Sick of being sick!

So I'm not sick...but Isabella is once again sick...and being such the drama princess she is, it's been exhausting. Here is how it all started.

Hannah and I went to IKEA yesterday to look for a chest of drawers for Isabella's room. Oh my...so Hannah was all excited on the drive and then as soon as we had just finished the living room showroom, she was whining she wanted to go home. I told her too bad, she chose to come, I didn't want to hear about it. And so we continued on our venture through the store where I picked of a chest of drawers, computer desk, glasses, and various necessities. I didn't think I did too bad....I spent less than I thought....so much that I think another trip down there is needed to pick up some more wanted items.

I came home, Dan passed Isabella to me with a, "Oh my goodness, she would cry every time I put her down." She felt a little warm so I gave her some Tylenol, put her to sleep and then went on my way to build the dresser. Before I could even start, Hannah comes to me and tells me she is sick and threw up. I'm thinking oh great! A huge mess....but being the star she is, she made it all in the toilet. I also told her I was so pleased she waited until after wecame home and didn't do it in my car. I gave two high fives, she smiled and was pleased she amazed me, and I wiped the toilet and went on up to started putting the dresser together. I'm nearly done and I hear Madison frantically yelling, "Mom, Hannah's "throwing up!" repeated at a super fast pace where I finally have to shout, "I'm coming gees louise!" And so I go in their bedroom, Hannah's on the bed, vomit spewing out at a super fast rate onto the floor and her bed. Nice! Luckily she had emptied her stomach previously so it was basically all clear and as nasty as that sounds, I was relieved. So off goes the sheets, and then I realize I have to go to the store to get carpet cleaner since we are all out. Then I hear Isabella, and I'm thinking, great! And so off she goes to Dan, I head to the store ALONE and blast the radio (my husband got me this great car with this AWESOME stereo) and sing my songs feeling a little less stressed. I go to the commissary, I'm in there so much I have one of the workers thinking I go in there JUST to see HIM. And so I check out, grab a pizza since there is no way I'm cooking tonight and head home to a crying baby and another who's laying out on the couch playing her DSi.

So it was a long night. Hannah got up a few times during the night, Isabella was beyond tired but refused to go to bed and just crying. Dan was pooped so I suggested he just go to bed since there was no reason for both of us to be awake. So he crashed around 9 and I was up with Bellies until about 2 am. Good times. I did get to call one of my sisters and catch up since I've been like anti-phone lately. And so I got in bed, slept about an hour and then the Bellies woke up. I fed her, got her back to sleep and then Dan took care of her the rest of the time and I slept in until 11:30...that's right...11:30. Dan was so sweet and took the girls out for a little drive (that's what get Bellies to sleep) and I finished up doing Isabella's room. I always get in this turbo cleaning mode when the girls are sick...so my house is looking pretty good, cupboards included. I still have the lounge and our room to organize but I figure I will get that done tonight since we're having another late night. Isabella is still not feeling super, hasn't really napped and she has the nasty gunk coming out of her eyes...fabulous...another viral thing she's battling.

Well she now woke up from her 10 minute sleep (this not so long nap time is KILLING me) so I best be going and try to get her back to sleep. Oh good times....

Words

Words can be so hurtful sometimes. I usually blow it off...not that I hear things that often (to my face at least)...but this morning I had a melt down.

Madison has been saying in the car that I'm the worst mom ever pretty much all week. I just ignored it. She would say it after something silly like not being able to sit in the very back of the car or not putting on the song she wanted. It's at ridiculous things. Today I came home after dropping them off at school to Dan and just cried. I don't know why. I honestly know I'm not a bad mom. I'm pretty laid back when it comes to most things. So I sat there and told Dan about it while he reassured me that being a mom was probably one of the best things I do....along with a hug...I felt better. It was also nice that the girls we were giving a lift in the morning were telling Madison how I wasn't mean at all. Madison's reply, "Well she's nice as long as your not her daughter." OUCH! Before we left the car I had told her she had really hurt my feelings. I was also beyond frustrated with Hannah since she cried after she got in the car because she didn't sit in the very back (seriously...what is up with wanting to sit in the very back...we were always fighting for the middle or front seat when I was a kid) and then she was doing her loud, screeching, high pitched scream pretty much the whole way to school....fun times. Lately no matter what, it's a struggle to get Hannah in the car. Oh kids.

And so I picked her up, she gave me a hug. It always feels so good when I give her a hug or she gives me one. She told me she was sorry and she loved me. I was happy she had said it, I felt better and I know I'm suppose to forgive and let go...but I'm seriously bugged by this phrase that is constantly coming out of her mouth. She's 6! I'm hoping we're just going through it now and she'll be so out of this phase when she's 13! The never ending battle......so it seems.

Freaking out....

Okay...so not majorly but seriously...my Isabella is going to be 5 months on the 28th. Then 6 months next month (thanks Ryann for pointing that one out since I was so not even realizing that) so she's been in our life for half a year???!!! When did this happen??? I know I keep saying this but time is flying by way too fast. I've come to the conclusion...once your kids are in school...especially full time....time just goes. All this thinking just leads me to more thinking of how I'm going to be OLD soon! AGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! So when am I going to feel old? I still feel like I'm out just out of high school...okay maybe not that young since I wouldn't do some weird things (flinging fruit off our third story balcony with that huge sling shot...I think we hit the apartment complex across the street with a cantaloupe or wearing a cape to the $1 movie theater or some of the other weird things I remember doing but won't share because then you'll have this idea that I was "THAT" girl but I really wasn't "THAT" girl)...but now I have three leeches...okay so maybe 4 counting Dan. I don't mean it in a bad way...just there is always someone around me. And so I'm done freaking out while glancing down at my baby girl who is getting oh so big. Perhaps I'm freaking out more since I'm worried the teenage years are going to be coming way too soon. 3 girls...okay 3 of MY girls teenagers....that is another thing that makes me go AGGGHHHHHHHH just thinking about it.

She's pretty happy

Isabella is so much fun now. She now longer just sleeps and eats...wait...she never was really into sleeping...still isn't. It's so easy to make her laugh. So last night since we were up until 11:30...yes she was up that late...she's insane...and she didn't really nap during the day either...we played...and I'm sure that didn't help either. So like the other two...she's afraid she's going to miss out on something. And so here she is:



Ahhh....Mondays....full of chaos. We made it on time to school. I left the morning mess for the man to look over the property to see...I use to be so concerned...but then I came to a conclusion...I'm sure he's not going to really look. First, he's a man and they don't really pay attention and second...I have three kids and what do you expect at 9:15 am after a school run. Seriously! And then it's the day of swim lessons. The girls are doing really well and enjoy their 2 days a week. We're going to try out a jazz/hip hop dance class on Thursday...they are excited. I haven't taken any pictures lately...my battery finally ran out...pretty good for using it as much as I have and I got it back in July! The charger is in one of those great, safe places...so great and safe I seem to have forgotten where it is. It seems like I have many of those...

Motivation

Last night, Dan told Hannah that if she kept her room clean for a week and helped pick up around the house, we would get her a DSi (It was perfect timing since I was thinking about just picking one up at the store...it's so sad to see Hannah patiently waiting for her turn). And so she started picking her room up instantly. Not only was she picking up, Madison was doing along beside her. Dan came in the room I was in and had a perplexed look on his face saying, "They are BOTH cleaning the room. I don't know why Madison is all excited about keeping the room clean for a week."

I had to let him in on Madison's mind....if Hannah gets a DSi....she will no longer have to share HER DSi. Men just don't catch on to some things...

Oh and what were they doing this morning? Organizing their bins of toys. Whatever works.

She's my kid....

I found these tonight while organizing my pictures...not the most flattering but it made me snicker....that's my Madison.

Plans...

they didn't happen. What did happen today:

*showered and took the girls to school this morning

*went to the Garden and Leisure Center and bought food for our new clown fish

*Isabella and I went into town, grabbed a panini and strolled around window shopping

*Isabella and I watched the new fish eat his food...she loves watching him swim around

*Isabella and I played and laughed on the floor with her toys

*She ate

*She slept in my arms for an hour while I read People and Us

*We hung up some laundry

*Went back to playing on the floor with toys

*Went to check to see if the fish was alright....and so we sat and watched another 10 minutes

We have an hour before we leave to pick up the girls from school....I had plans to clean my house from weekend activities....perhaps tomorrow...

I much rather play with her.

Oh Hannah

I feel like I haven't been saying much about Hannah....totally my fault. (Middle child?) So I need a Hannah post.

Oh Hannah...how you make me laugh every day with your little big word, old sayings. You have that contagious, annoying laugh that sounds so much like your dad's. And how can I forget your Egyptian/duck lip dance? You love listening to Shakira...She Wolf is your favorite song. Every morning you hop in the car and shout, "Number 10!" (That's the track number.) You are my little cuddle bug, although it's more of a "I'm hungry" first thing every morning you wake up...I think it's been that way since you were able to say those words....you'll jump on in my bed and snuggle before we grab you something to eat downstairs. You are this imaginative little person. You amaze me with your reading....I think of you as still my little baby girl. When did you grow up? When did you learn this reading thing? You come up with the silliest nick names for us all. Today, Isabella was Little Miss Whinny Poopy Butt. The name was fully appropriate at that moment. You later named her Little Miss Giggles....and then said I was so like Little Miss Chatterbox. I love how you call me "Bob." It's so cute with your little accent. I don't let you call me it...but I still think it's pretty darn cute when you let it slip. You are my little sweetie. Just scrolling down looking at these pictures puts a smile on my face.

Procrastination

I'm good at it. I only procrastinated my will for the past 6 years, 5 months and 10 days...but it's done now (well the draft...I sign it on Tuesday). Now on to the next thing I've been procrastinating...organizing the under the stairs closet.

A whole new person

That's how I've been feeling lately....why...my Isabella has been sleeping 7-8 hours straight at night. Since our 2 night tough love of no feeding you at 2 am has happened...she's been sleeping from about 9 until 4:30 until even 6 am some nights. I like "me" time and so I don't go to bed until 10:30-11 but seriously...that's like at least a straight 6 hours of sleep I'm getting all at once. It's amazing! I forgot what that was like. I've been showered before 7 am now and I have makeup on when I do drop the girls off at school (usually my oh so kind neighbor takes them)...I am so much more patient....my husband is even telling me, "You're being so nice all the time." I don't take offense at all to that comment....I'm sure living with me when I'm having maybe 2 hours straight of sleep is not pleasant. I even have thought at time....HOLY MOLY COW...I'm Captain Super Grump! And so life is good in the Brown House that is not brown but rather red brick. Thank you doctor for helping me remember....yes, my baby is now 4 months old, I can feed her more than 4 ounces without her spitting it all up and that perhaps maybe I should just try alternative methods at 11 and 2 am....she is a big girl...she can make it through the night. Life is once again good....not that it wasn't but I'm appreciating it a lot more with sleep!

Oh Madison....

When I found out I was pregnant with my first (after the complete shock of course), I knew the baby was going to be a girl, look like me...(although I thought she was going to come out blond...not full on black hair)....and her name was going to be Madison. I never knew she was going to completely ACT like me. Sometimes I feel like I'm stepping back in time and having the same conversations with myself but saying things my parents would say....okay so maybe it IS what my parents did say.

I love her to death. She's a little mini me so of course I do. I look at some pictures and I'm totally blown away with the similarities....it could be my picture from when I was 6 minus the darker hair. I have kind of a problem....I tend to argue until I get my point across sometimes...wait....I will call it a debate. Madison does the same thing. She always has to be right even if it's blue and it's really green....she will try and convince you it's green even though she knows it's blue (me again) until she proves to you it is in some way in fact green or you just give in since you are tired of hearing her (there is so much I'm learning about myself!)

And so today before we went out for Brown Family Bowling Night (yeah...that's right....I'm capitalizing it since it was such a phenomenal night that I got my butt kicked by Madison...oh and Hannah was only 3 points behind me...shows you how much I care about bowling) Madison and I get in this "discussion" about how she doesn't need to put her jumper (sweatshirt) in the dirty hamper if it's not dirty. So this is how it goes....

"Madison....you can wear it more than once if it's still clean. As you can see, I'm not in any need of extra clothes (I have piles of laundry in the hallway....laundry day since cleaners are coming tomorrow). I'm kind of tired rewashing already clean clothes that you two just leave on the floor."

"Mum, I didn't put my jumper in the hamper!"

"Then where is it?"

Holding up a cardigan, "Here."

"That's Hannah's"

"No, it's mine."

"Read the label."

"Madison Brown. Hmmmm....yeah but (yes, Christina...she is soon going to be the new "yeah but" queen) I didn't put it in the hamper. Maybe Hannah did." (Hannah magically did it from downstairs.)

"Whatever....hang it up if it's not dirty."

"Maybe you put it in there since you wanted to wash it."

I'm getting irritated at this point. Dan is laughing in his office, "Oh she's so you."

Thanks sweetie.

And so I had this flash back....and then think, "SORRY MOM AND DAD! Okay....and I think I've had enough payback. And I really don't think I was THIS bad! (as I'm thinking in my head ways to debate how I wasn't....yeah...okay....so maybe I am....)"

4 Months!

Isabella had her 4 month check up the other day. Dan offered to go with me....even though he knew she was going to be getting some pokes and he hates being around for that. So our baby girl is:

15lbs 7oz
24 1/2 inches long
And her head circumference is a HUGE 17.5 inches!

And so she is growing just fine....and she surprised me by the weight a little....she still fits in a lot of her 0-3 month clothes. She's so stinking cute. I'm totally enjoying her. Not that I didn't enjoy my others but it's amazing what a little age does. I'm just loving every moment I have with her...not that I didn't with my others. I was 21 when I had Madison....I was still a kid myself with a lot of growing up I needed to do. I still feel that old sometimes but I've had three kids now...I'm not so by the book anymore and know you just go with things. I've also enjoyed the time it's just me and her when the older girls are in school. Dan and I joke that she's just my little accessory...she just goes where ever, whenever. So happy, so easy going, so lovable, and you just want to eat her up...she make me want to become a cannibal....but not really if you know what I mean.

She is loving her solid food. We have done rice cereal, oatmeal and peas. We're on a schedule now and she's actually sleeping a lot better at night. I was so strict about a routine with the other two....actually they were pretty good in just getting into a routine by themselves....sleeping through the night....naps at the same time....but Isabella has been not that way at all. I realized I could let her cry a little at her 2 am wake up and try to just give her the binkie and rock her moses basket and it actually worked! She went right back to sleep. And so we're now getting up at 5:30 am to eat and then she sleeps until 7...all my kids got the Dan early morning gene. She's such a good baby though....she hardly ever fusses without reason. She's my little angel.

She is a Daddy's girl....she loves him. It's so cute the bond they have. I put her to bed around 8 pm every night...she wakes up around 8:45 every night for about 30 minutes....I honestly thinks she knows Dan is coming home around this time...so they snuggle right after he gets off work or when he's home at that time, and she falls right back asleep until the 2 am wake up....so cute!

Here it is

She did it!

Bella rolled from tummy to back! YAY! I would have gotten a picture since she's now on a roll but I didn't. It's 7:30 am....I'm not fully awake.

That's all.

Some of my favorties....

I've been transferring all my music and pictures from the laptops we have as well as the other PC to the new computer. I ran into some pictures...I had to share....good times...fun memories of the little things Madison and Hannah would do. They are growing up way too fast.

Catch up

This past week, I've been playing catch up with everything since we've been so off schedule with kids out of school and all, it's been a little crazy. Dan had Monday-Thursday off so we were able to get out and go to Cambridge a couple of times. The main reason...to check out a marine fish store and getting me to cave and buy a fish tank. Okay...so he SAYS he just wanted to look, he KNOWS that once we are in the store, and if I like it I will cave and say, "JUST BUY IT!" That and the fact he so thought I was buying him the Nano tank for Christmas (which really isn't all that Nano-ish....it's still 24 gallons) but seeing all the fish reminded me of how much we enjoyed out 75 gallon salt water tank in California (the fish have such personalities)...and so I did cave....pure guilt for not getting him anything on his 4 thing list. The guy was super cool though and cut us a deal so I can't really complain. Dan was like a little kid...so excited. It was worth it. He came home and set the thing right up and then sad to find out we had left the salt. And so off we went to buy 24 gallons of distilled water at the Commissary....and he had it running...minus the salt of course. We were going to go back to the fish store and pick up our salt the next day but bought it at a local shop so Dan could just get the live rock on Friday. And so we have live rock (Yeah....that I was not too happy about £86 for rock! Oh and he thinks he's going to need a bit more) and now the wait until we can start buying some coral and fish. The gallon can fit about 5 fish so we're going to each pick one. Dan and his expensive hobbies....

And so Friday afternoon we put in the rock....about two more weeks and it will start to look really cool! Oh and we were able to a little shopping in Cambridge...okay so mostly to stop by GAP where I bought the girls some new scarfs, hats and gloves....totally cute...and what's the best part....£2.99 each!

Thursday...(I know...so out of order) the girls and I went and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was fun just the three of us...Isabella and Dan stayed home. We had a great time. I need to do that more often. So many times Dan just takes the big girls out sine I see them all the time...but they need one on one time with me as well.

So Friday after I picked up the girls we had plans to go bowling, but we were invited to dinner which was great fun. We came home and the girls went to bed...they were exhausted with another late night and Dan and I watched Interview With a Vampire. It so put me in the mood to read that series again...it's been about 10 years...OMG that makes me feel old. To justify my oldness....I was a sophomore in high school when I read them. Unfortunately, I fell asleep in the middle of the movie....I will be nice and wait for Dan to come home from work to finish.....4 1/2 more hours....

Betrayal

I'm thinking my washing machine has a mind of it's own. She (I will call it a "she" since it's moody and temperamental and most men aren't like that...although....I do know one who has a constant case of male PMS (and no, it's not Dan!)) doesn't always use all the soap in the soap dispenser and tends to leave half of the fabric softener no matter how much or little I put. She also likes to not drain at times. And so...today she decided to make my laundry room full of bubbles. I think she was saving up all the soap she doesn't use most of the time to do this to me. Perhaps she felt betrayed I hadn't used her that often...only for Isabella's laundry because I have once again been taking our clothes to the laundromat on base. She just doesn't realize I don't have patience to wait 2 hours for a load to get done. I wonder if we will ever make peace. I do try by having the man come out here to check on her and make sure all is well....I even take out her soap tray and clean it out so it won't get full of soap grime. But she is just like most all us women....one never can do enough....there is always something more. And so now I have the cleanest floor in my laundry room and a load of laundry sitting in her full of bubbles. I'm afraid to even start her up again. Guess it's time to call her fix it man.

Christmas

Christmas was very quiet this year. It was nice...I'm not complaining at all....except it did stink Dan had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day....ALL DAY. (I know, at least he was deployed but honestly, it sucked knowing he was here and everybody else, except those working as well, were off.) Isabella was still recovering from her flu and ear infection and so we stayed in. It was nice being pjs all day except for going out and delivering food out to Dan's work. Nobody had volunteered to feed those guys so I made them some food....and they enjoyed it since it was all gone when I got the dishes back.

We did things a little differently so we could have Dan involved. We opened all our presents on Christmas Eve after Dan got home....so around 9:30 pm and we didn't get done until after 11. There were soooo many gifts. The girls were spoiled but they were so grateful for everything. We also do it one by one....so that's why it probably took a little longer as well as holding it up and seeing how it would look. We usually open presents on Christmas Day morning usually but perhaps next year I will have a husband home. (I'm trying to convince Dan we need to go to Switzerland for Christmas....I'm thinking as long as he gets the time off it's a go....YAY!)

And so here are some of our fabulous pictures.

I know...a little ridiculous with all the gifts....but I can't help myself. Dan and I decided to cut back on gifts this year....so I cut back on everyone else but our kids. He never wants to come shopping with me so really he can't complain.
Everything had to be checked to make sure it would fit.
The girls love Charlie Brown...and so they received shirts.

Hannah loves Polly Pockets. Madison and Isabella gave her "what she always wanted!"

Madison was so excited that Grandma and Grandpa Brown got her Hannah Montana apparel.

The girls were so good as to help Isabella with the gifts she could care less about to open or that she received....they made sure she saw it and checked to see if it would fit.

Isabella wasn't too sure about the dog Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Gary bought her.....she didn't have any noisy toys so I think it kind of startled her at first that and it was so past her bedtime....she's all over that now and loves all the noisy toys everyone got her.

That night....she was all over one of Aunt Nicole's presents.
And then Santa came.

Hannah woke up looking for a DSi like her sister had gotten from Santa. She was pretty upset about it. I think mostly since Madison was pretty insistent on saying she was getting one. I had to point out her pile of toys she had gotten...she then felt better and was on her bike the next day....it was still pretty frosty and freezing Christmas day....the next day was just freezing.

"You are suppose to do this." Hannah and her fascination with things on her head.....

Isabella sitting in her Bumbo....enjoying life and now her toys. She does get tired of the noise...like this book she got, when she's tired of hearing it...she closes it shut and grunts. It's hilarious. I have to get that on camera sometime.

And so I left the mess downstairs pretty much until New Years Eve day and then had to find a place for everything. That part...not so fun. I still need to do some storage shopping....too much stuff!

A proposal

The girls and I had to run out and get some more bins, some how I have accumulated more Christmas stuff. So we headed to the coffee shop to get them a slice of chocolate cake. While we were sitting at the table, they asked me when and if we were ever going to live in Medford, Oregon. I told them probably not. Then Madison asks if perhaps they could live one year at Grandma Nancy's and then the next year with us and just switch off. I told her I would miss them way too much. So then Hannah looks at me with tears in her eyes and says, "But I really miss Grandma Nancy and her Swedish pancakes. I need to see her."

Not only am I being put up against Grandma Nancy but now crepes! Seriously???!!!

What a Calamity!

Hannah's new phrase....the first time I heard her I was on the computer and she was sitting on the couch and all of a sudden I hear that phrase coming out of my 4 year old kid's mouth. Seriously...where did she get this...I don't say that and neither does Dan. So then I finish up what I was doing and sit with her on the couch to watch the movie Santa brought her, Little Miss Sunshine. I was so excited. I loved the Little Miss and Mr. Men series when I was a kid. My grandma had like the whole collection and I would sit in her laundry room, that where all the books and toys were (it was a big laundry room) and read them....Anyway....one of the characters say it.

So today we went down into town and were sitting in Costa sipping our warm drinks on this chilly day and eating our tasty sandwiches so we could then move onto our cakes. Hannah didn't want to eat her sandwich and I told her if she didn't, she wouldn't get to eat her linzer biscuit. What comes out of her mouth, "What a calamity!" The people next to us laughed, it's seriously way hard to keep a straight face when she says it. I even asked her what it meant, "It means there is a problem, mum. Didn't you know that?"

I love her.