4 Men And A Lady

Make New Friends But Keep the OLD

2011-05-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

And by old I do not mean numeric age but more like years at the helm....You know a real friend..... when you haven't spoke to them in 10 plus years, and when you do, it is like it was yesterday. Jamie, I am glad you found me and can't wait to catch up! I have missed you.

Easter

2011-05-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the radio silence, I will explain later, however here are some recent pics of my boys!

Jump Around

2010-09-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

What have we been up to you ask (so, you didn't ask, I just want to tell, SO listen)?

There has been lots of Jumping...

TOns of Falling....

An enormous amount of Water Spray and Stink-Face

Topped with more outragous Jumping...............

This is the best toy yet, and we love it enough to sleep with/on it.

(and it safely cages the wild beast (gage))

To Be or Not to Bee (x's 3)

2010-09-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

A week ago......

To make matters (more entertaining) worse......3 DAYS BEFORE

Scene: Walking the neighborhood looking for the stupid cat

Daimen - "I have never been stung by a bee"

Mom - "Son, you better watch what you say, those are famous last words"

KidZ Cracked Up

2010-08-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

Who knew a trip to get shots at the Doc's could be so much fun....

1 great kid (+) a bag of Funions (x) the new breaking skill = a great time!

Free FuN 4 HourS

2010-08-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

And Then

2010-08-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Friday the 23rd, the baby and I flew out of our small town airport in a "turbo prop" tiny tiny plane...

The baby screamed when it took off, shaking down the runway, and I tinkled a bit.

He did become a pro after awhile, yanno, he is a thrill seeker and wouldn't let anything like shaking seats and rattling metal stop his curiosity.

"MOM, are we there yet?"

After a long day of airport running, security, more running (to catch a delayed plane!!), some waiting, followed by a shuttle van driven by a gentleman whom must have been in a delusion involing a yellow cab and New York City traffic. The van ride should have had the traditional amusement park warnings......

We did get to see, the Swan & the Dolphin Hotel on Disney Property and the coolest transport around.

All in all, Gage did swimmingly! and I, well I, Survived!

The Beginning

2010-08-03T10:53:00.001-07:00

Thursday Morning, July 22nd, the Road Warriors departed in delight, from what I heard, they had a blast! and arrived a whole um 14 HOURS earlier than the map program said!.!. Slow down Pappy, ha!

Not only where they fast but they got some sight seeing in along the way...

We're Back

2010-08-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Check out my THINGS....

Erica- I am in Florida.. I don't hav your #, call me plz

2010-07-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

In 5-4-3-2-1........Liftoff

2010-07-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Drive OFF today....ROAD WARRIORS (Mu, Pappy, Jeremy, Daimen & Kollen)

THEN....the Gage-man and I fly off tomorrow...

And we are in paradise.......(kids paradise even)

Please say a prayer for our Road warriors safe arrival and for lil-mans ears on the plane.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-30T10:44:00.001-07:00

Traveling MAN, woman indeed

2010-06-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have been working fingers to the bone creating training guides and manuals for our consultants at work. Currently I am training in the most remote locations (even no bars on the phone yesterday). It is not glorious work by but if it means not being at work until 3am scrubbing data than I will do it.

We last trip I was a helper, this one I am the trainer and I could not think of a better time to come down with some gastrointestinal virus that also seems to have my neck lymph nodes "barking" hard enough to take my voice away...

All I have to say....the boys will be pleased when I get home tonight and can't talk

*Ashley* Congrats on the baby girl. Glad you found me again, hehe. Any pics on your blog on Gman and sis? hint hint

SHoot the perfectionisT

2010-06-16T11:04:00.001-07:00

Alright so live has not changed since the previous entry, BUT i will not let my perfectionalitisic (is that word) personality alter my blog anymore. I am a ALL or nothing kind of person and I hate that it stops me from doing things. Yanno, sometimes you can't give something a 100% of what you want but that DOesn't mean it is not worthy of what you can give<------------me yelling at myself! So at the level to which life is functioning I know I can not keep up blogging like I did before, cute pictures with every post, funny stories, great use of punctuation (ha, just kidding) etc... However I love tracking our lives and sharing with all my family, friends, and bloggers our new experiences SO I am declaring right now that I will throw away my all or nothing attitude *that is stopping me from blogging* and just do my best! Deal?

Some updates:
Work is INSANE!! I am working long hours, 7:30am until 5pm, going home to do dinner and fun with the kids, bath and nightime rituals, put the kids to bed and go back to work around 8:30pm until 3:30am. I am doing a couple times a week and also a rigorous exercises program called P90X. If it was not for the intense workout everyday I would not have the energy to maintain the level I am at and so far it looks to stay intense through the summer. I am also happy to say that since Feb 2010, I have gone from a size 15 to a 9, I am LOVING it.

Daimen is brilliant as always and a complete Joy. He has had another Bday since my last post and It shocks me to admit I have a 12 year old son! Wow where did the time go? He is a superstar at school and tested into 9th grade level Allegra next year for high school credit (he is starting 7th grade).
I just got his final grades in and even moving 8weeks after the start of school into another district and Gifted classes he still managed to shock me....
Final Grade Averages for the year:
Reading 98
Math 95
PE 100
Band 95
Language 96
Science 97
Keyboarding 93
Social Studies 96
So Proud!!!

Gage is a rockstar....
he is growing out of his stomach sensitivities everyday,
eats like a champion,
is huge wearing size 3-4 toddler(only 17months people)
Loves going buhbye
has 16 teeth
says these new words: shoes, hi, buhbye really clear
says: where's Dada??? all the time lol, hmm where did he get that from?

That's it for now, will update more soon.

A Ride

2010-04-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, I really was never gone, just on a wild ride that I like to call "Life's Roller Coaster"! It has taken every bit of my energy and reserves to stay in my seat, hold onto the handlebars, and find some kind of enjoyment in all the chaos.

I will get into more on that soon, I promise but for now I wanted to say...I am still here (if anyone comes here anymore anyway), and that I will write more soon.
(They should've printed...MOM, WIFE, & EMPLOYEE...to that sign..

And lastly...my self portrait...

I wouldn't change a thing...ok maybe more sleep, less snot, more...AHh never mind, I wouldn't change a thing!

OooPs

2010-02-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

So,

A bee decided to go all evil on me and attack (fly into) my unsuspecting face, and I defended myself with my blackberry.

The bee won.

Family and friends to whom I "used" to have your number, please email or text message me with it please. My blackberry does work but the screen is black so I can see nothing. I do however have a new phone for bug fighting and maybe phone calling (if I ever get numbers in it again).

In other news: We have been busy body's

Work is keeping me past dark lately (nice to feel wanted and fought over, but am ready for some help)

Here are some recent Happens in our life....

In Gage's World.....

Gage has been a straight up "Monkey butt", fit throwing has become almost a daily occurrence which leads to figuring out the best plan of discipline (earlier than expected) for our 1 year old.

He has cut 3 molars in 3 weeks, poor baby. (1 to go)

Started taking steps the Sunday after his surgery. Not a full on walker by any means but big improvements in balance since the tubes were put in.

With the gracious help of M&P we painted his nursery this past weekend and it is awesome! I did not plan a easy paint job so it was a task for sure... THANKS a bunch M&P! (pictures soon)

He tried Dog food and had a belly ache and rash for days following the yummy treat....No, it did not sway him from wanting more so we had to move the dogs food from the kitchen.

He waves buh-bye now (usually not until you turn to walk away though).

Last night even, he started blowing kisses, SOooo cute.

Loves the show Yo Gab.ba Gabba

Because he loves the annoying show (above) he also got the first flat screen TV in our house, a 19inch tv with a dvd player built in, for watching his show in his room.

And lastly his vocab is getting larger these are the words so far in order:
Jay-Ya =Jabba= (dog) grrr
DaDa= (duh)
Nuc-nuc =Cat (thought it was the cat's name)
Sign language for dog- (grrrrrr)
Mama = (bout time son!)
Ca-ca = Cracker
Baba = bottle
Kitty = Cat (really high pitched when saying kitty)
Babo = Brother
and last night he added....
"Eh-Ar" =Guitar

In Daimen's World....

He moved up to 6th chair in band, from 11th I believe..so we are very proud.

He has been a huge help with his brother and even given me a (needed) 30min break here and there. He likes to invent toys to keep Gage busy.

Got straight A's on his report card.

Was grounded because he was wrestling with the neighborhood kids 5 houses down the street and all the kids were pretending they were in the UFC but not "pretending" when they were choking each other. ugh. Daimen did not choke anyone, actually was the one almost choked out, but was guilty by bad choices and served his time.

And lastly is attending a night out with Mom this weekend, where ever he wants to go.

JER & I....

Got each other a 32" flat screen Tv for Valentines day and will get it picked up this week.

Started a new diet two weeks ago and so far have lost a combined weight of 17lbs in 11 days but then you get 3 cheat days so we gained a few back,
Grand total combined weight loss
(including cheat days).......Drumroll........
13 Pounds

We just started our second rotation of the diet yesterday and are ready to loss loss loss.
It is a - 11 day on, 3 day off diet that tricks your metabolism into burning more and is by far the best diet plan yet (no starving).
13lbs

I got my 5 year service award and received a gift from the company. A home theatre surround sound system. Jer hooked part of it up last night and I think it is going to be great.

that's it for now.....Please text or email me with your contact info...

Hiatus

2010-01-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long hiatus but (there is always a but, right) life has been a bit curvy lately. To sum it up, sortly after Kollen flew home Gage's ear infection came back soon after it left (uninvited) and his allergy doc had exhausted all classes of antibiotics (to which he was allergic in some fashion to all of them). He sat on a ear infection for 4-5 days until we got in to see a ear, nose, and throat doc who scheduled surgery ASAP.

Adenoid gland removal, ear tubes, and a metabolic blood panel (immunity testing ish).

Fast forward 6 days and you get these pictures at 6am.....

Here is Gage, sporting the new faboulous sea blue whale printed fashionable hospital johnny, he is ready for a day in the ice cold O.R. or a stroll through central park, to spice up the look he has dangled via a sporty metal clip, the new, hip, Paci clip. Yes people we know it doesn't match which is soooooooooooo 2010. Go get yourself hives from all the worlds antibiotics and you too can get a crazy stylish Johnny of your own.....

With a smile like that who knew he had been fasting.

7:15am-

the first child of the day (they go by age)
They took him back and the worry set in.

A very long 30 mins later

I could here my baby screaming across the corridor.

Insert another 2-5 mins

of me wanting to hurt someone if they don't lead me to my screaming baby.

45mins ish of...
Holding and comforting a writhing, screaming, crying, and very angry little boy. until the codeine kicks in and he falls asleep.

30mins ish

We are home.

Arrived in the hospital at 6am and home at 9am. Success!

Currently....
Gage's lungs are a bit junky from the breathing tube, his lip is split on one side where they had to stretch it open, and congestion I am assuming caused from having his glands removed....is what we are dealing with now.

Future.... A baby's whose ears drums function better than 50%, maybe he will start crawling or even walking (speaking of that a post coming soon), less snot production from his nose/ on my clothes, and most of all a happier less sick child.

I am excited to hopefully get off this rotation....
Infection - antibiotic-med allergic response-stop med-infection comes back-new antibiotic-med allergic response etc......
And I am sure Gage is also...

Happy 8th Birthday Kollen!!

2010-01-05T10:15:00.001-08:00

HAPPY BLOGGY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

4 DAYS LATE

HAPPY BLOGGY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

4 DAYS LATE

HAPPY BLOGGY BIRTHDAY DEAR KOLLEN

HAPPY BLOGGY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Love you Son!

We did celebrate in real life during his Christmas visit and at the Great Wolf Lodge on his actual Birthday Day, January 1st. It was the first time he has had a swimming celebration on his birthday, seeing as it was about 35-40 degrees ferinheight outside.

A Birthday celebration on New Years Eve shared with his brother Gage took place at M&P's before we left for the Lodge, I will post about it soon and of course the pictures of the amazing (difficult, stressful, frustrating, sorry Mu) cake she made, it was delightful.

For those of you who may be confused, Kollen came into my life when his Dad did, 6 years ago, he is a great boy and a wonderful son who is a huge part of our family. He lives further away then we would like (3 hour plane ride), but enjoy the time when he is here the most. I am honored that this boy calls me Mum.

50/50

2009-12-29T14:01:00.000-08:00

We have 3 out of 6 infected little men ears in our house right now. Our average is not looking good.

Thats HALF (for those who are not quick on there mathematical toes)

We had a good Christmas with the kids on Sunday (when Kollen got home). Our gift to the kids was to go to their favorite vacation spot, The G.reat W.olf Lodge, indoor waterpark and resort. We go this weekend and then Kollen goes back up North until spring break. He arrived out of sorts on Sunday with a sore ear and Monday we took him to the clinic he had a fever and dual ear infection. He is doing better now he has good meds on board. I missed that little squirt and am glad he is here.

The other munchkin (Gage), with a new nickname "fussy butt" fell to pieces all day yesterday and into the night. I came to conclusion he has fallen into middle brothers footsteps and also had a ear infection. Who needs a ear scope, give me a baby with weird breath (I can smell his ear infections, weird eh), falls to pieces for nothing, and is extra needy, gotta be a ear infection.

Daddy took him into the allergy doc this morning and sure enough my nose did not let me down, littlest munchkin is also a red ear monkey. You may be wondering why the "allergy doc" and not regular one, well the cliff notes are that....on top of most foods and seasonal chronic sinusitis, Gage is allergic to all antibiotics so far. We will be doing some more evasive testing next week because the doctor is concerned that he has no more antibiotic classes left to try. The testing will tell us if the reaction to the penicillin class of meds is a IgE reaction or IgG, to break that down if I am understanding correctly it means....

IgE reaction - could equal consequences that include but not limited to shock and death

IgG reaction - can be treated through and will just make him miserable during the treatment, it is more like a drug reaction then an immune system reaction.

A list of symptoms and meds so far are as follows (forgive spelling). I need to write this somewhere because it is starting to blend together.

Zithramicin - after 4 days, full body rash, swollen tongue with bumps
Amoxicilian - after 5 days, full body rash
Omnicef - after 2 days, full body rash, swollen hot red cheeks
Bactrim - after 24hours, (tried twice), red swollen hot cheeks

Today, after much studying, doc decided we should try Clindamycin. So here's to praying for a non-reaction to the "back pocket" antibiotic and we will deal with his teeth coming in stained yellow if we have to.

Fun times....
Speaking of fun times, daddy had his first full day with the boys yesterday and when he came to work to pass me the baby so he could take Kollen to the doctors, I walked out into the lobby....

Jer - looked very defeated
Gage - was crying
Kollen - was crying
Daimen - was fine

I almost turned around and went back inside, lol poor babies. I think my husband has a new found respect for mom's.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GAGE

2009-12-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

8,736 hours ago at 8:06am December 17th 2008, this belly

Gave us this super sweet boucing 9lb 1oz, 21.5 inch Baby Boy

Who today has turned into my bouncing 1 year old Boy (even if he is not a morning person on his bday)

My baby is no longer a baby (well to everyone else that is), no longer a cute cuddly zero but a very brilliant

1 Year old toddler

Happy Birthday Little Man,! We Love You!

Coming Soon: A Birthday post is in the making and some pictures of him opening gifts and his first time at Chucky Cheese

Spaghetti 4 Beginners

2009-12-16T13:58:00.001-08:00

On top of spaghetti all covered with love.....

This is the first time I’ve seen you

So I am not sure what to do

My brother helped, he showed me how

So we stuffed our mouths

and posed like a cow

To his shock and everyone’s surprise ...

It took mere m.i.n.u.t.e.s.....

Until I sucked it to bits

Yummy

Love Gage

PS: Tomorrow is my 1st Birthday!!

Concert

2009-12-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

Daimen had his first concert as a musician on December 8th. He plays the umm trumpet, no, trumbin, no,no,wait, it is the,... Trombone, right?

12/16/09 UPDATE: Um he plays the French Horn, ack um, cough, I KNEW THAT!

I am not talented in much of anything, including but surely not limited to music, but to Daimen's great musical outlook, Jer is a guitar rockstar, Pappy a retarded um I mean retired band director, all Jeremy's sisters play/played an instrument, Mu plays the flute and sings wonderfully, his aunt Sarah graduate last year and is a band directorish (or heading that way), her husband, Uncle Andy just graduated as a soon to be band directorish, so the moral is Daimen still has a GReat future in the musical area without his mom's help *whew*.

Anyway, his concert was great and so crowded that I will need to watch the video to really listen (Gage was not a fan of the noise). We are going to watch it at Christmas with M&P plus Family.

Son, I am not musically edumakated, but Daimen, I don't have to understand notes, breaks, pauses (whatever you call them) to know that I am Proud.

(what are these for?)

(MOM take the stupid picture, I have no idea what to do with my Hands)

My two fancysmancy men

Another of my fancy man getting ready for the concert with a snack!

Bumpy

2009-12-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

I have another bumpy monkey, Gage is going to the dermatologist today and getting a skin tag/lump/wart/????----cut/froze/tied off his neck (up where it meets the back of his head). This bump was present after he was born and looked like a whitehead. It has grown fast and is very apparent it is not in the acne family.

I am not looking forward to this appointment, but it is what it is and I will put on my "big girl panties" for the afternoon.

It has to be something benign right, I mean there is no way it could be something that ends with the word OMA at the end.

He has not been sun bathing, fake baking, or smoking (that I know of), and if he has he sure is grounded!

I am sure it will be fine, just maybe a bit painful for him when it is removed.

Fortune

2009-12-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

As I consumed with delight my new favorite food from my new favorite restaurant, chicken fried rice, the oil still coating my lips; I eagerly finished with Chinese desert (fortune cookie) & some chocolate chips….

We all know that the slip of paper in the fortune cookie is no longer a fortune but now some upbeat phrase printed from script. I am not sure when the fortune turned to a mundane combination of words that only seem better when you add “in bed” to the end, maybe when Cracker Jacks substituted the toy for a stupid mini baseball card? Either way we all still read them and I still make it fun & intimate by adding the two key words to the end. I have found very few fortunes that do not fit with those two words in the most hilarious way, but this fortune, this time, didn’t.

Is this what happens when a fortune cookie maker has a bad day?….

I could not help but giggle and re-read this slip of paper over and over, trying to find the common upbeat script I am used to. After turning the fortune over and seeing the Chinese word tutorial, which is usually words like, fun, food, sun, brother etc…I got this…

So my only conclusion is that on this day, this cookie maker was feeling anxious (jiao ji), upset, peeved at life in general. Maybe some guy ran over his puppy, stopped to help, tried to sell him a vacuum and then paid him not to shot him? So when he got to work at the fortune cookie sweat-shop, he decided to forgo the neutral positivity and instead quote Margaret Thatcher.
Instead of adding “in bed” to the end, I felt like I needed to look up this quote and now I choose to finish her quote, it should also include this at the end of my “Fortune”

“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. He had money as well.” (Margaret Thatcher)

Don’t mess with the fortune cookie maker.

Not Me Monday

2009-12-07T12:38:00.001-08:00

It is therapy time.....Session 5

(join in on the "not me" Monday posts where you can confess your faults by not confessing) Head on over to Mckmama's blog at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ the creator of this kind of therapy.

I did not close my office door and take a nap at lunch today and I did not enjoy all 30mins of it. I was not proud of the red marks on my forehead and drool down my face confirming the deepness quality of my mid-day rest.

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I did not encourage my youngest to finish knocking down his oldest brother’s card city.

I did not motorboat in the bath with Gage last week and did not giggle and think “ha, payback for pooing on me, boy”

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I did not/do not let Gage streak through the house (praying for no pepe) on the way to his bath and did not follow him with the camera.

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I did not send Daimen an email with these attachments because we do not call him bumpy monkey because of his amazing ability to sprout bumps all over for no apparent reason.

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When Gage fell at daycare and received his first bruise on his head last month the second thing I did not say was “awesome we need a picture” , after forgetting to capture the memorable “first”, I did not make sure to take a picture of his first big mystery scratch and I did not post it on my blog like a proud mother of a bang-around boy.

Stuff-N-Junk

2009-12-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

Some things worth noting...

Gage said Mama about two weeks ago, in the middle of snot covered Hell weeks. He even says Maaaaaaaaaaaaaa *screech* when he wants me to pick him up.

He also cute his 8th tooth during hell week and as you can imagine that only added to the Fun, ha festivities.

Gage is still army crawling but wants to walk badly.

Gage & Daimen both got most of their flu vaccines (finally), so if Jer and I get the flu it will be more of a restful vacation because the kids shouldn’t be compromised.

Gage has slept through the night in his OWN bed the last 3 nights for the first time in, um, how do you say…EVER! (he just got his own room when we moved but has been sick since)

We got a new, awesome, not leaking Freon, 50% off thanks to Jer’s amazing shopping skills on black Friday, Trio Fridge. It is so amazing I will write more later.

Gage got his first spanking on the hand on Thanksgiving. He was grabbing my hair and pulling with a strong growl, when I stopped him and grabbed his hands and repeatedly said no, he just growled harder and snatched faster, so, I hand spanked him and he stopped. He now understands what “No” means, he doesn't necessarily like hearing or obeying it and voices that with a frustrating fussy grown but he “Get’s IT”.

He knows how to kiss (I call it smooches), it involves a wide open mouth and he kisses you and say “muuwaaw”, it is very cute. I ask for smooches and he usually complies and sometimes he does it for no good reason and it melts my heart.

Daimen who used to love everything “PIE” (no not just eating it but more about saying and drawing the word) is now all about “TOAST”, even in artist 3D

Daimen taught him how to do “noggins”, Daimen asks for noggins and Gage slowly head-butts him. I hope so much head banging won’t cause to much Drain Bamage.

He knows how to give a “High 5” and his new favorite video is naturally by Baby Genesis, and is favorite baby songs.

We have had 3 total takes in the last two weeks regarding my previous post titled “So Close”, I guess the warm bath is good for moving bowels.
(let me outta here, Someone crapped in the tub!!)

Daimen got straight A’s on his report card, brilliant that kid.

We are still not fully unpacked or settled and the realistic goal for that is….when the kids graduate, ha, no really, it is in January…..2011
I need to find time to get our Christmas Tree put up and pray real hard the Jer might find some Joy in it this year.

Kollen will be here in less than 4 weeks and we are excited.

Gage will be 1 in 15 days (do you frigging believe it??)

Kollen will be 8 on January 1st and we will be on a mini family vacation on his B-day Day.

Ok that is enough updates for now….

-----------------------------------------------------------------

In another (long) note: I know most of you who read this blog (and never ever comment) are family/work colleagues and you are checking in on us, which is great and why I created it, however I feel like I need to write in a therapeutic way about some issues in life that are more personal in a diary kinda way. I do think family/work buds are the most amazing people in my life but not necessary always who you would want to or is appropriate to vent ALL personal issues.

I would like to include all aspects of my life on my blog, not just the rosy sunshine stuff and poop, but don’t think it is right to have a open forum when I am looking for opinions on events such as EX: when I am menstruating and how bad my cramps are??? How infertility still affects me mentally and ways I am trying work through it, any issues with work or my husband etc…..

I thought about making another blog to voice my embarrassing/personal views, experiences, issues, in regards to asking for advice on how to work on them without telling everyone I know in real life….

things such as “Jer and I got in a argument last night and I want a better way of dealing with my hot head towards his computer” , do you see how that would be inappropriate? I have come to the conclusion that I don’t want another blog, I want to write everything down in one place so when I am so old I can’t type, then I will publish it and read through my life. Sooo, in the most long winded explanation ever, you may see some posts that are password protected, and if you are family or a work colleague these are posts that You would not like to read as they will be asking advice on a issues to strangers so please don’t take it negatively because it is not meant to be. If you are one of the strangers out there that can give life’s advice please email me and I will give you the password.

Sometimes I can come across harsher than I mean to (ha, I Know News Flash, right!) so I am hoping that this time was not one of them. Love you guys

MIA or BWI

2009-11-29T07:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been MIA you see we have a BWI (baby with issues), Gage has been ill more times his first year than he has been well. The most recent was a now 3.5 week long stint of viruses followed by an ear infection which lead to another allergic reaction to his 3rd antibiotic in turn having to miss his flu shots twice and a large consumption of Benadryl, causing him for the second time to not be allowed to continue with his schedule allergy test at the allergy doctor who normally doesn't take patients under the age of two but our son has been now classified as "difficult" by his pediatrician due to the 3 allergy responses to antibiotics and what seems like every thing else new. We kept the appointment with the new allergy doc because we had to stop the antibiotic because of facial swelling and a body covering raised red rash before the above listed ear infection could clear up. Although we could not do the scratch test we did have to try a new rash causing antibiotic because of the resulting double ear infection that did not clear up with only 4 doses of the first drug before the bumps took over. Gage was put on a new, to take for a long time allergy medicine, nasal steroid and a new antibiotic but naturaly the swelling took charge and we had to discontinue after 5 doses and now we sit, hoping and praying that his infection is gone.

SIGH....give the kid a break already....

So Close

2009-11-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

So Close

A lifetime presentation - Staring...
Daddy - Played by Jer, can be called DAaaad or DaDa
Gage - Played by our very mischievous and youngest spawn
ILLiar - Played by Meg or most known as Mom or Mama, ILLiar is petname by Jer

Main Setting.....Common Bathroom
Action....... Daddy and Gage taking a bath together

Secondary Setting......Living Room
Action.......Mommy (ILLiar) eating "dinner" having some ME time.

On of the greatest reality movie clips
SO CLOSE - TAKE ONE - ACTION!!

Daddy: Gage what are you doing???
Daddy: Gage!
Daddy: Son?
Gage: *Grunt! Grunt! Grunt!*
Daddy: Gage, you are not pooping?
Daddy: Gage, no poopee in the tub!
Gage: *GRUuunt!*
Daddy: Gage I said NO!
ILLiar: *pauses TV and listens more closely*
Daddy: Gage, I mean it!
Gage: *Grunt Grunt* Giggle!
Daddy: Gage, did you poopy?
Gage: *Splash Splash* giggle!
Daddy: You DID poopy!!!
Daddy: *Shouting* ILLiarrrrrrrrrr, we got a problem in here!
ILLiar: Hahahahha *gets up to put "dinner" ice-cream in the freezer*
Daddy: Illiar please come here QUICKLY!
ILLiar: *Almost peeing pants* Hahahahahahahah
ILLiar: *Giggle Smirk Shout* Lift him out of the water, I am getting a towel, Don't let him touch the water
Goes in bathroom to see Gage being held in the air laughing, poo all over his bottom, Daddy squirming in the tub, the tub water with a large amount of extra smelly brown friends , some of "it" floating some stuck on the bottom.
ILLiar: Well atleast we know he's not constipated. hahahahhahaha

Where's Waldo/Daimen

2009-11-17T11:46:00.000-08:00

hmmm where oh where arth my eldest son????

Oh there he be.............................................

It took several attempts with a broom, a exciting then disappointing appointment with the leaf blower, but finally, after a rake was purchased, the eldest "thing" was able to create a nice itchy leaf pile to inhabit.....

PraYing

2009-11-09T07:40:00.001-08:00

I was going to start a post about how sick I am about my baby being sick and tell you that he now has Croup, however he is going to get better and there is something else that needs to be said....

Please pray for baby Stellan, I have posted about him in the past here..
http://www.4menandalady.com/2009/04/stellan.html
and here..
http://www.4menandalady.com/2009/03/sick.html

Baby Stellan just turned a year old and spent his first birthday in the hospital in the cardiac intensive care unit in a quickly and devastating onset of his SVT (super ventricular tachycardia (super fast hearbeat)). This time it hit him quick and hard enough that the surgery for another ablation at Boston's Children's Hospital was scheduled a year early than the dr. would have liked. Another ablation means more than likely destruction of the AV node and a pacemaker for life for this little guy.

Well his mom had to two days with Stellan at home from his last hospitalization and then had to fly him to Boston to stay for 4 days to test, weaning heart meds and to do his surgery. On Sunday his mom was told to not give him his morning meds and to have him admitted at lunchtime for complete med weaning but Stellan went into SVT hours after the missed dose and was admitted to the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit PCICU.

As of last night they could not break him out of SVT and his heart was beating at a dangerous 270 beats per minute and his blood pressures were awful 43/13 remember normal is 120/80. He made it clear that surgery would not wait until Tuesday so the doctors are scrambling, however now they are having trouble stabilizing him enough to go into surgery. His tiny little heart quit beating this morning but did come back after it was shocked but it still remains in SVT and he is not even close to stable. His mom is there alone and her husband is trying to get a earlier flight. Her twitter messages are painful to read, I have been following her life through her blog http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ since she was 20wks pregnant with Stellan and his heart was in SVT and she was told he would not make it out of her womb alive. Stellan is a fighter but after 5 or more hospitalizations and weeks of SVT it seems as though it is hitting harder and faster, his little body is having trouble keeping up. I am so worried for this baby i have never met and want to fly to Boston and hug his mother. So please drop to your knees and pray for this little man and his family today, I have and will continue.

FaCe Off

2009-11-06T08:27:00.001-08:00

The many faces of our youngest (changing to quickly) little Drama King the 3rd.....
the last 2 months

Stay tuned for the older and original "Drama King's" faces of 2009

Musings

2009-11-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

Some new happenings from our tiniest little man (who somehow has the capabilities to produce more snot and poo than anyone of us):

Last week Gage cut two more teeth through at the same time and a third is knocking on the pain inducing swelled red gums of his poor little mouth. His teeth come in so fast that his gums do not have time to respond and heal around the tooth as it moves down so as the tooth advances his gums just turn black and rip open, all red and sometimes bloody, NOT NICE TOOTH FAIRY. Here is a image of the teeth he has now

(this is not a actual picture in his mouth, but a recreation of the teething nightmare that has ensued)

He loves to play music with Daddy

Crawling - crawling is more like what... hmmmmm*how to put gently*, like a army crawl if your legs were broken and only your feet, elbows, and the side to side motion of your baby booty and over-sized melon propelled you forward. So cute and unique is my child...

He now has 3 "words" in his vocab that he uses in the correct manner

· Daddy ("DaDa") – he knows who dada is and acknowledges him when he enters the room
· Jabba ("Ja-Yaa") – he calls for the dog as he chases her in his walker
· Cat ("nuct nuct") - he calls for our cat Merlin by clicking his tongue and making the nuct nuct nuct sound. When the cat walks by, Gage clicks “nuct nuct”, if you ask “where is the (nuct nuct or the kitty)", Gage looks for him and clicks “nuct nuct…”. It is my favorite!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Onto the Largest of our poo producing offspring that harnesses the power or brilliance beyond his age.

I have to speak in code (what I can remember from my youth that is) just in case our other munchkins read this, I don’t want to blow it for them.

Daimen has come clean with his knowledge that
antaSay isA otNay ealRay
and he has known for two years when he
ustedBay isHay arentsPay uttingPay ouTay resentsPay hristmasCay Eva

2 Years Ago!
He played along so he would get more resentsPay from antaSay

What a little toot, we have been wondering when he would catch on, most kids ask questions years ago, mine just keeps it to himself because telling his parents is not in his benefit, oh boy!
He did to promise to continue the ecretSay for his brother’s sake and
help me with the resentsPay by hoppinSay, rappingWay, and Displaying

Looks like we have ourselves a new Elf-Say, what a visual difference from the Zombie child in the last post..

Trick or Treat 2009

2009-11-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Gage’s 1st Halloween
Daimen’s 11th Halloween
Kollen’s 7th Halloween (I wish he was here to see him in character)

Gage went to a pumpkin patch in his little monkey outfit sporting his favorite food on his head.

I do believe he is 1 of the 3 most handsome boys on this earth......

He first seemed thrilled about the bananna prop we brought and then seemed confused I wasn't opening it for him.

He was intrigued by the pumpkins and seemed to enjoy himself for the most part.

Instead of candy I gave my poor baby boy a nasty cold for Halloween.

He was a champ and tried to play along....

It took a bunch to get him and I to smile on Saturday but we did, long enough to get some cute pictures.....

And then it was back to our real feelings of the day.......

We talked to Kollen on the phone and I did not even get to ask him what he was for Halloween because he threw his Dad a curve ball when he asked to get his ears pierced. Jeremy said no, Kollen got mad, I was on damage control.

Daimen dressed like a Zombie, his step-mom did his makeup/costume and it looked great.

He had several events this year: The fall festival at the church, Trick or treating, and then he came home and hit behind our brick wall and jumped out and scared all our trick or treaters before giving them the goods.

(hehe looks like me in the morning)

Gage's 9 & 10 Month Letter

2009-10-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Size comparison photo coming soon to (an hurry up and un-pack the camera) theatre near you.)

Son, what a whirlwind two months…..remarkable ups and upsidedowns…

As always you are an amazing child and we are so lucky to have been given the gift to guide you here on this side of Heaven. You grow leaps and bounds daily and I still wish you would slow down a bit.

Some firsts/accomplishments/favorites from the last two months:

First…..

**Word – Jabba (grrrrrrrrrr)
**Saying Dada at the correct person
**Object other than food swallowing – stupid leaf

**Trip to the hospital which leads to
**Your first ear infection
**First time having Amoxicillin and allergic reaction to it
**First bath with Daddy
**First baby shower outside of the womb – welcomed closet in age cousin Mace

(at Mace's Baby Shower with Pappy)

**Packing and moving experience (and Last!)
**Time napping in your own room
**Taste of Mommy’s homemade baby food – you seem to be a fan
**First Flu Shot

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your 9 month check-up went well and your stats are great (as always)

Weight - 26lbs 4oz

Height - 31.5 inches

Head Circumference - BIG

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Things you have accomplished…..

--3 more teeth – you now look like this (but not for long) 5 total now

Or the normal when you won't let me take a picture look...

--Locating your little man parts or what I call “tid bits” or “turtle”

--You have become a Turtle hunting/pulling pro
--Even grabbed Daddy’s turtle during a few baths (ha, you are going to hate that I posted that - one day in the future)
--Walking while only holding on to someone with one hand
--Getting two more viruses maybe even 3

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some things you LOVE to do...........

_Bounce on any and everything

_Ride your brother like a horsey (a fit is thrown when the ride is over, oh boy)

_Walking in your walker

_Bath’s with Daddy
_Playing with Tupperware
_Shaking your Rattle (there is one you just love, I will snap a picture soon)
_Putting everything in your mouth

(even my camera lense cover, see!!!)

_Watching “Baby Signing Time”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A couple of my favorite pictures from the last two months....

(love the goofy "Benadryl" looking face, so much personality in one little boy)

Times have been tough this year with illness/teeth and I see it getting harder as you throw around your new found FREE WILL. About two weeks ago you started throwing yourself down on your bottom when we are walking you somewhere you don’t want to go, you arch your back and throw yourself backwards if we continue in our path not yours, also crying and fussing during the whole episode. I have to admit it does make me giggle a bit but we are working on “NO” and what that means and soon I am sure one of your letters will include your first spanking and it will be for having a fit. I never knew babies threw fits at 10months, maybe it’s a fluke, or you may just feel icky with all the teeth, or just maybe you are going to be a strong willed young man who needs ack um, cough, cough, morespankingsthenyourbrothersneeded, um I mean more guidance. You have hurt yourself once so far by throwing yourself back after I let you sit there after you went WAAAAaaa and sat down because I would not let you go your way (Thank God our carpet is padded and your head is thick).

Even with all the tough times, I still am so excited to run home and snuggle/hug/play with your daily (and the fact you still want me all the time still melts my heart). I love you baby boy and Thank you for loving me.

PS: I hope I get back to every month letters now that we have moved…..

Love MOMMY

Radio Silence

2009-10-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts but here is why:

WE MOVED!

and HOly Crap we have a bunch of Crap, our last house was too small for everything so we had a huge 10ft by 10ft stacked to the brim storage unit. It took movers 7 hours to clear us from the house and clear out the unit. We are still unpacking (and will for weeks I am sure).

The new house is large, amazing, and perfect (except the sun room mystery leak and the sound of gunfire when acorns hit its roof).

I love my master bathroom that is all mine (no boyz aloud). I don't have to worry about falling into the pot at 3am in the dark, there is never extra tinkle on the seat or the floor, and the shower oh the shower is da bomb. He is the greatest shower I have ever had and his name is Flavor Flav (yes I may have lost my mind but if men can name their cars Besty, Susie, etc...then my shower is worthy)

Daimen started his new school and likes it, he has a gifted mind and this school has over 150 Gifted and Talented students from around the area that magnet to this school. He is getting challenged and is looking at joining the robotics and drama team. He is in band during the day and has chosen to switch from the Baritone to the French Horn (whew***I was having a hard time fitting the baritone in my rollerskate sized/shaped car)

I will take pictures of the house soon and hope to do Gage's 9&10 month letter also(since it is already late) so you can see what the munchkin has been up too, I will give you a hint....FREE WILL!!!

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

2009-10-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Today is marked on some calendars as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and today I do remember my babies who never took a breath on earth but it is not the only day, I often remember them. I go through the "what ifs, and if only's" more times then a shrink would see fit. Jer and I tried for a baby for a LONG time and we had 3 babies, two pregnancies which made us over the moon with delight and were ripped apart when our babies were gone with nothing but memories of happiness and tons of ultrasound pictures.

It is said that the chance of miscarriage goes down to a very small number once the heartbeat is detected on a ultrasound, that was not the case for us, we saw our first angels heartbeat at 8weeks and then it was gone at 10 weeks (at Christmas). Our baby would have been 2 as of July 14th, he/she would be talking our ears off and doing a fine job at making his older brother angry by messing/breaking his stuff.

Our other babies were twins, a dangerous heterotopic twin pregnancy (thanks clomid), we got to watch every other day (ultrasounds) for about 3 weeks as one twin was expanding my right tube and the other "sparky" was growing, heart beating, all in the right place. It was a hard 3 weeks of watching, waiting, and planning. At the end of the 3rd week "Sparky" lost his/her spark and went to Heaven with his/her twin who had no chance snuggled inside my tube. Our twins would have turned one on September 23rd and surely be starting to walk while on the cusp of aggravating their older brothers, we miss you.

We love you, our Angels, we will meet again one day. Gone but not forgotten!

I would also like to say I am truly sorry to anyone who may be reading this that has lost a baby at any age of conception or after being born. I pray for you often and am honored that our babies are together in God's hands (I wonder if they are stealing each others paci's or pulling hair).

Cesspool

2009-10-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

Otherwise known as a Hospital during kill babies quick flu season. (sorry G).

Also is where we visited this past Saturday night. Let me start off by saying that not only has this child made me an idiot he has also made me germaphobic (microbiology class didn’t help either). Taking Gage to the hospital with all the flu flying about is the last thing I would ever want to do no matter how good the food is, ha. However, when his sleep disruption and fussiness the last 5 days or so proved to be more than teething at the most inconvenient 7:30pm Saturday night when his temp spiked, we were forced to head to the local cesspool with gobs of sanitizer in tow.

We hid in the corner and I tried hard not to visualize the germs particles flying through the air as we waited to get called back. A cute little curly blonde haired nurse brought us to triage get vitals. Gage kept grabbing at all the wires and stethoscope making my anxiety levels creep to a unhealthy level and I acted fast to try and keep up with his germ exploration with sanitizer and then IT happened, a conversation with the cute little nurse.

Me – sanitizing baby’s hands – “sorry I am a bit of a germaphobe”
Nurse – doing vitals – “ha, we have a saying here, those who don’t come with the flu leave with it”
Me – still sanitizing – “thanks, that really helps the anxiety”
Nurse – still touching my baby with her dirty hands – “well, what do you expect, you just brought your baby to flu central”
Me – slapping cute nurse for being an idiot and making me feel stupid and wrong

Ok, that last thing did not happen but I wanted to. I mean geesh what was I suppose to do at 730pm on a Saturday night with a baby that obviously had a festering ear infection, is there a number you just call up and WaaLaaa they order you antibiotics, if so, well I guess I did mess up and someone please give me that number.

I thought I didn’t have couth!

And,
Gage does have an ear infection, poor baby.

I need to get some of this while I wait for my glands to swell and I start to squeal.....

Duct Tape?

2009-10-08T13:05:00.001-07:00

How am I going to keep this kid alive for the next 17.3 years? He wants to eat everything and is really quick at the grab, snatch, swallow. Some examples.......

Here is a picture of a similar leaf that Gage swallowed last week. Do you see why I was worried about fungus and worms? It is a gnarly looking leaf.

Another example.....I am sitting right in front of him and he does these moves within seconds as I am snapping.

(so cute sitting there pondering)

YES- folks he is popping something in his mouth, no he is not playing with the envelope which is what I thought also, YES- he looks like a hobo baby, YES- sometimes I do suck at matching his clothes (often), NO- that was not the case that day, YES- laziness was the culprit.

So what do you think was so yummy?

Perfectly shaped and sized for choking, filet-min-ACORN, marinated in acid rain and long roasted under mid-day sun for deliciousness!

muzzle, duct tape (what, I would punch holes), ideas?

J.E.L.L.O

2009-10-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

In case you read the last post and were wondering; the texture of pOo in my house is making a turn from pre-fridge homemade jello to a nice post fridge texture. Solid Jello is the best kind jello and I am happy it came back from it's two week long water vacation.

I may be disgusting from time to time, but if you have a young child right now I bet you "get it" and if they are grown you may need to think back about diaper textures and disruptions, then I bet I get a "Amen" instead of ewww.

But the main thing on my mind is my biting child, no not me, he bites himself on his arm. He has done this in the past but never as bad as last night, his arm was really red and he left his teeth marks. 5 little chomper spots raised up in the reddened area. He does not cry when he is doing it and well I am perplexed? Just another way this kid has made me stupid, I just cant keep up.

Maybe I can get some shirts made of this:

Any Suggestions?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

On a good note he does have a good attention span for his age, he sits through 30mins of his favorite video, Baby Signing Time, he seems to love it.

I find myself singing the “diaper dance” tune while at work most days because he watches some of it before we leave in the morning.

"Tape it to the left,
tape it to the right,
so they don't fall down,
just pull them up tight,
let's dance, dance, do the diaper dance,
let's dance, dance, you've got fancy pants
just shake it, take it, scoot it, toot it,
just dance it, prance it, jump it, bump it, dump it, Wooooooooo!"

See, my brain has become a babbling pile of mush, I am not even wearing diapers, YET, I will be ready though as I am already practicing. SIGH, thanks "Baby Signing Time"

HaHaaaHaa or Waaaaaaaaaaaa!

2009-10-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

The outline of life the last 10 days or “hell week or HW” is what I will call it in the future.
(I know a normal week is 7 days, but “HW” is 10 and counting, I hope just 10)

I am going to try to keep this as brief as possible and at the end of it you will see that extra time for detailed stories is not really plausible at this point. I will also try and keep the order correct, not only for your clarity but for my record of how events unfold during “hell week” (ha, the marines ain’t got nuttin on my life)<<<<

-----------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday Sept. 23rd

Leaf swallowing
*picture of similar leaf and complete story coming soon* Fungus covered Leaf was swallowed at the (sarcastically) convenient time to assume the next two topics were caused by it and not a contagious virus.

Vomiting
*sorry no picture* Lot’s of vomiting, exorcist style, he is such a talented baby.

Diarrhea
*again no picture, sorry for the disappointment* Do I need to explain? Ok if so...it is when you pee poo.

M&P come over

to watch liquid spewing child while we were at the title company, what a blessing.

House sold

This house

Yay *insert hand clapping here*, we finally sold the one bedroom to small, laundry list of hunny do’s, currently cracked to pieces house. With a October 14th get the heck out or you will be paying hotel costs to live there rental lease was signing (remember that date, you will see it again)

-----------------------------------------------------------
Thursday Sept. 24th

Vomiting

(see above explanation)

Diarrhea
(see above explanation)

-----------------------------------------------------------
Friday Sept. 25th

New House failing inspection

This House
(failing - that’s what you call it when the inspector refuses to finish his job, failing?)
Um, I have nothing to say other than REALLY????? And 19 days until we have to vacate!! Inspector says "well there are a bunch of bridges in the area" SLAP!

Vomiting
(see above explanation)

Diarrhea
(see above explanation)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Saturday Sept. 26th

Flu shot cancelled

Gage is still doing fluid expulsion tricks, I make a decision to forgo the shot. Stupid Leaf

M&P come over
Was suppose to be a packing weekend but turned to feverish house hunting after previous issue. They helped tremendously, even though much packing did not get done, lots of laundry and lawn mowing did.

House hunting (with new fear of homelessness)
(sigh) found a good house, make a offer

Pre-term labor
Sister-in-Law, Laurie calls, she is having contractions every 10mins and wants to join our party (we are closer to the hospital), the contractions peter out after keeping her up most of the night (I say she grounds that boy).

-----------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Sept. 27th

Vomiting

Stops!!!!!!!!!!!

Diarrhea

Still present, accounted for, and a pedialyte induced neon green color! (aren't you glad you read that)

Worms

Sunday night September 27th Jer and I scoop the baby up and rush him to the hospital because he is pooing hundreds of black ¾ inch long worms in his still flowing diarrhea. Crying, thinking how much I suck as a mother because now my kid has worms from eating a rotten leaf off the floor. Then, it comes to me, “could it be the seeds in the banana’s he has had all week to help curve the diarrhea, naw, Jeremy will you look that up on your phone” Insert stop at the store for a beverage. Jeremy hands me the phone and waaLa, it is written all over Google, I am officially a crazy paranoid idiot, my baby does not have worms, instead just a case of the banana’s or undigested banana seeds because of his fast flowing intestines. HA, you laugh now but would you have known? I giggled all the way home because not only do I feel stupid but I am not the only one, seems as though many parents have been perplexed by banana worms in the diaper. Hmmm I wonder how many of them had a child who ate a fungus covered leaf just days before the worms? Does that make me less stupid? Is less stupid proper English? Ok I am done.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Monday Sept. 28th

New House Contract

Yay this house is awesome and the seller accepted the offer, and it is a better looking house then the lemon we were going to buy. see!!

Vomiting
Came back and dirtied my bed, AGAIN! Poor little guy, stupid leaf.

Diarrhea
Still HERE!

-----------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday Sept. 29th

New House Inspection

Wow, 35pages, the guy is thorough and takes lots of pictures, 2 majorish issues, the rest is because the house was build in 1965 and codes change.

New house issues being addressed
More to come on this soon, I hope, 12 days until homelessness

Vomiting
I was prepared for it with his morning bottle in one hand and a huge bath towel in the other, squeezed my butt cheeks every time he coughed, just waiting for the title wave and tada, nothing but smiles.

Diarrhea
Still present but getting better.

A Tooth Emerges
That is 5 now and here is the placement. PS: I hate the toothfairy, oh wait that is me, right?

-----------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday Sept. 30th

Vomiting
Ha, you thought it was Gage still, well you are wrong, I woke up vomiting, continued on the way into work (thank you Styrofoam cups on my floorboard). Then I had a realization, that Gage must have had a virus and the leaf was bad timing because I did not eat any leafs, sigh. This kid has made me a moron, or I was a closet moron and he just opened the door, I dunno, I feel too stupid to figure it out. If we knew he had a virus we would not have had my, about to drop my baby nephew Mace any second sister in law and family over for obvious reasons dealing mainly with their and the new babies health. Sigh, sorry guys, stupid leaf.

A Beautiful Baby is Born
Mace was born 9/30/09 at 9:45am weighing in at 8lbs 13oz and 21 1/2inches long. Here is a picture right after birth.

Mace: “What the heck just happened and who the heck are you?” (you can insert your own words, but my blog is rated G, remember)
He is a cutie and I hope to see him when I am virus free. Congratulations: Blake, Laurie, Audrey and Nolan. Welcome to the family Mace!!

A Love Affair
Get your mind out of the gutters: I *heart* Zofran (leftover nausea med from pregnancy), after all I am a mom and being sick is NOT allowed.

New House Issues

being addressed More to come on this soon, I hope, 12 days until homelessness
-----------------------------------------------------------

Thursday Oct. 1st

A Love Affair Continues

I *heart* Zofran A LOT

A Flu Test
It was negative so no time off for me, pull up the big girl panties that say “Friday” and go to work.

Carpet Burns

(haha, bet you are in the gutter again, sorry my life is not THAT interesting)
I thought a stupid mosquito was biting the top of Gage’s feet for days, they just kept getting redder in different places, even on the tops of his toes, until last night when he showed me his new trick, it goes like this: Stand up and run as fast as you can in your walker, then sit down real quick, and make sure you drag the top of your feet on the carpet until you stop, wash, rinse, repeat! I told you, this kid has made me an idiot, SIGH!

-----------------------------------------------------------

TODAY...

Vomiting

None, whew, so far, however I have my lover (Zofran) close.

Diarhea

Still not solid in diapers in my house, soon I hope!

Everything Else

Still stable as of Now! HW may be coming to an end!

EXHALE........

Jabba

2009-09-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Jabba,

My girl, the only “daughter” in my life (until the boys get married), the only other women in my house, the greatest furbaby i could ever have, my protector, adorable 55lbs of wrinkles that graciously took a back seat when Gage was born and never rebelled one bit, girl, you are the best. Really!!!

As a puppy you were a “stand out”, over 20 wrinkles on you little tail, everyone loved you, strutting you unbalanced body around, snorting like a little piglet cause your pallet was so long it was suffocating you. After surgery to help you breath girl, I will admit, I did miss the snorting and wished I had taped it, but was happy you could breath and WOW, what energy you had then.

You are a bit neurotic when it comes to cutting your nails so I do have to drug you for your own sanity and heart heath, but look, you still snuggle after a bath, even with your sweater on, hyped up on doggy crack (I was not strangling you but merely helping to hold your head up)

As a teenager and adult you defiantly started to show you protective side and were not shy at voicing your will at strangers, even cars driving by. We tried to keep you socialized but you are you, and that is that.

Girl, we even shared a pillow with that pesky kitty friend of yours and daddy's!

However big girl, I got to tell ya, I am kind of, um well *looking down, jamming heel into the dirt*, JEALOUS!

Shamefully for several reasons I have the green eye of envy…..

(Not for the reason you are thinking....I have No urge to be able to clean my own bottom with my mouth! )

You get to lie around and sleep all day (yes girl I found out)

Your wrinkles look fantastic without moisturizer

Let’s face it; you get to walk around in the “buff”, ALL the time

You don’t have to take off any clothes to go potty

You get to potty where ever, when ever, you want (I am grateful that you hold it while I am working though)

Never once do you have to wonder if your hips or booty is too big

Get to chase the cat

You don’t have to cut your nails, clean your ears, or bath everyday (so yeah, I don’t either but we are talking about YOU here)

And most of all girl….my one and only time left, last chance ever, been working on for 9 months now, son’s first word is not mama, nor dada, he said.......

JABBA!
as he chased you in his walker, pfftt.. traitor!

T-n-TT

2009-09-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

TwooFies & Tidbit Tugging

Twoof – For those of you that have never had a toothache or one pulled, that is what tooth sounds like when in you are in pain, add talking about more than one twoof and you get twoofies.

Gage is still cutting teeth at an awe inspiring rate; he gets about a week off in between each it seems. His fourth (top left) twoof has come through and its partner to the right is catching up on the action, I figure it will be partying with the rest of them with-in a week, poor baby. So if you take a: black n blue, swollen, bloody, separating to quickly, set of baby gums, Add one not so nice cold virus and what do you get?

Pain + Hurt + Ouch + runny nose + cough + fever = X

What is the value of X?

X= sleep deprived, over-stressed, slime covered mommy *(multiplied) by the power of more house buying/selling issues, structural engineer making a report on our home, and closing get pushed again + the addition of 5-6 new work projects = the biggest reason for the lack of posts over the last two weeks, along with a over-frazzled looking mother/wife/employee.

(you know you look bad when the local “deprived” dirty construction workers quit gawking as you walk by)

Twoof Update (yes I started this post earlier this week):
His cold is trying to get better, the twoof has broken through, the other is moving downward FAST, and the sleep vs. slime amounts have shifted in my favor on the curve. If I could get a picture in his mouth before he succeeded on getting the lense in his mouth, this is what it would look like....

OK now the TT or Tidbit Tugging

Let me set the stage: About 1.5 weeks ago as we left the shower (we plug it and make a 3inch bath/shower) Gage discovered that, “he’s a boy”, he saw a little turtle peaking from under the water and grabbed it as I was lifting him out, I had a giggle and we moved on to getting dried and dressed.

…………….Fast Forward 48 Hours……………

As soon as Dad put him in the shower with me, he remembered his turtle friend and snatched it, before I even sat him all the way down. People, I am not talking about touching it, but full hand grabbing and pulling. I found myself saying:

Honey those are your boy parts, don’t pull them off

Honey, your testicle sac is not suppose to come up that far!

No, it is NOT a necklace!

Gage, you are going to hurt yourself!

Son, Put the PePe down!

Please, LEAVE THE TURTLE ALONE!

Fine, pull it off, it is yours!

The rest of the bath went like this…..
-Pull turtle as hard as possible until it slips from between his little fingers
-See a toy
-Shake it
-Catch a glimpse of a turtle head peaking above water
-Drop toy
-Grab turtle and turtle nuts,
-Pull, until you lose them in the deep grey water (yes he can be a dirty boy)
-See a toy
-Shake it
-Catch a glimpse of the turtle head peaking above water
-Drop toy

-------------------*wash, rinse, repeat*-----------------------------

His poor turtle was so red.

However, from his angle and without knowledge of body parts or reptiles, he only see’s above the water and what he see’s does look interesting, plus it moves….

So I guess I “Get IT”, the positives is that it does help with Hand-Eye-Coordination. Wait until I tell his pediatrician how hard he has been practicing…

UPDATE: as of last night….
If you were thinking he would get bored with Turtle Hunting, well you are wrong, it is his favorite bath toy. What do I do, you ask? I spend the whole time trying not to laugh.

*wondering how long until he figures out that the turtle also plays in urine soaked cotton diapers at changing time, stay tuned*

SHARING

2009-09-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share just a few silly tid bits of life, a little window into my personality.

The picture and subject of this post is the 2009 "the company I work for" Annual Golf Tournament Trophy. IF you read the plaque on the trophy, you might have seen where I boxed out the companies name (for crazy people purposes) and find the words "Bringing up the Rear", that 's right folks, DAL stands for DEAD A** LAST. This trophy is given to the team in last place out of usually about 22 teams of 4, and a bonus this year is that the trophy had a Jack a** bobble butt feature, truly amazing in my eyes.

The teams are pretty even when it comes to experience, each having a "A" player (really good, golfs more than the wife likes), the classic "D" player (lucky if you can hit the ball, forget directionality), and then two players in the middle of that spectrum. The first place team gets a prize and the last place gets the trophy, my team has always come placed middle of the road at the tournaments. Each year when the roster of the team groups goes out the first thing I look for is how bad our players are so I can gauge our trophy chances. This year I was syked, somehow there was an issue and our team had 3 girls and 1 guy, which means nothing, unless the girls are all "D" players and the rules say you have to use at least one drive from each person on the team. My eyes lit up and I danced around, "I am going to get my trophy".

The day of the tournament the guy on our team, I will call him W, sat with us and I said "SO who did you make angry, seeing how you got 3 "D" players on your team", "You must have drawn the short straw", "hey W, I really think we have a good chance at the DAL trophy this year", he laughed and said stuff about how he was sure we were better at golf then even we thought. hahahahah such a nice man.

All during the game as golf balls flew in all short of directions and never really far when they did actually go the right way, I kept saying "I think that trophy is ours", I was excited we sucked. W actually said "do you want us to throw the game so we can get the trophy", still very nice of him but I responded "NO, I want to EARN the trophy, I want to be the suckiest team because we suck, not cheated, I want to look at the trophy with pride that it was meant to be ours because our rotten golf team, not rotten morals", so try for real we did.

Towards the middle and end of the tournament (I had to leave 3 holes early) we seemed to get better and stayed 1 or 2 below par, I felt the trophy once again slipping away, couldn't help but wonder if we sucked enough. The thoughts of "hey we might win this" even came out of our "A" player W's mouth. As I left I truly felt that we would be far from a trophy last place "victory" and most likely just short of the first place prize, which is not as good as the last place prize in my book, but oh well, we thought we sucked enough in the beginning but beginners luck must have been on our side.

Insert leaving early and two day weekend......

The following Monday morning I went to W's office knowing he would know what place we ended up in, I nearly fell on the floor when I saw the DAL trophy, my trophy, the donkey, sitting perched so perfectly on his file cabinet. W was a newer employee of the company so I knew it was from this golf tournament and not any others, however it could belong to someone else. W turned around in his chair, I said "well", he pointed to the trophy and cracked a grin, I jumped up and down (mature I am not), finally after 5 years of wanting the DAL trophy it was mine, we earned it, fair in square, we did suck THAT BAD, and I love it.

Without further ado......I present for your viewing pleasure my teams 2009, well earned, happily received, DAL trophy.........

(sorry the picture was taken with my phone camera, and yes the butt does bobble)

Never an Equal

2009-09-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Or otherwise titled, doesn’t matter how many babies you pop out, once an infertile, always infertile (but I thought that may be to long).

Disclaimer: Let me start by saying (those who know me know this and either love or hate it), I am not a quiet person, I always speak my mind, some would say very blunt and with a need for more couth. I say that life is too short to sweeten everything up beyond the truth just to please everyone. I am not one to make things seem sweeter than they are. One of my quotes is “I don’t like my cake with icing because if the cake is good then you don’t need icing”. I never kept my loses/our babies a secret, I will openly talk about infertility and our battle, and when in the hall if people say “Hi, how are you/the kids” I don’t just say great and walk off, I answer them honestly. I have learned that most people don’t want to hear the truth unless it is good but that is not me, if you are brave enough to ask, then I should be brave enough to tell, and I am, so I do.

I am not referring to the overwhelming fear of losing babies that infertility brings upon those involved, but more like the battle to be seen as any other mother. Going through the pain of wanting what seems to come so easy to everyone else, the single teenager down the road, drug addict, or jobless women who always goes back to her always abusive and incarcerated baby daddy to become pregnant every 9 months, the local supermarket where no matter what direction you look in there are baby bellies everywhere, the “common women” who get pregnant when she wants to. The urge to get up to the same level as everyone else is a constant battle, you just want, strive, and fight to play on the same field, to be what is suppose to come so easy, a mom. A mom I am, but apparently never on the same playing field.

It seems as though I am forever labeled in many people’s eyes, I am not a mom without a label.

When people ask me how Gage/I am doing, I do not put icing on my answer, I give it like it is. Answers could be “great, such a joy, lovely, fantastic, moving all around, or the answers could be, “he is having a tough week, he is teething, he is not sleeping well right now, he is sick, I am tired, I am having a hard week because Gage is, etc….. When I give the truth and it is anything but positive, 80% of the time I get these responses….”well you WANTED a baby, isn’t this what YOU wanted, kids are tough you should have thought about that before you tried so hard, etc….
I do believe that people would never say that to a women who had 5 kids as easy as making pancakes, I do believe people would say “that sucks, sorry, hope you get some more sleep tonight, hope the kids/you feel better, etc…”. I know this people don’t mean ill harm by what they say; well at least I hope they don’t, but it still stings a bit.

So in conclusion apparently if you have to struggle in life you are not allowed to be tired, sick, frustrated, as other moms do. I am suppose to be rosy sunshine on 2 hours of interrupted sleep when my baby is teething, fussy, inconsolable, look great as I struggle through the work day, skip around with a grin ear to ear because I was finally able to have a baby, then drive home and be Susie homemaker spewing rainbows from my mouth as I spend time with my super fussy, overtired teething child, then dream of puppy dogs and lollipops why I get another two hours of interrupted sleep before starting the same process over again, because after all “I wanted a baby” and obviously because I had to struggle to have one I am not allowed to be anything but overjoyed 24 hours a day. After so long wanting to get on the same playing field as what seems like every other women in the world is on, I have come to realize I will never be on that field in everyone’s eyes but in my kids eyes I am not only on the field, I OWN it, and that is what is most important, the rest is just blahh.

Sorry about the rant, I just had to get that out, and just maybe one of those people who say stupid things to people who have struggled will read this and “get it”.

Gage's 7 & 8 Month Letter

2009-08-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

(again a two month difference, beginning of month 6 (left) and month 8 (right), your face is changing from baby to little boy)

Gage,

WOW what an eventful two months young man, let’s highlight it, shall we:

What a ride young man, the last two months have been the busiest by far as it pertains to work, house buying/selling issues, and once again Daycare. You have also been busy in your new “tricks”, fine tuning skills, and firsts.

Month 7 began with spending lots of time getting accustomed to your new daycare schedule, the MDO (mother’s day out) program that was Tuesday – Thursday went pretty much like I thought, not much sleep but better environment and care. Then in the morning and on Monday and Friday you spend your days with M and her kids. Those days were my favorite and I think yours also, sleep was abundant, attention was great, and between these two months at M’s and MDO the most you were sick was a couple of days with the common cold.

On June 21st you were quite cranky to the point it was mysterious (you’ll see why so cranky below) so we figured that since you enjoy going ballistic in the bath and shower

that you might really dig the swimming pool, you were in awe of the water, and splashed the entire time, giggles we had not heard in days came back, you loved choking on the water when it splashed in your face (a bit weird son). No matter how much you choked you continued to splash and laugh, the hardest thing was holding onto your wet squirmy body mass and keep your head above water, I do believe just as your brothers are, you are going to be our third water bug.

Then your big/middle brother came down for 6 weeks and he just adores you, from my eyes you too look a lot alike, in Kollen’s words “Gage, you are husky, like me”.

The day Kollen got here June 24th, you cut your first tooth through (bottom front right), I knew you had been cranky and restless for a few days but I was still shocked when you grabbed my finger and bit me, after that you would not let me touch or even get close enough to take a picture of the new pearly white, I imagine it was sore, and that is when we learned you can clamp your mouth closed with as much ferocity as a Venus Fly Trap.

Kollen got here just in time to be at your Aunt Sarah’s wedding, where you made a grand appearance in your first tux at your fist wedding, a cute tux designed onesie because after all it was an outside wedding, the later part of June, in Texas, with record highs of 109’s.

The night before the wedding you went to what no other man was allowed, that’s right big boy, you were at your first (most likely last) baccalaureate party and demonstrated to all your angel side (ha, they have not seen you a few days previous while teething).

Even with a smaller than normal amount of sleep because you were partying hardy with us girls (watching movies) you still were very well behaved meeting all your relatives that traveled in and coping with the numerous amount of people, son I was proud.

The weekend after the wedding which happened to also be july 4th, we traveling back to M&Ps to have our annual family picture captured. We had the same photographer that took my maternity pics and your Aunt Sarah’s wedding came back and we are pleased that she took our family pictures. We did our immediate family first and I finally was able to see some of my complete family picture visions come together.

While doing the big family picture we always have kid drama and this year you added to the cast of characters, if you were not trying to bend in half to pull Mu’s hair then you were paying attention to your Cousin Nolan (who was also not paying attention), and not one bit interested in the photographer regardless of how much she shook your (favorite at the time) dragon toy, you would not even glance her way. I love the BIG family pics that contain drama and it makes me smile/giggle remembering the moment, so bravo to you and your cousins.

On July 9th you cut your second tooth (bottom front left), only two weeks after the first, you show-off. It was not as much as a surprise as the first because you went through the same 5 days of ick before it emerged; let’s just say the tooth fairy is not welcomed in our house anytime soon, unless she/he is going to start getting up with you every 30-45mins all night long for 5 days.

Some other firsts during month 7:

* Holding your toes, and you do it often.

*Trying carrots
*Getting your pacifier back into your mouth
*Pushing your upper body off the ground and moving backwards

Here are a couple of my favorite pics from your 7th month:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONTH 8

At the beginning of month 8 we had quite an adventure, an 11 hour trip to visit/meet your great grandparents in Alabama (more on that trip in another post). It was a hard 5 days in many ways but we were able to show you off to more family you have not yet met. The afternoon after we got to Alabama and were headed to the farm to meet up with the family we had to put you back in the seat you had not too long previous spent 11 hours in and son you had a first, yup, your first arms flailing, high pitch peeved off screech, baby tantrum, and son I completely understood, I did not want to get back in my seat either but I was working on 36 hours with no sleep at that moment and had no energy to throw myself on the ground and scream (but I did think about it).

Here is the big family picture.

and the reason for the trip, to meet your Great Grandma & PawPaw

After we returned from our adventure, it was time to say forget fruit, they all seem to upset your stomach and moved onto vegetables, you loved everything we gave you and then the spider monkey was born. I don’t know, maybe because your sensitive stomach caused you to be late starting consistent solids, baby jars are cool, anything tastes better than your hypoallergenic formula, or you just enjoyed watching me trying to catch flying baby food, whatever it was you transformed into a spider monkey on crack when you put you in your chair to eat. The first time your un-expecting mother put the bowl in arms reach and within milliseconds you, myself, and the floor was covered in pureed carrots, then it was the lightning fast hands that were determined that they could shovel faster than me, and if that was not enough, a nice raspberry zurbert thus spitting food in a spray like fashion after every bite, which should explain your spider monkey feeding status. Our ceiling still has sweet potatoes on it, yes son, they stain. I do wish we would have gotten the fiasco on tape because it was hilarious if you were not the one dodging the spray of food why trying to navigate the faster than lightning hands and after a week or so you figured out that sitting mostly still and controlling your grabby limbs equaled food faster, so all we have is memories of that week and most of me is very ok with that. You tried lots of different vegi's and sweet potatoes are your favorite with peas on the other side of the spectrum. From then to current your stomach is doing much better with digestion and you each 3 meals a day, 2 snacks, and even are able to consume apples with your cereal in the morning (instead of sweet potato oatmeal, yuck)

You had another set of shots in August, a new nurse was the morbid pain administer, and she was great. I will admit his normal nurse has like 35 years experience so when I saw this young new thang I was worried, she had all three shots done within 3 seconds, I picked you up right away and the crying stopped even before a tear formed, I was amazed and pleased. I looked at Gage, neither one of us with a tear in our eyes, and at that moment I realized we were both becoming big boys. Onto some stats, your weight has finally slowed a bit, you were gaining ½ pound a week since birth and even then you were a week early and still weighed 9lbs 1oz, so add that with two pounds a month after and it sums up your nicknames “thunder thighs, peanut butter, chunky monkey, etc ..”

Stats on 8/7/09 at 34weeks or beginning of month 8
Weight 23lbs 4ozs
Height 29 ¾ inches
Head 18 ¾ inches

Some firsts this month include but surely not limited to:

*Sitting up by yourself (once put in that position by someone and you can do it without the cushion, just mom is a scaredy cat)
*Your first house hunting adventures, just for reference, you are NOT a fan

*Your discovered our animals and squeal real loud when they come close (which does drive them away, or maybe it’s the hair pulling, hmmmmm)

*That brings us to a whole new level of hair pulling, with your quicker than most, spider monkey hands, which also lead to your first (maybe last) doll, to distract you from my hair I hoped this little doll with long tough yarn hair would do the trick, *sigh* you are not dumb and the fake hair does not seem to fullfill your hair obsession.

*Your first time laughing at me when I said NO real sternly to you after a consistant hair pulling session at 11pm one night (post to come soon)

*You ate your first mashed potatoes, and did so by yourself for the first time, at a very busy restaurant (which directly lead to your next first)

*You were stripped down to only a diaper in public, at the dinner table in a populated restaurant, before we took you out to the car. Made me wonder if “No Shirts, No Shoes, No Service” was intended for all patrons because if so, you broke rules for the first time and didn’t even shed a tear about it.

You have also learned some new things recently, some cute new tricks during month 8 are:

*You bounce on any and everything, excersaucer, walk, bouncer, hips, legs etc….We need to get you a horse soon because similar to gummy bears, I believe you are going to bounce to get to a destination instead of walk. You have strong legs because of all the bouncing….

Look at all that muscle, haha
*You are a rough houser and your daddy is happy to oblige, you like to wrestle, be thrown up, down, around, through etc….We do a shark game where I make the JAWS soundtrack noise, dah domp………..you smile,… dah domp……..you flip over,.. dah domp…..you try to crawl away, arms and legs flapping, face down on the bed, dah domp...dah domp..dah domp.dah domp, SQUEAL (even before I touch you), and then laugh when I get your side with a raspberry.

*Then you have a quiet side where you like to read the Bible to Daddy (exspecially turning the pages)

*And Lastly, one of my favorites, you wrinkle your nose when you are really happy and also do it when you are mad (Jeremy calls that the “I hate You” look) I have only caught a few almost pics of this wrinkle you do quite often because as soon as I get the camera you quit what you are doing and jump for it. (Here is a "almost wrinkle" picture)

Below are two of my favorite 8th month photos, I do enjoy the smiles but am a sucker for the

solemn almost sad photos, and most of all, your eyes are starting to shape out like mine (downdroop puppydoggish) and because nothing much except your jacked up pinky toes resemble me, I am tickled that I can see my eyes in yours. Pssst.... you big brother has then also.

Son, you are such a blessing, even in the darkest of teething sleepless nights. I am proud to be your mom and just love watching you grow and learn. I can not wait until one day you can look back and say “my mom technologically kept up my baby book on her blog”, ok so you are a boy and most likely won’t care, but I will.

Love, Mom

(sorry this turned into more of a book, then a letter, but you are changing to fast)

Stress, Splashing, Stealing, Swinging, Supersized Sibling

2009-08-25T10:55:00.001-07:00

A TON OF STRESS!
As I stated before our not enough room for our family only a two bedroom house is under contract (still), the guy that is trying to buy it is having financing issues, closing keeps getting pushed back, add the whole school is starting (crap that came quickly) thing, piled with house hunting, working full time, trying to keep the house in showing condition (and failing), at work the OMG it is quarterly(all the VP’s and President of the company come to see how we are spending all those millions), Gage cutting 3 teeth at the same time, and right in the middle of that we got “sorry I can’t watch Gage anymore” babysitter situation, which lead to the “you got one week to find quality care” that usually has a 8 month waiting list or at one hot spot daycare I got the, “we might be able to fit him in when he is 4.

*SIGH* as you can see life has been easy squeezy, or maybe I am talking about my belly.

Well as I mentioned above Gage is running a teething marathon and thinks that pushing one tooth through at a time is for losers, two at a time is wimpy, so he wants to be original and go for three. Since Thursday he has made it real clear he is not happy about the chomper situation with added sleep deprivation even (we are talking waking every 45 mins deprivation). He has both front bottom and we all know what is coming next, the top ones right, so I have been applying oragel for the last five days to his terribly over swollen top gums. I only get one shot with the numbing gel until he locks his mouth like a 3 foot deep metal safe at the nations gold storage facility. A fan of oragel he is not! Last night while changing him I noticed a white spec on the lower right bottom next to the tooth he pushed through last, YOU GOT IT, he cut one through on the bottom left entirely out of popular order and previously unseen by me(drawing/picture below if you are a visual learner). I felt really bad I had not been putting gel on that area, but how was I suppose to know his teeth were NOT playing by the rules? Is this a sign of things to come?

A BUNCH OF SPLASHING.....

ON a happier note, we found out about a free splash park in our local area, we have lived here 10 years and am just now finding this place, WOW, I am usually up to date on free fun, I must be getting rusty. Gage was really cranky so we decided to get his mind off his gums and onto his favorite pleasure, water. He has no fear of splashing, drinking, showering down water. Weird, yuh a bit, but makes for cute pictures.

A TAD BIT OF STEALING......

SOME FUN SWINGING......

Look both our babes enjoying the baby swings or alternatively titled “Daimen’s girlfriend blackmail”…..

A VERY LOVED SUPERSIZED SIBLING......
Daimen came home from what seemed like months but was really 3 weeks with his dad. He came to the splash park and also enjoyed it. It is good to have him home again. He is my jolly green (but not) giant…..

Look at those "baby guns"

"Not Me Monday"

2009-08-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

It is therapy time.....Session 4

(join in on the "not me" Monday posts where you can confess your faults by not confessing) Head on over to Mckmama's blog at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ the creator of this kind of therapy.

I did not let my newly 8 months old son eat his first helping of mashed potatoes by himself for the first time with a soup spoon in a very populated restaurant. Between sucking the mash off the spoon he did not also use the table as a drum set with the same utensil. I also would not have not packed a bib for our outing and just say “ah wateva” while I stripped him down do his diaper at the table when we were ready to go (as to not get mashed all over the car), no way, "NOT ME", come on, we are classier than that.

I do not regularly let my baby bath face down because he thinks he can swim and loves it, I mean we covered this before, I KNOW he could drown, "NOT ME".

I did NOT have Jer flip the baby upside down when he drank the pool water and Gage Does NOT ever drink the peepee water when swimming because it’s nasty and his parents are safer than that, no way "NOT ME or HIM".

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

If you know me then you know "wordless" is nearly impossible, so almost wordless wednesday is more like it.

Here are some of the family pictures we had done by Tami (the photographer who did my maternity pics and Sarahs wedding), she came out to M&P's house and took these amazing pictures.

(Attached is most of our poses, my favorites of Laurie and Blake's, M&P (just thrown in there photo that turned out great), and the BIG family photo with charator of course)

Then my sister-inlaw Laurie, her husband Blake and babes (oldest to youngest) Nolan, Audrey, and Mace, who is playing hide-n-seek in mom's uterus.

A great picture of M&P, I like how un-posed (because it was) the picture is and that you can see glimpses of everyone looking at the love-birds.

And the main reason for the family pictures is the "everyone" picture that is updated yearly and always has some issue, this year it was Gage trying to grab at people's hair (Mu), Audrey screaming, Gage (when not pulling MU's hair) is looking down at Nolan, who is looking at something that is not the camera, I wonder what charator the kids will add to next years photo (I am sure it will be funny).

Karma - Nah

2009-08-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

Well after a glorious 3 days of picking on/joking with Jer about his criminal status as he was pulled over last week and given ticket for $22 because of an inspection expiration, I get pulled over this morning for going 13 miles over the limit (with the flow of traffic, just in the lane closet to the "Oh crap", I mean cop).

Jokes on who?

I think I am going to owe more than $22, so I guess I am the better criminal.

"Not Me Monday"

2009-08-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

It is therapy time.....Session 3

(join in on the "not me" Monday posts where you can confess your faults by not confessing)
Head on over to Mckmama's blog at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ the creator of this kind of therapy.

I did not go to the local toy store and insist we buy our baby boy a doll (pictured below but brunette like mom) because he is determined to pull every strand of my and the babysitters (M's) hair out with his obsession to sooth himself/play with our previously connected locks. I did not rip out the hair ties of the baby doll in the store to make sure her hair fell down and would be long and strong enough to pull on, NO Way, "NOT ME".

I also did not then visualize and ponder getting a dress to put him in just so I could take one picture of him with his doll and see what having a little girl would look like, I mean that would surly cause some kind of confession so I would have never thought of doing that, "NOT ME".

As stated before, I do not have an issue with time for bathing therefore I did not purchase dry shampoo so that I could go longer without grease build up and stench from lack of washing my hair, "NOT ME".

Several little tid-bits = an update

2009-08-04T13:34:00.001-07:00

Well Kollen flew back to his other home Saturday. The flight was early and he enjoyed his last night out of town with just his dad and no bedtime. We will see you at Christmas little man.

Daimen is also gone for 3weeks, he is with his Dad and family for the remainder of the summer and they are in Dallas on vacation as we speak. Have fun young man.

That leaves just us old folks and the youngest trouble maker, who is making his presence and dislike for the tooth fairy very loudly known. His little gums are not so little, very swollen, and red with soreness. I really hope those two top chompers come in real soon and give him a bit of a break.

In other, more annoying news, I lost the SD card to our camera, hence the lack of pictures lately. I love taking photos of my kiddos and missed many photogenic opportunities as of late. We bought a new one and are just blessed that the lost one did not hold any pictures that we did not have backed up on our computers. Because of the lost memory stick I did not get a growth picture of Gage with his monkey at 7months so I will be doing a two month letter/picture in a post coming soon. The last two months have been full on new tricks and fun firsts for our youngest so I am guessing it will be a long letter.

House Update: We are still waiting to see if the buyer gets his financing through the underwriter, yes we are still on hold until then, yes our house is still scheduled to close on August 14th, and if you know me you know that I am freaking out A LITTLE/lot about the time crunch and not knowing.

Other property updates: We are in the final phase of closing on our timeshare in Orlando Florida, I am gitty (like a 10 year old) about going to Disney next year and saying that Jer and I own 1/52 of a two bedroom resort condo. How cool is that?

Sense it seems so many people are drawn to my blog with foot obsessions (see last post “sticking it to google”) I thought I would share my own. I love baby feet, so cute, little, and chunky.

Agony Aunt - my 1st installment

2009-07-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

Let’s talk Google…..
Such an interesting search engine with a larger than life sense of humor, insisting on sending poor lost souls to my site in search of answers to major questions, concerns, or interests in their life.

My friend at Geohde at http://www.missionimpossibleinfertile.wordpress.com/ (or you can get there by clicking on her fancy "sticking it to google" button on my sidebar that is the same as the one at the top of this post) started posting how she answers the lost souls that land on her blog and called it Agony Aunt, Sticking it to Google. She has been doing this since 2007 and I will admit she gets me laughing enough to spit out morning liquids (soda, coffee, etc) at times. I can’t promise to be even a bit as witty or humorous Geohde so go to her blog and enjoy some spitting (she does use parentheses a lot and if you are as slow as I am you may need to read each post twice to get the whole picture)

Here are my responses to some of the key search words used by un-expecting googlers who landed on my blog (I guess the web address is viewed differently by google than myself)……

Big feet lady
Hey! I hope you know I resemble that statement. So, is that a description of an issue you have or what you are looking for in a women, maybe you should stalk the Wide section of your local shoe store instead of the internet, you might get luckier.

A man sleeping with a lady
Haha bad googler, I am guessing you are not getting lucky in both senses of the word, in your bedroom and by landing on my blog.

Guy who loves socks n feet
Wondering if you are the same guy as searcher #1, little strange but easy to please.

Lady in bed with 4 men
Oh what a bad girl/googler. The first thing I thought about with your search topic is WOW what size bed was she in, I want one, and u will see her soon on the Maury P.ovich show wondering who her baby daddy is and yelling “you know ma baby looks like YOU and YOU and YOU and YOU (then scream and run off the stage when Maury tells the little promiscuous procreator the results, NOT THE FATHER times 4). Wow I must be desensitized.

Perternaty leave 4men
I think you need my dictionary and google search for dummies book. As for your question, yes if you are very lucky and work for a reasonable establishment, Paternity Leave can be available, however you may want to contact your HR dept and not Google as each company has its own policy.

Photos of men super chubs thunder thighs and big bellies
Dear searcher, you obviously know what you want in a partner, similar to the guy in #1. My only advice is to go to your local mc.donalds or big and tall store, from what I see there is not a shortage of thunder thighs amongst us. *laughing on the inside*

How a lady dressup after a shower
Wow google are you sending everyone that searches for “lady” to my blog? Have no fear little perv full of questions, I have you answer but not without a few more questions.
1st is the lady married? If she is, then a bath robe or a flannel tent she calls pjs will most likely be adorned. If she is not married she will most like wear something real cute and skimpy hoping it will entice you to put that ring on her finger, then she will revert to women #1. Lastly, does she have young children? Shower, what shower? You will be lucky if she gets 2 a week, I promise you she will cloth herself with whatever material is closest and smells of only 1 days worth of marinating spit-up. I hope that did not discourage you dear googler.

How young to you have to be in gage
I have to say this is one of my favorites because two things popped in my mind rather quickly….

The very first thing I thought dear searcher is that you were talking about my son Gage and the answer is NEVER, by never I mean at least until he is 40 and even then he is still a boy so well….in 8 years or so when you are 18 you will know what I mean about that. (my blog is still rated G).

Then I had a big giggle when I figured out your real question……

1st Dear young YOUNG searcher you must be old enough to know that your question should be “how old” and not “how young”, you only use the term “how young” when you are asking a women her age on her birthday…it goes something like this. “Happy Birthday, how young are we today?”

2nd You have to know proper use of words in the right places of a simple sentence

3rd You need to be old enough to know how to spell the word engaged and that it is one word not two.
4th LOL you have to be old enough to pronounce the word Fiancé or fiancée and wise enough to support them

(am I the only one that pictured a 10 year old girl with a 12 year old boyfriend of 3 weeks who KNOWs she is in love and wants to be with him forever, after she finishes her juice box that is)

Not Me Monday!

2009-07-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Yes it is that time again, let's lay our heads on the faded fake leather couch and commence with therapy session #3

When my older boys came back from the pool, I did not make them take off their swimsuits outside on the deck during daylight hours because I didn’t want water spread through the house. I also did not giggle as their white little hinny’s streaked through the house to the back bedroom; I am also not laughing now as I remember the event and write it down, no way, NOT ME.

I did not let Gage taste dark chocolate several times and laugh hysterically at the slurping faces he made (video soon I hope), I know better than to give a baby chocolate, I swear I wouldn’t do that, NOT ME.

When Gage had tons of gas this past week I did not prop him with his stomach across mine and dangle my cell phone in front of him with no intentions of giving it to him, like a tease so he would grunt and strain to reach it therefore expelling gas from both ends, no way, NOT ME, that would be mean.

This weekend I did not gauge whether I needed to bath by how bitter my underarms smelt instead of the numbers of days since the last good cleaning (which was a few nights too many), how disgusting do you think I am, no way NOT ME, I have ALL the time in the world to clean my body daily.

.......NOT ME MONDAY was created by Mckmama at www.mycharmingkids.net, I have been following her for awhile now and if have seen my blog a few months past I have posted a couple times about her 8 month old infant son Stellan, who was not suppose to make it to birth because of uncontrollable SVT (fast heart beat) at 20wks in-utero. He was born and his heart appeared healed, that is until a few months ago when it came back and he spent over a month in the hospital, even air-lifted to Boston’s Children’s Hospital for a risky heart surgery. The surgery only worked partially and they have since been able to control his heart with meds, until now that is, Stellan is doing awful, he has been in uncontrollable SVT for days now, his kidneys are failing, temperature is in the 94’s, extremities are not receiving adequate blood flow and so much more. Mckmama last tweet was that they were again airlifting him to Boston however she is not sure if it is to late. I have never met this baby but feel so close to him and his family (he has 3 brothers and sisters all under 4). Please hug you babies extra close tonight no matter how old they are and say a prayer for baby Stellan, I know I will.

Here is a picture of Stellan during his last hospitalization

I need a favor,,,,,I can only read Mckmama's blog on my blackberry because of work restrictions and awful home internet (shiver, dial up), so I am asking if any of my readers do/could go to mycharmingkids.net and grab the new NOT ME MONDAY button and email it to me, I would love you forever, or just be really grateful. She did not post a NOT ME MONDAY post today for obvious reason but if you look through the archives you will find one from not long ago. Pssst while you are there say a prayer for little Stellan.

Breath

2009-07-24T11:01:00.001-07:00

We are back (have been since Sunday), it was crazy stressful, busy, tiring, but worth it to see the family. I have to say I know I earned at least 25 more grey hairs on that trip. Things are really busy right now which is why I am lacking in the posting department. All our free time has been consumed with house hunting, while in Alabama a guy made a offer and our house went under contract. It was very exciting since our house has been for sale for over a year and we have no bedroom for Gage. (you know there is a "but" in here somewhere) BUT, this week we found out the guy who is buying our house (closing August 14th) is having a hard time with financing, talk about deflating the happy balloon. So, we are again in a hurry up and wait situation, we should know by the middle of next week if the financing past the underwriter and if so will have 2 weeks before close to find yannno , SOMEWHERE TO LIVE. haha. My realtor did assure me that after close we will be leasing our home from the buyer until we close on a house, so we wont be homeless (bummer I guess i can't quit my job and stop bathing). Hope to update more soon.

ROad TriP

2009-07-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

We are packing the kids, throwing everyone in the rollerskate sized car and heading east to see the Grandparents. We will be traveling through the night (as to cut down on the "oh my bottom is sore temper tantrums) and hope to get there within 12-14 hours. FUN times, I am sure of it, haha. We will have a great time visiting for 3 days and then we do the torture trip home again.

We Can DO IT!

Yes we can! (ha)

We will make it! (maybe not with all my hair intact, but as long as I am not bald)

We can DO IT!

2009-07-13T12:22:00.001-07:00

This is my second "Not Me" Monday post. Stellan's mom (Mckmama) at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ (website that my computer at work will not longer let me visit) started "not me" Monday's as a therapeutic way to post one's own flaws (in a humorous way of course).

I have lots to NOT confess, my 2nd therapy session….

While doing grocery shopping this week I did not decide that the boys needed my favorite (more like an addiction and cannot have them in the house, like putting crack in a addicts cupboard and thinking they won’t touch it) chocolate chip pop tarts for breakfast (a huge box). Did NOT see fit to bring them home and consume (or devour like a piranha in a goldfish tank) 1200 calories worth of delicious chocolate pastry before letting the boys know we had some (in which they got 1 out of a box of 8 before the box was empty the next day), NOT ME, No way.

I am a grown responsible women and would not have altered one of my baby’s pictures into looking like the spawn of me and PaPa Smurf, NOT ME, and I did not share it with Julie and joke about my affair with the cartoon character and show her the picture of our spawn, after all I am not 10 and have way more important things to do, NOT ME!

When Kollen prematurely ran out of panties I Did Not just say “go without until I find or clean some” because I was just too tired/lazy to get out of my chair, I did not forget about his panties until two days later when I found some in the wash. I also would never call my son’s underwear panties, to their face nor on my blog, panties are what girls wear, I know that so I wouldn’t do that, nope NOT ME.

When Gage’s second tooth started making its presence known, I did not look into getting him this pacifier (pic below) and was not singing “all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”. Teething is painful, I would not make light of it, NOT ME!
(no this is not Gage in the picture, unless you move the teeth to the bottom and add 9lbs)

While bathing Gage (since he seems to be a water bug) I did not get tired of stopping him from flipping over on his belly, have Jer get me the camera, let him try the new trick, and capture a picture of him after he dunked his face in the water (as I knew he would). I know babies can drown and that any cautious mom would not let him experience a face full of water, NOT ME!

I Did not let out a Giggle when Gage took a mis-step in creeping and fell on his face on the carpet, that would be awful of anyone especially a mom, NOT ME!

And lastly, I Did Not sarcastically whisper under my breath “well at least you are not full of PoO anymore” when Jer was in the middle of a really bad upset stomach and spent most of the evening on the toilet, how uncaring of a person would do that, NOT ME, I am a nicer and more mature wife than that.
*now I know you may be disappointed, but I did not take a picture of that (maybe next time)*

Octomom

2009-07-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

NO, I am not talking about that ridiculous, selfish, mentally handicapped mother that just brought 8 babes into a world of chaos.

I am talking more about myself and my need for 8 hands while changing my hyper 6.5 month old's dirty diappee. Gage has figured out how to push you away, flip around, throw his gigantic legs down, and slap your wipe toting hands as you are trying to clean bum filth.

In the past it was a big task just trying to keep my hands and the changing pad clean while cleaning the baby booty, now we are in a whole new level of difficulty. Sometimes I feel like I am in a new video game named bum nugget battles on the POo Station 360 and I am fighting the boss, all I can think of is more hands and I might win one (and imagine how easy grocery shopping would be)

TO GAGE: for the love of all things holy and clean, please oh please child, KEEP your hands away from your bottom when it is dirty and I am "cleaning it", because we both know the next step in that sequence is .... INSERT into mouth.

TO THE PAPER/ROCK/SCISSORS WIZARD: why O why do I always have to LOOSE the P/R/S battle with Jer when Gage has a stinky?????

Some darling pics of my super squirmy stinky pants...

Gage's 5th & 6th Month Letter

2009-07-01T12:25:00.001-07:00

HALF A YEAR!

Here is the 4th month (left to right), 5th month, and 6th month growth comparison! WOW

As stated in previous post, because month 5 was full of fever, vomit, and poo (if you have nothing good to say don’t blog it) I did not get a chance to write Gage’s 5 month letter. So, here is a combo of month 5 & 6.

(deep in thought, who should I puke on next)

Gage,

You have grown so much in the last two months, not just physically, your personality and milestones/tricks. Let’s start with the negatives to get them out of the way.

Month 5 had a lot of first for you:

You had your second round of shots (late of course thanks to the numerous viruses you have managed to get you cells on).

You had your first fever in month 5 from another stomach virus which produced terribly painful gas and lead us to give you your first taste of Mylanta (you love the taste).

You had your first sinus infection which lead to your first time on antibiotics which turned into your first allergic reaction (swollen bumpy tongue, head to toe rash, and lets not forget tons of sleepless nights) in turn lead to your first doses of benydrl.

Onto the positives, firsts, and cuteness

You got to meet Vic & Deb for the first time and they just loved you to pieces. While they were here you had your first trip to the zoo, game of horse shoes, and BBQ. It was a great week and you were very well behaved.

Your appointment on May 29th (5months 2weeks) you weighed in at 21lbs 10oz with a whopping vertical measurement of 28 ¼ inches, you are a big boy and I love every bit.

(“do these stripes make me look thinner”)

You started laughing more and at more inanimate things, so cute, we are at your mercy and will do just about anything to hear that sound.

I am not sure which category this one fits into, you have figured out how to grab a fist full or two of your un-expecting mom’s hair and pulling it to your face will allow for slimy kisses at will, it sure hurts but ends with a sweet surprise.

During all your illness you did develop one super cute trait, a desire to squeeze a huggy (any kind of blanket, stuffed animal, or my hair) while sleeping. One of my favorite pics, you and your huggy (I see future black mail in this picture).

Moving on to month 6, and by moving I mean rolling all over the place.

Gage you finally figured out how to roll 360 degrees, constantly I might add. Once you learn a new trick you practice constantly, I have a feeling your ferocious trick training may become interesting in the future (as interesting as a new drummer spending 20 hours on the drums in an apartment above you).

Now that you mastered rolling, your creeping has improved; your favorite place to be is on the carpet on a blanket with your toys all around. Sometimes a loud thud means you are across the room hitting various body parts on hard furniture surfaces (we need a pen um play pen that is).
You started babbling this past month and you also practice a lot. In addition to AHHHHHH you have added, blah blah blah, da da da, ma ma ma, ya ya ya (no you have not figured out that da da and ma ma are real words describing real people yet).

("I will sleep anywhere and I mean anywhere")

Raspberries anyone? Not the fruity kind but more like the drooly kind. With the drool from these and teething you now have to adorn a bib every minute your awake or your clothes will be soak as if in a drool pool within minutes.

(your poor shirt is covered in slobber(above))

(you can see the constant stream of mouth liquid)

Gage you have a weird relationship with remote controls, kind of a love/hate thing. If someone has the remote you want it and are willing to climb for it, however if they are set on the arm of the chair in a reachable distance you will evict them to the floor without a moments notice.

Cell phones, child is this your way of telling us you are going to be an expensive teenager? We can not talk on the phone or have it anywhere in sight because you go into an excited fit of fumbling hands and body contortion to get your paws on it. We even put you on your feet while holding your upper body and dangled the cell phone in your line of sight (kinda like a horse and carrot) and you took off walking your way to the phone, you only do this trick for cell phones and bottles, hmmm electronics and food motivate you, sounds like someone else I know that made up have your DNA.

Bananas, not my mindset but you got to try bananas this month, you loved them and I could not shovel them fast enough so you tried to take over the spoon the whole time. Unfortunately you had stomach issues right after the bananas so we had to discontinue for the time being and I am going to make your food at home seeing your stomach seems real sensitive.

In the picture below you look very much like your cousin Nolan (see the Easter post to refresh who Nolan is).

Your eyes are changing, from blue to silver and now becoming brown from the pupil out. Pictured below is you eye at 6 weeks and 6 months

Since you are half a year old I thought I would show how much your face has also changed, here is your precious six week (left) next to your current little man face.

As you can see you have been real busy and keeping us busy also. We love you sweet boy and even if you wake me at the bum(this blog is rated PG) crack of dawn I cannot help but smiling and enjoying our one on one time (even if it is 3 stinking am).

Love your over-worked, over-tired, but mostly over-joyed Mother

OUCH

2009-06-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

I do believe this is my favorite picture of Gage so far. Look at that baby, isn’t he gorgeous or am I looking through the my child is the cutest glasses?

OH you agree, GREAT!

Moving on….

Gage’s sleeping habits were painfully (on me) interrupted for the last month or more. First was his nasty two week long stomach virus, then we had 3 glorious days until he caught another little stomach bug complete with fever and 7 more days of yuck. After that a couple days of mostly uninterrupted brain rest and SMACK, complete disruption, which has been going on for about 6 days now. By disruption I mean waking up 15-20 times (not joking) during my 5-6 hours of allotted sleep a night, fitful sleeping, and crying awake, I will admit I have been perplexed as to its cause. Well I should say was perplexed because the mystery was solved last night when Gage gave my finger a bite and it hurt.

Poor baby has been in pain from a pearly white jagged object erupting through his innocent previously unscathed gums. His very first tooth, we can say he is now on the fairy's rooster for future payment.

This tooth to be exact.

(bottom front left)

Gage would not let me touch it again, he is and has been sucking his lips, tongue, and fingers for the last week, and my finger is not on his suck list so he waves his hands furiously when I try to touch it.

Last night I gave him Motrin and Oragel before bed and he did sleep better, not great but better.

In other news Gage is a water baby, this past Sunday he had his first real pool time and he loved it. He splashed manically and so wiggly it was like trying to keep a greased baby piggy above water. Since the pool adventure his bath time has gotten more interesting, there is as much water on the floor, walls, and myself than in the tub when he is through (ok a bit over represented but you get it). He does not care how much water hits his face or goes down his throat and sometimes lets out a giggle after the initial face splash.

After bath time is a very cute burrito baby

In other other news….KOLLEN is here and we are excited (even though his visit began with a bunch of selfish baby momma drama, missed flights, ignorance, wasted vacation day, did I say inconsiderate baby momma drama yet, and Pappy, Sarah, and Andy picking him up 12 hours later than planned, did I say ignorant or inconsiderate drama yet). He is an amazing child and we are so happy he is here for 6 weeks.

In other other other (but no less important) news, Sarah (youngest sister in-law) and Andy are to be marriaged Saturday and we will be heading to M&Ps tomorrow for rehearsal, dinner, bachelor and ette parties, a bit of sleep and the blessed day of marriage festivities. This is the first time I will be in a wedding not as the bride that is. We are very excited and happy for SANDY (yanno Sarah and Andy)!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-17T13:45:00.001-07:00

COME ON!!!!

2009-06-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

What a month (not calendar but as in the last 30 days)! Our house has been consumed by snot, coughs, vomit, diarrhea, fussing, and too many viruses. As per my last post, my throat was killing me, after 2 days of fever and golf ball size lymph nodes I decided that maybe I did not have what the baby just got over but a new nasty bug instead, so I went to the doc.

Strep throat is its name and agony is its game.

I am better now, but wow, the last time I had strep I was about 8 years old and had my tonsils removed. Being I am a bit older and a lot larger I guess the strep bug must have improved also. This streptococcal bug body slammed me to the mat and I tried to tap out several times. I do believe I have taken over the lead and may even win the battle seeing that my lymph nodes seem to be taking on the activity of a grape in the Texas sun, they may soon even be normal again.

During my internal wrestling match Gage started to get better for a few days until a sinus infection took over. I know you have to be thinking what I am/was “COME ON, REALLY?”. He was tested for strep as a precaution (negative), and then given antibiotics for the infection.

HA you think that is the end of the story huh?

NOPE

Gage is allergic to Zithromiacin (antibiotic), OF COURSE!!! Why did we not think of that, he has been allergic to everything else so far? Poor baby has a swollen bumpy tongue, can’t suck on his pacifier (which is sooooo much fun), head to toe rash, and is sulking in a Benadryl induced stupor.

Please pass the Benadryl.

Better days soon, I Hope!

Swords For Dinner

2009-06-10T13:52:00.001-07:00

My poor swollen, scratchy, red hot colored throat is making it hard to put on my big girl panties and continue the daily work, home, work routine. You see about 2 days ago I started to feel terrible, best way I can describe it is with a picture….

That is right, imagine, I am a talented sword swallower as shown above (except my waist is not that small), during my professional swallowing act I coughed, one of those take your breath away, instant headache, pee your pants kind of cough, before I took the swords out, that is how my throat feels.

I do believe my precious little boy may have passed these germs to me because are symptoms are similar, all the way down to the fever and fussiness. I have to admit I have thought about sticking out my lower lip and whimpering for someone to hold me and the thought of drooling instead of swallowing has crossed my mind. Am I to old for a bib?

On another note…..Gage will be 6 months old next week, so under the circumstances I will be combining his 5 & 6 month letter of tricks as one. Off to eat some chloraseptic spray for dinner.

We are alive (mostly)

2009-06-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not posted in awhile, I will explain. We had a wonderful week long visit from Vic (guy that helped raise me) & Deb (his wife). It was a great visit, we have not seen them in 10 years so it was well over due (more on that visit in another post). Then it was Daimen’s Birthday Party, I will also be posting about that soon. After that we had another visitor, of the unwelcomed type, he probably looked like this.

You got it, Gage got a new stomach virus and it has been a long 8 days and going. In the middle of fever, missed work, Tylenol, pedialyte, and tons of fussing/crying I said ENOUGH with the virus ridden, no sleeping, and smelly daycare, raised my search for a better institution for my precious package. I have been searching for some weeks now but this just made me get more aggressive in my search.

I am happy to announce that he started his new summer experience today with a wonderful, quiet spoken, Christian mom of a 4, 7, and 10 year old, we will call her M for the sake of blog discretion. The kids were so excited to have a new addition this morning; it was delightful leaving him there. The sticky part of this new situation is this mom works TUE, WED, and THURS at a Mother’s Day Out (MDO) program at a local church in the 2 year old room. I also explored that place and it was just Amazing. I found M and the program by tracking down a teacher who use to be in Gage’s daycare class and quit because the center did her wrong. I only had her first name but used some great detective skills and found her, lets call her P. P is the infant teacher at the MDO and urged me to come by and see the difference between where he was at and where she is now.
Pros:

The place was huge and did not smell like a daycare
I walked into the infant room and they had 8 babies ages 0-12months and I am not kidding you, ALL of them were sleeping. The lights were turned off, lullibys playing in the background and the two staff were whispering in respect of the sleepy lumps of preciousness, a baby napping paradise I tell ya. (Gage never gets sleep at daycare because it is always loud; the infant room is connected to the toddler room, so there is never peace, dim lights, or quiet staff.
When one of the little ones woke up, he got rocked by a staff member until he drifted back to sleep. Yes that is right people, they actually hold the babies there.
Finger paint with Jello projects lined the walls
The room was 3 times the size so no walking over babies
They sanitize the toys every night (I found out that his daycare only does it once a week, if that, no wonder he is virus ridden)
The directors were very helpful and spoke with me for an hour
It is a drop in facility, so if the baby is not there, you do not pay. (so far I have paid a months worth of daycare bills because Gage has been to virus riddin to attend school, HA, and school is where he got the stinking bugs from.

Ok we all know there are going to be CONS right?
CONS:

Baby paradise is about 25% more expensive
It is only 3 days a week in the summer
Is only 830am until 230pm every day (which is difficult when I have to be at work at 7:30am

It seemed worth finding solutions to the cons and so we did. The extra cost will just have to be delt with, I am paying a ton in doctors’ bills and missed work that the extra cost is just that extra and well worth the peace of mind that he is being taking care off. P referred us to M for daycare on Mondays and Fridays and to bring Gage to work with her the rest of the week. I met with M that day and decided that she is greatness and set up a time to see her house and meet the rest of her family. We had our meeting yesterday and loved it, she is so sweet and seemed extra caring. We had to purchase a bunch of baby stuff for her house but it will be well worth it.

Today was his first day, Jer just picked him up and had to call me. He said “ wow what a difference, Gage was asleep when I got there and had been for an hour and a half, he also took a long nap this morning and went swimming in the kiddie pool, he seemed upset that I was taking him home.” Can we ask for anything more? I think not. (ok maybe we could ask that M decides to stay home after the summer and becomes Gage’s full time caregiver, she is thinking about it)

I will be posting Gage’s 5 month letter tomorrow, (late) but it will not be very positive for it has been a rough month on the little guy.

Happy 11th Birthday Son

2009-05-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

The change from year 10 (left) to year 11 (right)

9 - years away from 2 decades
7 - years away from graduation
5 - years away from a driver’s license
2 - years away from the dreaded teenager
1 - year away from a even dozen
A - few months since your first cell phone
1 - year since a decade
5 - years since wanting to cuddle your mommy
6 - years since getting caught trying to knock down your army men with your woot-woo
7 - years since the start of school (pre-K)
8 - years since your first memory
10 - years since your first word (dada) and first step (10 months)
11 years since seeing your amazing face for the first time

Daimen, I remember where I was 11 years ago, today. I was in labor, trying to bring you into the world. I won’t get into all that because you will say “ewww mom that is sick, please stop telling me that stuff”. So, I will just talk about this past year, ok?

Daimen, you are turning into such a young man, it kills me to see how fast it is going by. It seems like just yesterday you wanted to cuddle with me on the couch all the time but in real time it was about 5 years ago. Ok enough of that, let’s talk about this past calendar year.

You became a big brother again this year, that makes 3 younger brothers that look up to you as their idol, and a younger sis that well loves you in a younger sister way. In Kollen and Nick’s eyes you can do no wrong, and I have a feeling Gage will follow suit. When you play with or even just look at him, Gage just giggles and smiles forever. You even learned how to change a diaper and feed him a bottle this year. The other day at the zoo you were feeding Gage a bottle (the first time for you) and doing such a good job I said “you are hired” and in the Daimen, witty past your year’s way, you said “but I didn’t apply”! I did not expect that response but did find it hilarious. You have grown in the sarcasum category this year, sometimes it can get you into trouble but mostly is quite amusing.

You have been to a few places this past year:

New Braunfels, Texas – Camping at Yogi Bear, Tubing down the Guadalupe River, Slitterbaun
The Great Wolf Lodge – Indoor water park & resort
Florida – Visiting your family
The Villages Water park – which is where you are today with Vic and Deb

Things that have NOT changed this year:

Your hatred for tomatoes
Your puppy love for Jocie
Your interest for catching bugs
Ability to make me laugh

The love you have for Salt (below, licking the salt rock walls of the Salt Palace)

Your love for building things (including this Edible Halloween Castle)

The picky relationship you have with most foods
Your kind hearted sensitive soul
Your ever expanding ways to be a young entrepreneur

Things that HAVE changed this year

Your hate for tomato soup is now a love/obsession
The dreaded broken bone in April (Thank goodness)
Your love for computers is ever present
The new hair growth on your upper lip (wow, already a baby stash)
Learning to Man-Scape that dark Uni-brow

Drinking from a bottle for the first time in 10years (rootbear chugging contest)

As of today, your allowance went up a dollar (darn birthday inflation)

And the most remarkable of all your changes is one of my proudest days.....You were Baptised on March 22, 2009

As this week wraps up, so does 5th grade. I know you are very excited for this summers festivities and new experiences (just thinking about it all makes me tired). This coming Saturday will be your Birthday Pool Party and I am sure you will have quite a few people in attendance.

Son, I could not have asked for a better young man and I am so Thankful God gave me the gift of raising you. You have taught me so much about myself, life, and the deepest of all loves. For that, I want to Thank you. You will always be my first born, the big brother, and of course the Drama king of our family. Happy Birthday Son! I Love You!

Billy

2009-05-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

Maybe we should have named him Billy, goat that is. Gage has found a new fun obstacle that also requires daddy to be quick, Mount Saint Belly is its name and hiking is the game….

This mountain is special because it moves around and is only worth climbing when it is perched upon our bed. It is about 300mm above king bed level and covered with growth, however most of the time it is heavily blanketed with black cotton (if you ask Gage it is yummy to chew on). This mountain was created about 5 years ago, slow but steady growth shortly after marriage, if I remember right. I am certain it will be around for decades to come and from what I hear it only grows fast like that when true happiness has been achieved. So, we welcome this good luck charm in our part of the woods. Without further ado, here is Mount Saint Belly or otherwise known as “Daddy’s Keg”.

SUCCESS..............

Um I mean SUCCESS...........

And then Daddy has to be quick and grab little goats legs so he does not fall head first down the other side of mount belly, which happens to be steeper on the down side and goes about 2.5 feet below king bed level down to the hair covered sedimentary floor.

This is the scene (below) after the hiking slash/catching festivities, 2 blinks away from ZzZzzzzZzzzZzz....

I have a feeling I will be chasing a mobile destructive force really soon, similar to my friend Geohde at http://missionimpossibleinfertile.wordpress.com/, I just wont have to worry about a paci thief unless the dog counts.

Mother'S Day

2009-05-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

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Scene - #1
Time - 9am Sunday May 10th
Location - Restaurant, breakfast buffet
Attendees - Meme, Daimen, Gage, Jer, and I
Food - Not great but you can’t win them all

The food was not great but we had a good time. Meme got a necklace from all in attendance and then also Todd, Kim, Emma, and Kollen who all had a couple thousand miles excuse.

She loved her gift, a handmade custom hand stamped necklace that included all her grandkids names and their respective birthstones. It is beautiful and I hope to have one of my own one day *hint hint Jer*. Happy Mother's Day MeMe!

We were able to get some good pics of Meme with the kids.

Below is a cell phone picture of her necklace (sorry for the quality)

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Scene - #2
Time - 12pm Sunday

Date - May 10th
Location - M & P’s House

Food - Great
Attendees - Mu, Pappy, Sarah, Andy (Sarah’s fiancé), Laurie, Blake, Audrey, Nolan, Mace (in-utero), Daimen, Gage, Jer & Myself. I heard that Erin, Terrance, and his cousins made a later appearance but it was after we left.

We had a great lunch and humour courtesy of the guys and the grill at M&P’s house. That is a good look for you Pappy (below)

Ok back to Mu, she got a few gifts on this important day.....
From Laurie & Blake and Jer & I we her a custom hand stitched apron with the words “Mu’s Kitchen” on it and little stick kids representing her grandkids. It turned out so good that she didn’t want to wear it while cooking for fear it would get dirty, we insisted, once the other two girls have babies then the apron will need to be re-done, more kiddos added.
From Sarah and Andy some flowers that will last forever.
We enjoyed spending time with everyone and Mu is our lifesaver again when she stayed with us for a few days to take care of our sick baby while we worked.
Here is Mu with her apron and flowers……

Apron close-up (above), stick kids are pictured in this order…..Boy to the left is Daimen, holding Gage on his shoulders, then there is Kollen holding Audrey’s hand, and lastly Nolan carrying his baby brother Mace in his arms.

I do not think I have introduced Andy or Blake, so here ya go…..Pictured to the left is Andy (future brother in-law, fiancé of Sarah, and amazing musician) and to the right is Blake (brother in-law, husband to Laurie, and a pain in the funny bone).

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Fast Forward A Week

Scene - #3
Time - all day

Date - Sunday May 17th
Location - My House
Attendees - Daimen, Gage, Jer, and I

Food - Doughnuts for breakfast & Taco Bell for lunch

Because Mother’s Day during Scene 1 & 2 was meant to celebrate Mu & Meme as mothers which also means a full day away from home, we decided that Mother’s day for me would be the next Sunday. Also, Gage was feeling better by this past Sunday so that made it a lot less stressful for me to have waited a week. Daimen started by giving me a handmade card,

the contents were a bunch of Mother’s Day poems, most of them from a Mother’s Day poem book, however one poem stood out. I think the author of this poem is amazing and his words touched me deeply….Daimen himself wrote this for me….

You are the most beautiful flower in the garden
The most friendly kitten in the boy
And the brightest star in the sky
I Love You! Love Daimen

Then this one he copied from the book was also wonderful….

God’s Gift
My mother is a special gift
A special gift that God gave me
I’d be lost and lonely without her
If God took her away you see
I love her so much
That I couldn’t bear to live without her healing touch
Thank-you God for giving me such a loving mother
For I wouldn’t want to be part of no other

I have a very sensitive oldest son and I wouldn't want it any other way. Then I unwrapped the gift from Daimen, Kollen, and Gage, it was bunch of pictures of my boys in a frame that has a I “heart” Mommy cutout for the pics. (Pictured below is the frame and card)

The boys picked out the pictures and Jer put it together, so sweet. I have it up in my office right now and find myself looking at it alot. Then Jer gave me a wooden box that has a painted tile on the top of it that says “Mommy’s Treasure Box” and has, well, here look for yourself

My normally un-sensitive husband stepped way out and gave me more than a gift but a memorial of all our babies. Of course the 3 I speak about the most are printed on there but Jer and I have 3 more babies, they are in the Lord’s hands but they are still ours and I still think about them. Our first little angel would have been 2 this July 14th and the twins (who would have never made it as twins (one was in my tube) would be 8 months old now. I must say this was the best Mother’s Day ever, not just because of the gifts, but because all our babies were thought of on that day.

Wordless Wednesday -Gage 21wks

2009-05-20T12:05:00.001-07:00

(Daimen took all the pictures below, I think we have a skilled photographer on our hands (why do people say "on our hands", he is not on our hands at all, he is way to big for that?))

"Not Me" Monday

2009-05-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

This is my first "Not Me" Monday post. Stellan's mom (Mckmama) at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ (website that my computer at work will not longer let me visit) started "not me" Monday's as a therapeutic way to post one's own flaws (in a humours way of course).

I present to you my first therapy session:

I "would not" joyfully take pictures of my sick baby covered in snot after a gigantic sneezing session and "did not" become bitter at my camera because the pictures are fuzzy and it missed the huge snot bubble he blew, "not me", no that would be disgusting and I am more mature than that.

There is "no way" I would have thrown caution and size 12 pants to the wind and consume enough heresy’s chocolate to be equivalent to the size of a house brick this weekend, and I "did not" ask my husband to go get me some more at the store when I ran out, nope “not me”, that would be dangerous and go right to my hips.
::

Oh my, I would never let my now 5 month old son explore the wind maker in my office with his little, delicate, unscathed fingers, nope, "not me". Truly, I know it is better to steer babies away from curious objects like fans then to let them cautiously explore them with their hands.
::

I would never be a “not cool mom” and insist my 10 year old boy learn how to change a diaper. It is not like the baby is his (and he better not be thinking about one for 15 or so years), and he is a boy after all. "Not me". How could I ever subject my oldest to diaper doOty (ha), never, and I absolutely "would not" ever giggle in delight the whole time while taken pictures of the experience to show to his wife one day, NO way, "Not me"!

This past week I "did not" just rub spit-up into my chest with my bra when Gage aimed so cleverly down my cleavage and gave a hurl. After "not" rubbing it in I also "did not" glance down to see if you could see the wetness from the outside, "did not" give it a satisfying “ah does not smell to bad” sniff, and "did not" wear the shirt or bra the rest of the day. I would never do that and would turn my nose up to anyone who did, "not me", no way. *smirk*

Aha now that was very therapeutic, you should give it a try.

Gifted

2009-05-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

Gifted, I do not mean the "special" way, if so I would be talking about myself.

Gifted, as in my wonderfully brilliant first born and his end of the year project for his Gifted and Talented class.

Daimen's Twin Towers Project (pictured below with his project and teacher).
Daimen is such a bright soul and blessed with a large amount of intelligence way beyond his age. He has been in the gifted and talented program since 1st grade. Sadly his teacher is retiring this year which makes this project viewing extra special.

*(above) Daimen hugging his gifted teacher for the last time, "we will miss you Mrs. S and good luck on your future endeavor"*

He picked the Twin Towers as his project building and worked hard all year constructing it (twice even, more about that in a second) to scale and including a power point presentation about the towers. I must say *blushing* I am so proud of this young man. He is so talented in so many areas (gets that from me, ha) that I can not wait to see what he picks to be when he grows up. Whatever he chooses to do, I am certain he will be successful, he wouldn't have it any other way.

I don't want to say much more because his 11th birthday is around the corner and I am already thinking about my letter to him and I do know it will include something about his obsession to always be perfect (which is a flaw, ha that is deep).

Daimen your project is amazing and I am so very proud of you and all the hard work you put in it. I am also amazed by your maturity after one of your building got ruined by the spray paint and you and Jer had to drive to town, buy supplies, and spent hours putting together a whole new tower. You were quite upset, but realized that was not getting you project any closer to being finished, so you put on your big boy pants and fixed it, like a young man. It turned out so well you received an award for the top 20, that is wonderful, I love you son.

(Below), a picture of last years project. He had to make a model city, with his own buildings, rules, roads, etc.....

Wordless Wednesday -Gage 20wks

2009-05-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Peeking Bloggers

2009-05-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

(if you glance at the title really quick, it looks like "picking buggers", Nice and mature, Huh?)

Like a virtual window into my blog called Google Analytics, I can see that I have several visitors who look through my bedroom I mean blog window but are silent in their commenting. Some may know me, others not so much. With that said I thought I should write a bit about ME, to give you a free peak into my personality. The good, the bad, and ugly.

I am a 20 something, single, tall, blonde, who loves walks on the beach and a frequent glass of wine.

Ok you got me, I can’t fool you! I am not 20 or even 20ish, more like 30 but who is counting. I am not tall or blonde, and what tall Blondie do you know that is single anyway. I do love long walks on the beach but the only beach that is reasonably close is in my head. That counts right? And, sorry, I am not a drinker; I am a hangover’er, so why torture oneself?

· I am a Christian
· I love my husband tremendously but do get frustrated with him occasionally
· My kids are my world
· I love my step-son Kollen as if he were mine from the beginning
· My first born was not a oopsie even though I was 18
· I have lost too many babies early in gestation and did not deal with those loses with grace
· It took my husband and I almost 5 years to bring Gage into this world
· I am a control freak
· When I am PMSing chocolate is my only friend
· I love my job
· I do dream about being a SAHM (stay at home mom) even though I know I cant be
· I like television although I know I shouldn’t
· I hate to read (well except blogs that is)
· I have a huge extended family that are spread far and wide
· I do not function well without sleep
· I am terrible at punctuation and spelling (as if you didn’t already know that)
· I will go for the jugular if anyone messes with my family regardless of their size or status
· my mouth gets me in lots of trouble
· But I can be reserved like the best of them
· And finally, I started this blog to be a virtual baby book that myself and my large extended family could keep up with (most of which have not met Gage in person and may not for a long time), that is why most of my blog is about the baby, I love all my kids equally but Gage is the one changing every day and causing the most mischief. I want to chronicle and share every moment and do wish I had this tool when my other boys were babes. I do promise that when my eldest boys have a big change or event in their lives I have and will post about it when it happens.

Do you feel like you know me better? Ha, if you still decide to come back and visit after that, please comment and tell me about you and if you have a blog I can stalk.
For those of you keeping up: Gage is not well, but maybe a bit better. I say maybe because for the last 11 days when I think he is getting well, he has a setback (if you are really paying attention you may want to know that Orange pedialyte produces, Glow in the dark Green (refer back to the post before this one titled "SYKE" if you want in on the joke).

I leave you with half of the men that light up my life everyday…….

SYKE

2009-05-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

Public Service Announcement: Before you continue on, I think it is my responsibility to inform you that some of, well Most of, the post is graphic and does contain cartoons to display visual humor of our last 5 days. If you have a sensitive personality, just skip over this post.

Rot – nope but smells similar!

Rotary – nope but will make your stomach turn!

Roto Rooter – nope but it will clean out your plumping!

Rotavirus – Ding Ding Ding we have a winner! Or do we?

Since our first field trip Friday night to the local ER, with Gage, we have been told our little PoO covered child has the Rotavirus. For those who do not know it is a nasty little bug that causes massive diarrhea, vomiting that last 7-10 days, is transmitted through feces, very contagious for 3 weeks, stays on surfaces for 10 hours, and cannot be killed with normal soap and water. If you happen to be a visual learner, imagine a bug like the one below, attacking a 4 month old sweet, innocent, under developed, overly sensitive, intestinal tract.

Since Friday we have been up to our necks in poO and vomit and I do mean US. We are talking 18 nasty diapers a day with complete blowouts 90% of the time (if you do not know what a blow-out is, then

A: you don’t have children

B: you have children and need to pick up a lottery ticket because you are a walking rabbits foot

C: you have children but have suppressed the blowout memory because of the vivid nightmares.

Again for the visual learner, a blowout is when:

This guy

Vs: this guy
= THIS (NO! not a delicious fudge treat!), but imagine the diaper is the icecream and the fudge is well, the foul fudge.)

Our (insert diaper brand) has nothing on that bug, I don’t care what their slogan says about controlling leaks!

Then the more important issue, the amount of liquid that goes in must be equal or greater than the quantity that comes out or you have BIG problems! Trying to keep little man hydrated has been a major challenge, he is having so much gas and stomach cramps, he does not want to eat. For the first 3-4 days he was only consuming 20-24 oz of pedialyte a day and that was making him drink it. Now he is a bit better with the diapers, down to 4 blowouts a day but still is having the stomach pain and refusing formula. For the last two days he has been on a pedialyte mixed with rice cereal for the calories. He cannot survive on this combination, it is not fruitful in the nutrition department and he is losing weight.

After the ER field trip we took one to his pediatricians’ office where there we were instructed to get a stool sample for cultures. First was a immediate test for blood because while at the Dr’s Gage decided to give me a heart attack and produce RED stool. The test was negative for blood but the mystery was solved when the doc and I looked at his cherry pedialyte he was consuming, Darn Red dyes.

Public Service Announcement: If your child is really sick, DO NOT give them red colored anything because it does look suspiciously like blood and will take years off your life with worry. Purple color is good, it changes to neon green after um consumption and elimination , oh sorry that maybe TMI or maybe you will want to know what Orange does, if so stayed tuned for the turnout.

Sorry I have digressed a bit, I am beyond exhausted at this point for it has been a long tiresome week.

Ok back to my point…..the “SYKE” part comes in at the points in which the ER Dr’s and the lab results this morning differ. You see, we have been under the guidance of our physicians regarding the big ugly Rotavirus to only get a call from the lab today stating that our beloved child Does Not have that said virus and they do not know what bug he has gotten his intestines on. You see, that is where the “SYKE” comes in. Dr states “Gage has the Rotavirus”, calls 5 days later to say “just kidding” or the hip way “SYKE”. GrrRrRrrrrrrr

However, they will be growing the mystery bug in these kind of dishes over the weekend
And hoping they can give us better answers on Monday. Bug names such as E coli and salmonella have been tossed around. I am hoping whatever viral/bacterial critter it is that it looks like this by Monday.

On a serious note: Please pray for Gage, that he gets through this with no more hospital/doctor visits, he can eat again soon, and most of all that his pain and discomfort subsides. (Even if you would like to say a prayer that Gage’s pain be taken away and given to me and even multiplied 5 times in intensity for its duration, that would be more than OK, and I will not lie, I have prayed that a few times myself).

Public Service Announcement: No animals were killed or injured in the making of this product um I mean Post.

Show -N- Tell

2009-05-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

:: It is that time again, time for me to brag on some of the people I am lucky enough to have in my life. This is another one of my bestest buds, and also like Mel she lives long distance. Her name is Erica and she is such a free spirit. As like most my friends I met her while she was working in a store and thought she was a total "B", later she came and worked with me at my current employer and we both had a laugh when she said her first impression of me, YOU got it, a total "B". We became friends then (about 5 years ago) and have stayed that way even though she moved away.

:: Pictured above is my super energetic, sarcastic, witty, so darn skinny and cute that you want to slap her friend Erica. She has two amazing children (pictured below) and a brat um I mean super sweet, (ha) husband Jason, whom consequently is not pictured. Sorry, you will just have to imagine a tall, cute, scary, buzzed head, tattooed Shrek (but not green, well most of the time anyway).

:: Erica is getting really swell at photography, just look at these pics (above), look how tranquil the kids appear.

:: Now this is more like it (above), the camera caught the child I remember. This is Erica's first born Tristan, he had defiantly given his mom a few grey hairs in the past but I hear he is a changed man um boy even. He has hit that growth spurt and is so grown up these days. Tristan is such a caring child and Daimen and I miss him dearly.

:: Then the darling little girl I remembered grew up (above). This is Abby and when I last saw her she was a weeee bit smaller - horizontally and vertically, she was a wee bit less of a tom-boy, she only spoke a wee bit of words and (from what her mom says now) a wee bit less of a pain in the boOty. Apparently my sweet little Abby is giving mom and dad a run for their money and making big brother look like a angel. I do not care what Erica says, Abby is a sweet angel forever. She is gorgeous Erica, those eyes are just spectacular.

Just between me you and well the Internet, you are in trouble in a few years with that little girl, it is a good thing she has a big scary daddy (whew). Love you Abby..

:: And now my favorite picture of my two little buds that I miss dearly, just how I remember them, just a wee bit bigger.

:: Oh and I guess I miss you to, Erica, SmOooOooOOoCh

Wordless Wednesday -Gage 18wks

2009-04-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

HMmmmMMMmm things to ponder (what do 4month olds think about?)

Whistle why you drOoL wooo wooo woo weeee.....

Show -N- Tell

2009-04-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

First is a Picture of my bestest bud's beautiful babes (say that five times fast, Ha). You can see her at melandkids.blogspot.com .
Ok so here we go,....LADIES AND GENTLEMEN can I have your attention please...In the upper left hand corner we have a future football star with a larger than life "I am right, you are wrong, and I will sit on you until you agree" personality, the ever so mighty Jaw Crushing, Jack-Hammer James.....*applause*....and to his right is his tiny but ever so worthy opponent, disguises her mayhem as a sweet innocent little princess is the Feisty MIGHTY Maddie......*RoaR*....and in the middle, figuratively and literally, is the quiet but oh so calculating, the newly man-scaped, Not So MessY, Jesse.....*whoot whoot whoot* Who do you have your money on? Mine is on their MOM!!!!

Below is a darling picture of my niece, Emma. Wow look at that hair little lady. Oh yeah and my brother is pictured also. You look darling also, Todd. *grin*

How sweet is she (below), I am not sure who ate whose face first but Emma dear, it looks like your mom (Kim) is winning and that you are practicing your facial expression for the all so annoying family reunion where your old decrepit aunt grabs your sweet little cheeks....oh shoot that would be me wouldn't it, I am the aunt? I meant your amazing, beautiful, loving aunt pinches those plump little cheeks. Keep up the practice, I hope I will be seeing/pinching you soon.

And for desert.....we have my favorite photo of Emma (below), already using those puppy dog eyes and protruding lower lip as assault weapon in her plan......"to take over the world"
Public Service Announcement: For all those non-cartoon watchers "to take over the world" is a quote used everyday in the script of the spectacular Pinky and the Brain cartoon.

All pictures above are scanned copies of photos so please excuse the quality but enjoy the content.

Gage's Letter - 4 Months Young

2009-04-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

(pictured to the left is 3 months and the right is 4)

Gage,"four months young", *sigh* what a mixture of feelings that come by saying that. I on one hand am so proud of all that you accomplish and the little, ok BIG man you are turning into everyday. I am excited for the future and all that entails. I find myself saying what all parents say, yanno the “I can’t wait untils” and the “hopefully he will be doing soons”.

On the other hand I say four months and I am sad. Sad that my baby is growing so fast, you are not little anymore (and do not really think you ever were *grin*),sad that time just won’t stand still for a millisecond and let me enjoy every bit of it, sad that I have to work and miss so many amazing things. So I write this post emotionally sitting on both sides of the teeter tauter, one seat contains rigid rusty nails and the other a cloud like cotton.

Ok where was I? Oh yeah, Four months old, well you are a bit older than that now because I have been pondering this letter for a week or so, but the pics are spot on.

Gage you have grown so much in the last month some examples are:

· Bouncing – you went from being rigid while standing to realizing those knobby things in the middle of your (ham hawks) I mean um legs, do move and when they do you have your own built in bouncer. When I put you on your feet you instantly start kicking, so cute, and cheap for batteries are not needed.

· Thumb anyone? - You have found your thumb, the right way this time. Before you used to get it in there with your fingers, toys, my shoulder, etc….but now you figured out how to separate it and suck on it by itself (which is so much more productive and less slimy I might add). Even though you do the cutest thing and hold your ear and suck your thumb at the same time, I have to tell you son, I am not a fan of the thumb sucking Gage *shaking finger*, for when it is time to throw the paci away I can’t just toss out your thumb with it, you see son, there are laws against that. That is one of the reasons I encourage the paci, we can throw it overboard at our own discretion and it will not inhibit straight descending of your baby teeth. So if you will my little HULK, you have made me prouder than a petunia by showing your new sucking talent so can we

now put it away before it becomes a HABIT?

· Bubbles – not the store bought kind, or dish soap, and before your mind goes there (I know your daddy) NOT the kind you make in the tub during bath time either, I am talking about spit bubbles and the cute sounds that accompany them. You roll your tongue and blow, this act produces the most darling toot noises and delicious baby bubbles, a talented kid are you.

· Screech – my boy, your new talented screech is ever impressive. You use your entire body to produce your screeches and giggle with delight if you come close to a glass shattering pitch. The faces you make are amusing to watch, some make you look downright angry, so screech on little one. You can see (below) the amount of expression,effort, and movement it takes to create such noise....

(You look mad in this pic but to the contrary, you were having a Divine time with your ear shattering volume expelling from your slimy gob)

· Rolling – we discussed this in a previous post but I will touch on it here also. You have mastered the talent of back to belly rolling however you are not a fan of stomach play and have yet to figure out how to get back. This is your current game: lay on your back and play for a millisecond, lift your tree trunks um legs, arch your back and waaaa laaaa you are now stomach side down, smash your face in the ground while trying to get your back legs moving, and then fuss until your obedient caretaker flips you back over, rinse, lather, and repeat.

Your personality is large little man and so are your thrill seeking ways. You smile so big when your Dad flies you around above his head like an airplane and you mom watches in nervous delight. Not until you puke or drool in his mouth is it as fun for me as it is for you and your daddy. Let’s not forget the fun shoulder rides that make me shudder at the thought of gravity being used against you, that is never on your mind though, I can tell.

Oh and for the love you music, when daddy plays his guitar you go nuts in your bouncer, arms waving, mouth is a O shape wide open, and legs kicking. You dig his music and I think he loves the expressive fan you have become.

Those are the highlights of month 3-4, now to the low light, errrr um teething….. Gage my precious, darling, peanut butter, snuggle muffin, hulk sized child I AM SORRY YOUR TEETH MUST RIP THROUGH YOUR SORE LITTLE GUMS IN MASOCHISTIC WAY. I do promise my dear that if need be we will buy stock in baby orajel, Tylenol, and bricks until all the buggers break through.

Until next month, I Love you to pieces, Son.