Dr. Christian

Jeff and Christian are playing together right now. We get into a rut of Daddy coming home and helping with house stuff and than putting kids to bed. It's sad to say that we have to be intentional about play time, but we do. Anyway...They are playing with Christian's "doctor kit" he got for Christmas. Jeff was laying on the floor saying "my tummy hurts...help me Dr., my tummy hurts". Christian used several things from his kit...he listened to his heart and looked in his ears...Dr. Christian decided to 'cut open' Jeff's stomach with the pretend scapel. Jeff said "what's in my tummy Dr.? What made me sick?" In all seriousness Christian randomly comes out with "Peanut Butter!!" I died laughing b/c there is no way my three year old knows about all the bad peanut butter in the news!!!

Just thought it was funny

BUSY,BUSY,BUSY

We have been busy beavers around here. The kids and I spent ALL week at my parents house last week. They were out of town and workers are still in and out trying to finish stuff. Kim is a working girl now so I was left being 'in-charge'. Not so bad except for the fact that workers don't always show up when they say they will--a little frustrating. KayKay and Tex came home from Florida with lots of cute gifts:) I even landed a really pretty necklace for all my hard work.

This weekend we hung out as a family--nothing too exciting--cleaned the house, did laundry (everything was backed up from being at my parents all week), took a trip to the mall so Jeff could use his Christmas Gift Card to Joseph A. Banks (he holds on to it until they have their big clearance sale) and went to dinner with my parents. Many of you already know about Martin's BBQ in Nolensville--if you haven't been there you have got to go!! Good food, simple atmosphere and on Saturday nights there is a band--good ol' country & some old rock music is played. Sunday was full of church and visiting with some of Jeff's old friends from E & Y... and watching the Oscars.

That's all for now....Hope all is well in blogger land

After some forced (on my part) cuddle time, book reading and snack time--Christian and I are doing better. Baylor took a good nap and right now I'm listening to both of them all out giggle over their lunch.

There are good things in all the bad:)

Update

Baylor's fever is gone, but the fussiness and lack of sleep remains. We think she has a viral infection in her throat like brother had a week or so ago. She was up and down ALL night so Jeff and I didn't get much sleep. I'm trying my hardest to be patient today, but there's just not much there. I tried explaining this to Christian, but it hasn't seemed to work so far. The whiny voice has set in this morning and it is so ANNOYING. He slept all night long--even late this morning...he's all rested and ready to go and just doesn't understand while the rest of the house just wants some peace and quite. Baylor is sleeping pretty well now and I'm trying to get little rests in between "Mr. I want everything to eat in the house" snack breaks and play times.

God, I need all the patience and energy you can grant me today. I want to be a fun happy mommy, but I just don't feel it today. Let Christian and I came to an understanding of love. He needs a happy mommy and just doesn't get the fact that I'm not feeling up to it. I love my children, but sometimes us mommies just feel like breaking apart--we don't b/c WE ARE STRONG--you make us that way.

Thank you Lord for being a better parent than I feel like today...Amen

First Date

My sweet boy had his first little date today. He has been saying that Caitlyn is his girlfriend for several weeks now...MaryAnn and I thought it would be cute to let them have a little Valentine's lunch. Christian called her on the phone and asked her if she could go eat with him. He was so sweet b/c he pulled the phone away and said "She said yes Mommy!" with the biggest smile on his face. We let her pick the place and we met at McD's after dropping the little sisters off at their grandma's houses. As you can see Caitlyn was very excited about her balloon. She wanted us to watch it while she and Christian played--she was so afraid someone would try to make off with her balloon:) It was popular and we had to share a couple of times with some other kids--but Caitlyn got to take it home(that's what we kept reminding her when others wanted to see it). We had fun and it gave us Mommies some time to chat too.

Happy Valentines Day

We started off Valentines Day at Dr. Merri's office. We know what Baylor does not have--an ear infection, strep or the flu. We just aren't sure what is giving her this high fever (104.5 at 4am) and trouble sleeping. By now I'm getting back into that newborn mode where you knew you just had to function on little or no sleep. ANYWAYS...the other picture is the beautiful roses I got from my hubby. They were waiting for me when I got home from picking Christian up from school--they are pretty and it was very thoughtful. Thanks Baby:)

Another addition of...

up in the middle of the night!!! (clap, clap, clap) You heard right ladies and gentlemen--after one night of complete sleep The McInturff household was up at 3:30 this morning. The first contestant was young master Christian who has decided he doesn't like the shadows in his room. Daddy talked to him for a little while and he went back to bed pretty easy. What does he win? Something to cover the top part of his window so there will be NO MORE SHADOWS.

Our next contestant was Miss Priss. She had a slight temp and just needed to be loved on a little bit. What does she win? Another ear infection and/or more teeth!! No one really knows...I'm suppossed to see how she does today and if she still has a fever after tonight we all win another trip to the Doctor's office--do they have frequent shopper cards or something? We could be building up to some fabulous prize I'm sure.

The losers in this game are of course Mommy and Daddy. It took forever to go back to sleep--my hubby is a little better at this than I. I think I may have gotten a solid hour or so between 5 and 6:30. Miss Priss has just fallen asleep and now I'm going to try and do the same. It's such a rainy day and that makes for some good napping...usually. Gotta pick contestant #1 up at school later so I better get to it:)

Is it really too much to ask to go two nights in a row without seeing 4am?!?!? I know I'm the Mommy and it's part of the job description, but really? Does it have to be on an every other night rotation? Last night it was Christian at the side of the bed at 3:45. He wasn't feeling sick he just didn't want to be in his bed anymore. He says he doesn't like the light in his room--his window has a half circle at the top that casts shadows on his wall. We talked about it, prayed about it, got Woody (from Toy Story) to protect him. I guess we will have to try and cover it somehow. Baylor thankfully slept through the night, but if she follows schedule it will be her night tonight!! I have to say my husband is not just snoozing in the other room during all this. He brings in the back up if the said upset child does not calm pretty quickly. Neither one of us is very happy about being up, but at least we are in it together.

Please Lord, let us get a couple of nights of all night sleep. It makes for much more patient parenting.

That is my ranting for the day. Update on all: I have been fine since yesterday morning, Jeff has escaped it all(so far), Christian is holding down some apple sauce, crackers and apple juice--the truth will be told in an hour or so. Needless to say we were unable to give Christian his antibiotic yesterday and I'm a lttle scared to today. We'll see how he keeps down his breakfast and go from there. Baylor is still snoozing at the moment, but will wake soon ready to go. Can we say busy? She is going, going, gone the entire time she is awake. She is getting a little more confident everyday in standing-she has begun cruising along the furniture a little bit. She climbs on everything We have to strap her in her highchair or she'll climb out--walked out of the room for a minute last week and Christian starts screaming about her--she was sitting on top of her tray!! The girl has no fear. She climbs up her little easy chair, onto the arm which makes her tall enough to reach the couch. She then pulls with all her might until she flips herself on top. It's really a funny sight.

Baylor is making some noise and I'm off to make some breakfast. No one at church wants all these germs--Jeff may try to go, but the kids and I are attending mattress springs blvd today:)(Or would that be Couch Potato creek?whatever, you get the picture) If Christian feels up to it we'll read some of his little bible stories--he really likes them. Praise God!!

Screamer and sickly

So we had part too of the screaming on Thurday night...not quite as bad but we were up from 3:30-4:30am I must point out that at the time I FELT FINE. Come 6:30 when Jeff was leaving and I felt a little nautious. Speed up to 8:30am when I called in the reinforements. I could not hardly leave the bathroom. IT WAS BAD...I only threw up once, but you know the lingereing feeling you have afterwards. My awesome parents and later my sister took care of the kids until Jeff came home. I slept off and on and just spent as much of the day in bed as possible. Baylor had thrown up a couple of times on Monday--not sure if I got it from her or what. She also threw up once last night...Happy, Happy times:)

Now Christian had been complaining off and on that his mouth hurt--which for him means throat. Jeff looked at it last night and his poor little glands were the size of ping pong balls and very red:( So it was an early trip to the clinic this morning. Diagnosis: viral infection of the throat and an ear infection!! Who knew my little boy was so sick. The Dr. gave him some antibiotic and we thought we were good to go. I was still tired, but went to go flower girl dress shopping with my mom and sister. Jeff called while we were eating lunch to tell me Christian had thrown up--he was doing it a second time by the time I walked in the door 20 min later and #3 came at @ 4:45 this afternoon. He says he's hungry, but we know we don't need to feed him...so pitiful. He is at my elbow right now te;ling me how much he doesn't feel good:( so I'm off to hold my sickly boy

My daughter...the screamer

I don't have a picture b/c it was way too early, but just imagine...Baylor awoke at 4:30am NOT HAPPY!!! She did not want to be in bed, but not in our arms either. Jeff and I each took a turn and we tried Tylenol/orajel. She was screaming bloody murder...I kid you not...painful, bloody murder kinda screams. We kept trying to calm her and finally decided some soothing milk may be in order. She downed the cup in seconds and began to calm a little. By 5:45 she was snoozing in our bed inbetween us. Jeff and I each caught a few ZZZ's before Christian came in before 7am. Then it was off to school and work. Baylor and I each had a much needed nap from @9:30 until 12! She still isn't totally happy. We're pretty sure some teeth are breaking through on top AND bottom. The doc looked at her ears on Tuesday and said they were all clear so that shouldn't be the problem. Who knows?!?!?!

Christian has done his share of whining lately too. He screams and pitches a fit at just about everything I ask him to do. He has his rare sweet moments, but I really wonder where my boy has gone. This whining thing has got to stop. Is it b/c Baylor gets more attention now, is it b/c he got his feelings (and hand) hurt at school, Is it b/c our schedules been a little wacky lately, or is it b/c he is 31/2 years old trying to make his claim to what he wants from this crazy world? once again...who knows?!?!? See my frind Mary Alice's post today for a wonderful prayer. I need to pray this one often.

Our little snowmen

Christian's snowman

Baylor's snowman

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...

This is how Baylor looked by the end of our playtime My little snow angel

So it may not be a blizzard, but it's about as good as Nashville gets. My kids enjoy looking at the snow and Christian liked to play--Baylor did not!! This second picture is me trying to be as cool as my friend Mary Alice...What do you think?

It's official...

My parents are staying at their house for the first time tonight. I'm so happy for them...they've waited a long time for this. They were so excited to have the official word that the house is all theirs--they borrowed our air mattress since movers won't be there until early in the morning. They were really like two kids--it was sweet.

Mom and I have worked on little things this week while we waited. Last minute details to finish up the house--run here and run there kinda things. Tara and Laura were nice enough to watch my daughter over the past couple of days while Christian was in school. That really gave us some time to work. We painted/wall papered a playroom for the kids. It turned out FABULOUS and we just have to fill it with toys, books and assorted kids stuff. We also lined her kitchen cabinents. (when you see the size of her kitchen you'll know this was no easy task)This is something my husband finds very humerous, but it's just something us Mack women do. We line the kitchen and sometimes bathroom drawers and cabinents with shelf liners...it keeps them cleaner and just looks nice. If you think that's weird you can laugh along with my husband:) Anyway...the kids have been great b/c on both of those days I picked them up from their respective places and then they played at KayKay's while we tried to get more work done. I won't say that they were perfect angels, but with the bare minimum to entertain they did well.

Now I'm off to bed-praying my daughter DOES NOT wake up screaming at exactly 12:15 as she has almost every night this week. Is it too early for night terrors? That's about the only thing I can chalk it up too. Oh well, Good Night everyone.