Thursday, December 13

Elf on the Shelf...day 18

As Blitz was watching Xander on Sunday morning, he probably noticed how much the boy loved playing in the snow.  So today, it was no surprise when we found Blitz in snow, making a snowman.
 
Checking him out...
 
 
what's this little white "ball"...

 
what about this big "ball"... 

 
Have a great day!


Wednesday, December 12

Elf on the Shelf...day 17

This morning we found Blitz encouraging reading...although Xander does not need help in that department, it's always a good reminder to read books!  It was a good thing Blitz arrived early today because the kids were up at 545...boyser was that early!
 


Tuesday, December 11

Elf on the Shelf...day 16

I think Blitz decided not to come to the house of "buggies", because we didn't see him all weekend!  He kept his watchful eye from the tree though and I guess today was a great day to come back.  He got into Xander's Spider Man memory game, which we've never even opened yet.  I'd bought the game for Xander to develop his matching skills, but i'm thinking this one is going to be way to difficult!  I'm going to have to find a sesame street one or something.  Blitz was smart too, he left the cards face up so the match could be made easier!  



I also realize this will be my last year to be lazy and set the presents by the tree unwrapped until I get them wrapped.  We found Xander laying down, hands under his chin, talking to the large colorful box.  I better get them wrapped this week.  Although, the large box isn't getting wrapped, it's going to be put together for instant play for Sterling on Christmas morning...how fun!

Thanks for coming back Blitz!



I felt her pain

On Sunday night my stomach started feeling icky, I just knew it was coming.  Around 7 Monday morning, the mop bucket was my bestie.  What a way to start out the week!  Much to my surprise, Nick was laying on the couch and not at work.  I was confused.  He was sick too!  I'll just say yesterday was not fun at all!  I had a fever at 101.2, and it didn't go down until around 8pm.  Thanks to Nicks recommendation to take some Tylenol cold medicine.  I guess it worked for the fever!  I couldn't drink or eat without it coming back up.  I could totally feel Sterling's pain as she was throwing up Friday.  It's painful.  I can't imagine her small body trying to fight it, but it hurt me, so I imagine it hurt her 10 times worse!  We all went to bed at 7 last night so we could get the rest we needed and everyone seems to be doing well today.  I have a massive headache/pain, but I'm sure it's from being dehydrated.  So today, I'm tasked with fueling my body and getting some sugars in it.  Yesterday I tried to take a shower but almost fainted so I had to get out...only my hair was shampooed..oh well.

This week is going to be busy...as long as we all stay well!  We have to get ready for the kids' Opa to arrive next week!  I have to clear out the toy room, put up the airbed and make room in his closets.  Then I have to make things simpler for him as Nick and I are going to Paris without them and Nick wants things to be simple and laid out for him.  I guess I understand.  
I'll get to spend some much needed quality time with my sewing/embroidery machine.  I can't wait!  Opa will be here for 2 weeks, and I plan to use every day working on a project and getting better.  I've done a few things, but still need some work.  I have to figure out how to enlarge images and how to add a name to an image.  I purchased the program SewWhatPro, so I'm trying to figure that out also.  I hope I will have all my "kinks" worked out before the end of the month!

Side note...Xander has been melting my heart lately.  When I give him something he says "thank you mama" and the look he gives puts me in heaven.  Then when he's playing with something he's not supposed to, he'll run it to me and say "there you go mom"...I love it!  Yesterday as I was sick, he was my cuddle bug.  I don't think he's sat on my lap as much as he did yesterday, ever.  I loved it and soaked up every minute!  Sweet, sweet boy!

Sterling, well she's fast!  Still not "crawling" but what she does works.  She gets around and gets there so darn fast.  One day I had her out by the table, Xander and I were in the back room talking with Nick and next thing I know, she's tugging at my robe!  I'm ready for her to do the real crawl though...so she can exercise those turkey legs of hers...haha!  For about 2 weeks before she got sick, she had been sleeping through the night!  I was loving it.  But since she was sick, she's been up twice again...ugh!  We'll get her back on track, just in time.  I think she's still catching up on eating from almost 2 days of barely anything.  

Have a great day!

Saturday, December 8

Better day

Sterling slept much better than I thought she would.  She woke up 4 times.  The 2nd & 3rd time, I decided to give her 2 oz of formula.  She hadn't thrown up and it had been 6 hours since she went down.  She took it well.  The 4th wake up was around 6 and she had thrown up.  Nick got up with her (and Xander) while I slept an extra half hour.  She's been a happy baby, but sleeping a lot!  Sleeping so much I wonder if she will sleep tonight.  She's thrown up 4 times today (so far), but she's also came down with the diarrhea.  I decided to give her toast an hour ago, so far so good.  She's also had 3, 2 oz bottles.  She does not like the pedialyte (makes her gag), so it's water and 2 oz of formula to hydrate her.  I'm so glad she's feeling much better today compared to yesterday.  She was looking horrible yesterday trying to clear out the infection.  She's still holding her ears, but 3 of the 4 teeth are poked through her gums.  So, I'll just mark the ear holding as her way of soothing herself when she's teething.  And because her ears turned out perfectly at the checkup yesterday.

It's not any fun seeing your babies sick :(

Elf on the Shelf...day 13

Today we found Blitz sitting in the tree towards the top.  I think he decided he needed a higher viewing to see if the kids are behaving.  Xander didn't notice where he was, but he noticed he wasn't in his typical spot or any other low lying area.  I didn't grab a photo today, totally forgot.  I could now, I suppose.  But I really don't feel like pulling the camera out.

Friday, December 7

Sick baby

Sterling is sick again, but not the fun kind of sick.  She has been vomiting really bad all afternoon.  It started around 115 after she woke up from her nap.  It was a lot.  All over my legs, her and a huge puddle on the floor.  I thought it was a one time event...nope...totally wrong!  It's been an all day event.  We went through 6 outfits in 5 hours.  We spent an hour in the ER.  I was concerned because she wouldn't keep her 2 pm feeding down and I didn't know what to do.  Xander never got sick like this.  Again...he was my easy baby...lol!  I was scared she was going to starve and get dehydrated.  Much to my surprise, giving her a teaspoon of pedialyte every 15-20 minutes when she's awake will be fine for her.  She threw up sitting in the exam room and again in her car seat...nasty!!!  She's thrown up a total of 9 times in 5 hours.  They are not small throw ups either.  Poor baby is hurting when she's doing it too.  I'm not expecting her to sleep too well tonight.  Although, i'd love to get a full nights sleep because i have a 10 page paper to write this weekend...NOT FUN!  Not good timing to get sick kiddo...but is there ever a good time?  ha!  You can't predict this sort of stuff. 
So, here's a lovely after picture when I moved her to the kitchen off the hard wood floors.  I quickly cleaned up the mess on the hardwoods so it wouldn't seep in between the cracks.  Moved her to the kitchen and then stripped her down and swiffered the walk.  The things you do for your kids :)
 
 
Love ya baby girl...hope you get feeling better soon!!!!


Elf on the Shelf...day 12

I think as Blitz was watching over Xander yesterday he saw how much fun he was having creating a santa out of a paper plate.  We woke up and found this!
 

 
Blitz entertained Xander for the first few hours this morning.  Which was nice!  Xander kept putting the links on the tree, walking away clapping, then going back to take them off and repeated that over and over for hours!  Pure fun for kids!  I love it.  It's the simple things.
 
Have a great day!


Thursday, December 6

Xander

This young boy has been driving this mama crazy!  Yesterday was a terrible day for listening.  Did I mention it was terrible?  It was TERRIBLE!!!!!  We know that he understands what we say because 90% of the time he'll do it, but that other 10% of the time...where are the ear plugs?  I think most of the problem on that 10% is he's tired.  He sleeps horrible during the day...as in won't take a nap 6 days a week.  He gets 11-12 hours at night, but running all day resisting his nap a nightmare!  I put him down for a nap at 1045 yesterday because he was yawning, laying his head down, and just looking tired.  Well he was in his room for 3 hours, fussing.  No nap!  No tears!  Just hollering and fussing.  I had to take the dog to the vet and Nick came home to watch the kids.  I'm not sure how long he listened to him fussing, but when I got home at 3, Xander was up, Sterling was sleeping, and was told Xander never fell asleep.  I decided to take the kids to the indoor play area to let Xander run off his steam and I could chat with an adult.  Xander did great playing out, but once we got back inside the house...my oh my!  It's like his winter fever already set in and he's ready to run free.  I wish I could take him outside every single day, but with Sterling, it's too much right now.  If we lived in a normal house with a backyard and fence, it would be much more practical.  I could sit outside with him while Sterling is inside sleeping.  Next year young man...things will be much better!  I can't wait to move...wherever that may be!
 
Now for today.  He was up at 6:20, cranky boy too!  We went out to the store.  I dreaded going, like always.  It was different today.  Xander did amazingly well!  We got home, I put Sterling in her chair to drink a bottle and he was watching Wonder Pets so I could bring the groceries up.  I drop the first load off and put them in the doorway like I always do.  I go back down and get the last load.  When I open the door, I see him moving the bags all over.  At first I freaked because I had eggs down there...but then I told him thank you for helping.  As I was in the kitchen unloading the first bag, Xander is behind me handing me another bag.  He wants to help!  I let him.  It might have taken an extra 15 minutes to bring everything  into the kitchen, but he was happy helping, so I let him!  It was actually nice because by the time he brought me stuff, I was able to put the stuff away rather than sit it all on the counter, like I normally would do.  I appreciated his help!
He ate great today too.  He's been in a funk lately where he won't eat barely anything, so seeing him eat today was great!  He probably won't eat dinner now, but hey, at least he ate a lot for lunch!
 
So, last night I may or may not have had tears shed, but today was a new day and although it started out sour, we will make it into a GREAT day!  I thank God daily for our little miracles, even when things don't go "just right".
 
Today he has a happy smile shining so brightly from his handsome self!
 
We love you little man!  Crankiness and all!  I can't believe that in less than 4 months, he will be TWO!  Terrible two's so soon?  Let's hope not!

Elf on the Shelf...day 11

It was a nice surprise to see Xander's tooth brush ready to be used this morning.  Thanks Blitz, for making our morning that much quicker :)
 
 
 
Have a great day!





Tuesday, December 4

Photo updates

I was looking at my photos and thought I'd share a few...
 
Back on November 17th, Xander went to the dentist for the first time and here is his picture sitting so big (and scared looking)...
 
 
During our trip to Berlin, we discovered that we needed a front and back stroller, so this is the kids' newest ride... 

 
We had our first "real" snowfall, Dec 2nd.  We had snow about a month ago, but it didn't stay more than 2 minutes, so this stayed for hours so we'll call this our first...

 
Sterling and daddy playing...

 
and now the many faces of Miss Sterling...
 
come on mom...

 
do I have to?...

 
you're a bit crazy...ha!...

 
and the sweet concerned look...

 
We received the results to Sterling's culture Monday morning.  It was a staph infection.  Her little staph site is completly healed, but will continue her antibotics until tomorrow at bedtime.
 
Now I have to transfer all my stuff from my external hard drive onto CDs.  I think the drive is malfunctioning so I'm hoping to save my pictures at least...but it's taking forever because only one month of photos has been fitting on disks...that's going to be a lot of disks and time that I should be working on my 10 page paper due on Monday night...joy!
 


Elf on the Shelf...day 9

Come to find out, Blitz was sick in the North Pole yesterday.  Today he must have been feeling a little better, but he sure made it apparent that he was still not 100%.
 

 
Have a great day!


Sunday, December 2

Elf on the Shelf...day 6 & 7

Saturday morning we woke up to pixie sized pancakes from Blitz...the perfect size for Sterling too!


This morning we found a mischievous elf climbing our tree and taking ornaments off...of course Xander was quick to recognize the mess and helped clean it up


Have a great day!