NKOTB Baby!!

Did everyone know that New Kids on the Block have officially reunited! I can't wait to get home and watch their appearance on the Today show today....yes we taped it! I know such a dork right, it is like I'm turning into a 10 year old girl all over again. Anyways, if/when they come to St. Louis, Fran and I WILL be at the concert screaming our lungs out with our little "I love NKOTB" t-shirts on! So be on the lookout and if anyone comes across tickets they don't want, get them for me.

OK, so update on the kiddos. They have been home with Aaron all week. Tuesday and Wednesday both were still running fevers. I took them to the doctor Wednesday afternoon because Mackenzie kept saying her throat hurt and when I checked she had white blisters down the inside. But the doctor said it was just a viral thing, no strep. By that evening, both's fevers were gone. We had planned on keeping them home Thursday too since they were still contagious, but then ended up not having a choice in the matter because our babysitter called and she was sick. So they stayed home yesterday and today too. Last night I had an appointment to get my hair done, and I took Austin with me and Aaron took the kids to a movie. They went to see Iron Man. now surely somebody right now is going "what he took them to see Iron man PG-13 movie" but yes he did. He said the kids loved it. he actually showed Mackenzie the trailer for that and Horton Hears a Who, and that is the one she wanted to see. Of course she is her daddy's girl, some of her favorite movies include Star Wars and Transformers. Turner was talking a mile a minute about the movie and acting out scenes when i got home. Not sure how much was pure excitement and how much was the soda and candy that daddy let them have, but they had a GREAT time. It is funny to see the difference in the kids since they have been home with him all week. Suddenly they want "daddy" to do things, and want to sit by "daddy", man only 4 days home and suddenly all my efforts are overridden. lol

This weekend we have gymnastics,, soccer game early tomorrow, friends over in the afternoon, Sunday recover from having friends over on Saturday (lol), and Monday night after work we have to drive to my sister's HS graduation that is at 8 and then right back home. That will be fun. Who ever decided to have a HS graduation on a Monday night, I don't know, but it is NOT going to be fun, but hey, for you sis we'd drive cross country if needed. And from then it is only 1 week countdown until she is moving in.....whew hooo!!!!

Sick Kiddos

So Turner is still sick, runny a high fever still, but luckily no more throwing up. So he stayed home with daddy this morning. I took Austin and Mackenzie in to daycare, but as soon as we got there Mackenzie threw up, so we packed up and went right back home. So all the kids are home with daddy today. Mackenzie is running a high fever also. So far Austin is OK, keep your fingers crossed there. Times like this I just want to be home with my babies, but at least they are home with daddy and i know he takes wonderful care of them. I'm sure they will get plenty of snuggles today. I am actually relieved that Mackenzie is sick. I know that sounds awful, but this morning when I was getting ready and Turner was burning up, all of my thoughts of course went to worse case scenario, and by the end of my shower I was working out in my head how much I would need to keep working to keep our medical benefits while taking care of my terminally ill child. I know, it is awful and completely irrational, but these are the things that keep me in a constant state of panic as a mother. All the stories you here are, "he was a perfectly healthy boy, and we thought he just wasn't kicking a cold....." To add to it, I'm not that much of a superstitious person, but when I got the kids home I ran up to Walgreens to get some more medicine and some 7-Up, and my total came to $6.66. I just feel like I should go home and keep my family safe inside for the day.

Mother's Day

Friday night started out as normal with gymnastics. Mackenzie still loves it and is doing really well. We all went this week. Once we got home it was time for bed, so that was the night. Saturday morning we all got up together and I went out to mow the yard. No Aaron didn't "make" me mow the yard. I actually enjoy it sometimes, and it was time to myself and getting in a workout for the day. Once I was done Aaron and I went out and finally got our trampoline put together - well we started it anyways. We've had it in our garage for almost 3 months now and it just seems any time it has been nice weather we had stuff to do. So then we had Mackenzie's soccer game at noon. We really tried to talk to her about going for the ball and kicking it - and it worked a little, she ALMOST scored her first goal. Wish I had it on video because all the parents on the team were yelling for her to "Go Mackenzie". I think everyone will give her a standing ovation when it finally happens! When we got home we finally finished putting together the trampoline and it wasn't a moment too soon, the rain started coming down as soon as we were finishing the last thing. Then it was time for dinner, baths, and then Turner and I went out to do our grocery/Wal-mart shopping.

Today Austin gave me my first Mother's Day gift, he slept until 6 this morning, then I fed him and put him back to bed, and he didn't get up until about 9!! That means mommy got to sleep in until 8:30. I couldn't believe it. (Last night it was back to up twice in the night so it must have been a bluff). Turner came in about 7 but I went and got his milk and turned cartoons on in our room and he just laid there with us watching TV. Mackenzie came in a little later and the first thing she did was come over and tell me Happy Mother's Day. She was counting down the days and was so excited about it. So I got up and made us all french toast - yummy yummy. Then it started all the individual dates.

Mackenzie's - she decided she wanted to go swimming so we went up to the indoor pool a the civic center. I'm sure everyone remembers my little story a couple of posts ago about the "big stomach" comment she made - well I've got a topper to that one! I get on my swimsuit and I'm at the bathroom sick brushing my teeth and Mackenzie is standing next to me and she says "Wow mommy, you've got chubby little legs like Austin!" Guess we know where he gets them from now!! In spite of that I still decided to take her swimming! lol She had so much fun getting to make me go here then there then here then there. I think we went through the lazy river about 50 times! We swam for about 2 hours then it was time to get back home to feed Austin.

We came home, fed Austin, ate lunch, showered, threw in a load of laundry - and out I went with Austin. I took him up to Sears to get his 4 month pictures taken. I've been wanting to get a new one of all 3 kids together, but that takes a lot more effort and planning so this was a quick, cheap visit and something that we could do together during our alone time. Can't wait to send out the link. He was pretty fussy while we were there - of course, doesn't it always end up that way. So I didn't get any full smile pictures, but we did end up with cute ones nonetheless. Craziest thing...while we were there there was one other family in there with two small kids. Come to find out the other little boy in there was named Austin James too - what a coincidence huh! So got pictures done, came home, woke Turner up from his nap, changed clothes since Austin spit up all over my shoulder, and then out the door with Turner. Check out his pictures online here https://www.searsphotos.com/?shareid=S206216036l355A5EJ675

For him I decided to go to Monkey Joes. It is one of those bounce house places. He LOVES it. Just climbs all over. he was back and forth from one of them to the next. The whole day he kept asking, "Me turn mommy?" He was so excited when I woke him up and told him it was his time now. Then all he could say is "Monk Joes" all the way there. He loved the big monkeys on everything. At first I was going in all the houses with him, then I realized some of them were only up to a 70 lb weight limit. Oops! But there were some that I got to go in with him. On the other ones I had to be watching him around every corner. It was so fun to be able to chase him all over and let him take the lead. I could follow him wherever he wanted to go. He'd go through one, then come out yelling "Come on momma" and waving his hand for me to go running around after him! What fun. Aaron has never been to one, and so on the phone he asked if Turner liked it. Basically I told him that if you had Turner sitting in front of you and had to build a play place around him, this is what it would be. It is the perfect place for him.

So then we came home, Aaron had made dinner, the kids played on the trampoline, and then baths and bed. Whew, busy day, but all fun and games. I will definitely keep this my tradition.

So today I took Austin to his 4 month checkup. he is 16 lbs (75th %), 25 inches (50th %), and like 65% in head. He ROLLED OVER from back to front for the first time while we were at the doctor's office. He has been going over from front to back for a little while now. Can't believe he is getting so big. I know he will be following me around the house before I know it. he has also started cereal and will start baby food tomorrow. After his dr. appt. I went up to the gym and Aaron met me up there with the other kids. I had about 20 minutes to finish up and then I went in to get the kids and Turner had just thrown up. Took him straight home and he was running a 102 fever. I gave him Ibuprofen and he was ok for the rest of the night. Aaron will stay home with him tomorrow. Hopefully he feels ok. My poor little baby. We also had Parents as teachers tonight for the boys. Both are doing great. Turner could be talking a little better but he is coming along. I've realized that what he does is that he only says the last syllable of words. So Nany comes out Ny, Sissy comes out See.... They will evaluate him in September to see if he needs any speech therapy, but truthfully, I think he will be fine but will take any help we can. hey, if someone gets paid to spend an hour of time totally on him, I'll take it. I'm sure he would improve leaps and bounds if I'd spend even an hour a week just specifically working with him. Maybe I need to work that in. Anyways, that was our weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers.

Oh, and I need to give a big thanks to my hubby. Without him being as wonderful a father and husband as he is, I wouldn't be able to be the type of mother I want to be. Thank you sweetheart...I love you!

Plans for Mother's Day

Just wanted to share the new tradition I'm starting for Mother's Day. I figure that the kids are the only reason I even get to celebrate this day, so I really want to celebrate it with them. The whole plan for staying at home and being lazy and not having to do anything never works for me and then I end up feeling like it is any ole day. So I decided to start taking each of the kids one on one to do anything they want. They get to pick. Whatever they want to do with mom, just for us to have special time together. Of course this year only Mackenzie got to choose, I chose for Turner and Austin! I think that it will make the day really special for me. It will be nice to just be able to have fun with them and get to take a step back from having to be a rational parent. It will be fun over the years to see what they pick to do. Last night when I was talking to Mackenzie about it, we were going through choices she had, and she was saying things like going to the store. So cute that just going to the store with mom would have been a special thing to her! And I have high hopes that in the end this will work out in my favor. If the kids get in the routine that this is what Mother’s Day is, then when Mackenzie is a teenager and I never see her anymore, much less her sit and have a conversation with me, that maybe one of those Mother’s day her present to me will be that I get to choose what we do. And then I can make her sit on a park bench the whole day and tell me everything about her life!
Happy Mother's Day to all those moms out there, escpecially my mom and Denise.
Other than that we have Mackenzie's soccer game tomorrow, that is as long as it doesn't get rained out. I should have lots to post by Sunday night.

Congratulations Honey!!

Aaron got a new job yesterday! We are so excited about it. It is for being a recruiter for KForce Accounting. Basically finding companies that need finance people and then matching people in to those spots. At least I think this is what he will be doing. It has the potential to be a very sound financial move. There are 3 other people on his team, and if he makes close to what those people are on track for this year, it will have a significant affect on our lives. He has wanting to transition over to business-to-business sales for a long time now, so finally his time has come. Wish us luck with this new adventure in our lives.
As for how we are doing otherwise...Aaron is not feeling well, I think it is a combination between allergies and a cold. He was home on Monday, went to work yesterday, and was going back to bed this morning when we left. So I don't know how today will go for him.
Austin has started eating cereal. last night was the first night that he really kept any of it in his mouth. He loves being upright in his exersaucer these days.
Turner has started being even more affectionate toward Austin. He is always giving him kisses and laying down next to him. He has started talking better, but he is still probably behind schedule a little.
Mackenzie is her wonderful self. Still just as adorable and lovable as always.

Wrap on the weekend

Fran and I on our way out!

After the wedding - don't we make a good lookin' family!

Allen and Ashley during their first dance

My sisters had to leave the reception and go to Prom, so they changed there and we got to take pics before they left. LtoR: Caitlyn (otherwise known as "the sister who is moving in to my basement for the summer!!!"), my mom, and Abby - Hey, when did they grow up

This past weekend was a busy one, especially after dealing with sick kids and having to play tag team on work and staying home all week long, but it turned out good. Friday night I went out with Fran to celebrate her 30th birthday. We had fun. I couldn't drink much since I was the designated driver and I knew that the next day was going to be non-stop, but we had a good time. Of course Fran and I could have a good time just about anywhere I think. You'd swear that we've known each other from birth. thanks for being such a good friend Fran - you know I love you like a sister!

Saturday Mackenzie had a soccer game. Aaron took her by himself because it was too cold and windy to have the boys out, especially with them not feeling great anyways. Aaron said she did good. She does a good job following the play, so we just need to work on getting her a little more aggressive to go in and get the ball. She is having a blast though, and that is all that really matters. Once they got home we got ready, all dressed up, and drove down for my brother's wedding. The wedding turned out beautifully and the kids had so much fun at the reception. They were SOOO tired by the time we left to head to the hotel. Welcome to the family Ashley (officially :) ). On Sunday we went to my grandparents and had a great time visiting with family that was in from out of town. It was so good to see everyone. The first part of the day I felt great since I didn't drink or anything the night before. Then Aaron and I went for a run, and it was downhill from there. Don't know if it was just allergies or me getting the cold the kids had had, but I felt awful. We went to see the kids fish, and by the time we left there I couldn't hardly breath and was sneezing the whole way home.

Yesterday I felt a little better but not great. We got home and did dinner and I decided to go on a little run to get some exercise. So I started running, and running, and running.... Well once I got home I had Aaron go drive my route to see how long it was, and ends up I ran 3.8 miles last night!!! This is HUGE for me, I've never been a runner. And that was non-stop, no walking, no resting, nada - just going with the groove. I came up with a grand plan while I was running that I will share with everyone as soon as I get it all together. So stay tuned!

Why God made Grandpys

My dad took the kids fishing yesterday - their first time fishing. They had so much fun. Both caught a good size catfish each, and then a lot of blue gill. They were in pure heaven. Now this is what being a Grandpy is all about!