Update..Update..

Life has been pretty busy lately. I know have 6 kids in my daycare, plus my 2. Taking care of 8 kids everyday can be exhausting! I am fortunate to have my mom working with me. Isabella and Lily have their moments of jealousy with the other kids! Today I was holding the 4 month old baby and Izzy tried to push her off my lap! She is pretty territorial over mommy!

The weather has been pretty yucky for the past week. It's been rainy and windy, but this weekend is supposed to be nice. I am hoping for nice weather so that I can get the girls outside to play. They both love it outside, and we all have cabin fever.

Billy has been super busy with work lately, which is good, but I miss him when he is gone.

My sister is still living in Vegas, which is really hard. I miss her and my Lacey Girl so very much! They are coming for a visit in July, and I can't wait!

Isabella is talking quite a bit now..she says mama, dada, ball, NO, yes, puppup, please, and a few others. She is such a funny baby, has a temper, and is the sweetest little cuddle baby!

Lily is miss smarty pants! She is sounding out words and likes to try to spell everything. She is such a great big sissy and is a great help when she wants to be!

Just a little update..I'm going to try to blog more often!

It was a rough week!

We have all had this horrible cold on and off for the past few weeks. Isabella was finally getting over it, and then Tuesday night she started getting sick again. She would only sleep if she was being held, and started coughing horribly. Her breathing was extremely labored, and you could see her ribs every time she took a breath. I was up rocking her at 4 am trying to decide whether or not I should wake Billy and take her to the ER.

We made it through the night and called our Doctor first thing in the morning. He was delivering a baby, but we were advised by our nurse to go to the emergency room. They hooked Izzy up to the machine and started monitoring her oxygen levels, which thankfully were great. They gave her some sort of steroid medication, a breathing treatment, did some xrays, and a swab of her nose and throat. The doctors told us Isabella had Croup. We had to wait 2 hours after the steroids to make sure that they made her breath better. After almost 4 hours we were sent home.

Bella went to our doctor the next day for a follow up, and she was breathing hard again. Our doctor went back and forth on it, but told us that we could just take her home and watch her closely. If she got any worse, we were to go to the hospital. The next couple days were miserable. She would not eat or drink, and all she wanted to do was sleep. We were worried about dehydration, so we were preparing to take her to the hospital again.

Isabella must have heard me talking to Daddy on the phone. As soon as I told him that we were going to have to go to the hospital to get fluids in her, she started taking some water and juice for me :)

It was a rough, scary week! With VERY little sleep for Mommy and Daddy. Isabella is still not 100% but she is doing a lot better. Thank you for your prayers!

My Baby is ONE!!

Isabella turned one on February 28th. The theme of her party was cupcakes, and we had quite a few people over to the house to celebrate. I made giant cupcakes, and my friend Erin helped me decorate them. Isabella loved all the balloons, she kept staring at the ceiling at the helium filled ones! I am still finding balloons around the house..lol She also enjoyed the personalized M&Ms that Mommy spent a small fortune on, but I don't think she paid much attention to the

pictures or words on them. :) I can't believe that my baby girl is one already! This past year has gone by so fast. Isabella is such an amazing baby. She is so smart, and such a little lovey baby! She is always hugging, kissing, blowing kisses. Bella loves our dogs, she calls them "pup pups", and her big sissy is her best buddy. They love dancing to Baby Body Moving, or any Taylor Swift music. It's so great seeing my girls grow, and seeing how good they are together.

Happy Birthday Sweet Isabella!

Bad Cold!

For the past week or so, my daycare kiddos have been battling nasty colds. Now, my girls and I have it. We are all miserable. Bella's poor little nose is all red from having it wiped so many times. It just runs and runs. And both Lily and Isabella have nasty coughs.
My head feels like it is going to explode, I'm so congested. I feel so bad for my kids, even more so now, because I know how awful they must be feeling. Hopefully we will all feel better soon. I'm off to take some nyquil and attempt to watch a movie.

Lovey and blankie

Lovey was given to Lily by a family friend when she was born 4 years ago. A small soft blanket with a poodle head. She loves that thing, hence the name, Lovey. She also carries a soft pink blanket..Lovey, blankie, and Lily. The three musketeers.

Lovey and blankie have gone every where with us..from the grocery store, to trips to Seattle and San Diego. They never leave Lily's side. They have soaked up tears, sweat, and dirt. Once a pale pink color, they now have a hint of gray. Washed hundreds of times, they are worn to say the least.

Lately, Lily has been a little less dependent on lovey and blankie. When reminded to grab them on the way out the door, she will often say, "oh they can stay home today." WHAT! I am shocked, maybe even a little disappointed in this new found independence.

I am glad that she is becoming a little more independent. I used to envision Lily going off to college with lovey and blankie tucked under one arm. So I guess it's a good thing.

I am sad, because this means that Lily is really growing up. She is no longer a little toddler. She will always be my baby, but she really is getting big. Before I know it, she will be starting kindergarten.

And I will be the one clutching lovey and blankie when she does!

The things they say..

Lily is always saying the funniest things! Here are a few of her latest...

"Mommy, you aren't a fruitcake. You are a human."

"Mom! Bella is chewing on her baby's BUTT!"

As we are leaving Walmart.. "Are we STEALING THIS?"

"I'm not supposed to watch this! It's not 'propriate!"

Holding a $20 bill..."How am I going to pay for 2 things with just 1 dollar?"

Perfect

In a perfect world...

I would wake up every morning, rested, and ready to take on the world. I would have the time and the energy to make my kids a warm nutritious breakfast. We would sit down as a family, and talk about the day ahead. My kids would get dressed in the clothes that I had laid out for them. They wouldn't complain or try and wiggle away from me when it was time to get dressed.

I could get ready without any interuptions, put my make up on, do my hair, and brush my teeth..all in one visit to the bathroom, and before noon!

My girls would get along all day..I wouldn't have to tell either of them to share, or be nice. Nap time would be a breeze. And I might even get to take one too!

A trip to the grocery store would be easy. I would always get a close parking spot, a warm grocery cart (so that Lily wouldn't complain), and I would always be able to find what I needed and get out of the store, without any begging and for under 100 dollars. :)

My husband would be able to be home by 5..5:30 at the latest. We could have dinner together and get the kids in bed by bedtime. Then cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie.

Ha,ha,ha!

In reality, I wake up most mornings feeling like I have barely slept! (Teething is not fun!) Lily is not a big breakfast fan, I'm lucky to get her to eat a piece of toast while I down a couple cups of java. Billy is usually gone by the time that the girls and I get up. If we are lucky we might get to see him for 15 minutes in the morning.

Lily complains about her clothes, unless I give in and let her wear a dress. We are working on this one! Isabella does not like sitting still for a diaper change, let alone to get dressed for the day.

I usually have to get ready in 5 minute shifts. I try and keep the kiddos busy for a few minutes so that I can sneak away to brush my teeth!

My day is full of "knock it off" "Share please!" "Isabella can play in the playroom, it is her playroom too" "Because I said." "If I get to 3..." You get the idea.

When I go grocery shopping, I usually get a parking spot that is a mile away. The cart is usually wet from the rain, or freezing cold. Lily complains when her sister gets to sit in the front of the cart. Lily always thinks she has to have a toy or treat. And I swear I cannot get out of Walmart without spending 100 dollars. It's the magic number I guess.

Billy usually gets home by 7ish..sometimes a little earlier, sometimes later. He is doing what he has to do to support our family, and I appreciate it more than he knows.

The girls are in bed between 8-10 most nights. Not exactly perfect, but we are trying to get them to bed by 8:30 every night. It's a work in progress.

Sometimes we have 2 little ones in bed with us when we finally make it to sleep.

It may not be perfect, but it is wonderful. I love my kids. I love my husband. And I love my life...well most days. :)

My Sunday

What a day! Got up at 6:15. Made pancakes for Billy and the girls and we all got ready for Church. It had snowed a little bit, and the roads were awful! The interstate was pure ice. We saw probably 6 cars in the ditch on the way to town. A jeep in front of us just started spinning in circles. Pretty nuts! Thank God the driver was able to gain control of the vehicle.

Lily was pretty crabby..didn't get enough sleep the night before. And she wonders why she has a bed time! She fell asleep on the way to church.

Once we got to church, it was time to take Isabella to the nursery. I still have a hard time dropping her off. She does fine, and the volunteers in the nursery are all very nice. It's just the look she gives me! Like, "Where are you going Mom?" We would take her with us to "big kid church" as Lily calls it, but she is too noisy! She loves the singing, and doesn't want to stop. Since Lily just turned 4, she is now old enough to go to Junior Church. But she wont. LOL she prefers to stay with us for now. Everything has to be her idea..so with time I guess.

Church was good! As always, Pastor Bryan left me with a lot to think about. He always does such a great job. I am very happy that we have found Grace Bible Church.

After church, Billy had to go to work. It's hard with him working so much. We don't get to spend that much time together. He has the next couple days off, so that will be nice. We all came home and changed into comfy clothes and had lunch.

Then it was time for errands. Always an interesting trip when it's just me and the girls! It's hard to get groceries with 2 kids in the cart! Some how I always manage though. Lily was very crabby. Kept telling me that shopping was "Lame." 4 going on 14 I swear. Got groceries and then had to run to Costco for diapers. I love that both girls can sit in the front of the cart. But Bella kept throwing her self backwards and being obnoxious. Time to go home!

Brought groceries and kids in, changed Izzy's diaper, put groceries away, cleaned up, made dinner, fed kids, bathed kids, jammies, put Izzy down, read to Lily, argued with Lily about why she had to go to bed, Lily finally fell asleep, Bella woke up, played with Bella, and finally got her back to sleep! SIGH!

Billy just got home. Going to go shower and hopefully go to bed somewhat early. Sorry for rambling..it's been a long day :)