Splash Table

The twins were not a big fan of the splash pool Francis tried with them a few weeks ago, so Auntie Clare got the kids a Step 2 Water Wheel Actvity Table as an early birthday present. The new splash table was a big hit! Gavin's favorite part was dumping buckets of water on himself. Evie just loved splashing, as usual. Here they are breaking in their table with Uncle David:



Uncle David decided it was time for the kids the learn French. He started teaching them what he remembers from high school!





I love this splash table because it's so simple. You connect the legs and fill it up with water. No pumps or batteries or anything that can break! Well... not easily break anyway! Breakage is always a factor with Gavin.






Nana and Grandpa Cermak got in on the splashing fun the next day:

Happy Birthday to Our Friends

Our friends Pierre and Felix have just turned two! We helped them celebrate at their house on Saturday. They have lots of neat toys in their yard:

This is right before a little girl stuck a temporary tattoo on Gavin's arm! He wsn't too sure about it.

This little house was Gavin's favorite thing, but he kind of wanted it all to himself (and Evie). He got upset when some other kids came inside, plus it was very hot, so he got extra cranky.

Notice the lion tattoo on Gavin's left forearm:

We didn't stay too much longer. Evie said hello to Felix and wished him happy birthday, then it was time to head home and calm down. We're looking forward to cooler weather this week!

Evie Update

We had to put Evie back on her third diuretic because she had developed a thick cough when she was not taking it. She had also gained weight while not taking it, but unfortunately she has lost those ounces since going back on it. Her cough is gone and she is eating well and walking a lot. She is chewing more - for awhile she would just store food in her cheeks and not chew it, but she seems to have gotten over that habit!

Here is Evie when she woke up from her nap last Saturday. She just loves cuddling with her Uncle David!





David has always stated that he is a "full-service uncle" - he has given bottles, changed diaper blowouts, pushed the stroller, and he also combs bed-head hair! (Now that the kids have enough hair to comb!)

Books and Brunch

This morning we visited the downtown Naperville Barnes and Noble. Evie and Gavin both wanted to walk around on the stage wearing Clifford backpacks - it's a good thing the store has two in stock!




Then they enjoyed playing with this puzzle that had several doors with different "locks:"





Then they moved on to the activity books. They gave me a lot of ideas for their birthday!






When the kids got tired of the bookstore, we walked next door to a new breakfast cafe. We sat outside and the twins liked watching the truck traffic in downtown Naperville.




Gavin wasn't interested in anything to eat, but he loved taking all the sugar packets out of their container and putting them back in:

Evie and I shared a scrambled egg. Here she is requesting another bite!

Daddy Goes To Comic-Con

I could never have described this hat to you... you just have to see it:



Francis went to a "celebration of geek culture" (his words) known as Comic-Con this past weekend. He got this hat (says he fit RIGHT in) and he got these cute T shirts for the kids:

"Cool hat, Dad!"



"Um, Daddy, I've learned a few things about style, and that hat needs to GO!"

Playdate!

Today we had a fun visit from our twin friends Pierre and Felix and their mom, Kelly. As they've done in the past, the boys stared at each other for few minutes and then started playing. Evie started crying, but calmed down when I sat with her, then she got up and pushed the toy lawnmower around.

Gavin checks out a picture of himself on Kelly's camera:




Evie and Felix







I asked Pierre if he can visit every week and "mow" the lawn!

Evie Update and New Clothes

We talked to Evie's cardiologist, Dr. Gulecyuz, this evening. He told us that although he feels some action needs to be taken to address Evie's pulmonary hypertension, the surgical team at Hope Children's Hospital does not agree. They feel that as she grows, the conduit that was implanted in February (bringing blood flow to the left lung) will supply the correct amount of blood flow. Basically, she will "grow into" it. So we still need to speak with her surgeon and make a decision. We also will look into getting a second opinion, to see if there are any other ideas out there.

Evie has been off of one of her three diuretics for about a week now, and she has gained several ounces. I weighed her today at 17 pounds, 7 ounces! However, she has also developed a thick cough that comes and goes, and Dr. G recommeded starting the diuretic again.

On another note. Auntie Clare and Nana Cermak scoured the summer sale racks at the malls last week, and the twins ended up with some GREAT clothes! Here are our "baby models!"

Gavin LOVES these shorts -he wanted to get them out of the hamper and put them on again:

Drinking what's left of the ice from Dad's iced tea:

For Evie, it was one of those days to stick out her tongue:

Typical silliness:

Adams Park

This weekend we went to downtown Wheaton to see Adams Park and a neat fountain. Evie loved splashing in the water! The fountain was right by the train tracks and we hoped a train would go by, but we had no luck there.



Gavin was not as crazy about the water as Evie was, but he liked this bench:




The park didn't have swings or slides, but it had lots of shady paths, benches, rocks, two gazebos and a fountain!

Really, what could be better than a rock?

And we had to touch every rock we came across...

Every... single... one.

Both kids just had to rattle these chains along the path:

Highchair Hi-Jinks

Gavin is sometimes interested in using a spoon lately (sometimes he can't be bothered with it). When Evie realized what he was doing, she grabbed my wrist and tried to use her spoon as well (didn't get that part on video yet!):

When one twin starts banging toys on the tray (or any other surface), the other one follows. Monkey see, monkey do!

Weekend Fun

Since Saturday was rather cool and rainy, we stayed inside for most of it. Nana and Grandpa Cermak came over to play with the kids. Early Saturday morning, Evie and Gavin shared Daddy's lap for a story (one day last week they both sat in my lap for a story, for the first time EVER! They do not like to share me, but sharing Daddy is just fine.)



Francis' friend, Beth, from work gave us her son's Spider-Man backpack and Gavin loves to wear it, even though it's way too big for him. He fills it up so full with this toys, he almost towers over backwards!



Auntie Clare went clothes shopping for her favorite neice and nephew, and here is Evie modeling one of her new outfits:



"My Auntie has great fashion sense!"



Evie, still a little groggy after her nap:

Gavin, in a new outfit, and with bedhead from his nap: