Fender Bender

Let me start with... EVERYONE IS OKAY

This morning I got the call I have been dreading since the day I became a mom... "There's been an accident".  Again, everyone is fine... Thank God!  Brad was driving on 128/95 S in stop and go traffic heading to Braintree for work when he was rear ended by another car.  The other car basically drove under the Murano.  Brad was rolling to a stop when he was hit.  The other driver was going about 25-30mph.  The other driver's airbag deployed and the poor man was an absolute wreck!  Especially when he saw that there was a baby in the car.  Aaron was terrified and this is Brad's first accident so he's a little shaken up as well. They were stuck in the left-hand lane waiting for the state police and a tow truck to arrive... this made me nervous beyond belief.  I anxiously awaited word that they had been escorted to a safer place.  In the meantime I called our pediatrician to see what he thought we should do as well as to get a list of things we should be keeping an eye on.  Their primary concern was a head and/or neck injury and asked us to keep an eye on Aaron and let them know if we noticed he was confused or having trouble stringing thoughts together.  Also to be sure he wasn't vomiting and that his pupils were equal in size.  Sleepiness during usually non-sleepy times could be a sign as well as difficulty waking him after sleep.  Aaron insisted on going to school so we talked to his teachers and they promised to call if he seemed off or in pain.  Not long after my initial call to the pediatrician did they call back... when the nurse relayed the details of the accident to Dr. Amin he felt that due to the nature of the hit it would be wise to bring Aaron to the ER for a check-up with special attention to his spine and neck.  Since Brad only had the "accident carseat", I had to drive to Braintree to pick Aaron up from school.  Brad took Marcus home and worked from here for the remainder of the day.  Aaron and I decided to go to the Newton Wellesley Emergency Room since we had heard such great things about it.  We checked in, waited to be seen by the triage nurse and waited again for the nurse to call us back to see a doctor in an examination room.  Aaron did great right up until he saw the room with the bed and all the machines... he slowly backed out of the room, looked for an exit and BOLTED!  It was sort of funny but also sad.  We talked all the way to the ER about what was going to happen and he seemed to get it and was okay with it - even asking silly questions about looking at his bones and blood and wondering if he had to get shots in his head.  The nurse was a man and was very big... I think that made Aaron a little nervous as well.  He was super nice and joked with Aaron about how he would be scared too if a big burly man nurse came to get him from the waiting room... Aaron seemed to like that.  Then he handed me a mini-johnny... Aaron said "ooooh nooooo, I don't like that, Mama.  I don't like to wear dresses".  I had to fight him into the silly thing... it didn't help that there were elephants and creepy clowns all over it!  Here's a few photos of the patient...

He was attempting a "thumbs up" in this photo

The exam went fine.  Aaron saw a very nice PA whose name I completely forgot and Dr. Bailey (Aaron thought that was funny because Ace and GG have a dog named Bailey... he told Dr. Bailey that he knew someone with the same name - she said "let me guess, is it a dog?")  We left with a clean bill of health - and the recommendation to get a new carseat.  

There is a great deal to be done.  Even though Brad was not at fault he has to file a report with the RMV.  He also has to get the damage appraised by the other drivers insurance, bring the car to the Nissan dealership, buy a new carseat and dispose of the carseat that was in the accident.  Brad spoke to the other drivers insurance company and they were more than willing to cover the cost of a new carseat.  They already cut a check and dropped it in the mail. 

I am so unbelievably grateful that my guys walked away from their accident unscathed.  I get choked up thinking of what could have happened.  They definitely had an angel watching over them today... Thank you, thank you, thank you, God!!  Their health is my happiness. 

My trying day and the things that make me smile

I'm having a trying day with the boys... certainly not the worst day (not by a long shot!) but one that makes me feel the need to remind myself how great they USUALLY are. 
It all began when Aaron came into our bed around 2:30 this morning.  We were way too tired to fight him so Brad shoved into the middle and Aaron slept in his spot... until he fell out of bed, that is.  The poor little punkin' whacked his head on the nightstand before hitting the floor!  After some snuggles and some ice he actually went back to his own bed.  Marcus decided he also needed some snuggles so he came into bed.  Since Marcus is still getting over his ear infections his sleeping/eating schedule is off a bit... he demanded a bottle at 5:30am.  Another virtually sleepless night!  The morning routine was fine... until it was time for Marcus to take a nap.  He ALWAYS takes a morning nap from around 8:30-9:30 or 10am.  NOT TODAY!!!  Despite the fact that he was exhausted he refused to nap.  Aaron was busy going through my purse insisting I had lolly pops (which I did not - he didn't believe me)  He managed to take everything out.  I reminded him that everything he takes out MUST go back in.  When tucking Aaron into bed last night I promised him I would take him to the dollar store today to spend last week's allowance (they have 6 aisles of toys!) so after we all got dressed, off we went.  The dollar store is next to the grocery store so we were also going to pop in for a few things.  We did the dollar store first then packed our cart full of groceries at the market only to get up to the cash register and find that my wallet is not in my purse!  Ugh!  I apologized to the cashier and told her that I would be back in 5 minutes or less with my wallet.  We raced to the parking lot, I loaded the kiddos and the stroller, drove the 3 blocks home, grabbed the wallet and got back to the store in about 4 minutes - whew!  My groceries had been put away!  I guess they've been before and didn't think I'd actually be back.  Soooo.... we had to do our grocery shopping all over again!  Marcus was starving at this point and only mildly amused by my silly faces and random "purse toys" (What?  Chapstick isn't fun?)  We got home just in time for a Marcus meltdown and for Aaron to nearly have an accident... the big kind!  I scooped Aaron up to bring to the potty then quickly mixed a bottle for Marcus.  From upstairs I hear "uh oh I'm stuck".  Ahhh Man!  Aaron had fallen into the toilet!  Legs flailing in the air, arms sort of draped over the sides of the bowl and of course his shirt and sweater were soaked up to the neck!  I prayed that he hadn't actually pooped yet... sadly, he had!  So to recap - I have a poop and toilet water covered 3 year old, a starving and screaming 7 month old, groceries in the open trunk of the car that need to be brought in and put away and now I have to start a bath!  Sweet!  Marcus got his bottle, Aaron got his bath and the groceries were eventually put away.  There were a few battles about what was an appropriate lunch and we settled on mac and cheese with peas and corn in it (frozen peas and corn - not heated up because he 'likes to bite into the freezing cold!"), applesauce and yogurt.  Now the boys are napping... both!  Ahhhhhh
On to the things that make me smile...
1.  When both boys nap at the same time
2.  When Aaron makes Marcus laugh
3.  How Aaron still absentmindedly twirls my hair
4.  When Marcus says "Mama" in his growl voice
5.  The little dimple on Marcus' right cheek
6.  The way Aaron says tomato... "toe-mato"  It sounds so proper :)
7.  When Marcus opens his tiny little hand on my cheek
8.  Morning snuggles in bed with my 3 favorite guys
9.  Dinner in the slow cooker
10.  Getting magazines in the mail
11.  DVR
12.  Marcus' toothless grin
13.  Listening to Aaron play on his own.  Before nap he was pretending to read his pillow pets a story... he "read" a book we got from the library called "Dear Mr. Blueberry" and he remembered it almost exactly!
14.  Our impending beach vacation... Surf City, NC here we come! 
15. When Aaron tells me he thinks I'm beautiful (even if he follows it with "wonder woman is beautiful too")
16. Movie nights
17. Zulilly
18. Reading novels and drinking milk tea
19.  Nights when the kids go to bed and Brad and I have a late supper
20.  Weekends

The beginnings of a vegetable garden

We started our seedlings today for our vegetable garden.  Aaron chose most of the seeds with a little input from us on whether we have the right climate to grow certain things...
Our garden will include: 
Purple Peppers
Peas
Beets (?)
Carrots
Zucchini
Cucumbers
Buttercrunch Lettuce
Mesclun Lettuce
Strawberries
Pumpkins
Herbs... lots and lots of herbs
Here are some photos of our garden in the making...

Poor Marky

Marcus has his first ear infection... well, double ear infection actually.  :(  My sweet happy baby is so pitiful.  We went to see the doctor on Monday (with half of Brookline... we waited to see someone for over an hour!) and they confirmed what we assumed.  We left with a script for some amoxicillin and fortunately no parking ticket!  Marky has a little sensitivity to the amoxicillin... he wasn't able to keep it down last night or the night before.  He seems to be doing much better today. 
I'm flooded with memories (nightmares might be a better word) of Aaron at this age... that poor little punkin' had 11 ear infections in 7 months!  I'm grateful that Marcus does not appear to be following that path (oh jeez... now I've jinxed it!).  For Aaron it started at 3 months and didn't end until 10 months when we went to see an otolaryungologist (that is such an annoying name... why can't we call them ENTs anymore?) to discuss tubes.  The ENT (whatever!) took a look at Aaron's ears, had him take a hearing test, took a look at my ears and Brad's ears and asked us a few questions about our childhood ear infections.  He scratched his chin, hemmed and hawed for a few minutes and asked us to humor him and not do anything yet.  We gave him a puzzled look.  He went on to say that ordinarily he would recommend an ear tube surgery but he had a gut feeling that this was the end of the ear infection train for him.  He said if Aaron came down with another ear infection in the next 30 days we would like to revisit the tube discussion but didn't think he would be seeing us again.  Amazingly - he was right!  No more ear infections for Aaron!  I don't know how he came to that conclusion but we are soooo grateful he did before we put Aaron through a surgery! 
Trying to comfort a baby in pain is difficult for a parent but I have to admit... I've enjoyed the midnight snuggles with Marcus.  Get better soon Marky - I think Daddy is ready to have his bed back! 

From the mouths of babes

I should really keep a camera rolling on Aaron 24/7.  This kid says the most hilarious things!  I am doubled over in laughter for much of the day.  Here are a few of Aaron's recent pearls...

• "Mommy I love you so soaking much!"
• After tooting under the covers during story time... "Daddy check out my dutch dungeon. Don't show Mommy though cuz girls don't like toots like boys do."
• His newest joke (which he'll tell anyone who will listen)... "What is worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm!  Cuz you gobbled up the other half!" (we like how he has to explain it to everyone as if it wasn't clear)
•  We put a note in Aaron's lunch for school everyday that has a drawing of an eye, a drawing of a heart and the letter "U"... I Love You!  Aaron's comment each day is "thanks for the 'I love eyeballs note!"  :)
• He's really into making toasts with his milk at dinner.  One night we taught him how to say "cheers" in a few different languages.  He must have thought we were just making them up because now he teaches us toasts in "different languages"... "Chachilento!" "Tareekomoto!"
•  Aaron: "Mommy you are beautiful"  Mommy: "Thanks, pal.  That's really sweet"  Aaron: Wonder Woman is more beautiful than you though"  Mommy: *frown*
• "When I'm a big guy like Daddy I'm gonna have hair all over my chest and on my back like Uncle NoNo"     

There are dozens of doozies I'm missing... for the life of me I cannot remember them all!  I think I'm going to keep a running list from here forward.

Earning his keep

We started a chore chart for Aaron on Sunday.  He has been expressing a lot of interest in money lately so we offered him an opportunity to make his own.  He was PSYCHED!  We sat down and came up with a list of things Aaron could do each day to earn an allowance.

1.  Make his bed each morning
2.  Put breakfast dishes in or next to the sink
3.  Help set the dinner table
4.  Put dinner dishes in or next to the sink
5.  Clean up toys before bed
6.  Put dirty clothes in the hamper
7.  Brush teeth - morning and night (I know this isn't a chore but it gives him a chance to get more stickers which keeps him interested so win win for all)

It has only been 3 days but so far he has been really enthusiastic about it and offering to do more things around the house to add to his chore chart.  The first thing he has said each morning is "after I get up I am going to make my bed and brush my teeth for 2 stickers on my chore chart".  We agreed on a $3/week allowance which he can use "at his discretion"
Right now we have a grid with the days of the week across the top of the chart and the list of chores down the left side of the chart.  The idea is to get a sticker in each square to earn his allowance at the end of the week.  I think we are going to have to devise a new system if things continue to go as they are... we may need an "extra credit" section! 
Nice work, Pal!  We're excited to see how this pans out. 

Marcus - 6 months

Happy 6 Month "Birthday" Marcus!!!

What a difference 6 months makes in a baby!  Time is really flying by!  Marcus had his 6 month well visit today and is doing perfect.  We saw a new NP today - Christine who was very sweet.  Marcus' usual NP is out on maternity leave and Dr. Amin is booked solid until his paternity leave in June.  We talked a lot about food and the developmental milestones he should hit by this point and what to expect over the next 3 months.  I'm happy to say that Marcus has caught up verbally and has already reached one of the 9 month verbal milestones - saying Mama and Dada (even if not in context).  I guess you just didn't have anything to say until recently!  He is trying to sit on his own and thinks its hilarious when he topples over.  He successfully rolls from his back to his tummy and sometimes back again.  Over the next 3 months we can expect that he'll be trying to pull himself to a standing position - crazy to think we're almost at that stage already!  Marcus was his usual smiley self - even through the shots! 

Foods he's tried:

Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Cauliflower, Sweet Potato, Avacado, Apples, Bananas, Pears, Peaches, Prunes, Rice Cereal and Oatmeal.  

Bananas and sweet potato did not agree with his sensitive little tummy... that's when we had to give prunes a try!  Carrots had the opposite effect!  Avacado was not a hit... he shivered and spit it out (Aaron did the same thing!).  I've been making all of Marcus' food (except the prunes and the baby cereal) which feels really good.  For dessert tonight I made him apples mixed with molasses, oatmeal and cinnamon... it was a BIG hit! 

His 3 month stats:

Height - 28" - 95%

Weight - 18 lbs 9.5 oz - 72%

Head - 47cm - 99%

Vaccines - DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV13, RV5, Seasonal Flu

Dear Marcus,
6 months already... I wish you'd slow down!  I thank God everyday for you and feel so blessed that you joined our family.  You are a wonderful baby with a fantastic disposition.  You have taught me so much over the past 6 months and I have enjoyed every second of staying home with you.  Watching you figure things out, learn and change has been a blast - I can't wait to see what the next 6 months will bring.  
I love you biggest, Marky Mark.
-Mommy