Sick Babies

We had a busy weekend last weekend. We took the kids to ride Thomas the Train in Medina, NY about an hours drive and then from there went to Tulip Festival in Holland. Marc's Aunt and Uncle live in Holland and there is a great parade and small rides for the kids. We had an exhausting day. I ended up sick on Sunday and Monday, I had my Mom take the kids on Monday and I stayed home and slept all day long. It felt weird to be home alone! The Dr's saw me late in the afternoon and gave me a Z pack and 24 hours later I felt fine. Tuesday, Evan started with a cough and it worsened as the week went on.

I took the kids to the Peds Thursday and they told me it was a cold/allegies. We went back Saturday and Evan had a bulging ear drum and Sara Roseola. Sunday his ear ruptured and today I took Sara in and she has an ear infection. We have been lucky and this has been our first round of antibiotics and ear infections for both kids. Trying to get them to take the amoxicillin is another story. Evan can be convinced after lots of whining and Sara threw it up twice today, I'm dreading giving it to her tonight. She went down for a nap at 5pm, she was exhausted.

A funny story, this morning Evan asked for a piece of candy. He looked in the drawer I keep it in and didn't see anything he wanted and then remembered he had Easter Candy on the Dining Room table. Sara watched him and I thought that was the end of it. Evan awoke from his nap this afternoon and I left Sara alone downstairs. We couldn't find her when we came down. She was on top of the Dining Room table unwrapping all of the chocolate candy. Sara was so proud of herself and making a huge mess. I told Evan she was having a feast. Its neat when we can laugh at something together! I wish I would have had my camera ready, I managed to take a few pictures on my cell phone.

Traveling with two

We survived a trip to Grandma's house in Charleston, SC. The kids were fantastic on the flights we left NY at 6am and had a minute flight to Baltimore a short layover and an hour flight to Charleston. Evan was happy to play the first flight and watch a DVD the second flight. Sara napped the second flight.

We had a great time in the warm weather. The kids loved wearing shorts and playing in the sprinkler, swimming in the pool, visiting Folly Beach, the SC Aquarium, going for a carriage ride. Sara is obsessed with dogs and says Whoof- whoof each time she sees them. She saw the horses and continued to yell whoof.

Grandma loved seeing Evan and Sara and each night Aunt Teri had dinner with us. Traveling with kids isn't a true vacation. Our time in the sun is limited, we struggled with naps. Evan now tells us he is cranky and ugly!
On the way home we were getting ready to board the Southwest plane and the woman at the gate called Evan over and had him say "Welcome Aboard". Everyone waiting had a big smile from his tiny voice. It was so sweet, to bad we didn't have a recording! When we landed in Buffalo he started yelling "yay we are in NY", unfortunatly it was 50's and rainy and everyone didn't share his excitement. We are happy to be home and in our own beds!

On the move..

Sara is so busy, she gets into things and does things that at three Evan still hasn't attempted. The other day I heard a new noise and found her behind out couch. She had crawled underneath a sofa table behind it and ended up in the corner of our family room behind the couch. Last week we were playing in Evans bus tent in his bedroom. I heard Sara yelling and didn't see her, she had crawled under Evans toddler bed. The difference between the two of them is night and day. The other day my Mom, who watched them 3 days a week, told me she'd only watch another one if they were like Evan! I signed Evan up for 2 mornings of preschool next year and Sara up for one morning. They will be at the school Evan is at this year. The 2-3 program is a co-op so I have to volunteer 6-8 mornings. Since my Mom won't have both kids on that day she can volunteer with Sara if necessary. We have had a crazy two weeks. The drama of school and budget cuts. Thankfully I was saved by a retirement, and then most of NYS school funding was restored. Hopefully that will restore the jobs of 38 people in my district. I ended up in severe pain one afternoon out of the blue. I serioulsy thought I would pass out from the pain in my chest and abdomen. Here I was alone with the kids and Marc was in NJ. I ended up calling my mom and going to the ER. They diagnosed me with gall stones. They were as shocked as I was. They said its usually fair, fourty, and fat. I meet the fair but thats it. From what I've read online it looks like its from hormones. I have certainly taking enough of those. It is normal to occur after long term birth control use. I guess I was the other end of that hormone use. Hopefully I avoid another episode because then I would need to see a surgeon. A few days later I woke up with a UTI. Ugh, another day off. Thought we were going to have a good week this week and Monday night Evan fell off a kitchen stool. He cried so hard and after an hour complained that his arm really hurt and he didn't want to move it or touch it. We headed back to the ER and as soon as I broke out a new train book he could suddenly move his arm. Although he would still complain about it. I debated stay or leave. We stayed... and stayed.. and stayed... they finally saw us 4 hours later, we finally were put in a room at 10pm, he fell asleep for 20 minutes and they woke us up for Motrin and an xray. The good news no broken bones, we didn't make it home until 11:30pm! His elbow was swollen all week but I think we are finally on the mend. Yesterday was his first bowling birthday party. Evan had a blast!

Puzzles, Puzzles, and more Puzzles.

We have been doing puzzles since Evans birthday at the beginning of February. We started out with 24 piece ones and he mastered them in a few days. Quickly moved onto 36 and 45 piece puzzles and he quickly mastered them. I bought a few 60 piece puzzles and he is amazing and so patient when he completes them. We've progressed to 100 piece puzzles and after a half an hour or so he completes them without any help. He will complete puzzle after puzzle if we spread them out on the kitchen table, he will move from chair to chair completing puzzles. The Ravensburg brand seems to be the best puzzle quality.

Lots of funny Evanism's lately, as I was trying to clean up the kitchen I heard "Hey, Mom", "yes, Evan", "Give me a smile". I have no idea where this came from, but it brought the biggest smile to my face, it was priceless. Last night he asked where he was going tomorrow, I told him Grandmas. He told me when he goes to work he is going to take me to Grandma's.
Evan has been busy singing songs, the ABC's, anything he hears at preschool, and the entire refrain from Mr Roboto by the Styx. He heard his 7 year old cousin singing it and after watching it on Youtube a few times he mastered it. I'll have to post a video.

Evan was an every day Super Hero model at Fisher Price last week. It was so adorable, hoping to see him on the advertisements in the fall. He was the last model of the day and they told us they wished they all followed directions like him. I would of loved to of had those pictures. Maybe we'll recreate the costume this summer, it was all created with things a family would have at home.

Sara has become Daddy's girl. She cries when he leaves the room and prefers Daddy over Mommy. Daddy isn't home everyday like me so when he is he is the hero. She is running, she loves to wear shoes. I've been trying to do her hair each day, we usually can get her to keep a little pony tail or barrette in for a few hours.

I thought the Dem Bones video ended a year ago, Sara discovered it and carries the case around until we put it on. It really is a catchy song and Evan loves to watch it once again.

Our house is always chaotic and we never seem to stay caught up for long but its always full of smiles and laughter.

And She is off!

Today we hit 20+ steps. She is so proud that she starts clapping as soon as I praise her. Evan asked if she can talk yet. He must equate walking with talking. I think I'll be in trouble if she talks half as much as Evan does.

The basement was carpeted today. Evan kept telling me this is the best basement ever. He loved being able to run! I will love having a place for the toys. Now we need to get a gate for the bottom of the stairs and install one at the top. The one on the top is so I can leave the door open and Evan can play down there alone and the other is to keep Sara down there when I'm down there. We still need to move the treadmill and possilby gate that also. Marc will help me move it this weekend. No more exercise excuses!

We had Evan's third birthday and it was a blast. Our house has turned into a train station and we have every Thomas train imaginable. He loves them and spends so much time playing with them. They are his imaginary friends. At the end of the party he had a very sad look on his face and told my Father in law "Grandpa you didn't give me pankings" Grandpa didn't understand. Once we translated to spankings, I told Evan he had to bend over so Grandpa could give him his birthday spankings. He grabbed the edge of his train table and Grandpa gave him some birthday spankings. Never in my wildest dreams did I think my son would ask for spankings! Marc told him all week that Grandpa was going to give him spankings. I wish we would have had it on video.

First Steps

Sara took a few steps today. She went from standing alone to walking to me and from the edge of the couch to me.

I think I've held my children to much, Evan didn't walk until 15 months, and Sara will be 14 months on the 27th. Thats okay after waiting this long for them every cuddle has been a gift!

Sibling rivalry is setting in. Evan plays in the living room with his train table and the minute he hears Sara on the hardwood floor (our kitchen and foyer) he comes racing out yelling I'm going to trap her. Then he tackles her and lays on her. She begins to scream - probably thinking what did I do wrong? Yet when we are upstairs and they are bouncing on his bed he is mad at me for taking her downstairs. I hear don't you want to play Sara, come hide with me. It is so sweet to see them play happily together.

Yesterday was a tough day. Its been 6 years since we lost Rachel. I teared up a few times, but didn't realize how upset I was until I woke up this morning. I had tossed and turned all night and must have been clenching my teeth. This morning my head, neck and teeth killed. Luckily some Tylenol and Ibuprofren did the trick. Its amazing that day and night play through my head like a movie. I can see every detail, the wallpaper, the tv, the details of the room, the expression on Marcs face and my moms. I can still feel the warmth from her in my arms. Life can never prepare you for losing a child.

I have met a handful of friends that have also lost children. Its not the club we expected to join but these are woman I never would have met, and we share so much. They have been such great support and have become such wonderful friends. The good news is we have all gone on to have children. My Dr. put me in touch with Katie last spring, she had lost her daughter at 8 months. Katie is scheduled for an induction in 30 days and came to visit me yesterday. I can't wait to meet her little Dani and I look forward to play dates in the future. I know the anxiety she is facing this month and pray that it goes quickly and she is holding her daughter soon!

FInal Christmas

Faith Hope Family Religious Christmas Card

Customize your Christmas cards with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.