Kiersten's first Christmas. 12/25/08

She had a blast and got spoiled by both families.  She did open gifts but I think her favorite part...was sitting on top of the wrapped boxes.  Unfortunately, the pictures are missing!! 

Nightmare in North Idaho....

So yesterday I worked a 12 hour shift. So I went to work at 630 am and got home at 8pm. By the time I got home from work we had 13 inches. As of now we have about 28 inches total since yesterday morning and it is still snowing. We got news from George's work this morning that they were not opening. So he is home. He was out shoveling but has decided that he doesn't want to keep up...and he is going to buy a snow blower!! He is at Lowe's as we speak!! Well I'm going to upload some snowing pics and then I'm off!!  *Over the years the blog pictures disappeared so I'm getting them back up but I can't find these pictures in my collection.  The following are pictures that my neighbor took during this crazy snowy time.
Once George got home with the snow blower we literally blew out paths through the yard for the dogs, poor Digger who is a brand new puppy couldn't even get to the deck because of all the snow.   This first picture is looking at George and I's vehicles in our front driveway from the neighbors house.

Kiersten's first "SHINER"

So Kiersten got her first black eye a couple days ago. She was playing, looking out the window and went to fall straight back. But instead, she decided to turn to her right to catch herself, and she turned right into the coffee table. Her eye swelled instantly, and became bright red around her eye. She had a big gash beside her eye and it was bleeding. I gave her some Motrin (I'm sure she had a headache after this fall and hopefully it helped with the swelling) and put her to bed shortly after. She woke up the next morning with a big shiner, I knew she would. So here is a picture of our little "Rocky" herself!

Welcome to our family, Digger!!

Well we officially got another dog. His name is Digger, we aren't sure what his papered name is going to be yet. We haven't figured that out. So his name may change haha. Anyhow he is 8 week old chocolate puppy. So now we have 2 chocolate labs. Hershey absolutely loves him. She has someone to play with all the time. Kiersten on the other hand, isn't so sure about Digger, He pounces on her head every chance he gets. She is getting better at pushing him away though.... (she will learn with time.) So here are some picture of Digger, Hershey, and Kiersten, our children.

Santa...

We went and got our picture taken on Santa's lap for the first time... Kiersten didn't cry....just starred, like she always dose. She watched Santa for a bit and then sat on his lap and starred at the camera for a while!! Here is her first Santa photo!!

Hot Tubbing at Grandma and Grandpa's - Horseshoe Bend

The first time Kiersten had been in a hot tub.  She loved every minute of it!

New lenses...and possably new frames!

So if you weren't aware Kiersten wasn't on our vision insurance for the first year of her life because we didn't think we would use it, obviously we were wrong. So the first glasses were not covered by insurance, we payed for them. Insurance goes into affect as of January so technically we could get a new pair and they would pay for them.
So.... today we went into get the new lens that was ordered for Kiersten's glasses and I asked when we could move Kiersten into wire framed glasses, and i explained how insurance would cover a pair once January hits. She said she would check with the doctor and get back to us. the gal called just a couple hours after we got home and said the doctor would be happy to put Kiersten in a more stylish pair with temple cables (goes behind the ears). So they were going to order some demo frames to keep in the office and when they get in we will go and check them out and see if we like them. then when January hits...WE GET TO ORDER A NEW PAIR!!! I can't wait to get her in some cuter ones!!
When we go into the appointment to try them on I'm going to take pictures of her in each pair so George and I can decide together what pair to get her. So i will post all the pictures on here!! the doctors office just ordered the demo frames so it will probably be a month before they get them in!!

Glasses Checkup...

We had Kiersten's eye appointment on Tuesday of this week... the eye doctor said her eye is 99% better. She said she was very pleased with how much better it was, than the first time we saw her. She decided that she wanted to change the prescription in the left eye. So we have a new lens for the left eye on order. She said now that she can assess Kiersten with her glasses on, she can see that she was off one prescription strength on her left eye lens but her right eye she believes is perfect. Anyhow...she did say that we are going to keep Kiersten in the glasses. She doesn't need to see her for a year but she wants to keep her in them to make the left eye stronger. She said in the back office that she would grow out of the glasses by her next appointment. At first I took this as growing out of the glasses totally in a year and not have to wear them... but reflecting back on the conversation... I think she meant she would grow out of these glasses by next appointment. Because then when we came out to the front office she said "and remember as she gets older, fisher-price makes way cuter styles." So anyhow I'm thinking that we will just have to order a new pair of frames and lenses at her next appointment in a year!!

Either way...the news I care about is that her eye is getting better. that means its responding to the glasses and that we won't have to have surgery!!! that made my day!!!

9 month Dr's Appt with Pediatrician.

So the last 2 weeks we had Dr. appointments...
She had her 9 month appointment with the pediatrician. She informed me that Kiersten had a ear infection. the week before she wasn't feeling good when we were in Orofino... 2 nights in a row she was up all night. I figured it as her teeth because she seemed to be better after a couple days. Anyhow the doctor thought maybe she was on the getting better side of the ear infection and so she let me decide if we wanted to treat her with antibiotics. So I decided not to. She was acting normal and happy so I didn't figure I needed to give her drugs for it. We had pain drops for her ears at home that I could use. Anyhow so besides the ear infection she was doing great.
She was 27.5 inches long (50 percentile), 20.05lb (70 percentile), and 44.5 inch head circumference (70 percentile).
She also got her Flu shot. Well half of it. When they are babies they only give them a half dose then a month later they come back for the other half dose. So we go back in October for the other half of the medication. (another shot). I was bummed cause I forgot about the flu shot and I knew 9 month appointment they didn't have to get any vaccinations. Anyhow she got a shot anyway!!
Then we got home and by Friday she was having fevers again and crabby...so needless to say I called and got the antibiotic prescription anyways. She is feeling better now....but still on antibiotics for 5 more days!!

Halloween Pics

So we only made it to a couple places on Halloween since we got to Boise so late in the evening...but Kiersten still got to dress up. I didn't get any pictures that turned out on Halloween night but here are some from the other day when I put her in her costume just to take pics!! I ended up making her outfit after all!