Landen is Missing a Tooth!

Today, Meg called and said that Landen, my 5 year old nephew, lost his first tooth.  She put him on the phone.  He was so cute saying, "I lost my tooth."  I asked where it was.  He said, "Under my pillow."  He went on to explain that "Mommy has the telephone number to the tooth fairy and will be calling her to let her know about his tooth."  Too funny.  Then I asked him what he wants from the tooth fairy for his tooth.  He said, "3,000 pieces of money."  So cute! 

It seems like yesterday that he was a chunky baby boy.  Here's a photo from him at 2.5 months.  Time flies.   

The Princess and the Frogs

Meg and I took Kate, Landen, and Ian to see The Princess and The Frog. It was Ian and Kate's first movie in a theater. They did great. They ate a ton of popcorn and stayed in their seats nicely. Kate took one trip to the potty but overall they did great. I enjoyed the movie and liked the story. It had scary parts and Ian refused to look (definitely my child) but I didn't think it was as scary (from a child's perspective) as some Disney movies. I loved the music! All the reference to cajun food and New Orleans made me miss my friend, Jessica.

Ian, Ruby, and I went to church briefly this morning. We were alternates for the nursery and didn't know if the scheduled person would show up or not. Of course, the scheduled nursery person was there but it allowed the kids to play w/ those toys for about an hour and it was good to catch up with some of our adult friends. Then we left for a movie. I felt kind of bad about ditching church for a movie but rationalized that it was an important "family activity" and the 11am movie time was better for naps. Regardless, it was good for Ian and Ruby to have a change of scenery on a rainy morning. It also gave Chris some quiet time to rest and recover from his most recent illness, the stomach bug. So far, Chris has struggled in January. Hopefully his immune system will resist future illness for a while. He came home Friday night from work with an urge to get to the bathroom and he didn't leave most of the night. Poor guy! Today he seems to be feeling a lot better.

Because of Chris's illness, he did not get to go to Charlotte Reynolds's memorial service. Ian and I went with Meg, Erik, and Landen. Ruby stayed home napping. Meg and Erik had a sitter for Kate and Cohen. Chris did watch the service through the live feed from the http://www.cjstuf.org/ website. The service was amazing and perfect! The children's sermon was phenomenal and Ian and I loved the music. Again, I was so amazed and inspired by Roger and Rachel and their ability to speak at THEIR child's memorial service. And what they said was so rich and "full of Charlotte". I can't say it enough, I have been changed by this experience and so appreciate them sharing their journey with me and thousands of others. The reception was just as amazing and perfect. There was a chocolate fountain and Ian LOVED that. After he was done, it appeared that I had skewered him and dipped him in the fountain. He had so much chocolate. The funniest part was between the service and reception, Ian and Landen were running around some trees. From across the grounds I see Ian start to pull his pants down next to a tree. I ran across the lawn screaming "NO"! He gathered himself and we jumped in front of the line to go to the potty. Geesh, that could've been bad, but we made it! I connected with some of my favorite Richmond Mommies at the reception and that was great. Now, we've become Facebook friends. We also loved the balloon launch. It was so beautiful to watch the purple and pink balloons float up into the sky. As they got farther and farther away, Ian said, "they look like polka dots in the sky." He later asked if the balloons were going to Charlotte. I said, "Yes".

When we got home, Chris and Ruby were reading books and both Chris and Ruby had napped well. Chris was so happy to have been able to watch the service from the website. Ruby, Ian and I then went to the playground and were lucky to find a neighbor and her three kids there. It was great because Ian could play with Will. Ruby was more interested in the apple she was inhaling to play much but it was still good to get some fresh air on a warm January day.

The kids went to bed well and then I went to GAP with Meg to check out the sales. Meg and I both found some good items for great prices. We are sad that the VA Center Commons GAP is closing. Ugh! It's about the only reason I go to our mall.

Chris and I both slept pretty good through the night. Much better than Friday night! Chris is off for MLK Day but I have to work. I'm glad he has another day to get better. I feel like I've got a bullseye on my head since Ian, Ruby, and Chris have all had this yucky bug. I'm still crossing my fingers and praying that I don't get sick. I hope it works...

Poor Sick Ian!

I went to bed last night at 11:30pm.  Our cleaning lady was here so the house was so nice and clean.  At 12:00am, Ian was screaming and I stumbled to his bed to find a disgusting mound of nastiness.  He'd thrown up and was scared and confused.  I went into clean up mode and stripped his bed and clothes.  So much for Ian's nice clean room.  Then I got the yucky hospital basin from under the sink for Ian to aim when needed.  He continued to retch and vomit a little more.  No fun!  Luckily I knew my back-up was going to be coming home soon.  So, Daddy got home and brought in the 2 boxes of Kraft/Nabisco items for Charlotte's memorial service reception.  Then he came upstairs to change clothes and found me cuddling with poor little Ian.  Chris took over so I could go to bed for a little while.  And then the night was full of nasty sounds and smells and Ian was very restless.  Of course, Ruby was up at 4:00am to make sure she got some attention.  I cuddled with her for a bit and then we listened to her scream for a bit and then she was back to sleep.  She's cutting some teeth and her room was chilly.  I was so relieved to find that her crib wasn't filled with throw up too! 

So, I got up and got ready for work and took Ruby to daycare.  I went to work for 3.5 hours and then came home to relieve Chris so he could get to work by 3pm.  That's the only positive about 2nd shift (besides that Chris is employed)...the ability to tag team childcare when kids or sick and not miss a whole day of work. 

Ian seems better.  He's had some apple juice and Premium Saltine Crackers (Kraft plug) and kept it down.  He said, "I'm feeling better cause I'm not throwing up."  He's having a cartoon marathon and enjoying Olivia right now.  It's a cute show and he likes that Olivia's little brother's name is Ian. 

I made a pot of vegetable soup and had some for lunch.  Yummy!

He's so sweet and cuddly when he's sick.  Chris and I feel guilty for liking it when he's sick.  He's just so cute and sweet.  Last night I told him that he scared me when he screamed.  He said, through his tears, "well I needed you!"  Oh my, too sweet. 

Apparently this bug is going around the daycare and I'm hearing that there are kids in other setting with this bug too.  We were at Chick fil A with Erik, Landen, Kate, and Cohen last night so I sent them an email this morning sharing about Ian's condition.  I remembered Ian sharing ice cream with Erik and Kate.  Geesh!  I'm hoping it will be quick and that no one else will get it.  I'm a little uncomfortable since Ian had some strange stomach bug about this time last year and I believe that's the virus that my body overreacted to and caused transverse myelitis.  So, I'm a little creeped out by it but trying to not worry too much.  I'm still feeling great eventhough I feel weird nerve flutter/twinges multiple times a day. 

I'm also really sad about the earthquake in Haiti.  I can't imagine the devastation.  My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.  I did send a message to Magda Munoz Gonzalez, a mother of child who I case managed in Richmond who moved back to the Dominican Republic, their home.  I hope that they are okay, I haven't heard much about the Dominican Republic but I know they share the same island. 

Ian and I will go pick up Ruby from daycare soon.  Hopefully she will continue to feel well.  And maybe we'll ALL get a good night's sleep.  :)

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...