Single Parenting, catching Vomit, a postponed b-day, and fighting with a 3 year old about taking a plunger into church.....What a week it's been!

Actually, what a last couple months it's been. Chad has been so busy with work the past couple months, I feel like a single parent. He is gone before we get up in the morning and we are in bed before he gets home most nights. He has been working 7 days a week for at least the last couple months or so. To add to the stress that causes, the kids have been sick for going on 2 weeks now. First, Cort was very sick for a full week, then Kiley was sent home from school two days last week and stayed home for a third day to rest. Creighton has been sick for a week too. I have caught vomit in my hand, a diaper, with my body, in a towel, and the more conventional trash can and toilet (if we can get to it on time). I can officially say that I am exhausted and would be willing to pay an arm and a leg to fly a grandma out here for a few days.



Speaking of Grandma's, we do have some relief coming in the near future. Chad took off the entire last week of March, which is spring break for the kids. Chad's mom is coming in for a few days and then my mom is flying in for a weekend. That week, Chad and I have a "to do" list 2 pages long. We have to get the first phase of the basement done so that in April we are ready for the electrical work to be done. Chad drew up the plans for the basement and it's looking very, very nice with 1 bedroom, a den with a fireplace and sliding frosted glass doors (very nice looking), archways, tray ceilings with some fancy lights built in (they have a name, but I forgot), the living room, play area, bathroom, workout room, and storage area. I drew it up on a piece of notebook paper, not to scale, and only a furniture layout. He, of course, drew it up in AutoCad, with electrical plans, ceiling plans, floor plans, construction and material plans, etc. He is clearly better than me at at least one thing. The fine details like the tray ceilings and archways won't be in the first, second, or maybe even third phase. He wants to have the bathroom done, storage area done, and I want the workout room done, before summer arrives, but it all depends on how busy his work is.

Creighton turned 3 on Saturday. It was a pretty miserable day for him. He has been sick all week and his birthday offered him no relief. To add to that, he was missing his dad so bad and was so distraught when Chad had to leave in the morning to head up to work. Chad came home around 4pm and we attempted to take Creighton to Chucky Cheese for a bit of fun. I felt so bad for him that I had taken him to Target and offered to buy him anything he wanted, but he was too sick and didn't want anything...not even cake. He did play some at Chucky Cheese, but wasn't having a ton of fun, so we will try again next week.

We have been vomit free for a full 24 hours now and I had to take the kids to church with me this morning, despite my reluctance. I would have left them at home and let them sleep in, but Chad had a physical at 8am. I think I'll be taking the Spring Ahead Sunday off each year from now on. Kiley fell asleep on the church floor, Cort cried over every little thing, and Creighton threw the tantrum of all tantrums over not being allowed to take a plunger into church. Seriously. Fortunately, one of our friends was in the parking lot and was there to help me collect my trio of crazies and get them inside, kicking and screaming...well, one was kicking and screaming, the other was picking his nose and observing his brothers antics, and Kiley was half asleep carrying in a pillow and blanket.

The weather is looking gorgeous for the next week. I am hoping everyone can get over their sickness, get some extra rest, and we can enjoy the spring like weather. One more busy week for me and then things will slow down at home. Chad's going to be busy until the last week of March and then hopefully by mid-May he will get back to a 40ish hour work week for a month or two. I don't want to wish for more than that because the firm is still struggling with keeping work consistently throughout the year. Hopefully, as the economy recovers, so will the firm.

Baby Stats:
I haven't' been to the Dr. in a couple weeks, but will go again for my 28 wk check up and glucose screen on the 18th. I still don't know the gender and am not curious at all. I weighed myself and am up 22lbs, but that's healthy and I'll plan to put on the full 30lbs by the end. I was hoping to stay in the 20-25lb range, but 30 is okay too. The baby is moving a lot, but is still a lot too. I have already noticed that this baby quits moving around 8pm and doesn't move again until around 7am. I hope that means it's already developed a sleep routine!

Hopefully, I will have some great spring time pics and happier times to share next time I update!

A couple new pics of baby Cort

Cort has been sick with a terrible cold since Sunday. He was feeling a bit better and I took him outside to enjoy the nearly 70 degree weather. This swing was given to us by the previous owners. The daughter, 21 years old, had a lot of memories with her mom on the swing and her mom passed away about 6 months before we bought the house. She wanted us to keep the swing and form our own memories, and that we have.

He is starting to try and do more things on his own. He put on two mis-matched socks and tried for a good 15 min. to put on his shoes with little success. (prior photo)