12/06/07: An Update
At long last I return to the blog with an update. Since Sage learned to walk just before Thanksgiving, we've been on our toes around here. This week the irrigation system is being installed, and we've finally received some rain (first since October!). You'll have to "read more" (below) to see more of the latest pix of the children.
08/19/07: Milestones
Here we are with a new batch of family photos for you...
Click on "read more" to see the rest
Click on "read more" to see the rest
07/16/07: More family pics
So I've been lax about posting here. Having two children and being self-employed limits my time for leisurely activities like blogging. But I have been taking pictures of the "littles" and want to share a few with you.
Sage in the Exersaucer
Click "read more" for more images
Sage in the Exersaucer
Click "read more" for more images
05/30/07: Visiting the Madsens
Here are images from a lovely Sunday spent at Holly's parents home in Holladay, Utah (Salt Lake City area):
(click on the picture to see a gallery, or follow this link)
(click on the picture to see a gallery, or follow this link)
04/09/07: Catching up a little
We've been busier than we could imagine, while hardly ever leaving the house. Sage is doing well, smiling often and becoming more and more aware of his surroundings. Malia is expressing herself verbally more and more, and is into balancing and climbing on anything she can, which sometimes leads to bruises, but her agility is generally amazing. Read more for a selection of images from the last few weeks.
03/07/07: Photos from our trip
Phew! We've made it home and we are glad to be back. After 10 days in the hospital, Sage was allowed to go home. He is fully recovered and is doing great. We are grateful to the many people at Eisenhower Hospital that helped him to heal, to Ed and Carole Madsen and Papa Jim for coming to help with Malia.
I've taken the time to add some photographs, please "read more" to see them...
I've taken the time to add some photographs, please "read more" to see them...
02/28/07: Sage is healing
We have been on quite the emotional roller coaster here lately. We have been hoping to be able to go home for days, and it looks like tomorrow, Thursday, will finally be the day.
The RSV led to pneumonia, and antibiotics have knocked that out. It was heartbreaking to see him struggling to breathe, especially given my history with asthma. He has now almost fully recovered, but we have to wait for the results of a test for pertussis to return before we can go home. He has been nursing well the whole time, and has gained weight since we have been here. He now weighs over 10 lbs, and is a chubby, mellow boy.
Malia has been doing well with all of this, and I am grateful that I have been able to spend so much time with her. For the past three nights in a row, she has slept through the night without waking. Our little girl is growing up!
The RSV led to pneumonia, and antibiotics have knocked that out. It was heartbreaking to see him struggling to breathe, especially given my history with asthma. He has now almost fully recovered, but we have to wait for the results of a test for pertussis to return before we can go home. He has been nursing well the whole time, and has gained weight since we have been here. He now weighs over 10 lbs, and is a chubby, mellow boy.
Malia has been doing well with all of this, and I am grateful that I have been able to spend so much time with her. For the past three nights in a row, she has slept through the night without waking. Our little girl is growing up!
02/20/07: Greetings from Rancho Mirage
We have been hiding out in Rancho Mirage for the last two weeks, with no internet (wow, no withdrawal symptoms!). It's been great to spend time together as a family with minimal distractions at Holly's parents' condo at the Desert Island Country Club.
However, we have had some health troubles, and Sage is currently in the hospital with RSV, a virus causing respiratory disease (bronchiolitis), mainly in infants. He is doing well, and Holly has been staying with him and continuing to nurse and hold him as normal. He has tubes in his nose to increase the oxygen levels in his blood, an IV in his arm for extra fluids, and a device on his big toe to monitor blood oxygenation and heartbeat. He is doing well with the treatments, and we anticipate his release tomorrow. We think that Malia picked it up at the Children's Discovery Museum, and gave it to David and Sage.
Malia has had to cope with not having "Mama" around, and last night was her first night without Holly there to comfort her. She fell asleep early, around 8pm, as we were leaving Eisenhower Memorial. She woke up just before 2am, and was inconsolable for 45 minutes or so. I just held her and waited for her to calm down. When she did, she asked for water and "read a book." So, we read books and ate pistachios ("stasho nuts") until just before 4, when she asked for a car-ride to fall asleep. We did not make it out of the country club before she fell back asleep, for another 4 hours. I hope that tonight is a little smoother ;-)
We are grateful that "Papa Ed" Madsen is here to help us with her (indeed, the only reason I am able to use the internet today is thanks to him). When will we go home? We're not sure, probably next week... I'll try to keep you posted.
However, we have had some health troubles, and Sage is currently in the hospital with RSV, a virus causing respiratory disease (bronchiolitis), mainly in infants. He is doing well, and Holly has been staying with him and continuing to nurse and hold him as normal. He has tubes in his nose to increase the oxygen levels in his blood, an IV in his arm for extra fluids, and a device on his big toe to monitor blood oxygenation and heartbeat. He is doing well with the treatments, and we anticipate his release tomorrow. We think that Malia picked it up at the Children's Discovery Museum, and gave it to David and Sage.
Malia has had to cope with not having "Mama" around, and last night was her first night without Holly there to comfort her. She fell asleep early, around 8pm, as we were leaving Eisenhower Memorial. She woke up just before 2am, and was inconsolable for 45 minutes or so. I just held her and waited for her to calm down. When she did, she asked for water and "read a book." So, we read books and ate pistachios ("stasho nuts") until just before 4, when she asked for a car-ride to fall asleep. We did not make it out of the country club before she fell back asleep, for another 4 hours. I hope that tonight is a little smoother ;-)
We are grateful that "Papa Ed" Madsen is here to help us with her (indeed, the only reason I am able to use the internet today is thanks to him). When will we go home? We're not sure, probably next week... I'll try to keep you posted.
02/04/07: Quick update
Not much time to write today, but here are a couple of pictures:
Malia is growing up...
Sage has grown! he now weighs 8lbs 6oz - he has gained 2 pounds in 3 weeks!
Malia is growing up...
Sage has grown! he now weighs 8lbs 6oz - he has gained 2 pounds in 3 weeks!
01/24/07: Malia's 2nd Birthday
We celebrated Malia's second birthday on Monday, the 22nd. Hard to believe she is already two years old! I baked a decadent spelt cake with strawberry and whipped cream filling, cream cheese frosting, and more whipped cream with blueberries and strawberries on top. Neither Papa Jim, Holly, Malia or I could even finish one piece!
After the cake Malia opened presents. We had hoped to find a tricycle for her locally but the ones available here were all to big for our petite girl. But while we were looking for tricycles she kept being drawn to train sets... so she got a Thomas the train figure 8 with water tower, and she loves it. She also got dance clothes for her dance class from us, an aqua-doodle pad from Papa Jim, plus a princess book from cousin Jeremy.
Right on the two year mark, she has started developing her two year molars, which are making her listless and giving her a mild fever and chipmunk cheeks, not to mention waking up in the middle of the night [we didn't need that extra sleep anyway ;-) ].
Malia playing with cake - click picture or here for full birthday gallery
After the cake Malia opened presents. We had hoped to find a tricycle for her locally but the ones available here were all to big for our petite girl. But while we were looking for tricycles she kept being drawn to train sets... so she got a Thomas the train figure 8 with water tower, and she loves it. She also got dance clothes for her dance class from us, an aqua-doodle pad from Papa Jim, plus a princess book from cousin Jeremy.
Right on the two year mark, she has started developing her two year molars, which are making her listless and giving her a mild fever and chipmunk cheeks, not to mention waking up in the middle of the night [we didn't need that extra sleep anyway ;-) ].
Malia playing with cake - click picture or here for full birthday gallery
