Happy Easter Part 2 in Amsterdam!!!

Well, its taken me a few days to get to this next post and the most beautiful post as I have been sick the past 2 days.  The second day in Amsterdam started out foggy and cold.  The weather was calling for 17 and sunny.  We decided to Start at Anne Frank's hiding place then if it was sunny and warm to head to Keukenhof gardens to see the beautiful flowers.  So we decided to get in line and then one of us would go run and get a pastry from the pastry shop and eat breakfast and drink our coffee.  The line was ridiculously long as it had been the day before.  We went ahead and got in it not knowing how long the wait really was.  Now just a little info and hint to any of you out there interested in going to Amsterdam and going to see Anne Frank's hiding place. You can buy tickets ahead of time on line if you know what date you are interested in going.  We tried but with us booking our trip so late all tickets were booked. So that meant we had to get in line and wait.  While discussing where we were going to pick up breakfast ( about 20 min of standing in line) a member of the staff was walking around.  She came up to us and asked if the 3 of us were together and we of course said yes.  She said with the cold temperatures and the long wait it was unfair for Ivy to wait that long so she was going to move us to the front.  We proceeded to ask her how long the wait was and she responded 3 hours ( Jaw drop) .  Thanks to the cold temperatures and our little angel we were taken inside ahead of many, many others.  What luck!!! 
Any way, it was worth seeing and a must in my opinion.  I have to say though there are lots of stairs!!!  You have to remember that They were hiding on the upper level and it was 2 levels in the back.  So its a lot of standing and walking up stairs!!! Anne's father has all the furniture removed but everything else remains the same.  There are pictures in each room showing how it was when they were in hiding and its a very emotional experience or maybe I am just slightly emotional as a person.  It really puts it in to prospective more so than her diary or any movie.  You could not take any pics inside so I have one of us standing outside in front of the name and just one of the building to share. 

 

We pretty much ended up skipping breakfast but did take snacks so Ivy wouldn't starve.  Another note, if you take a backpack they make you wear it on the front.  My only thought is that its to keep someone from pick pocketing but I am really not sure.

 

After lunch we headed to Keukenhof. Now there are a few options there as well.  You can buy tickets on line but we decided to wait because we didn't know which day we were going.  It ended up being the best in the end.  The hotel sold a 5 hour tour for 45 euros and we went on our own to the airport, stood in line for 45 min bought and entry ticket and a bus ticket round trip for 23 euros.  You could do most any options.  They had canal tours were you road around a canal boat and saw flowers.  I will tell you this place is huge and is a lot of walking.  They even had a petting zoo.  Words can not describe the beauty and the pics you see here aren't even 1/3 of what took.  I am not even sure I am posting the best pics.  The rest of the post will be pics.  I may comment on a few but enjoy God's Gorgeous art work!!!!

 This Picture of Ivy and I was taken 10 minutes before she fell head first into the pond.  Kevin caught her at the waist.  She was soaked, scared and upset but ok.   It ended our trip a little early.  We still had about an hour left at the park.  We decided she need to get better clothes , we had the yellow sweater and a furry vest but her jeans were wet. So we did a quick walk through and then left. 

I hope you enjoyed this pictures.  Like I said this isn't a 1/3 of all I took and they may not even be some of the best pics.  I will do one more post on Amsterdam and

Easter to wrap up .  It will likely be in the next day or two.  In the mean time enjoy the beauty!!!!

 

Happy Easter from Amsterdam part 1

Hi all, sorry I haven't written in a while. I have been trying to decide if I want to switch blogs or just make some changes to this one.  I have come to  a decision yet, but I will let you know as Soon I make my decision.  Any way, since the last time I posted we have been busy.  A few days after my post and our decorations we decided to make one more Easter Decoration.  I drew a cross on a large piece of art paper and let her paint.  Then I cut it out and she decorated it more.  We hung it on the mirror in the hallway as a daily reminder that " He has Risen!!!"  I think its very pretty myself!!! 

Any way, with Ivy being sick and such short time we decided a week from Easter to go to Amsterdam for various reasons.  One being they had some English speaking churches, and the other main reason were the flowers.  I am not sure you have heard but just outside of Amsterdam from April - May they have the most beautiful display of tulips and other spring flowers on display.  So we decided to go ahead and head to Amsterdam.  This was of course Ivy's first time flying in her own seat.  And though she was nervous she really liked having her own seat and window!!!

She had two pillows behind her because they were worried that she could slip out of her seatbelt since she is so tiny!!!

We got there On Friday and by the time we checked in our hotel and got settled it was 4 pm.  So we just decided to do some walking around and eat an early dinner.  We stayed in the Park Plaza Victorian which was right across from central Station it was the perfect location. Walking distance to everything and quick hop to the airport (20 min) and to the flowers.  I sadly did not get any pics of the room. It was very over priced but nice.  Here is the pic of the hotel. 

We ate at a lovely restaurant close by.  We had mussels and fries. Ivy as usual did fabulous.  I didn't take too many pics the first day but here are just a few of the city!! 

 

Ok, well I am breaking this down in parts as the flowers are gorgeous and there are so many.  I will get to that tomorrow.  Ivy is sick and crying so I need to run.  We are all sick.  Hopefully hers is done running its course and tomorrow she will be better if not its off to the doctors.  Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!!! 

Crafts and Pigtails

Well, with having Ivy home with me for the past few weeks we got a lot of craft time in and we made our Easter Decorations.  We did not do any biblical Easter Decorations this year as I couldn't think of anything age appropriate but I have  a few ideas for next year.  It was all bunnies, eggs, and a duck.  The only thing I had to buy for these projects was Easter grass as we used items we already had around the house.  We used paint, construction paper, card board, stickers, glitter glue, eyes, and a few other small items.  Pictures speak more then words so here are a few pics of Ivy decorating and having a fun time!!! 

She is so serious and concentrating in these pics.  These were Easter eggs made from construction paper that she decorated and we used some on a wreath we made and some on the windowsill.  Here are a few pics of the wreath we made for the front door.  The only thing missing is a cotton ball for a tail.  Our bunny has a defect!!!

Then we made some decorations for the windowsill and she enjoyed painting the toilet paper rolls while I held them.  She painted her own hands and I helped her stamp them on the paper.  She just loves crafts.  I need to get more items when I come back to the states.  Craft stuff is either hard to find or is expensive here. 

 

 

Just to add some extra pics.  We had a gorgeous weekend this weekend.  We all enjoyed ourselves out at the park then a nice dinner. Sunday we went to the zoo.  I have been trying to do more with Ivy's hair as it gets longer. Here are few cute pics of her in pigtails!!!

 

 

Here is a comparison of her standing in the same place last year ( a few months later)  doing the same thing as she was this weekend. 

Last Year

 



This Year

 

 

 

Just for fun!!  Today Ivy and I went to the park. We were playing in the sandbox.  I decided to get somewhat creative and here is what I made in the sand!!!

 

Just in case anyone was wondering.  Ivy had her appointment last Friday.  They didn't do any tests but said all looks good with Ivy.  She is finished her antibiotics so assuming they are correct things should be fine.  If not it will return I would assume in the next few days or so.  I am feeling pretty positive!!!  Have a nice day and I hope you all are getting some nice weather and getting out !!!

 

Update and Hospital cuteness

I am trying to do my best to get back in the swing of things as best as I can.  Its hard, I am constantly nervous and worrying over Ivy.  I feel like I am poking her ears with the thermometer every hour examining the outside of her ear a few times a day.  The stress is just overwhelming.  I admit I stress a lot, but since living here I have really learned how to calm down but I still get stressed here and there.  I am working on it but when your child is this sick its really hard not to let the stress over take you.

As most of you have heard now we were discharged from the hospital Monday early evening. The enzyme measuring bacteria had gone down from 206 to 3.2 .  They tell us the level has to be under 2 for it not to be considered an infection but everyone including the doctors want to see the level at 0.  With her low number and her willingness ( at the hospital) to take the medicine allowed her to come home.  We are all very happy to be home and Ivy especially is happy to have the needle and the wires ( she calls them wires) out of her hand.  However, most days I wonder if it wouldn't have just been easier and less stressful to stick things out at the hospital and finish the antibiotics via IV.  The Doctor in the hospital said there was no way they could keep her hooked up to the IV for 3 weeks and I agree but still I felt more comfortable with them monitoring her.  So now we just keep watching her ear like a hawk, take her temp etc.  If this thing comes back it will not wait it will flare up in a mater of hours.  Its just a waiting game a very long waiting game.  I just keep praying and praying every free min I get that this thing clears up with the antibiotics.  Watching them put her out for a CT scan was traumatic enough for me. They didn't tell us until they were giving her the anesthesia that it would be painful.  She started screaming and crying all the way until she went out then she bubbled at the mouth.  I lost it and had to leave.  That just brought to many horrible memories and to see my poor baby like that was more then I could take.  I can't even imagine if this had to go farther and they needed to resort to surgery.  They had to put her down because the day before they tried first without anything and she did ok until they turned on the machine well then with the lights and the turning of the different compartments she freaked out and we couldn't hold her still.  So they resorted to this liquid that was suppose to put her to sleep but not knock her out. She was so stressed and afraid of " The Tunnel ( that is what she called it") she wouldn't go to sleep.  They gave her a higher dose nothing.  That was the first day of her life she didn't nap.  That poor child was up at 6:30 and didn't go to bed until 9pm due to the stress of it all.  She was so drugged up.  She would just wave at the ceiling and out of the blue say " Hallo" she sounded weird when she talked and she was so out of it.  She kept looking at her fingers like they were something she had never seen before.  Any way, we are home praying the rest of the infection clears up with the antibiotics and this will be a thing of the past.

We had an appointment at her doctors yesterday and she just didn't understand the severity of Ivy's case. She had not yet received the records.  When she saw the dosage of Ivy's medicine she said it was too high and this can't be right. I had to argue with her and she finally called the hospital. After many minutes on the phone she came back shocked. She said she understood and didn't realize that part of the bone had deteriorated.  So she was leaving all alone and filled out our prescription.  We are to go right away to the doctors if a fever spikes or her ear becomes increasingly red.

Ivy has to take 15 ml of her antibiotics 2 times a day.  Each dose is 375 mg of medicine.  Its a very thick sandy ,pasty like syrup.  From Ivy's face its very disgusting.  She took it well in the hospital but since we have been home has put up a fight.  Each time she takes it the fight gets less and less due to bribery.  We hold up a piece of candy and my old cell phone and say you can have this if you take your medicine. I hold the candy and phone in her face persuading her while Kevin holds the medicine and juice in his hands.  She chases every sip with juice.  It just makes me wonder what people use to do before modern technology.  The phone is the thing she wants more. The candy is second but it helps get the bad taste out of her mouth.  Just to give you an Idea of how much this poor girl has to take in such a short period of time here is a pic

This is 4 bottles 100 ml each in 11 days, yes 11 days.  Most kids would take 1 bottle in 7-10 days.  Poor girl .

Sorry for the long post its been a very emotional process for us.  Now for the cuteness!!  

Well, near the last few days at the hospital Ivy decided to try something on her own . She is very creative and I have no idea how she came up with the idea.  She stood on the feet of the Ivy stand and said " Mommy ride"  I looked confused for a few seconds until I realized what she wanted.  She loved to be pushed up and down the hallway.  Nurses, Doctors, and others would stop, stare and then start laughing.  She is too much!!!! I am still working on improving the video. I shrank it so if you view in full screen the quality is awful,  but you get the idea.

 

Here is 2 really precious pics of Kevin and Ivy from Saturday!!  

Just a note, Ivy has been off the bottle for a while.  We only give it to her to have hot tea in.  I don't want her having it in her plastic sippy cups and I haven't found anything else I like to put it in.  Any suggestions would be welcome!!!  

Here is a pic from today, Ivy was feeling under the weather until after her nap.  It could be the antibiotics or her tummy from the antibiotics.  I have a feeling she is going to have ups and downs over the course of the rest of her treatment!!!

If I didn't have video issues I would post a video of her dancing earlier in the evening when she was feeling better.  The other thing that is frustrating is we had her off the pacifier except for an hour before bed time and when she slept.  Then this happened and we let her have it in the hospital.  After she is better we have to start all over again.  Oh well, its not the end of the world.  I just rather hear her talk then plug up her mouth!!!

I hope you all are having a wonderful week. I will try to update you in the next few days if any thing changes, Keep the Prayers coming!!!!!  

My little Princess!!!

Well its Friday!!!  I did it!! I can't believe I did it but I put something together in 3 days and she loves it and that is all that matters to me.  She makes my heart melt some days!!  I am learning a lot from her innocence.  Honestly it makes me wonder where along our growing process that we stop learning to be so thankful, so happy with what we have, and just all around grateful.  Before I post pics I will say this, She looks precious and beautiful.  However, I am not really sure it looks like a princess dress it looks more like just a dress.  Without proper tools, lack of experience, and such a time crunch I am very happy with it and she is only 2.  She loves it and was so excited to wear it today and that is all that really matters.  Enough words here are the pics, see for yourself!!!

Trying to make mommy happy and wearing this big over sized ridiculous princess hat.

  

Just in case I made another little crown at 1 am last night. 

Looking cute and admiring myself in the mirror.

Maybe this thing isn't so bad after all!!

Back to admiring myself!

I am tired but it was so worth it!!!  We will just have to wait and see if the dress falls apart or stays together.  Happy Friday !!!!