Mommy decided to give it another try with the babysitter. Jade had to go see her babysitter today because Grandma V had an appointment and Granfa M was going with her. Daddy was starting his new job and Mommy was scheduled to go in early. Uncle Regis started working already so he wasn't able to watch her either. So, there was no alternative but to take her to the babysitter's house.
She cried as soon as Mommy put her in her babysitters' arms. She cried and cried and when Mommy said good-bye she wouldn't let go of Mommy's sweater. Jade's tears, streaming down her face, her sniffles made Mommy's heart break so much. It has to be done. Jade has to learn how to get along with other kids and other people. Mommy trusts the babysitter enough to leave her there, so hopefully Jade will learn to trust Mommy's judgement when it comes to her well-being.
Mommy checked in on Jade after her lunch break and it was said that she stopped crying once she got to exploring the house with her newfound talent. Jade was much happier and laughed and played with the other little girls in the house. It's an all-girl daycare so it's where she can learn to socialize with other girls. It's going to be interesting to see how much she grows, emotionally and characteristically, while in her daycare. In her last hour there she began to grow agitated and started to cry and whimper. Daddy came home and was told all the good things his little girl did and how well-behaved she was. It was such a change to hear a good report and now her babysitter is more than happy to take care of her on a regular basis. Hooray! Now Mommy won't have to worry about Jade not having someone to watch her during the day.
Jade is now such a little ham. She loves to pose and smile for pictures.
It was Mommy's day off and Daddy stayed home because he had a job interview. Mommy, Julian and Jade wished him well by giving him lots of kisses and wishing him good luck. When he came home, it turned out he got the job.
When Daddy got home from his interview and told everyone the good news, it was time to take Julian to get his blood drawn for testing in preparation of his surgery. We told Julian it would be fine and if he was brave it wouldn't hurt at all. He was too scared though. Julian had a very hard time letting the nurse get the needle into him to get his blood out. After three "sticks" he was done. There was no point to try again and he was just too hysterical, riled up and hurt. He was exhausted from fighting for them to not do it. So he got 3 Spider-Man stickers and a Jolly Rancher and went on his way. He was so relieved to be out of the office.
Jade is walking all over the place. It's hard to stop her. She takes off and runs around. She plays tag with the boys and peeks behind walls to play "Peek-A-Boo". She laughs hysterically when Julian or Uncle Frankie runs after her. They still intimidate her and cause her to fall down on her bottom a lot, but she's getting the hang of it and is ready to run with the best of them.
Wonder if she'll be faster than them in a couple of years?
It was a fun morning here today. Mommy and Daddy slept in with Jade and Julian until about 8:30AM. Everyone was asleep by about midnight last night so that gave them a really good night's rest. Jade was tired from the effects of the shots and Julian wasn't coughing to the limit of vomiting. It was a very good night of sleep. Everyone woke up well-rested and in good spirits.
Mommy gives Jade showers almost every other night, but this morning was a good day to start off fresh and clean. Mommy had to go to work so she made sure Jade got a bath, too and was in her nice clothes. Daddy was going to take her out.
Julian jumped in the shower with Mommy so he could be fresh, too. He woke up so happy and well-behaved. In recent days, he's been waking up in the most rude and obnoxious spirit we've seen. He's been sick and coughing, getting no sleep and cranky because of it. Either way, today he was great.
Mommy made some breakfast. Cream of Wheat and some scrambled eggs. Normally, Mommy makes breakfast, and it's something fast because they're rushing for work or cranky from no sleep. After Mommy went to work Daddy took very good care of them all day.
But the end of the night led to lots of hugging and loving for Mommy, Daddy, Jade and Jules.
A snuggly Monday morning that started early and ended up being somewhat different.
Today Mommy and the kids woke up at a great time. Around 8:30AM, which is a nice change considering they never wake up that early on her days off. Well, Mommy had already been awake since 5AM because she made Daddy his lunch for work.
Around 9AM Mommy took Jade downstairs to make some breakfast. Julian lagged behind because he was watching a new episode of Dora on NickJr. He came down halfway through it though because he would much rather eat something than watch TV. That-a-boy, Jules.
After eating breakfast, Daddy came home from work. Mommy got Jade dressed and ready in the new clothes her Grandma in Florida sent her. She looked too stinkin' adorable. Mommy forgot to take pictures of her because Daddy fussed about Mommy taking pictures of her after getting her shots and being upset.
She measured a whopping 31"!!! Where the heck is she getting so long from? She's gotta be getting it from her Daddy. She's unbelievably long. She only weighed 21 lbs 4 oz. She's gaining weight, but she's still really long so she's very thin looking. It looks like she might end up being a model. The doctor was very impressed by Jade and her curiosity. She liked that Jade was so strong and fought to keep the doctor from touching her. It made everyone laugh. She was pretty cool about it though. Jade let Dr. Tina check her and then very quickly it was done.
Mommy had to mention to Dr Tina that Julian is having very bad coughing spells again so she prescribed him Albuterol for the Nebulizer that Grandma V has. He has his own mask and tubng to go in it so it's clean and sanitary. Dr. Tina is starting to think that maybe it isn't allergies, but asthma. But allergies are treated with the nebulizer, too... So it could just be asthma-like symptoms brought on by allergies just like his Grampa in Florida and Grandma V? Well, either way, he has Singulair, too. He should be good tonight. The breathing treatments only have to be done when completely necessary, but Mommy thinks the Singulair will be just fine on it's own until Jules shows worse symptoms. .
Jade then had to get two shots in her leg. She was ok after the first one, but the pain from the second one must have collided with the pain from the first shot and she began to wail Daddy grabbed her and she calmed down. Mommy is going to be the evil one - at least until she has to nurse. She got a tiny tootsie pop and she ate it while falling asleep on the way home in the car.
Daddy passed by Rite-Aid and picked up Jules' meds and then came home. When they got home, Jade and Mommy took a two hour nap. Mommy was tired from waking up so early and needed to rest her eyes. When they woke up, it was time for dinner. Mommy, Daddy, Julian and Jade all ate a nice yummy dinner then played for while on the living room floor.
It was good day. Jade wasn't too irritable after getting her shots so that made it all the more nice.
What a Sunday. Jade and Julian are getting hit by this cold pretty badly. Julian slept in pretty late and Jade had trouble sleeping. They both were coughing throughout the night and it's making for exhausted parents. Mommy woke up pretty cranky... but of course Jade's smile made her feel better. Her smile is very soothing.
Today Grandma V decided to make chicken soup. What a great idea! It is too cold outside for anything else. She makes it really thick with rice already boiled in it, soaking up most of the broth and making for a very savory dinner. The kids ate it up, and were nice and toasty. It is a good soup because it sticks to your ribs as you're eating it, making you feel full and warm.
With such sick kids, there really wasn't much for Daddy to do with them. He read to them and took a nap with them. Mommy came home from work and found them all snuggled up together on the queen sized bed. What a sweet sight to come home to.
Afterwards, being that it was such a cold night, everyone ate dinner (soup again) and then all went to bed.
Jade woke up with a really bad cough this morning. She was very unhappy this morning. She woke up with a very bad runny nose. Julian was coughing all night, too, the poor kid. Lately, it's noticeable that he is getting coughs pretty often. Mommy can't be sure what it might be... but it's very possible it's allergies. Normally, Julian gets over his coughs with little medication, but lately, it seems he's just been getting sick, over and over again. Is it this house? Is it this state?
Mommy was able to make breakfast for Daddy and Julian before going to work. That was a nice change. Daddy doesn't always eat breakfast, so it was nice to see him at the table this morning. Jade was eating with her Granfa M. She always eats with him. It makes him very happy, in his sickly state, to be able to sit and play and feed her.
While Mommy went to work, Daddy played with the kids. Took them for a walk to the park and Jade slept for a long while. Julian and Daddy took a nap together as well. Apparently, that is their other favorite pasttime: Sleeping.
The heating vent was closed since summer and Mommy forgot to open it again. She didn't realize it was going to be a really cold morning. Julian slept without underwear on. He normally sleeps without a shirt or shorts. He prefers to sleep in underwear only, but last night, he chose to sleep with a shirt on but without underwear or shorts. He was completely bare-bottomed.
Jade woke up coughing really badly. She was also sweating a lot, too. Maybe she's catching a bad cold? It's very likely with the changes in the weather and the fact that she's not used to this kind of weather yet. Mommy will have to remember to go to the store to buy some medicine.
Julian watches Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the WereRabbit with Grandma V in the living room before eating his lunch. Julian ate lunch and then said bye-bye to Mommy because she had to work. Mommy doesn't like having to leave them home with Grandma V, but it's necessary. Jade takes a nice long nap after eating two eggs with Mommy. Her tummy was nice and full. So when Mommy left to go to work, Jade was still sleeping, snug as a bug.
When Mommy gets home, Jade, Julian and Daddy were in the bedroom playing X-Box. It's becoming a favorite pasttime for Julian and Daddy to do this for at least 30 minutes a day. Bonding over gaming. Jade loves to watch them play and yell at the TV. Maybe she'll like gaming, too? Not likely. She is definitely into music and dancing more than anything else.
Julian had an appointment with the urologist today. This is the same doctor who saved Grandma V's life a while back. Apparently, Julian will be in good hands. The reason for his visit with the urologist today was to check his penis.
As an infant, only 3 days old, Mommy and Daddy made the decision to have Julian circumcised. He healed well and barely cried once it was done. The only problem was that when Mommy checked it more closely once it had healed completely and he was older, she noticed what the urologist called a wing on his penis.
Julian's urologist said they did a piss-poor job of his circumcision and it is technically incomplete. So he will complete it and make it even on November 14th, 2006. He'll be the first patient in surgery that morning (if there isn't another child younger than him in that day).
The urologist has a wonderful bedside manner and Mommy and Daddy will be taking that day of off work to see to Julian's every need. Mommy also took the next day after that off, since he'll be sore and Mommy will have to take care of him. But Grandma V said she'll definitely be taking care of him once Mommy has to go back to work.
It was decided the sooner the better because Thanksgiving is the week after his surgery. If it would have been done on the 21st of November, it wouldn't leave him much time to recover to be excited about having such a grand meal on Thanksgiving.
Jade had a hard time with Daddy tonight while Mommy was at work. She didn't want to get off of him, but he didn't want to let go of her either. Maybe Daddy is having his own separation anxiety issues? Jade is at the stage where most pediatricians would say she is prone to having very bad separation anxiety. So she screams and cries a little more than usual when Mommy leaves. It's nice to know Jade can't live without Mommy.
It was a long night, since Mommy got off work late. Daddy went to pick her up and Jade stayed with Grandma V and Granfa M. Julian layed down and watched TV. He wasn't feeling very well. He's got another cough. He gets coughs a lot and Mommy is going to ask the doctor why that is. Maybe Mommy isn't covering him up enough at night so he won't catch cold? Then again, Julian is a little mini-nudist. He loves to strip down and sleep without a shirt and no shorts... It's time to get him used to wearing pj's to bed.
After being up while the sugar rush dissipated, they slept for a long time. Jade and Jules woke up at 9AM. Mommy made a nice warm breakfast. Strangely enough, it was another very warm morning. The warm weather is causing the children to get sick. They were getting used to the cold weather but with the sudden changes in temperatures, they're getting fevers and runny noses.
Jade has taken to throwing herself backwards onto the [carpeted] floor and kicking her legs frantically. Then when you lift her up so she won't break the heels of her tiny feet, she squeals... Actually, she doesn't squeal. Squealing would indicate pleasure... She screeches. A banshee-like screech that could pierce eardrums and shatter crystal. She's so vocal lately. She's always trying to say something. Whether it be she's hungry or thirsty or that she just doesn't like you telling her what to do, she's always getting her voice heard.
Julian is definitely another vocal one. He will hold a conversation very well and communicate. It's interesting to see how far his imagination takes him. He loves to write letters to Mommy and Daddy. He makes maps. He will also "read" books and dictate the story as he sees it in the pictures. Not that he is always right with the plot, but he uses his imagination to make a great and fun story all his own.
Julian has been a very busy boy today. He has been playing on the computer, Xbox, reading with Mommy and wrestling with Jade all evening. It's finally time for bed. Jade on the other hand has just woken up from what could have been a four hour nap... Can Mommy get her back to bed before midnight? Only time will tell.
Happy Halloween! What a day. It was not a cold day at all today. It was a warm day, perfect for little ghouls, goblins, fairies and witches to knock on doors, looking for chocolatey treats.
After cleaning up the room all day, Mommy got Jade and Julian ready for a little Trick or Treating at the mall. Well, Julian was the one going to the mall. Daddy said he'd take Jade around the neighborhood. He had a blast with her.
After about a half hour, she fell asleep in her stroller. Her little sunflower was ready for bed all over again. Daddy continued to Trick or Treat for the next hour and a half (Lancaster had a TOT'ing time slot/curfew) getting candy for her. No one thought that Daddy was just doing it for his own personal gain. They thought he was going to surprise her with lots of treats when she woke up from her nap. Not the case here! He was definitely doing it for his own gain.
Julian and Frankie got in the car, excited they were going to get candy at the mall. Mommy, Grandma, Julian and Frankie walked to Titi April's job in the mall and then the race began. Who could get the best candy and the best goodies.
There were so many children there. Parents were dressed up. Store employees were dressed up. It was a whole lot of fun. Julian met Magnificent from Sleeping Beauty. He met Superman and his wife. Julian got a radio from an eyeglass place. He also got paints and a coloring book from a children's stationary store. He even got playing cards from Build-A-Bear workshop.
Mommy got coupons for bringing Julian to certain stores. And lots and lots and lots of candy. Mommy had way too much fun. Next year is going to be a big year. Jade will be 2, Julian will be 5. Mommy will probably get a family theme and make Daddy dress up.
Check it out! Julian was just chillin' with Superman. Isn't that awesome? He was glowing. Too bad Mommy's batteries weren't cooperating (or charged enough) because there was a great picture of Julian giving a High-Five to Superman.
We saw lots of pretty princesses. The Little Mermaid made an appearance. Lots of other little Incredible's and plenty of Batmans.
Julian had a blast. Jade had one with her Dad. It was a great night!
Can't wait to do it again next year. Bedtime was full of treats. Definitely going to have to make sure to clean those teeth good before bed.
