Beggars Night

Just when I thought we were in the clear, Will came down with a fever. I was so bummed - Mike was out of town for the week, and now I was alone with the kids and had a really sick baby. Yesterday was beggars night and I didn't think the kids would be able to go trick-or-treating since Will was so miserable... Luckily, Aunt Kate and Uncle Chad called and asked if they could take the kids out. Grandma and Grandpa stopped by too. I haven't had much social interaction in the last 11 days since we've been sick, and it really lifted my spirits to be around people that weren't crying to be held.
Here are the kids with Uncle Chad.

Morgan was a monarch and Miles was spiderman.

Off they went. Kate and Chad have no idea how grateful I am for them saving the day. It meant so much to me and the kids.

Chad said Miles was smiling the entire time and when someone would put candy in his bucket he'd say, "this is awesome".

We hope you all have a Happy Halloween too!!

We did it

When I told the swine flu I wasn't scared of it and to "bring it", I think I made it mad.

It was out to get us and get us hard.

It's been a miserable week for us. We all ended up with it, but Morgan, Miles and I got it the worst. Mike has some freakishly strong immune system that smacked the swine right in the face and said "I'm havin' none of it" - even though he slept by our sick kids every night and had his face coughed in nonstop. He started feeling achy earlier last week, but then it went away and never came back... It worked out nicely that way because Mike was able to help take care of the rest of us.

I was super worried about Will catching it, but there isn't much you can do when there are so many sick people crammed into a small place. I wasn't about to banish my sick children away since they really needed comfort... So I just kept praying that Will wouldn't get too sick.. Well, our prayers were answered. Will got such a mild case of the piggy flu... He coughed a little and one night we noticed he was raspy which led us to believe he had the sore, scratchy throat the rest of us had. That's it. He never got the fever or the uncontrollable cough. I am so glad we all got this while Will is still nursing. I think all my antibodies went straight to Will to keep him healthy. Either that or he has an extra awesome guardian angel hovering around him. I'm leaning towards the breast milk with magical powers :)

I know this sounds crazy, but in a way I'm really glad we got the swine flu. It's about over and now I don't have to worry about it anymore. I feel like a weight has been lifted.

The piggy flu

I think the piggy flu found Morgan. At least that's what the doctor thinks it is... They aren't testing kids for it since so many kids are sick, they are just assuming that's what it is if the symptoms fit. Poor Morgan. This has been her day today. Although, I have to say, so far it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. We've definitely had worse. So H1N1 - I'm not scared of you anymore... Bring it.

Since we were stuck home all day, we decided to pull out the high chair and have Will try some rice cereal. He loved it! (Well, he loved about 4 bites and then he was done.) It was fun to watch him try to eat off a spoon.. Only half of it went down, the other half ended up running down his chin.

So, do you remember that sticky eyeball that the guy at the gym gave Miles?? On Thursday, (after dragging the kitchen stool all around the house to climb up and pull it off the ceiling) I told Miles if he threw it up again I wasn't getting it. Even though he knew I was serious, he just couldn't resist. This eyeball has been stuck on the ceiling since Thursday night... 4 days and counting. There are times I see him looking up at it, but he doesn't say anything... He knows it's up there until gravity finally wins. Now that is one sticky eyeball. (I don't know which one of us is more stubborn, me or the eyeball. I guess we'll see if it falls on it's own or if I finally cave and pull it off.)

Things that make you go Grrrr

I can't think of the perfect word to describe how I'm feeling today, but the best I can come up with is mopey. Although mopey doesn't quite sum it all up... I feel mopey but also like letting out a serious, belly growl. You know, the kind that makes the ground shake. Just a little shake though. One that makes everyone look around while thinking, hmm that's weird, and where is it coming from...

Here are some things that make me want to go Grrr today:

-The Walmart greeter came right up to Will's face today and asked him what his name was. Then he just stared at him waiting for a reply. After an awkward silence I told the guy that my 4 month old baby doesn't talk yet. Seriously?? Grrr.
-Will's had his first cold. Luckily he's better today, but I haven't slept much in the past few days. Grrr.
- Right after I washed the sheets, made the beds, and hung up his clean clothes, Miles though it was a good idea to take all his clothes off the hangers and pull all the sheets off his bed and put them in a neat little pile. Grrr.
-The desk worker at the gym gave Miles a sticky eyeball... I've pulled it off the ceiling over 20 times today. Grrr.
-Will pooped right before he took his nap and I didn't know it. Diaper rash... Grrr.
-My Utah friends got their H1N1 vaccines, but it's not available here yet. Grrr.
-My twin sister (in Utah) had a baby earlier this month... I want to hold him desperately, but can't. Grrr.
-Will rolls from his back to his tummy and then freaks out. He doesn't play in his crib anymore, he just rolls to his tummy, gets stuck, and screams. Grrr.
-My best friend here in Ohio came over yesterday and told me they are moving in 6 weeks. Seriously do we smell or something... Why do all our friends move? Double Grrr.
-Miles eyeball is stuck on the ceiling again... Grrr!!!!!


I do feel like crying and growling (oh who am I kidding, I already have done both of these things a few times today), but at the same time, this is as rough as my life is right now. This list would be laughable to people going through serious challenges, and for that I feel truly grateful.

My Last Less Flab Check-In

Big day today folks, big day. At least it was for me and my latest quest.

Today I went out for a run. There is something about running the in fall that makes my heart go pitter-pat. The changing leaves, the cooler temperatures, and the smell of the air... I love it all.

For the last month running has been something I've dreaded more than enjoyed. I've been coming home after runs with headaches and feelings of discouragement because of my slow pace. I think it's like that for every runner after taking a hiatus and then starting up again. I knew I had to suffer through it if I ever wanted to enjoy running again. It was the price I had to pay and there was no easy way out.

Well, this week I finally transitioned. I went from feeling torture with every step to finally enjoying myself. In fact, today when I hit the 3 mile mark I didn't want to stop. So I didn't.

I ran 5 miles... without stopping.... I haven't run 5 miles like that for over a year. I know I'm getting a little too excited about this, but I've been waiting (and working) for this day to come.
So now I can put a check next to my 5 mile goal. Turkey trot, here I come.

Also one other goal was reached today. I hit my pre-pregnancy weight. Another check.
These two things were the reason for my less-flab quest and now they are done. I will no longer be checking-in (unless of course I fall terribly off the wagon and need to get myself back in check).

Now I just need to decide what dessert I want to make to celebrate :)

4 months

Yup. He's four months old today.

If I had to describe Will in two words: Pleasant & happy

Will's 4 month stats:

Height: 25 1/4" (60 percentile)

Weight: 14 lbs 6 ounces (40 percentile)

Head: 16 1/4 (25 percentile)

He's still sleeping like a champ... 9 hour stretch, wakes to eat and goes back to sleep for 3 more hours... 12 hours of sleep a night!! He's still the man!

Less Flab Check-in

I am a day late, but who really cares.
Here is my report....

Week 1:

• Worked out 5 days - 3 running days and 2 body pump days. I even went the extra mile and added an ab class in the mix... It was called core conditioning and it kicked my trash. (I honestly had a nightmare that night that my insides were being shredded by a blender... It hurt that bad.)
• All week long I only ate 1-2 snacks during the day. Huge improvement.
• The kitchen closed after dinner and there was NO evening eating. I think this in and of itself made the biggest difference. (Actually, on Saturday night I did eat a Skinny Cow during The Ohio State Game after Mike got home from the Priesthood session...) All rules are off during Ohio State Football...
• I am running 3 miles without stopping - they are slow miles, but I hope to speed things up soon. I also hope to push this to 4 miles by the end of next week.
• Lost 2.5 pounds. YAY!! (Although I think most of it was in my chest... bummer)

I never said my kids aren't weird

This is Austin. He's Morgan "real" pretend friend.

Last year we had some neighbors give us this slow-down flagger that warns traffic when your kids are playing outside... He's been around the garage for over a year, but recently he has come to life and participates in all family ongoings.
At least we know cars see her when she takes him for walks. We feel like she's extra safe when she's walking Austin.



Austin's had a few baths and he's helped wash the car. He's just wonderful to have around.