Safety Dance

E and his friends decided to do a dance number for their class talent show the day before school let out.  They choreographed it (with the help of a head cheerleader).  Eli is the height impaired lad in the crew.  Sorry about the quality, my phone was all I had.  There were other versions that showcased Eli's head spinning better but this is what I got.  E's teacher said it was one of the funniest things she has seen all year.  I'm teary thinking that his teacher is no longer his.  She was wonderful.  Just like E's moves.

Jack

We are home.  He is tiny and doesn't keep a warm body temp but maybe he is just a cool kid.  The brothers and sisters watch his every sleeping move, listen for every little noise and love him like mad.  Thanks for all your prayers.

And baby makes 6

Without going into all the details, little brother graced us with his presence 4 weeks early, at 7:13pm on the 28th.  After the NICU (who is always called in on deliveries of this nature) signed off on him and his loving brothers and sister and Oma and Opa came to see him, he started to "grunt" more and things kind of went from there.  He was supposed to just be transitioned in NICU but when I called to check on him around 9:30 that night they informed me he was being admitted and treated for unstable blood sugar levels, breathing instability, inability to maintain his body temp and elevated white blood cells that pointed towards pneumonia.  They have him on antibiotics and after scaring us with all sorts of scenarios last night, today he pulled out his oxygen tubes and his NG tube (feeding) and has been showing a rebellious streak.  He is doing better, happy to show off his great hair and winning smirk.  We don't know how long he will be in the NICU, most likely a week or so.  Still no name, but he weighed 5lbs 8oz, 19 inches long.  Wish us luck, with health and agreeing on the perfect name.

Sun

It is beautiful out.  Has been for days.  Makes me want to be less clothed and basking in it.  But less clothed might scare neighbors, much less children.  It scares me.  4 more weeks.  This boy is the lowest I have ever carried.  If he wasn't in I would think he was out.  It makes things like reaching down, sitting, walking and resting a bit difficult, but how is that really different from any other pregnancy on this planet?

 caroline's sign

I just picked up my friend's almost three year old.  She is the only one that Joey longs to play with besides E and having her here is super easy and keeps all entertained.  Plus, as a bonus, I have her cousin here who is 4-ish and man, the best playmate I could ask for to keep the 3-ers happy.  She is a sweetie.  The friend just had her baby.  4 weeks before mine.  4 pushes and out.  4 hours of labor.  Baby number 4.  What a pattern.  Hers is a girl without a name.  It is nice to have someone go through it so close to my date. Someone who I can just feel it through without having to ask.


I hate potty training.  I really hate the toilet.  I hate touching the toilet and teaching the kids not to.   I've said this before, the toilet is Dave's duty.  Cleaning it, I mean.  Back to training, Joey is starting.  Yes, chances are he will revert in 4 weeks.  But he wants to.  It makes me a bit claustrophobic.  You can't venture too far.

 Joey turned three last week.  He is growing up.  Too fast.  Won't kiss me on the lips anymore.  I never should have blogged he did, it is like he read that or something.  Stinker.

Caroline had a dental check up yesterday.  Her two top teeth are loose.  E's didn't loosen until this year.  She also has 3 out of 4 6 year molars.  She is growing older way too fast and this is just one sign of it.

I wish I felt like nesting.  I feel like gardening, reading, sitting and running errands but not nesting.  I did go through bins and bins of clothing this weekend.  The D.I. might love me.  I did a load of newborn clothes this week.  But out of necessity, not nesting.  I have washed windows, but only to see more clearly, not to nest.  The things that I really need to do, like de-clutter, feel too much like nesting so I don't want to.  Like I said, I want to sit outside, warm my skin, soak up Vitamin D.  Maybe that can be nesting for now.

Garden clean up

I am thinning out the hens-and-chicks in my garden and would hate to just throw them away!!!  So, if you want any bring up a grocery bag and grab some.  They multiply and replenish the earth - so efficient.  They sell of $2.50 each at Smith's, what a bargain.  Great in rock gardens or borders or just potted.  Email me at piccalillitoo@gmail.com if you have any questions.

The Name Game

Not that we EVER agree on names (me and Dave), or have names going to the hospital, or even share our names with others I have to share that I like the name Jasper.  Yeah, I saw your reaction.  Whatever.  I'd never get Dave to agree to it anyway AND thanks to Twilight mania there is no way I would want to.  Just thought I would share.  And no, we don't have any names.  Not even a half of one. 

I am also going to share my kids favorite pass time.  Me recording them dancing.  Eli is trying to be a breakdancer even if he doesn't know what one is.   He is learning how to scoot on his head.  He is also trying to learn lyrics, which is super comical when you are in the car trying to figure out what he might be listening to on my nano.  And Caroline, she is nuts.  Joey just loves to be with his brother and sister - usually.  You will only really love this if you love us or love my kids.

Blog Blah

I have a friend threatening bodily harm if I don't blog.  But here is the problem, I think of a million things to blog about a day but for some reason can't translate it or don't want to.  Part of me feels a bit self-indulgent.  Part of me is looking, unsuccessfully, for the brain power that has been misplaced.  I have a million half finished projects.  Rooms that are half clean.  Time with children that is half spent.

Caroline said to Eli today, when he came home and set up a playdate, "But E, you hardly ever spend time with us!" and just so she could spend more time with him she asked if she could also go to the friend's house where he was going and she would even do her best to be nice to her friend (E's friend's little sister who Caroline is having a difficult time getting along with lately).  So both of them are over there, with the mom laughing that each girl is going to "try" to be nice to each other.  It will not be a long playdate because Joey is cuddled up next to me on the couch sad because C and E are gone and he needs them.  See half spent.  I am multitasking.  I should be cleaning.  I should actually be reading to him.  Or playing with him.  Instead I am sitting with him while he asks to watch Umi Zumi and lean on me and the baby in my tummy, as he says.  He is decompressing and so am I.

Things are a changin'.  Caroline and I went to her Kindergarten Orientation this week.  I cried while the current kindergarten sang to us.  She's been ready for years.  But now she is really leaving me.  It won't be much different from her preschool schedule but she is one year closer to full day school and more time away from home than in it.  I've wasted it.  Just like I wasted it with E.  Just like I am sitting on the couch, half cuddling with Joe, wasting my time I have with him.  I know, too hard on myself.  This is life.  Caroline is 97.3% the greatest person to spend time with.  She is silly and creative.  And she still wears only skirts and dresses.  I need to start sewing.

E had SEPs this week.  I love it.  Mostly because I get to hear he is doing well.  He is nice and kind-hearted and smart.  He listens most of the time.  He helps those around him and she appreciates him being a leader.  He needs to concentrate more on his reading comprehension - it isn't a race to get the test in.  Math was a little tougher this trimester but he caught on and is back on track.  His teacher really cares about him and his class and he listens to her and respects her.  I always worried about sending E to school when we did.  He is a young kid for his grade and a little bit on the not so tall side.  He is a sensitive kid.  Sometimes too emotional, which challenges my emotions.  But she has seen a big growth in his maturity this year. 

And Joey is almost three.  It will soon be his "Irpday".  He is loud and adamant about what he wants and when he wants it.  He is becoming used to timeouts spent in his room for being too loud and adamant.  "Joe, stop yelling at me" is something he is hearing lately.  If I stick out my bottom lip at him he immediately softens and hugs or kindly headbutts me in the pregnant belly.  And if I pucker my lips he stops what he is doing and gives me kisses.  I have my Pavlovian dog. He also has the best laugh in the Northern Hemisphere.

I will try to be better about posting.  It is my journal.  Probably the most consistent I have ever had in my life.  Plus my kids are pretty remarkable and awesome so I should document it.  And it felt good to put a few thoughts on "paper".  Thanks for the threat Paige, just the kick in the pants I needed.

Reaction

Dave has forbidden me from posting the video we have of the kids' reaction to the sex of our coming attraction. Let's just say, I knew that no matter what Caroline said earlier today ("Ok mom, let's talk about this - it could be either a boy or a girl. Maybe we will even get a kitten") and her talking with my friend saying if it was a girl....(good happy things) and if it was a boy...(something sort of happy). All that went out the window for a solid 45 minutes while she cursed who ever is in charge of handing out babies. I am not exaggerating. And with that, I am please to announce that we will be adding a little boy to the family in May. Sorry, no visuals, Dave's wish.

Hope you all had a great holiday and everyone is right on track with their resolutions. Mine is to have a healthy family this year.