Took Abby to the neurologist on Monday. The doctor was pleased with how she's doing. Her MRI was normal. He recommended keeping her on phenobarbital for at least another 3 mos - until the main cold and flu season is over, reasoning that she may have additional seizures with all the bugs she's having otherwise. And speaking of bugs, we're passing around another cold, and Joshua was throwing up this past Saturday. I think we've had about 5 days since the first of January when we've had the kids semi healthy! I'm sooooooooooooo ready for spring!

And speaking of spring, it was close to 80 degrees here today. We kept Rachael home from school because she was coughing so much last night. I planned that we would stay outside most the day - we would do some more work in the garden, break out a seed starting kit with Rachael (and let Abby 'plant' beans from the kitchen, go for a walk, nurse Daniel in the sun.. have a blissful day in the sunshine. Bwaa haa haa! You'd think I would learn by now. Rachael pooped in her underwear while I was nursing Daniel in the living room. Instead of telling me, she hid under the covers in her bedroom. Abby wanted to play with sissy Rachael, so she followed her back there. I thought the girls were playing nicely - Abby was (sort of), if you count treading through poop on the floor in the category of 'playing nicely.' In her defense, I don't think she did it on purpose. It kind of camouflages into the flooring. While I cleaned up Rachael, Abby attacked the humidifier in her room, dumping about 1/2 gallon of water on her floor. And while I mopped the house the girls traveled from one toy box to another, dumping all the contents out.

So we stepped outside about 1 pm, and by that time it was pretty warm. Abby had tired herself out, between her cold and her a.m. exploits. I sat down to nurse Daniel, and she threw a whopper fit because I wouldn't push her in the swing. I hauled her inside, still screaming (Abby, that is). She passed out on the floor in the hallway while I nursed Daniel. After I nursed Daniel, I put her and Rachael in the stroller. Rachael fell asleep. Abby woke up, took all the toys Rachael had in her hands and threw them out of the stroller, and poked and prodded her unconscious sister the rest of the walk.

..not the day I had planned, but who am I to think that I call the shots?

Well our little giggle boy is now also a raspberry boy! He's been blowing raspberries left and right this week - too cute! The OT from ECI was here today. She said "Just wait until he does raspberries with a mouth full of baby food!" That brings back memories of Miss Abby. Speaking of which.. her stomach is still upset off and on - don't know why - maybe the seizure medication is causing a more or less constant low grade nausea?? She will eat, then sound like she's going to throw up. She says "Bucket!" and runs and gets her barf bucket. Poor peanut.

Activity wise, she's full speed ahead. She's driving Deren crazy. When he gets home from work she wants all his attention, so she gets into one scrap after another so he'll come rescue her. Last night she danced on top of the boys' dressers, the back of the couch, the high chair.. all within about 1/2 hr time span. I thought Deren was going to have a nervous breakdown. I'm thinking we should put her in her crib for a bit while we eat dinner (she can climb out of her high chair), then get her out and play. It's that or have Deren go nuts every night.

While Rachael was at school today, Abby walked around the house, saying "Where's sissy?"

Abby had her MRI Tuesday morning. Still haven't heard about the results. I guess no news is good news.

It's official - he's a giggler! Daniel giggled at me today during a flirt session. He is such a sweet baby. He has had a temperature for days now with his ear infection, but he still has a smile for all.

Abby had another rough week last week. Last Sunday (Jan 28th) she started throwing up in the evening. She threw up off and on all week long, until she got some phenergan at the dr's office on Friday. She spent a couple days crying the whole day long. Deren took off 2 days (that he didn't have) to help at home. My neighbor Monique - God Bless her - also came and helped. Abby's doing better now. She's still not eating a lot, and all her pants are sliding to her hips because she's lost weight. Providing tonight goes well, she has an MRI tomorrow morning. Please keep our baby girl in your prayers.

Joshua got sick with the current stomach bug last Friday. He seems to be doing better today. Although I'm a bit nervous about the variety he's eaten. I'm hoping it won't come up tonight - ugh!

We see little of Jacob since he's learned to surf the net. He will stay at the computer until he pees on himself. He doesn't want to leave the computer and have a sibling take over. He loves to watch movie trailers online, and he's quite industrious at finding them. Deren said he was scary himself silly watching a trailer for Snakes on a Plane. But he'd come right back to it and watch it again! We've blocked many sites, but as I said, he's quite industrious. He'll see me coming around the corner, quickly exit the site he's on, and pull up the Disney website.

Miss Rachael is halfway potty trained. She refuses to poop on the potty. Although she did poop on the potty twice for Grandpa David when he was babysitting her in January. We decided that, on some level, she knew that Grandpa wasn't up for the job of changing out poopy underwear! All bets are off for mommy and daddy, though. She goes and hides and does her business. No amount of bribery thus far has worked. David plied her with so many chocolates yesterday she looked positively green.

..better go. Miss Abby is feeling better today and sowing her oats. She's running around the house with a ballpoint pen.