NICU Reunion

Edward Hospital's Neonatal ICU had a reunion this Sunday and we were thrilled to be able to go. We haven't been able to attend in the past but have always wanted to. Evie spent her first 10 days of life there and the nurses were amazing!

The reunion was held at the DuPage Childrens Museum, which we have also wanted to take the kids to but we have held back because of germ worries. After all, it's a place where kids are encouraged to touch EVERYTHING.

It was packed with families (I saw a lot of twins in double strollers) and it was really noisy. The hospital had rented it out as a private party for the families of NICU babies, but there were still so many people there. I talked with two of the nurses who assured me that on regular weekdays, the Museum is nowhere near that crowded. Evie was overwhelmed and mostly wanted to be held. Gavin had the time of his life!

Both kids liked playing with these glow sticks and putting them in the black honeycomb. I had the flash on so this picture doesn't give the true effect, but you can imagine the scene. Darkness, glow sticks, and toddlers - everyone had fun.

Gavin loved the water area. Francis was in charge of him at this point, so Gavin got away with not wearing the recommended plastic apron...and was completely soaked as a result.

Luckily, the water was our last stop. Francis got a towel from the staff and dried Gavin off. The kids were both tired and had a little touch of "sensory-overload," so we went home. We would like to go back to the Museum someday but it may be awhile. We are heading into cold and flu season and need to be extra careful, as usual.

Outside Fun

With the nice weather last week, we spent a few of the afternoons outside. We played on the driveway and on the front porch and walk. I really like the kids' expressions in this picture. I can imagine Gavin saying, "That whale from Finding Nemo - you know, the one that was THIS big - got into my bed last night and that's why my sheets were wet." (Finding Nemo is one of the kids' current favorite movies, and Gavin loves the part with the whale. He even tries to "speak" whale along with the characters in the show.)

Evie on the driveway:






Gavin gave Evie a hug:





Then he tried to tell her how to drive. She listened...a little!

Gavin helped bring the cars in when we were done. He is SO strong, and now he is coordinated enough to pull both at once:

Our Little Model

The other day I taught Evie how to pose for the camera, and I have to say, she is a natural! She knows she looks cute:

Holding a favorite dinosaur:

Can she get any cuter??? I don't think so!

A Visit With Patty

My cousin Patty was able to come out from the city and visit us this weekend, and Uncle David picked her up at the train station. We went back to Country Lakes Park since the kids had such a great time there last week:

Way up high!

Gavin, our little mountaineer:

Gavin loves these pulleys even though he isn't big enough for them. He and Patty raced to see who cold get to the other side first.

The drinking fountain was a big hit. Last time, the kids didn't even look twice at it! This time, Gavin got soaked and needed a compete change of clothes when we got home. Evie was more careful, as usual!

Uncle David and Evie on a scenic bridge:

Patty brought the kids some gifts, one of which was a crate of play food that they can "cut." Gavin was fascinated!

David and Patty:

Patty also spoiled us with Ann Sather cinnamon rolls (which had hilariously merged into one big "cinnamon block," as I dubbed it). Thanks for a super morning, Patty! Can't wait to do it again!

Fall Festival

Saturday was the annual DuPage Convalescent Center Fall Festival. We always go, and we have always walked in the 5K Family Walk/Run, but it is just too hard to get out of the house that early nowadays. So we were just going to check out the different vendors and raffles this year.

It was really crowded inside, because it started raining right after we got there. The ceiling was decorated with literally hundreds of leaves, which the twins loved. Gavin even took one home. I don't think the Center missed it!



We shopped around...Evie got a little blue and white bracelet. Gavin wanted to re-arrange the products on the tables and he helped Francis pick out a nice ceramic pumpkin for his office to hold candy in.



Evie liked sitting on Grandpa's shoulders, but wanted a hug whenever there was a loud clap of thunder:




Snuggling with Grandpa.



It was great being able to meet some of the Convalescent Center's blog readers at the event! We had fun despite the rain, and we hope the DPCC had a successful day!

Evie Shops At The Bow Sale

I am happy to report that we are all feeling better and are almost over our colds! Last week my neighbor Michelle, owner of Lovely Lulu Hair Bows, had a bow sale at her house. When I told Evie about it, she pointed enthusiastically to herself to tell me that she wanted to go and choose her own bows. Evie just LOVES her hair bows from Miss Michelle!

So when she woke up from her nap, off we went. Grandma stayed behind to keep an eye on Gavin, who was still napping. Here is Evie, checking out one section of bows. You can almost hear her thinking, "So many to choose from!"






Evie spotted a bow with a fish on it:





Then she walked it over to Michelle to pay:



Evie wanted to wear the fish bows right away, so I just stuck them in next to her pink bows. Pink and orange are close on the color wheel, so I thought they went rather nicely together!

Here's a close-up:

Later on after Gavin woke up, he and Evie were just hanging out in front of the house. They were playing very nicely together!

Sitting together on the doorstep:

Snack break in the adirondack chairs:

Country Lakes Park

Gavin is still coughing, and now Francis and I have caught the bug too. Our strong little Evie is just fine, though! So we are having another slow week. Gavin's vocabulary explosion hasn't been affected by the cough, though - he is still saying several new words each day, one of which is "booger."


I had heard about a big park that is close to our house, and finally managed to go there the other week. I quickly realized that, like the Riverwalk park, this one was TOO big to take the kids to by myself. Gavin runs and climbs too fast for me to keep him in my sight all the time at a park this size. So we went back with Francis on another day.



Gavin has lost his fear of tall slides!

Evie got tired at the end....little sweetie!

This willow tree provided as much entertainment as the playground. Gavin made sure we all hads a stick from the tree;

Gavin the Chatterbox

We've had a slow couple of days lately. Gavin had a runny nose and we weren't sure if it was fall allergies or a cold. Well, on Friday, it turned into a cold! He doesn't have a fever but he has a little cough and just feels yucky.

Nana and Grandpa Cermak kept Gavin occupied on Saturday, and Uncle David helped out on Sunday. On the plus side, Gavin is still teasing Evie, so you know he is not THAT sick!

Gavin is also saying 150 words and is frequently putting 3 words together, sometimes even four (example: "Floor dirty, Mama clean." Hmm, I'll get right on that, Gavin!). I know I said I would stop counting at 100 words...but the twins are going to have their speech evaluations with the public school district on Tuesday, and I know they will ask me how many words they are saying. So I just kept on writing it all down.

Here they are last week playing in the fold-up firetruck. Evie rarely gets inside, so this was extra cute!




Evie hugs a stuffed flower. She is still eating well, and is walking around a lot more, too!

Weekend Cuteness

Here are some more pictures from our Labor Day weekend...

Gavin practiced texting with his toy phone. Do you think he would sit the "regular"way? Nah...kicking your legs and narrowly missing Mom's head is much more fun!





Time to read...Gavin still didn't feel like sitting down:






Looks like reading with Francis is what Gavin needed - that and a cup of orange juice:

This was the morning of the Labor Day festivities. The kids decided to explore the pantry:

"Hey, Mom, can we have some popcorn?"

Here is Evie modeling some more of her new hair bows: