Christmas Cooties

Our little Anna has been hacking and coughing and dribbling all sorts of offensive goop from her nose for almost two weeks now. We, being the seasoned, veteran, non-alarmist parents that we are, assumed virus and assured ourselves and Anna that it would go away soon and a trip to the ped would be pointless and end only in a diagnosis of an untreatable virus, instructions to keep a humidifier in her room and keep her fluids up, which we were doing anyway, and the obligatory co-pay.

NAY.

Poor baby, she has a severe double ear infection. Do any of you other parents have this problem? I SWEAR...every time I assume infection and take them in it is only a virus and there is nothing to be done. If I assume virus and decide that it will run its course, we always end up with bacterial infection and antibiotics. What's a mom to do?

Incidentally, if you are instructed to give your young child the now forbidden infant strength decongestants and cough suppressants, be prepared to pay for them. They have been pulled from OTC shelves, are now prescrip only and as of this post there is not a generic brand available. Ok, it only cost our prescrip co-pay for a brand name drug, but some of us are a tad on the thrifty side and don't appreciate paying $30 for something that we used to be able to buy OTC for $10 or less. I find this highly irritating considering that we fully understand how to give our child the correct dose of a drug, know to look for possible drug overlaps, understand that in the world of cough medicine more is NOT necessarily better, etc. Perhaps we might have simply moved these OTC drugs behind the pharmacy counter so that they would not be sold without directions on proper use from a pharmacist? Eh? Anyone? Maybe? Ya think? Whatever.

Where was I?

Ah yes, Anna. The point is, she is really sick, poor baby. Anna has been a very healthy girl to this point. This (these) is (are) her very first ear infection(s) and only her second round of antibiotics. Not bad for 20 months old eh?

In case you are curious, I attribute Anna's robust immune system directly to the fact that she has been nursing since birth. Yes I realize that this is not a terribly popular topic and I am very much aware that there are people near and dear to my heart who think we should have quit nursing ages ago. And you know, that is ok with me. As long as you respect my choices and my space, you are more than welcome to disagree with me. Just don't expect me to change what I am doing. Ok? Good, I am glad we got that out in the open.

In case you need something else to focus on, chew on the fact that I consider infant formula companies to have almost the same level of responsibility as the tobacco industry for ruining America's health and contributing to the fundamental breakdown of the American family. Yup. Through years of research and personal experience I have this path of destruction worked out in detail. Interesting isn't it?

Yes I realize that there are legitimate exceptions to every sweeping generalization, you don't need to point those out. I am not sitting on a high horse condemning every mom who ever put a bottle in her child's mouth. No really, I would never do that. Both of my boys were bottle fed through part of their infancy. That's where the personal experience part comes in.

What's that you say? You did not come here to read my lecture on the wonders of breast feeding? Oh my, how silly and presumptuous of me. Is my face red? It's just that I get so fired up about certain topics and...My apologies. You are a kind, considerate and patient reader.

Where were we?

I have NO idea.

Here is a Christmas slide show to make up for the lecture.

Love to all!

Thanks Mary!

You may recall this post, during which I explained how my genetics justify the fact that I never return anything before the "you can return it for so many days" grace period expires. Please prepare yourself for another genetic justification.

Incidentally, we did return the shirt well before the deadline. We decided to keep the phone and it had absolutely nothing to do with being too lazy to return it. No really. Tonight we got really motivated and decided to return the so called universal power cord only to discover that we had, yet again, waited too long and the 30 days to return it grace period had lapsed. Jesse decided to try anyway, I am not sure what sob story he used, but they actually let him return it.

What was my point?

Oh yes, another genetic justification.

I also lack a thank you note writing gene. I swear I have no intention of being rude or appearing ungrateful. I am in fact VERY thankful for each and every one of my dear family and friends and everything they have done for us. But when it comes to actually writing, addressing, stamping and mailing thank you notes, there appears to be some sort of synaptic gap between my brain and the digits that should actually carry out such functions.

My apologies dear friends and family. Particularly with Isaac's 6th birthday approaching, I will add "Write and mail thank you notes within 1 week of the deed for which you are thankful" to my list of personal goals. In case you are wondering, some of the other goals on that list include:

Go to bed by 11 pm.
Get up at 7 am and work out.
Make sure children bathe semi-daily.
Do not work on weekends or evenings.
Smile at husband and address him by name at least once a day.
Finish crocheting winter blanket for Jesse (started in July).
Get laundry caught up and keep it that way.
Make dinner every night.
Take a shower every day.

The list just goes and on and on.

Why are we talking about this?

Oh yes, Mary sent Anna and the boys a wonderful package. They just love the little treats she included.

While I am seriously lacking in thank you note writing DNA, I am clearly in possession of some powerful blogging genetics. I figure a person should use their God given gifts to the best of their ability, so Mary, please accept the thank you video below and our sincere appreciation for the thoughtful gifts.

Esther told me that you were a bit sad because you will come back in Oct and find Anna talking, having left when she was just starting to utter meaningful verbiage. I taped a little blurb of Anna wearing her new pyjamas while demonstrating her new favorite word, one that she utters without fail anytime a camera appears in front of her.

Aunt Esther will be so Proud

This morning after dressing my little sunshine in one of her oh-so-darling outfits, she sat on her changing table, pointed in the direction of her shoe collection and said, "Shu! Shu!"

"Very good Anna! Those are your shoes! Let's go and see your big brothers now."

I put her down on the floor expecting her to toddle excitedly out of the room the way she usually does in the morning. She loves to find her big brothers and give them the standard Anna good morning. This involves raising both hands over her head, pointing at her brothers and in a very gruff voice yelling, "BA! BA! BA!"

Instead she plopped down on the floor, lifted a foot in the air, looked at me expectantly, looked back at her shoes, looked at me expectantly, looked back at her shoes, etc.

I got the idea and picked out a pair of shoes.

With shoes now in their proper location, she happily toddled out of the room to find her big brothers.

THAT'S MY GIRL!!!

Lest you think this blog was created only as a location for me to discuss the oh-so-cute doings and sayings of my little sunshine, allow me to regale you with this darling tale of Isaac's thoughts on creationism.

Jesse decided to tell the boys the story of Adam and Eve. At the end of the story, Isaac asked Jesse what happened to the snake. While Jesse stumbled around for a toddler appropriate response, Isaac asked, "Did they just call animal control to take the snake away?"

Love to all!

PS Nathan is cute and says cute things too. ;)

She is learning..

This evening Jesse sat down to read a story to Isaac, part of his assigned school work for the day. I was cleaning in the family room when Anna began sobbing in THE most heart wrenching way. I ran into the living room to rescue my little darling from whatever tragedy had transpired and found her crying, "Owie! Owie! Owie!" while pointing accusingly at her daddy.

Daddy, with a look of utter consternation, informed me that Anna attempted to take the book away and he very firmly told her no.

Anna continued to point at daddy while crying, "Owie! Owie! Owie!"

My poor little sunshine someone call CPS!!!

Fall 2007

The S Family LOVES Autumn weather. Today is the first day during which you could really feel Fall in the air. The air was crisp, cool, clean, just a truly lovely day.

I am also rejoicing as today is the very first time that I have picked Anna up from the church nursery and been greeted by an actual smile. We have been trying desperately to acclimate her gently, staying with her, taking familiar toys, etc. The boys are LOVING their classes but Anna has been less than thrilled. We have thus far ended every service by picking up our sobbing, clinging little darling who then proceeds to punish us for the rest of the day. Frankly, as much as we enjoy attending church and as important as we know it is for us and for the boys, we have not been particularly disciplined with our attendance because it is so heartbreaking to pick Anna up in that condition every week.

But today she greeted me with a hug grin, outstretched arms and a darling little dance. My heart both melted and rejoiced at the sight of my baby girl in such a good mood following her time in the nursery. The first pic you see above is the impish little grin she gave me in the hallway after we left the nursery. Little stinker, she knows just how to push all my buttons.

You should also see a picture of Anna with her handsome daddy and a picture of her feeding Baby Alive. In case you are wondering, the boys rarely every hold still long enough for me to get decent photos of them. The lack of boy and abundance of Anna pictures on this blog is not intentional, just the way things are at the moment, photography-wise.

Anna is my little sunshine. She is in the midst of a language explosion and just loves her new found ability to verbally communicate her wants and needs.

Anna's Words
Iyaac (Isaac)
DADA!! (MUST be spoken as loudly and as gruffly as possible.)
Hap Bir (Happy Birthday)
Happy! (Said whenever she sees a camera.)
Uh oh (She gets TONS of use from this one.)
Nana (Banana or reference to my mom.)
Owie! (Also used quite frequently.)
Och (Watch)
Nah Nah (Night night)
Lo? (Hello?)
Beebee (Baby)
puhpee (Puppy)
Da doo (Thank You)
Uppy (Up please)
Opee (Open Please)

Below is a video of Anna playing ball with Nathan.


Nathan is our little athlete. He is busy, busy, busy all day long and I swear he has grown 6 inches in the last 2 weeks. Those big brown eyes and that darling boyish grin of his manage to melt our hearts each and every time he puts them to good use, which is often. Nathan knows good and well how to work over any unsuspecting soul he encounters. They should put a picture of him next to the definition of puppy dog eyes in the dictionary.

Our little guy is a CHATTER BOX. Oh my Holy Lord can that little boy of mine talk. Some of you may remember a time when we worried incessantly about the fact that by age 2 Nathan had acquired very little in the way of language skills. Esther worked with him for a little while and oh what a job she did. I am not sure if we should pay her double the going rate or ban her from further interaction with our young offspring.

His latest obsession is magic tricks. He gathers a bunch of very specific items and begs, at all hours of the day and night, for one of us to sit and watch him do magic. I will have to take some video of his conjuring, it is utterly adorable.

I am in need of some serious parental advice regarding my sweet Isaac. I think he feels as if he is trapped between being a toddler and being a little boy and he is very frustrated by that feeling. We are very guilty of forgetting that he is now more little boy than toddler, but it is such an ingrained habit to treat him like a toddler.

This weekend we attended a birthday party for his 9 year old cousin. Many of his cousin's school friends attended and it was clear that Isaac felt out of place and intimidated. He so very much wanted to participate, but clearly did not feel confident enough to jump in with the older kids. I am not sure how to help him through this phase of life.

Unfortunately, I have little to no experience with little boys. I can interact with babies, toddlers, preteens and teenagers in my sleep. But the characteristics and needs of the 6 year to 10 year old set are not my area of expertise.

Isaac loves Kindergarten, he loves playing with his action figures, he loves helping me cook, he loves his puppy, he adores playing with his daddy and his little brother. He is the best big brother to his baby sister and would defend her to the death. Isaac is a darling little boy and we want him to grow up happy and well adjusted, but he seems so frequently unhappy and/or frustrated these days. What to do? I am interested and willing to hear advice from all confirmed experts, regardless of whether your expertise comes via degree or life experience.

There you have it, a Fall 2007 summary of the S Family offspring.

2 new recipes added, these are extended family favorites.

Love to all! Have a great week!

Anna's 15 month Checkup and Why we will soon need a new Ped

Are there any other moms out there who find well baby/child appointments a tad stressful? I realize that I am only dealing with 3 kids, but I have begun to absolutely dread these appointments and the chaos that reigns the moment we enter the pediatrician's mystic portal.

On Thursday of last week I finally got around to taking Anna for her 15 month check up. Granted she is now actually 16 months old, but this was the best I could do. Overall, her appointment went well. Isaac and Nathan both cowered in the corner, hands over their ears when she received her immunization. After the doctor left Isaac clenched his fists, scrunched his face up in that typical Isaac-is-really-angry way and stated firmly through clenched teeth that he would, "knock this building down with a shovel if that doctor hurts my baby sister again."

As we were leaving the office Isaac told me that his tummy was really itchy. I pulled his shirt up and discovered the enormous red, swollen welt that I photographed for you in a previous post. Since we already happened to be in the doctor's office, I asked the desk clerk if we might reserve a sick child appt in the next few hours and that I would take the kids to lunch while we waited. Bless her heart she insisted that we not leave but be seen right away and ushered us back into the exam room.

Anna immediately began screaming as she had just escaped this den of torture and had no desire to endure further use as a pin cushion. Isaac started clinging to be, begging that he not be given a shot. A physician's assistant came in to check on Isaac. While I was trying to untangle him from my leg while simultaneously trying to comfort Anna, Nathan decided to play with the round doctor stool, you know the ones with wheels?

OF COURSE Nathan caught his foot, cut his leg and fell to the floor, hitting his head in the process. I put Anna down to pick up Nathan and the PA thought she would be helpful by picking Anna up and tyring to comfort her.

That really didn't work out too well.

Anna doubled the volume and intensity of her screaming while Nathan sobbed hysterically over his cut leg and injured head while Isaac clutched my hand begging that he not be given a shot.

SIGH

The PA left the room, with Anna, stating that she was going to go and get us some help. I hear that people 3 blocks away called 911 over the disembodied, ear piercing screams they could hear in the distance.

I expect to receive the, "We never want to see you again." letter in the mail any day now.

In case you are interested, Anna is 20 pounds, 31 inches long. She is just over the 20th percentile for weight and around 75th for height. I choose not to mention that she is still nursing as I was not really very interested in having that conversation at that moment.

A good check up all in all. Nathan has recovered and Isaac's bug bite reactions has not spread any further.

I have finally figured out how to post recipes so that you DON'T need a magnifying glass to see them. The first one is posted below and I will put a link for it to the left as well. This "recipe" sounds dumb, but you really MUST try it on a rainy morning or evening. Add a cup of tea or hot chocolate and curl up for some quality time with your kiddos.

Love to all!

I can't think of a clever title...

...so I am just going to jump right in. Anna has discovered Isaac's Baby Alive. She is quite fascinated by robo-baby's response to her toddler mothering skills. It's actually pretty damn cute.

Jesse is apparently currently suffering from a phenomenon called Trigeminy. Usually I can find a good link to help explain what these obscure medical terms mean, but this one is not yielding much decent info from Dr. Goggle. You just always have to be SO interesting and unusual, don't you honey?

Initially he only felt this when he was exercising or working hard, but recently it has happened even while at rest.

We have a call into his cardiologist who wants him placed back on a monitor for an as yet undetermined amount of time. The general consensus is that this disorder is not typically dangerous, but his doctor feels that, given Jesse's history, a "better safe than sorry" approach is the way to proceed.

Assuming that this is in fact Trigeminy, treatment options include doing nothing, medication changes and/or another ablation.

As I am sure you can imagine, my heart skips a beat whenever Jesse's does, so prayers and positive thoughts are much appreciated.

In other news, Anna has recently become fascinated with the more mundane aspects of my role as work at home mom. Meaning she follows me around like a little shadow and insists on "helping" with whatever it is that I am doing at the time. Her favorite activity is folding laundry. Whenever I start folding laundry she "helps" by going into her room, emptying out her bottom dresser drawer and then either stuffing those clothes into one of our dresser drawers or throwing them off the second floor landing. She has also emptied Jesse's underwear drawer and thrown them all off the landing. I would LOVE to put a stop to her "help" but she is just so terribly pleased with herself! Today I tried to refocus her attention by giving her some old, outgrown underwear of Nathan's and asking her to throw them in the trash. Generally she LOVES throwing things in the trash. She looked at me as if I had lost my mind and stuffed the outgrown underwear into my PJ drawer.

Suggestions?

Folding laundry only when she is napping is probably the most obvious solution, but the day I manage to stick to a schedule that specific is the day we all go 100% organic vegan. Not that I have anything against organic vegans, more power to you, rock on veggie lovers rock on!

I think I will go to bed now.

Love to all!

PS Should I be chastised for pitching rather than donating or freecycling the old undies? Correct me if I am wrong, but I figure there is probably not a significant demand for used little boy unders. It goes against my waste not mentality, which applies to most anything other than leftovers, much to Jesse and my mother's chagrin, but I don't suppose there are a lot of people in desperate need of used size 4 undies. Mary, I can Fed Ex them to TN if you want.

First Owie

Anna suffered her very first scraped knee this week. She took it pretty well. She picked off the band-aid Esther applied about 13 seconds post application, but she would not quit picking at the scrape so I was forced to put on another.

Can you see the pattern in her band-aid? Poor baby, we have to get some girly themed band-aids in this house!

(Ninja turtles, in case you cannot see.)

Cute Factor: 1000x

On the way to swimming lessons this morning:

Isaac: Oh no, no tummy, no, not now.

Pause

Isaac: Mommy, my tummy is getting all nervous butterflies but I don't want it to be nervous. I want to have fun at my lesson today!


After dinner last night:

Anna was drinking, or rather attempting to drink, milk from her brother's cup. She was making quite a mess so Jesse offered her a sippy cup instead. Anna has thus far rejected all sippy cups and everything they stand for. Jesse filled the cup with the vitamin D milk we keep on hand just in case she decides that a sippy cup might fit into her plans. She took a drink, spit the milk all over herself and flung the cup away with a thoroughly disgusted/irritated look on her face.

Confused as to why she was rejecting the very liquid she had just been consuming from her brother's cup, we realized that the milk in Isaac's cup was skim, not vitamin D. We refilled her cup with skim milk and voila! She drank the whole thing.

Is Anna counting her calories already??? In her defense, if she inherited her mommy's thighs this might not be such a bad idea. Considering her varied and oh-so-nutritious diet of skim milk, watermelon, banana, yogurt, Jesse's cardboard flakes in a box-I mean cereal, guacamole, Spanish rice and my home made chili, it is probably a darn good thing she is so hell bent on continuing to nurse. No I am not joking, those are the foods that she eats most regularly and rarely does she deviate from this menu. She LOVES spicy food, it is the funniest thing. She did meet her match in a chili con queso the other day, but that is the only food I have ever seen her reject due to spice level. She is definitely her daddy's girl!

This evening at Cold Stone:

Esther: Um...did you see what your youngest son just did?

Cherith: No..Nathan, what did you do?

Nathan grabs himself and does an excellent imitation of one of Michael Jackson's more appalling dance moves.

Cherith chokes on ice cream and tries not to look the complete strangers who are now laughing hysterically in the eye.

Cherith: Nathan! Where did you learn that????

Nathan: The Little Mermaid.

Enough said, I am going to sleep.

Nothing in Particular

Nothing particularly interesting happened today. Well, nothing that anyone other than an S might find interesting.

A lack of interesting events is clearly not a good reason to deny you the adorable pictures of my kiddos that I captured today. The boys will be attending their first formal event on Friday, an occurrence that warrants actual haircuts as opposed to their typical summer buzz cuts.

When we do actually get their hair professionally cut, we take them to a fun shop that caters just to kids. They always offer to put some colorful goo in their hair after the cut. Today Isaac opted for red and Nathan for pink. Nathan's shows up better in the picture. Does he not look about 12 years old with his hair done like that???

Yes Isaac IS still wearing his new Spider Man costume. It has not left his back since entering our home. Fortunately, he has two more costumes on the way. Maybe they will get here before this one disintegrates.

Anna spent the better part of her evening trying to swaddle her baby and bring it outside to show daddy. I put together a little slide show to help you appreciate her efforts. Pardon my partiality, but she is just so darn cute! I have NO idea what happened to other shoe, a complete bummer considering that we just bought them yesterday.

PS You may or may not be able to tell from these pics, but we did break down and trim Anna's bangs. We absolutely REFUSE to call this her first haircut. I totally regret doing it, in case you are wondering.

Enjoy!

Advice Et Al.

Advice
If, like me, you suffer from acute short and long term memory loss due to an intimate moment between your head and a car windshield, please take the following dos and donts under advisement.

DO keep a running list of needed grocery items as you think of them. If you don't you will end up dragging three bored kids around a store, unable to remember a single thing that you actually need and come home with 12 new toys that were on clearance and a frozen food item that you will put in the freezer and never think about again.

DON'T abbreviate on your list. Consider that since you are keeping the list so that you do not have to remember what you need, abbreviating is rather contrary to what you are trying to accomplish.

DO (and this is for everyone, memory loss or not) help me figure out what on earth I was referring to when I wrote the letters LC on my grocery list. I have wracked my mind, nearly to the migraine point, trying to figure out what I meant when I wrote these letters on my grocery list. I remember that I was looking in the fridge when I wrote it. I remember that I thought to myself that I should not write letters, I should write the whole word, but it was two long words and I was convinced that I would remember with the abbreviation prompt. I remember that it was something I needed but did not necessarily want the rest of the world to know I needed, hence my choice to abbreviate.

That's all I have. Thoughts? Ideas? HELP ME!!!

Et Al.

*I saw gas for $2.99 today!

*The pic above is Anna's first mini skirt. She is only allowed to wear them until she is 3 so we figured we needed to get started. :)

*I have lost, likely forever, my wedding ring. Devastated does not even come close to expressing how I feel. Sick would probably be a better word for that oh so unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach. We are offering a reward and posting signs in the location of the loss, but recovery is not likely. I have been given much advice, some good, some not so good, some down right hysterical, on how I might go about locating and/or dealing with this loss and I am grateful. But for the moment I still feel pretty darn lousy so please be gentle if you feel the need to comment. Any joking or teasing will likely earn you an uncomfortable silence and a good look at the back of my head. Not trying to be unkind, just very upset, emotional and raw for the moment. Perhaps we can joke about it in a few months.

If you happen to see a tall, dark and handsome Hispanic man with three cute kids and a ringless white chick, please do not assume that I am his mistress. We are married! I swear!

Pictures and a video below. Anna discovered a non purred veggie that she actually likes!

Corn Princess

Thank you Aunt Mary!

Anna absolutely LOVES the Kangaroo climber that you gave her. I had no trouble putting it together. Here is a video for you. This went on for about 75 minutes before she fell asleep on the floor!

Wicked Baby Steps

The only possible thing that could have made up for the loss of my Ipod was opening night box seats to Wicked. See how very easy I am to please? And people call me high maintenance! (I don't know who, but I am sure someone, somewhere has said that about me.)

Wouldn't you know it? The man came through for me AGAIN!

Fabulous show, worth every fraction of every cent. I want to see it again.

Thank you honey!!!!!!

If you get the chance, GO!

5 minutes before we left for the show, Anna took 2 steps all by herself. You may all picture my upper lip trembling and very pathetic tears staining my cheeks. Our baby girl is growing WAY too fast.

Resolution....of a sort

Not the kind of resolution where two sides actually agree on anything, mind you. We are talking about more of a Matrix 3 kind of resolution, where both sides agree to end the bloody battle but neither side really gives into the other. A temporary resolution at best.

Crud, did that Matrix 3 reference just cement your impression of me as a hopeless nerd? Liz, are you shuffling through new friend cover letters and resumes as I type?

Ah well, what will be will be I suppose.

WHAT am I talking about?

Why I am talking about the Qdoba vs. Chipotle debate of COURSE! Don't you feel silly now?

For the record, I like both but I do not think they are the same thing. I love that Chipotle is moving towards organic ingredients and in general I really do just like the food. We dined there this evening, in fact, simply because I had a craving for that oh-so-Chipotlicious flavor.

Lately, however, I find my self opting for Qdoba more often, simply because their menu is more diverse. I like having options, what can I say?

So there you have it, an end to the bloody battle.

Who are our tragic heroes in this fight, you may ask? Our Neo and our Trinity? Um...I have no idea, I am not that creative. Someone else will have to work that out.

Per Jesse's suggestion, the Qdoba vs. Chipotle poll shall end and a new poll shall begin. So start thinking, which spring/summer sequel are you most anticipating ? Spider Man 3? Pirates of the Caribbean 3? Harry Potter 5? Shrek 3? Die Hard 4? I am aware that there are other movies to choose from, but these are the top pics in my mind. Vote for your favorite in the latest S Family Chronicles Poll!!

In other news, my darling little angels are driving me absolutely crazy. They are clearly all infected with a virus that causes them to not listen, to beat on each other mercilessly and to talk back constantly. I am hard at work on the cure for this illness and will let you know as soon as I have it. Thus far nothing has yielded satisfactory results.

This evening found me so incredibly distraught with their behavior that I attempted self medication with leftover Easter candy. I would have quite enjoyed myself, but for the fact that my chocoholic 12 month old daughter snubbed the organic, freeze dried apples and strawberries I offered and insisted that SHE be allowed to feast on leftover Easter chocolate. I ask you, what child in their right mind would turn down organic, freeze dried apples and strawberries in favor of chocolate??? CLEARLY she is not well.

While we are on the topic of Anna's behavior, can someone please explain when/why she turned from a cooing, contented, when-all-my-basic-needs-are-met-life-is-golden infant into a fit throwing pre-toddler? I tell you people, this girl can pitch a fit with the best of them. I am not talking about fits because she is hungry and I cannot get her a snack right at that moment. I am talking about, mom I want your cell phone and by God I want it RIGHT NOW! fits. When, tell me when and why, tell me WHY did she make this change? I love her to pieces, really I do, but this new stage is a bit trying.

I suppose that is all the complaining I can and should do this evening. Stay tuned for video of our loony cats and shameless solicitation. You are excited now, I know you are. You can't fool me.

Qdoba is winning the polls! and other pointless news

I KNEW if I left that poll up long enough the results would swing in my favor!!

I am supposed to run a 10K on Memorial Day.

Hmmm.......

I should probably think about going running or something.

Anna has started getting up at 6:30 am. Anyone who is even remotely familiar with me knows that this is bordering on torture in my little world. I thought I would be very smart, put some Cheerios on the family room floor and then lay down and doze while she plays. Ohhhh no! I MUST be sitting up and I MUST be actively engaged with her or she throws herself on the floor and pitches a baby fit complete with head pounding. At any other time of day I would find that endearing. At 6:30 am I want to curl up in a ball and cry. The boys sleep until 8 am on a very regular basis. At this very moment it is 8:53 am and Isaac is still asleep. HOW can I teach this child that mommy does not function prior to 8 am?

Yes, to those of you thinking that I should be the one to adapt and start going to bed earlier, I am well aware of this solution. HOWEVER, 8 pm to midnight are pretty serious work hours for me and I am not sure where I would find those hours if I started going to bed earlier. Before ANYONE says it, and I know that at least 12 of you are thinking it, I really DO accomplish more than a 4 hour IM session with Liz between the hours of 8 pm and midnight. No really, it's true. REALLY.

Bowling, Amoxicillin Allergy, 4th Birthdays...Cosmic Connection or Amazing Coincidence?

On Isaac's 4th birthday he was on a round of amoxicillin for a really stubborn ear infection. That morning he woke up covered in a horrible, itchy rash. We planned to take him bowling that day but ended up heading to the pediatrician to find out that he was allergic to the amoxicillin.

Today is Nathan's 4th birthday. We planned to go bowling at the exact same bowling alley. Anna is on a round of amoxicillin to treat a bacterial infection. Guess who woke up covered in a terribly, itchy red rash? Or rather, guess who was up ALL NIGHT LONG, fussing and covered in an itchy red rash?

Poor sweet baby, she is just so miserable. The infection is still causing her to run fevers, she is uncomfortable from congestion, she is itchy, she is hung over from Benadryl, she is tired because she cannot sleep. SIGH I feel so bad for her, it is just so much worse for little ones because you cannot explain to them why they are so miserable and why you cannot make it better.

So anyway, is there a cosmic connection here? IF you are planning to go bowling on a 4th birthday while taking amoxicillin, will you necessarily end up allergic? OR does the amoxicillin allergy on a 4th birthday make you want to go bowling????

Makes ya think doesn't it?

Despite the misery of his baby sister and sleep deprived mommy, Nathan had a lovely 4th birthday complete with bowling, lunch with singing wait staff, a movie with daddy all to himself, dinner on the deck, backyard soccer with daddy and capped off with a double feature camp out on the family room floor. What more can a little boy ask for?

PARTY!!

A grand time was had by all who attended Anna's first birthday and Nathan's 4th birthday party this past weekend. Many, MANY thanks to all of you who generously gave your time to share in our kids' special day.

Included are a few pics of the birthday boy and girl with their lovely Nana made cakes and their pinatas. Anna was not at all thrilled with the idea of smacking a dangling object with a bat. She did, however, enthusiastically dive into her cake as you can see in this short video.



Check out the fabulous D family blog, link to the left and scroll down one post, to see a picture of what attending a party at our house did to little Willow! She is so darn cute!!! If you visit, be sure to leave a comment telling Liz how adorable and well behaved her kids are, she likes that sort of thing. ;)

Thanks again everyone!

Anna's 1 year pics

Prepare yourself people, we are talking almost painful cute factor here.

These are just Anna's for now. We also did pics of the boys and pics of all three of them, they are just not posted yet.

We will order a copy of all three of the kids for family, if you want additional pics you can order them directly from the photographer by e-mailing her. Her prices are VERY reasonable.

If you would like the link to view the pics, please e-mail me.

Petite Flower

Our baby girl really is quite the delicate little princess. At her 1 year checkup she weighs 19 pounds 5 ounces and is 28.5 inches long. That is 25th percentile for both height and weight. The boys were never under the 70th percentile for either category! Her head size, however, is in the 90th percentile. This explains why I often had trouble getting some of those darling little 12 month sized outfits over her noggin!

Big birthday party is this coming weekend, but I am a stickler for having some kind of festivity on the actual birthday. The pics are from her Chipotle/Not Just Yogurt birthday celebration. She was treated to her very first banana split which she LOVED. She also received her very first cell phone and her first tea set, both of which she adores.

HAS EVERYONE FILED THEIR TAXES????

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA!

You are one year old today darling baby girl. Daddy and I are so proud of you and so happy that you have blessed our family. The pics and video you see here are from our birthday celebrations yesterday.