It's Not My Job

I try to shower before the kids wake up and get going, but didn't quite make it today. After the kids left for school, I asked Gavin if he could play with Kate for a little while so that I could comb my hair. He replied, "I can't mom." When I asked for an explanation, he said, "It's not my job".

Happy Valentine's Day

We had such a fun Valentine's Day this year. Emily was sick, but she felt good enough to surprise the boys. While they were at church, she covered the front door with hearts that she had written little messages on.

Then she decided to set the table for a "fancy dinner". The table looked awesome! She did a great job. She made a Valentine card for everyone for their place card. She's definitely a better decorator than I am. I must admit, I was very impressed :)

Here's the kids with their cookies from Cookies by Design (thanks Michelle! We always LOVE your cookies!) Delicious :)

We all had a fun day! Thanks, Emily, for making it so special! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family!

14 months

14 months?  Impossible.  Our sweet little Kate is so much fun. Constantly growing, learning but NOT WALKING YET!!!  It is so much fun to watch her start understanding what's going on around her.  You can almost see the little wheels in her head turning.  She is starting to talk a little.  She can say Mama, Dada, Goggie goggie goggie (dog), pretty, hi, what's that?, what's this?, oh boy, and quack quack.  She also has her blood curdling scream when she wants something.  It's very hard not to respond to it, because, honestly, it makes me want to scratch my eyeballs out :{  She is still sleeping really well.  I think she looks like an angel!

She made a new discovery the other day, and now her favorite thing to do is sit in the banana chair.  She climbs on, which is quite the process, and just sits there and giggles.  So funny!  Let me explain her hair too. She HATES when I put bows in her hair, and almost immediately pulls them out.  Imagine that she has a cute little piggy tail on the top of her head, with a beautiful red bow ;)

This is a cookie that Emily gave her.  I'll let you decide if there was more on the floor, or more in her mouth :)

She loves playing with her babies and has to kiss each stuffed animal when she wakes up in the morning.  She loves playing with her kitchen, dinosaur and watching Lou (our dog) in the backyard.  Such a joy!  Kate, you bring lots of happiness to your family and we all love you dearly!

Burglar!!!!

This is kind of a funny story, that I'm sure I'll be in trouble for posting, but oh well. The other night, Travis put a water bottle in the freezer to get cold.  Around 11:00 p.m., he remembered that it was there and took it out so it wouldn't explode.  He had just fallen asleep and heard a huge, scary noise (I was out like a light and heard nothing).  He was sure that it was a burglar.  He got up to go check, but decided he needed some kind of a weapon to protect himself and his family.  Looks around the room.... nothing.  Except... 

A CAN OF PLEDGE!

Honestly Travis, what were you going to do with a can of Pledge?  Spray them?  Dust them?  He had planned on throwing the can and surprising the burglar.  Then what?  I guess we'll never know because it was the bottle of water exploding on the counter.  Whew!  Thank goodness!  But thanks, Travis, for being so brave and taking good care of the family!  You're my hero :)

I Don't Really Blame You!

I took Gavin and Kate shopping at the mall on Friday.  Kate was ready for her nap, so even though she was really good, she was a little irritable.  Gavin LOVES Kate.  He loves to kiss and hug her and talk baby talk to her.  As I was shopping, he was in her face trying to give her a big kiss.  All of a sudden, Gavin is screaming "SHE BIT ME, SHE BIT ME".  Sure enough.  When he was trying to be a loving big brother, she left two little teeth marks on his cheek.  I quickly calmed him down, and I was loading my bags into the car, he leaned over to her and said, "Kate.  That really made me made that you bit me.  But I don't really blame you".

Big Fat BUMMER!!!

So I just found out today that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.  This will be my one and only post about it, and after this, I am going to hold my head up and stop complaining.  

It all started back in May.  My feet and knees began aching, and I thought it was an injury from running.  I stopped running for a few weeks, hoping it would heal itself up.  After it spread to my shoulders, elbows, hips, neck and hands, I decided it was time to see a doctor.  He ran several tests, but was unable to find anything.  I was referred to a Rheumatoid Specialist, but had to wait five months to see him.  My pain has been so intense, I am unable to walk without my tennis shoes on.  Some nights, I even sleep in them.  It has been especially frustrating for me not to be able to do anything..... run (I was almost ready to run my first half marathon), get on the floor and play with my kids, and even take Kate out of her crib.  I'm just not content sitting around.

I saw the doctor last week, and just got my results back today.  I'm really not sure why I am so disappointed, because this was the result that I have been expecting.  Luckily, there is some help available.  I have been taking steroids to help with the pain and swelling, but the side effects are a KILLER.  They make me a little moody (OK... a LOT moody), so I take them at night, but when I take them at night, I can't sleep.  It's really a no win situation.  When I'm irritable, the kids don't hesitate to tell me that my steroids are working ;)  I will start Methotrexate (a drug used for Chemotherapy) and Folic Acid (to minimize the side effects of the Chemo drug) tomorrow.  

On the bright side... the doctor is really optimistic.  He thinks that we will be able to get this under control and that I will be able to run and play soccer again.  

Here's hoping..........

Choir Concert/Geography Bee

There's been lots keeping up busy at the school the last couple of weeks. First, Emily  joined the school choir and had her first concert.  She was really excited, maybe a little nervous too?  The jitters didn't last long with her friend Megan standing next to her.  They were funny to watch.  Megan was really singing, and I think Emily was trying to compete to see who could sing louder.  She did a great job and was really proud of herself (as were her parents!)

Tyler was one of twenty four students (out of 700+) chosen to participate in the school's Geography Bee.  He was given a list of questions (very hard ones too, I must add.  There are countries out there that I didn't even know existed!) and told that these were the questions he would be given.  He studied HARD.  Every night for at least an hour, for about a month.  He knew the questions front, back, up and down. Imagine what a disappointment when he got there and NOT ONE QUESTION off the list was used.  He lasted three rounds before he was eliminated.  He was frustrated.  I felt so sad for him.  Regardless, he did a fantastic job.  We were proud of him, the dedication he showed and the great kid that he is!

I love to see the kids anxious to be involved.  

We are so proud of the both of you :)