Six weeks!! and News

Don't let her fool you - she's sick!

One thing that I've noticed this time around is that I am enjoying the baby-ness a lot more, despite the work of it all. I'm sure this has to do with being "done," that I'm soaking it up while I can. So I am very excited for Anna to be six weeks old. She is more awake and responsive, stretching out her feeding and sleeping a bit, and smiling for sure.  But not much in the past few days, because she has caught a chest cold from her brothers. (That has now spread to her sister, too, to make sure no one feels left out.)

David got it first, and it was enough coughing and sneezing and dripping to keep him home from school for 2 days last week, missing his Valentine party. But he got to go to work with Aunt Mel while I had an appointment, which he said was even better than his party would have been. :)

Next Luke fell victim, and if I thought he was demanding while he's healthy...wow. Then Sunday Anna started to sound congested in her chest and started coughing. I had a little bit of panic, because I remember from my experience with David  (oh my goodness, super chunky baby David on that post!!) that a coughing baby under 2 months goes straight to the dr's office and is watched diligently. So it was the same drill, they were definitely concerned, told me what to watch out for, keep a close eye on, and expect that it may take 2-3 weeks to recover. So I am spending my nights anxiously watching her breathe next to me in bed ("Uncle!!" She's sleeping with us while this is going on because we all need some sleep). The good news is that it's been 3 days and she hasn't gotten any worse. But she sounds SO pitiful when she cries. She's completely hoarse and squeaky and rattling. I can't wait for this to pass.  (Oh, but she was 10 pounds, 3 ounces at the office - so that's good news, she's gaining weight)

Katy's is mild so far, but adding to the difficulties of getting to school in the morning. ("But I have a runny nose, Mom!")  Everyone is waking up in the night several times. Last night at 1am I got a text from Mel that said, "Can you hear Luke crying?" I was so tired that I hadn't noticed Brian get up to comfort him (unsuccessfully).

But surely spring is coming, right? It must be! Right around the corner!

Just moments before bedtime on Feb 14th, after a full day of school parties, appointments, shuffling kids because of illness, and the like.



They make "1st Valentine's Day" shirts for Grammys to buy. Soooo cute.

Last week, I alluded to some news that I now have permission to share. My mom, who has lived in the Pittsburgh area for 13 years, has been looking for a job in this area for several months because she would like to relocate here. Last week, she received a job offer here and accepted it, and she starts March 4th!! She and Greg came this past weekend and looked at houses to buy, and they are looking right here in our part of town. This is so exciting to me. When I was growing up, I had all of my grandparents in town. They were my primary babysitters and we saw them for all birthdays and holidays and Granny and Grandpa even went to the same church. So I have always been sad that this wouldn't be the experience for my kids. But now we are looking forward to seeing what it is like with at least one of the three sets right here in our neighborhood! The kids have been praying for Oma to find a job here in town, and they have been very aware of every step as it has happened. I'm sure that it will take awhile to figure out how it all works - none of us are used to living close by - but I know it will be great. Lots of changes around here in 2013.