Kaitlyn: Month Eighteen

Kaitlyn Marie,


March 30, 2011

Oh my goodness, how time flies. I look at you now, and I am just amazed by the sweet little girl you are becoming. You are such a happy child and my eyes well up just looking at how beautiful you are (on the inside and out). You have such an playful spirit. You LOVE being the center of attention, having an audience and being loved on. When we get home from work, you always have such a big smile (unless of course it's bedtime, and then there are tears because you are tired and fighting sleep). It makes an entire day full of stress disappear.



Grandma's Birthday Dinner, April 9, 2011

You have learned so much in the past few months. You are so smart!! It is neat to see you connecting the dots, and you are starting to come out with new words. You know when we are leaving somewhere and take the proper shoes to everyone coming. You run to the door and wave bye bye. If we are at home, you promptly walk to the garage and start reaching for the door knob (which thankfully you can't open, yet). You love to carry around your shoes and any bag that could work as a purse. And Violet, your puppy from Great Aunt Tami, is your favorite toy. Sometimes she even makes it all the way to Aunt Nomi's because you won't put her down. You love to be independent and insist on doing everything yourself, including picking up trashing and throwing it away!
 

Katie and Gam Gam at King William Festival, April 16th

You have started to run occasionally, you dance more, laugh a whole lot, of course we have tears for the dramatic, you climb like crazy, you think you are ready to swim on your own (not gonna happen)....You are most definitely a toddler. You are still a good eater, and you are drinking from "big girl" glasses, with help, of course. We haven't kicked those bottles, but it's not something I am too worried about right now, and you mainly have them before sleeping. My favorite thing is when you give me hugs unexpectedly. You finally kissed someone this past couple of weeks....the lucky recipient??? Kalli and Buddy's new puppy boy! The rest of us will just have to settle for your cheek and sweet smile.  

Easter, April 24, 2011

Some of your latest words:

Momma

Daddy

"Ba" for all done

Baby

"Peas" for Please

"Bock" for Block

Bye

More

"Bi-an" for Brian, Nomi's boyfriend

Bubbles

Bottle

Budd-e!, All Dogs

Bella, All Kids

"Pollo" for Apollo, Nomi's dog

"Ice Ceam" or "Ice"

Bite

Teeth

Juice

Cook-ieeee, sounds so cute

"Uh oh!"

Cheese

Birdie

Grandma

Nose


Three Generations, May 23rd

We are trying to prepare you as a big sister for the new baby coming later this year. Since you are more into horseplay that quietly sitting these days, Daddy has tried to help you learn to rub my belly "gently," and tells you "baby." I don't think you understand what that means because Grandma told me you were patting her belly and telling her "baby" the other day, too! LOL! I know that you are going to be a wonderful big sister to your new sister or brother.

June 2, 2011

We love you so much, Katie Bug, and we are so blessed to have you as our daughter. Always know that it was your sweet little face that stole my heart, and you who made me a mommy. I will always love you to infinity and beyond, and nothing will ever change that.

Kisses for Katie!, June 24, 2011

Love,

Mommy

Katie's First Trip to the Coast

While we were in Corpus, we thought we could take Katie for a quick trip to the beach. She is such a little fish and loves the water, so I knew she would enjoy the ocean. Sure enough, she jumped right in! She is so fearless; she doesn't even think that she can't swim or touch the bottom and jumped right into the waves and squarely into the sand. She loved the seagulls and walked up and down the beach to see the "birdies." She even decided to do her part in keeping the beaches clean and picked up trash. I can't wait to take her back for a longer vacation. I know that she is going to be my beach babe fore sure!

Congratulatios Mr. and Mrs. Lepler!!!

Exchanging Vows

The Bridesmaids

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Lepler!

Changing into Dancing Boots

The Tables

Mariachis

Pat and Kevin

Best Friends

Father's Toast

First Dance, "Next to Heaven"

Let Them Eat Cake!

My best friend's wedding was yesterday! I am so excited for Tara and Kevin!!! We were so honored to be able to share in their special day, and we know they will have many happy years together. Congratulations, you two lovebirds!

Hospital Visits....

Yes, unfortunately, that is a pleural "vistis" for me...this early in my pregnancy, too. Ugh.

On June 1st, I caught the stomach bug that was creeping it's way through our family. I got so sick I was unable to keep down water and was having trouble urinating. I knew that meant I was seriously dehydrated and off to the ER Paul and I went. Five hours, two bags of Normal Saline, and a $2000 bill later I was nice and hydrated. Oh goodness.

I was hoping that would be the end of the excitement for us, but unfortunately it wasn't. On June 21st, I was getting ready to go to bed and I started having fast palpitations that wouldn't go away. I have gotten these before, but they usually only last 3-4 beats and then go away. My mom gets them, and so does Grandma apparently, but they have never been bothersome. I even had an ECHO done when I first got pregnant with Kaitlyn to make sure everything was okay for the pregnancy.

This time, however, they didn't go away. They were still there in the morning when I woke up but were WORSE. I was having a lot of trouble breathing and was very diaphoretic ...I knew this wasn't good. So off to the ER I went again. When they checked me with a 12-lead EKG, my heart rate was 220!! They immediately moved me from triage to Trauma Room 8. I was either in SVT or A fib with RVR....the treatment of which is drugs or shocking. Fortunately for me, the arrhythmia went away on it's own, but I had a lot of PVC's and PAC's for several hours. They kept me overnight, placed me on telemetry, drew serial troponins and performed another ECHO. All of my lab work came back normal, and they discharged me on the 22nd. What a scare! The cardiologist told me that I likely was experiencing Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, and there really isn't anything for me to do other than return if the palpitations and chest pain return.

Really, really hoping this is the last I see of the hospital until this baby is ready to deliver...after November 17th, of course....


**I know I used a lot of medical jargon. Please follow the word link for more info.

15 Week Appointment: Uneventful

Weight Gain: +1.5 lbs by MD, +0.4 lbs at home
B/P: 120/76
FHR: 150s

 I am 14 weeks, 5 days along today. I am at the part where I feel "fat" and not really pregnant. My stomach is starting to stick out more, but I can still fit in my regular shirts and some of my regular "fat" pants. I like the extra room in my maternity pants, but they fall down more. Oh well...

My appointment was super fast and uneventful. I went by myself while Noemi watched the Doodle Bug. The tech found the baby's heart rate really easily and higher than I was expecting. I still feel like the baby is near my pubic bone, but at 4 inches and 2.5 oz, the baby is roughly the size of an apple and moving on up! My stomach is getting "harder" and my stretch marks from last time are starting to look "angry." (nice and red...)

I go in Monday for a "Triple Screen," which checks for chromosomal abnormalities. Then I see my OB next month. Not much else to report, thankfully! :)