The Husbands 37th Birthday

One of our birthday traditions...Birthday muffins. My husbands favorite chocolate!

Out with the Old....

In with the new....

We painted the dining room when my son was 2 weeks old. I thought I was feeling great...and we had bought a dining set, so we had to paint before it arrived. I wiped myself out by doing that...beyond that we never got the 2nd coat up...so it wasn't dark enough. I couldn't find the color we had used originally, so we settled on a new color that we thought was red...clearly it is not really red...it's purplish red. I have put 2 coats on, waiting for the husband to paint the top. Actually it all looks better in person...it looks alot richer with our dining table...

Our Pets

Oliver, he is going to be 9 yrs old in a few months. He is fiesty and my baby...he still sucks on my shirt. I've had him since he was 2 weeks old.

Sadie is our 4 yr old lab we adopted. She is sweet and patient beyond belief. I have no doubt that her 90 lb gentle soul would protect us! She atleast has a fierce bark...I call her my black fury of fierceness when I'm outside in the dark with her.


Molly is 16 weeks old, 2 pds and a teeny Chihuahua. She is crazy and sweet and sleeps snuggled on my shoulder. She likes to be held like a baby. My sweet girl loves her and carries her EVERYWHERE!!!!

Oliver likes to hide in drawers and for some reason sleeps in my son's room..in drawers, on the bed...wherever

His dreams came true....

The husband wants a tripped out Toyota Tundra in white or black....well it's white and missing a sunroof and leather....and it is only a rental. He is driving 5 hrs to work this week and next...so he gets a Toyota Tundra for 2 weeks. This was the little ones first ride in a pick up, too.

Pajama Day

Bathroom Makeover

We painted, finally after 6 yrs. I bought towels and a bath mat to match our bedroom...Now we just need a picture over our toilet, new faucets and new lights...oh and I want my candleabra thingy hung over the bathtub. Please not the absence of TOYS!!!! They are in a basket in the linene closet. One day they will take a bath in their own bathroom...I'm just not ready for that!

Asthma

Asthma really stinks. I've had it my entire life. My husband and brother have also had it their entire lives. I remember when I was small not being able to breathe or it hurting when I would breathe. I didn't tell my mom, b/c I didn't like going to the doctor or missing out on life. Finally when I was 9 I became very sick. I would gag and throw up every time I ate. I would stop breathing and turn blue. I was miserable. I had bronchitis (whic I had all the time) and this time it was worse than usual. My pediatrician decided I had asthma like my big brother and I started taking primatene. I was better and so I quit and even though a new pediatrician did an asthma test and confirmed it, she didn't put me on any medicine. Smart...she also missed the hypoglycemia diagnosis...anyway the next time I had a bad asthma attack I was 19. By the time I made it to the doctor I had been struggling to breathe for atleast a month. I was grey/ashen...and so tired. My doctor new immediately and put me on asthma meds. He also gave me steroid shots....Then I went through a cycle of taking medicine and not taking it....I have now vowed to stay on it at all costs. This last attack for me was TERRIBLE. I have had to start running ALL OVER. What does this mean? It means I went from running 5-8 miles and looking forward to my first 1/2 marathon to running 90 sec - 5 min intervals. Very sad.

This post is really suppose to be about my son. He has asthma (surprise surprise) and is usually fine with Zyrtec and albuterol as needed. Well, Tuesday he couldn't breathe and despite his labuterol he was till wheezy and short of breath. I had increased his dose...and he was still struggling. Off to the pediatrician (who I LOVE btw). His pediatrician gave him prednisone temporarily and he is now taking Flovent (one component of Advair) every morning and every night. He can now breathe and I will keep him on his medicine, so he never ends up like me. I just wonder when my daughter's day will come. She also takes albuterol as needed....just not as often. We will see what happens.

I swear

Typos drive me crazy....and I must fix them all before the weekend is finished!!!!!

Tea Party

No I do not see anything wrong with my son enjoying a tea party with his mommy and sister. It's just the 3 of us most of the time...so why not have a little fun. My daughter plays monsters and superheros...he can play girlies things too! Our tea party was fabulous! We rank grown up mint green tea, milk (except mommy) and ate yummy muffins). They were so sweet, they wanted to save some for daddy. They didn't realize daddy was in Houston and wouldn't be home until Friday, this was Monday. What was left they took for dessert in their lunch boxes for pajama day at preschool!

As far as boys and girls go...my son will be well rounded in knowing how to brush hair, paint nails, give massages, cook, clean, listen and cry...without losing any manhood. My daughter knows how to be tough, play rough, get dirty, relate to boys and have a good time without losing her status as a princess! It does not make her a tom boy to play cars or climb a tree, just like my son does not become a sissy by going to see The Little Mermaid! Hopefully they will grow up to be best friends!

Thoughts

So I was driving to visit a private school I REALLY want my son to attend. I had to take my mother's car, b/c she was taking my children to preschool for me. Anyway...she always listens to a certain Christian station....on the radio today a well respected pastor (big name, big church) was speaking on "Abortion, Adoption and.." (something else). He said something that made ALOT of sense to me. God breathed lives into Adam..the direct Hebrew translation which means God gave Adam (mankind) the ability and THE CHOICE to produce life....he gave mankind the ability to do many things as well as make choices. He said for a person to continue having children b/c they desire those children when they are not capable of raising those children is irresponsible...and they can not blame God for their choices!!!!! WOW! Great thoughts. That is exactly what I have said. I do not think I believe in having all the children YOU WANT...I do not believe in abortion either...but I think you need to be responsible for your choices and your actions.

Bottom line is I am okay if I only have 2 children. I WANT 2 more, but my husband doesn't. I do like the idea of priavte school...I have 1 that is a classical school with a homeschool component. I like it ALOT. I hink I can go back to work part time and pay for it or atleast part of it....I am praying and thinking about it anyway.

Yes I must add it is so great to be the stay at home mommy! I love having lunch with my girlfirends or my mom and occassionally my husband. I love playing with my babies and helping them learn! I love keeping the house together or creating something new with in the house...It's just great! Thanks to the husband for 1.) working and supporting us 2.) being wise so we would be able to keep this scenario as long as possible and 3.) for loving me even when I spend too much or whine or get frustrated. :-)

This morning I dropped little peanut butter and macaroni (ie my children)...off at preschool. We were a bit late, no big deal. My friend was also late...so we cahtted on the way in the building....and then she invited me to Einstein Brother's bagels..we chatted there with our other friend for 1 & 1/2 hrs. It was just fun to chat and be girls. I was VERY proud of myself I only had water and green tea.

Then I spent the rest of my time shopping with mi madre. I don't go home on preschool days, b/c it is so far from our house. I also returned a sweater my husband bought me for Christmas. It was very pretty and nice...but it was a turtleneck and I can't stand turtlenecks!!!!

Now I am reading myself to paint my bathroom. We are thinking about selling our house...and we ahve eyes one we want already....I am nervouse about the whole thing. We are both HUGE chickens, so we will see if we go through with this or not!

Bike Riding

AWWW Bike riding!!! The little people LOVE riding their bikes. We LOVE it too!!! We went this afternoon and had a fantastic time!!!! My sweet girl is a CRAZY driver. She scares me, so I asked daddy to take over walking with her and I ran with my sweet boy who is supper fast. Daddy didn't believe me that she is close to falling...and guess what she fell. I saw the whole thing happen and I couldn't catch her. He paid ALOT more attention to her after that...and she still drove her bike like a crazy girl. I think we may have our hands full with her. She has No fear...and she's pretty tough. My sweet boy is cautious. When he sees a car 10 miles away (okay an exaggeration) he yells car with me and pulls over. Thank goodness they are so close in age so he can look after his sister!!!!

I Forgot to Mention....

Coolest thing ever...well maybe not ever...

I ran a temperature for over 2 yrs. They decided it was mono that wouldn't go away, but that I should watch my white cell count b/c lymphomas hide (my lymph nodes have been swollen for over 2 yrs, too)....so anyway! In late November I realized I had no fever. I ran one when I thought I was having an asthma attack that was really pneumonia/bronchitis. Yes, I am still running anywhere from 97.7-98.6 WOW! That is a HUGE change!

Flower and Molly

Sleeping Arrangements

Here is how they sleep now...

Sunshine in Flowers floor on a mattress.

Flower in her own little bed.

Supper

I have a thing for wanting my children to be raised with proper etiquette, manners...and with having nice suppers. I want them to be comfortable in any situation when they grow up....knowing which forks are which....We always set the table fully, meaning with a spoon, knife and fork. Something my husband sees no point in (but I think he appreciates). When we have soup we add the soup spoon, when we have salad the salad fork. He wasn't raised knowing how to set a table and they cut with a fork...something I see as very unmannerly (not to sound snobby...I just think you should use your utensils appropriately). We haven't eaten in our formal dining room in a while, so last night we did. We used the china and everything. We would have used the nice glasses except we didn't have any apple juice (the husband and I would have wine) & every time I use my beautiful glass ware I seem to break one. Anyway...it was fun and always good to enjoy that room. We will likely eat in there alot this week, b/c daddy is home!!!

New Years Eve

Every year we talk about doing something really cool or fun....this year we thought about staying in a hotel near downtown and watching the fireworks...anyway we ended up going to my friend Kelley's. We had fun, drank less than we usually do....celebrated the New York New Year hung around long enough to ring in the real New Year and then headed home. It was fun...nice to have good friends like them.
New Years day we got up early and met my parents at the movies. We went to see Bedtime Stories...it was cute. The best part was my huge basket of sweet potato fries for breakfast/lunch...yummy! I may seriously have to go back this week ;-).

Sensational Saturday

Saturday was a fabulously fun day (too bad it wasn't Friday). My inlaws (minus Nanny and PAPA) were here....so the day started slowly. First I woke up at 10:27 am (oops) and Molly had an app't at 11 am. Anyway, I quickly straightened my hair and threw on some clothes....She now weighs 1.8 pds. Anyway, afterwards we returned the carpet machine to Lowe's and then had lunch at Chili's with the in laws (not out first choice...but the chips and salsa were yummy). We said good bye to them (yes a brief visit)...and went to look at a couple of houses. If we thought we could sell we would likely try to move up. Oh well...a few more yrs here won't hurt. So, then we came home and went bike riding!!! It was perfect weather and there is a new neighborhood going in a block from us...so there is no traffic. My sweet girl is a CRAZY driver. Oh my!!!!! My son was fast, but not crazy. I am VERY thankful for helmets! Why in this world would you let your child even at 2 ride a bike or tricycle without one???? Seriously, if I thought i could get away with it I would probably make mine wear helmets all the time! Their brains are VERY important....why risk brain damage or injury by NOT wearing helmets while riding bikes???? Anyway on to the rest of our day.

By this time we were tired...so we had supper, baths and then read books and went to bed. The great part apart of this is that my sweet children have been "camping out" in my baby girl's room. I am the one with an issue with them NOT sleeping with me. I don't like not knowing if they're okay. I miss them, too...my husband says I am crazy for that part!

It is nice having them in their own rooms, because my husband and I were able to enjoy a fun night!!! We set up the Wii 9which we weren't sure we even wanted....it seems crazy to spend money on video games and video game machines we aren't likely to play long term..my mom has one, so we can always go play hers). We played bowling until for about an hour and then ate healthy nachos nachos and watched PPV What Happens in Vegas. I LOVE that movie! Then we went back to play bowling until 2 am!!!! We didn't make "Mii's" yet...so my score wasn't recorded...but I beat him 188 to 187. Today....after making our "Mii's" I beat him 197 to something much lower. Unfortunately he is getting better....so we are like 8-8 on our wins. Today our 5 yr old beat me :-(. I can't play well consistently....

It was fun. Now we are freezing...but I plan a fun evening by myself...the children are "camping out again" and the husband has to work. I am going to watch PPV Baby Mama.

Protection

So I just had to blog about something somewhat personal. For the past couple of years the husband's business has slowly dwindled. It was to the point that we seriously thought t was over. You can't ride things out when you have children the way you can when it's just the 2 of you. He went on interviews applied for the kind of positions he would be willing to take....turned down a couple, was never offered a couple, a couple were filled before he even got his resume in. At the time I was anxious to move, anxious to make changes and anxious to finally have some benefits(like maternity, dental...a steady pay check). Well, I can now see how we were protected. First of all his business dwindling, 2 kids and me staying home kept us where we are. That means we didn't sell our house and move up like we had planned. Second, banks are going under or at the very least laying people off left and right. Yes, as a new employee he likely would have been more dispensable than someone else...Plus the way the economy is his business has actually increased. We are still cautious and still paranoid...but for now we can see protection and blessing. We are thankful. Thankful to have a home, transportation, food, and a place to go if we needed it.