Happy Easter!

It's March already

I can't wait for spring/summer. The kids are going to love playing outside. The only thing they do now outside is shove snow in their mouths!! I am nervous for all the flooding they are talking we are in for. We have gotten so much snow!! The kids are doing great! We are starting to familiarize the girls with the potty. They still can not say "I have to go potty" however they do say "poop" and run to the potty. "Poop" means both one and two :) Charlie is getting so big! I can't believe I don't have any babies anymore, one toddler and two soon to be preschoolers!! Makes me want to have another one-not! Three is perfect for us.
I have been going to school this semester and it is challenging to get the papers done with the kids up, so after they are in bed I do them. I had only 3 classes before but today started my fourth class! 60 days to go before summer break, I feel like I am in high school again, looking forward to summer!
The girls are excelling at their speech therapy. They are talking a whole lot more. Favorite saying is "no, no, momma" with a shake of the finger and a little head shaking! I think it's cute now but in 5 years I will not!! If we stop at McD's, they will order from the backseat and tell the person "thank you" or in Baylee's case "your welcome". Other favorite, heard a lot phrases, "here you go", "shhhh momma", "there it is", "oh, oh" and more that I can't think of right now because I just had to bust up a fight between the girls over a purse. I have two very big girly girls, they love "lips" which is lip gloss, purses, dresses, their hair done and mommy's makeup bag (that I have to hid up high, walked in to several make up sessions that lead to baths).
Charlie is quite the little flirt. He loves to bat his big eyes at the ladies. He is talking a lot lately. He also thinks the tv has to be on ALL the time, ask Auntie Janice, he gets mad if she turns it off. I don't think he walks anymore, he runs everywhere. He always tries to run out of the garage to get to the snow. He is soooo much like his dad when we get in the car, he falls instantly asleep even if he has just napped!! He also got to go on his first rides at the MOA this last month, which he loved and didn't want his sisters to get a turn!
We are doing great and can't wait to enjoy some warmer weather!

Bumps in mommy's road

Well, it's been awhile since I have posted, several reasons, mostly because I keep forgetting. This has been a month from mommy h..e..double hockey sticks :) We started off with 3 kids having the flu. Charlie lasted longer and longer with high fever and diarrhea, so we took him in to find out he had a severe bladder infection from his recircumsion surgery in late January. So for several weeks now we have been fighting the crud, we seem to pass it around. That is minor compared to last weekend. Actually, the worst days of my life with children started last Thursday! We all had done a family shopping trip to Target on Wednesday evening. Needless to say some of the bags were still on the kitchen table in the morning, the Charter man came to fix our cable AGAIN! I noticed the kids had gotten a mirror I had bought out of the bag. I finished showing the cable man where the outlet thingy was, then went and fetched the mirror, I was afraid they were going to break it, I should of been afraid for something bigger than that. Tony got to it first, he then turned to me and said "where's the other battery?" My response was "what batteries?" as I didn't know the stupid compact mirror held 2 watch batteries in it, I had no clue. Well, this turned in to a frantic search of the downstairs, everyone helped including the cable man. I called the doctor and she told me to bring all 3 kids to the ER ASAP! So in short the three of them were thrown in the car and mommy hauled them down to Children's (daddy had to go to work). Mommy pulled up hauled them out and gave the keys to security as the nurses were waiting for us and started grabbing the kids to get xrays. At this point, I realized how serious it was, mommy went into silent panic mode. Charlie was first, due to age. They cleared him and then asked me which one of the girls I suspected, I pointed to Amelia. They xrayed her and came out with her and said "we have found the culprit". Yes, my daughter swallowed a watch battery. My heart sank. I was scared for her life!!! Swallowing a battery can kill a child! Amelia luckily had it in her stomach, it passed the esophagus! If caught in the throat, the child has 2 hours to remove it or it becomes fatal, we live 45 minutes away from the hospital and we searched for 30 minutes. The doctors told me that she would pass the battery out in her stool. I was not happy about this, I wanted it out, they must of needed someone to convince me as my kid's pediatrician called on my phone to assure me it would be fine. I reluctantly went home. I watched Amelia all night, praying she would poop and it would be there. She slept next to me, I didn't sleep a wink. The next morning, I got up and was in the bathroom when Amelia came in crying. She started coughing really hard and then spit up, to my horror she had a blood clot in her spit. Off to the ER! They took an xray of her tummy and said the battery was currently in the colon and should pass soon. However, they needed to do an endoscopy to see what damage it did and where, we prayed it wasn't her throat or burned a hole in her stomach. So, we had to wait for the OR to be free. I think every possible thought entered my mind and that 7 hour wait was killing me. She was taken finally in at 2:45! At 3:00, I found out she had some damage in her stomach but nothing major that wouldn't heal on it's own. But the darn thing was still in her when we were sent home. She hadn't pooped since. I gave her miralax on Saturday.

Tangent: On Saturday evening, right after dinner, I was following the kids up the stairs for baths. Amelia was up already but Baylee and Charlie were still on the stairs. I was a good 6-7 stairs behind carrying some crap. Charlie reached up to pull on Baylee's favorite blanket, well Baylee didn't appreciate it, she pushed him. I watched in slow motion as Charlie fell head over heels down the stairs hitting his head against the wall. I picked him up and he was bleeding and a huge bump was already there. A call to Auntie Julie and we all went to the ER, yes Again, three times in three days! Charlie had a cat scan and he was just fine. They at first thought one stitch or liquid stitches but it healed over before they got to that! UGH! I was ready to turn in my mommy card at this point.

Back to the battery: Amelia pooped 3 times before Monday, but we didn't find the battery. We brought her in to the doctor's office for a follow up xray! They said it was clear. What? I didn't find a battery, and let's just say to all that know me, I searched the poop 3 times and then made Tony do it twice!! I hadn't sleep in 4 days. I watched her for any signs something was wrong. I know some would say I was over doing it, but this small thing could of killed my daughter! I wanted it gone and her cleared of harm. She went another 2 days, pooping a lot, the miralax kicked in, and she had her final xray and there was no sign of the battery! She is battery free!!! I still wished I would of found the thing, just for my own peace of mind!

I feel like a terrible parent for bringing an item in to our home that was so easy to open and get batteries out of. I didn't even know the thing had batteries, I just tossed it in the cart, I didn't even read it. I have thrown out anything that has those kind of batteries in it and have sealed all our battery toys with duct tape!!! I don't ever want to go through this again! What I have learned is this: if you suspect at all that your child has swallowed a battery do not hesitate take them immediately to the ER, minutes are precious to the health of your child if they did swallow it!!!

Now, back to get my kids to sleep! I wasn't going to post this but maybe it will help one person in the future and that is worth the embarrassment that I was a terrible parent on that dreadful Thursday, not paying attention to what was going on!

Baylee at the Rainforest Cafe!



















Amelia getting her color on!























Look at that smile because this is the only time he smiled. He did not like the thunderstorms at the restaurant! He spent most of the time whining to go out, he pointed to the door several times. Poor guy, the girls were the same way when they were younger. We celebrated Valentine's Day with Daddy on the 15th because he had to work on the 14th. We spent the 14th at Auntie Janice's Daycare exchanging valentines and having a little party with the kids. The kids really liked opening up all the cards and REALLY enjoyed the candy!! Amelia, Baylee and Charlie bought Grandma I some flowers and chocolates, they were soooo excited to give them to her. They hung out the door waiting for her to walk to Janice's. It was super cute! We are getting quite the snowstorm today so I finally was able to update our blog!

Charlie's 1 year professional photo shoot

Typical moment before going somewhere

Amelia dressed up ready to go to Target with mommy! She is practicing her ballerina moves!






















Baylee not wanting to give up the nuk and blanket to go in the car! She loves her princess crown (it cost a whole quarter at Target-their $1 section was on 75% off)!






















Well, Charlie is just plain ticked off. He wants to take a nap and mommy wants him to put his shoes and coat on, how dare she! Trying to get him to afternoon naps only, he takes his morning nap around 11:30, I am moving him 1/2 at a time, to eventually be 1!! He is not a fan some days, this is one of those days ;)

New start

Mommy is starting school tomorrow. She is very excited and nervous at the same time. Classes this semester are, Algebra, Writing & Research, History of the US and American Sign Language. Wish her luck!!

Obession with getting the kids rooms decorated-kind of

I am trying to find inexpensive fun things to decorate the kids rooms with. I have decided on themes, girls' room-Disney Princess (surprise surprise), they really like Princess Tiana and Ariel! Charlie's room is going to be Handy Manny! Now, I am trying to motivate myself to go thrift store shopping to find creative items for their rooms. I do want to paint some canvas art for Charlie's room. We are not able to use those cool peel and stick murals because we have textured walls and they WILL NOT stick, no matter what you try. If anyone has any ideas let me know. I do not want to paint their walls, I want to create something without having to paint.

Girls room ideas so far:
Dress up corner-I am reusing some old hooks I found in the tool box to screw into the wall, they have disney dress up outfits they got from Auntie Alexis. I am painting letters to spell out DRESS UP above it. I am also looking for a cheap kid's hat stand for all their crowns and hats. This will go in the closet or just outside the closet, haven't decided yet.

I have 2 canvas art and 2 framed disney princess artwork for the walls.

I want to paint letters to spell out each girl's name with Princess in front of it, for above their beds.

I want to get disney princess bedding(this is going to wait until mommy gets her budget in check.

We have a little table already in there, we need some more storage for toys, I also have to find an area for their dolly play stuff. Thank goodness they have such a large room.

I plan on making curtains. Hitting the clearance fabric sections.

Charlie's room ideas

To get the toddler Handy Manny sheet/comforter set.

He has a cool blue dresser and a funky orange chair in his room. He also has a table and chairs in there, I am going to see if peel & stick stickers will stay on them.

I want to get some canvases and paint them first then add each one of the tools from a peel and stick sticker set to decorate the walls.

I want to paint HANDY CHARLIE letters for above his bed.

Those are all the ideas I have now. If someone out there in cyberland has any other really cool inexpensive ideas, let me know!!!

New Year Resolutions-No, let's try no lifestyle

Well, I thought about making New Year resolutions, but why, I always mess them up the next week. So, I have decided to change my lifestyle instead. What does this mean? I am trying to change things I don't like about myself or the way I live for life not just for the new year. I have made a list of things that are important to me and what I need to do to make those things priority to me. I have been doing well on some of the things I want to "change", others are a challenge, but just because I fell off the bandwagon one day doesn't mean I have messed up for life. I just try again the next minute, hour, or day! I am trying not to be hard on myself when I mess up, but I am rewarding myself when things go right. My house, the downstairs so far, is becoming organized so life is easier. No more scrambling to pack the diaper bag at the last minute, it is always packed and ready to go now, which makes getting out of the house easier. Now to figure out how to lessen the time it takes to get winter gear on three fidgety kids LOL! My dishes are now done right after a meal, yes I used to let them sit. I am also making dinners every night for us. Tonight, I made a turkey breast, mashed taters, stuffing and rolls for dinner! I am also not overstocking my cupboards, I am trying to finish the food in them first. I am having the girls help me cook something once a day, yesterday they "helped" stir the cinnamon apple muffins. Also, we are organizing the billion toys the kids have. I also made my goal, tonight actually, of getting all the stuff out of the garage so I can park my car in it. I am utilizing items I found at garage sales, thrift stores or got free to decorate our new home. Tonight, I spray painted two items to match the bench at the front door, BTW I love spray paint it made a huge difference in the two items. I might start spray painting everything :) The house is coming to order so to speak!

At home fun

Charlie and his vacuum, well really it's his sisters but he has claimed it for his own. He follows me around while I vacuum.






















Baylee in her dress up outfit!






















Amelia in her dress up outfit!

















I went upstairs to get a bath ready for the kids before nap time because they just wouldn't lay down. I came back downstairs to this!

Happy New Year!!

Photos are of the kids passed out before midnight on New Year's Eve at the Golden's. The two adorable dogs are Auntie Joyce's, Scooter and Maggie! Hoping you all have a great New Year! We are focusing on organizing our lives, new lifestyle. Mommy is starting school in 9 days, she is very nervous! The kids are going to get their vital stym therapy this year, so hopefully the medical things will calm down! Here's to a new year, cheers!