The New Site:

Here is the address for the new blog :  http://khfamily.wordpress.com  .

I'm still trying to work on it, when I have the time (which is rare).  So, please check it out.  : )  I will be posting new stuff there rather than here because keeping up with three blogs is too much!  If you want to leave a comment, it is pretty easy to do on a word press blog.  Just click on the line underneath the post that reads "Comments", you then submit your comment and I think it has to be approved so that spam comments are not left on the blog.  

Nicholas is now sick, too. Which, obviously scares me a little because he's still so little.  I am taking him to see his doctor this afternoon, just to make sure that he doesn't have pneumonia or bronchitis. (I KNOW--Poor, Baby!!)   He does not have a fever, though, which is good.  His breathing is labored and he has this awful sounding cough, which scares me.  Michael did not get sick this young, so I'm a little nervous.  : ( Isn't breast feeding supposed to prevent all of this?  Guess you can throw that out the window when you have a sick Mom and sibling kissing all over you, right?  

Anyway.  There's so much to get done in the next few days, so I should get started on something productive.  All I want to do is hold the baby, though.  : ( Maybe an update this evening on the khfamily blog about Mr. Nick's status and the wrapping status!

Ariel is for girls!

Michael is sick.  'Tis the season, right?  At least he's getting past this cold/bronchitis before Christmas this year.  He's had a dry cough for awhile now, and then managed to pick up a cold on top of the bronchitis.  We had quite an adventure at the pediatrician's office yesterday!  Let's just say he was possessed: kicking, screaming, crying, all of it. The poor resident, she may have changed her mind about pediatrics after that visit.  Dr Dan quickly got little Michael settled, though.  It was like magic to me, others may just call it experience.  Anyway.  The pediatrician says he's not contagious, and that medicine wouldn't help at this time. Lovely.  Those are the visits I live for!  Basically, we are left to enjoy the misery of a sick three year old. Couldn't he have slipped a little cough syrup with codeine into my purse?  

In an effort to spoil Michael even more than he already is, I took him to the dinky little movie store here in town.  I'm all excited because Horton Hears a Who is out now, and he could care less.  Michael was in hot pursuit of a new Thomas movie, but he's seen all of the ones at the store.  (It's very, very, very small!)  When I saw Ariel's Beginning on the shelf, I pulled it down and asked him what he though about Ariel.  In a disgusted voice and completely annoyed by the suggestion, he said, "Ariel is for GIRLS, Mom!" Wow. : ) I didn't realize that he is at the age where there is a difference between "girl" movies and "boy" movies.  Guess I missed the boat on getting to watch Cinderella and The Little Mermaid again.  I wanted to call Josh right away, but I don't think he'd appreciate the humor while working on taxes and whatnot.  I'll have to save it for this evening...

WA-HOOOOO!!!!

Have I mentioned that I love, love, love my doctor?  He has delivered both of our sons, and I'm just so incredibly grateful for the care that he has given to our family.  

Went in for my two week c-section check up today, with Mr. Nicholas.  He slept the entire time and made my doctor grin from ear to ear.  (I think he enjoys seeing the babies that he has delivered.) The doctor needed to re-check my incision one last time before the six week appointment.  The incision is looking great, basically the scar is pretty dark and the incision line is numb.  However, the scabs are completely gone and it is healing quickly.  It looks like a happy face when I'm sitting on the couch.  

Before the doctor even had a chance to check the incision, I bombarded him with a question. I asked him as I was laying back onto the table, "SO...What are my restrictions now that I'm past the two week mark???"  He gave me the usual "no strenuous lifting", "no major abdominal exercises", etc, etc.  I noticed that he made no mention of running, so I just threw it out there, fully expecting to hear a six week restriction.  And, MUCH to my surprise, he said to take things easy for just one more week!!!!!!  I almost jumped off the table with joy.  He, of course, made sure to elaborate on his answer by adding that I need to take it easy, stop if anything hurts, etc, etc.  I nodded happily and promised to take things easy.  I fully intend to take running easy in the weeks to come, but just to be given the clearance and to know that I'm one step closer to running with my girlfriends again; makes me SO incredibly happy.  

It looks like the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot is not ruled out at this time! Heck, I might even be able to participate in another little race in just a few weeks.  (You can choose the distance-two, four, or six miles.  I'm just going for the 2 miles, at this time.)

Had to share the happy news! And it's also time for some more cute pictures of our sweet baby boy...

"Fluffy"

I love how fluffy Nicholas's hair is after his bath...

Just look at how incredibly cute he is... : )

He had this outfit on for like ten minutes because he urinated all over himself and the outfit shortly after I began a diaper change! The entire time I was taking these photos, he was making his sweet, little baby grunts and moving his little arms. (Don't you just love that baby grunting sound?!)

We're having a good week. Each day is a tad bit easier (except for dinner time), even though I'm tired. Really, though, I feel like the exhaustion this time around isn't nearly as bad as it was right after we had Michael. I think I'm just used to be constantly tired. All mothers can probably relate to that sentiment, right?

Nicholas had his first doctor's appointment today, which went very well. He now weighs 6 pounds and 9 ounces, and is 20 inches long. I'm glad to know that he has not shrunk! Because Nicholas is doing so well and nursing is going so well, he does not have to go back until December. Yay for our sweet, little Nicholas!!

(He's so cute, I could just eat him. I especially love his little neck and his itty, bitty arms.)

Can't we just lay around and watch movies all day?

Uh...  My belly feels like it is going to explode, my ribs are killing me (AGAIN!), and my skin feels like it is sunburnt!  How I would love to lay around and watch movies all day!!  Michael is helping me to "press on", though!  How can you not press on, when you have a precious little face like the one above asking for nature walks and time outside?  This morning I worked in the backyard on the tomato plants,  because it supposed to rain over the next few days.  Michael helped me stack the cages, toss out the non producing plants, and clean the pots.  As soon as I turned on the hose to clean up the pots, he was in make believe heaven!  Out came the cars, the "garages", and the prickly plants; the moment water was sprayed from the hose.  

Unfortunately, we cancelled on lunch with my Grandparents, I needed a little bit of a break after working outside.   Michael threw a temper tantrum, of course, and was furious with me for changing the plan.  After his time out, he decided that he was ready for his lunch.  : )   We then went for a nature walk, to look for acorns and walnuts.  

The walk was so much fun.  Thankfully, Michael walks a bit slower than me, especially when he is exploring so the adventure wasn't too taxing!  Michael brought "Giraffe" along, and made sure to feed her along the way.  The path that we walked on today was one of the cross country courses that Josh and I ran on in middle school and high school.  Walking on that path takes me back to those fall afternoons that I spent running after school with my friends.  This path was my very favorite course as a high schooler, though it has changed dramatically over the past ten years.  I miss the apple trees and the litter free, dirt paths.  Even though the path is different, I cherish the memories that this path conjures up every time I walk on it with Michael B.

 And now, it's time for a nap before he makes me play some more!

The joys of having a child who is potty trained.

Josh isn't feeling well, which is a real bummer. I hate it when Josh is sick because he does so much for our family. And, when he's sick I really miss his humor and child rearing support. This morning we all headed out by 9:30, so that Josh could have some beach time before the men's USA/Argentina basketball game. Michael and I decided to head down the beach for a walk while Josh was resting on the blanket. Unfortunately, we didn't make it back from the walk in time to give Josh a get well hug and kiss before he headed back to the house.

Michael and I made the best of our time on the beach together, though. We decided to dig a hole for his trucks and cars, and we had a lovely little snack on the blanket. I was a rotten mom and let Michael drink a little bottle of gatorade (at least it wasn't Coke!) during our snack. Obviously, I did not consider the repercussions of letting Michael drink an entire bottle of gatorade. The result of the gatorade, was that the poor kid had to pee about a half an hour later. At this point, I wasn't ready to head back to the house or to make the trek to the swimming pool. So, I told him he would have to go in the ocean. He said in an excited and joyous tone, "OKAY, MOM!!!" And, then started to pull down his pants. (Not good.) So, I glanced around and carried him over to the sand dunes, where things were a little less obvious. Michael loves to urinate outside, so he was totally happy with this proposition! Wouldn't you know it, another twenty minutes pass by and he has to pee again! I thought he was bluffing, so I made him pack up all of his beach toys. He said he still had to go, so we headed right back to the dunes. : ) And, he really did have to go, poor little guy.

After we got all packed up, Michael and I carried (actually, I carried) our entire beach camp back to the golf cart. What a load that was! The entire time I was thinking, you know...when I was pregnant with my first no one would let me carry as much as a laundry basket of clothes. The second time around: I'm carrying three beach chairs, a cooler, a bag of beach toys, a bag of towels, and making sure that the three year old is following me. Things CHANGE for the second pregnancy, don't they? : ) I'm not complaining, in fact I'd much rather be a pack mule than a fragile little doll, any day. Honestly, I would. It's just funny how things change, isn't it? I wonder what life will be like when I'm pregnant with our fifth or sixth baby?

I shudder to think about such things...

Running Blog...

If you're interested, I updated the running blog.  Here's the address:  www.runhappy.blogspot.com .  Not too exciting, but I figured I'd like to document my training for baby #2.  

The Magic Shirt!

23 Weeks Today!  

Where is the time going???? : (  Once I get past the nauseous, exhausted, and moody feelings of the first trimester; I really love being pregnant!  I love feeling the baby move and seeing my shirt pop up and down throughout the day.  I also love the little bump, and the way the little bump looks in maternity clothes.  I love feeling so healthy, and I love those gigantic prenatal vitamins.  The second trimester really is the honeymoon phase of pregnancy!  

Today a girlfriend from school, who is about 19 weeks pregnant, exclaimed that "my bump" looks so tiny compared to "her bump".  I made sure to explain that the shirt that I am wearing today, which is from Ann Taylor Loft Maternity, is magic!  Somehow, the pants that I wore to school and the top made the bump appear slightly smaller.  I'm not sure if it's the pattern or the cut of the shirt, but it's definitely one of my favorites!  The Loft maternity line is awesome.  I wish the clothes were a tad bit cheaper, but the sales make up for the original prices. My eyes are set on this adorable madras skirt, I'm waiting for the day it is marked down!  

The best news of our day is that Michael is on the mend!  Thank Goodness!  (It's about time.)  He had a fabulous day--no accidents at the sitter's AND (drum roll!) he even had a BM on the toilet at the sitter's!!  (Very, very big deal!!)  He said the funniest thing when we got home this evening.  I asked him if he said hello to the baby today, and he made some comment about the baby growing.  I then said, "Yes, Michael, the baby is growing everyday!"  Michael then said, "The baby is making your legs bigger, Mom?"  

The story behind the legs... Last week, I was trying on my new maternity bathing suit and I groaned to Michael that the baby is making my legs huge.  Of course, he remembered.  He associates the baby with making my legs, not my belly, bigger....

2 Hours 20 Minutes Later...

After having two days off in a row, I'm definitely ready for summer break!  It's been a real treat to be home with Josh and Michael over the past two days, even if they are sick.  The naps have been heavenly over the past two days.  I will certainly be taking daily naps with Michael B this summer! 

 This afternoon I was planning on cleaning a good bit while Michael napped, but the thunderstorms woke him up about an hour into the nap.  He was frightened, rightfully so, the storms were incredibly loud!!  I decided to lay down with him, in an attempt to stretch out his nap.  And, stretch it out, I did!  I slept for about two hours and twenty minutes, and Michael ended up sleeping even longer than that.  I tried to get up a time or two during those two hours, but Michael would wake each time I tried to move off the bed.  Eventually, I just gave in and decided to enjoy the quiet time with my little guy.  

We're all heading back to school, work, and daycare tomorrow.  (Bummer!) At least the weekend is just around the corner!  

In "baby news" everything is going really well, we are now halfway into the 22nd week! I was going to take a few belly shots today, but never got around to it, maybe tomorrow.  The baby is moving constantly, and seems to enjoy story time at night with Michael.  Last evening, while I was reading Michael, The Little Mermaid and the Aristocats, the baby was swirling all over the place.  And, just like Michael (and most other babies), this little one loves meal time!  There is always lots of movement while I'm eating or just after.  Last week I told my kids at school about my pregnancy, some were in shock and others were like..."yeah.  we knew."  Middle schoolers are so funny sometimes!  

Running is going fine, though I'm getting slower each week.  Many people have asked how long I plan on keeping "that" up.  In fact, my grandmother just asked me that question last night on the phone.  I told her as long as I can, maybe (hopefully) until the day I deliver. : )  Surprisingly, she didn't react and just went along with what I had to say.  I told her that one of my best running friends ran five miles the day she delivered her youngest child.  Truth be told, though, I don't know how long I will continue to run.  When I'm too miserable throughout the run, I guess?  I'm really taking it week by week.  At this point, my mindset is to get to 24 weeks, or six months.  And, then I'll likely shoot for 28 weeks.  Because my body is changing so rapidly, naturally my pace, distance, and frequency are changing as well.  I know that running five miles four times during the work week is NOT going to happen, so I'm happy just running two or three at this point.  

Part of my determination not to quit right now is directly related to having that blasted C-section with Michael.  My doc is very strict about exercising after the section, and I was not able to run for eight weeks after delivering Michael.  That is a REALLY long time, considering that most of my running girlfriends are running two weeks after their babies are born. At two weeks after the C-section, I was able to walk without pain and laugh and cough without pain, running was completely out of the question.  So, knowing that there's a real strong chance that I'm going to have to deliver the baby via c-section again motivates me each morning to enjoy the short, laborious run.  I also feel like running helps me keep my focus on a natural delivery.  I feel strongest when I'm running and I just think to myself if I can keep up with running, then there's a good chance that I will have a strong enough body and mind to deliver the baby naturally.  

Update on the family sick day:

Well.  Michael and Josh are still under the weather.  Michael still has a fever and Josh has one, as well.  We've had an easy day: full of naps and eating "sick food"--popsicles, jello, chicken noodle soup, and toast.  Thankfully, I'm feeling great and very well rested!! : )  Both the morning nap and the afternoon nap were delicious and very much appreciated!  It's likely that we'll all be home again tomorrow, since Michael still has this nasty fever.  : ( Poor babe.

I'm feeling guilty about taking off tomorrow, especially since I only have a few days left of school.  And, I do know that we could easily call upon our family to help, but I like taking care of Michael and Josh when they are sick.  And, Michael needs his mom throughout the night and it will be a struggle to make it through the day without sleeping all night.  (I'm hoping tonight is better, but I'm not so sure it will be.  He's already gotten up once, coughing and crying.)

My concern for the evening is getting a run in tomorrow morning.  Since I have a little extra time, I'd love to run four or five miles.  Unfortunately, though, the forecast is calling for lots and lots of thunderstorms.  Maybe the weather will clear up for just an hour, or so. (I'd be so grateful!)

In other news...How about Obama???  : ) What a historical evening for our country!!  I just hope that he gets those four delegates before I head to bed.  Did you know that he has a blog?  Here's the link:  http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog .  An hour or two later~  He did get the four delegates and now I'm watching Hillary speak on CNN.  I thought her speech was fantastic.  I got a little choked up in a couple parts, particularly when she mentioned the 90 year old women who came to out to support her cause. Those women grew up in a time when they couldn't vote! Imagine. Wrap your head around it for a second. Those women could nurse, change the diapers, feed, clothe, support, and love these future political leaders prior to the Women's Suffrage movement, but not vote?  What Hillary and Barack have brought to the 2008 primaries is the notion that anything is possible.  Anything at all.  And that is huge.  Universal healthcare would be especially huge, wouldn't it?

 

It Might Hurt Your Feelings a Little Bit.

I love my doctor.  He is such a southern gentleman (in every good sense of this term) and he has the kindest mannerisms.  After the ultrasound, the weight check, urine check, and the blood pressure check, Josh and I were escorted into his office.  We chatted for a few minutes and then he got to work looking at the ultrasound photos, to make sure that the baby is healthy.  As it turns out, the baby is very healthy and has a beautiful spine, says our doctor.  

After reviewing the important information, he then wanted to know if we had any questions.  I didn't hesitate to say, "Don't you think I'm gaining weight too quickly, Doctor L!?!"  (I've gained thirteen pounds over the past two months- WOW-WEE! Seven this month, six last month!!) Granted, according to their records I've only gained thirteen pounds because they have their baseline, and I didn't gain any weight the month I was sick.  (My records say it's more like 18 lbs because they didn't have a reading from the first day of pregnancy!)  

My doctor then said, "Well.  At this point we'd like to see a weight gain of about ten pounds.  So, you're fine.  But, if you find you're snacking a little bit too much, then cut back.  Otherwise, the scale might hurt your feelings a little bit the next time you come in."  He also assured me that in the last two months the weight gain would slow down to about a half a pound a week.  (That would be very nice at this point!)  I walked away from the appointment thinking, what a sweetheart of a doctor I have.   No brow-beating, just a kind word of caution about the weight gain.  (The doctor I saw today was the doctor who delivered Michael, so I was already in love with him, even before today's appointment.)

SO!! Here are the baby's stats:  

Gender: Don't know, don't want to know until the big day!

Weight:  14oz

Heart Rate: 146 beats per minute (It has dropped at each appointment...Hmmm?)

Other Facts:  Our baby has four chambers in it's heart (Yay!)  and a healthy looking brain complete with a cerebellum and two ventricles : ) .  The placenta is posterior and there is plenty of space between the placenta and the cervix, which is important (essential, actually) for a vaginal delivery.  

I'm going to get ready for bed.  Josh took Michael to a baseball game and I'm exhausted from all this excitement today.  I might post our alien baby photos, once I find the time to scan them into the computer and cover the personal information. 

What a wonderful day. Josh and I both couldn't help but feel incredibly grateful for the good news that our baby is growing and developing just as it should be.  

Just too good!

Good news!  The Loft maternity line is just as wonderful as all of the other clothing lines!  Last week when my shipment of growing belly/growing butt clothes came in, I announced to Josh that the little A.T. Loft card would NOT have to be put away for the next four months!! HURRAY!!  He growled at me, and DID NOT agree with my sentiments.  : ) The sales are just as awesome as the sales on petite or regular clothes.  You can't pass up shirts for $6.88, can you?

I'm not feeling so hot today.  My stomach is feeling a little funky, so I am going to try to head to bed early tonight.  This is around the time that I experienced pre-term labor with Michael, so I'm most likely just being too cautious.  I'm willing to take it easy, though, because the pre-term labor was NOT fun and quickly put the kibosh on the running.  

We (Josh and I) were up past eleven o'clock, watching the season finale of Desperate Housewives last evening.  The end of the show was disturbing, particularly the scene that showed how Katherine's daughter was killed.  (I then had nightmares the rest of the night.)  The lack of sleep last night might very well have something to do with not feeling well today.  

This is what 19 weeks looks like:

Here we are, at 19weeks already!

Wednesday is our big ultrasound, the one where you can possibly find out the gender. I am reminding myself that this is the ultrasound that lets us know if the baby is healthy and growing as it should be at this point. At the last appointment we received information about the impending ultrasound. The instructions included the amount of water I am supposed to drink before the appointment, as well as something else that has struck a chord with me. The instructions read something like, "this is ultrasound is NOT to determine the gender of the baby, it is to monitor the health and the development of the baby."

I keep telling Josh that something doesn't feel right about finding out the gender this week. I'm just so grateful to God for the opportunity to carry another baby, that all I want to know is that the baby is healthy and is growing. Gender makes no difference to me. Pink rooms, blue rooms, pink clothes, blue clothes; who cares? Just as long as this baby is healthy, that's what I care about.

The BEST One Yet!

This was the best Apple Blossom we've had yet! It has been a completely wonderful weekend!!

Cheering on the kids in the Bloomin' Mile. My girlfriend's son placed SECOND in his age group!! He looked so strong and fit!! (Yay, D!! and family~~his mom and dad and SISTER, who is a fifth grader, ran the 10k the very next day!!)

My running friends, helping me through the 10K. I love these girls so much! One is a mother of four and the other a mother of five and they both work out of the home. They are incredible!

The 10K was so much fun. Two of my running friends ran with me, which meant so much to me. I actually felt a little choked up when I finished because I love those girls so much and I've really missed our runs together lately. It meant a lot for them to stick with me throughout the race because they really could have ditched me to run a race of their own. Our time was great, just under fifty-seven minutes. The conversations throughout were even better, though.

Michael chatting with a new friend. They were sharing cars in this photo. Michael really, really likes this little guy~~ when he finished his cookies, he passed the leftovers to Michael. Michael takes cookies whenever he can, he says that we don't give him nearly enough at home.

The parade was also a surprising success, as well! Josh and I tend to dread the parade because of traffic, parking, walking really far, not having a great place to sit; but not this year!! We were able to get in and out of town without any trouble. In fact, we didn't sit in traffic at all, which never happens. Our seats were fantastic, there was plenty of space for Michael to move around. And, when he got too restless Josh took him out to run around the grounds of Handley. Even though we had such a good time, we were ready to head home by five. Josh took a couple pictures of Michael and me after the parade, but my eyes were barely open at that point. All of them were trashed. : )

Taking a break with dad.

On the road again.

"On the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. The life I love is runnin' with my friends. And I can't wait to get on the road again"

Last Tuesday as Michael and I were walking to the car at the sitter's house, he asked me a very sweet question. He looked at me and point blank said, "Are you a runner, Mom?" I couldn't help but giggle. I was sick as a dog at this point, still, and couldn't possibly think about running one single step last week.

Yesterday was my first day back to my running "regiment". It was a miserable and exhausting run, I honestly can't even pretend it was fun. I took about a week and a half off, and with being sick, my stamina was nil. Today was a different story, however! I met two running friends and we ran about five miles, or so. I felt, surprisingly, stronger than yesterday AND I wasn't ready to fall over with exhaustion today at school. It seems I have finally recovered from the virus, thank goodness! I have a few running goals for this spring: a half marathon in April (the 20th) and a 10K in early May. In order to run another half, I've got to start running on the weekends again and increasing the distance of my "long" weekend run. I love the half marathon distance, and I really do enjoy running a little bit longer on the weekends.

Michael is also a runner! Check out the following pictures from this evening. This is his starting position for running in a race. He runs races against himself every evening. We're a quirky family, I know. I love how the start of his race is all about the pointer finger placement. Don't you? He says the finger placement cuts down on his time.

"On the road again Goin' places that I've never been . Seein' things that I may never see again, And I can't wait to get on the road again."

Super Duper Sick

Oh boy!!  I woke up this morning feeling absolutely horrible, I think I might have the flu.  Josh has not been feeling well since Thursday, and I think I caught his virus.  Michael has pretty much spent the weekend with my family because of the car situation yesterday and now because of my illness.  I just pray that the bug stops with me and that Michael does not catch this because it's not going to be a fun week if he does!  I've never had the flu before, so I'm wondering if that's what I've got.  I did have the flu shot in November, so maybe I've just picked up a weaker strand?  

All I know is I feel awful.  Awful, awful, awful.  

Time for another nap or a warm shower.

And, We're Gonna Race!

Michael is just as excited as I am about the impending half marathon, if not more. I told him about our weekend plans on Monday night during his bath. We talked about who is going to run in the race on Sunday, which Uncles he is going to see this coming weekend, and we talked about spending the night in a hotel. He was full of excitement on Monday night, and that excitement is carrying him right through the week. Yesterday morning, when we got to the sitter's house, he began telling her all about his Mommy RACING! and his Granddad RACING! I If you ask Michael about the race, he gives a "fake whistle" and pretends he is starting the race. He will then yell, with arm motions, "We say: GO, MOMMY, GO!!" He also says that he is going to run, too, and that my dad and I are going to chase him. That is certainly going to be true one of these days, but hopefully not this year.

Yesterday, as I was driving to school, after dropping Michael off; I couldn't help but hope (and wish) that he finds the same fulfillment in running one day. I know I shouldn't be exclusive in saying "running", and I should hope that he finds fulfillment with music or art or basketball or even football (!yiiikkes, don't want my baby to get tackled!). Running is such an empowering sport. There's nothing like warming yourself on a cold, winter's morning with a good, fast, strong run. To feel the crisp, fresh air fill your lungs in the dead of winter; what a blessing! Crazy as it sounds, I mean it!

It's so hard to explain the joy that I have found in running. It has brought so many wonderful friends into my life, people that I probably never would have met if I was not a runner. As a high school student, I would have laughed in disbelief if someone would have told me that I would go on to complete a marathon or wake at five am to meet running friends for a morning jaunt. What a gift my coach gave me as a seventh grade girl. It's funny to think that this love started so many years ago, at our park, here in our little town.

I can only hope the same for our son.

(The picture is from the 1st time I did this same half marathon postpartum! Michael was about nine months in this picture. We had such a wonderful time on that race weekend....)

A Wonderful Dinner:

DOES NOT always equal AWESOME.  

Sugar Plum puked for the first time today.  (Spit up, in my mind, is not the same as vomit...) Josh got him out of the car for the sitter and he threw up right then and there.  Michael looked at the babysitter and said something like, "Hold Me.  Hold Me."  He loves her and needed her comfort. 

Obviously, I'm home.  I am hopeful that the bug has come and gone.  We'll see.  

What day is it again?

The holidays have left me in a haze lately. The past two evenings I have found myself to be more tired than usual, and I'm blaming my exhaustion on the laundry that is coming out the "Wha-Zoo" and the late nights from last weekend. I think I'm starting to make a dent in the laundry, which is good.

Today Michael received his flu shot. We were, of course, late by ten minutes. The nurse graciously took us back, however. On our way to the ped's office, I talked to Michael about what was going to happen; basically, I just told him that he was going to get a flu shot at Dr. Dan's office. As we talked about the appointment in the car, he asked why he needed to get a shot. And, my response was, "so you won't get sick with the flu, Michael." Naturally, the smarty pants boy said, "I not sick, Mommy. I not sick. " I tried my best to skirt around the issue by saying things like: the flu shot will keep you healthy, it's just time to get the shot, so you won't get sick, etc., etc, etc! At one point we were still going round and round about the fact that has WAS NOT SICK. At that point, I finally said, "Can you say Pre-VEN-ta-TIVE medicine, Michael? This is preventative medicine. It prevents you from getting sick." He seemed to understand (yeah right, I know...). However, he did sound out the word with me and we used it a few times later in the day as an attempt to build his vocabulary.

The shot went fine. He freaked when he saw the needle, but was happy as a lark 30 seconds later. After the appointment at the ped's we went to a bball game near our house. We know a special seventh grader who had a game this evening, so we went to cheer for him and to see his parents. The seventh grader melted my heart this evening when he thanked us for coming to watch him (TWICE!). I absolutely love manners, especially in teens.

Our school week is quickly passing us by, it is Thursday...Right? ; )

Going Green??

Boy, were Michael and I happy to have Josh home this evening!! Josh has been out of town since Sunday afternoon and because he got in late last night and left very early this morning; Michael did not get to see him until this evening. It was such a relief to share in his company at the dinner table, in addition to sharing the household/Michael B nighttime routine. I honestly don't know how single parents manage.

Until I had Michael, I had no idea how easy it is to obsess over your child's diet!!

When your baby is an infant you wonder is he getting enough from nursing? Is the formula upsetting the babe's stomach? When he is just learning to eat solid foods you wonder: Will he choke? What if he chokes? What about an allergic reaction? How do I handle those situations?? And, now, the worry is: has he eaten enough good food throughout the day?

Lately, Michael has been really picky and has hardly eaten his dinners. Granted, they may not be the best dinners or they may not be "kid food", sometimes. I worry, though, that he doesn't have a proper diet. I worried about his diet, in fact, until this evening. He ate and ate and ate. I grilled two steaks and made baked potatoes, a green salad, and green beans almondine . And, like I mentioned, he ate everything on his plate (including the itty, bitty salad)! Thank goodness. I worried that my holiday baking totally ruined his meager ('well-balanced') diet. but it does appear that my child will still eat something green.

Honestly, I have been obsessing about this food issue since Saturday night. And, thankfully, this obsession has come to an end. I wonder what I will worry about tomorrow?