Flu

I have the flu. That's the only thing I can figure this is. The flu. I hurt everywhere. I have the dry, hacking cough. I am exhausted. Fever. Chills. The "I want to die I hurt so bad" feeling. This sucks!

Why do I get sick SO OFTEN??? I really feel that I do! I just had a physical and full blood work up. My doctor actually hand wrote on my results that I was "perfect!" Everything looked really good. I'm just healthy as a horse.... problem is..... I catch every virus I come in contact with. I need a way to boost my immunities here!!! I can't go on like this. I don't have the time to be sick this often.

This week is Ally's Spring Break. Unfortunately, we weren't able to go anywhere sunny or warm or fun, but Scott is trying to take a few days off and do some special things with her. Yesterday, he took the day and took her to get "fitted" for her first big girl bike!!!! She got a blue Trek from a real bike shop.... it is adorable!!!! Scott loves to ride... so he wants to pass on the love to his little girl. She absolutely loves it and will follow Scott anywhere, so his chances are pretty good that he will pass on this love...

Luke is becoming so much happier lately!!!! I think he is beyond the worst of his teething, enjoys walking and is eating better lately! Where he is usually a big grump in the evenings, he has just been as happy as can be lately. It's so nice!!!!!! He is still big trouble.... getting into everything... generally acting like a little shit... but he is as cute as can be! I hope to post some new pictures soon! Jane told me she got some great ones of the kids this past weekend... can't wait to see them! :-)

Well, I'm off... typing this took all the energy I have.... ugh. Send me healthy vibes!

Randomness...

Sometimes, I feel like I don't blog because I have nothing of any significance to share. Things at home are just well, same ole same ole! You know how it goes.... so I decided to implement a discussion on these random thoughts I have...

This morning's random thought - I thought long and hard (while in the shower) about why my house is always a FREAKIN' MESS and I am convinced that everyone's else's is just neat and tidy at all times. This makes me feel like a household failure. A failure as a mom... wife... happy homemaker. Oh - wait... I am NOT a happy homemaker.

That's it people. I really do DETEST all things "household chorish"! (is that a word?)

When I get home at the end of my day... after working all day long... somehow throwing something together for my children to eat... dealing with their evening shenanigans.... doing the bath thing (or sometimes not - for days - until they smell and I realize I am a HORRID parent)... and getting them to bed... the LAST thing I give two shits about doing is picking up the mess that they evening's activity created. Really. I am lazy at heart. It's true!

I would rather watch some crap TV show and rot my brain for an hour. After all, I used it all freakin' day!!!!!!! I would rather read a book that inspires me. I would rather stare at the freakin' wall and think of nothing at all. Seriously.... and I am content to do this in the midst of toys... dirty dishes... clothing piled up (hey at least I DID the laundry) and whatever else may be strewn about.

IT'S TRUE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! I am a closet slob. Come to my house and it will be picked up. Okay, maybe don't open closets or go in the basement... but it will be picked up... for I at least have to do a pretty good job of this every two weeks when the cleaning ladies come. But not today.... it's a mess... you can totally tell they are due to come this Thursday....

Although, I wonder how much more I would have to pay them to do the picking up too? WOULD BE WORTH EVERY PENNY!

I am generally put together... most of the time. Okay, okay, my car too is a freakin' disaster.. but generally.. I dress well... my hair is always done.. makeup on... but this is all at the expense of my house.

My house is clean... but shit is everywhere...... and it doesn't keep me up at night. I'm not ashamed. I can peacefully drift off into slumber.... while a pile of clean clothes sits at the bottom of my bed.

This is my truth.... I will never be good at household shit. Ain't gonna happen. No. Way.

And random thought number one.....

To be continued....

Walking, Drinking and Other Milestones...

BREAKING NEWS - LUKE CAN WALK!

Okay, it's not completely BREAKING news... he decided to start walking last Friday, March 13th! I predicted, as I watched him "practice" ever so slowly walking up and down our hallway, that he would be running by this weekend... and I was right! The boy has started walking and running and he is NOT looking back! Crawling is SO last Thursday!

He is officially a toddler now. And, really, it's no different for us, as it seemed like he isn't really getting into anything more than he was before. He was just getting into a LOT before! He is trouble on two legs now... but he has always been trouble!!

He had his 15 month appointment last week... and at it, we learned that he weighs over 26 pounds and is more than 32 inches long. He's pretty much wearing 18-24 month clothing exclusively now.... he's just our big boy!

He has also started drinking:

Don't call Child Protective Services on me.... the bottle was empty. Soon after this picture, we had to replace this glass bottle with a nice plastic Coke bottle as he kept dropping it on the hardwood floor and then, the ceramic tile. Amazingly, it didn't shatter... but the writing was on the wall.

Luke and I currently have a bit of a cold. His started at the end of last week and has prevented him (and me!) from getting a good nights' sleep. The boy is a grump of crazy proportions!!!! Not eating well (no great change there, he is a PICKY little eater) and whiny. WHINY!!!!! Needs to be held and not just held... but you have to STAND when you hold him? Don't they outgrow this?? It's exhausting... especially when MOM is sick too! I woke up with the scratchy throat and swollen glands this morning. Lovely. No time for this. I get sick every time one of the kids do. When do MY immunities kick in!?

Ally is doing quite well, but this past week has apparently turned 15. We seem to be getting a lot of teenage attitude lately! Not terrible... (nothing like we've had in the past!)... but she's talking back and talking bratty and sometimes I want to smack her. Can I say that? :-) You know what I mean here! Enough is enough sometimes! You CANNOT talk to me that way!

Scott also started having her do "chores" around the house for money this weekend. HA! She was somewhere with him and wanted something.. I don't know what it was. A special juice or candy... and Scott said NO! The girl thinks we are made of money and just does not really understand why we don't buy anything and everything (an example of do as I say not as I do - must NOT take her shopping with me anymore - HA!). At any rate... Scott told her she could earn some money to buy the things that we didn't want to buy her.... so she promptly came home that night and cleaned her room and the living room (scattered with toys - why we HAVE a playroom, I will NEVER know...).

The best part was that she sang "Money, Money, Money" (from Mamma Mia) the entire time! Seriously FREAKING HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!! She was so just doing it for the cash. The girl likes cold, hard cash.....

A dollar later... two rooms of my house picked up! Totally worth it. I am thinking we can really escalate this and save some serious coin by getting rid of our cleaning ladies! :-)

Okay, maybe not quite.....

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I hope you all have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!!! Whether you are drinking the day away, working (like me!) or taking care of your kids.... ENJOY yourself a little Irish in some way. Some green... be it beer or otherwise!!!!!

And a Happy Birthday to Papa!!!!! Scott's Dad's birthday is today... so all the boys are off for the day to play golf with him (it's going to be 70!) and drink some green beer. We will have dinner for him at our house this evening when the women in the family finishing working and watching the children. ;-)

Have a GREAT day everyone!!!!

"C" is for Cookie...

Our little guy is looking more and more like a toddler and less and less like a baby every day. He's just such a little man... and I love it! What I do not love lately, is his little temper! They boy has some anger issues that he needs some therapy for I fear! He likes to hit you after he kisses you and he also hits out of frustration. This is not a good thing.

He's so much more aggressive than Ally ever was. Boy/girl difference I am sure, but still... it's hard to get used to! He is more destructive... as he will happily bang toys on the TV... color on the walls and furniture and take a sharp object and gouge the crap out of an end table. I will not be investing in new furniture anytime soon... as this boy is destined to destroy our household in no time.

He also loves Cookie Monster. Lately, we have to give him his "Cookie" and sing him the "C is for Cookie" song at bedtime. He looks up and smiles and you and then, contentedly drifts off to sleep. He is SUCH a good "fall asleep-er"... but lately he really sucks at staying asleep! He has reverted to waking in the middle of the night. I know we've all been fighting this cold, so it's hard to know if he's not feeling well or if he's just back into the habit. But, it's awful either way.

If it weren't for his big baby blues and that dimple... I might have to sell him on the black market...

What is a mother to do with such a cute terror?? :-)

Cousins...

Ally's cousin Natalie came for a visit this weekend!!!!! We were so excited to have her stay and play! She is just the sweetest little girl and a joy to have over! SO EASY! She and Ally play so very well together and Ally was just so happy to have her.

We went to The Treehouse in Chelsea yesterday with Aunt Jane and cousin Grace as well. The girls had a blast playing the afternoon away, eating pizza, cookies and drinking pink lemonade! It was quite the junk food fest! There was some girl drama as the day wore on... but that is always to be expected. A little "she won't go on the slide with me and I want to go on the slide" crap! We left soon after all that started!

All-in-all the girls were just a dream together. We came home and they watched Kit Kittredge: An American Girl while Luke was napping. I can't believe they were both able to stay awake through the movie! I, myself fell asleep on the couch!!! :-)

Today, Papa took both girls to the Michigan State Gymnastics meet. We got the girls ready to go:

The best part will be when Natalie's daddy picks her up! Scott's brother Mark, went to U of M so we know how much he will appreciate this MSU t-shirt we put her in! HA!

They are so freakin' cute together!!!!! Poor Ally's nose is still so raw from her horrid cold... but other than that, they look adorable!!!! They both had to have pigtails. Natalie has this long, gorgeous hair that was so fun to do! Ally was coveting her straight hair and saying how badly she wished her hair were straight!

I hope they are having fun and that Papa is surviving! Aunt Jane and Grace are there too... so he has some support crew!

Busy, full weekend for us, with new babies and visits from cousins! A good time all around! Today I am trying to catch up on domestic crap... laundry... picking up (two girls are a whirlwind tornado!).... and preparing for the week ahead...

Welcome Baby Boy Wimsatt!

Our very good friends, Kristen and Mark had their baby boy this past Thursday, March 5th at 10:45 pm! The "not so little" guy came into the world weighing 9lbs 7oz and 22 inches long! My super hero friend Kristen had him in about 2 hours with no drugs... she joins the ranks of motherhood... and is adjusting just fine (well, as fine as you can after having just given birth and now trying to figure out how to CARE for this new life!!!). The family goes home today after a few nights in the hospital.

This was the boy just an hour or so after coming into the world! Alert and gorgeous!!!!!! Content in mom's arms.

Congratulations Mark and Kristen! We couldn't be happier for you and your new edition!!!!

It's Getting Harder and Harder to Breathe...

Holy hannah this cold SUCKS!!!! I woke up today not only extremely stuffed up and unable to breathe through my nose, but completely and totally dizzy. I am so dizzy I can barely see straight! I am truly hoping some sudafed helps here cuz this is unbelievable!

Yesterday, I picked Ally up from Nana and Papa's right after she got off the bus (along with Luke too) because my in-laws have the evil cold as well and I didn't want to burden them any more than needed! Ally was a wreck. Of course, she wanted to spend time with her Nana and most definitely did NOT want to come home. Once we get home, she is more than fine.. but the process is always an ordeal.

She was NOT looking good last night and actually asked me if she could NOT go to school today. She never asks such things as she absolutely LOVES school, so how could I say no to that??? She is obviously not feeling well. So, Luke, Ally and I are all home this morning... feeling miserable together. Luke seems to be handling it the best of all of us. He finally slept from 7:30 to 7:30. He's been having a tough time getting through the nights lately and waking at 6:00 am! Not acceptable!!!

So, everyone slept until about 7:30 this morning and we all got up and have had breakfast... I am pouring coffee down my throat as fast as I can in hopes that it, too will help me! I can't remember the last time my head was this congested and I was this PLUGGED!!!!! I can't stop sneezing or blowing my nose. SUCKS!

My creative little girl is sitting at the table next to me, making "glasses" out of paper! I kid you not, this kid amazes me sometimes with her creativity! She created paper glasses because she saw on the Today Show, a segment on glasses. She is now coloring them. I am beyond impressed. I have the creativity of a rock. ;-)

Luke is stealing her crayons and knocking over her box of crayons and generally trying to be a pain in the butt. She is completely patient with him. More patient than I am most days! She still continues to impress me when it comes to relating to her little brother. This morning she asked me "Mommy, is he the ONLY little brother I am going to have?"

HAHAHA!!!!! Oh yeah little girl..... this is it. No more little brothers or sisters for that matter! No more babies for me!

Which leads me to respond to some blogs I've recently read... it seems like a lot of women out there (that I come into contact with) are experiencing "baby fever!" As I read all of this, I cannot help but feel.... "what is wrong with me????" I have to admit... I have NEVER experienced such a phenomenon. Not at all. Not even before I had my two babies... I was never really crazy into having a baby.

Does that sound awful? Don't get me wrong... I love my children. I cannot imagine life without them... and I remember the feeling of really crazily wanting Ally. I miscarried my first pregnancy and I was devastated by the loss... so I was pretty crazy with wanting to have a baby right away just to KNOW THAT I COULD, ya know???? It was hard to lose your first and wonder if you would be able to conceive again or carry a baby to term at all. But, we had Ally, no problems, no complications.... pregnant on the "first try" after we could start trying again! LOL!!!

After Ally..... it took me a long.... long... long time before I was really ready to have another. I will freely admit to anyone who asks, that I was quite content with just Ally. But, Scott was another story... even Ally jumped on the sibling bandwagon. And, well, I wasn't opposed to it... I was just and am still not that "baby fever" girl... so I was content. Life was full for me... I didn't feel a part was missing.

Don't get me wrong! I love Luke! I cannot imagine life without him and I am thrilled we chose to have another... it is ten times the work (not just two times for some reason!) and he is a bigger challenge as a baby than Ally ever was... but he lights up our lives and he was meant to be here with us. This I know in my heart.

But, I am so done! :-) No more babies for me. No fever. No desire. Does this make me crazy? Different? Odd? It's hard to read all the blogs out there and wonder what is wrong with me that I do not possess this feeling at all! I hated being pregnant. The thought of the first six weeks of sleeplessness gives me hives.

Wow... how do I get off on these tangents? Forgive my rant.... my head is beyond not clear today!!!!!

Smooth Sailing...

Ally is doing GREAT! The surgery only lasted about 10 minutes.... she went in at 9:00 and we were talking to the doctor afterwards by 9:15. At about 9:30 we were allowed to go see her and we were totally out of there by 10:00!!! All's well that ends well!

She was a huge trooper! I was so very proud of her. The nurses said she was just a model patient. She absolutely "popped right up" when they brought her out of the anesthesia. That's our girl. She kept the nurses smiling and laughing and was so gracious to everyone. What a girl.

After we left, I took her to Blockbuster, where we rented Kit Kittredge and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Should make for a fun filled afternoon. I am still holding out that she naps at some point, so I can as I am completely exhausted. Woke up with the evil cold and got absolutely no sleep last night. Ugh. I am barely holding my eyelids up here and I've had more caffeine than anyone should!

Luke appears to have woken up with the evil cold too. When I spoke with my mother-in-law she said he had a horrid runny nose. Ugh. We're all goin' down.... :-) Hard to get healthy when you can't rest yourself because you're taking care of sick and recovering kids! Ah, I know. It's called parenthood! I should suck it up.....

I'm glad everything went well and here's hoping the healing happens with no infections or any side effects!!!

Surgery...

I am so happy to share that Ally was so brave prior to being taken back for surgery! She did NOT have to have an IV put in before she was put under. She will be put under via a mask that will send the meds in when she breathes. So much better than I thought!!!! She will have an IV when she wakes up that they will have put in after she is under. What a relief!!!!

This mornig was an absolute debacle. Luke was up half the night. Ally coughed the night away. I got no sleep and then, Luke decided to wake up at 6:00 am so that made all of us trying to get ready and out of the house on time a challenge. OMG - the kid was a disaster this morning!!!!! He better be teething or something. He's a little beast!!!

I woke up with the evil cold that Ally has had for a while and Scott came down with last week. It SUCKS! :-(. I was hoping I would escape the wrath, but no such luck. I am keeping my fingers crossed I can maybe catch a little shut eye this afternoon if Ally sleeps. Wishful thinking that won't come true I'm sure, but a girl can dream!!!!

Well, Ally should be in surgery right now and out very soon!!! So far, so good!!!! Will keep you posted...


-- Post From My iPhone

I Heart Chicago..

Do you ever feel that you belong somewhere? I do. Sometimes I really feel like I belong in Chicago. Yes, it's still the Midwest and it's as cold and dreary as Michigan... but there is something about the city of Chicago that brings me great joy and peace. Maybe it's because I DON'T live there... I don't know... but every time I go, it feels just like home.

This past weekend, Ally and I went to Chicago to stay with the Hopsons. Ally and Isabel are just the cutest pair ever and this weekend was no exception. They spent the weekend listening and dancing to Hannah Montana, playing with their mom's iPhones, putting on makeup, giggling and just being girls. It warms my heart to watch them and see, in them, the same friendship their moms have. How lucky are two best friends to have daughters that are best friends?

Let's see how they feel about one another in their teenage years. :-)

The weekend was full of shopping, sushi, martinis, talking, laughing, dancing, and hangovers. Everything a girls' weekend SHOULD be!!!!! The little girls went without the martinis and subsequent hangovers. HA!

We went to Rise... our absolutely favorite sushi place. They make the BEST ginger martinis in the world. Beth is partial to the key lime martini... but I'm a ginger girl.

We went to Moe's Tavern after Rise and drank more than we should have and danced the night away.....

Beth's wonderful husband, Scott watches the kids so we can have this time together when I go. We love you Scott!!!! You truly do rock to put up with our silliness and drunkenness!!! Not to mention, the additional people living in your household!

Ally never wants to leave when we go. It's the hardest thing getting her out the door and yesterday was no exception. I really had no desire to leave either as I am always so comfortable when I'm chillin' at the Hopson's casa.

We got home late last night and Ally and I are two tired girls, but it is always worth it for time with friends. Tomorrow Ally has her surgery at 9:00 am. She has to be there to register at 8:00 am and cannot eat breakfast or even drink any water. That should make for an interesting morning as I can already hear the whining.... "But I'm so hungry.... and thirsty...." I can hear it as clear as day in my mind's ear....

I hope it all goes well. It is a minor surgery, yes... but still always worrisome to have your child put completely "under."

Keep us in your thoughts!!!!!

Dreary Day...

What a dreary day it is! Blah. Rainy. No sun. But... at least it's not snowing. Thank god for small favors, right?

I am home today, awaiting various repairmen to come and do various things around my house. Our satellite needed "tweaking." We weren't getting some of our HD stations, and Scott just won't stand for that... but in the last couple days, it went out all together (just the upstairs TV) and now we really need it fixed! So... DirecTV is coming out... sometime between 1 and 4. Our garage door is also being repaired... so that guy is coming out... "sometime this afternoon." Don't you love it? No one can actually give you a time anymore! It's a range. And usually, a pretty big range!

Yesterday, I went to the salon in Farmington Hills and stopped at Macy's at Twelve Oaks on my way. It was a GLORIOUS stop... because I scored four pair of shoes for $99!!! It was just they kind of therapy I was in need of. Great bargains on shoes therapy!!! I got two pair of Michael Kors shoes, a pair of boots and another pair of pumps... all the clearance stuff was an additional half off. If I had the time, I would have gone back and gotten more. But... I had to get to my appointment! HA!

So... it was cut, color and highlight time at the salon. Even more personal therapy for me.... and then, the BEST... my hairdresser asked if I'd like to spend the day at the MGM Spa with him on his birthday next week. UM - YEAH!? I am giddy! And, it could not come at a better time. Very much in need of some zen "me time!"

Luke has been sleeping for absolute crap lately and in turn, I am getting no sleep. He is home with me today, a huge grump... and I can still hear him in his room, NOT napping even though he's exhausted. I don't know if he's fighting this cold we all seem to have... teething or what. What I do know is that he is not a treat at the moment!

What else I know is that I am going to Chicago with Ally for the weekend... and I am so looking forward to that! Ally and Isabel are going to have some little girl time... and my girls and I are going to have some big girl time! Which, of course means sushi, martinis and hopefully some Sweet Mandy B's cupcakes and I can't get them off my mind lately! Throw in a little S Factor and the weekend will be complete!

Ally has to have surgery next week. It's nothing MAJOR... she is having a wart removed from INSIDE her nose... but she still has to be put completely under and I must admit, it freaks me out a little. I know she will be just fine... but she is really scared and I know she's just going to have a meltdown when they put the IV in her. Needles are not her friend. :-( So, that is next Tuesday... send positive vibes our way!!!!

I hear silence coming from the baby's room...... what a sweet sound.... time to go accomplish something!!!!

Ally-isms....

Saturday night, after dinner, Ally asked if she could have a pudding. We told her if she finished her meal that she could (what every super-parent says!!!).   She did a wonderful job with that (amazing what a little incentive can do) and went to the pantry to get a pudding cup.

She walked over to her seat, near Luke and proceeded to open her pudding.  As she was doing this, Luke noticed his sister's movements... looked over at her... saw what she had and started FREAKING OUT!!!!  Pointing.... yelling... "ME!!!  ME!!!! MEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!" (Luke-speak for "I WANT THAT!!!!")

We looked at him with puzzled expressions. How in the world does he even know what she has?  Why is he so worked up?

Ally just shook her head, looked at us and said.....

"Oh yeah, uh-huh, that would be Papa....."

HAHAHA!!!!!!!  Obviously, Papa has given Luke pudding....

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me...

... I think I'm getting sick... and I'm really pissed off about it!  I mean, come on... I survived the puke from hell... and everything else life threw at me last week... Now, it seems I am getting a cold or something along those lines!  Not fair. 

(Picture me throwing a toddler tantrum now, kicking and screaming on the floor!)

So... and HUGE THANKS to those of you that told me to keep blogging!  Look at this... two days in a row.  I'm using this as some writing therapy, but still... I'm blogging!  Points for me.

So, here I sit.  I can feel the chills and the aches coming on.  Don't you just hate that. When you can just FEEL the sickness take over your body.  Ugh.  And, I can't go home and just fall into bed.  Not an option for Mom!  I am actually picking Ally up from school and getting Luke early so my mother in law can have a break from my kids!  She's all alone this week, without my father in law and I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown.  :-)

This morning when I dropped Luke off... he and Grace were already fighting over a bowl of dry cheerios.  Grace was not a fan of sharing her bowl, so Nana gave Luke his own. Then, Grace wanted Luke's bowl too.  Luke just looked at her like she was crazy.  Grace started to cry.  Nana and I had to look away so no one saw us laughing. They are freakin' crazy.....  :-)

Ally and Luke had a lot of togetherness over the weekend cuz we were home together... all of us... all weekend.  HA!  Somehow, we survived.  Barely.  But... Ally did start to have enough of her little brother's antics.  The quote of the weekend is:

"LUKE!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU!?!?"

She said this to just about everything he did.  He would take a crayon out of her hand and interrupt her coloring.  "Luke!  How could you?"  He would pick up her grand work of art and accidentally crumple it.  "Luke!  How could you?"  I will tell you how Luke could do this... he is ONE!!!!!!!!!  HAHAHA!  

Then, the best... when Luke would nap... Ally would complain that she didn't have anyone to play with and that it was boring when Luke took a nap!  We cannot win with this one!

She was especially full of cabin fever cuz she hadn't even been to school since Wednesday. She really does need the routine of school and friends... she is extremely social, gets bored fast and needs to have things to do all the time.  Jeez... I wonder WHERE she gets that from?  :-)

Well, here's to hoping I don't really get a cold that bad, if I am indeed coming down with one... and here's to normal week.... and more blogging!!!!!!!

The Box is the Best...

Well... yesterday, the kids had a great time in this box... easily entertained some of the time.  Other times, they make me crazy! Luke is walking and pushing things now.  Let me amend, he's not walking on his own, he's walking behind things that he pushes.  He can take a few steps on his own, but basically, he's just lazy and uninterested in walking by himself yet.

At any rate... he was pushing this box around.... and Ally (of course!) decides SHE wants to play with it.  We've been working a LOT on sharing this weekend as it seems that Luke is starting to get on his big sister's nerves.  So... they colored on this box together for a while. They had a blast...

For a while anyway.  Truth be told here, the box had to be taken away from both of them.  Ally eventually just had a meltdown that her little brother was taking the crayons... Luke was screaming at her.  It's hard not to laugh, cuz the little guy really is becoming a bully.  He's sick of getting bossed around by his big sister and cousin!  Once in a great while, he stands up for himself!  

Ah..... kids.

I really am sorry I suck so bad at keeping up this blog lately.  I have to admit, I'm just not in the mood most days to write!  I don't feel like anything that exciting is happening that is worth sharing.  I have considered stopping all together, but I figure that's dumb too, right?  Has anyone else just ever wanted to STOP keeping this up for a while?

Of course, why do I put it on myself that I HAVE to write often... daily, weekly.... once in a while should be good enough. 

Anyway!  As you can see from the picture above (take a good look at Ally's eyes).... the kids were really, REALLY sick last week.  Luke had the stomach flu on Wednesday, he just threw up a couple times first thing in the morning and then, he was done. But, Ally.  POOR ALLY!  She started throwing up Wednesday night and never stopped until morning.  It was the horrid, body shaking, dry heaving, terrible pukes.  It was downright scary!!!!!  At one point, I almost took her to the ER.  It just seemed worse than ever.  But, thank god, at that point, she finally stopped.

She popped all the blood vessels in her eyes.   She just looked awful!  Jane saw her Friday morning and almost cried she looked so bad.  Ally is a fairly skinny girl.... and when she gets the pukes, it is obvious the weight she has lost!  Luke on the other hand, could miss a week of meals.  :-)

They are both feeling a lot better now.  Luke is eating much more normal and Ally is eating smaller meals, but she is eating.  She's still a little "touchy" as I can hear her whining in the other room as I type this and Scott's patience is wearing thin.  It's Sunday afternoon... and we have kept the kids home all weekend to take it easy and get better... and I think we are all feeling a little cabin fever.  Bring on the work week!  :-)

Happy Heart Day!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!  What are you doing to celebrate? Having a romantic dinner out?  A night in?  A day with friends? Kids? Family?  

Ally went to the MSU Gymnastics meet with Nana and Papa.  Nana works at the meets as Meet Director and Papa has the privilege of hanging with Ally in the stands!  :-)  I'm sure she will be on her best behavior as she is pretty excited to go.

She got a new Valentines Day outfit from Scott and I today... she was pretty excited to wear it...

I just love the embroidered jeans from the Gap. Am a total sucker for them.  And, who can pass up the heart hoodie? :-)  It's velour for the love of God....  she looks adorable...

Scott, Luke and I are off to Ann Arbor to do some shopping and eating at Briarwood.  Scott and I didn't exchange surprise gifts, we decided we'd go shopping together instead.  Luke got an outfit from the Gap too. Jeans and a onsie. He didn't care too much about it frankly.  Luckily, I kept my expectations low.

Tonight we're going to watch PS I Love You.  I read the book... it was cute... we shall see how they did with the movie...

I hope you are all spending this day with those you love.... or at least someone you like a little bit....  ;-)

Update Time!

No pictures... sorry! I am going to work hard to get the pictures that Jane took of Ally's Hannah Montana party and get them posted with a little update on her birthday... but for now, let me try to think of what's been going on around here!

Whew! Feels like a year since I've posted anything! At the same time, it doesn't really seem like I have any earth-shattering news to share! Today, my mom left Las Vegas with my step-dad, Dave and they are making a 6 day trek to Alaska!!!!! Dave starts a new job there the week after next, and is going to be living in a temporary rental for a couple months. My mom is making the drive with him, and will then go back to Vegas at the end of the month to get things in order back at their house down there and get ready for a permanent move! WOW! It STILL blows my mind that I am going to have a mom that lives in Alaska....

My brother Mapquested what the drive would be from where he lives in Maryland. He lives in Frederick, Maryland, and the drive from there - if you drove NON-STOP would be 3 days and one hour.... he informed me that as close as he comes to where I am is Chicago, so I just have to get myself to Chicago so he can pick me up. YEAH RIGHT! I don't drive long distances! I'm a get there by plane kinda girl! Directly related to my level of patience... which is non-existent!

So.... I wish my mom and Dave luck in their travels and happiness in Alaska!

My mom will still be living in Vegas until early May she thinks... so we are going to try to get down there while she's still there. We are thinking of taking Ally for her Spring Break week. Just Ally. Leaving Luke here with my in-laws (if they'll have him!) and spending a week down in Vegas with my mom. Disneyland isn't too far from where she lives... and also, maybe Scott and I could take a couple nights and stay down on the strip with NO KIDS! Novel idea, huh? ;-)

So... speaking of the kids... what is new with them????

Ally turned six on January 25th! We had a Hannah Montana themed party for her the Saturday before her birthday... and all her favorite people were there! Our friends from Chicago made the journey and Ally was just so happy to to have Isabel there. Ally got a Disney Sing-a-Long game from us for our Wii and the kids all had a great time singing along to it. Even more though... they all watched Mamma Mia a few times and sang and danced to that entire movie! Kids LOVE Mamma Mia!!!! And it is absolutely hilarious to watch them!

Ally continues to love school and just recieved her first "report card." She recieved very high marks in reading and writing.... she is reading at a late 1st grade level... which is no surprise as she comes from a family of avid readers! We are very proud of her. She had a special movie night to celebrate her great work!!!!!

Luke continues to grow... and grow! I swear he grows by the day... and is pretty much in 18-24 month clothes... although I still put him in all the 12-18 month stuff too. He's up over 25 pounds... and is very TALL! He's not walking... and frankly not showing too much interest... when he DOES try to walk, it's only sideways. Think of a crab!!!! Because the only motion he does go in when he's in a walking position, is around furniture, I'm convinced he thinks that's how you are supposed to walk. He had no desire to take off on his own. He doesn't try to stand on his own. When do I get concerned? ;-)

Scott and I are both busy at work... things are crazy around here and I think we are all feeling the stress of the state of our economy. While we are SO VERY lucky to have jobs it seems, I feel like I live in fear all the time for what might be! I have never felt like this before. It's a very odd feeling. I think it's just the state of being right now. Things are bad.. and I don't think we all even realize how very bad they are or could be!

We are trying to tighten our spending a bit. We are not by nature big savers. :-) We are spenders.... but we are trying to make better choices lately. This is of course much harder for me because I AM A SHOPPER... but even I can make some cuts in this time of trouble.

Still, I am thankful for our jobs and what we have. We are better off than many.... I daresay, than most!

Beyond the job-related anxiety... I think I am also feeling the winter blues. I so desperately want to get the hell out of this state and spend even a short time someplace warm and sunny, but that doesn't go along with our cutting back mentality, now does it? :-) We do want to do Vegas and that is a pretty cheap trip considering we would have free lodging and not spend too much on food if we ate most meals at my mom's. Flights are pretty decent too.... but listen to me justifying! HA!

I am just in need of spring!!!!!!!!! Why oh why did that damn groundhog have to see his shadow? ;-)

I Suck...

I'm sorry.  I suck at this Blog lately!  I have no motivation to talk about anything because I fear all I would do is COMPLAIN!  On top of my less than stellar outlook on life as of late, I've just been crazy busy with everything that is my life swirling around me that I don't take the time to Blog at all.  I feel that I don't have the time to upload any pictures... (wait - what pictures?  I haven't even TAKEN any lately!?)

I haven't written about Ally's 6th birthday or the Hannah Montana party she had.  I haven't written about Luke's latest accomplishments.  I have just plain sucked lately!  And for that my dear readers (if I have any left), I am greatly sorry!

It's the weather, it's the state of our economy, it's the fact that  I am overwhelmed with life.  It just is what it is people.... I can't seem to get it together lately.

Joe Purdy said it best:  I just can't seem to get it right today...

We NEED Your Vote!

Our wonderful photographer is having a photo contest and my two gorgeous children are in the running for the "Favorite Image of 2008!"

So... head over to Nicole's Blog and vote for Ally and Luke - Image #3 and we will win an 11x14 of the photograph!!!

Come on people... help a girl out!

UPDATE - Oh wow... due to the age of my browser at work it didn't load all the images! At home I can see all the images and there are two other ones!  One of Luke and one of Ally's silly face!  HA!  Still vote for #3... it has both my kids in it... I can see at least 10 of you have listened to me! Or maybe it was the mass email?  :-)  I am shameless in my pursuit!

First Infection...

Well, Luke has his first official infection - his first time on an antibiotic! He made it over a year without one, so I should count my blessings I suppose!  Ally made it to about 18 months before she had her first infection, which was the same as Luke's first - he has an ear infection.

I took him to the doctor's this afternoon for what I was certain was going to be a respiratory infection. The boy has a terrible congested cough.  But, his lungs sounded clear and his left ear was all red and bulging!  Go figure!  You always think ONE thing is wrong and it ends up being another.  HA!

The doctor said we caught it pretty early though, so luckily, it doesn't hurt him too bad yet Mostly, the little guy is just wiped out from the cold which caused the infection. He is sleeping ALL the time!  He will sleep 14 hours at night, and then take up to two 3 or 4 hour naps!  I shouldn't complain, I know... but it's a little freaky how much he is sleeping.  I hope he just sleeps this infection away and gets better soon. The little man is just pathetic!  :-(  He tries to smile up at me best he can though, through his snotty little face.

Ally is feeling pretty good so far.  FINGERS CROSSED cuz her big birthday bash is this weekend!  We are looking forward to having Beth, Scott, Isabel and Eli in from Chicago for the whole weekend and Ally's Hannah Montana party on Saturday afternoon!  The girl is GIDDY for her BFF, Isabel to be here. They are just the cutest little girls together!

Friday, Ally doesn't have school, so Kristen, Ally and I are taking a little girl trip to the salon to all have our hair done together!  How fun is THAT?  Nothing like some girly salon time.  I'm looking forward to letting Christopher get his hands on Ally's crazy head of hair!  Hopefully, he can work his usual magic!

Right now the girl is dancing in front of her reflection in the oven to the Mamma Mia soundtrack.  Besides Hannah... Mamma Mia is a close second in obsession!  She has of course seen the play and we rented the movie. I think I'm going to buy the movie for her for her birthday too.  I've only gotten her a few little Hannah Montana themed items. Nothing big yet!  YIKES!  I need to get on that!

In other news... MY MOM IS MOVING TO ALASKA!  Yes, you read it right.  Alaska!  Everyone keeps telling me "I hear you can see Russia from there!"  Is this some joke I missed because I cannot COUNT the number of people who have said this to me when I tell them! HA!  I think you can!  She told me on Saturday and I must say, I'm STILL IN SHOCK!  I could not have been more shocked if she told me she was moving to Russia!  Alaska does indeed seem like another country!

Times are tough all over, and Las Vegas is doing about as well as Michigan when it comes to their economy, the housing market and new builds... my step-dad is an electrical engineer and when people stop building things... jobs go away. So, he has to go where the work is!  I guess Alaska has it goin' on!  WHO KNEW?

Wow!  It's crazy.  CRAZY!  I'm going to have family in Alaska. HAHAHA!  I have to laugh at this cuz it's just insane!

Ear infections, upcoming Hannah Montana parties and Alaska. I think you are now up to date!

Luke - One Year...

A little late is better than never!  Luke turned a year old last month. A whole year old... my little man!!!!

Luke at one year:

• He's still not walking and really seems to have very little interest in trying!  I'm so okay with it as he gets into everything as it is.  He is an expert crawler and seems content getting where he needs to be that way.
• He only has four teeth.  HA!  
• He weighs over 25 pounds and is over 31 inches tall.  That places him in the 75th percentile for weight and the 95th for height.
• He's eating solids a lot better recently and transitioned to real milk really well.  His favorite foods are bread (toast especially!), raisins, BEEF, turkey sausage, and pasta.  
• He says Ally, Mama, Dada, Nana, Papa, Google (HAHAHA!), Hi, Bye, No and mimics other sounds a lot.  He shakes his head when he says no.... and usually repeats it in a "NONONO" fashion. He's a character.
• He loves balls and trucks... very boyish toys.... but also his sister's Hannah Montana dolls and stage... so he's not picky. Ally's toys are often superior to whatever is in his hand at the time.
• He is just now starting to piss his sister off from time to time and I have to fight not to laugh at it..... but for the most part, she is as patient and as wonderful as can be with him and he loves her dearly.  It still warms my heart right through to watch the two of them interact.  
• He is sleeping 12-13 hours a night and still taking two good solid 2 hour naps a day.  He's  a good sleeper! About damn time!  :-)
• He's wearing both 12-18 and 18-24 month clothing.  He is very long in his torso so tends to need the bigger onsies. Craziness.
• His head is huge.  He is wearing a 2-4 year old hat from my Aunt Jenni and it is a little big, but NOT REALLY THAT BIG!
• His eyes are bright blue as ever and the doc says they will stay that way. 
• He is going to be a heartbreaker... starting with his Mom's... I just know it!

A year flies by... what a year it has been!

Quickie...

So... I'm alive. Hanging on by a thread, but I thought I should at least write a minute to let you all know that I do, indeed LIVE!

We have been battling one crisis after another around our house that I can't get into at the moment. Lots of sickness.... I've been traveling for work... and Scott is so busy he works until 2:30 am some nights. It's just insane. It's borderline out of control really... but we are pulling through somehow. We couldn't survive without the help of Scott's parents.... and they have been a god-send to us this week througout our drama.... words cannot express our gratitude here!

I am so far behind with work it's stressing me out and I am sick myself.... finally have an antiboitic though, so I hope I can say I'm on the road to recovery!

Life, life, life! Luke is finally feeling better. He's done nothing but sleep for days and days.... kind of scary, but I gotta say, with this cold/sinus infection, if I could stay in bed all day, I so would! So, maybe he's just feeling the same way.

I just wanted so surface and say... "I'm here!" I don't have the time to write extensively or even much to say besides bummy news........ Scott's birthday is Friday and we are trying to get up the energy to celebrate. Ally's birthday is next weekend, and we are having her party on Jan 24th... so I am gearing up for that too. Hannah Montana party! :-))) Good times....

Updates coming soon... and hopefully, more upbeat posts!

Things Kids Say...

Lately Ally has been saying some of the funniest little things.  She's coming to that age maybe... I remember when she was really little, she would say some dingers... but it seemed to taper off there for a bit...

But lately, she's been coming up with some good ones...

The latest is this...

She was coughing after she swallowed something wrong the other day at dinner. She said, "the meat went down my fruit hole!"

HAHAHA!!!!

So, of course we cracked up... and now, she has terms for every hole. This morning she informed me that her bagel and cream cheese went appropriately down the bagel and cream cheese hole. No worries.

What a crack up!

KIDS!

The Year of the Truck...

Luke got a lot of trucks this year for Christmas... five to be exact! Well, a few trucks and a bus... and look at how HAPPY he is to have them all!  Everyone was good to the little man this year. He has more toys than he knows what to do with... and of course, his favorites are his sister's!

He loves her Hannah Montana stage... her My Little Ponies... her Barbies.  He may be "all boy" but he sure likes the girlie toys!  :-)

Family Pictures...

I have to guide you all over to my sister-in-law, Jane's blog to check out the AMAZING pictures she took for us for Christmas!!!!!!!!

What great pics of all the kids.. and I can only imagine how hard it was to get them to do this!!!!

Thanks for the wonderful gift Jane!!!!!