Trip to Poplar Bluff

Well, the next few weeks are going to be busy for us. We are leaving tonight for a trip to Poplar Bluff, my hometown. Kris is going to China for 2 weeks, so I decided to go spend some time with my parents and friends. We are driving the 12 hours that it takes to get there--yes, I know we are a little crazy. I am aware this could be a disastrous trip, but at least we are going at night. I have high hopes that both boys will sleep. Kris is going with  me, then he is flying out of the Memphis airport. I am pumped to see my family and visit with my friends. All three of my close girlfriends, Renee, Danielle, and Heather, have had baby girls in the past few months, so I will get to meet them as well.

We will return from our trip on the 7th of March, then we turn around and leave again on the 8th for Richmond, VA. We are going on a trip to the area because it looks like we are moving!! Yes, I know, we just built a house, but this move was rather unexpected for us. Kris received a promotion this past June and his bosses immediately started talking with him about relocating to headquarters in Richmond. We hope to get our house on the market soon. We plan to make the move sometime this summer. Anyway-we are going to Richmond for  four days to explore the area. My mom is coming to our house to watch the boys. I am extra pumped for 4 days of uninterrupted time with my hubby, and who am I kidding, four days of sleeping through the night and sleeping in in the morning!!

In other news, Liam is back to his healthy self. We went for a check-up on Monday and he is perfect again. He did weigh 15 pounds, so he is quite large for a 2 month old. I, on the other hand, came down with mastitis this week. That was not fun. Luckily my symptoms only lasted about 2 days.

"Real" Haircut

Kris took Kale to get his first "real" haircut at Great Clips this weekend. He said Kale did a good job sitting still (which is something he will not do for Kris). I don't think the lady cutting his hair did much better than Kris does. I think in the future we will save our $10 and have Kris cut it. 

Kale has a terrible cowlick in the front of his hair. I just don't know what to do with it. 

Kale and his lumberjack hat!

Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day, my sweet husband bought me chocolates and flowers. The boys got me an hour and half massage (I really need it and am looking forward to using it). Kris and I attempted to eat dinner together, although it didn't go as planned. We had steak, baked potatoes, zucchini, and chocolate cake, but Liam wanted to scream the whole time, so midway through dinner I got up to rock him. I am not sure if Kris and I will ever eat dinner at the same time again...

My parents got Kale this book for Valentine's Day. It plays music and has his picture in it. He loves it! Unfortunately for me it plays the same annoying song over and over! :) 

Grandma and Grandpa Helling sent Kale and Liam stuffed animals and candy for Valentine's Day. 

Bath Time

When you are a parent to two kiddos, you must learn to use your time wisely. One thing that helps with time management is to bathe both boys together. It works for everyone because Kale thinks it's neat to take a bath with "Lee" (in Kale's words), and Liam loves to watch Kale splash and play. 

Kale even shares his toys! 

Liam has an enormous stomach. 

The unfortunate part of this particular bath is that Liam pooped in it...this actually created double the work. 

Motherhood

I stole these from my friend's blog, but I so love them!

I particularly like the last part of this phrase.  "Mommy guilt" is the gift that  keeps on giving. When I am with Kale, I feel like I should be with Liam, and vice versa. . . not to mention I frequently feel like I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to being a parent. 

...And So It Begins

I have commented quite a bit over the past few months just how difficult having 2 boys is. It hasn't helped that we have been quite sickly lately. Kale had strep, then he cracked his elbow, then an ear infection, and now Liam has RSV. All of these events have surely made things much more difficult. At times, I know that both Kris and I have felt quite beaten down.

Today though, I just had to stop and laugh. Kris is spending the night in the hospital with the Liam, so I went to get Kale from the sitter. When we got home, I was unloading my bags, etc, when Kale passed gas. It was quite loud...Kale immediately started cracking up laughing and then proceeded to walk around the house, stick his butt out, and make farting noises with his mouth. If you know my husband (or maybe if you have a husband of your own), you probably know that stories about bodily functions are quite funny to him. Apparently Kale is taking after his old man...and so it begins. The gravity of being stuck in a houseful of boys, and one day men, is setting in. I think I better get used to farts and stories about them, because I have a feeling a lot of them will be coming my way!

Liam's Hospital Stay

Liam is currently in the hospital. Somehow he caught RSV and is one sick little boy. We went to the ER on Saturday, then were back at the doctor Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Finally by Tuesday afternoon the doctor decided to admit him. He was beginning to get dehydrated due to lack of eating. By the time we got to the hospital, his O2 was pretty low and he had to go on oxygen. The hospital staff did breathing treatments every few hours and luckily he was able to stop oxygen this AM. Unfortunately he did contract a high fever during the night and currently has a severe ear infection.

Please continue to pray for our baby boy. It is tough to see any child in pain, but is particularly difficult to see such a small baby struggle to breathe. We hope to go home in the next few days.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:SW 9th Ave,Amarillo,United States

2 Months

Liam is 2 months today! We had his well child visit today (even though he is not well, more on that later). He weighed 13 pounds, 14 oz (and has lost 5 oz since last week). He is in the 89 percentile for weight. Geez! He is the complete opposite of Kale, who was in the 13 percentile during his last well visit. Liam is 23 1/4 inches long and is in the 69th percentile for height. Finally, he must have kind of a large head because his head circumference is in the 83th percentile. . . he must have a big brain!

My sweet boy is super sick. He has RSV and sounds terrible. He has been sleeping on the nap nanny between Kris and I the past couple of nights because I am terrified he is going to stop breathing. His cough is also terrible. At today's visit, his oxygen levels were better than yesterday, which is great news, however he is not eating great. We are in danger of getting dehydrated. We go back tomorrow to get checked out again. Pray that my little man decides to eat (although he could afford to lose an ounce of two, he needs that liquid!) 

In other news, Kale had a check-up for his elbow. The doctor said he still has a significant crack and will need to wear his cast about 2 weeks longer. Darn! 

Kale and Liam took a bath together the other day. Kale thought it was neat to have his baby brother in the tub with him. Liam enjoyed himself too and promptly feel asleep on the bobby in the bathroom after his bath. 

Kale is so handsome and fashionable! I bought him this cute pink shirt at Children's Place and just had to get a picture of him in it. 

Things I am Learning

Since Liam was born Kris and I have been splitting our time with the boys. I have not been responsible for both boys at the same time very often. As of today that has changed. Our sitter is closed for both Thursday and Friday. So I've learned one of my most important lessons of motherhood :

One can take care of two kids at once...it's hard but it's possible.

I have said before that it's hard to have two. Much harder than having one. I honestly don't see how people do it who have twins. My house will probably never look the same, as it is! Kris and I were talking the other day about beginning to work out... but there's absolutely no time in the day. Maybe once Liam gets a little bit older and can go with us, it would work but right now he's too young to take out in the cold weather.

After today, I am very thankful for the play place at the mall. As Germ infested as it may be, it was a lifesaver. We spent almost an hour and a half there today.


Enjoying the double stroller...it took me almost 30 minutes to figure out how to use it!


Playing at the playground at the mall.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone