Sinus Not So Fine-us!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week...it's been not such a great week for Mama. Sinuses are in excrutiating pain and even the zpack and motrin have not done the trick. It hurts so bad my teeth and jaw are in pain, especially when I lean forward or move my head too quickly. Brutal. But, a CT scan yesterday and yes, still no result...will have to wait until Monday. And switch doctors apparently then too.

So, I've been napping with Maddie on occasion and laying low. Morgan had a great week at school and has her last gymnastics class coming up on Tuesday. She's been learning and asking at school how to spell words and is sounding them out...and she's pretty good at it too!!! Maddie's two front teeth are so on the edge of her gums...I imagine they'll be here soon! At least, I'm hopeful! Still only crawling backwards, but the planks have moved to full on bottom up in the air then goes to a knee position before laying back on the floor. Quite impressive, if I do say so myself...I couldn't do them!

Daddy's got the full weekend off...we headed to the Mall to do some shopping and low and behold the Disney store was having a princess lesson. Apparently an invitation went out and girls arrived in their princess dresses. Morgan wanted to attend the party (never turns one down) but wanted a dress and after I explained and said we don't have one, an enormous temper tantrum ensued and thus our family day out to the Mall was over. Thankfully we have not seen a tantrum like this in a LONG time, sadly we had to leave, and even more sadly...I hope this doesn't mean she's coming down with something! Luckily for Mommy while Daddy dealt with the tantrum, I went shopping in Macy's and found exactly what I was looking for...cute tops! Yeah for me!

Sadly, everyone is in for naps, so I'm baking. Chocolate chip muffins and fat-free cranberry muffins. YUM! And, I get a night off from putting the kiddos to bed and get to go see Up in the Air with Gamma. Great way to keep my mind off the awful sinus pain!!

Visit with Papa and Gamma

It was a quiet day at Gamma and Papa's on Saturday afternoon. The girls had a great time getting some extra attention! They love their Gamma and Papa!

Vineyard Oldies

Feeling sentimental

Morgan's making me feel old tomorrow heading to Southfield...so looking back at old picts...I find this...before we moved into the new house...she was 1 year 2 months...and look at that belly. I guess we just forgot she too was a big girl! And now, that big girl is headed to Southfield tomorrow... [insert sad sigh here]!!

Oh, What A Night!

And yes it was! And quite a day too!

Mommy went and had 4 (YES, 4!!) cavities filled. The sad news is that I still have 3 left. The left side of my mouth is in quite a bit of pain. After all the kiddies are in bed, I might have to nurse it with some frozen yogurt. Probably how I got the cavities in the first place.

Well, nevermind me. Mostly we have exciting news from our girls...to start with the youngest...Maddie was up on all fours today!! It's not super surprising for us because she does sleep with her bottom up in the air, on her belly, so I knew she could do it...it was just so exciting when she was able to do it awake!! And she was so very proud of herself!

While we gave Morgan a bath tonight, Maddie was also showing off her "more" skills by signing that she was indeed not finished with her milk from dinner. Smarty pants!

And Morgan had a great day at school today and a surprise pick-up from Gamma. She was oh so excited when she came home to make sure we knew that Gamma picked her up and even more excited about her new Easter dress that matches Maddie's!!

Tomorrow morning, Morgan has her big day at Southfield for admissions. Should be a funny time. Here's hoping the separation goes well. And here's hoping Mommy doesn't say something I shouldn't! :0)

Maddie signs for more!!!

Not only is Maddie saying "babababa (or dadadada)!" but she's just today signed for "more" for the first time! Yeah for Maddie!!!

Playground in January?!

Yes, it was almost 50 degrees here in Dedham a few days ago. Of course, typical New England weather, it's been raining, snowing and sleeting since last night. But, Morgan and Maddie had a ball at the playground. Maddie enjoyed the playground swing for the first time...it took a few minutes of warm-up to enjoy it, but by the end she didn't want to go "up!"

Congrats, Kevin!!!

IT'S OFFICIAL! KEVIN HAS HIS MASTERS!! WAY TO GO, KEV!!! YEAH!!

The Jar

Meet...the jar ( I can't seem to get the underline off)...sorry.

So, this is the jar, the "good behavior jar"...really it's a wine glass without the stem. he,he!

Morgan's whining has been so out of control and obnoxious I have resorted to the good old teaching method of behavior jars. When she does good deeds (ie - helps someone, uses kind words, listens/follows directions, etc) she will get a marble (coin for now until we can find some marbles). And when she is "on the naughtly list" as she calls it, she gets a marble taken away (ie - whining, complaining, not listening, saying "no" to Mommy/Daddy, or she gets put in the corner). When the jar is full, Morgan gets to do something special with one or both of us (ie - go the movies, bowling, play space, etc).

It's only 845am on Day 1, and I must say, it's working beautifully! What a pleasant "Morgan" it's been!!

Green and Gross

That pretty much sums up Maddie these days. Plus, double ear infection. Poor things continues to be pretty miserable. She was only up coughing once though last night, which was amazing considering the congestion coming out of her nose. And trying to get medicine in her is next to impossible. Morgan was never really good at medicine either (she did have a brief period where she LOVED it). But, you can't fool Maddie.

My mom used to have this sign up in our house "You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you CAN'T FOOL MOM!!" Well, we just need to change "Mom" to "Maddie." Whether I put the medicine in food, bottle or just try and get down her throat, she always finds a way and knows it's in there and spits it out. Even when it's in a bottle!! So frustrating. Next time around (because I know they'll be more ear infections), I'm asking for the shot!

In the meantime, though...if this isn't motivation for me to work out, I don't know what is... a pict of Maddie...who was so congested and feel so crummy....but can still do a push up/plank position!!

Once she feels better...she'll be on the move again! Right now, she's just super cuddly and I must say, I'm loving it! Though Morgan is getting jealous and my "never want to cuddle" girl, all of a suddenly needs some cuddle time herself! Moms can never win!

Love and family

All is fair in love and family...I think Morgan is feeling a bit slighted these days since so much attention is going to Maddie and her little bug that she's fighting...so a play date with Peyton and hopefully that will fix it. And it's great for Mommy too. And Maddie...hopefully she'll be less distracted and get lots of sleep.

By the recent death of my best friends father, I am reminded how important friendships and family are...and how unimportant all those things that I worry about on a daily basis. My resolution this year (amongst getting organized) is to make more time for friends and family, and to do more to make sure I keep all these connections.

Sending our love to each and every one of you! :)

the three c's

...colds, coughs, and congestion.

Not fun! Thankfully, it's our first sickness since winter started. That is a truly remarkable sentence given Morgan's awful history...thank goodness we took out those adenoids, the fact we traveled cross country and that it's already January!

But, Morgan is runny, so drippy, she's got the sore face/rash that come with it. And Maddie has no congestion, but it seems to mostly be in her chest. Her breathing does not sound good and she was even up with Daddy for a bit last night...had him very worried. She's doing okay today...not as active, but still in pretty good moods.

My body is aching a little bit, and my energy is super low, especially given that I slept in a bit this morning. So, under the weather we all are, but nothing too bad right now. Knock on wood!

Oh Morgan

So, Morgan actually had a nap yesterday. It is not happening really at all, but yesterday she sure needed one...she's getting a cold and was just so whiney. SO MUCH WHINING! I think she needs that sign we gave Annie from Menemsha. So, I made her nap before Irish Step Dancing.

Well, if I didn't just shoot myself in the foot. She was up SO LATE last night. I think it was around 930-10pm before she fell asleep. Then she came in our room about 2 times (from what my tired body can remember). One time she came in and just blew her nose. Then she pokes and taps me awake, and says, "Mommy, where's the trash for my tissue?!" AAAAAAHHHHH!

So, note to self: no more naps for Morgan unless it's going to be a late, late night!

Some randoms...

Maddie found herself stuck in the corner after crawling/sliding backwards!
I think she thought it wasn't so bad!
Tasting toast for the first time. Get those teeth!
Maddie loves her new phone!
Morgan loves her new guitar!

On the move!

Maddie did it! She crawled today...well...kind of! First of all, she went backwards. Second, she was able to lift her tummy off the ground (that's a HUGE feat in and of itself), and then push herself up and some how she went across half the living room floor - made it all the way from the middle to the corner near the tv. She looked like she liked that spot...a little too much...so I quickly moved her back and asked her to do it again...but just once today was apparently exhausting enough. She was very tired today...she is still taking 3 naps...not sure what the deal is, but it seems like at almost 8 months...2 naps would do it? Maybe it was her early morning wake up call (530am) that did it today?!

Morgan had a great day at school. She drew this amazing picture with three flowers, a rainbow, and a sky...her artwork is really coming along! She was so proud of herself...so cute. And her teacher told me that she was the second person ready with all her winter gear on all by herself. She said she couldn't believe she was in the toddler class last year! Yeah for Morgan!

Kevin had a good first day back. Was up super early and went to bed super early..shortly after the girls. I, myself am also headed there soon. I'm keeping up with my new years resolution (at least one of them...the diet will start again tomorrow)...of organization. I completely cleared out the hutches and all the paperwork that was piling up in the dining room/kitchen/living room...and Kevin couldn't believe his eyes when he came home. I told him not to look in the basement...but most of it we will donate...so yeah!

Tomorrow brings first day back at gymnastics, a visit with Auntie Annie, and hopefully a fun-filled day!

Morgan and Me!

Morgan and I had a great afternoon together! We went to lunch with Aunt Maurabeth, Aunt Gail and cousin Amanda. It was great fun getting together and catching up...something we say every Festivus, but never do. So, yeah for us! :) Morgan was on her almost best behavior, especially given that she sat there for about 2+ hours!

And then we got a hot cocoa, went grocery shopping, and came home to a VERY hungry Maddie. Poor Daddy doesn't quite understand/remember that Maddie is almost 8 months old (and a big girl already) and needs food more than the bottle...she had her first meat...turkey with sweet potato, and a nice apple wheel for dessert with some bottle...apparently she was starving!! Poor thing!

I will say, that Maddie's a working girl...she stood herself up from my lap yesterday while holding onto her walker that Santa brought her. And while on her tummy, she was able to lift her whole belly off the ground...something Mommy wishes she could do too!!

Tomorrow is our last day of vacation together (and happily, I think for Kevin!). We're planning on making snow angels with our 6+ inches (on top of the 3-4" we already had) and a Frosty. Morgan wants to then come inside for hot chocolate, watch a movie and have popcorn...she REALLY loves winter!! We'll head to Gamma and Papa's for a visit and probably dinner at some point too!

It was very nice to get in some alone time with Morgan today! She is amazing! And chatty!

After lunch (where she barely said a word), she said, "I really like that girl, Amanda, in pink....right, Mom...she was the one in pink."

I said, "yes, she was." Morgan said, "I really like her. She was funny with me." Watch out, Caitlin! Some competition!! :0)

Happy New Year!

We had a very easy-going New Year celebration last night. Just what the doctor ordered. Our usual tradition of ordering Chinese on New Years Eve was a little early only because PF Changs is such a zoo and we didn't want to have to wait 3 hours for dinner...so we did it the night before this year.

Last night, Kevin did work at the table and I watched "Away We Go" with Jim from the Office...it was very good...I'd recommend to most people. I made it until about 1145pm, fell asleep, and when I woke up it was 1215. Good old Katie!!!

We are still in the recovery stage from our big trip out west. The girls seem to be doing better than the adults. Morgan still is sleeping in until about 715am, but Maddie was up at her usual time this morning...around 615am.

Maddie's tooth is finally thru so we're now up to 2 teeth, but the drool hasn't stopped. It's still as bad as ever. Very wet!!! Morgan had an amazing day. She cleaned up all the toys while I was napping and said, "Surprise!!" Kevin swears it was all her own idea and Morgan is happy to take the credit!

Hope 2010 is a great one for all our loved ones!!