Pneumonia!

Steve came home last night instead of this afternoon. Good thing, too. I took the opportunity to see the doctor before the weekend because I really felt that my symptoms warranted a visit. She heard crackling -- pneumonia! Antibiotics and cough syrup with codine for me. I hope that Owen fights this off!

I feel crummy!

My body decided that after Owen's party was over it was ok to get sick. I've got this awful chest cold with aching, fever, and constant coughing. Steve's away this week (of course) but he's coming home a little bit early for me. I know there is no good time to be sick, but Halloween and then Sierra's birthday party to plan for? And Owen is sick now, too. Not coughing much yet, but I'm worried. I hope he can go trick-or-treating.

What is it?

I had mixed feelings about the cake I made for Owen's birthday. Take a look and tell me what you think it looks like:

It's good luck!

I was parent-helping at preschool today when the teacher brought Sierra in to me because a bird pooped on her head. Now I wish I had a photo. It was a really big meconium-like poop right on top of her head. It didn't want to come out! The teacher said that in her 21 years teaching preschool, that had never happened to one of her students before. I had to wash her hair four times to get it all out -- once with Dawn dishwashing liquid. What was that bird eating??

Five!

Owen is 5 years old! I'm really proud of him and how far he's come socially. We had a very successful dinosaur party at our house today. We had a whole schedule of dinosaur-related activities planned and a triceratops birthday cake. It was exhausting for Steve and I to set up and plan, but seeing how much fun the kids had made it very rewarding. I hope to post some pictures tomorrow. I'm too exhausted right now.

Seriously Funny

Oh my! I stole this from another blog and couldn't resist posting it here. If your kids ever wonder why it's important to learn how to spell... now you know.

I Love Fall in NE

May used to be my favorite month. Spring: the flowers all bloom, the weather warms up, my birthday rolls around.... But lately I think October is replacing May as my favorite. Certainly my birthday is losing its magic as I get older.... I really think that nothing compares to seeing the leaves change in New England. The weather turns crisp and cool. Putting on a fleece jacket and going for a walk with the kids just before sunset is like heaven! I really wish I had remembered to carry my camera around with me about three days ago -- that's when the color was really peaking here. But here's a few photos that were taken last weekend at a party on a lake:




And here's a few I took today around my yard and neighborhood:

Bad to the Bone!

I babysit for one of Owen's friends every Wednesday. A couple of times she has given him an "earring". Have a look:


The friend educated him on earrings: boys only wear one, girls wear two. She put it on his right ear, whatever that means these days! (BTW, it's a sticker.)

Sierra got a pair one day, too:

Only steps from the toilet...

This morning, Sierra didn't seem herself. She told me that her mouth hurt (teething) so I gave her some motrin. Then I hung out with her in her bed until she said her teeth felt better. But she still seemed off. I kept asking if something else was wrong -- no answer. I finally got her dressed, but she was still pretty lethargic. I went into the hallway holding her and she proceeded to vomit on herself, me, and her stuffed hippo.

Oh.

There was something else wrong. Why didn't you tell me? I think she just doesn't yet have the vocabulary for "I feel like I'm going to vomit." After all, I don't think she's ever done that before....

Thankfully, she was better after that -- no fever, no more vomiting.

We worried a bit about the hippo (her favorite), but after making sure we could order another one, I put him through the washer and dryer. We were imagining him floating up for air periodically in the washer.... He did come out fresh and clean and all in one piece.

Now let's just hope that both kids are healthy tomorrow when they both have school and I really don't want to have to cancel any of the many obligations or activities of the day.

I guess this about sums me up!

You Are Oregano

You have are charming, funny, witty, and smart. You love to party - and people love to party with you. You are always friendly and warm. You are able to help people get along.

What Spice Are You?

The Benefits of Being a Pack Rat

Most of the time, my pack rat tendencies are detrimental. My house is a disorganized mess, I have trouble finding things (but I usually do, because I know they're here somewhere!), and I drive my husband crazy. But every once in a while, I find that something I've been meaning to get rid of, but allowed to sit around the house anyway, does become useful again.

Lately, my almost-three-year-old has been chewing on her fingers incessantly because her 2-year molars are coming in. Today, she was putting a super ball in her mouth, I believe to chew on it. I had to take it away because she kept doing it, even when I told her it was dangerous. So I went and dug through the bin of toys that I'd planned to get rid of and found three teethers to wash off and give to her. She's having a blast right now trying them all. She's especially intrigued by the one that vibrates when you bite it. Ironically, she never used teethers when she was a baby.