Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Old Man Winter 2014

I mean if this doesn't sum up January/February 2014 I don't know what does... 

The Winter That Nearly Killed All the Moms

Oh it was fun, oh so fun.  The 5:30am "All Call" messages proclaiming "no school!"... hot chocolate...cozy movie days... 
    
     Epic snow ball fight.
 Sledding The Mount
My little helper.


And then.... not so much.  The kids don't even want to sled anymore.  And I for sure do not want to shovel anymore.  I really do not want to shovel any. more.  

Expensive Winter

Dear Husband, while you "enjoy" balmy London, I've bought a snow blower and generator. Hurry home before I buy a house in the Keys. 

Xo, k

*AJ has been in London for 3 out of 4 storms this winter.  Coincidence? I'm about to jump in front of a snowplow (kidding).  I love you guys... and I really love playing in snow with you.... but I'd rather play in a pool... on a sunny day... or better yet the beach.  Can we play at the beach? 

Friday, February 21, 2014

"He" was a "She"

**2/20/14: I just found this in my drafts... I must have had to referee something and pressed save instead of publish.  The funny thing is if I had known this existed 2 weeks ago i could have given Sare a much more accurate memory of her birth... Just prior to her own little ones birth!

As recalled on 5/11: I was supposed to call my OB at 3:30p on Sunday to let him know I was feeling... absolutely no signs of labor pending. He was convinced I was going to go on my own that weekend and not need to be induced. There was also some concern about how quickly I tend to go and didn't really want me to continue to dilate prior to active labor and then deliver in the car. Naturally I agreed with that theory as our car is not equipped with an epidural.  So at 3pm I barfed. I started to remember this was the way I went into labor with Crazy T. Barfs but no contractions... great. I called Dr. and we decided that I would come in Monday morning to start the pitocin. I got in the shower to hopefully feel better. Dr. called back and talked to AJ and said - ehh why don't you come in tonight my friend is the one on call and he'll put your cervidil in. Barfed again. So la-dee da- blow dry my hair...put on make up. I am having a baby after all - you do know how many pictures are involved in having a baby, right.... a girls gotta look good for her newborn (whose eyes can't even see more than a spec infront of them and in black and white!) Mom - Mom came over to watch the boys and off we go to the hospital - I think we got there around 5pm. During the car ride i was starting to feel much more cramping... continued to barf and felt like maybe... my water had broken. Not like in the movies broken, but just a little broken. When I got there i was 3+ dilated and sure my water did break - which was a bit of a relief because the alternative was that I peed in my pants... and well, I'm glad it was the water breaking. I was staying and we were having a baby!

Let the drama begin. I go fast... I had pushed it one contraction too far in previous births so I immediately asked for my epidural- I had magazines and movies to watch. That was THE PLAN. Country Strong with Tim McGraw and Gwennie and some USWeeklys to catch up on while I watched the contractions on the screen and say - "wow that was a big one" without really feeling it. That was THE PLAN. Enter anesthesiologist... a face that is now forever etched in my mind because after not one, but two attempts at getting me my epi cocktail, we had nothing. As in nothing numbed by my right foot. And well if your right foot was where babies came from I would have been all set. But we all know that's not where babies come from so THE PLAN was foiled and I was REALLY wishing that I had taken that labor class at some point. The anesthesiologist wanted to try for a third time but after she told me that could result in an indefinite headache (as in forever), I saw the writing on the wall... I was likely still going to feel this birth AND have an indefinite headache. It wasn't the call I was looking to make, but it was time to get my head in the game and... go sans drugas. Thankfully they broke the rest of my water around 7pm I went from 4 -10cm in 45 painful minutes. And after a couple quick pushes -bam she was born at 8:03pm. And "he" was a .... "She!"

After all the drama during her birth, I can definitely say - I would not change a thing about this experience - the sheer amazement and surprise and instant love for this little family we have made was irreplaceable. Two boys and a girl! I couldn't believe it. I hope I will always be able to remember that feeling of pure joy.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Epic Fail.

Recently my friend Chrissy responded to my text ramble "I can't wait to read your blog... get started!" And I thought - "Yeah, I should write a blog- what a great creative outlet since I don't have time to sew, craft or DIY much these days"... and then it dawned on me... oh wait,  I DO have a blog.  I've just abandoned it for TWO (almost 3 but who's counting at this point) years.  Between changing all those dirty diapers, making lunches, working, class momming and shuttling those stinky boys to soccer, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, soccer, baseball. I missed it.  I missed jotting down the minutia.  The minutia that today I think might break me and one day so soon I am going to miss.  And then I'll want these days back... all because I forget why it was all so perfectly exhausting. 

I am so sad that I haven't written one memory of the kids in 2012 and 13... so so SAD.  Aren't these supposed to be the best days? The ones filled with "he touched me" and "that's MY ball." And I'm missing it.  I'm missing the memories of all their funny (and not so funny) moments! Augh! I could cry...

Once I dust myself off.... I'm getting back to blogging... for my kids (not at all for my sanity and attempt at remedying a terrible memory).  For my kids. 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year!

Ugh. One of the things that I love to do at New Years (or at least for the last couple years) is go back and read the blog and remember all the funny times with the boys that year. Which is so fun except for the year that you didn't do a good job making time to blog and then, well, its a MAJOR BUMMER. I know probably no one reads this anymore-and to be honest the real reason that I am writing it is for a memory keeper. My kids are going to think that 2011 didn't exist! ;) Or maybe they'll realize that I had a baby and a job and it did exist it was just that I had to choose between feeding them and blogging and for 2011 I chose feeding them. 2012 - different story... blog all the way!

2011 has been an amazing year- one of the bests to date! 2012 has got it's work cut out for it ;) Kate is for sure the best baby that lived at our house (maybe the world). Jack and Thomas continue to amaze me at how unbelievably loving and great they are at being big brothers. They literally love her to pieces! These days are tiring but they are the best. One day soon they are going to choose their friends over me so I am trying to remember that even if i am not the best StarWars player- they will remember me playing StarWars with them.

There's no way I'm going to be able to remember all the giggles that we have had, but I am thinking i have enough scribbled on post it notes to do a top 10 or something for 2011. Or maybe Top 11. One of my resolutions is to be a better blogger so that the kids can have this to help them remember these fun days together.

Cheers to 2012- may it be a year filled with health happiness and lots and lots of wine - oops i mean laughter!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

A day I'll never forget...






On April 17th at 8:03pm we welcomed little Baby Kate to our family! Katherine Ryland - named after my Nana and a building at the college where we met and got married. I am beyond excited to be a mom to a little girl and she is such a sweet baby. After having two boys and knowing we will get to do all the great things that come along with little boys- tball games, star wars parties, unlimited visits to the ER room. I am so excited to think that now we will also be able to experience all the great things that come with having a little girl... filling the house with pink, shopping the pink side of the stores, maybe someday throwing a wedding.. Oh right and not to mention I just know she will make sure that we go to the nicest old folks home when were old geezers. We couldn't be happier with the newest addition to our family. It now just feels complete.

Her brothers are pretty much infatuated with her. She's got them and her daddy wrapped around her itty bitty finger already! They are so sweet and curious and loving- I am sure there will be a day they want to send her back to the baby factory, but for now I am relishing in these sweet moments and hope I can bring them to the forefront of my memory when they are all fighting for rights to use the car one day.




Welcome to the world, baby Kate!