5.5 months

I'll get around to updating the pic galleries, but in the meantime, here are links to the recent pics of Marinne (5 month studio session) and Kameron (swimming lessons & the playground)...
www.buddybartels.com/marinne5
www.buddybartels.com/kameron-swimming
www.buddybartels.com/kameron-meadowbrook

Buddy is still working hard getting the basement going, yet we know we can't continue once it gets to a certain extent since we still haven't sold our house in TN! So, we'll need to wait for all the big stuff until we get that done. Speaking of, we have had more showings now that the weather is nicer, but the "sold" sign is still not up!

My latest dilemma has been figuring out Kameron's preschool schedule for summer & for fall, but I think I'm finally to a decision! The educator in me really takes a lot into consideration, yet money is always an issue as well, plus I want to have him home with me, too. One of the preschools he is currently at is honestly amazing with what all they do, yet it's really expensive so it's not going to be something we can continue forever, but I aim to keep it while I can without feeling like I'm wasting money when there are other good ones a lot cheaper. So, I think I've found a happy balance to give us both our time away to "work" (me working PC & taking care of Marinne & him with his social time & learning w/ friends) so we appreciate one another, yet still be home w/ me while he can before he goes to big school!
He is getting ready to be quite the busy little boy with activities he's enrolled in. He is already in swimming lessons and he really enjoys that (see the pics), and starting this weekend, he starts little sports (soccer, basketball, t-ball, floor hockey). Then this summer he'll do little league soccer & t-ball, and continue swimming lessons.
He has actually had a couple bad weeks & then now a couple really good ones. I think he's experimenting with what he can do & seeing that we are following through with things after one warning. Plus, he's seeing how great it is when he does good things & gets rewards.

Marinne is such the happy baby! I think I had an error in my last entry, but she sleeps 12 hours each night. Now she either doesn't wake at all, or if she does, it's just because her pacifier fell out around an hour or so before she'd be waking up normally. She has started her veggies & so far absolutely loves them! We've done carrots, sweet peas, and now today squash. She has just been so happy almost all the time. She wakes up smiling, even though she's starving, and she is consitantly enjoying being around us & smiling/laughing. She is continuing the crying episodes that seem to be related to being tired/time for nap, but crying until she gets herself to sleep...even if she's being held. I really need to do more experimenting with this since this isn't working for either of us right now. But once she's asleep (only sleeps for about 30 min. each nap), she's good & wakes up happy.

On the medical side, Kameron has finally had a normal range platelet count blood test this past week! It was 165,000, so needless to say, we were excited. He also had a check up w/ his specialist & all is good so far, but we'll continue monitoring & getting bloodwork to stay on top of it.
Our newest thing actually has to do w/ Marinne. She has had two episodes of spitting up fresh blood over the past few weeks. We took her to the ER after the first episode of this (on a Sat. night). The ER Dr. pretty much acted like it was no big deal & likely do to nursing. However, two weeks after that, it happened again (last week), so we followed up w/ her Pediatrician about it. She did blood work (which I wasn't looking forward to, but ended up going pretty smoothly once they found a nurse to find her vein) & that came back find. However, she was concerned & referred us to a Gastro. Dr. the following day that worked us in to be sure we'd be on top of it if it was serious. He decided to do an endoscopy for the following day at the hospital. Even though we were nervous, it really went well. He didn't find anything he'd think to be the cause, but did do biopsies we are waiting to hear on. In the meantime, he's referred us to a Pediatric ENT to probably get a nasal scope to see if that's the cause. Keep her in your prayers & hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this!