Laundry, Vomit and Mucous...

...that about sums up our week...Oh yeah, and a trip to the ER and MD for Charlie...it's been quite the sick-fest over here. Note--this post is not for the faint of heart--that might include you, Andy. It started with Kate and a raging cold, and I mean RAGING...she took 5 hour naps 2 days in a row, and still fell into bed 2 hours later. She had the kind of cold where you just looked at her, and you knew she was in PAIN---swollen face and eyes, far-off blank stare--miserable. I went in one late night to check on her, and she was fast asleep in her vomit--fun, huh? I kept telling her--"Not in Charlie's face!" but she didn't listen, and he got sick...way, way, way sick. Sunday night we took him into the Emergency Room (among other things, Glendora has no 24-hour urgent care--bah)...he had a chest X-ray, urine sample, blood work, and it all came back negative--he has a viral chest cold. As a side note, to illustrate just how easy-going and mellow Charlie is, he smiled at the tech that was in the process of taking his blood (complete with rubber tourniquet and needle in the crook of his arm)--not much upsets this kid--he made not a sound during all the tests. He has a throat and chest full of mucous--he throws up ALL THE TIME because he can't clear his system--poor kid. And he barely has a voice. Andy had been sleeping in the same room with him for the past few weeks, and then bringing him to me to eat, but he's off duty right now because he can't hear him whimper in the night--he doesn't have my mom ears to pick up the smallest noise...I'm super tired now, but at least I know I'll wake up! Both kids are still sick, but Kate is on the slow road to recovery. Charlie, hopefully, is right behind her. I took him to the MD yesterday, and all they can say is, "use the humidifier." Bah--poor kid. Poor mom.

Here is what we've done in our spare time this past week...

Decorate and re-decorate and re-decorate the tree...if you have kids, you know exactly what I mean...that box in the corner is our gift to ourselves--a carpet steamer/cleaner! You know you're old when both you and your husband find joy in a carpet cleaner for Christmas!


The annual Gingerbread house...honestly there was nothing to show for it at the end...all the sides collapsed in on themselves...it went directly into the trash...guess that's why Andy's not an architect!


This is what I found in the living room....no joke...Lauren "lit up" her brother"...
Look at this kid...he oozes "mellow"...I can't imagine what he's going to let his sisters get away with as he gets older...

Charlie's most favorite form of being carried...perched on my shoulder...he just rests his little fat face on my shoulder and is along for the ride...he was 13 pounds at the MD yesterday...he's barely 7 weeks old...he was weighed with his clothes on, so he's probably a few ounces under 13, but still--big boy...

Charlie and I on our way to a Christmas party...


Not our holiday card, but could be...notice I didn't say "Christmas card?" There's no guarantee that our cards will be out by Christmas (for explanation, read the first paragraph on this post)...Andy finally sent out a handful to his family, but the other dozens will get sent when they get sent!

We went to the Glendora Christmas Parade on Saturday morning...every scout troop, cheer-leading group, and city official walking down the street--gotta love this town! Andy and I kept wondering if the parade would end...the kids had a blast...




Charlie is asleep in the stroller behind us...

The grand finale--Santa on a fire truck...

On our way to a Christmas party with our college friends...Kate refused to take a nap after the monstrously long morning parade, so she conked in the car...

We've finally been initiated into the world of Wii...we had a great time at Don and Kerri's house eating, chatting and playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band...I stink at drums, but did decent at the guitar...Andy ripped it up on lead vocals...he has hidden talent!


Thanks for the fun night friends...

And finally, 3 pictures of my 3 cute kids...Lauren doing what she does best these days...put on tooooooo much lip gloss...she had a permanent pink stain all around her lips on Sunday morning for Church...we had a discussion about correct make-up application...her father was not happy...

Kate doing what she loves to do...playdough!

And sleeping Charlie...the best...May the title of my next post not include vomit or mucous...here's to wishful thinking...