Carpet

I have made a decision: We will never again have carpet in our dining room. I mean, come on, who does that? I know, I know... plenty of people, but we should not be included in that group. We were fine with it before our kids came along. We were even fine with it when Little Man was, well, little(r). However, once he started his upchucking spree, we started to see the benefits of hardwood (or similar) floors. Now that Squeaker is here, we are cursing ourselves every day that we do not replace our carpet for something a little more, shall we say, kid-friendly. The problem is, who wants to replace flooring in a house that you won't get to live in??? If only we had done this a few years ago... we would have been able to enjoy it. Now, we get to enjoy this:


All I can say is, thank goodness someone invented oxyclean!


By the way, Happy Birthday, Aunt Em!

Monday Musings

At the doctor's office:

Doctor: How old are you Little Man?
LM: Three
Doctor: Oh wow, you are getting so big. How old will you be on your next birthday?
LM: 65
Doctor: (doing a very good job of not laughing, unlike Mommy) Wow, so when is your birthday?
LM: In FIVE days!
Doctor: That is incredible. You really are growing fast.
LM: I KNOW it!!!


Also, to every doctor, nurse, teacher, friend, grandparent, parent, and any other random person passed in the street last week:

LM: I am sick.

He needed no invitation, he just offered it up, like he wanted to forewarn people to steer clear of his unknown illness, of which the major symptom seemed to be whining.


Also, for those who are interested, here are some pictures from our weekend. They are not all that great, and we were so busy we forgot to take a lot of pictures... but you might be able to find some good ones. 

Greenbrier

A Weekend of Mixed Emotions

So, the start of our weekend was not the best. We started with one sick boy and a phone call from our realtor letting us know that the contract on our house was no longer. Fun! Luckily we were at the most wonderful resort I have ever visited with Grandma and Grandpa C, Aunt Em and Uncle Will. If you are ever in White Sulphur Springs, WV, you should totally check out the Greenbrier. It was amazing. Even if you just go in to sit in one of the millions of sitting rooms, it is a treat. A whole weekend of it was idyllic. We ate some amazingly scrumptious, decadent, and delicious food, which doesn't really describe how tasty it was. We swam in the heated outdoor pool with the mountains of West Virginia as our backdrop. We got to ride around in a golf cart while a few of us played golf (and until the littlest boys got too tired). We walked around the grounds, which were picturesque. We ate more delicious food. We played billiards, air hockey, and we bowled. And, Mommy got to indulge in a spa treatment while the boys ran off to take a carriage ride. Aunt Em and Uncle Will even went horseback riding. It was very hard to leave. All in all, I guess we could say that given the pros versus the cons of the weekend, we are still in the black, and a family vacation was a much needed and wonderful diversion. We can't wait for the next one, except we hope it is not preceded by bad news.

Capital T.. I.. R.. E.. D..

You know what is more fun that losing sleep with an infant? Losing sleep with a three year old. And, you know what is more fun that THAT? Losing sleep with a three and a one year old. Yes, we are sick again. Yes, again. The Little Man has some weird eye thing going on, combined with a fast flow boogie faucet. It is a joy, a joy, I tell you. Oh, yah, and a fever for a few days now. So, this means that there is no school and no friends for him. It is so sad, but I don't think he minds. When he is not sitting in his carseat being driven all around town for mommy's errands, he is lying on the couch, with eyes barely open. I found him on the floor the other day in the fetal position. He really isn't feeling well. We went to the ophthalmologist on Tuesday, on our quest to try out all specialists in the medical field, and the results of that visit are inconclusive. The daytimes don't bother me, he is lethargic and lovey, and what could be better when you are used to an active, attention-seeking child? It is the darn nighttimes. For some reason, LM decided that he needs to yell to us in the middle of the night whenever he needs to blow his nose. I am not sure why he can't do it himself, he does it himself during the day... but, I guess he figures if he is us, we might as well be too. Oh, and this like every 1-2 hours. Fun times. And, last night, Squeaker decided to join in on the rare instances that LM was sleeping more than an hour or two. So, they had conspired against us and Mommy and Daddy are pretty sleep-deprived this morning. At least a newborn sleeps most of the day... these boys do not.

Should be a great start to our fun weekend!

Books on CD

We have a new passion at our house. Books on CD. "Books on CD" just doesn't have the same ring to it that "books on tape" does, but that is beside the point. So, a friend of ours came across these books at the library. After her son listened to them and loved them, she told me about them and we now have an addict in our house, too. Little Man can not ride in the car without asking for one of the CDs to play... and boy, am I glad to find out that there are over 30 of these things! I am already tired of the three that we have listened too. Anyone with preschoolers should try these out. It is a series by Mary Pope Osborne called the Magic Treehouse. They are fun adventures with a bit of suspense. Even Squeaker enjoys listening. I am not sure whether to thank our friend just yet... I do enjoy the stories, but I am not sure I can endure a 'racecar-like' obsession for these stories. It could go on forever.

Monday Musings

Not so good on the musings recently... Mommy is too distracted. Instead, you get this:

At 6pm, during dinner, Little Man says, "I'm not hungry.  I'm tired.  I need to go to bed."  I don't think we could have gotten him in bed fast enough... and apparently didn't since we had to re-wash the bathroom rug.  Draw your own conclusions there.   

18 months

Happy 18 month birthday, Squeaker! Wow, I can not believe that he has already been in our lives for a year and a half. Time sure does fly when you are chasing children around. We had his checkup yesterday and he is perfect in every way... no, it is not just me, the pediatrician told me he was, so it is official. As a birthday gift, I am sending him back to daycare today. I think that he must have forgotten how to nap at home in the last week. He was so exhausted yesterday, he fell asleep on the way to pick Little Man up from preschool, and that was all he slept... a whole 10 minutes. So, since he apparently loves sleeping at daycare, off he goes for a much-needed rest. And, me, well, I am off to search for a new oven - um, yah, don't ask.

Oh, and here are a couple pictures:


Squeaker having a not so good time at the doctor's office.


Little Man telling me how sad he is that there is no more coffee with cherry pie and chocolate and peanut butter in it. He ate it all. So sad.

Can't explain it

Perhaps it was the total disregard for the recipe... as in, I didn't actually use one. Anyway, once it de-fluffed, it was quite tasty! Oh, and it is a quiche, by the way.

Daycare Update

So, Little Man and Squeaker started off at daycare at Daddy's work yesterday. It was a low key, short day and it was perfect. LM started in the Arctic Fox room and just walked in and we had to make him say goodbye to us as we left. He had a great day and loved it. Squeaker was equally happy to be there. I don't think he quite knew what he was in for, but he was a trooper and did very well. Today, Squeaker was a little more hesitant, but still went in and played with his new friends without any tears. Yeah for the boys! Now, I get to enjoy some time off before heading back to work in a couple weeks. Woo Hoo!

Monday Musings

Random statements made by the Little Man over the course of the week:

- After overhearing a conversation at dinner the other night, he is heard chanting this mantra, "gigolo, gigolo, gigolo, gigolo..."
- After I told him today was a 'shorts day', "What are shorts? But they don't cover my knees up."
- On the way home from his first day of his new preschool (daycare), "I go to two preschools because my old preschool is almost over and so I get two now because I am a lucky boy."
- After it was suggested that he sat down and ate his dinner (instead of climbing out of his chair), "I would suggest that I don't do that!"

C'ville Weekend

It was a fun weekend. Tired now. Can't type. Leaving you with a picture:

Just when you think you had enough for one week/month...

We finally gave up on our house selling, and decided that I would go back to work part time. I have been wanting to work for a while, but we were waiting to move. Since that didn't appear to be happening, I went on a search for daycare for the boys and posted my resume online. Apparently, there is an OT shortage because a bunch of opportunities were presented to me within days. The boys were on 3 wait lists each and things seemed to be hopeful. Then, I found out that timing just so happened to coincide with my previous employer's need for an OT, so... I will be starting May 5th. I told my boss I would accept the position at the end of last week. So, the VERY. NEXT. DAY, for those of you who haven't heard, we got an offer on our house... .... ... WHAT?!?! And, not only that, we might get another. And, after much shuffling, the boys are in a wonderful daycare/preschool setting at Daddy's work. We are incredibly grateful to all those who have been pulling for us, especially Grandma West who let us know that that she just put us in the prayer book at church. Thanks! I will keep you posted, but at the moment, we are not completely sure what the heck is going to happen, except that I am pretty sure I have a stomach ulcer.

Thank Goodness, we are done!

I am so happy to announce that we are done with surgeries... for the time being. It is a huge relief, but what's the best is that all went well, for both boys. Little Man was such a trooper. He was having lots of fun in his "special hospital outfit" and seeing daddy looking quite silly in his. Daddy went back into the surgery room with LM and I hear that he could not have been a better patient. When he woke up, he was talking to the nurse, telling him where his brother was and that he was the big brother. We came in and found him eating a popsicle, watching Wonder Pets. Lucky boy!!! He didn't cry and it really was the best recovery we could have asked for. He was a little confused as to why there was something that hurt on him, and why he had an IV in. :) But after we explained everything, and got past the whiney phase of the anesthesia wearing off, he was back to normal and running around with a dump truck in no time at all. I am so proud of him and how courageous he was and is. My goodness, he is only THREE... how can that be??? I am sure that these words will come back and bite me in the rear at some point, but for now, I am allowing myself to be in awe of my precious little one.

One down, one to go

We are happy to report all glue has been removed from Squeaker's ears and he is now the proud owner of a set of tubes. He did extremely well... such a good little patient. :) He also did well with the recovery and has now returned to his normal little crazy self. :)

The surgery center gave each child a monkey as they came back to the room to get dressed. He loves that soft little monkey. The playroom was filled with other little kids and monkeys so he felt right at home! He didn't seem anxious at all, which was wonderful. We are so proud of you, Squeaker!

T minus 10.5 hours

Sleep well, Squeaker, for you are to be woken up bright and early to get yourself some relief from those nasty ear infections. Mommy and Daddy love you very much and are sorry that you have to get knocked out and sliced up for any reason at all, but really, it is for the best! We know that everything will go well and we'll be right there with you for as long as the doctors let us. Love you, Squeaker!

Musings Monday

LM: Rehashing events on metro* to Grandpa Cockrell in kitchen
LM: Walks into den where Grandma is sitting.
Grandma: Little Man, can you tell me about your trip on the metro.
LM: No, I can't. I already used all the words. I can't tell it again.

Daddy: Little Man, would you please clean up your toys before dinner time.
LM: NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo (whiney whine whine)
Daddy: I would suggest that you do what I am asking.
LM: I would suggest that I don't do that.
Daddy: stares at LM blankly


*oh, wait, I guess I didn't tell you about that. Maybe we can get a guest post from Daddy on that one, since I was not there. I just get the "SPLASH" details. :)

We are getting closer

I am so excited, we only have a couple days until the boys both go in for their 'procedures'. Woo hoo. Can't wait to get this behind us. :) Both boys are pretty healthy at the moment. (knock on wood, cement, carpet, etc.) I am the least excited about not feeding the kids in the morning. Squeaker gets awfully whiney and demanding without food; Little Man gets naughty and annoying -- good thing they will both be in the morning. We'll keep you posted.

T minus 5 days and counting

In a week from now, both boys will be done with their respective surgeries and we will be done with that small hurdle in our life. Both procedures are relatively simple and quick, thankfully, but require a lot of phone calls back and forth from the nurse at the hospital, billing department, and the anesthesiologist. And, those phone calls are times two. I feel like everyday I am talking to someone, repeating the same information, verifying this and that, all of which I verified yesterday. Well, if nothing else, they are covering all their bases. Sometimes the healthcare system is significantly lacking, but I guess it makes up for it in overkill in other areas. :)

I forget, sometimes

How wonderful is warm weather??? Wow, I really forget how much I love it when it is warm. I can't believe how lucky we were to get such a wonderful afternoon amidst many cold days. Yesterday was rainy and chilly, so was this morning. Tomorrow is supposed to be upper 40s/low 50s... This afternoon and evening... Well, simply put -- AWESOME. Right now it is 8:30 pm and it is 71 degrees... yes, 71! DE LIGHT FUL. Too bad it can't last.