Cooped Up

 The weeks have been slowly creeping by and we've been mostly cooped up in the house because Nicholas is still fighting a nasty virus. So, since we're not able to get out much, and because Nicholas has spent much of his days asleep, Ella and I have been keeping ourselves busy...

One recent afternoon, Ella practiced writing her name to prepare for preschool in the fall. I wrote the letters in red crayon and she wrote the letters in purple. This was her first try, folks! Pretty impressive for a three-year-old, if you ask me. 

Ella has also been spending nearly every Monday afternoon with her Gramme. With Nicholas so ill, he cannot leave so my mom graciously takes Ella to her weekly dance class then spends the day with her. They go to the park, visit Great-Grandma Hargrave, grocery shopping, bike riding, and Ella cons my mom into buying her ice-cream and other treats. This was one of the mornings where Ella decided to dress herself in mostly pink and happily waited until her grandmother picked her up. 

She's also had some friends over to play. One Saturday afternoon her friend Summer came to our house and the girls enjoyed playing outside, painting with watercolors, and riding bikes. 

 Several days later, Ella's friend Bella came over to play. The girls were busy creating with Play-Doh, playing with Ella's dollhouse, riding bikes, and playing with dolls and purses. 

Ella misses playing with Nicholas, so its been nice for her to spend some time with her little friends while he re cooperates. 

 One glorious afternoon last week, both of my children decided to nap (wait for it...)

 at. the. same. time!!

I honestly couldn't believe it as that hasn't happened in years. Synchronized napping is definitely a rare occurrence in the Gustafson household. Ella was tired after she caught a very minor (two day) cold and needed some extra rest. 

Nicholas has been taking one or two naps daily, usually for an hour or two. I know they help him rest so his weak little body can fight this virus with all its might. 

Ella had a dental appointment at the end of the last month. It was only her second one and she did great with her awesome hygienist, Connie. I was happy that she made the "No Cavity Club" once again. 

Last week Ella was begging me to buy her doll, Leila, some new clothes. So I looked online for awhile and was shocked to see the doll clothes cost more than kids' clothes at $25-$50 per outfit! I knew I didn't want to spend that much on her doll so I decided to keep my eye open for cheap doll clothes as I shop. Then, one afternoon I was going through Ella's tub full of baby clothes to pass on to a friend, and I noticed that some of the newborn size clothes might fit her doll. So we tried them on but they were a bit too big. Then I had an aha! moment that premie clothes would probably fit her doll just fine. 

 So after church on Sunday, we made a quick trip to Target and purchased a couple of premie baby outfits (each under $10) and when we put them on her doll, they fit perfectly! Whew! New, well-made doll clothes at affordable prices make me a happy mommy and Ella a happy dolly mommy. 

 Today is the first day in several weeks (read: 10+) that Nicholas has felt good. He has been weaned off oxygen and he is talking and smiling more than ever! He is still on bipap 24/7 and probably will be for the next week or two until he feels good enough to start stinting off for short periods of time. We're continuing respiratory treatments every 4-6 hours but letting him sleep all night. Which lets mom rest too and is much appreciated after weeks of getting up 2-3 times at night with him. 

 Today after his bath I brushed his teeth and I had been keeping an eye on one lower tooth that was getting more and more loose with each brushing. Today it finally fell out and Nicholas was so excited to loose his second tooth and to know that the tooth fairy will make an appearance tonight!

Little tooth in little hands

We're thrilled that our boy is FINALLY on the mend and hopeful that this trend continues so that we can get outside and enjoy some of this beautiful spring weather.