Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Who is who?
Here is our 5 month photos of both of the girls. Who is who?
Answer: Lexie above and Beth below! :)
Answer: Lexie above and Beth below! :)
Busy March
Between doctor and physical therapy visits, learning new skills, growing leaps and bounds and having a house guest, the Scheper household has been having a very busy month. Luckily we have some pictures to document the highlights...
First, Lexie and Beth have been working on their flexibility.
My friend's Grandson came to spend the week with us. Lexie and Brandon had a grand time!
Beth has moved into a crib and is now sharing a room with her sister. Thank you Carleen for lending us yours! I was amazed that this transition went a lot more smoothly then I thought it would.
Lexie learned how to use a pillow. Strangly, she thinks that they belong on the floor under the table.
Lexie has decided that it's fun to hold her sister. The scary thing is that I have caught her trying to do this without her mommy's assistance.
Mealtime also has gotten more interesting. We started Beth on cereal this month so now we have 2 lovely ladies at our table. It's been fun!
First, Lexie and Beth have been working on their flexibility.
My friend's Grandson came to spend the week with us. Lexie and Brandon had a grand time!
Beth has moved into a crib and is now sharing a room with her sister. Thank you Carleen for lending us yours! I was amazed that this transition went a lot more smoothly then I thought it would.
Lexie learned how to use a pillow. Strangly, she thinks that they belong on the floor under the table.
Lexie has decided that it's fun to hold her sister. The scary thing is that I have caught her trying to do this without her mommy's assistance.
Mealtime also has gotten more interesting. We started Beth on cereal this month so now we have 2 lovely ladies at our table. It's been fun!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Torticollis
On Monday Beth had her first appointment with the Physical Therapist at Children's. The PT, named Kathy, was very nice and comforted me by being so patient with all of my questions. The most important thing that we learned was that our little Beth does have a case of torticollis.
What is torticollis? It is a neck condition in which one of the 2 main neck muscles is shorter than the other. This causes the head to tilt toward the side of the short muscle and rotate toward the other side. Beth's case is mild to moderate and does not appear to be causing her any pain. They think that this might be why we had such trouble breast feeding. Apparently these same muscles are big players in the suck/swallow process.
Here are a couple of pictures that show you what it looks like in her case. Bear in mind that she has good days and bad days and as a mommy I have a really hard time taking pictures of the bad days. These are from fairly moderate days.
It looks like we will be able to treat this with weekly visits for a few months and then taper off to once a month after that. Kathy believes that within 6 months her condition will be resolved. We have a series of stretches and exercises to do on a daily basis and will be changing how we do everyday things like feeding her. For example, we will make the left side of her the "interesting" side with toys and such to encourage her to turn her head in that direction. She is already showing some improvement after only 2 days of work.
The doctors are not certain what causes torticollis but some think that position in utero or trauma during childbirth could be factors. One of the most interesting things I was told is that since it has become common practice to have our babies sleep on their backs, the rates of torticollis has skyrocketed. They don't think that it is the cause but that it makes it less likely that babies that have it will self-correct it because their necks don't get as much exercise. One other side note for Beth is that this may lead to her needing to wear one of those shape-correcting helmets for the back of her head. I really, really hope not.
What a pain in the neck!
What is torticollis? It is a neck condition in which one of the 2 main neck muscles is shorter than the other. This causes the head to tilt toward the side of the short muscle and rotate toward the other side. Beth's case is mild to moderate and does not appear to be causing her any pain. They think that this might be why we had such trouble breast feeding. Apparently these same muscles are big players in the suck/swallow process.
Here are a couple of pictures that show you what it looks like in her case. Bear in mind that she has good days and bad days and as a mommy I have a really hard time taking pictures of the bad days. These are from fairly moderate days.
It looks like we will be able to treat this with weekly visits for a few months and then taper off to once a month after that. Kathy believes that within 6 months her condition will be resolved. We have a series of stretches and exercises to do on a daily basis and will be changing how we do everyday things like feeding her. For example, we will make the left side of her the "interesting" side with toys and such to encourage her to turn her head in that direction. She is already showing some improvement after only 2 days of work.
The doctors are not certain what causes torticollis but some think that position in utero or trauma during childbirth could be factors. One of the most interesting things I was told is that since it has become common practice to have our babies sleep on their backs, the rates of torticollis has skyrocketed. They don't think that it is the cause but that it makes it less likely that babies that have it will self-correct it because their necks don't get as much exercise. One other side note for Beth is that this may lead to her needing to wear one of those shape-correcting helmets for the back of her head. I really, really hope not.
What a pain in the neck!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Beth's news
Did I say I'd post 2 times a week? Oops, I meant 2 times a month! LOL!
Well, we had Beth's 4 month appointment on Monday and the news is a bit of a mixed bag. Overall she is a very healthy baby. 14 pounds, 4 ounces and 25.5 inches long. The not-so-great news is that she was diagnosed with a mild case of torticollis. Apparently this is a muscular condition that causes her neck to want to pull one direction and her hip to pull in the opposite direction. The good news is that this can be treated with some physical therapy at Children's Hospital and it should only take a month or so. The doctor said that there shouldn't be any lasting effects. So...prayers for Elizabeth please! We will keep everyone in the loop on her progress.
On the bright side, here are some cute pictures we've taken recently...
Well, we had Beth's 4 month appointment on Monday and the news is a bit of a mixed bag. Overall she is a very healthy baby. 14 pounds, 4 ounces and 25.5 inches long. The not-so-great news is that she was diagnosed with a mild case of torticollis. Apparently this is a muscular condition that causes her neck to want to pull one direction and her hip to pull in the opposite direction. The good news is that this can be treated with some physical therapy at Children's Hospital and it should only take a month or so. The doctor said that there shouldn't be any lasting effects. So...prayers for Elizabeth please! We will keep everyone in the loop on her progress.
On the bright side, here are some cute pictures we've taken recently...
Beth lovin' her sister's dollys.
Beth enjoying the bumbo.
Does Gap need a new model?
Lunchtime is the best time.
Fresh from the bath and all ready for bed.
Now that it doesn't fit her anymore she has decided to like wearing the hat.
Water play
Tummy time
Jackson loves the dolly too!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Compare
Here is a little comparison for you...Lexie at 3 months and Beth at 3 months. Cute, huh?
Yep, they are definitely related!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Couponing
So, I have decided to join many of the fabulous moms that I know and start seriously couponing. I have always tried to hang on to the odd coupon I pick up here or there and I consistently pick up the ads for my local grocery store before a shopping trip but I have never really focused on collecting and using them judiciously. But a couple of weeks ago I happened to be standing in line behind a SERIOUS coupon user and watched her save over $50 off of her total. She ended up paying only about $75 for $150 worth of groceries. I tell you, I was inspired.
This kind lady let me chat her up while we were both packing our groceries and she gave me a few tips. One of them was to save my manufacturers coupons for when items are put on clearance...like after the holidays. What great advice! Today I picked up a Glade candle for only $0.33! Originally this would have cost around $4 but because it was a holiday scent Walmart wanted it off of their shelves. They were charging $2.33 for it and I had a manufacturers coupon for $2 off. This "holiday" candle is actually just apple cinnamon in a holder with a snowflake design on it...not a problem for me. Especially when it only cost me $0.33! I am really excited about this new (to me) way to stretch our family's money!
This kind lady let me chat her up while we were both packing our groceries and she gave me a few tips. One of them was to save my manufacturers coupons for when items are put on clearance...like after the holidays. What great advice! Today I picked up a Glade candle for only $0.33! Originally this would have cost around $4 but because it was a holiday scent Walmart wanted it off of their shelves. They were charging $2.33 for it and I had a manufacturers coupon for $2 off. This "holiday" candle is actually just apple cinnamon in a holder with a snowflake design on it...not a problem for me. Especially when it only cost me $0.33! I am really excited about this new (to me) way to stretch our family's money!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
My New Years Resolution
Hey All!
My New Years resolution this year is to put something up here at least 3 times each week. Even if it's just one sentence or one photo...I am aiming low! Love to you all for the new year!
My New Years resolution this year is to put something up here at least 3 times each week. Even if it's just one sentence or one photo...I am aiming low! Love to you all for the new year!
Mark, Beth, me and Lexie at my mother's house on Christmas Day!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Ultrasound results!
So, the ultrasound results are in...and we are having another girl!!! Elizabeth Rose Scheper will be here somewhere near 10/10/10. All of the results look good and she currently weighs about 2.5 pounds, right on track! Once I get my scanner up and running I will post the ultrasound images. :)
Monday, July 26, 2010
New Jersey/ Williamsburg vacation
Lexie had a nice time on our vacation out East to visit the Scheper family. Although it was hot and Lexie got sick part way through, it was a successful trip. Here are some of the many, many pictures that we took.
Lexie was an ANGEL during the airplane ride and the 8 hour drive!
Lexie LOVED her first time swimming!
.Lexie, Jenny, Uncle Mike, Aunt Sarah and Cousin Andriana.
Jenny and Lexie in one of the replica Powhatan homes at Yorktown.
Grandma Scheper and Lexie outside of Yorktown.
Lexie's cousins (Jacob, Michelle, Jillian, Cassandra, Helen and Devon)
The whole gang out at dinner.
Lexie 10 months
Lexie is so mobile these days that we had to add a toy in the picture to get her to sit still!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Lexie's 9 month
Lexie had her 9 month appointment about a week ago and I am just now finding the time to write about it. Again, she is a very healthy baby. Praise God! She is currently 17 pounds, 12 ounces (30th percentile) and about 28 inches long (75th percentile) so she is long and lean! Very good to hear! She also apparently has a huge head (90th percentile). Mark says that this is to house all of those brains! LOL! She did very good at the appointment and it certainly didn't hurt that there were no shots to deal with this time.
Lexie has been busy learning more and more new skills. She is a very fast crawler these days and is able to pull herself into a standing position. She hasn't tried to move her feet once she gets up there but we can see that this will happen any day now. Lexie is also the proud owner of 4 teeth, 2 top and 2 bottom. :)
Lexie's current repertoire of tricks includes giving kisses, waving and playing peek-a-boo.
Lexie has been busy learning more and more new skills. She is a very fast crawler these days and is able to pull herself into a standing position. She hasn't tried to move her feet once she gets up there but we can see that this will happen any day now. Lexie is also the proud owner of 4 teeth, 2 top and 2 bottom. :)
Lexie's current repertoire of tricks includes giving kisses, waving and playing peek-a-boo.
Lexie's 9 month shot.
Lexie's first pigtails.
Tried out the swimming pool but the water was too cold...so we hung out on the blanket instead.
Exited to be able to reach into the toy box on her own!
Lexie discovered "behind the couch." A world previously only explored by the dogs.
And in the process she found the only outlet we hadn't baby-proofed...and A LOT of dog fur!
Oh, the joys of being 9 months old!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Our summer trip
Mark, Lexie and I are gearing up for our exciting trip out east this summer. Mark's oldest brother Michael and his beautiful family are being deployed to Okinawa, Japan at the end of the summer and will be there for the next three years. Because of this, Mark's parents decided to get all of their kids and their families together for a week's vacation while we are all still on the same continent. They booked us all for a week at the Historic Powhatan Resort in Williamsburg, Virgina! I am really excited about this trip, not only because I have a serious passion for American History, but because this will really give me the chance to get to know the rest of Mark's family.
Here is a list of characters for this adventure:
Joe-Mark's father, high school Physics teacher, New Jersey
Shelley-Mark's mother, management in an industrial flavoring production company, New Jersey
Micheal-Mark's oldest brother, Army Ranger, 38 years old? Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa, Japan
Rowena-Micheal's beautiful wife whom he met in the Philippines, Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawn
Devon-Micheal's son from a previous marriage, Jacob's brother, 15 years old? Lives in New Jersey
Jacob-Micheal's son from a previous marriage, Devon's brother, 12 years old? Lives in New Jersey
Michelle-Rowena's daughter from a previous marriage, 9 years old, Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa
Jillian-Micheal's daughter from a previous relationship, 8 years old? Lives in Tacoma, WA
Cassandra-Micheal and Rowena's daughter, 6 years old, Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa
Helen-Micheal and Rowena's daughter, 4 years old? Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa
Matt-Mark's 2nd older brother, National Guard, 35 years old, New Jersey
Mark-My fabulous husband, 34 years old, Minnesota
Jenny-Me!, 29 years old, Minnesota
Lexie-Mark and Jenny's beautiful daughter, 8 months old, Minnesota
Sarah-Mark's sister, 30 years old, Elementary school teacher, New Jersey
Andreas-Sarah's husband, accountant, 30 years old?, New Jersey
Andriana-Sarah and Andreas' 2 month old daughter, New Jersey
Nathan-Mark's youngest brother, Air force-Air traffic controller, 26 years old, New Jersey
Yep, that's the whole crew! I hear that there is room for 20 so Matt and Nathan have a couple of months to meet the loves of their lives and bring them along! :) I am so glad that everyone is going to be able to make it. Should be quite the adventure, huh?
After our week there we will be spending a few more days in New Jersey and Shelley is planning to have an actual family reunion. This promises to be big since Mark's family is so large. It should be interesting.
Does anyone have any ideas for traveling with a little one? Must have toys and such? Advice needed!
Here is a list of characters for this adventure:
Joe-Mark's father, high school Physics teacher, New Jersey
Shelley-Mark's mother, management in an industrial flavoring production company, New Jersey
Micheal-Mark's oldest brother, Army Ranger, 38 years old? Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa, Japan
Rowena-Micheal's beautiful wife whom he met in the Philippines, Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawn
Devon-Micheal's son from a previous marriage, Jacob's brother, 15 years old? Lives in New Jersey
Jacob-Micheal's son from a previous marriage, Devon's brother, 12 years old? Lives in New Jersey
Michelle-Rowena's daughter from a previous marriage, 9 years old, Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa
Jillian-Micheal's daughter from a previous relationship, 8 years old? Lives in Tacoma, WA
Cassandra-Micheal and Rowena's daughter, 6 years old, Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa
Helen-Micheal and Rowena's daughter, 4 years old? Lives in Tacoma, WA, soon Okinawa
Matt-Mark's 2nd older brother, National Guard, 35 years old, New Jersey
Mark-My fabulous husband, 34 years old, Minnesota
Jenny-Me!, 29 years old, Minnesota
Lexie-Mark and Jenny's beautiful daughter, 8 months old, Minnesota
Sarah-Mark's sister, 30 years old, Elementary school teacher, New Jersey
Andreas-Sarah's husband, accountant, 30 years old?, New Jersey
Andriana-Sarah and Andreas' 2 month old daughter, New Jersey
Nathan-Mark's youngest brother, Air force-Air traffic controller, 26 years old, New Jersey
Yep, that's the whole crew! I hear that there is room for 20 so Matt and Nathan have a couple of months to meet the loves of their lives and bring them along! :) I am so glad that everyone is going to be able to make it. Should be quite the adventure, huh?
After our week there we will be spending a few more days in New Jersey and Shelley is planning to have an actual family reunion. This promises to be big since Mark's family is so large. It should be interesting.
Does anyone have any ideas for traveling with a little one? Must have toys and such? Advice needed!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The latest
So it has been too long since I was last on here...Now I have lots to catch everyone up on. First of all, here is Lexie's 8 month photo.
She has been a busy girl. She now can get into a sitting position on her own. That started about a week ago and then just this Saturday at Emma's bridal shower she pulled herself up into a standing position (well, pulled herself up onto cousin Kallie and Carleen.) She has also said "Daddy" a few times this week! Yep, she is a busy girl! And she is keeping her parents busy chasing after her as she attempts to take a bath in the dogs' water dish. Speaking of baths...
Lexie has learned how to "swim laps" in the bath tub. She will crawl to one end of the tub, turn around, and then repeat...over and over and over again. I need to get this girl into a swimming pool! Both Mark and I spent a large majority of our childhood's swimming so it is little wonder that our child is part fish!
Lexie's hair is now long enough for pigtails. Here is the morning after her first official "do."
A cute post-bathtime picture.
Check out those baby-blues!
During a recent slumber party Grandma was trying to teach her the art of camouflage. She almost has it!
This is Lexie saying "Hey Mom, don't take a picture of me without my clothes on!"
Dinner time fun!
And have I mentioned that she loves playing with her Daddy?
She has been a busy girl. She now can get into a sitting position on her own. That started about a week ago and then just this Saturday at Emma's bridal shower she pulled herself up into a standing position (well, pulled herself up onto cousin Kallie and Carleen.) She has also said "Daddy" a few times this week! Yep, she is a busy girl! And she is keeping her parents busy chasing after her as she attempts to take a bath in the dogs' water dish. Speaking of baths...
Lexie has learned how to "swim laps" in the bath tub. She will crawl to one end of the tub, turn around, and then repeat...over and over and over again. I need to get this girl into a swimming pool! Both Mark and I spent a large majority of our childhood's swimming so it is little wonder that our child is part fish!
Lexie's hair is now long enough for pigtails. Here is the morning after her first official "do."
A cute post-bathtime picture.
Check out those baby-blues!
During a recent slumber party Grandma was trying to teach her the art of camouflage. She almost has it!
This is Lexie saying "Hey Mom, don't take a picture of me without my clothes on!"
Dinner time fun!
And have I mentioned that she loves playing with her Daddy?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
