Tuesday, December 20, 2005


Alex and a football Posted by Picasa

Andy and a football Posted by Picasa

Monday, December 19, 2005


Alex decorating the gingerbread house. Posted by Picasa

Football helments Posted by Picasa

Alex opening presents Posted by Picasa

Sean also waiting to head home. Posted by Picasa

Ryan waiting for Alex to finish with Santa. Posted by Picasa

Santa and a nervous Alex. Posted by Picasa

Alex in line to see Santa! Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, December 13, 2005


Andy dressed for dinner out! Posted by Picasa

Mark and Sir RyRy Posted by Picasa

Andy opening presents Posted by Picasa

Andy blew out his candles! Posted by Picasa

Andy pinning more tails to the donkey Posted by Picasa

Andy's 2nd birthday party Posted by Picasa

Alex with a present Posted by Picasa

Alex's 6th birthday party Posted by Picasa

Alex blowing out his candles Posted by Picasa

Alex. Posted by Picasa

Andy with his splinted finger. Posted by Picasa

Sean Posted by Picasa

Andy in new duds. Posted by Picasa

Ryan Posted by Picasa

Sean & Ryan tummy time Posted by Picasa

Sunday, December 11, 2005

The 9 days wonder

And you though you had a tough week . . .

Let me start at the spina bifida clinic Friday of the previous week. First, we (Andy, Sean, Ryan, and I) were there (at Primary Children’s) in a mini-exam room with a double stroller for 3 hours waiting to see various specialists. Good concept minus 2 extra kids. While we waiting for a specialist to pop in, Andy got a tad bit bored. He decided to climb up onto the doctor's stool while I was nursing Sean. He then said, "Mommy, Mommy, wash, wash (watch, watch)."

In a panic, I told him to get down. He climbed down and then climbed back up quietly. And proceeded to fall directly onto his head, landing perfectly on the metal grate. I couldn't help but think a midst all the screaming, that at least we where in the hospital if they needed to x-ray his head. Luckily, he recovered quickly.

Break to Monday morning. .

Just as I was getting Alex out the door for the bus, the power went out. Not to worry except, that Andy decided to slam and lock the front door behind me. I was standing in pajamas and a sweatshirt with no way to get back into the house in 20 degree cold. That is less than freezing. It was very, very, very cold. I was thinking of my twin babies. I was thinking of their heart rate and breathing monitors. I was thinking of all the ways Andy could hurt himself or destroy the house unsupervised.

I begged and pleaded with Andy to turn the lock and let me back in. He peeked back at me through the blinds saying, "Hi Mommy, Okay, Mommy," all the while giggling. Then he took off to parts unknown. I went to my neighbors with the extra key -- not home. I went to my other neighbors. I used her cell phone. Told Mark it was an emergency that he come home now. Or I was calling 911 and they would probably break down the door.

After 40 minutes the power went on. I struggled helplessly with the garage door keypad. When divine intervention allowed me to check and discover one doors of the minivan unlocked. I pressed the remote and I was in. Mark arrived two minutes later.

I discovered Andy had opened all the windows of the advent calendar to get to the candy, he had emptied a jewelry box taking the backs off all the earrings, and he was talking trash to the twins.

Tuesday, I was upstairs finishing up a feeding when I heard a blood curling scream from the basement. Andy had gotten his finger caught in a folding chair. His finger was purple with a black center. To the doctor's office we went (all of us). Mark was picked up on the way. By the time we got to the doctor's office he was able to move his finger, but the doctor put a splint on it and told us to watch it anyway. The rest of the day, Andy pouted and pointed to his splinted finger. The next morning there was no splint to be found anywhere.

Wednesday, Alex had the stomach flu. I left Sean in the corner of the couch as I ran a diaper to the outside garbage. When I came back in, I heard a thud and screaming baby. Andy had apparently decided Sean should be on the floor. Sean didn't want to be on the floor and turned a scary shade of white. Another call to the doctor. Apparently, I'm not the first mother this happened too. I was assured he'd be fine but was told to watch him (Sean is fine).

Thursday, my parent arrived. Twice at the kitchen table, Andy (again) took a dive on his head to the floor. The second time it definitely left an impression. Sometime during the night, he was sick twice in his bed and unbeknownst to us slept in it, too young and innocent to know to demand fresh sheets.

Friday, I had the stomach flu. Mark stayed home to set up the Saturday birthday parties since I was unable too. And then he got the same thing I did. Luckily, my parents were fine and able and willing to set up everything for the parties.

Saturday, Mark and I were well enough to enjoy Alex and Andy's parties and gave a sigh of relief especially because my parents and the twins seemed untouched by it all. The parties were hits. Alex's NASCAR party was especially fun to watch because the kids were so excited to play the racing games and cheer each other on. Andy's jungle animal party was also fun, watching him put all the donkey tails on one donkey -- all over the donkey.

Sunday morning, Andy (again) was laying on all fours in a fetal position in his doorway crying, calling, "Mommy, Daddy, (Anybody?)." At the time, I thought he'd had so much excitement the day before he wanted to be carried around. Papa thought he was being spoiledy. Finally, after church, Mark noticed something amiss. Andy was refusing to put any weight on one leg. Another trip to the doctors. This time he's probably has a hairline fracture on his shinbone although nothing showed up in the x-ray. When asked about it, all he would say was, "Ladder, blah, blah, blah," with much gesturing. We still don't know what happened, but we think it has something to do with the ladder on the bunk beds, which he's supposed to stay off of. He spent the rest of the day crawling around and whimpering now and again, but playing with his toys must go on.

Hope you're week was better.