Getting Stuff DONE!

This afternoon I left Brian with the kiddos and headed out to get 'just a few things.' Four hours later I came back home with a loaded cargo area. I just can't help buying little baby things. I figure buying baby gifts is way less expensive than having another baby, so I'm actually saving money, right?! I finally bought some frames to put our fantastic pictures Amy Melsa took of us in November. Between Lucas' birthday, new baby's birth/baptism, and random birthday parties to buy for I got so much bought and ready to go. I also may have taken a trip to Homegoods. This store is my sanctuary. I usually don't buy anything, but it's so much fun to think of what you NEED. I mean, a 3 foot metal chicken, yes please! I did buy a little piece of art for the kitchen that commemorates my love of wine.

This week I'm going to a tutu making party for the Color Run on Saturday. Our team is the Rainbow Runners. And not one of us are gay. I love it! I have to think of a rainbow treat to bring. Apparently rainbow jello shots are covered. Awesome!

TBAR

This is what Brian says to me when Logan does something particulary eyebrow-raising. Tonight he was actin' a fool and spinning around until he got dizzy, stumbled around, and then spun some more. He rolled around on the carpet for a while and then wanted a horsey ride. When he decides that it's nap/bed time he'll just lay down on the ground wherever he is. At the park, in the store, in the family room, etc etc. He said a few more words tonight. Poopoo, balloon and something else I can't recall.

Isabel is feeling a bit better. No more fever. Still on rescue asthma drugs and inhaled steroids. I imagine we'll be keeping her on the steroids for at least another month, but only 1-2x's a day. We have got to get her inflammation under control. We were doing it 1x/day since her attack in December, but I think she needs 2x/day, especially with it being stupid cedar season. Austin is SO bad for allergies.

I did my last solo long run before the marathons. 21 long miles. I downloaded a short story that I listened to for about an hour and a half. It made the miles fly by. I finished up another audiobook and then turned on the music. There were a ton of people on the trail finishing up their long runs before the Austin Marathon in 2 weeks. I didn't have to brave East Austin by myself, so that was nice. It was the perfect morning for a long run. Clear and cool. I had on tights, compression socks, long sleeve shirt, jacket, ear warmers, and gloves for 10 miles and then ditched the jacket and ear warmers. I feel suprisingly great after the run. No 'hot' spots like I normally get and no soreness yet. Just tired. Probably doesn't help that I haven't had much sleep this week. I must say, I dread and really look forward to my long long runs. Having almost 4 hours to myself to focus on myself is pretty boss. It does kill a Saturday pretty quickly, so I think this might be my last marathon season for a while. I honestly missed the kiddos badly around mile 12. I just wanted to be home hanging out with my family. I'm very proud of my accomplishmet though. A 21 mile run is nothing to scoff at, and I need to remember that. Regardless of what happens on February 19th, I've put some serious miles in. Even with my very (very!) reduced weekday schedule I've still sacrificed precious family time for my fitness goals. It's now time to put up or shut up.

This asthma is driving me crazy!

I hate asthma! It is SO frustrating and annoying and scary. Isabel has been on Pulmocort pretty much since her last wheezing episode in December. As per the pediatrician's orders we slowly weaned her down to 1x/day as she got better. Yesterday she started wheezing again, so the nebulizer is getting a steady workout. The crack, I mean albuterol, that she gets every 4 hours makes her jittery, have the shakes and generally become crazy. Well crazier than a 2.5 year old already is. Last night she was up ALL night and then at 7:05 am I hear "Mommy, I AWAAAAKE!" How is it possible for a toddler to get less sleep than an adult? I really wanted to take her in bed with us last night because she was having such a hard time, but Brian and I decided that she needed to be on the movement monitor. There was a case of RSV in her preschool classroom this week, so I took her to the doctor to try and rule that out. Not that it would make the treatment any different, but I was worried about our planned trip to Houston this weekend and exposing Lucas, who could in turn expose new baby. That would not be good. So they did an RSV test. What I thought was a simple nose swab turned out to be a nasal irrigation. I was at the doctor's office by myself with 2 hungry kids for an hour and a half. The nasal irrigation completed our less-than-pleasant trip and was not super fun. We'll get the results in 1-2 days. Hopefully before tomorrow night so that we can decide whether we'll go to Houston or not. If we don't get results we won't go since it's just not worth the risk. If Izzy's breathing isn't under control in about 5 days she'll start another round of oral steroids. Fun times. I'm apprehensive about giving her so many meds, especially the albuterol, but the doctor assured us that lung scarring (a result of extended lung inflammation) is much worse than the drugs and is irreversable. We did get switched to a different rescue inhalor, so hopefully she won't get the shakes like she does with albuterol. It's seriously like watching someone on speed when she has it. I get hopped up, but can still sleep after I take albuterol, so her reaction is scary to me. Well, I could probably sleep anytime/anyplace, so I'm not a good example.

Between my insomnia, the crazy thunderstorms Tuesday night and Isabel's asthma Brian and I are going on very very very little sleep. I can handle getting 4-5 hours a night now that I've been doing it for years, but 2-3 is a little rough. My coffee consumption has about tripled.

It's a beautiful day outside, but I'm not comforatable having Izzy run around today, so we're inside watching shows and movies. Boring. Logan isn't impressed. Poor thing desperately wants to go outside and play.

You Just Have to Call Grandpa

So we tried to see 'Architecture of Air' last Friday. It's this really cool exhibit of light and space that involves blown up structures. We planned on meeting Brian downtown around 12:30pm after eating a picnic lunch and going to the exhibit. Brian saw that they weren't selling tickets until 2pm and called to tell us that. This was right after I showed Izzy the awesome blow up building they had constructed for the exhibit. We distracted her with lunch and climbing up 'mountains' (hills around the Long Center). As we were leaving I looked in the rear view mirror and saw that she was visibly upset and looked very sad. I asked her what was wrong and she said 'I just weeely wanted to go in those houses.' I told her that I was very sorry but that the tickets were sold out and we couldn't go. She thought for a second and then said 'You just have to call Grandpa. He has money, he'll buy tickets.' Freaking hilarious.

Stories and Singing

Isabel has come up with some super elaborate stories lately. Yesterday Brian dropped me off at the grocery store (NEVER go to the grocery store on a Sunday) while he took Izzy and Logan to the park. When they picked me up Izzy had some serious stories to tell me about a Tiger and Lion that tried to get her at the park. It was so funny and detailed. She had us cracking up. At the end of her made up stories she usually goes 'I just joking!' to let us know that it didn't really happen.

Izzy is still being a rock star in her big girl bed. She took our instructions of 'don't get our of the bed' pretty seriously and won't leave the bed until we get in her room. It's great, but also sort of annoying. She calls us in when her Thomas falls off the bed or when her blanket isn't covering her properly. She could really just reach down and pick them up, but she won't. I should be thankful that she's not running around upstairs all the time when she should be sleeping. We still have her movement monitor set up on the new bed and it's working great.

Izzy unfortunately inherited our singing genes. Basically that means that the girl can't carry a tune. She tries like the best of them, but it's SO painful to listen to her carry a tune. I mean, it's great to hear her sing, but poor thing has no musical ability when it comes to singing. She loves to sing and makes up funny songs about her day. She reminds me so much (so much!) of Jenn at this age. I distinctly remember my sister singing and talking and singing and talking and talking some more at this age. We used to tell her to be quiet and she would say 'I'll keep talking, but you don't have to listen to me.' We were so mean to her, but she never got deterred. Izzy has that same confidence. I wish I could bottle it up and give it back to her when she turns 12, 13, etc.

Logan is giving the 'cute' looks now. He's still such a hip baby and just wants to be held and cuddled. It's challenging at times, but I love that he wants to snuggle and cuddle all the time, especially when Isabel is sleeping or at school. He's down to one nap a day, but it's pretty short. He goes down around 2pm and is up at 3:30 or 4pm. Compared to the girls this is a super short nap. He goes to bed around 8:15pm and is up around 8am. Not too bad. He usually needs at least one cuddle/paci reset/pat on the back at night, but goes back to sleep relatively easily. He's understanding pretty much everything we say, but is still using just a few key words. His favorites are:
baby
bye bye
mama
dada
hello
hi
here go
thank you
That's about it. He's not an early talker, for sure, but I'm not worried. Vivian and Isabel were not early talkers and Isabel is talking up a storm these days. Logan loves his Mama and Dada and is still a little hesitant around other people. He did give a ball to a random mom at the park today. It was so cute and such a big step for my little guy!

Other than that life continues to go on. We've all been missing Vivian a lot these days. Brian and I often talk about what she would be like/look like/like/dislike, etc. Sometimes I get really pissed off that she's not here to straighten Izzy and Logan out when they need it. I know she would be an awesome little 6 year old dictator right now. We pass the elementary school and Izzy always asks if that's 'her school' just like Vivian did. It makes me smile and my heart hurt at the same time. I used to tell Vivian that would be her school in '3 years' and now that I'm telling Isabel that same thing I can't help but think 'if you're still alive.' Morbid? Absolutely. But that's what happens when you lose a child.

In happier news, we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of the newest cousin! We packed up some baby toys for Lucas' brother and will take them to Houston this weekend. Joanne is staying with my parents until the little one is born and goes back to China (mid-March). Major props to Joanne and my parents. I can't imagine it's easy living with your in-laws with your toddler son, pregnant and away from your husband and family for so long. She's a tropper for sure. I also can't imagine that it's particularly easy to host a toddler and her pregnant Mama either, so props to Grandma and Grandpa too! I know they're loving it though! It's hard being in Austin knowing Lucas and Joanne are just a few hours away in Houston, so we're heading to Houston this weekend to spend some time with them. We'll be back in a couple of weeks to celebrate the new baby's baptism and Lucas' 2nd birthday too!

Christmas, Singing Songs, Body Parts

We got back to Austin after a great 10 days in Houston Monday afternoon. We were lucky enough to spend some time with Matt and Lindsay pre-Christmas in Austin for a day. Isabel really took to Lindsay and they had fun playing together. After Brian got off of work Friday, December 23rd in the afternoon we loaded up the car to the brim and took off for Houston. GGB, Aunt Jenn, Aunt Joanne, Uncle Rich, Lucas and Grandma and Grandpa were all waiting for us. We arrived just minutes after Aunt Jenn did. All the flights were on time. Christmas miracle! We met Greg, Matt and Lindsay dowtown Saturday morning for a tour of the St. Arnold's Brewery. It was really fun and the beer was great. Santa Claus found us in Houston and delivered presents that night! Woohoo! Isabel and Logan watched the Polar Express Christmas Eve and loved it. It was pretty cute. Santa brought lots of great toys including a pink big wheel and Tangled dvd/giant coloring book (as requested) for Isabel and lots of Elmo for Lucas and Logan. Santa even ate the cookies and drank the milk we set out. Oh, and his reindeer like candy canes. Christmas Day we went over to Grammy and Papaw's house and exchanged presents with them. Mommy was feeling a little overwhelmed and may have had a slight meltdown, but that's ok, nothing was broken. Grammy served a delicious meal and we all stuffed ourselves.

Other things we did over the holiday included-saw 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (great!), went to the Children's Museum in The Woodlands twice (once for the NYE party), ran 16.5 miles, ate way too much food, hit up the mall, ate sushi with Jenn, played Monopoly with the electronic banker (game changer), played way too little Pinochle, drank way too much, hit up the spa, played with Lucas and Lila, bought Christmas outfits for next year, did NOT overspend on presents this year. Sorry about that everyone, but this lady stuck to a budget and did not budge.

It was a really great holiday and break from the normal routine. Unfortunately Logan is still at the age where he's tough to manage and just wants his regular people (me and Brian), so that makes things tough for everyone else when we're gone. Logan is definitely happy to be back in his home and environment. He's my tough cookie, but I love that little cuddle bug.

Isabel kept talking about her new big girl bed on the trip back to Austin. We briefly mentioned it to her a while ago and she must have heard me talking about transitioning her after the holidays because she knew that it was 'after the holidays' and time for her big girl bed. Brian and I tried to tell her that we would see about buying one sometime 'this week,' but it was very clear that she wanted it ASAP. After her afternoon nap the day we got back to Austin we went to Buy Buy Baby and let her pick out a pink princess bed. To say that she loves it would be a huge understatement. Right after Brian finished putting it together she told us 'night night' and wanted us to leave and let her go to bed. When she gets upset or frustrated she tells me that she wants to go upstairs and sleep in her princess bed. It's freaking awesome! I'm crossing my fingers that the novelty doesn't wear off anytime soon. Bedtime and naptime have been so (so!) much easier these days.

Isabel has also just begun singing songs. She actually remembers the words and sings with some sort of melody. It's ridiculously cute. Her favorites are 'the ABCs.' 'Jingle Bells,' 'Jingle Bell Rock,' and some Princess song that she made up. She busted out 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' yesterday and did a damn good job of it. Talking to her has been getting more and more fun. She's super fun and I love to hear what she'll say next. We're still working on aggressive behaviours with her, although this week they've been directed at her preschool teachers and not her friends. It's funny, her teacher says she's the first one over to comfort a hurt friend, but also the most aggressive. I guess it's all or nothing with her. Wonder where she gets that trait from? She's been SO much better with the biting and didn't bite Logan or Lucas over the holidays.

Logan is learning his body parts! This is so exciting! He loves to show off his 'head,' 'mouth.' nose,' 'tummy,' 'toes,' 'hands,' ears,' and 'eyes.' He also loves to give hugs and is trying to give kisses. He's sort of blowing kisses and is waving bye and hi. Sometimes. His vocabulary is still a little small, but all of my kids have been slower talkers. These are the words he's saying regularly.

Mama

Dada

Ball

Uh-oh

all done

dog

He also shakes his head for yes and no. Mostly for no.

Today we took Tank in to the vet to get the mass removed that suddenly popped up last weekend. Seriously it appeared overnight. We took Tank tot he ER Vet on NYE and they did a needle biopsy, but couldn't tell what it was. So we scheduled Tank for a much needed teeth cleaning and mass removal today. Tank needed 19 teeth removed. Yes, 19. He apparently has 42, so NBD (no big deal), right? I picked him up and he's suprisingly chipper and has been eating like a champ. Tank has cut into any vacation/disposable income for the year, so AWESOME! We can't complain too much though, because in the 9 years we've had him this and his prosthetic eyes have been the 2 biggest expenses. I'm hoping that the old dog hangs around for a while longer so that the teeth cleaning wasn't all for not. I kid. Sort of. On the plus side he doesn't smell like death rot anymore. People can actually stand to be in the same room with him for more than 30 seconds again. It's amazing what a good teeth cleaning/rotten teeth removal will do for your social life.