Family Trip to the Park

I downloaded this a long time ago from our first trip as a whole family to Franklin Park...Ill skip the lengthy narrative...and say that they loved it! Started with the swings. Abbey, however gave her Daddy a scare when she run in front of the big kid swings and had to go in the car....right when I finally got Adam to go down the slide. Poor kid cried when we left...he was so sad...of course, I didn't give him good transition as we went straight down the slide and into the car! Nice to go as a family.... Oh, yeah and on the way Todd got us our first Iced Hot Chocolates from Dunkin' Donuts...we realized we do NOT need a large but they were pretty good. If you've ever seen that John Cusack movie, you know it was kind of a romantic gesture :)

My Sick Babies

Two am Thursday night (Friday morning), Miss Abbey wakes me up. Not unusual. She goes right back to sleep. I flop on the couch and doze, and after 3 am she wakes up and she is very HOT. Her skin is burning up and she is very lethargic. I get her bottle and manage to take her temperature with a thermometer. Taking a one year old's temperature is not easy, but it went up to 103.7 Whoa.
Never had that before.
I look it up on the Internet and it seems it's close to the danger zone. She throws up. And throws up again. I wake up Todd and he is worried, too. We put her in the bathtub to clean her up and try and get her skin cooler and give her children's Advil. She is getting calm and it's close to 5am. Her skin seems to be cooler and we hear Adam. I wait a minute, but Todd goes to get him to see if he's sick. He is, but not like Abbey. I put her down and rock Adam, who spits the medicine out. Abbey goes in and out of sleep through the morning, still clearly very feverish. Adam was not himself but he was OK. I called and made doctor appointments. Abbey seemed to perk up and her fever down with the medications. I was taking turns cuddling and then Adam suddenly got VERY sick. Todd came home around eleven and he bent over to talk to him in my chair and Abbey threw up on him and started crying. I felt so bad for him.
We took them to their 1:45 pm appointments and Abbey was doing a lot better. We took them in and Adam just laid on his Daddy's shoulder going in and out of sleep. This is so NOT like Adam and I have NEVER seen him like that. His temperature was 102.8 there. Poor kid. The doctor said it was probably a virus as they got it at the same time or some type of toxin, but they hadn't eaten anything we hadn't out of the ordinary. We got Adam some infant Tylenol which he took much better than the children's (we bought suppositories just in case YIKES!). And his fever went down later, thank goodness.
On Saturday there was a lot of improvement, though they were still sick, especially Adam, who puked again. He also told us both days his throat hurt and on Sunday his head hurt (have to remember that we can ask him now I didn't think about it I forget he's not just a baby!)
The doctor warned us it would run the weekend and it did. Friday and Saturday broke my heart, it is hard to see them so sick and to see Adam so out of it really got me upset. Guess that's part of being a Mama!
I was really sad we couldn't go to Jackie's wedding as a family, but Todd reassured me that I should go and not worry or feel bad....the kids would be fine with him and they were. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, but I had a little guilt picturing Adam laying on the chair. And when I saw Mr. Todd Butler and family on the board and the empty chairs, I missed them so much. And Abbey's beautiful dress and Adam's handsome polo and khakis have been wasted but that's the thing with two toddlers: nothing is predictable! Frustrating? Sure. But it's a whole different adventure then the first 30 years of my life!
Monday and Today they are still whiny....still sick or just spoiled? Maybe both :)
I know I am so lucky to say that I had never seen Adam that sick before, but I hope I don't again.

Adventure in East Park

Before my kids woke up in the middle of Thursday night with the plague, we took an adventure to East Park (the park near the courthouse a few blocks away). It actually started out as me taking a power walk, but when we passed the playground, Adam started going weeeeeee :) So I went back. I had never ventured into a playground alone, but I thought it would be OK as the area was small and there was some space from the road. It actually went pretty well. These are from my camera phone, which kind of stinks. Adam was super independent going up and down the ladders and down the little slide. And Miss Abbey, trying to go to the one spot I didn't want her to, the pole". This little wheel thing Adam loved! Adam acutally smiled for me!!! I told Abbey if she started running, we'd have to go and after 20 mintues she did. There was one other kid there, her age and I think she got excited. She did it again and I put her in the stroller she didn't argue. Adam played for a few minutes and we went home. It went well, an adventure for me and it defintely upped my confidence in handling them in certain public areas and keeping them safe.

Dragons....I Mean Dinosaurs!

What are these you ask? About a month ago, Adam discovered How to Train Your Dragon one Sunday afternoon when his father flipped to it. But, as far as Adam is concerned the dragons are DINOSAURS. He Loves this movie. His Dad spoiled him and got him a Toothless the dragon toy he sleeps with and a bucket of dragons. That's what these are. Adam LOVES them...he sets them up and acts out stuff using his imagination. They have characters from the movie and he loves to say the lead character's name "Hiccup". He just thought it would be funny when I told him to smile that instead I take pictures of his dinosaurs ROAR. He started flying them to me, it was very cute. These suckers are all over the house, though we won't let him to take them to bed they are too small and we don't want them in his mouth. He cried over it the first night but he has been OK with it since....OK Mom put the camera away so I can play!

Father's Day

For Father's Day, the kids got their Daddy a Star Wars Apron that says Dad and they got matching ones, too with their names on it. I had a plan I got Star Wars pancake molds and was set to serve Todd with the kids in their aprons. Well, the best laid plans my friend are bound to go awry when you have the toddler A-team! For whatever reason, Abbey was in a MOOD. She cried and SCREAMED when we tried to put her in her high chair and wanted me. I also decided to make bacon on top of trying these molds and as I am not a good cooking multi-tasker pancakes were crusting and bacon was burning! I managed to get a plate for Todd but then the kids DID NOT want to wear their aprons. Abbey ended up sitting in the living room watching her favorite movie, Monsters Inc. So I didn't get all the photos I imagined, but actually it wasn't a bad morning. Just another day in the life of having two toddlers! And Todd said that Yoda, Darth Vader and the Storm Trooper were actually kind of tasty. And picky pants Adam ate pancake AND bacon!!!

Overtired Abbey refused to sleep, she finally fell asleep for 20 minutes before we headed up to Terry Potters'. We would've been better off letting her nap in the car!! She was kind of off all day, but she had a lot of fun.

We got there and they had a surprise for Todd! Isn't this cool? His daughter Kari has a business making them on the side! Terry knew we had been wanting to try a fancy cake from watching too much Cake Boss, but we didn't really pursue it after we saw her prices :) I really like this photo. They have 23 acres and the kids loved it. Abbey looks tired here, but later she really just got into running around, climbing up and down from the deck and loved the swing. The dress however, got in her way though she figured out how to hold it up. What can I say? My Dad loved it when his daughters were all dressed up and I like doing it for Todd, too for special occasions. Terry's daughter-in-law Theresa got out some bubbles and Adam's face lit up! You can see his grandson Ethan here...he's four months younger than Adam but like half the size! The boys had a lot of fun playing trucks in the dirt and hanging out by the weeds. Jason (Terry's son and Ethan's father) kept saying his back hurt....so Todd cracked his back. He said he wasn't sure if it worked or not :) Tasting the cake...my kids weren't too interested in eating it, though when we got home Adam asked for "truck" for dinner. I thought he was asking for a toy, and he ran into the kitchen and picked up a knife sitting next to it and tried to cut it and said TRUCK MOMMY. haha I gave him a piece, but he still didn't eat it...I think that he liked the IDEA of it rather than eating it!! Trying to get a photo with Daddy and both kids was a challenge for father's day...!!! Love my family. I am married to a GREAT Dad...he loves his children and thinks about them every day. He works hard to provide for them and couldn't shower enough hugs and kisses on their little faces. I feel so lucky to have Todd as the father of my children I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

As Father's Day approached, I was mad at all the advertisements and that I wouldn't have MY Dad. I miss him so much. Last Father's Day, I pulled into the driveway for a visit in the evening and saw my Dad yelling at my Mom as she was on the rider mower doing something wrong, oblivious. I loved it when I saw it because I thought at the time it meant my Dad had some fight left in him, so he was going to be around for a bit. I didn't think it would only be three more weeks. My Dad apologized, as he always did when I saw him yelling after I left the house. He didn't want me to not be around them and he knew how much I hated the yelling I grew up with . I told him not to be silly, like I usually did, he didn't owe me an apology Mom probably deserved it. And we sat at the table outside for a bit as the sun started to sink and he held Abbey and Adam ran around.

But I found on that day I was able to not focus on it and enjoy the day. I was able to switch gears and remind myself that.. the next best thing to having my Dad on Father's Day was celebrating the amazing Dad my children have.

Experiencing the World....

Yesterday we met Tammy for lunch at Azteca and I decided, after seeing how much fun the kids have outside, that I'd walk them down. It actually went OK, Abbey wanted to be carried the last block and Adam sat down in the middle of an intersection because he was ticked I made him hold my hand. Tammy had to walk us back they were both tired and I needed an assist!!

Today, I decided Erin had a good idea a few weeks ago walking to the Bagel Shop and invited her. I put the kids in the stroller and it went better than I thought. Adam is so in love with Jonathan, who is 7, he stayed in holding his hand as he walked next to him! It was cute. Adam, who won't eat bagels with cream cheese at home, ended up eating more than his half. They were cute in the booth next to me, Abbey and Adam. Him tryng to "subway" under the booth and her trying to stand up with that glint in her eye.. like I know I'm not supposed to do this. And Abbey only screamed for a minute when I put her back in the stroller!

On the way back, I let Adam walk the last few blocks and he was so happy, walking with the other kids...Big Abbey, Jonathan and Daniel. He is so comfortable with them, I love it. He tripped on our block and was crying but he stopped when I asked him if he wanted to come home. He spent the next 2o minutes eating strawberries out of her trunk, his face covered in the juice mixed with the chocolate lollipop from Man on the Moon candies. I kissed his face over and over and told him he tasted so good (he actually did :)

I love seeing him happy and doing things. Almost every time I am out with the two of them someone says to me "You've got your hands full" like they did today. It's true, keeping track of them anywhere but home is a lot of work but it's worth it. I love to see them loving life, enjoying new things and taking in the world. Of course, it's stressful sometimes but it's worth it.

Growing up fast....

Memorial Day

We headed to Grandma's and Uncle Bobby's house for a BBQ on Memorial Day. Of course, I had to dress the kids in patriotic colors! Tried to Grandma with Abbey, but Abbey didn't want to look at the camera, Grandma was blowing raspberries on her neck and on top of that, Grandma was "hiding"... she should know better by now! We were hanging out on Grandma's new deck, which wasn't quite done so we couldn't eat on it, but Adam LOVES the sliding doors...of course, opening it and saying BOO like he loves to do! Abbey checking out an old watering can we gave Grandma... And Adam had to join in...the only picture I got of them "together" that day...they were not in the mood for Mom's posed photos!! The end of the deck was not done and was not safe. Daddy tried to show Abbey that it was a fall, but that just made her want to "jump" *sigh*. Uncle Bobby grilled some awesome chicken and burgers and Grandma made some appetizers (including yummy deviled eggs). My kids, not so interested. Adam ate the bread off of his burger and they both ate broccoli. And Abbey... ...discovered watermelon! She LOVED it...ate three pieces!! Love Gradma smiling in the background... Just loves all these photos... The chef...even picky Todd approves and I LOVED the chicken..and I am SO picky with chicken!! I brought brownies at Grandma's request...and she made cookies. Adam was grabbing them off the counter....and eating the kisses!! You couldn't get him to try the cookie but we had to hide the dish so he wouldn't do this.... ..to all of them :) Uncle Bobby said it looked like an advertisement for kisses....he as kind of right! Adam liked the brownies, too...cute he kept stealing them.

Bethany Gets Her BA!

Bethany got her associates degree in business many years ago...and five years ago decided to return to Oswego to get her BA in education. While carrying a full-time job, two kids and a husband. And she got amazing grades on top of it! Her husband David threw her a party on June 4 to celebrate a-hem...I'm SURE he did all the work! I took Abbey with me....Bethany asked me to take pictures, but it ended up being kind of hard because Miss Fearless ran everywhere.... She set about stealing balloons right away, with Bethany's help, of course. OK, I love this picture. That redneck on the left ;) is Bethany's husband David. I think it's the hat that earns him the title. These guys were all riding around, having a good old time and it cracked me up. These were two of the ladies I met when I was going to Bible study with Bethany for about a year...the woman on the right lost her son in a car accident that year and her strength amazes me. Love the grad glasses on Bethany's head. And even though you can't see their faces, this picture is kind of touching. Bethany knows how to set up a bar... This guy is Skip, David's best friend he had no idea I took this photo...last time I saw him he didn't have white hair!! He left his job at Huhtamaki years ago to pursue his dream and become a Fulton cop. He always cracks me up. Had to track down the kids...found Bri in her bedroom and I told the girls to do something silly...they obliged. Pretty Bri...I had to harass her though about all the JUSTIN BIEBER posters in her room!!!! Devin outside ...looks JUST like his Dad!! And it was his birthday and I owe him a gift because I forgot sorry!!! Most of the kids were playing out back...having fun. I'll do a sepzrate post of Abbey's pictures because they were just so cute! Anyhow...Bethany I am SO proud of you! You worked so hard and accomplished your goals!!! You are a hard worker, a truly nice person and you deserve for all your dreams to come true!!

Day at the Zoo/June 11

Our kids love animals. Most kids do, I know, but Adam especially, takes it one step further. We took him to the zoo last year and the aquarium and he loved it but we know he's older and he'd probably really like it. We were right!! Did you see the intent and wonder in his eyes? He was fascinated. I think this was some type of "cat". We were excited to show the kids the lions. We were in luck that this one was hanging out at the window. Adam was very curios, but a bit cautious...hanging back a bit...like he knows it could eat him. Abbey...was NOT. Check it out...they have the same expression! OK, not sure what Abbey is looking at I think one of the monkeys (When my mom said she forgot stuff so fast when I was a kid, I thought she was full of it HA!) but I love this photo of her. Monkeys...Adam loved them all... Lemurs, like in Madagascar....yeah, we reference everything with kid movies... We were surprised Adam wasn't that interested in them but they were one of Abbey's FAVORITES! So adorable; she is trying to touch them. Oh fearless Abigail. One of my current favorite photos of Abbey, excited about the penguins. Adam did extremely well behaving and we took him out the stroller when we started walking around. He mostly listened and stayed with us. Reminder of what a big boy he is. When we were walking by this display, I joked to Todd that Adam would never let us us it. Huh, I was wrong. He saw it and ran to it! He saw other kids doing it and got so excited. I was so glad I got this photo of him, not posed, him just deciding on his own to do it...and so happy! Daddy joined him and I love their twin miserable looks here though they were both having fun...! From the stroller, it was clear Abbey wanted in on the action so Daddy helped her out! Love the laughter of Adam's! Cute penguin :) Daddy tried to get both kids to pose on this tiger statue, but neither was interested...Adam was inspecting him, I think to see if he was real or not ;) And Abbey liked it so much, she was clapping Yeah and laughing not sure why but it was pretty cute :) OK, here is a chance for me to get a picture of my kids together, near the end of the walk, tired. But instead of posing for me, they promptly turned around and started climbing up the rock. Abbey couldn't climb it, she kept trying up the side. Oh, yeah, note HOW tired my son is? I'm not sure where he got it but he is STUBBORN...(not from me, no way, and certainly not from his father!) The kid did NOT want help. He did not want to get into the stroller at all. He was practically dragging his cup behind him and by the end was limping but still, refused. And I ended up picking him up for a bit, he let me do that. But still, no stroller.
We ended the day with the elephants...we walked up to the end of a demonstration. Abbey was so tired, Daddy had to stand in the back with her while we waited for the elephant to come up to us. Adam was so fascinated...and I saw him screw up his courage and reach out real quick and touch his face. It was an amazing moment where's Adam threw his usual caution to the wind.
He started to cry as we left and really lost it when I went to put him the car crying for the kitties and the baby dinosaur (which probably meant the elephant...Ice Age made him believe anything that looks like the mamouths is a dinosaur, too! Poor kid, he stopped crying when Daddy asked him if he wanted a burger No he sniffed. French fries? Yes he sniffed :)