Not quite a year

Good thing nobody depends on this to keep up with our family.  I've clearly not been keeping up with it.  Here's what you missed:

Izzy turned 5 in July and started Kindergarten last week.  By Wednesday I was already stressed out b/c she thought reading was hard and dinner took too long to heat in the oven.  By Friday, she had 5 (or so) words in her "word bank" and I started feeling better about her being in school.

Our evenings have always been short and busy.  With both of us working full time, our dinners are later and our time with the girls is shortened.  With school comes homework and we want Izzy to know that homework is serious business and it has to be done.  It's "easy" stuff now, things she did in preschool, but we are also learning to read and soon it will be math.  Playing outside or taking walks after dinner are pretty much not possible now because we just have so much other stuff to get done in those 2.5 hours between when we get home and when they go to bed.

Izzy took dance last year and loved it.  She is doing it again this year with a combo class of Jazz and Tap. That will probably start up in the next 2 weeks or so.

Maggie turned 2 in May and is really testing the terrible 2 theory.  She throws a fit pretty much every night at bed time.  She is hard-headed and just doesn't listen sometimes.  She eats dinner MAYBE 3 nights a week.  We have been potty training since the beginning of June and it seems to work 50% of the time.  We (it's a joint effort between us and my Mom) tried to put her in cotton underwear and she just continued to pee in them over and over.  It took us a while to get Izzy potty trained and it's looking like Maggie is on the same path.  We've eased off a little, not yelling at her when she goes in her pull-up, lots of praise when she goes in the potty.  She'll tell us she has to go, usually after she's already done it.  We'll get there!  On the other hand, she is a sweet as she can be.  She loves to walk any where while holding your hand.  She loves to give kisses and hugs.  She's a great shopping partner.  She has been sleeping better theses days, but will still wake up sometimes in the night.  She talks in her sleep!

The adults in the house are working, working, and working.  Luke has been fixing his car pretty much every weekend.  But, thankfully he is handy at that sort of thing and while I scream on the inside of the price of this part or the thought of what will break next, he is out in the garage fixing it himself and saving us TONS of money on labor costs.  We bought a zoo pass this summer, which is good for an entire year.  We've used it twice, which is kind of sad, but the weather on the weekends has been either too hot, rainy, or we've had other things to do.  The girls LOVE going and the good thing is that we will get in for the holiday "specials" on that pass.  I've been thankful of having a job to go to (this economy stinks) and day dreaming of being a stay-at-home-mom and joining the PTO. 

I'm gonna try to update more often.  But, who are we kidding?  All 2 of you reading know what's happening already, sometimes before it even happens.

Catch Up

So, I bet you thought I fell off the planet. Well, probably not, since the ones that read this "see" me everyday on Facebook. But, I've found that my memory sucks, and I'm glad I started this blog b/c I need it as a reference sometimes.

Here's what we've been up to...

Izzy turned 4 in July and we had her party at Chuck E Cheese.  I worried that she was too young for that, but she had a blast.  Sure, we had more adults than children at the party, but that's the way we roll.  She asks about once a week if we can go back.  That place was super crowded, but it was on a Saturday.  If we ever do go back, it will be on a weekday afternoon!

Maggie is running all over the place now.  I can't leave the room without her chasing after me... shower, laundry, bathroom, kitchen, she wants to be there.  She has finally decided that talking is a good idea and is slowly building her vocabulary.  It's not very big, but you've got to start somewhere.  She's almost 18 months old and is still waking up some nights.  We started a new bed time routine that both girls go to bed at the same time and Maggie will cry herself to sleep.  I hate it, but that's the way it goes.  She is too big to be held on the couch until she falls asleep.

Izzy started back to school in September.  This year she has 2 other girls in her class.  I took a few days off and was able to take her to school a few days.  It's nice to see her interact with the other kids (and her teachers).  She really seems to enjoy going and she's already excited to start kindergarten.  As she says, she "can't wait to be 5." 

We had Ariel and a Garden Gnome for Halloween.  This was the first year that Izzy went to more than our immediate neighbors.  She had a good time but ended up in the wagon for the last stretch.  We have a ton of candy and I don't think the girls have had any of it.

Now we start the hectic and stressful holiday season.  I actually got a good head start on my Christmas shopping this year.  Thanks to my boss actually paying my bonuses (semi) on time this year, we had some extra funds and I got to it.  Last year I had a hard time buying for Maggie b/c she was  little and we already owned every toy known to man.  This year should be a little easier for her.  She LOVES baby dolls and pretty much anything Izzy has.  So, it looks like I'm already starting the "2 of everything" shopping rule.  Similar, but different -- I'll take it.  Bigger and smaller -- I'll take it.  I probably only have a few more things to get for them and I'll be done with the girls.  I'm done with my mom.  We will be DONE by mid-December, at least I hope.

This weekend, we are going to invade Terry and Sam's new house for Terry's birthday on Saturday.  Izzy is really excited.  It's a short trip, but I'm ready to get out of here for a little bit.  I like road trips, probably b/c I don't have to drive and I can actually read a book or a magazine for a little bit.  Until then, I have to work...

Vacation

In case you didn’t know, we went on vacation. We went to Oak Island, NC and stayed in “our” house, Due South. We took our time on getting there; we drove about 7 hours on Friday and finished the trip on Saturday morning.


After taking care of the grocery shopping (Saturday evening) and a trip to Wal*Mart (Sunday morning) for fishing supplies, we were ready for fun and sun. Maggie took to the beach much better than I had expected. She was most happy sitting in my lap or between my legs right where the tide rolled in. All she needed was a shovel and a bucket full of water. Izzy spent her days running (on her tip-toes) up and down the beach and having someone walk out in the water with her.

We did take a short trip to South Port to shop at an awesome toy/candy store and look at some water. We also took a day off from the sun and sand to visit the aquarium. This is our 3rd time at that aquarium. It’s pretty much the same fish every time. I think next time we go, we’ll skip that trip.




We all slept in one room. I worried about how that would work, but it did. One of us slept with Izzy every night and Maggie started in the pack-n-play each night, but would end up in bed with one of us by the morning. She only had one rough night.

There was less card and game playing this time around. With 4 children under the age of 4, once we got them to bed we were all too tired to play cards. That’s a shame too, because I would have kicked some serious butt.

I, of course, got a great sunburn. My back is itching like crazy these days and I leave skin everywhere I go. The girls both got tanned, since I was smart enough to put sun screen on them. Luke got a small burn on his back and a pretty good one on his legs from the day they went out on a chartered fishing trip.

We were all very sad to leave at the end of the week. Izzy was very sad when we went to the beach one last time, on Friday evening. The tide was high, it was getting dark, and she was in regular clothes. No more getting in the water for her. I won’t lie; I shed a tear while packing up our suit cases. Saturday morning, we finished cleaning up the house and set home at 8:30am. After just a few stops, we were back home at 10:30pm.

It was so wonderful to spend an entire week with my family. We work all day during the week and are so busy on the weekends; we hardly get to concentrate just on the girls. We had nowhere to go, nowhere to be at any specific time. The girls got to spend time with their cousins and we got to spend some time without dogs or alarm clocks.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…..

Will (age 9 months), Grammy, Maggie (age 1 year), Granddaddy

Henry (age 8 years), Izzy (age 3 years), Laney (age 2 years)

Think twice

If you ever receive an invitation to a party at my house, you should think twice about accepting it. 

Let's back-up to April.  Izzy had a 24-36 hour bug.  A few days later Maggie and Luke had it.  A few days later, I thought I was getting it.  I ended up with bronchitis that stayed for 3 weeks.

We had Maggie's birthday party on May 15.  Since then, everyone has been sick.  Here is a list of the people that were at the party and their illnesses.....

Me - Sinus infection, double ear infection
Luke - Sinus infection, strep throat
Izzy - Ear infection, pink eye
Maggie - Pink eye
My Mom - random, unconfirmed, symptoms
My Dad - sinus infection
Luke's Mom - bronchitis
Luke's Dad - nothing reported
Carin - was feeling bad yesterday, reports to be ok today
Terry - nothing reported
Jim, Janell, Henry - nothing reported
Nikki - sinus infection, ear infection
Brad, Laney, Will - nothing reported

Thats 8 people who got sick after the party.  So, if you want to come to our next party, whenever that may be, do so at your own risk.

A Thanksgiving Turkey

Maggie had her one year appointment today.  She is 26 pounds, 30 inches.  She's a big girl.  As big as a Thanksgiving turkey that would feed a small town.  But, she is healthy and that is really all that matters.

Today, I officially became that mom.  That mom that sends her kid to school with pinkish eyes.  The one that wants to infect the other 6 kids in her class.  We've never dealt with pink eye.  I have no idea what it looks like.  She also complains of a sore throat and has a runny nose.  Luke thinks maybe it is allergies.  I don't have allergies, so I don't know what those look like either.  Either way, I sent my daughter to school with possible pink eye.  NICE ONE! 

You know what else I did?  I signed her up for an "end-of-the-year" field trip.  Not so bad of an idea on the surface.  I found the permission slip in her bag, it was due last week.  I filled it out, got money for the fee and dropped it off at school.  This trip is for the 4-5 year old class, but all kids are invited.  So are their parents.  I was already late to work last week to take Maggie to the doctor.  I was late today, and now leaving early, for doctors appointments again.  I can't possibly take Friday off to go on this field trip.  I signed my 3 year old up to go on a field trip and I'm not going with her.  Who does that?  I wanted her to go and have fun.  But I didn't think it all the way through.  Now that I have had time to think about it, she is not going on the trip.  There is no way.  First, she is still so young.  I know the teachers will take good care of her and watch out for her, but I fear that she will wonder why everyone else has a parent with them except her.  Second, I don't know if any of the other kids in her class will be going.  She would be with a totally new group of kids, with no parent.

So far today, I'm not winning mother of the year.

Eviction Notice

On Saturday, September 13, 2008 I was home with Izzy while Luke was off at a corn-hole tournament. I had purchased and used several home tests that had all come back negative. I had one more and I used it on a whim. It came back positive and I got so excited that I dropped my cell phone and the battery went sliding across the floor. Izzy had no idea what was happening and was jumping right beside me. I went to the store and bought another test, just to be sure. When Luke got home, he was a little drunk, but I had to tell him. He ran out the next day and bought Izzy a shirt that said “Big Sister.” She wore that shirt to the Hunter house and then again to the Baker house to make our announcement. It was also my mom’s birthday. I didn’t want to steal her thunder, but what better gift could I give?

I’ve never had the opportunity to say “my water broke.” I’ve been induced twice. On May 12, 2009 we arrived at the hospital at 8:30am. Things probably got started around 9 or 9:30. I was happy it was a weekday because there would be more to watch on television. I was in labor with Izzy on a Saturday and there wasn’t much on. I don’t remember the time line of things… when they started the drugs, when they broke my water, when I got the epidural. I do remember the epidural hurting a lot worse this time, shooting pains down my back and legs, but once it was in, there was no more pain for the rest of the day. My brother got to be there this time. I think he was amazed and confused all at the same time. The Hunters and the Bakers filled the waiting room, once again. Filtering back to our room, two by two, just to see how things were going. I’m sure they kept Tim Horton’s in business that day. The fire alarm went off at some point. I announced that the baby could be born anytime between 4 and 8pm, after General Hospital but before American Idol.

They “checked” me and I was around 7 centimeters. Luke decided to visit the waiting room, perhaps get a cup of coffee, and he told everyone he would keep them posted on my progress. When he came back in the room I was at 9.5. He was gone for maybe 10 minutes. He ran back to the waiting room to let everyone know it wouldn’t be much longer. On cue, my mom showed up. So excited she was crying. They had to shoo her out of the room. SHOW TIME. As we were waiting for the doctor to get there and for them to get the room ready for our new arrival, I got really nervous. I started to panic about how Izzy was really going to handle the new baby. I started feeling bad for her because she was use to being the only child and the center of our world. But, the time had come; it was time for the baby to be evicted. I don’t think I pushed for too long, but it didn’t matter because I had the epidural! At 6:22pm, Maggie DeeAnne Hunter was born. And instantly we were a family of 4. After meeting her family, Aunt Nikki gave her her fist bath and then it was just us.

Luke wanted to stay but he needed to be home with Izzy too. I was nervous about being there the first night alone. My epidural hadn’t worn off completely and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get to her if she needed me. She slept long enough for it to wear off and we got along quite well.

I’m sad that the day is hazy to me now. The next 6 weeks are also a bit hazy, except for that 3 day stay at Children’s for the eye infection. As per usual, I’ve taken a ton of pictures, but haven’t had time to make ONE scrap book page for Maggie; Izzy’s last page is from March 2009.

We have successfully kept 2 children alive for a year. They are wonderful and challenging and healthy and everything I ever wanted.

To see Maggie's 1 year pictures, click here.

Hey Girl Hey .....

It's been a while, but there really isn't much to report.  We are just living life and raising children. 

We had our 6th anniversary on March 27th.  It fell on a Saturday this year and we went to dinner.  The Hunters kept the kids and we went to dinner.  We picked up our children and I was blessed with a shower of hot puke from Maggie.  Yum!  She picked up the 24(ish) hour bug that Izzy had earlier in the week.  That Sunday, Maggie and Luke were both sick on the couch for most of the day.  Just before Easter (the Friday before) I thought it was my turn with the sickness.  I had a fever most of the day but rode it out b/c it would be gone by Saturday afternoon.  Well, here we are 2.5 weeks later and I'm still hacking.  I was the lucky one to get bronchitis.  It's just plain awful.  No fever to really speak of, so no real need to take off work.  Because if I'm going to take off work I'm going to keep my kids at home with me, so either way, I wouldn't be getting any rest.  I've been to the doctor twice.  This last time I got some anitbiotics, something to supress the cough during the day and some more hopped up cough medicine.  I hope I kick this soon, it's wearing me out.

Luke has been nominated and accepted into the FBI citizen's academy and is learning classified secrets.  Well, probably not.  But, he is in classes on Thrusday nights and is pretty excited about it. 

We did have Easter in there.  In an effort to spread the love, we did Easter on Saturday with my family and on Sunday with Luke's family.  On Saturday we, and by we I mean Luke and my dad, put up a swing set for the girls at my mom & dad's house.  Hopefully this will help keep Izzy busy during the summer and allow my mom to maybe sit down for a second and breathe!  The girls got more candy then they could eat in 10 years, so as good parents, we are trying to help them out.  The big hit, as always, were the bubbles!  Sadly, since I was hacking up my lungs, we didn't go to church.

Maggie also turned 11 months old on the 12th.  She has 2 bottom teeth and one top tooth and is working on 2 other top teeth right now.  She eats anything.  But, don't start her with finger food and then expect her to eat baby food from a spoon.  She won't have any of that.  Most nights, she eats what we eat for dinner.  She's getting the hang of a sippy cup and we have given up formula for plain ol' milk.  She has FINALLY learned the art of pulling herself to standing and is starting to walk around the furniture.  She is also crawling at full speed and wants to be in the kitchen all the time.

Izzy continues to do well at school.  She is starting to sound out words to figure out what letter it starts with, for the most part she does really well with that.  Now that it is nice out, she wants to play at the park all the time.  Even though we have a swing set in the back yard, she would rather go across the street to play.  Every night when we put her to bed she says "If I have a bad dream, I'll just come downstairs."  And sure enough, she will show up.  Sometimes at 2am, sometimes at 4am, and sometimes at 7am.  I can just picture what it will be like when Maggie is no longer in a crib.  They will either be in bed together or Izzy will go wake her up to come sleep in our bed.

We have a few things to look forward to in May... Terry & Sam's anniversary, mother's day, and of course Maggie's 1st birthday.  After that, we can put all of our focus into our beach trip!