Jump, jump, jump!

Colson got to have a play date today!  He has never had a play date just for him and "his friends".  So we met our friends at Monkey Joes and then went to lunch.  Colson wasn't sure about the inflatables at first, so I finally just threw him in one and had our friend Brittany throw him down a slide!  After that there was no stopping him, he had so.much.fun!!

Then we went to lunch at Avantis.  4 adults and 7 kids (3 and under!).  It was so much fun though, the kids were really good!

Liam, Cole, Sienna, Fletcher, Vivian, Lawson

Colson had a really good time and was actually playing with the other kids!  I'm so happy that he got to do something special.  And he maybe even got his first girlfriend too :)

Happy Birthday to....Me!

Today I turn 33-ugh!  To celebrate we went to dinner at the mexican place in town and I had a yummy margarita :)  When I came home, Alyvia gave me my present

She made me a basket all by herself, it made my day :)  I love her so. 

He's Baaaack!

We do the Elf on the Shelf in our house-no judgement please.

I know some people think it's creepy, but Alyvia loves our elf.  His name is Pumpkin.  Again, no judgement please, Alyvia named him last year :)  She was so excited he was back that she made him this...

Hopefully he will inspire Alyvia's good behavior to continue and maybe help Colson too?!?!  We can always hope :) 

Kendall Cuddles

We have spent a lot of time cuddling our baby lately.  Even Alyvia said last night "she's getting bigger, I wish she would stay little forever"-me too, Livi, me too.

Colson was showing Kendall his tractors and even letting her "play" with him :)

My girls after bath time

The kids both love Kendall so much!  Alyvia is always asking to hold her and always willing to help me if I need it.  She has been such a good girl lately and it seems she's grown up even more since we brought Kendall home.  Colson loves Kendall too.  I feel bad because we thought he was going to not like her at all, but it's the exact opposite.  He does mostly ignore her :)  But when he does acknowledge her, he is so so sweet.  His voice gets very soft and he lays his head by hers and says, "hi, hi, hi, hi..." over and over.  I wish I could get it on camera.  I just love how much they love her!

Thankful

We celebrated Thanksgiving with both our families yesterday.  First we went to Alan's grandma's house and celebrated with the Cowser family.  Lots of people got to meet Kendall for the first time :)  Later in the afternoon, we went to my mom and dad's house and celebrated with my family + my Aunt Martha.  My brother Shane was still in Brazil, but he comes home on Sunday!  We have so much to be thankful for this year.  Most of all, I am thankful for my little family....even the one who was being bratty and hiding his face :)

Oh Colson, you've been a challenge lately-but we are still thankful for you and your stubbornness!  He wanted nothing to do with me, but my girls took pictures with me :)

I am especially thankful for a husband who loves me and is incredibly supportive of me and our kids

I'm also really thankful for this guy

Oh Finnegan, we love you so much and are so happy you came into our lives this year!  I am thankful for all my family, near and far.   Thankful that we have a house, good food to eat and even thankful for jobs that allow us to provide those things.

I'm certainly thankful for our littlest turkey, she is so precious :)

Again, we are blessed. 

Black Friday

I went out last night and got a few deals.  My shopping for my  nieces and nephews is done!  I was home by 11:00 and it wasn't bad at all.  This morning, I had to drop off some papers at the bank, so I figured I'd try to stop by a couple stores that weren't open last night.  Plus the "big kids" went to work with daddy so I just had this cutie pie with me :)

Thanks for my warm hat Nana!  We got lots of compliments on it while shopping :)

First I tried Gordmans.  I love Gordmans and I thought I could get some Christmas decorations for really cheap.  The line was RIDICULOUS!  It wrapped completely around the store!  We left after 5 minutes, no way.  So we headed to Bed, Bath & Beyond.  Much Better.  We got in, got what we wanted and got out.  Perfect shopping and good deals!  I didn't get any "door busters", but I got a good start on my Christmas shopping at some pretty good prices.  A good "black Friday" experience. 

Our New Norm

Monday morning was the beginning of our new normal.  Alan stayed home to get Alyvia to school and then it was me, Colson and Kendall on our own.

Kendall had a pediatrician appointment to check her bilirubin again, so off the 3 of us went (and we were on time!).  Her bilirubin level was still up, so we had to go to the hospital to have a blood level drawn again :(  The level wasn't high enough to treat, but we had to re-check either Tuesday or Wednesday.  We went Wednesday morning and had her level drawn again and it was finally down, only a point, but at least it was down and we could stop with the lab draws!  The week went pretty well over all.  When all 3 kids are home in the afternoon, it's a little chaotic.  But, overall, I like to think we're doing pretty good with our new little addition!

First smile

Ahhh, a full belly and a first smile :)  She melts my heart...

Family Time

On Sunday Andy and Carol had lunch at their house.  We were all feeling pretty good, so we decided to go.  Kendall got to meet the rest of her Cowser Family and the cousins all got to play!

Kinsley & Kendall

Grandma Alice & Kendall

That evening we went to Nana's house to see her, Un Cha & Aunt Anne.  Then we went home and Kendall finally got to try out her crib for the first time :)

Good family day!

First Bath

Kendall got her 1st bath at home on Saturday night, she was a dirty little birdie!  It wasn't her favorite thing we've done so far :)

Poor girl...she has to be sweet and clean though!

Readmission & the flu :(

We took Kendall to her 1st pediatrician appointment this morning.  It was just supposed to be a bilirubin and weight check, but her bilicheck was 18-waaaaaay too high!  So Dr. G came in and saw our peanut pumpkin and sent us to the hospital for a blood draw :(

Dressed up for her 1st doctor appointment

 Long story short, Dr. G called us a couple of hours later and let us know that Kendall needed to be readmitted to pediatrics for phototherapy.  So I headed to the hospital with my pumpkin.  She was admitted and placed under 4 lights to treat her bilirubin.

I called my mom to let her know Kendall was readmitted and she informed me that she had the flu....as did my SIL, my brother and my other brother's girlfriend....all of whom had visited us in the last 48 hours.  Then I called Alan to tell him we were settled in....and he told me that when he picked up Alyvia from school, they had her sitting with a garbage can because she felt sick.  I hadn't felt good all day, which I had been chalking up to a busy day after just having a baby, but I started thinking maybe I had the flu too :(  At 9 pm I got my answer, I did indeed have the flu.  I called Alan, my Father In Law went to our house to watch the kids and Alan traded me at the hospital so I could go home and not expose Kendall to anything.  It was a miserable night, I felt awful and I didn't want to be away from my baby.  BUT, it could have been far worse and I wasn't sick anymore at least.  I felt very achy Saturday morning, but I was determined to purge our house of sickness so I cleaned and washed sheets.  Then Brittany came over to watch Cole & Alyvia so I could go up to the hospital and see Kendall. 

Alyvia made a decoration for Kendall's bed at the hospital :)

Kendall's bilirubin level was down on Saturday morning so they let her out from the under the lights and rechecked her level at 3 pm.  Around 5, we were discharged again! 

We went home and had a re-do as a family of 5!  We were so happy to be home (and healthy) again!

Alyvia's Welcome Home sign for Kendall

Homeward Bound

Kendall and I were both discharged Thursday.  Her bilirubin level Thursday morning was 9.1, so the doctors gave us instructions to have her re-checked at her pediatricians on Friday and we were released!  Daddy came to the hospital to pick us girls up!

Dressed & ready to go!

It's cold outside, a hat is a must!

We got home around 2 and we all went to pick up Alyvia from school, she was so surprised!  We had a nice, quiet night at home.  Nana came and visited for a little bit in the evening and ate dinner with us.  Kendall was such a good girl at home, hardly a peep from her :)  I feel so lucky today to have 3 healthy kids, a husband who loves his family so much and lots of friends and family who are so supportive of us.

1st time in the swing!  She loves it, just like her big sis and big bro

A certain big sister was so happy to have her little sister home

"Me hol, me hol"  I think big brother loves her too!

Ready for bed in the pack 'n play

We are blessed!

Sun bathing beauty

On Wednesday morning, my nurse came into my room to let me know Kendall's bilirubin level was 6.2, so she was placed under phototherapy in the nursery.

My sunbathing beauty was so relaxed even under the light-she's such a good girl :)  The day shift nurse was nice enough to move my beautiful girl into my room so at least I could be "with" her.  Mommy could also feed her and maybe play just a bit of dress up :)

She looks just like Colson here!

Oh my, poor girl has a mullet!

 We had lots of visitors on Wednesday!  First was Uncle Adam, he had worked the night before and still came up to meet baby Kendall.

Then Laura stopped by with Sienna and Lawson.  Kristin came about the same time too.  Unfortunately, Kendall was under the lights most of the time, but she did come out briefly to eat and visit.

Aunt Kelly came up next...and brought us Avanti's gondolas for lunch :)

After Aunt Kelly left, we had a break in visitors and we just relaxed with our new girl.  She had a bilirubin level drawn and it was stable so we got to take her out from under the lights :)

Kendall in her very 1st outfit

After school, Nana and Papa brought up Alyvia and Colson to actually meet their baby sister.  Alyvia was so happy.  She kept telling me she loved Kendall's name and Kendall was so adorable!

Alyvia picked out a gift for baby Kendall

Kendall & Alyvia with their matching monkeys

Sister love

Big brother was actually excited to meet Kendall too!

Nana & Kendall

Papa & Kendall

Awww, Big brother loves baby sister

And he loves brownies!

Big Sis wanted me to change Kendall into her matching shirt :)

My girls

Our family of 5!!

 

Aunt Anne, Un Cha, Finn and Lindsey came back to meet baby Kendall too!

Lindsey & Kendall

Finnegan meets Kendall...and wants to eat her headband!

"Crazy" Aunt Anne (as she calls herself!)

Un Cha & Kendall

After they left, Stephanie stopped by to meet Kendall, I didn't get a picture though!  While she was there, Aunt Cheryl, Reagan and Rylie came to the hospital to see Kendall too!

 

There are so many people who are excited about Kendall's arrival and we feel so lucky to have so much love surrounding this baby girl <3.  Every baby should be so lucky!

Alan picked the kids up from my parents that night so they could spend the night at home.  We were hoping when he came back up Thursday, both Kendall and I would be able to go home!