Update on pipes...

I've had a lot of people email me today asking if our pipes (water mains) have been fixed. YES! We have water! The city crews were out there until about 10 p.m. Saturday night and got our water back on! We still have a nice hole in the street, but that's it! Thanks for your concern!

Trouble on the homefront.

Two of our water mains broke today. We aren't sure if it was due to partial freezing or what. Anyway, we have been without running water since about 1:00 p.m. today, what fun! Thankfully, a good friend of mine is out of town and I have a key to her place so we will be able to at least shower tomorrow if our water isn't back on by then! Of course this happened while I had clothes in the wash and the dishwasher running!!

As of right now the city is still out working on the water mains. They have brought a back-ho in and torn up our street completely. One of the pump trucks actually fell through the concrete so they had to bring in a tow truck to get him out. Its been an adventure that is for sure!!! Thank God for home owners associations and for our lovely dues to help pay for this madness.

The site we came home to tonight after the wedding. Our garage was blocked for a good hour, but thankfully we are allowed inside now!

A Holiday Wedding.

Tonight we had the opportunity to go to our good friend Bruce and Trina's wedding! It was so pretty with all of the church's holiday decorations up; of course the bride was stunning as well! Zane is definitely at the age where sitting through an hour wedding is not going to happen so needless to say I stood in the foyer with him (and other parents with their kids) the entire wedding. Thankfully the church had the foyer piped for sound so we could still hear the wedding even if we couldn't really see it. We wish you both the most happiness.

Before the wedding started this was Zane walking across the benches. First sign that he was not going to sit for the wedding.

The Alexander's with the new Eklund's!

Zane and Bruce after the wedding. Zane was very intrigued with his tie!

Merry Christmas to All.

I just layed Zane down to bed after a fun-filled day of opening gifts, lounging in his pj's most of the day and eating all kinds of food we normally don't let him have!! This year was so much more fun than last year. Last year he was only 2 mos old and was really a "blob", he just layed around and didn't do much of anything except look cute! This year, he was all over it! I think his favorite thing to do was open his stocking. He loved sticking his hand inside and pulling out a toy. He would get this look of extreme excitement on his face when he would pull out a toy, he couldn't wait to get his hand back in there to pull out another one! And of course he really enjoyed the paper and ribbons!

We are so blessed to have such a loving family and group of friends to spoil all of us (especially Zane). I am so thankful for what we have, especially when looking at most of the world (heck, most of the U.S. right now) with the terrible economy we are in. So many people are losing their jobs and houses; it really is awesome that we can have a house full of presents, the heat cranked up, good health and so much love around us. I wish for everyone to have that.

The Alexander's really do hope that everyone else out there had a very Merry Christmas as well and hope that love surrounds you too.

Here are a few pics (and a video) of the Zane Man today!

Zane's first look at his Santa gifts.

Examining his stocking.

Digging in!

Tearing it up!

Getting the real hang of opening his gifts.

Enjoying some yummy dinner!

Laughing at his jack-in-the-box toy.

The kid can't get enough of this doodle-board.


Here is a video of Zane enjoying the paper a whole lot more than his toys at the moment! Typical kid!

Ho Ho Ho

I waited in line with Zane for an hour and 40 minutes today to get his picture taken with Santa. He did so well waiting in line. I realized when I got to the mall that I didn't have a stroller with me. Thankfully, I found a Target cart and he sat in that for the over hour wait. I was running out of snacks for him, but thankfully our turn was almost here.

He did fine when we first sat him on Santa's lap and just looked at Santa like he was crazy. As soon as I walked away he freaked to say the least.

Wait time for a Santa picture: 1 hr 40 minutes
Two baggies of snacks: $2
3 5x7 pictures: $20
Picture of your child freaking out on jolly ol' Santa's lap: Priceless


Here is Zane last year at only 2 mos old...wow, what a difference a year makes.


I apologize for the poor quality of these pictures, I don't have a working scanner right now so I had to take pictures of the pictures!

Snow Day!

Josh and I were not able to get out to go to work yesterday due to the roads around our house being so bad. Here are a couple pics of our day.

Zane watching daddy shovel the walkway.


Ok, so later in the afternoon we were able to get out, but it was too late to go to work! We headed over to say hi to the Nilsson's who were also having a Snow Day.

Here are Zane and daddy walking up the driveway.

Stop snow, stop.

Ok, I am no longer loving the snow. Now that its getting in the way of my holiday plans, I'm done! I am praying that the supposed snow we are supposed to get tonight is just a bunch of hype! Please stop snowing!!!

Strike 2.

As with everyone else in Washington we were blanketed with snow last night and its still going strong right now. We woke up to about 6 inches and there's no telling how much we'll have by the end of today. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if it will be another 3 hour commute to work tomorrow or if we'll even be able to get off our hill. I guess only time will tell.

I tried to take Zane out into the snow again today and like last time he wasn't a huge fan. We were out for a little longer this time, but still I'm just thinking he's too young to really get into it this year. Next year I am sure will be a different story.

But if anyone cares...I am LOVING the snow :)

Walking in a winter wonderland.

Josh, Zane and I decided to walk up to the store tonight to stock up on some junk food since its apparent we are going to be shut in for a day or two! Who can be shut in without junk food...not me! I hope to get Zane out into the snow for a bit tomorrow...be on the look-out for pictures on that.

Josh getting all bundles up.

Ready, set, lets go!

Happy Birthday David!

We treked out to Issaquah today to help celebrate David's 1st birthday!! Josh and I have been friends with Brian and Renee (David's parents) for a long time and its fun to have boys so close in age! The kids had a lot of fun playing, but you could really tell when it was beginning to be nap time for everyone!!

David enjoying his cake!


David trying to share his cake with me!


Zane "cozy-ing" up against Renee's bum!


Zane sharing a toy with baby Miles.


Just being cute!

Brave or Stupid?

Not sure if Josh and I were brave or stupid to try and get into work this morning, but we braved the weather and after many hours arrived safely. Just by coincidence today my inlaws were watching Zane at our house so I didn't have to take him into daycare (normally they watch him on Wednesdays, not Thursdays). On days that my inlaws watch Zane I usually ride with Josh into Seattle to take him to work and then I drive I-90 over to Bellevue. Even though mileage wise its a lot longer of a drive its a lot faster than me taking 405 by myself (normally have Zane as carpool). This morning was no different, we headed into Seattle like usual on "non-Zane" days and "wow" is all I can say! Leaving Federal Way there was no problem, freeway totally fine...by the time we got North of Southcenter it was a whole other story. We had to stop in Seattle to chain up, only to find out that our chains don't fit our new tires...so Josh was able to get us un-stuck w/o them thankfully. After dropping him off in Capital Hill away I went to get to I-90. On one of the main roads to get there I was on a really thick patch of ice and kept sliding into the curb and boucing back off, I felt like a ball in a pin-ball machine. No damage to the car thankfully and thankfully it was a curb I was ping-ponging off of and not another car. I-90 was treterous and not something I want to experience again. After 3 hours in the car I clocked into work at 9:23 a.m.! I was out of there by 1:00 p.m. because the snow was not stopping and I needed to get home so my inlaws had time to get home safe. Josh is still at work and will be taking the train home tonight! Well, I wanted snow and I guess I need to be careful for what I wish for!

I-5 this morning!


Downtown Seattle.


The view outside of my work.


This is my car after only 3.5 hours...about 4-6 inches of snow. Crazy!



Does it have to actually snow on Christmas to be considered a "White Christmas" or can there be left-over snow on the ground to be considered it?!!

Lights, lights and more lights.

My friend Colleen and I took our two little boys to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens tonight to see their light display. After about an hour in the car to go 10 miles to get there (thanks to construction) we finally got to see what all of the fuss was about. It wasn't as big as I was thinking it would be, but still very cool. We bundled up the boys so they could barely move and away we walked. Very pretty and I just love the cold crisp air!

Zane all bundled up looking cute as always!


Mommy & Zane in front of the Christmas tree of lights.


Colleen, Alex, Zane and I.


One of the many scenes at the gardens.

Baby Giggles

I had just gotten off the phone and Zane wanted to play with it. Whenever he would get close to touching the phone I would pull it away really quick and he'd break out into this giggle. I had to video it because I know there is a day that this giggle will be all but a distant memory. There is nothing sweeter sounding to me than the sound of babies cooing and giggling. Technically, he isn't a baby anymore, but nonetheless it is still adorable sounding. I hope it can put a smile on your face too.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It was very exciting to wake up to snow this morning!! This is the first real snow we've had since Zane came into our lives! Last year we had some late snow in March
but it didn't even cover our grass so that doesn't count! I bundled Zane up and by bundling I mean put him in a hat and heavy coat. I realized I didn't have any boots, water resistant pants or mittens for the poor kid. We were only out for about 30 seconds when he fell and realized it was cold and didn't like it anymore! I'll try to be more prepared for the next snow we get (which for Western Washington will probably be next year)!

Another hard day at work!

So I drove to daycare this morning as I do almost every other day of the week and to my surprise my daycare lady was sicker than a dog and hadn't called me. This is the 2nd time that has happened. When I say sick, I don't mean she just has a bad cold, I mean she had to run to the bathroom to yak while I was there this morning. WHY COULDN'T SHE HAVE CALLED ME!!! Anyway, it was apparent she wouldn't be able to watch Zane or any other child today that is for sure. I had NO supplies with me and I had to go into work for at least the morning. I drove to work and met my boss in the parking garage and explained what had happened. She said not to worry and to bring him on up. Co-workers scrounged up food they had at their desks for Zane today and the Pediatric department supplied me with diapers and the Espresso cart supplied me with milk for the day. Zane did so well. He played in my office most of the day and really was a trooper. Getting him down for a nap was a whole other ball game. He normally goes down around 8 a.m. and again around noon or 1 and today I finally got him down around 2:45 p.m. and that only lasted about 40 mins (better than nothing).

Needless to say I will be having a chat with daycare when he goes back on Thursday. She needs to have common courtesy to call me (even if its at 2 a.m.) and let me know she is sick and has to close so I don't drive 45 mins to get there and have nothing for him for the day. To me that is common knowledge, but apparently its not to everyone.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the cutie from today.

Playing with whatever we could find for him.


Playing in one of the exam rooms!


Starting to fade!


Fast asleep on my office floor.

Some Holiday Festivities

My mom took last Friday off as a vacation day to take Zane downtown to see the holiday sights and to take his first ride on the carousel! From what I gather, he liked the carousel once it started going, but wasn't too keen on waiting for it to start! From the looks of the pictures they took, they had a great time!





Just looking cute in his santa hat!



Enjoying his first sugar cookie at a cookie exchange we went to this weekend.

Update on Poor Zane

So I talked to Zane's regular pediatrician today and she said that "yes" I am to give him the steroid today and to actually do it now opposed to waiting until tonight since he threw it up. She also said she doubts the steroid made him throw up, but that it was probably the muscle spasms themselves.

I just went over to daycare to give him the 2nd dose and he had just had an Albuteral inhaler treatment so was doing pretty good. She said he was doing a lot better. He was happy, talking, playing so it was nice to see. I gave him the steroid and apologized if he threw it up later. Her response was "wouldn't be the first time a kid threw up here"! Love it! Anyway, she was just about to put him down for another nap.

The doctor also is perscribing another inhaler for him. This one needs to be done morning and night. This inhaler is to be done at the 1st sign of a cold from now on. So the first sight of a runny nose that thing comes out of the closet! She is thinking in by doing this it will help ward off the bronchial muscle problems and the wheezing hopefully won't start. IF the wheezing does still come on with the next cold, then we'll do the Albuteral inhaler as needed as well.

Zane has not been officially diagnosed with Asthma as they won't do that until they are at least 2. The doc is un-officially saying he might have "cold-induced" Asthma...because he is totally fine any other time except when he gets a cold.

Ok, thats my update and I'm happy to report I think we are on the upswing of things!

Poor Zane

We have had quite the ordeal with Zane in the last couple days; please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Here is a little synopsis.

-Tuesday night he developed a croupy sort of cough (like a barking seal), but all in all was doing ok other than the cough.
-Wednesday morning he was really sleepy, but not wheezing or anything, still had the cough so I warned daycare.
-2:15 on Wednesday daycare called me and said that Zane is really not doing well and I should come take him to the Dr.
-I get there and he is having a lot of trouble breathing and his eyes are rolling back in his head because he is so tired; even though he had slept well at daycare.
-I get him in to see the Dr. The first thing the nurse does is check his Oxygen level and its at 92%; I personally thought that sounded fine…still passing; A- right?!!
-Dr. informs me that they admit babies into the hospital if its 90% or below…my heart skips a beat at this point. Also, a normal baby takes approx. 20-30 breaths a minute; Zane was taking on average 56 a minute.
-They do an albuteral breathing treatment on him and he fell asleep through it (!); his Oxygen level went up to 96% after that; so we skipped the hospital!!
-Doc prescribed a heavy dose steroid (oral-liquid) for last night and 1 more for tonight to help the inflammation in his bronchial muscles. I was also told to continue the inhaler at home every 4 waking hours as needed. Doc said he needs lots of fluids.
-Zane had refused food and drink at daycare yesterday and was refusing it with me too. His diaper was changed around 2 p.m. and not again until after 6 p.m. and wasn't even wet. He is/was now getting dehydrated. Josh ran to the store and got him popsicles and he wouldn't even take that.
-I was finally able to get him to eat a yogurt and a few slices of banana and about 2 sips of milk. I then gave him the oral steroid.
-He played in the bath a bit, but was getting wheezy again. After the bath I gave him an inhaler treatment.
-After the inhaler he is much happier and more playful which is great (still refusing food and drink though).
-He pukes up the steroid (only 1/2 hour after administering it).
-He goes to bed about 8 and slept all night fine (which was great).
-He woke up at 5:15 a.m. and was wheezing again (but NO WHERE near as bad as yesterday). I do the inhaler again.
-Dropped him off at daycare after teaching her how to do the inhaler.
-Dr. yesterday said he is NOT a threat to other children, its a bronchial muscle inflammation causing this and nothing contagious.
-I have emailed his regular pediatrician asking if I should do the oral steroid again tonight if he's just going to throw it up. Doesn't seem fair to give him something that will make him sick, ya know?
-I just called daycare and she said he's been playing all morning and is now sleeping. She said he is still a little wheezy, but again, nothing like yesterday. She assured me she'd call me if he gets worse.

And that is in a nutshell. My poor baby.