Catch up

As I sit here tonight, the baby is kicking like crazy as my other two sleep upstairs. Andy is gone for guys small group, and I am just enjoying the quiet. It seems like there is so much I want to write about, little things that I say, "I've got to blog about that later." But by the time later comes, I am too tired or distracted to sit and write. Oh well, I suppose I should give myself a little bit of grace as I just keep getting larger and more tired by the day.
We went to Michigan last week to visit my family. It was a really nice, relaxing trip. Addison's favorite part was "going on a date with grandma to Starbucks." Which, may I add she was firm about not wanting Henry or I to tag along. "I need some alone time with grandma, mommy." According to Henry, his favorite part was "grandpa." But I think his other favorite part was the opportunity to share in his life's greatest passion with someone else who can fully appreciate it: going to the mall. Every single morning the first words out of his mouth were: "mall. grandma. walk." Seriously, he said it about a million times this week. Grandma, unable to resist his pleading, took him to the mall to walk everyday.
We also had fun playing with the cousins and just hanging out. Addison was pretty insistent that she would be fine if we just dropped her off with Payton and Ella. Personally, my favorite part was just being with my family.
Andy drove up with us last Saturday and then took the train home on Monday. So Friday morning, the kids and I headed out on our own for the drive back. When I say on our own, I also mean without Dora, Curious George, or any of our other little entertaining friends. No DVD player, just like the olden days. I was a bit apprehensive to drive alone without the assistance of these characters, but the kids were so well behaved and delightful we barely missed them. (Sorry, George).
As we drove through the city, Henry was totally mesmerized by the trains and Addison enjoyed pretty much everything else around her. As we approached the loop (sitting in traffic) she yelled out, "what do we do when we drive in the city? We pray!" It warmed my heart that she reminded me of the tradition that started in college. So we prayed, Henry even let out an "amen" at the end. After we prayed, Addison informed me that when she grows up she is going to live in an apartment in the city. "You and daddy can come and visit whenever you want," she sweetly included.
That about sums up our last few weeks. Eventful and yet totally uneventful at the same time.

Perspective

As of late, we have been sick. So sick. Stuck in the house- timing when the next dose of medicine can be given- bored out of our minds- if I have to watch one more episode of Curious George, I'm going to die-sick. Thankfully, Andy hasn't gotten anything, but the kids and this pregnant body just can't seem to ward off the germs that are attacking. We had a cold virus right after Christmas (mine turned into bronchitis), stomach flu in the middle of January (I ended up in the hospital), and now Addison just recovered from walking pneumonia, Henry an upper respiratory infection and tonsilitis, and the same upper respiratory infection for me. It is has been great. Well no, not really, I'm being sarcastic.

Have I mentioned that I've been feeling sorry for us? Bored. Stuck in the house. Feeling miserable. That is until I was reading, "The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. It put my pity party into major perspective. He was talking about the poor and illnesses they face. They lack the medical resources to help their children, and many families loose their children to what we call common sicknesses. The line that stood out to me the most was, "An ear infection becomes a death sentence for a child." An ear infection, are you kidding me? I cannot imagine my child being sick and not being able to do anything for him. Last week, when Henry was so sick, the doctor I saw said it wasn't anything but a virus and that with time he would get better. But with each day, his fever got worse and he grew more lethargic. I knew that there was something else going on, so I was able to go to a different doctor and get the proper antiobiotics that were needed to cure his sickness. Now he is perfectly healthy and back to his silly self (with a strong tinge of whine the antibiotics have yet to wipe out).

To even consider that instead of taking my baby to another doctor to get the right medicine, there was nothing more I could do than to hold him and watch him grow worse, makes my heart quiver. What if? What if I was born in a poor area of Africa or Southeast Asia and my little Henry would had lost his life to tonsilitis? Or Addison to walking pneumonia? Thank You, Lord. Thank You that we have access to antibiotics.

Perhaps this week wasn't so bad after all.

Bedtime

After two weeks of putting Henry down without patting him, we officially put him and Addison down together at the same time. While Henry was figuring out this new way of going to bed, Addison was going to bed in our bed and we would then move her later. They have never gone to bed at the same time in their room, so we were slightly hesitant to start. Tonight proved, that once again there wasn't anything to worry about. The two of them just chatted for about 30 minutes, and now it has been silent. The conversation that ensued between the two was priceless.
At one point, Addison said: "Henry, what do you want to do tomorrow? Want to go see grandma Gayle?"
Henry: "yeah."
Addison: "how about go to the mall?"
Henry: "yeah!!!"
Addison: "yeah, you would like that? What else do you want to do?"
As their little conversation started to dwindle Henry started saying, "sisssssyyyy."
Addison: "What Henry?"
Henry: "sisssssyy"
Addison: "What Henry?"

Over the last few weeks, Henry has really started talking. Along with that, the two of them have really started to become closer. It is simply the most adorable thing to watch.

It's a Boy!

On Monday we went to the the doctor for the official ultrasound. We dropped Henry off with a friend and took Addison with us. We thought it would be neat if she could see the baby and to hear if it is a boy or girl. Like I've said before, she was convinced that we were and must have a girl. No questions. However, when the lady checked she definetly did not see a girl. We have the pictures to prove it, which I will post when I find my camera. The look on Addison's face was priceless. First it was the "what the heck are you talking about" face, then it turned to shock, then just buried into Andy's shoulder. She claims she isn't disapointed at all, but excited. I think she is putting on a strong face. Sweet girl.
Andy and I on the other hand, couldn't be more thrilled about having another boy. I must say I really wanted a boy. I love having my girl, but to be honest, I didn't want to share the girl thing her and I have. Also, it will be a lot of fun for Henry to have a brother close to his age.
Now we need to think of the perfect name for this little guy. I have no idea, I better hurry up though or else this one's name is going to be George!

Family Day

Today, we took our annual trip to free museum day in the city. Last year, we hit up the Shedd and then moved on to the Field Museum. It was a really great time. So this time we planned to go down to the Museum of Science and Industry. We've been talking for a week about seeing the chicks hatch out of their egg, the trains, and then seeing what the babies look like in mommy's tummies. We were all really excited.
We loaded the car this morning and headed to IHOP for breakfast. Henry was ticked off, because we were literally facing the mall. He wanted to go to the mall and "walk," his new favorite thing to do. He mentioned it to everyone who passed and just reminded us throughout the entire meal. The waitress came up and started talking to Addison and Henry. Like I said, Henry mentioned his immediate need for walking, and Addison responded to the waitress' question, "do you like your brother?" with a shrug and "yeah, Henry's okay."
After breakfast we drove into the city. When we approached the museum, we suddenly were one of what seemed like a thousand cars waiting to get into the parking garage. Where did all these cars come from? This did not look good. But we were ready, had drove over an hour to get there, and we wanted to see those chicks hatch (for free) darn it!
After parking, we made it into the building with the flood of others. As we rounded a corner Addison suddenly froze and screamed, Henry screamed and started crying. What? Oh the train. Yes, they were horrified by the train in the lobby. If I might add, it is gigantic. If I was one or three I would probably be scared too.
The rest of the afternoon was spent weaving in and out of crowds. Avoiding strollers. Finding elevators. And seeing the chicks hatch.
It was not a good day. But at least we had a whole day together.
I love whole days with my family.

Our Big Sleeper

For those of you who don't know, Henry has never been much of a sleeper. Typically, bedtime consisted of Andy (or sometimes me) patting Henry's little booty for a good hour. In the middle of the night, he generally wakes up two to three times, which requires about an hour at least of more patting. Nap time, I would pat him, with my head resting on the top bar of the crib as my right arm fell asleep and finally went numb.

With that said, sleep has never been something we looked forward to with the little bear.

Friday afternoon, Andy announced that "enough is enough. We have to let this little man cry it out." Certainly, we were going to be up all night. This was NOT a good idea. Or so I thought. Andy laid him down while I went to Target so I didn't have to listen to him cry. He called me thirty minutes later, the boy was asleep!!! Essentially, he fell asleep faster crying than when we sit and pat him. He woke up once in the middle of the night, cried for ten minutes, and fell back asleep. Nap time was the same story. Today's nap time it took him only ten minutes to fall asleep! I am so proud of this little guy, and I must say if I would had known this would be so easy, I would had done it a long time ago!

Trip to Appleton

This weekend, we ventured out (in our new van!) to visit uncle BJ and aunt Pattie. We love going up to Appleton to visit them, they are so hospitable, fun, and the kids play great together. While we love going up there, we sure do miss them living here!

We got to meet baby Ethan, who resembles a Burns' through and through. He is a cute little guy. Addison, Mia, and Jonathon, played the whole time, we barely even heard from them! Little Olivia tagged along too and kept up pretty good with the "big kids" (as we called them when we needed them). Poor little Henry doesn't do well away from home and stayed near us pretty much the whole time. Of course, about two hours before we left he got really comfortable and played really well with the other kids.

On Sunday morning we went to BJ and Pattie's church. It is a really great church, we always love the service when we are able to go. Addison was thrilled to be going to a new church. Her biggest concern? What they would be serving for snack. The girl's teacher said he could tell the were cousins and they played so good together. On the way home from church, Addison told us she learned about forgiveness and sharing with friends. She then asked us what we had for snack in our class, she just couldn't comprehend that they wouldn't serve us a snack. Basically she said, "what's the point of going then?"

We left their house about 7 at night. It took about three hours to get home. Henry mostly slept, but Addison? She talked. And talked. And talked. It was amazing and exhausting all in one. I'm not sure if she actually took a break at all. At one point, I asked if her and Andy could go anywhere in the whole world, where would they go? Andy said Hawaii. Addison said the Great Wall of China, or cupcake mountain. I said a fancy hotel next to a beautiful beach.

Thanks, BJ and Pattie for a relaxing and fabulous weekend! Can't wait to see you soon!