Paul needs a hair cut

Paul got into my make-up. He's really mad I took away his mascara lipstick.

Lydia joined in the fun. We'll I guess smoky eyes are in.

I did Lydi's pig tails and she really wanted Paul to wear her bow, so Paul got suckered. I think it's time to cut his hair, it's just so hard to let that baby hair go.

Lydia's Sleep Test

I told Lydia we were going to a party at the Hospital. She got to wear her cool blue pj's, her princess sunglasses (mom's sporting them for the pic) and bring her Dora lunch box. First we had a pizza party. Dad packed us pizza and we ate it on the hospital bed...very fun.

Lydia's favorite past time...see-food.

Then we headed down to McDonald's for an "M-treat".

This picture is hard to see but there are about 50+ wires coming from that box. 25 connected to her scalp..glued and blow-dried, 10 to her face and neck...taped, and a various 10-15 on her arms, abdomen, legs and toes. There's a nice tube shoved up her nose and a wire set above her lip to monitor inhales and exhales. There are also five camereas and a sound recording. Although I pushed my bed close to Lydia's they asked me to not get close as my body would interfer with Lydia's data. It took us 1/2 hr to get everything hooked up, Lydia was traumatized, cried until she cried dry tears. This picture is about five minutes from sleep. She woke up once screaming, luckily I was able to put my hand over her and she slowly went back to sleep to "Iam a Child of God". I tried not to, but I did cry all night. I'm really trying to have a positive attitude, but all these tests are taking it's toll. Hopefully we really don't have to do anything like this again.

7am They de-cemented Lydia's hair and took off all the tape. She was such a good girl she got an apple juice. At least we left the hospital party on a good note....Lyd loves juice and she got a Dora sicker. What more could you want from a party? Later that day Lydia had another appointment at CHOP. We met with the Speech Therapist and a Therapist that deals with Clefts and Palate disorders. They highly suspect a palate disorder although it is ambiguous and almost too early to tell. We have an appointment with a Genetisist now and an appointment with the Therapist in the Palate department, she wants the Plastic Surgeon over that department to look at Lydia. This will take place in August sometime. The thing with CHOP is that you are lucky to get an appointment for anything three months from when you call. So, we are glad someone has finally jumped aboard our band-wagon. Now we just wait for June and August. In the mean-time the Dr.'s gave me some Speech Therapy lessons to work on every day. YES!!!!! This has been helping alot. Lydia now can say: "La" and "Li" and "Lo" although not in words or in a sentence.

Thanks everyone for your continued support. I truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. This a long post, but a short and spotty update. If I could I would spill my guts on everything we've been dealing with, but just know that we really appreciate it.

Conference at the Lyman House

Thank goodness for Amy's conference coloring packet! Look at these adoroble, sweet children listening to the Prophet!

And that lasted about 30 seconds.

Tom was kind of annoyed I was taking so many pictures and not paying attention after I told everyone how important is was to listen to the Prophet....oops!

Easter Egg Hunt

Our FIRST Easter Egg hunt! The community around here is incredible. Really, you should come to Philadelphia, it's a blast and a half. It was incredibly windy but not real cold. We got eggs, balloons and even the Easter Bunny was there! I went with Natalie and her girls, Hannah and Madilyn. It's really great to have friends when your husbands are married to text books. Hannah even won a "hot wheels" prize from the raffle!I just have to note something: It's a bummer job being the Easter Bunny, look how hilariously unhappy these children are about a big, soft, candy giving bunny!

Don't you think Paul jacket is cute, Tom wore it when he was a boy.

Photo Shoot

My in-laws sent some adorable outfits for Paul and Lyddie. They are so cute, I decided to do a photo shoot to capture the "perfect " picture. NEWS FLASH... Have you ever tried doing a photo shoot with two small children ?! It was about eventful as dinner time at our house. I posted the pictures in the wrong order so you'll have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Sorry, dudes. Check out those suspenders with curly red hair...oh I just want to eat him! Remember, START AT THE BOTTOM, it will be funner that way.

Good bye parting shot. This they did on their own. Just so cutsie, glad we stuck it out.

Alright, I think we're done here.

That was a very cute shot, and it was the only one I got of her by herself without the arms flying about.

Okay, back to serious stuff.

We were about to shoot some serious suspender action, but Lyd decided she needed to showcase them. Paul, "You totally threw off my groove!"

Some serious Gerber GQ shots. Lydia is just not giving up on the hands thing.

Paul, "Okay Mom, I'm taking over from here. Put the camera just like that." Lydia, "Are we still focused on me?"

Yep, Lydia is very persistent about our arms stuck in the air, Paul thinks maybe it's a new baby Vogue pose?

Lydia maintains her hands, Paul pretends to not be affiliated with us.

Then Lydia forgets she needs a bathroom break and for no apparent reason throws her hands up into the air. Paul is now convinced this is not the Gerber studio and is really annoyed with Mom and Lydia's lack of professionalism.

I do something funny and Lydia thinks it's great, but still didn't distract her. Paul thinks I'm stupid, "are you for real mom?"

Of course I say, "wait one minute to get a picture" because Paul's cute stance is not going to wait on a three minute tinkle break. Infact, he's already thinking he's been duped. Paul, "I'm getting the feeling this is not a professional shoot."

We get out in the sunshine (away from any dirt). Paul is being such a gentleman holding his hands and smiling so pleasantly when Lydia decides she needs to potty.

Frugal

Lydia loves to use gobs of toilet paper to do her duty. Well we are not the richest people in the world so we had a little talk about using only what you need, not the whole roll. The next time I came in to help her pull her pants up and wash hands I found this on the floor and a tiny wad of paper in the toilet. I have to hand it to her, she did exactly what I told her to do.