EASTER

Happy Easter to all...hope your day was wonderful and joyous with family or friends!

We woke up to RJ's room smelling of throw up... wonderful... I literally put a clothes pin on my nose and barely held him to get him into the tub. After three baths and four different shampoos/body wash I thought I was done and he would smell better (after a fourth bath two hours later, he started to smell less gross). Thank goodness Daddy was around so he could clean whatever was in RJ's room. I couldn't look or help... thank you Daddy I owe you!

RJ did not get sick anymore throughout the day, however he was clingy and not himself.

Morgan and I went to church and Daddy stayed home with RJ. Church was nice and Morgan was pretty well behaved. She loved her Easter Dress that MeMom had bought her!!

Morgan and I headed over to MeMom and Pop Pop's house to visit with them, Aunt Megan and Uncle Andy. We visited for a couple hours and hoped that we weren't going to spread germs. Morgan and RJ got some amazing toys and clothes from everyone. Morgan was spoiled with lots of princess garb... lucky her! Her Momma (ME) is learning to deal with the fact that she wants to be a beautiful SLEEPING BEAUTY princess all the time! I really don't know where she picked it up because we never did watch those types of shows on TV, I never called her a princess, and no one at the sitter really likes princesses?! I am learning to embrace this phase!

Today was a nice day with family after getting over the early am. Let's pray no one else gets sick!!

Beautiful Saturday

Hopscotch Anyone? We had a great day today! We played outside and had a great time!

THEN....

We had just ordered in Boston Market and were sitting down to eat when RJ decided to PUKE all over me!! Thank goodness he got me from the pants down... but YUCK!!!! I really can't do puke! I really can't do throw up! I really can't do vomit! I really can't do upchuck! I really can't do barf! I can't do anything that comes out of the mouth after being digested! YUCK!!! I can't stand EVERYTHING about it! Needless to say I ran upstairs and showered in a steaming hot shower with tears running down my face! Everyone said it would be better if it was my child... so far that doesn't seem to be the case!! The smell, the look, the everything... sorry RJ I love you to death, but I just can't do throw up!!

Thank goodness for my husband and my MIL! They cleaned up the mess and took care of RJ. Try to think positive... maybe something didn't agree with him!

P.S. I will NEVER eat Boston Market EVER again! This is the second time vomit has happened in association with Boston Market. I will never eat it again!

Gardiner fun!

We had such a wonderful day with our friends today! From 10am-ish until 8pm-ish! Who could ask for anything more?

We played outside and dyed eggs inside. We ate lunch and supper together! What a fun (but tiring day)!! God blessed our family with wonderful friends!!

Pictures will tell it all!

RJ's egg dying

Got the PHD taken care of!

Ha! PHD! Sounds great! April fools?! Below is what PHD with kids involves really stands for!

P=PICTURES

Pictures... 18 month pictures for RJ this morning. He cooperated for the first 3.5 minutes and then gave up and threw a temper tantrum and the photo shoot was over! We got a few adorable shots before he lost it! Thank goodness! We also grabbed a few pictures of Morgan in her Easter outfit before leaving. She actually wanted her picture taken!?


H = HAIRCUT

Haircuts... for both Morgan and RJ! It was heart breaking! I wasn't really ready to get either of their hair cuts... but I was told it was time... especially for RJ... so I figured what day was better than April 1st? April Fools Day! As you can see the kids did great! I was a bit sad as the whole thing occurred, but it was definitely more painful for me then either RJ or Morgan. We actually went down into Feasterville (which I found out after the fact is close to Bensalem... sorry Aunt Melanie, we would have stopped by if I knew we were so close... but I thought Feasterville was near Doylestown, not Bensalem... my bad sense of direction!!). There is a salon designed for kids in Feasterville! On Bustleton Pike almost exactly at the intersection of Bustleton and Street Roads. It is called Shortcuts. We had two great stylists! They were patient and did a great job! RJ sat in a race car and Morgan sat in a princess car! Perfect for both of them! RJ sucked on a lollipop the entire time and even when the clippers came close he didn't cry or scream! Wow!! It all went well and now Morgan has a long layer in her hair to help with her curls, and RJ has a little boy haircut! Oh my... my kids are grown up!

RJ

MORGAN

D = DOCTOR

After the haircut off to the doctor for RJ's 18 month well check-up. We got there and then had to wait a while b/c the doctor was on an emergency call. (It turned out his wife and daughter were in a minor car accident). But I understood...we just *patiently* waited (using that word loosely). RJ weighs 23 pounds and is 32 inches tall. His height is still in the 5-10 percentile and his height is in the 40th percentile. His head is now 18 inches and is in the 5-10 percentile... I do raise kids with small heads! That is OK with me... rather small than big! Good news... his overall check up went well. Bad news... he is still not talking much and that is of concern. His ears also look cloudy = fluid = ENT visit! Dr. wants me to call him in three months if RJ doesn't have at least 10-15 words! My fears are coming true... I'm telling you... God is definitely testing me!!! (Aunt Melanie... I might need your friend Layne's opinion on speech for little ones!!) Nothing to worry about YET... or so I keep telling myself! Good news... Morgan's ears look great, no wax build up and both blue tubes are still in her ears!

After finishing the PHD we headed to Target to pick up some Easter things and then headed home. After being cooped up for so long the kiddos played outside from like 5pm until 7pm. We ate supper outside and then came in for baths and bed!

What a busy, yet productive day!

Almost over...

March is almost gone! I can't believe it! I had an amazing amount of work this month and although I am exhausted, I have just about completed two full graduate classes, 17 IEPs, working, taking care of my family, and the house! Wow!! I have not had a day off since April, so the Easter break has been well waited for!!

Today I spoke with someone who made me really look at myself. It happens to everyone once or twice (or more) over the journey of life. I was told I was a very negative, judgemental person. Yes, I fully admit I am very opinionated and very honest and will tell my friends and family exactly how I feel about something. My family and friends can either take my opinion to heart or ignore it and move on... which is what happens more often than not! I have very strong beliefs and sometimes I may not filter what comes out of my mouth, however I feel that what I say must be said for the well being of others.

After today I have made a vow to make sure I know who my real friends are and stand up for myself and my personality. I know I am not perfect, however I feel that my good qualities shine over the imperfections. I need to make sure all my friendships are two-sided. I truly love all my friends! This whole situation made me feel equally hurt, sad, and offended. This was a learning lesson in life. God doesn't give you more than you can handle!

Overall, my graduate class is almost over and that means three down and two to go!! Just about to walk down the other side of the hill! Yippee! The hard work is paying off!

The loves of my life below and what matters most to me! Family and real friends!!

Bubbles!

Morgan loves her bubbles! ........so does Nickel!

Asher's Easter Egg Hunt!

What a beautiful day for an Easter Egg Hunt!! I was taking a class today so Daddy took Morgan to the annual Asher's Easter Egg hunt! It was originally scheduled for last weekend, but it had to be rescheduled since it rained by the bucket last weekend!

Morgan said she had a lot of fun! She really liked picking up the little packages of jelly-belly jelly beans versus the plastic eggs that had chocolate in them... silly girl! She picked up the candies and put them in her princess Easter basket! (Thanks MeMom)

She was very excited to tell me all about it when she got home! She also said hello to the Easter Bunny! Maybe because this Easter Bunny had a human face. There was not a mask on the Easter Bunny's face so Morgan wasn't afraid of her! Whew! That might not have been a good scene!

Thumbs up... ready to hunt!

Morgan with her friends Angela and Hannah waiting patiently...

Saying hello to the Bunny!

Active in the hunt!

Getting that candy!

So many to pick from!

Checking out her loot! Mostly jelly beans!

Inside Ashers after the hunt

GEORGE!!!!

Tonight we got to go ans see 'Curious George Live' as a family! We had a great time. RJ wasn't too wiggly... food always helps! Only one mishap of the night... in the car Morgan and RJ were fighting over the 5 dollar George balloon. We got home and I told Morgan to hold the string tight... little did I know the balloon was no longer tightly attached to the string... Morgan still had a tight hold on the string as the balloon itself floated away into the dark night sky... there went money literally out the door... or into the sky... lesson learned for Morgan!