Hanging with the Godparents

Madeleine's godparents, Jeff and Donna, have been in town all week. They were supposed to stay with us but unfortunately their daughter got sick and they weren't able to. We still got to hang out with them a little though, and had a great time!

Jeff with Big John Paul and Little John Paul

Madeleine with her Godparents (they have their work cut out for them!)

Last night we had a big party for Donna, who is turning 40 in a week! We had so much fun, even though Ken couldn't make it - he was working like crazy this week. There was tons of great food, lots of kids to play with, great friends, a swingset and a sandbox. The kids partied a little too hard! John Paul was caked in sand and popsicle juice, and Fr. Dan sprinkled him with holy water (he needed it!)
Madeleine got to sit with Jenny, Doug, and Fr. Dan, who fed her anything she wanted - Doritos, rice krispie treats (or Ice Christmas Trees, as she calls them), cake, popsicles, etc.
This morning she woke up and said her tummy didn't feel "berry well." (Yeah, no wonder!) I asked her if she wanted anything to eat or drink. She said, "Juice always helps tummies, and it goes good with cake!" Yeah, she was fine.

Nursing bunnies

Ok I know, two posts in one night!

Conversation we heard over Madeleine's monitor:

M: Daddy! Can you get my bunnies? They're on my train table!
(They're two tiny Calico Critters bunnies.)

Daddy brings them up to her.

A few minutes later:

M: Daaaaaddy! The bunnies were thirsty and the first one is drinking my milk out of my belly! (She thinks John Paul drinks out of my "belly buttons.")

A few minutes later:

M: Daaaaaddy!!!! Do you want to come see the first bunny drinking out of my tummy?

Daddy goes up there and she's nursing her bunnies with her outie belly button.

M: Daddy! The bunnies were thirsty and I didn't have any water up here, so they choose the milk from my belly button!

Shots

I hate shots.

Friday there was a floater nurse who really scared John Paul. By the time she came back to give him his shots he was screaming and hanging onto me and thrashing so much I could barely get him to lay on the table. The nurse wasn't even strong enough to hold him and get the shots in his leg. One leg she did ok, then in the second leg he got two shots. She jabbed one in and he was thrashing around and the needle was moving all around in his muscle - it looked really painful. I'm seriously not even sure he got the shot. I'm not really worried about that, but he got a huge, red bruise and knot in that leg. It's even bigger and purple today. It's not affecting his walking or anything, but I'm wondering if I should call the doc tomorrow and say maybe that nurse doesn't know what she's doing? I mean seriously, I don't think she deals with kids at all. The regular nurses there are great at it and we've never had a problem. He's also had all these shots 3 times before and never had this issue. It just makes me mad.

Hero

First Quick Takes

I've never done this and I'm not registering it, since I like to keep my blog relatively hidden, but for my faithful readers, here goes. I assume it's just 7 random things I'm thinking? Cause that's what I'm going to write about.

1. Bud has his 15 month appointment today. He's skinny at 21 lbs, 25th percentile. Just like my other kid. I asked about his screaming habit - he even gave the doc a show firsthand. He screams whenever he gets his way. (*oops! updated - he screams whenever he doesn't get his way, wants something, or just generally feels like screaming. Like when we're in church.) The doc said he's "assertive" and it's a good quality for later in life.

2. I bought the first set of Bob Books for Madeleine today. She was able to read the first TWO books all by herself! She is doing so well with her reading book. I'm proud of her and proud of myself! I'm teaching my 3 year old to read! It's pretty amazing. She's now picking out words of books that she knows and sounding them out.

3. We are reading Charlotte's Web together. She wants me to read several chapters per day. I'm really surprised that she's so into it, the words are really big, and there are hardly any pictures. But she loves it. We only have about 3 chapters left, and Charlotte's not looking good. I'm kind of nervous how she's going to react when, you know.....

4. If any of you have any suggestions for the next chapter book I can read to her, let me know! I heard on the radio the other day that the average teenager now only understands and uses hundreds of words instead of thousands like they should. I also read in a book that it's really good to read Chapter books to preschoolers so they hear words and then recognize them later. Also it's good for them to listen to books on tape for that same reason. So I got Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories" from the library and dug out our old tape player, and let the kids listen to them while they do their art projects. (Madeleine on painting and John Paul on throwing crayons on the floor and occasionally writing something on his paper.)

5. I used to play guitar and piano pretty well, and I have been missing it lately. I have barely touched an instrument since I was pregnant with Madeleine. I think it's time to get the guitar out and learn some songs to sing with the kids.

6. Madeleine's godmother and her two youngest kids are coming from Florida next week and staying with us for 3 days - I can't wait! Also her 40th birthday party is Friday. If anyone local is reading this and wants to come - let me know and I'll give you the info.

7. We got our Parish Picture Directory the other day and I looked through the whole thing - John Paul is the ONLY John Paul in the Church! We have a huge Church too. There was one Juan Pablo but I can live with that ;)

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Busy week

So this week I crashed a funeral of someone I never met, went to Ken's 20 year high school reunion (I was 10 when he graduated), took Madeleine to the doctor for her peeing everywhere, took myself to the doctor for having contractions after having been kicked accidentally in the stomach, and tomorrow I'm taking John Paul to the doctor.

The funeral was my mom's best friend from grade school's mom. My grandma and Aunt drove up from Alabama for it too, and my Aunt and cousin drove down from Michigan. It was really great to see them AND to meet my mom's friend again, whom I hadn't seen since I was 21 months old and she babysat for me while my mom went to the hospital to have my brother.

Ken's reunion was in serious need of an event planner. It was supposed to be a family picnic, indoor/outdoor, with face painting and games, etc. It was supposed to be from 12:30-5. We had decided to get there at 12:30 and hopefully only stay for an hour, eat, see some people and get home for naps. Unfortunately, we got there and drove around for 30 minutes before we even saw anyone. It was 95 degrees and extremely humid out. At one point Madeleine had to get out of the car and pee in the grass behind the school. (She said, "I'm so excited to go pee pee in the grass!") We finally saw some people congregating around the door around 1. We put the starving, tired kids in the double stroller, hoping to have lunch, and then proceeded to take an HOUR LONG tour of the non air-conditioned school. John Paul pretty much cried the entire time. Then we went outside under this concrete canopy and they took several class pictures. It was pouring down rain so they finally went to get the boxed lunches and we all ate, standing up, under the canopy. We finally got home around 3 and everyone slept till 5:30.

Madeleine has been totally potty trained since December, with almost zero accidents, and never an accident at night. So in the past few weeks when she started peeing everywhere, I got a little concerned. I decided to call the doctor and see what he said. The nurse thought she might have a bladder infection and we haven't got those test results back yet. But the doctor said most likely she is going through a developmental stage where she doesn't listen to her body's signals and then her bladder wins out every time. He said just make sure we're reminding her to go and making her sit on the potty during the day, and possibly have her wear pull ups at night for a while. I told her that if she peed in her bed again, she was going to start wearing pull ups to bed. Hm... she hasn't had an accident since.

So yesterday afternoon, the kids and I went swimming and Madeleine accidentally kicked me hard in the stomach. It hurt but I thought I was fine. This morning at 5:30 I woke up having severe cramping that felt like contractions. I was a little scared but got up and they kind of went away. Then when I got up for the morning again they started up again. It hurt so bad I could hardly stand up. So I called the doctor and she wanted me to come in and get hooked up to a monitor for awhile to check on contractions and the baby. I decided to go in at 3, since that was best for us (we got naps in) and my mom who babysat the kids. By then I was feeling much better but decided to go anyway. I had no contractions and he had a very strong heartbeat (actually the first nurse couldn't even find his heartbeat for 10 minutes, and had to call another nurse in, who found it immediately. That was fun.) So I'm glad everything is ok. She said that the kick could have caused the contractions and I should take it easy for a few days. Oh I also had THE. WORST. HEARTBURN I've ever experienced last night. I took several tums and they didn't do a thing. I finally took a zantac, and another one at 2:30 am, and that helped. Man, that was no fun. Hopefully this kid is getting all his high maintenance stuff out now, and he'll be the perfect child when he's born. A girl can dream, right?

John Paul goes to the doctor tomorrow for his 15 month appointment. Then I think we'll take it easy for the rest of the day.

3 Pet Peeves

1. Commercials that are way louder than the show I'm watching.

2. When my kid, who has been totally potty trained since December, begins peeing randomly places she shouldn't. When asked why she replies, "because I want to." It especially peeves me when she does it in her car seat.

3. When people, especially people hacking up a lung, kiss my baby's hands. They put their disgusting mouths on his hands and then of course he puts them right in his mouth. So I'm kind of a germophobe but GROSS.

OK it felt good to get that out. Have a great weekend!

(Thanks Leila for the graphic!)

No question here

It's definitely a boy! I'm really excited! Last night Ken and I decided to tell Madeleine that she was going to have another sibling. We hadn't really sat down and told her before, just because we thought it was an awful long time for a 3 year old to wait. So after I put John Paul to bed, we sat down in her room and told her. I said, "You know how you've been praying and asking God for a new baby? Well God decided it was time for our family to have a new baby!" She got a big smile on her face and I told her that he'd be here right around Christmas. Then I told her that tomorrow (today) we got to go to the doctor and see a picture of the baby in Mommy's tummy. I asked if she'd like to come and she got a huge smile on her face and got really excited! So she got to come with me today and we saw him.....

He is doing great - everything looks perfect. Ken came too and took Madeleine home where my mom was watching John Paul while I had my doctor appointment. I asked her if I'd get another ultrasound and she said, "Oh I'm sure we can find a reason to get you one." I get to go back for another appointment in a month.

Also my big news of the day - we got this car seat! It's from a friend of mine - thanks Mary! I gave our other one away a little prematurely - but it was getting past it's prime anyway. I'm excited to have an infant car seat in the house and it makes it seem a little more real.


Also, the story of my life - Whenever Bud plays outside, I end up stripping him down to his diaper. I've never seen a kid get so messy!

Then I have to do this to him - which he LOVES!
Off to enjoy little baby kicks!

Hanging with old friends and new friends

This weekend, one of my best friends came to visit from Iowa with their two kids. They had a tight schedule but we managed to squeeze in some fun times! Everyone really enjoyed the water fountain until a security guard made them get out... they weren't happy until we got some ice cream!

My kids were totally and completely soaked.

We also got to go out to lunch with them and some of our other friends from high school - the three of us have an older girl and younger boy - all in the same age ranges. They had a great time together. Our friend Fr. Dan also joined us. We sure miss them a lot!


Today, my mom and I took the kids to their first movie in a movie theater. It was a free summer movie - The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. The kids really enjoyed it and did great. We wheeled John Paul's stroller in so he could be contained for a while. We kept the popcorn coming and he did really great. I only had to break out the secret weapons once ;)
Madeleine really enjoyed it too - you know she loves pirates anyway, and enjoys Veggie Tales. She not only has never seen a movie in a movie theater (that she remembers anyway), but she's hardly ever seen a movie at home. I don't think she's ever sat through a whole one. I haven't really tried yet though. She's happy with her half hour shows and she only gets two of those a day. But she did really well and paid attention through the whole thing.

Grandma and Madeleine with her crazy smile!

She also had another eye doctor appointment today. Her eyes aren't getting worse so we're going to try to hold off on her surgery until January. She wants to see her in October just to make sure but it's looking good right now.

I also have an ultrasound tomorrow - so we'll find out if it's REALLY a boy! I have heard of a few people who thought it was a boy from an earlier u/s and then it turned out to be a girl!

Oh and we also finally told Madeleine tonight that she's going to have a baby brother or sister. She was really excited, especially when I told her she could come see a picture of the baby in Mommy's tummy tomorrow morning ;)

Sick sick sick

So Thursday and Friday I started feeling extremely nauseous and wasn't able to keep anything down - even tiny sips of water. Sorry if this post is TMI. By Friday morning I was desperate and at the end of my rope, and worried about the baby so I called the doctor. Of course the kids had their FIRST dentist appointment that morning and of COURSE my mom was out of town! So the nurse told me to come in and they'd squeeze me in. Ken stayed home with the kids and took them to the dentist. I can't tell you how sad I was to miss their first appointment. Apparently Madeleine was very good and John Paul screamed the entire time.

Anyway I got into the doctor's office after waiting in the waiting room for an hour and just broke down in tears in front of my poor doctor. She said I definitely needed IV fluids and some anti-nausea medicine, so she sent me up to labor and delivery, where they promptly sent me down to the ER and gave me a bag of fluids with some Zofran. At least I got to lay in bed for an hour and watch Ellen, even though I got freezing from the cold fluids going into my body. She also gave me a prescription for Zofran which I filled but haven't had to take. I got home and Ken left for work, and later that night I was able to eat a few pieces of toast. The next day I felt much better and today I'm almost back to my old self. I hope I don't have to do that again for a while.

The good news is, one of my best friends is coming into town today (but I won't see her til tomorrow.) I'm so excited to see her, her dh, my Goddaughter and her 10 month old baby boy who I have not met yet! Since my house is a disaster from me laying on the couch for the past 3 days, I better get off the computer and start cleaning!

Happy 4th!

I gave it a good try. Hope everyone had a great day!

Zoo trip

We went to the zoo today with our friends who are in town from Texas. This morning Madeleine told me that her tummy didn't feel "berry well" but she still wanted to go to the zoo. 5 minutes after we got there she threw up ALL over her skirt and shirt. Luckily our friend's one year old son had a 24 month shirt that she borrowed for the rest of the day. This is how she saw the zoo:

She totally did not care one bit! It was pretty funny. She recovered quickly and enjoyed the zoo - especially petting the sharks. There must have been a lot of sympathetic mothers there because I didn't get any weird looks for letting my daughter walk around in her Elmo underwear all day. This will look great in her wedding (or final vows) slide show don't you think?

Unfortunately she was still sick when she got home. I am hoping she's completely recovered and we can enjoy our 3 day weekend!

On a happier note, John Paul lost his stride rite sandal but I called security tonight and someone had turned it in! Madeleine was happy when she heard we'd be going back to the zoo to get his sandal ;)

This weekend we're planning on a good friend's party on the 4th, (where I will be trying out her triple stroller and seeing if I want to buy it from her), and our town's local festival on the 5th - and we're going to try to hit the parade this year. People throwing candy? My kids will be all over THAT.

Reason number 567 that I need a triple stroller:

Yesterday we went to the splash park and I changed them into their bathing suits at the picnic tables, which are about 10 feet from the actual splash park. I changed Madeleine into her suit first and told her she could go ahead to the water. I got John Paul into his suit and took him over there, where she was nowhere to be found. I looked all over and then looked all over the playground. I was starting to get concerned when one of the workers brought her over to me. She had walked all the way across the field and was picking flowers by the retention pond! When the lady had asked her what she was doing, she said, "I was walking far." That kid is gonna send me to an early grave. She is on a VERY short leash now. I won't let her out of my sight. I think I am going to need to have a place to strap her in in these situations. However I'm also thinking that I can probably wait until next spring, and when we go out I can use the double stroller and carry the baby in the wrap. Hm.... we'll see how much I like this triple on Sunday. She bought it and it won't fit in her car so she's selling it to me at a discounted rate if I want it ;)

By the way I'm still in awe that 4 years ago I thought maybe I'd never have kids, now I'm looking at triple strollers. Wow. Thank God.