Falling into cooler weather...

Have I said lately how much I love these kids of mine?  I swear if it weren't for them I would be crawled up under a rock somewhere.  They are what keep me going on the good days and even more so on the bad days.  I am so grateful and thankful that they are in my life.  That they are these three, sweet, adorable little beans and that they are mine.  I'm not sure how I got so lucky, or what I ever did to deserve them but I can't even begin to imagine my life without them.  There's nothing more to it.  Period.  End of story!

We spent the Columbus Day weekend up North.  New Hampshire in the Fall is my favorite, although the temperatures were extremely warm that you would have sworn it was the dead of summer.  Thankfully, the foliage was so breathtaking that it reassured me that this surely was the Fall Season.  We visited our favorite craft fair and I even picked up a few Christmas presents.  I have this thing for the painted wooden country signs with the cute sayings.  Let's just say that the ones I chose fit the people I chose them for perfectly!  The kids then headed up to Loon's Octoberfest with Billy and the rest of the gang while I hung back with Cam so that he could go down for his nap.  Mama ended up snuggling up and catching herself a few winks herself.  Don't remember the last time I did that!  We spent the rest of the weekend visiting our favorite spots.  Sugar Hill Sampler, Harmon's Cheese Shop and the candy store.  I stocked up on my favorite Cider Tea at the Sugar Hill Sampler.  If you ever get there, it's a must have!  We carved pumpkins and raked leaves into a pile so that the kids could jump in.  Seven kids in total and yet you would never even know it.  They were so well behaved!  Sunday night I decided to head to one of the famous moose sighting spots.  (Yes, I am still obsessed with seeing one)  Hannah came along and we began our drive on the Kangamangus.  The traffic coming back into town was ridiculous so I was glad we were heading north and not stuck in it.  As we were driving, Hannah said she wasn't feeling well.  I told her to close her eyes and try to rest.  25 minutes later, I found our spot and it was exactly dusk.  (Best time to see a moose)  We got out of the car and Hannah was just not right.  I felt her head and yes, she was burning up.  I grabbed a blanket for her and we sat on a rock for barely five minutes waiting for a moose.  I knew I had to get her back home and back in the car we went.  (Again, no moose!)  The poor kid was so sick she was whimpering on the way home.  Heading south was a complete traffic jam and it took us forever to get home.  I got her up the stairs just in time and that was it.  Banana just about made it to the bathroom before she got sick.  We were up the entire night with her, but thankfully by morning she had begun to feel a bit better and her fever was down.  We packed it up and headed on home as Layla now had begun to feel warm and my stomach was not right. 


It seems as though we all ended up with a touch of something and now we are all suffering with these nasty colds.  Blech!  I feel so bad for the kids as they can hardly breath and their noses are all pouring.  Layla had a rough day at school yesterday and they said she was just not her usual, spunky self.  I brought her home and on the couch she stayed for the rest of the evening.  Cam's face is all chapped from his nose running and he is just not his happy self.  He hardly ate a bite of lunch and is currently conked out in the pack n play.  Billy went to bed at 8:00PM last night, so I know he is not feeling well either.  I am just feeling plain yucky.  It is the type of day where all you want to do is stay on the couch and watch movies.  Then again, that would only take place in my "Stay at Home Mom" pipe dream.  Hopefully we can get healthy again by the weekend.  We have birthday parties to attend.  Hockey practice, CCD and Hannah has her first game.  Fingers crossed we get on the mend! 


I was able to get an hour and half out with Hannah after work yesterday.  DATE afternoon!  We never get much time just the two of us and I was feeling quite guilty that that the child was suffering in the clothes department.  Everything is too small on her and she just doesn't have many clothes at all.  The other two get tons of hand me downs (TY Ant Denise) to add to what they get for their birthdays and Hannah doesn't get this.  She is the oldest and the biggest.  We didn't have the money to go back to school shopping this year so she has just been making do.  Plus the weather has been so warm that she was able to just continue to wear her summer things.  I scraped some money together and out we went yesterday!  She was so excited and so happy to be buying some new things.  We got her some great boots at Target and finally some new underwear!  Then we headed on over to Childrens Place and picked up a few long sleeved shirts and a jean skirt.  We tried our best to make the money I had stretch as much as we could and she was really good about.  (It drives me crazy how expensive clothes are... especially for kids!)  She was happy!  Her night was complete when her Halloween Costume arrived when we got home.  I was happy to have her feel special for the day.  She deserves it.  We finished the evening out with completing her homework.  She had to find a favorite poem and be prepared to read it to the class.  She chose "My Special Diet" by Kenn Nesbitt.  I have to share it because I just love it too much.  And if you heard her read it you would be grinning from ear to ear. 

My Special Diet

Fish sticks, Tater Tots,

Candy bars, baloney,

Ice cream, Bubble Gum,

Cheesy Macaroni.

This is all I ever eat

Don't knock it til' you try it,

I haven't lost a single pound,

But still I love my diet!

Love it!  The little booger!  I am a smidge concerned about her however.  She woke up yesterday complaining of neck pain on the left side.  It seemed to get a little better by night time but this morning it was worse.  She was crying this morning because it hurt so badly and she had a tough time getting a shirt over her head.  I had assumed that she had just slept wrong the night before but now that it is getting worse I am a little concerned.  At her check up last week, Dr. Sowa mentioned her ear tubes were out.  (great.. ugh)  The left ear is her worst ear and this is also the one where the hemangioma is wrapped around her Eustachian tube.  It's hard not to think that something could be going on here.  I'm sorry, I know it sounds neurotic, but after going through what I went through with her, I will never question my worry.  I told her we would give it one more day to see if it gets any better and then I would take her in to see Dr. Sowa.  I am hoping it is just a little muscle ache or maybe some achy glands from her cold.  Fingers crossed she'll feel better by morning.  

Happy Thursday!

xo



PS:  HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SHANNY (OCTOBER 8th).. MY TWO TIME BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR!  LOVE AND BLESSINGS!  TO MANY MORE YEARS OF BEING CANCER FREE!

Hockey Mom, here I come!

Han made Mite C's!  We are thrilled!  I had frantically been checking the site all day yesterday praying they would put the roster up.  By 8:30 last night I was getting pretty frustrated about seeing no results.  I jumped in the shower and as I was getting out I received a text from Billy (who was laying with the girls at the time).  It said that she didn't make it.  I panicked and logged on the site all while thinking how would we ever tell her that she didn't make it, I saw her name... relief!  Turns out that when Billy had logged on, all of the results were not up yet.  Poor kid really thought she didn't make it so he was thrilled to then log on and see her name.  He was pacing our bedroom freaking out.  We went right in and told Hannah who was SO EXCITED!  She was jumping up and down on the bed while Layla somehow stayed asleep as her head bounced up and down!  It took a while to settle Han down enough to get her to sleep... but finally she did.  I really am so excited to see her compete and play on a team.  I cant wait to cheer her on!  I am so very proud of my little monkey.  She is going to do great things!  I can feel it!  Bitter sweet baby girl.  Go get em!


My Layla cakes has come down with yet another cold.  Although I cant complain because she has made it through 3 weeks of school and this is the first time I have had to keep her home (well at work with me).  Unfortunately when the bug gets a cold, it turns into this whole stinking asthma episode.  So we are upping her inhalers and asthma meds and keeping her on a good dose every two hours in order to get her through it quickly.  I have been sleeping with her the past two nights because she wakes up and has a tough time breathing.  At least if I am there then I can give her a dose of her inhaler and get her calmed down quickly.  I'd like to avoid the steroids at all costs if I can.  She has a little fever that I am hoping is just part of the cold and asthma episode and nothing more because did I mention that my baby girl is about to turn FOUR in less than a week? Layla Grayce Viola... turning FOUR??????????????????  Ohhhhhhhhhh what I wouldn't do to keep this little cuddle bug LITTLE forever!  Stop growing up on me Layla!!!!  As hard as it is to see her grow, it is also bitter sweet to see her getting healthier.  I am thrilled that she has survived three weeks of preschool without any major illnesses.  Last year, she made it to one day and then that was it.  She couldn't get healthy enough to go back.  So as sad as I am to see her grow up on me, it's also a great feeling to watch her grow healthier and stronger.  Keep going Layla Baby!  Ironically this birthday will be all about a girl called Rapunzel who has three feet of hair... considering my birthday girl has barely an inch of hair, I feel it is fitting!  Happy almost Birthday cupcake!


Mr Cameroni is doing GREAT after his tube surgery!  He was a good sleeper to begin with.  However, the last several months he would wake in the middle of the night and cry out.  He would still put himself back to sleep fairly quickly, but I am noticing that since the surgery, he is sleeping like a brick all night long.  He is even sleeping later in the mornings.  Yipeee!  Moreover, he just seems to be happier all around.  I bet that fluid built up was really bugging him and now he feels sooo much better!  My little crazy booger!  If we can just keep him from doing the Superman off of any high surface, we will be all set!


I did manage to get to my favorite salon yesterday.  I seriously love TWIRL!  Note to self however, do not try and touch up your own roots!  Poor Sarah had to dye my hair DARK in order to match it.  Over the counter dyes... BAD!  When will I learn?  So now instead of a redhead, I am currently a brunette! LOL  I dont mind one bit and actually like the change!  It's only hair.  I can't thank my inlaws enough for making this possible though.  If it werent for them watching the kids, I would have never made it to this appointment and I sooo needed this appointment.  So thank you Mom and Dad M!  xo


Onward towards a weekend full of hockey!  Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.  Don't forget, today is September 30th.  It may be the last day of the month, but there is still time to give back!  46 new children are diagnosed with cancer every day.  You can help change that!  It can be as simple as ordering this great COOKBOOK.  Host your own bake sale and get your community involved.  September may be childhood cancer awareness month, but the battle is all year round.  Help find a cure!  Let's make a difference!

Cam did great!

We are home and my little moose did a great job!  We were at the ENT center by 6:30am and he only cried a bit in the car on the way.  The poor little boog is use to having his milk and breakfast early.  Once there, we checked in and everything else went like clock work.  This may have been Cam's first time, but this is actually my 6th experience with ear tube surgery thanks to Hannah's now 4th set in and Layla has a set in as well.  He was able to run (and I mean run) around the waiting area for an hour before they took him back to get ready.  The secretaries were hysterical at me chasing him to and fro.  He did not stop.  This one certainly keeps me on my toes!  Once in the back we played Tot games on the Iphone (he works it better than me!) and we talked to the Nemo and Dory stickers on the wall.  By the time they took him, he was definitely restless and rearing to go.  (And I was quite exhausted!)  This may have been what helped me get through the anesthesia with no tears this time!  LOL  He did great, although he put up quite a fight.  The nurses were stunned at his strength and I was thrown right back in time when I did this with Hannah the first time.  Cam is strong, yes, but it took 4 nurses, a doctor and myself to restrain Hannah for the mask her first and second time!  (By the third time, I demanded sedatives!)  It was over quickly and I was off to the waiting area to wait.  I nearly got 5 minutes to update Billy via text when Dr. Gibson came out to let me know he did great!  LOVE her!  Did I mention she has the same birthday as Cam?  Good omen right there!  He did have fluid in his ears but they were not infected.  Hopefully this will give the Cameroni some relief now!  I went back to recovery and heard him crying from down the hall.  He looked at me and begged me to pick him up.  We sat and snuggled but it wasn't until he got his bottle of milk that he really calmed down and rested.  We continued to snuggle for a bit and then we were sent on our way.  He fussed a bit in the car and then zonked out!  He is in his cozy crib as I post and I am glad that he is able to rest.  So all in all another great experience at the ENT Center for us! 

Billy seemed to managed the girls well although I had a total brain lapse and forgot to leave him the car seats.  Where is my head?  I am usually so on top of that stuff!  UGH!  Apparently Layla left the house in a Fall outfit, although the thermometer currently reads 82 degrees.  She is going to be a little toasty today, but I am thankful that she at least left the house clothed.  Anxious to pick them up from school today and give them kisses.  Praying there are no accidents for Layla either.  Have we talked Potty Talk yet?   Have I told you how much I DESPISE it?  When my friends ask me about clues and helpful hints to this little chore called potty training, I automatically tell them I have no clue.  Seriously.  I struggled with Hannah in the beginning.  I gave up at 2 and a half years.  The little stinker use to do potty on her bed on purpose when we would try and discipline her!  It was like an "Oh yeah, well get this!"  However, she woke up on her third birthday and just decided today was the day.  That was it.  She never had an overnight accident.  She just did it.  Layla showed interest at 18 months.  Did it here and there for a few months and then wanted NO part of it and has literally never wanted any part of it since.  The child has peed all over our entire house.  From rugs, to beds, to couches.  You name it.  We have scrubbed every inch of our house at one point or another.  Many items have been tossed.  I was really stressing the being potty trained before school bit.  Although about 3 weeks prior to her starting school, she began doing much better.  By the time school rolled around, she was golden.  Or so I thought.  She had two accidents last week at school.  The teachers were not pleased.  Although I felt defensive about this, I do realize that she has to get it at one point or another.  Her problem is that she doesn't want to stop what she is doing to go.  As I have said before, she is also on the younger side emotionally.  She also is a water-aholic.  I really think it is just going to take her a bit longer to get it down pat.  I know people have many different views in regards to this.  I make no opinions or judgements on others.  I just know me and I know my child.  She will get it when she is ready.  If I were to frantically follow her around for a solid week asking her every two seconds to use the bathroom, she would totally rebel.  She will do it on her time and I do very much still feel as though there is a little time left for her to get it.  Personally, I think two accidents in three weeks of school is hardly that bad at all.  I have faith.  God help me though, when it is Cam's turn!  I'd keep them in diapers til they were four if it were up to me! 

Layla has finally decided on her Halloween costume.  Can you tell?  It's fitting.  A princess with no hair, would like 3 feet of hair!

Hannah's turn at it.  Hannah Montana? 

 (Thank you Target parking lot for providing our back drop!)

An early birthday gift that hasn't left her side!

I love him!  Snuggle butt!

Layla jumping at the Apple fest yesterday!  Decked out in her Cha Cha gear!  Wish I had some pics of Hannah climbing the rock wall.  I will post the video soon! 

Cam, in Mommy's glam, getting ready for tube surgery this morning!

Cam & Mommy!  (I think I was sweating from chasing him all around at this point!)

Sleepy little boy on the way home!

CHILDREN LIVE HERE!

Hannah's art work

Apparently I am missing a leg.  I think Layla had something to do with that.

The swing of things

Well I will say that I had a productive weekend whipping the house into shape and getting organized for this school year.  There is still much more to do, but at least I started making progress!  I made the girls a little homework center where they can store their homework until it is finished and ready to be handed in.  Otherwise it tends to get lost in the shuffle of the mail and I am often searching frantically for it the night before.  Now they each have a folder, an array of writing utensils and paper for when they need it. 

I also got into Layla's drawers and began to go through her clothes.  With her it's difficult because she is still so tiny that a 3T still fits her.  Because she is tall however, the 4T fits her length but tends to be baggy in other areas.  So I tend to hold on to the smaller sizes and just pair it with leggins.  Thankfully this allows her many different options and we seriously love our hand me downs from Ant Denise.  I got into her flower basket as well.  We often tend to lose our favorite hair flowers and I am always searching everywhere for them.  I decided to organize them as best I could by clipping them to a long ribbon.  So much easier to find the color we want and Layla loves to be able to pick them out on her own in the mornings now.  Flowers are her trademark.  If you ask someone if they know her, they often say, "Oh the cute little girl with the flower?"  She still hardly has hair, so this is a must have accessory for us and one that I just feel is part of her and her personality.  She is my foofy flower baby girl!  I didn't realize the magnitude of my obsession with them until I began stringing them on the ribbon and actually seeing how many we have.  Slightly obsessed?

I also hung up ribbon for their school artwork.  They come home with so many beautiful pictures and projects that my fridge is just not big enough to display it all.  SO we created this ....

Monday, we ended up having a fabulous time after school.  I decided to not let my worry about dinner and getting it served on time bother me and I just ignored the fact that I needed to cook all together.  We got home, unpacked our bags and headed outside.  We played on the swing set.  We played ball.  Hannah and I played soccer and Layla became the hero when we kicked the ball over the fence into the neighbors yard.  Because she is a tiny bit, I was able to lower her over the fence to get it! LOL  It was so much fun just to let loose and play!  Cameron had a blast in the swing and the crazy man even goes down the slide and cracks up the whole way.  We came in at 5:30 and I somehow managed to put together a meal by 6:00.  It wasn't half bad either!  Steak Stir fry with white rice!  The best part was that the kids ATE it!  We are trying to get out of our macaroni and cheese, hot dog, hamburger, pasta every night routine.  I am trying to cook one meal.  One HEALTHY meal and have the whole family eat it.  This can be tough.  But I am on a mission!  They need to learn to eat healthy NOW and I need to be their example.  Here goes nothing!


Tuesdays.  Tuesdays are suppose to be my "day-off",  I can tell you that it is anything but a day off!  LOL  When I think of having a day off, I think about being lazy to wake.  I think about making breakfast for the kids but being able to make them something special like homemade waffles or pancakes.  I think about relaxing but doing something fun with the kids.  Slow moving day full of sunshine and rainbows.  Apparently, I live inside my head too much because that is SO not what my Tuesdays are like!  Instead, it's the hustle and bustle of getting the banana off to school, running to pick up Mom and then we are tossed into a whirl wind of "in the car, buckle car seats, out of the car, unbuckle car seats.  Running errands and going to eh market.  Layla dances from 1:00 - 2:00.  This is Cameron's nap time so we usually spend the hour chasing after him.  Then I drive around and try and get him to fall asleep in the car before we pick up Hannah from school.  Usually this is to no avail and Layla falls asleep instead.  We pick up Hannah from school and then go home to figure out dinner.  I make enough to send home with my parents and enough for my in laws to eat since they had to watch the kids this week while I had a 6:00PM appointment.  The glitch was that Hannah has dance from 5:00 - 6:30, so I drop her off and then come back to get the table set before I drop off Mom and head to my appointment.  My mother in law picks up Hannah from dance.. and so on until it is 10:00PM and I am completely exhausted!  Although.. dinner didn't come out too badly considering....

I did get to spend some time with Ana this week though and I just love this time we spend together.  I swear we could talk for hours.  I put the kids to bed and headed over to her house where we literally sat and talked for nearly four hours.  We sit outside in a stress free environment and just hash out life's problems.  The more I get to know her, the more I see how similar we are.  I am blessed to have her in my life and I swear God sent her to me at this crucial point when I really needed someone to make me feel like I haven't lost all my marbles.  Thank you Ana for "getting me".  For making me feel somewhat normal and for loving me for who I am. 

Hockey starts this weekend for Hannah and I am so excited to see her skate again.  I feel like it has been forever.  Billy took her to get some new gear since the squirt has outgrown everything!  Mommy's thrilled that she has a new helmet to wear as well.  I am anxious to see where she places and even more anxious to hopefully see her play some games this season.  I think Sunday will determine where we stand with all of that.  I am a little hesitant to see how many days a week it will tie up, but I am also excited to see her continue to excel at this sport. 

This is a picture of Layla's Family Project.  I think Hannah and I had more fun creating it than Layla did, but it certainly came out in the famous Layla style!  It's all about PURPLE!

This is a picture of Hannah from last weekend.  Auntie Jill, her personal shopper always tends to buy her EXACTLY what she loves to wear.  Uncle Dave and I agree that she often looks more like Elton John circa 1980... but just the same... I let her be who she wants to be... within reason of course.

Last but not least, here is a picture of the crazy, little Cameroni!  God I love him!  Even though I spend most of the day frantically chasing after him while trying to say a firm "NO"!  To which he laughs at me and continues to do the thing I am telling him not to do!  LOL

It's just me and the Ravioli at the office today and I am soaking her up.  The kid has had me in stitches most of the day.  Her current favorite songs are "I want to go all the way" by Brittany (oh boy), the oldie but goodie, "Who let the dogs out"  (she seriously makes me replay and replay it) and Foster the People's, "Pumped up Kicks."  She just decided that I must wear her flower and stuck it on my head....  my little booger..

 
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week.  Remember... September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!  GIVE BACK!  It will warm your heart!  I promise!