Day 24: Another Flashback Friday

Today I woke up a very happy girl. One, this photo was taken at 6:22. To have 2 out of 3 kids still sleeping at that hour is pretty much unheard of at our house. (I was up twice in the middle of the night turning their lights off and tucking them back in, but that's beside the point.) Two, we got a notice saying our tax return is on its way. Three, it's FRIDAY, and we have a full weekend together!! Woohoo!

Big "brudder" being my morning helper, as usual. He always walks her to class and helps Erin's teacher get her all set up at the table for breakfast.

Mr. Responsibility doesn't procrastinate. He wanted to do his homework tonight. Once he finished his name page, I told him to wait so I could tell him the directions on that Rr sheet. He was like, "No mom, the big Rs are blue and the little Rs are red." Point taken. No help needed.



Scenes from Tonight - We never let Roi on our furniture, but he just got groomed, and I wanted a picture of all of them, so I made an exception just this once. I dumbly said, "Roi - Smile!" And Grace said, "Mommy, Roi doesn't smile. He's a dog." My kids are already trying to make me feel dumb. lol



Flashback Friday, honoring the birthday month girl this week (Edition: I Went a Little Overboard, But I Just Couldn't Help Myself Once I Got Started):

Day 23: Vent

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Erin started to run a fever yesterday. She couldn't hang for the show last night!

Colin said Gracie keeps waking up from nap and then falling back to sleep in our bed.

This is a piece of artwork I saw in the hallway at her school. I thought it was cute!

I took Erin to the doctor tonight. As mentioned, she started to run a fever yesterday. Well...if I could vent for a minute. We decided to take her today because of the rash she developed on her face. Prior to that, we had just been treating the fever with Advil.  We got in with a new PA in the pediatrician's office. So, I brought her for the following symptoms: a fever, rosy cheeks (as shown in picture above), and runny nose. The PA spouted off that it was viral (which tells me that it just needs to "run its course") and goes on and on about it possibly being Fifth's disease and giving me medical terms about different viruses, etc. I had already googled on the way to the doctor and knew that Fifth's disease was a good possibility. According to the Mayo Clinic website, there's no treatment for the virus. It just goes away after a week or so. Well, this is what we were sent home with: an oral steroid, an antibiotic (Although she didn't end up giving me a script for it. She definitely told me she was going to prescribe an antibiotic. ??), orders to go on the BRAT (Banana, Rice, Apple Sauce, Toast) diet and no milk, just Pedialite or Gatorade to drink, nebulizer breathing treatments with Albuterol, a decongestant as needed, AND orders to go get a CBC (blood test). Now I'm no doctor, but that seems absolutely absurd in my own opinion!!! I feel as if taking her was a complete waste tonight. I'm either going to take her back to the actual DOCTOR tomorrow or see if I can get him on the phone because I'm not giving my 1.5 year old all of that unless it is truly necessary. It seems to me she just gave us a blanket of treatments, not knowing what to do. By all means, if this is what she needs I will gladly oblige. But I guess I'm just not trusting this is the right thing for a fever and rosy cheeks. By the way she is very happy, active, eats fine, etc. VERY VERY VERY FRUSTRATED TONIGHT!

Day 22: Storytime, Gymnastics, and Tigers

Of course everyone was up early this morning. 2 out of every 3 mornings I'm solo, so I have a system. I'll set up a show on the TV in the baby zone, then take a shower. Then check on the kids. I'll then do my make up. Then check on them. Then blow my hair dry. Check on them. Etc. Etc. Well, Jack is always starving immediately upon waking up. I went out to check on them at one point this morning, and he was sitting on the couch enjoying a sandwich. I said, "What are you eating?" He replied, "a ham sandwich." He had made it himself. I was thinking ~ wow, nothing like a cold cut at 6:00 in the morning!!

Lately Colin and I have been eating dinner after putting the kids down around 7:30. We find it to be so much more relaxing (surprise, surprise!). But I was giving the girls a bath tonight, and thinking aloud I said, "Man, I'm hungry!" And Grace said to me, "You're hungry? Then go get some lunch!" lol Duh, mom!

Grace modeling in her early birthday present, the leotard and leg warmers. Love them! The leotard is a bit big, but it'll work. She will grow into it quickly I'm sure.

I'm missing Budgie's game again due to the fact that we have another fever in the house (this time Erin).  But he modeled for me before leaving, and he sure looks cute in his (much too big) uniform! It's windy and chilly tonight, so he's got several layers. Go Tigers!

A live, in-action shot that Colin just texted me:

Day 21: Nothing!!!

I have nothing for you today. Is this getting boring, guys? :) I hope not!

I made Jack a bible verse flip book today, which he loooooooves! He carried it with him everywhere he went this afternoon. I will say that I used my handy new laminator for this project. And a binder ring so I can add new ones as he learns them. I will brag for 2 seconds on this kid and say that his teacher texted me the other night to tell me that he is always the first one to memorize the verse of the week!

We got an email tonight from the "dug-out mom" to sign up to bring snacks for the baseball team on certain games and also to work in the concession stand. Should be fun! I hope to get some good pictures at tomorrow's game.

I signed up G for gymnastics as part of her birthday gift. She starts next Wednesday at 6:00, and I ordered her THE cutest leotard and leg warmers EVER on etsy!!! I cannot wait to get them in the mail this week. Let's hope she enjoys gymnastics. Her class is for 3 to 5 year olds and is called Kindergym. The gym comes highly recommended, so I have a good feeling that it's going to be super!

This is an uneventful clip of the kids watching Max and Ruby tonight. I just think it's funny that Erin is entertaining herself by singing, counting, and talking. And that J and G are all snuggled up and engaged in the show.

Last thing. I don't think I shared this photo from a few weeks ago. I got up to check on the kids before I went to sleep (several hours after they had been tucked in) to find Jack right outside my bedroom door, sound asleep. I can't blame him. He probably gets it from me. I was always scared to death at night (still am, actually) and slept as close to my parents' room as possible anytime I could get away with it.

Day 20: Halfway There!

I'm shocked that half of my 40 days of blogging has passed by!

I don't have much today. Just some pictures and videos to share.

A funny Jack quote:
I picked him up from school, dressed in my workout clothes. (Usually I work out first, and then pick them up.) I told him that we were going to the gym before going home. He said, "You have got to be kidding me! You already worked out once today!"

Grace has been fever-free for over 2 days!! Woohoo! I think she's on the mend.

Silly Erin:



The girls caught up on some sleep today - 3.5 hour naps!!!



Colin got Jack a cool new helmet that fits! Ready for use for the game on Wednesday.



Erin's sleepy!



Erin doing yoga :)






Bedtime snuggles:



The girls had a pajama dance party today!!

I have to say, Erin's got some moves!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 19: Cat in the Hat

Editing to add a couple things I forgot:

This picture is from yesterday:



I had my whole fam at church today, which made me so happy! Grace tried coming in the "big church". She was silent and still for a good 5 minutes. I thought hmmmm...this could be a lot easier than when I trained Jack to come in the church with me. Then she quickly started talking (not whispering), saying, "I don't wanna sing! Take me back to the baby church! I wanna be with Erin! Where's Jack?" So I took her. I guess she's not ready.

Getting fancy:



Silly:



These are the cupcakes I'm going to attempt to duplicate for G's birthday:



Cat in the Hat was amazing!!! I'm taking the kids to as many plays there as possible. I love exposing them to "the arts", and the Rep is the perfect place to do it! Love it there! We got there a half hour early, and the kids each bought Skittles with the $1 I gave them. Then they made a Thing 1 and Thing 2 puppet while waiting for show time.

I was a little nervous managing both kids on my own, but I didn't need to be! They were completely entranced by the play. I don't think Grace blinked the entire show! She was loving it.

We had been reading the book prior to today, and Jack made a few comments on differences between the book and play (proud teacher/mommy moment!!!!!!!!!).

They watched The Cat in the Hat DVD on the car ride home until they both eventually zonked out (another 4:30AM morning...). I gotta get on their website and plan the next play we can attend. So fun!



















Colin and Erin did some running around while we were at the play. He's up to a cool project that I will share upon completion.




Messy Erin.

Day 18: Detroit Tigers

Jack had a really fun time at his first ever T-ball game this morning! It was sort of like a scrimmage, rather than a real game. They do a Opening Day ceremony for the entire league. He had to be there at 8:00 for team pictures, and his game started at 10:00. Colin said it was very cold and windy! Jackster definitely had fun and is showing improvement, so that is all that matters (in my opinion). He does get off track and has a hard time staying focused for the entire game (think: pulling weeds in the outfield...), but he's getting better!

Up to bat video

He got on base!

(During practice, they stand up there and hit the ball off the T several times before she has them practice running. In my own humble opinion, she needs to have them run EVERY TIME because he had no earthly clue he was supposed to run after he hit the ball!!! We will keep working on it!) 

Sadly...very sadly, I missed the entire thing. Grace still has a fever, and we've had to give her fever reducers round the clock since Tuesday afternoon. We called after hours last night, and the doctor wanted to see her back for that reason, so I took her this morning. Of course (see previous post about pediatrician), it was over a 3 hour round trip. He tested for the flu, and it came back negative, so that was good. He assumes she has an unrelated (to the ear infections) viral infection because her ears looked clear. He did prescribe her a stronger antibiotic, so hopefully this will do the trick for her. Fingers crossed. 

Walking in, hand-in-hand :)

We took pictures to pass the 2 hours of wait time! 

Erin is saying, "cheeeeeese!". 

Mike and Kiya were able to come support Jack for his game, and then came to hang out a bit. Here's a picture of the kids enjoying the new pup!

The best pic I could get!

We never know what we might find when we check on the kids before we go to bed. These were last night's findings.

This is "tired Erin". She loves to rub her blanky on her face and nose.

Poor sick baby girl

Jack the artist (I did the bow)! He is reversing lots of his letters (It says GRACE), and I know it is developmental and completely normal at this age...but I seriously think it has something to do with him being a lefty!

This one is Mickey and it says "JACK".