Showing posts with label Liam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liam. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2012
Monday, August 22, 2011
August 2011 Updates- Liam Edition
Liam the lover...he is my sweet, sweet boy.
A little while ago, I wrote about one of the cute things he has said to me.
Liam often says thing that make me think he is wise beyond his years. A few examples...
When we were at the beach, I was getting the boys settled on an air mattress in their cousins' room. In the process, Liam accidentally elbowed Michael in the head. Michael started to fret about it, burying his head in my lap. I think it just took him by surprise. I was comforting Michael and trying to figure out if Liam caught his eye or anything like that. I glanced over at Liam who had his head down and appeared teary-eyed.
I assured Liam that he was not in trouble, I knew he bumped Michael by accident, etc.
Finally figured out that Michael was fine, just tired. I looked at Liam again who still appeared upset. I reassured him that he was not in trouble, there was no reason to cry. etc.
Liam responded that he was NOT crying. He then said, "It's just my worry coming out".
I thought that was a pretty insightful response for a 4-year-old.
Then last week, I was tucking Liam in to bed--he is at his sweetest at bedtime. Our conversation went something like this:
L: Mommy, who named me?
Me: Daddy and I named you.
L: NO, who came up with my name? (I think he has heard us talk about our names choices for him)
Me: Well, I thought of the name "Liam" first because I've loved that named for a long time. And then I told it to Daddy and he liked it too.
L:Yeah, I thought about that name too, when I was in your belly, before I was borned.
Me: And did you like it?
L: Yes I did.
Is this kid trying to tell me he heard his name in utero? Possibly just a vivid imagination?
There are little moments like this with Liam that I hope to preserve. I want to always remember this piece of his personality.
In other news, Liam is a bit agitated that Michael is going to Kindergarten while he is not. But he is looking forward to being in the "Fours" class at preschool this year. He and Michael do SO many things together, I don't think Liam fully understands why he has to wait to go to big kid school. I just keep telling him that you need to be 5 to go to Kindergarten....it's working so far but he's still not happy about it!
I am interested to see what our days feel like with Michael in school for a FULL day! I plan to enjoy the time with just two kids and especially enjoy my time with Liam during Chloe's nap time. That is, unless I find a full time job (which is a whole OTHER post).
A little while ago, I wrote about one of the cute things he has said to me.
Liam often says thing that make me think he is wise beyond his years. A few examples...
When we were at the beach, I was getting the boys settled on an air mattress in their cousins' room. In the process, Liam accidentally elbowed Michael in the head. Michael started to fret about it, burying his head in my lap. I think it just took him by surprise. I was comforting Michael and trying to figure out if Liam caught his eye or anything like that. I glanced over at Liam who had his head down and appeared teary-eyed.
I assured Liam that he was not in trouble, I knew he bumped Michael by accident, etc.
Finally figured out that Michael was fine, just tired. I looked at Liam again who still appeared upset. I reassured him that he was not in trouble, there was no reason to cry. etc.
Liam responded that he was NOT crying. He then said, "It's just my worry coming out".
I thought that was a pretty insightful response for a 4-year-old.
Then last week, I was tucking Liam in to bed--he is at his sweetest at bedtime. Our conversation went something like this:
L: Mommy, who named me?
Me: Daddy and I named you.
L: NO, who came up with my name? (I think he has heard us talk about our names choices for him)
Me: Well, I thought of the name "Liam" first because I've loved that named for a long time. And then I told it to Daddy and he liked it too.
L:Yeah, I thought about that name too, when I was in your belly, before I was borned.
Me: And did you like it?
L: Yes I did.
Is this kid trying to tell me he heard his name in utero? Possibly just a vivid imagination?
There are little moments like this with Liam that I hope to preserve. I want to always remember this piece of his personality.
In other news, Liam is a bit agitated that Michael is going to Kindergarten while he is not. But he is looking forward to being in the "Fours" class at preschool this year. He and Michael do SO many things together, I don't think Liam fully understands why he has to wait to go to big kid school. I just keep telling him that you need to be 5 to go to Kindergarten....it's working so far but he's still not happy about it!
I am interested to see what our days feel like with Michael in school for a FULL day! I plan to enjoy the time with just two kids and especially enjoy my time with Liam during Chloe's nap time. That is, unless I find a full time job (which is a whole OTHER post).
Friday, July 8, 2011
Heart on His Sleeve
Liam is my love- I may have mentioned this a time or two before.
He has a particular sweetness that is unique to him.
Not to say that Michael and Chloe haven't each captured my heart in their own way...
but Liam is just...I don't know quite how to put it into words.
It's not a "he's my favorite" type of thing, it's something else.
I have to make this special note about what he said to me tonight.
In the chaos of our bedtime routine, I almost missed it.
I'm so thankful I tuned into him- or I might not have heard his precious words.
Most nights, we start off with all 3 kids in the same room post-bath. Putting on pj's, looking at books, getting those last giggles out...it's always crazy but also lots of fun. We have a little prayer that we say which is really a book called "The Thank You Prayer".
After that, each night, one of us reads to Michael and Liam while the other one settles Chloe. The boys do well listening to stories together while Chloe still needs some individual cuddle/story time.
Anyway, we were getting ready to send the boys to their room and it was my night with Chloe.
So I was giving the boys kisses/hugs when Liam said this-
"Mommy, I'm going to hold your kisses in my hand"
and I was focused on Michael when he started talking but luckily, I looked at Liam and said something like, 'Oh I'm glad you are going to hold onto them'
And then my sweet Liam said, "Your kisses make my heart so happy"
And my heart filled up and overflowed and there were a few happy tears (mine).
Because that little boy really does make my heart so happy!
He really is a tender-hearted boy and I sure hope he stays this way!
 |
| This is one of my favorite photos of Liam- from May 2010 |
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
What's Going On?
I suppose I should join the ranks of those playing catch up in my little circle of bloggers...
*Birthday photos that had been lost (by me deleting them ALL from the camera in error) have been retrieved and burned to a CD for a mere $30...worth every penny because they were important birthday moments and we have some nice little traditions that I like having snapshots of.
*On the morning of June 15th, Chloe told Mike "Pee" and proceeded to pee on the potty first thing in the morning. She occasionally likes to repeat that trick. She says "Pee!!! Pee!!!!", she runs to the potty chair, trying to take off her shorts and diaper like a lunatic. She has been dry overnight and generally pees on the potty 1-3 times each day. She also pooped on the floor following her bath last week...with no announcement. I happened to see what was happening and caught the "item" with a wipe before it hit the carpet. It was interesting and luckily not too gross. Then Chloe got the #2 in the right spot on Monday...where did this child come from?
*Related to the above...I'm totally not ready to manage taking another child to a public bathroom but am happy she is so interested and that she gets the basic idea. If the trend continues, she might be out of dipes far earlier than her brothers. We'll see, I'm in no rush but I don't want to discourage her either.
*Michael and Liam have been going to Vacation Bible School since Sunday. In the evening from 6-8pm. It's pretty cool. They are learning different bible stories and the timing couldn't be better. It's a nice change of pace for them and a really nice break for us!
*The boys have also been doing swim lessons since late April. Chloe did one round of "mommy and me" lessons but I opted to skip this session and just practice with her on our own. I think I will pick up with her again at the end of summer when she is a little older and is more agreeable to the situation. She LOVES the water but not so much the lesson setting.
*We took the boys to their very first movie theater experience on Monday...we saw Cars 2. It was definitely entertaining but some of the stuff wasn't so great for 4 and 5 year olds (in my humble opinion). I'm not super-strict about what the kids view but this movie had a bond-like quality to it and there were lots of guns/gadgets and some violence. I don't think any permanent damage was done but I'll be looking at our movie choices a little more carefully for theater experiences. I know my kids are going to see violence at some point but I wish it wasn't so prominent in the context of a movie that is supposed to be for kids...or is it? If you're FB friends with me, you saw my review/rant. Lesson learned for me!
*OH wait...and the biggest news of the week is THIS: Mike got a full time job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He starts on Tuesday and we are so excited/relieved/thankful that a great opportunity has finally come through. Now I've got to work on getting a part time job that will gel with his schedule but at least one of us is back on track & we are hoping that means things are looking up on the financial front for us :)
That's it for now...I am reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" about the history of the Mormon faith...it's a very interesting book, albeit a tough read for me who can cruise through most books in no time. I'm totally sucked into it but it requires my complete attention so I can't sneak in a chapter with the kids around.
*Birthday photos that had been lost (by me deleting them ALL from the camera in error) have been retrieved and burned to a CD for a mere $30...worth every penny because they were important birthday moments and we have some nice little traditions that I like having snapshots of.
*On the morning of June 15th, Chloe told Mike "Pee" and proceeded to pee on the potty first thing in the morning. She occasionally likes to repeat that trick. She says "Pee!!! Pee!!!!", she runs to the potty chair, trying to take off her shorts and diaper like a lunatic. She has been dry overnight and generally pees on the potty 1-3 times each day. She also pooped on the floor following her bath last week...with no announcement. I happened to see what was happening and caught the "item" with a wipe before it hit the carpet. It was interesting and luckily not too gross. Then Chloe got the #2 in the right spot on Monday...where did this child come from?
*Related to the above...I'm totally not ready to manage taking another child to a public bathroom but am happy she is so interested and that she gets the basic idea. If the trend continues, she might be out of dipes far earlier than her brothers. We'll see, I'm in no rush but I don't want to discourage her either.
*Michael and Liam have been going to Vacation Bible School since Sunday. In the evening from 6-8pm. It's pretty cool. They are learning different bible stories and the timing couldn't be better. It's a nice change of pace for them and a really nice break for us!
*The boys have also been doing swim lessons since late April. Chloe did one round of "mommy and me" lessons but I opted to skip this session and just practice with her on our own. I think I will pick up with her again at the end of summer when she is a little older and is more agreeable to the situation. She LOVES the water but not so much the lesson setting.
*We took the boys to their very first movie theater experience on Monday...we saw Cars 2. It was definitely entertaining but some of the stuff wasn't so great for 4 and 5 year olds (in my humble opinion). I'm not super-strict about what the kids view but this movie had a bond-like quality to it and there were lots of guns/gadgets and some violence. I don't think any permanent damage was done but I'll be looking at our movie choices a little more carefully for theater experiences. I know my kids are going to see violence at some point but I wish it wasn't so prominent in the context of a movie that is supposed to be for kids...or is it? If you're FB friends with me, you saw my review/rant. Lesson learned for me!
*OH wait...and the biggest news of the week is THIS: Mike got a full time job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He starts on Tuesday and we are so excited/relieved/thankful that a great opportunity has finally come through. Now I've got to work on getting a part time job that will gel with his schedule but at least one of us is back on track & we are hoping that means things are looking up on the financial front for us :)
That's it for now...I am reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" about the history of the Mormon faith...it's a very interesting book, albeit a tough read for me who can cruise through most books in no time. I'm totally sucked into it but it requires my complete attention so I can't sneak in a chapter with the kids around.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Liam Four
June 22, 2011
Sweet Liam,
My little bear- you are FOUR! And you are so very proud to be four- and you should be!
You are keeping up with your older brother and aren't even breaking a sweat. You love Michael and it's clear to me that you two truly love spending time together. Michael going off to Kindergarten without you is sure to break your heart but I think you understand why it is that way. And once you realize that you get some time and space to be top dog, you're going to love it. You will also still have your own preschool class to attend & you really enjoyed your time there this past year. You also still have Chloe to entertain you and I'm certain she is up for the challenge. You have something really special with Chloe- and the feeling is mutual. I hope you'll always be close to her.
Liam, you are quite a presence: fun-loving, active, lover of animals and the outdoors. Your stubborn streak is tough to handle- luckily you only bring it out when absolutely necessary. Your humor is funny, even when it makes no sense. The cadence of your voice often emphasizes what you are saying and the tone of your voice continues to be deep (a bear voice). Your physical size matches your
You have a love of books. You love coloring and drawing and are great at writing your name You are always ready for something new and your first question of the day is often, "Where are we going today Mommy?" This year, for the first time, you got on rides at our local Strawberry Festival. No coaxing or warm-up time needed. You loved every minute!
While uncertain about swim lessons at first, you've gotten into the swing of it and are making great strides. Always one to love the water, you just needed to get used to the structure of the lesson time.
Morning bike rides or walks with Poppy are something you look forward to, no matter what.
I hope you know how much you are loved and how bright you make our days. We love you to the moon and back again!
Twinkle, twinkle little star
We're so proud of who you are!
Love,
Mommy
Monday, February 28, 2011
Vocab. Lesson with Liam
Liam likes to make up his own words. We have recently started writing these down whenever possible. I have two for you today. Please study, there will be a quiz on Friday.
Brambler: Originally, this was thought to be something akin to a blimp. However, Liam was able to clarify that a brambler is actually the "power paw" attachment on our vacuum cleaner.
Nacnikno (NAC-nik-no): When you have a song to sing and a green light. No further clarification is available at this time.
There was another word that was introduced last Thursday. No one wrote it down so it might now be lost for eternity.
Brambler: Originally, this was thought to be something akin to a blimp. However, Liam was able to clarify that a brambler is actually the "power paw" attachment on our vacuum cleaner.
Nacnikno (NAC-nik-no): When you have a song to sing and a green light. No further clarification is available at this time.
There was another word that was introduced last Thursday. No one wrote it down so it might now be lost for eternity.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Cinderella (Shotgun Wedding?)
Liam's favorite story right now is Cinderella. He requests it almost every night. He snuggles up next to me & doesn't move a muscle. Michael pretends to be uninterested but the part where the mice mend her dress sucks him in every time.
At the end of tonight's dramatic reading (by yours truly), Michael asked, "Why does Cinderella marry that guy?" Feeling perhaps a bit cynical, I replied, "I don't know- hopefully she liked him. Maybe they should have dated a while before getting married."
(In my mind, I am thinking, "Why did I just say that to my 3 and 4 year old? This is just a fairy tale and I have plenty of time to worry about reinforcing stereotypical gender roles, unrealistic expectations, the notion that women are helpless & men need to save them, blah, blah, blah)
Michael thinks for just a moment. I can see the rat running on the wheel inside his head.
Then he says, "Maybe she wanted to have a baby"
I was kind of relieved--mostly because I thought he was going to say that maybe she was already PREGNANT. Even though I'm not sure he knows that exact term- I thought he might suggest that in his own words.
So I just let that slide for a minute and he went onto say, "Well, you had babies". Then the conversation turned to our family and how much I love my babies and I was off the hook.
But while I was folding some laundry, I got to thinking- Did Cinderella have a shotgun wedding?* And how am I going to explain more complex issues to my kids? Because while I want them to understand our values/beliefs, children have been born "out of wedlock" within our families so I don't want them to be judgmental. Let's hope we can ease into these discussions...
Maybe I do need to get a job--and speaking of that, I haven't heard ANYTHING after that interview even though I followed up. I guess I will cross that prospect off my list (which means that I no longer have a prospect list).
*I don't think Cinderella had a shotgun wedding. The two of them danced all night in plain view of everyone at the ball & she had that damned curfew. And let's face it, the prince already loved her and if you were Cinderella, anything would be better than living with those 3 beeyotchy women. Even if you had nice little mouse friends. And yes, I am accepting suggestions for what type of hobby I can pick up- because I am clearly in need of one ;)
At the end of tonight's dramatic reading (by yours truly), Michael asked, "Why does Cinderella marry that guy?" Feeling perhaps a bit cynical, I replied, "I don't know- hopefully she liked him. Maybe they should have dated a while before getting married."
(In my mind, I am thinking, "Why did I just say that to my 3 and 4 year old? This is just a fairy tale and I have plenty of time to worry about reinforcing stereotypical gender roles, unrealistic expectations, the notion that women are helpless & men need to save them, blah, blah, blah)
Michael thinks for just a moment. I can see the rat running on the wheel inside his head.
Then he says, "Maybe she wanted to have a baby"
I was kind of relieved--mostly because I thought he was going to say that maybe she was already PREGNANT. Even though I'm not sure he knows that exact term- I thought he might suggest that in his own words.
So I just let that slide for a minute and he went onto say, "Well, you had babies". Then the conversation turned to our family and how much I love my babies and I was off the hook.
But while I was folding some laundry, I got to thinking- Did Cinderella have a shotgun wedding?* And how am I going to explain more complex issues to my kids? Because while I want them to understand our values/beliefs, children have been born "out of wedlock" within our families so I don't want them to be judgmental. Let's hope we can ease into these discussions...
Maybe I do need to get a job--and speaking of that, I haven't heard ANYTHING after that interview even though I followed up. I guess I will cross that prospect off my list (which means that I no longer have a prospect list).
*I don't think Cinderella had a shotgun wedding. The two of them danced all night in plain view of everyone at the ball & she had that damned curfew. And let's face it, the prince already loved her and if you were Cinderella, anything would be better than living with those 3 beeyotchy women. Even if you had nice little mouse friends. And yes, I am accepting suggestions for what type of hobby I can pick up- because I am clearly in need of one ;)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
3 tidbits
Quick, before I fall asleep!!!
*During the past few days, Chloe has decided to clap her hands and roll over (not at the same time). She has been waving for about a month which is so cute- she does the princess wave- I've got to try and catch some of that on video!
*We went through a phase a couple of months ago where Kelly Clarkson was #1 on our weekly top 40 requested car songs. Specifically, 'My life would suck without you'. Yeah, I probably shouldn't have them listen to this but by the time I thought of it, Michael and Liam were singing the entire song. Anyways...there is one part that says "I know that I've got issues but you're pretty messed up too". One day out of nowhere, Michael asks me, "Mommy, why are her tissues all messed up?"
*A couple of days ago, Michael was in the bathroom, doing his business (#2) and I'm not sure how this happened but Liam ended up in the bathroom too. I don't object to this as long as Michael is okay with it--I am hoping that Liam will realize that he too can go on the potty. Michael still needs some help with wiping but it took me a minute to get to him b/c I was in the midst of changing Chloe. Through the door I hear Michael say, "It's okay Mommy, Liam is wiping me". Sure enough, I opened the door and Liam had a potty wipe and was wiping Michael's backside. I couldn't hold back my laughter. But seriously, Liam can effectively assist his brother with the toilet but he can't get on board himself??
*During the past few days, Chloe has decided to clap her hands and roll over (not at the same time). She has been waving for about a month which is so cute- she does the princess wave- I've got to try and catch some of that on video!
*We went through a phase a couple of months ago where Kelly Clarkson was #1 on our weekly top 40 requested car songs. Specifically, 'My life would suck without you'. Yeah, I probably shouldn't have them listen to this but by the time I thought of it, Michael and Liam were singing the entire song. Anyways...there is one part that says "I know that I've got issues but you're pretty messed up too". One day out of nowhere, Michael asks me, "Mommy, why are her tissues all messed up?"
*A couple of days ago, Michael was in the bathroom, doing his business (#2) and I'm not sure how this happened but Liam ended up in the bathroom too. I don't object to this as long as Michael is okay with it--I am hoping that Liam will realize that he too can go on the potty. Michael still needs some help with wiping but it took me a minute to get to him b/c I was in the midst of changing Chloe. Through the door I hear Michael say, "It's okay Mommy, Liam is wiping me". Sure enough, I opened the door and Liam had a potty wipe and was wiping Michael's backside. I couldn't hold back my laughter. But seriously, Liam can effectively assist his brother with the toilet but he can't get on board himself??
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
THREE...LIAM*
*Updated with photos
While I know that we share a great bond, I am also aware of how close you are to your Daddy. You love going places, just the two of you. I think it makes you feel special to have one-to-one time with Daddy. In return, Daddy loves taking you just about anywhere. Your Grammy (my mom) has a particular soft spot for you.
You love having a buddy and your best buddy by far is Michael. Michael is on a real creative streak and you are right there with him, despite being a year younger. You can hold your own & that is just amazing to me. Watching your relationship with him evolve and grow is one of my best experiences as your mommy. I hope you always stay close with Michael. And of course, your love for Chloe has been overwhelming from the moment you first met her. Chloe adores you and if she isn't with you & Michael, then she just isn't happy. You are her greatest fan and protector.
I cherish you Liam...for being exactly who you are- a sweet, sensitive, loving little guy who makes me laugh every day. I am excited to see what the coming year holds for you & being here to witness and support all the changes that are to come.
I want you to remember, that no matter how many years go by, you will always, always be my baby!
We love you so much Liam!!!!
Love,
Mommy
My Sweetest Liam,
I am finally getting around to writing this little love note to you, my three-year-old baby boy. Oh wait, you're not a baby anymore! But you still have your lovely baby face...and maybe you always will.
You are pure joy from the moment you wake up. You have a true zest for life...you love many things including- running, singing, climbing, building, coloring, trucks, cars, dancing, laughing, riding your bike and pretty much anything with water. You do NOT love amusement park rides or being embarrassed. Physically, you are a force to be reckoned with...or you will be once you realize your own size and strength. As much as you love the rough and tumble stuff, you have a gentle, sensitive side that I just love. Snuggling with you is pure magic.
You tend to wear your heart on your sleeve which means that your feelings are easily hurt. Luckily, you are usually quick to forgive. However, if your stubborn side shows itself, we all have to brace ourselves. If you decide something isn't happening, well, it probably isn't (like potty-training, for example). Your sense of humor is one of your best qualities! You sometimes have a sing-song quality to your speech, which can make what you are saying even funnier. These days, you LOVE the Backyardigans and listening to you sing that theme song is one of my favorite things.
I am finally getting around to writing this little love note to you, my three-year-old baby boy. Oh wait, you're not a baby anymore! But you still have your lovely baby face...and maybe you always will.
You are pure joy from the moment you wake up. You have a true zest for life...you love many things including- running, singing, climbing, building, coloring, trucks, cars, dancing, laughing, riding your bike and pretty much anything with water. You do NOT love amusement park rides or being embarrassed. Physically, you are a force to be reckoned with...or you will be once you realize your own size and strength. As much as you love the rough and tumble stuff, you have a gentle, sensitive side that I just love. Snuggling with you is pure magic.
You tend to wear your heart on your sleeve which means that your feelings are easily hurt. Luckily, you are usually quick to forgive. However, if your stubborn side shows itself, we all have to brace ourselves. If you decide something isn't happening, well, it probably isn't (like potty-training, for example). Your sense of humor is one of your best qualities! You sometimes have a sing-song quality to your speech, which can make what you are saying even funnier. These days, you LOVE the Backyardigans and listening to you sing that theme song is one of my favorite things.
While I know that we share a great bond, I am also aware of how close you are to your Daddy. You love going places, just the two of you. I think it makes you feel special to have one-to-one time with Daddy. In return, Daddy loves taking you just about anywhere. Your Grammy (my mom) has a particular soft spot for you.
You love having a buddy and your best buddy by far is Michael. Michael is on a real creative streak and you are right there with him, despite being a year younger. You can hold your own & that is just amazing to me. Watching your relationship with him evolve and grow is one of my best experiences as your mommy. I hope you always stay close with Michael. And of course, your love for Chloe has been overwhelming from the moment you first met her. Chloe adores you and if she isn't with you & Michael, then she just isn't happy. You are her greatest fan and protector.
I cherish you Liam...for being exactly who you are- a sweet, sensitive, loving little guy who makes me laugh every day. I am excited to see what the coming year holds for you & being here to witness and support all the changes that are to come.
I want you to remember, that no matter how many years go by, you will always, always be my baby!
We love you so much Liam!!!!
Love,
Mommy
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Weights and Measures- June 2010
Liam had his THREE year well visit on Tuesday.
Everything checked out great and he didn't need any vaccines so it was an easy appointment.
Here are the stats:
Height- 40.25 inches
Weight- 36.8 lbs
For reference, these fall in the 96th and 90th percentile
Oh and have you met his (almost) Irish twin Michael?
Michael had his FOUR year well visit on the 11th of this month
His stats:
Height- 40.5 inches
Weight- 36.6lbs
(57th & 55th percentiles)
I marvel at Liam's physical size almost daily. If he realized the power that he has, Michael would be toast. As it stands, Liam acknowledges Michael as the bigger brother & is very sensitive if Michael takes things a bit to far. God help Michael the day Liam realizes he can crush him.
Liam's doctor has mentioned that he will probably be over 6 feet tall...and apparently, there is a theory that if you double a child's height at 3 years, you get an approximation of their final height. So that puts Liam somewhere in the 6'3" area. If that's true then WOW! I am just shy of 5'7" and Mike is 5'11". But my mom's father (who I never met) was rather tall so maybe that is where this comes from? Which would be kind of cool since Liam's middle name 'Paul' was my grandfather's name.
Above all, I am happy that the kids are healthy and happy. I just find it really interesting to see how they are growing and imagine what they will be like as adults!
Everything checked out great and he didn't need any vaccines so it was an easy appointment.
Here are the stats:
Height- 40.25 inches
Weight- 36.8 lbs
For reference, these fall in the 96th and 90th percentile
Oh and have you met his (almost) Irish twin Michael?
Michael had his FOUR year well visit on the 11th of this month
His stats:
Height- 40.5 inches
Weight- 36.6lbs
(57th & 55th percentiles)
I marvel at Liam's physical size almost daily. If he realized the power that he has, Michael would be toast. As it stands, Liam acknowledges Michael as the bigger brother & is very sensitive if Michael takes things a bit to far. God help Michael the day Liam realizes he can crush him.
Liam's doctor has mentioned that he will probably be over 6 feet tall...and apparently, there is a theory that if you double a child's height at 3 years, you get an approximation of their final height. So that puts Liam somewhere in the 6'3" area. If that's true then WOW! I am just shy of 5'7" and Mike is 5'11". But my mom's father (who I never met) was rather tall so maybe that is where this comes from? Which would be kind of cool since Liam's middle name 'Paul' was my grandfather's name.
Above all, I am happy that the kids are healthy and happy. I just find it really interesting to see how they are growing and imagine what they will be like as adults!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Tired...
I am tired and frustrated with a variety of things in life. Rather than bore you with those details, I will share some fun stuff.
This is a little evening trip we took to get some ice cream. Notice Chloe's clenched fist- she is going to beat up those boys for a taste of the good stuff ;)
Chloe's two bottom teeth FINALLY broke through this past week. She is so proud! And I am sure she is relieved to have some pain relief for the moment. She also mastered the art of picking up a puff and navigating it into her mouth. I love, love, love watching those little fingers at work. Liam and Michael are her biggest cheerleaders when she accomplishes a new task. Anytime she does something new, they are quick to notice & are so excited for her. I love that they are so interested in what she is up to. I know it won't always be that way but I am enjoying it right now!
We have some fun plans for the weekend including a parade and a birthday BBQ swim party. So I am looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow followed by some Memorial Day fun :)
Top: Forget all that rolling over/crawling stuff, Chloe just wants to walk!
Bottom: Raspberries, just for fun :)
Monday, May 24, 2010
Eval Results
Liam had his speech eval today & he did a great job. He participated easily and was very cooperative. He does need some help with his articulation but otherwise, his speech development is on track for his age. So he will be recommended for group speech once a week, which probably won't start until mid-June.
I will get a report in a couple of weeks. I am just relieved to know that overall, Liam is doing great & that the things he needs to work on can be addressed easily. I still plan to followup on my concerns with his hearing.
Now...if I could just get him interested in using the potty...oh wait, we'll save that for another post!
I will get a report in a couple of weeks. I am just relieved to know that overall, Liam is doing great & that the things he needs to work on can be addressed easily. I still plan to followup on my concerns with his hearing.
Now...if I could just get him interested in using the potty...oh wait, we'll save that for another post!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Easy Sunday
Today was a good one. I have felt a bit overwhelmed during this past week & today was a nice break from that feeling. There are a variety of stressors that I could blame. But I chose not to dwell on that part. For now, I am just thankful for a day that was a nice combination of rest, fun & getting a few things done.
Rain made the earlier parts of the day a bit of a bummer. We ran a few errands and rolled easily into nap time. We ate dinner early and cleaned up quickly. So we had time to make a trip for ice cream followed by a quick visit with friends of my parents. I had to drop something off and we ended up staying there for about 45 minutes. Then it was home for baths for the boys (Chloe had a bath last night) & bedtime. It took some time for Michael and Liam to wind down but they got there. Chloe went to sleep without a fuss.
Tomorrow morning we take Liam for his speech evaluation. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being a little bit nervous. Even though I know the routine, this is my baby boy we are talking about so of course I am anxious about it.
Aside from speech issues, I have become increasingly concerned about what role his ears/hearing might be playing in all of this. Liam is not a complainer by nature. I think his ears are a source of discomfort for him- but he won't admit it until there is a raging ear infection. If we were not in insurance limbo right now, I might have already taken him to the doctor. I know he has his 3 year check up coming up soon. But I might have to take him there early and just work out the payment because I feel certain that his ears are bothering him. And if he always has fluid in them, maybe his hearing is compromised?
Anyway, I will keep you posted on how the evaluation goes. In other news, I still haven't started running yet--I have no one to blame but myself. It just needs to go to the top of the priority list. Feeling stressed is one thing that has caused me to push it off--in reality, running could be just the thing to help me cope with stress-overload. I just need to make it happen.
Rain made the earlier parts of the day a bit of a bummer. We ran a few errands and rolled easily into nap time. We ate dinner early and cleaned up quickly. So we had time to make a trip for ice cream followed by a quick visit with friends of my parents. I had to drop something off and we ended up staying there for about 45 minutes. Then it was home for baths for the boys (Chloe had a bath last night) & bedtime. It took some time for Michael and Liam to wind down but they got there. Chloe went to sleep without a fuss.
Tomorrow morning we take Liam for his speech evaluation. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being a little bit nervous. Even though I know the routine, this is my baby boy we are talking about so of course I am anxious about it.
Aside from speech issues, I have become increasingly concerned about what role his ears/hearing might be playing in all of this. Liam is not a complainer by nature. I think his ears are a source of discomfort for him- but he won't admit it until there is a raging ear infection. If we were not in insurance limbo right now, I might have already taken him to the doctor. I know he has his 3 year check up coming up soon. But I might have to take him there early and just work out the payment because I feel certain that his ears are bothering him. And if he always has fluid in them, maybe his hearing is compromised?
Anyway, I will keep you posted on how the evaluation goes. In other news, I still haven't started running yet--I have no one to blame but myself. It just needs to go to the top of the priority list. Feeling stressed is one thing that has caused me to push it off--in reality, running could be just the thing to help me cope with stress-overload. I just need to make it happen.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Practicing What I Preach (updated)
I made a phone call to our local Early Intervention office (which is now called 'Preschool Special Education' in our neck of the woods) for my Liam. The concern is speech, specifically articulation.
I'm not sure if he will end up needing any services but I asked a friend of mine who works for E.I. for her thoughts. She is on maternity leave right now and we have a weekly play date so she does see Liam regularly. She did a quick screening for me on Friday & recommended that I call.
I made the initial phone call this morning. Now I just need to wait for a call back from the service coordinator to schedule the appointment.
I don't find Liam hard to understand but I am with him all the time. I also do alot of accommodating- for example, if I don't know what he is saying, I ask him to show me or find some other way to figure it out. I have noticed lately that other people really struggle to understand what he is saying. I also started paying attention to his speech & noticed some things. He seems to substitute one letter for another quite often- some of this is age appropriate but I'm not sure that all of it is. He also trills his tongue (like rolling the /r/ sound while speaking Spanish)--I'm not sure how much that matters.
I also feel a bit concerned about Liam's hearing. His 3 year well visit is coming up in June so I am going to make sure I address that with our pediatrician--just in case anything is going on there. Liam does not complain when he has an ear infection...well, not until it is REALLY bad. He had a ruptured ear drum and we didn't know it. But I know that type of thing can cause problems with hearing. So we will cover that base as well.
Whatever the outcome of the evaluation, I just want to get him the right supports if any are needed. I'll let you know how that goes...
*Update: Our appointment is scheduled for Monday, May 24th. I am relieved that we don't have to wait too long!
I'm not sure if he will end up needing any services but I asked a friend of mine who works for E.I. for her thoughts. She is on maternity leave right now and we have a weekly play date so she does see Liam regularly. She did a quick screening for me on Friday & recommended that I call.
I made the initial phone call this morning. Now I just need to wait for a call back from the service coordinator to schedule the appointment.
I don't find Liam hard to understand but I am with him all the time. I also do alot of accommodating- for example, if I don't know what he is saying, I ask him to show me or find some other way to figure it out. I have noticed lately that other people really struggle to understand what he is saying. I also started paying attention to his speech & noticed some things. He seems to substitute one letter for another quite often- some of this is age appropriate but I'm not sure that all of it is. He also trills his tongue (like rolling the /r/ sound while speaking Spanish)--I'm not sure how much that matters.
I also feel a bit concerned about Liam's hearing. His 3 year well visit is coming up in June so I am going to make sure I address that with our pediatrician--just in case anything is going on there. Liam does not complain when he has an ear infection...well, not until it is REALLY bad. He had a ruptured ear drum and we didn't know it. But I know that type of thing can cause problems with hearing. So we will cover that base as well.
Whatever the outcome of the evaluation, I just want to get him the right supports if any are needed. I'll let you know how that goes...
*Update: Our appointment is scheduled for Monday, May 24th. I am relieved that we don't have to wait too long!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Just a great weekend!
This weekend, we took a somewhat last minute trip to my father-in-law's house. We left Saturday morning and came home today. It's about a 4 hour drive (5 with kid stops). It was WELL worth it.
We celebrated Mike's grandfather's 88th birthday & it was a blast. Pics to come tomorrow if I can get to downloading them. It was great to see that side of Mike's family who we don't see as often as we would like to.
The highlight of my weekend, though, had nothing to do with our travels or celebrating. We stayed at my father-in-law's house. We always stay in the same bedroom because it is conveniently located on the first floor of the house & has lots of room for all of us to sleep comfortably. In that room are several wedding pictures including one of Mike & I.
Liam picked it up and looked at it. He looked at me and smiled and said, "Mommy, that's YOU! You're a PIN-CESS (princess)!" Liam is my little sweetheart and he was so sincere, he just made my weekend with that one little sentence :)
We celebrated Mike's grandfather's 88th birthday & it was a blast. Pics to come tomorrow if I can get to downloading them. It was great to see that side of Mike's family who we don't see as often as we would like to.
The highlight of my weekend, though, had nothing to do with our travels or celebrating. We stayed at my father-in-law's house. We always stay in the same bedroom because it is conveniently located on the first floor of the house & has lots of room for all of us to sleep comfortably. In that room are several wedding pictures including one of Mike & I.
Liam picked it up and looked at it. He looked at me and smiled and said, "Mommy, that's YOU! You're a PIN-CESS (princess)!" Liam is my little sweetheart and he was so sincere, he just made my weekend with that one little sentence :)
Monday, June 29, 2009
2 year old check up
Liam had his doctor's visit today...I give you the very large stats:
Height: 37 inches
Weight: 33.6 pounds
Head: 19.5 inches
Percentiles are 97th, 94th and 72nd respectively.
Everything checks out okay so again, uneventful is good :)
Height: 37 inches
Weight: 33.6 pounds
Head: 19.5 inches
Percentiles are 97th, 94th and 72nd respectively.
Everything checks out okay so again, uneventful is good :)
Friday, June 26, 2009
2
My Little Liam,
Has it really been almost a week since you turned 2? You have been the most joyous surprise of my life- we didn't exactly plan to have you and your brother 375 days apart...but now, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Despite your physical size and your independence, I still love to hold you as if you are still an infant. Monday we get to find out just how big you are and I am betting that it is darn close to your brother's measurements. When I get you out of your cribby in the morning and you put your head on my shoulder, I am overwhelmed with joy. I love that you still need me, that you still hold on to some of those baby-ways...it lets me hold on to you just a little bit longer.
But then you are off, ready to start your day. You are a morning bear, that much is certain. In fact, you are a bear all-around from your deep voice to your love of sleep. You are a momma's boy but you still enjoy going somewhere with Daddy, especially when it is just you and him.
You are talking up a storm- thanks to a great example from your big brother- I can't even count how many words you say. You can tell me your observations, ask for things and express your feelings "Dat not nice Mital (Michael)". You are a sensitive soul whose feelings are easily hurt- but also easily comforted. You are working on your "two" skills- things like stubborn opposition, tantrums (mostly mild thank heavens), asserting your will and putting yourself in the center of the action.
You love being outside, anything to do with water, riding bikes, helping mommy or daddy and just being INVOLVED in whatever is going on. You have made many friends at school & one teacher in particular absolutely adores you. Your baby face is everyone's reminder that despite your size, you are indeed a two-year-old.
You adore your brother and seeing you develop such a close bond with Michael is one of my greatest joys in life. You love singing- a few favorites right now are "Down at the Station", "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and "Baa, Baa Black Sheep". You also love playing with trucks and cars, running around in nothing but your diaper-or less!, various animals and being around other kids. You have an intense love of Caillou (your only true vice).
I can't wait to see what you will do next...and I never feel like these posts are a true testament to who you are and who you are becoming but I write them anyway, in the hopes of capturing just a hint of you at age 2. I love being your mommy and, along with Daddy, we will always be your biggest fans!
I love you Liam!!!
Love,
Mommy
Has it really been almost a week since you turned 2? You have been the most joyous surprise of my life- we didn't exactly plan to have you and your brother 375 days apart...but now, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Despite your physical size and your independence, I still love to hold you as if you are still an infant. Monday we get to find out just how big you are and I am betting that it is darn close to your brother's measurements. When I get you out of your cribby in the morning and you put your head on my shoulder, I am overwhelmed with joy. I love that you still need me, that you still hold on to some of those baby-ways...it lets me hold on to you just a little bit longer.
But then you are off, ready to start your day. You are a morning bear, that much is certain. In fact, you are a bear all-around from your deep voice to your love of sleep. You are a momma's boy but you still enjoy going somewhere with Daddy, especially when it is just you and him.
You are talking up a storm- thanks to a great example from your big brother- I can't even count how many words you say. You can tell me your observations, ask for things and express your feelings "Dat not nice Mital (Michael)". You are a sensitive soul whose feelings are easily hurt- but also easily comforted. You are working on your "two" skills- things like stubborn opposition, tantrums (mostly mild thank heavens), asserting your will and putting yourself in the center of the action.
You love being outside, anything to do with water, riding bikes, helping mommy or daddy and just being INVOLVED in whatever is going on. You have made many friends at school & one teacher in particular absolutely adores you. Your baby face is everyone's reminder that despite your size, you are indeed a two-year-old.
You adore your brother and seeing you develop such a close bond with Michael is one of my greatest joys in life. You love singing- a few favorites right now are "Down at the Station", "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and "Baa, Baa Black Sheep". You also love playing with trucks and cars, running around in nothing but your diaper-or less!, various animals and being around other kids. You have an intense love of Caillou (your only true vice).
I can't wait to see what you will do next...and I never feel like these posts are a true testament to who you are and who you are becoming but I write them anyway, in the hopes of capturing just a hint of you at age 2. I love being your mommy and, along with Daddy, we will always be your biggest fans!
I love you Liam!!!
Love,
Mommy
Friday, May 22, 2009
Random Friday Updates
Wow- I am so out of touch with SO many people, it's unreal.
So let me at least get a little bit caught up in the bloggy world...
*Potty-training & Michael: Continuing on a good path...a few accidents, nothing major. Using pull-ups at nap/night...other than that, underwear all the way. He even got out of their little pool today to pee. Michael is AMAZING--I give him full credit for sticking with it & taking the lead. I am so proud of him!!
*Other Michael-stuff: He seems so much older to me in the past month. Aside from the potty progress, he is using different words, speaking more complete thoughts, sharing his ideas. We have hit a new level & it is WONDERFUL to see his curiosity & love of learning new things. I got a great compliment today from one of his teachers about his "pre-reading skills". I am not over-focused on this type of thing for his age but it's still nice to know that he is on a good path. He has always been very into books and I have noticed the increased interest in letters/words/ numbers & desire to read.
*Then there is my LIAM: my little comedian, he is coming into his own, asserting his opinion, taking control. Yes, you can imagine the power struggle between him and his brother. But it's all good- I am happy to see him blossoming & realizing that he is his own person. His language is also blowing my mind. He can't say everything clearly but I usually get the gist. On our morning drive, I get to hear all about the skoool bus, 'ment mixer, uh-oh cows!, motorcycle man, big truck, police car man or whatever else we happen to see along the way.
*Michael and Liam are starting to have their own little chats--very entertaining. I asked Michael to repeat what he said the other day and he told "I wasn't talkin' to you Mommy, I was talkin' to LEEEam." Well, excuse the intrusion!! It's so great to see their relationship forming.
*Pregnancy: Going well. My only complaint at this point is nausea which is the norm for me. The fact that I have only gotten sick 2 mornings in the past 10 weeks is nothing short of a miracle. The past 2 pregnancies found me sick every day for about 2-3 months. So this is much easier to manage.
*Mike has been working his butt off- doing side work with a friend which has been awesome for our bank account but hard on our family time. He is also doing weight watchers and has lost over 7 lbs. I am very proud of his efforts. He is such a good husband!!
*Work is perking along with not too much to report there. I have finally stopped torturing myself about leaving my boys & have realized how much they enjoy their "school". Not sure how this is going to feel when #3 makes his/her appearance.
*Along those lines, since we only have a 3 bedroom house, I will be asking advice on what to do with our sleeping arrangements for the kids. More on that in another post!
So those are my updates for now--I am sure I have more to include but my brain is tired & it is WELL past any reasonable bed time.
Hope you enjoy the weekend...I am happy to have an extra day off & a wedding to attend tomorrow. Mike and I totally count that as a date :)
So let me at least get a little bit caught up in the bloggy world...
*Potty-training & Michael: Continuing on a good path...a few accidents, nothing major. Using pull-ups at nap/night...other than that, underwear all the way. He even got out of their little pool today to pee. Michael is AMAZING--I give him full credit for sticking with it & taking the lead. I am so proud of him!!
*Other Michael-stuff: He seems so much older to me in the past month. Aside from the potty progress, he is using different words, speaking more complete thoughts, sharing his ideas. We have hit a new level & it is WONDERFUL to see his curiosity & love of learning new things. I got a great compliment today from one of his teachers about his "pre-reading skills". I am not over-focused on this type of thing for his age but it's still nice to know that he is on a good path. He has always been very into books and I have noticed the increased interest in letters/words/ numbers & desire to read.
*Then there is my LIAM: my little comedian, he is coming into his own, asserting his opinion, taking control. Yes, you can imagine the power struggle between him and his brother. But it's all good- I am happy to see him blossoming & realizing that he is his own person. His language is also blowing my mind. He can't say everything clearly but I usually get the gist. On our morning drive, I get to hear all about the skoool bus, 'ment mixer, uh-oh cows!, motorcycle man, big truck, police car man or whatever else we happen to see along the way.
*Michael and Liam are starting to have their own little chats--very entertaining. I asked Michael to repeat what he said the other day and he told "I wasn't talkin' to you Mommy, I was talkin' to LEEEam." Well, excuse the intrusion!! It's so great to see their relationship forming.
*Pregnancy: Going well. My only complaint at this point is nausea which is the norm for me. The fact that I have only gotten sick 2 mornings in the past 10 weeks is nothing short of a miracle. The past 2 pregnancies found me sick every day for about 2-3 months. So this is much easier to manage.
*Mike has been working his butt off- doing side work with a friend which has been awesome for our bank account but hard on our family time. He is also doing weight watchers and has lost over 7 lbs. I am very proud of his efforts. He is such a good husband!!
*Work is perking along with not too much to report there. I have finally stopped torturing myself about leaving my boys & have realized how much they enjoy their "school". Not sure how this is going to feel when #3 makes his/her appearance.
*Along those lines, since we only have a 3 bedroom house, I will be asking advice on what to do with our sleeping arrangements for the kids. More on that in another post!
So those are my updates for now--I am sure I have more to include but my brain is tired & it is WELL past any reasonable bed time.
Hope you enjoy the weekend...I am happy to have an extra day off & a wedding to attend tomorrow. Mike and I totally count that as a date :)
Monday, March 9, 2009
Freedom 2009
Oh, it's happened, Liam has learned to climb out of his crib.
And Michael can open up the gate we have in the hallway.
They were both calling for me last night and when I looked upstairs, I see the dynamic duo. I was shocked to see Liam standing there. How did he figure this out already?
Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that Michael did this?
Bed time is going to take on a whole new vibe. Once again, very proud but also scared about all the possibilities for these boys to join forces.
And Michael can open up the gate we have in the hallway.
They were both calling for me last night and when I looked upstairs, I see the dynamic duo. I was shocked to see Liam standing there. How did he figure this out already?
Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that Michael did this?
Bed time is going to take on a whole new vibe. Once again, very proud but also scared about all the possibilities for these boys to join forces.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
RECAP
WARNING: This is a long one and I may ramble a bit but here it is...
I started a post on Monday night and couldn't even finish it because I was falling asleep. I was just THAT tired. Let's see if I can recap this crazy week before I get too sleepy tonight...
SUNDAY INTO MONDAY: Michael woke up in the middle of the night to get into our bed. Then around 4:30am, he woke up to vomit- by some miracle, none of it ended up in our bed. So began our sickly, stressful, laundry-laden week.
MONDAY
Mike had off thankfully and while my office was technically closed, I had opted to attend a meeting at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (known around here as "CHOP"). It was an advisory board meeting related to their autism research. I am now a member of the advisory board! They are doing some amazing studies. I was worried the whole time about Michael but he was in good hands and overall I am glad I went. ALSO, in the afternoon I had a mammogram- hello 35, this is what I get for crossing over the mid-30s threshold. Now, to fill you in, I have had some benign cysts in the past but have always had ultrasounds. Now that I am 35, it's time to bring in the breast compressor.
I was SERIOUSLY nervous about this test. I was wondering if I have "enough" for them to even DO a mammogram. Well, I had the test, the technician was so sweet and it was really no big deal. Very minimal discomfort, didn't take too long. I got the results today (Saturday) that everything "appears normal"--how's that for careful wording? Anyway...
TUESDAY
I stayed home from work to take care of Michael. Liam also skipped school. While I enjoyed being home with the boys, I wish it were for a different reason. Michael was very sleepy and still puking. I just tried to keep him comfortable and keep Liam from getting bored. I also attempted to take Michael to the doctors because I was concerned that he had strep throat. Attempt #1 was for a 3:40 appointment. Michael threw up ALL OVER both of us on the way out to the car. I had to knock on my neighbor's door & ask her to get Liam out of the car for me. He was crying and I knew he would be hysterical if I went inside to change before getting him. It was a MESS but we got it all cleaned up. Attempt #2 was for a 6:20 appointment which was successful and his test was negative for strep.
WEDNESDAY
Liam was fine so I brought him to daycare and I worked. My mom and Mike were able to coordinate things to be home with Michael.
THURSDAY
Liam started with diarrhea. Michael started to keep solids down and also started with diarrhea. I had to take a half day to be home in the afternoon due to Mike's work schedule. That meeting on Monday turned out to have the added benefit of some flex time that I used to cover part of my missed hours.
FRIDAY
Both boys with some really nice (explosive) diarrhea...Mike was home with them all day so I didn't have to use up any more sick time. ALSO, my good friend Emily has been in town this week with her daughter. While we couldn't get the kids together for obvious reasons, the two of us did get to go out for a couple of beers last night (with Mike's blessing). Although I was tired, it did me a world of good to just go out and think about something other than the stress from the week.
SATURDAY
While the runny diapers persist, appetites are improving and the boys both seem to be feeling better. I was SO worried about Michael. This virus really wiped him out but because he got alot of sleep yesterday and today, I think he is feeling stronger. Liam is not really affected other than being very tired. He is still pleasant as ever. While I am trying to feed them both foods that fall under that whole BRAT diet, they are asking for different things and I am very happy to know they are starting to get some more calories in the mix.
I pray that NONE OF YOU have to deal with this any time soon because it is THE WORST. I want to Lysol and Clorox wipe my entire house right now. I wish they had some sort of sanitizer "bomb"--like a bug bomb that exterminators use. Just clean it all in one shot.
ANYWAY, let's see what else can I add to this already lengthy post?
While I have been reading my usual favorite blogs, I just feel so out of touch when I don't post regularly.
Thursday-- Two people were arrested in relation to the recent arsons that have plagued this area. I knew something was going on when we went almost 2 weeks with no fires. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad--but this is definite progress.
Today I went to church with my mom. My church has a 4:15 service which is pretty convenient. I hate rushing around Sunday morning so the evening mass works well for me. I do go to church regularly but am not always the most focused person while I am there. For whatever reason, today I felt very much at peace--maybe because the music was uplifting or maybe because it is the only quiet time I have had this week. There was one hymn that it seemed like everyone was singing and it was just such a spiritual moment. I don't always experience that these days and it was just really good and something that my spirit was in desperate need of. I might as well tell you that I am still struggling to adjust to life as a working mom...and this week was particularly awful for me. So that chat with Emily last night and this nice, peaceful church time this afternoon were just what I needed to let some of that stress go and realize that not all weeks will be this crazy.
If the diaper blow-outs settle down, I'd like to take the boys SOMEWHERE tomorrow. We'll see...
I started a post on Monday night and couldn't even finish it because I was falling asleep. I was just THAT tired. Let's see if I can recap this crazy week before I get too sleepy tonight...
SUNDAY INTO MONDAY: Michael woke up in the middle of the night to get into our bed. Then around 4:30am, he woke up to vomit- by some miracle, none of it ended up in our bed. So began our sickly, stressful, laundry-laden week.
MONDAY
Mike had off thankfully and while my office was technically closed, I had opted to attend a meeting at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (known around here as "CHOP"). It was an advisory board meeting related to their autism research. I am now a member of the advisory board! They are doing some amazing studies. I was worried the whole time about Michael but he was in good hands and overall I am glad I went. ALSO, in the afternoon I had a mammogram- hello 35, this is what I get for crossing over the mid-30s threshold. Now, to fill you in, I have had some benign cysts in the past but have always had ultrasounds. Now that I am 35, it's time to bring in the breast compressor.
I was SERIOUSLY nervous about this test. I was wondering if I have "enough" for them to even DO a mammogram. Well, I had the test, the technician was so sweet and it was really no big deal. Very minimal discomfort, didn't take too long. I got the results today (Saturday) that everything "appears normal"--how's that for careful wording? Anyway...
TUESDAY
I stayed home from work to take care of Michael. Liam also skipped school. While I enjoyed being home with the boys, I wish it were for a different reason. Michael was very sleepy and still puking. I just tried to keep him comfortable and keep Liam from getting bored. I also attempted to take Michael to the doctors because I was concerned that he had strep throat. Attempt #1 was for a 3:40 appointment. Michael threw up ALL OVER both of us on the way out to the car. I had to knock on my neighbor's door & ask her to get Liam out of the car for me. He was crying and I knew he would be hysterical if I went inside to change before getting him. It was a MESS but we got it all cleaned up. Attempt #2 was for a 6:20 appointment which was successful and his test was negative for strep.
WEDNESDAY
Liam was fine so I brought him to daycare and I worked. My mom and Mike were able to coordinate things to be home with Michael.
THURSDAY
Liam started with diarrhea. Michael started to keep solids down and also started with diarrhea. I had to take a half day to be home in the afternoon due to Mike's work schedule. That meeting on Monday turned out to have the added benefit of some flex time that I used to cover part of my missed hours.
FRIDAY
Both boys with some really nice (explosive) diarrhea...Mike was home with them all day so I didn't have to use up any more sick time. ALSO, my good friend Emily has been in town this week with her daughter. While we couldn't get the kids together for obvious reasons, the two of us did get to go out for a couple of beers last night (with Mike's blessing). Although I was tired, it did me a world of good to just go out and think about something other than the stress from the week.
SATURDAY
While the runny diapers persist, appetites are improving and the boys both seem to be feeling better. I was SO worried about Michael. This virus really wiped him out but because he got alot of sleep yesterday and today, I think he is feeling stronger. Liam is not really affected other than being very tired. He is still pleasant as ever. While I am trying to feed them both foods that fall under that whole BRAT diet, they are asking for different things and I am very happy to know they are starting to get some more calories in the mix.
I pray that NONE OF YOU have to deal with this any time soon because it is THE WORST. I want to Lysol and Clorox wipe my entire house right now. I wish they had some sort of sanitizer "bomb"--like a bug bomb that exterminators use. Just clean it all in one shot.
ANYWAY, let's see what else can I add to this already lengthy post?
While I have been reading my usual favorite blogs, I just feel so out of touch when I don't post regularly.
Thursday-- Two people were arrested in relation to the recent arsons that have plagued this area. I knew something was going on when we went almost 2 weeks with no fires. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad--but this is definite progress.
Today I went to church with my mom. My church has a 4:15 service which is pretty convenient. I hate rushing around Sunday morning so the evening mass works well for me. I do go to church regularly but am not always the most focused person while I am there. For whatever reason, today I felt very much at peace--maybe because the music was uplifting or maybe because it is the only quiet time I have had this week. There was one hymn that it seemed like everyone was singing and it was just such a spiritual moment. I don't always experience that these days and it was just really good and something that my spirit was in desperate need of. I might as well tell you that I am still struggling to adjust to life as a working mom...and this week was particularly awful for me. So that chat with Emily last night and this nice, peaceful church time this afternoon were just what I needed to let some of that stress go and realize that not all weeks will be this crazy.
If the diaper blow-outs settle down, I'd like to take the boys SOMEWHERE tomorrow. We'll see...
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