Where a Kid can be a Kid!

Thursday, I had another treat when picking Owen up from school, a THIRD good report. I had a fun play date planned for him, but it was dependent upon positive news from school. I was soo excited to be able to call Emily and let her know that Owen and I would be meeting her and N at Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. Owen had never been to Chuck E. Cheese before so it was a pretty special treat to be able to go there. I was surprised and pleased to find that it was reasonably priced as well! The second that we got in the door, the boys were itching to go play. They LOVED that they got "money" to spend on whatever they wanted to do. The package that we got included 130 tokens, and those lasted them ALL day because each ride/game only takes 1 token. Both boys were pretty impressed with all of the choices of things to do. They played while we waited for our pizza to arrive, and then Emily and I had the fun task of wrestling both boys into submission to eat. We ended up playing there for about 4 hours! It really was a fun time, and I look forward to taking him back there.

One of my favorite parts of the day was near the end. There was a race car that the boys had enjoyed riding in several times throughout the day, but it was a fairly gentle ride that just sort of rocked back and forth. It was three o'clock, about two hours past nap time, and Owen was one tired boy. I looked over and there he sat in the race car, rocking back and forth, and he was just almost asleep. The ride would stop, he'd pull a token out of his sweaty little fist, restart the ride, and then almost fall asleep again. It was super cute.

The other thing about Chuck E. Cheese is that on many of the games, you can earn tickets for playing. Owen was pretty good at some of the games and he was psyched to get tickets for playing. He ended up winning 165 tickets! His friend, N, wasn't so much into the games and ended up with only 10 tickets. When Owen went to redeem his prize, he found out that he could get two lizards and two suckers with his tickets. I couldn't have been prouder of him when he chose to give one lizard and one sucker to N. What a sweet boy.

I really hope that this trend of good school days is marking a turning point in his maturity and enthusiasm towards his education.

Another Great Day

I think that we're finally all on the mend and feeling better. We had a rough week and a half, but I have my fingers crossed that we're over all that was plaguing us. Today, Owen had school and I'm happy to say that I received another positive report about my little man today. That's two school days in a row! WOO HOO! That's cause for celebration in my book, so we went to our favorite little bagel shop and had lunch and then we went to Jo Ann Fabrics to get some things that I needed.

Back up a little. Since Christmas, when Matthew and I exchanged bathrobes, Owen has been talking about wanting a bath robe. I have been promising that I would make him one when I got my machines out. Well today was the day. He had already picked out the fabric that he wanted from my current stash, but I told him that we could get a "sticker" (applique) to put on his robe. He was sooo excited to look through the assortment of "stickers" that Jo Ann had to offer, and although I *may* have steered him away from a few more "feminine" options, he ended up choosing a great little dump truck. He was thrilled to carry that little dump truck around the store, and I was thrilled that it kept his hands off of all of the other things in the store. He was cracking me up because he stopped several different employees to tell them ALL about his new robe. If you know Owen, you know that he doesn't spare you any details- and these employees all got to hear waaaay more than they ever wanted to know about Owen's new bathrobe. :)

It went something like this...

O "I have a dumptruck sticker."

(E)mployee, "Oh you do?"

O, "Yup, I'm going to put it on my wobe"

E, "You have a robe?"

O, "Nope."

E, "Oh?"

O, "Mommy and me are making my wobe, and it's going to have a dumptruck sticker."

E, "Oh, well that will be nice."

O, "Mommy's going to get her snowing machines out, both of them, but I'm not allowed to touch them. I'm going to help with the other parts. Mommy, you'll help me with the other parts right?"

Me, "Uh huh."

O, "Yeah, Mommy will help me with the other parts. We're going to make my wobe when we get home after my nap. I don't want to take a nap, but mommy says I have to take a nap. After my nap I'll have a snack. I'm going to have a bagel for my snack because that's what I had for lunch. Mommy put the piece I had left in a sack and she said that I can have it for snack. It was a french toast bagel. After I eat my bagel snack, I can help mommy make my wobe. It's going to have a dumptruck sticker on it."

E, (Inching away) "That sounds good. Enjoy your robe." (Bolts)

I hope that when he starts writing that he puts his knack for including the details to good use! :)

Without further ado, here are some photos of the little man modeling his new robe and matching pajama pants :)

What was I thinking?

I don't have a clue who that boy was that I was speaking about in my post yesterday. Today, the boy who came out of the tent where I swear I stuck *that boy* yesterday was a different kid. He was kind, compassionate, funny, sweet AND well behaved at school. My heart just sang when I got the report from his teacher that he was, "A good listener, paid attention, and waited patiently for his turn!". Thank goodness for days like today. One of his good days every now and then remind me of what a joy he is to my life and help me forget what a booger that he can be on his bad days.

After school, I had to run into the store to grab some milk and Owen went in with me. Now, I never EVER allow Owen to get something when we're in the store. I just think that it's a bad precedent to set, and I don't do it, but today, when he asked me with his best manners if he could have some wafer cookies, I let him. :) I asked him on the way home if he knew why I let him get something and he told me, "Because I was nice at school, and I didn't make Mrs. Hughes say, 'Owen! Go sit on that chair!'". Ohhhh I had to try so hard not to laugh at his impersonation.

Poor little Eli is still not feeling very well. Yesterday, he took a 6 hour "nap" from 10:00 am-4:00 pm, and then went back to bed at 8:30 and slept until 10:45 this morning, when I had to wake him to go pick O up from school! He took another 3 hr nap today. When he is awake, he just lays on my lap and snuggles.

Please pray that this virus that has hit us this week doesn't re-activate my reactive arthritis. It's finally gotten a lot better, and I only have to take my anti-inflammatory every 48 hours. I am praying like crazy that I'm done with that!

Even when I don't like him

I love him.

Lately, he loves to play the game, "Do you love me when I______?" Sometimes he fills in the blanks with things like "when it's dark?" or "when I'm at school?" But usually he fills in the blank with something more like, "when I pick my nose?" or "when I hit my brother?"

Of course I always respond with an enthusiastic, "YES! I love you all of the time. Always and Forever!" And while I do always love him with all of my heart, it's sometimes really hard to enjoy his company. Today was one of those days that I just didn't like him very much. I hate, hate, HATE to say that, but it's true.

When he's in a good mood, he is the most charming little boy that you could ever want to meet. But when he's being the worst version of his three-year-old self, I just want to scream! I know that I am not the first mother to have said this.

Trust me.

I know.

But I am living this right. now. and it's hard. Hearing, "Wait 'til he's a teenager." or "It gets even harder." are not helpful statements in this phase of my life. I want to enjoy him always. I want to always feel truly is tappreciative of the gift that he o my life. When I see other adults who don't *really* know him that are super annoyed by his behavior, I just want to hide. I wish that they could see the precious little person that he is capable of being- not the hellion- that he is being in this stage of his life.

I love him. Always.

A two thumb day

If you know my youngest child, you'll know that he will NOT be bathed unless he is accompanied by me. He will literally scream his fool lungs out if you try to put him into the bathtub. (Sara can attest to this!)

Well, last night the poor baby threw up all over his bed and then rolled through it- a lot. I was trying to get Owen ready for school and realized that I was going to have to deal with this --and quickly. I picked him up out of his bed and carried his puke-covered self to the bathroom. I stood him in the empty bathtub (traumatizing event #1) so that I could strip him- and then quickly ran to throw all of the stinky bedding/clothing into the wash.

I came back and looked my sweet little baby with his hair crusted in vomit and knew without a doubt that I love him an awful lot- but there was NO WAY that I was getting in that tub to give him a bath while he was still covered in puke. I proceeded to hose him down and wash his hair (traumatizing events #s 2-3) and he screamed harder than I have ever heard him scream. You would have thought that I was making boiled baby soup in that bathtub! I got him cleaned as quickly as I could and pulled him out of his personal hell and wrapped him in a towel. He continued to cry for a few minutes, but then finally found solace in sucking his thumbs. Both of them. At the same time. The poor little baby was so traumatized that he had to suck both of his thumbs at the same time.

The good news is that his day improved from then on out. He wasn't sick the rest of the day and aside from sleeping a little more and being a little more clingy- he acted fairly normal.

Bedtime tonight was pretty funny. We all knelt down to say prayers with Owen- (including Cheetah who folded his paws nicely) and afterwards Owen gave us all hugs and kisses. Owen leaned down to kiss Eli, and Eli looked back up with him with his mouth wide open to give his brother a "kiss". Owen looked at him and said, "I just want to kiss him on his head!" Eli tried his best to give his brother a big, wet one- but he was denied. :) Matthew and I both got a big kick out of that little interaction.

Hope you're all having a great week.

Blah, blah, blah- excuses.

Sorry that I've been absent lately. I've just been crazy busy in the last week or so. Fortunately, most of it has been fun and positive.

Last week, on Tuesday I met up with my mom friend, Emily, and several of the moms from Owen's class. We took all of our kiddos to Jump and Play for a great afternoon playdate. It was really fun and it was great to see all of the kids playing together.

Wednesday, I had T&Q all day- and then that night I went to Ash Wednesday services and RCIA while Matthew took Owen and Eli to gymnastics.

Thursday, after I picked Owen up from school, we headed down to S. Indiana to spend some time with Mom/Dad, Grandma/Grandpa Gessner. We went sledding, and FINALLY got to build a snowman. We had a wonderful time, and I actually WON at scrabble against Mom Gessner!! That NEVER EVER happens!

Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures while we were there. (Boo Me)

Friday, on the way home, the boys and I had lunch with my friend, Noelle, that lives in Lexington. We went to the Claudia Sanders Dinner House. (Colonel Sanders' wife) The restaurant was located inside the Sanders' home, and it was really neat. It was super fun getting to meet up with Noelle as well!!

Saturday found us trying to have a "date" night WITH our boys in tow.

Sunday, we had to be at an early mass for the Rite of Sending and then we had to be downtown at the Cathedral that afternoon for the Rite of Election.

Sunday night-Monday- Matthew and I caught a stomach bug and moped around the house pathetically.

So- there's our last week in a nutshell. Mostly just my lame excuses for not blogging in forever.

What Big Boys!

Would you just take a look at these two big boys?

Eli decided this week that he's big enough to sit with his brother at the table now. It's so cute to watch them sit together.

Dear Cheetah

Dear Cheetah,

I don't think that I've taken the time to properly thank you for all that you do. You are my little boy's best friend, and for that, I could never fully express my gratitude. Who else wouldn't mind being strangled during long car trips? Who else would watch Owen go potty, take a bath, and brush his teeth with such an attentive nature? Who else could I count on to be there for him through vomit and the subsequent trips through the washer and dryer?

The answer is no one.

Owen loves you with all that he is, and because of you, he loves all things cheetah. His current favorite color is orange, the color of your fur. He also knows all of your favorites. According to Owen, your favorite color is yellow and your favorite things to play with are "toodles". He acquired a cheetah blanket this Christmas which he found and fell in love with because of you, and his little eyes are so sincere when he tells me how beautiful I'd be in the cheetah print dress that he spotted (no pun intended) in the junior's section of JC Penney.

Cheetah, I have to tell you, I love that Owen loves you. I love that he shares his snacks with you, plays games with you, reads to you, and worries about your feelings. He shows true empathy when he's concerned about your well-being. He calls you his baby, and he has even tried his hand at breastfeeding you :) I hope that you realize how much you're loved.

I worry about the day that Owen will outgrow you. The day that he'll decide that he's too big to sleep with a stuffed cheetah will break my heart. I know that you'll just roll with the punches. Perhaps you'll even enjoy your retirement- and not having to take any more trips through the washer and dryer. But that day will change my life. I'll always think of you fondly, and I'll always appreciate all that you were to my little boy, but I'll miss the days that he was little enough to snuggle you in his arms.

But for today, you are Owen's best friend, and for that, I thank you.

Sincerely,

Owen's Mommy

Chicago: Part Two

Thursday brought the second part of our trip. We decided to take the boys to Shedd Aquarium, and it was AWESOME! Both boys loved their day at the aquarium. I had wonderful memories of Shedd from my childhood when my dad used to take me to Chicago to his rehabilitation appointments, so I was excited to be able to share that with my boys. Shedd totally lived up to and exceeded the memories that I had. They've expanded and added so many new features and exhibits- it's just an amazing place to visit.

Owen and Eli were both totally enamored with the Beluga Whales. (So was their mama!!) This particular Beluga kept coming up and smiling and waving his fins at us. He even spat water up at us a few times!! Isn't he the cutest??

Owen of course, loved the dolphins and fish. Eli, true to form, LOVED the penguins! It was such a fun time, and I can't wait to go back! I'm also looking forward to experiencing the other Chicago attractions with my boys that I shared with my dad when I was a child. It is such a neat city!

Chicago: Part One

A confession.

I've never had a ton of girl friends. I'm fortunate to have the best friend ever, Sara, as well as some other wonderful mommy friends that I enjoy spending time with. But I mean, I never even considered joining a sorority in college because spending *that* much time, with *that* many girls was a downright frightening prospect to me. So what I am about to tell you is still a surprise to even me.

I belong to a group of 15 girls. I talk with them every day and enjoy their "company" more than I can say. I've known them for about two years now, and they are just amazing people. Each of these girls brings something special to my life.

Here's the other side of the coin.

I've only *met* two of these girls. Some of you know about this situation, others don't have any idea what I am talking about, but I figure that it's time to come clean. Two years ago, after my miscarriage, I reached out. I looked for others were experiencing or had experienced the kind of pain that I was feeling. I found a message board online where all of the women had experienced pregnancy loss. We were all trying to regain our footing, we were all trying to start again. 6 of us got pregnant again near the same time and we had our babies within weeks of each other. (Eli is the oldest). Because of our connection, and the friendships that we had formed, we went on to form our own private website where we can talk, and share our joys and frustrations without the prying eyes of the rest of the internet.

I've not told a lot of people about the friendships that I have with these girls or how important they are to me out of fear that someone wouldn't understand. I finally realized though, that in a day in age where people meet their spouses online, why should it seem strange to have found a group of girl friends on the internet?

Now, back to the subject of my post: Chicago. The main reason that Matthew and I decided to make a trip to Chicago on a random Wednesday in February, (Other than the gorgeous winter weather in Chicago!) was to meet up with a couple of my friends from online, Jen and Joell. I've actually met Joell before, but this was my first time meeting Jen as well as the rest of Joell's family. We went to Rainforest Cafe, (Which was AMAZING!!)

Joell and I

and then Jen and I went out for drinks at our hotel. It's funny because it felt like sitting down with old friends. I'm 100% sure that no one on the outside could have guessed that it was our first time spending time together!

Jen and I

Jen. Me. Joell.

You often hear that blessings come out of tragedies and that is so true for me. I honestly can't imagine my life without these girls in it. I don't know if we'll ever all be in one place at the same time as we are spread from coast-to-coast, and across three countries, but I hope that one day we will. I would love to be able to hug each and every one of these girls who have forever touched my life.

To Jen, Joell, Emily, Michelle, Kyla, Leeta, Megan, Kimberly, Sara, Jac, Jacki, Chi, Noelle and Kelli- I so hope that we can all finally get together one day. I treasure each of your friendships, and am so thankful to have you in my life. You helped put me back together, and you're forever a part of who I am. Thank-you for always being there for me. I love you all!