Update

Last Wednesday was big!  Chris took me to see Travis Tritt at Innsbrook After Hours.  We had a nice meal at Capitol Ale House.  We sat outside and enjoyed watching the mama duck and her 8 ducklings in the pond.  The concert was fun.  He sang a lot of his old ballads.  There was some fun people-watching.  It was great to be with my hubby w/ no kids around.  Thank you to Erik and Landen for babysitting. 

When I got to work on Thursday morning, I learned that my boss, Kiki, had gotten "the call" from INOVA and she had gone to Fairfax for her lung transplant.  Apparently Kiki was really scared and anxious on the way to Fairfax and then she became "at peace" that this was all in God's hands.  Unfortunately, at 2am on Thursday she was told that the transplant was not going to happen.  She still isn't clear on what happened but she and her husband packed up and came back to Richmond in the early morning.  Her daughter had flown from Atlanta to Washington that night and her son was en route by car from Atlanta.  Too bad it was a dry run.  This whole experience has been so emotional.  I am continually inspired by Kiki's perseverance.  Please keep her and her family in your prayers.  I so hope that she will get a new, healthy lung soon. 

Ian had his 4-year-old doctor visit on Thursday, 5/20/10.  He weighed 41 pounds and was so brave while he endured 3 shots.  I can't believe how grown-up he is. 

I wanted to share a few "Ian quotes" from today. We were driving from daycare to Chick-fil-a and Ian said, "My knees have hair on them, I'm starting to look like a daddy!" That cracked me up since I've always said that I know I will have children who are short and hairy. Later, when we were leaving Chick-fil-a, Ian said, "Mommy I want to fly to the moon. I've never been there." I said, "Well, you need to be an astronaut so you can fly in a space shuttle." He said, "Okay, I will do that." At bedtime Ian said, "When I am 17, I will drive a monster truck. Ruby can ride on your lap in my monster truck. It will jump so high that it goes over the clouds."

He is always thinking...

I've really been struggling with his behavior since he turned 4-years-old. Today was a good day. His name was not put on the board at daycare (for not listening) and we didn't have any time-outs at bath/bedtime. Yeah!


Ruby has been exploding with language and is such a happy little girl!  She loves to play outside and sing the end of the alphabet song.  She's not especially fond of the whole alphabet song, just the end...  Every afternoon she gets in the car after daycare and says, "Chick-fil-a?"  I say, "not today."  She says, "Oh man!"  So funny. 

We had a good weekend even though Daddy worked OT on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday afternoon we went to our neighbor's birthday party.  It was a party for their 2 children who are turning 7 and 4.  Ian goes to daycare with the 4 year old boy, Marco.  It was a fun party because they are Filipino and Marco's father cooks a great Filipino foods.  We got to meet a lot of people and the children had a great time playing.  They even sent a plate of food for Chris to enjoy when he gets home from work (12:00 or 1:00 am). 

Sunday morning was nice because Chris let me go shopping in the morning alone.  I needed a new bathing suit and as my dad says, "I'd rather lie on nails.."  But, I went anyway and found a suit at Kohl's.  It's not my favorite but it will work.  I'm going to look some more later but this will do for now.  I also found a nice dress and a couple of items at Old Navy.  Later on Sunday I took Ian and Ruby to Crump Park and Erik, Landen, Kate, and Cohen met us there.  Meg was on her way home from Northern VA and helping with new baby, Aislin Alexis Helsley (welcome sweet baby!).  We had a great time but when it appeared that the sky was going to open up and pour rain, we left.  It never rained so after dinner the 3 of us headed out for a walk to the playground and we enjoyed talking and hanging out with some neighbors there. 

Now we're just trying to get through the week.  I'm look forward to a 4 day weekend and we're counting down to the opening of the Magnolia Ridge pool.  I'm also excited about seeing Sex and the City 2.  I'm thankful that Chris will be home all weekend too. 

I've got to get ready for tomorrow...

My Friday Off

I enjoyed my day off. 

Chris went to work this morning and he tried to keep Ian quiet so I could sleep a little longer.  He got an A for effort, but it didn't work.  I got ready for the day and got Miss Ruby up for breakfast. 

Ruby and Ian enjoyed looking out at the deck and seeing the snow.  We got a dusting of snow last night.  They both insisted on wearing their snow boots to school.  Ian took his school bus for show and tell so he "plowed" the sidewalk with the school bus before he got in the car for school. 

I then went to the grocery store to buy items for a couple of recipes I've wanted to try.  Then I came home and got sucked into email, Richmond Mommies, and Facebook.  There is so much support and love being expressed for Charlotte's family.  It really is remarkable how the community has joined together. 

I then went to get my eyebrows waxed (ouch!) and showed up at Ian and Ruby's school to have lunch w/ Ian.  I'm always torn about which child to spend lunch with but Ian at least understands that I'm going to leave him again but will be back to pick him up.  I also enjoy sitting at his table with him and chatting w/ his friends.  I shared macaroni and cheese, carrots, pineapple, and milk with Ian and his classmates.  I read Ian and his friends a book, The Gingerbread Boy, while his teacher got the cots ready and the children went to the restroom.  They were pretty attentive.  I felt good about Ian's teacher and he seems to be doing well.  I checked w/ the director and she said that Ruby was having a good day.  She'd been in the room dancing w/ Ruby earlier. 

I then left to take the Camry to be cleaned.  Chris has been feeling like the Camry is triggering his allergies since his headache has been worst Tues. and Wed. evenings on his drive home from work.  The 1995 Camry was a gift from my parents before Ruby was born and it has dust and animal hair (Molly's too) in it.  We've cleaned it before but some of those allergens are hard to get out.  It was time for a new vacuum and wash down.  It was a good opportunity to clean out all the children's daycare crafts and artwork that had accumulated in the backseat.  I took it to a place that washes the exterior and interior.  I made sure to tip 20% because it was cold and it is so nice to just pay someone to do it!

It was time for shopping.  I had a Kohl's gift and I need a new winter coat.  The old maroon Columbia coat that I bought in Boone, NC in 1997 (before the month-long twin study in NYC) needs to be retired.  I actually think it may be a men's coat.  Anyway, it's served me well and clearly, was a good investment.  But, I luckily found a purple (of course) winter coat that fits well and seems really warm.  And it was only $64.  So, I'll get to try it on my daily walks to and from the parking deck.  I try to wear my nice dress coat daily but recently, it's just been way too cold.    I also found a winter coat for Landen.  Meg has been looking for a new one for him for a while.  I also picked up a new baby gift for our friends, Gary and Terry, who live in Bellingham, Washington and had their second boy, little Winter on 1/1/10 at 12:01am. 

Then I made a quick run to Trader Joes for some of our TJ favorites.  I also picked up some red wine.  I'm enjoying it while I write.  :)

I then came home to start cooking one of my chicken recipes for dinner.  Chris came home and changed clothes.  He then went to pick up the kids from daycare.  He didn't seem to be feeling that good but took another headache pain medication and thought he'd feel better. 

Chris was frustrated when he got home w/ the children because Ian "did not want to go home" he told Chris he "wanted to go to something special".  That means Chick Fil A.  I'm not sure why he calls it that, it may be from us trying to not tell him where we're going when we're younger so he wouldn't drive us nuts w/ questions before we got there.  So we tried to be vague but he figured it out quicly enough.  We usually go on Tuesday evenings because we can get free kids meals.  So, Ian really likes to eat out and thinks we should go "somewhere special" every evening.  His protests to "going home" don't work but it makes for an unhappy ride across Rt. 1 to the house. 

I made a chicken recipe emailed to me by Kraft Foods. It was easy and yummy. The children really didn't eat it but Chris and I enjoyed it. And my wine went nicely with it.  Here it is:  http://www.kraftrecipes.com/kf/recipes/tuscan-chicken-simmer-111677.aspx?pf=true.  I substituted 1/3 fat cream cheese and whole wheat rotini for the fettuccine/ravioli. 

After dinner Chris gave Ruby a bath and put her in her PJs.  I did the dishes and Ian worked on a project.  I gave him a bunch of leftover envelopes and he started coloring pictures and putting in the envelopes for his family and friends at school.  It was really cute and kept him occupied.  Chris had said "no cartoons" earlier because of his behavior/attitude related to not going to "something special".  So, I was glad that he stayed busy.  Chris had sent Ruby downstairs to say goodnight to me but I realized that Chris was lying down.  We had a minor crisis with Ian trying to help Ruby downstairs that became an unattended push and Ruby started falling down the stairs.  Luckily she caught herself and I responded in enough time that she didn't hit the hardwood.  Ruby was scared and Ian was upset.  He sat in time out and cried.  Ruby cried.  Chris yelled from upstairs, "What's going on?"  I took Ruby to Chris to explain.  Chris tried to get up, lost his balance and fell into the dresser, I ordered him to lie back down.  I then went back to Ian.  He was so remorseful and worried about Ruby.  He's such a sensitive little boy and I love that he has a conscious and cares about others.  I reassured him that Ruby was okay, he said he was sorry and we moved on.  Lots of hugs.  Ian got back to work on his envelope project. 

Ruby and I read books.  She loves The Going to Bed Book and she says "exercise" at the right time.  It's so cute!  She hit the sack at 7pm and I didn't hear from her again.  She was sleepy tonight.

Ian then got ready for bed and we read 3 books, sang 3 songs and did prayers.  Then we had our "one last hug drama" but he eventually got quiet and fell asleep.  I realized that we were out of pull-ups so cross your fingers that he doesn't wet his bed tonight.  I'll be shocked if he doesn't and Mama will be doing a jig in the morning if he is dry!  No doubt. 

So, Chris is still asleep.  I'd hoped that we can go to Allen & Shirley's (my inlaw's) tomorrow but I'm not sure about Chris's health.  We'll make the call in the morning.  We want to see Pop Pop's trains before he takes down the Christmas decorations. 

We hope to get together with John, Whitney, Lily, and Ben on Sunday. 

Until the next adventure...