Oh February, where have you gone?!?

What a month February has been.  It has been exciting AND exhausting.  We started the month out with a quick trip to Minneapolis to visit the MN Children's hospital.  At my 40 week ultrasound Caroline was diagnosed with hydronephrosis.  After she was born, she had an ultrasound and we were referred to the MN Children's hospital so she could been seen by a specialist.  Caroline and I spent the day in the hospital running tests.  My heart truly goes out to those parents who go through any type of medical issue with their children.  I am so thankful we had many prayer warriors.  Caroline had one ultrasound and two other invasive tests.  Courageous Zack (armed with the double stroller, suckers and fun fruits) took the kids to the Mall of America.  Fortunately for Zack it was "Toddler Day" at the amusement park!  Zack and the kids came back to the hospital to meet with the doctor in the afternoon.  I am very pleased to report that the doctor believes that her hydronephrosis has mostly self-resolved but would like to have us come back in 6 months to confirm.  PRAISE THE LORD!!!

You can't take a trip without a little swimming!

After our short trip to MN, I headed back home with the kids while Zack headed north for work for three days. 

Since Caroline prefers to be held rather than sitting in the swing, Fernie uses it for her dolls!

Jack entertained Caroline with his box/rubberband "instrument".

"These are MINE!"

Our little Fernie is putting 2-3 word sentences together and will repeat any new word you say to her.  She will sit and look at books by herself and actually plays very well by herself!  I still think her favorite thing is to be held by daddy.

 

Caroline started sucking her thumb...it doesn't happen very often but I got a picture.  We'll see if she is a thumb sucker.

Fernie keeps a close eye on Caroline.

BIG eyes!

In effort to keep sane, I thought it was time to learn/play MEMORY!!  The kid is a whiz, he loves it.  He will play with anyone who is willing.

Caroline would rather nap!

Jack also takes very good care of Caroline.

One of her "funny" sleeping positions...maybe she is directing the symphony in her sleep!

 

Some serious Olympics watching!

Fernie continues to "feed" her babies...

Our sweet Caroline LOVES to snuggle.

Then last weekend Zack had a board meeting in Grand Forks...cue the music...On the road again....

When Jack was tired of reading, watching TV or talking, he covered his head!

Fernie was happiest with food!

She was also content "rocking" her baby...

Of course they booked the board members at a hotel with a GIGANTIC waterpark!  The kids had a blast.  Fernie would hear all the other kids screaming and she would scream just as loud!!  Pretty sure Jack went down the slides 100 times.

 

  

Right after I dropped Zack off at his meeting I turned around to ask Jack what he wanted to do and saw this...

 

I was SHOCKED...the kids never fall asleep in the car.  So I did what any exhausted mother would do...I stopped for coffee,  put in George Strait's greatest hits and drove around until someone woke up!!  (This lasted an hour!)

After "nap time" we headed back to the hotel.  But what can you do in a hotel room with two very active kids??  So I took the kids downstairs and found a looonng hallway for them to run!!! 

The highlight of the board meeting was that Zack received two tickets to the UND Hockey game IN THE PRESIDENT'S BOX!!  Someone was kind enough to take this picture for me.   

When asked his favorite part of the hockey game, Jack gave us several responses over the course of the trip home:

1.  "Drinking pop"

2.  "Riding in the waaay back of the bus" (from the hotel to the hockey arena) 

3.  "Eating my treats"

4.  "Watching the North Dakota team win!" (UND won 9-2)

 

I am happy to report Zack arrived home yesterday from a 3-day work trip to FL!!

We continue to pray for sweet little Caroline and pray for 100% healing.

God is FAITHFUL!