More Questions

Those of you who follow the blog regularly know that our daughter, GO, hasn't been growing.  She is almost 13 months old and is still in size 1 diapers and wearing 3-6 month clothes.

We saw her specialist today, in the hopes of hearing the results to a few tests that had been run, instead we found out that the tests weren't run correctly - and, now that her specialist has seen (with her own eyes) 3 months of "growth retardation", she wants to move forward quickly.

GO is being admitted to the Children's Hospital here in-town, tomorrow.  We don't know for how long, though it looks like at least a week, due to the fact that they have to run tests, diagnose the problem, attempt to fix (with medicine or whatever) the problem, then they want to have her show some sort of measurable growth before they release her.

I was sort of expecting a 24 hour in-patient thing, not a week (or longer).

Please be in prayer.  We wait here at home tomorrow until the nurse calls to tell us a bed is ready.  Then GO and I will head to the hospital to check in.

We have SO many praises, right now - the hospital is practically within walking distance of Hubby's workplace, it's on the campus of the university he works at.  He'll be able to continue working (and not having to take sick leave), but be there for any tests and at lunch and after work every day.  We have a doctor who is committed to solving this mystery (she's wonderful, I've never had a doctor HUG me before!).  I have faith in God and the doctors who have studied and have such a love for children that they would come to work in a Children's Hospital.

And think of B10 and CW when you can.  They won't be able to see their sister while she is in the hospital, and they both are already missing her (she's going to miss them TERRIBLY!).

I managed to capture a photo of her sleeping peacefully in her crib tonight.  I am hoping tomorrow brings the start of many answers to our questions.

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

B10's Frog

B10 invited Prince over to play down in the creek next to our house.  When it was time to come home, he arrived with this treasure:

Hubby brought GO outside, so B10 could show it to her.

She just GIGGLED and LAUGHED as the frog hopped and jumped around.

B10 was so proud to be able to show her something he loves.

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Snow Day!

Dixie took off work today, and we had made plans to go see Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief (EXCELLENT - BTW).

When she arrived, the snow had just started falling.

By the time we got out of the movie and got home, there was a nice layer on the ground.

At bedtime, the snow had gotten pretty thick.  We snuggled down and watched the Opening of the Winter Olympics, with a bit of "Undercover Boss" (excellent show!).

This morning, the snow was even thicker, and we let B10 and CW go out and play.

Hubby went out to take pictures and have a small snowball fight with the boys.

It doesn't snow often here, but it is so beautiful when it does!

And we're expecting even more on Tuesday!  Keep safe everyone.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

Eggs Over Easy

B10 has slowing been working on adding different foods to his repertoire, so today when Queen was here, she showed him how to make his own eggs-over-easy.  He was really proud of how well he did with the hot skillet (and non-scratching tools).

Plus, Queen had a huge smile on her face - she had quite a bit of fun teaching him!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

GO's Doctor's Appt - 1 Year

Well, today was GO's one year appointment with our regular doctor.  Ever since she heard that cousin Baby Sheep went to the doctor (as chronicled here), GO has been excited about visiting.  Okay, maybe not...but Hubby and I were hoping she was gaining weight, so we were excited!

The doctor was great, the news wasn't quite so good.  GO gained basically nothing and is at 14 lbs 14 oz.  We were praying for her to hit the 15 lb mark.

She didn't gain anything in height or in head circumference, either.

We were happy, because it seemed she was outgrowing her 3-6 month clothes (she's been about the size of an average 4 month old for almost 7 months).  But, when we put a few 6-9 month outfits on her, we realized it's just that her 3-6 month outfits are shrinking from being washed and dried so much.  The 6-9 month fuzzy footed sleeper is so big on her, she can get her legs up into her chest and then down the wrong side and gets all tangled up.

It's so frustrating on that level, because we really don't want to buy more 3-6 month clothes, but don't have much of a choice.

She received 3 immunizations (Hep B, Chicken Pox, MMR) - which was only half of what she still needed.  However, our doctor has been good about helping us to spread them out.  Developmentally she's doing great otherwise.  She's meeting her milestones, and should be walking soon. (Although, she has little motivation to walk, since she learned to say "Ba Up", which means "Brothers, Pick Me Up!" - which is exactly what her brothers do!)

Please keep her in your prayers.  We had a lab test done, and now we are waiting to see the Specialist in about 2 weeks.  We just need answers, so we can make sure she is getting the best care possible.

Thank you,
Lone Butterfly  )i(

Walt Disney World Vacation - Auntie Mimi Photos

This is a collection of photos taken by Auntie Mimi over the course of the 4 days she spent with us in Walt Disney World.  In no particular order (and with limited commentary):

CW loves making his "face"...

The outside of the cabin!

Toy Story Mania!  (See all the people? And the rest of the park was practically empty.)

Remember the night of the 24 oz steak?  These are the darling servers, and the rest of the story:

(Nothing wrong with a little rice ice cream with your steak!)

Waiting in the Tower of Terror Line:

The cupcakes at Hollywood and Vine:

More lightsabering:

Auntie Mimi's cool shades:

Inside the LEGO Store at Downtown Disney:

And, perhaps my favorite photo of the set, outside Once Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney:

My kids crack me up...

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Walt Disney World Vacation - Day 10

Home again, home again, jiggity-jog!

We woke up around 8:30 am, which wasn't bad considering we hadn't made it to Valdosta until around 1:45 am in the morning.  Country Inn and Suites has a great breakfast, then we told the Caterpillars that we could swim before getting back into the car.

Everyone enjoyed the warm pool and hot tub.  It was great for our sore muscles!  I came back to the room about 20 minutes earlier than the rest of the family, so I could pack everything up and lay out clean clothes to wear for the Caterpillars.

They hauled most of it to the truck for us, though! :D

Then, as a special treat, we grabbed Starbucks before getting back on the interstate.

We did a bit of goecaching on the way home.

And made it back, safe and sound, by around 5 pm today.  The best part of the whole day?  Hubby and I were back in our bedroom talking, while I was feeding GO - and Hubby kept saying how much he dreaded unloading the truck.

When we went back into the front of the house - B10 and CW had done the ENTIRE TRUCK themselves!  They had popped open the trunk and gotten EVERY SINGLE bag and and suitcase into the living room!  Without being asked!  Hubby did a jig for joy!

The trip was amazing fun and we are excited about returning someday.  But for now, we are glad to be home!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Walt Disney World Vacation - Day 9

Our final day at Walt Disney World is also CW's 8th Birthday.  We got him this hat, which he said he was going to wear ALL DAY on his birthday (and as you'll see from the pictures, by golly, he did!).

Our breakfast was VERY early in the morning, we had a 7:05 am seating at Chef's Mickey's with all the "main" characters.

I love the look on GO's face in this picture - it's like "Brother?  What ARE you wearing on your head?"

Once she saw it light up, she was enthralled and kept trying to grab the candles.

The breakfast was a buffet, and the characters wandered around to meet and greet, starting right after we sat down.

You won't see many pictures of GO, because she HATED these large creatures that kept interrupting her breakfast.  There was lots of screaming.

Here she is, about to lash out at Pluto (poor dog).

CW received a Pirate Birthday Cake, complete with Pirate Treasure Chest.

I love this picture - and I PROMISE I made him eat more than bacon and cake for breakfast (although, that would be pretty cool if you were a kid, right?).

Once the critters stopped coming to our table, GO was much happier and even danced as we sang "Happy Birthday" to CW.

The plan was for Hubby and Auntie Mimi to take GO and return to Fort Wilderness in order to check out of the cabin.  CW, B10 and I rode the monorails to Epcot in order to arrive at opening time.  We rode Test Track and Mission Space while we waited for the rest of our party - then walked over to the Nemo and Friends building - complete with the "Mine, Mine, Mine" seagulls.

Inside, we rode in our "clam-mobiles" through the ride and helped Dory find Nemo.

Our lunch reservation time was 11:45 am, so we made our way to Canada to eat at the fancy restaurant  there.

GO feel asleep as we arrived, but we were there at opening so we were able to hear all the servers sing the Canadian National Anthem. (Very cool, since they all sing it at the same time, 1/2 in French and 1/2 in English.)

CW ordered himself some goodness off the kids menu, but was getting kind of tired from his long day.

He managed to pass out after eating his hot dog, and slept on the bench seat for about 20 minutes (which gave him enough for his second wind).

For our appetizers, B10 and Hubby ordered a trio of cheesy bacon soup, crab pudding and a stacked fresh tomato appetizer.

For lunch (thank goodness for our Dining Plan), we all ordered $32 steaks.  Even B10 loved his!

Dessert was the best part, however.  B10 got something called a s'more - look at it's ooey-goodness!

Auntie Mimi had the creme brulee, which she enjoyed.

I had blood orange sherbet - my favorite dessert of the trip!

Hubby had the "cutest" dessert, though - the Chocolate Moose!

After lunch (and waking up the birthday boy), we walked towards France to begin the first Kim Possible Mission.  It was sheer luck that we were able to meet Marie (the girl kitten from Aristocats).

GO wasn't freaked out by the giant kitten, but B10 sort of seemed a bit put off by her...

After France, we moved towards Italy, where B10 insisted on having his picture taken with the statue of Posiden (YAY for Percy Jackson!).

Then we went back to ride Mission: Space again - CW put on the astronaut helmet for fun.

And check out the "Turtle Talk with Crush" - (everyone repeat after me "NA-NU").

Crossing back into the World Showcase, B10 noticed the large turtle in the water and insisted we get a picture.

In the World Showcase we walked to China, in order to meet Mulan.

I love how Mulan calls little girls "Warriors", instead of "Princesses".  She makes me so happy!

CW and B10 stopped to watch the Child Acrobat team that comes from China on a rotating 6 month basis.  It was an amazing show.

Hubby helped the boys finish the Germany and Norway Kim Possible Missions, then CW dropped off the cell phone in the secret hiding place.

Before we left Epcot, the boys wanted to ride "Sum of All Thrills" (an AMAZING simulation game, where you design your own roller coaster, by Raytheon).  I took GO to the Baby Care center and changed her into her jammies, fed her some dinner and called BooSheep to get an update on the Super Bowl.

Dinner was in Japan at the Hibachi Grill, Teppan Edo.

There were lots of sushi and shrimp appetizers and tempura battered chicken.

Oh, how B10 loved the sushi...

This was my first time having a female chef, who was wonderful and very funny.

At the end of the meal, I took B10 and CW out to the 2nd level balcony of the restaurant to watch my favorite fireworks show: Epcot's IllumiNations.

The Caterpillars loved it.  They really enjoyed the music and watching the fireworks and lights.

We all walked to the entrance, to put Auntie Mimi back on the bus to pick up her luggage, and we were getting in our car to begin the drive to Valdosta.

Everyone said goodnight and goodbye (with minimal tears).

It's a long drive to Valdosta - but tomorrow is HOME!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(