follow the leader

I've wanted to catch a picture, but haven't so I just want to capture this before life moves on and I forget.

BabyOscar is not quite walking yet. But, he sure motors on all fours. Sylvia has really started enjoying playing with him. She often goes up to him and laughs to try to get him to smile. Especially when he's sad or crying. She also loves to fetch toys for him and gets particularly excited when he also plays with whatever was dropped in his lap.

One of their favorite games, though, is follow the leader. Sylvia gets on all fours and crawls around calling after Oscar to follow her. And they both cruise around giggling.

So cute.

we thought we were through the woods...

So, remember how it seemed like everyone was sick?  It feels like yesterday to me.  But, we've actually been healthy for a little while. 

Easter Sunday, however, Rafa had been in the play room and came into the dining room complaining that he hit his head on the chair and asking me to blow on it to make it feel better.  Poor guy then climbed in my lap and snuggled for awhile.  We were talking with Oma and Gong-Gong about how he's our snuggler and how sweet it is and how we should cherish this time because he won't always want to snuggle, and then he puked. 

So, we started interrogating a 2.5 year old to try to figure out how hard he had hit his head and cross-examine him to try to figure out what really happened.  At this stage, I would say it was only a mild panic that he had had a concussion or some other brain damage.  I called the nurse on call and we went through a litany of questions and tests (can he walk straight, focus eyes, does he have weak arms, is it difficult to wake him, etc.).  He was super tired, but seemed to be okay on everything else.  She told us that if he throws up again to go to the ER, but otherwise it sounds like he'll be fine.  30 minutes of cartoons later and he seemed to be better, so we didn't worry too much.  Not too much. 

We let him sleep through the night and he seemed to be better in the morning, so we left for work.  Around mid-morning we get the call from the nanny that he threw up again.  So, off to the ER we go.  I admit it, I was pretty nervous.  OK, more than pretty nervous.  I called a sweet friend who said she went through the same thing with her daughter and hopefully it's just a stomach bug.  I was so nervous, that it hadn't even occurred to me that it might be a stomach bug!  I'm operating on very little sleep these days, so the brain's not fully functional.  And sometimes the emotions have a stronger influence.

After a little poking and prodding at the ER and many more questions, we learn that it's highly unlikely that he has a brain bleed, and it's probably just a stomach bug.  Today is three days later and Rafa is in good spirits, lots of energy, started eating again, and back to normal!  Yippee!!

And, too good to be true.

Once we arrived home from a delightful music class, BabyOscar decided to relieve himself of his lunch, his snack, and his dinner...  And so it begins again...

first concert

Lots of firsts for the kids.  We took them to a family-friendly classical music concert put on by Mercury: The Orchestra Redefined.  It was wonderful.  We got to sit on the floor really close to the musicians.  The orchestra used the concert to teach children (and their parents) about music.  This concert was about Vivaldi.  They broke down the music and demonstrated different parts that we should listen for.  For example, we learned about fugues and they helped identify the phrase as it was being played by each section of the orchestra. 

Rafa was entranced.  He sat and stared and took the whole thing in.  If Sylvia hadn't wiggled a little and invaded his space, he might not have moved a muscle the entire time.  Sylvia got a little distracted about half way through.  She started getting hungry and tired and that made full attention more difficult.  She still did great not making very much noise and not running around.  I did let her play her favorite shapes game on my phone at some point until the end.  But, all in all, they were wonderful audience members and really enjoyed the concert.  I'm so grateful that this group is dedicated to fostering children's appreciation of classical music!

egg hunt!

Rafa and Sylvia enjoyed their first egg hunt of this year.  It was this morning at 9am.  So, of course that meant that D ran to the store at 6:30am to buy them baskets.  It's a good thing you can get really adorable ones at the grocery store these days! 

I tried to explain the concept to them before it began so that they would be a little clued in.  It went something like: When they say go, run, run, run and pick up eggs and put them in your basket!  So, we got there and it went like this: R: ran, ran, ran and really had a blast running, but ran past the eggs and just kept running along.  S: found an egg, a cute plastic frog shaped egg that was broken in half.  So, she bent over, tried to put it together, it fell apart again, tried again, it fell apart again, started getting frustrated, so I went over to help put it together, dropped it in her basket and it fell apart again, put it back together, gently put it in the basket, and of course when she got her next egg it fell apart again...you get the idea. 

In some ways, it's a little bit of relief that they weren't hoarding all of the eggs in sight because we don't really need to fight them from eating 25 candies, anyway.  But, I am supposed to bring 20 filled eggs to their school next week, so I was glad they at least picked up 6 each.  So, if I can't manage to dig up 8 eggs from last year or make a trip to the store, it'll at least be respectable to show up with a dozen.h

I think that they'll have at least 3 egg hunts this year, so I'm sure they'll figure it out by the end.  I'm just glad they're not at the age yet when they ask, where does the Easter Bunny come from? and why does the Bunny hide eggs?  and why do we eat baby chicks?  Maybe by the time they get to that age, Siri can answer all their questions.

a tough week

Let's see, in the past 10 days or so, we've had one dad with a stomach flu, two children with ear infections, one of which had an allergic reaction to 3 antibiotics, and one flu or other virus with fever. That affected 3 out of 5 family members. The fourth has hernia surgery scheduled for less than a month away, so maybe that's why he was spared. And, fortunately, I was also spared, for which I'm grateful. Not only because being sick stinks, but we needed at least one adult to change diapers and feed everyone.

To top it all off, our returning nanny was supposed to start this week, but her cousin is dying of cancer, so she wanted to be with her and her aunt, so she's not starting until next week. All the transition has been really rough on the kids. And therefore also rough on the parents. But, we think everyone is healthy now and we're hoping that we can all start sleeping again which will make for a much happier home for everyone. And maybe that means that I'll blog more. Maybe.

Crib dropped!

Oscar is 8 months (a couple days ago) and it already became time to drop his crib. Not only is he a really tall guy, but also he wants to get into everything. So, he's motoring around on all fours, getting to whatever interests him, pulling himself up, and, unfortunately, often falling down.

Concerned that one of those falls would be out of his crib, we decided it was time. The hardest thing about this change is that his hand-me-down crib from his cousin is much taller than Rafa's and Sylvia's. So, I can't quite reach the bottom when I put him down in his crib. So, he sort of slides the last few inches... But, it's into his bed, so it's all good, right?

It's also cute to see him sitting up in bed in the morning when he wakes up. Not quite as cute in the middle of the night when he sits up, but is really tired but won't lie down to go back to sleep. That's the package deal, though. And it's one stinkin adorable package!

looks may be deceiving

We are in between nannies (again) and only have backup child care until 1pm.  Since it's backup care, the kids are at home all morning, so I've been taking them out in the afternoons for their sanity and mine.  Yesterday, I took the kids to a friend's house for a play date.  Our friends were outside playing with their next door neighbors.  So, we joined in and played with the welcoming family. 

Today, we didn't have backup care, so I took BabyOscar to the office with me.  Thankfully, he slept for 2 hours and I was amazingly productive.  Because once he was awake, I was so nervous he was going to ruin something that I kept peeking at him, which definitely reduced my productivity.  D, unfortunately, caught something and spent most of the day sleeping.

So, when the kids woke up from their nap, I was set on getting them out of the house.  It only took about 45 minutes to get shoes on, but once we did, we head out.  The kids dug around in the dirt, played with chalk someone had left behind, ate dinner at a picnic table, and got covered in pollen.  Lo and behold, whom should we see?  The generous neighbor from our play date, who was at the park to pick up her boys from soccer.  She was amazed that I was at the park with all three little ones on my own.  I told her that our kids are really good kids and that going to the park isn't like feeding vegetables, washing hair, going to bed, or the other myriad things they don't like doing.  We chatted a bit more and she went off to meet other soccer moms.  Oscar is a little under the weather, too, so after the kids finished eating, I got the kids packed up and headed to the car. 

As I neared the car, wearing my Bjorn, with a carseat in hand, 3 backpacks (diaper bag and two cooler lunch bags) and Rafa and Sylvia following, the sweet play date neighbor asked if she could give me a hand.  I assured her that I was fine and that if I needed help, I wouldn't be afraid to ask.  And, without incident, the kids and I loaded up the car in a leisurely 3-4 minutes.  As I got in the car, I thought to myself that somehow I got lucky with pretty much the easiest park visit ever.  The kids played on their own.  They shared.  They went to the table and sat down to eat.  They followed me to the car without much protest.  They got into their car seats without a fight or a tear.  It was magical. 

I am so grateful for the offer for help.  We moms should support each other and we should also accept help instead of always just thinking that we can do everything all ourselves.  While I'm grateful my kids were a breeze, I also want that mom to know that while it looked like I had everything under control today at the park, I think it was the exact opposite once we got home.  Everything was a battle (getting in the bathtub, washing, getting out of the bathtub, picking PJs, getting PJs on, picking books, etc.) that culminated with Sylvia wailing a heart wrenching plea complete with uncontrollable sobs and tears for about 30 minutes because she didn't want to go to sleep.  Thank goodness I had the magical afternoon to help me endure the bewitching hour!