Ducks, Hippos, and the ER

We have been super busy around here. In fact a friend told me today that she thought I was avoiding her calls!
It was a great Memorial Day weekend. We stayed in town and had a picnic at a fun park and went to a local petting zoo. Elizabeth wasn't crazy about the animals, but Ava loved them all. I did not care for the ducks who were biting my toes- too many people feed these things and they think they are to be feed by everyone who goes near them!

Elizabeth is still giving us trouble with eating. Her volume is way down and now she is vomiting for no reason. I can't begin to describe how frustrating it is to me to try to get her to eat and all she does is cry and push the bottle away. Now it seems that she is vomiting every thing up! Last night Elizabeth and I had some special time together-in the ER. She cried for two hours and was vomiting and continued to do so one the drive to the hospital. I had to ask for a wet washcloth to clean her up while I was waiting (which wasn't long). As soon as we walk in the door Elizabeth was all smiles. This girl loves the hospital! It must be the antiseptic soap smell or something that reminds her of all her days there. After 3 hours there we were discharged with a "crabby baby" diagnosis. Since she had a clean bill of health and was wake, at 11pm, we went up to the NICU to visit some of the night shift. We obviously never visit them, so it was really great to see them. In fact there were 3 people there who were there the night she was born.

In regards to her eating and vomiting, I spoke with her dermatologist today about taking her off the steroid we are treating her hemangioma with. He agreed and we are starting to taper off this drug, just stopping is dangerous so we have to give her body a chance to wean off it. Lets hope it works and she will be back to her old self, because I don't know how much longer I can take it! Just tonight she has thrown up twice and has taken more than 3 hours to get to bed.

Today my mom and I took the girls to the zoo and were there all day and had a great time. Elizabeth liked watching the water fountains in a pool and Ava liked the frogs, monkey, and grandma! I liked the baby orangutan (so cute!) and watching a hippo wake up and go get in the water. You wouldn't believe how slow that thing moves!!! I think grandma like Ava and Elizabeth best!

Elizabeth also got two new teeth on top last week! That makes four total.

Here are a few pictures to enjoy!

Elizabeth's First Picnic

Not to be out done