I must really love her

Oh Kylie....This week has been a long one. To start, we have entered separation anxiety. I didn't experience it with Kaitlyn so I don't quite understand how to deal with it. I never leave my kids so if I drop them off somewhere I must really want the time away, ie gym, mops, date night. If I so much as hand her to a relative she doesn't remember, she wails. How do I explain to my grandma that Kylie doesn't want her to hold her? Heck, my grandma just finally remembered her name!(sort of... Kaylie is close enough! Its only been 10 months) So while we have been dealing with that, I have been deathly ill all week, thanks to Kylie. On Tuesday night I tried to nurse her 15 minutes early so I could go to bible study on time. Well, it was not on her schedule so she didn't really eat but I decided too bad and went on. The next morning I woke up with a really bad clogged duct. (Stop reading now if you don't want to hear about breastfeeding.) I nursed, pumped, took motrin and a heat compress and it still hurt. I figured that I would just go to the gym and forget about it. Uh oh! So I got home and just felt whipped. By noon, I was on the couch with a pounding headache. I put the kids down early and spent the day on the couch. By three, I had chills and couldn't open my eyes. I finally pried myself off the couch to go to Aaron's birthday party. Made it home and went straight to bed with a blinding headache, chills, and that stupid clogged duct still hadn't cleared up. The next morning I woke groggy but manage to make it until about 3:00. On the couch, two layers of clothes and a huge, heavy blanket! I had the chills so bad I didn't even want to go to the bathroom. I called my mom to take care of the kids because there was just no way I could. I had a fever of over 102 and the same blinding headache and clogged duct. At one point Thursday night I was afraid I may have to go to the emergency room. I don't think my words can describe how sick I was. Thank God for the internet and my library of parenting book- Mastitis. I really don't wish it on anyone. So for you Kylie- I have endured spasms and mastitis. At least you are cute!

I couldn't make this up

On the way to school today Kaitlyn was in the backseat praying over and over, "Dear Jesus, Please help me doodoo on the potty. AAAAAmen." "Dear Jesus, Please help me doodoo on the potty. AAAAAmen." "Dear Jesus, Please help me doodoo on the potty. AAAAAmen."
Seriously, if you are old enough to pray about it, aren't you old enough not to crap your pants?!?

I went to Kaitlyn's Valentine's Day party today. It was interesting but I did learn I'm not the only mom who has some concerns with her teacher. But, I don't want to teacher bash!

I'll have some new pictures coming soon!

My Treasure

Over the last seven days I have come across this bible verse on three different occasions:

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

It has made me wonder if God is trying to speak to me. One context that I came across it, there was a financial connotation. The other two were more about relationships. I'm praying the lord is trying to point out the latter! Anyway, since it has come up, I have really been praying for my relationships. I am so blessed to have so many close friends at this time in my life! Each one adds a new dynamic. But truly, my treasure is in my neighborhood. I don't think I ever pass the sign without thanking Him for giving me this house, this street, and these friends. When John came in to my life, I began to strive to be a better person because I felt accountable to him. I think my friends here have the same effect. I appreciate that they are all strong Christians, active parents, and good partners. I think that if I ever slacked in any area they would be here to help me to get back on track. I am truly blessed to have that kind of support system.

And just in case that God was trying to point out that I need to be more generous, I have that covered. I'm a secret couponer. I don't necessarily deserve my own tv show or anything but I have decided that during Lent I will give all the money I save couponing to St. Vincent de Paul which is a national charity that our church supports. They provide food and clothing to the poor but on a local level (Roswell, Ga).

Wasting Time

Okay, my house is a disaster so what better to do than update my blog! Let's see... Kylie took her first steps and then proceeded not to walk again. She went to the doctor. She is in the 10th percentile overall. And her height was a stretch since her head wasn't at the top of the measuring thing. Who would have guessed my kids would be short. Kylie gets in to stuff Kaitlyn never did. She likes to unplug things and attempt to plug them back in. She likes to play in dirt and climb stairs... that is just this week!
Kaitlyn is not napping, not pooping in the toilet, and changes clothes twelve times a day. We are definitely on good terms these days. The other day I took her for a walk in her pajamas. Mr. Harp (the dad not John Harp) was outside and was admiring her outfit so I got stuck in a conversation with him. The whole time he was talking I was like, ugh where is Kaitlyn, but I couldn't get out of the conversation. I figured she was running around in the cul-de-sac. Nope, Mr. Harp said, "Look, that one over there is getting away." He saw her as she ran 6 houses down from where I was in the cul-de-sac heading to her house. Thank God he saw her. She was at the point where the street turns and one more house and I would have NEVER found her. I NEVER would have guessed that she would fun home.
I went to Kaitlyn's parent/teacher conference. That was interesting, especially if you know how I indifferent I am towards her teacher. The first thing she told me was that Kaitlyn couldn't put together a 4 piece puzzle. Um. She can put together a 60 piece puzzle. Then she said that she doesn't sing songs, obey when asked to do something, or ask questions. Yes, she can. She's 3. How can I get her to start asking you and stop asking me.

Kaitlyn not napping
Kylie

First accident

I got another 5:00 wake up call yesterday. Woohoo! Then Kaitlyn made it downstairs before I finished my coffee so I knew that I wasn't going to be prepared for the events of the day. So yesterday morning I was busy checking my facebook and when I got done I went looking for Kaitlyn. She was hiding under the table and had swallowed an ENTIRE pack of gum. So we dealt with it and moved on. I got the bright idea that I was going to go to Target before school. So I got Kaitlyn out of the car and went to the other side to get Ky. As I was shutting the door, I noticed her fingers in it but it was too late, my body couldn't react to what my eyes were seeing- they were stuck. I had to open the door to get them out! I dropped Kylie's carrier, in what might has well have been, the middle of the road and tried to comfort Kaitlyn (actually it was the next parking space but a car could have pulled in at any second!) . I really didn't know what to do. Kaitlyn kept screaming for a band-aid so I thought, well, we're at Target! She calmed down for a minute and then started screaming again. I called the doctor and made an appointment for 45 minutes from then. So I text my lovely husband, "K hurt, 911, call me." He texts back, "in a meeting". IN A MEETING? HAVE I EVER TEXTED YOU 911??? But I digress... So we get to the doctor, she says yes its broken. You need to have an x-ray and then we'll refer you to a pediatric orthopedist. I'm balling. An orthopedist? For a finger??? Anyway, we went to have it x-rayed and it wasn't broken. When the doctor say it, it was really swollen and nasty but they gave her some Motrin and I think it helped the swelling. Luckily, it looked worse than it was. Today, its not even bruised!
Being a a Children's hospital sure puts things in perspective. There was one boy that looked seriously ill. He checked in and a nurse immediately came to get him like she knew him, and told him they have a big room for he and the family to relax... I got the feeling he had something serious. There were two separate families there will special needs children and a father that appeared to also be special needs. It made my finger not look so bad... I felt kind of silly for how upset and nervous I was for her. Thank God it was only a finger.
Here is a video of Kaitlyn telling you about her finger.

I am this desperate

I'm sure one day I'll forget all of this... but right now potty training is the hardest thing I have EVER done. EVER. I feel so bad for the poor kid. She has always had a nervous colon. She always poops at parties. Or the pool. Or the bathtub. And now that I have nagged her every single day (minus 10 days) for the last three months I swear she is never going to go in the toilet! I have tried to put her in panties but she'll just poop in them. I have spent hours in the bathroom and she'll go as soon as I put her pull up on. I have bribed her with sticker charts, candy, pop-pops, gum, puzzles, ice cream and trips to the playground. Today I knew without a doubt she had to go. Out of desperation, I put the potty in the den in front of the TV. Forty five minutes later, no poop. So we went outside for 20 minutes and she came in and pooped. In her pull-up. I changed her and put her for a nap and she pooped again. In a pull-up.

Kylie

I am currently savoring the last bit of baby I have. She is probably days/weeks away from walking-which to me is equivalent to going off to college. As much as I want her to accomplish the goal that she has in mind I also want to just hold her forever so she can stay just exactly as she is right this moment. She has one tooth on the bottom and when she shows it off it melts my heart. I wish I could capture it on film. It will be my prized picture for sure! She is so short but flies across the floor. She loves her big sister and "talks" whenever Kaitlyn comes around, literally climbing out of my arms to sit by her or be near her.

She is still nursing. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would last this long! It really is easy. Such a blessing really, it is the only calm moments that I have during the day. I really feel particularly bonded to her because of this experience.

Since having Kylie, I realize that I hardly remember little moments about Kaitlyn when she was a little baby. I was quite crazy (because of moving etc) and focused on myself and getting back to life. With Kylie, I realized within a few weeks that I wasn't getting my act together anytime soon so I have really tried to just let it ride. I hope I can always remember little moments in the details that they happened in...