Five Things Friday

1. We got Karsie this snow suit on clearance (just in case we decide to venture somewhere cold in the next few months)... It is a 0-6 month size.... and she is just swimming in it! If you look at where her feet end, we folded the rest of the leg up under her! She did think the whole adventure of trying it on was quite hilarious!

2. Grumpy wake-up face... Karsie wakes up in the morning and thinks it is the best time of day... most of the time she is pretty happy right after a nap as well. The other day... this was her wake-up face! She looked so mad... and we weren't sure what she was so irked at... cute nonetheless!
3. She has been working on her spitting skills... she spits at the turtle in her gym. She had a massive stare-down with the turtle (for like 20 min.) where she would stare and then spit and then stare and then spit... She probably won that one... the turtle never did get around to spitting back :)
4. Such a cutie... we are having so much fun with her home! Lots of snuggle time! Especially after this week... Monday she got her 6 month shots (3 of them) and then on Wednesday she got her RSV shot (Finally)! She had a bit of a rough week... poor thing gets poked so much... at least once a week lately! Next week she gets no break as we have to go in to the lab and have some blood work :( Still... super cute!

5. We are all set for her baby dedication! Yay! Sunday, February 7th she will be dedicated! We are so excited about this big event in her/our lives!

The "Not So Much News" Announcement

To many of you this isn't really news. We had hoped to put this up earlier, but things haven't been finalized, so we don't want to be premature, but in order to prevent mass hysteria with our family (even though they already know) we'll post it anyway.

After over six months, Karsie is getting dedicated. Assuming things stay the same Karsie will be dedicated on February 7th in San Diego. We are extremely excited about it. We are very honored to have Reuben Welch, someone very special to us, perform the dedication ceremony.

We haven't gotten the official word back from the church yet, so the date may change, but we think it's a go.

Movie Monday

FINALLY!!! It has been a frustrating few days for us in the Turner household. Our computer was freaking out and we couldn't load anything from our camera to the computer. That adding on to the fact that we ran out of space with all the photos we took.

Anyway, this is Karsie's first laughing video. It's a good one. We're going to try and put up a movie/video every Monday. Most of them will be vintage videos at first because we have a few. Okay, we have a ton! We have something important and neat to announce tomorrow. That's not supposed to be a teaser...just more of a reminder. Take care...

Michelle's Blog!

Check out Michelle's new blog... her first official project is up!

pageturnercrafts.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Five Quick Facts About Karsie

1. Karsie will have blonde hair and light eyes. Michelle has blonde hair and blue eyes and Kevin has (had) blonde hair and green eyes. Since both require two genes to make, all our kids will have blonde hair and light eyes (some form of blue and green).

2. Karsie is ticklish on her back. Go figure. It's best right under her shoulders.

3. Karsie's favorite time of day is first thing in the morning. We will wake up many times to her talking to herself in her bed.

4. Karsie watches football. We think it's the color green that she enjoys, but Kevin is very excited about that.

5. Karsie is now mobile. Usually at this point babies are rolling, which she does as much as she can (she once rolled onto her omphalocele), but she doesn't roll completely over from side to side. She moves in a clockwise manner...like really slow breakdancing. She'll stay on her back the whole time but she points a different direction as time goes on. And it is always clockwise.

Five Things Friday

So I had five new things to share today... but the computer will not let me load the new pics.  So... we are doing a pseudo rerun version where I will share some older pics and a couple new things sans pics.

1. Today Karsie is 5 months old for her adjusted age (from her due date).  She is now wearing six month size pajamas and 3-6 month sized onesies!  All this means that Karsie is able to wear these cute outfits from her showers!

2. This picture was taken during my first stint in the hospital on bedrest (bathroom privileges explains why I was out of bed).  This would have been right around 32 weeks.  It just caught my attention while scrolling through the pictures!

3. This was one of my most favorite shower gifts... and I think now it is more appropriate than I could have imagined back then.  Not only does Karsie wear her guts out in front... she is brave and strong... and Gutsy! 

4. I have started the new blog.  It doesn't have anything real fancy up yet... but the site is there and I am trying to get everything ready to start blogging over there for Monday!  You can check it out (and follow if you like) at pageturnercrafts.blogspot.com

5.  Karsie has a johnny-jumper type apparatus (yeah, we know the PT/OT folks probably hate us for that) and she is getting better at using her little legs to move around in it.  Tonight she was in there for about 15-20 minutes and I was showing her how to bounce (a typical teaching moment) and she thought it was the funniest thing ever!  She was doing her tiny little throaty giggle and it was so cute.  I will try to get a video of this... if we can figure out how to get things on the computer again!

Happy Weekend!

New Blog... revisited

Okay... if you stopped by yesterday afternoon you maybe saw a poll and a short blog explaining the poll.  Then very quickly, the poll went away.  

I had been contemplating if I was going to start a new blog for crafting, tutorials, recipes, green living, etc.  Then I thought I would poll all you readers and see what you thought... but then after I posted the poll, I kept thinking and I decided I wanted to make a separate blog from this one... and keep Karsie the main focus of this blog.  So I took down the poll.  I am hoping to start the new blog in a few days... I still need a name for said blog (and am open to suggestions).  I will, of course, let you know when I start the new blog and give you that info in case you care to follow.

So, there you have it... in case you wondered about the short lived poll :)

In other news... Karsie is doing well.  I signed the paperwork yesterday for her RSV shot.  As soon as it gets shipped to the Dr.'s office, I will take her in to get her synagis!  We are enjoying all the rain and wind by spending lots of snuggle time inside!  Also, we still don't have an OK for solids from the GI docs but it is a question we plan on asking at our next visit.  But in the meantime, we have started to let Karsie taste little bits of banana.  I have rubbed the spoon on the banana and then let her lick it.  She isn't even really getting bites, but she is getting the taste.  We have also started giving her spoonfuls of water on occasion to help her get ready for eating from a spoon.  Her OT at Children's wanted her to start on solids as early as the GI docs would allow so she doesn't develop any oral aversions and to keep her orally stimulated.  So... until we see the GI docs, we are letting her play with a new flavor!  

RSV Shot is Approved!!!

Praise the Lord!!!!  

Today, after many phone calls (not all of which were calm and composed)... and yesterday after an angry phone call made by Kevin, we have been approved... 

Karsie is going to get the synagis shot!  We aren't sure how many she will get... but I will go fill out the paperwork tomorrow and then as soon as the medicine gets to the Dr.'s office... she will get the shot to prevent RSV!   

Yay!

Flu Shots

Today we had an appointment with Dr. Suen for Karsie's flu shots. He listened and looked in her ears and didn't see anything to be concerned with!  He told us to continue with her breathing treatments as we have been (short acting as needed during the day and long acting in the morning and again at bedtime).  We also talked about being in limbo for the synagis (RSV shot) still.  Karsie then got her two flu shots (seasonal and H1N1).  She didn't even really cry!  She wasn't thrilled when the medicine was in her leg... but the shots themselves didn't really phase her!  She has been getting a little Tylenol just to help ease any soreness... but otherwise she is doing well! She is now up to 12 lbs. 6 oz.   

We go back in a week for her well baby check up and her 6 month shots... 

Sweet baby helping out with her dressing change!

6 Months!!

Karsie is a half year old today.  It seems unbelievable to us that it has been that long, but on the other hand it also feels like forever ago.  It's weird how that works sometimes.  

It was only a half a year ago that we thought we had lost our little girl.  But after 6 months of fighting and defying odds, Karsie is now happy, breathing, eating/growing, and growing skin (by the way she's almost done).  

We are in a bit of a silent period right now where we don't have any major appointments until February, and even that one probably isn't that big.  It won't be until March/April that we really will start back on the trek of fixing her belly.  But for now we're just enjoying our little one being home. She has now been home for over a month minus the small trip to the hospital here in town. We'll continue to keep you all up to date on her growth and development and our little adventures.  

Five Things Friday

1. Karsie gets breathing treatments twice a day... and she tries to eat the mask the whole time!

2. She is so cute... I had to take some pictures of her on the bed! Love the little bug!!


3. She has been practicing her tummy time every day. She now can tolerate a few minutes before getting really mad. Yesterday she did a great job holding herself up on her forearms for a couple minutes!


4. Snuggle time with daddy! Oooh I could just eat her up!

5. Karsie had a fun few days early this week with Aunty Mandy. Kevin's sister was able to come and visit for three days this week and spend time with Karsie before she (Mandy) goes to New Zealand for a year or two! Sounds like the Turners will be making a trip to the South Pacific?

Crinklemania

To the credit of blogspot the video delay was due to human error.  Ooops.

Darn Blogspot!

We have the funniest video ready to post, but blogspot is being non-compliant. Karsie is playing on her little gym and when we crinkle one of her toys connected to the gym she goes nuts dancing. Very funny.

Since we cannot post that yet, we'll just give an update. Karsie is healing. Her last weight came in at exactly 12 lbs. (clothes on of course). She is off the antibiotics and is getting close to being ready to come down on the steroid inhalant as well (she was put on a steroid inhalant to keep her airways open after the RSV).  She is on a pretty good schedule and we are thankful for that. She is however starting to take two naps a day instead of three... and the teething (or rather teeth moving around under the gums) is throwing her off a bit as well. She still nurses at least twice a day. Her skin is really amazing as well... she only has a little bit left. It feels like we have been calling it "quarter sized" for a while... and though I would still use that description, it is smaller than when we first started using it.

Kevin has been back at work and is enjoying getting back into a routine. 

I am staying home for now and loving it. How is it that housework isn't so bad when I am not working? I don't mind doing the laundry and keeping things dusted and tidy when I feel I have time to get those things done. I have also taken to getting some crafty chores done as well. I may post some blog tutorials on a few of my undertakings (though I'm not sure if I would do it here, or on another blog dedicated to crafty type things).

We will continue to try to post the video of Karsie playing with her gym and the crinkle toy dance!

Ode to the Ta-Tas

I have received questions regarding my pumping and milk supply... so I thought I would share with you a few pictures in response.

Micro-fridge (freezer) at my parents house:

Deep Freezer at our house:

Deep Freezer at my parents house (plus one bag in the door):

I have been blessed with good supply and space to hold lots of milk!
We have used the milk pumped from July until September... so this milk is mid September through now. If I am unable to use it quick enough on Karsie, I will look into donating some of it so it doesn't go to waste.
So... for all you nursing mom's who wonder just how much milk you are producing... there you have it!

Drool, Drool Everywhere!

And the drooling has started! We still haven't seen any teeth under the gums yet... but we know they are moving around in there. She is gnawing on EVERYTHING and the drooling has begun!
Also, Karsie is getting lots of practice sitting in her big girl seat! Although, yesterday at our meeting with OT, we learned some better ways to help her develop those sitting muscles.

Officials Weights and Lengths!

She made the chart! She made the chart! Karsie has apparently been playing catch up this month with her weight and length. She is at 59 cm and 5.11 kilos. Both of those, for her adjusted age, put her finally on the growth charts. Granted they are on the lower end (less than the 30th percentile) but she has never been on them before. Those translate to 23 inches and 11 pounds 4 oz respectively.

We had two meetings today. One meeting was with an occupational therapist and the other was with the dietician/nutritionist. It was fun with the occupational therapist. Talk about a fun job. She played with Karsie for an hour and made some assessments. Basically, Karsie has weakness on her left side and needs to know how to push up with her ams when she is on her belly, but other than that she's almost exactly where she needs to be developmentally for her adjusted age. She tought us some good exercises to do with Karsie to help her weak areas.

The next meeting with the dietician was not as fun but still fine. She weighed Karsie and took her length and then talked to us about her diet. We didn't change too terribly much because we're waiting for the dietician to meet with us next month along with the G.I. doctor and they will come up with a plan, but we did change a bit. We increased her volume at bit and we're allowed to add breastmilk with it. We're also very close to introducing solids. We will probably start with some rice cereal or bananas, but we can't make it any kind of staple because the G.I. clinic has to okay it. Everything else is the same.

The rest of our weekend now is for playing. It's warm here in San Diego, so we'll have to live it up.

Developmental Update

Lots to report in the past two days:

First of all, Karsie is doing very well.  Her cough is pretty much gone and she is feeling much better.  She has been all smiles lately.  

Growth:  Karsie has still been growing well.  The last registered weight was 11 lbs. 3 oz.  When we go into the GI doctors this weekend we'll have a more accurate weight to report as they weigh her completely naked.  We're guessing close to 11 lbs. but probably not quite.  Maybe we'll get a surprise.  

Muscle Development:  Karsie has been doing great on holding her head up.  She's still not quite as strong as she should be, but she's close.  Her back is the next thing we're trying to strengthen.  She still needs support on her back, but rarely needs it for her head/neck.  We're also trying to strengthen her legs.  She's still getting stronger, but she's pretty weak.

Copy Cat:  Yesterday Kevin started to make funny noises with his tongue and mouth to make Karsie laugh and she started to copy him.  It was quite cute.

Teething:  Karsie has started to sprout some ivory daggers.  She's actually not too fussy for teething, but we feel that it's just started.  She is definitely uncomfortable at times.  She chews on everything including her breathing treatment mask.

Laugh:  She laughed today.  She's real easy to get to smile and today Michelle got her to laugh just a little.  There will be video attempts in the near future. 

Pinky: Pinky is so close to being complete.  She has just a little scab about the size of a quarter and it's drying up quickly.  We're probably within a couple of weeks.  It'll be nice not to have to change her dressing twice a day.    

We'll be heading to San Diego this Friday to visit the GI doctors - specifically the nutritionist. Most likely we will have some diet changes but not a whole lot more.  We'll keep you posted.

New Kind of Normal

Today was the start of a new kind of normal for us (albeit temporary).
Kevin went back to work and I stayed home with Karsie. While I will only be able to stay off work for a few months more before I take a complete pay cut, I have been blessed with extended family leave and am able to be with Karsie for a while longer.

Today was a busy day too!

In the morning the plumber came to replace the garbage disposal (yeah, all our appliances decided to quit in our absence). Karsie slept in, so I was able to get lots of housework done. I believe I ran like seven loads of laundry... all the while working on dishes, dusting and taking down Christmas. I also had to make many phone calls. I called doctors offices, insurance, and the medical supply company. Most of the phone calls resulted in the need to make more phone calls tomorrow. Then we had a follow up appointment with Dr. Suen.

When we got to the office Karsie got weighed and even though her clothes were on... she came in at 11lbs 3oz! Holy cow! Thanks to that fundo... and the inability to spitup... Karsie just keeps on growing! Yay! Then Dr. Suen saw her and listened to her... and all the while Karsie kept giving him the best gummy grins! She acted like a totally different baby from the last time he saw her. She still has some gunky coughing and a lot of snot, but she sounded better to him. He wants her to continue with the meds and then he added an inhaled form of a steroid to continue to kelp keep her airways open. We go back to see him in a week to continue to track her progress. He also asked about the RSV shot progress... and I had to tell him we are still in insurance limbo. We want to get the shot to her ASAP!

Karsie obliged me with a quiet trip to the grocery store and then a drive through the pharmacy. By the time we got home, Kevin was getting home too... and it felt like a "Leave it to Beaver" moment when he walked in the door and came over and greeted his two girls.

I could get used to this kind of normal!

Karsie with Her Gym

  

Karsie got this gym for Christmas.  We love it because it has a kick pad for Karsie that should help with her under-developed legs.  As you will see she starts to kick it quite a lot.  This was her first day getting to enjoy her gym.  She stayed in and played for about 3 hours.   

Pictures of a Sick Bug

So sick (even in her big girl gown)
Even sucking on her paci was hard... thanks to the stuffed up nose.
Feeling a little better... playing with her ECG/Resp leads during bath time. Silly goose!
Also... check out all that great skin!

Back Home

We're excited to say that we're back home from the hospital. Karsie fought through RSV and hopefully put the worst behind her. So much so that the doctor came in today and discharged us (yes, "us" is the correct word). Karsie still has a little cough, though much more infrequent than before, and she has junk to get out of her lungs and throat, but she has done a complete 180 from before. She was fairly happy all day yesterday and is continuing that today. She's back to her smiling self which had gone away for a little bit... even before we knw she was sick.

The good news is she is home and recovering. The bad news is that because of this latest bit of damage she has done to her lungs she is even more prone to sickness, namely lung type of illnesses, so we're so sorry but we may have to be scarce until she's able to get some vaccines like her flu shots and the RSV shot. Even after we may have to be quite limiting on visiting, depending on doctor recommendation. We will see him on Monday for follow up.

Interesting tidbit: We were on the news a couple of days ago. The Condors came to the hospital and visited the pediatrics department. For those of you that are not familiar with Bakersfield sports (who is?) the Condors are a minor league hockey team from Bakersfield, and they are actually doing quite well this season. They do a lot of community service and they came by to see the kids. So Karsie got a little visit, and from what we saw, we were possibly on the news. We recorded the news that day and they only did a little bit but said the full story was the next day, but in that little bit they showed Kevin and got a little of Michelle's hand. Too bad they didn't come just for Karsie. Her story could be a feature story on our local news. We'll try to get the broadcast if they have it available.

Pictures of Karsie's short visit will follow...