Bottle Time

Last night we decided we needed to try the bottle more with Raygen.  My husband had a good point stating that maybe if she could learn to suck on a bottle then swallowing would come next.  So we had our normal taste time and then took a break and had a bath.  After the bath we tried the bottle.  I think she did pretty good and I think we will add this to our routine.  I really thought we would skip the bottle stage, but maybe I'm thinking wrong and starting with a bottle is the way to go.  I guess only time will tell.  I love how she opens her mouth for it.  She chews on the bottle instead of suck, but its a start.  The bottle has melted popsicle and ice, lol!  I flavor her baby rice with the popsicle as well at taste time.  Hey, I found a flavor she likes, although its a popsicle, I'm gonna stick with it, lol!  I will do anything to help Raygen learn how to eat and get away from tube feedings.  She is getting so active and moving around like crazy and tube feedings are getting harder and harder to do.

Zoie's Spacer

My big girl before spacer. 

She was so brave. 

This is the spacer.  Looks kinda scary to me. 

This is after spacer placement.  Zoie did awesome.  We are so proud of her. 

Look at her mouth full of metal now.  Zoie is complaining that she is having a hard time eating and swallowing.  It will take some time to get used to.  She will have to have this thing in for at least 6 months so I'm pretty sure she will be used to it by then.  We do have to tighten it twice a day and I leave that for Randy.  Zoie did great with it this morning.  So now we go back to the dentist every week till her jaw is where they want it.  Then they will place braces on her four front teeth.  This whole process will take about a year.  Poor girl.  Lets hope we don't need to go through a metal detector pretty soon. :0)

Sand in the city!

So Zoie starts school next week so we thought we would have one last family day on Sunday and took the girls to sand in the city in Olympia.  All the money goes to the Hands on Children Museum and we got to see the awesome new building and a sneak peak of what it will look like when it opens in November.  It is so cool.  I'm so excited to take Zoie there.  Not sure if I will take Raygen.  Way toooooo many germs I think for her. 

They day went pretty good.  It was down by the water so it did get a little chilly.  We even walked around the farmers market and purchased some fruit to snack on on the way home. 

Raygen has a new favorite toy.  Her keys, lol!  The last few days she has had a firm grip on these keys.  They don't leave her sight.  She has even decided she has to sleep with them. 

She woke up in the middle of the night and started to cry and I gave her back the keys and she smiled and went right back to sleep, lol!! 

She is so funny.  I didn't think it was possible to love these girls more then I do, but everyday they both fill me with such joy and love.   

Zoie was able to do a few crafts.  Zoie loves crafts.   

Raygen and I just stood back and watched.  I have started to wear a necklace when we go places.  It works really well.  It gives Raygen something to play with and keeps her entertained for a long time.  She is such an easy kid to please. 

Here is one of the sand castles.  There were so many cool ones this year.  It's amazing what people can build with sand.  I had to have Zoie take a picture in front of snoopy.  This one is for you Aunt Traci!!! 

Zoie enjoying the last few days of summer.

 

Please say a prayer for Zoie today.  She is going to have her spacer placed today and I know it will be a little uncomfortable and painful for her.  I'm a little nervous myself for her.  I will post a update tomorrow.

Hope you are all enjoying the last week of summer.

 

17 Months goes so fast...

Raygen I can't believe you are 17months already.  How the time goes by way too quickly.  Lately you have discovered that you love your feeding tube for more then just feeding you.  Its a great chew toy. 

I don't know what you will think if you actually poke a hole in your tube and get some milk in your mouth? 

 I have to watch you so closely now.  Your a mover and love to roll EVERYWHERE!  and your new favorite chew toy, scares me so I now to be on tube control, lol!  It seems like every five minutes I'm having to trade you a toy for your tube :0)

 Your personality shines.  You are very spoiled, but hey with your face who could ever say "no?"  You know what you like and you let us know what you don't.

You still love everything Toy Story and Sesame Street.  Raygen you have just started "giving kisses" only to Mom of course, but I love them.  You love to snuggle and kiss around bed time and you laugh afterward.  I know you and I share such a strong bond and I am so thankful for it.

Lately you have began to love sitting up.  You get especially upset if you want to sit up and we are not there right away to help you. 

You cry when you fall down, but laugh as soon as we sit you up again. 

We don't go too far when your sitting up because you have decided throwing yourself backwards is a funny game to play.  You are a wonderful little girl Raygen.  You bring so much joy and happiness in our life.  

One tired girl on our way home from work. 

Happy 17th Month Birthday to our little Monkey!!

Go Mariners!

So my cousin had her bridal shower on Sunday at the Great Wolf Lodge.  I can not believe my little cousin is getting married, I feel soooo old right now.  I used to babysit her and change her diapers (sorry Josee!)  I am so happy for her.  How many people get to marry their middle school and high school sweetheart?

Zoie decided she wanted her and Raygen to match for the shower. 

So I know the normal thing to do would be to find the cutest dresses and bows, but my girls are more the T-shirt and jeans type and so is their mom. 

What better way to match then to show our love for the Mariners!  I just love these girls and I love to see them match.  It just melts me. 

They were both excited to get out of the house. 



Zoie was disappointed of course that she couldn't do the water park this time, but I promised to take her back soon so she could.  A ice cream cone on the way home made up for it. 

Raygen did her normal fall asleep tactic when she gets stressed out and slept all through the shower, lol!  Raygen can put herself to sleep so fast when she is nervous or stressed it is so cute and just melts me.  So today we head back to the orthodontist for Zoie for step 2.  Please say a little prayer for her she is so nervous and so am I.  I just hope it goes smoothly.

Why crawl when you can roll!

So I have been wanting to get a video of Raygen rolling for awhile now and today I finally got one.  I wanted everyone to see how this girl can travel.  She goes EVERWHERE rolling around our house.  She uses her feet to turn and then rolls away.  Either down the hall, to the bathroom or just across the living room.  I'm having to start watching out for little things around our house that Raygen could pick up while she is rolling around.  I'm so proud of her and I can tell she is so proud of herself too.

So while Dad and Zoie were at the fair today Raygen and I got to hang out, clean and make homemade banana bread for the first time.

What a great Saturday!

Zoie's Teeth Part 1

Tuesday was Zoie's first orthodontist appointment to prepare her for her spacer.  This was Zoie when we first got there.  She was so brave.  The longer she sat there the more nervous she got, but she is a tough girl. 

I know Zoie's teeth are so important and I want her to have a beautiful smile when all is said and done, but after this appointment I now realize this is going to be a very long journey and not a fun one.

Here is Zoie have a mold of her bottom teeth.  I didn't take a picture of them taking a mold of her top teeth because Zoie panicked and it was very dramatic.  She cried and almost got sick and kept trying to pull it out of her mouth.  Randy had to hold her down while I tried to calm to her.  It was horrible.  I felt so bad.  It's so hard to watch your kids be messed with no matter what age they are.  The worst part is we have to go back again next Tuesday and do it all over again and then on the 28th they actually put in the spacer.  I'm trying to prepare her that they are going to have to do molds again but I know she will panic and it will be a struggle.  I don't blame her.  There is alot of goo going in her mouth for those molds, plus crying, she felt like she was suffocating.  When they finally took the mold out she let out a big scream and said "I'm never coming back here again." LOL I think she scared every other kid in the building, lol.  When we were all done I took her to McDonalds for some lunch and we went to work.  By the end of the day she was back to her normal self, but I am not looking forward to next Tuesday.

Please say a little prayer for Zoie.  I know this is all going to be scary but also a little painful and its going to be a long journey for pretty teeth.

OOOH Zoie how we love you.

Shopping and Waterfalls!!

Getting ready to go find some school clothes. 

It was pretty hot out but we were all excited to go shopping... 

can't you see Raygen about ready to burst, lol!! 

Heading to the waterfall. 

What a beautiful day and a beautiful waterfall. 

It wasn't too crowded, but there was a lot of people. 

The spray from the falls felt great. 

We walked up to that bridge.. 

here we are up top... 

 we had a great time.

I think even Raygen was impressed. 

I think we could have stayed there for a very long time.. 



could you ever get tired of this view?

I don't know if its the heat wave we have been having but Raygen has decided she doesn't really want to "taste" lately.  I know there are going to be a lot of ups and downs in teaching her how to eat but it is so hard.  I have no idea what I'm doing and it scares me that I'm doing it wrong or missing something.  I know in time she will eat but I feel soooo much pressure to teach her how and it's so stressful.  Life is just stressful.  How to do you enjoy life and deal with the stress without snapping at everyone or just meltdown?  Don't get me wrong I LOVE LOVE being Raygen and Zoie's mom, but the stress of having a heart baby sometimes get so me.  I stress about teaching her how to eat, getting her caught up development wise, staying on a routine, taking her out in public, getting sick and of course just all the other stresses of having a heart baby plus a full time job.  Maybe the heat wave is just getting to me too.  I have sooo much to be thankful for.  Especially this last weekend with my wonderful family.