I started out keeping this blog as a place to keep track of our journey raising our sweet first born. Four years and four precious kids later I'm still documenting our days for better or for worse. Enjoy the ride.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Crazy Day
My blood pressure is sky high today. I don't have many days like this. My heart is racing and I am agitated; completely agitated. It all started when I walked downstairs this morning and saw this...
The workers that are putting up our siding stomped on our flowers. This rubbed me the wrong way (and I must say I'm not yet over it). Last spring Andy, with the help of Lilly, moved all of our daffodils and tulips to one location so that when they bloomed there would be a bunch of flowers together. I love that they did it together and that Lilly felt like a big helper. We've loved watching them come up through the ground. I love that Lilly is excited to see them and has really enjoyed watching them grow. And I personally love daffodils and tulips. It burns me up that these men saw flowers and stepped on them. I cannot understand this.
After I saw the tulips and daffodils lying flat I saw this...
Yes, that would be flattened hyacinths. You know, the very fragrant flowers that look like adorable little bells that we've planted over the years? Yep, they're the ones. Flat. That's when I got rage. I was fuming. As I was looking at them I saw siding with nails sticking out flying off the house and down onto these flowers. The workers were standing on our roof and chucking siding down to the ground to land on top of all of our flowers. The huge dumpster is sitting 10 ft to the right of our flowers. If they put in a little right hook when they tossed the pieces they would land where they belong.
I am not one to confront people. Sure, I have tons of irritated thoughts, I can phrase a complaint ten different ways in my head, but I can rarely get a word out to someone's face. I walked outside and called up, "Excuse me!" It also ticked me off that if I took a step off my front porch I would be speared to death by the flying siding with nails. The guy stopped and leaned over, "Yeah?" I nicely said (with a stutter), "Um, uh, well, uh, are all of our flowers going to die?" and he said, "Well if they're in the way of where we need to work then..." and I said, "Well do you have to throw the siding down on top of them?" and he said, "When I'm done I'll be sure to pick up all the pieces" and I said, "Ok" and walked inside. Rage. See, I didn't end up saying what I was thinking which left me even more enraged. So I picked up the phone and called the contractor.
By this time I was crying. I don't know why. I guess because I was picturing Andy on his hands and knees last spring replanting all those bulbs and Lilly next to him totally getting in the way calling, "Mommy! I helping Daddy!" and it left me in tears. I left the contractor, Rick, a voice mail and within 2 minutes he called me back. I explained to him that the flowers were all stomped on and flattened and that Andy and Lilly had planted them together. He apologized and told me he'd repay me for the damaged flowers. I'll believe that when I see it but it was a nice gesture. It doesn't change the fact that we won't have any blooms this year.
Needless to say this set me off for the whole day. Ella is having sleep trouble and cannot nap in a house where they are pounding on the walls so she's irritable and crying frequently. So at her 2nd potential nap time I went ouside and asked them what their plan of action was for the next two hours. He told me they were going to finish the one side so I put Ella to sleep in my bed in the front of the house.
Ten minutes later I hear them in the front. I went outside and the contractor was there and they told him and me that they were going to finish the side and move to the front. So I went inside and moved a sleeping Ella to the back bedroom. I decided Lilly could skip her nap. All was well.
*Keep in mind here the contractor told us when we met with him that they'd be glad to work around the kids' nap time. He said I could just let them know and they'd work on the opposite side of the house.*
Thirty minutes later don't I see the guys leave???? They didn't even finish the one wall and never started in the front. And it was 2:00 and they left! Lilly could have napped and Ella could have stayed where she was. Not to mention their work day is supposed to be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and it's the second time they've left by 2 p.m.
Again, rage. This can't be good for my blood pressure. What does a crazy lady do when she has two tired kids, is tired herself, has flattened flowers, and has high blood pressure? She calls the contractor back. I told him they left and that as he knows I had moved Ella and Lilly skipped her nap - all unnecessarily and that they are not working full work days. He was, once again, apologetic but told me that the wind was causing problems. That's such crap. They haven't worked until 4 p.m. yet and they are slow as molasses. I guess I've been spoiled by having my husband do all the work around here. Andy works around the clock until the project is done. Andy would work circles around these two clowns.
Here's how our house looks right now.
After I saw the tulips and daffodils lying flat I saw this...
Yes, that would be flattened hyacinths. You know, the very fragrant flowers that look like adorable little bells that we've planted over the years? Yep, they're the ones. Flat. That's when I got rage. I was fuming. As I was looking at them I saw siding with nails sticking out flying off the house and down onto these flowers. The workers were standing on our roof and chucking siding down to the ground to land on top of all of our flowers. The huge dumpster is sitting 10 ft to the right of our flowers. If they put in a little right hook when they tossed the pieces they would land where they belong.
I am not one to confront people. Sure, I have tons of irritated thoughts, I can phrase a complaint ten different ways in my head, but I can rarely get a word out to someone's face. I walked outside and called up, "Excuse me!" It also ticked me off that if I took a step off my front porch I would be speared to death by the flying siding with nails. The guy stopped and leaned over, "Yeah?" I nicely said (with a stutter), "Um, uh, well, uh, are all of our flowers going to die?" and he said, "Well if they're in the way of where we need to work then..." and I said, "Well do you have to throw the siding down on top of them?" and he said, "When I'm done I'll be sure to pick up all the pieces" and I said, "Ok" and walked inside. Rage. See, I didn't end up saying what I was thinking which left me even more enraged. So I picked up the phone and called the contractor.
By this time I was crying. I don't know why. I guess because I was picturing Andy on his hands and knees last spring replanting all those bulbs and Lilly next to him totally getting in the way calling, "Mommy! I helping Daddy!" and it left me in tears. I left the contractor, Rick, a voice mail and within 2 minutes he called me back. I explained to him that the flowers were all stomped on and flattened and that Andy and Lilly had planted them together. He apologized and told me he'd repay me for the damaged flowers. I'll believe that when I see it but it was a nice gesture. It doesn't change the fact that we won't have any blooms this year.
Needless to say this set me off for the whole day. Ella is having sleep trouble and cannot nap in a house where they are pounding on the walls so she's irritable and crying frequently. So at her 2nd potential nap time I went ouside and asked them what their plan of action was for the next two hours. He told me they were going to finish the one side so I put Ella to sleep in my bed in the front of the house.
Ten minutes later I hear them in the front. I went outside and the contractor was there and they told him and me that they were going to finish the side and move to the front. So I went inside and moved a sleeping Ella to the back bedroom. I decided Lilly could skip her nap. All was well.
*Keep in mind here the contractor told us when we met with him that they'd be glad to work around the kids' nap time. He said I could just let them know and they'd work on the opposite side of the house.*
Thirty minutes later don't I see the guys leave???? They didn't even finish the one wall and never started in the front. And it was 2:00 and they left! Lilly could have napped and Ella could have stayed where she was. Not to mention their work day is supposed to be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and it's the second time they've left by 2 p.m.
Again, rage. This can't be good for my blood pressure. What does a crazy lady do when she has two tired kids, is tired herself, has flattened flowers, and has high blood pressure? She calls the contractor back. I told him they left and that as he knows I had moved Ella and Lilly skipped her nap - all unnecessarily and that they are not working full work days. He was, once again, apologetic but told me that the wind was causing problems. That's such crap. They haven't worked until 4 p.m. yet and they are slow as molasses. I guess I've been spoiled by having my husband do all the work around here. Andy works around the clock until the project is done. Andy would work circles around these two clowns.
Here's how our house looks right now.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Butterflies
For Lilly's birthday I decided to get her a butterfly pavilion. I ordered the pavilion and then sent away for the live caterpillars. About 2 weeks later we received the caterpillars. Lilly was really excited! They were very tiny and in a plastic cup with food on the bottom. This was taken with my old camera and they had been growing for a few days at this point (they were the size of my fingernail when they arrived). You can see the silk they spun on the bottom of the cup.
I was shocked to see how very large they grew! That must be pretty potent food on the base of the cup! We had fun watching them grow each day. They doubled their size daily.
Before long they climbed up to the top of the cup and formed a button of silk to hang from. They hung and spun for two days all the while spinning their cocoons.
Here you can see the one had formed a chrysalis while the others were still hanging and working making one.
One of the chrysalis' dropped to the bottom of the cup but was still attached to the lid by the silk. I was worried about whether or not it would survive.
Once they all became chrysalis' we transferred the paper from the underside of the lid to the butterfly pavilion. We were very careful!
They instructions said if one had fallen to carefully remove it and place it on a paper towel on the base of the pavilion.
We watched and waited about two weeks. Suddenly one emerged! We had missed it.
The red gook under this butterfly is meconium. It is a combination of leftover tissue and dye from the wings that comes out of the butterfly. It is not blood. *I have Krissy to thank for all of her knowledge during this process since she used to do this with her first graders every year. I called her and said, "The butterfly is bleeding!!!"
Within 48 hours all the butterflies emerged (even the one on the paper towel). We didn't get to witness a single one break ouf of the cocoon. One time I looked in seconds too late and saw one of the butterflies with wet crumpled wings sitting on its cocoon.
We waited for a 55+ degree day to release the butterflies. Today was perfect as it's 61 and sunny. To top it off Andy is home from work today so we were able to do it together as a family.
At lunch Andy and I explained to Lilly why the butterflies had to be released. She wasn't so sure at first but then came to accept it and get excited about it. We came home and headed out back for the big release!
They were hesitant to come out of their cozy home.
I was shocked to see how very large they grew! That must be pretty potent food on the base of the cup! We had fun watching them grow each day. They doubled their size daily.
Before long they climbed up to the top of the cup and formed a button of silk to hang from. They hung and spun for two days all the while spinning their cocoons.
Here you can see the one had formed a chrysalis while the others were still hanging and working making one.
One of the chrysalis' dropped to the bottom of the cup but was still attached to the lid by the silk. I was worried about whether or not it would survive.
Once they all became chrysalis' we transferred the paper from the underside of the lid to the butterfly pavilion. We were very careful!
They instructions said if one had fallen to carefully remove it and place it on a paper towel on the base of the pavilion.
We watched and waited about two weeks. Suddenly one emerged! We had missed it.
The red gook under this butterfly is meconium. It is a combination of leftover tissue and dye from the wings that comes out of the butterfly. It is not blood. *I have Krissy to thank for all of her knowledge during this process since she used to do this with her first graders every year. I called her and said, "The butterfly is bleeding!!!"
Within 48 hours all the butterflies emerged (even the one on the paper towel). We didn't get to witness a single one break ouf of the cocoon. One time I looked in seconds too late and saw one of the butterflies with wet crumpled wings sitting on its cocoon.
We waited for a 55+ degree day to release the butterflies. Today was perfect as it's 61 and sunny. To top it off Andy is home from work today so we were able to do it together as a family.
At lunch Andy and I explained to Lilly why the butterflies had to be released. She wasn't so sure at first but then came to accept it and get excited about it. We came home and headed out back for the big release!
They were hesitant to come out of their cozy home.
*We're getting new siding on our house as you can see in the background of the picture.
Finally one flew out!
Another one landed nearby on one of our Evergreen trees.
Lilly tried to catch one on her finger.
Flapping it's wings and trying to put it on Lilly's hand.
My favorite picture.
This one really liked Andy and hung out with him for a few minutes.
It was fun and we let all 5 go into the beautiful warm air. Lilly had a blast and it was such a fun project to do as a family. Hopefully they're off enjoying the beautiful weather as we are today.
Another one landed nearby on one of our Evergreen trees.
Lilly tried to catch one on her finger.
Flapping it's wings and trying to put it on Lilly's hand.
My favorite picture.
This one really liked Andy and hung out with him for a few minutes.
It was fun and we let all 5 go into the beautiful warm air. Lilly had a blast and it was such a fun project to do as a family. Hopefully they're off enjoying the beautiful weather as we are today.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Potty Trained
Lilly is oficially potty trained! She's been wearing underwear for 2 weeks now with no accidents. She even naps in her underwear and wakes up dry. I am too afraid to try nighttimes though she wakes every morning dry as well. I'm so proud of her. I don't even ask her if she needs to go - she lets me know or just goes on her own.
Kudos to Lilly because she trained herself! It was worth waiting. She doesn't need any help and likes to go in alone.
She always requests a diaper for poop. I always give her one because I don't want her withholding. I just have her stand in the bathroom while she goes. So the other day I bought chocolate as an incentive. When she requested a diaper I said, "If you go on the potty you can have chocolate!" She tried but then withheld so I gave her the diaper. She ended up taking the diaper off and going poop in her little potty all on her own. We celebrated and danced around and called Daddy at work.
Yesterday we were at Barnes and Noble when she said, "I need a diaper!" so I rushed her into the bathroom and had her try on the potty. She tried and then I saw her retract (for lack of a better word) and then she asked me to leave. I ended up sitting on the floor with Ella (gross) for 10 minutes and then it happened!!! She pooped in the Barnes and Noble bathroom all on her own!
So it's official - she's fully potty trained.
*Celebrating after pooping on the potty.
Kudos to Lilly because she trained herself! It was worth waiting. She doesn't need any help and likes to go in alone.
She always requests a diaper for poop. I always give her one because I don't want her withholding. I just have her stand in the bathroom while she goes. So the other day I bought chocolate as an incentive. When she requested a diaper I said, "If you go on the potty you can have chocolate!" She tried but then withheld so I gave her the diaper. She ended up taking the diaper off and going poop in her little potty all on her own. We celebrated and danced around and called Daddy at work.
Yesterday we were at Barnes and Noble when she said, "I need a diaper!" so I rushed her into the bathroom and had her try on the potty. She tried and then I saw her retract (for lack of a better word) and then she asked me to leave. I ended up sitting on the floor with Ella (gross) for 10 minutes and then it happened!!! She pooped in the Barnes and Noble bathroom all on her own!
So it's official - she's fully potty trained.
*Celebrating after pooping on the potty.
Today I needed to feed Ella before putting her down for a nap so I asked Lilly to stay in her room until I was finished. At one point she popped her head in and said, "I have to poop!" so I told her to go use the big potty and she DID all by herself! She said, "Mommy, I closed my eyes and I did it!" I was very very proud of her. She also busied herself by reading books...
Tomorrow is the big butterfly release day!!! Blog to come!
Wednesday
Stellan is not out of the woods yet; in fact he's worse. Please keep praying.
As for our family and our life things are going great. The girls are hanging out more. Ella LOVES Lilly. She lights up every time Lilly goes near her.
And Ella spends a good part of the day watching her sister do wild and crazy things. Here she's watching her do gymnastics - maybe you can figure out where Lilly is since Ella's looking up.
Ella's been sprouting new hair! It's long hairs on top of her head that feel wiry. Curly hair? Not sure but they're course and long. I enhanced the following photo so you could see her new sprouts (the hair is actually light in color).
It's been fun for me to dress Ella in Lilly's old clothing. Slowly Ella is pulling away (size wise) but it's actually working out in my favor! Here is Lilly at 13 months.
Ella's been sprouting new hair! It's long hairs on top of her head that feel wiry. Curly hair? Not sure but they're course and long. I enhanced the following photo so you could see her new sprouts (the hair is actually light in color).
It's been fun for me to dress Ella in Lilly's old clothing. Slowly Ella is pulling away (size wise) but it's actually working out in my favor! Here is Lilly at 13 months.
I'll be posting butterfly pictures soon! Three of the five butterflies have emerged from their cocoons though we've missed the grand moment each time. I sat and stared at it yesterday but nothing happened. Left for 30 minutes today and came home and it had just come out (wings were still wet). It's been a lot of fun.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Baby Stellan
Prayers are needed for Baby Stellan from my favorite blog... http://www.mycharmingkids.net/. He's gravely ill and he's already proved miracles exist once in his short little life and I can only hope and pray he'll be granted another. He's been on my mind all day long. They were told he wouldn't be born alive and not only was he born alive he was born healed - not a single problem was evident that had been detected in utero. But now, at 5 months of age, he's fighting for his life.
Any prayers you can spare...
Any prayers you can spare...
"MckMuffin is our cuddly 4 month old son S! In the womb, he was diagnosed with heart failure: premature atrial contractions at 20 weeks; supraventricular tachycardia, hydrops, and intermittent advanced secondary heart block at 23 weeks; and enlargement of the heart at 32 weeks. When the doctors told us at 24 weeks that our very ill baby would surely die, we chose to give our son completely to God, for He alone knows best. We have not stopped praising our Lord since then, for MckMuffin was healed and was born a well and whole full-term baby...with dimples!"
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tired
Sweet Ella has been testing my sleep sanity lately. I am not complaining because she has slept through the night with only one feeding since she was 6 weeks old! But, starting a couple weeks ago, she began her new sleep schedule which involves very short naps and not wanting Mommy to leave the room. She is very hooked on Mommy, that's for sure. I love it, don't get me wrong. But I also love my sleep and I don't even require that much! So for naps lately I've given in to letting her sleep in my bed with my smell...
We finally broke her of the swaddle and just the other night she decided to wake at midnight and then go back to sleep at 7 a.m. That was a fun night. But we'll work our way through it and I'm sure she'll emerge at some point a great sleeper. For now, I just try to enjoy my time with her in the night knowing it won't last forever.
Yesterday I took Lilly swimming. After we swam we were in the locker room and she was running around dressed with wet hair (and no bow). I was drying my hair. I said, "Lilly! Come here!" and then the lady next to me started gushing over her. She was going on and on about her hair and how beautiful and long it was and telling others to look as well. I was a bit confused and even said, "Oh well she just had a cut too!" It was then that I heard her clearly. She was saying, "Oh Willy! You're hair is amazing! You're so cute with that long hair!" Yep, she thought Lilly was a boy. She was wearing a hoodie and jeans with uggs but come on!! Here's how she was dressed, sans bow.
Yesterday I took Lilly swimming. After we swam we were in the locker room and she was running around dressed with wet hair (and no bow). I was drying my hair. I said, "Lilly! Come here!" and then the lady next to me started gushing over her. She was going on and on about her hair and how beautiful and long it was and telling others to look as well. I was a bit confused and even said, "Oh well she just had a cut too!" It was then that I heard her clearly. She was saying, "Oh Willy! You're hair is amazing! You're so cute with that long hair!" Yep, she thought Lilly was a boy. She was wearing a hoodie and jeans with uggs but come on!! Here's how she was dressed, sans bow.
The forsythia are blooming. They were my mom's favorite springtime bush and every time I see them from March to May I think of my mom.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Art
I have learned that I have a few quirks as a mom that I never thought I'd have before entering toddlerhood! I don't love bubbles - in fact I pretty much can't stand them. I love to look at them but I can't stand getting them on me and I can't stand getting the bubble solution all over my hands. I also hyperventilate when Lilly mixes all the watercolors so they all become brown. I don't want to squelch her creativity so I bought a bunch of them so I know there are pretty clean ones in the cabinet. That helps my anxiety as she mixes away. So, yesterday, I learned of a third issue that I have... mixing playdoh.
Lilly decided she wanted to make a rainbow castle like her panties. One part of me was thinking, "Wow she even has inspiration for her masterpiece!" and the other part of me was in cold sweats!!! But I let her do it (though on my Target run last night I bought new playdoh) and she had a blast.
Ella had her 4 month check-up yesterday. She's thriving. She was 95%tile for height and weight tipping the scales at 15lbs, 3 oz and 25 inches long. She smiled at Dr. George as he checked her head to toe. He commented that she's very strong. She was happy as a clam until he gave her 5 vaccines!!! Poor little baby got shots in her thighs. Lilly initially laughed (she often initially reacts this way when someone gets hurt - an uncomfortable response I believe) and then I looked over and she was crying. She gave Ella her lovey since Ella was so upset and I had forgotten her own lovey. Ella cried for 15 minutes straight. I didn't know what to do to calm her since Lilly never cried longer than a minute from shots. It's the third time I've experienced Ella being this upset - she's clearly more sensitive/emotional than Lilly so this is new to me! She eventually passed out and when she woke she started crying again! She took a nice long nap and had some Tylenol and was fine the rest of the day.
I've been waiting for our daffodils to bloom - I love daffodils! I could smell them all day long. Yesterday was almost the day but it remained a bit too cloudy and cold. This is as close as our one leading daffodil got...
I love spring. I love wearing sweatshirts. I love taking walks. I love the smell in the air. I love flowers and new mulch. I love sun shiney days.
I can't wait.
Lilly decided she wanted to make a rainbow castle like her panties. One part of me was thinking, "Wow she even has inspiration for her masterpiece!" and the other part of me was in cold sweats!!! But I let her do it (though on my Target run last night I bought new playdoh) and she had a blast.
Ella had her 4 month check-up yesterday. She's thriving. She was 95%tile for height and weight tipping the scales at 15lbs, 3 oz and 25 inches long. She smiled at Dr. George as he checked her head to toe. He commented that she's very strong. She was happy as a clam until he gave her 5 vaccines!!! Poor little baby got shots in her thighs. Lilly initially laughed (she often initially reacts this way when someone gets hurt - an uncomfortable response I believe) and then I looked over and she was crying. She gave Ella her lovey since Ella was so upset and I had forgotten her own lovey. Ella cried for 15 minutes straight. I didn't know what to do to calm her since Lilly never cried longer than a minute from shots. It's the third time I've experienced Ella being this upset - she's clearly more sensitive/emotional than Lilly so this is new to me! She eventually passed out and when she woke she started crying again! She took a nice long nap and had some Tylenol and was fine the rest of the day.
I've been waiting for our daffodils to bloom - I love daffodils! I could smell them all day long. Yesterday was almost the day but it remained a bit too cloudy and cold. This is as close as our one leading daffodil got...
I love spring. I love wearing sweatshirts. I love taking walks. I love the smell in the air. I love flowers and new mulch. I love sun shiney days.
I can't wait.
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