Me & My 2 Boys

I'll start this post with some random photos that I happen to be in, seeing as it was Mother's Day and my husband just got a new camera to toy around with. Enjoy.

 

Mother's Day 2013

Baby #3 at 17 weeks

Keeping-my-head-barely-above-water

This picture really shows how I feel most days. I was working on the menu and grocery list one night after the boys were in bed. I'm not sure why Ry snapped it. Don't I look wasted? It is about all I can do most days to keep everyone clothed, fed, and semi-clean. And that is to say nothing of the house and yard work.

And I am letting a lot of balls drop.

Bad Mom Example #1: I locked Brennan in the car at the gas station a few weeks ago. I had to use their phone to call Ryan's cell (the only number I have memorized) who had to leave work and drive home (20 minutes) to get the spare set of keys and meet us (10 more minutes). He missed more than an hour of work...

Bad Mom Example #2: When interviewed for his Mother's Day gift, Collin was asked what his mom's favorite thing to do is/was. His answer: "Lay on the couch because there's a baby in her belly." We are curious if the teacher prodded for the clarification or if he offered it first off. I bet she was all, "Yikes, we need to get DCFS out there!" Well, at least he made the clarification. Sigh.

Bad Mom Example #3: I clogged our kitchen sink twice in 3 weeks. The first time was a combination of an apple core... and then proceeding to throw up the entire apple. It resulted in 2-nights of plunging and snaking followed by an $85 visit from Roto-Rooter. Nice. The second time was a stack of lemon rinds - because I wanted the kitchen to smell good, lol - which was another evening of plunging and a more expensive snaking device. Luckily, we avoided a second visit from Mr Rooter. Needless to say, Ryan installed a new garbage disposal; it's the best residential one on the market. (This isn't so much a bad "mom" moment as much as a bad Homemaker moment, but it blurs in my little mind.)

Anyway, I think Mother's Day was created to make moms feel guilty - I'm sure of it. And those Primary songs are enough to make you want to crawl into a hole for the rest of the year! Anyway, enough whining.

On a completely different note, what's a post without something cute of the boys?

A few weeks back for Playgroup, we headed to a transportation museum here in town. Brennan loved driving all the trucks.

 This is the cheesy grin I get when I say, "Smile!"

It's serious business chauffeuring Brother around though.

 They have a full steam engine parked out front too. Here they are in the passenger car,

and then with their buddy standing in front (it was pouring rain).

Well, here's to my increased health and strength in the coming weeks. I also hope I get my brain back; it's tough getting on without it.

The Flood of 2013

They're calling this The Flood of 2013, and you wouldn't believe the rain we've had around here. I've heard they are talking about Peoria on the national news even. Go us.

If you are wondering about our brand-new basement, we were dry. The power did go out one night, and Ryan was down there from 5:15-6am one morning baling water out of the sump hole until the electricity came back on. He said it was pouring in faster than the sump could spit it back out, even with the electricity on. No wonder lots of the ward and the neighborhood were wet in the morning. It was rough.

It poured and poured and poured for days - and nights - in a row. It was nuts.

Anyway, we finally bought a real camera. That's right - We actually have more than just a point-and-shoot. I still prefer the one I can throw in the diaper bag, but Ryan has been wanting a real one for years, and I finally caved.

In honor of its purchase, we headed downtown to take a look at the flooding. It was worth it.

It was a little bit of a hassle to get down to the riverfront. Lots of roads were closed and most of the parking we usually use was underwater too.

Riverfront parking garage





This is a pavilion where bands play for the 4th of July fireworks. We usually sit on the terraced concrete area to the right of the pavilion. Oh wait, you can't see any of that.

 

We loved the irony of a submerged sign telling us not to enter. Maybe it means to enter by canoe only.

See that little fire hydrant poking up? We've had LOTS of water.

 



E Peoria Steak n Shake patio seating



 E Peoria Steak n Shake drive-thru

We took these pictures on Monday night, and when we returned on Saturday it looked like Steak n Shake was still closed. The Caterpillar plants in E Peoria were closed for the whole week too. I was jealous of all the guys who got to work from home (Ry doesn't work downtown).

Our week of rain was followed by a week of BEAUTIFUL 80 degree sunshine, so I'm not complaining. The buds are FINALLY on the trees, and the grass has greened up. We needed the rain and warmth, but maybe not to such extremes. I guess that's just the Midwest though.

Happy Spring!

A Marathoner Among Us

I think it's safe to be called "a marathoner" after two, right?

Ryan finished his second marathon on Saturday. This year he ran with a friend from the ward whose wife also ran the half.

His cheerleader was a little less enthusiastic than last year, but I still biked about 6 miles (in all my exhausted, fat glory). I saw him at 7, 10 and 11. Because I was meeting our friend at the end of her Half, I did not make it back out to cheer for his second half. I feel bad about that.


At Mile 10

At Mile 11


My parents came from St Louis on Thursday (have I mentioned what an adjustment their mission is going to be for us!?) to keep the kids for the night. We left on Friday at 1pm and headed to packet-pickup. Afterwards, we headed to a friends' home who now lives in Champaign but used to live here in our ward. They fixed us a fabulous dinner, but we stayed up too late chatting. Guess that's what happens with friends. Thanks Aubrey!
Saturday morning we were up before dawn (4:30) and headed to the race. Ryan felt great until about Mile 18-19, and then his body just gave up. His training wasn't what it was last year, mostly because I've been rather needy these last few months. He ended up walk/running the last 7ish miles.

Here he is sprinting to the finish. He was really booking it! I am super proud of him.

Here are the racers enjoying some time on the field after the race. Oh, and please note our former bishop "Tebow-ing"...or struggling to get up off the ground, lol.

After we drove home, and my mom and dad treated us to Texas Roadhouse. Nothing like making sure you replenish all the lost calories, eh?

Congrats Babe; I am so proud of you. Thanks Mom & Dad for keeping the rascals. Thanks Aubrey for feeding and housing us.

It was a great... though exhausting... weekend.

Pregnancy #3

Does this announcement fill you in a little more about the REAL activities of my week without kids? You guessed it - I edited out all the puking and laying on the couch like I was about to die. Aren't you glad you didn't have to read that part?

Anyway, now that you know our fun news, here are some of the facts. I am due October 19th. We are excited to attempt to avoid any holidays with this delivery, but we're cutting it close between our birthdays just before and Halloween just after. We'll see. We do like to cluster things around here. Not.

So here are some things to take note of this pregnancy...

- As a special present at conception, I broke out in vicious, unexplainable hives. They lasted until the day after we could take a home-pregnancy test (2-1/2 weeks in all). It was horrible. Our only guess is that they were caused by the hormone switch. Yikes. The midwife was just as stumped.

- Just like usual, I hit a brick wall of nausea at 6 weeks.  I would lay on the couch, eating and routinely throwing up over and over again. I wouldn't have the strength to walk to the kitchen or toilet or even to my bed. It was just like with the boys. The difference this pregnancy is that some days/hours I would feel decent (not good, but bearable). I would be able to stand at the stove, get Collin home from school, push the boys on the swings for a moment or whatever. Anyway, it was nice to SOMETIMES be able to function.

- I begged my midwife (and she tried to talk me out of it) at 9-weeks into a prescription for Zofran. I told her I would only take it when it was at its worst. I got into a routine taking it each evening to fall asleep. I found if I could get some rest at night, I was much better suited to cope with the following day. After almost two weeks of this, I had hardly had a bowel movement. Did you know that needing to poop can feel just like contractions? Long story short, Miralax has become my friend as well. Sometime last week, I started to take another pill at noon-ish too, but I have skipped that one the last few days, and I seem to be doing fine. I am most nauseous in the evening, and the night time seems to be helping. I am throwing up about once per week, which sure beats 4-6 times per day.

- Another difference this pregnancy is that I think (am I going to curse myself?!) that my nausea is going to subside at about 13-weeks, like it does for NORMAL pregnant people. With the boys, I puked and puked and puked (never touched Zofran - which is either a "go me" or "stupid me," I'm not sure which) until 20 weeks. I think this time around I am already doing better... but we'll see.

- Lastly, I have already gained TWELVE pounds. I guess that when you have to eat every hour to have the strength to walk but then you don't puke it all up, it all sticks. Sigh. Here's hoping nursing makes it all fall off again.

Well, there you have it. Our big news. We'll be a family of FIVE this fall.

Lucky 13?

 

What do you think these big boys are getting ready for?

 

That's right! They are going to be big brothers! 

And here we are - 13 weeks on the 13th. Hope thirteen is lucky for us.

 

SURPRISE!

March Things

We are still alive around here. We still do things. We still go to school and work and play. I've just really lost the enthusiasm for blogging. But I do get upset when my old friends stop posting pictures and their goings-on, so I will try to continue to do something lame (like this post) from time to time. Sorry.

So here are some pictures of what we've been up to.

COMMUNITY HELPERS PARADE
To end their unit on community helpers, Collin's school had a parade. Brennan was so excited to actually get to come inside (they have a pull-up lane for pickup and drop-off, and he's not allowed to come when I volunteer). Collin looked adorable, and Brennan was so proud of him.

He had a real hard hat too, but he said it was too heavy for his neck. ;-) Thanks, Jacqie, for the clothing loan!

 SNOW... FINALLY!

Our last decent snowfall, until March, was January 2011 - When Brennan was born and Ryan got snowed-in in Madison. Needless to say, my boys had no memory of snowmen, snow forts, snow tunnels or igloos.

Mother Nature pulled through for us in March though, and after several storms, we are now more than ready for spring.

WELCOME HOME, BOYS!

Every night the boys cuddle up on the couch with Ryan or me for stories. It doesn't seem like much of a thing... until they've been gone for a few days.

 I snapped these ones the night they got back. We really missed them!

Brennan returned with this lovely shiner too. He can tell you the whole story, but basically he was jumping on Grandma's couch and jumped off into a pile of pillows... and then into the coffee table. My mom assures me the table was pushed far away from where there could be any danger, and I totally believe her.

My Brennan is never safe from harm's way. Silly, crazy boy. The deepest cut appears that it'll leave a scar, but he is finally all healed up. And yes, he got to tell the story to lots of people.

EASTER
We did some fun Easter activities. Collin sat with the Easter bunny at the mall,

 played in the free bounce houses,

 and had a great time. Brennan, on the other hand, hung for dear life to his Daddy

complaining that he was too tired to play (It wasn't nap time). Talk about a role-reversal!

We also went to our neighbor's church for their Easter egg hunt. Our Playgroup egg hunt was while the boys were still visiting my parents, and I didn't want them to miss out.

After some coaching in the car on the way there about getting as many eggs as possible and waiting to open them until later, they did a great job. ;-)

 

I have realized that despite living next-door to world's best neighbors for the last FIVE years, we have never taken a picture of them with the boys. They really are our in-town grandparents, and I don't know what we'd do without them! Love you, Jake & Laura!

 (Jake tore his rotator-cuff, hence the sling. Ouch.)

And finally, here's our obligatory Easter morning picture. I think I have the most handsome boys. Don't you agree?

Happy April, friends.

What would you do...

with a week without kids?

This week is Collin's Spring Break. Months ago my mom suggested that both boys spend the week with her in St Louis. What stay-at-home mom passes that kind of offer up?

So Monday morning I ventured about half-way to St Louis and met my parents at a truck-stop. I unloaded children and belongings, we ate trucker-food together (scary), and then parted ways.

I'll admit I sat in the parking lot a while after they'd already gotten on the freeway headed south. I said a prayer for my babies and, of course, for my parents. Then I put the van in reverse and turned around to see their two empty car seats. It isn't too often (never) I drive the van with two empty car seats. Did you know they rattle a little over bumps? Luckily, I had planned for the panic I'd surely experience at the sudden silence on my return trip by bringing along some books-on-CD. I think that the last time I listened to something of my own choosing on a road trip was when we moved to Peoria almost five years ago. No Baby Einstein. No Little People's Mr. Golden Sun. No Thomas the Train movie or Elmo's World theme song. Nope, just me and F. Scott Fitzgerald cruising with Gatsby.

So what else have I done this week? I went shopping - not for groceries but for myself - on Tuesday. That is like some crazy miracle. I'm not a shopper, and I'm even less of a buyer. But I bought some winter boots to wear to church. That's right, I've only been trying pairs on for two years now! I also read the rest of Great Gatsby yesterday afternoon. When's the last time I finished a book in two days? Definitely only in my pre-child days. Today I didn't do much of anything - laundry, cleaning, dishes - but in some kind of super-human time. Guess it must go a little faster without "helpers."

Friday morning I'll head back to the half-way point and pickup my monkeys. I plan to be rejuvenated, fresh and full of Mommy-love after a week off. Here's to Spring Break!

PS: My parents got their mission call on Monday afternoon! They are headed to the Quezon City Philippines Public Affairs Office - reporting in mid-August - for two years. Knowing they'd be gone for a long while was a major reason they wanted to have the time with the boys this week. We are all in for an abrupt life-change when they're on the other side of the world. I'm terrified.

Valentine'd

The boys got these cute shirts in the mail yesterday.

Nana said to pretend she was giving them a big hug each time they wore them. Here are my cuties sending their hugs back her way.

(Yes, I haven't forgotten my passionate plea to keep Valentine's Day between people in a romantic relationship, but you can't reform everyone, right? Love you, Nana! Thank you!)