Another Week.

Ingrid made it through Monday.  She asked over and over again "Are you SURE I can make it through today?"  She did, sort of.  Got a call from the teacher that she was throwing up.  Ugh.  Poor kid was completely comatose from about 2pm until yesterday at 4pm.  Just slept, took a sip of water, slept some more.  It is so hard to see your usually jumping around kid just laying there.  It was also pretty easy, which part of me was glad of, isn't that horrible??  I just played with Otis and we took a nap and went about our day like we normally do. 

She's better today so I sent her for a half day.  She was so worried that her teacher wouldn't let her come home!  I wrote a note and said just give it to your teacher, I'm your mom, I can take you whenever I want!  That didn't seem to matter to Ingrid at all, she was still scared her teacher would make her stay the whole day.  Poor kid, that mind of hers just won't stop!

But it's another week going by, and hopefully each day will get easier.  Hopefully.

Summer Break!

We've been on break for about a week and a half now and I'm loving it.  We have to leave at 7:30am to get Ingrid to school on time, so it was always rush, rush, rush.  Now we have the best mornings, we have nowhere to go, we get to hang out and be lazy if we so desire.  Otis has been sleeping in until after 7, which is great, except next fall school starts even earlier!  I guess the bell will ring at 7:20 instead of 7:40.  UGH.

We have a summer list full of parks, museums and local activities.  So far we've done the museum, Chill on the Hill, the wading pool, parks, and of course, gardening.  Keeping busy!  One activity a day, even if it's just going to the park. 

 I have also started the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred video.  Whew!  I've gained about 30lbs in the last year for some reason, so I have to kick my ass in gear and get some more exercise.  I am not a video exerciser, normally.  But a few people had mentioned doing it and loving it, and I thought for $8 and some 3lb weights I might as well try it, right?  It's awesome!  The thing I love is that Ingrid loves watching it with me for some reason, so she's my biggest cheerleader!  As soon as I've had a couple cups of coffee she says "Okay, mama, time to shred!"  Honestly, I need that, since I would otherwise get lazy.  I'm also doing some sort of post on Instagram after I do it so I keep a log of it.  Even if no one else is seeing it, I feel like I have to do it to keep myself motivated. 

Otis has been sick and crabby the past couple days though, so I am worn out.  Mentally tired of dealing with his mood swings and crying.  Physically tired from him wanting to be cuddled and carried all the time.  Please, don't let your kids get Hand Foot and Mouth disease!  It sucks.

Next week is another week of whatever, and then we have a fun filled weekend for the Fourth of July and cousins and the cottage and I have another craft show!  The Maker Market is July 7th, I'm getting ready for it and looking forward to hopefully not a really hot day!  Last year I did an outdoor show in July and it was like a hundred degrees.  Ugh.  I'm happy it's in the parking lot of a coffee shop, I foresee a LOT of iced coffee in my future.

What are you up to this summer???

Art, Sewing, Shiners.

Coloring.  Chalk, markers, crayons, whatever they can get their hands on.

 I got some sewing done, with some help from Otis and baby emma the doll.

 We played cars.

Otis ran smack into the door jamb and got himself quite the bruised face.

 It looks way worse now than when it happened, as it has now turned purple, yellow, and green.  He looks like he's wearing eye shadow.

 He got sick on Friday and has been very clingy when sleeping.  He's been in our bed the past two nights, and his nap yesterday was like this:

 Ingrid decided all their coloring needed to be in an art show, so if you're in the Milwaukee area, be sure not to miss the Ingrid and Otis Art Show now at the Liddle Gallery. 

Oh!  And this morning, Ingrid and I went to see Mary Poppins!  There is a small theater that has matinees on the weekend of classic kid movies.  It was her first time going, she liked the popcorn and thought the seats were funny.  But Mary Poppins is long.  And some of it gets boring.  And it was nearing lunch time.  So we bailed right about the part where there's the bird lady singing about tuppence.  We still had fun! 

 

Sickies

This winter is taking FOREVER to end!  We got so spoiled with last year, where it didn't snow and it was spring like weather most of the winter.  And then this year we are hit with tons of snow, and everyone is sick, all the time. 

 

Otis has had a cold for...ever?  I don't even know how long.  It never really goes away, poor kid.

 

 To add to this fun, Otis has given up naps.  It's been four days.  Four long, tired, tear filled afternoons.  He's fine until about 3:30, then he hits a wall and nothing is right, he cries at everything, and I have to make it until 6pm when I can put him to bed.  Why do my kids think naps are optional?  THEY AREN'T!  Everyone needs a nap. 

 

Ingrid got a stomach bug this weekend, so she's been pretty much laying on the couch since Friday.  My poor girl, usually so full of energy, she's just so lethargic. 

 But it's March!  Spring is right around the corner and with it will come more fresh air, and hopefully less germs.  Stupid winter.

 

 

Traditions

Just a few pictures from Thanksgiving.  Not many, we didn't do much other than sit and eat.  Ingrid was all alone at the kids' table because Otis napped through dinner.  She looked sort of lonely but we honestly didn't have any room for her at the big table!  Cody kept her company, and was well rewarded for his service...

 The day after Thanksgiving was all about making the chain.  When I was growing up, the day after Thanksgiving meant my mom would sit us down with paper, scissors, and markers and we made our paper chain.  Each link represents one day until Christmas, and each morning we would take turns ripping off a link.  This year was the first year we did this with Ingrid and Otis and they seem to love the idea!  Ingrid helped me tape the paper together and both kids love to go and look at how many more days there are until Christmas!

 My brother sent me a nearly identical picture of his kids by their paper chain right after we made this!  I love traditions that last.

 

And what was Otis doing all this time?  Sitting around with a fever, snotting everywhere.  That poor kid just gets a cold and it gets worse and worse and just lingers.  Ingrid was sniffly for a few days and Otis has been full on sick for over a week.  Blah.  Poor kid.

 

 

Snot.

It has started.  The months and months of someone, possibly everyone, being snotty nosed.  My poor kids are raw from nose blows and drool.  And cranky.  I'm cranky, too.  And it's only September.

 So we have been wearing our pj pants a lot during the afternoons, playing guys and cars with Brendan's old Fisher Price set, finding colorful leaves, and today we did an easy peasy Halloween craft I found on pinterest.  Simple paper ghosts and pumpkins taped to a circle to make a little wreath!  It took us a good long time to do but was super easy and not messy at all.  The perfect craft in my book.

On the Mend

Thursday I finally had my surgery, which was supposed to happen a couple years ago.  Really, that long ago?  I am lazy.  But it's taken care of now, which is good. 

I had a throat cyst, leftover from my days of being formed in utero.  Crazy.  It kept getting infected and I ended up in the hospital a couple years ago, finally finding out what the hell it was.  Scheduled surgery only to find out I was pregnant with Otis!  And then we had a crazy time with his arrival, moving, and then when I went to reschedule, Otis ended up in the hospital with pneumonia.  Do we ever get a break around here?? 

This is what's sad about this whole hospital thing, and I've said it before, I like going to the hospital.  People take care of me there, I am not waiting on anyone else.  I get to take naps.  I get food brought to me.  I can just lay there and stare aimlessly out the window if I so desire.  And, I get drugs. 

Thursday morning Brendan dropped me off at the hospital and I was shown to my room--holy cow, if it weren't for the surgery part I could've been on vacation.  The hospital overlooks Lake Michigan and it was a beautiful sunny day, so I had a great view of the sparkling lake.  It was gorgeous.  Then I went in the OR, heard the anesthesiologist say "I just gave you some of the medicine," and then I don't remember a darn thing until I woke up back in my room. 

It really didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, but man, general anesthesia is crazy.  I couldn't do anything all day, I felt sick, couldn't drink even water, I was so out of it!  Brendan took the kids in to visit and I swear, I have no idea what they even said, I was just loopy on morphine!  I do remember Otis just staring at me warily.

I got a nice peaceful night full of morphine and ice water and was discharged the next day.  I came home to pass out and sleep all day.  Somewhere out there I heard the noises of kids and daddy, but that's very vague.  Now it's a couple days later and I am starting to feel okay.  I'm not in much pain, it just itches where I have a bandage.  I can swallow better now and even ate solid foods.  Did you know Jello is not that much fun to eat as an adult?  As a kid it's the best, but hmmm, my palate must have matured over the years. 

Tomorrow it's back to normal.  I think I can handle it.  Now, to stay away from the hospital the rest of the year!!  No more sickness!!

Ugh...

We all got horrible colds.  Yesterday instead of packing, we had pjs on at noon and layed around watching cartoons all afternoon.  We also played a game Ingrid made up, kind of like basketball, only you try to throw the ball as crazy as you can and see if it still gets there.  You get extra points for hitting someone on the face with the ball on accident (we use Nerf balls) and there was much giggling involved.

Today is another rainy, sick day.  I keep thinking I should be packing and then looking around and not even knowing what I'd pack anyway.  I am pretty darn glad this is the last time we're moving.  I can't believe we did this every year for ages.  Screw that.

The kids are actually in pretty good moods for being covered in snot and sneezing every five seconds.  My head feels like it's puffed up five sizes too big.  I want to go to bed and I have to go pack.  I have to, don't I?  Damn.

The Party, and the Hospital.

I posted more pictures of the party here on my Applesauce Crafts blog.  Feel free to check them out.  The party was a hit, I think it looked cute, Otis had fun and got some really cute books for presents :)  We got a music/play table for him and he loves it. 

But, to overshadow a party, Otis ended up in the hospital a couple days ago with pneumonia.  Boo!  I took him to the doctor Tuesday morning because he was having a hard time breathing.  They sent us home with a nebulizer but he didn't get any better and was really laboring to breathe.  So we went to the ER and were admitted right away.

That poor little guy, he has had such a rough start to the world.  To think of how much he's been in the hospital in a year just breaks my heart.  He was put on oxygen, had an iv of fluids and antibiotics, has a monitor to check his pulse ox.  It was all so reminiscent of the NICU and all the wires hanging from him.  He really was conked out and didn't do much but lay on me all through the first night.  He had to get suctioned, which is horrible to watch.  And horrible to hear him scream and watch his little legs flail around as he fights the nurse holding him.  I hate it.

Yesterday he did better.  Brendan was with him all day so I could come home and shower and sleep.  Funny, but being in a hard rocking chair with a wheezy kid laying on you and nurses and doctors coming in every twenty minutes does not make for a restful night of slumber...He was up playing and flirting with all the ladies yesterday, though, so he seems to be on the mend.  He got his oxygen down to almost nothing, and when I left this morning he was on room air, yay!  They'd unhooked his IV but he has to go back on more fluids because he's not eating.  He is getting steroids and nebulizer treatments and an inhaler every three or four hours, so his airways are opening and he's coughing up some lung junk. 

It is so hard to see your child this way.  I absolutely hate thinking of him being sick.  But what really got me was bringing Ingrid to see him yesterday and she was so nonchalant about it, it didn't scare her at all, she was so used to it.  Gah!  She got so used to being in the hospital with me being there and then visiting Otis in the NICU.  I think that's enough hospital time for us, except my upcoming throat surgery.  Then 2012 is going to be hospital free!!

Crazy Hair Day

Otis woke up with a crazy do going on yesterday.  The whole day was a bit crazy--lots of wheezing, snot, chapped cheeks, whining and crying.  I am already over winter and it hasn't even started yet.

A Beautiful Sunny Afternoon.

The other day after picking up Ingrid from school, we stayed outside instead of going in and turning on the tv like we usually do.  It was gorgeous out!  Sunny and warm, and one of those days you know you have to take advantage of before it snows.  Thank god we did, it's been rainy and cold ever since.  We brought a blanket and snacks out and got some much needed fresh air.  We've all been sick for ages and ages...

And now here we sit inside again.  It's windy and cold and we have blocks strewn about, two stains soaking in the living room rug (forgot Otis can grab stuff off the coffee table now, dang it!)  I'm so needing a nap but Otis hasn't slept more than 20 minutes in about a week.  I'm trying to be patient with Ingrid as she jumps on the couch, runs back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, scaring the bejeezus out of the cats.  She has energy and I do not.  I just want to lay here on the couch and cut out felt circles.  Actually, really what I want to do is have someone, anyone, come over and take my kids out of the house for a few hours so I can curl up in my bed and just nap.  Any takers?  Anyone?  No?  Okay, then I guess it's time to go build block towers...

Sickly

Today Otis was not having a good day.  He was all snotty, cried at the drop of a hat (which is really unlike him) and just did not feel well.  I was so tired by the afternoon, all I wanted to do was take a nap.  Ingrid went to sleep right away.  Otis, however, got a second wind as I changed his diaper.  He was blowing raspberries, kicking his legs, yelling and screeching.  Good lord.

I worked on him, though, fed him and rocked him and sang to him, and lo and behold he fell asleep.  I got up gently, put him in his crib ever so softly, where he stiffened out and started screaming at the top of his lungs.  So I got him back in my arms, he immediately calmed down again, we rocked and he was snoring wee baby snores.  Again, go put him in his crib and he freaked out. 

*sigh*

It was one of those afternoons.  I even tried to lay down with him in my bed but he was not having it.  So after two hours of this b.s. we went back into the living room.  He sat on his blanket with his toys and looked up at me with the saddest teary-eyed, snotty nosed face and I just had to take pictures.  My poor sickly.  Hopefully he'll sleep well tonight and take naps tomorrow. 

Snow Art

We got a buncha snow yesterday.  It was quite surprising--I went to Salvation Army and it was sunny, and by the time I got out, I had an inch of snow on my car and the roads were treacherous!  Once I was home it was nice to sit and watch it, it was pretty. 

Today we had to shovel.  Even though Ingrid's been sick, I just know she's tired of being inside.  She has been acting out so bad, it's been horrible.  Just really crabby and crying, whining, not wanting to do anything.  So today I bundled her up and we went outside.  I filled two squirt bottles with colored water and we colored the snow.  Ingrid thought it was pretty fun, and it kept her occupied while I tried tackling the snow.

Check out that coat I'm wearing, I got it at Salvation Army yesterday!  I used to have a really great vintage red plaid coat that I finally had to get rid of when the lining went kaput.  I miss that coat...  But I found its replacement yesterday--the cutest blue/green plaid number, really warm, with a cute rounded collar.  If I have to deal with snow and cold, I better be able to look good doing it, right?

Snotty Snow Days

There was supposed to be a huge storm hitting us a couple days ago, but luckily we got spared most of the snow.  That doesn't mean we can't stay in and have a snow day, though!!  We lit a candle, played music, read books, colored with Ingrid's new mega crayons, and made Valentine sugar cookies.  It made me laugh because lots of friends were all excited about a cozy snow day off work, staying inside with their families, and I get to do this every day!  Lucky me :)

Yesterday Ingrid was very snotty and sickly, so we stayed in pajamas all day long.  We played with Otis and watched a lot of TV. 

I'm hoping today is a little less snotty, and that we actually get out of the house.  Library books are overdue, and food supplies are running low...

Ahhhhh, a Break.

I'm sick.  I can't breathe, therefore I can't sleep.  When I try to nap, Ingrid jumps on me and suddenly wants to "cuddle" (really she just wants to jump on the couch around me.)  I was at my wit's end, so I did what anyone would do--I called my mommy.  She agreed to take Ingrid for the weekend, so we met halfway and made the switcheroo.

I love this.  Ingrid was SO excited to go to Gramma's, Gramma is happy to have a bundle of energy around for a couple days, and I get to sleep.  And get things done.  And go out to eat with my husband.  And watch a movie.  Ahhh, bliss.

I got SO MUCH accomplished today without Ingrid around!  I made a burp cloth set, three bibs, a felt garland, took pictures of them all, and listed them all on etsy!  That would normally be one week's worth of work for me because I'd have to fit in sewing something here, snapping a picture there, and getting time on the computer whenever I could.  But today I just sat and did it.  It felt amazing!

I love my kid but boy do I love the break, too!!

Holidays Already??

Today was awesome, I got my groove back after being sick for the past few days.  We got off the couch and away from the TV and got things done!  We painted a section of the wall in the basement with chalkboard paint, we did laundry, we got new fabric, we raked leaves and layed in them in all their wet, muddy glory.

Then I saw some Etsy sellers getting their shops ready for the holidays and it hit me--it's the middle of October!  If I want to make sure to get my holiday stuff ready before, say, the middle of December, I have to start thinking of it now!  Luckily today I was super motivated to get stuff done.  After five or so days of being sick and taking care of a snot nosed Ingrid, it felt good to get up and be productive.

So, I made lists.  I love lists.  I love checking things off lists.  I love throwing lists away because everything is done.  One thing on my list--cut out ornaments.  Check!  I cut out six sets of three different ornaments, total factory line style.  It was fun to have them lined up and see how felt and scisscors make cute things.

I sat and watched 30 Rock tonight and sewed, finishing up seven of the eighteen I have cut out.  Not bad.  Certainly better than the work I've gotten done in the past week, which would be...nothing.  And with the new fabric we got (from the Joann remnant section again, seriously the most dangerous part of the store for me!!) I have lists of what needs to be made.  The shop will be stocked, so if you have any babies or new mums to buy gifts for, check it out!!