Not Better

Not much better. Now I am sick, and Pete is sick. And Jamie is cutting teeth or something. I don't know. I just don't know. It's a fussy, needy house. Not a good time for this but when is a good time right? But it really isn't a good time at all.

These days I feel lost. I don't know what is wrong with Pete. All I know is he has a temp that started at 101.2 this morning and when I put him down for a nap it was 102.3. He is burning up. His whole body feels like it is on fire. I gave him Tylenol and we will see how he feels when he wakes up. He is also fussy, whiny and needy. He wants to be held and he doesn't want to eat anything. Not even his favorites. No fries, no apples, no ice cream, no juice. Nothing. Not sure what is wrong. Any ideas?

And Jamie started with a temp and runny nose this week. Today she doesn't have a temp but is sneezing and has a runny nose. She is also very fussy, needy and wants to be held. Don't try to put her down, change her diaper or deny her anything. Cutting teeth? Cold? Cold's don't have fevers right? Could be yeast infection and cold....just not sure.

Me, probably the beginnings of a cold. Maybe we are all just fighting colds. But the fevers bother me. Anyway, it's just really not a good time. Going to take this quiet opportunity to shower, and pray.

My Day

This was a Monday I could have done without. I am venting so be prepared....Everything was hard today. Everything went wrong. Pete forgot how to pee in the potty. He was fussy and needy most of the day. Jamie woke up with a runny nose, mosquito bites all over her, a yeast infection and diarrhea. She took a horrible morning nap and woke up crying. Pete wouldn't eat anything I gave him. He kept asking to go outside but we can't go outside because he gets eaten alive by mosquitoes. All day was like this. It seemed like it was one thing after another. And the weather, oh the crappy weather here. I think it has rained like 10 out of the last 14 days. I went to the gym to get a break, was late for my class, Pete was screaming crying when I dropped him off the the childcare area and I had no energy to exercise once I got started. I should have just stayed home. Traffic was horrible and the construction around here is driving me crazy. There are mosquitoes in my house and I cannot protect my kids from them when they are in our living space. I cleaned up three pees on the floor, 2 diarrhea diapers and the granola bar Pete took apart bit by bit and threw on the kitchen floor. Today was frustrating, trying and emotionally and physically draining. At one point I just walked away and laid down on my bed. Pete followed me, "Mommy, up! Mommy up!" Later I went into the bathroom, closed the door, shed a few tears and rejoined my kids before they could get into trouble. These days are few and far between but when they happen they take everything out of me. I was a terrible mom today. It was a terrible day and I was a terrible mom. So, I am going to bed and tomorrow will be better.

Here are a couple of pics I took today. As hard as today was, Jamie was still really cute. :)

She is not quite as helpful as Pete when it comes to unloading the dishwasher. She picks up the silverware and drops them on the ground.

Us

Mommy and Jamie girl in the pool, inside. On the way to the pool last night the clouds came in, the wind picked up and the temps dropped. So we went inside.
Pete watching the bulldozer in the yard next door. He calls it "bulldo". "Bulldo out mommy." Pete put his pajamas on his head and Jamie thought it was just too funny. These are some of my favorite moments. Jamie loves to laugh and Pete loves to make her do it.

Ticklish

Jamie is extremely ticklish under her neck. Pete knows it. See below.

Go!

Gyms

I am gym shopping. Have I mentioned that? I tried one gym twice and liked it. The gym I am trying out now gave me a free trial pass that expires on the 18th. I can't decide between the two gyms. Each has it's own pros and cons. It's a big decision for both me and the kids. I need to take into consideration cost, class schedules, childcare, location, pool, etc. The one we are going to now includes the pool and so far it's been a big hit with the kids. If I don't sign up here Pete is going to wonder why we only went to the pool 2 weeks out of the whole summer!


Out to dinner for burgers after an evening at the pool. This is the life, at least for now while it is free. Pete has found Jamie's ticklish spots. He tickles and she laughs and laughs. I have tried to work out at home and avoid paying a gym membership fee but it just doesn't work. Something always gets in the way. Something=the kids. Or eating, or computer, or t.v. It's been 5 years since I had a membership and I am ready to get back in shape. Plus it will give me the me time I need during the day. What helped me make this decision to gym shop? Weight gain. I tried to figure out lately why I am gaining weight and it all comes down to the fact that I eat way too much and I don't exercise. Hmmmm. Funny how that works. So, its time to get back in shape and I know working out will do the trick. Plus I like going to the gym. I always have. So far it's been hard to get to the gym. Almost as hard as working out at home. I have to fit it in between 3 naps during a 10 hour period. I have to get everyone fed, clothed and out the door in time to work out and get home in time to get the next kid down for their next nap. It's tough. And I have felt guilty. The kids don't want to go to childcare and don't like it and I feel bad when we drive into the parking lot and Pete starts crying. I am using Jamie's awake time to be by myself instead of with her. P. says not to worry. It's not like I am putting them in daycare for 8 hours a day. It's just an hour and a half. Mom guilt, it sucks.

So, I plan on getting in shape. And when I lose 10 pounds I will get a cute short haircut to show off my new looks.

Time for bed. The Lakers lost and I can go to bed now. Phew.

Oh and one more thing....one of my best friends in the whole world got engaged last night. I was in bed by the time she called but found out first thing this morning. I met Erin at the Navigators about 6 years ago. Wow, has it been that long??? We became immediate friends and have stayed close even though 5 years of our friendship I have been in MI. Erin is a joy and I am so thankful to have her as my friend. She deserves all the happiness in the world and with Jeremy I believe she will have it. She gives her whole heart to the Lord, to her friends and to her family. Erin is my always friend. We have so much fun together and spend a lot of time laughing so hard we are crying. We have taken some great trips together and have made some great memories over the years. Erin has a contagious laugh and smile and you can't help but be happy around her. She has asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding and I am so honored she has chosen me to be a part of this celebration. Erin, I love you and am so happy for you. Congratulations to you both!

The last time I saw Erin was March 2009. We took a trip to Florida together and had a blast. This is the longest we have gone without seeing each other and I can't wait to see her soon. Our red toes in the soft FL sand.Me and Erin in Florida when we get old. Erin is the one with the sunburn.

Late Nights

I remember this time last year. I was doing the same thing as I am right now. I am in bed, trying to keep my eyes open, watching the Lakers play in the NBA Finals. Not that these are not good games. They really are. Too good. Lakers are losing, heart racing, tired but if I turn the t.v. off I know I will just turn it back on again in a few minutes to check the score. It's really too bad these games start so late for us on the east coast. This game will probably be over by midnight, time to ponder the game, slow the heart rate and fall asleep by 12:30am. Jamie up by 6:45am. Not bad but do this over and over again for a few weeks and it results in exhaustion that I can only blame on myself. Or the fact that we don't have Tivo/DVR. Or that fact that we live on the east coast. Or on the Lakers for always making it so far in the Playoffs.

All that said, Lakers are still losing. And how great is it that I can lay in bed, watch a basketball game, and blog on my laptop? Let's see. What should I talk about?

How about my kids? I don't talk about them much.

Jamie went on her first wagon ride this week. Loved it.
Mom and dad watching their beautiful children laugh and play together in the front yard. How blessed we are to have each other.
Pic of the little guy listening to my iPod. Geez, he looks so old in this picture! Handsome boy, yes?
Jamie with a bunch of spoons from the silverware drawer. She made a lot of noise and had a lot of fun.

Porch

We spend a lot of time in our front yard and on our front porch. I bought Pete a couple squirt bottles and he loves spraying Abby, bees and me. Once in a while he gets Jamie right in the face. His new thing, drinking the "wa-wu". We eat our morning snack outside while watching people come and go from the gym next door. Usually we eat Doritos.
Pink Pumpkin. That's what my mom called her when we were in CA.
Waiting under Pete for some food to fall. There was a noodle under his chair and she tried to get it for like 5 minutes.
Pete took this picture of Jamie through his chair. She is where you see her above and I gave him the camera. Pete takes some really good pictures sometimes. P. wants to get him his own child-proof camera so he can further his picture taking interest and not ruin our camera.
Here is another one of her he took last week at the library. Not bad eh? He takes a lot of bad ones too though. Thank God for digital.

Jamie

I found a food Jamie doesn't like. Cheese. I gave her small bites of Colby Jack cheese cubes last week and I thought she ate them all up so I gave her more. Again, all gone. I got up to put our dishes in the sink and saw that she had dropped all the pieces on the floor. Jamie doesn't drop food on the floor. She eats it. So apparently she doesn't like cheese.

This past weekend we gave her a couple bites of chicken. See for yourself.

Jamie doesn't like chicken either.

Summer Fun

It may not be officially summer yet but we have had some nice "summer" weather off and on over the last month or so. It is warm, then it rains, then it gets hot, then it rains. Today it is raining. This was us last week Thursday. A local pool had an open house free to the public. We met a friend and her daughter there and stayed for 3 hours. The kids loved it. I felt like I was at a resort. I seriously considered signing up for a summer membership. Still thinking about it....but not as seriously.Jamie fully enjoyed the water and she was darling in her little bathing suit. No picture of the suit. This was her after she got changed into dry clothes to head home.
Pete having a snack and doing a little people watching. He also enjoyed the evening at the pool very much. Every time he sees a swim diaper around the house he says, "Me, me, me. Me wa-wu mama." And since last Thursday he has learned how to say "pool". I should just get him his pool membership, don't you think?
And on Saturday we enjoyed another nice day down at Riverside Park. They had a small dog fair called "Dog Days at the Park". Everything dog so of course we all loved it. But Abby stayed home, she is still not a dog to take out in public though at home I would say she is a really good dog. This is Pete pulling our wagon filled with our lunch cooler, chips, and blanket down the trail in the park. Pete is a worker. If something needs to be done, he is on it. P. says Pete never rests. There is always something to be done. Just like his dad.
Me and Sugar Ball in front of a dog exercise track and a bunch of St. Bernards under the tents. All very hot St. Bernards.
We try to get out and do fun things. I think it is good for the kids. And me. Pete gets to explore new things, see new places and experience different adventures. Jamie has a whole world of new things to learn. Our city always has stuff going on. I do like that about living here and I do enjoy how pretty it is with all the greenery and water. But with water and greenery come mosquitoes and once again we are dealing with the annoying bugs. Pete has about 30 bites right now. Within minutes they become red, swollen welts and by the next morning he can have bumps as big as golf balls under his skin. I put cortisone cream on them and we give him benadryl to help with the reactions. Poor guy, I wish there was something I could do for him. He woke up yesterday morning and showed me his wrist and said, "Bite." It looked terrible and it breaks my heart.

Yesterday I took Jamie to the doctor thinking she had chicken pox. Silly mommy. Jamie is allergic to mosquitoes too. Two kids allergic to mosquitoes. Now what do we do?

Go

Jamie hasn't said "mama" yet. But yesterday she started saying "go". Why? No idea. Sometimes I say, "ready, set, go" with Pete and maybe she hears that. But "go" came out a few times yesterday morning and later at the library I got it on video. Take a look. Listen carefully, it's right in the beginning then again when Pete comes over and she turns her head towards him. It would be kind of weird to tell people her first word was "go". We will see if it sticks or just babbling that happens to sound like a word.

10

Abby turned 10 yesterday. I have spent 10 years of my life with Abby and I love her very much. I am happy she has made it this long and I hope she lives another 10. She is a good dog. And I think she is happier and healthier than ever. You couldn't tell she was at the end of her average life span. Boxers live, on average, 8-10 years. I am watching her sleep right now. She is a good dog.

Every year she gets a birthday hot dog. We sang to her too but I think she was too excited to get to her hot dog that she didn't enjoy it.

Holiday Weekend

The weekend all started with a night out to see Sex and the City 2. A wonderful friend of ours came over to watch the kids and we headed out early to get popcorn an icee and a good seat. The movie was very entertaining. A little far fetched and sometimes shocking but overall I was pleased. The clothes were incredible and the girls were as witty and as beautiful as ever. Wish I could have seen a little more of Aidan though. :) While in the theater I remembered how fun a night at the movies could be in comparison to watching a rental at home. Totally different experience but not quite as convenient and it's all about convenience and cost these days. Looking forward to SITC 3. It may be the next time I make it to the movies.Sat morning we headed up to my in-laws house. My nephew turned 13 over the weekend so we had a little party on Sunday. We made it up there around noon, had some wonderful chinese buffet, and got home to put the kids to bed. When they woke up we went over to my BIL's house for some swimming. Here is Jamie in the lake for the first time. She ate a lot of sand. No surprise right? And really liked the water, more than Pete I think.
"This stuff is interesting. Feels funny between my fingers. I think I will eat a whole bunch."
Eating sand, relaxing in the water, getting some sun.
Dad and son trying not to get too wet. We joke, dad and Pete stay clear of the cold water, mom and Jamie jump right in.
Me and my kiddos. It is so fun to experience things like this with them for the first time. Wish we could visit more often but it's a long drive for 2 kids who really don't like to be in the car and don't sleep in the car like other children.
My favorite picture of the little ball of sugar.
On the pontoon boat with dad.
With cousin Katelyn.
With cousin Katelyn's Rockstar drink.
Riding on the tractor with Opa.
Getting a buzz for the summer. The haircut makes him look so much older. I want him to grow it back.
Snuggling with dad. Yes, Pete is naked. It was after his bath after his haircut and he loves to run around in the nude.
Sunday for the bday party. Mom taking a little break. I remember the days when I used to lay out for hours. I fully enjoyed these 5 minutes.
In the shade with the grandparents.
Yummy ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. And that's my BIL, me, BIL's girlfriend, my nephew cutting the cake and a friend of his.
Jamie getting a little cake from her Omi. Omi loves to feed her anything and everything. Jamie doesn't mind.


Found this shirt at Old Navy. It was like $3.39 after 40% off sale price. I bought two. How perfect huh? Life long Laker fan, Lakers win playoffs and headed to the finals, cheap and cute. Go L.A.Pete can play with a hose for hours. Stay clear if you want to stay dry.Popping water balloons.
Jamie pooped, gotta go!