So far so good

Well, its been a while since I've posted, and for good reason. We are now officially and finally relocated in the state of Florida. And so far so good. Maggie is in full day kindergarten, and her teacher loves having her in class. She said she's very impressed with how much she already knows. She's having trouble remember to bring home her "agenda" or as we in IL call it, daily planner. So she's had a little bit of a rocky start with homework, and she is still adjusting to not napping. Other than that she is doing well. Miles is mostly oblivious to everything, but he does keep asking me to find him a school. Unfortunately, most of the private schools around her are outside our budget. He will be able to go to public Pre-K in the fall, so he's just going to have to hang out with me a lot. Its been really fun to spend time with him without Maggie stealing his thunder. He's such a bright and creative kid. Margot has been mostly a beast since we got here. She's crabby alot, so she's either teething or still adjusting to the move. She's also been super clingy. Jeremy has been diving headlong into work, which I guess is kind of the point since that's why we moved here. He's already had a coworker come down to work with him and stay with us. I'm pretty sure the extra bedroom will henceforth be referred to as Ms. Mande's room. I have been doing a whole lot of hanging around the house, laundry, cleaning, and running a butt ton of errands. I'm getting a little bored with not working but haven't been able to find anything yet. I've applied for a few jobs but nothing has panned out. One thing I've learned about Florida is that there may not be state income tax, but everything is EXPENSIVE. Groceries are ridiculous. To change our plates over to Florida plates costs almost 500 bucks. To get a Florida driver's license costs 55 dollars. Gas is cheaper, but everything is farther away. Once we get more settled, I'm going to have to be way more strategic about when and where I go. Today I saw this in the sky and it was cool.

I think my kids are cute

Notorious Blizzard of 2011

So alot of people have seen these pics on facebook but I wanted to share them with everyone. They involve snow. Alot of snow, and some of my favorite cute kids. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

I've gotten several comments that Maggie looks pissed in this picture, and I guess she does. Though I'm not sure why. She was begging to go out into the snow.

They lasted all of five minutes in the biting wind.

New Room

So our house is in full nesting swing trying to prepare for Baby GoGo's arrival in somewhere between 7-10 weeks. Jeremy will be gone a fair amount during the remainder of the pregnancy, so we have to do a lot during our small windows of time. We accomplished a big project in past four days. Below are the results of our labor. Keep in mind the crib will be out of there eventually, but I am not ready to give my boy that much freedom yet.

Look at how much we purged too. Note all the bags and boxes donated to Goodwill as a result of our room change.

Also check out these cute kiddos that I haven't posted in awhile!

Welcome to Meltdown Central

Today we had the luck of spending the morning with Grandma and Grandpa Texas for a couple hours as they stopped on their way back from WI to TX. They surprised the kids with a trip to Airtastic Playland, which is one of those inflatable places. The kids had fun. SO much fun. I probably shouldn't have been jumping on the the things, as the muscles in my thighs and other areas are like jello tonight and I feel like my baby is going to fall out of its own accord. But I digress. It was a great outing until the goodbye. When Maggie found out it was time to go, she had a meltdown like nothing I have seen in awhile. Even though we prepared her for the fact that we would eventually leave, even though she agreed not to cry, she had a full blown freak out hysterical crying fit. We coaxed, persuaded, and threatened to no avail. Then when we got in the car she cried harder. At which point she said, and I quote, "It's just that that place makes me so happy!!!" At which point she turned into a ball of tears one last time. Whew. I don't know if we should ever take her back there, because it makes her so happy. . .and me so confused.

A 2 year old imagination

I like to think that my 2 year old is a genius,and oh so smart, but really, he is. He has this imagination that most 2 year olds don't have. He has already taken to pretending. He assigns characters and we are to be whoever he tells us. Today Jeremy was Dora and he was Boots. This evening I was Matrick (Patrick) and he was Spongebob. Granted the playing part mostly involves him saying, "Hi Matrick," and hugging me a bunch of times, to which I am obliged to respond, "Hi Spongebob," and hug him back a bunch of times. I don't have much deep or thoughtful to provide, just that I love my son and the funny little ham that he is.

Family Practice vs. Pediatrician

Alot of people balked when I originally decided to keep my children at the family practice of doctors that I frequent. Several people outright told me I should choose a pediatrician instead. However, I could NOT be more please with the staff at this practice of Dupage Medical Group. Each doctor there is kind, compassionate, a great listener, and always goes above and beyond with myself, as well as the rest of my family. And truly, there is nothing like being able to call and book all three of us at the same place when we feel crappy. This week, 3 of the 4 of us had to make a visit to the doctor's office, thanks to an unending cold. We did not see the kids' usual, Dr. Love, whom they adore, but we did see my wonderful doc, Dr. Martin. She is young and spunky and friendly, and for some reason whenever we see her, the kids are at their most precocious. I will take you through our most recent visit, and you will see why I left red faced, and thankful for her patience.

First we all enter the waiting room, greeted by name by the desk staff, as we are there so frequently, it seems they know us. I inform them that I should get some sort of break for keeping them in business, and they make a crack about our kids being everyone's favorite patients. Maggie proceeeds to tell everyone that she is going to have a baby sister named Go Go. We pay our copay and wait.

Miles and Maggie both impatiently begin to ask when their turn will be, and when they will get to see Dr. Love. Luckily, just as I remind them that we will be seeing mom's doctor, Dr. Martin, they call us back. Jeremy helps gather coats and we tromp our 2 younglings, snow boots and all, down the narrow hallway to the biggest room they can give us. We load in and wait.

The 2 kids fight over who gets to go first and we decide youngest to oldest, just in time for the nurse to begin taking temps and other stats. Miles fully cooperates with the temp taking and the pulse ox of his fingers, but panics slightly when he realizes the nurse will only check his oxygen on one finger. He kept saying, "More fingers" and pointing others at her. He then demanded she check his ears, at which point we reminded him that it was the doctor's job. We got through Maggie's stats. We got through my stats. Whew, step one complete.

Dr. Martin walks in and shakes my hand, greeting me with a smile. Maggie says, "Hi Dr. Martin, guess what! Miles peed on his own head today." Jeremy shrugs with an "it happens" sort of look on his face. Maggie bursts into peals of laughter. I avoid eye contact. Dr. Martin tries not to laugh, but is sure to acknowledge Maggie for sharing.

Miles' turn. Dr. Martin checks him out. Listens to his lungs. He winks at her. (as much as a two year old can.) He demands she look at his ears. She does. One kid down.
Miles proceeds to try, repeatedly to reach his hands into the biohazard garbage. He jabs at the buttons on the scale. He throws himself down on the floor. Jeremy exits the exam room carrying Miles. Miles yells, by Dr. Martin. She laughs again.

Maggie's turn. Dr. Martin directs all questions at Maggie, as though she is an adult patient. It went something like this.
Dr. M: So Maggie, what brings you in today.
M: I have a real bad cough.
Dr. M: Oh yeah? What kind of cough? Is it dry? Do you cough anything up?
M: Sometimes I cough stuff up. Then I have to spit it in the garbage can. Its gross.
Dr. M: What color is it?
M: Just white.
Dr. M: Anything else, fevers, runny nose?
M: Nah, no fever, but I have to wipe my nose alot.
Dr. M: Ok, are you taking anything over the counter for it?
Sam: Oh, just some homeopathic honey cough syrup.
M (to me in a whisper): What about the purple medicine?
Sam: Shhhh, I'm talking to the doctor.

Maggie waits while the doc checks me out, and which point Maggie gets bored and tries to lift my shirt to show the doctor her baby sister. Dr. Martin offers Maggie the chance to help check me out. While looking in my ears she lowers the exam table so Maggie can peek in as well. She then proceeds to finish my exam, squatting down low because she hasn't put the table back up. Dr. Martin laughs again, and I apologize for all the craziness my family has brought to the office.

The best part about this whole zoo of a trip to the doctor's office is that they enjoy our visits. They love my kids, and they never cease praising them for being the best patients. So I ask, with such a positive experience, why would I ever consider switching the kids to a pediatrician?

Do you have a preference of one for the other? If so, why?

A Child and God

So Maggie is getting to an interesting age, where she is asking all kinds of questions about our God. She talks to him at bedtime about all the regular stuff a nearly four year old talks to everyone about. Her toys, her fears, anyone that might possibly be sick around her. Every night she prays for the "little girl" who doesn't have any toys. I know its a figurative little girl, because I speak openly with my children about how some people don't have anything, and we are very very blessed. She is compassionate and sweet, and talks of how she hopes to meet Jesus in heaven.

Yesterday, after a meeting at church she was asking about "appetizing" which = baptizing. She was fascniated by the idea of getting in a pool of water in front of everyone. At which point she asked if you need to be naked.

I love her curiosity, and her love for people and God. She truly has a heart of gold.

Halloween

We all know I am a slacker, but I am making a Thanksgiving resolution to take more pictures of my adorable children, and to post them more frequently. At some point we'll do a belly shot too, as this littlest Keen is starting to make their presence known, outside of the hormone induced nausea.

See my funny and adorable older children in Halloween attire.

Challenges

Things have been tough on the Keen clan lately. This baby has made me far sicker than any of my previous pregnancies, and has even made me miss some work. The kids don't seem to want to stay healthy and we are just drained. So, that's why we haven't updated in awhile. It may be awhile longer before you get anything more detailed. Sorry.