What we got for Christmas

We got some really great gifts for Christmas this year.  However, that's not what I'm referring to.  Some of the things were great, some not so great.  Here they are...

On Christmas Eve we got antibiotics.  All the kids seemed to be feeling better when Reese developed a double ear infection.  I took him in on Christmas Eve and one ear was really bad.  So, we got some antibiotics and went on our way.  He felt better quickly and all was well.

We got crabby kids.  For the most part they were really fantastic.  They were well behaved and did well without much of a nap a couple of days.  Then it was over and the crabiness hit like a tidal wave.  Holidays are so much fun and I love them so very much.  The days after are some cruel form of torture.

Now for the great things...

There was no work for Nate last week.  That meant he was home all week.  It was nothing short of fabulous.  I could leave the house without waiting for someone to come help me or watch the kids.  We took the kids places.  We went to the "farm", which was actually a butcher, to buy some fresh meat.  Thankfully they don't really understand what kind of "farm" it was.  It was really nice to spend the week all together.

We got a baby who has slept through the night for 3 nights in a row now.  Praise the Lord!!!!  I started feeding her oatmeal on Saturday and every since then she is full enough to sleep through the night.  I would have done it much sooner, but I want desparately to avoid another child with food allergies.  It's recommended to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months.  I did.  It wasn't always easy (I can't eat dairy, she was hungry at night, etc..), but I feel like it was worth it.  It's hard to read all the things that people think are causing food allergies, because it often blames the "lifestyle".  I have questioned many choices and wondered if they have caused Noah's food allergies.  The truth is there is no clear answer on what causes it.  I refuse to believe what people are writing.  They don't know.  I do what I can and if Devyn ends up with a food allergy I'll know I did what I could to prevent it.  I carry enough guilt (what mom doesn't). 

I will work on getting some pictures up of our Christmas very soon.  Right now I'm just enjoying the fact that I am well rested from a FULL nights sleep!!

Sick babies

Having sick babies stinks.  Okay.   I know the boys are 2 and not really babies anymore, but they will always be my babies. 

Devyn started coughing last week so I took her in Friday.  Her lungs sounded clear, so there wasn't much to do but give her lots of love.  She had a fever Friday night.  Then it was a low-grade fever on and off until Tuesday.  I called the dr again and she said that if she didn't get better in a couple of days we needed to come back.  Well, she passed this illness on to the boys.  That means lots of coughing, fevers, medicine and Noah coughing so hard he throws up (which always happens in bed) because of his asthma.  Devyn is fever free, but still coughing. 

That being said I'm choosing to see this in a positive light.  Having sick kids means many things.  It means I have kids.  I have little people that love me and need me.  People who want me to hold them in the middle of the night when they have a fever.  People who want me to tuck them back in.  People who want to snuggle me on the cough.  I am constantly trying to make them snuggle with me.  They usually say, "No, Mom!  Stop!  I go play.".  When they are sick suddenly everyone wants to snuggle.

I'm also incredibly thankful that we have Tylenol to help keep fevers down, a nebulizer to help with breathing and a warm house to keep them comfortable.  Not everyone has what they need to help their kids get better.  We do. 

I'm not sick.  Okay, this is going to sound strange.  I would rather have sick kids than be sick myself.  Of course when it is something major, like Reese having surgery or Noah's peanut allergy I would trade with them in a heartbeat.  When they have a cold or fever it's way easier to have them be the ones that are sick. When I'm sick it's awfully hard to take care of everyone, let alone myself.

I stay home and don't have to take days off.  I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to be a working mom and have to decide whether to take days off or have leave you kids with someone else when they are sick.  I give a lot of credit to those moms.  Such tough decisions can't be easy.

All in all, we'll survive.  The fevers and coughs will pass.  I'm really hoping the fevers are gone quickly.  We start celebrating Christmas on Sunday with my family.  I really don't want to miss it.  I'm hopeful that since the fevers started yesterday they'll be done by tomorrow.  Say a prayer for us.  A prayer that everyone gets better and a prayer of thanks that we're so richly blessed.

Dear winter...

We are not friends.  Sure, you're pretty when there is snow on the ground and you have some great holidays, but that's it.

It's only December 11 and I couldn't be more sick of being stuck inside.  As I type this the boys have been in bed since they finished eating lunch lunch and no one has napped longer than 15 minutes (Aiden was the only one to fall asleep at any point).  I haven't let them get up yet because Devyn finally fell asleep...on the floor.  She wouldn't nap this morning, so now she's passed out on the floor.  I won't move her unless the house is on fire.  Sorry, boys.  You're stuck in bed.  I also won't get them up because they were horrible this morning and these couple of hours are necessary separation so that I don't run away from home. 

They need so badly to run around and get their energy out.  It's just too cold to take them out though.  I got them bundled up on Monday to go outside and shovel.  Nate came home halfway through dressing them and helped me.  By the time everyone was in snowpants, coats, boots, hats and gloves I was sweating and they were falling over because of all the heavy clothing.  Honestly.  I'm not even sure it was worth it.  We were outside for maybe 20 minutes or half an hour.  Then it was too cold to be out any longer and we took them inside.  Once inside we spent 10 minutes getting the wet clothing off and into the basement, Noah fell down the stairs trying to walk down in all of his clothing and they were crying because they didn't want to come in.  Not to mention Noah has asthma so that small amount of time outside caused him to cough like crazy.  Fantastic.

Last winter we dealt with a million illnesses.  This year we'll deal with cabin fever.  I have it.  Bad. 

This could prove to be a challenging winter.  Hopefully all the time stuck indoors will help get everyone potty trained.  Aiden only wears a pull-up at naptime and a diaper at night.  Noah will pee on the potty if left naked all day.  He hasn't mastered wearing undies yet.  Reese isn't really interested yet. 

So, winter.  I'll be glad to see you go.  In 3 months or what will feel like 10 years.