Round two

So we were back at the Dr. this afternoon. Jackson's cough from last week started creeping in yesterday, and today he sounded horrible when I got home. It sounded barky, but he also sounded like he couldn't get his breath. Addison finished her meds yesterday from bronchitis, but her cough is still going full force. That's how we ended up there about 30 minutes after I got home. Enough time for Addie to eat a bit, and me to start worrying because I can't decide if I should call or not.

Well, Jackson now has croup. He also has a mild ear infection. Addison got a new round of meds for her cough and a different med for the breathing machine (which thankfully doesn't make her super hyper like the last one). Oh, and she has an ear infection also.

Dave and I are hoping that all goes well....and this is the end of our winter illnesses. It hasn't been fun!

Jackson cooks dinner...for Addison

Last night, Jackson decided he was going to help me cook dinner. While I was making sure he didn't burn himself on the past that was cooking, he got into the spices. He dumped out the Italian spice and started stirring it, claiming he was making dinner for Addison. He then tried to add salt....thank goodness it was a twist top.He used ALL of the Italian spice as well as the cinnamon.

Once I finished adding the cheese to the pasta, he scraped the counter to add the dropped cheese to his bowl. So that makes Italian seasoning, cinnamon and cheese in his mixture for Addie. He continued to mix, and when he finally tried it, he spit it out, claiming it was yucky! He wasnted to give Addison a taste, but we didn't think that was such a good idea...so here is a picture of Addison, showing how glad she was that she didn't have to taste Jackson's version of dinner. She definitely liked the pasta much better!!!

A few party pictures...

So with all the cold turned bronchitis we have been passing around our house, I haven't gotten any birthday pictures posted. I'm still waiting for my mom to send me the pictures from her camera because I found it hard to take pictures and keep things moving...so here's a few from what I've got.
Jackson took cupcakes to school the Wednesday after his birthday. Cupcakes are a big deal at school. They all wore party hats, sang Happy Birthday and got green frosting all over the place!

This is Jackson's new scooter he got for his birthday. He is learning to balance...and is actually pretty good! We'll work on the bike next.

It was such a beautiful day outside, that Jackson got to open his party presents outside. In fact, we were able to have the entire party outside. Something I hope to be able to do each year. It definitely makes for easy clean up!

Jackson is 3!!

So today was Jackson's third bithday...and he is sick...I'll get to that in a minute.

Yesterday was Jackson's party. Grandma and Grandpa Hesse, and Shaun and Erica drove down Saturday. We had to wait unil the kids went to sleep, but once they did it was like Christmas eve all over again. Dave figured out how to add the pull strings to the tractor pinata. My mom, Shaun and Erica put together the gift boxes. I worked on the cake. A big thank you to Erin who found the cake on-line and brought us all the supplies. After two hours, and two Addison wake-ups, I was finally done. It only took myself, my mom and Erica to finish putting on all the final touches. But I must say, I'm pretty proud of it! (and Jackson loved it!!).

Sunday morning started out with breakfast, and then the bounce house arrived. That was a hit. Though starting that early, made for one tired out birthday boy come party time. He bounced with his second cousins who were visiting from New York. Jackson also bounced with daddy and Shaun. Even Addison got in on the action.

We had pizza, fruit and carrots. All the kids played and bounced. There were presents and cake. Jackson took a nap, and then our second family came over for a BBQ. In between Grandma Hesse and I got in the bouncer with Addison. She had a blast! There was more food, more cake, more presents...and two super tired kids.

This morning we woke up, and Jackson's cough had gotten worse. He coughed on and off all night. Since he'd had a drippy nose, and now the cough...we took them in. Addison's nose has been dripping, and she has decided that sleep is not for her. The Dr. said Jackson's cold had settled in his lungs, and we get to give him breathing treatments (I know, Happy birthday...right?). Thankfully, Addison is just fine with her cold. Hopefully it doesn't go any further. We got home from teh Dr's and Jackson slept all afternoon. It's late (ok, it feels late) and I'm going to bed. But tomorrow I should get pictures up of Jackson celebrating his birthday. Maybe I'll even include some things I've learned. Sometimes I wonder at my learning curve!

What goes in...must come out.

It's amazing to me that once you start potty training, everything revolves aroun ad the potty...in fact, we have developed a new kind of "potty talk" if you will. We were eating dinner tonight, and Jackson drank his chocolate milk and said that it was now in his tummy. We had been talking about him using the potty, so I made the comment that it would go from his tummy to where he pee's. Jackson looked at me point blank, and said, "Not chocolate milk. Pee-pee comes out, not chocolate milk." Dave and I just cracked up.

We have had to up the anty for going in the potty, but it has been working this afternoon. He even pooped on the potty before his nap. He called me at work, and that was a celebration over the phone! (He is peeing right now!!!!!). Soon this phase will be over, and I can only wonder what he will throw at us next.

Potty Success...and pictures

Jackson peed on the potty ALL DAY LONG!!! WooHoo!!! We are back on the potty train.

I also got pictures downloaded...so here are a few.

Jackson and his tractor that Santa brought. (I will figure out how to flip it...)

This is Addison after she plays peek a boo.

Addison loves to play Peek-a-boo...her dresses make it easy!

Potty Training Number 2

Ok, so this morning, as with every morning, I asked Jackson if he wanted to put on underwear. Every other morning, this is met with a look of distaste, as he pronounces, "Nope." Well, this morning he said yes. We jumped at the chance. He put them on, we changed them because the ones he had on had a tag (Jackson is super sensitive to anything with a tag...so my mission during nap time is to sit with the seam ripper and take out all his tags). He tried for the first time...nothing. We continued with our morning. All of the sudden, he came in from the play room and said we needed to get him a diaper. I asked him if he wanted to go pee on the potty and he said yes. We all ran in there, dropped the pants and he peed!!!! I tell you, there isn't a lot that will hold the candle to the excitement of the connection between you have to pee and actually making it to the potty. We celebrated. He had an accident, but after that he came into the room again and said he had to sit on the potty...and again, Success!!!! So he and Dave are on their way to the grocery store to buy peanut butter chips (it's what he wants when he pees). Works for me. Maybe we aren't drop outs after all!!!!

Into the mirror

So tonight as we were getting ready for bath, Jackson was looking in the mirror and talking to himself, when he told me he wanted to get in there. When I looked over to see where...he was pointing to in the mirror. He then proceeded to tell me he wanted to play with "that Jackson (the one in the mirror)." He continued to try and get himself into the mirror. Let me pass on that jumping into a mirror won't get you inside the mirror.

Addison in always on the move now. She is talking more and more...we're just waiting to see what her first word will be. Last night she was playing with a toy that makes music, and after she pushed the button to make the music, she started to dance...well, it was more bobbing on her knees...but it sure was cute!

We've been sick this past week, and it sure is good to have smiles on everyones faces again!

Working on the pictures

Pictures will be coming shortly...Dave got me a laptop, and I am still trying to figure out how to add pictures. Soon!

Christmas Vacation

I guess we last left off with the potty adventure....these past two weeks just weren't our time. Jackson pooped once on the potty first thing, then, despite all our efforts....and they were numerous, we had accident after accident. It just wasn't meant to be. When I tried to get Jackson into his underwear the next day, he wanted nothing to do with them. So we decided to give it a few more weeks, and then we will try again.

Christmas was spent at home. Dave's parents, sister and her family all were here also. Christmas Eve was a bit of a disaster...let's just leave it as that was the first Christmas Eve I have never made it through an entire service...and it was at 6:30pm (bedtime in my house).

Jackson absolutely loved the backhoe loader Santa brought, and Addison had fun going from toy to toy. We had a great day and spent the afternoon packing. The 26th we left for my parents house. Dave, my dad and brother all went skiing and the rest of us hung out at my parent's house. Jackson decided this was the week to start giving up his nap. In fact, he went for 6 days without a nap. Surprisingly, he did well...but I have a hard time believing he is really ready to give it up completely.

During our time at grandma's, Addison decided she was done "kind of walking." She completely took off. We ended up using dining room chairs to block off the family room. We started out with 2, and by the end of the week we were up to 4 because she had figured out how to get through the slats. She also figured out how to climb, and it doesn't seem to matter to her what she is climbing on, she just goes for it.

The guys surprised us and came home a day early...it was a welcome surprise! We came home Friday, and spent the weekend trying to find our house again. We have implemented the baby gates and chairs (Jackson can get over the chairs...so he's not totally fenced in). We all go back to work and school tomorrow...bummer. We went out today to get Jackson's birthday party invites...he'll be 3 in 2 weeks. Time flies!