Still Sick

Migraine.  Hard to get over this without sleep.   Abbey was up before 4am again.  I laid with her until 430 and was finally like you just need to go to sleep and I left.  I don't know if she did, but probably because Todd didn't see her in the living room.  I went into our room and got a few minute cat nap before Ellie woke.  She still has the sniffles, the A-team seems fine and Todd and I are really sick.   Being wet and cold all day isn't helping him, either.  And now it brought a migraine.   We have another two hour delay.  Ellie has a doctor appointment at 9:30 and Bobby is actually able to come down to get her there and then I can run the other two to school.  I really wasn't sure for a bit if I could do these things, but I am trying.  It's my job.  No choice.

I'm Pretty Sure It's 4am in Hell All theTime

I don't know how much longer I can get up at 4am and take care of kids all day while having a head cold.  I'm reaching my breaking point, but it doesn't matter.  I have to do it anyhow.  And it's not like I sleep all night and get up at 4, though the other night I was congratulating myself for sleeping from 11:30 to 1:30 then 2 to 4:30.  The week of colds from hell never ends, with Abbey waking at 430am with nasty hives the last two mornings and Adams very first ear infection.   Poor Ellie has a nasty cough. A lot of sleep has been in a few minutes here or there as I drift off with a sick kid.  It's worse than not falling asleep.  They a-team is doing better and I'm doing worse.  My teeth hurt.  It's hard to take care of so many when I feel so wiped.   This is the hardest part of being a mom... Being sick and not even able to slow down.

Ellie is 8 Months Old

Yesterday, our Eleanor turned eight months old.  I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast!  She has such a heart melting smile.  I tried to get her monthly monkey photo and she refused to sit still.   She was actually posing for my camera!  She loves to laugh and stick her tongue out.

She loves to be tickled and messed with.  And she ALWAYS smiles for her brother and her Daddy.  She can't sit up more than a few seconds and when she falls over on the pillows, she laughs.

But she crawls like a fiend!  Even over the hump of the bottom of the gate.  She wants to be free all the time, becoming quickly impatient with her jumpy.  She does have a bit more patience for her high chair.

She's tiny.  Not even 13 pounds!  She is finally drinking from her bottle... Which is good because her patience with nursing grew thin a couple of months ago... I can only really get her to nurse alone in the quiet.  She doesn't want to miss anything!  

She loves music and LOVES Rock of Ages, especially the songs Tom Cruise sings.  She was even head banging last week!  She calms down for The Sopranos theme song,  She heard it enough!

She is getting attached to me.  She cries when I leave, but recovers after a minute.  Her cry is still so pathetic.

Ellie has her sights set on Abbey's toys already.  She will bypass her baby toys and crawl right over to Abbey's.   Holding her always makes me feel good.

Adam's Christmas Party at School

 Way back in the third week of December, there was Adam's school Christmas party.  Bobby was going to watch Ellie, but he had to cancel so I sucked it up and took both the girls.  Abbey was in a mood.  I couldn't convince her out the door.  So then we ran late.  And then there was no parking for two blocks.  And it was crap weather.  So by the time I dragged them both back to the school and through the door, I was five minutes late and what do you know Santa had arrived at exactly 10:30.  So we walked in and Abbey started to flip.  The room was packed, there was a lot going on and her chair was near the front and surrounded.  I actually kind of talked her out of it and Santa giving her a gift helped.  Turns out Ellie, above, was not the issue.  She sat snug as bug, enjoying the party.

 Of course, the fact that Abbey calmed down was a huge improvement.  But, I always hate when she takes away from things for other kids.  Here she is opening her present.  Both worried I would leave and excited to open it.

 Sitting down to eat.  A pajama party.  Yeah, I matched them.  Why else have kids a year a part??  They both ate the cupcake frosting and picked at the other stuff.  See how Adam adores her?  As much as they pick at each other, they have an excellent bond that melts my heart.

Saturday Night at the Potters

Last Saturday, we went up to Richland to see the Potters.  Jake is the son of the late Terry Potter, Todd's best friend.  He and his wife Theresa just put up a module home on property behind his mom.  They were pretty excited, having just been living in her basement with Ethan (above, 4) and Kyle, who is almost one.  The own a family house next to hers, but it's a small one bedroom and they now rent it out.  Theresa was so excited about her dream house...their excitement was contagious.  They ordered pizza and wings and we hung out.  There were two big points: 1) Abbey went into the house and jumped right in, almost no anxiety and 2) the kids had a blast.  They were running around with Ethan having a grand old time.  The boys were wrestling, which Adam is always desperate to do (and of course, Ethan, half his size, got injured) and playing hockey.  Adam called Ethan his brother, which was cute.  He's never done that.

Crummy pictures, but you get the idea!

Adam's Birthday Bash

Way back in October, on the weekend before Adam's birthday, we had his fifth birthday party.  This pictures are a mishmash of what Tammy and I took.  It was a Wreck-It Ralph party because at the time, they both loved the movie.  And I kind of liked more than most kid's movies.  And Adam had spent the better part of August and September dressed like Fix-It Felix.  We decided to try Merlin's Bounce House in Baldwinsville, a new place and less expensive.  And they let you bring your own food.  We spent a bit less than our party at the Kids Club, even with getting our food and buying all the party supplies.  It's more convenient when you don't, but it's nice to personalize the party with your own stuff, too.  And as at Abbey's party, the cake MADE the party.  Kari made this awesome cake and this picture absolutely captures why it's worth it.  The wonder on their faces!!!

Yeah, we make a big deal out of birthdays.  At first, I hedged to invite his whole class because of the people restrictions, but I did at the last minute because only a handful of kids show up.  This is Hunter from school with Abbey.

Ellie was kind of fussy.  Evenings are never her best time.  Erin was able to keep her happy near the end.

Desiree with Abbey.

My sugar rushed candy/gift table.  Kids could make their own gift bag.  These candy themed lip glosses I got at the Dollar Store were probably an unneccessary expense, but boy, I loved it.

Ellie did pretty good with Lynette for a while.

Overpriced theme plates from Amazon.  It was a last year movie, so the stuff wasn't in stores.

Uncle Bobby made me cry!

Such a cute picture!  Amelia, Meghan's daughter.  I worked with Meghan at the college.   They moved to Auburn and she is a history teacher now, but we've stayed in contact, mostly for kid's parties.  I had to miss hers yesterday :( because of the weather.

Felix started on the bottom, but Adam promptly put him on the top.  Like in the movie.  And then Holly's step grandson destroyed him.  Sigh.

Abbey loved it!

What a dirty look.

Adam gets so hot and sweaty ;)

Jason Potter and Kyle.

I look huge but there's not many photos of me with my kids and I love the huggies from Abbey.

Cake time!

Megan and Aidan.  We look like middle aged moms.  Oh, we are middle aged Moms.

That's Gavin, the Felix wrecker.

You can see medals on the left I got for the kids.  That's from the movie...it's all poor Wreck-It Ralph wants.

Getting sung to.  He had a BLAST!  And he did a good job at thank yous.

Best moment.

How did my son turn five???  It seems like yesterday I got pregnant.  He's such a great kid.  Funny and interesting, creative and smart.  He indulges me and makes his toys talk to me now as he knows I think it's funny.
Here's what I wrote on FB:
Today Adam turns five. I remember bringing him home on Halloween, trick or treaters everywhere....in love with my new son and having no real idea what lie ahead. It began the best and most rewarding part of my life...I felt blessed to have the family I had dreamed of. Adam is thoughtful..the first one to ask if someone is alright if they are hurt or was sick. His imagination only grows... His stuffed animals have a lot to say to mom before bed. And a great big brother... When he isn't provoking Abbey because he doesn't think we're looking . (See, smart, too!). And tall. I will thank my Dad for that... Oh, and lucky enough to share a birthday with his Uncle Kenny..

Gifts!  Is it just more or do kids get way more now??

Part of the Decision/House Hunt Date

It may seem like we've made no progress in our house debate.  We've been going back and forth for years on whether or not to move.  We wanted a yard.  And then we started to wonder if we should move to Dewitt, so we looked there.  Then we bought the cottage at an auction.  After we bought the cottage, we kind of had gotten to a place where we didn't need to move and only would if we found something perfect.  But then I got pregnant for Ellie.  We knew something would have to change.  And then she got here and it become very clear, we need more space or we'd have to do something drastic to this house.  We had been flip flopping on whether or not to keep the cottage if we were going to buy or build a dream house.  

But a part of this decision has finally been made.  After driving up to the cottage a few weeks ago to assess the storm damage (lots of tree issues, unfortunately), we both walked away feeling the same: we don't want to sell it.  We had a conversation that altered my thinking.  I had been set that we had to find a house for life; one the kids would keep coming back to and I could die in.   But after deciding that the cottage was where we want to focus retirement efforts (with a small place in Florida for four months), I altered my perspective.  Now I'm looking for someplace for 20-25 years.  I don't have to worry so much if I'd be able to afford the taxes in my 70s or if there's a full bathroom on the first floor.  It was a huge shift for me.

I also re-opened my mind to moving to Dewitt.  Todd is moving his offices to Leotta's, which makes the commute not as nuts and the houses and schools are nicer.

With that said, we went to look at house on Sunday in Dewitt.  There's really one neighborhood we're focused on, right off of 481 and an older residential area.  This house was cool... built by some SU architect in the 1960's and full of the contemporary details we love from the 60's and two updated amazing bathrooms.  They want too much and not sure if it's the right family house, but it was cool to go through.  

We also swung back by a property we had looked at a year and a half ago as a short sale and is now a foreclosure.... huge, unique and needs a lot of work.  It's going to auction soon, but I don't know if it feels right for us. 

We had decided to turn it into a date, which I needed badly.  Bobby said we could go to dinner, too.  On the way to eat, we stopped by the Syracuse office so I could see all the work Kevin did to it.  Looks good.  Most of the building we've put up for rent... but there is an office for Butler Disposal, there, too.

Off to Texas Roadhouse, our current favorite place to eat, for dinner.  I had a margarita that made me sleepy and my stomach sick.  So old.  Nice to just have time with us.  It happens less and less.  We've turned real estate into our dating life!  Love this guy and love our time together.

Dumpster Diving

 I suppose being married to the Garbage Guru, it would be inevitable that I would eventually Dumpster Dive.  Todd called me on Monday via Facetime with a dumpster behind him FULL of clothes.  Kmart closed and they just through it all out.  One dumpster was completely clothes and Todd had them bring it back to the yard.  He can't really do anything with it technically, but he wanted his guys to go through it before throwing it out.  What a waste.  Companies don't donate it because then they couldn't write it off.  Ugh.  Todd told me to invite Erin from the across the street with four kids and limited finances.  I was looking forward to and when we met up Tuesday morning, I told her it was the first time I'd been "shopping" with a friend in a long time.

I didn't find much.  The sizes I was looking for for me or the kids weren't in this particular dumpster, but I found a handful. of things.  The woman's stuff was huge or tiny or ugly, as one would expect in clearance.  Erin got A LOT of stuff for her kids and that made me happy.  We climbed right on top of that sucker.  Unfortunately, it had rained the night before making everything wet and heavy.  I was in there over an hour.  She was tired, she said.  I wasn't.  But I was hungry.  Because Lord knows if I exert myself, I must eat.  Poor Ellie watched from the car; she was crying for a bit and I felt guilty.  She's probably going to go to therapy over it!

Christmas!

I woke up with Ellie somewhere between 5 and 6 to feed her on Christmas morning and thought I heard Abbey rustling around in the living room.  So I called Todd, who was passed out on the couch to protect the gifts, to wake him up.  False call, but it was time to get going anyhow!  Adam dived right in.  He knew what to do!  Each year, I get them their own ornament to add to the tree and his, above, was one of the first things he opened.  He ended up loving it.  HE loves the LEGO Star Wars game on my Ipad and on the Wii.  Abbey loves her Grinchy blanket...it is now the final layer of her cocoon at night.

But she was loving her new Amber toy, for Princess Sophia.  Actually, she had gotten it from Kathy the night before and I had bought the same thing and just stuck in my room and she spotted it first thing.  She was nonplussed and happy to have two.

Excitement!  Her own Batcave!  They each got a variation.

Her princesses hang out there regularly.

Adam was thrilled with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle van.

And Ellie loved this purse from my sister Sarah.  She was really into things.

Abbey loves her music set.

And Daddy was on box and put together duty.

Loving all his Imaginext.

Ellie opening her presents!

Abbey excited for her toddler Rapunzel doll.

..and excited for her ornament, Cinderella.  I also got her a Grinch one.

Happy Ellie...

In the dress Adam picked out for her, packing up the Hello Kitty lunch pail my mom sent.

Putting together the Sophia castle Santa brought.  Adam told me he was helping Daddy do construction.

Our tree.  Which has Gingy on top.  Because it started as a joke five years ago.

Rocking out in the kitchen later to Jingle Bell Rock.

Unwrapping a gift in her high chair.

Diving in as a five year old does on Christmas.

Being stinking cute!

Batman needed a car...why not a roller skate?

Abbey spent much of her day on her roller skates.  Toting her new lunch pail full of treasures.

It was a nice day.  A lot of stress and exhaustion led up to it, but it was worth it.  This is the time in their life where Christmas is the most magic, I think, the most special.  I try to keep that in mind while getting it ready and even the day of, there's lots of running around for Mom.  I try to make Todd sit out of the housework as it's his birthday, but this year, he was running wash and dishes and it helped.  I do love how much they loved it.