I'm so far behind in blog posts now I think I'll never catch up. We've had a very hectic few weeks and I'm completely exhausted. I'll have to skip the specifics on several things I was going to go into detail on but here goes:
1) Our trip to Illinois on Black Friday to see Steve's high school win the state finals in football. The boys had fun visiting with Grandma and Richard & Jewel and a few of Steve's other friends from Morrison. Alex wasn't too thrilled with not having naptime on time - that boy really wants his sleep and he has told us when naptime and bedtime should be and is none too please when the schedule isn't met. At one point I took him out of the stadium area into the snack area to warm up a bit (really windy and very cold - thankfully we had plenty of layers & gloves & hats). There were TVs showing the game in the refreshment area and 3 likely high school boys were laying on the ground watching one of these sets...until we came in. Barb (Grandma), Ethan & I were all with Alex who was thankful to be running around instead of strapped into the car or stuck in seats in the stadium. He had a small football and went right up to the boys and tossed them his ball. He then grunted at them until they got the point and played catch with him for about fifteen minutes while Ethan helped, giggling his little head off. Ethan went back in with his Daddy after a bit and then I took Alex back in and went to get hot cocoa. When I got back, Alex was done with Daddy...apparently because Daddy can't put him to sleep in a sitting position. He can rock him in the recliner or lay down with him but when it comes to sitting straight up, Alex wants me to put him to sleep cause I can recline him better into myself and sort of hum and rock him to sleep. I have to assume that really was the problem because 5 minutes of me doing that and he was out and Steve had been going longer with Alex fighting it the whole time. Totally rotten. But we all had a great time, went for good Chicago pizza after the game and then headed for home where we arrived safely, if exhausted around 1:00am.
2) The week after Thanksgiving, I worked the annual conference on Ending Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence for my aunt, Eileen, at the Marriott in town. I am sort of the on-site go-to person for all the sessions - they do all the background work and get it set up then give me the info and I take point at the conference. Last year was the first year in the past 6 years I hadn't worked it because, well, I'd had Alex 2 weeks before via c-section so wasn't quite up to all that running. Since I had to be "at work" at the conference by 7 and was exhausted by end of day, Steve & the boys stayed with me at the hotel. Ethan loves staying at hotels which we do occassionally as a "splurge" so they can go swimming usually. So they got to enjoy that this trip also. We took toys and the pack-n-play. We've discovered that even in a king sized bed, Alex cannot sleep with other humans. If he rolls over and feels a body, he wakes up thinking it's play time. If he rolls over into the side of the crib or pack-n-play, he sleeps on through. Ethan on the other hand, takes up 2/3 of even a king sized bed but at least stays asleep. And since the Marriott has the oh-so-comfortable tempur-pedic mattresses, we all slept quite well. We stayed Monday night through Thursday and I think it was on Tuesday that Steve & the boys came through to go to the pool (making sure to give Mama kisses on the way). The next day one of the speakers who had seen them the day before told me that my boys were so cute going to the pool the day before - all 3 of them. When I said I only have 2 boys, she said "I was including your husband, too." Turns out she's married with kids as well - so understands completely how Daddy can be one of the kids, too. It was funny.
3) Alex's health - Alex had had an ear infection about 3 weeks ago and was set to finish his antibiotic (a different one than we'd taken before) the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He was no better that morning than when we first took him to the doctor for the ear infection diagnosis. So I took him that Saturday to the clinic where they said - yep, still a raging ear infection - both ears. The "cure" a double shot of antibiotics - because they can't give the appropriate dose in just one leg for a 1 year old, it's too much for that muscle to take. So they shot him in both thighs....and said come back in 2 days to "check" his status. The failed to mention they can't give a high enough dose to a 1 year old at all in 1 visit to do enough and that he would 99% sure be getting another double-whammy to the thighs on Monday. But that's exactly what happened. I felt like such a horrible Mom because I know that hurt so bad - one of his legs bled really badly on the shot both times, too. So Steve had to take him back Wednesday while I was working the conference and thankfully got the all clear diagnosis that day. However, they did say that the next time he comes in with fluid in his ears, they're going to send us to the ENT for tubes. At this point, no matter how much I don't want tubes, I'm ready because I am NOT doing those shots again. That was horrible - much worse than regular immunization type shots - bigger needle and if you've ever had a shot of antibiotics, you know it hurts that muscle. The even put lidocain (sp?) in it but on that first time on Saturday - the shot was done at 2:00 and by 5:00, he couldn't walk or stand his legs hurt so bad. He just cried and I held him while Ethan brought him toys to play with - such a good brother. Anyway - he's over the ear infection now and much better and got a clean bill of health at his 1 year check-up on Monday. It was the first time in his short life that he'd had a "well child" check where he wasn't also being checking for an ear infection follow-up or being diagnosed with a new ear infection. Maybe we're moving in the right direction.
4) Last week - the highlights from last week are Christmas lights and parties. We have started driving around some evenings to check out the Christmas lights. After the first time I went with the boys without Steve I realized that when I say "my side" to indicate lights on my side, Ethan is looking out the front passenger window cause he's used to Daddy driving. So to clarify I asked if Daddy's side was where I was sitting and the seat in front of Alex was my side - Ethan said it was. So if he sees lights in the front passenger side of the car, it's out Mama's side and if he sees it when it gets to the rear of the car, it's out Owix's side and the same goes for his side and Daddy's side. He's really funny in his reasoning but he does have a point, Steve & I in the car together usually means Steve is driving. On Wednesday my boss hosted a Christmas party at her house and Steve took half the day off so was off the evening and Leah was coming over to watch the boys. I picked up the boys and Ethan says (because by the time I get them, it IS dark out), "can we dwive awound to see Cwistmas wights, Mama?" I had to break his heart and tell him no but we would another day. Steve & I had a good time at the party and then he was off the rest of the week. He can't take off at the holiday so he used the rest of his days last week. Thursday I went out to eat with some girls from work - my second "girls' night" that I can remember in several years. Steve & the boys went out to eat, too and then later, we all met up and went to see more "Cwistmas Wights" and then a little Walmart shopping before home to bed. The weekend was full of more shopping, Christmas pictures (& Alex's first birthday pictures) and getting our Christmas Tree. We're still in the process of decorating the tree but we've got our lights outside and the boys are totally into the Christmas spirit (OK - Ethan is because Alex isn't quite sure yet why there is a tree in our living room but he definitely likes to look at it).
All in all we've had a great few weeks but as I said, very busy. We are no where near ready for Christmas but I'm off the 23rd through the new year and plan to do most of it on the 23rd - we don't really have anywhere to hide presents from the enquiring minds anyway. I'll be ready by Christmas Eve - or I'll have my nervous breakdown then :). Either way, we'll have fun with it. I've decided already to have fun with it regardless. And we should be able to get our pictures and Christmas cards on Friday so can send you all some Christmas cheer as well.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
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