Keira update

Keira came back home today, and she is off the blue lights and back in nurse Katharine's care. We have a follow-up appointment with our Doctor tomorrow, but so far everything is looking great. Thanks for all of the help and well wishes!

Keira update

Iria and Keira have checked back into the hospital today (Plano Medical Center). Keira's jaundice wasn't improving at home, so she needed to go under the big blue lights again. The doctor thinks that it will take at least a day or two to get better. Iria is medically fine, but is still really tired from last week. Hopefully she will be able to get a little bit of rest there.


I'll keep you posted.

Knock that cloud off her shoulder- I dare ya'

Wonder Woman is Katharine's favorite superhero, and she always draws her with quite a bit of intensity. When playing with her dolls, Wonder Woman is happily married to Batman and they have many children together.

Pink and blue

Keira came home today.

She has a little bit of jaundice (Lennon had the same problem), so she sleeps with a blue light under her blanket and her pink bunny at her side.

Big sister and brother

I haven't gotten a picture of Lennon and Keira yet- he is still too busy being attached to his Mommy's hip now that she is back.

Chocolate Pudding

I've had all of the chocolate pudding to myself up until today...

I've got to start hiding some of my stash now.

Katharine and Keira

Keira Victoria Doescher

Keira was born today at 2:19 PM. She weighed 8 pounds, and measured 19 1/2 inches long.

Both Iria and Keira are happy, healthy, hungry and very tired.

Guess the name!

I think that this puzzle is a lot easier than last years, but it is the last baby for us so I figured I would go easy on everyone.


We need to be at the hospital by 5 AM in the morning (I should really get to bed). I'll post pictures and info tonight!

Sharks on their mind

I brought the kids to the aquarium today for a fish fix. Favorite sights included the manatees, the leopard, the crocodiles and of course- the sharks.

Happy birthday, Lennon!

Today is Lennon's first birthday. He was running a fever yesterday but recovered in time to eat his cake tonight- funny how kids manage that.


Vital stats -


Height : 30.5 inches
Weight: 26 pounds


Not so vital stats -


Lennon goes to bed at 7 PM and gets up around 6:30 AM
Lennon's favorite foods are watermelon, rice and big soft pretzels
Lennon will taste just about anything

Lennon loves to share his food, especially after it has already been in his mouth
Lennon's nickname is "The Captain" or "Captain Lennon"
Lennon loves to kick and throw balls- and he is always right on target

Lennon has eight teeth

Lennon loves to play with his Daddy's expensive AV equipment

Lennon loves to climb, more so than Katharine or Lukas ever did
Lennon's favorite 'real' word is "ma ma ma ma ma ma"
Lennon's favorite 'baby' word is "gah", usually to point out something interesting

Lennon loves to put his head down and nuzzle
Lennon loves to chew on toys
Lennon loves to sing along and clap his hands with Katharine and Lukas
Lennon does great imitations of cars and dinosaurs
Lennon is never without his Mouse 'lovey' toy

We miss you, Dad!

Dad has been gone for a week, and I have been meaning to post a few more pictures. Here he is helping Lennon eat/mush a banana.



The room is done!



Sitting through his 10th straight Donald Duck cartoon on the DVD that would never end.

Sunday in the park with dinosaurs

The Herd Wildlife Sanctuary has their "Dinosaurs Alive" nature walk set up again. There are a few new dinsoaurs, some wildflife animals (including lemurs), a petting zoo, and a butterfly pavilion.

The day after Ike was beautiful, so we all went out for a walk.




Katharine was giving the T-Rex all kinds of attitude: "Don't even think about it, you meat eater!"




Lukas just liked to point at every dinosaur and say "T-Rex!"

The girls always love to dig for dinosaur bones inside.

When we got home, Lukas promptly built this T-Rex out of Legos.

Rainy day Ike

We are getting some rain and wind gusts, but nothing too severe. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were hit by the brunt of the hurricane along the Gulf Coast.

Lennon and Nolan's 1st Birthday Party

Lennon and Nolan celebrated their first birthday party together at the Martel's house.

Nolan is in the red and white stripes. Lennon is in the red, blue, green and yellow stripes. And Iria and Meghan shop at too many of the same stores.



The spread: tortillas and fruit.

And most important, the cake: "Happy Birthday Nolan & Lennon"

Ava and Katharine finishing off their tortillas.

The kids playing their wrestle tag game with apparently "no rules".

Katharine sat in a corner and sang for a while.

Gwen- it is almost impossible to take a bad photo of her.

One of the frequent kissing attacks that Mathew had to endure (although he doesn't seem to unhappy about it).

Liam trying to pull me down- just give him a few more years...

An unusable blown-out color photo that I Photoshop'ed into a usable blown-out B&W photo.

Dad and Katharine.

The girls: BFF

Lennon is digging the attention.

It was almost impossbile to get a good shot of the two boys together- they kept getting distracted and crawling all over each other.

Lennon climbing up the slide (he almost made it to the top).

Nolan doing another photo shoot.

Nolan and Brian.

Lennon: climbing up the bigger slide.

Every event at Meghan's always involves some cool craft activities. Here the girls decorate their party crowns.

Aiden and Lukas snacking on tortillas.

Aiden and Lukas playing their bouncing ball game.

Happy Birthday! But a bit blurry after too many Mexican beers.