The Fairy and the Mermaid

This post is going to be unusually long. There is a lot of information to cover.

Wednesday, November 23, 2010:
Mama did not have to work and Papa was able to get off work early. Even with this extra time, we were still unable to leave until 8:00. Hazel slept the entire way to Manns Harbor. Cora woke up after about an hour, cried for two hours, then slept for the final stretch. We think she was scared of the dark and did not know where she was. The only thing that would calm her down was the light from Mama's cell phone. We arrived in Manns Harbor around 12:45 a.m. Both girls immediately woke up, discovering they were at Gammaw and Pawpaw's house. At 1:45 we took the girls to bed. They protested for a while but finally feel asleep.

Thanksgiving Day:
Everyone woke up normal time. The girls played and fussed off and on all morning. They were very tired from the trip but too excited to miss anything. Cora was having difficulty breathing. She was wheezing and had a lot of congestion. Mama and Papa decided to give her the steroid treatments. We were hesitant to put her on steroids until we were absolutely sure she needed them. Since she started, she has not had any congestion or wheezing. She is also sleeping at night. They do not make her hyper like Albutertol does in the morning. Finally the girls went to sleep around 11:30. At 1:00, they were still asleep. Lunch started at 12:15. Mama and Papa did not want to miss lunch. So, while the girls were still sleeping, we went to Aunt Wendy's house. It was a wonderful lunch with lots of food and good times with the family. The girls played with their cousins , Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents and Great Grandparents. Uncle Joel helped feed the girls their Thanksgiving lunch and pictures were taken. Everyone had a nice long nap when we returned to Gammaw and Pawpaw's house. Dinner that night was with the family. It was a great day.

Friday:
We decided we were not going shopping. Too many crowds. Instead we spent the morning at Gimimmie and Pappy's house. The girls enjoyed the attention from their great grandparents. Cora loved to stare at Pappy and listen to him read. Hazel loved to wrestle with Gimimmie. The girls had their bottle and short nap while we were there, we stayed so long. None of us wanted to leave. We went back to Gammaw and Pawpaw's for lunch, played with the cousins, then we were off again. We spent the afternoon at the aquarium. It was so much fun. Cora loved to watch the people more than the fish. She liked the rocks and plants in the exhibit with the alligators, the fish in the aquarium in the children's section and the sea horses. The sea horses were her favorite. She tried to reach them through the glass. She spent the most time at that exhibit. Hazel could not get enough of the fish. She did not like to be close to the tank. We think her view would get too warped and it bothered her eyes. She liked every exhibit. It is a toss up on her favorite. She liked the colorful fish, the sea horses, pretty much everything. She would follow a fish from one edge of the tank to another, and turn her head to try to follow it. Hazel also like to look up at the fish and water above her. Mama and Papa's favorite time at the aquarium was the picture we took of the girls with the alligator. It is an alligator Pawpaw had to help catch a long time ago. Someone had shot it with an arrow and Pawpaw had to capture it since it was on the refuge. Cora and Hazel did not seem to mind beginning beside an alligator. That night, Papa went to his old high school to watch their football team play in the state playoffs while Mama and Gammaw enjoyed time with the girls.


Saturday:
We went back to Gimimmie and Pappy's house. They were unable to come to the blessing for the girls in July. We watched it together and had more play time. For lunch we all went to Darrell's. The girls did great eating in a restaurant. We were unsure how it was going to work out. They were well behaved and minded their manners. The only chuckle was when the restaurant got a little quiet and Hazel decided it was a perfect time to strain and fill her diaper. Thankfully, everyone laughed. A man in two booths down could not stop laughing. He was red faced and trying to contain himself. Hazel was oblivious. She kept grunting until she was done. After lunch we went to the Christmas Shop to find an ornament for the girl's first Christmas. We saw a lot of neat things but not what we wanted. Again, the girls did a great job. Next we went to the beach. This was their second trip. We were able to spend a little more time at the surf than last time. More pictures were taken. We still could not stay too long. The wind was making it too cold. Gammaw and Pappy were nice enough to watch the girls for the rest of the evening and night. Mama and Papa went to the Christmas Mouse, a different Christmas store on the beach, bought some ornaments, had a nice dinner, and were exhausted by 7:00. When we got home, the girls were feed, bathed, and asleep. It was another nice day.

Sunday:
We stayed in town longer than we normally do on weekend visits. We decided to go to church. Everyone has so supportive and concerned for our family over the last year. We were on the prayer list for a long time. We thought it would be nice for the congregation to see how well the girls are doing. This was their first church service. Overall, they did a great job. At the beginning of the service, Cora and Hazel were at one end of the pew. By the end, they had played with all their toys, had a bottle, and been held and played with by everyone in two pews and Aunt Rhonda in the front pew. Pawpaw announced during the praise and worship part of the service how thankful he was for everyone's prayers for his grandchildren. It was a tearful and touching moment for Mama. After the service we went back to Gammaw and Pawpaw's for one last round of playtime with the Aunts and Uncles and another series of pictures. None of us wanted to leave but we had to get on the road. It was a wonderful trip. One of the best ones we have ever had. We are looking forward to going back this summer when we have a little more time.


Last week:
It has taken us a full week to get unpacked and recover from our trip. The girls bounced back like they were never gone. Mama and Papa had a harder time getting back on schedule. We were spoiled in Manns Harbor with all the help. Thursday the girls had their normal developmental therapy appointment. Cora is still not crawling. She is pulling up to her knees on objects and rocking back and forth. She also tried to crawl forward but she locks her knees so her legs are straight out. She looks like a little tent. We really believe she may go straight to walking or she will crawl for a short amount of time. She scoots around with no problem on her bottom. There really is no motivation for her to crawl at this time. We are also working on getting her to hold her own bottle. She is getting better but she prefers it when someone holds it for her. Hazel is a moving machine. There is not a place she cannot get too. Yesterday she was crawling over Papa's legs, while he was laying on his side, to get a toy. She is doing great at pulling up and standing. She likes to show off for Cora. Hazel will be standing, leaning on something or holding on with one hand. Then she will lean down, pick up a toy, and return to a full standing position. This always brings her great joy. Both girls are talking as much as possible. They are even calling out in their sleep. Hazel prefers the da-da-da sound and she can say hey. She is trying to make more sounds but it is still jumbled. She continues to work on perfecting her Hulk roar. Cora is saying, ma-ma, pa-pa, hey, bye, and it sounded exactly like she said Hazel a couple of times this weekend. Both girls are waving and Hazel has discovered how to clap. We continue to be impressed with everything they do every day.

Saturday was their first snow (aside from when they were still in the hospital last year). It did snow a couple of times when they were in the NICU. This time they were able to enjoy it. Neither one liked the way it felt but they like to watch it fall. On Saturday night, the girls went to Papa's work for his department's Christmas social. They behaved like good little girls and enjoyed visiting with new faces and friends. Today we started to put our Christmas decorations up. Hazel was a little confused about why a tree was in our living room. She would look at the tree, then out the window, and back again. It took her a while to get used to it. Now she loves it. Cora is still a little unsure but she likes to watch the lights. We look forward to the girl's first Christmas and Birthday. It is hard to believe they will soon be one year old.


Upcoming events:
Monday night dinner with Great Grandmother for her Birthday. She will be 39, again.
Tuesday night is the band and orchestra concert.
Thursday is their second Synagis shot and another developmental therapy appointment with Marsha.