Ear infection

Ear infections are nothing new in this house. Caleb and Kellie both have tubes in their ears due to recurrent infections. Unfortunately for Kellie, one of her tubes has fallen out and so that ear has been infected more frequently this winter. We may eventually have to put the tubes in again, but are just waiting to see how the season goes.
This picture is the "day after" shot of what happens when you're up all night crying about your ears. The poor thing was so tired she just crashed, and I couldn't resist a photo. Sick or not, I still thought she looked pretty cute!

Snow!

We had snow this week! Aaron had a snow day on Friday and on Saturday the kids went outside to romp in the snow! The boys loved it, and Kellie is still deciding whether or not she is a fan. (She refused to wear mittens and didn't like cold, wet fingers!)

Basketball!

Aaron played Basketball this year! He has wanted to try for quite a while, and we finally gave in. I am so glad we did. The season wasn't too bad- only 2 months- and he learned a lot. It was really fun to watch and we were constantly amazed at how coordinated some of these kids are for as young as they are. Aaron was the smallest and youngest on his team, which was different for us, because in school he is one of the oldest in his class, and taller than most of the kids in his class. The "bigger" kids helped him out, though, and he had a wonderful season. We are so proud of you Aaron! Good job!

Triple Time-Out

We had a first in our house today. We had a triple time-out.
I realize the kids are excited, especially since Aaron is home with a snow day today- but I've had ENOUGH!
How is it that kids can manage to make so much noise? We have been trying for months to teach the kids the difference between inside voices and outside voices- without much luck.
It doesn't seem to matter what activity I offer- reading books, coloring, watching movies... it always seems to end up in a yelling match!
Today I finally snapped. After telling the kids for about the 20th time this morning to quiet down, I sent them all to time out. All THREE of them.
It is temporarily quiet. I just hope it lasts until their Dad gets home, at which point I can go hide and try to pretend that I don't hear the chaos that is my home. sigh

What Can You Do with a Crazy Husband?

Yes, you read that correctly. My husband is crazy.

We woke up to snow on the ground and wild flurries everywhere. Normally I love the snow, but I've been more worried since Matt has to drive into Longmont every day for work now. I worry until he calls to tell me he made it there safely.

All morning we had 2-3 inches fall per hour and gusty, blowing wind. I could barely see the house across the street, visibility was so poor.

Luckily about 10:45 Matt called to tell me that they were closing the office and he was on his way home. What normally takes about 1/2 an hour took twice that long.

When he got home the school had called to notify us that Aaron was being released early due to the weather. Matt shoveled enough snow to get my car (which handles better in the snow) out of the garage.

After returning with Aaron, Matt then set about trying to get his car off the street and into the driveway. This was quite the process. The snow was thick and deep enough that he just couldn't get enough traction to pull into the driveway. I suggested he shovel more snow out of the way, but he had shoveled two tracks for the wheels and was determined that it was enough. Two different trucks full of guys stopped to try to help, with little success. They were finally able to push it into the driveway a bit, just off the road, and there the car sat, stuck.

I thought he would come in and warm up since he had been outside so long. After all, the car was in our driveway, albeit lopsided, and he had been out there "playing" in the snow for an hour or more already. I was wrong. My crazy husband got it into his head that he needed new tires so he could get better traction and he needed them right now.

What crazy guy goes out into the raging elements to get new tires when there are accidents everywhere, the snow is still falling wildly, and businesses and schools are closing all over town? Did it ever occur to him that his emotional, pregnant wife might worry about his safety and well being?

Evidently not. My husband did indeed brave the elements and left the safety of our home in search of new tires. Crazy, stubborn lunatic.

I suppose, in his defense, he did make it home. Safe. With new tires. Sigh.

What am I going to do with him?

Horses on the Playgound!

When I went to pick up Aaron from school today, I was surprised to see several police officers parked around the school. There didn't seem to be any disruption going on, so I wasn't too worried. When Aaron got into the car he told me that they had been on a CODE YELLOW at school today, which Aaron told me means that they can continue teaching, but with heightened security, and the kids need to stay in the building.

Concerned now, I asked him what was going on.

Aaron responded by telling me that there were 3 runaway horses that found themselves into the school yard today. They scared a bunch of kids as they ran all over the fields and even onto the playground, near all the swings and slides. When the Principal got over the intercom to announce the CODE YELLOW, the kids were told that everything was okay, but they would have to lock their classrooms if the horses found their way into the school, since they were not invited to be there. (Can you imaging hearing that over the intercom?)

I have been chuckling ever since, trying to imagine the horses playing hopscotch on the blacktop, or even plotting schemes to overthrow the school!

Dinner with Caleb

Disclaimer: Matt and I try to pick our battles. Please don't think us bad parents...

Caleb is a very picky eater, and although we are continually encouraging him to try new foods, there are a few meals that we just don't bother trying to fight him on anymore, and we offer him cereal instead. Tonight was one of those nights. We made chili, which Caleb has adamantly refused in the past, and after 2 bowls of cereal, this is the conversation that followed...

Matt: Caleb, you know you really should try some chili.

Caleb: Dad, you should have told me I needed to try some... then I would have tasted it.

Matt: So all I had to do was ask you to try it, and you would have?

Caleb: yeah. (this was said as if he was saying "well, duh..")

Feeling Better (Hopefully...)

It seems like I have been "out of it" for a while, and I guess I really have been. Last week I started feeling dizzy and lightheaded. I wasn't too concerned, because let's face it, sometimes when you're pregnant it's not unusual to feel a bit lightheaded. I knew something was wrong last Friday when the room wouldn't stop spinning and I couldn't stop throwing up.

Matt called the doctor and took me to the ER. There we found out that I had a severe case of vertigo which is caused by fluid and congestion collecting behind your ears, which affects your balance, and causes the nausea. I was prescribed a series of medications- one called Antivert, which is basically a motion sickness pill, another called Zofran, which helps curb the nausea, and Sudafed, which is just about the only decongestant I can take since I am pregnant. After rehydrating myself on a bag of IV fluids, I was sent home, with the warning that it "may take a while" to clear up.

They weren't kidding. I spent the first few days trying to stay perfectly still in bed, since any movement at all made me sick. Matt was very patient helping me walk to and from the bathroom, since I couldn't stand upright to save me. Also, my wonderful patient husband has spent some time sleeping on the couch since the slightest movement (like him rolling over in bed) made me sick to my stomach.

The kids spent a night or two with Grandma, but came home in time for Aaron to go back to school Monday.

Monday and Tuesday I had improved enough to walk short distances around the house by myself, and to sit up a bit, but I found I just couldn't meet the demands of my 4 year old and 2 year old kids. On Wednesday, my mom and dad took Caleb and Kellie back to their house for a few days, so I could rest and try to feel better without worrying about the kids.

It has been so quiet without them here. I am glad they are safe and having a good time, but I miss my kids. Aaron is here in the evenings after school, but he is so quiet and self sufficient that I hardly notice he's home.

I am finally doing a bit better. I can walk a bit more by myself and although I still get a bit lightheaded from time to time, I am managing a lot better. We are going to go get the little ones this weekend. Which is good, because I think they are partying too much with Grandma (just kidding).

I just hope I will improve enough in the next few days that I will be able to drive again. (and I want to thank Sara and Jeff for picking Aaron up from school for me this week- you have been real lifesavers for me, and I really REALLY appreciate it.)

They said the vertigo may come and go for a few weeks, but I am praying it leaves for good and soon. We'll just have to wait and see. Also, just in case you were wondering, the lab work showed the baby was doing okay, and I go in on Monday to have a check up, so we are assuming baby is still okay through all of this.

Thanks to everyone who has helped this week, I hope to be all better soon.

Tagged!

(I've never done one of these picture tags before, but I keep getting them sent to my email, so I give in, I cave!) I am supposed to go through my picture files and find the fourth file and then the fourth picture and post it here. I actually really enjoyed doing this one, I haven't looked at this picture in a while, and it is one of my favorites.

This picture is the first time Aaron met his brand new brother, Caleb, in the hospital. Aaron was two weeks shy of being three and I love the look of awe and love on his sweet little face. He was a little nervous to meet his new little brother, so Matt was helping him take a peek and hold him. Matt and I always feel so much love for the newest little one, but it is always such a special moment to introduce the baby to their siblings, and watch the love in their eyes, too. How blessed the younger ones are to have so many people to welcome them to the family!

Awww, I'm getting all emotional now. Does anyone have a tissue, please? (I think I'll blame it on the pregnancy hormones...) :)

Picture update...

I will post a picture of Kellie's bed just as soon as I get some new batteries for my camera!