Chilly

 Meet our new baby, Chilly! He was adopted from BARCS December 30th. Bailey had suggested a kitten/cat as gift to our family. After I picked my jaw up from the floor ::he's only been ferociously fighting me on pets for many years now:: I couldn't be more excited! He surprised us by bringing home a cat, who he named Chilly after a cat at the shelter he'd intended to adopt, but found out was not well & needed more care then we could provide. Chilly was very skittish & shy the first few days, you'd never know now though. I just looked over to find him sitting inside the kids arts & crafts storage basket Ethan left in the middle of the floor while coloring, more then half his size of course. Chilly's got a story, a stray liter of kittens at the shelter, he was adopted & then later returned once all the 'kitten charm' wore off. I think we are as lucky to have him, as him us. He's got a long body, over sized eyes, and a head too small to fit the rest of his body. He's perfect.  

"it's exhausting being me"

Here To Stay?

I went on a blogging hiatus, unintentionally. For several months I did not blog, for many reasons. Couldn't find the time for daily updates, once I got behind it seemed daunting to play catch, I've also had one of the toughest years in my life. I've experienced loss, a loss that still rips my heart to shreds if I think about it even a second too long. I've seen lows, I've witnessed people I care about tested day after day, misfortune, the list goes on & on. It was exactly this time last year when the beginning of what felt like my world crumbling apart began. It's a year later and I finally feel well, well better I should say. There's been a lot of changes, some positive, like me deciding to go back to school! Maybe some day I will discuss here on my blog, some of the past twelve month's raging fury & heartache. During this entire time my blog would pop into my mind from time to time. Is that weird? Like an old friend that I hadn't spoken to in a very long time. I figured that my blogging days were done. I'm happy to say that I am back! Although I may not have a huge following of readers (if any at all!), from day one I've kept this blog for myself, for my children. I'd always had the idea of having it made into a book to pass onto each of my children, since it's about them. I love opening my blog & taking a trip down memory lane. There have been days when I've literally sat for hours just reading & scrolling through page after page of our life.

I'm enjoying the process of backdating post from the past. I hope you enjoy catching up with us!

Some milestones that you may or may not get to read about:
*I celebrated my twenty-ninth birthday.
*Mason had a short stint in the hospital, emergency surgery & all.
*My computer bit the dust.
*I stopped doing daycare (that chapter is closed permanently) & began working at a local independently        owned restaurant as a server for shorter, more flexible hours.
*I started school for dental assisting!
*Ethan turned two!
*Mason turned seven!
*I completed my courses!

Ear Tube Drama

At Ethan's two year well baby visit, we learned that his ear tubes were no longer in place & that he had an ear infection. A ten day round on an antibiotic wasn't able to clear it up, another ten day course was prescribed for a stronger antibiotic along with instructions to get him back to an ENT.

5/16/2012-
Our 1st appointment with a new ENT. He changed Ethan's allergy medicine from Claritin to Zyrtec and scheduled him to come back in seven days.

5/23/2012-
Ethan had a hearing test before his appointment with his ENT. He passed and doesn't appear to have hearing loss. Ethan's old set of ear tubes are still in his ears, they are just not in place. He has fluid behind his ear drum in each ear. The Dr. wants to replace his set of ear tubes and also removed his adenoids. My poor guy :( Surgery is scheduled for Monday, June 4th.

5/30/2012-
This afternoon was Ethan's pre-surgical check up & labs with our pediatrician. He is in good health & approved for surgery! Seems to be perfect timing as an infection seems to be brewing his his ears. Ethan was a soldier for the lab work! Not a single tear. My brave baby boy. We're all set for Monday morning.

Success!

My radiology final was Wednesday evening, we were all pretty bummed to learn that this last test of ours would be different. Instead of waiting on the spot to be graded, we would have to wait until Tuesday, May 29th to get our results. I had been looking so forward to knowing whether I had passed or failed before returning home that evening. The test was challenging, but still easier then I had anticipated it to be. I was the first to finish and hand it in. Although I felt as if I did well, and couldn't have possibly gotten enough wrong to fail the final (anything below 80%) until I knew for sure I couldn't stop worrying about my score. While at work this afternoon, working a double shift, I just so happened to check my phone while in the bathroom adjusting my apron. A few of the girls from class had text me that they had already received a phone call stating that they had passed. I was so anxious thinking that if they had called me that I wouldn't have heard it and would possibly have to wait until after the holiday weekend to find out if I passed or failed. I had a missed called and a voicemail from the school, I passed!! I'm so relieved. I'm excited to be done with school, for now anyway. On to studying for the Dental Assistant National Board exams. Wish me luck!

Mama's Day Off

Ha! Just kidding ;)

Our day started with a grumpy baby Ethan, it was good fun! My Mother took the children & I out for brunch. I knew it would be crowded & there would be a long wait wherever we went, even still waiting was brutal with two restless kids & a baby that could give Oscar the grouch a good run for his money. After returning home I put my demon baby down for a much needed nap. It was truly peaceful laying on the couch, loosely wrapped in my fav throw, television off, drowsily reading a book. Ahhhh. This afternoon we trucked to the playground at Mason's school a few blocks away. Stopping off for ice cream on the way home, key like pie cheesecake ice cream for me I love the home made cards my little people made for me, it's those little things that make all mama's hearts skip a beat or two. 

My life is hectic, the children are often wild, even still, it's MY life and MY wild children. I feel blessed. Happy Mother's day to all! Hope you were all spoiled.

Power!

Sweet victory, we finally have power again! It's been almost a full 5 days. With 3 small children, the days haven't been easy. Makes me all the more grateful & appreciative to have it back! I am so chipper over being able to flip a switch and have a light come on, I've been doing little jigs all around the house :D Many thanks to Kim and Alecia for letting us crash when we needed, take showers & eat warm meals. A very special thanks to a friend of mines father, who graciously lent us his generator during our time without power. Mr. Welsh, you are a rockstar!!

1st Grade

Officially! The 2011-12 school year was supposed to start on Monday the 29th. Hurricane Irene claimed both Monday & Tuesday in her wake. Schools opened yesterday, Mason was unable to go though. The school system waited until late in the evening to make the decision that schools would be open for students. Being that we still do NOT have power, trying to get a 6 year old ready for the much anticipated 1st day in a new school by flashlight is not an easy task. We were at Kim's when I got the phone call notifying me school would be on, it was almost 7pm. We had yet to eat dinner, and still needed our family of 5 to shower & bathe before we could return home to our house of darkness. It was frazzling and overwhelming, I wasn't expecting Mason to have school and didn't know where to begin on gathering everything he would need. We made the decision to keep him home. Mason was upset, but it just did not seem fair to send him off on a new adventure so unprepared and surrounded by chaos. We took yesterday (and the daylight!) to get all he needed. So today was his 1st official, unofficial day of 1st grade! Even though we still do not have power, having time to prepare made all the difference in the world. He was very amped, the open house/teacher meet & greet we attended last Friday really got him excited to go back.

Dear, Mason

I wish you the absolute best year! I'm excited to see you grow and learn many new things. We are so proud of the bright, happy little boy you are. Good luck on this next adventure in your life.

Love dearly,
Mom

Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene mad an appearance in our area last night, into today. What a mess! Luckily we and all of our family and friends were unharmed. The constant rain flooded the yard, and caused water to leak into the basement. We ended up outside in the wind & rain digging a trench for the water to drain away from the house. It worked well! The leaking in the basement was not too crazy, just enough to create a nice mess for us to clean up. We are currently without power (since last night), along with most of the rest of North-eastern Maryland. Tomorrow is supposed to be the 1st day of school, it's been canceled. Many, many trees have come down. It could have been worse, for the fact that it wasn't more severe, I'm thankful. All credit for these photos go to Sean Welsh & Brad Gerick of Havre de Grace & Bel Air Patch.

Earthquake!

I've never experienced an earthquake before, Maryland is not a state that typically has earthquakes. This afternoon, just before 2pm, Mason asked me why I the floor was shaking. It was the strangest, most unsettling feeling. It felt as if we were standing next to an overloaded washing machine on the spin cycle, only I wasn't doing laundry. I watched the floor under my feet sway. Neither Chloe nor Rowan noticed anything at all. They were too busy jumping around, giggling & playing to notice. Both Ian and Ethan were napping, I ran upstairs to check on them, both were sound asleep. I really wasn't sure what had just happened, earthquake crossed my mind, but I seriously doubted it. A picture fell off the wall, my framed poster that reads "Keep calm & carry on", the irony! I went to Facebook to see if maybe someone else had felt it too.....FB confirms (imagine that!) YES, what I felt was an earthquake!!! The realization was both scary & exciting. The earthquake, a 5.8 in Virginia, was felt from NC all the way up to New England. Although some buildings did withstand damage, no one was hurt. Here is my favorite mock pic that sprung up after the quake, it seriously makes me chuckle.

Dear Blog,

I miss you. I miss you, a lot. I promise to dedicate more time to you. I promise to back date, and plan more time to keep you current. Sorry for the neglect. Sincerely, Momma.

Ravens Vs Chiefs

My very 1st football game! Who cares if it was a pre-season game, I didn't ;) I

had a blast, drank way too much and cheered loudly. Final score: 31-13. Go RAVENS! A big thanks to Tamara & Shawn for entertaining our little people while we were supporting the team.

Woof Woof

Ethan's new word? Dog. Ethan's new fav thing? Dogs. Ethan's Halloween costume (that I scored on sale & had a coupon for :)? DOG! If you are asking yourself "Halloween costume in August???", then you really don't know me well. Haha!

Holy Hail

After a fun filled afternoon swimming at aunt Connie's, we were hit with a hell of a storm. It came on quick and was intense. I've never seen hail like I did this afternoon in my life! It was crazy to see, the kids were going nuts. So much excitement! My Dad was on his way home from work, we had a dinner date, luckily he seemed to follow the storm home and was never stuck driving in it.

BFF's

Rowan & Chloe :)

Mom's Day

Today, like all days, I'm proud to be a Mother. Although demanding and very much exhausting, there's nothing I'd want more for myself then to be called Mommy. Motherhood is every emotion you can imagine, rolled into one. It's quite a ride! Mason, Rowan, Ethan, thank you for making me your Mom, it's an honor. I received the most beautiful necklace, it represents all that I love. Super sweet sentiments that Mason made at school will be cherished forever. Happy Mother's Day to all.

Up, Down

He learned to make his way up the stairs months ago, he's finally learned how to get back down safely. Can you guess what are days & nights now consist of? If you guessed following Ethan up & down the stairs at least 3647672364782316 times a day, your a genius!

EEEEEEK!

I was greeted by this disgusting monster in the basement ::shudders::

Tubes

My sweet baby had tubes put in his ears this morning. Last night was tough, not allowing Ethan to nurse or have anything to eat or drink, no fun! I carried Ethan into the OR, it broke my heart to have looking to me with such scared eyes. I stayed until he was under, kissed him & then joined Bailey in the waiting room. The surgery was very quick, no problems. When we were called back to recovery, a nurse had Eth cradled against her chest, rubbing his back. Not a tear or peep out of him. A very different experience then we've had with the other children. After a short stay in recovery, we took our groggy boy home. This morning & afternoon, he did great, this evening he's been pretty miserable. I hope he feels better fast, I hate thinking he may be in pain.