Spring/Summer

Friday, December 23, 2011

December 11 - 17, 2011


This week we had Courtney, TJ and Paxten staying with us. Although it wasn't planned for me to be home from work when they were here, one good thing came from my injury, I was able to catch up with Courtney and spend some good time watching movies and just hanging out. I'm grateful for that. Enjoy!

Kinley sitting on my lap, enjoying some Mommy time.
12-12-11


Paxten and Kinley. Paxten enjoyed playing with both Colton and Kinley.
12-13-12


What a pretty girl! Kinley instantly knows to smile when she sees the camera. She is a very happy, content baby.
12-15-11


My good friend Autumn stopped by to visit and brought her two beautiful daughters who are the same ages as Colton and Kinley. Here, Emma and Kinley (they are 10 days apart) communicating in their own way.
12-15-11


Lillian, Emma and Kinley hanging out. Lillian and Colton play really well together and it's quite fun to watch them. I'm getting a glimpse of what it will be like to have a toddler girl....so much fun!
12-15-11


Sorry that most of Kinley's pictures are taken on my lap, but she loves sitting with me and I love having her hang out with me. By the way, why do all kids love playing with the remote?!
12-16-11


This girl loves to smile and always brings it when the camera comes out!
12-17-11

December 4 - 10, 2011

Kinley turned 7 months old this week! Unfortunately, due to my condition, I ended up taking her picture sitting on my lap instead of her chair in her room. We also had some good friends visiting us from Missouri. TJ, Courtney and Paxten stayed with us for a few days. Enjoy!


Kinley turned 7 months old on December 4th. She is getting so big and I absolutely love this age, she is just so dang cute!

Height: Not sure but last month she was 28 inches (95%+), so I'm guessing that she is at least an inch longer if she follows her past few months.

Weight: Again, not sure but last month she was 18.14 oz. (90-95%), so I'd guess at least a pound or two heavier this month.

Feeding: Kinley is still eating an 8 oz bottle every 5+ hours, three in a day. She also eats 3.5 oz. of 2nd stage baby food twice a day. Kinley still loves whatever we put in front of her and has yet to not eat anything.

Sleeping: I can't stress enough what a great sleeper our little Kinley is. She still sleeps anywhere between 10-12 straight a night. Her naps are more consistent, taking a longer nap in the morning (1.5-2.5 hours), and a shorter nap in the afternoon (1-2 hours).

Size: Kinley wears size two diapers but as soon as they run out she will be moving into size 3 and is wearing 9 month or 6-12 month clothes. I have even put her in some 12 month outfits for the length and they fit her well.

Milestones: Kinley loves to be apart of whatever is going on so she will roll around the floor or sit up to see what is going on. I'm afraid that she is close to crawling, which I'm not quite ready for. I'd like to have my leg healed before that happens so I can get her if I need to. Kinley had another tooth pop through on the bottom,her third tooth. Kinley LOVES playing with her brother and he LOVES making her laugh and smile. It warms my heart to see these two together. You can tell how much they both enjoy being around each other, which I hope lasts the rest of their lives.

4 Months old
09-04-11


5 Months old
10-04-11


6 Months old
11-04-11


Our beautiful, adventurous, charming daughter, 7 months old!
12-04-11


Colton and his big beautiful blue eyes.
12-05-11


Colton showing some love to "sister" with Grandma watching.
12-05-11


Kinley perched on my lap. She ends up on my lap often and, surprisingly, enjoys sitting with me. I love it!
12-09-11


Colton loves playing with his "letters" and he is getting really good at recognizing them and putting them in their proper place.
12-09-11


One of my dearest friends, Courtney, returned to Vegas with her family for a vacation. We were lucky to be able to host them for a few days. Colton loved playing with Paxten. Eric and TJ catching up with Paxten checking things out.
12-10-11


Colton hanging out with Kinley before she goes down for the night.
12-10-11

I thought I would update you on how my progress is going with the injury. I had surgery on December 6 and was able to come home on December 8. The surgery went very well, yet I was in some pain but the physical therapist got me up and walking on crutches the following day as well as rehabbing my leg in a CPM machine which bends it back and forth. The first time we did this I could only get to 45 degrees but after being home for a couple of days I can now get it to 60+.

This is basically my life right now. I'm propped in a reclining chair with my leg in a brace and ice is on it almost 24/7. I get up with the help of my awesome hubby and crutches to go to the bathroom, but that is about it. We have rented a wheelchair is helps when we need to go to appointments, etc.


I have this table next to my chair and everything that I need is right there. My pain meds (very important), phone, lotion, monitor and the lovely shot on the right. I have to give myself a shot in the morning and at night in the stomach to help with blood clots that can be common after leg surgery.

Even though our life has completely changed, I cannot express how grateful I am for the all the thoughts and prayers that have come our way. We are blessed that we have family who dropped everything to come help us out. My dad and Ruby were the first to come and they came at the most difficult time, before I had surgery and I was in horrible pain. Yet, through their caring and support helped make it better by doing whatever was needed, from cleaning to laundry to putting up our big tree and helping me wrap gifts. Barb and Dave were the next to come and were a huge help because they were here when I went in for surgery and were able to be with the kids while Eric was with me in the hospital. It was a huge relief knowing that they were caring for them. They also helped out with cleaning, etc. My sister will be coming the first weekend in January and David and Deb will be with us the end of January. We are very lucky to have such great people in our lives!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

November 27 - December 3, 2011

This week we have been adjusting to our new life...one where I am laid up in a chair all day and Eric has become Mr. Mom. We've also been lucky enough to have family (my dad and Ruby) to help us and great friends willing to do whatever we need, including washing my hair and bringing us dinner (thanks Michelle and Alisa:). As you may notice, all of the pictures will be from one angle, the angle of my chair. There may also be several pictures with my foot in it, however, I'll try to crop it when possible. Enjoy!


Both of our kiddos have beautiful blue eyes. Here's Kinley's sparklers.
11-27-11


Kinley all bathed and ready for bed. Giving mommy a good night snuggle and kiss.
11-29-11


Even though I was laid up 24 hours a day, I still wanted to make sure that the kids were able to do some of the same stuff we do every year, including visiting with Santa.
12-01-11


Thankfully my dad and Ruby where here to help and we were able to rent me a wheelchair and decided to take it out for the first time for the excursion. Unfortunately, I overdid it and was in great pain for most of the night.Kinley was absolutely fascinated with Santa and continued to stare at him and his beard.
12-01-11


Kinley getting some love from Grandpa. I can't express how grateful we are for my Dad and Ruby who dropped what they were doing and came right away. Not only did they help with the kids, but they made sure we had a clean house once again. They also helped to put up the rest of our Christmas, including our main tree. I don't know what we would've done without their love, support and help.
12-02-11


Ruby brought Kinley down to see me after her bath to show me how cute and happy she was in her towel.
12-02-11


Colton and Grandma Ruby playing "Ring Around the Rosies." Colton kept saying, "again, again!!"
12-03-11


Here Colton is doing his best impression of "falling down."
12-03-11


Kinley playing with her toys while Grandpa watches her.
12-03-11


My friend Alisa dropped some yummy dinner by and brought her son Nolan. Colton had so much fun playing with Nolan, even if it was only for a few minutes. I see another play date sometime in their near future. Here they're hugging to say good-bye.
12-03-11


Kinley was playing in her exersaucer when Colton thought it would be fun to put all of her toys on there for her to play with. She didn't know what to do with all the fun toys.
12-03-11

Monday, November 21, 2011

November 20 - 26, 2011


What a game-changer this week was. It started out as any other with happy, healthy kids and plans for our first Thanksgiving here in Vegas with Uncle Andy! Plans for Christmas shopping were also made as well as many fun Christmas activities. Then it all changed....


My "cutie pie" smiling for the camera.
11-21-11


Kinley sitting up so straight.
11-21-11


Kinley showing off her Thanksgiving wear.
11-23-11


Can't forget the turkey on the bum!
11-23-11


Uncle Andy came to Vegas for Thanksgiving. Kinley is in love :).
11-24-11


Colton loves "Uncle Andy" and likes to call him "silly Andy." Kinley is clearly impressed with "silly Andy" as well.
11-24-11


Colton is ready for Thanksgiving!
11-24-11


We had a wonderful, relaxed Thanksgiving with some very yummy food. We were also so excited to have Andrew join us.
11-24-11

THE GAME CHANGER
I had planned to do some Christmas shopping on Friday morning and then get all of our Christmas decorations put up. Eric and Andrew took Colton and went to the Valley of Fire state park, which is about an hour away, so I could accomplish this. I had put up a bunch of stuff and went to put some garland up around our kitchen window. I was standing up on the counter (which I've done countless times) to do this and as I went to jump down, I wobbled and my right leg hit the island, pushing it backwards. I heard it snap and knew instantly that I had broken my right leg. I sat on the floor, shocked, not knowing what to do. I had put Kinley down in her bed two hours earlier for a nap and prayed that she continued to sleep until Eric came home.
Luckily, our home phone was on the counter just above me, but unfortunately it was out of my reach. I was in incredible pain, but knew that somehow, some way, I needed to get to that phone. I started to throw objects at it to get it loose. Finally, after several tries, I finally got it loose and called Eric. They had just sat down to dinner, about 30 miles away. He instantly got in the car and rushed home. In the meantime, I sat on a hard, cold floor, praying that Kinley continued to sleep (she usually doesn't take longer than a 2 hour nap) and listened intently to her monitor, which was on the island and out of my reach. Eric continued to call me and check in on me and when he was only a few minutes away I called 911. I couldn't call before that due to all of the doors being locked and I didn't want any doors broken down :).
Andrew dropped off Eric and drove around with Colton. Colton is very tender-hearted towards me and would've freaked out had he seen me on the floor with the paramedics. Once at the hospital, x-rays were taken and we found out that I have two breaks in my right leg. One in the fibula and one in the tibula, up towards the knee cap. Due to the break and where it's located, surgery is needed and scheduled for Dec. 6. For right now and the near future, my life consists of sitting, sleeping, eating in a recliner 24 hours a day with a full leg brace. I am off work until at least January and will not be able to drive for at least two months. So when I said this week was a game changer for our family, you can now see why. I cannot express in words how much I love and appreciate Eric for all of his love and support during this trial. He is not only Daddy to our kids but has also become Mr. Mom. I am also so grateful to our families who are all making plans to come here and help, starting with my Dad and Ruby who are here with us now. More updates to come on this interesting, long journey....wish us luck!

And this is my life....full leg brace with ice constantly on my knee. Hey, at least I got a nice pedicure a few days before :). Also, notice the X on my foot? It's there just to make sure that they knew which leg was injured!!


Video Kinley talking

November 13 - 19, 2011

This week was a quiet one in the Gant household. Not much going, just getting ready to spend our first Thanksgiving in Las Vegas. Enjoy!


Kinley is teething right now and chews on ANYTHING she can get her hands on, including mommy's fingers.
11-13-11


Kinley looks so big to me in this picture. She is growing up so quickly.
11-15-11


Have I mentioned how much these two love each other. Kinley looks up to her brother and Colton loves to make her laugh. You can see how much these two enjoy each other in this picture. I hope that lasts for many, many, many more years.
11-17-11


Kinley is getting very close to crawling. She can pull herself up and it won't be long until she's moving all over the place.
11-17-11


Colton was so proud of himself. He stacked several toys on top of his Thomas the Train railway. Right after this picture was taken he promptly pushed it all to the ground.
11-19-11


Video of Kinley saying "No, No"

November 6 - 12, 2011

What a fun week we had. Veteran's Day fell this week so we got a three day weekend. My dad and Ruby decided to come visit and spend some time with the kiddos. We had a great time with them and Colton was very sad (along with us) to see them go. Good thing we will be seeing them again in a little over a month. Enjoy!


Kinley all dressed and ready for the cooler weather. Her feet are even covered in warm faux fur boots.
11-06-11


Kinley loves sitting up any chance she can.
11-08-11


Kinley is truly a happy baby. She loves rattles right now, as evident by the one in her hand.
11-10-11


Colton's favorite place right now is Chuck E Cheese. He couldn't wait to go there with Grandpa and Grandma.
11-12-11


Kinley loved looking at all the lights.
11-12-11

Kinley dancing video: