Tired of Watching Videos

Although we're still feeling awful, I am tired of being stuck sick at home watching videos. The girls don't feel like playing with their toys so much and to prevent agitating my own headache, I've allowed the videos to roll.

However, the weather is so nice, that despite feeling "poopy," we pack everyone up for a quick visit to the pumpkin patch. Couldn't get too many large smiles - or even a grin, but there was lots to see and it probably improved our mood.

We brought Hayden for a picture, too!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

The girls had so much fun making cupcakes for Daddy's birthday! It was our first attempt at baking....it went well enough, I think we could try something else soon.

We then got dressed up, in what Ava refers to as "ballerinas" (aka skirts) and took Dad to our favorite family restaurant: Fresh Choice (or aka "ice cream" ever since Daddy shared the secrets of the dessert bar with the girls).

After presents and singing, it wrapped up to be a beautiful day!

Pile of Tissues by the Bed

We've been sick. Bettina got it first, about a week ago. Her fever started Wednesday night, perhaps early Thursday morning. It finally broke on Friday. I'm glad, however, that she got it first. Bettina is a needy, whiney barnicle when she's not herself and demands to be carried everywhere. So, since Tuesday last week, I've been using my Chinese sling like a regular pack horse.

Saturday, Paul and I got away to have an anniversary dinner at The Ritz in Half Moon Bay. Nonna, who watched the kids for us, had a hard time getting the girls down. That night, Ava's fever came and I was up all night with not just one, but two whiney kids. Paul and I soon realized that it was divide and conquer night: Ava sleeps with me in our bed and Daddy with Bettina in their room, since 4 in a bed is ridiculous and Tina wouldn't sleep with so much "freedom" anyhow. By Sunday, I knew exactly that the moaning came from body aches rather than the sore throat I suspected - I had it, too. And, since then, we've had to keep the same sleep arrangments, gratis a Ava.

Ava, too congested to breathe, wakes up every 45-minutes to an hour crying, "Mommy, I's sick!" or "Mommy, I's need to blow my nose." She and I shared a box of Kleenex and I bottle of water to combat the cotton-mouth.

This morning, as Daddy came into the room to get ready for work, Ava defensively stretched out on her newly claimed turf: "Ava's bed! Go away! Daddy cuddle Tina!" Poor Daddy! However, my sympathy is short-lived as I know that Bettina, who's on the upswing, is now able to sleep through the night and Daddy got a full-night's sleep. As I swing my feet down to the floor, I find a pile of Kleenexes scattered all about evidencing our long, miserable night. Then I think, "He probably wouldn't want to spend the night with us anyway!"

Finally Home with Baby

Now here are a group of pictures that tell the whole story...

Emily called Jon in Bahrain, half-way across the world, and says, "Honey, I think it's time." He's able to coach her through her delivery while waiting to board his flight home. He even gets this clever sign made up just before boarding.



Someone lets the cabin crew know that another soldier is coming home to yet another new baby and they bake him up a little surprise. Their cake reads, "Congrats, Dad."


Meanwhile, Emily and Ella cuddle with Baby Rudy, knowing that Daddy's coming home soon.


And, finally, Jon walks into the hospital the following afternoon, ready to take his son, bride and little Ella back home - as one proud family (along with his mother, my aunt MaryAnn, who's out to help).

Makes you get all choked up and teary, doesn't it?

Still Coming Home to Baby

Well, word came today: Jon's on his way home from Iraq, expected to land at home tomorrow afternoon. Both he and his wife, Emily, were hoping he'd be there to see his baby, due the following day, come into to world. However, Rudy James, born this morning at 9:30am at 8lbs. 6 oz. and 19 3/4 long, and God had other plans.

Ironically, I was emailing Emily asking how she was last night after one of the girls woke up requiring a diaper change and I couldn't sleep right away. She emailed back that she was up with back pain that wouldn't let her sleep either. After she signed off, it must have progressed quite rapidly!!

The good news is that they were able to hail Jonathan somehow in Navy-land and, via telephone, he coached Emily through her pushing. I'm sure that I'll have some photos to share soon, but in the meantime, welcome to the world, Rudy James and welcome home, Jonathan!!

First Carousel Ride

Just look at the glee in those little eyes! Could we just bottle up some of this happiness and save it for a rainy day? The label on the outside would read "The Feeling Of My First Carousel Ride."

Dr. Snoopy Gives Out Teeth

Bettina gets comfortable while waiting for Dr. Snoopy

Bettina opens wide and shows Dr. Snoopy her broken teeth

We don't know how it happened or even when. Little Bettina is so stoic and tough, that she just appeared one evening with two broken teeth.

Of course, I was on the internet all night asking other moms for "emergency" pediatric dentist referrals and panicked about how quickly I could call Dr. Snoopy's (who received his nickname from the decor of his office and was referred by 80% of the mom's who responded) office. Two-minutes after his office opened, I was assured that Bettina's teeth were not an emergency, but that the doctor would like to see her anyhow, just to make sure. At least the sense of urgency was placated.

The visit was very much like the rest of my week: manic and out-of-control. Both girls (I had to take Ava with me) were "in a mood" (partially my fault since I took an appointment near their nap time) and weren't listening to me in the waiting room (partially their fault since they only have one toy in the entire waiting room!!!). Somehow, I don't have a copy of the insurance card and my cell phone was also forgotten at home so I can't even call Paul to get the information from him. Then I watch Ava sneek into a corner and get very quiet. This means one thing: poop-time. I pulled out all my supplies and realize that Paul had taken out the wipes the night before to deal with something and forgot to put them back. No wipes!!

I asked the front desk for some Kleenex and they could only give me 3 sheets for some reason. So I take out my changing pad, have Ava lay down, and pull down her pants. Stuff OOZES ALL OVER - total diaper failure!!! It's all over her pants and during her wiggle-fest, gets onto her shirt. The recpetion finally sees I'm needing a whole lot more that 3-sheets and rescues me with a garbage bag and some wet paper towels. Needless to say, Ava went the rest of the visit naked wearing only shoes and a diaper. Bettina did great for the doctor (who gave her and me a compliment for being so obliging), and he reassured me that the teeth are fine. Nothing's loose or seemingly cracked (an x-ray during their regular cleaning with confirm it) and when she's older - 3 years or so - and can sit still for half an hour, he can bond them so they look whole again. Whew! I thought I'd have to deal with the guilt of seeing all her pictures until she's 8-years old be with her showing off her two-front broken teeth!!

Getting out the door was an ordeal again. Reception took about 7-9 minutes to even get to me to schedule their regular appointments. Meanwhile, both girls were a handful wandering in and out of the exam areas, laying on the floor whining like crankypots and for their balloons - which they continue to release, and keep trading their toys from Snoopy's doghouse which all seem to be those plastic vampire teeth, (I guess we are close to Halloween) but they think is candy and become frustrated when they can't eat them. I was a little miffed at how long it took them to get me my appointments, but definatley relieved that Bettina's broken teeth will eventually get better. I hope for the strenght to get through such a manic day and hope that their impending baths (thanks to Ava's failed diaper) will wash away much of the chaos.