Post Turkey Day Trip Update

Here is the gang in front of the tree and Uncle Glenn and Aunt Jenny's B&B.

We are back from our wonderful trip up north. We came in at about 8pm on Sunday night after spending a challenging 4 hours at Logan airport (4kids+boredom=parental insanity). It was a wonderful and chilly trip. We got to see most of the Synnotts and some of the Servant/Bombardier gang.

Noah was a hit (of course) and We loved seeing and squeezing baby Quinn. Quinn cut a tooth while we were there and yet he was still a happy and snugly baby!

We took the kids to Plymouth Rock and since it was less than 30 degrees, they were less than thrilled to hang out there. Yosie loved seeing the Mayflower docked at Plymouth.

Grandpa's house was full of cousins and they played inside and outside and were so sad to leave each other. We all wish we lived closer to one another. What's wonderful is that the distance doesn't diminish the connections we have with our family.

I really enjoyed hanging out with my sister-in laws. I am so lucky to have such a strong, smart and caring group of women in my life. They are amazing with all the kids and I learn so much from them!

I went to Amy's on Sunday with Noah and saw some of my family. As I was approaching her street I got butterflies in my tummy from excitement. I didn't realize how much I missed everyone until that moment. It's kind of like the days are filled with work and getting Noah home and feeding/bathing/sleeping and automatic pilot takes over. It's nice to have the time to pause and be with family.

Thankful Wednesday

I am thankful for all my family and friends today. I am thankful for my ability to walk, talk, think, hear, breathe & smile. I am thankful that we are going to visit family. I am thankful we will be coming home. I am thankful for my job, house, car, paycheck, daycare center and students. I am thankful that (God willing) this year will be my 5th abstinent Thanksgiving where I will not practice my addiction of overeating. I am thankful for the thought that I can choose what kind of day I have today. I am thankful for what God has given me, has taken from me, and has left me with. I am thankful for my commitment to self-improvement and forgiveness. I pray that I am patient,loving and present this holiday. I pray that you have a miraculous holiday full of health and happiness.

Neat

Can you answer this riddle?Here is a pretty neat little thing from Paul Harvey. See if you can guess the riddle at the end.
Paul Harvey Writes:
We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.
When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.
On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.
If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

We secure our friends, not by accepting favors, but by doing them.

Paul Harvey RIDDLE:

When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.
What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?

Thankful Tuesday

It was a wonderfully hectic day yesterday. I say that because my job yesterday was hosting 60 special ed students who sang and played in a band for our students. They ranged in ages from 11-22. The were so amazing. Some of them couldn't carry a conversation, but when they got on stage they sang their hearts out and were so full of life and happiness. It was contagious. They had all sorts of physical and mental limitations that melted away when they shared their talent with us. It made me want to cry! It was a lot of work and I was exhausted after. I have so much respect for the Teachers who work with them everyday. It was a blessing to have spent time with them this week of Thanksgiving as it was a wonderful reminder of being thankful for what God has given us.

Giggle Noah

Noah was a giggling boy on Friday and I caught it on camera! He is doing so much better on the nebulizer, antibiotics and cough medicine. He is such a trooper! The photo is his 4 month old face.

We celebrated BirthGiving or HappyThanksDay with Dad and Mom yesterday for Dad's birthday and Thanksgiving. We got Dad a reservation for a cooking class....yummy.

We are on the 3 day countdown to Massachusetts and Brian is so excited he cannot sleep already!

Good news

Noah's chest x-ray was negative for pneumonia! Yeah!

Finally Friday

I am back to feeling like myself today. I am worried about Noah as he had to have a chest x-ray yesterday and they are trying to rule out pneumonia. He is on a nebulizer, antibiotics and cough syrup. The poor kid has been poked and prodded three weeks in a row by the doctor. I am hoping resting this weekend will get him ready for our trip to Massachusetts. Once again Mom and Dad missed out on having him on their Thursday. He started giggling on Tuesday night. What a trooper throughout all this!

Flu Central

So I woke up yesterday and had the flu.....BAD... Brian took Noah to daycare and I ended up in bed or throwing up all day....ICK... then Brian got home with Noah and they both got sick too. Talk about a long night. We ended up letting Noah sleep with us because running between the bed, crib and bathroom was insane. I do not want to have another one of those nights EVER. I am at work today because I have no time off and our Massachusetts trip is next week. I'd rather be in bed!

Snotty Tuesday

Snotty since Noah and I have head colds. His cough is so pathetic and sad. He hates the nose bulb snot-taker-outer thingy and now if he even sees it he begins to cry. We've been taking showers with him (which is fun!) to decongest him and using baby vapor rub (which smells really funky).

So for this past weekend I have a story to share... Saturday night Brian was getting out of the shower and turned the hot water handle only to have it come off in his hands and start spraying hot water straight out and so we had to shut off the main water valve in the front yard. It was 10:30 at night so he didnt realize when he stuck his hand in the meter box that a red ant colony had taken it over and so they started biting him in the hand and arm. So he gets a rubber glove and luckily our plumber neighbor came over with a funky tool and shut it off for us. But we were without water until lunchtime the next day with three sick boys in the house and no potty's. Man am I glad this weekend is over.

So today I have the cold and I am deteriorating hourly.

I did get to go see Noah at his new daycare today and although the building is not as nice as his old, place, he is happy and the staff is nice. I left him sleepy in a swing.

Tubular Tuesday

I wanted to share an exciting development. After I dropped Noah off at daycare today I was crying (again) on the way to work and praying to God. I had seen a daycare center under renovations near my office and today there was a sign on the lawn that said “Now Open.” I called immediately, checked it out at lunch and will be moving Noah there.
It is a mile from my office. I can go at lunch or whenever, it is even LESS expensive than where he is now and I am thrilled! God is awesome!


This is me, thrilled!

I made a shadow box with professional photos and keepsakes as a present for Brian and gave it to him on Sunday. I sneaked and got the photos taken when he turned 3 months old and I wanted to give it to him now so we can hand them out when we are in Massachusetts for Thanksgiving. The hat is from the hospital with our ID bracelets in top. The blue and white rectangles are pieces of streamers that Brian decorated the house with when we came home from the hospital. The measuring tape was used in the hospital when Noah was born and the "I'm a Boy" was the card in his bassinet at the hospital.

Monday Monday

So we slept in today because little man had an off night. When he went to the doctors office on Friday she blamed his fussiness about eating and his stuffiness/coughing in the morning to colic. This doesn't seem right to me as colic is supposed to stop around 4 months of age, not start. I hate it when he cries like he is in pain, it's almost like the cry of a 2 year olds temper tantrum and it comes out of nowhere!

On a happier note, he rolled from back to belly twice Friday night. It was too cool! He seemed very shocked by this and wasn't sure what to do with himself.

This weekend we visited with another new person, Jordan McDougall, born Friday evening 8:30ish. Although she weighed over 9 pounds, she seemed so light compared to Noah. I ALREADY dont even remember him being that little. How strange!

This weekend we also did Winter Cleaning (instead of Spring) and made room for a new piece of furniture in the playroom. I love to de-clutter my space as it de-clutters my brain! We also went to dinner on the St. John's river last night and listened to some great live blues music.

Noah video

Fantastic Friday

Noah in the crib at my Mom's house yesterday. According to his doctors visit today (nothing is wrong) he weighs 15.25 lbs.





So it is a Fantastic Friday because we made it through another week and I only have 1.5 hrs until I'm with my boy for the day. I am still really struggling with not being with him. I am so tired at the end of the day and I dont think we are getting eachother's 'best.'


I'm finding it hard to stay positive when my heart is breaking about not being home with him.

This week at work was our Fall Fest. It was a busy, but fun day of dancing and food and info. tables. This is probably why I am exhausted this week as I tend to 'over help.'



This weekend we do not have the big brothers as they are off to Disney with their mom and her dad. It's car weekend for us as Brian wants to work on the cars and get new tires for the sonata. Ouuu....fun

Here are some of my students from Fall Fest. Emily, Mary Alice and Kim.