Total Confusion

(Typed Tuesday 12/29, 0043)

So many important decisions to make.

Dan's work schedule has changed, so we see each other very little now. I don't even know the next time we both have a day off together.

I am REALLY happy Christmas is over, maybe we can get a bit back on track.

I am finally getting over the two week plague (part II), and Evan is too, so maybe now we can all get some sleep.

I took Evan to the pedi today to try to figure out what is going on with him. Because of work, he's been getting a lot of formula. And I'm okay with that. Food is food any way you look at it. I don't judge mother's by how they feed their infant. We started Evan on rice cereal about a week or so ago. He LOVES it. I give him some for breakfast and some at dinner. I think it is his favorite parts of the day.

Long story short, he's wheezy. It doesn't surprise me...we already have 2 asthmatics. He is weighing in at 17 pounds, 15.5 ounces. Big boy! He is not even 6 months yet! He has dry skin, which is what is causing the rashes on his face. He is off of soy formula now, and on Similac Advance. The pedi thinks a lot of why he isn't sleeping is because he needs the solid food. When he wakes in the middle of the night (X2 or 3), it's to eat. That is the only reason.

So, I think we are headed in the right direction with him (I think). Babies don't come with instructions, and all six of my kids have been different, so this is a total trial and error type of thing!

Things are even more chaotic because the kids are on Christmas break. They miss seeing their friends, they miss the "normal" daily school routine. So do I.

Our personal lives right now are crazy and there is so much to figure out. I'm a little overwhelmed.

Sad Day

Today, after 7 years, we said goodbye to Ladue Early Childhood Center.

We started Jack there when he was just two and a half years old. I still remember Jack's first day there. I was the mom crying and he was the excited, social child who jumped out of the car without saying goodbye.

Today, I was again the mom crying as all of the teachers who we have gotten to know so well hugged us as we were leaving.

As I look back at our time at LECC, we grew as a family. I had four babies while we were there. My children went summer camp there. It was a constant steady in our lives. My car knows the way there without having to direct it.

Being a parent, you try to make the best decisions you can for your children. Did I expect too much from this preschool? Did I not take enough personal responsibility as a parent regarding my children's education?

So, we decided to change preschools. Somewhere where I feel as if I'm starting all over. New people, new kids, new.....everything.

So it was difficult packing up Libby's things today and driving away one last time. Another chapter closed. Sometimes it all feel like too much...

I guess it's good that I have this winter break to get used to this change. I'm not sure if I ever really will.

Fa-La-La-La-La

I do enjoy this time of year. This year, things have been particularly busy. The weeks are flying by. I don't know where the past six months have gone...

So I decided to bake the other day. I enjoy cooking, but baking, not so much. I went online to Betty Croker. I found this recipe for Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies. Like make from scratch brownies. Took me forever to make these things. It was stressful. Nothing enjoyable about it. They turned out well, though. Thank God because they were gifts for the kids teachers.

Now, I'm in a little bit of a panic. I still have a couple of gifts to wrap. I still have to get all of the kids Santa gift from my parents house (the only safe haven where little eyes can't go peeking!), and we still have Anne's dollhouse to put together.

The issue is this, I have to work Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Libby's Christmas break starts Monday after school and the boys are in school until Wednesday. Things are crazy.

Could be worse, My brother and sister in law are getting 18-24 inches of snow this weekend. We just got a little rain, which is good, because I refuse to drive in bad road conditions.

Evan At Five Months

The Weeks Fly By...

Happy 5 month Birthday, Evan. It still feels as if you were just born yesterday.
XOXO

What A Day

Okay, so today was a long day. I woke up feeling like utter shit, and Dan is working all weekend, so lucky me.

The Big Boys are in basketball, so that entertained them this morning.

I took the Little Amigos to my parents house to help them decorate their tree around 9:30am. Every year, my parents buy a big, beautiful Frasier Fur. It smells so good (I could actually smell it through my one nostril that wasn't stopped up). The other reason I love going over there on this particular day is because my Grandpa Louis always makes an appearance through my father. I call it his once a year visit. For those of you who were lucky enough to know my Grandfather knows exactly what I'm talking about :)

Libby enjoyed playing with the manger scene (which later she told my Mother that Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus were playing hide-n-seek. Good luck with finding them, Mom). Libby and Anne were big helpers hanging ornaments on the lowest branches. I think they hung about twelve ornaments on two branches. Poor tree :)

Libby unwrapped an ornament that was for our old dog, Winston, and yelled, "It's Cash Money!". My sister would have been so proud.

I took the easy route for dinner and went through McDonald's drive through. I couldn't bare to cook. And I couldn't put up a fight when they all asked for Happy Meals. "You win", I thought to myself. $17 later....

After dinner, Jack wanted to watch "Cops" with me. I love "Cops". I think it is so funny. Unfortunately, the entire one hour episode was about arresting prostitutes.

So Jack was quiet during the first few minutes until he just had to ask, "Mom, what is a working girl and why is she getting arrested just because she gave that guy some money to give her a ride in his car?".

OMG, change the channel. And change it fast.

What do you say to that?

So I told him you can only give money to taxi cab drivers. I suddenly took a deep breath and thought, "That was an awesome response on short notice".

I'll admit, I totally panicked. I was reading my Discover Magazine and not really paying attention to the context of "Cops". Lesson learned.

That will be the last time we watch "Cops" together. Darn, I loved that show.

Give Blood

For anyone is is able to give blood, please do so. And for all of you that are preggo, please donate your cord blood. I have donated all of my kids cord blood and this week, will be giving blood at work. This gift more precious than any present that you can buy this holiday season. You really can save another persons life.

I have the second most rare blood type. I am AB+ (universal recipient).

Do you know your blood type?