weeks.

Ava came home from her Christmas party today with a note from Santa where she asked for "a little boy, Shrek, and clothes".

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

The 7 sick days before Christmas...

Well, after Amelia's party last weekend Ava woke from her nap and vomited, also had a fever. By Monday morning Dave was sick with a head cold and was worn out. By Wednesday I took a very miserable Ava to the doctor - she had an ear infection. By Wednesday evening Drew was sick, took him to the doctor on Thursday afternoon to find he had an ear infection also. Andrew missed school Thursday and Friday. By Friday afternoon I was sick with the head cold. There was a lot of running around last week for the holidays. This past weekend was all about rest and recovery. It was actually nice because we didn't really run around aimlessly. All of our Christmas shopping and errands are mostly done.

We picked up Andrew's new wheelchair last Thursday. He has pretty much outgrown his old chair which we purchased about 4 years ago. His new chair is covered mostly by insurance... which is a good thing because we don't have the $12,100 to pay out of pocket for it!! Amelia went to "green school" this morning for her Christmas party where she met Santa and told him she would like, "a real fish, a real humpback whale and a real seal" for Christmas. Ava's school party with Santa is tomorrow. Andrew went to school for a half day and came home with his own Christmas treats. School is on for tomorrow, but after that there's the break until after New Years.

I am 23 weeks pregnant and am going for a check up tomorrow. My belly is definately pregnant looking now and is really heavy feeling, my left leg has an ache from the hip bone to the top of my thigh - but no complaints. I feel the baby moving a lot and hope to keep things as smooth as possible.

AMELIA'S 5th BIRTHDAY!!

Today Amelia is 5 years old! We celebrated Saturday with our family. The only help I could get from Amelia when planning her party was that she wanted the theme of Spongebob Squarepants, so..... Spongebob decorations, Pin the pants on Spongebob game, Spongebob Mac & Cheese and sponge painting. Dave and I decorated the kitchen Friday night so when Amelia came down on Saturday morning she would be surprised with all the decor. She enjoyed her party and her gifts - lots of her favorites - computer games, ISPY, and sea creatures!

Tonight we'll have a special dinner - with an Amelia favorite "sprinkle chicken" (salmon) and Amelia picked out an oreo pie for dessert.

Happy Birthday Amelia!!

Appointment Update

A few days late here and now I can't find my sticky note with my doctor visit details, but anyways..... went to see Dr. Manley on Wednesday and everything checked out fine. The sonogram tech. looked at the kidneys again and just did a general scan of the baby, but it was too early to measure the age of the baby - so they will do that next visit. As I mentioned everything checked out fine, my BP, urine, and oh yes I do remember my weight - 168lbs. This was the first appt. where the technician showed me the 3d sonogram of the baby's face and I could actually make out her face and her spread out hand up to her face. That was cool. I will go back to the doctor for a routine check December 23rd.

I've been busy this week - running here and there with the kids. On Wednesday after my doctor appt., I had a meeting at Andrew's school, I came home ate a sundae with Dave and by 11:30pm was sick to my stomach for the rest of the night. A few months ago - same thing. Don't know if I ate something bad, or if my nerves got a hold of me again, but by morning I was fine. I asked Dave to stay home with me Thursday to help me out with all going on that day - Andrew - school, Ava- school, Amelia - 5yr check up (where we learned her vision/hearing and overall health is perfect -she's 75% for height and 50% for weight), Amelia - school, Andrew- PT, Amelia & Ava - Preschool Parent's Night out, Rachel, Dave & Drew -Dinner out, Rachel - Grocery shopping. That was THURSDAY!!! Maybe I WAS a bit stressed about all of that!!

Andrew had his holiday program at his school today. The girls and I went today to hang out with him. Santa came to school, with singing, crafts and so on.

Off to get ready for Amelia's Birthday party tomorrow morning. I've been asking her what she wants to do for her party and all she can do is describe exactly what we did for Ava'a party in October. I hope she enjoys her party tomorrow!

( I found my sticky - BP is 106/50)!!!

Pregnancy #5

August of 2006 - We were waiting, and waiting, and waiting on Ava to come home. During this wait I found out I was pregnant - just like all the others, I had the same feelings, I knew right away I was pregnant. I made an appointment to go see the doctors at Georgetown Hospital at 6 weeks pregnancy age - and once again - no heartbeat - another blyted ovum. I remember thinking before the appointment that maybe this time things would be different. I've heard so many stories of couples waiting on an adoption and then they find out they are expecting on their own. I was quick to find out that this wasn't the case with us.

This time around, I did ask my doctor if I could just let the miscarriage happen naturally without any surgery or drugs. Within a few weeks my body did it's job. Before we knew of any of this, Dave and I had planned a trip to Colorado in early September 2006. I miscarried right before this trip and was still miscarrying as we were on the trip. Happy news was coming very soon though- our Ava would be home with us in a matter of weeks.

A Milestone

TWENTY WEEKS TODAY!!!!!!

Today I am twenty weeks pregnant - feeling good, and the baby is growing!!! Yippee!!

Now, PLEASE twenty more weeks of the same.