Gritchen's Kitchen

Emily tries food… sort of

Alex had fun with frogs, snakes and turtle on his 3rd. birthday.

Alex helps clean up after planting his garden.

We found this mother opossum and her babies hiding in our Cypress trees.

Alex gets a ladybug cake on his birthday.

Alex tells his classmates how old he is during a party at preschool.

Alex and his friend Maxine read a book…. sort of.

Alex and Maxine…. just chillin’

Alex takes a spin on the ladybugs at California Adventure.

Emily visits the doctor…and is not to happy.

Emily enjoys a little workout lifting her head.

Alex decides to sing the Little Einstein theme song as he shares his chair with Emily… not sure what Emily thinks about his singing.

Emily has a little fun as she gets a bath at the hospital.

Emily is holding steady at the hospital. Her fever is up and down – hovering around the 100 mark – but she should be coming home on Monday. So far, all the test they’ve done have been negative for bacterial infection so its most likely a viral infection. All we can do is help her through it. Katie has been living at the hospital as I occupy Alex. He did spend all day Sunday with Bubby and Zadie so Katie could go home and nap while Jeff stayed with Emily.

Emily has been a good girl even though she has been poked and prodded for the last three days. She was fussy all night Wednesday and Thursday. Thats when a trip to the pediatrician turned in to a trip to the Emergency Room. She has been in the hospital since Thursday morning because of a high fever. We are hoping to come home Monday. The doctors are checking everything; blood, urine, poop, and a spinal tap – this is normal when babies under two months-old young get a fever. So far everything is negative. She is very fussy.

Alex’s first field trip. His preschool visited Centennial Farms at the Orange County Fairground. He touched 2 day-old chickens, saw baby pigs nursing and took his first ride on a school bus.

Alex’s first visit to the dentist.

We took advantage of the 87 degree weather to take Emily yo the beach for the first time. THAT’S RIGHT CHICAGO, WHERE IT’S 29 DEGREES TODAY,  IT’S 87 DEGREES ON JANUARY 12 IN LONG BEACH!!

Alex and his friend Kaden visit the Los Angeles Zoo. They are a couple weeks apart in age and are both new big brothers. Kaden’s little brother, Bryson, and Alex’s little sister, Emily, are only four days apart.

Alex his keeping an eye on his tulips

Alex and Jeff spend the day in Tehachapi. Alex loved his first snow adventure.

Alex spent Christmas day showing Daddy’s iPhone to his cousins, making gingerbread cookies (then throwing up) and cuddling with Aunt Liz and Timmy. 

Emily spent Christmas day sleeping, eating and pooping.

We spent five days at Grandpa’s house in Bakersfield. Alex had fun playing with Grandpa, his cousins, aunts and uncle and sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn.

Hanukkah party at Bubby and Zadie’s house
 

Alex and Jeff spend a rainy day a the aquarium… and see Santa in a tank!

The first night of Hanukkah at Bubby and Zadie’s house. After using plenty of aluminum foil to protect the new kitchen from oil,  Zadie made Latkes… mmmmmm.  Alex got a cool teepee from Daddy’s Uncle David. But, he couldn’t stop staring at Emily’s new light-up faux fish tank.