Updated Bathroom

I am not sure how or why this project got started --it might have been some bumpy plaster on one wall that Steve wanted to smooth out -- but one thing lead to another and we ended up with a 'new' bathroom.  After Steve smoothed out all the plaster on the walls, I thought it would be fun to change the color of the new smooth walls.  While I was at it, I decided to update the hardware, getting rid of those long towel bars, replacing them with more modern hooks.  I pulled out the sewing machine and made a new valance. I then decided that it would not take much more to really update the bathroom.  I do not mind the tile in there, and it is in good shape.  Nor did I want to change the layout of the bathroom in any way.  I really just did not like the cheap vanity and faucet that were in there.  We thought about replacing the whole vanity, but after discovering some difficulties that came with that, I just painted the old one, replaced the knob/pulls, and ordered a new top with double sinks and tall faucets.  I love having my own sink, and not having to share with Steve.  I feel like an adult.  However, the best part of the bathroom update is the built-in shelving that my dad made when he was out visiting last month. As I was going to the bathroom tonight, I was thinking how much I liked the new shelves and realized that I never shared these photos. 

Thanks dad; these photos are for you!

I have one more thing that I want to do to complete this project: put a frame around the mirror.  I need Steve's help with that one, and he is occupied with the backyard "house" project.  So that will wait until another rainy day. 

Hmm.  I wish we would have updated the upstairs bathroom; that is one that I really do not like.  That one, though, will take far more work (and expense).  Maybe next year.  Maybe we will hire that one out.


  

Birthday Photos - Age 1 and Age 5

2013 - Age 1 & 5, a set on Flickr.

Carolyn turned 5; Elizabeth turned 1.

Some photos to capture them at this point in life.

Thanks to Whitney Thatcher for the great photos.

PS - when steve saw these, he said he is going to the photo shoot with us next time, so we can get some actual family photos. Yeah!

I love you, Dad.

IMG_4984
Originally uploaded by boo4172002

A photo that was part of Elizabeth's father's day gift to steve.

Lots of Fun - Little Sleep

The Red Butte Gardens family campout was on Friday.  We arrived early Friday night around 5 when the gates opened.  We brought a picnic, a tent, and sleeping bags.  About 30 families setup their tents in the big grassy amphitheater, where concerts are usually held.  They provide the campfire and smores, scavenger hunt, sidewalk chalk and yard games, a storyteller, telescopes, a late-night movie, and a catered breakfast.  This year, there were several families that came with us -- Ollie's family, Sevila's family, Ellie and her dad, Michelle and Max -- the kids ran around all night, trying to solve some sort of "mystery" and to trap a ghost. They finally crashed around midnight.  The night was even shorter because the sun turned on the lights by 5am, and the spectacular "supermoon" kept the sky light most of the night.  The good news is that we all napped when we got home.  Carolyn napped from 130pm until 730 (when I woke her up), Elizabeth napped from noon to 4.  And, I even got a 2-3 hour nap - a real nap with dreams!  Heaven.

I am surprised that I do not have any pictures of Elizabeth from the night -- she loved the campout most of all.  She crawled and walked everywhere, always smiling and laughing.  Well, other than the moment when the entire amphitheater was dead silent at 1am.  Maybe she was not all that noisy even then, but her little cries seemed so loud to me. 

Stats and Health Updates

Lots of doc appointments this week.

First, the girls' stats at 1-year and 5-year.

     Elizabeth:  28.98" (21st percentile) & 20 lbs 3.6oz (46th percentile). 
     Carolyn:  43.78" (78th percentile) & 40lbs 5.5oz (55th percentile)

Second, Carolyn had post-op follow-up with urology.  Her incisions -- inside and out -- look great. Everything appears to be healing well, and surgery appears to have fixed the reflux to her kidneys.  She was taken off of daily antibiotics.  She was put on a med (ditropan) that will help with the continuing bladder issues; the ultrasound showed some thickening of the bladder wall in areas that were untouched by the surgery.  So, the constant leaking and bladder urgency that she is having (and has had for the past year) is probably unavoidable.  Hopefully, this medicine will help her regain some control and help her bladder muscles relax and return to a normal state.  Remember last summer Carolyn claimed that she was depressed because 1) she could not do a cartwheel, 2) she couldn't write her own name, and 3) she always had wet underware?  Hmmm.... maybe that was the start of all this.  Maybe that bladder leaking was the first signs of what was to come.

Third, Carolyn had a renal evaluation and consultation with the nephrologist.  Ultrasounds of her kidneys showed that they are returning to a normal and healthy state, now that she has been infection free for about two months.  The right kidney is no longer twisting or swollen.   No permanent scarring is present on either kidney.  Phew.  All urine and blood levels (creatine) were in normal range.  So the kidneys appear to be working normally again. 

All in all, very good news. 

-- at her 5-year well-child check up, Carolyn had to get routine immunizations.  Although, before the appointment, she said she was going to be brave and was OK with getting the shots, she immediately started screaming and crying when the nurse came in with the shots.  I think the past 6-months of shots and procedures have taken a toll on her.  I have a feeling that she may have some lifelong fear and anxiety over needles.  Or maybe she will become a "good patient" again when she realizes that she is better, finally. 

-- when we were finishing up the check-up with pediatrician, she mentioned that Carolyn ranks as her number 2 sickest patient, of all time.  Her number 1 patient also had pyelonephritis (kidney infections), but was an adolescent who did not treat the infections for a day or two after they appeared. I do not know how I feel about hearing that, but I am so thankful that Carolyn appears to be on the mend.  I am so thankful that this string of illnesses was something that could be reversed, be fixed. I am also thankful that we have such a caring, competent, and involved pediatrician.  I only hope we do not have to go through this with Elizabeth.  If we do, I think we and all of our docs know what to look for.

Birthday Celebrations -- Part 2 and 3

Part 2 was on her actual birthday, at school.  She invited both me and Steve to come to school to do the "walk around the sun" ..... a parent brings in pictures from each year of life and comments on what happened during that year.  The child walks around the sun, turning each year of age. 

The earth goes around the sun, the sun

it takes 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days!

This celebration ended with her first taste of bubble gum, as we walked up the hill back to our house.

Part 3 was at home.  For dinner, she requested tofu veggie stir fry and an ice cream sunday from Baskin Robbins.  She was so excited to open up the various gifts that were sent to the house, which included bugs and a big bouncy ball from Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Mike -- a bag of nail polish, lip gloss, and perfume from Grandma Carol and Grandpa Harry -- crafts and a Lalaloopsy doll from Aunt Heather, Uncle Jason, Addie and Emerson -- more crafts and a board game from RJ.  THANK YOU.  And, from us, she received a fish.  Well, really just a fish tank.  She gets to pick out the fish when we come back from our vacation to Ohio.   

To end the birthday celebrations, we chewed more bubble gum and set off a bunch of sparklers that Great Granny gave to her.

5 years old! 

Happy Birthday, Carolyn.

May you find your peace, your health, and everything else that you wish for this year.

Though, her wish as she blew out her candle was to be able to read people's minds. 
I am not so sure if that will come true!