UPDATE

Hello All-

Michael headed to DC today to drive back with his BFF Will. Will is medically retiring from the Army so he is headed back to Leavenworth KS to become a stay at home dad! I am sure he is in for a rude awakening, so I am anxious for his first phone call when he can't sit around eating bon-bons and watching man shows! I am happy for him-- he will get to know his two beautiful kids better since he's been off fighting for our country! God Bless him.

After naps today the kids decided they wanted to see my mom and dad and spend the night there, so I took them over there and just got back! Now, Xavier is sleeping and I am emailing and cleaning. I am getting lots done, and that is been a welcome relief! I am trying to get some veggies cut up for when Will & Michael come home they can have a good dinner and I hope to make some cookies for Will to take on the road!

The kids have really been terrible this week. I don't know what is going on, but theres been lots of yelling, spanking, time outs, etc! Even Michael had it and he's only with them for a few hours at night. I am hoping that a night at my mom and dads will help straighten the issue out. I think it's because they are just bored and they've been sick. Clare had all her problems then we thought Will had a sinus infection. That didn't really clear up with the first antibiotic so on Tuesday they put him on another. Xavier had an ear infection on Tuesday so he just finished up his antibiotic today for that and if he doesn't start sleeping better by this weekend--I will be at the dr's Monday. He's really only been sleeping for about 1 1/2 hours at a time. He hasn't wanted to eat food, so he's been nursing and a 23lb kid can't make it that long on just the nursing :( So, it's been a really long week. I feel like I need to catch up on laundry, cleaning, sleeping, cooking, etc. Uh, being a mom :)

Well, sorry to bore you with our boring life. I hope you like the pictures! We took the kids to a Kids Eat Free night at a hotwing place by us (Wings Etc) and they have a lady that comes in and paints faces! They LOVED it!!

Here's hoping to a better week next week! Maybe the weather will turn around and we can have some time outside! Fingers crossed!

Happy VDay Pics--Posting below

Happy Valentines Day

Boy, it's been a crazy week:
Clare had been on an antibiotic last week but woke up SCREAMING bloody murder early Friday morning complaining that her cheek hurt. Well, my mom gut knew it was an ear infection. So, between holding her upright, sleeping with her sleeping on top of us, or just getting Tylenol in her, it was a long night. But, of course, Friday morning she woke up and first thing she said was that her ear didn't hurt. She ALWAYS gets dark circles under her eyes when she is sick and I saw it!!! So, as soon as the Dr opened on Friday we were there!!! Ear infection in both ears. So, we continue with the breathing treatments for the cough and then have the antibiotic for the ear stuff.
Will started his preschool this week. It's just a once a week program through the parks and rec department. We get to take him and be a part of it with him and he chose to have Michael go with him this week. He was SO PROUD of himself and had the sweetest little grin on his face as he left. I could have cried--the look on his face told me how excited he was, how proud of himself he was and just how overall confident he was. It lets me know he doesn't have middle kid syndrome--at least not all the time!!! He made some Valentine stuff so that is hanging front and center in the kitchen! I just can't tell you how sweet that little smile was as he left--I smile just remembering it! It's for sure one of those moments I will never forget!
Xavier is doing fine. He just started with the da-da-da's which I am always bummed about, but I guess it's just a matter of progression. He is sitting up and loving food. He is just about as happy and easy going as any kid can be!
Michael has had a terrible week at work. Surprisingly he hasn't been on a bender or anything, but I know he wanted to :) His birthday is this weekend and I just finished a cake! It looks pretty kid-a-riffic! They got to pick out which type of cake to get daddy so it is a funfetti cake, funfetti frosting and sprinkles. Lots of sugar!!!!!
Well, I will be posting some new pics as we just got a new camera! Luckily it is compatible with our software so it was easy to do!
Talk to you soon and Happy V Day!

Updated Family Pic

New week, new stuff!

We have had a weird week. Clare has had a cough/chest congestion for awhile now so we went to the dr on Thursday and they nebulized her and gave her a prescription. I called them back Friday when she had two doses of a three day medicine in her and there was no change in her dry barky cough. They sent us home with a nebulizer and another prescription for a steroid to treat her cough. Well, I tried the medicine (I don't let my kids take medicine I haven't tried, that way I know what it tastes like!) It was SO TERRIBLE and I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth. She took a little bit of it Friday night but she is a puker so I didn't push it. I called my aunt who is a pharmacy tech and she told me to try and find coke syrup because that is what the hospital cuts their meds with. Well, I couldn't find it and she could taste it in regular coke. She started running a fever and acting so tired at about 4:30 (which is SO UNUSUAL!) We gave her another breathing treatment and tylenol then called the dr. He basically said we would need to take her to the ER to get a shot in her. So, I talked to Clare about it and said that we would need to get pinches of the medicine if we couldn't get this in her. She ended up taking it after much gagging, vomitting and finally.... within two hours her behavior was somewhat back to normal. So, she coughed quite a bit last night in her sleep, but today is doing SO MUCH BETTER! It is wonderful, so hopefully she will be able to finally sleep and be ok!
Both boys have somehow escaped this, but I guess there is still time? The dr seemed to think that since she is a "crouper" this microwhatever is related more to that. It scared us, but like every other thing we've had come up--we know what to do next time :)
Michael is maybe going to DC next weekend to visit his friend Will. Originally he had purchased a ticket to meet him there and drive with him back (Will is getting out of the military to be a stay at home dad and his family will now be stationed in Leavenworth.) Well, since Will is now going to medically retire with the military, his timeline has changed. So, Michael already purchased a ticket and will either have to eat the charge or buy another ticket to come back. We will see! And yes, I am ok with him going, it might just be a long three days!
Other than that, we enjoyed yesterday as much as we could. Will and Xavier played outside a bit and got some fresh air. Clare made it for about an hour just playing chalk on the driveway but was not her usual self. Poor baby!
We got family pictures! They went ok. It's all a major money pit, so we just bought the cd this time. Everyone wants certain pictures and so we try to accomodate everyone, but it's impossible! So, this time we just paid a little more and bought the cd. I guess once everyone has what they want, we can see if the expense was worth it!
Talk to everyone soon. Oh, I lost our digital camera (not sure how or where!) so we have to buy a new one :( When we get one, I will be making up for lost time!!!!
Molly

Hello All

Well, nothing new to really report. We THINK Xavier is getting some teeth. He has had a bit of fussiness going on but we hope it is related to the teething. He is also having some of Wills bm problems, so we are trying to keep an eye on that as well! He is just as smiley as ever when he isn't uncomfortable, so that makes up for the lack of sleep :)
Will is doing great! He counted to 20 the other day which is pretty remarkable! He loves the move School of Rock with Jack Black. The other day he was sitting on the couch with his guitar and was pretty much quoting the movie. He said, "you-what's your name?" and I said mommy, he said, "mommy, come here. you place this guitar like this." It was SO cute. He was in character and everything! He is so affectionate and lovey, we had some special time together yesterday while Xavier was napping and Clare was at school. He just cuddled in my arms and I about melted. We don't always get that lovey one on one time! We just signed him up for school next year! I am nervous about it, but I wanted to make sure he got a spot. He will be doing the 3yr preschool, 4yr am preschool, the 4 yr 5 mornings. I know that sounds like alot, but we want him to be the oldest vs the youngest and with Clare and Will so close in age, I didn't want him to feel like he didn't get his turn at school!
Clare is doing well. Sassy as ever, but she is my devil spawn, so I guess we saw this coming :) I love it, she can sure hold her own! She spends alot of time in trouble as you can expect but she is a great big sister and is loving playing school and house! Luckily Will goes along with it all! I guess it is good prep for him! We decided that for her birthday we would go and see the play Pinkalicious! She is super excited and told me on the way to Moms Morning Out this morning, that basically when it is her birthday, everyone has to listen to her because she is the birthday girl! Got that!
Michael, as always, is busy at work! He has started a new workout regimen! The past few mornings he's had Xavier there to supervise with him! (he just works out in the basement on the total gym!) He, of course, looks great and I look like I just had a baby 5 mo ago! But, we both are trying to be better about our food choices! We did go to Dairy Queen last night, but we had SMALL blizzards vs large ones :)
Carries wedding is moving along well. I am working hard on the shower stuff. It's hard wanting to make everything perfect for her on a limited budget, but I know she will love whatever I do! I am anxious to try on the dress. That might be just the motivation I need. I also need to hit the tanning booth, but that will come!
Take care everyone and I will update soon!

Just Another Day in Paradise.....

That's a country song, but the song runs through my head about 1000 times a day! Don't get me wrong, I love my life and wouldn't change a thing (some sarcasm there!) but when I battle Will I can't help but sing that song. Lately, we have these random fits that are TOTALLY unexplainable. For instance: he asked for cereal with milk for breakfast. i gave it to him on the table, in his spot, and he cried. i asked him why, he said he wanted cereal...... the crying continued for about 3 minutes until I told him that if there was something wrong, he needed to tell me with his big boy words or else he would be spanked. HE STOPPED! It's so random and uncalled for, so I don't know what to do. I do baby him, I know that. But, he is just so overly emotional. Michael yells and then says he will spank and it usually stops so I guess I need to try to be harder on him -- but it is hard. He is only 2 but has the mental/physical capabilities of someone 3 or 4. It's frustrating. Today at church I just prayed to Mary to "help a sista' out!" Give me the insight into his sweet little head to make necessary changes to make our lives better! Let's hope we can figure something out!!! Any constructive input is welcome!
Xavier is eating an entire 2nd foods vegetable and a 1st foods prunes/pears twice a day. He loves it. He eats like he has been fed that way his entire life! He doesn't make a mess nor does he try to help! He truly is the most pleasant baby.....so sweet and happy! (he was 5 mo on the first and weighs 21lbs)
Clare is doing well. She has lots of friends and is just enjoying everything she does! We are starting to plan her birthday (not until May) but her favorite book was made into a play--Pinkalicious! It is here in Bloomington on her birthday! So, I am trying to talk with a few of her friends' moms to see if they could go~we will of course be wearing all pink, with our magic wands and lots of girliness :)
Well, enjoy your weekend, or what is left of it!