Hook 'Em

We had to show our support of the Longhorns!! Hook 'em!!!!!! Aren't my two little ones just the cutest in their burnt orange??


We were sad to see them lose, but going to the National Championship has bragging rights on its own! Better luck next year Horns!

P.S. This was the same night that Sophie hurt her elbow, so Gabe was definitely happy with the ER and that we made it back home in time for kick-off! Lol!

It Wouldn't Be An Exciting Day Without A Trip To The ER!

It finally happened!! Zachary was a little TOO rough with his Baby Sister.

I was downstairs getting dinner and dessert prepared. The kids were upstairs in Sophie's room playing. This is something they usually do everyday. They really do play really well together (most times). They were being pretty quiet when Zach came out and said that Sophie hurt her arm. I didn't pay too much attention to it because I didn't hear Sophie crying about anything. A couple of minutes later, I hear a "boom" overhead and then I hear crying. I rush upstairs and she is laying on the floor beside her big bed. I immediately pick her up to make it all better and when she stopped crying, I put her down to continue finishing dinner. Sophie follows me into the kitchen and she is still kind of whining about being hurt. At first I just thought she needed more attention, but when I really looked at her, I could tell something was wrong. I just got this uneasy feeling. I started asking her questions, and poking and prodding her. I noticed that when I went to touch her left arm, she would get upset. And then she started telling me that it "hurt." So that's when I call on Zach. I needed him to tell me exactly what happened! He proceeds to tell me that they were "going to sleep" (pretend) and Sophie needed help getting on the bed. So he pulled her hand to try to help her up on the bed. Aha! I knew it had to be her shoulder or her elbow.
I then call Gabe to ask if it is possible for your elbow to pop out of socket. He says "yes, why?" I explain to him what is going on. Luckily, he was already on his way home.
While we waited for Daddy to get home, I sat with her on the couch consoling her. And I watched her to see what she would do. She would not use her left arm what so ever! And every once in a while she would complain about it hurting. My poor baby. I felt so bad for her.
When Gabe got home, we decided to take her to the ER clinic. There was obviously something seriously wrong. We arrived at the ER, signed in, and sat down to wait. We waited for maybe 10 minutes and were called back. Remember, Sophie does not like the doctor's office. She gets a little freaked out with the strangers, equipment, etc. We explained what happened, the nurse took her temp and listened to her heart and then the doctor came in. The doctor was really nice. She knew Sophie was upset, so she eased her way closer to her, trying to gain her trust, gave her a toy to distract her and when Sophie really wasn't paying attention, she grabbed her arm and bent it back (like she was going to arrest her- that's the only way I could explain it) and said, "There it is. It's back in place!" I couldn't believe it! That was it?? Sophie cried a little bit when she popped it back in, but that was it. No high pitch screaming/crying!!
The doctor then asked us to hang out for just a little bit to make sure she was all right and that she began to use that arm again. I mean, not even a minute later, Sophie was playing, banging on the toy box, lifting the lid, etc. It was night and day! Gabe and I couldn't believe it. We couldn't help but laugh! :)
What happened to her is called "Nursemaid's Elbow." This is a common condition which can come from pulling on the outstretched hand or forearm of a child, usually under the age of four. The doctor explained that the bone is like the end of a pencil, so it can slip out very easily when pulled on. As the child grows, the bone then begins to flare out so that it doesn't slip out as easily anymore. Since this did happen to Sophie, she will be prone for it to happen again. But she will outgrow this. Thank goodness!
So she was all better after the doctor's quick moves. We had a chat with Zachary afterwards. We couldn't be mad at him though. He was actually just trying to help his sister- this time! :)
Now, about this ER clinic... it was great!! Minimal wait time, friendly/helpful staff, clean, close to home... we couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you need emergency care, this is the place to go- 24 Hour Emergency Room on Tomball Parkway. My sisters have both had pleasant experiences there also.
Zach liked it too... he got to pick a toy out of the treasure chest and the nice nurse gave them juice boxes! He asked if we could go back again. Ummm, let's not hope for that one! :)

Our New Year Pics

We went to my parent's house to ring in the New Year. I had forgotten that I took a few pictures of the kids while we were there. As always, we ate good and spent some quality time with the family. The kids enjoyed riding "to town" with Papa, playing with Cousin Cole & Emma, riding the golf cart, feeding the fish, and hanging outside. Go figure!! :)

23 MONTHS!

Oh. My. Gosh! Somebody tell me it isn't true! My Baby Girl will be a two-year-old in a month!! I can't believe it! She has just gotten soo big lately- she's growing up too fast! I have to admit, part of me is happy that she is turning two, but a big part of me is getting a little sentimental about the whole thing. She will always be my Baby Girl, but won't always be a baby.

Having an older sibling, I know she will be a quick learner, but she has really been impressing me lately. She is starting to say short sentences, or I guess, phrases. And TONS of words!! There is no way I could list them all now. I really just need to catch her on camera one of these days, but I know she will be distracted by the camera and I won't get to accomplish what I want to.

The other morning I brought her downstairs and she just started pointing at everything and naming it. Crazy! She really picks up a lot from us. She is very observant (like someone else I know).

My favorite things she says now:
Luv you, Mama.
Let's go, Mama.
Look, Mama. And then when I do look, she says, "See?"
Zach! Where are you?
Ponytail. Which means she wants a ponytail. :)
Hi, Mama. Most times she is saying it just to say hi. But sometimes she is saying it to distract me from what she is doing. Because what she is doing, she's not supposed to be doing. And she knows this. Tricky.
Hook 'em Horns! I just taught her this tonight. :)

She got two baby dolls for Christmas and she loves playing with them. She pushes them in their stroller, feeds them in their highchair, and puts them to sleep in the playpen. Already such a good little mama. :)

She still follows Zach all around the house and pretty much has to do what he is doing. But when she gets a mind of her own and wants to do her own thing... Lord, have mercy! Or when they both want the same toy at the SAME time! Whew! I think the neighbors can hear them screaming and yelling. And then I have to yell just so they can hear me!!

I have to explain to Zach, "let her have it and then in a little while, she will bring it back to you." Sometimes this works. Sometimes it doesn't. :)
She loves music and is such a little ham when she dances. Cracks me up everytime!

And I love to watch her "pretend." She will grab my measuring spoons/cups or her "play" food and bring me meals and drinks. And she will sometimes even make sound effects while she is "cooking." Too cute!!

Oh, I almost forgot. We are a paci-free household!! Yea! We took Zach's away when he was 1. That WAS the plan with Sophie, but we never really followed through with it (obviously). Well, I figured that 2 would definitely be the time. I thought that taking it away from her would be a little more tramautic, so I kept telling her that we were going to give it to Santa. But then I started thinking, "Do I really want her hating Santa for taking away her paci?" Lol. So we threw out that plan and decided just to go cold turkey again. It worked for Zach, so it would work for her! She had it Christmas morning when she woke up, and that's when it magically disappeared! She hasn't had it since! Of course she asked for it at naptime, but after that it has been all good. I am so proud of my Baby Girl!!!

HAPPY 23 MONTH BIRTHDAY, SOPHIE! MOMMY & DADDY LOVE YOU!

It's Fixed!

Okay, I got the slideshow pics up and running again!! Check it out... you can see how you might think that my kids are a little spoiled at Christmastime! Lol!