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!

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?

Thankful

As all newish moms are, I am nervous and at times anxious about placing my children in the care of others. I am so thankful for the YMCA this summer, and the opportunity to leave my daughter with someone that is perfect for her. Maggie is currently attending half-day, outdoor, daycamp with other 3-5 year olds. She is LOVING it. I thought maybe we would do a couple weeks for fun, but so far she has been to almost every week. The counselors know exactly how to encourage and motivate her. When I pick her up, they tell me how good she is and how thoughtful and what a good listener. As her mom, I don't always get to see these qualities, and I am beginning to realize how vital it is for children to have adults in their lives to encourage them. I think its so important for some of those adults to not be family. These counselors understand the exact mentality of a 3 year old in a way I never will. They let them be suddenly distracted by a funny shaped cloud, appreciate what they have to say about it, then gently guide them back to the group and activity at hand. My heart and gift is mostly for school agers. I know what to expect of them, I can provide the structure and humor that they need, and rarely get impatient with them. My 3 year old tries me and provokes an impatience, and sometimes frustration that I thought I had long ago outgrown. When I see her at camp though, in an environment where she can get messy, do paint and take a nature walk through the mud, I am thankful for people who know that kids need to get dirty to have fun. I forget that, and I don't like messes. Crafts are often daunting for me, because I don't want to deal with the cleanup. I am reassured that there are people that enjoy and care for my children, often in ways that I forget about. I think the nurturing that Maggie is receiving this summer from those staff is exactly what she needs at this stage in her life. And the time away and the feedback from the staff at camp gives me a new perspective of my fiercely independent daughter, and I can reflect on her in ways I couldn't acknowledge before.

As I prepare to leave both children in daycare 2 days a week starting in August, I am beginning to realize that it may not be the bad thing that I had initially thought. Having dropped down to part time to ensure that my children are home with me, putting them in daycare was something I had never considered. Now I am realizing that those people, experienced and perhaps even designed to work with 18 month olds and 3 year olds, may have an understanding of them that I am lacking. So I am choosing to look forward to the ways that my children will grow from their experience. If this summer is any indication of the quality of people the Y will bring into my children's lives, we have a lot to look forward to.

GOT IT!

Mwa ha ha! I got it! It can only hide for so long. Enjoy the smiles.