For When My Kids Have Kids

When McKenna was five weeks old we had a surprise birthday party for my Mimi.   It was the first time some of my cousins met our first born.   I remember it like yesterday when one of them held her for the first time and said, "Wow, you forget how small they are."   That comment struck me as so odd at the time.   In the trenches of being a new mom I couldn't imagine not remembering how my brand new daughter fit so snuggly in my arms.    Nine plus years later, I have lived that comment.  There are lots of things that unfortunately, you forget.   Sometimes I think it's a survival mechanism.  If we remembered all the bad parts like the miserable moments of pregnancy or the recovery from birthing children, I'm fairly certain the human race would cease to exist.    But in forgetting the not so good moments we sometimes lose some of the nice moments too.

But I digress.   This blog post is for my kids.  For when they have kids, I want to remember these times.   And I'm not talking today about the "oh, I love being a mother, this is so wonderful, my children are angels" days.  I want to remember the days like today.   I've spent the last six weeks nursing one kid or another through a variety of virus', ear infections,  and crud.   Just when I thought we were through it all and heading toward calm waters, Cooper graces us with a sore throat and fever.   I'll be honest,  I stayed in bed a few extra minutes this morning.  I just did not feel like facing another day juggling a sick kid and a recovering Kinley, all while trying to be a good mom to McKenna.   It came to my mind that it can always be worse.  Always.  Let's face it, my kids are super healthy and this is just part of raising a family.   The part I want my kids to know some day is that it's okay to be disgusted.  It's okay that you're tired.  It's okay that after spending two hours at the clinic for a well child check, you feel like you want to have a meltdown.   It's okay to literally pray for a drama free day.  Being a parent comes with some really crappy days - how else would you differentiate between the great days.   I just want to remember that.  I want to be able to look back and say to my kids, "Yep, I remember the day, when Kinley and Cooper and I spent 2 hours in the waiting room at the clinic.  I thought I was going to lose my mind that day."    I don't want them to think that I forget what it's like to have three kids.  I don't want them to think that I forget how hard it is to be in this season of raising small kids.    I want them to know that I remember the days when you're out of snacks and milk and almost out of patience but the thought of making a trip to the store with kids seems a little like climbing Everest.   I want them to know that even days when everyone is awesome and you couldn't ask for better behaved kids, you will still be bone tired and craving a 10 minute nap.  But you probably won't get it.    What you will get is more time to wipe runny noses and clean dirty bathrooms and cook another meal.   Thank goodness that at some point in the day you'll also get a smile, a laugh, and when you're really lucky, a big  hug from smallish arms.   Don't forget that!

At Home Nursing

I love being a nurse. There's something very rewarding about working a 12 hour shift, caring for your assigned families and then handing them off for the next shift to pick up where you left off. Yes, I love my job, but I'll be honest my current assignment stinks.
A week and a half ago my "shift partner" here at home got sick. He called off all week and I worked a lot of over time. Since then all three children have managed to fall ill in succession. Not all at once, mind you, but every four or five days. I'm convinced they are hell bent on dragging this out as long as possible. My partner is back, but apparently with a work restriction that prohibits him from working night shift. So here I am at 11:54pm pulling another double. The Department of Labor prohibits me from working more than 12 hours at a time unless I agree to it. Unfortunately there is no HR department here to complain to and I'm fairly certain I'm working for the union anyway.
So, I'll hand out some more tylenol, administer another breathing treatment, throw in a little TLC, and try to remember that in this world there are many people who would love to have this job. If you know anyone who would like to work per diem here they can apply in person between the hours of 11:30pm and 5am I'm looking to hire someone who likes to work the night shift.

An Egg-cellent Time

Our Easter celebrations have been plentiful this season and we are extremely grateful.   This morning Kinley and I made the forty five minute trip to Erin's in McAlisterville for our playgroup party.  It was a beautiful day full of sunshine which made it even better.   I was worried earlier this week that Kinley wouldn't be up to going.  Luckily she rallied a little yesterday and was feeling much more like her old self today. 

 

 Kinley and Jonny are best buds!  Erin and I laugh because they are both third babies.  They were born just a month and two days apart and they are very much alike! Except that he's much bigger than Kinley!

 We seem to have started a tradition with holiday canvas crafts.   Soon the kids will have a decoration for each major holiday to display.   Today we made hand print bunnies. 

 Kinley hated it!  Seriously, though, we didn't torture her as much as it looks.

 Erin had amazing food and we had great drinks, too!  

 Callan

It's not a secret that Kinley loves dogs.   Quinley was no exception.  I think Kinley was a little perplexed by her small size at first.  She immediately warmed up to her and could frequently be found next to the cage letting the dog give her kisses. 

It was a crazy, chaotic morning and afternoon with so many kids running around.  Being out of the house and with friends was just what we needed after our long week of house arrest last week. 

Sick +Egg Hunt + SNOW????

This past week wasn't our best.   It started with Earl coming down with a bad cold on the first day of his vacation.  He missed so many fun things that we had planned and only left the house once in seven days....to go to the doctor.   By Thursday, McKenna had come down with the same illness.  She spent the next few days on the couch as I played nurse to both of my little patients, took care of Kinley and tried desperately to entertain Cooper.    I managed to get Cooper to his last Upward game of the season before Kinley became the latest victim of whatever the heck respiratory illness is running through our house.   Kinley's ended up as a good old fashioned text book case of croup.   A little after 3am on Sunday morning I decided that we both had had enough and one of us needed some relief.   I packed us up and headed to the emergency room where they were kind enough to give Kinley a breathing treatment and a dose of steroids.   Just after 7:30am we had our walking papers and were on our way home. 

 

I grabbed some breakfast and quick nap and a shower so that I could take Cooper to the Easter Egg Hunt being hosted by our church. 

It was definitely a first, hunting eggs in the snow!

 Of course, the kids didn't seem to mind.

 Cooper filled his basket rather quickly, apparently not hindered by his gloves.

 Since it seemed to take 2.2 seconds to gather 20 eggs, we decided to hang out with our friends for a bit before heading back home.  I think Cooper would have agreed that he and I both needed a little fresh air and change of company  before entering the "sick house" again.

Today everyone headed back to work and school.  It was wonderful for Kinley and I to have the house to ourselves for a few hours.   And I do mean a few hours.  Shortly after the kids made it to school the texts and phone calls started coming in  early dismissal for...wait for it...SNOW!   Seriously!   As I sit here writing this tonight, the white fluffy stuff is falling a quite a clip.  It would be completely depressing if it weren't so pretty.  Never mind, it's still depressing.  Earlier this evening I suggested to the kids that they go out and go sledding.  They replied, "Nah, we're sick of the snow."  That's saying something.  Time for spring!

 

From in the Trenches

There's nothing more real than writing a blog post while sitting on the floor of a steamy bathroom, a baby on your lap. Yes, here we are again, in the trenches with another case of croup. Behind me the shower is on full blast, spewing out hot water, just like the money I'll be handing over to the electric and water companies for this respiratory treatment. I have yet to determine if it's cheaper therapy than my insurance copay. This little at home remedy does hopefully buy us an hour or two of sleep and spare us a trip to the ER. With any luck we can make it until morning, at which time we will likely head to the doctor and not to church, as I had hoped. Between sick kids and teaching Wee Worship, I haven't heard a sermon in over a month of Sunday's. After what we've been dealing with in this house the past week, this girl needs a good lecture!   (Sunday 1am) 
 
I never did make it to church on Sunday.   That ER trip I was hoping to avoid - well, that didn't happen either.   Instead, my baby and I spent the better part of the Sunday morning hooked up to pulse ox monitors and getting breathing treatments.  Such is life, I suppose.    I've spent the last two days holding Kinley during virtually all her sleeping and waking hours.    I didn't get to hear Sunday's sermon, but I did get a lesson :  Slow down.  Be quiet.  Listen.   Count your blessings.  Love.  I am always here for you.  I'll meet you where you are.

End of Story.

Singing and Dancing

This has been a busy week for more than one reason.  Earl is on vacation this week so I had filled our calendar with tons of appointments and fun things, too.  Unfortunately, Earl is not feeling well this week and has missed out on all the fun.

We started our week with a trip to the dentist for Cooper.  It was the first time in two years that we've gone more than three months between visits.   Any trip to the dentist always makes me nervous but especially this one.   Turns out I was worrying needlessly.  Dr. Jay gave Coop a glowing report.  Cooper and I were very excited that all our hard work brushing and flossing is paying off!

After the dentist, Kinley, Cooper, and I took a quick trip to Target.  In the pouring rain.  I don't know why that seemed like a good idea.  But, we needed some tights for McKenna and we put together a sunshine basket for one of the kids at church.   

 Tuesday evening we headed over to Kelly Elementary for McKenna's last chorus concert at Kelly.   I carefully chose a seat by the door in case I had to make a quick exit with Kinley.  Unfortunately, that meant that I didn't get many decent pictures since McKenna was on the other side of the room.

 Kinley actually did fine through the concert.  She loves singing and had a great time waving at the kids.

 It was wonderful to have Pappy there and we missed Mimi since she was at class.

 Mom-Mom and Pappy once again made the drive to support McKenna, too.   These two are so special to me.   True love is driving two hours on the road for a 25 minute concert.   Especially when you're 80 years old.   It will always mean so much to me that they came to see the kids every chance they could.

 Wednesday morning Kinley and I dropped the big kids off at school and headed out to have a little fun of our own.  Earl and I had decided a few months ago to do something special with each of the kids.  McKenna went to the American Girl store and we bought tickets to take Kinley to see Sesame Street Live on Stage.    Unfortunately, Earl was still too sick to go anywhere.   Fortunately, Mimi was willing to stand in for him. 

 Kinley loves La-La (aka Elmo) and she was so cute when I bought her a small Elmo and Zoe. 

We had great seats and a wonderful time.   Kinley was a little scared for the first few minutes but the girl never cried.   After that first few minutes she was totally into the show, waving to the characters, dancing, singing.    Thankfully it was the kind of experience you hope for when going to something like that for the first time.

 

Mish Mash

We've had a lot going on around here but unfortunately I have only one picture of the good stuff.  I'll save that for later.   We've been playing and playing both inside and outside.  Everything from Littlest Pet Shop to Basketball.   Lots of basketball. 

 

 I don't have a lot of McKenna's toys from when she was younger, but I was smart enough to hang onto the Littlest Pet Shop toys.  I keep them in a big bin in the basement and only pull them down from time to time.  Like her big sister, Kinley loves anything small in large quantities.   LPS definitely delivers that.  Thank goodness that none of my kids were ever the type to put small pieces in their mouths. 

 After some time with LPS, Kinley moved on to reading books to her "doggie".

 I don't know what she's trying to tell him but he looks attentive.

 Some singing....

 And ending with a rousing rendition of Paddy Cake.

 Today while I was baking a batch (or two) of cookies (that I don't need around) Kinley was taking care of her babies.  She has TONS of babies.    She systematically fed everyone and then picked one to take for a walk.    By the looks of it I'm sure the other babies were glad to be left behind.

 The girl melts my heart some days and drives me to drink on others.  Never a dull moment.

I feel like I've hardly seen the boys this weekend.  Friday night was basketball practice and of course the game on Saturday morning.  Cooper was on fire.  He had 5 baskets, an all time high for him.   He was so excited and so was Daddy.   Next week is the last game and I think these two will be sad to see it end.  After a quick lunch and some play time outside Saturday afternoon the boys headed to the Bucknell playoff game.   Cooper has apparently turned the corner and has no problems sitting through a basketball game and actually watching.   And, by the time he gets home he's talking about the next game.   Suffice to say I cannot wait until football season starts in the fall.  I think he's really going to enjoy it!

Usually I'm missing pictures of Cooper.  Today it seems as though I've got nothing of McKenna.   She is doing well.  Friday afternoon we made a quick run to the library after we received a call that they reserved a copy of Anne of Windy Poplars for her.   She was one happy girl.   Saturday she spent most of her time outside with the neighborhood kids running, biking and digging for fossils in the field beside our house.  It's so nice to be outside.  Saturday evening "the girls" were on the move again, out shopping for Easter shoes and a few other items.  After the mall we made a quick dinner stop at Panera and then a run to Target.   It was nice to be out without being all bundled up.   Kinley was in rare form talking to everyone and dancing.  She made McKenna and I double over laughing on more than one occasion. 

Tomorrow evening is McKenna's chorus concert at school and Wednesday we're heading to see Elmo Live with Kinley.  The week is packed full of fun...just the way we like it!

Weekend Surprises

This weekend turned out to be full of surprises.   My college roommate, Jen, came to visit Friday afternoon.   We had been planning since well before Christmas for girls weekend away.  We had secured a hotel room in Hershey and planned to leave Saturday morning for a couple of days of shopping, relaxation and some much needed time to catch up.   This was the first time the two of us had been fortunate enough to have some time by ourselves since college.  That, my friends, was  a long time ago!

Unfortunately, Jen got a call Friday night saying that her five year old was sick with the GI bug.   I sent a quick text to Megan that night asking if she knew of a single soul who had not been touched by this illness this winter.   It was late so Jen opted to stay the night instead of heading back home.  Saturday morning it looked like things were turning around so we headed to the outlets in Lancaster.  But soon after arriving, it became clear that Jen would be better off leaving for home that afternoon.   We cancelled our room, did some quick runs through our favorite stores,  made a trip through the Chik-fil-A drive through and were on our way back.  Honestly, I could be easily convinced to drive back today just for the Chik-fil-A.  I've been missing out!

It sucks that we didn't get our night away.  This weekend would have been my first night away from Kinley.  I dreamed of a comfy bed and uninterrupted sleep.   Not to mention a few glasses of wine and the hotel hot tub.  But, when a momma is needed at home that takes priority!   Jen and I were grateful for the time we had together because honestly, it's been a long time since we've just had time to sit and talk.

 

 Just before I left Saturday morning

 I arrived back home Saturday evening with a couple small surprises.   Kinley not only loves Elmo, but she likes Doc McStuffins, too.  Tonight she toted Lambi and Elmo around and even treated them to a game of Ring Around the Rosey.

 McKenna and I used Sunday afternoon to do some shopping for her upcoming Chorus concert.   I don't dare shop for McKenna anymore unless she's with me.  We had a great time together and even agreed on every outfit!

 Cooper is big into Skylanders lately.  He plays the video game but he also spends a fair amount of time just playing with the action figures.   I brought one home for him Saturday but I'm still searching for a particular "Bouncer" who continues to elude me.

No pictures of Earl today because he's been busy outside...taking down Christmas decorations!  These fine reindeer  have been stationed on the front porch for far too long!   Let's hope they don't sit in the hallway for 3 months now.

 

Admittedly, I'm a little sad about my abbreviated trip.  BUT,  the good surprises included pizza out with Earl and the kids Saturday night, a big breakfast with them this morning,  some one on one time with McKenna, and the fact that my laundry is done a day earlier than I planned!   Definitely not a total loss.