More Soccer

Five

We decided last second to have a little get together for Bobby's 5th birthday. It was great, aside from the fact our jumpy house broke after an hour or 2 of play - before everyone even got there. It was fine though. We have enough loot around the house to keep everyone happy, and a little swingset in the backyard.  The jumpy we got 3 years use out of it, and it saved us from ever having to rent one. I'm tempted to purchase it again just because the kids loved it so much; maybe get a bigger one or something. Another thing that I saved money on was Bobby's cake. Ok, so there are people who specialize in making cakes. Great. These cakes are great. They look so good, you almost dont want to cut it up and eat it. $225 to feed like 20 people though!! SERIOUSLY?! ITS CAKE! I didnt even spend that on my wedding cake. So, because Bobby wanted a Ninja Turtle cake, I just bought a toy to stick on the cake that I made for $3.00. A whopping $10.00 total for the cake. Ya. That's more like it. 

I cannot believe he is 5. I seriously feel like just last week he was a baby. Someone once said to me, the days are long but the years are short. So true. 

We had just close friends and family over, I wanted to do another party with my mom's side of the family but some people didnt want to help out, so I said screw it.

Overall, I had a nice time with everyone. Thanks to everyone who came and spent time with us. I know it was a pain in the butt during the week, so it means alot.

Have a good rest of the week .... GO KU!!

Soccer

Yesterday was great.  Derek's parents came to support Bobby, which was so nice and sweet - they rescheduled some of their day to be with us, which means alot to me and I know it meant alot to Bobby.  

The team Bobby played on had kids as young as age 3 up to age 6. The league sort of groups some kids together with no experience and age accordingly.  Our coach said that his other team in the age group of strictly 5-6 year olds had someone quit so we are moving Bobby up to the older age group and Brooklyn is going to replace Bobby's spot. She was so pissed off yesterday that she wasnt playing.  Derek mentioned maybe helping the Coach out after all...

It was a great first experience for all of us.  It is bittersweet to realize my first baby is nearly 5 and doing all of these big kid things. I dont know how to describe it; for awhile I couldn't wait until he was a "big kid" and now I'm so sad. I'm happy but sad. 

Life is getting chaotic that's for sure. Our week is: Monday night tumbing, Tuesday dance and jiu jitsu, Wed NOTHING whew, Thursday jiu jitsu & soccer practice, Friday night soccer practice. TOO MUCH CRAP. I dont mind letting the kids try out stuff, but we need to scale back on something else. We will see how it shakes out.

Have a great week!!!

Growing pains

I feel like we have been going through some growing pains these past few days.  I re-read some posts of when we brought Tommy home 6 months ago, and I thought, gosh I better write down some of the latest happenings so I can remember this!  It was neat to read the struggles we were going through 6 months ago...

I dont know what the heck is going on with little Tommy but his sleep is regressing.  This kid was sleeping (like I boasted about last time) from 6pm-4am. Now the little booger is up at 12am, or 3am, or some other wacky time. Granted, we are gone every single evening except Wednesday now, so his last afternoon nap sucks/gets thrown off. But come on, still. So today I have had it. No more swaddle because even the swaddle doesnt seem to be "working". Poor kid, had to cry himself to sleep for his first morning nap which was short - expected that. Dragged the kids to Costco - powered through a major grocery shopping trip in less than an hour (yes I am a professional at it now, please feel free to hire me).  Came home, kids went swimming, and Tommy still seemed cranky. Laid him down again - sans swaddle and tears tears tears! Ohhhh the tears! I gave in and tossed him a pacifier. I'm curious to see if its still in his mouth, its quiet back there and I'm nervous to wake him up. Ughhhhh I have dreaded the sleep growing pains for so long.  Its gut wrenching to hear the cries BUT MOMMY NEEDS SLEEP. GRRRR Otherwise I'm a grizzly bear and no one wants to see that!

The other growing pain is we have outgrown my nice little Tahoe. I love my car, UNTIL I have to maneuver 3 kids in the middle row. Both big kids want a window which means Tommy is either in the middle or the very far back. Either way, its either a pain in the arse to get Tommy buckled in the middle OR take my trunk away by buckling him in the back. So, I've been on the hunt to find just the right car for the family. At first I was sprung on the idea a minivan would solve all these headaches HOWEVER, an SUV is 1) A bit safer because its sturdier and 2) So much cooler than a damn van! But I did look at the vans just for kicks and they are sweet. I mean, sweet sweet. Push a button door opens, stand in the way of the door it re-opens (never have to worry about smashed fingers again!), push another button trunk opens, push another button seat folds down for you! COME ON!!!!!!!!!! Ugh. But alas, it is not for us. We have been in a bad car accident, and if I were to ever be in one with the kids in a van, we'd be toast. So, we are searching and searching. In addition, Derek's work truck is on its last leg, which means we are going to be doubled over in car payments. Soooooooooooooo not sure what is in store for us as far as cars go. But geez, what a headache. Car dealerships do not budge, over price, over sell, and under pay. Why the heck dealerships feel like a stupid SUV needs to cost half as much as a house - SERIOUSLY - is beyond me. Yes, the leather seats are nice, but come on....get real people! It depreciates as fast as you breathe!!!

Hoping that whatever is meant to be for us will be, and hopefully that means some leg room and affordability.

And, tomorrow Bobby has his first outdoor soccer game. He had practice last night and actually, I'm not just tooting my own horn, I swear - he did GREAT! He was running EVERYWHERE!!!! Following his Coach's directions, I mean he took to it so well.

We were some proud parents last night. Cant wait to see how he does tomorrow, stay tuned....

Happy Saturday

6 months

Because of all the weird stipulations with Obama's health care changes, we do not have health insurance for another month. Pretty frustrating.

So until I can get Tommy in to the doctor without paying an absurd amount, I wont know for sure, but here are some stats I'm guessing he's at:

Weight has got to be around 21-22lbs. Yes. My. kid. is. chubby. No. I dont care what you think. In fact, I had one mom say that she thought her daughter (who is a month older than Tommy) was achieving milestones fast because she wasnt fat. RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. Ok, how about the fact that 1- she's a girl, (girls are faster at everything IMO) 2- she's a month older and 3-every kid is different. Maybe its the best of my emotions getting to me but damn I thought that was rude.

Speaking of his food, he does a 6oz bottle every four hours, and goes from 6pm-4am with no food....

He sleeps great for me. Most nights, its 6pm til 4am. I do a feeding at 4am, then he's up for the day around 6. He's been really congested so we've been battling that, but he does great at night.

He's starting to get the hang of what to do when he's on all 4's. A little. I saw him scoot back in anger yesterday. He can situp pretty well, still a little uneasy and would rather be lazy and lay down but he's getting there.

I still swaddle him. Not sure when to stop. If I will ever stop. I dont want to listen to endless bouts of crying or "sleep train" - we do so good right now. I guess when the time is right I'll know.

Introduced a little bit of food. We do it like 1x a day. He's getting used to it.

He loves to jump in his bouncy seat. Even when I hold him to standing position he tries to bounce. Silly.

I'll post a few pictures when I snap the official "6 month" photo. Which I guess technically falls on March 2nd since there is no Feb 30? Weird.

Happy Thursday

Unexpected Goodbye

Life sometimes has an unexpected way of going.  I know we cant control alot, but sometimes it feels like we control nothing.  

Its kinda of funny, we used to have 3 dogs, then had a child and 3 dogs. Then had a second child and 3 dogs. Then 2 kids, 2 dogs; 2 kids, 1 dog (not for long); then 3 kids, 2 dogs; and now 3 kids, 1 dog.  I'm done with adding dogs to the family, for now.  Saying goodbye is so hard for me to do.

The picture with all 3 dogs, was taken the same day I found out I was pregnant with Bobby.  I will never forget it.  The picture above, Rocky, he unexpectedly had to be put down on friday.  All 3 of the dogs have passed.  All 3 died year after year; Moose in 2012, Rylee in May 2013, and Rocky 2014.  

While I want to know in my heart it was really Rocky's time, I cant but help to feel some guilt.  Awhile ago,  I laid down poison in the backyard - - well, I buried it - and I thought I had all but only put enough out to kill the gophers.  Well, our newest puppy Sadie has made our backyard the damn grand canyon and has dug craters and mountains that has wrecked much of the yard.  I think Sadie dug up some of the bait, or a dead gopher and either Rocky inhaled some bait or ate a gopher.  In any case, Rocky in the end had pneumonia like symptoms (or the vet thought some rare boxer cardiomyopathy) but I carry with me a heavy heart feeling responsible.  We will never know for sure, so I just pray it was Rocky's time.  

I sobbed friday when I had to say goodbye.  The vet recommended I not stay during the process because his breathing was already so labored it was going to just get worse as they put him to sleep. So I had to leave while he was still awake. Kills me.

Today, we were out back and did alot of cleaning. Sort of therapy too I guess.  I sat today by the doghouse we built for Sadie & Rocky and just sobbed.  I just cant believe the 3 dogs that were in this old crummy house are not here today.  

I guess I know why my parents didnt want us to have pets.

Time heals. I know it will.

Miss all 3 of these critters.

GS & M-I-C-K-E-Y

Alright.  Here we go:

Friday 1/31 Went and saw George Strait.  Alright seats.  Concert was good. Miranda Lambert opened for him, which at first I was like ehhh but she actually rocked the place and I enjoyed most of her songs. Excellent. Not excellent - getting to bed at 1am and Tommy waking up every.hour.on.the.hour!!! He is sick. UGHHHHHHHHHHHH

Saturday morning "wake up" haha. Finish scrambling around and pack. FORGET ESSENTIALS FOR ME. Remember everything for everyone else. Forgot about me. Hello motherhood.

Arrive at our hotel - Disney's Grand Californian Spa & Hotel. SCORE. Hotel is just breathtaking. Nice nice nice.  Walk to Disneyland Hotel for Character Dining at Goofy's Kitchen. Score.  Thats where most of the pictures with the characters are from.

Saturday night, sleep like crap.  Tommy still not feeling good.  Try our best to sleep but its harder than usual.

Sunday Morning "Wake up", get ready for the day at Disneyland.  Crowds not bad.  Head back to hotel around 3 for a little break/recharge.  Grab dinner. Head back to Disneyland, crowds even smaller. Ride Star Tours with Bobby.  Ride some rides and wonder why they are so darn scary! (Hello, Snow White is like a nightmare!)  Get a little bit rained on.  Head back to hotel around 8pm.  EXHAUSTED.

Monday Morning "Wake up", have a nice breakfast at Storytellers Cafe at the hotel - more characters visit.  Go to California Adventure.  Crowds barely around.  Ride some rides two times in a row.  Bobby is tall enough for some of the more adventurous rides - he rode Soarin over California, and then Grizzly River Run.  He went back for a second trip on Grizzly River Run but the ride closed/broke down! Boo.

It was fun, but then, it was uhhhhh not fun.  Thought Tommy would have done a little better sleep wise - and maybe he would have if he would have been feeling better.  He still has a terrible cough - been doing neubulizer and ibuprofen around the clock.  The fog of being so tired is still on us today - everyone happily lay for nap around 1 today.  Trying to get rid of the piles and piles of dirty laundry, finish hw and get my crap together.  Thankfully one more day of rest tomorrow then back to the grind with the kids and their stuff.

Hope you all had a nice weekend!