In Times of Sickness...

2016 Started out pretty rough for the Shackletons

First Kinley took a pretty bad fall hitting her head on the edge of our wooden bed frame.  It looked pretty awful for quite awhile - poor girl!

 We took a little trip up to Big Bear to experience the record snow fall up there while we stayed in Dan's Aunt's cabin.  It started out fun building snowmen and enjoying the view but Dan quickly became very sick.  I ended up taking care of everyone and soon Dan's head was hurting so bad we decided to go back home.  Once there we became increasingly concerned about Dan's condition.  It was the worst pain he had every experienced.  The girls were asleep and he was debating if he should go to the ER.  He decided to drive himself which ended up being a big mistake.  He passed out in the ER and was promptly admitted after many painful tests for Viral Meningitis.  He is looking fairly perky in this picture after spending nearly a week in the hospital. 

A few weeks later just as Dan was getting back on his feet, Lena's fever shot up to 106 degrees and she couldn't breathe and was throwing up everything.  We dashed her to the CHOC ER where she was admitted for complications from asthma.  She stayed in the hospital for two days getting care from the pulmonology department.  We had the hardest time getting her to eat...ANYTHING!  We tried everything from hamburgers to M&Ms.  Finally she began to eat and drink little by little and she was released.  Since she has been on her new medicine regimen her asthma as been much better.

Getting the IV in was a pretty horrible experience!

The Child Life Specialists were great about giving Lena fun activities to do.

Lena called her stay at CHOC the "Doctor's Palace".  Despite the fun activities she would rather not go back.

When she returned home a kind neighbor who bakes brought her double chocolate princess cupcakes to continue to tempt Lena to eat.  It worked. 

Valentine's Day 2016

Valentine's Day 2016

As usual we celebrated Valentine's Day as a family with fun food and treats including cheese and chocolate!  Lena had a special Valentine's surprise from her new friend, Max, at church.  They have become best buds and so have Dan and I become good friends with Max's Mom and Dad. 

Special flowers for Mom!

Lena is excited for her cookie and upcoming playdate with Max!

Lena and her best buddy, Dad!

Kinley and her best buddy, Mom!

Our Valentine's Feast

Treats for the girls!

My adorable Valentine girly girls!

Lena Goes to Preschool

Miss Lena began the Tiny Tots preschool program at the City of Chino in January.  She loves all the crafts they make and is really enjoying the drama and social aspects of being in classroom of kids. 

So super silly is she

Beware the LENA eyes!

Learning to write and always doing art.

The last day of her first session of preschool. 

Our Little Nursery is No More

Grandma and Grandpa's guest room is now up and ready for visitors!

 We finally took down our nursery and moved the girls into the same room together.  It was bittersweet to say goodbye to the room where so many memories were made.  I rocked my babies to sleep in that room and prayed for my unborn girls in that room.  It sat empty for so long when our FETs would fail and now it will be empty once again.  We are glad to have a nice space for visitors though!  We got a set of bunk beds for the girls off of Craigslist.  Lena is on the bottom bunk for now and Kinley will stay in her crib a little longer. 

The last remnants of the nursery are the Dr. Seuss prints which were soon replaced by some of Lena's paintings.

The girls enjoying their new bunk beds!

Lena the Messy!

She painted and then she painted her chair blue.

A little crayon artwork by Miss Lena on my wrapping paper bin.

 I can't keep up folks! We are going through a CRAZY mess-making stage with #1. In the last 48 hours she has colored all over our couch with a blue highlighter, grabbed the liquid dish soap from the kitchen and poured it all over her head, the baby's head, the living room carpet and several toys, taken raw eggs off the counter and broke and smashed them all over the living room carpet, emptied an entire tube of blue toothpaste in the bathroom, and painted her booster seat blue! Seriously?? This phase needs to end. I used to pride myself as a classroom teacher with astute awareness, having eyes in the back of my head. How is it that I knew everything that happened in my classroom with 40 teenagers but I am being outsmarted by one FOUR year old?? I need a new game plan and more Norwex.

Orlando 2015 - The Girls' First Disney Trip

In November 2015 we took the girls to their first ever Disney trip to Walt Disney World.  We bought 10 day park hopper passes and spent 17 days at the the Harbor Lake MVCI property there.  It was exhausting but awesome! 

So much fun on Dumbo!

The highlight of her trip was getting to hold a baby alligator!

Lena had fun learning about pin trading and making crafts in the kids club.

Sisters watching the Florida sunset.

Looking for alligators and turtles.

Winnie the Pooh is one of their favorites!

A short romantic moment in front of the lit up castle.

Sundown over the water

She is game for the rides!

Always these two together.

McKinley Jane: 15 Months Old

Miss Kinley Jane turned 15 months old on our trip to Orlando, Florida.

Stats

Four teeth

Size 4 diapers (almost size 5)

Size 18 months clothes

Size 5 shoes

First visit to a Disney Park (Orlando)

Kinley's Language Skills

Ka-Ku "Thank You"

Yeah! (This is how she responds to most questions.)

Num! Num! (What she says when she is hungry or eating something she likes)

Mickey (She said it clear as a bell once.)

Favorites

Going down the slide all by herself like a big girl

Climbing on EVERYTHING

Mickey Mouse

Cheese

Putting on pretty crowns, necklaces, hats

Her new Winnie the Pooh bear