Happy Birthday Wesley!

Today was the perfect day for Wesley. He slept late, until 7:45 am, and was in a great mood all day long. It's almost as if he knew it was his Big Day. We've actually been celebrating since yesterday, with a party at John & Tara's house before we left. He has received several fun presents which Daniel immediately commandeered for his own use. Tonight was dinner with Aunt Julie and Grammy (PaPa is in China and hated to miss it) and more cake.

Here is my chance to reminisce and gather some thoughts:

From an exciting birth (20 minutes after we arrived at the hospital) to his first birthday, it's been a fun year filled with sleeplessness (he didn't sleep through the night until week 17), first steps at 10 months (way too early!) and many other happy moments. We love having two children and feel like Wesley has completed our little family. He is a happy, precious child who happens to be very adorable with his bright red hair that draws lots of attention wherever we go. We have a feeling his hair will not be the only thing getting people's attention once he starts expressing himself. It's appropriate he was born after Thanksgiving, because we will always be grateful for him and what he and Daniel have brought to our lives.

Updated Deer Count: 3-4 (it got dark so it was hard to tell how many he cut up tonight). He let his 7 and 4 year old watch him dismantle the first one. yuck.

The Stomach Bug, Part 2

Today it's Daniel who is sick. We had so many plans for today and tomorrow because Dave is off work, all of them CANCELLED. We had two different photo appointments today we will now have to reschedule. I'm very disappointed because Dave is never off work and at home, and we never get to spend much time alone together. We had a really great day planned for tomorrow while the boys were going to be in Mother's Day Out. Such is life with kids but sometimes the timing is so unfair.

We don't even have any birthday gift for Wesley's birthday on Sunday. Oh well, he won't remember (unless we let him read this blog later). I will get him something tomorrow while I'm out running errands.

Hopefully the bad germ cloud will lift before we leave on Wednesday for Turkey Day. Daniel is going to miss his big Thanksgiving party at school tomorrow, but maybe he'll be up for turkey by Thursday.

Update: Wesley just went another round again. Yea! And this time I had to do a lot of carpet cleaning. So happy....

We don't smoke here- I promise.

Today I was updating our benefits information and choices through Dave's employer and I was asked if Daniel and Wesley are tobacco users. Hmmmm.... could they write a date function into that question and at least wait to ask until they are 10 years old?

Anyway, we are trying a higher deductible plan next year (hint: this means we aren't planning on baby # 3 in 2008) to save some major $$. I have HSA envy, because I just read a great article about how people are using them as a retirement savings vehicle. But alas, they are only for the self-employed, who deserve all the breaks they can get.

Speaking of tobacco, TN just banned smoking in all restaurants except those 21 and over places- I couldn't even tell you where one of those is located. I was at a baby shower today and we were suggesting restaurants for Thanksgiving and someone mentioned Waffle House was now smoke-free. I haven't been in there in years, am not planning to go, but it's nice to know that information for a future food emergency.

And case you were wondering, it would have cost us $2,880 more a year for health insurance if we all smoked. Plus the cost of cigarettes.

The Smiles are Back in Town

I learned two important lessons today.

First, things usually turn out better than I anticipate when I ask people to pray for us. I can think of at least three major things that worked out well today because of it, and many more small details that just fell into place. I love it when I have a day like this and I know I didn't deserve it and I didn't have any control over making it go so well.

170 moms got fed this morning, Wesley slept the whole time in the nursery, a dear friend made it to our meeting today, I got a small nap after being up since 4am, my mom came to lend support and have dinner, it rained on our grass seed, and I didn't see any throw up today (although I did find one nasty stinky thing I forgot to wash last night).

Secondly, just because kid # 1 rebounds from illness like the energizer bunny, this doesn't mean kid #2 will be exactly the same way. How dare they be so different? And who forgot to remind me I shouldn't assume the same thing for each kid? After approximately 48 hours on antibiotics, Wesley began to smile, walk, and show interest in life again. I have been sweating bullets because Daniel is an immediate rebounder (an antibiotic works on him in about an hour), and this didn't happen for Wesley. I had some good mom advice on this topic today that relieved my stress and then the smiles began to re-appear.

Looking forward to a good nights' sleep tonight (and Dave is back home a few hours early too)!

Day 4: Baby Throw Up

Warning: Gross topic here, read at your own risk.

Wesley has been projectile vomiting for 3 straight days now. Yesterday we went to the doctor to rule out strep throat and ended up with an ear infection diagnosis and tips on re-hydrating the poor little thing who was going on 48 hours with nothing at all in his tummy.

Today we did better, he kept several bottles of milk down but was still fussy and clingy all day. It seems Wesley has also forgotten he can crawl or walk. It's pitiful, but at least he was eating. He got some cereal and applesauce for dinner and appeared to enjoy it. All was going well until 8:00 and another bottle and everything came back up. And I mean EVERYTHING.

I'm now on my 18th load of laundry for the week and I am at the end of my rope. Did I mention dave is out of town and I am coordinating food for 170 people in the morning? I can guarantee I won't have much of an appetite. Overall, I am counting my blessings, because it could be so much worse- Daniel and I could be puking too. And it's amazing but none of the yuck has hit the freshly cleaned carpet (we've kept a lot of towels handy).

Please say a prayer for the little guy if you get a chance. I miss my happy Wesley. And my sanity.

Chicago Pictures

Wesley is feeling better, so I got a chance to upload the photos:

Chicago

Chicago, Chicago....

We had a fabulous time in Chicago last week. It was good to get out of our normal M-F routine and be somewhere else. It helped that we had the world's most excellent hosts, Dave's aunt and uncle. We saw more of Chicago than I would ever attempt by myself with the kids.

Dave is offically an environmental expert thanks to "Green Build" and even got to hear Bill Clinton speak about this important topic (may we also say that there is BIG profit to be made in environmentally friendly building since 22,000 people showed up for this event?)

Dave also spotted Kevin O'Connor from "This Old House", who I believe is the TV personality Dave would most likely be if he were on TV. Dave is much cuter though. I haven't figured out who my most likely TV personality yet. Suggestions?? (keep it nice, people).

It was especially exciting to make it home (note: Southwest's new family boarding policy is not so fun on a Friday night when you do have to board between "A" and "B" on a completely full flight).

We were enjoying our nice clean carpets (thanks Mom and Dad) when Wesley decided to get his sick on and started throwing up last night. We kind of "felt it coming" when he refused to eat all day Saturday. He's had a rough day today.

We are hoping for a quick turnaround because it's a busy week...pictures to come....

More Pictures

Here are some pictures of the festivities on Wednesday this week and one cute picture from this morning:

Halloween

I had 4 different girl friends this week tell me they don't celebrate the holiday because of the "evil" aspect, but Dave and I have decided we will re- evaluate our participation each year. We both have happy memories of growing up running around our neighborhood trick or treating and I love handing out candy to our neighbors. If we get rid of this, then next to go will be Santa, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, Harry Potter books, public school, then the TV, etc. We'll call them as we see them and explain it all to our kids when they can handle it, just like our folks did.

It's officially fall, because the Dead Deer count is now "1". I will keep you updated periodically on how many deer I see being "dismantled" out my back windows at Deer Killer's house over the next month. It's either tell you or complain to the Homeowner's Association and I'm trying (picture me saying this through my teeth) to love my neighbor.