Some video of the kids...

I had this video on the camera... thought I'd share.

I'm stressed...

Part of the reason for having a blog, to me, is to create an on-line diary. Most of the stuff I want to contribute to these pages are good... however, today is not a good day.

I don't even know where to begin.

Last night, both Meredith and Olivia were invited to spend the night over at one of Olivia's classmate's house. Over the past few months, we have had several playdates with this family and I feel comfortable with them, especially since both parents work for the Memorial system - I've known the father for years (in passing).

I had requested that the girls call me, in the evening, to say goodnight - which they did, at 8:30pm - from a neighbor's house.

Turns out that the neighbors have a live-in nanny who was watching their 4 children while they were out of town! And the nanny invited my girls and the classmate to go watch a movie.

Sounds simple enough, but I was panicked!!

I don't know these people.
I don't know which house they own on the street.
I don't know if they have any pets.
I don't know if they have a pool.
I don't like my kids climbing stairs in their home.

Not to mention that the owners of the house were not in town... it is a disaster waiting to happen.

Of course, once she talked to me and KNEW I wasn't happy, the classmate's mother went over and collected the three kids she was in charge of... she was very apologetic,but I'm still angry.

She kept apologizing over and over, saying that, in hindsight, she doesn't know what she was thinking.... I told her I had two words for her..........

JESSICA LUNDSFORD!!

That poor girl was swiped from her bed and kept in a home with 3 other adults, besides her kidnapper, who could have saved her.

Instead, they allowed him to bury her alive.

I feel like last night was my one close call that God will allow. Everything worked out ok and even though the kids are good, safe and understanding of why I wanted them home - it doesn't change the fact that this may be the last time I allow them to sleep over any friends home for a long time.

I told the girls, today, that if they are staying at someone's house and they are invited over to another home, they are to say they can't go without calling me... so I can tell them no.

It wasn't the best evening for me... I'm still recovering.

Bryan and I took Wade and Paige to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.

Wade needed to be seen because he has a lymph node on his neck (right side) that is swollen like a marble. It's been there for two months, according to Bryan, but I only just was made aware of it last week.

Two months ago, I was on A LOT of Percocet, so I can't be faulted for not noticing these things.

We had the Pediatrician look at it last week, who recommended that the ENT see it. - turns out the child has 4 nodes that are swollen.

The only reason the ENT was concerned (even if just a little) is because the four nodes are not connected to each other.

So, we are going to do a run of antibiotics and see if they go down.

I'm still choosing not to think this could be anything major... this kid is just too healthy.

Paige had to be seen because her upper lip is tightly connected to her upper set of gums, which is the same thing that Meredith has operated on when she was 8 months old.

Dr. Cooper didn't see the need for any treatment - so she is good.

Bryan is out now going to pick up the girls from camp and drop off the script for Wade.

Forgot about Wade...

I just realized that I totally left Wade out of those photos - so I'll add his newest photo.

The video - if it posts - is Wade when we were out for ice cream. He was enthralled with the Cow. Inside the cow, was one of the local coaches (fundraising) and he didn't seem to mind that Wade wanted to monopolize his time.

It was cute, until the cow went out the door to drum up business from the sidewalk. Wade followed, leaving me inside the store - alone with Paige. Lara and the kids had walked to the nex door pet shop. When I tried to get Wade inside - he took off running.

Thank God I knew the people at the shop... they watched Paige while I took off after a running Wade.

I wasn't happy!! At least I got to run off the ice cream, but I knew I was being watched by a roomful of parents - so I had to be politically correct when dealing with Wade, careful not to be too easy either.

It has been a while since my last post... we've been busy.





not doing anything meaningful - just with life.





Lara an Roger were here for two weeks... spent as much time with her as we could squeeze in. They're planning on buying a home in MA so we'll be seeing them less down here... I'm just hopeful for the yearly vacation.

Beth came over, with her new little one - Andrew. He is a real man - weighs as much as Paige and she is a month older... he'll be a big kid.

The photos are of us and the Browns going out for a fund-raiser ice cream party. It was a recipe for disaster - me and Lara with all 6 kids in an ice cream shop!! Somehow we all survived... with a few extra calories to show for it.

I've made arrangement for me to go back to work - just on Fridays - in the beginning of August. We'll see how I do... I can't imagine that one day a week would be so bad.

I'll be back in a while to talk some more.

Scraping the bottom of the barrel

Each week, this summer, I watch our bank account just circle the drain. Bryan's paycheck fills it up, some, but within a few days its back down to nothing - literally nothing.

This has been the whole definition of our marriage - never a pot to piss in.

Each time we get a big chunk of $$$ - we buy another house, or have a baby.

Bryan's $$$ can only stretch so far. I'm hoping that a year from now, we will look back on this summer and wonder how we made it through... cause right now I'm wondering how we are making it through.

BUT - we are rich in other ways. I am deeply grateful that we have 4 beautiful and healthy children.

After we had Wade, I used to tell Bryan that I was just curious as to what one more would look like. Seeing Paige, every day, is like having an itch scratched. Now we know what one more looks like.

I'll post photos of her and our family from this weekend...

who needs to eat, when you have such a beautiful family, right?

Moisturizer addiction

I don't know why I feel compelled to talk about this... moisturizer.

I spent the first 37 years of my life not even looking at a bottle of it. I couldn't tell the difference between Walgreen's brand and Nordstorm's brand.

Never, not even one day, did I put this stuff on my face... I didn't need it, I thought.

However, now as I approach 38, I suddenly need this crap, not just once a day, but sometimes 3 times a day!!!!!

What's the deal with my face?

I'll be eating lunch and brush my forehead with my hand and it will feel like sandpaper.

So, I run into the bathroom and slather the stuff all over my face and neck.

This week, I've taken to just applying it like a mask and allowing my skin to soak it in... and you know what....

... my face SOAKS ALL in - in about 10 minutes.

Within that time... my entire face doesn't have a trace of cream on it.

I'm like, what-the-hell?

But, I don't look back - I'm just applying and applying.

I guess it's my new addiction.

Yesterday was Paige's baptism...

Yesterday was a wonderful day... not only because Paige was christened, but because it signified the last of the year's worth of parties I was constantly planning.

I was pregnant for every major holiday AND all three kid's birthdays.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love my kids and doing fun things for them (getting them to see family and close friends) is important, but at some point it has to be too much.

I'm sure that all our family and friends are getting tired of coming over and giving my children gifts, for what ever the reason.

Since February, I've had Meredith's birthday, Easter, Spring break, Olivia's birthday, Paige being born, Olivia's communion, our anniversary and Paige's baptism.

it has been a whirlwind - but now it is done.

Next on my list - reopen my ebay store and clear out clutter.

I'll keep you posted on that!!!

June 4 - Summer's here

Some women are just meant to stay at home with their kids... I'm not one of them.

I realize that my crankiness is directly due to the amount of sleep I get on any night and this week has had some very taxing nights.

Paige is 7 weeks old, today... and pretty much sleeps from 9pm to 4 am. Sometimes, 4 am is really 3:30am and sometimes it is closer to 5am.

I am really hating the 3:30am nights - by the time I get the baby back to bed, I only have about 20 min. before the other kids wake up. It is very, very frustrating.

All this coupled with the fact that Bryan can sleep through a marching band.

The other night, his cell phone rang - at 1am - it is the quietest little ring - didn't even wake me up... but he heard THAT!!!

He jumped out of bed fast - like someone was breaking in and answered the phone.

R-I-G-H-T!!!! He can hear that but he can't hear a crying baby???? So, now I'm on to him... his little game of playing dead in the middle of the night!

Doesn't change the fact that I need to be the one who gets up with her - I'm home... he has to go to work.

Wade is home now - we are saving $$$ my keeping him home... so my day is spent with the two little ones.

Really, I only have between 9 and 1 to get anything done... then they both go down and I'm supposed to clean or do laundry, stuff I can't get don't when they are awake.

Only thing is that I need to rest!!! So they go down and so do I.

and the laundry builds up... the bathrooms get more dirty and, you know what?

I DON'T CARE!!!!