I'm Obsessed!

Blogging is obsession inducing! We arrived at a hotel at 3AM or after. First 5 we tried were full. Apparently the races at Saratoga Springs have the whole area booked to the max. Finally found a place and got in. Took the boys forever to settle and then baby woke at 6ish. I think I got 2 hours of sleep if I'm lucky. But in a few short hours I will be (said in a sing song voice) "on vacation in the mountains!"

Now, I really will be offline for the next week. No computer, no tv, no cell signal. WOOO HOOOO

God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise

Looks like we are on the way out! 9:30 PM and we are finally going! We are hoping to make it to Albany to stay in a hotel. As my mom says, "God willing and the creek don't rise, we will pull into our campsite bright and early tomorrow. "See ya on the other side!"

Nope Not Today

We STILL haven't left. I didn't get back from getting the brake assist repaired until 7:30. I was exhausted. By the time I nursed Little Bit and got him settled for the night I was passing out. Craig told me to go to bed. I woke up around 10 and was game to start packing, but he told me to stay in bed. It was lovely at the time, but we are still packing! Ah well, we have called Golden Beach and they will save our site for us for tomorrow. So, we will have a vacation eventually.

I hope we leave by dinner time, drive just North of Albany and spend the night in a hotel and then go on in the AM. Hopefully we can get up and moving early.

Hope our van can pull the trailer, I really think we are over packed. Cross your fingers, 'k?

Best Laid Plans

Looks as though we won't be leaving today. We have been fighting electrical issues in the van for over a week. Finally thought we had them all fixed. Picked up the car from the Honda Dealer on Saturday. On the drive home, I heard a loud clunk. When I got home I realized there was a strange code on the brake assist. We ignored it and rushed off to the BBQ. Craig called the camping dealer who installed the brake assist just now and was told it indicates a serious electrical short somewhere in the line that MUST be fixed before we can drive the trailer. Negative, pessimistic, I-have-forgotten-to-take-my-happy-pills-for-several-days Carol would decide this new camper is an albatross, we never should have bought it, it was irresponsible to buy it on credit and now the Gods are making us pay. The Happy, Optimistic, Life is Good Carol says "oh good, now I have more time to pack!" We will go to Raquette Lake even if its in a tent, so why worry?

Hopefully the place 1/2 hour away can fix it so we don't have to drive 90 minutes south on the parkway back to the camping place to get it fixed. Now, time to get Little Bit and Maestro dressed and get Galileo and Maestro fed so we can take Little Bit to the PT. Can't wait to tell her that EI evaluated him at 9-10 months!

LOL! Felt guilty Blogging instead of packing. Told DH I needed to vent. He said "you blog until there is no vent left! All vents in da blog!" I love him

Ask and Ye Shall Recieve!

So, I have been spending lots of time pondering how to make us a more social family, how to build a better community etc, etc., etc. Have decided to follow a friend's example and just roll with what life throws my way, be open to every opportunity and learn to be a good, relaxed host. All those things fell into place this weekend. We are about to embark on a two week camping trip that will take us from the Adirondack mountains to the mountains of West Virginia and have done no packing.

In years past, I would have been stressed for days, refused all invites and yet still floundered around and been late getting out. I decided that was no longer the way I would operate. So, yesterday we took the boys to a huge park in Montville that they love and then attended a BBQ at the home of one of Craig's fraternity brothers. We had a great time and saw someone from the neighborhood who I know in passing thanks to Mothers & More. I met her husband who I really enjoyed and plan to have them over for dinner sometime soon. They and another couple like to go camping, so I may also suggest a joint camping trip some weekend this fall. We stayed late had a blast and I gave almost no thought to packing.

I did miss another family who we expected to see there, but figured it gave me a good excuse to call them. Got up today and headed off to Costco and Target for supplies for our trip. When we got in the car for the trip home I realized Craig had called my cell phone several times. I hadn't heard it. HATE it when he does that to me, but he took it in stride. He informed me that the family we missed yesterday was at our house. They had thought the BBQ was today and headed up this way before they realized their mistake. When it started raining, L called us to find out if we were still going over. Craig said, "it was a great party. it was yesterday. Why don't you come here". I'm so proud of him, he put out snacks, got beverages, found toys for their boys to play with and called me.

As soon as I found out, we rushed straight home. When I arrived, E helped Craig unload the van and L folded laundry while I nursed Little Bit. We were trying to figure out what to do for dinner. L insisted we not cook for them since we are leaving on vacation tomorrow. Brilliant idea popped into my head. Last winter I had tried to take them to a hibachi/sushi restaurant near us while we left the boys home with a babysitter but the timing didn't work. I debated calling a babysitter last minute tonigh, and then decided to take the boys too.

It was awesome! Our boys tend to rev each other up, but except for a few moments of chaos, they behaved very well. Even Little Bit did well after I fed him.

The chef was very entertaining, the company was good and the food was great! The boys especially loved the flaming volcano.


Our boys always get along very well together, which makes it even more fun for the grown ups. I let them all play with my camera at one point when we needed them to be entertained for a few more minutes. Galileo organized the other three for this pic. It was a precious process that I only wish I had on video.

Now, I must update quicken and make sure just how much money we can spend of vacation. Then, I will finish with Mt. Foldmore and start packing. :)

What a great way to start vacation tonight was!

So Proud!

Nathaniel pulled up for the first time today! He is crawling everywhere and starting to get into everything. He is soooo proud of himself! Let the baby proofing begin!

Brotherly Love

I don't know who is prouder of Little Bit's crawling, him, Mommy or big brother. I love how much these two adore each other. Makes me want even more!

Early Intervention

The Early Intervention team came to see evaluate Little Bit today. He has been getting private PT for Torticollis since the spring. His PT was starting to be concerned that he was falling behind in gross motor skills.

He had an explosion in the last few days and is doing just what he should. His adjusted age is 8 months 3 weeks. He is on the 9-10 month scale for gross motor. EI evaluator was slightly worried about his speech, but I'm sure its because he is concentrating on motor skills so much. He was babbling and "Da Da Da"ing a ton until a week or two ago. Now he is focused on crawling. I'm sure the speech will come in time.

They did make me wonder if he really needs the PT. Don't want to stop prematurely, but also don't want to keep going if he doesn't need it. Would rather spend the time and money at music class or gym class or whatever.

Ah well, its a beautiful day, time to get the kids outside!

Carol Anne

Need A Laugh?

My boys and I were just wasting time avoiding shower time with You Tube. This had them giggling so hard I had to play it again.

Mount Foldmore

I'm getting even more and more behind in my laundry folding as the week goes on. Last night the boys and I went to a friends for dinner and then today we went to the pool. There are at least 3 baskets full on either side of this picture that don't show in the frame. I'm too exhausted for fold it now, so I am just letting it entertain me. Hey laughing is better than crying, right?

Mesganna

Mesganna is arhamic for grateful or gratitude. That is how I am feeling right now. It is also a feeling I need to hold onto in my life.

I took the big boys to see the Mesganna dancers at SOPAC tonight. These are girls who are part of Children of Ethiopia Education Fund program. They performed several traditional Ethiopian dances. It was great and the boys loved it. It was a little different than I expected. Then I realized "duh! Africa is a huge continent with many cultures of course all the dancing isn't the same". Reminds me how small my little portion of the world really is and how much else is out there to explore.

Anyway, on the way up the hill, Maestro fell asleep and Galileo and I had a great conversation. They had shown a several videos of Ethiopia while the girls changed costumes. The last one also had words written over the pictures that Galileo wanted me to read to him. I read what I could and we discussed the rest on the way home. They were all about the poverty and lack of education in Ethiopia. We told him that what we spent on snacks at intermission would feed an Ethiopian family for a week. We also talked about how many schools have no books etc. At on point he said, "H & R are lucky Justin and Randi adopted them so the could live in America". I reminded him of the tragedy of losing their biological parents first. He thought about this for a while. Then he asked if we could adopt from Ethiopia. He said 2 brothers would be good for our family. First he wanted babies, but then when I told him older kids have a harder time finding new families, he said, "well, then lets get 2 older brothers mom". Gotta love the kid. I have to remember that despite the angry outburts, temper tantrums and other challenges, there really is a sweet giving kid in there. It is my job to help him come out.

So, mostly tonight I am grateful for my children and the wonderful night we had together. Now, I must pretend to sleep, or none of us will be feeling grateful tomorrow

3 weeks later and still no update. sigh......

Have many musings going around in my head. I need to figure out how to get them out of my head and into reality.

I'm terribly happy with myself and how I handled the summer. It certainly isn't the summer I was hoping for and that is mostly because of me. I feel more distance in many of my relationships including those with my kids. I had hoped the summer would be a time to build and rebuild connections.

I have reconnected with a couple of friends in recent weeks and hopefully that will continue. I so envy a friend who has a strong community of friends and family around her. I realize that some of that is luck (her close childhood friend and she both settled within miles of eachother, etc.) but much of it is of her making. I need to figure out how to have the energy and attitude that will bring this kind of joy and abundance into my family's life. No one else will do this for us. As the mom, I think it is up to me.

Hopefully the week in Raquette Lake will allow Craig and the boys and I to reconnect with eachother. Recent money stress makes me think we should cancel some of our plans for that week: renting a boat, trips to the water park etc. Yet other parts of me think this is so important. It has been such a hard year. We really need a fun, relaxing family vacation.

Now, it is time to get back to the piles of laundry. We have even more laundry than usual right now. Maybe I will get the courage to post about why on another day.

Carol Anne

Ah what beautiful sounds!

3 children happily playing on the front porch and a baby sleeping away in his crib.

My niece is visiting for a few days and it has been wonderful. I have always told my friend that "I need a Luke" of her 11 year old son who is so helpful with her 3 year old. Who knew that any 11 year old will do. Niece has brought new excitement to train play and the trains which I was about to put in the attic because they haven't seen the light of day since I hosted play group in May have brought hours of enjoyment when combined with a creative 11 year old mind. This has me thinking more about a mother's helper for the fall. An older child who I could pay to occupy them even if he/she wasn't able to be alone with them. It would still help!

Carol Anne
(who is going to go take advantage of this calmness by folding piles and piles of laundry.)

I will update later. As much has happened since December!

#%@#%&% Christmas Cards!!!

I can't get my printer to print the envelopes for our Christmas cards without jamming! I know I am very late sending them, I dont' have time for this. Actually thought about not sending any this year, but got some really sweet ones that I just had to respond to. No time for a christmas letter or anything. I hate the generic no message card, but thats what I'm sending this year.

Have to finish cleaning for my friend, her partner and their new baby to visit this evening. Thank goodness I still had some soup and corn bread in the freezer that a friend made us when Little Bit arrived. I have that in the crock pot and hope it will make a good dinner.

Now, to scrub the toilet and mop the floor because the cleaning lady didn't show on Friday. She better come this week (craig talked to her and she said she will) or I will have to be committed!

Christmas To Do's

I'm freaking myself out with this list. Hopefully it will help me stay focused and organized instead of spinning my wheels. I set the bar a little too high last Christmas with all the things I had the boys make. Getting a late start this year. sigh.....

Christmas Cards

• Download Pictures
• choose picture
• edit pic if necessary
• create card - costco?
• order card
• pick up card
• address envelopes
• stamp
• Mail
  

Dining Room

• Clear Table
  
• Build File cabinet table - Craig
• Clear top of Armoire - Carol
• Move Printer - craig
• wash valances
• Empty boxes
• move buffet?
• empty file cabinets?
• move file cabinets?
• keyboard - move?
  

Living Room

• decorate mantel
• decide final furniture configuration
• empty "toy" bench
• back packs in toy bench
• boxes for mittens/hats in toy bench?
• borrow coat tree?

Presents
Gifts to Teachers

• What boys give to teachers?
• Purchase supplies for gift to teachers
• make gifts to teachers
• package/wrap gifts to teachers
• Card for Miss P?

Gifts to Family

• Boys to make gifts to family?
• Decide on gift for Gwen
  
• Wrap Gifts to Debbie, Dan, Dale, Mandy
• Wrap Gifts to Boys

Baking
Sugar Cookies

• check for ingredients
• purchase ingredients
• mix dough
• cut out and bake
• frost

Peanut Brittle

• find recipe
• purchase peanuts
• purchase other ingredients if needed
• find thermometer
• make candy
• break and box candy to give to teachers

Ghiardelli Cookies

• check for additional ingredients
• bake

Plan Meals - to go in separate doc

• Shop for meals and begin prep by end of week

New Friend


A neighbor a few houses away has a son Maestro's age. She used to work and has an older son, so we had a hard time spending time together. Now she is not work and our older kids are in school. Maestro and P play fairly well together and R. and I really enjoy each other's company. Today I actually invited her in for coffee. It felt so grown up. We've only lived her 7 years and I finally had a neighbor in for coffee.

YAY!

Rough Day

This is one of the days I dreaded when thinking of having a 3rd. Very tired and drained today. Long trip to Grocery store pushing cart full of groceries and pulling along a cart full of car seat yesterday was a killer on my back. Then baby had a rough night. I had things to do though, so I motored through it. I think I scared dh. I was so hungry and desperately searching the fridge for mayo so I could make lunch before Little Bit cried AGAIN! As I was looking, the bag of meat that still needed to be put away got jostled and blood ran out of the bag into the cheese drawer! It was so gross and cleaning it was so NOT what I wanted to be doing then. Only good thing is that in the process of cleaning it up, all the meat got put away and that was one chore I could stop thinking about.
I was hobbling around muttering and cursing and nearly in tears at one point. When I got out my chef's knife to prepare dinner he looked ready to run for the hills!

One good thing was the pedi apt. today. Dr. Charlie lifted the isolation restriction. Acted a little like it was strange I was asking about it. He was off his game though today I think. Told me I should go off dairy to help the reflux and yet wanted him to stay on Neosure mixed with breast milk until he was 8 lbs. HUH? Neosure is a dairy formula. Plus I told him he is finally nursing. Not sure how I am supposed to open my breast and pour in the powder before feeding.

Later, when Little Bit needed to nurse the millionth time when I was trying to get something done, I gave up. He keeps nursing for 5-10 minutes, falling asleep and then wakes up 20 minutes later wanting to eat again. I couldn't take it anymore. I finally grabbed the bottle of premixed Neosure that we had gotten from the NICU and put it in a bottle. I didn't even want to take the time to thaw breast milk. I just wanted to feed him and get him settled all ready. I hope that doesn't make me a bad. mom. Anyway, unlike the time I tried to give him powdered formula, he drank this right down. Then he slept for 2+ hours right during the homework, cook dinner, 3 year old melt down over "NO TV" hour. It was almost heavenly. Made me want to quit nursing and just do formula.

Me of all people. Looking forward to nursing was one of the things that sustained me through my pregnancy. I'm sure we'll get through it, but I will have a bottle in a cooler next to the bed tonight. If he starts the nursing every 20 minute thing, I am giving him a bottle. Hopefully we will both get some good sleep tonight. I need it if I will survive until Christmas.

On a positive note, a mom from Maestro's class brought me Irish Soda Bread. I had a slice for Breakfast after Little Bit's apt. It was so yummy! I think I will end my day with a piece of it too. Best part is she agreed to share the recipe. It is honestly the best Irish Soda Bread I have had.

When we go to Africa.....

Amidst the holiday madness, I must remember to write down the cute things the kids say. The discussions of the winter holidays really has Galileo's mind churning. Last week he wanted to know why we weren't Jewish. Yesterday we had this dialogue while decorating the tree.

Galileo: Have we ever been to another country?
Me: No, you and Maestro haven't yet
Galileo: (Thinks a minute) Well, when we go to Africa, we will be African Americans
Me: Well, no. Afican American is a word for some Americans who have darker colored skin. They are called that because their ancestors came from Africa.
Galileo: (looks confused)
Me: (thinking of all the political and historical info that is way over his head) Honestly, we should be called European Americans because our ancestors came from Europe.
Galileo: What?
Me: Our ancestors came from Europe.
Galileo: NO, MAMA, what did you call us light skinned people?
Me: European Americans, cause our ancestors, our great great great grandparents came from Europe, right.
Galileo: Right, European Americans. (all is right in his world again and goes back to decorating)

I wonder what he is going bring home to stump me with next

Finally



After visiting 2 targets and calling all the targets in the known universe (ok, just all the ones in this part of Jersey) I gave up and came home to order one from Amazon. My mom agreed to order the other one since Amazon had a 1 item limit on this toy. Well, I logged on and it is now out of stock until Jan 9 or later!!!! rrrgh!

I did a search and finally found it for $4 more than retail at a site I have never heard of. I hope its a legit site and they actually get here.

Just got back from taking Galileo to school. Now, I need to get some breakfast and coffee before the babe wakes up and then get to work. Luckily Galileo has enrichment today so I don't HAVE to be anywhere until 4:15. Maybe Maestro and I will go to the grocery with childcare so he can play and I can buzz through the store.

Strike Out!

Grrrrr! I have been all over the place IRL and on the web trying to get the one toy that both my kids asked Santa for. Mind you my shopping for them has been done since Sept., but they both really want Mega Mask by Cranium. Noggin only shows a commercial for it every 6 minutes or so! The marketing is working because it is sold out everywhere. I could have gotten it online last week, but decided to get it in a real store. STOOOPID! Now its sold out on line and at Amazon I can only get one. Only problem is I have 2 boys. One target about 45 minutes away from me has them available supposedly, so I may try there.

Hey, that may be where the grocery store is that I can shop online and then just drive in and pick it up. Hmmmm! Me sees a drive in my future.