Christmas In The Hospital

This post comes to you via the hospital's free Wi-Fi...

We've been snowed in since early last week. The whole time Chloë's been sick. Really sick. For about 9 days.

Well, after many trips to the doctor and on the phone with the doctor and trips to the pharmacy - we expected to see positive results this morning.

What we found was the opposite. We brought her to the hospital early Christmas morning and they decided to admit her for the day/night. A small army of doctors and specialists can't figure out what the deal is.

Chloë
She's perking up a bit after her IV and some meds - but we'll see - we've been tricked a few times this past 9 days already into thinking she's improving only to watch it all change.

Aiden
He's being a good sport. Really supportive and concerned for his lil' sissy. He's patiently waiting to get at his presents under the tree at home and the stocking by the fireplace...probably tomorrow night, or later.

Sarah
She's hangin' in there. Watching her little baby go through all this misery and not being able to do anything about it has been really hard. She's tired and could use some rest - and relief from watching her daughter suffer.

Robert
I'm hangin' in there also. I'm networking with folks to pray and writing posts (like this one) to keep you all informed. I'd be doing a lot better if we could just get to the bottom of this and be over with it. Poor little Chloë wants that more than anyone.

I don't know how much I'll post here to the blog...if I update anything it will likely be either on Facebook or Twitter - http://twitter.com/learyrobert

Thank you all for your prayers.

I'm Not A Hobbit, I Just Play One On TV!

I've often looked at Chloë and thought: "Her tall size notwithstanding, she could be a Hobbit-baby!"

To Wit:

Hobbit children from the LOTR movies.


Our child (not actually a hobbit)

Christmas Tree Decorating for Toddlers

See the picture below. Look closely. Note the height at which there are no ornaments...only lights. That is about the height that Chloë can reach.

That child has ingested more tree-ornament glitter than is allowable by the FDA (if there were a "daily glitter allowance")!



Problem Solved.

Number 100!

I can't believe this will be our 100th post. Some people scrap-book, others blog.

Highlights (in chronological order):

• First Post which also happens to have Chloë's first pictures ever
• Pregnant Women Say The Darnedest Things
• Hot Woman and Aiden's Family Portrait
• Baby Name Justification (or, as some have called it, "longest post ever")
• Belly Puppets
• The Day I Realized Aiden Wasn't a Baby Anymore
• Last Belly Pic and Aiden's First Solo Ride
• Hello World: Chloë Ann Leary
• Baby Haiku
• Daddy Deja-Vu
• Point-Blank
• Baby Firsts that Really Matter
• The Whole Month of May 2008 (first haircut, 60th post, bed-head, great photos)
• Oooh, Nice Boots!
• Who's Kids Are They?
• Chloë's First Birthday
• A Recipe For Turkey

This was a truly difficult list to pare down! If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm truly blessed.

She's A Lady

She likes to put on shoes, wear hats, wear coats, and carry purses. A lady must always be prepared for whatever she might encounter. Even if it's 13 feet away by the kitchen.



Sorry about the blurriness, she was too giddy to hold still and I've come to terms with the fact that the camera on my phone is garbage.

Lucky Boy

Sarah was giving Aiden a ride on an ATV or "quad" as they're called:

• Sarah: Do you think other moms drive their kids on quads?
• Aiden: No. I guess I'm about the luckiest boy around.

What Are You Thankful For?

Recently, Aiden got a little fishtank for his room and I gave him my old fish to put in. About a month later, it's Thanksgiving time...

• Robert: Aiden, what are you thankful for?
• Aiden: Umm. My fish in my fishtank.
• Robert: Why?
• Aident: Because you didn't want them anymore.

He also lost another tooth, for which, he's very proud.

With Thanksgiving Upon Us...

...it's time to break out the Puritan Bonnet.

Big Girls Sit In Their Own Chairs

A Recipe For Turkey

By Aiden:

What You Need:
You try to find one in the woods or something and take off all the feathers and head until it is dressed.

What You Do:
You just put it in the oven on a metal cookie thing. It takes maybe 2 minutes or maybe just 1 minute. Then you eat it.

Halloween, Finally

Ninja Aiden

(Not to be confused with Ninja Gaiden)


Chloë Bee

The Joy and Agony of Being a Seahawks Fan

Ok, so, it would seem appropriate to put up some Halloween pics of kiddos in costumes, but they didn't turn out well and we're waiting for some better ones from someone else's camera. So since Halloween posting is postponed...

We Turn To A Different But Equally Scary Subject:

Our fanhood of the Seattle Seahawks. They're having a terrible year. Massive injuries to good players. Hall-of-fame coach retiring. Defense getting older.


In the spirit of "keeping the faith" we went to watch them lose to the Green Bay Packers at Qwest Field on October 12th.


Sarah snapped an overly-confident husband, pregame, at Safeco Field.


I should apologize for ruining every good photograph she takes!


Us. Accepting the fate that awaits all Seattle sports fans - imminent decline.


The carnage is so graphic that we can't show you anything closer than this.

Pumpkin Patch Redux

Found more good shots after Sarah uploaded her cell-pics...

Sarah and Chloë's eyes on a clear day and Aiden and his bud Kelli.


We know which "pumpkin" we want!

The Loot.

Pumpkin carving...otherwise known around our house as "keep the knife away from Chloë."

Pumpkin Patch

Like Best Buds

Sour Faces

No, you can't go outside right now.

I know it hurts, but at least "be a man" about your Hello Kitty bandaid!

Sandwich

Aiden wrestling around with some neighbor kids outside. Sarah going to call him in for lunch:

• Sarah: Aiden, I made you a sandwich. Time to come inside.
• Aiden: (About to get pinned) Dude! Get off me! Didn't you hear? My mom made me a sandwich!

He kinda sounded like Napoleon Dynamite. Click on some of these to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Air Guitar

Sarah and Aiden were in the car listening to music when she caught him layin' down some sweet licks on his Air Guitar.

• Sarah: Are you rockin' out back there?
• Aiden: (Blushing) Uhhh...
• Sarah: Nice Air Guitar.

Later, she would remark to me that "Air Guitar is the one instrument you don't have to teach. It's like an instinct for kids."


Never-you-mind the ninja suit.

Almost Forgot About The "Big Guns"

All these shots were taken at Fort Vancouver National Historic Reserve in Vancouver, Washington on July 19th, 2008. We were there because I read that they'd be shooting off big guns.
For free.
'Nough said.


Howitzer Cannon and Family - American display of patriotism at its best.


Inside the CH-47 Chinook Helicopter. Chloë is obviously impressed.


Still waiting for Child Protective Services to call us because of this.


That flak jacket weighed almost 40lbs with empty pockets!

"Sir, It's Actually Called 'Cruising'"

That was the rebuke I got from one "seasoned citizen" when I said something about "going on a cruise."

Yup, we went on a cruise (ahem, I mean, cruising) from Seattle to Nanaimo to Victoria, BC for a little mini-vacation last week. I got it for practically free through a professional event I was involved with - so it was someone else's money well-spent!

Let's just say that we were the only people even close to our age demographic on board the ship that weren't on the crew or entertainment staff!

Let the cell pics tell the story:


Train ride up to Seattle on Amtrak...btw, we derailed and were on the tracks for so long that we didn't check into our hotel until 4am...6 hours after we planned! But that's another story altogether that involves a toilet waste tank and sledgehammers...


Sarah wished I would smile more for photos...beware what you wish for.


Eating Chowder and Halibut Nuggets on the dock in Nanaimo, BC.


The high-class lifestyles where chocolate dragons, boats, and swans are all the rage!


Sarah testing the new haircut-n-color...Zoolander style.


What happens in Victoria, stays in Victoria. (It was too cold anyway.)


Bored. Waiting to get off the ship.


Train ride going home. No derailment this time. I called Amtrak and they don't seem to care or even think that it's strange that a train derailed in the middle of the night.

So there it is. Our week of Cruising.

I'm Not a Queen!

Sarah came home with new sheets for Aiden's bed:

Sarah: Here's your new sheets.
Aiden: (Looking at the package) What does this sticker say?
Sarah: That says "queen".
Aiden: You got me girl sheets?!

My Latest "Favorite" Picture

This is why it's so easy to go home, on time, every night:



(Sent from Sarah's phone to My phone while at work)

These Socks Were Made For Walking

Chloë walked on September 5th...but she's been too shy to do it in front of a camera...until now:

To be fair, she takes a good dozen steps at a time, but she gets excited and gives up...plus, socks on bare floor = no traction.

Catchup

Things have been busy...to say the least. We moved into our new place the same day as Chloë's Birthday...and it's been nothing but work since...

Kids "driving" at the store...





Taking a break to play...her first slide, actually.

Chloë Turns 1

September 6th, 2008 - Chloë's 1st Birthday

Photos courtesy of Michelle Peel aka - "Auntie Shelle"

I gotta show off Sarah's crazy-good cake skills. Obviously, it was a Hello Kitty theme.


Big brother Aiden and sissy doing what they do best...goof around.


The requisite baby cake-dive aftermath


Chloë gives open-mouth kisses (sometimes with tongue, too)


Opening the first of her new noisemakers, err, presents...


My job was to collect the trash back there...Mommy's job was to look cute with Chloë! Obviously, we all did our jobs well.


My little Chloë, I know you're not old enough to understand now, but your first year outside the womb has been a blessing to Mommy, Daddy, and Brother in ways that we'll never be able to explain. You always make me smile - no matter what is happening around us. Your sweet personality and bright big blue eyes make me fear the day when you will be able to get whatever you want out of me! Even now I can't wait to pick you up and kiss you again.

I think my favorite thing in the whole world is when you put one warm little hand around my neck and the other around my shoulder, lay your head on me so that I can feel your warm, faint little breath on my chest and then you pat my back - as if to say: "It's ok Daddy, I love you."

Well, I love you so much and am so fortunate that God allowed me to be a husband, a daddy to a boy, and now a daddy to the best little girl I've ever known. We love you and we promise to pray for you every single day.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.