Sickapaloosa 2011

I started this blog what seems like ages ago and barely blogged. Then we had Madeline and I began my life as a stay at home mom. I blogged a lot. (Well a lot more than I did in the beginning.) Then Lydia was born and life kind of got in the way of me blogging. I try, but I just don't know where my time goes most days.

Back when I was a mother of one and a much more frequent blogger I used this space as a journal of our life. Our life as we know it. Right here. Right now. These days will fly by faster than I can remember them and I want to remember them. The good, the bad, the sick, the healthy, all of it.

I want to get back to that. I feel like I need to get back to that. I make no promises, other than the promise to my self to try to do a better job of recording our lives. Because some day I will want to remember this.

Even this,


We are all still sick. Monday will mark two full weeks of illness in our house and if the girls' colds last as long as mine and Kevin's we are in it for a while longer.

After my Tuesday Ten post Lydia's rash got worse and the next morning I took her into the doctor where they confirmed the rash was probably an allergic reaction the antibiotic she'd been taking since the previous Monday. She hadn't yet developed hives so the nurse practitioner suggested I continue giving her the medication.

I refused.

I am so glad that I did.

Later Wednesday and all day Thursday my baby was miserable because the "benign" rash turned into full out hives. What if I had continued the medicine? How much worse could it have gotten? Parenting is full of really hard choices and I am so very glad to have listened to my instincts and to have guidance from some really awesome friends (wink, wink) and an amazing husband to stand beside me.

As of yesterday I thought we were, again, on the mend. So, being awesome I sent the girlies to spend the night at my parents. Sorry Granny and Poppy. I hope you sleep better tonight! :)

When I collected them today, Lydia, who had been ok according to Granny and Poppy was a clingy, crying, miserable mess. See the above photo for proof. She stayed that way until bedtime.

Madeline, well it seems that this cold virus has finally caught up to my high spirited big girl. When I got to my parents Madeline was taking a nap. Yep, a nap. As in the first nap that girl has willingly taken since July 2009. And get this, she ASKED to go back to bed. HUGE RED FLAG that my home girl is S.I.C.K.

When we got home she had a low fever and spent most of the day sacked out or playing quietly. Totally, not herself. At bed time she had an even lower fever and was starting to get some of her normal spunk back, but she also didn't fight the bedtime routine at all (not normal) and fell asleep quickly.

So we will see how my squirrels are doing in the morning. Kevin is still hacking up a lung, but feels better. I am coughing but not with the intensity or frequency of my husband. I have my fingers crossed that if the girls really do get this funk that it is quick and less severe than Kevin and I had it.

Will you cross your finger's too?

I'd like to leave my house for something other than doctors visits, medicine and popsicles. Please?

excuses excuses

I've got a lot of them.

Instead of blogging today I spent way too much time watching YouTube videos. So as an apology for not blogging, I will share with you some of the wonderful gems I have found.

I am a self admitted anamated Disney movie fanatic. Even if you aren't, this is funny.




Hate the Eminem version, LOVE this:



Because I love this guy, even if I'd never heard of him before 12:30pm today...




And this makes me laugh every single stinkin' time I see it. This girl is hilarious!

The Tuesday Ten, vol. XII

Week of sickness edition

-1-
Last Monday Lydia was seen by the doctor and started on a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection.

-2-
Tuesday I was ready to say we are all better. The sky was rosy. All was well.

-3-
Wednesday I ended the day with a sore throat but blamed it on the fact that I taught my first class since before Christmas and talked almost non-stop for four hours. I was wrong.

-4-
Thursday I feel pretty crappy. It was St. Patrick's day and I wanted to head to the parade but decided to go for a walk and then rest in the afternoon hoping my throat would feel better. Then when I picked Madeline up from school I noticed she had junk in her eye and it was red.

-5-
Back to the Dr for the second time that week to have her diagnosed with... pink eye. When I asked if this was the same eye problem Lydia had the Dr explained that it was, to which I told him that I was seriously upset that he wasn't clear about this earlier in the week because who knows who we may have exposed that too... ugh.

-6-
Have you ever tried to put eye drops in a 3 1/2 year old's eyes? My 3 1/2 year old makes noises that might lead you to believe she was being tortured. I guess you could argue that it was torture. I know she would.

-7-
Friday, I am still feeling cruddy, but I decide I don't feel bad enough to go to the doctor. I'll just ride it out. Famous last words. I end up at a Walgreen's Clinic Saturday morning because I feel like heck. My diagnosis, a virus that will run its course in 7-10 days.

-8-
I feel worse every hour for the next two days only made worse by a stomach bug that is seriously unpleasant. Oh, and Kevin starts with a sore throat on Saturday. Sunday night the girlies spent the night at my in-laws. I slept horribly and didn't even get out of bed until 10am. Madeline and Lydia came home happy and super tired. By bedtime Madeline had a little cough and Lydia was running a fever and had broken out in a rash and low and behold... her pink eye is back.

-9-
Do you know what is worse than giving eye drops to a 3 1/2 year old? Giving eye drops to a 1 1/2 year old.

-10-
Today, Madeline is doing fine. Lydia's fever is hanging tough but she seems mostly unaffected by it. I am feeling better, not awesome, but better. And Kevin, well he's in it for the long haul.

My words of wisdom for the week: don't visit without a face mask and hand sanitizer. Deep cleaning will commence as soon as possible.

The Tuesday Ten, vol. XI

-1-
Lydia woke up 110% better than she was yesterday. Her eyes have cleared up and she was a happy smiley girl all day long.

-2-
I cut my finger whilst making myself a sandwich, yep a sandwich. I am trying to type with a band-aid on my finger and it is stupid difficult.

-3-
We are currently watching a history channel show about if a presidential book of secrets exists. They can't say presidential book of secrets without sounding ridiculously dramatic. I giggle every time.

-4-
The Warblers sang Blackbird, one of my favorite songs of all time, on Glee tonight. It was lovely. Not as good as the original, but I liked it.

-5-
Yep, I watch Glee.

-6-
I'm ok with that.

-7-
It snowed yesterday only confirming my desire, no need, for spring. Like, now.

-8-
The only problem is that my feet are totally NOT ready for flip flop weather. I just last week removed the last of the toe nail polish that was applied on August 4th of last year. It was a sliver of paint, but still. I want a pedicure like no body's business! If I had unlimited funds that is totally something I would treat myself to. I love having my nails done (both feet and hands) but can't justify the expense. Maybe some day.

-9-
Madeline has been talking about taking swimming lessons lately and informed me today that she can't go swimming until she has lessons. Why? Because it is against the rules and just wouldn't be safe. That girl is so much my daughter it is scary sometimes. She's my little rule follower.

-10-
I feel like sewing something, but I have no idea what project to start. Any suggestions?

World's Worst

Warning: If you have a weak constitution, have trouble dealing with illness or your heart breaks when you see a miserably sick kiddo I'd say this post isn't for you. It doesn't involve vomit, so at least it has that going for it.

Last week the squirrels had colds. They weren't too bad and in fact neither of them ever had a fever or developed the cough that so many of the kiddos seem to be hanging onto for weeks on end.

Then came Friday. Friday I noticed Lydia had a little gunk in her right eye before bedtime. Not to bad and I wiped it away and that was that. Saturday it was still there, but not too bad and I only wiped her face two or three times. Yesterday it spread to both eyes and was a fairly constant stream of ick. I called the Dr's exchange (I swear childrens immune systems have a clock that is set to only go off during the doctors no working hours...) and ultimately decided to bring her in to the doc this morning.

The diagnosis? A sinus infection that is "seeping" out of her eyes to release the pressure. Of course after her visit and the first dose of antibiotic she got worse. (Which I know happens all the time, but it is still hard to see my baby so unhappy.) She woke up early from her nap with a 100.4 fever feeling and looking all around gross. Until this afternoon Lydia hadn't run a fever at all.


So world's worst sinus infection? Maybe not. Grossest I've seen? Heck yeah. After her second dose of antibiotics and a round of fever reducer she was almost back to her normal cheerful self this evening. I just hope she doesn't wake up with her eyes matted shut again in the morning. Yuck.

Facebook Friday

I realized recently that part of the reason I have neglected this blog is because I have been using Facebook a whole lot more. It is just so simple to get online, get what ever is in my brain out quickly and move on.

So I thought it would be a good idea to record some of what I've posted on Facebook during the week. That way it is recorded here for all of posterity as well as on Facebook.

I am not going to re-post everything. Some things need not be repeated. Anything that is notable, or any photos I post I will re-post here.

So let's get started!

March 4 at 12:09pm
Kev is doubting my sensibility because of the way Lydia is dressed today. I'll admit she is a little bold with her colors but the hat was all her idea.


March 4 at 3:02pm
I just had a new (to me) sewing machine brought to my house by a dear friend. Let the fun begin!

March 7 at 10:41am
I guess Lydia's still feeling crummy. She just asked to nap two hours early and passed out almost as soon as I put her down. Worried what this means for the rest of the day!!!

March 7 at 6:00pm
Me: I love you Madeline.
Madeline: I love that rug.

March 9 at 10:08am
Dear Sun,
It was fun while it lasted. Could you please come out again soon? Like, now?
Love, Maureen

March 11 at 2:35pm
Conversation at the park is going something like this: "Up!" So I put her up. Immediately she says "down" so I take her down. "Up!" "Down!" "Up!" "Down!" When will I learn?

Just 'cuz

Today has been a hectic day around here. Run. Run. Run.


But that always makes me feel better. How about you?

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

If you know me in real life or have been following the bligity-blog for a while you know I really just can't keep my mouth closed. Even on wordless Wednesday...

You know you love me anyway!

We checked out the first Molly book from the original American Girl series from the library this week. These books were first published in 1986, when I was in grade school and I devoured the Molly books. I thought maybe Madeline would dig them as much as I did. We've read this book from cover to cover four times since last Thursday. I'd say it's a hit.

The Tuesday Ten, vol. X

This was hard this week. Promise to be more cleaver in the future...

-1-
Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Happy Mardi Gras! I celebrated this "holiday" by eating leftover Cajun Chicken Pasta. It wasn't nearly Cajun enough for my taste and much better as a second day dish than it was last night when I originally made it.

-2-
After last week's storm and a tree falling in our yard crushing the slide on our play structure we were very surprised to receive a new one today at no charge. It's a long story, but we were very happy to catch a break after a few weeks of stressful events. Thank you Leisure Time Products!

-3-
We are currently watching Chicago on TV and I forgot how much I love that movie. Richard Gere as Billy Flynn? Genius!

-4-
Why is choosing a preschool classroom so difficult? I mean why in the world are there so many choices and WHY is it so hard? Please someone tell me the right choice to make. Please?

-5-
Is it spring yet? I miss being able to feel my toes (because they are always cold) and sunshine.

-6-
Increasing the amount of water you drink in a day means frequent trips to the bathroom leaving your children more time to destroy things in your absence. Not a consequence I could have projected but a reality none the less.

-7-
Charlie Sheen = train wreak I can't stop watching

-8-
I am kinda embarrassed about #7. Don't hold it against me. I just have really poor taste in reality TV and this week has been like gold for reality junkies like me.

-9-
I'm even more embarrassed about #8.

-10-
I think I'll end the embarrassment here. 'night!

Many Moons Ago

Weeks ago I took a million photographs of my squirrels in order to get two usable photographs for Valentines Day.

So as not to mislead you into thinking that my children are in fact perfect in every way and sit, smile and are even remotely still on command I give you the out takes.



I call this the "I think I'm gonna sneeze" shot.


"What is that in your hand?" shot.

"Who invited him*?" shot.


"Mom, I have a hair on my tongue" shot.


"Mom might be missing an eye, but at least I'm cute" shot.

"Not him again?" shot.

"Man are we cute but I should really be wearing makeup" shot.

So in order to gain Madeline's compliance on this entire ordeal, I told her that if I could take pictures of her for 5 minutes she could direct me for five minutes.

This is her artistic vision of a valentines day photo shoot.

The girl is an artistic visionary. Santa and play toast on a plate. She is going to make tens. I'm sure of it.


Then we played with the camera's timer and I handed her my remote shutter**. You can see it in some of the photos below. This activity was wildly popular and I am a bit disappointed that I didn't think of this earlier in the winter. She was highly entertained and I found the photos highly entertaining. Win-Win.

That second to last one cracks me up every time.

_________
*Meet Mr. M. He comes to play with us on Monday's so you might see him around the bligity-blog from time to time.

**It is simply a remote that operates the camera's shutter so you can move freely with a fixed camera. (It is also how I took the family photos from this post.)

Photo Phun

Aren't I phunny?

Both of my children are in this photo. Can you find them?


It's kinda like an episode of Hoarders: toddler edition.

I want to assure you that Lydia was enjoying herself. At least I think so. I mean she wasn't wailing or anything. Madeline piled her in there with all that stuff and both of them laughed the whole time. When Lydia decided she was done, Madeline happily unearthed her.

And what Madeline is doing with a hamper on her head I may never know. That girl, she keeps you guessing.

Where I reitterate: home ownership isn't for the weak hearted

What a week we've had.

Sunday night a potentially tornado forming storm we woke the squirrels up from their oh so important beauty sleep to hang out in our basement. I told them it was a fun adventure. I lied.

After getting them back into bed Kevin discovered that the 70+ mph winds felled 1/3 of the silver maple in our back yard. Falling on the play set in our back yard and revealing the severe amount of rot in the tree.

The play set will be ok. It wasn't smashed, just knocked severely out of whack. Fingers crossed it is easy to rectify. The slide however is toast. (Which reminds me, what in the hell are plastic slides so expensive?!?!? We priced a new one, thinking it would be between $5-=$75 bucks. Nope, $160! It makes me sick to even think about it. I digress.)

The tree is not so lucky however. Although we don't want to get rid of the tree (and we especially don't want to pay for removal) based on the amount of rot in the tree it is just a matter of time before more of the tree comes down and we may not be as lucky (if you count falling on the play set lucky) next time. We'd hate to have the tree come down on the deck, or the house, or the cars. So it is coming down.

What a miserable start to our week.

Then today. Oh today. At 2pm the water main broke on our street. We have been without water since. It is now 8 hours later and there is still NO SIGN OF THE WATER COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!! They told us when we called this afternoon that the water would be back on within 8 hours. That is 10pm. So when we called them back at 8pm to find out what was going on they told us it would be back on within 8 hours.

So who knows when we will have water service back. Oh, what a week.

The Tuesday Ten, vol. IX

10 things I ♥ about Madeline

-1-
When she smiles at me like the photo above I just can't say no to her. Please don't tell her that. She would use it against me.

-2-
I love the way she "coughs" and "sneezes" to get sympathy, gain attention and, I think, relieve stress in new situations.

-3-
I love how helpful and loving she has become with her sister.

-4-
I love when she blows kisses to me at bed time. There are always four. One for my cheek, and three to put in my pocket for Kevin, Lydia and Olive.

-5-
She loves to cook just like her momma.

-6-
I love the way she says "Wydia." It melts my heart and I am savoring that little speech snafu because I know one day we'll wake up and it will be gone along with the last little traces of my little baby girl.

-7-
Madeline makes up songs to narrate her day. Just today I heard her making up a song about cleaning up the blocks in the playroom. They were being bad and she was sending them to their "room."

-8-
"I know just what to do!" is her favorite phrase.

-9-
She is teaching me patience. I lesson I desperately need and am still working to master. My guess is she will continue this lesson for years to come.

-10-
I love the way she laughs at her own jokes. They are the worst jokes I've ever heard but she thinks they are the funniest bits of language ever.