Cute kids

Sometimes it amazes me how kind and observant our toddlers are. Here are two examples from the past week.

It was one of those days when I was just tired and a little overwhelmed. So when it came to cooking dinner I just threw some stuff on the counter to make quesadillas. Like always, Ebby came up to "help" and started poking at the food. I was too tired to correct him so I just kept quiet and heard this little gem. "Oh, that's the cheese and that's the tortillas. WOW! You're doing a great job mom!"

For a while now we've been rotating a bad cough through the family. Last night was Autumn's turn. Andrew being the great dad he is opted to sleep with her last night to help calm her. He said she woke up about every fifteen minutes. (Andrew you are my Superman.) So when his alarm went off this morning and he groggily reached for the phone he was surprised to find Autumn patting his chest saying, "Shh. Shh. Shh. It's ok, Daddy. Go to sleep."

Last three weeks of August

For those of you who don't know, I have an awesome twin sister. When I was in my third trimester with Kaylee and Andrew was doing away rotations Sarah flew out with her two kids and stayed with me till Andrew came home. It helped me SO much that when I learned I could do something similar for her while she was preparing to have her third kid I jumped on the opportunity. We started out with a week in Dallas. My mission was to keep all the kids out of her hair so she wouldn't go into labor until our mom could fly in. Then I took all the kids for a week in Shreveport. Five kids all by myself. It was very crazy but we had fun. Then a final week back in Dallas. Which was super fun since Dad flew in and Tim spent a lot of time with us. Here's a little video of our vacation.

Kaylee's Crawling!

This is about a week late but with Andrew working nights all last week I didn't get a chance to do much of anything.

p.s. I love that I'm bribing her with candy she can't have yet. Chocolate, the great motivator.

I love Louisiana ... I think.

The Forth of July is my most favorite holiday. They're all favorites but Independence Day is my most favorite. I love that everyone on my side of the family really tries to get to my parents house. I like that there are no gift expectations. And I love that it's warm enough outside to play all day and then cuddle with loved ones at night while looking up into a beautiful night sky and seeing some amazing fireworks.
Fireworks are also my most favorite. Actually, they're probably my most most favorite.
Needless to say, I was really bummed when we found out that we wouldn't be making it to my parents house for the fourth. So on the fourth we put the kids to bed early and just hung out. Not a bad evening really. I don't get to see Andrew a lot and I definitely don't get to hang out with him, so I was feeling pretty good about the night. Then we started to hear the booming of fireworks. And they were loud. Andrew and I ran outside. Apparently Louisiana doesn't have the same firework restrictions as Utah, California or Texas. From our driveway we could see the occasional aerial firework in literally every direction. It seemed like most of our neighbors had them. Consequently we were usually faced the wrong way or there would be a tree obscuring most of the view but it was still breathtaking. It was then I thought, Louisiana is totally worth the humidity if we can have this kind of fourth!. 
That thought lasted almost two days. Today, when we were borrowing our neighbors lawn mower, we were told that it gets so hot here that the grass will almost stop growing. Now that's hot.

P.S. Here are some interesting comments we're heard in the past couple of days.

While neighbors were lighting fireworks (you should read it with a southern twang):
"Well, hair's gone now."
and
"Ow, ow, ow, ow."

The resident Andrew is currently working with:
"Oh, yeah. You probably didn't grow up with all the fireworks. We grew up shooting roman candles at each other."

I'm glad Ebby's only 3

Three times I've tried to get Ebby and Autumn to sleep in the same room. All were failures. But we're headed for Utah and Canada next month and I can't help but think it'd be better for everyone if I could finally 'train' them to actually sleep in the same room. So late last week I decided I'd try the process again. I knew I was going to fail but at least I'd feel better because I tried.
To our utter amazement it's working so far! It's been interesting though. For example, Andrew and I overheard this conversation the other night.

Ebby: "Autumn. Autumn! AUTUMN! GO TO SLEEP! ... RIGHT NOW!!!!!!"
Autumn: crying and sobbing quietly
Ebby: "Oh, it's ok Autumn. Sh, sh, sh. It's ok. Don't cry. Be happy."

A hogpage of posts in a post

A new pastime

Like our other kids, Kaylee does not enjoy tummy time. So it's only natural that she does this within seconds of laying her on her back.

A new bed

 After almost seven years of marriage we finally got a real bed. Two weeks ago our neighborhood put on a neighborhood garage sale. One day a year, if you have anything you want to sell/get rid of you can just put it in your driveway. The community can then just walk from house to house. It's like a small flea market - only with a lot of old toys, tools and clothes.

At the end of our tour of driveways I happened on this beauty and made Andrew stop to look at it. It was 50 bucks and we (Andrew and the owner of the bed frame) walked it back to our house.

A new doctor

As of today we officially all know a new doctor! Congratulations, Andrew! I'm so proud of you.

Who wrote this?

Ever since we matched I've been looking online at rental home listings in the Shreveport area. This is what I came across this morning. No joke. I just copy pasted the entire post.

Air conditioning Remodeled 3 Bedrooms 2 Bbaths home, serene Cable-ready Cable-ready Pantrie Laundry area Tile floor countertop Balcony heard age sleep idea it language second their first star inch fall like mean form door mother red map have question problem line four words

We matched!!!

Today we found out that we've matched to Shreveport Louisiana!
It's a four year program and it's in anesthesiology. We couldn't be happier.

Little Update

I can't help but feel like we're all just holding our breath until next week. I almost don't want to talk about it just in case I jinx something. I don't believe in jinxes but just in case they're real I'm buying a coke next time I go to the store. It all starts this coming Monday. If we didn't match we'll get an email so we can try and scramble into a residency. If we don't get an email it means we've matched with someone on our list. We won't know who until Friday. The official "Match Day".

I've always been very confident in Andrew and our future (and I still am) but this whole processes is so out of our control that it scares me. I'm also not a very patient person. Especially when I know things have already been decided.

Oh, well. To get my mind off the match I'll post some cute pictures of the kids. They always seem to make me happy - or be so completely busy that I can't think of anything else.

Autumn has finally embraced something feminine!

Me: "Smile Ebby."   Ebby: "I am, Mommy!"

Both Ebby and Autumn haven't had issues with sucking their fingers. Kaylee wants nothing else. It doesn't matter which finger either. Though she prefers sucking multiple fingers at once.

***Update***
Andrew's matched!!! Now we just need to wait till Friday at noon to find out where.

Crud

My weekend was not so great. I was seriously considering not posting about it but then I looked at my blog and realized I had already stopped posting about the crummy things that happen in my life. That’s probably because I think it's all my fault and that I'm a horrible mom. Then I realized if I don't post the crud than I'd only post like once a month. I know a few people who actually read my blog and I'd like for them to be more informed than that. So ... *sigh* ... here it goes.

Ebby:
A little over a week ago Ebby decided he'd much rather go number 2 in his pants. When I got on his case about it he decided he'd still go in his pants but that he'd wait until he was in bed for the night. Then, he decided to stop going number 2 altogether. After four days and some laxative help he finally broke the cycle. Once.

Autumn:
About a week ago I noticed what looked like a pimple. I didn't think much of it but after a few days it looked like it had come to a pretty big head so Andrew popped it. It was an abscess and it was on her bottom. Andrew drained it really well on Friday but on Sunday night it was worse so we headed for the ER. They cut it open and scraped it out. They left it open "to breathe" and prescribed antibiotics. I couldn't bring myself to put a diaper on her so for three days I kept her naked and confined to my dining room (big-ish room with no carpet). She didn't have Ebby's problem. Especially while on antibiotics. We checked up with her doctor yesterday and he said everything was fine.

Kaylee:
Finished her second round of antibiotics and has had to go onto her third. Thankfully her ears have cleared out. We're over half way through and she's looking great. I really hope that's behind us. She's also taken to formula (because I desperately needed some relief in my crazy life) and has developed a great daily routine. She's also much happier, if you can imagine.

Ok. There. I did it. I'm actually kind of proud of myself for posting. Also, I'm worried. Please don't judge me. I'm really trying.

Today's crazy moment #27

I've started to come to grips with the fact that my life is just one crazy moment after another. I've also learned that they come at the most unexpected times. (I admit I was very naive to think my life would be anything else considering I have three kids three and under.) Today I experienced a big one.

I was in the checkout line at Target (all three kids in tow) when I got a phone call from my sister, Tona. She was going out for her last lunch before going into the MTC. I was trying to tell her how proud I was of her and how much I love her while desperately trying to keep my kids out of the candy. Finally I paid and had the groceries and Kaylee secure in the cart heading towards the door. I knew I was incapable of navigating two toddlers a full cart and a coherent phone conversation so I told the kids to sit on the bench next to the exit. I thought they would sit patiently for me but I was wrong. Before I knew what was happening Kaylee was crying, Autumn was nowhere to be found and Ebby was giving a final push to an empty cart out the open sliding doors.
WHAT the WHAT!?!
I couldn't just leave my baby in the store, in a full cart, crying while I was running down a runaway cart in the parking lot. So I hurriedly pushed the cart outside and braced it against one of the pylons. That's when I found Autumn. Her arm was under my cart! Luckily the runaway cart hadn't gone very far. I finally got everything and everyone under control when I remembered I was still on the phone with Tona.
Poor Tona. Set apart and about to enter the MTC and I have no idea what kind of obscenities I was shouting out as I tried to get everything under control. I was so relieved that everyone was ok and so shook up and embarrassed that I quickly said goodbye. That is going to be Tona's last memory of me and my kids.
Great. Well, at least it's true to life.

Where did Autumn learn that? or Ebby the Photobomber.

As we were cleaning up yesterday I noticed Autumn randomly saying letters with their appropriate sounds. It was surprising on two counts. First, I don't remember ever working through the ABCs with her let alone what sounds they make. Second, I don't usually understand Autumn at all. We've joked around a lot about how she has her own made up language. 

So, where did she learn that? The only place I know of where she's seen the ABCs with their sounds is on the Leap Frog movie the kids like watching.

All's I can say is WOW.

How do I love thee, ... Let me count the trains.

This just goes to show you how much we love Ebby.

Here's a picture of all the train stuff Ebby started out with.

And here's a picture of all the train stuff Ebby has now.

Poor Kaylee

After almost two weeks of oral antibiotics (and all the unpleasantness the comes with it) Kaylee still has an eye and ear infection. Today she got a shot of more powerful antibiotics and is going back on oral antibiotics tomorrow. I don't know if I'm more sorry for her or me.


*update* Kaylee. I feel more sorry for Kaylee.

Kaylee's finding her voice!

Pictures of Kaylee's Baby Blessing

Thank you to everyone for making Kaylee's blessing special for us. I love seeing so many loved ones loving my baby girl.

And a big shout out it my sister-in-law for taking the pictures. Karly you totally rock!

 

Grandma Jesse and Grandpa Bud couldn't make the blessing but we loved enjoying an afternoon visit with them. And so did Kaylee.