Friday, January 29, 2010

Karma

Do you know what Karma is? Yes I know it's a bitch but besides that it's really true. So remember when Anthony was born and how excited I was to be going home a day earlier than the day earlier we usually leave the hospital after creating life? See all the kids were born on a Thursday and I always went home on Sunday - technically I am not supposed to go home until Monday so Sunday was always a day early. Following me?!? So with Anthony, being the smart ass I am, I decide I am leaving on Saturday. I hate the freakin hospital. Not because of germs or anything like that just because I hate being confined in a little room usually with an annoying roommate that has more kids than me and usually has them all with her. I hate the food, the noise, etc.....

Ok I am getting off topic. So the payback, or Karma, for me leaving early with Anthony is we (we meaning me and Anthony cause Steve is at home snuggled up all nice IN MY BLANKET - see my x-mas post) are now spending our 2nd night in the hospital. Long story short is we have 5 kids - 3 got sick and those 3 can't leave Anthony alone and so he then got sick. Instead of him getting a cold like the others his problems turned into something more which is affecting his breathing. So here we sit while he's had steroids, numerous nebulizer treatments, bags of iv fluids along with an extra one filled with an antibiotic of sorts, a round the clock humidifier (or is it a de-humidifier I never get them right). His little lungs are working overtime to help him breath and it's a lot of work. He is getting pounded on every 2 hours in the chest and back with this paddle of sorts to break up all the mucus around his lungs after the breathing treatments have loosened it. The nurse tells me earlier as she was doing it that she was known on the floor as the "breathing nazi" you know like the soup nazi. Well she proceeds to tell me that all "her kids" sleep right through their beatings. I look at her like she's crazy and tell her that my son will not sleep through such torture but good luck with that. I finally fall asleep and wake up to a pounding as I lift my head I see the nazi lady beating Anthony and wouldn't you know it HE'S SOUND ASLEEP! So I said to her she got lucky - see he's so fat that he just isn't really feeling all the pounding on his chest. Then she reminds me that it needs to be done because his wheezing isn't getting any better and if I want to have any chance of going home in the morning I need to get the crap in his lungs out. So I push her aside and start pounding away - NO WAY are we spending another freaking night in this place!





Of course, Steve has no problem with the hospital. He was giddy when the lady came in with something that resembled breakfast and then lunch and dinner. Seriously it is disgusting and you would think he's at a hotel. The nurses think he's a real peach. There was incident in the morning when he got to the hospital and he tried to come into the room but the nurses told him he needed to wear a gown. He's looking around for the scrubs and tries putting on one of the nurses PURPLE lab coats. The owner of the purple coat asks him what he was doing and he said he was going to see his son - she says not with my coat on - there's lots of laughter then from the nurses station who are watching the whole scene. I peek around Anthony's crib to see what was going on and saw Steve and just knew he was involved - I shook my head and went back to beating Anthony - yep Karma - it's a boatload of fun!

*for the rest of the day every nurse that has come in see's Steve and laughs and says "oh your the guy from this morning trying to wear so and so's purple lab coat.....and the laughter beings again. I had better get to go home in the AM!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

1 Grandfather, 2 Grandmothers, 1 Great Grandfather and 3 Great Grandmothers

How lucky are my kids! They don't know it yet but they will one day


Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Anthony's Baptism

We had Anthony's Baptism 2 weekends ago. Aside from the seating chaos in the beginning due to the church dropping the ball and not putting out the name plaques prior to the ceremony. (mind you they called me like 4 times a week before to make sure I handed mine in because that is what I would look for in the church to tell me where to sit) OK I got the out of my system. Anyway, it was a great day. Anthony as usual was an angel and he looked so handsome in his little suit. Now he would have looked even more handsome had he been allowed to wear his little hat (beret OK it was a beret) but it was taken away by his Aunt Lori - who is also his Godmother - something about it making him look funny. Well I don't think funny was the word but for now that is what I'm going with. Oh but for the record he was wearing little girl tights! There I said it!! Well the little chunker won't stop eating and he kinda outgrew the suit before the big day and I wasn't able to find a bigger size and I liked this one to much to get a different one so we made due and threw on some leggings.




NO PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED IN THE CHURCH - luckily for Anthony his Grandfather doesn't follow the rules. I think there is a book your given when you become a grandparent and it tells you that most rules no longer apply to you.....so because he took pictures a great shot was taken:


The proud godparents - Uncle Louis and Aunt Lori


For the days entertainment - we had Steven elevated:


How'd he do it - how'd he do it?!?!?


Aunt Lori - helping Anthony smear his name on his cake



The last one - it was a perfect day for him.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Christmas 2009....a little late

Listen I'm little busy with stuff. I have so much to post and for some reason can't find 5 lousy minutes. It's the damn farm on Facebook (thanks alot Auntie Donna that is all your fault).

So Christmas morning the kids came running in like maniacs to see their loot. Santa brought them Zhu Zhu Hamsters and a lot of books. Steven was so excited over all the books he didn't know which one to start with.



Sophia got an ipod - cause that is what she asked for. Now before any of you start in with "she's only 2 blah blah blah" she works that thing better than me. She has more apps than any of us.


"see Daddy I told you Santa was bring me an ipod"



As you can see Bella was more than thankful for the makeup Santa left for her....


OK so there was a note for Samantha from Santa with a phone # she had to call. When she dialed the # a phone hidden in the living room started ringing. The kids frantically look all over and Samantha finds a new cell phone. She FREAKS OUT!!


I mean the "jumpin for joy" kinda freak out


She seriously can't contain herself and Sophia is just looking at her like she has lost her mind...


over 100 texts were sent on this day - Santa made sure we had an unlimited text plan:


Oh Sophia got her pretty Belle dress:



She couldn't get it on quick enough:


Anthony thinking " that's great Santa all I get is this stuffed Winnie the Pooh"



"Well it's good enough for me to eat"


the aftermath.... oh but really quick: you see on the right side on this picture the white thing hanging off the couch. Well that my friends is my cloud - OK it's like sleeping on a cloud. Steve tracked down the bedding which is used at the Hay Adam's hotel in DC. I have been telling him for years to figure it out. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to steal it from the hotel but it's so big I've never been able to get it into a suitcase. It has caused many of problems now because I am no longer able to get out of bed and I've only just recently started sharing it with Steve.

One more thing - every year we try not to go crazy with the kids because they really don't need anything but also because they get so much from the rest of the family its gift overload. We always worry that the kids don't get it and just want the gifts. Well after this christmas we realized we must be doing something right. After they ran into the living room to see all that Santa left behind they didn't want to open any of it. It was more important for them to give me the gift they had all picked out. Steve and I were so taken back. Here they were surrounded by a ton of gifts but it was more important for them to give than receive. That was the best gift Steve and I got!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Going backwards just a little.....

Do you see that elbow? That is Sam's elbow and all we saw of her at her recital which she played the cello. It was a night to remember.


Next we have Christmas EVE 2009. It was our 2nd year hosting and we are pro's at it by now. It is about 40 people from Steve's side of the family. There's fish, pasta and all that good stuff.

Here is the beginning of the night and the first of 14 bottles of wine for the night


Luckily we are able to seat 24 in our dinning room - believe me its the most use this room gets all year.


The kids all sit in the kitchen - it's wild and crazy but surprisingly very orderly.


Sophia and Vincent sharing a moment over a bowl of grapes. They sat there for about 15 min. just eating grapes


The kids all waiting patiently for a gift....


Mass hysteria as gifts are opened:


Sam extremely excited over Uno Flash:


The annual reading of How the Grinch stole Christmas - courtesy of Uncle Robb.


Sam again excited - this time over the outfit Aunt Rosalie made for her American Girl doll.


2 cousins - drunk as skunks - Anthony is eating a tag off of those PJ's on his lap......Steve pay attention!



Stay tuned for Christmas. I am in the midst of getting ready for Anthony's baptism so there is lots going on but I will get Christmas up before Valentines day...lol

Friday, January 1, 2010

BEST DECADE EVER!

I had intentions of writing a Happy New Years post but it wasn't until Steve made mention of how we will never have another decade like the past one that gave me this idea. So here are my 10 highlights from the past 10 years!

It is pretty incredible to think about it - I mean my list is crazy

1. Married the love of my life
2. Had 5 beautiful children - that's still crazy to me!!
3. owned not 1, 2 but 3 homes - I've always admitted I'm spoiled
4. Steve made Partner!!
5. Had an Amazing honeymoon in Hawaii
6. First trip to Disney with our kids was awesome
7. Yogi (rest in peace Yogibear), Abbey, Lulu, Dexter and Chloe - best dogs ever!
8. Owned my first brand new car - a Dodge Durango - I loved that truck!
9.
10.

OK so here's the thing - I just assumed I would have 10 amazing things to say but I got stuck after 8. I have more but they aren't so much amazing as they are significant.

9. Steve coming home on 9/11 - covered in ashes. It is a moment that is forever embedded in my mind and something I will never forget.

10. Yah know what - This one I'm keeping to myself - I don't have to share everything :)

The next decade will not have as many major events as the last but I am sure it will be a memorable one to say the least.