Summer is almost over :(

The heat seems to be slinking back into the cracks in which it came, but that means sadly that winter is around the corner... but right now it is fall like weather! YAY FALL! Why can't fall stay around more? 70 degree weather during the day and 50's at night, it works for me!

Well Kira is growing like a weed, she is just about 20 pounds, and she is almost 8 months now. She is trying to crawl BUT I personally think she is going to skip crawling and go to walking. She pulls her self up and she tries to step around things. So only time will see. She is making great strides in her growth, and she is so inquisitive. We are excited to watch her grow. So, far no signs of Autism but I am still watching and praying that she does not have any issues, like her brother, or anything else. It makes me nervous about it and semi-scared but I know that even if she does show signs that we can handle it and we will ALWAYS love her.

The MN Renaissance season has started and we have gone one day each weekend (normally a Sunday) and it is going well, even though it doesn't seem like it used to be. But we will still go because we enjoy a few hours of it. Kira has dressed as a fairy, once and she looked adorable.

Roman is off to college and he is home sick. If he were more social I am sure living 4 hours away would be better for him, because he would start a new life of friends up there. From my understanding though he just 'hides' in his room when he is home and doesn't go out to explore. ROMAN GO BE SOCIAL!! YOU CAN DO IT! I am proud of him though and I wish him the best. I am sure he will open up more. Also, at least he will realize how much family is important and that once it is gone, you miss it.

Steve is trying to find a new job, he is looking to do contracting. He currently has a job mind you but he is not making as much money as he should be and that is frustrating for him. I know he is very smart and he can do it too, and I support his decision with what he wants. I figure we will make it one way or another.

I am doing good, finished my minor in Child Development with a 4.0 and now finishing up the major, granted I still have a little over a year left of school, I am getting closer. YAY

Well HUGS for now and take care in all that you do. I gotta go chase Kira and her scooting.

Cleo

Wowy-zowy

Well look at that I am slacking again.. .eh... so it is the story of my life. LOL! Anywho... lets see what to update on? Um, Kira is almost three months old! Wow TIME DOES FLY! She went swimming for the first time last week. She did great. A natural! She even floated on her back, until a splash washed on her face and she got upset. Poor thing, she started crying bloody murder. Of course dad was holding her so he felt guilty. Poor dad.

Um, Demitri finished up basketball and he did awesome! He is starting to get the dribbling down and shooting baskets. We are so proud of him!

I am still in school or well I am back to school I should say. Currently in a early childhood language development class. Which is interesting to learn about the different milestones and things an infant, toddler, and child go through.

Well that is it for now I suppose. I don't have to much to write. Um, besides oh I am going to a couponing class this Saturday! I am kinda excited to learn about how to save money! YAY for saving money, maybe I can use the money that I save to go on a vacation somewhere sunny and slightly warm with a beach and an ocean. Speaking of vacation, Wanda, is in New Zealand at the moment! Man I would've like to been there with her, but... alas I am a mommy with responsibility!

All right well I gotta go, Kira is crying and wants mommy!

HUGS

Cleo

Kira Maureen is here!

Well okay she has been here for a while now, but life has been well busy... and it is just starting to plateau so we shall see where life goes from this point on. As the title states, Kira Maureen is now in our lives and she is a little over 6 weeks old. She was born on, January 14, 2011 at 10:11am. She weighed in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and 20 1/4inches long. We were in the hospital for three days and released on the 17th. During our time, Kira was loosing a little weight and they informed us that it was normal and nothing to worry about. Just make sure we go to the doctors for her to get a weigh-in and make sure everything was okay. Well that evening when we went home things, seemed 'normal' or as normal as it could be with a new infant, well needless to say she did not wake up through the night, until I woke up at 6:30am the next morning. She hadn't eaten for over 6 hours, and that is not normal. Normally infants eat every 2-3 hours. So, I tried to awake her and she would not open her eyes or cry. She was breathing and she moved but she wouldn't open her eyes or cry when handled. We ended up calling 911 and when the paramedics came they took her vitals (which were fine) but they could not get her to wake up either, so we ended up taking her into the Fairview Ridges Emergency Room. To make a long story short, there was IV's started (traumatic event for mom), a spinal tap to test the fluid, and her bladder catheterized. Her dad was my super hero! I could not stand to watch a lot of the torture they were administering to Kira and he stayed right by her side. We ended up staying in the hospital for three more days so they could properly monitor her and test the fluids in which they took on the first day. When they released us, Kira was doing better, she was eating again (by dad finger feeding her because she became a lazy sucker) and they were not sure what caused her to go back into the hospital but it might have been a combination of a few things: being new, being dehydrated, a virus, and possibly the jaundice.

Well, needless to say when she came home we had some more doctor appointments to make sure she was doing okay, and gaining weight. Now she is eating like a champ and growing like a weed! She is now 10 pounds 9 ounces (last weigh in about 2 weeks ago), and 22 1/2 inches long. She is doing well and growing up. She is becoming more alert and talkative and getting familiar with her surroundings.

We love Kira Maureen and her grandpa even made a great little poem for her one night he was watching her for us (so I could get some much needed rest).

Hi! Do you know me? I'm Kira Maureen.

I'm new on the block, the New Baby Queen.

When I want my subjects to dance,

I let a loud toot, then just fill my pants.

If I get hungry and want to dine,

I wiggle and fuss and then start to whine.

You know my dad, the Computer Brain,

it was so simple, he was easy to train.

My mom was once the New Baby Queen,

but now she is my favorite lunch machine.

I've got a Sis, and brothers two

they get to hold me, I love it too.

I've got two grammies, two grampies too,

I make their day when I smile and coo.

I see new faces and hear new voices..

Who get's to hold me? I've so many choices.

When I sleep, I smile and frown,

they're all wondering 'What's going down?'

Meeting you was such a treat.

Now I'll sleep. Ain't I sweet?

Isn't it precious? Just like Kira.

Well, she is crying so it is time for me to go change and feed her! Catch you all at some other time!

Take care and stay warm,

Cleo

Holy... where did the time go?!

Jeebus last I wrote was in September! What the heck have I been doing? Did I crawl under a rock or what? Oh, I know... doing school work (maintaining a high GPA), running a household of three boys (yes Steve is a boy) :P, a dog, and ooooo being pregnant well I guess that is where time is going, eh? Not to mention the fun and extended family issues that have arisen over the holidays and dealing with grand parents and trying to figure out a name for our daughter that will be here by Jan 14th unless she comes early (which btw I am all for the early... just saying) ;)~

Let's see where to catch up first? Hmm, well Demitri started second grade, I stepped down as Den mother for the Wolf Cubs for Scouts (because I knew I couldn't handle it with everything else), Roman is a senior this year, and Steve is excited, worried, and well being Steve. LOL. Men... is all I have to say about that ;). Actually I will give Steve some credit, he has been there for me this entire pregnancy, for the most part and a lot better than the first man in my life when I was pregnant the first time but we will chalk that experience of being young and immature. Steve is sometimes immature BUT he is responsible and I think Baby Maureen has him wrapped around her lil fingers and she isn't even out yet. Of course, she kicks me as I write this so I think she agrees. ;)

Let's see what has happened thus far to get everyone caught up on. Well, it is a new year. Happy 2011 peoples! Hopefully this will be a great year for everyone. Remember what 2010 held: the good times, the sad times, the crazy times, the chaotic times, and all the others. Once you have reflected on that, it is time to move on and work to making 2011 a one to remember! :D I know it is going to be interesting for us here. With the birth of Baby Maureen fast approaching, Roman graduating high school and most likely going to Mesaba Technical College (near Duluth I believe) to become a certified welder, and Steve and I looking for a new home. Life is full of many choices and opportunities that we are excited to see what it holds! We've already talked about our family vacation for the summer and Steve would like to go to the Redwood Forest and do some hiking and camping. I told him if we are planning on driving then he will need to take more than a week off, but if we fly we are not camping, well unless Cabin's count ;). He also mentioned to have my sister in WA and her family to join us, and hopefully that pans out because man I would love to see my extended family there. *nods*

Okay, we had our baby shower in November and it was a great time! We got a lot of wonderful items for our little girl, and I think everyone enjoyed creating babies out of playdoh. I know Steve and I giggled several times over the creativity and interesting babies. There was a sperm and a egg to a Cthulhu baby to cute little babies with toys! They were all wonderful and I thank everyone who had a chance to face the (rotten) weather that day to make it out to see us and celebrate in the festivities. We received several home made blankets, hats and toys. I love the homemade stuff, it is wonderful! We also got a lot of great clothes, diapers and wipes (which we all know we will need a stock pile in LOL). It was often said she is going to the be the best dressed baby in all of Apple Valley. Well we shall see. ;)~

Christmas came and went, and Demitri got a few gifts but I think he favorite gift was from Santa. Oh, speaking of Santa when we went and saw Santa (with Minh, Suzi and the boys), Demitri asked him for a few things. He asked for the Ninetendo DS game Despicable Me, a Lab Coat (to become a scientist) and $60.00. Santa was floored about the money and when he asked what it was for, he said he wanted to buy Emily a Go-Go Walking Puppy for Christmas. Emily is a girl in his class that he likes (my boy the Casanova). Santa was so moved that he said he would give Demitri one of his Santa dollars, which was a 1 million dollar bill that was good at the North Pole to give to her instead. Well needless to say he took it to school and I don't think it came back. I wonder if Emily ended up getting her G0-G0 Walking Puppy from Santa. I know Demitri thought about saving up for it and taking back his toys to get it for her. Yes, he has a big heart but I explained to him that if she really wanted it I am sure either her parents would get it for her or Santa would be bringing it. Hopefully she got it. :) So, anyways back to Demitri's favorite gift this year? I think it was his lab coat, with safety goggles, and gloves. He put them on right away and wants to constantly wear them. It was so awesome to see him open that gift that I felt like that was the best present for me to witness.

Oh, so it is new years and I should make a resolution, and well you know the standard one applies of loosing weight blah blah blah... and we know that most likely wont happen, and if it does holy *bleep* I finally did it... but since I would just be setting this year up for failure I've decided that a resolution that I will be keeping is doing personal writing. For those who know me, know that I inspire to be a published author one day, and damn it I will be... cause well I am that damn good. Well, with the help of my editor for all my grammar mistakes and what not (as you can tell in my blogs :P) but I've decided to at least write a min of one page a week, either a blog (we shall see) or a story... or something... but non-school related dang it... cause Lord knows you write a lot in an online college, but writing research papers is so not cool. I need to do something cool... so I had an AH HA moment and thought that is it... I will give myself a deadline. I will be staying accountable with my sister Daisy, and if it isn't a blog then she will read the stories. I am sure she is excited about it... cause hell I am excited about it! :D


Well I think I've probably rambled on longer than a page, but eh... casara sara... :P it is time for me to get back to school work and write the 3 page paper and finish the two chapters of reading to stay a head of the curve so when Baby Maureen is here I wont feel stressed about school. LMAO who am I kidding even if I get a head I will probably be stressed about school, it is a story of my life. :P BUT hey just think the next time I most likely write in my blog we will have Baby Maureen officially named. YAY! We have some names picked out already but we haven't officially decided on which one and every time I think we've found it, well I feel like we are settling on a name... so there you go. We are waiting until she is in our arms and hopefully her name will come to us when we look into her baby blues. :) Granted I am thinking her eyes will be Hazel but typically all babies are born with blue eyes...

Eh... I am rambling again! LOL... Take care everyone... Happy New Year! Make it one to remember and BLESSED BE!!

With love,

Me