From the Mouths of Babes in December

Eileen:  I want to go to the store with Mommy and buy a computer so I can play pink Minecraft and make a pink Minecraft ladder.
(Eileen likes/wants whatever Linus has/is doing but in a pink or purple version.)

Linus: Water is poisonous.  It's killed people throughout the ages.  (response to being offered water instead of juice)

Linus:  I would never kiss a girl.
Me: Oh yeah?  Well you have.
Linus: I didn't mean it.  It must have been a mistake.

Linus:  Eileen may I have some of your macaroni and cheese pretty please with a cherry on top?
Eileen:  Uh, there's no cherries.
Linus:  It's just an expression.


Some pictures from this morning.

We're not sure what she was going for here.

Dave made Linus a frog with his 3-D printer, so naturally Linus had to make it a habitat.

He likes to wrap his hand in my shirt.

An Unexpected Christmas

Generally when I think of Christmas I get all warm and fuzzy inside as I think about Christmas music, lights, snow, presents, pumpkin spice lattes and cranberry bliss bars, incense at midnight mass... Of course I want to give my children the chance to experience the merriment of the Christmas season.  And sometimes Christmas just doesn't go as planned.

Our house has been wracked by a variety of illnesses since Halloween.  I've joked that I have been awash in bodily fluids.  Linus has become adept at using a puke bucket if that is any indication and has one permanently stationed by his bed and another by his carseat.  Sickness, the weather, and a new baby have limited how much Christmas adventure we've had.  On Christmas Eve, Robin was working on day 11 of diarrhea and starting to show signs of dehydration.  He had gone to the doctor the day before and had some bloodwork done.  It's a bad sign when the nurse calls at 8:30 and tells you they want to redraw the blood immediately.  It's an even worse sign when you've only been back from the second blood draw for a few minutes when the doctor calls and tells you to take the baby to Children's Hospital.  Robin's blood showed elevated levels of potassium.  The doctor felt that it was a false positive, but wanted to be on the safe side.

It was my first trip to Children's.  The ER knew we were coming and we got to go right in to a room.  One of the problems with Robin is that he is such a good baby.  He is generally so happy and easy going that he doesn't let on as noticeably when he is sick.  Robin was very brave, but did not enjoy the pokes.

Very festive with his IV and Santa hat.

Blood tests showed that his potassium levels were fine.  Heel pricks are notorious for false positives. Unfortunately, his heart rate was 188 bpm.  It was felt that dehydration was the cause and Robin was given IV fluids.  The doctors and nurses felt like one bag should do it and we would be on our way.  Sadly, one bag did nothing to bring down his heart rate so we got to be admitted to the hospital. The staff was so amazing during the 6 hours we spent in the ER.  One nurse even did a Starbucks run for me (there is a 24 hour Starbucks inside the hospital next to the ER).  I was really impressed by everyone there.

My friend, Colleen, who has lots of experience taking kids to Children's, brought me an overnight bag and stayed with me for a few hours to keep me company, let me get some food, and showed me the ropes of staying there.  It felt a little weird spending my Christmas Eve at the hospital.  No special dinner, no kids in fancy Christmas clothes, no Christmas Eve mass, no final excitement before going to bed.

Doctors and nurses came throughout the night.  Robin strongly disliked his IV.   Again, the staff were amazing.  They constantly checked in to see if I needed anything and kept everything I needed on hand--breast pump? Check. Burp clothes? Check.  Vibrator thing to put in the crib to help him sleep (sometimes he really just wants his bouncy chair so this was very helpful)? Check.  Food? Water? Anything? Check.  It was a long night.

I really want to give Children's credit for making Christmas special for all the poor little kids who are stuck there.  In the morning, the nurse brought in a gift bag full of presents for Robin.  Later, Santa came to visit and brought him a panda bear.

We were in isolation so Santa had to wear gloves and a gown.

Throughout our stay, everyone talked about how cute Robin was.  In his Santa suit, he was the talk of the hospital. Seriously. While we were in the ER staff came by to view him.  Robin did his part by charming the pants off people with his cooing and infectious smile.  The doctor commented that Robin was the cutest baby he had seen in a while and that he sees a lot of babies.

Many hours of IV fluids did the trick.  Robin really started looking a lot better and his heart rate came down. Robin and I were both very excited to get the go ahead to check out of the hospital.  Exhausted we headed home.

The kids celebrated Christmas morning without us. The kids missed Robin.  They informed me that they missed him more than me.  They crowded around him as soon as we walked in the door.

Robin missed Linus.

The kids were excited to open my presents for me and empty my stocking. Santa brought me a cribbage set. I've always wanted to learn how to play.  Santa brought Dave a 3-D printer. Hmmm.

It made me sad to miss Christmas morning with my family, but Robin and I were where we needed to be.  Thankfully, Dave took pictures.

bad hair day

Leaving so abruptly Christmas Eve, Dave was left with the task of baking for my family's Christmas celebration.  He made an eggnog custard pie and a pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust.  He did great.  It's in moments of crisis that you can appreciate the person you married.  I left Dave to figure out meals (since all planned ones were now scrapped), bake, and play Santa (he didn't even know where I hid the presents).  The kids didn't care that they didn't get their fancy dinners or breakfasts.  They were just happy that Santa came and the only coal they got was actually chocolate.

Celebrating with my family was great and surprisingly relaxing.  Normally, I try to dress a little nice for such occasions.  Given the last 24 hours and with only about 2.5 hours between getting home and leaving for Tacoma, I went in sweatpants, slippers, and a greasy ponytail.  Nobody cared.  I drank mulled wine, played with my kids, listened to Christmas music, helped my mom in the kitchen, and thanked God that everything turned out okay.

It wasn't the Christmas that I planned and that's okay.  My Christmas gift was all the doctors and nurses who spent their Christmas at Children's hospital so that sick kids like Robin and their families could still have a merry Christmas.

**Editor's note** We are still not out of the woods completely with Robin.  He gets to see his regular doctor again tomorrow.  We will be watching him closely to make sure he doesn't get so dehydrated again.

Snow Day

It finally snowed in Seattle.  After getting no snow last year, the one inch we woke up to was very exciting.  Linus was insistent that Robin experience the snow.

Building a snow fortress

While the kids played and the baby napped, I spent the day cleaning house and doing lots of laundry.  We found time to bake some of Dave's favorite Christmas cookies, sachertortes.  Kids drank hot cocoa in special Christmas mugs and watched Christmas movies.

My children are nothing if not creative.  As the snow turned to rain, Robin became their source of creativity.

Oh no, the baby has been seriously injured!  It was necessary to strap him to a gurney.

It's a good thing there are paramedics on hand in the house.

They predict he will make it.

Lest you think I live in a world of candy canes and sugar plum dreams, I assure you the day was far from idyllic.  Not pictured are a frequently crying, needy Eileen; an impulse control challenged Linus; and a sad, crying baby who is teething we think.  That's the life of being a mom--pure joy mixed in with lots of housework, crying, and a strong desire to pull your hair out.  Luckily, I had a 90 minute massage scheduled for that night.  A fairly decent night's sleep and two cups of coffee this morning and I am ready to face a week of Christmas celebrations.

Santa!

The kids have been begging to go do Christmas activities.  I refused to leave the house when the highs were in the 20s.  Now that the temperature highs aren't below freezing, I have acquiesced.   Yesterday I finally took the kids to Swanson's nursery to see the reindeer, camel, and winter train.  Today--Santa.

I use the excuse of going to see Santa to get a little extra wear out of the Christmas outfits.  Christmas is one of the few times where Linus lets me choose his clothes.  If he had his way, he would wear fleece pants, a Star Wars t-shirt, and bright neon orange tennis shoes every day.

serious pose

a slightly less serious pose?

silly pose

As you can imagine, he got quite a few compliments on his outfit.  This pleased him.  I am hoping this means that maybe he'll let me have a little more input into his outfit choices.

reindeer antlers

ignore the sleeve tattoo

It's impossible to get all three to look at the camera at the same time.   Linus and Eileen are also in that stage where they struggle to smile normally for the camera.

Going to see Santa is a fairly stressful experience.  We like to visit Santa at U Village.  There are several downsides to this location.   Parking can be nightmarish during the holidays. You get to wait outside Santa's cabin in the cold.  Santa's elves aren't very efficient and even short lines can mean waiting for an hour.  Add in two squirrely preschoolers, a baby, and a mama all by herself and you get the idea.  I'm feeling sort of proud of myself for managing it.  In the end it is worth it though because the Santa at U Village is so good.

After some initial nerves, the kids were happy to talk with Santa.  Even though it adds to the waiting in line time, Santa doesn't rush you out.  Robin was fascinated by Santa, and especially Santa's gold belt buckle.

Linus was debating asking Santa for a gun.  I reminded him that Santa knows he isn't supposed to bring one and it will be sent back to the North Pole if one arrives.  I suggested he shouldn't waste his one chance to ask Santa for what he wanted on a gift he wouldn't get to keep.  He asked for the Playmobil Future Planet Space Station instead.  Linus asked for baby toys on Robin's behalf.  Eileen asked for princess figures. 

Another successful visit to Santa.  We returned home, put on our coziest jammies, and I made dutch babies for dinner.  Mmmm.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

If you happen to bump into Eileen, she will quickly let you know "It's almost Christmas!"  The kids have been eagerly anticipating the month of December.  As a rule, I never decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. 

I fully admit I use the promise of doing Christmasy things as a way to get the children to do my bidding.  The elf on the shelf failed to sneak into our house. 

ready to decorate

"Gosh this is hard work."

"Decorating for Christmas is exhausting!"

We always break out the new Christmas jammies on the day we decorate.

Linus has a Santa voice that cracks me up.

The other morning Santa was busy guiding his sleigh while making a list of who was naughty or nice.

Robin got to be lead reindeer.

Eileen has been keeping a close eye on Robin.

Over the weekend, my sister, Beth, and her family came to visit.  Since Beth is 9 months pregnant and it was maybe 20 degrees outside, we stayed inside making Christmas cheer.  The kids busied themselves with holiday crafts.  I baked gingerbread cookies and decorated them with the kids.  Every year Beth compiles a CD of Christmas music for the family--they're awesome.  This year she made me my own Charlotte's favorites.  I'm soooo excited about it.

Santa baby --ready for his calendar spread

The kids had such a great time together.  Beth taught Linus to crochet.

We were sad to see them go.  Hopefully, it won't be too long until we visit Portland and meet the new baby.   Needless to say we've all been enjoying the Christmas season. 

Finally, a video of the cuteness going on this morning: a re-enactment of Winnie the Pooh.

2 Months

Baby Robin is two months old!  He first started cracking a smile at 6 weeks and is now finally starting to be less stingy with them.  Robin gets especially happy when you call him "Big Boy."

2 months old is very exciting

Perhaps Robin needs us calling him "Big Boy" in order to make up for his small stature.  We do not want an insecure baby on our hands.  At Robin's two month check up today we learned just how big/not big he is.

Length:  21.75 inches   6th percentile
Weight:  10 pounds 9.8 ounces     12th percentile

For comparison,  at this point Eileen was 2 inches longer and 3 pounds heavier, Linus was a quarter inch longer and 2 pounds heavier.  I've never had a small baby before. It's kind of nice.  He's healthy so I'm not worried.

We hit a stride at home over the past weeks which has enabled me to get my act together enough to start cloth diapering again.  I was also waiting for Robin to grow a bit.  We use the one size bum genius 4.0 and one size kawaii cloth diapers.  The cloth diapers definitely make Robin look a bit bigger than he is, but seem to make it more difficult to put Robin in a sitting position.  I think things will even out a little as he grows.

Robin appears to be very easy going.  He doesn't get upset easily or often.  The only surefire way to cause him to cry is to make him stop nursing.  I take it as a compliment, even if he immediately erupts in spit up.  Needless to say, I still have an oversupply issue.  It's great that he is still so flexible about things because he is constantly being carted around.  He does seem to be settling into eating/sleeping patterns so our days of complete flexibility may be coming to an end.

Robin still loves Mama best, but is pretty content to be passed around.  He is rarely disturbed by the loud ruckus of the house.  Robin love love loves the owl blanket his Aunt Jenna made for him.  Other things Robin currently enjoys are: snuggling, holding people's fingers, looking at the lights on the Christmas tree, and laying on his stomach.  He strongly dislikes being cold.  He doesn't coo very much yet.  He only shares if there is something really important to say.

My favorite time of day with Robin is around 8:00 at night.  Robin eats and is then awake and happy for about an hour.  The big kids are asleep so it gives Dave and me time to just bask in all things Robin.  It's during his evening awake time that we get the most smiles and get to pretend for just a few minutes that he is our only child.

I can't believe it has already been two months.

How can you look at this baby and not melt?

A Feats of Strength Thanksgiving

Sometimes it takes a holiday like Thanksgiving to remind you to be thankful about the things you take for granted.

I am thankful for my parents, who constantly sacrifice to make their children's lives better and easier.
I am thankful for my siblings, with whom I share a strong bond.
I am thankful for my husband, who loves and accepts me as I am.  Who works hard so I can stay home with the kids, cleans up puke in the middle of the night, and is the first one up with the kids every morning.
I am thankful for sweet, funny children who make my life better.
I am thankful to be related to so many smart, articulate, and witty people (cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws included).
I am thankful I get to live in such an amazing neighborhood.

I could go on, but I will spare those who have grown weary of reading what everyone is thankful for in Facebook posts.

After our first year of marriage, Dave and I decided that we would never again do two Thanksgivings.  We now celebrate with each family every other year and it all works much better and our guts thank us.  This year we celebrated with my family.

Eileen was VERY excited about her pilgrim hat she made in preschool.

While I baked pies,  Linus decided it was important that he teach Eileen so that she could be smart like him.  He went about making her a worksheet and then quizzing her.  It was really quite endearing to listen to.

I was so excited to see my aunts Molly and Eileen, uncle Duane, and cousin Emily.  I don't get to see them nearly enough.  They were always so good about playing with us when we were kids.  It warms my heart to see them take an interest in my own kids.

Great Grand Eileen, Emily, and Robin

We played a lot of board games.  We taught Linus how to play Battleship that morning and brought games with us to my parents' house.  I really appreciated everyone's willingness to play games with the kids, giving Dave and me a break.

Crazy Eights with Uncle Duane

My children are weird and don't like Thanksgiving food.  Linus doesn't even like sparkling apple cider.  What's wrong with them!?!  In an effort to get the kids to try food, we implemented a feats of strength competition.  Can you drink sparkling cider while doing a one armed push up?  My brother, Tim, apparently has the ability.  It was enough to get Linus to try cider.  Linus managed a one armed push up while drinking orange juice.

Tim eating sweet potatoes while doing a one armed push up.

We debated passing around an aluminum pole (selected for its strength to weight ratio) in order to do an airing of grievances, but decided against it.

Our family has been wracked by ailments for the past month.  Linus threw up almost every day for three weeks.  The kids currently have colds, causing Eileen to lose her voice.  Eileen's dinner of cider and pie was apparently too much and she puked twice in bed last night.  I will be thankful when everyone is finally well.

I asked Linus today what his favorite part of Thanksgiving was.  His answer?  Playing board games.  That's my boy! 

From the Mouths of Babes in November

Eileen:  Here Mommy.  I made this for you. Say "Aw thank you."

Linus:  Eileen do you want to be 41?
Eileen: No.
Linus:  You get to be an adult.  You don't have to live at the house or follow rules.

Linus:  Eileen, Mommy and I baked you this cake with love.

Eileen:  I am bigger than monsters and I can fight them with my bunny powers. (Eileen often talks nonsense upon waking up from nap.)

Eileen:  I hate birthdays tomorrow.  I like birthdays today.

Eileen:  This is not how we treat books (gliding across floor while standing on book).

Robin can't speak yet, but I think he is trying to send Linus a message.

 

Gone Baptizin'

Robin was welcomed into the Catholic Church on Sunday.  No limbo for this baby boy.  Dressed in our Sunday best, we drove out to Holy Innocents in Duvall.  Dave's mom is the church lady there.  We got married there and the other kids have been baptized there. 

The first time I ever went to mass at Holy Innocents there was a baptism and I thought to myself, "They do baptism right here!  When I have kids, I'm going to totally have them baptized here."  It's not that I hate the way our parish does it, but Holy Innocents makes it seem just a little more special.  I also appreciate that we were the only baptism instead of one of eight like at St. John.  I love Holy Innocents parish.  It's too bad Duvall is so far.  The music is great and the altar is in front of a wall of windows that overlooks the Snoqualmie valley.  The mountains are even in view.  Linus was excited because we told him that Holy Innocents had a Star Wars Jesus.  The crucifix looks like Jesus has been encased in blocks of ice, sort of like Hans Solo.

Back to the baptism.  Linus was mad at me because I put Robin in a dress.  I tried to explain that it was not a dress, but rather a baptismal gown (and an heirloom at that) and that in the olden days even little boys wore dresses.  Linus was not appeased.  My mother made the gown.  My siblings and I all wore it, as well as my cousin, Casey, and Linus and Eileen.  The blanket was a wedding gift to my mother from the nuns, intended for the first grandchild of my grandfather who did volunteer work for the nuns.

But seriously, how can you not put your baby boy in a baptismal gown when he looks this angelic?

He's working on smiling.

Due to a scheduling miscommunication, Robin didn't get to have the same priest who married Dave and I, as well as baptized the other two kids.  Oh well.  Dave thanked me though for scheduling it during a Seahawks bye week.  Our friends, Megan and Rocky, agreed to be godparents again. 

Dave is trying to point out the mountain to an antsy Linus while Fr. Johnson blesses everyone else with holy water.

Mmm.  I love the smell of chrism.

I thought it was cute that Fr. Johnson asked to hold Robin.

Big family and not everyone was even there!

The kids were sooo well behaved which was a huge relief since we were in the front row.  Everyone headed over to my in-laws for a reception/monthly gathering.  If I haven't said it before, my kids have the.best.cousins.  I really appreciated all the family and friends that came to celebrate with us. 

Welcome to the Catholic church Robin Francis.  Let the Irish Catholic guilt begin!