Drivin' Miss Addie

Pics from a while back when Allie gave Addie a ride in her jeep.

Addie making sure everything is as it should be.

pictures from this week

We didn't take many pictures, but here's a couple, anyway.
Addie showing Poppy how to dig and rake in the dirt.
Sassy pants sportin' her new cowboy hat that Mommy and Daddy brought back from their trip for her

Whew! We're done!

We are so happy to announce that Addie sailed through her endoscopy this morning like a CHAMP! She was so brave during admitting and while getting ready for the procedure (VERY quiet and watching EVERYTHING, but brave). She bravely rode away in the hospital bed down the hallway, while Mommy and Daddy tried to be brave watching her go. Ugh.

Just 30 minutes later the doctor came out to let us know it had gone well. He biopsied several spots from her stomach and we'll hear the results either tomorrow or Monday. We got to sit with her until she woke up. She was groggy at first, but soon was smiling. No panic, no throwing up, so I was THRILLED. Pretty soon we got to get her back in her clothes and take her home! She's spent the day being pretty sleepy, but happy, and we think that's great! And what a relief to have it over with!

Most likely the doctor will let us know that he saw nothing of concern. The whole point of doing this test was to make sure that after 3 years of reflux, the medications are doing their job and preventing any damage to her stomach or esophagus. So what we want to hear and expect to hear is that everything looks fine in there. This opportunity gave us a peek into how difficult it must be for parents of very ill children. Addie's test was minor and easy, yet still scary for us, and we couldn't imagine how hard it would be to be in a hospital with your child if there was a serious health concern going on. We are so thankful for the measure of health we've been allowed.

In other news, my parents have gone home after a week of grandparent time. We all enjoyed having them, but probably we didn't enjoy it as much as Addie, who was in grandparent heaven. She had a blast with Poppy and Grammie, and vice versa.

Also, Greg and I got to spend a night away in Palm Springs. It was a lovely, peaceful break from the busy life we've been living. My favorite part was sitting in the adults only pool at the resort and feeling weightless. THAT is a good feeling when you are 7 months pregnant! Greg's favorite part was sitting on the terrace of the mexican restaurant where we had dinner, eating chips, talking, and enjoying the warm evening air. Our days were also enhanced by our visit to Galco's Soda Pop Stop, which we'll talk about more thoroughly in another post.

Oh! And I (Niki) also has my 30 week check-up with the doctor this week. Scotty seems to be doing really well and growing right on schedule. I've had some new aches and pains, but evidently they are all really "normal" for a second pregnancy. Two more weeks and we'll get to do another ultrasound and see our little guy! He had his first round of hiccups today, and is giving me big kicks now.

I think that just about updates everything! We are really looking forward to a peaceful week ahead- free from doctor's appointments, travel, and other busy-ness!

1st Test Done and Helpful!

Yeah! Addie was a rock star through the gastric emptying scan and it is done! She laid still and sailed right through. The doctor called us last night with the results and the test actually gave us some helpful info! (That is more than I even hoped for). It turns out her stomach is emptying a little slower than normal. It's not extreme by any means, but it does prove that reflux is still going on. Up until now, all diagnoses and prescriptions were based on educated guesses (granted, by very experienced drs, but still), and me being the kind of girl who likes PROOF, I was very excited to see some hard facts. Of course, I'm also relieved to know we're not seeing anything really alarming going on. We can only hope next week's test will be so helpful!

Greg and I leave tomorrow for Palm Springs- to sit by a pool and read and rest. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

The Calm Before the Storm

We are enjoying a nice, quiet week here at the Spangler home. FINALLY, no one has a cold or ear infection (we've spent the last three weeks or so taking turns). We spent most of last week at doctor's appointments- checking in with Addie's tummy doctor because it has been awhile, and finding a new endocrinologist that will keep watch on my misbehaving thyroid after Scotty is born. In addition to that, I got to go in for my gestational diabetes test, which is no big deal, just one more appointment to work in. Then Greg got an ear infection, so we went to a doctor's office for the fourth time in a week! Needless to say, we got nothing else done all week. We did have extra gratitude for good health insurance though.

So this week seems quiet in comparison. The weather is warm and lovely, and all is well. We are soaking in the calm as we look forward to the next several weeks of craziness.

Next Tuesday will be the big day it all begins. Addie will be having a "Gastric Emptying Scan" first thing that morning. It shouldn't be a big deal because it doesn't require anesthetic or anything. We have to be in Northridge at 7:30 that morning, which will probably be the hardest part of it all. Ads will eat some food with x-ray material mixed into it, then her tummy will be x-rayed over the next hour and a half. She has to stay under the x-ray machine during that time, but Greg can be in with her the whole time and they can watch a movie, so we think she'll do great. Hopefully this test will tell us if her food is coming back up, and/or how long it is staying in her stomach. We might not get any helpful info, but it's a test worth doing since she still complains of her stomach hurting all the time.

Anyway, that evening my parents arrive from WA for a week-long visit, which is always a busy time! Later in the week, Greg and I are planning to get away for an overnight alone, utilizing the free grandparent babysitting. I think Addie and her Grammie & Poppy will have a blast.

The following Tuesday my parents leave and I check back in with my OB. Then Thursday Addie has another tummy test- an Endoscopy- and this one I am not looking forward to. It is relatively mild as far as tummy tests go, I am just not looking forward to the anesthetic it involves. Addie will be knocked out and the dr will be looking down her esophagus to check for damage and taking some tissue samples. We have talked about doing this test for over a year now, but it has been left on the back burner. Now with the impending arrival of a new baby, we decided to move it up to the front burner! Again, we don't expect to get any new info necessarily, just rule out that anything terrible is going on. (Her dr has been saying we should do it for a long time). Based on my own reactions to anesthetic and Addie's previous experience, I am expecting the procedure to be a piece of cake and the recovery to make for a long day or two.

And by the time we get through all of that, it will be June! I can hardly believe it! We'll try to post updates as we go, but no promises. Hopefully in June we'll let you all know that both tests went fine, we had a great time with my parents, and a nice time alone as a couple.

99 Days!

I just wanted to point out that the pregnancy ticker on the right side of this blog FINALLY shows that I have 99 days to go! It seems silly, but every time I looked at it and it said I had over 100 days to go, it was less than encouraging, so I am glad to see a double-digit number!

Scott's First Shower

Yes, we're announcing that our little guy's name will be Scott! No, we don't know the middle name yet. We're open to suggestions.

Last night I got to participate in a baby shower for the three of us pregnant ladies living here in the Courtyard. Brooke organized and hosted it and everything was just wonderful!
Pictured here are Lindsay (due in June), Jen (due in 2 weeks!) and me (due in July/August)
What a spread! And lots of chocolate! Wahoo!
Some of the best neighbors a girl could want: Brooke Kropf, Janice Murray, Rachel Powell, Kellie Espino, me, Jen Myers, Lidsay Ballard, Bethany Kelley, Lisa Starr, and Andrea Hernandez.
Seriously, you WISH you had neighbors like these women!!!
I have to say it was really fun to open gifts as a three-some, instead of being the center of attention. And, unlike most SoCal baby showers, a lot of the gifts were handmade, which was really fun. We have some very crafty and talented women living here! Here we are opening cute burp rags from Kellie.

Great Gifts

Wow! Andrea made these BEAUTIFUL blankets for us. I cannot even describe how gorgeous they are up close. Scott's boy blanket is so cushy and cuddly, I might want to cuddle under it myself!
The Myers got a full John Deere ensemble for our guy. (Can you use the words John Deere and Ensemble together in the same sentence?)
I have a horrified face in this picture because I don't want to believe that my son will be this big at 9 months old. Or even sooner than 9 months, as the other boy mommies were informing me.
Diapers!!!! Hooooooray! Our diapers came in a cute football bucket and with some "prince charming" bibs too. So cute!

Overdue Easter Pictures

Here's our girlie with her basket of Easter Jelly Beans. We always do a jelly bean hunt instead of an egg hunt. It's just a Spangler thing.
Two baskets!
My little love
I think Daddy told her to "eat" the jellybeans for this picture.

Easter Prep

Greg took this picture of me spraying Addie's braids, I just like it.
Here's the finished product! I'm a little proud of it, because I've only learned to do this since becoming a mommy- I missed that lesson in my girlhood. So yeah! I got it!
Here we are- ready for church!
And lookin' cute!

Smile?

What? You want me to smile for the camera?
Like this?
Like this?
No?
Is this better?

(I may start to refer to this as her "torture face"- doesn't she look like she's being tortured?)

NOW we can say 'Big Girl'

We have told Addie for a long time now that despite being in a 'big girl bed' and other wonderful accomplishments, she is not a REAL big girl until she is out of diapers and using the potty. Well, I am very happy to report that after our re-attempt at potty training last week, she is using the potty like a champ! I am so glad we took a break and tried again later, because now it is clear to see she was ready and she got it really fast. And her mommy is pretty happy about no more diapers to change. At least until August....

Mommy-Daughter time

Knowing a new baby will join this home soon has made me really appreciate the mommy-daughter time Addie and I have right now. So it was great to have time with her at the Huntington.
Here we are in the Chinese garden.
And the Japanese garden.
Here's my favorite girl in one of my favorite places- the rose garden!

In the Children's Garden

Though we were there with a big group, I will admit I came home with a lot of pictures of just Addie. Oh well. Here are some shots from the Children's Garden at the Huntington.

playing in the water
sassy pants
With our friend Lucas. He rocks.

The Huntington Trip

On Thursday, we took a Courtyard trip to the Huntington library (actually, just the botanical gardens). With 20 kids and 8 adults, we were bigger than some of the school groups we saw there. What a tribe.
Here are the kids, mostly looking nice
And funny faces
Notice Addie in the middle on the ground, making a hideous face.
A few of the kids at the entrance to the children's garden
And a few of the mommies- Lindsay and Andrea

Updated Me

Here's a shot of the updated me, with short hair now and pregnant, and my favorite little girl.

No really, I DO like it!

The other day, Addie was begging me for some lemon. I warned her she may not like it, but to my shock, she really did.

I was cracking up because she made this face every time, but then kept asking for more. Funny, funny kid.