Quotes of the day

From the two year old set:
Said while I was helping him use the restroom: "Mommy! You're holding my ceiling too tight!" He stands on my feet and uses the potty. Apparently I was holding his neck too tightly.

From the seven year old set:
My daughter said, "Watch this part of the Barbie movie! It's really funny!"
My seven year old (boy) responded enthusiastically, "Is it about burping?!?"

Our latest field trip. . .

Wednesday morning, my littlest guy, who is almost three, had to go to the hospital. He was having some issues with asthma, and breathing way too quickly and shallowly. After a valiant attempt by the doctor to keep him out of the hospital, we accepted the inevitable: an overnight stay at the least.
He was discharged yesterday afternoon, slightly more than 24 hours after he was admitted. Our first day there wasn't too bad, but by yesterday, this child had had enough of our little room and kept saying, "I want outta here!". Thankfully he was much better and we were able to walk around and play in the playroom for quite awhile.
Now we are home, and this child is high as a kite. The nebulizer meds really charge him up, and he is running around the house talking, singing, yelling, you name it. It exhausts me just looking at him. We go tomorrow for a recheck, and I am hoping we can wean him right off these treatments.
Or, maybe I should ask for a prescription for them. . .think of all I could get done. . .

Can I quote you on that?

Today in the car, my daughter was explaining to her brothers how the baby got food while in my tummy.

She said, "The baby gets his food through the unbiblical cord!"

Apparently, my baby is a pagan.

The joys of commerce

This afternoon, against my better judgment, but because we have virtually no food left in the house, I took all the kids to Walmart. I considered staying home, but unless we were going to drink water and eat canned tomatoes until Monday, shopping was a must.

Usually the children give me a hard time when I tell them we need to grocery shop. Today, however, they were excited to go, because they were going to spend some of their money. They had each accumulated about $10 and there were holes burning in their little pockets. I gave them each a baggie for them to their booty in, and off we went.

We made a stop at a specialty store for my daughter to buy a Webkinz. STRIKE ONE! The store had closed earlier in the day. My daughter, true to form, attempted to be stoic and said she would wait for another day to buy one.

We got to Walmart and my youngest insisted upon holding his baggie like the big kids. Against my better judgment (again!), I let him hold it. STRIKE TWO! After we had picked up our groceries, I realized the money was gone. We retraced our steps, in vain, of course, because how many people pass by cold hard cash lying on the floor?! The service desk did not have it either. I was frustrated with myself for letting him hold it in the first place.

Finally we arrive at the toy department. My 4 year old picked his toy quickly, and my 7 year old, also true to form, took several minutes to decide what he wanted. I let my 2 year old pick out an inexpensive toy (a foam rubber sword - am I insane?!?) After another stop at the service desk (no dice!), we went home.

I was immediately called upon to assemble toys. After several frustrating minutes, I gave up on my 4 year old's hot wheel assembly and left it for when Daddy got home. I turned my attention to my 7 year old who was wailing at the kitchen island about how dumb his toy is. STRIKE THREE! His Star Wars toy did not function up to par, and he wanted to return it - NOW! It is now about a half hour later, and he has finally calmed down.

The funny thing is, their behavior was really quite good while we were shopping. We just learned some hard lessons today. . .


***Edited a few hours later: Daddy came home and miraculously made my 7 year old's toy work properly and assembled my 4 year old's toy in seconds flat. All happiness is restored to our household. Long live Daddy!
(Now, if only he could produce a Webkinz from thin air and find the missing $10!)

Yesterday, I took the two little boys to Chicago for my four year old's yearly doctor's visit. Because it is a long day, it became sort of an event - we got to eat out, see Chicago's skyline, etc.

Because he was such a good boy during his x-ray, the technicians gave my son a beanie baby. He wanted me to cut off the tag while we were waiting in the exam room. I started to throw it away, but he said, "No Mom! I want to save it for a silverware!!"

Hhmm, I think he meant souvenir. . .

Happy Mother's Day

Among my fine mother's day gifts:

A poem (with lovely rhyme!) from my 9 year old daughter
A finely decorated cake by all my children (chocolate - my fave!)
Beautiful red roses
Numerous pictures and paintings depicting Mommy and child (Mommy is always easily identified by the bright crayola red hair)
Sleeping in yesterday followed by breakfast in bed!!

As I near the birth of child number five, I am especially reminded of all I have in my children. Our lives have been blessed beyond measure with these four treasures, and I know they will continue to be further enriched by the new one in July.

Back home again. . .

My husband and I just got back from Miami Beach on Wednesday afternoon. We had a wonderful relaxing time and had we not had children to come back to, we might have vacationed away the rest of our lives. What's not to love. . .we slept in, we ate gourmet meals (that I did not plan, prepare or clean up!!!), we sat on the beach, we had conversation (we actually finished our sentences to each other without being interrupted!!), we read books that contained more that 50 child-appropriate words. . .the list could go on.

Miami was a very fascinating place. Much of the time, we felt like we were in a foreign country (or about 15 countries at once). I had no idea what a melting pot it was. We enjoyed the diversity and the fact that something was always going on - not entirely unlike our house, now that I think of it, although much different activities!! While I don't think we'll be taking the kids there anytime soon, it was a great trip for the two of us, in our last hurrah before bebe number five arrives.

As these trips always do, it made us appreciate that we are able to travel a bit here and there (thanks to very willing parents who don't mind babysitting). And since we miss the children while we are away, the homecomings are priceless as well.