No*ah and Oliv*er have a cousin!

( Update from Friday evening: they're home! Scroll down to the bottom to see more pictures.)





Introducing Zo*e Em*ily A*nn Pa*trick

Born April 4, 2006

7 lbs. 5 oz.
20 inches
11:02 PM

Jen*nifer and D*ave are doing well after a fairly long (16.5 hour with no drugs) labor. Zo*e is also doing well, but swallowed a bit of meconium and got a bit of fluid in her lungs, so she is in the adjoining Newborn Intensive Care Unit for the time being.

We hope she will be discharged Saturday morning, but could possibly be there a few more days as a precaution. Right now, she is getting some antibiotics by IV to make sure that she doesn’t get an infection, but she looks rosy and robust, and rather large to be in an isollete. She has beautiful long fingers and toes, and had many family visitors today. She was born the evening before Maundy Thursday, just like her cousins, No*ah and Oli*ver 2 years ago.








Welcome to the world, Zo*e!

Update: Zo*e and mom are doing just fine and were both discharged from the hospital today. The P*atricks ( all 3 of them!) came home at 7 this evening to 2 hungry cats and some beautiful flowers.

mohawks are more fun when you can see them in the mirror

Biiiiiig boys...

On the morning of the boys' actual birthday (March 23, a week ago today), we went to our first Early Childhood class for 2 year olds (aren't we prompt?), and the boys had a good time there with all the "big kids". During circle time, we sang Happy Birthday. Their favorite aide, Miss Deb was there, which was a nice surprise, and N cried a little when the parents went to the next room, but did pretty well. It was a bit of a shock to see what 2 year olds can do - use scissors, for example, and wash their hands unnassisted. Oh, and use backtalk. Despite being a little nervous about what the "Terrible/Terrific Two's" may hold, I do really like the teachers for this class, and I think we'll have a great semester there. In our other (Wednesday) ECFE class, there is another woman with twin boys that are 20 months old. The really weird thing is, she was one of my doctors when I was in the hospital on bed rest. I found out then that she was expecting twins, but I never imagined we'd be in the same kiddie class together. She was very nice, but it was a very strange feeling.


Omie did make it out here from NY last weekend, this time on the boys' actual 2nd birthday. The three of them were very excited and happy to be reunited (and I think she was happy to see her daughter and son-in-law as well).


That evening, we went to one of our favorite places, the Mid*town Glo*bal Market for dinner to celebrate. The boys ate a huge meal of fajitas, guacamole, and rice. This indoor Market has a play area, and lots of place to walk around, plus many sources of inexpensive and delicious ethnic food. It is the perfect alternative to mallwalking for mall-allergic types like me, plus I can pick up a few groceries and sometimes dinner, sometimes all while listening to live music and letting my boys blow off a little steam. This time, there was a magic show, and a lady came out and gave the boys each a balloon. She didn't even know it was their birthday, she just thought they were cute!

Omie was only here for a short visit, but we did manage to go on a lovely nature walk at Wood Lake preserve (and see the snakes and turtles in the interpretive center), as well as go swimming at the YWCA. My mom also watched the boys while I went to church, which was a treat. We were very sorry to see Omie go, and the boys are still asking about her daily.

On Monday, I took N to his 2 year well-child visit. It was a beautiful day, and on the way there in the car, N yelled "Mama! Where are my pants?" He was wearing shorts for the first time this year. All is well with N, I'll save the stats for after O goes on Monday. N had to have blood drawn for a lead test (standard for U.S. kids who live in pre-1980 housing), and he didn't cry a bit. He did surpise the phlebotomist by saying, "It's red! Red comes out!" He was completely fascinated. The boys know their colors and most of the alphabet pretty reliably now, but N did refer to the letter "u"as an "upside-down, naughty N" the other day.

Me*agan and I also went swimming with the boys this week, and I really practiced the rules with them, because I'd like to be able to take them on my own, but I can't do that if they run out of the pool or refuse to come out when we're done. They were great, and I think we're
ready, but I'll let you know how it goes. Logistics are getting easier and easier. O loves to remind me that he's a biiiiiiiiig boy.

On Wednesday the boys and I took a walk around the block, and the boys held hands the whole time. We got to a house that has lots of wind chimes hanging off of it's porch, and N yelled, "My bells! Wind!" We waited and waited and finally the wind blew hard enough to make the bells chime and O started yelling "Ding dang dong! Ding dang dong!"

This morning we didn't have ECFE because our class is on Spring break, so we all went to the Bell Museum of Natural History instead. Here are a few pictures of the boys this afternoon, horsing around with daddy and each other.










Oli*ver tries to hug his brother a lot, and is often rebuffed. You can see here that he is very pleased to receive his brother's affection. It is often N who wants to hold hands, though. And lest you think it's all just a big love fest around here, they got their cars taken away for fighting about 20 minutes after this photo was taken.


I really have no explanation for this last picture, except to say that those are swim trunks on his head. I have a feeling Aunt Mea*gan is responsible. Fortunately, she was also responsible for taking the monitor to bed with her last night and getting up with the boys so J and I could sleep in a little today. Thank heaven for aunties (and family in general).

Still no Pat*rick baby. Jen*ifer is doing an admirable job of being patient, and has actually promised to meet us for a playdate in the morning - at a coffeeshop where she can put her feet up. If she doesn't have, you know, something better to do, like give birth. I'll post a picture after the baby is born.

Love to all,

Min*ke and the rest of the family.

Saturday morning update: Jen made it this morning, and we all went to a very busy coffee shop to play. The boys gave the baby a kiss, and a few over-enthusiastic pats. I hope they're gentler with the baby after she's born, though so far they've been very sweet with all the babies they've met.

now we are two!

Well, a certain little boy is all better. The morning after he got the shots and such, he woke up completely back to his old self, to our great relief. We were dissapointed when we found out that Omie couldn't make it due to the awful weather out East last weekend, but we still had a family party on Saturday. We wanted to celebrate early because Kath*y is out of town this weekend at Quilt Retreat and Jennif*er is due to have a baby just about any time now.


The day before, Meag*an baked a beautiful apple pie for the boys. We wanted to do an apple pie in addition to cake because both boys, especially Oli*er, are kind of obsessed with the apple pie in a couple of their books, and since they don't really know what cake is, it seemed more fun to make the pie.


Last Saturday (the day of the party) the boys woke up to their very own balloons.


When we got to grandpa and grandma's, we started off the gift giving by giving Jenni*ifer her very own glass chicken. I found this one at Saver's Thriftstore, and it is almost exactly like the one Kath*y has. When Jo*el and I started dating, I was told that anyone who dared take a piece of candy from the chicken when the kids were growing up would immediately get busted in the act, even if Mom was several rooms away. She would say "get out of the chicken!" and the kids would wonder how she knew. We'll have to see if this ability is genetic. Jen*nifer is due next week, and seems to be doing great. The boys talk about their baby cousin all the time, but No*ah said the other day that Jenn*ifer could keep it for him. He's a generous sort.

Of course, the boys also received some lovely and generous gifts.







I'd be curious to know if anyone else sees the family resemblance in the picture above. That's Em*ily, who is also expecting a baby. Emil*y is due in August. So far, babies are coming in pairs around here! It will quite a Thanksgiving in the Fall with babies and toddlers all over the place. Em*ily and her husband Sco*tt live close to Jennif*er and her husband Dav*id in St. P*aul


Grandma and Grandpa gave the boys a train table for their birthday. They temporarily set it up in the guest room, and the boys were very happily surprised to find it there! We plan to keep it in the garage for now, and I think the boys will enjoy it for years to come. Maybe a little cousin will inherit it someday.



Ol*iver was very, very excited when he saw the apple pie come his direction. He was just thrilled, and I think the taste met his expectations as well. He shouted "apple pieeeeeee!"



No*ah thought it was all just great, but couldn't quite match his brother's enthusiasm. Shortly after dessert he said "No*ah go home, go night night!". And we did, but we had a sitter ready and we snuck back over to watch Meag*an and Mar*k's recent travel pictures.

This week was spent catching up on things, and now my mom is finally here after having to reschedule her trip from last week. I told her that if she had come last week, she'd already have been missing her grandkids for several days. We spent the morning walking at a Nature Preserve, went to Choo Choo Bo*b's this afternoon to play with the train tables there, and then got a sitter for the boys after they went to bed and went out for a nice meal together. And now I'm off to bed!

(P.S. to Ma*x De Bus*sy: So heel luek om jou berigt (comment) te kreigen! Ik heb jou e-mail niet, maar dank je ruezen veel voor het schijven, and ik hoop erg dat wij elkaar mischien over een jaar of minder zien! Wei hoopen dat wei alemaal die kant op kunnen komen als de jongens boven drie zijn en we wat makkeleker in en hotel kunned sitten en zo. Volgens mij is dit de langste brief dat ik oit in Nederlands heb gescheven. Ik hoop dat jij mij kan begrijpen met all de fouten!)

Oli*ver

I wrote the previous post last night and this afternoon, before Oli*ver again woke up from a nap with croup. He sounded pretty bad, so went back to Urgent Care, and his oxygen was quite low again, and he was wheezing hard. He received a breathing treatment and a steriod shot in each leg. The doc was pretty concerned that his breathing was still so bad 5 days after the onset of his ilness, and pulled out the "big guns" with this particular steroid, as well as antibiotics just in case he has a dangerous bacterial infection. He also needs the protection of antibiotics because his immunity is quite compromised from the steroid.

This is all in all quite a frustrating sitation. Neither Jo*el or I like having him on all these meds, but there isn't much alternative --the boy has to breathe. We are praying that he'll be better in a few hours when the steroid starts to take effect, but it could be a long night. We will be watching him very closely. K*athy was again kind enough to stay with No*ah and help out when I got home. True to form, No*ah was pretty sweet with grandma, but royally mad at me when I got home. Not only ws I not there when he woke up from his nap, but I had the gall to take his brother with me!

We are really looking forward to Omie's visit tomorrow, and their 2nd birthday party on Saturday. Hopefully the next post will be joyful birthday pictures.

No*ah

No*ah has been quite a handful this week, especially with his parents. We had a lot going on for a few days, and he’s been sick, so his tantrumy outbursts and limit pushing are not really a surprise. I think that the reason Jo*el and I tend to see the worst of his behavior is at least in part because he feels the safest of all with us, and also the most let down by us when one of us is unable to lift him, or is gone for the day or night. Everyone else can come and go, even though they are missed, but No*ah counts on us to be there every single day. Separation and disruption have always been especially difficult for him.



When I get overwhelmed, I try to remember that both boys are learning and growing at a rate adults can barely fathom. If I learned and changed as much in one week as my toddlers do, I’d be a super-genius by now! It’s quite a roller coaster our little ones are on, full of new skills and words and concepts, and a never-ending quest for independence and autonomy.



What is interesting for me to witness with No*ah is that sometimes he seems visibly relived when we set a clear limit such as a time-out. Afterwards, he calms down, usually sighs, gives me a hug, and we start again. This is especially the case if I am calm myself. It is as if he is relieved that he doesn’t have to negotiate everything by himself, and that we are in charge, and that indeed, the rules are still what he thought they were. This kid needs ot know what to expect. Seasoned parents will tell you that this is the case with all kids to some extent (though the most effective methods to get your point across do not seem to me to be identical for all children, and aren’t for mine), but there is nothing like seeing it for yourself. In addition to being reminded of the expectations we have of him, we also have an opportunity to reconnect – to look each other in the eye, to hug, and have one of our increasingly complex conversations. Often we read a story together, and he sits in my lap and leans into me, flexing the soles of his feet against the carpet. I read to him with my chin resting on his head, and all is well again.

Yesterday evening and afternoon were filled with little tantrums and whining, and a lot of energetic song and dance on my part to keep things moving along and get two very tired boys fed, bathed, and into their cribs. It was one of those evenings that took a lot of patience and concentrated effort to get through, and by the time I pulled two dripping, reluctant boys out of the tub, I was feeling like a partially deflated balloon. Boys were diapered, and dressed, Legos were picked up, stories were read just so, and I turned out the light for prayers. Both boys sleep with bunny lovies, a long ago gift from their Omie, and No*ah is particularly attached to his. Last night No*ah decided that bunny was to be summarily evicted, and threw him out of his crib. I knew this was a stall tactic, a new version of the popular toddler game of “I want that, no I don’t want that, no, I do want that!”. I took a deep breath and negotiated that Bunny could serve a time-out in the corner of his crib. “Stay sitting, Bunny!” said No*ah. I picked up each boy and prayed with him one by one, about our day, thanking God for the sunshine that day, and for the people in their lives. They interject their own thanksgivings these days, for a particular playmate or something that happened, or even for applesauce or stuffed animals, ending with their own sleepy Amens. Oli*ver was last, and on my way out, in the dim light of their ladybug nightlight, I noticed that No*ah was lying in the usual position, on his back, holding Bunny with both hands, Bunny’s ears against his left cheek. His eyes were nearly closed.

Apparently, No*ah caved and Bunny was sprung from his confinement mere moments after being placed there. I smiled, and thought: that’s where we’re different, kiddo...

Oliv*er in hospital overnight

UPDATE: We are all home. Olive*r is fine and slept all night in the hospital, needing no more treatment. No*ah woke up at least three times and asked for his brother each time I went in. He threw the biggest tantrum I've seen in a long while this morning. I think it was really hard for him to be apart from his brother, and he finally kind of melted down. Oli*ver asked for No*ah yesterday too, but was probably more distracted by being in a strange place and being sick. According to Jo*el, they were delighted to be reunited, and held hands the whole way home in the car.
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It's been a challenging few days here at our little household. On Wednesday afternoon, I (Min*ke) slipped on the ice. I didn't think much of it until about 4 AM the next morning when I woke up in a lot of pain. I went into Urgent Care that morning and found out I had a bit of whiplash, and was not to lift anything for 4 days. The whole right side of my neck was swollen.

Kath*y, Meagan*n and the rest of the family pitched in all kinds of ways, but then both boys got sick. Noah got over the worst of a bad cold pretty quickly, but this morning Oliv*er seemed to be having some breathing trouble, so Kathy and I took him to Urgent Care (Kath*y came because Joe*l was playing at church and I couldn't lift Oliv*r). He checked out fine, so they sent us back home, but a few hours later he woke up from his nap with a very high (104.9!) fever and major croup, so we were off to the Emergency Room.

He got oral steroids and 2 treatments of epinephrine by inhaler and is much, much better, but croup often gets worse at night, so they want to keep him until morning just in case he needs more of the inhaler treatments. The doctor says he'll probably be just fine by tomorrow. It was the same doc and same examining room we had last year when Oliv*r went to the same hospital with a high fever and bulging fontanel that turned out to be a bad ear infection. All in all, this visit wasn't as scary as that one, but we definitely needed to be there today. His blood oxygen was low, and he sounded terrible, just gasping for air. He was very brave, though, and did great job putting up with all the poking and prodding.

When he was breathing better, I asked about food for him. They gave him Lorna Doone cookies, for crying out loud! He ate 8 of them. Jo*el came to the hospital at 7:30 and took over so I could go home and be with Noa*h. N*oah did well today too with Ste*ve and Kath*y and Meag*an all helping out with everything. We are so fortunate and grateful for all their help! I see people all the time at the hospital where I work that are stuck there all day with all their kids.

Next week we celebrate the boys' 2nd birthday, and we will also get to see Omie (my mom). We pray that everything calms down by then and that this awful weekend will be a distant memory.

I'll update when Oli*ver is home. Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks while I'm at it:

Here is Dad, trying in vain to take a nap on the couch.


Noa*h and his doggie eventually got their way and woke him up.


The boys playing one of their games, which had something to do with drinking soup and finding their toes.


Here is Joe*l coming in from the storm last week. We ended up getting over 2 feet of snow in a week.


Do you see the slide in this picture? It was just about buried by the time the snow stopped.


This was the night before. Our walk is already pretty much invisible, and we got many more inches after this:


It took Joe*el a couple of hours to dig us out. I took the light rail to work, as I wasn't about to drive in all that snow.


Meag*an is home! This picture was her coming up the steps. The boys (actually, all of us) were very happy to see her after 2 whole months in India.


This was Saturday. The boys love to walk along holding hands these days, and since that means they don't go in opposite directions, I'm very appreciative of this habit. (And of course, it's awfully sweet).


However, Meaga*n was quickly reminded that it isn't all sunshine and roses with toddler twins...


Uncle Mar*k is home too, after several months in Hawaii. He came over to help rake the snow off the roof and play with the boys. Welcome home Mar*k and Meag*an!


We very much hope that the next time one of our family members ends up in the hospital, it will be Jennife*r (Jo*el's sister), who is due with her first baby in the next few weeks. We're starting to explain to the boys that sometimes we have to share grandma and grandma.

And finally, this one's for you, Opa: