greeny

Bedtime always seemed to be an easy time of the night for my son. We kept a routine and he always knew what to expect. Even as a baby he would always sleep through the night and had continued to do so up until now - If he was up something was wrong. Teeth, Sick, or even a nightmare or two. 

The routine started out easier with a bath every other night and then PJ's and cuddle time along with a story maybe two at most. We would lay him down in bed awake, but tired with his small green blanket and soon he would be fast asleep. Then as he began to grow during the past spring and during this summer it went a little more like bath every night (dirty little man from being outside) a quick sippy cup of milk and a snack while watching a sing a long song DVD. After the DVD was over it was over to mom or dad's lap and we would have to read him at least three story books. Then off to bed and he would lay with his green blanket and a new blanket from grandma mescher with sports balls all over it. 

By the beginning of this winter we had gone to bath (every other night), PJ's, Milk and snack, 5 books, potty time, off to bed... now he has to bring "greeny" his same little green blanket that he has now named, ball blanket (as he calls it) and a new blanket a toy story snuggy must also be kept with him in his little car bed. Now this use to be enough but more recently he has needed to include three rather large stuffed animals - a bunny, a puppy, and a bear. We have also needed to leave the closet light on and also he thinks he needs to have a drink with him. AND needs to be read two books while laying in bed. 

After he falls asleep I must then make sure he has not been suffocated by one of his three animals or three blankets, and find the drink and put it back in the fridge.


This routine has turned into an hour long drug out thing. Kevin and I have recently removed the books from his bedroom and told him we will read two books before bed on the couch in the living room. Next - I am getting the sippy away from him NEXT .... and slowly I would like it to go back down to a little more normal... but my husband and I both know... one thing he will never be with out is his dear old - greeny.

that baby roll

When it comes to my daughter Olivia "that baby roll" can me hundreds of things. It could be the cute little roll that appears under her chin when she is grinning ear to ear. Or perhaps it is the one that greets the base of her neck all the way around that chubby little face. You could however be refering to the roll that appears at the crease of her hand and wrist or anckle and foot. Or perhaps my favorite her little rolls that line her legs up and down. Whatever roll you are refering to - it doesn't much matter because every single one of them are prefect, and as Olivia's mother, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

However the title of this blog is not refering to any of those rolls, I am however refering to the new skill my daughter has recently become obsessed with. She now feels she can reach and play with any toy seeming to be with in her reach. She will watch Gavin run from one side of the house to the other. However her favorite activity is to roll. It is by far the cutest moment - when she flips over from her back to her belly - that smile. That look of "look mom i did it." She is so proud of herself and as her mommy, I am proud also. It's amazing to be able to share in all of their first, and by far even more amazing to watch their reaction. As they all seem to wear their emotions straight on their sleeve. I can't wait to see her tonight and watch her play on the floor and of coarse - that baby roll.

my little valentine

My little valentine, Gavin, had a special treat this year. Kevin, Gavin and I spent all day Saturday together. Just the three of us. The morning started with Kevin working and I getting the kids all ready and packed for the day ahead of me. - of coarse I may not get the credit for this but getting both kids up and bathed and dressed and fed and packed is well, I'm going to just say it, work as well. Anyways. I then ran to my mom's (the kids grandma) and dropped Olivia off there for the day. My mom would be watching her while we (Kevin and I) had our day out with Gavin. 


We had decided since his new obsession with trains had been clear and he had been doing so well with potty training for Kevin and I that we would treat him by taking him to the worlds largest train museum, the EnterTRAINment Junction. Clearly more of a kids fun house then a museum but it was definitely going to be worth the trip. After dropping Olivia off Gavin and I went back home to meet up with Kevin, the three of us had a quick lunch and then we hit the road. It was just under a two hour drive and luckily Gavin slept the entire way! 

No more than we walked through the front doors his jaw hit the floor. "Choo Choo Train house! - mom look... daddy.... wwoooooke" He was beside himself and could not stop grinning. I loved to watch his little face reactions at he looked around at all the kids and trains. We made our way through the museum and he was able to push red buttons and listen to train noises and watch them race across the tracks. 

Then we came to an area that was 1200 sq feet of fun! It was a play area for the small children. Climbing, building, riding, he was beside himself with joy. He was exploring and growing into quiet the inquisitive little boy. Asking questions about everything and soaking up everything we had to say. Following the play time we then continued along the path and enjoyed more of the museum until reaching the "train ride" it was the Thomas the Train and the kids were allowed to ride it over and over and it was included in the initial cost. Oh did he love this. 

He road it and waved at Kevin and I as he took it in a circle round and round. Just when I had thought the day couldn't get any better it did. 

It was five o'clock and we left the train house and left in search of a quick place to eat with our little man. We ran into a restaurant called "Five Guys" I had never ate there before. But it was really worth the stop! Kevin and I engrossed ourselves into rather large burgers and Gavin was given the largest hot dog he had ever seen, and lets face it - that makes a two year old's meal complete. 

Following all of this excitement my husband surprised me by now informing me that the Cincinnati outlet malls are only a five minute drive away and he would like to take Gavin and I there to get a little something for Valentines Day! Hip Hip Hooray! Amazing. 

We spent a few hours at the mall and then made the two hour trip home to get our gorgeous little girl. She had been busy playing and giggling and having fun all day with her Grandma and Aunt Melanie. Although she was thrilled to see me, I knew the day needed to be spent with just Gavin, he needed special time with his daddy and mommy - my little valentine.

the flu

It has probably been over a week since I have blogged about my kids, my husband, or my life. Last week was a real circus. Monday I took off a few hours in the afternoon and brought my daughter "O" back in to see the Doctor. It was decided that we should run some blood work and my hubby meant me at the hospital to help out with that. 

It was a traumatizing experience they poked my little girl 7 times! Then came Tuesday and Wednesday things were starting to look a little better. Wednesday - afternoon my headache came on. I thought it was the ice storm and being stuck inside with the kids all day (level three) but no.. I was coming down with the flu! By Thursday morning I was running over a 103 temp. NOT GOOD... 

When I say not good, I mean I felt awful! I was basically bed ridden until two that afternoon when I got out of bed and onto the couch and waiting for Kevin to come home and bring me to the doctor. Turns out I have the influenza too! Thanks Miss Olivia.... wink. 

My fever persisted though Saturday! and on Saturday my daughter started back up with a fever and a deeper cough. (the never ending flu) I decided yesterday that I should just bring her to urgent care and get it over with. Here her flu virus has turned into a secondary infection. She now has bronchitis and is on an antibiotic. 

I sent her to the sitter this morning - I need to be at work. I have missed enough days in the past two weeks. Time for me to get caught up around there! It shouldn't be this hard to keep up on housework and laundry however... nothing is possible during the flu.

an ice day

After several days of high fever and stomach problems for Miss Olivia.

Yesterday we had to bring Miss Olivia back into the doctor. She still just wasn't herself with a low grade fever and not keeping liquids down. She just would puke or have a number 2 diaper following every feeding. After visiting the doctor it was to Dr Kucks best interest that we would send Olivia on to get blood work done over at the hospital. She wanted to run a CBC and a dehydration drawl as well. 

This was an absolute mothers nightmare. Because of her dehydration the nurses were unable to get a vein as easily as they would have liked after poking her five times... Olivia just gave up. She stopped breathing. I looked up at her face.. and I screamed for them to stop. I picked her up and she finally took a big breathe. She was a blueish color by this point and basically was hyperventilating. It was so sad. The nurses felt awful and they called for someone to come down from the OB floor. They pricked her again, with no luck. At this point Kevin had showed up to meet me, and I quickly met him in the waiting room and told him to come in and hold Olivia down, because I could not do that to my daughter any longer. 


They tried one more time, and poked way deep and it was a success, they got the blood they needed, only an hour and fifteen minutes later. I was to return to work and await a phone call from the doc office and Kevin took the afternoon off to stay home with Olivia. 


I got a call an hour later and just as I had suspected/hoped everything was fine. She is slightly dehydrated, but nothing she needs to be hospitalized for at this time. The CBC came back good, meaning that she has a virus not a bacterial infection. All these results are good, but a mothers heart it also makes you think, great I just made her get poked 7 times and tortured for and hour and fifteen minutes for nothing! But I guess if the doctor is happy I am happy. 


As for today. Olivia and Gavin are at the sitters. And the storms a brewing outside. The babysitters Kids are home (no school) and Gavin is thrilled this means he has more kids to play with!

The news reporters just keep chatting away, there are warnings in the bottom of every TV station, the blizzard of 2011 is on it's way. According to the station we will be getting 5-10 inches of snow and several hours of ice to follow. By the looks of it tomorrow may be no work or school but instead of a snow day - an ice day.

sick baby

There is nothing worse than having a sick child and one that is running a fever. While Aunt Melanie was in the hospital, I was busy at home with Miss Olivia running over 102 temp. She was such a sweetie though and a trouper at that. She tried to stay on top of an eating schedule and slept a lot. However she puked and had blow outs to follow most every meal. 

It all started on Wednesday after work and I took her to the doctor on Thursday - and they ran a RSV test done and thank goodness that came back negative, on the down side there i nothing the doctor can do to help we just need to push fluids and keep an eye on Olivia's fever. 

As a mother a fever is scary enough, but a fever that continues to go up even after Tylenol, is a flat out nightmare.We made it through though and we are on day four of it and I can finally say we are headed in the right direction. She is still sleeping a lot, and wants to be held a lot but at least she is starting to eat a little better when it comes to her formula intake. she is still a sick little girl.

As far as update on my sister, the kids Aunt Melanie she is home for now. she received a 2 pint blood transfusion and still needs to recoup and get over the mono. The doctor said that as far as reasoning for the low blood level, he thinks she has a blood iron anemia disorder. All I really know right now is that she is still a sick baby too.

aunt melanie

Last night my sister Melanie was admitted into the hospital. It is a very scary time for our entire family. She has shingles and mono and her blood count is down to a 7.9 when it should range from (10-14). This afternoon they began a blood transfusion and she is going to be getting at least 2 pints of blood throughout today. For now they are giving her O- although her blood type is A- until they can get her type in. I hear that this is a normal procedure to follow as O- can be used for any blood type. 

My brother Andy and I went to the hospital last night to visit our little Sis. Kevin stayed home with the kids, as we don't need them getting one of her highly contagious diseases. Melanie seemed to be in high spirits and is finally getting some color back to her - as the fluids run in (she was very dehydrated).

I came home last night and told Gavin that his Aunt Melanie was a very sick little girl and that the doctors are running test to find out what is wrong with her. Immediately he ran to his toy box and began shuffling through the toys. I figured eck he doesn't understand and doesn't care... it's fine he is too young. Nope.. he comes flying back with his doctor kit and hands it to me.... "here mom, make Melanie better" 

Awe... my heart melted... he doesn't know how but in his own little way he is trying to help. It was precious. Melanie's Birthday is tomorrow she will be 17! looks like she will be in the hospital for her birthday - poor Aunt Melanie.

sleepy heads

This morning neither one of the little squirts wanted to get out of bed. In fact I woke Olivia up at 7:15 changed her clothes and tried to get her to eat her bottle and she wanted nothing to do with it. I packed her up in the car and then went in and got Mr Gavin. He was still sound asleep lights on in the bedroom and everything. Nothing could disturb his restful slumber.

I put his coat on and carried him out to the van, he still didn't wake. Then on the way to the babysitters he startles away and not to my surprise he asked 'where's daddy'. That boys life revolves around his daddy. Everything he and I do together he is constantly wanting to know where his daddy is and what his daddy is doing. This morning he told me "I go to work with dad" I played along with a "really you are going with daddy" and he says clear as a whistle "Yup. I take the ool bus to work." Haha... I think little man has his events mixed up. All he really knows is EVERYONE... seems to leave him in the morning.

The other morning he was crying on the way to the babysitters telling me how Daddy go to work, Mommy go to work, Jason go to work (my babysitters husband) , Tyler Trent Megan go to work... etc... he just kept going and going... listing off everyone he knew i swear. and then ended with. Me and Livy go to Ree's (meaning Marie's) and I just always say... Yes... you are one lucky little boy... Mommy and Daddy love you soo much that you get to go to Marie's all day! and all you have to do is PLAY! and he will get a big ole grin on his face and say "Play at Marie's!!!!" and I say yes! you and your baby sister Olivia... and He responds... Me and Livy. 


They are pals anymore, they do everything together, whether they are home or at play they are completely in sink, my little sleepy heads.

cereal

For my little girl everything bring a smile and a giggle to her face. Just a simple glance from her brother can send her into a giggling frenzy. She is almost five months old but has got the biggest personality! She is so laid back and easy going. Happy with everything. 

Her favorite would have to be the excer-saucer right now, she will sit in there for an hour. She would probably stay in there longer if I would let her. She has the biggest blue eyes and she just stares at all the toys surrounding her. 

Laying on the floor (belly time) and watching her brother run around her and bring her toys... is another favorite of hers. But by all means I'd have to say her favorite past time is the bath. She loves to splash her hands and feet and wiggle her little toes. It's the funniest thing I can just watch those little toes as she smiles staring herself. I don't know what it is - the water, the warmth, the baby lotion massage to follow, or the individual attention that she loves the most. But princess "o" just loves bath time.

And as much as she loves bath time she can have a love greater than that by far. And that love is the love for cereal! No more than I walk in the door in the evening and she sees me she expects me to pick her up give her a big ole hug and then hold her for a bit, not long though.. just enough to please her mommy fix. Then she wants to be put right in her high chair... soon to follow she needs that spoon of cereal to be heading towards her mouth. It works out nicely because we are all literally eating at the same time then. As we all sit down for supper. But she sits there and gobbles it all down. After it's gone, she's fine with it. She is happy and content and can just sit in there and play with a toy as the rest of us finish our meal. I couldn't ask for a happier baby...

The love that they show is amazing... the love for mom, dad, brother and cereal.

the sucker

Potty training has turned into such the ordeal in my house, I don't know if it is like this for everyone but it can quickly turn into a 24-hour job. I didn't want it to be. So I decided to let my little man some independence the only thing I vowed to do was to bring him to the bathroom every time he told me he needed to go or if he was clearly holding himself. Other than that - underwear all the time when he is at home. 

Last weekend we worked on it while he was at home and by the end of the weekend he was accident free and on his way. All week last week every time he got home from the sitters my husband would put on his underwear and from then till bed he would tell us if he had to pee. It was working great, he was telling us he wanted to go and other than the sitters he was doing great. His treat was stickers... Christmas ones that Santa had given him along with a laminated Christmas tree that I made and Santa brought as well. So every time he went potty he could put a sticker on the Christmas tree... and it is a beautiful tree let me tell you! 

The tree is full now, and the stickers are gone, I have tried to resort to other stickers but now he persist that it's candy he wants. We used marshmallows (the colored ones) for a while and he was fooled and loved his 'candy' treats... however every time he goes to the babysitters it is as if we have not started the potty training at all. He has not peed on the potty there at all! Not even ONCE! How can he go from being completely potty trained at home, to nothing? and using his diaper? UGH... 


Then this weekend, he did great for us - all day Saturday and Sunday he was accident free... and requesting a dum dum sucker... or smarties... after completion of using the potty. So now I send him to the sitters today - pull ups and diapers included and can't help but wonder, will he use the potty today? Or am I the sucker and the dum dum for thinking he is potty trained. 


Suggestions are welcome, how do you get your child to pee for anyone but you? - signed the sucker.