Crazy Week

I am sorry I have been somewhat aloof lately. This has been the hardest week on me emotionally and physically. In case you didn't know, Calvin is having a hard time talking. I've been up nights tirelessly researching what could be wrong, what I need to do. Nick's been living up to his title of "World's Best Daddy" by looking up how we sign certain things to him. I have also been up nights tirelessly crying, feeling guilty that I somehow caused this, and wondering if I would ever hear that sweet boy tell me he loves me. I know that's selfish but I want to hear it. I want to know that he feels loved and is as happy as his smile indicates.
Monday we (calvin and I) had a 2 1/2 hour appointment with a speech therapist who told me she thinks there is hope. It was like having an angel in my presence: Calvin loved her, she made me feel okay and that I am not a screw up for a mother. We begin intensive therapy when we get back from vacation. I am just so excited to see what can be done with my little man. He also needs his tongue clipped and I think Emma does too so we are going in next week to cross that hurdle.
Nick has a kidney stone...its the size of a marble. So he went in to surgery yesterday to have it pulverized. No matter how minor the surgery is I think when the love of your life goes under its pretty nerve wracking...don't you think? I had to also prepare myself for the worst: he could be bedridden for days and need me to do everything (more than I already do do everything, ha!). So far he's been a little nauseous but we're pulling through. I think this weekend will prove my strength if I don't have him around to help.
Next week we leave for vacation. My guest bed is covered with luggage. My guest room wall is covered with about 15 checklists (1 per bag). As you can see, I am in charge of packing. Please if you know where the Burt's Bees bug repellent has run to in our house I am all ears. Errrr. So I will persevere with that task this weekend...oh how fun.
So I think that's been my week in a nutshell. On top of the laundry, dishes, vacuuming, mopping, deluttering, etc.

In case you were wondering...

photo brought to you by sunbeam

I just wanted to share with you that my coffee maker when you open the lid to pour the water in reads "not recommended for use in dishwasher". Does this make any sense to anyone? Someone please help me out because to me this can only mean two things: a) I have now read the dumbest thing I have ever and b) someone probably in Sheboygan tried to use their coffeepot in the dishwasher...weird wild stuff.

Garage Sale

photo courtesy of http://brooksidevillage.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/garage-sale.png

Its official, I'm having a Garage Sale. Well I wouldn't call it official, but its pencilled in my planner! We are having it at my Grandma's since I don't have a garage to speak for but she has two. Nick thinks I am nuts for doing this as it will be way too much work but truth me told, I am super excited! I love organizing things so I now have another project to work on. Yeah! I am also excited about getting all of this crap out of my house so we have extra room. Most of the stuff that I am selling is baby stuff so all of that will be out of the attic and I will have room to morph that into our home office. Hooray! I am so excited! If you have any preparing-for-a-garage-sale tips let me know...this is my first one!

I hate Mondays

I hate Mondays, don't you? Here are my reasons why I wish Mondays would never come around:

The children are still not old enough that they can turn on the tv and graze on cheerios until we get up. So as inticing as the weekend seems to be to catch up on sleep, reality always smacks me in the face on Monday that here it is yet another week and I am still exhausted.

Leaving my children. Yes I know I only work part time but having to leave their warm snuggly little bodies so I can go throw hash is physically painful. I feel like I can't breathe. Every morning but Mondays especially I have this fight within myself that is one of those like in the movies where they are taking someone's child away...think Gabrielle on DH when they took the adopted baby...that's what's on my inside.

Summing up all that needs done. Monday mornings to me are that moment where you come to a wall look up and realize its not a wall but a huge giant you have to overcome...oh crap. Between laundry, ballet, meal planning, mommy and me classes, library reading lists, scrubbing toilets, making beds, scrubbing the grit out of the refrigerator gaskets...it all is just a lot of work. Oh and lets not forget all of the thank you cards to write, preschools to find, doctor's visits to set up, tree trimmers to find, bills to pay, friends to keep up with, yada, yada its never ending.

So do you hate Mondays too?

Out on his own

Calvin is gaining such independence these days. Of course he has those times when he just wants his Mommy (or his Daddy!) but he has completely gotten over seperation anxiety and is focusing on how things work, how they come apart, and how to squash them into a million pieces.

These pictures were taken at the zoo when he didn't want to be in his stroller...he wanted to push it. So we let him and as you can see he hit a wall...literally. I just love this little man and his spirit. He is so much like his father...easy going unless he is passionate about something...then watch out!

Precious Princess

I caught Emma playing and thought I would share it with you...isn't she just too precious? I love that she's a real live little girl! Everytime she sees the ballerina in her jewelry box her little eyes just light up. Okay I am getting off of here...the kids are with their Grandma all day and this is making me teary eyed and missing them. Have a good weekend everyone!

Parade Time

They were having such a good time!

Here's Auntie Bean and I with the kids getting ready for the parade

Last week we went to the parade in Nicholas' hometown. Its always been so much fun and this year having two children enamored by it was an incredible experience. Thankfully, God held the impending rain off too so we were had great weather!

Isn't Emma adorable?

And here's Mr. Handsome pants!

Preschool?

I just had to tell you we are preschool shopping- who would have known this time would be here already? I just can't believe I have a three year old already. We are putting in Emma in preschool more for socialization than anything. She knows her right/left, alphabet, numbers, etc. What she doesn't know is turn taking and sharing...oops. How did this time get here already?

The little Sweetheart

This is Emma. She is three. She has just recently started realizing her emotions. Its the most precious thing you have ever seen. Tuesday she was going to spend the night at her Grandma's but instead decided to come home because she would miss us. That's the first time she's really just come out and said it...she has figured out what missing us is and how it feels. This morning she woke up while I was getting ready to go to work (which was about 4:30 in the a.m. by the way). I tucked her into our bed with Nicholas and she was very snuggly!
When I left I said goodbye and was explaining to her that Daddy and I would be home tomorrow for the holiday when we really should be at work. She said "When you and Daddy are home with me, it just makes my little heart feel so special." Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard? That made me want to call work and tell them I am never coming in again, instead I will be devoting all of my time to making sure my children have little hearts that forever feel special.
But she is getting it...she knows when she misses us, when she's sad, and when she's happy. I love that she is learning all that there is in this life. She is uncovering herself and we get to see her emerge...to see what makes her feel one way and something else makes her feel completely polar opposite. I love that, I love being here for that.