Please Touch Museum Play Date

On Saturday, we met our good friends the Perillos at the Please Touch Museum for a playdate. Our boys are about 4 months part and although we can't get together a lot, the boys love seeing each other and play so well together.

They really enjoyed going from each activity, but their favorite part was running around like two crazy boys in the lobby after finishing their snack. Little did we know we could have just spent 3 hours doing that- LOL!

Here are some pics to enjoy...

Check Ups, Mastering a New Task, and Family Birthdays

This is a month of check ups....I have 2 OB appointments on Jan 16 and 30 and hard to believe this little cutie had his 3 yr check up.....

On Jan 5th, Aiden went for his check up and another good year when no shots were needed- yeah! It's amazing how easy check ups get when they get a little older...he was so good and such a big boy. He got on the big scale, which he was all excited to do and weighted in at a healthy 33 lbs (60% for his age) and then stood big and tall to get his height measured and was 37 1/2 inches (50% for his age). He got all around a clean bill of health and the doctor was impressed how conversational he was...we said it's all day long- LOL. He also got excited when she asked him to jump, since usually it's Aiden stop jumping. Lastly, she said he's doing great for his age with potty training and that soon it'll be time to conquer the night, but know most boys have accidents up till age 7. He's good to go until next yr.

Aiden also learned how to use chopsticks this week. Our pretty good eater, always wants to try like Mommy and Daddy. Keith took two chops sticks and rubber band them together for him to use and he did it with such easy.c

As you can see he got a piece of chicken (as well as broccoli) and it didn't fall

He was so proud of himself!

We also celebrated my beautiful niece's birthday. Hard to believe she turned 10 on Jan 5th, I can still remember the day she was born and being one of the first to hold her (really because my in laws all had colds- LOL)

Natalie the day she was born....... And now all grown up

And now she's a decade old. We celebrated her Birthday that weekend. It's so fun and interesting to see how much she is maturing and growing up. Aiden just adores and follow her all around and she is so good with him. She's my little babysitter when we're out.

I had my 34 week check on Jan 16th. Getting nervous it's so close now, so much to do and I'm not ready.... at all. I'm starting to have a lot of anxiety when I think of the logistics- pulling all the baby clothes, car seat, swing etc. out of the attic and start washing and preparing. Lots to do and time is ticking away- LOL.

The check up was good. Weight gain continues to be slow (and sooo much better then it was with Aiden). I'm at the 24lb mark this week. His heartbeat was 140 beats per min and blood pressure low as always. I will be going for another ultrasound on Thursday. One they want to check his position as they had believed he was transverse a few weeks ago, so they want to confirm his position, which would result in me getting an ultrasound or induced. I'm also measuring small (which I did with Aiden) so they want to check everything is progressing well.

And lastly today, is my baby sister's birthday, Stacey. I remember wanting another brother so bad...and got a sister, but today I wouldn't change it. She's 27, hard to believe because I still remember the day she was born!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Poppi and his crew


Nonni and the grandkids

Cousins! (the boys are double trouble!)

Santa came!

Opening Presents!

Very excited about his train table!

Stocking time!

First off, we wish everyone reading our blog a very Happy Holiday!- and hope everyone's Christmas was joyous and filled with family and loved ones!

We had a great Christmas...as always a very hectic one with lots of running around, but it was a lot of fun! Aiden is at a great age to really enjoy the holiday through his eyes. We spent Christmas Eve with the Giosa's. Since it was a Saturday, we were able to get together early and spend the day together before heading to church. It was nice not to be rushed and enjoy each other. Christmas at Nonni and Poppi's are getting a bit crazy with an almsot 10 yr old, a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old running around and getting excited about presents and Santas. I remember how quite it was when it was just Natalie. And to think next year we'll have a 10 month old and a 7 month old too. As the great Italian Family that we Giosas are, we had pizza and hoagies for Christmas Eve lunch/dinner....not the 7 fishes. LOL! After time together, presents opening, and eating, we went to church to celebrate Jesus' birthday. After church we went to Keith's Aunt Sandie's house were we got to spend some nice time with his cousins and their families who we don't see often. Aiden was caught up in all the fun and of course present opening.

After getting home Christmas Eve, we left Milk and Cookies out for Santa (first time we did it since Aiden was born), which Aiden was so excited to do. On Christmas morning, he woke up like it was any other morning, not grasping what might have happened overnight. So after us probing him a little to look down the steps to see if Santa came, he got very excited to see, not the presents, but that Santa ate all the Cookies and Milk. We then moved over to presents, last year it took him 4 and half hours to just make it through the presents under the tree (which trust me weren't a ton), but this year was like rapid fire. I think it was 20 mins and it was the craziest thing I ever seen a kid do, he opened presents that had the same wrapping paper before moving on to the next set of gifts. Santa was very good this year (apparently he forgot we have been battling with terrible 2s into 3s- LOL)! Aiden got a Buzz Light Year and Jesse the Cowgirl Doll from Toy Story to go with the Woody Doll Mommy & Daddy bought for his birthday. He also got a Cars race track, as well as a few trains from Thomas the Tank Engine, some games, and practical gifts like sheets for his very big boy bed that he'll be getting soon.

Our Christmas afternoon/night was spent with the Donnellys & Grattons. My parents stopped by for a bit to exchange gifts with Keith and I and to give Aiden his big gift, a tool work bench and then we headed over to my aunts to share with them, my cousins and their families, and my sister. Aiden enjoyed playing with his cousins....espeically Will (Sammie's middle son who's about 16 months old). Of course when present time came, with 3 Toddler boys it was mass hysteria. Rob, Aiden and Will, were just tearing into gifts whether they were theres or not. I can't imagine next year when Luke will be old enough to join in on the fun and then our little Jonathan will be here as well. My aunt's house will be a complete and crazy mess. Aiden was luck that our families were nice and generous to give little Jonathan presents even though he isn't here yet...so Aiden got to open them too.

All in all, it was a great Christmas and Aiden enjoyed it very much, and we're now having fun watching him love his new toys. His favorites are the train table (from Nonnie and Poppi that Santa put together for them), his cash register, his buzz light year, his geotrack Train, and his tool bench.

On a side note, Jonathan is doing well too. I had an appointment two weeks ago and his heartrate was 155. My blood pressure and weight were good and he's a very active (sometimes violent- LOL) little boy. Of course the doctors love to remind me I want a fighter...I have a feeling he will be. I go back for my 32 week check up this week and it looks like I'll get one more ultrasound before he arrives between 34-36 weeks to see if he's breech or not. Whatever the outcome will all depend on if I'm induced or will need a C-section. So we'll keep you posted.

We want to wish everyone a very Happy, Safe, and Wonderful New Year and may 2012 bring many blessings to you and your family. We're lucky to get 2 little babies in ours!

Getting ready for Christmas...

Aiden and I have taken on to a new tradition, building a gingerbread house. Although I will never make it as a pastry chef, we had a lot of fun. I constructed the house and let Aiden decorate it and he was so proud!

We also got to meet Santa a few times so far. Aiden seems to love him this year, but still not grasping the whole concept. Our first meeting was at the Exton Mall, where Aiden was happy to say hi, but got very shy when sitting on his lap. The second meeting was at a health fair event we attended. That time he wasn't shy and he told Santa what he wanted.

Birthday Celebration and giving Thanks!

November is a crazy month for anyone as the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday approaches and then we have to throw in a birthday celebration as well.

Hard to believe, but on November 20th, Aiden turned 3. It still shocks me how quickly he's growing and each year I find it going by faster and I wish I had a magic stop watch. As always, Aiden's birthday celebration is a few days long due to family/thanksgiving/Keith typically working a college musical the weekend of his birthday. This year his birthday celebration started on the 19th, when my Mom invited us over to celebrate with my Aunt and cousins and their families. She threw a McQueen theme celebration and got him a cake. He loved his presents from his great Aunt & Uncle and cousins.

Then on his actual birthday, the 20th, we had a small kiddie party for him at Oasis Family Fun Center in Glen Mills. We invited his cousins (Natalie, Marc Jr., Rob, & Will) and then our close friends kids that are around his age. There was 12 kids all together. Oasis is an indoor jungle gym- it has soft blocks to build, ball pit, rock climbing wall, and games. I think everyone had a great time and the kids sure did get their exercise that day and a good night sleep that night.

Aiden's last celebration was on Thanksgiving, when we always celebrate his birthday with his grandparents, Aunts & Uncles and cousins. We host thanksgiving every year for both our parents & siblings. Our tradition is a pot luck dinner, we do the Turkey, the veggies, and then a dessert or side dish and then everyone else brings a side dish, rolls or dessert. We love the time together and always have fun. This year the Giosa/Donnelly Family is very thankful this year for support family, not one, but two babies coming in 2012 (for those that don't know Keith's brother & wife are expecting #3 in April) and the fact that medicine is so advance and can "help" our little Jonathan.

After dinner, we change from Thanksgiving to Aiden's birthday, have whatever he wants for dessert, this year it was his Aunt June's "cookie cake" aka cookie pie. He also gets to open his presents from his family.

Below are a few pics of Aiden's celebrations. We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe thanksgiving.

No Fibula, No Problem....

It's been a while since I "checked in", but things have been going well and been busy. I had a check up at 24 weeks and had gain 12lbs. Jonathan's heartbeat was 153 beats per minute and measuring well. I go for my 28 week check up this week...and then hard to believe I start going every 2 weeks. This pregnancy has been flying by and I'm still shocked that I will most likely be meeting my little one in 12 weeks. Tomorrow I'm going to go for my glucose test...always a fun time.

We also had our consultation with the doctor at DuPont and it was just a wonderful meeting and uplifting. Her name is Dr. L. Reid Nichols and she was trained by the best. She did her residency and fellowship at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, which is top notch (at least on the east coast) for limb length and Fibula Hemimelia, which is Jonathan's condition. She really put us at easy and talked us through the steps he'd undergo. She was all about one step at a time, focusing on what will be first in caring for him at the early part of life and not worrying about the surgeries and procedures in years to come. Dr. Nichols encouraged me to stay in touch through the rest of my pregnancy with her and provided me her email. She also said she would visit me after I deliver, just to meet Jonathan.

He will start his treatment about a week after birth, the first part would be a cast for 5-8 weeks depending on how bad is club foot is and then he'll be in a brace. He'll need to wear the brace for 3 months straight for 23 hours and then just need to wear it at nap and bedtime. The brace trains the foot (molds the foot since it's so malleable at birth) to be position right.

Again, we thank everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers.

Trick or Treat and Halloween Fun.

Aiden really took to trick or treating this year, especially when he caught on to the whole getting candy. He dressed up as Wall-e (a beloved Robot from a Disney/Pixar movie from a few years ago that Aiden is obsessed with).

On Sunday, we took him to the Exton Mall and met up with his cousins Natalie and Marc (as well as Aunt June) for the Halloween Festivities. Unfortunately it wasn't that great- within the 20 mins the stores were out of candy and the whole things was a bust, but Aiden very much enjoyed the freedom of walking around the mall and hanging out with his cousins.

Monday night, Keith and I decided we were going to take Aiden to a few houses in our neighborhood and see how it goes, especially since it was cold. By the 4th house, Aiden was super excited looking for people who had their lights on (we told them that's the people given out candy), couldn't wait to see all the kids that were dressed up, and of course get candy. He didn't even think about the concept of eating candy, he just liked putting his hand in the bowl and putting a bunch of goodies in his pumpkin. He managed to fill the pumpkin and we were out for a little over an hour.

Keith and I couldn't believe how much fun it was this year and how much he loved it. Sadly, most of the candy he got, he isn't going to be able to enjoy as they contain nuts or are made on a nut plant, but luckily we got some back ups. We hope everyone enjoyed their kids as much as we did!

Why, why why??...A Parent's Heartbreak

This is a common question my almost 3 yr old poses to me everyday, but "why Mommy", "why are we doing that Mommy"...etc. Recently Keith and I found ourselves reverting back to our 3 year old ways, asking Why, Why, Why God?

On October 10th we got our 20 week ultrasound....and to our delight we found out we're having yet another little boy. Then about 5 mins later, 3 little words change our life, our demeanor that day, and rocked our world. Those words were...."there's a complication". This sentence was followed by "everything else looks good, appears to be healthy and on track, but..."with that my heart sunk. You never imagine those words will be presented to you and your not sure what to do with them when they are.

We were told that the baby was missing a bone in his right lower leg and the other one was underdeveloped. After hearing this, tears ensued and all other information that was given to us was lost and not processed. The day I had looked forward to for the last few months turned into a day I wanted to forget. The next day I was sent for an amniocentesis (which test for chromosomes deficiencies, which after 10 days of waiting for the full results, they came back normal) and I wondered if it's just a leg defect, then why do I need this? Is there something more?

I was also sent a week and half later for a 2nd ultrasound to check the leg out more. As I sat through the 2nd ultrasound, it was so painful, no joyful feeling. There was a little cute face, a heart beat, and this leg that just looked like a blob and not "normal". They continued to focus on the leg and all I could do was cry. I thought about how I had wished for more ultrasounds to see my baby and now I didn't want one.

Those two weeks were an emotional roller coaster full of joy, sadness, anger, grief.......and then like a light went off, acceptance. My OB says I was going through the stages of grieving....and I thought -What? She said, I had lost the baby that I thought I was going to have, a "normal" child. As I finally brought myself to look at the 3D ultrasound pics of his face...I fell in love with the baby boy I was meant to have and who was a true gift from God, a miracle.

The condition the Baby has is called Fibula Hemamila. It's a condition that happens in 1 out of 40,000. He has a underdeveloped and bowed tibia and no fibula (the two bones that make up your bottom portion of your leg) on his right side. .We learned that this was probably due to some type of blood flow blockage or restriction when he was developing.

We have consultant with CHOP, DuPont, and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. The out come is that the flow of blood in his leg looked good now and they believe he'll be ambulatory. He would need a few surgeries (prob 3) throughout childhood- a reconstruction of his ankle and straightening of his tibia and then two limb lengthening surgeries. Luckily, it's better to have a missing fibula then tibia as the tibia is your weight baring leg. The echocardiogram and the ultrasound showed all else appears healthy and right on target.

The procedures/surgeries wouldn't start till he was a yr to 18 months old most likely. He'll have a long road ahead of him with PT and all, but the outlook is good. We're feeling very fortunate that this is the only complication as we saw other very sick kids during our hospital visits.

The funny thing about this experience was that it brought Keith and I even closer, which we didn't think was possible. We also named him, which is a shock to begin with since Aiden's name came to us very last minute, but we felt we needed to come up with something to bond due to his circumstances. We also changed our mind and are sharing due to his situation. It will be....... Jonathan Paul. Few meanings behind it- Keith’s two favorite Beatles, even though Lennon spelled it JOHN. Also a little tribute to his cousin that passed in August that was a drummer living in CA (He was also John, but Paul was his middle name) and Jonathan means gift from God, which we feel he is. Our parents and Keith have already nicknamed him JP and Aiden apparently doesn't like the name Jonathan, he prefers we name it Baby.

A Pumpkin Picking we'll go....

A couple weeks ago, we met up with our friends the Grahams and took the kids to a local farm near us called Milky Way Farms. There we went in a corn maze, took a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch, picked out some pumpkins, and then went over to the creamery next store and got fresh homemade ice cream. It was a great time together, the boys loved the tractor and the ability to run through the fields. Here are some pics to enjoy and wishing everyone a Happy Halloween!!