Oh, Jillian. She's been so sick! It seems like she picks up everything that's out there. I swear I haven't allowed her to lick the shopping cart. On Friday, I took her to the doctor because she was on day three of a fever. She was super pathetic but didn't have any other symptoms. At the doctor, her pulse was high so they ordered an EKG and chest x-ray to make sure the virus she had wasn't affecting her heart (ah!). I'm not sure they could have freaked me out much more. Luckily, the tests came back and everything looked good. Owen was with me for this two hour visit and he did so well. He was covered with stickers from the nurses for being so patient. Jillian's fever finally broke on Saturday and she started to act more normal - crawling around and playing. It was so good to see.

To add to her discomfort, Jillian's second bottom tooth broke yesterday - yay! I was sure it would come in weeks ago. She seems to be a very slow teether. Her gums swell up and and are bumpy for weeks before the tooth breaks through. Then, it takes a long time for the tooth to push up. Her first tooth still isn't all the way up.

Mike took this photo of Jillian a few days ago. Isn't she gorgeous?



Owen alternates between being the cutest thing ever and being super challenging. I've been reading a book, "Your 3 Year Old - Friend or Enemy," which comforting and familiar. This in particular is exactly what we're experiencing right now:

Three-and-a-half attempts to control his environment in way that will, perhaps, make him feel more secure, more sure of himself. 'Don't look," "Don't laugh," "Don't talk," he commands those around him.

He was yelling at Jillian in the car yesterday, "STOP MOVING!" and he often tells me to "STOP TALKING!!" or "NO SINGING!". Oof.

On the bright side, Owen has quite the imagination and has been making up lots of names, songs, and doing lots of pretending. It's awfully cute!