On Second Thought...

One of the things I love most about keeping this blog is that I can look back at what we were doing a year ago and, since I've been pretty religious about posting every week, it also serves as a since reference for everything that we've done in the past year.  Just a little over a year ago, one of my dear friends gave birth to a stillborn little girl.  We just passed the one year mark - or the "angelversary"  as she calls it last Friday - yes, the day after Christmas.  Last Monday, I went to a funeral for a friend's mother who lost her battle with breast cancer three days before Christmas - and the kicker is that this same friend is getting married on Saturday.  Throughout the past year, I've seen other friends through divorce, infertility, medical issues, and many other of life's tragedies and joys.  To say nothing of what my own family went through this year - a tough pregnancy with Nora and uncertainty over Jack's medical issues as well.  Still, even though this year had its sadness and trials, it was still marked with so much joy - our sweet niece was born in February and our own daughter was born in July (with just under eight hours to spare).  I made partner, Jeff found some success with his screenwriting, we celebrated birthdays and have enjoyed six years of marriage together.  And that's just us - to say nothing of the other joys we have experienced within our circle of friends.

Both happiness and sadness obviously change a person but I think we are more affected by tragedies.  Perhaps its because its always an unpleasant subject.  As an example, having a child obviously alters who you are, but it's a change one is (usually) more than happy to make.  In the alternative, when something terrible happens, we are also changed but it's not something we want to think or dwell upon because no one really likes to feel sad (usually), I think. 

I have been doing a lot of reflecting over the past week.  I've been thinking about the life I've been given, the choices I've made, and what I want things to look like in the future.  I told Jeff once that I've only been absolutely sure of two things - that I was meant to be his wife and that I was made to be Jack and Nora's mother.  And I thank God every single day for the three of them because they are my life and I don't know what I'd do without them.  People say this all the time, but I really mean it.  And I work so hard every day to be a good wife and mother.    

I've been thinking of all the blessings I've been given as well.  We have an amazing family.  Really, we do.  One of the things I'm most thankful for is the fact that both Jeff and I have close relationships with our grandparents - I'm not sure how many people in their mid-30s can say that they're still able to talk to their grandma and grandpa every week.  I'm thankful for the technology that allows our New Jersey family and Gammy and Gampy Arizona to see the kids all the time.  I am thankful for involved and loving parents (and grandparents) as well.  My grandmother held Nora on Christmas Eve and sang her "Jesus Loves Me" and I know that there were at least three other women in that house who had that same experience.  I am thankful for parents who will drop everything at a moment's notice and rush to help.  I am thankful for mother-in-laws who "get" me.  I'm thankful for loving aunts, uncles, and cousins who love us just the way that we are.  I'm thankful for our medical system and I'm thankful for health insurance.  And I'm thankful for the job I have - both at home and at the office.  

But mostly, what's been weighing on my mind are a few quotes - I think it was Plato who once said, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."  I love this and I think its so true - we don't know what others are struggling with in their lives.  Everyone deserves kindness and compassion.  We have an obligation to treat others with understanding even if we don't agree with their life's choices.  We would want the same opportunity afforded to us.  The other line that's been turning around in my head is, "If you woke up tomorrow with what you thanked God for today, what would you be left with?"  Mostly, this keeps telling me that I shouldn't ever take anything I've been given for granted and to live life with a thankful heart.  I can't believe how short life is - if we're lucky, when its our time to leave this earth, we'll have said everything we needed and done as much as we've been able to.  But I suppose this doesn't ring true for a lot of people.    

This past year has made me a more compassionate person.  Without question.  Watching my girlfriend learn to live with the loss of her child and going through that experience with her has been life changing.  Seeing another friend bury her mother and then leave to begin her wedded life has been a profound experience as well.  To live for six decades and not see the wedding of your child or to pass away without ever taking your first breath - it doesn't really matter in the end and God has his reasons, I suppose.  But what we do between our first and last moments here on earth is what truly counts.    

I'm not really one for new year's resolutions, mostly because I believe if you want to change, you will - and you don't need a date to do that.  And I don't really subscribe to the idea that you can magically transform overnight either.  We're all on a journey and its our experiences - both happy and sad - that mold us as humans.  But for the coming year, I don't want to leave anything unsaid.  I want those in my life to know how much they are loved.  So, these are my last words to you in 2014.  Tomorrow is a new day (and a new year) with no mistakes in it.  Live it, help others, and thank God for your blessings.                        

Too Much Christmas

As I was setting up our Christmas decorations this year, I came across three packages for Jack that he hadn't opened last year - my Mom asked about them and I told her that last year, every time I tried to get Jack to open his presents, he pitched an epic fit and refused to do so.  When they weren't opened by Valentine's Day, I just put them in the basement with the intent to "re-gift" them this year.  Christmas this year, in and of itself, was just wonderful.  We had such a nice time on Christmas Eve with my parents and grandparents and I loved waking up on Christmas morning at my parents - but there are so many other little details that go into this year's celebration.  I promise that, at some point throughout this narrative, I'll tie it all together for you.  

So, flash back to the Eve of Christmas Eve.  Jack, Nora and I get home from work and school and Jack's shoes are filthy so I try to take them off.  He's laying half on the couch and I'm pretending to smell his feet and he hits me squarely in the right eye with his foot.  It hurt.  I mean, it really hurt.  I was trying not to cry, but my eye was watering like crazy and Jack got upset because he could see that I was upset.  Anyways, this is what my face looked like by 7:00 that evening:

And it only got worse.  My cheek swelled up so badly overnight that I could barely see out of my right eye the next morning.  And I had an awful headache.  I got the kids up and dressed and then we went to my parents' house for Christmas dinner.  I threw back a couple of Tylenol and it was "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go!"  Christmas dinner was fantastic.  We all had the best time.  

     

My grandma really likes holding Nora - and I think I take about 300 pictures of them every time they're together.  She was singing "Jesus Loves Me" over and over to Nora, who was absolutely mesmerized by her.  After dinner was over, we went to church and my grandpa and I sang, "O Holy Night" as we have done every year for the past sixteen or seventeen years, I believe.  It doesn't feel like Christmas to me until I sing that with him.  Afterwards, we went back to my parents, got in our pajamas, and settled down to watch "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and we were all in bed soon after that.  

I woke up on Christmas morning and finally decided I needed to have my eye looked at.  So, while my parents went to church, Jeff stayed at their house with Jack and I went to the ER.  They did a CT scan of my face and found a fracture (non-displaced) in my orbital socket.  They put me on some antibiotics to prevent a sinus infection and sent me on my way.  After that debacle, I came home to help with Christmas brunch and my sister and her family came over soon afterwards.  We ate brunch and then put the kids down for naps - or at least we did in theory.  Neither boy slept although I give them credit for staying in bed for as long as they did.  The grown-ups opened their presents and then the kids had their turn.  For the amount of money we spend on Christmas presents every year, we could really save a lot given the toys they actually played with - the hits of the holiday were a harmonica, a green plastic tube that makes weird noises and a giant box.  That's what they loved the most.  So afterwards, we packed up and headed home.  Jack didn't nap, so he fell asleep in the car.  I carried him into the house and put him down on the couch while Jeff and I finished unloading the cars, figuring he'd wake up at some point.  He didn't move.  I was putting away Christmas presents when I heard a loud "thud" and turned to find Jack on the ground - he had fallen off the couch but the poor guy was so tired he didn't even wake up.  

So, we tried to open the rest of our Christmas presents that evening.  It did not go well.  Jack clearly had "too much Christmas" and kept telling me that he just wanted to go upstairs and go to bed.  Well, the mean parents we are kept trying to get him to open up his gifts.  And Jack kept taking the wrapping paper from every gift, screaming "NO!" and then throwing it in the corner.  We made it through about three presents before we finally gave up and took him upstairs and put him to bed.  

The next morning, I had thought we'd try to open a few more presents, but Jack was more interested in playing.  So, Jeff took him to the gym and Nora and I went down to the office for a few hours.  After that, we met my Uncle Steve and Aunt Judy for lunch and then Nora and I tried to go out to the Mall of America to return a few things - it was insane.  The mall had buses running to different off-site parking lots and so I just turned around and went home.  Jack had an ENT appointment - and good news - the ear drum is NOT busted, but is irritated from the tubes, so we've got to take him back in May to have them removed.  Anyways, we had a nice little family night - complete with popcorn, pajamas and a movie:

    

On Saturday morning, Jack got up early and went downstairs to play with Jeff.  Nora and I slept in and then got started on our usual chores - the holiday had thrown me off and I had a ton of laundry and cleaning to do.  Jack came upstairs and told me that he had bumped his head on his new train set.  I asked him if he was okay and he told me that he was - I didn't think anything more of it.  However, when I was getting him ready to go to the gym with Jeff, I noticed that his head was bleeding and he had a huge split in the back of his noggin.  So, Jeff and I tried to clean it up and we decided he needed a few stitches.  So, instead of the gym, Jack went to urgent care.  They ended up putting on a "numbing skull cap" and he got three STAPLES in his head.  Apparently they're easier for small children but Jack keeps talking about them.  Plus, I think his head really hurts.  

  

So anyways, after that, the boys came home and had naps.  Nora and I finished up our errands and we had another family movie night.  

Yesterday, we went out to breakfast and then the boys went to the gym and Nora and I went shopping.  On the endless hunt for pants.  I stopped by the store to pick up some things for dinner and we came home and spent the rest of the night playing Legos in the basement and watching yet another movie.  

Both the kids have holiday hangovers as evidenced by the amount of time they've spent sleeping over the past few days:

  

We finally opened up the rest of our Christmas presents last night - one of the gifts that Jack refused to open last year was a 2014 Mickey calendar - lot of good that's going to do him now, I guess.  But Santa did bring him some pretty cool Jake and the Neverland Pirates Legos, which have been a huge hit.  

And now Christmas is all over.  I'm working most of the week and we don't really have any plans for New Year's Eve - it's really not that exciting when you have small children.  I don't think I've seen midnight since before Jack was born.  I'm super-fun that way.  We don't really have any other exciting plans either - my mom, sister and I are going to a Wine & Canvas thing on Saturday night - they're going to try and get me drunk, I think.  

So, the next time I write, I suppose it will be 2015 - and for my final words to you this year, I hope that you have a blessed new year.  Much love from all of us.  

Merry Christmas!

I wrote last week that I just had to get through "work, medical appointments, cooking and partying" until Christmas.  Ideally, that would have been the order of preference for things.  But it would seem that medical appointments have made their way to the front and center and I feel like I've been in a doctor's office for an eternity.  On Tuesday night, I picked the kids up from school.  Nora had a horrible cough and Jack was whiny and running a temperature.  When we woke up on Wednesday morning, I knew Nora had croup and Jack was bleeding out of his left ear.  Drama-rama.  So, I called them in sick to school and got dressed and drove them to Urgent Care.  The clinic opens at 8:00 in the morning.  We got there at 8:10 and had to wait over 45 minutes to see a doctor.  Everyone in there had the flu.  I had my kids, hiding in a corner and was obsessively putting hand sanitizer on everything Jack touched.  I willed away other sick people looking to sit by us with my evil eye.  So anyways, Nora got some medicine for croup and Jack got some drops because he busted his ear drum.  Ear infection, apparently.  So after that, we went down to my office so I could pick up some work and then we came back home.  

Now here's how you know Jack is sick - most of the time I cannot get him to sit still.  We got home from the office and he asked if he could go watch Peter Pan in Mom and Dad's bed and rest.  Obviously I didn't need to be talked into this.  Plus I had a lot of work to do, so he went upstairs and laid down with his chicken nuggets and his best friend, Peter.

Nora was a bit tougher - poor girl would finally get to sleep and then she'd start coughing and if you've ever heard a croupy cough, it's quite jarring, so she'd wake herself up.  Plus, she finally cleared whatever was blocking her intestines and she was pooping like a maniac - I think we went through three outfits on Wednesday and I changed every blow-out the minute I heard the rumblings.  After she "cleared the mechanism" several times over, she was one happy camper and feeling much better about her lot in life.  Still, I managed to have both kids napping by the time of my phone conference, so I am grateful for small miracles.  I was nervous about the fact that I had requested to appear for the conference by telephone, but it so happened that my opposing counsel also requested the same due to an attack of kidney stones - not that I'd wish that on anyone, but I'm glad that the playing field was level.  

  

On Thursday, Jack had another test and I had planned in advance to take the whole day off.  Nora was supposed to go to school, however since I was home with Jack anyways and she still had that seal cough, she stayed home with us as well.  I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a bus.  Still, there was nothing to be done other than power through it and so I took a shower, took some Tylenol and loaded the kids into the car.  We went back down to the office so I could change over my work and then we went to the doctor for Jack's test.  

  

Here's the thing about kids - man, are they resilient.  Jack had to wear a turban with a ton of electrodes coming out of it, something that looked like a vacuum hose and a little backpack to carry everything.  And he was totally unaffected by it.  If it were the other way around and I had to wear the EEG machine, I'd be unhappy and uncomfortable.  For Jack, it was just another day.  So, after that, we went to run a few errands and we went over to my sister's house for a bit.  I also decided that Jack and I should decorate some cookies and build gingerbread stuff - you know, quiet table activities, so we hit up the store before going home for naps.  

So Jack went to sleep and I started baking - I made some cookies and a giant gingerbread man.  I also bought a gingerbread house to decorate but when I got the kit home I learned that I needed to assemble it.  I figured I'd put the thing together while Jack was napping and then we could decorate it when he got up.  As if I needed any more stress... that stupid thing just made me angry and ended up in the trash.

  

One year, Jeff bought me a gingerbread house to decorate for Christmas - he was so excited, thinking it'd be the perfect present for me.  And, in theory, it was.  I love to build stuff and follow instructions (yes, I'm aware how lame that sounds) and he thought it'd cater to my sense of order.  But the same thing happened - I couldn't get it together and was so frustrated that it brought me to tears.  

Anyways, the gingerbread man went over a bit better - but Jack didn't really care to decorate it.  So, I did.  And I was quite pleased with the results!

On Friday, Jeff left for New York/New Jersey.  I had my firm's holiday party and I my first drink in thirteen months.  It was a frozen pomegranate margarita.  It was delicious and it went a long way to knocking off the stress of the past few weeks.  Still, I was a good girl and home with the kids by dinnertime.  

 

On Saturday, we had kind of a lazy morning in bed.  

 

Eventually, we got up and got dressed and then I started cleaning and disinfecting everything.  My dad came over on Saturday to watch the kids and I went to lunch and to see The Nutcracker with my mom and sister.  It wasn't the best, but I had such a nice time hanging out with the two of them.  Yesterday. we went to church and ran a few errands - Jack opted out of nap time yesterday and both kids were asleep in their own beds by 7:30 last night.  Jeff was still in New York so I took the opportunity to sleep like a starfish right in the center of the bed.  

Today, my parents are watching the kids at our house and I'm leaving work early to take Jack to ANOTHER doctor's appointment - we have to go BACK to the stinkin' ENT to have his ear looked at.  We're still waiting on the test results from Thursday, so it's yet another day filled with all things medicine.  Fortunately, Jeff will be home tonight and we'll have lots of time together celebrating Christmas.  We don't have much planned for the holiday - Uncle Alec is coming over tonight to drop off some Christmas presents and I talked to Santa ahead of time to make sure he can drop things off at our house on Christmas Eve.  Then, we'll go to Nana and Boppa's to sleep over on Christmas Eve and have a lazy Christmas Day at their house.  

So, until next week, Merry Christmas from all of us.  

Catching Up

Ah, hello anxiety, my old friend.  I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year.  I love Christmas, listening to carols, singing at church, having the house decorated, going to parties (sometimes) and the general joy and goodwill that seems to flow from the holiday.  Or at least in theory.  But then there's the dark underbelly to the season - everything you need to get done to get to the enjoyment of Christmas.  I'm talking about the shopping, mailing, wrapping, decorating, cooking and everything else you need to do to make sure THIS Christmas is the BEST one EVER!  I always try and step back and take a deep breath to remember what the season really is all about, which is especially tough when you're standing in a check-out line for a half-hour with two cranky kids.  I had to go to the pharmacy on Friday, which is probably my least favorite errand to run.  Ever.  I had the kids with me and to avoid getting out of the car, I went through the drive-thru, which took literally a half-hour before it was my turn.  When I got to the window, they didn't have the prescription on file, and I waited for twenty minutes before they sorted it out.  I thought I was going to lose my mind, but I looked at the poor frazzled pharmacy technician and realized she had it worse than I did - after I got our medicine, I could go home and relax.  She still had to work and deal with every other irate customer that had backed up behind me.  So, I took a deep breath and wished her a happy holiday.  It was like someone had plugged in a Christmas tree behind her eyes - she lit up and thanked me.  And that made it worth the fifty minutes it took to get one measly antibiotic.    

That's the other thing that drives me insane - the religious connotations of the season seem to be stripping away.  I was all up in arms the other day because Jack knew who Santa Claus was, but didn't know Baby Jesus from his own sister.  We are working on this.  I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas - if you're offended by that, my apologies, but take it for the sentiment and don't scowl at me.  I'm not making a political statement or trying to brainwash you with my religious beliefs, if you can even call it that.  If you don't celebrate Christmas, wish me a Happy Hanukkah or a festive Winter Solstice, or whatever.  I'm not going to think you're trying to convert me, promise.  

Okay, it would appear I've got a bit of the Grinch in me right now.  But the good news is that I am, actually, finished with all the Christmas preparations.  The house has been decorated, all gifts have been purchased and wrapped, and our cards have been mailed.  This, in and of itself, feels good.  Now, it's just work, medical appointments, cooking and partying until the New Year.  Really, Christmas is going to be awesome this year - Jack is really into it.  He loves the decorations and driving around to see the Christmas lights.  He wants to open the packages underneath the tree every day and wants to talk about every single ornament.  Santa has become the ultimate weapon in my arsenal.  I have threatened that, if Jack doesn't pick up his toys for example, Mommy will call Santa and tell him to skip the house this year.  Boy, if that doesn't get him moving... Even if I'm not exactly proud of it.  But, like I've told Jack, Santa doesn't come to the house until Mommy gives him the okay to visit.  

So, let's see what I missed over the past two weeks...

I took the Friday off after Jack's birthday to take the kids to see Santa Claus.  Jack was really excited - he'd been talking about Santa for a long time.  We went downtown to Macy's to see their Santa display and Nana and Boppa met us.  Jack had so much fun running around "Santa's Work Shop" and looking at everything.  He was also pretty pumped to see the big guy, but when it was finally our turn, Jack totally bolted for the door.  There were no tears, but he wanted nothing to do with Santa.  We had talked a lot about how he was going to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wanted for Christmas, but Jack decided that it wasn't worth it.  The minute we entered Santa's room, Jack literally did an about-face and dashed for the exit.  So, I had to sit with him on MY lap.  Nora was a champ, naturally... probably thought his suit was nice and cozy...

We had Jack's third birthday party a week ago as well.  We paired it with my grandmother's 90th birthday party.  Pirate themed, naturally.  

  

It was a pretty fun party, actually.  Jack got a lot of really cool presents.  He got his very own camera from Grandma Jersey, which he uses to take a lot of pictures of my legs.  My favorite gift was a sweatshirt from his Unkie, Auntie and cousin, Maddie from his daddy's alma mater:

It has his last name on the back - I just love it.  However, I think Jack's favorite gift was "remote control guy" from my Uncle Tom and Aunt Deb.  Personally, I hate this thing.  It's some kind of camo-man on an ATV.  You have a remote control (thus, Jack's name for the stupid toy) and you can drive him around and into things.  Now here's the thing - Jack is terrified to be on the ground if he's playing with it.  Absolutely scared out of his mind.  But he can't stop.  It's like the most fun and frightening toy ever.  Also, he has to drive it off of stuff, naturally.  So, he'll put it on the table, for example, and then run to climb on the couch or his toy box and then use the remote control to drive it off the table.  And then he screams, "Mommy!  My remote control is broken!  Please fix it!"  So I've got to go find the toppled over camo-man and set it straight and run like a bat out of hell so Jack doesn't drive it into my ankles.    

That's Jack sitting on his toy box - playing with his remote control.  Now, this is why I hate that toy - it moves all on its own sometimes if you don't turn it off and it scares the bejesus out of me.  The other day, Jack left the ATV man on the counter in the kitchen and went to go and do something else.  I walked into the room and the ATV started up and drove itself straight off the counter.  I must have jumped about ten feet in the air.  But it keeps him entertained - so I can't hate it that much.  However, I did threaten to call Santa Claus the other day when Jack decided it was a good idea to start driving the toy into my Christmas decorations.  

Okay - in other news, the kids had their check-ups as well.  Jack is the largest man-child that ever lived.  Seriously.  He's in the 128th percentile for both height and weight.  He's bigger than all the babies.  We went to the Maple Maze on Saturday to play - they have an area for kids "3 & Under" and I got all kinds of dirty looks from other parents in there because I'm pretty sure that they thought Jack was likely an adolescent.  Nora is holding her own as well - she's in the 70th percentile for weight and the 99th percentile for height.  We also got the green light to start trying solids.  She's not exactly sure what to think about it all...

Now, this might be TMI - but the girl has been getting pretty backed up.  And I can't tell if its from the cereal or the antibiotics.  But let me tell you, this girl can clear a room when she lets one fly.  And when she blows out...dear Lord, buy me a Hazmat suit.  I'm not joking.  We started bananas yesterday too - I think I'm just going to skip over the cereal phase and start with real foods in the hopes that her digestive tract catches up.  She's been getting pretty uncomfortable when she needs to go and it just breaks my heart.    

Unfortunately, when we were at her four-month appointment, she was still sick with her ear infection/cold, so she couldn't get her shots.  So, I had to bring her back the following week for a re-check and injections.  She was a total champ with them - she fussed for about five seconds and then all was right with the world.  But, I put her in her car seat to take her home and she slept for four hours straight.  I didn't move her either.    

On Thursday, Jack had an appointment with the pediatric neuro-opthamologist that took about a hundred years.  However, he did amazing.  I think it helps that we're going to a lot of clinics and doctors that specialize in children.  The waiting rooms are kid-friendly, the nurses and doctors know how to handle children, and (most) know how to talk to anxious parents.  But still, the appointment was long and I barely had time to drop him off at school and rush downtown for my afternoon appointment.  

On Friday, we had family movie night - Jeff got The Lion King.  Jack was not all that impressed until Hakuna Matata came on, which he really liked and kept asking us to play over and over again.  On Saturday, we went up to the Maple Maze for some play time and then we hit up the store for our weekly groceries.  We came home for naps and I made some spaghetti sauce and wrapped presents.  We watched Peter Pan for the first time after Jack got up from his nap.  And let me tell you, Jack's go-to guy is Peter Pan.  The kid stared, absolutely transfixed, by the movie.  After he got up from his nap yesterday, he asked if we could get in our jammies, make popcorn and watch Peter Pan in Mom and Dad's bed.  It didn't take much to sell me on the idea, let me tell you!  

Yesterday, I spent most of the day running errands with Nora and finishing up the last of our Christmas shopping.  I wrapped presents during nap time and then, of course, popcorn and Peter Pan to end the weekend.  

This week, Jeff leaves for NYC/New Jersey for the weekend, so I'll be home with the babies.  I've got my firm holiday party on Friday, so I'll only be a little festive, given the fact that my definition of hell on earth is taking care of two children after an evening of libations.  My mom, sister and I are going to see the Nutcracker on Saturday, which I'm really looking forward to as well. 

I've put up a few other random photos of the kids that I've taken over the past two weeks or gotten from day care... I know I've said this before, but my kids are so happy.  I love the fact that, when a child's basic needs are met, their default emotion is pure joy.  Jeff and I might not know how to parent perfectly, but we must be doing something right - Jack and Nora are the happiest little people around...

This is one of Jack's favorite teachers, Ms. Leslie - we go to Ms. Leslie's house (aka "school") every day.  According to Jack, Ms. Leslie lives at New Horizon.  

This is another of Jack's teachers, Ms. Dani - she "gets" Jack.  Meaning, she knows that, at times, Jack is a total handful and nightmare, but at his core, he's the happiest and sweetest kid around.  

Snow.  The kid loves snow.  He's quite upset that it's all gone right now.  

Jack is learning how to do his letters with Ms. Leslie - we're really into the alphabet right now and Jack points out all the letters on everything, asking what it spells.  Smart cookie.  

Doing puzzles with a friend at school - other than his numbers and letters, Jack really digs puzzles right now.  

Because there's nothing cuter than a dog and a baby.  

Except maybe a naked baby.  

With his penguin 'noculars on his way to school.  

And now, I suppose I should get some work done.  Ten days 'til Christmas... I keep thinking that, at this time last year, I was in the hospital because of another gall bladder infection.  I felt miserable.  Nora was nothing more than a tiny appleseed and now, look at that sweet and smiling face.  I can't believe how much life can change in a year and how fiercely you can love a child.  I also can't believe that 2014 is coming to a close... I still haven't gotten used to writing the date.  I suppose there's no need now...  

Three Years/Four Months

What a fantastic long weekend.  

I took a half-day on Wednesday to hit up the grocery store and go home to start the preparations for Thanksgiving.  I was fully prepared to duke it out with anyone over the last potato, but the store was surprisingly quiet.  In fact, I think I was in and out in less than a half-hour, which is unheard of.  So, I came home and got started on the food.  I read somewhere that it takes, on average, eighteen hours to cook a Thanksgiving dinner that is consumed, on average, in twelve and a half minutes.  It obviously didn't take me that long, but I really enjoyed myself.  I've been trying to commit myself to a laid-back holiday season.  I always feel like I get incredibly stressed out every year with all that needs to be done - the decorating, cooking, parties, gifts to buy and wrap - and it seems to only be compounded by the holiday crowds.  

Anyways, I went to pick Jack and Nora up from school after I'd finished my cooking for the day.  Nora, my sweet little girl, was so happy to see me.  Jack was dressed like an elf.

He had, apparently, been playing in the snow and gotten himself soaking wet.  They came inside to change his clothes and he elected to put on the elf costume.  Additionally, he also informed me that it was his birthday - and he wanted cake and a puppy.  I tried to bargain with him and I offered him a fish, but he didn't take me up on that offer...

I don't think there's another kid in the world that loves playing in the snow as much as Jack does.  He's always loved it, I think.  I remember his teachers telling me last year how he'd run out on the playground and fall into the nearest snowbank.  Anyways, we had a pretty quiet night, snuggling in bed, singing songs and playing on the iPad...

I woke up at 6:00 on Thanksgiving morning to put the turkey into the oven.  Poor Nora started getting a really nasty cough and I started getting worried that it would turn into croup.  Fortunately we weren't going anywhere, so we stayed inside all day and I tried to keep her as warm as I could.  Jeff took charge of her since I was cooking and getting everything ready.  Our friends, Lindsey, Brendan and their two girls, came over a little after 11:00 - we ate, the kids played in the basement together, and everything was cleaned up and put away by 4:00 that afternoon - my kind of holiday.  Jeff went out to brave a few early Black Friday deals, but didn't really come back with much.

On Friday, I went out to the grocery store and spent the rest of the day cleaning and putting up the Christmas decorations.  I made some soup and Nana and Boppa came up to help Jack decorate the Christmas tree.  I have to tell you, Christmas this year is going to be amazing.  I put Jack down for his nap on Friday afternoon - about a half-hour after he'd gone upstairs, I heard him get up.  I hollered up the stairs for him to get back into bed, but he came down into the kitchen where I was finishing the soup.  I told him to get his butt back to bed and he said to me, "But Mommy, I just wanted to see Christmas."  And then I totally melted.  He was pretty excited when Nana and Boppa came over to put up the tree - I have a few cute pictures of Jack and Boppa putting the ornaments on the tree, but they're on my camera so I'll have to post them later.  Jack loves the Christmas tree.  Last night, he kept taking my hand and asking me to come and look at the tree with him.  He likes to look at all the ornaments, ask me about them, and then I tell them the story of each one.  My ornaments are pretty much all hand-me-downs, and my mom was telling me about the ones my grandma had made and such.  It's pretty special for me to hear the stories my mom told me and then be able to pass them down to my son.  I also put up the nativity scene my grandpa made me when I was a little girl and I was telling Jack how precious it was to me too - when my parents came in, he ran over to get them to show them the creche and tell them that it was very important to Mommy.

And then, Jack turned three on Saturday.  He woke up that morning and threw his arms around me and said, "I love you, Mommy!"  Um, could there be a better way to start your day?  And then he asked for cake.  Anyways, we hadn't told him what we were going to do for his birthday - he only knew that he was going to get cake.  So, I told him that we were going to go on an adventure, stay in a hotel, and go see Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey and Minnie, Doc McStuffins, and Sofia - all his buddies.  He was so jazzed.  We got up and went to see Daddy and Jack opened one of his presents - it was a Micky and Minnie "Chutes and Ladders" type game - we tried to play a round, but Jack was more interested in having everyone party on the game board.  Anyways, the birthday boy requested pancakes for breakfast.  We spent the rest of the morning getting packed up and we hit the road just before lunchtime.  I got a few pictures of the birthday boy and got his birthday interview done as well...

We got down to Rochester right around nap time - Jeff played with Nora and watched the Gopher game while Jack and I hit the hay for a little snooze...

And then it was time to go to the show.  Jack was absolutely mesmerized by it.  I've never seen him sit that still for that long.  It was awesome - I don't think that I watched all that much of the show because I just loved watching him.

He really had a ball.  It is so cool to watch the world through your child's eyes.  I was telling Jeff that I couldn't wait to take him to Disney World because I'm sure he'll absolutely lose his mind.  Nora was great throughout the show too - I thought, at first, I'd have to leave because I think she was a little put off by the loud noises, but she got used to it and then passed out.

So we went back to the hotel room after the show so she could eat and we could talk to Uncle Chris and Aunt Kate.  Jeff and I tried to find a decent restaurant for dinner, but everything was either booked or not up to Jack's tastes, so we ended up eating dinner at Denny's.  Jack was fine with this because again, he had pancakes.  However, they did NOT have cake - we got him a brownie and ice cream, but he totally turned up his nose at this.  I think he was angling for his pirate birthday cake.

After dinner, we went back to the hotel and went to sleep.  Nora ended up having a pretty rough night which meant that I did too.  Her cough got worse and there were times during the night that she'd have a really tough coughing spell and then I thought she stopped breathing.  I ended up being up with her most of the night.  I was sitting in the bathroom with her at 3:00 in the morning, shower running on high heat to try and steam her lungs a little bit.

We got up early on Sunday and headed home.  I unpacked, started the laundry and then threw both kids in the car and went to urgent care.  Turns out, both kids have ear infections, Jack and I have sinus infections, and I've got bronchitis.  It was a family affair at the urgent care yesterday - antibiotics all around!

Nora is the worst of us all, unfortunately.  She was so upset all day yesterday.  She had a low grade fever, her ears hurt, her nose wouldn't stop running, and I think she's getting teeth.  She only wanted to be held and cuddled.  If I put her down for a minute, she'd scream her head off until I picked her up again.  I had imagined a pretty tough night, but I broke down and gave her some Tylenol - and then she sacked out and had the best night of sleep of her life.  Literally.  Thank goodness because I really needed the rest too.

And now, she's four months old:

She is the sweetest, happiest and cuddliest little lady that I know.  She's gotten the hang of rolling over now and drools all over everything.  She loves silly little songs, belly kisses, Super Baby, and her big brother.  She smiles at everything.  I can't tell you how sweet and happy she is.  My little Bell.

I think that I'm going to take Friday off this week and take the kids to see Santa.  We've also got Jack's big birthday party on Saturday and I need to spend some time getting ready for that.  And then there's the shopping, wrapping, cooking, card sending....