On January 6th, we celebrated Simi's 3 month anniversary of his open heart surgery. This day is significant in that his bones should be completely healed and he has no more restrictions on his activity. He can now climb the monkey bars or collide with school-mates on the playground without fear of injuring his breastbone.
Other than that, it was a normal day.
Simi has gained a total of 5 lbs. in the 3 months since his surgery. That's an increase of 20% over his original body weight. He looks great! If you look at him, you'd still say he's quite thin, but he's a "healthy" thin rather than a "concentration-camp victim" thin.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
The Waiting Game
The title says it all: Baby Sister is still safely ensconsed in her womb. Truthfully, her due date isn't until next week, so it's still early. I guess I shouldn't have been so certain that she'd be born early. Or perhaps I should have taken that scheduled c-section on December 27th when I had the chance. Argh, the waiting game...I think this is the worst part.
The question that remains on the top of my list is: will I get more -- or less -- sleep once Baby Sister is born?
Anyway, no news about #3's arrival and the boys, surprisingly enough, haven't done anything especially cute in the past few days to post about.
The question that remains on the top of my list is: will I get more -- or less -- sleep once Baby Sister is born?
Anyway, no news about #3's arrival and the boys, surprisingly enough, haven't done anything especially cute in the past few days to post about.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Hugs
The other day, Simi and Asher were bickering over a toy. Just before one of us parents could intervene, however, Asher turns to Simi and says, "Let's hug each other." Toy was dropped and hugs ensued. Parents' hearts just melted away.
Since then, they hug each other all the time. And then they fall down together in a big heap and laugh and tumble around. Then they get up and do it again.
Since then, they hug each other all the time. And then they fall down together in a big heap and laugh and tumble around. Then they get up and do it again.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
What Does the "D" Say?
As you know, Asher is addicted to the television. We're now actively limiting his TV-watching and changing his program/DVD watching to educational programs.
So now, when he watches TV, one of the main things he watches is the Leap Frog "Talking Letters Factory" DVD. In this DVD, cartoon characters walk a family of children through a letter factory. There are 26 individual rooms in the factory and in each room is a letter. They show the letter and say its sound. From a parent's perspective, it's quite well-done and entertaining. And maybe it'll help him learn his letters.
Asher was engrossed in the DVD this evening while Simi and Raj were eating their ice-cream dessert. Raj decided to quiz Asher on the letters.
"What does the 'E' say, Asher?", asks Raj.
"Eh" comes the correct response from our engrossed 2 year-old.
"What does the 'D' say, Asher?", Raj asks another question.
"Daddy-o!", replies Asher.
Now where did THAT come from?
So now, when he watches TV, one of the main things he watches is the Leap Frog "Talking Letters Factory" DVD. In this DVD, cartoon characters walk a family of children through a letter factory. There are 26 individual rooms in the factory and in each room is a letter. They show the letter and say its sound. From a parent's perspective, it's quite well-done and entertaining. And maybe it'll help him learn his letters.
Asher was engrossed in the DVD this evening while Simi and Raj were eating their ice-cream dessert. Raj decided to quiz Asher on the letters.
"What does the 'E' say, Asher?", asks Raj.
"Eh" comes the correct response from our engrossed 2 year-old.
"What does the 'D' say, Asher?", Raj asks another question.
"Daddy-o!", replies Asher.
Now where did THAT come from?
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Understanding Simi/Being Four
When Simi was in the hospital for his open heart surgery, after the surgery, every small procedure was a really big deal. For example, each time the nurse took out a line, I rejoiced because it meant that he was improving and was one step closer to going home.
Simi didn't see it the same way I did. To him, getting a line out meant pain. It was a BIG DEAL. He fought and cried and did everything he could to prevent the nurse from removing lines, band-aids, etc.
On the day he was released from the hospital, the nurse removed the last IV line from the back of his hand. I explained to Simi what the nurse was about to do and he cried in sheer terror. He told me that he didn't want them to remove the line and preferred that it stay in forever.
When I (Liz) was in the hospital yesterday for the version, the first thing the nurses did was take blood and insert an IV line. I'm terrified of needles, so this is a big deal to me. When the version was cancelled, my first thought was that I had a needle for no reason at all. That's a BIG DEAL.
When it came time for me to leave, the nurse moved to remove the IV line. I wanted to cry. Instead, I asked her if we could keep it in because sometime soon I'd be back to have the baby, and I'd need it then. Wouldn't it save them time, I reasoned, if the line was already in? I would rather that line stay in forever than have the nurse remove it. Nothing doing; the line came out.
I now know how Simi felt...
Simi didn't see it the same way I did. To him, getting a line out meant pain. It was a BIG DEAL. He fought and cried and did everything he could to prevent the nurse from removing lines, band-aids, etc.
On the day he was released from the hospital, the nurse removed the last IV line from the back of his hand. I explained to Simi what the nurse was about to do and he cried in sheer terror. He told me that he didn't want them to remove the line and preferred that it stay in forever.
When I (Liz) was in the hospital yesterday for the version, the first thing the nurses did was take blood and insert an IV line. I'm terrified of needles, so this is a big deal to me. When the version was cancelled, my first thought was that I had a needle for no reason at all. That's a BIG DEAL.
When it came time for me to leave, the nurse moved to remove the IV line. I wanted to cry. Instead, I asked her if we could keep it in because sometime soon I'd be back to have the baby, and I'd need it then. Wouldn't it save them time, I reasoned, if the line was already in? I would rather that line stay in forever than have the nurse remove it. Nothing doing; the line came out.
I now know how Simi felt...
Waiting for Baby
Just before my mum passed away (in 1999), I read a book in an attempt to prepare myself for the inevitable. In the book, the authors talked about how people died in the same way they lived - according to their personalities. Each chapter was a story about a different person and their end of life experience. And true to form, my mum passed away in a manner very appropriate to her personality.
I have a theory: I think people are born according to their personalities too.
In utero, Baby Sister has A LOT of personality. I'm very interested in meeting her and getting to know her and learn of the kind of person she is. Her birth is already very different from her two brothers.
A few weeks ago we learned she's transverse. That means that she's laying sideways in utero. By this point, she should be vertex, or head down. She's moving a lot - going from side-to-side - and avoiding that middle at all costs. Each time the doctor does an ultrasound, her head is either on the left or on the right. How does she do that without going to the middle?
We also learned that Baby Sister responds well to verbal threats.
Yesterday, we had an attempt to manually move her to the correct position. About 15 minutes prior to the version, the resident did an ultrasound to check her position: head left, body across, and legs and arms dangling. Doctor comes in to perform the version and checks the position via ultrasound: head center, body up - perfect vertex position. Version cancelled.
What a teaser!
These next few weeks are going to be interesting ones in terms of what Baby Sister will do. And the next 18+ years will be a blast with her in our lives if she continues the same personality she has in utero.
I have a theory: I think people are born according to their personalities too.
In utero, Baby Sister has A LOT of personality. I'm very interested in meeting her and getting to know her and learn of the kind of person she is. Her birth is already very different from her two brothers.
A few weeks ago we learned she's transverse. That means that she's laying sideways in utero. By this point, she should be vertex, or head down. She's moving a lot - going from side-to-side - and avoiding that middle at all costs. Each time the doctor does an ultrasound, her head is either on the left or on the right. How does she do that without going to the middle?
We also learned that Baby Sister responds well to verbal threats.
Yesterday, we had an attempt to manually move her to the correct position. About 15 minutes prior to the version, the resident did an ultrasound to check her position: head left, body across, and legs and arms dangling. Doctor comes in to perform the version and checks the position via ultrasound: head center, body up - perfect vertex position. Version cancelled.
What a teaser!
These next few weeks are going to be interesting ones in terms of what Baby Sister will do. And the next 18+ years will be a blast with her in our lives if she continues the same personality she has in utero.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Pressies!
Yesterday was another wonderful Christmas. In the morning, the boys woke up in their matching pajamas -- and we went downstairs to see if Santa had arrived during the night. Sure 'nough, there were presents under the tree!
Last year, Asher (who was 1 at the time) was a bit too young to enjoy presents. This year, the two of them dug into their pressies and had a blast!
Want to know the favorite toy for both of them? The Hess fire truck.
Simi and Asher are a bit luckier than most kids because we celebrate Hannukah too. That means they get pressies for Hannukah too! Lucky kids!
To all our cyber-friends, we hope this holiday season brings you happiness, joy, and love. And we hope all your dreams for 2006 come true.
Last year, Asher (who was 1 at the time) was a bit too young to enjoy presents. This year, the two of them dug into their pressies and had a blast!
Want to know the favorite toy for both of them? The Hess fire truck.
Simi and Asher are a bit luckier than most kids because we celebrate Hannukah too. That means they get pressies for Hannukah too! Lucky kids!
To all our cyber-friends, we hope this holiday season brings you happiness, joy, and love. And we hope all your dreams for 2006 come true.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Happy Holidays!
To all our friends and family who read this blog: we'd like to wish you a very wonderful holiday and a happy and healthy new year.
While I wish that I could put, as a new year's resolution, that I'd do a better job at more individual communication, with baby #3 nearly here I'm sure that resolution would never hold up. So please understand when you don't get those personal phone calls or visits that you once did receive.
While I wish that I could put, as a new year's resolution, that I'd do a better job at more individual communication, with baby #3 nearly here I'm sure that resolution would never hold up. So please understand when you don't get those personal phone calls or visits that you once did receive.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Fat Boy
Last year, we worked really hard to get a one pound weight gain on Simi. That's right - after us practically stuffing food in his mouth and feeding him Ben & Jerry's ice cream (which has the highest fat content in ice cream) nearly every night, last year Simi gained a whopping one pound. Although his height was in the 50th percentile for his age, his weight was below the 5th percentile. His weight was one of the reasons we wanted to fix his heart defect sooner rather than later.
With the hole in Simi's heart, his body had to work harder, which burned more calories, which caused him to be skinny.
Now, less than 3 months post surgery, Simi has gained 4 pounds. Can you believe it? He's gained four pounds in less than three months. Without us stuffing him at every meal or force-feeding him ice cream, the kid has gained over 12% of his total body weight in such a short timeframe. In fact, he's gained more in the last two months than he has in the last two years combined!
He now has a little bit of meat on his bones. And when he's sitting down and he bends over, he has a teeny tiny little bit of a belly.
Woo hoo!
With the hole in Simi's heart, his body had to work harder, which burned more calories, which caused him to be skinny.
Now, less than 3 months post surgery, Simi has gained 4 pounds. Can you believe it? He's gained four pounds in less than three months. Without us stuffing him at every meal or force-feeding him ice cream, the kid has gained over 12% of his total body weight in such a short timeframe. In fact, he's gained more in the last two months than he has in the last two years combined!
He now has a little bit of meat on his bones. And when he's sitting down and he bends over, he has a teeny tiny little bit of a belly.
Woo hoo!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
The Best Present
It's been very busy around here, as it probably is at your home too, what with getting ready for the holidays and all. And I think we're not playing our "you better be good or you'll get coal" card, because the boys have been SUPER rambunctious lately. Good golly, they are WOUND UP!
Today was a holiday party at Simi's classroom. It was great fun. Simi's teachers surprised each set of parents with a present that they helped the children make. It's a calendar. Each month the picture of the month is some sort of hand-print with a relevant theme for the month. It's one of the best gifts I've ever received and I want to keep it forever. One day, when Simi's all grown up, I'll pull out this old calendar and we'll marvel at how small his hand once was...
But for right now, I'll just marvel at how BIG his handprint is, because it used to be much smaller...
Today was a holiday party at Simi's classroom. It was great fun. Simi's teachers surprised each set of parents with a present that they helped the children make. It's a calendar. Each month the picture of the month is some sort of hand-print with a relevant theme for the month. It's one of the best gifts I've ever received and I want to keep it forever. One day, when Simi's all grown up, I'll pull out this old calendar and we'll marvel at how small his hand once was...
But for right now, I'll just marvel at how BIG his handprint is, because it used to be much smaller...
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Growing Up
Asher's developments are coming fast and furious lately. Seems like every day he loses a bit more of his "baby-ness" and gains a bit more of "boy-ness".
I love to hear him having conversations with Simi. I love to see him get so excited about things, like Bob-the-Builder legos and pooping in the potty. I love to have conversations with him about the latest movie he saw or what he did at school today.
Yet, at the same time, it seems like he's growing up too fast. I wish I could slow it down a little and savor the bit of "baby time" I have left with him.
I love to hear him having conversations with Simi. I love to see him get so excited about things, like Bob-the-Builder legos and pooping in the potty. I love to have conversations with him about the latest movie he saw or what he did at school today.
Yet, at the same time, it seems like he's growing up too fast. I wish I could slow it down a little and savor the bit of "baby time" I have left with him.
Best Friends
As Asher gets more "kid-like" and less "baby-like", he and Simi are getting closer and closer. Right now, I'd say they are "Best Friends". They truly love each other, love playing with each other, and love, well, simply "being" with each other. They're so supportive of each other, cheering each other on through potty training, etc.
As a parent, it's one of the sweetest things on the planet: to hear them having a conversation and watch them playing together.
I hope it lasts their life-time.
As a parent, it's one of the sweetest things on the planet: to hear them having a conversation and watch them playing together.
I hope it lasts their life-time.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Me too!
Simi just resumed soccer class this week. He has soccer class once a week after school. So one parent takes Simi to soccer while the other one picks up Asher and takes him home.
On the way home, Asher continually asked where Simi was. " At soccer practice", came the standard reply. "I want to go to soccer practice too", Asher constantly said.
When we got home, Asher went straight to the plastic golf club and soccer ball and started to hit the soccer ball around with the golf club. "See, I play soccer too", he said.
On the way home, Asher continually asked where Simi was. " At soccer practice", came the standard reply. "I want to go to soccer practice too", Asher constantly said.
When we got home, Asher went straight to the plastic golf club and soccer ball and started to hit the soccer ball around with the golf club. "See, I play soccer too", he said.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
The Star Chart
To give Simi some encouragement, we got a "star chart". That means that we write down things he should do and when he does them, he gets a star. When he accumulates a total of five stars, he gets to go to the dollar store and pick out a present. Simi's thrilled.
Asher wanted to get in the game too, so we added his name to the star chart even though he's a bit young for it. No matter; he's now eagerly doing whatever it is on his star chart so that he, too, can get stars.
We thought of putting Baby Sister's name on the chart with one activity: being born. But then we thought she's likely to zoom out of her comfortable location in the quest of obtaining a star.
The result is amazing. Both boys are moving right along and getting stars like crazy.
Sure beats nagging.
Asher wanted to get in the game too, so we added his name to the star chart even though he's a bit young for it. No matter; he's now eagerly doing whatever it is on his star chart so that he, too, can get stars.
We thought of putting Baby Sister's name on the chart with one activity: being born. But then we thought she's likely to zoom out of her comfortable location in the quest of obtaining a star.
The result is amazing. Both boys are moving right along and getting stars like crazy.
Sure beats nagging.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Update
We haven't updated in awhile; it's been tremendously busy around here lately...
Remember when we were in Boston and the boys shared a bed? Good golly, they slept great. Then they came home and slept in separate rooms and slept terribly. I think they missed each other.
At bed time, each one, individually, would ask to sleep in the other's bed. One night we decided to try it. We moved Asher's bed into Simi's room.
The end result? They're thrilled. They love sleeping in the same room. They love the company. And we all sleep a lot better at night.
Remember when we were in Boston and the boys shared a bed? Good golly, they slept great. Then they came home and slept in separate rooms and slept terribly. I think they missed each other.
At bed time, each one, individually, would ask to sleep in the other's bed. One night we decided to try it. We moved Asher's bed into Simi's room.
The end result? They're thrilled. They love sleeping in the same room. They love the company. And we all sleep a lot better at night.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Moving Up
Recently, Asher moved to a new room at day care. The new room is for 2-3 year olds. He's now in the "big kids" section of the infant day care. Next year he moves to pre-school, where Simi is.
Asher loves his new room. They have all sorts of cool work, like puzzles and building blocks. They even have stuff that it's ok for him to break, like pulling the kernels off dried corn cobs. He can even use toddler-tweezers to pick up the kernels and put them in a bowl. Then, he can count them. He's in heaven.
The daughter of a friend of ours is also in that room. Asher has met and played with her before, but now that they're spending entire days together, they've really bonded. Asher comes home constantly talking about Brianna. He loves her.
Every night, Asher asks about the teachers in his old room. The other day, I picked him up early so that he can visit his old room. But we got to the door and he refused to go in. Perhaps he thought he'd never be able to go back to his new room. That night, he talked about his old teachers again. What a kid.
Asher loves his new room. They have all sorts of cool work, like puzzles and building blocks. They even have stuff that it's ok for him to break, like pulling the kernels off dried corn cobs. He can even use toddler-tweezers to pick up the kernels and put them in a bowl. Then, he can count them. He's in heaven.
The daughter of a friend of ours is also in that room. Asher has met and played with her before, but now that they're spending entire days together, they've really bonded. Asher comes home constantly talking about Brianna. He loves her.
Every night, Asher asks about the teachers in his old room. The other day, I picked him up early so that he can visit his old room. But we got to the door and he refused to go in. Perhaps he thought he'd never be able to go back to his new room. That night, he talked about his old teachers again. What a kid.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
The Destroyer
Asher has a very special talent; he destroys everything he gets his hands on. He even manages to destroy things that are seemingly unbreakable. For example, you know those kitchen magnets - the kind you get for free from some company and place them on your refrigerator? He peals the paper off the magnet part.
Today was the first day the Polar Express DVD was released. We bought the gift pack because it had a snow globe and Brio train engine.
Within an hour after purchasing the set, Asher threw the snow globe down the stairs. The plastic globe cracked and the glittery snow and liquid within it came to a rest on the carpeted stairs.
Will he destroy things forever?
Today was the first day the Polar Express DVD was released. We bought the gift pack because it had a snow globe and Brio train engine.
Within an hour after purchasing the set, Asher threw the snow globe down the stairs. The plastic globe cracked and the glittery snow and liquid within it came to a rest on the carpeted stairs.
Will he destroy things forever?
Monday, November 14, 2005
A Word of Advice
Normally these posts are about the kids. This post is a bit of advice for the pregnant women reading this blog who need to get dressed up for a fancy affair: find a nice pantsuit.
In other words: avoid the need to wear pantyhose at all costs.
Seriously, why in the world do they even sell maternity hose when they know full well that it's darn near impossible for a woman to actually get it up on her legs when there's a great big belly in the way? And there isn't even a warning label on the packaging, something like: "Warning: attempting to wear this product is hazardous to your health and emotional well-being."
Now, if logic had entered my mind at all before I bought the hose, I would have realized that for someone who hasn't even seen the tips of her toes in months, bending down to get pantyhose rolled up the legs would be an impossible task.
Pantyhose aside, Simi and I (if you hadn't realized by now, this is Liz speaking) had a wonderful time in New York and at Nicole's Bat Mitzvah. Nicole did a great job with the service and she looked like the beautiful princess she is at the reception. Inside and out, this girl is truly beautiful.
Simi had an absolutely wonderful time with Nicole and her friends. He didn't want to leave.
In other words: avoid the need to wear pantyhose at all costs.
Seriously, why in the world do they even sell maternity hose when they know full well that it's darn near impossible for a woman to actually get it up on her legs when there's a great big belly in the way? And there isn't even a warning label on the packaging, something like: "Warning: attempting to wear this product is hazardous to your health and emotional well-being."
Now, if logic had entered my mind at all before I bought the hose, I would have realized that for someone who hasn't even seen the tips of her toes in months, bending down to get pantyhose rolled up the legs would be an impossible task.
Pantyhose aside, Simi and I (if you hadn't realized by now, this is Liz speaking) had a wonderful time in New York and at Nicole's Bat Mitzvah. Nicole did a great job with the service and she looked like the beautiful princess she is at the reception. Inside and out, this girl is truly beautiful.
Simi had an absolutely wonderful time with Nicole and her friends. He didn't want to leave.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Nicole's Bat Mitzvah
This past weekend Simi and Liz went up to NY for cousin Nicole's Bat Mitzvah. Nicole is, undoubtedly, Simi's favorite person in the world, and he got to spend a lot of time with her and her friends. Simi couldn't get enough of dancing with Nicole and her friends.
Click on each photo for a larger image.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Asher's Throne
We bought a vibrating toddler seat for the boys to sit in once Baby Sister arrives; Simi used to enjoy sitting in the baby bouncy seat when Asher was a baby even though he was too big for it, so we figured this would be better. Asher already loves to turn on the vibrations and plop himself down on his throne to watch TV, and we think it looks pretty funny.
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