Duh...Duh...Duh...

I had no idea what was in store for me this past week.  I will happily erase the past 5 days from my memory bank! 

This photo was taken last Sunday morning.  I call this the 'calm before the storm.'

It was that night that Connor came crawling into my bed around 1:00 am complaining that his cheeks were really hot.

Just as we were ready to send C back to school after his week off for Thanksgiving break, his little sick body had other plans.  No school Monday.  No school Tuesday.  A fever peaking at a 105 temp.  C wanted to lounge inside on the couch all day, where Noah needed some fresh air outside to escape the boredom!  It was hard to keep both of my boys content while under house arrest.

I snuck in a 2 month photo!  His 3 month size sleepers are becoming short.  He's starting to grin more these days too!

While I tried to snap a cute picture of Mr. Gummy Grins after his nap, he was moving too much to get a clear one.  He may be blurry, but his smiles are still super cute.

Noah's two favorite things are being outside and taking baths.  Since we were stuck inside with my sicky 5 year old, we resorted to a bath at lunch time to help us get through the afternoon.  I would let him splash in his tub all day if I could.  He loves it.

I did a lot of negotiating to get C to take his medicine for his high fever.  This boy hates medicine like no other.  It doesn't help that he's so strong willed & you often have to resort to gator wrestling him before he'll take his meds.  I ended up putting the medicine in his apple juice & told him if he didn't drink it, we'd have to take him to the hospital where they'd have to poke his arm to give him his meds.  The strong willed booger still wasn't buying it, so Matt told him he was headed out to start his car so we could go to the hospital.  This tactic was successful.  It was the most dramatic apple juice drinking we've ever witnessed, but he was able to get enough Tylenol from it to kick his fever.

Wednesday, C made it to school.  After school, C had his 5 year old check up.  I was now coming down with a fever myself.  A fever AND a migraine. Yay.

C got out of school at noon and didn't have his appt until 2pm, so instead of hauling all the way back home in between, we detoured to Nana & Papa's house for a short while.  On the way there, I witnessed a miracle.  Both of my boys were asleep in the car.  There was no screaming baby.  C was napping, which he never does.  It was weird.  Of course, I only had about 45 minutes to feed both boys before we had to head to Dr's visit, so I had no choice, but to wake them to bring them inside the house.  Such a beautiful moment destroyed!

We got home & my health went south.  Horrible fever & migraine.  Noah chose to nap on me for 3 hours, which was just what I needed.  I got the okay to take some ibuprofen (since I'm hesitant to take any meds while nursing) and the migraine started to subside.

Noah opted to sleep his longest stretch (from 8pm-2am) that night!  I needed the sleep, for sure!  My painfully engorged bosoms kept me from sleeping well though!  It was weird to see Noah sleeping so much better all of a sudden.

Then Thursday, Noah was a snuggle bug.  He wanted to cuddle.  He'd fall asleep in the car.   He'd nap most of the day.  It was too good to be true.  Oh, and it was.

I had to wake Noah from his nap at 6:30pm to get him bathed and cleaned up for bed.  After waking him, he felt hot.  Took his temp & sure enough---the fever had hit him now.  They say babies should seek a Dr. if their fever is higher than 100.4.  Noah's was 101.8 and 102.  I was scared.  I was home alone with the boys since Matt was working late.  C was in the shower.  Noah was pretty lethargic.  I called my sister.  You never realize how great it is to have someone in the medical field in your family until moments like these.  I was mentally preparing to load up my boys and head to the hospital.  Katie told me the Tylenol dosage safe for Noah's age/weight and a plopped him in a luke/cool bath.  I was taking his temperature every minute, it seemed.  After the Tylenol, his fever went down to 99 almost instantly.  In between all this, I was texting Matt to come home.

I nursed Noah and put him to bed around 8:00 pm.  I had set my alarm to wake to give him more meds in the night, as well as to keep taking his temperature.  I went to put C to bed.  Once both boys were asleep, I poked in to check on Noah.  I usually run my fingers on his hair or across his neck just enough to see him squirm, so I know he's breathing.  This time he didn't squirm.  Instantly, my heart stopped.  I put my hand in front of his face to feel him breathing, but couldn't.  I grabbed him, said "Noah" really loudly, and pulled him out of bed.  His eyes became real big and he began to move.  He must have just been in a really deep sleep.  He scared me to death.  From that point on, I held him in the glider all night.  It was a long night.

Then today, C didn't want to go to school.  C loves school, so something wasn't right.  I talked C into going.  I drove Noah over to see his Pediatrician and was reassured his fever was gone & everything else checked out alright.  I went back to pick up C from school and before we were home, C was asleep in the car.  From noon until 5 pm, C slept.  Well, except for around 3pm when C awoke & had to go potty badly.  So badly, that his exhausted little body couldn't make it to the potty.  He just stood all foggy eyed, holding between his legs, and the potty just came.  A giant puddle on my bedroom carpet.  It was one of those Mom moments where you know you can't freak out.  Noah was asleep on me and C was embarassed & in shock of what happened.  I just smiled & told him it was okay (all while in shock of what just happened). His cough is keeping him up at night & he was just exhausted. Once I got C showered and cleaned the carpet, C went back to sleep.  I took Noah out in the front yard, so he wouldn't wake C who was snoozing in the living room. It was all about 5 minutes before Noah used all his tiny might to push out one explosive poop.  All over me and him.  I just looked at him and laughed.  

We survived this week.  It can only get better from here!  

Thanksgiving weekend!

Well, hello there blog.  It's been awhile.

I've had these photos on my blog to edit, but I've been busy experiencing a week from h-e-l-l...

so am just now getting around to it.  

**I'll elaborate the week from h-e-l-l in my next post**

But for now, here are some cute pictures of my favorite boys over Thanksgiving weekend!

We had a cold front come through for a few days that week, so we thought it'd be a good day to lounge in our jammies all day.  Our adventures during the day involve C grabbing his super hero action figures, lining them up on the wall in our front entry way outside, and then we both take turns checking on them to make sure they're all still there. (This is a game where I have to snatch away an action figure while C's not looking, hide him in the yard, then C has to find the super hero that escaped).  

Super duper fun, I know.

This game lasts for as long as Noah will sit content in his bouncy seat.

Here we are headed to Thanksgiving at Aunt Debbie's house.  Noah snuck in a nap on the ride over there.

You have no idea how grateful I am to have Matt drive so I can sit in the backseat, hold Noah's pacifier in place, and watch him fall asleep.  I would happily wedge my giant rear between two carseats in my backseat to keep Noah from screaming his precious head off in the car anyday.

Ok, rewind.  I think this picture was taken a few days before Thanksgiving.  Uncle Paul & Aunt Heidi were in town, so we hung with them at Debbie's house.

I don't do well when I don't blog pictures right away--I don't remember one day from the next sometimes!

Fast forward again to Thanksgiving.  This day I was thankful for black wrap dresses.  The black hides the extra 15 lbs I'm still carrying and the 'wrap' makes it easier to nurse my hungry hippo.

The day kind of felt like a whole lot of me sneaking away to nurse Noah and me pacing back & forth with white noise playing to get Noah to sleep.  Yep, that was my day.  I'm sure there was a poop blow out or a turkey dinner mixed in somewhere too.

A cute picture of Dad & Noah, minus the caveman look he has going on for the No-shave-November. 

Noah got lots of attention!

The day after Thanksgiving we headed to Austin & Kaylee's house to play while they decorated for Christmas.  We ended the day cruising over to Bass Pro to see Santa.

Then on Saturday was the big FSU/UF game.  Only the best football game all year.  Mom thought we should take advantage of the time the family was together (and in color coordinated outfits), to slip in a few pictures on the front porch.

Here's just the girls :)

I'm leaving off the really good family photo of all of us, as to not spoil Mom's Christmas card this year.

We tried to sneak in a picture of Matt, Me & Noah.  We decided Matt 'looked a little funny,' so a little photo cropping & tah-dah...a good Mommy-son photo!  **Sorry Honey!** ;)

We all had a nice Thanksgiving & a great Noles win!

Yay!

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is approaching and I have lots to be thankful for!

Like this little guy.

 He's grinning more and more each day (usually while he's brewing a nice poopy diaper).  I forgot how much gummy smiles make me melt.

Last Friday was Thanksgiving role play at C's school.  We acted out a Thanksgiving meal, teaching the kids how to set the table, traditional Thanksgiving foods, as well as the importance of being thankful and prayer.  It was 45 minutes of one on one time with Connor (while Matt watched Noah in the parking lot).  The little bit of Mommy-Connor time was so good for my heart.

Sidenote:  The Mom that was seated across from us at our table noted that she volunteers in C's class often.  She went on and on about how she thought C was the most well behaved and intelligent boy in the whole class.  While I wasn't too surprised, hearing it from someone felt amazing.  It was a proud Mom moment to say the least!

C made a thankful turkey, with each feather stating he's thankful for:

Noah, Billy, Jesus, Mom, and Mrs. Nielsen :)

I love getting pictures of the two of us.  This boy means the world to me.

And so does this little one.

I love how a baby's eyes shine when they're clean :)

I love how he wants me most.

Tonight was a mad dash to get C showered and jammied up, so I could snap a picture of the boys in their coordinating Christmas jammies.  Noah was seconds away from an overtired meltdown, but I got a picture!  

The Big 5!

So I am finally finding time to blog my 1st baby's 5th birthday!!

This year seemed to be the hardest age for me to accept.  I still don't like saying I have a "5 year old."  It seems like such a big number.  Like he's no longer little any more.  *He still likes to snuggle.  I'll hold onto that for as long as I can. :)

My big boy kicked off his birthday weekend with a Chuck E Cheese birthday party with his buddies.

Sidenote:  Chuck E Cheese was not my first choice for a b'day venue.  It really wasn't my 2nd or 3rd either.  We had our hearts set on a Pump It Up birthday this year (and thought it'd be easy to let Connor go off & bounce while I tended to a newborn), but with our outstanding luck, Pump It Up closed at the end of October!  We searched high and low for places that would be weather friendly (whether it was cold, warm, or rainy outside), as well as affordable & easy to tackle with a baby in tow.  Chuck E Cheese met our needs and actually turned out to be quite nice!  C was in heaven with his buddies from school, as well as his cousins.  

Each child was supplied a cup full of tokens, so they ventured off together & had a blast!

He was all smiles!

Noah made himself comfortable while big brother partied!

The boys were hardcore racers (little boys pictured are Coen & Billy...Connor's current BFF's from school).

Nana is master 'baby bobber.'  Noah was sound asleep on her before we knew it!  It was great relaxing and tending to my oldest baby knowing my littlest guy was comfy on his Nana.

Did I mention he had a blast?!

Don't get my started on the cake dilemma!  Let's just say I ordered a Batman cake from Publix, which turned out to not be at Publix when we went to pick it up on the way to the party, which made us slightly late to Connor's party, since we were stuck in dreadful traffic with a screaming baby, which caused this 'Mom that likes everything perfect' to have a slight meltdown...

But Chuck E Cheese saved the day with their cake...and we just topped it off with a Batman toy to help it fit our theme.  C didn't seem to mind a bit.  It was vanilla cake, with no chocolate.  That's all that mattered to him!

C got some one on one time with Chuck E during the party.  I know he enjoyed it, although they did bust out in a dance party/air guitar thing which was a little much for Peewee (he hung in there, but he had an overwhelmed blank stare on his face like 'why am I doing this air guitar with loud music and everyone staring at me').

My little Batman and his buddy, Billy.

Cake time!

We were surprised to find out Connor got to go into the ticket blower machine (along with a few of his buddies) to scoop up as many tickets as he could!

The boys collected quite a bit and were so cute to watch in action!

The little Nugget was passed out.

C's real birthday was Monday, so C had school during the day as well as a family party that evening.

Remember the Publix cake dilemma I mentioned already?!  Well, to continue the cake nightmare...

Turned out the cake was called into the other Publix on Six Mile Cypress (we have 2).  I called to see if they could freeze the cake from Friday, so I could use it for our b'day festivities on Monday.  The bakery lady couldn't guarantee freshness, so told me it'd be no problem to make another one.  I told her I felt really bad having to throw out a cake they made already, but she reassured me it was no problem since they'd donate it to a local food bank.  I thought that worked out good, since I really wanted cupcakes for Monday (some to take to C's school and the rest to use for our family party that night).  I asked if they could just make yellow cupcakes with a light airbrush of black & I'd add the Batman toy details (since Publix can't do anything Batman since it's a copyrighted).  I emphasized the fact that I did not want black frosting (I could just visualize a classroom of 4 and 5 year olds with a stained faces, hands, and clothing...and his teachers wanting to kill me)! 

 Matt offered to pick up the cupcakes for me on Sunday, since I'd be on the other end of town for the day.  When I got home that evening, I was greeted with the biggest cupcake box I'd ever seen from Publix.  Inside was this...

Thick. Black. Cupcakes.

(in a mis-shaped bat layout)

I was overwhelmed (remember I'm that Mom that wants everything perfect)?!  It was too late to take it back to Publix, I had two boys to get to bed, and a birthday dining room to decorate!  I did have to text my Mom for help, since there was no way I could carry this ginormous cupcake box into C's school in the morning with Noah in one arm.  The box was seriously as wide as the doorway.  I had to unload my trunk to get it to fit into my car.  I'm a cake person.  This was the first time I had been fed up with Public cakes!  I sent in extra wet wipes to C's class, emailed his teacher an apology in advance in case they were extra messy, and just accepted this black cupcake ugliness as 'awesome' in the eyes of my birthday boy.  Don't sweat the small stuff, right?!

Monday morning rolled around and my birthday boy was excited to open a few gifts before school!

*I love his sleepy eyes in this picture.  He was half awake, but he was so excited it was his birthday!

Fast forward to that evening.  More Batman fun with family!

We now own everything Batman that was ever created.  I have one lucky little 5 year old!

Thank you all who celebrated with us, sent special packages, and shared their love for C's birthday!

Days mush together

So we're going through the faze where our days come & go...

 I'm not sure how we manage to get to & from school on time, with a screaming newborn in the car for 30 mins each way.

I'm not sure how we have food in the house, how I find time to shower, or how I get both boys to bed at night!

I'm doing it though, somehow!  

C & I started a new tradition this year.  We cut out leaves, wrote down 28 things we're thankful for, and every day in November we number them & use them as a countdown until Thanksgiving.  I don't get a lot of time alone with my C these days, but we manage to squeeze this in every day, just the two of us.

My love muffins!

C would smother his brother with love if I let him!

At least 3x a day, C will ask if he can hug, hold, or kiss Noah.

I love it :)

My little lazy bum

I'm grateful for Tuesdays.  C spends the afternoon with Nana to receive one-on-one attention!  Papa tries to get home from work earlier to allow some time with C before he comes back home.  We are blessed to have such wonderful family!

If the Nugget gets fussy, we try to stay outdoors.  Fresh air works wonders!