Rough Days

I had a rough few days there. I have discovered that I have to get up in the middle of the night and have some crackers if I want to function the next day. I was ill all day Tues and Wed. But am feeling much better as long as I am stuffing my face. We are going to the mall to get pictures taken today and possibly see Santa. Hilton is beyond excited. I am just hoping we are getting there early enough in the season that it won't be horribly busy!

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was great. We went to Justin's parents' house and had a wonderful dinner. We were there for 3 days and just vegged out. The Bates got a new puppy. An 8 week old Shitzou named Maggie J. She is a furball and so cute. She was a great distraction for the kids. They never complained of being bored the whole weekend! To tell the Bates that we were having a baby, I had some photos from Caroline's birthday party. I put the ultrasound picture in with the photos and when Donna was looking through them she said, "What's this?" And then Caroline and Hilton told her that we were having a baby. They were really excited and very understanding of my present comatose state. I slept almost the entire time. I cannot get enough sleep. I sleep more than I am awake! On Friday we went to Macy's (What were we thinking???) to get some luggage that was on serious sale. We needed some badly since we are going to Ohio for Christmas. Then we went to the movies and saw Santa Claus 3 which the kids absolutely loved. We had a really great time at the in-laws, as always. Now it is time to decorate. If Justin would just get the things out for me! He is in no hurry because it is not Dec 1st yet. But we had a Christmasy FHE last night and had egg nog shakes for the treat, so maybe that will move him along a little. Today I have to read my book group book, Life of Pi. I have book group tomorrow and I haven't even gotten half way!

Hilton

Hilton woke up at 4am. He was ready to play. He is on crack or something. The child will not stop. And I am so tired. Luckily I went to bed at 8:30 last night or else I would be in worse shape. But I find I am much more tired with this pregnancy than with the other 2. And I was working with those! So I guess it is good that I'm at home. I can take naps. And I do. A lot of naps. He is totally bouncing off the walls, so maybe I should take him to the park so he can just play until he drops. I will bring a book or something. The walk would be good for me. Right? Is anyone else's kids saying, "Mom, can I get that?" every five minutes? If there is a commercial on tv, Hilton wants it. It doesn't matter if it is a girl toy or a boy toy. He doesn't care. He just wants it all. And everyday he asks to go to WalMart to buy it! He wants me to buy him a toy everyday! Forget that Christmas is only a month away! Who cares? He wants it NOW! I am sure no one else's kids are like this. It is only mine. What have I done to create this sleep deprived, self-indulgent child?

BIG, BIG, BIG NEWS!

I told you I was going to announce something big today. So here it is! I went to the doctor today and had my first ultrasound for the new Baby Bates! He or she will be born July 1, 2007. I am 8 weeks along today. It is going to be a very high risk pregnancy with my diabetes, it will be my 3rd c-section, but I am so excited! Justin is still in shock and not a little annoyed, but he is coming around. This was not a planned pregnancy, we thought we were doing a great job at preventing it, and have been for 10 years, but I guess when Heavenly Father has a plan, you just go with the flow. Anyway, I am very excited but still nervous. Any number of things could go wrong, so all of your prayers and thoughts are welcome!

Halloween Pics

These are pics from Halloween. I hand made each costome... Okay, I am lying, But I really do wish I were as talented as my cousin to do that. Hilton is a Dragon (even though it is a dinosaur costume, he doesn't care. He still wears it almost everyday!) Caroline is a Barbie Fairytopia fairy. This is in our living room and behind the children on the mantle are our fish. Fin is on the left, Goldy (the dear departed) is in the middle and Chloe is on the right. I am a mean mom because I made Caroline wear a turtle neck under her costume. And she had a coat on over it. But it was FREEZING!

HILARIOUS!

Hilton did something so funny yesterday! But I will preface it with, we NEVER use the word "butt" in this house. We say "bum" or "bottom." Okay, Justin does this really crude thing sometimes with Hilton. When he has a bare bottom, he pretends to talk with it. (Ala Jim Carrey) Anyway, yesterday when I was on the phone with Justin, Hilton came into the livingroom with his pants down, talking with him bottom. He spoke in a robot voice saying, "Hello, I am RoButt!" I kid you not! I have NO idea where he got that. He totally came up with it all on his own. But I just lost it! It was so hilarious! At the same time that I am laughing hysterically, I am saying, "Hilton, that is not appropriate. You are not being modest!"

Nothing cool

For the past 2 days I have been trying to post more pics and blogger won't let me! I am so sorry. I have nothing to share at this time, but I promise I will post something cool and exciting by Monday... Blogger permitting!

Sick Caroline

I was up most the night with Caroline. She woke up at around midnight with a stomach bug. Poor thing. She was so concerned about making a mess. The sheets stayed clean, though! I was very happy about that. This morning she is doing ok. I just hope she is okay the rest of the day. I cannot have healthy kids at all during the winter months. If it is not one, it is the other!

Poor Goldy

I am afraid we had a death in the family. Goldy died of natural causes yesterday. She was a teeny tiny goldfish so I didn't expect her to live long. But Caroline is devastated. In the morning when she fed her she was fine, swimming happily. Then in the afternoon when she checked on her, she was gone. To a better place. The giant goldfish bowl in the sky. This does not in the least console Caroline. I told her we could get another one, but she said no way. She doesn't want another one to die on her again. So we might get another Beta. When the mourning period is over.

Photos

These are photos of Caroline's birthday at Gringos. That was her birthday dinner of choice. She loved it because they sang to her and gave her fried ice cream. And the other photos are of my pumpkin party. You see the pumpkin bread bowls in the middle of the table. And my gorgeous table cloth! In the other photo you can see my pumpkin soup tureen in the middle. And little cards telling what kind of soups were in the bowls.

Horrible Haircut

Yesterday we went to IF to get our hair cut. Hilton got a big boy haircut. He looks very cute. This means, he no longer has the bowl cut he has had for several years. As you may recall, last time he got his hair cut he wanted it to look like a bear... Well, it is a little closer to looking like a bear, now. I, on the other hand, look like a boy. I told the girl exactly what to do. I showed her how short I wanted it. She cut it about 3 inches shorter. And being the blind person I am, had no idea. She asked me to take my glasses off, and when I put them back on, my hair was GONE! I look awful and I am very disappointed. But it will grow back. In a couple of months it will be exactly how I wanted it. She gave me the haircut I wanted, just 3 inches too short! Well, it will be easy to take care of... Just think positive, right?

Pics Caroline's birthday

Caroline's class on her birthday. Hilton is standing next to her. The rest are all from her birthday party here at home. Remember the theme was PINK!

Another, another day

I got to talk to Justin last night. He went to see Tarzan yesterday and he said it was amazing! He loved it! I am really surprized because he was not looking forward to that one. He said in the very beginning there is a shipwreck and on stage there is a big giant tank and all the people are swimming trying to get to the top. He thought it was so neat! I just can't even imagine! They went to China Town and he bought a wok. I don't know, don't ask me what he was thinking! He bought the kids some things and he said he bought me a pasmina. I don't know how to spell that. Anyway, he is having a wonderful time and today should be a lot of fun too! I am getting tired of a dirty house. I have to clean. I will dust today because I just have to do it. I cannot stand it anymore. I will mop the floors tomorrow. I have been vacuuming. I will hold off on cleaning the bathrooms. I will do that on Saturday. I have just been kind of bored. It was great to go shopping yesterday, but today I realize I have nothing else to buy. So I am going to be so bored for the next several weeks. Oh well... it's good that I got that stuff done, right?

QUEEN OF SHOPPING!!!

I AM THE QUEEN OF SHOPPING!!! I have gotten all of the kids' and Justin's Christmas shopping done. I am DONE! I went to Toys R Us today and got some great deals on everything! I ordered a few things online, and I feel like I have gotten the best prices on everything that I got. I am so cool. Too cool for even myself. But I love to shop. I love to shop so much that I even do shopping for family members. But everyone knows that I am the QUEEN OF SHOPPING. Bow down to ME! Mere mortals. You can never profess to be the kind of shopper that I am. (Ok, if you are offended by this blog, you shouldn't read it. And secondly, I have an excuse for being so obnoxious... Justin is not here. I am usually just obnoxious to him... when he comes home. I do this in private. And since I have no outlet, with him in New York... I have to let it out somehow!)

Another day

Well, Hilton went to bed at 6pm last night. I knew he was exhausted. He woke at 3:30 wanted to watch tv. He was up for an hour bothering me. But fell asleep with me. Then woke at 6am and I got him to go back to sleep and slept until almost 8am. I hope he does well tonight. I talked to Justin last night. He was so tired so we didn't talk long. He said they went to Ground Zero and Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty yesterday. He loved the statue and Ellis Island. He had never been before. They sae Wicked last night and he said it was pretty spectacular. He told me someone famous who was in it, but of course, I can't remember who it was. Today he goes to see Company, and then tonight Tarzan. Tomorrow night they see Mary Poppins, Friday night they see Les Mis. On Saturday he is going to see a new play called Grey Gardens, and then on Saturday night he will see Martin Short's play, Fame Becomes Me. That is basically his week. Caroline is already counting the hours until he gets home. She really misses him. So do I, except that I know I am going to have to clean this house all day Saturday. And because Hilton is sick I am stuck at home all week. I have friends who offered to take the kids for a few hours so I could have some peace, but that isn't going to happen now. I have a friend who invited me for dinner tonight and she has 5 kids including a newborn baby, so that is definitely not happening, but she said she is going to bring dinner over anyway! I told her that was silly, I don't need that. It's not like I'm sick or anything. But she insisted because she had already planned on dinner anyway. It is very sweet of her. It is really nice to have good friends. So today will be a lot like yesterday. Doing nothing...

What a Night

I was in a complete dead sleep when Hilton comes up to the side of my bed barking like a seal and hardly breathing. I tried to calm him down but he was getting worse. He could not take a breath, so I got dressed, woke up Caroline and put the kids in the car. Off we went to the emergency room at 11:30 pm. Not too late, actually. Usually the night air helps the croup. but it is unusually warm this week. It was 55 degrees which did not help him at all. I know, you probably would think it would be better to have warmer weather, but in this case, not so. We got their and they made him top priority because he just was not breathing. He was starting to get lethargic because he wasn't getting oxygen. They listened to his lungs, gave him breathing treatments, then gave him a steroid, which he began vomiting, so they tried again. He started breathing better at about 2:30am. When we finally got home, Caroline and Hilton were not sleepy, but they eventually fell back asleep, only to awake just a couple hours later at 7am. What is WITH these kids?! So I am on the computer trying to stay awake. Caroline is at school, and Hilton is playing Dragon in his costume and terrorizing his airplane which is apparently going to Texas.

Justin's trip

Well, Justin is on a plane on his way to New York. He is going to have a great time. He gets to see 7 Broadway plays. He is going to all the touristy spots. He gets to have great food. And Caroline is most upset because he gets to ride in a taxi and sleep in a Hotel. WhooPee! But I am so happy for him that he was able to go. I am glad most of all that we don't have to pay for it! He is going with the Theatre Dept as a chaperone and to do some recruiting or something. But he gets to have a ton of fun along the way. He said to me that I shouldn't be jealous because last month I got to go to St George. Of course, I brought the kids, and I was housebound taking care of my Grandmother, but it is kind of the same. New York/St George, you can hardly tell the difference! But I do not begrudge him this wonderful opportunity. This is a totally once in a lifetime chance and I am so glad he was able to go. So, I am home alone with the kids. All alone. But that does mean one thing, I am not cooking or cleaning the WHOLE week. We will be having sandwiches and soup. And the kids won't even care! I will read all week, and not worry that the dust is accumulating on the furniture. I will have to vacuum everyday, because, ew, the floor gets yucky. But I am not going to mop the floor once until Saturday! Yea me!!!

Gettin' Ready

Today is a rainy and cold day. I don't plan on doing a whole lot except for mopping the kitchen floor. I am in the middle of a mystery novel, (total trash...) and I have GOT to finnish it. I have to go to Caroline's class this morning for the weekly duty, but other than that I am free. I am in the mood to shop. I don't really know why. But I would like to spend some money. ANd I am getting in that Holiday mood ready for Christmas decorations. I looked at some magazines yesterday and got all excited about what food I will prepare on Christmas eve, and what kind of gifts I will be making for friends etc. I love this time of year. And I am not the least bit upset that it starts so early, either. That just means more time for Holiday Cheer! So get ready to Deck the Halls people! It is time to Fa La La!!!

Still Losing!!!!!!!!

I have lost another 2 lbs! That is 26, ladies! I am so happy! I never thought I could lose over 20. And here I am. It is taking forever, but at least it is coming off. I am so grateful for that! I continue to lose, slowly but surely and am not gaining. That is the biggest triumph of all! I just need to keep it up. I would like to lose 7 more by Christmas, I will take what I can get... believe me!

Halloween

Halloween is fun... I love the whole deal. But getting Caroline ready was a real pain. She has become such a drama queen. Wanting everything the way she wants it. And she is so concerned about being embarrassed! But I finally got her hair and makeup done for her Fairy costume. She looked very cute and I took pics. Hilton absolutely loved the whole thing! We first went to a lame Trunk or Treat at the church. It was in the cultural hall and just a bunch of people sitting on chairs handing out candy. Then we went Trick or Treating in our own neighborhood. We were only out for about 20-30 minutes. Caroline was really complaining about being cold. Hilton could have stayed out an hour if I let him! But it was FREEZING!!! So I was ready to go in too. The kids got plenty of candy and were very satisfied with their haul. Justin and I haven't even invaded their candy buckets. We had several Trick or Treaters come to our house. More than at any other house we have been in. All in all it was a successful night. We were home by 6:30 and the kids were in bed at the usual time. That was my biggest concern. But poor Hilton doesn't understand why all the Halloween stuff is gone. He wants to have Halloween again tonight! We went to Broulim's today and he was so upset to see that the pumpkin maze was gone and the spooky decorations were all gone. But I am sure he will get over it soon enough since all the Christmas stuff is out!