7QTs - Dr, ER, RR

Linking up with Kelly and co

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Sickness report from the last 2 weeks:

An afternoon a couple weeks ago I was SURE that A had an ear infection. He woke up from his nap clingy (nothing new) and on fire. I teetered over taking him to the doctor but I ended up going because 

A. I was sure it was his ear and 

B. I was terrified of an ear diagnosis because any more ear incidents would likely earn us a FastPass to the ENT for tube. 

Well we rolled in there with me and A and C, I was nursing C with A clung onto to me for dear life - he is pitiful when he's sick. Finally it was moment of truth and.... "his ears are the best I've ever seen them". 

Oh the irony of it all. Ear infection parents unite. I can totally see if you have a kid with chronic ear infections why you immediately run to the doctor. I never understood until now.

In other thriller-ish illness news, M woke up sick in the middle of the night last Friday morning - like that kind of sick. She's a pitiful sick-y too. I was sure everyone was going to get the stomach bug and the whole house would succumb.... but everyone else escaped unscathed.

Praise

The 

LORD!

An addendum to the sicky report.... yesterday Lee woke me up saying his back pain (from work - hello never ending pool season : ) had taken a turn to his stomach. Well he decided not to wait for his doctor's office to open and headed straight for the ER. Hello chaotic morning of dropping kids off, worrying about him, not going to the ER because C is small... Another praise report - it wasn't terribly serious, just diverticulitis. A few antibiotics and pain meds plus a change in diet and hopefully he won't be too worse for the wear. 

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During one of E's swim practices we patronized the park like so... 

I think if I had to tote A around on my back all the time I'd be back to my pre-preg weight in a week. Also he thinks he's supposed to ride in the Beco all the time now... but he's not. 

Swing love

Stroller love

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He's so cute : ) and turning 2 next week!

A zonked out after the playground. He is so stinkin cute but he can drive me totally nuts at the same time. I think it might be time to cut his hair but I cannot bear the thought of baby boy looking like little boy. 

CAN'T 

DO 

IT

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This picture is worth a thousand words...

The Nini + her thumb = makes me sad the lady who made the Nini isn't here to see C

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Okay this post is insanely old because these book are due in a day... 

Rainbow Fairy Heaven

39 books checked out... I think about 20 were Fairies. E wanted to leave the library immediately after the fairies were found but I dragged her through the other aisles of books and low and behold - there are other books out there she likes!

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As promised: 

R's art. I think I love the H the most. Also, the D'neilian or whatever kind of script they use - the Ks are the worst. Not a fan. 

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Sports keep going along...

R is making some good strides in hitting a ball being thrown to her which is actually helping her when she hits of a tee ( They get 3 or 5 pitches and then the ball is placed on a tee). I'm excited for her. There will be batting lessons available in the winter so I'd love to sign her up for some so she can be a little more confident in the spring - if she decides to play because you know she is NEVER doing tee ball again according to her. 

7QTs - Swim Team with a chance of crazy

Gracious it has been a busy week - but does anyone not have a busy week these days?!?!?!... 

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On the way to church Sunday... 

Because sometimes you just need a pretty pic to look at and it makes you think. Or the 3 yr old who sung a tiny amount at her spring program, sings the songs she was SUPPOSED to sing and more on that way home and that makes you think...

"He's got the hoo-l wor-ld in His hands... He's got the little tiny babies in His hands"

If He's got the whole world that means He's got me too which is good because after this morning (at work) I needed some reassurance. Nothing like a really crazy day to make you appreciate the weekend even more. 

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Sunday the big girls and I hit up out new summer hang out... The pool. 

I had never even seen the place before so it was a bit of a reality check when we drove up and it was the same shape as the pool we went to growing up except it was 4 lanes instead of 10!

#smalltown

Any how they liked it. I joined for them - not for me by any means. 

Adult swim - the last 10 minutes of the hour, every hour - is very perplexing to them. 

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Monday was Memorial Day so no one worked (thank goodness). We ate a leisurely breakfast and went on a walk around the neighbor that did not end particularly well thanks to R who desperately wanted to ride her bike down the hill but was terrified. 

Lee insisted he wasn't going to do ANYTHING after the week he had had but after about 10 minutes of listening to E and R's bantering he weed wacked backyard of the house behind us (that is still in foreclosure!) because it could be a serious snake haven and planted some plants. 

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For dinner we had an impromptu family gathering: 

Cousins were involved so all was well in our world... at least for a few hours : ) 

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Feel free to reinsert the craziness... here aka Tuesday (and the rest of the week)

Tuesday was first swim practice of the year. E had been talking it up. R I wasn't quite so sure about. In December she MELTED down at the Y for swim lessons so I really didn't think she'd want to participate much at all. I mean, if she did great, if not then no problem. I really just wanted her to TRY and get in the water again. 

R made it halfway down the pool (with the coach) and was so proud of herself.

This about a pregnant pic of me as I'll probably post... 

Papa made it and sat through swim practice... Yes Papa showed up at the pool. I cannot believe it. Maybe he'll shock us all and get in next week - wishful thinking I know. 

M is a crazy person in the pool. She does not like sitting in the float and does not want to be held on to so I'll let go of her for a few seconds and she goes under water and once she catches she breathe she wants to do it again!

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I could, should, and will write an entire post dedicated to this girl and her Nini because it's not just the pregnancy hormones that make me want to cry

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On my counter...

As soccer comes to a close tomorrow I guess this will be our new reality for the next couple months. Fortunately I'm not coaching and hopefully R will hang in there at swim practice because she is just beside herself that she's in the pool with the big kids.

I have a standing offer for E... once she swims in the 6 and under heats - and not just the Pup Squad - which is for kids like R who either don't want to or cannot complete a lap on their own so coaches are in the lane with them - THEN I will get her the team suit. Apparently not many kids wear the team suit but I wore the team suit when I was growing up so here I go trying to get the kids to relive my childhood - if ballet were not so STINKING expensive then I'd consider signing them up and I'd prove myself wrong in the 'MUST IMPRESS MY CHILDHOOD ON MY KIDS' statement - no one really does that anyways, right?

Speaking of which, Lee and I are pretty much on board with signing E up for American Heritage Girls in the fall - it is similar to Girl Scouts. I'm not going to get into the politics of AHG vs GS. I never did scouts growing up but Uncle Kev finished his Eagle Scout project - whether he wanted to or not may have been debated but I think now - 10 years later - he appreciates having gone through scouting - camping trips and all. So we'll give AHG a whirl. Hopefully E will meet some new friends and maybe even see some familiar ones from preschool.

Lastly... since I know you really really care...

The ONLY maternity tank tops I like are at the one-stop-red-dot-stop so I finally broke down and ordered some new ones since I had one from when I was pregnant with R and the old one is headed straight for the trash. I probably could have used them 2 weeks ago but the bump is really starting to get bumpy so... I guess all the maternity clothes will be out before too long. I like these because they are stretchy and stay in place and are not a heavy cotton. 

Now if I could only find a few good additions to the preggo-warerobe I'd be set.

Most Posts of 2013

This link up looks fun and exciting and for whatever reason I decided to drink a cup of coffee at 4:30 this afternoon... soooooo... here goes

Post with the Most Clicks

The three hr glucose test post is supposedly the most clicked by and large but probably because the search engines like the title... There was really no major content on the post.

The Five Favs - Those Awkward Pregnancy Questions is next in line. This post is hilarious and one I'll definitely want to remember

Post with the most comments

From the Keep Christ in Christmas Link-up. This was a fun link-up and I had a good time reading about how other people celebrate Advent and has totally got me wanting a Jesse Tree for our Advent next year

Post with the best picture

Is it really necessary to chose one picture? Here is my favorite picture from a picture-y post. This is my favorite picture post. E's first day of 3 yr old class. R's pig tails. E in her goggles and lifejacket. R in the sand. E swinging in the waves. 2013 Fam-mee beach pics (sans Papa - only bummer part) Sorry I cannot just pick one : )

Post that was hardest to write

Seriously it probably took an entire tissue box to do this one. Start with a close family friend dying + being 8.5 months pregnant (and all those lovely hormones flowing) + innocence of a 3 yr old + the sentimental-ness of the Ninis = that post

Post that is my personal favorite

5 yr anniversary post? Oh yes... I LOVE going back and remembering our wedding day and looking at the pictures.

M being born... This was a pretty fantastic post too!!!

7 Quick Takes - Newborn Essentials in our house!

Guide to Surviving Life with a newborn - ok not really but here's a few things that have made the transition a bit easier

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I have raved about the MyBrestFriend before and I'll do it again. Love this nursing pillow so much. My BrestFriend + hospital baby wrapper + kiddopotamus = how we make it through the night 

Touchdown baby!

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Got Diapers?

J&J Night time cream - the off brands don't smell the same : ) 

Rubbing Alcohol to clean the cord

Powder

Diaper Rash cream

Baby Q-tips 

Pink swaddling sock

All highly practical items to have around...

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Okay so this is actually the footstool for my rocker but it won't fit so it is on my bedside table... complete with:

Wipes
Paci - which M has not had ANY interest in
Phone charger
Icon? - why not, right?

Also pictured - nightlight - yes I can sleep with it on and a package of 900 wipes...

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Rocker/glider... It is by far the single best purchase I have made (from Craigslist) that is the most comfortable piece of furniture to rock/nurse a baby. Good glider = worth every dime.

And the cord hanging from the top pic is this little baby contraption. Breastpump = necessary. Pump to comfort = motto of the lactation consultant who happens to be insanely well versed in all things baby/nursing.

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Oh and it is freezing... Well actually not really but it is to me. So it is an excellent excuse to use a spaceheater at night and keep the room nice and toasty for me and M. Plus the carrier has the BundleMe insert which has been a lifesaver on these cold preschool drop off mornings : )

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My sister in law brought me this trail mix when she came up and visited M. She had it portioned out in these little baggies and let me tell you it is awesome. 

Dry roasted peanuts

Craisins

Reeses Pieces 

Chocolate Chips

I finished up what she brought so I had to make my own and in the process got a neighbor and Lee hooked on it. In my mix there is the bittersweet chocolate chips and it adds a twist on the flavor and there's a little less sugar than the regular chocolate chips. 

Pretty sure I'll be living on this stuff for the next few months. 

Mix yourself up a batch and you'll be hooked

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Well I'll actually need another pack or two of these because everyone has showered M (and our fam-mee) with so much generosity - clothes, diapers, meals, wipes, our favorite Land's End bags and this...

M's NiNi, probably the single most anticipated and special and sentimental item that M will get. It's worthy of its own post because there is kind of a necessary backstory - part of which I'll share. 

                                                  

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

                               

A 3 yr old Understanding of Death

Recently a close family friend died... so of course we had to talk about it with E.

Before she died E colored her a picture when she was in the hospital. The day she died we told E that Mrs. Viola was really sick. Her response:

E - Well I will have to color her alot more pictures and use my special markers.

The later that night we told E that she had died and that we were all really sad about it.

E - Well Jesus died for all our sins.

She preceded to sing Christ is Risen from the dead...

We are saying special prayers for Mrs Viola every night so E is really into it and tells us every night that "We need to do our special prayers for Mrs Viola." Try singing the following with your 3 yr old who knows the words

"Blessed repose and Eternal Memory" - let me tell you it is SUPER intense.

We were talking about going to the visitation and funeral with E... We believe that it is important to teach our kids about life and part of life is death. The visitation was the same night as preschool open house (yes our preschool lets/allows/encourages parents to bring kids?!?!?!) Anyhow, we told E she needed to be having good behavior and not be loud. Somehow during this conversation...

E - Well when are we going to get a new Mrs. Viola
Me - There's only one Mrs. Viola
E - Well where'd she go?
Papa - To God 

INTENSE I TELL YOU!!!

Anyways, we made it through the visitation - for all of 10 minutes - without any major outbursts.

On the way to the funeral (R stayed at home with a sitter) I told E that there would be lots of sad people and feeling sad was normal and it was okay if she felt sad too. I again reiterated the need for good behavior and that we would talk to Jibbe and Papa AFTER the funeral. We got situated in our seat and then I realized I forgot tissues - way to go - and we did not make a potty pitstop so we hurried to the bathroom - good call. Made it back barely... Paper towels are no tissues and are a bit louder - as I learned.

E did great during the funeral. She was confused as to why we could not sing the words of the songs (no one was singing and there was no music). She saw me and other wipe our eyes so she had to grab the papertowel to wipe the 'water' from her eyes. It was cute. She was generally unfazed by the experience. Same at the cemetery - E wanted to know when Mrs Viola would be put in the tomb (during Holy Week and Pascha alot of the hymns we sing have to do with laying Jesus in a new tomb and 'to those in the tombs, He granted life'). It is really interesting how she is putting stuff together.

As we were leaving the cemetery she wanted to sing our special prayer for the graves - Eternal Memory.

For me, I was glad I had someone to squeeze during the sad parts of the funeral.

I know that Mrs Viola will be a topic of conversation over the next few weeks and months and years to come as she made the girls Ninis. They LOVE LOVE LOVE their Ninis in case you have not picked up on this. I told her I was pregnant with number #3 by asking if she thought she might be able to have another Nini ready at the end of October. So that just makes the Ninis even more special and she told me that baby #3 has a Nini waiting for him/her which will just make this baby's Nini super extra special.

Here's all the joy and comfort that the Ninis bring to the girls

Getting R situated with her Nini

Double take on the Ninis

Peacefully enjoying Nini

Snuggling Nini

With Nini the sleeping possibilities are ENDLESS