This is Promising:

Says E (yesterday evening): "Mom, usually I am frustrated with you every day, but today we have been at the Doctor's so long that I have only thought about them."

***

After lunch E had a chocolate from her advent calendar. M picked a candy from their Halloween bag.

Later, I found her - complete with chocolate face - mining for treasures in E's chocolate advent calendar.

When I told her that if E opened a door and didn't find a chocolate she got to have M's, she was very distressed.

I said: "M, did you eat E's treats?"

Says M: "Yes."

I guess she wants to know why that is a problem.

***

Today GQ made Dad miss his bus. He patted Justin's chair, made him sit down, and then lifted his arms to be held. Who could resist that?

***

We hear that back home in the Rocky's Cousin Annie also has strep and impetigo. Together in spirit!!!

There's Always A First Time

I have never in my life ordered delivery pizza.

But, after spending 9:00-10:30 at the Doctor's for a routine appointment for me, 10:30 -1:00 running errands, 1:00-1:30 looking for a bathroom for M, 1:30 - 4:00 at the Pediatricians, 4:00-5:00 picking up prescriptions... all with 3 children...

... I did.

I wasted the extra money for those people to drive on the freezing roads, pull up and climb out of their car in to the freezing air, and walk up to my house.

And I am glad I did it.

Anyway, I have to get everyone back in the car tonight at 9:00 because it's one of those rare occasions where Justin has to stay late, and there is no bus.

Right now I am sitting on the heater vent waiting for the pizza guy to come.

(Justin has strep, M has strep, and GQ has impetigo. Anyone want to come play?)

And so...

GQ's face looks like a train wreck.
I think he is getting better.
He has no teeth.

Surprise, surprise.

*****

M has taught GQ his 2nd sentence.
He says, "I love you."
And he says, "Daddy a boo boo."

I'm glad she's starting him on potty words soon.

(And if you don't think that's a potty word that's because you don't know that this is what M says now that she gets in trouble for "real" potty words. Rhyming is good enough for her, apparently.)

*****

E keeps herself busy putting all the ornaments on the tree that everyone else has taken off.

This is a full time job.

*****

I have decided I am sending out Valentines instead of Christmas cards.

This is because:

1. I am not ready to do Christmas cards right now.
2. I am lazily excited that you will all send your addresses to me, instead of me having to ask for them.
3. I think Valentines are cute.

So, if you want a Valentine from our family to yours in February, just send us a Christmas Card.
I guarantee you'll get one.

Meet GQ...

Here he is, in all his one year old glory:


Handsome little devil. Of course, this is him pretending not to be an actual devil during soccer. Prior to this picture he was screaming bloody murder.

But I don't think that was actually the point of this post. The point was comparison.

You see, this is the handsome little devil today:

Now, come on. Tell me you don't want a great, big smackeroo from that boy - right on the lips.

Mmmmmm.

It's true, GQ has pretty much been sick since we moved to the good ol' Prairie. He's had a few isolated brushes with health, but we've gotten over them fairly quickly.

Meanwhile, he has been in the PICU, he has thrown up all over his bed, he has had one million and two colds. And then one more, just for good measure.

And now, he has the hives.

Aren't they darling? They're even cuter in person, but you would be surprised how difficult it is to photograph a rash, especially with my mad-dog photography skills (um, or un-skills).

At first, I was not concerned, then I was concerned, then I was not concerned, then I was...

well, then I made a discovery.

I think GQ is actually getting some teeth.

Teeth, you know, those things you chew with. GQ may be 17 months old, but he's not much into acquiring extra body parts.

So, I'm wondering:

Will he always break out in hives when getting a new tooth?

Or is he just allergic to all the corn and mice we've got going on here?

To test out this theory, we'll be traveling West at the end of this month - you know, seeing if he gets better or something once we leave the Mid-West. Strictly a scientific trip, you see. We'll be in my hometown for about a week, and then we'll head down to the land of sin and empty houses.

So far - in the name of science and hive diagnosis - I want a salad at Training Table, a salad at Hires, an AstroBurger with extra fry sauce, one of Laura's cakes, and some of those Peanut Butter cupcakes Dorien keeps posting without a recipe.

GQ, on the other hand, is hoping that the change in scenery will be enough to get rid of his hives and acquire a tooth. He's not sure I will share any of the treats I'm trying to acquire.

(Maybe I'll give him some fries.)

Still, despite the bulgy gums, I really don't quite believe GQ can get a tooth. I mean, he hasn't done it so far, right? And he has had 17 months to accomplish this feat. Although, while in the ER in August they did take a head x-ray and I did see some teeth in there somewhere.

Maybe they're coming.

Maybe he's allergic.

Maybe I just want a good salad.

Whatever. We're coming.

And I'll be sure to let GQ give you his snottiest, hiviest kiss of all.

Aren't you lucky?

Look... Pictures...

So, what if they're months old, and have no point.

I said I would write a post: Check.

And add pictures: Check.

I am so accomplished today!

Sadly, this is what I have to say today...

I like bathrooms.

I like bathrooms for the following reasons:

1. There is no reason in this world that my children cannot leave me alone for 5 minutes while I go to the bathroom.

2. There is no reason in this world that my children should be able to tell the difference between 5 minutes and 10 minutes.

3. There is no reason in this world that I should not sit in the bathroom and stare at the wall for a few lonely seconds.

Yes, it's true. I like hanging out in the bathroom.

It is quiet there, and now that it is cold, it gets warm in there really quick when the heat turns on. Not as much space to heat, you know. This is an added bonus.

Once, when I was little, I found a dead mouse in the house while my mother was at work.

Based on my previous posts, I'm sure you'll believe that I responded with complete MATURITY.

Anyway, I decided to hide in the bathroom until my mother got home from work. I figured there was a toilet in there and running water. See, I thought it out and everything.

Apparently I have never grown out of hiding in the bathroom.

It is just unfortunate when M knocks on the door and declares that she has to go too.

I would like to take this moment to say:

that someday I will write a real blog post.

And maybe I will put pictures on it.

The end.

In my effort to not be random, I failed...

Does it surprise anyone that M is more troublesome with the Christmas tree than GQ? Not that he isn't willing to join in the fun once she gets it started! In fact, I am not quite sure why I put the tree up this year since we are leaving halfway through the month, and since I have to move it every Wednesday/Thursday for Ballet.

*****

On Sunday, M wore the black dress she wore for Halloween to Church. This disturbs her because she is convinced it is a witch costume not a dress. Then, at Church she asked if the Deacons were Trick-or-Treating when they were passing the sacrament.

*****

After I finally decided to decorate - despite the reasons above, and my overwhelming laziness lately, especially when it comes to holidays, E informed me:

"Mom, I think you put way too many decorations out."

I said, "But I think they look pretty."

She said, "As long as you stop now."

Well, then.

*****

Tragically, today I saw my first dead mouse.

I have locked the door to the garage - where he will stay entombed until Justin comes home.

But I keep thinking: he is upside-down in the trap. How does a mouse get upside-down in a trap? Did I catch an acrobatic mouse?

This is the 9th mouse. We actually catch very few these days, but apparently they are still here.

*****

No snow here yet. Maybe Winter will skip us completely.