Christmas

It all starts on Christmas Eve. The kids spend the day with Angela and her family. Angela picked them (including the baby) up at about noon. They came home about 6:30pm. I was really missing the baby! It was the first time
nick and I were without the baby! Of course we were busy with last minute shopping and it was the first time we got to go out to eat by ourselves in 4+ months! We ate at Red Robin. After the kids arrived back home with their many cool presents...I swear Angela always finds the coolest/cutest gifts...most of which I have never seen!...Nick's dad came over. We ate Tombstones and Jim played with the kids and their new toys. The kids each got a gift from him plus a $25 gift card to Borders and a $50 bill! Jim stayed until 10pm...then some cookies and milk were left for Santa and the kids put on their new Mickey Mouse pajamas and off to bed!! xandria came in at 9am yelling "get up! It's Christmas!" over and over. They dug in their stockings and saw what Santa left. He left a bunch of smaller things for each and their main gifts...Xavier Spongebob legos and a Mad Science lab, Xandria a snowman and Barbie guitar, Drake some dinosaurs and truck and Daxton a play toolbench and a singing dog. At 3 we headed over to my parents for turkey and other good stuff:) Though I ended up eating my food cold after stupidly sitting on the phone with my sister's idiot boyfriend, trying to make it so my neice could spend Christmas with her family (which still didn't happen!!)! But that's a whole nother story! The kids searched for the pickle on the tree...which for the third year in a row...Xavier lost! He's always so determined to win, I think that's why he never finds it! His sister found it this year, which I'm sure bothered him the most :) We opened gifts and then around 7:30 or so we headed to my cousin's to see my side of the family. It was so nice to see everyone and hopefully we can plan to get together more often :) We left there around 10pm and we beyond wiped out!! Nick and I sat up forever laying in bed talking that night, so that was nice. We all had a great Christmas (minus the drama)...the kids got way too spoiled and on sunday we go to Nick's cousin's to celebrate Christmas with them. It sure is nice to get together with them after Christmas! And the good news is thanks to alot of my husband's help, the house is pretty much back to where it was pre-Christmas :)

Seeing Santa

Xavier asked for legos...Xandria asked for a snowman and a guitar...Drake asked for trucks, race cars, dinosaurs and "that's all." Or little Santa Baby was just happy to have Santa all by himself...so he could tell him what he really wanted :)

Secret Santa and a bit more...

My secret Sante recipient got her package a couple days ago. You can check out Misti's blog and see what I got her. You probably have to scroll down a bit. I'm glad she liked it :) Nick and I went shopping for the kids tonight while my parents watched them. Too bad Nick has been dealing with a cold...plus having to work a TON this week to get things done. I feel bad for him...at least he will be able to sleep in some tomorrow, I know it will help him out alot! Speaking of tomorrow...know what it is? Friday?...yes. Four days before Christmas? Yes. But tomorrow my baby baby turns four months old!! Wish there was a way to prolong it, but I've realized by now there is no way to stop it...all you can do is try to enjoy every minute of it! He really is the sweetest baby and so easy to take care of!! Well I need to run and get him changed...hope to post pics tomorrow. I actually don't have anywhere I need to go to tomorrow! I do hope we finish making something for my grandma though! Goodnight.

Real Quick

Love the big HUGE smiles :) How could you not be happy with those around?
Another hat pic :)
Daxton showing off his name bracelet.

Here's a few pictures I recently took of Daxton. He's growing too fast!!! Tonight was Xavier's school Christmas program. He got to be a wise man. I will put up a picture when I get them uploaded. We sat way up in the dark balcony and of course Xavier spotted Nick while he was taking pictures...yet he couldn't see his grandpa who was sitting about three rows behind Xavier's class when they weren't onstage. At the end the kids even stood up and turned around facing the audience to sing two songs and he still didn't see him! It was a nice program....I don't know why but school programs always make me feel so emotional. Drake was funny because he was saying "look at that big piano!" when it first started (and was quiet). He would also ask me while he sat on my dad's lap, "mom, what are you doing?" (usually when it was quite). He's such a goof. Well, I need to get going to bed...I'm getting my hair colored tomorrow. No more little gray hairs. Yes I have them...don't like them. Noticed not too long ago in a picture and I told Nick "um, why didn't you tell me I have GRAY HAIR?!" Oh well. Anyway...goodnight! P.S. The poop came out of the clothes...Thank God!!

Holy Crap!

Ugh. So here's the story of the day. Yesterday I put Drake's clothes in the washer, when I went to get them out, they smelled like poop. I was wondering why in the world that would be. Then I remember he had an accident the other day...which rarely ever happens...there was a reason...I think he said because Xandria was in bathroom (not that we don't have TWO other bathrooms)...anyway, I thought it had been cleaned up, but apparently not! I got all his clothes out and found a poop in the bottom of the washer. So, I set his clothes in the dryer while I bleached out the washer. After that I just left them sitting in the dryer, because i had to wash the baby's clothes so he would have something to wear today. When the baby's clothes were done, I took out Drake's clothes from the dryer and back in the washer to be rewashed. Well, today I open up the dryer to take out the baby's clothes and it smelled like poop. Now why would that be?? So as I'm pulling out the clothes, I notice they have brown streaks on them. POOP!!! AAAGH!! I could not figure out why they should have poop on them. Finally I come to the bottom of the clothes and low and behold...ANOTHER POOP in there!! It must of fallen out of Drake's clothes when they were in the dryer...I'm guessing. So baby's clothes are back in the washer with Vivid on them and I'm praying it comes out!!! Keeping my fingers crossed!! On a good note...Nick and all the kids (even the baby) are gone right now. He took them Christmas shopping...I wasn't feeling like I wanted to go. Xavier has been with Nick's dad since friday and will be back in awhile. Nick also took Xandria and Drake to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks" last night. Nice to get a break, even though I spend most of the time cleaning and TRYING to get laundry done. Well, I'm off to make the most of my quiet time...wonder if I can get a nap in ;)

I Got A Package...

I decided to join a Blogger Secret Santa that Jess put together. I got my package on saturday and it was from Kari. I recieved from her an assortment of wonderful smelling candles (I was just telling Nick the night before that I needed some Christmasey smelling candles...got 'em), lotion from Bath&Body Works (Japenese Cherry Blossom), shower gel from Bath&Body Works (Midnight Pomegranate) and lip gloss type of stuff that works great for chapped lips and smells so good! Definetly going to have to get some more of the lotion and shower gel...it smells really good! Some ingredients to make hot cocoa (Xavier keeps trying to claim it though). She also included a nice card with her info and such in it. Really thoughtful. It was so nice to recieve something in the mail just for me :) It was funny because Nick brought the box in and said "So what did you order this time?". I was pretty sure I didn't order anything...than I remembered it must be from my secret santa! I'm really enjoying my gifts, so thank you Kari!! P.S. I hope my links work...it's my first time trying to do it ;)

7 Things About Me

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and do the "7 Things About Me" post. Just for the heck of it.

1. I knew Nick was the one for me from the moment I first saw him. Despite the fact that I was only seventeen and that it took three times of seeing him at different places, over a period of four months, before we even met.
2. I hate cooking. It takes too much time and I'm not that good at it. Luckily, my husband enjoys cooking. It's the same scenario with my parents.
3. I used to take Tae Kwon Do. I was two belts away from a black belt when I had to quit. I hope to someday join again.
4. I hate the sound of bags crinkling...please just pour whatever it is out!
5. When I was little I wanted to be a lawyer. I don't even know if I knew what it was...my mom just said you would make alot money doing it.
6. I collected barbies when I was younger and still have them...some of which have never been opened. There are in boxes in the basement...when Xandria is a little older I will share them with her.
7. Someday I would love to work with teenage mothers. I've been there and know what it's like.

Well, there's my seven random things about me. Daxton is ready for bed, so I'm off to put him there!

Nice. Real Nice.

Two times in one day he flips off the camera! Don't worry...I won't take it personal. I guess even though he can't talk, he would like to have his feelings about the camera known. ;) Geez! Notice in the second picture how much hair he has lost? It was taken right after a bath, so it's sticking all up. It does seem to be growing back in now...looks brown...I think. Hope to post more about what we've been up to later!

Hats

Since I didn't have a girl this time, I get to buy hats instead of hair bows :) Too bad he isn't the biggest fan of them...but at least he's not old enough to rip them off his head! I'm always on the lookout for more cute hats!

"One of a Very Few"...

that's what my husband is! I knew that, but it was told to him by the cashier at WalMart. Why would she say that to him? Because he was buying "female products" for me :) He does hide them in the cart with other things, but he does buy them ;) And then the cashier said "and I know you know what I'm talking about." I had to laugh. I'm sure most people that know him can't really imagine him doing it...I usually can't! It used to freak him out, but not so much anymore. I think it's funny she said something to him about it and it makes me smile :)

Day of Thanks

Here are some of the things that I have been thankful for today (even though it's just after midnight):

• My husband for letting me sleep/lay in bed for waaaaay too long today.
• My husband for spending a long time working on/figuring out digital calendars for me, because it was stressing me out!
• My husband because he's getting up EARLY to do the early bird Christmas shopping, because if I got up that early, it wouldn't be a good day ;)
• My Drake for wearing the sweater I wanted him to, even though he hates it and REALLY wanted to wear his truck shirt.
• My baby Daxton for letting me take his picture with him on top a huge pumpkin, even though he didn't want to stay asleep and just lay on it, or really be on it period.
• My Xavier for helping me carry things that I just couldn't grab all at once.
• My Xandria for giving the baby his pacifier in the car on the way home.
• My dad for making the best dinner!
• My family for being there for us and loving my kids so much! I know there is more, but those are the major things for today. I'm so blessed and so lucky to have all I have and such wonderful people in my life!

Bumpy the Clown and other things happening...

I love this pictures! They show what a clown our little Drake is! He's always such a goofball! My favorite is the first one...I love seeing him laugh and it's so contagious! The last two he is snipping his nose off...he kept doing that on Halloween! He would also pluck his nose off and balance it up in his hair! See that lil thing in his hand? It's for his tie that squirted water out! That's what made him love his costume...before I showed him that, he wasn't very into the outfit. Decided to post these pics today because they make me smile. This week has been tough...dealing with the whole pms thing sucks. Especially not having had to for so long. The moods and the exhaustion have been kicking my butt! Also on the way to pick Toots up from school, I ran over a squirrel :( I saw it by the side of the road, it turned and started going the other way and at the last second turned back around and ran under the car :( Ugh, I felt so bad (and still do). Needless to say, I took a different way home and think I will stick to that for awhile. Geez! I had to go clean today and it was nice to get a little break where I could think without voices around. Feeling pretty good now...hopefully it lasts til bedtime. I hope to post more pics of the "baby monkey" later.

Apple Orchard

We had our family phos taken at the park the other week and after we decided to head to to the apple orchard! It was 80 degrees out that day...no coats or red noses needed! It was around 4:30, so it wasn't too hot anymore. This was our first time actually going out and picking the apples ourselves. We loaded up on the tractor and they took us out to the fields...golden delicious first and theb red delicious. It was a big hit, the kids loved it, plus they could eat as many apples as they wanted!! Drake LOVED the golden delicious, when we got to the red ones, he would take a couple bites of one, then throw it on the ground, pick up another one and do the same thing! I guess he thought he would find one that tasted like the golden ones! I only got to eat one of each because of course I was busy trying to take photos AND hold the baby! They expected you to fill the bushel or come close, but our was about half or so. It's normally 30 or 35 dollars, but the lady was nice enough to only charge us 20! That's alot for some apples I think!









S-T-R-E-T-C-H
One red apple
Let me show you the way
Apple orchard 2007...bribed with promises of donuts :)

in the field, eatin those delicious apples
Look, notice anything? Yes, that appears to be lil guy flipping me off. Maybe didn;t like being in the apple basket? Nick loves that picture, men!
I love how you can see Nick behind Drake chomping on an apple :)
Xavier Xandria. And I don't know where the picture of Drake just disappeared to. oh well.

Our Halloween Costumes

xavier as Anakin Skywalker, Xandria the movie star, Drake as Bumpy the Clown and Daxton as a slice of pizza and also a cuddly sweet penguin. Drake was super excited to get "lots and lots of candy"!We trick or treated in my parents neighborhood like we do every year, only thing is there wasn't many trick or treaters like there used to be. Not many at all...kind of a bummer because I like seeing all the different costumes! Guess people do alternative things now or something? The weather was perfect, just a hint of a chill and no rain!

my parents new puppy Sophie
Pizza, get yer pizza!

Pumpkin Patch

I LOVE fall and pumpkins and all the beautiful colors!! It's absolutely my favorite time of year! So of course I love taking the kids to the Pumkin Patch and it was fun this year having a baby pumpkin to take pictures of also :) We went a couple weeks ago when Nick was able to go with us and it was quite warm out...luckily there was some wind so the kids didn't get too hot...except for Drake who is always complaining "I'm hot!" He has a built in furnace just like his Daddy. He always wants the window down and has to sleep with his fan going. The baby slept the whole time we were there pretty much. I think it was the pumpkin outfit and it being so warm and cozy...that's when he sleeps best! Lots of pics...

One Sick Baby :(

Daxton was released from the hospital around 7pm tonight. He had been there since 12:30 sunday afternoon. Friday Drake was sick...throwing up. Just happened to happen at the mall...while I'm shopping for Nick's birthday and trying to feed the baby. Then he threw up again. Out in the parking lot a couple more times...on the way home a couple times. We get home Xandria goes to bed...not a good sign. I went in her room after a bit and she opened her eyes and made a funny face. I asked her if she was okay and she said she was going to get sick, so off she ran to the bathroom. Great. They were off and on only a couple more times and by bedtime were pretty much fine. Saturday was Nick's birthday. We dropped the older kids off with my parents and took the baby with us shopping at Gurnee. He was fine until about 9:30 pm when we were at the last store he puked on me...all over! I told Nick that looked like all of his bottle he had. Nick said not quite and sure enough we were going out the door and there went the rest of it all over me. Nice. We got home and he was sleeping...Nick put on his pajamas and just put him in bed since he stayed asleep. He did get sick a couple times when he was sleeping, which freaked me out...I would hear it and jump out of bed...Nick of course doesn't hear a thing. He didn't wake up until 8 am to eat!! I kept waking up at night watching him and touching him so he would move. When he finally did wake up Nick fed him, but he only ate about 4oz and then he threw that up after awhile...same thing at his next feeding. Then he started to have diarrhea as well. I told Nick he needed to go to the doctor and by this time I was sick and couldn't leave the bathroom! Nick took him to the ER and I got a message from him at 2pm saying "they want to keep him overnight." Of course I just started crying, even though he tried to reassure me that it was because he was dehydrated and they needed to keep an eye on him. They got into an actual room just before 5 and I wasn't able to get there until a lil after 6 cuz I had been so sick. I didn't feel quite as bad...not getting sick continously, but still felt horrible. I was just going to stay a few hours and go home and rest, but around 9:30pm Nick got sick and sick and sick. So I told him to go home and I would stay. Slept in the chair/bed with the baby...he would not sleep in that crib and I was happy to have him next to me. He continued to get better this morning and they removed his IV around 11 and he ate formula then and was able to hold it done. A couple more formula feedings and he was ready to go home!! He has gotten sick once since he's been home...but I don't know if I fed him too soon or what. That's what I'm hoping it was. I'm just nervous about the next feeding now! It's good to be home...tomorrow the older ones will be back home...my parents have had them, thankfully. It's been one tough weekend for sure! And I will have to post about the NOT SO GOOD leave from the hospital! lil guy in the big metal crib :(
snuggles with daddy
poor lil man with the iv
i think he slept long enough in there just for me to get this pic. his iv machine