What he says....Prayers

Noah:  Momma today at music I said my prayers.

You did buddy?

Yep, I closed my eyes and bowed my head and said dem.

What did you pray for man?

I prayed dat God would send cinnamon rolls down from heaven.  silent pause  But he didn't.

The Birthday Week

I am a huge fan of the birthday week.  I used to enjoy it as a kid.  You know going out to dinner on the night of your birthday.  Having your favorite meal cooked on a different night, celebrating at school with cupcakes and your friends, and then on the weekend the actual party.  Hmmm, maybe I grew up a bit spoiled.  But hello....it's the time to celebrate the birth of that person.  The reason they are here and happy and still able to celebrate with you.  So I do everything I can to celebrate the birthday week.  Unfortunately my little Noah's birthday fell on a Saturday.  So his party was that morning of his birthday.  Which meant no cake at school on his actual birthday, not to mention I didn't want to drag him out to eat after his exhausting day of being the host at his party.  And since I don't cook on the weekends, we went ahead and started celebrating early.

On Thursday night we all went to Gatti Town to celebrate, complete with a cake and Mimi and Poppa!

This is one silly crew I got here!

 Margot loved Gatti Town and ate more than her share of the free buffet for kids 3 and under.

Celebrating Wednesday before his birthday did throw him off a little.  He was unsure if he was actually 4 or not.  Either way he had a blast!

Finally big enough to ride the Bumper Cars.  And as you can see, we had the entire place to ourselves.

Margot really wanted to ride the bumper cars with her brother to celebrate, but instead she semi-sort of -settled for this.

And no night at Gatti Town would be complete without a round of bowling!

A strike for Meredith!

Then next morning Mimi and I met up with Noah to celebrate at school.  He was a little disappointed that Mrs. P was absent and missed his cake.  

The second cake of the birthday week!  A football, for my sports loving boy.

Noah and all his buddies celebrating!  And if you look behind them you see Miss Priss sitting at the table waiting patiently for her cake.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Sometimes our similarties even scare myself....

People tell me all the time how much Meredith is such a mini-me.  I know her attitude is all me....there is absolutely no denying that.  I just never realized her much her mannerism are just like mine too.

Like mother....

Like daughter.....

Scary isn't it?

What she says....priceless

How was school today bug?

"It was good, but Mrs. Parvin wasn't there because her son was sick."

Oh that's too bad, who was your teacher since she wasn't there.

"Well it was Mrs. Lisa and Mrs. Katie.......and Mrs. Bustitute."

Mrs Bustitute?

"Yeah Mrs. Bustitute!"

Mrs. Bus-ti-tute.....do you mean Mrs. Substitute?

"Oh yeah, that's it!"

what she says....hooking up

Yesterday Meredith unintentionally said the most hysterical thing.  It sent Josh and I into a fit of giggles and poor baby, bless her heart, had no idea why.  Josh immediately corrected her, because she is getting to the age where her peers may also laugh at her mis-use of words.  I know this is best, but a big part of me is going to miss all those made up words.  Like ambulancer or fosa(sofa). 

So yesterday my baby girl had a bad case of the hiccups.  I had heard them off and on all day, her dad just getting in didn't hear them to know what she meant right away.

After a big hiiii-cuuup she said...
"Man I got these hook ups real bad!"

Josh stared at her wide eyed having no clue what she was talking about and a little afraid since his 4 year old was talking about hooking up, until we heard hiiii-cuuuup.  Then we giggled silently as she walked out, because she hates it when you laugh at her!

When did she get so dang big?

Today my big girl was scheduled for surgery.  She was having tubes put in and her adenoids removed....can we say scary?  At least that is what I thought.  And that was before I realized that not only would they be putting my baby to sleep, but they would also be putting a breathing tube down her throat.  It's probably a very good thing I found out five minutes before her surgery started, otherwise I wouldn't have made it. 

My game plan for this surgery was to tell Meredith as little as possible about it, until the morning of.  I knew we were doing this 2 weeks ago.  Meredith knew a little bit, like she was now going to get some hot pink ear plugs to wear like Noah does.  And that now when we go to visit the crazy Dr. H, he would be checking her ears out too.  That part she loved.  She also kind of clued in when her little friend Sam brought her balloons and a pink puppy dog.  Yes, Sam as in Sam a boy.  I know....she's only 4 years old and already has a boy bringing her balloons and stuffed animals.  I have to say though, Sam is a cutie!

Back to surgery....we arrived bright and early, signed in, where whisked away to the back, checked in by several nurses and then greeted by Dr. H.  And speaking of Dr. H, can I just say he is my hero.  Seriously he is.  He has a way of making my kids feel at home and secure and their momma too.  Meredith didn't even shed a tear when the came to get her and take her back to the OR.  She gave us a kiss and was wheeled away with a loopy smile on her face.  Loopy due to the drugs they gave her to relax, but still no tears.  Dr. H then came out to tell us, that she was happily blowing up the balloon, a tactic they were using to get her to sleep.  He's a fabulous doctor and I am so happy to have a wonderful ENT in our lives, especially with the rampant ear infections we have experienced lately. 

Anyway bright and early this morning I learned the 5-7 minute procedure that I was expecting like when Noah got his tubes was not going to happen.  Apparently it is alot more involved when you remove someones adenoids and that takes 25-30 minutes.  Yes, that is a huge deal.  And for those that think it isn't.....when it is your baby, it totally is.  Anytime it is anything having to do with one of your babies it is a VERY BIG FREAKING DEAL.  Can you tell I have been harboring some feelings on people trying to blow off my concerns and worries about the surgery? 

All in all the procedure was great.  Meredith came out of recovery fast asleep and slept really well for the next hour.  She then woke up and looked at Josh and I and told us "you woked me up too early!"  Then we offered her some sprite or a Popsicle and she took a sip and dozed right back off. 

We headed home about an hour and half after the procedure where she napped some more and then watched movies for the rest of the day.  She didn't shed a tear all day, until the lady pulled the tape off her arm to remove her "princess glove" or IV and then again when we were home and she was told to share her balloon with her brother.  Other than that not a single tear all day! 

She was a much better patient than I ever would have been.  Even Dr. H commented on what a brave girl I had.  She totally does not get that from me, I guess that is more of Josh in her.  Although I will be the first to admit my girl is 98% her momma and 2% her daddy.  I'm glad she got some of his courage when it comes to medical procedures.  Maybe she will grow up to be a doctor like she wants.

I have no idea when she got so big and brave?  When she decided she could face some of the world on her own...she's growing up and although it pains me that it is happening too fast, I love the little girl she is growing up to be.

My brave big girl getting ready for her tubes.

And although she was such a big girl going back with the nurse and CRNA.  I was happy she came back looking more like my baby and sleeping soundly.

Thanks to all of you for the prayers and well wishes!  She did fabulous and has made almost a complete recovery by tonight.  I am so thankful for that.  I was expecting the worst and she really made it look like a piece of cake!

Why pregnancy and childbirth are worth it!

I  have to be honest when I say I HATE being pregnant.  Maybe it's the intense swelling that comes at the end of my pregnancy or the 40+ lbs I manage to gain even when working out.  Or the fact that none of my clothes fit or that I feel like a whale most of the time.  I hear the whole you are so cute pregnant, but I don't feel it....at all!  I don't think I have that glow about me.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE the end result, I just hate the road there.  And I know I am not alone, however there are also many women who would strongly disagree with me, like my mother, she always says that she loved being pregnant.  That's fine...it's just not for me.

Then their is the whole childbirth thing.  That isn't on my top ten list either.  I mean is it a miracle?  Certainly.  But lets face it, there is nothing glamorous about marching to an OR, having an anesthesiologist put a needle in your back and then a nurse put a patch on your leg to ground you, in preparation for a doctor to come in and cut you open, to pull a screaming baby out.  To me, it's not really amazing, it's just plain frightening...but again necessary.

So why I decided to do this fun thing called pregnancy and childbirth a THIRD time is beyond me....oh I kid!  I know exactly why I did it.....because there is nothing in the world like watching your 4 year old turn down sleeping in her own pink princess tent....

because her baby brother asked her to "peez seep wit me ta-ta"

And so she did.  She climbed right out of her own tent, with her pink pillow and blankie in tow and climbed right in to her baby brother's tent with him.  Then surprisingly they snuggled up and went right to sleep.  That is why I decided to go through pregnancy and childbirth a third time.  Because there is something so very special about watching your children love one another.  I hope it continues for the rest of their lives and I hope they make room in the tent for the caboose soon.

All things that glitter are gold...in this household!

If you read my last post you realize how sad I am about this "school" year coming to a close.  It also means dancing, gymnastics and all other "school" year activities are coming to a close, much to Meredith's dismay.


Last week was her last week of dancing....she again thinks everyone else will continue to go and I am just keeping her out!  However, when she learned she would be getting a trophy at this class she was somewhat appeased.  Somewhat, because she really had no clue as to what a trophy was.  She quickly realized what it was and it is her new treasure.  She LOVES her trophy.  It is like gold!  She has currently placed it in the kitchen on the island for all to see.  Occasionally she will hold it and prance around the house with it.  I cannot tell you how jealous her little brother is.  I might just have to find a trophy store soon.

Here are the girls getting ready to the tap dance for their parents.

Doing her dance, is it me, or does she look so grown up here...sniff, sniff.

more dancing...we have come so far in a year!

My big girl....."mom I am so big....I mean I am four now!"

going to get her trophy....my flash is obnoxious!

Her and her cute little dancing teacher, who owns the studio!

Here dance class...notice Meredith checking out her trophy....she loved it!

Here she is looking at me.

Her and her beloved trophy.  Funny story.....right after I snapped this, one of the little brothers of another dancer, came and snagged her trophy.  She didn't dare say anything, but there was worry written all over her face.  The little boy's dad finally got the trophy from his iron fist grasp and returned it.  Meredith was elated.  She quickly handed it to me to put in her dancing bag for safe keeping.  When we got to the car, she asked for it back right away.  Poor Noah hasn't had many chances to hold it.