It’s happening again…

I thought I was making a comeback, but that drizzled to once a month and now, I didn’t even make that…sorry! 

 

I almost had to come back here 2 weeks ago to tell you Audrey was in the hospital, she pulled an Audrey though and got to come home.  "Pulled an Audrey", you ask?  I’m going to start instituting that phrase for behaviors showcasing pure will and determination, let’s see it if catches on.  Little Punk got pneumonia and nearly sent me over the edge.  I was good at the sick kid thing 3 years ago, now?  NOT. SO. MUCH.  Her fever would send her respiration rate through the roof and for 2 days we really couldn’t get it below 101 for any length of time.  By the third day she was done and I took a limp baby to the dr. for the 2nd time that day.  As soon as her dr. saw her she said, "I think it’s time to move to the ER"; ugh.  She took her pulse ox and it was 90ish.  She listened to her again though and thought she sounded clearer so wanted to let the fever go down and recheck before sending us.  I told Audrey to start thinking the number 95 and to show me "five".   Sure enough, we put the pulse ox on and she showed me her five again and said she was thinking 95, the machine read 95!  We did 2 shots of Rocephin then and hung out to make sure she didn’t have a reaction to them as well to let the fever get down more.  The worst had past; we got to go home and this week (after a full week of recovery) she is 100%.   Let me tell you though, ugh.  I swear that week took more out of me than her whole NICU stay.  She’s just been so healthy and "normal" for so long that seeing her that vulnerable again hit me really hard. 

 

Besides that little adventure, however, we’ve been really great.  Here a few pictures of the kids favorite new pasttime…

.

 

We’ve gone 4 times now since October and all three LOVE it.  I wish there was a rink closer and newer, but it is loads of fun and the flashback to my old days at the Gem Roller Rink are priceless too!

NYC was FABULOUS!!!

Had the best time but too tired to share any more details than the pictures!  I’ll caption them later this week and add all the holiday fun pics so far too! 

i’m such a tease…

i really did intend to be here regularly, sorry to those of you have been checking!  The holidays just sort of creeped up and the blog left my radar again.    Anyway, this will be quick as i am on my way to meet nathan in nyc!!!!  i’ve never been and he’s there for work, so mom has the kids and we’re having adult time in a crazy, beautiful city, YAY!!

All is well with us; we passed the one year mark of Audrey not having a button…Dec 4th she ate a big ole burger to commemorate it!   Burgers are actually her favorite food, we indulge her more than we should but have you seen her?  She can use a few burgers!  She is getting so tall now though, both her and Jason can not keep a pair of pants very long these days before they are high-waters. 

 

Gotta run, but look for lots o pictures when I get back, we’ve had some fun holdiay times already and hopefully i’ll have some good ones from NYC too (trying for a new facebook profile pic while there!).  happy Birhtday to my dad tomorrow! 

PSA

What NOT to do on a night when you’ve had a few glasses of wine and your boys are busy:

 

Finally, after 3.5 years, look at the NICU video footage of your now,  fabulously healthy CDH miracle.  What we saw hope in just floors me.  Where we saw beauty inspires me.  But really, just don’t do it, the end.

They may all get military cuts soon…

LICE!  Have you had ‘em?  Oh my what obnoxious house guests they are, I DO NOT recommend you let them in.  We’ve gotten "the letter" home before, you know the one that makes your skin crawl and your head instantly itch?  We’ve never had the pleasure of actually hosting the little buggers before though and oh, what a pleasure, UGH!  About a month ago, I had just finished packing the whole family up to head out to San Antonio for my mom’s 60th birthday, as in, was loading the dog up to take her to the boarding place before picking the kids up to head out, when my phone rang, "Hi Mrs. Miller, this is the school nurse, I have Jason here and well….he has lice".  I literally screamed in the poor girl’s (she’s not even older than Audrey’s youngerst NICU nurse), "WHATTTT????"  Went and got him; turned out 4 in his class and 3 in Ethan’s had it too.  Cancelled our trip to SA and started the delousing process.  20 loads of hot water wash and super heat dry, hours of vacumming and nit-picking later, and I thought we were clean.  I even started washing, conditioning, and leave-in conditioning with tea-tree oil products in hopes of preventing the reinvestation.  I retreated at 7 days and continued our tea-tree regimen. 

So silly to feel protected by the tea-tree; got the call today, Ethan has "several nits".  I screamed in her ear again, ugh!  Neither Audrey or Jason had any on them, but they were treated to the super-fun combing session and shampoo too.   After I treated Ethan, I took him to get a buzz cut.  I sat there the whole time on pins and needles hoping I had gotten them all so the stylist wouldn’t have to freak out if she saw any.  Apparently I’m quite the nit comber, as she had no clue.  After, I told Ethan how nervous I had been and he says, "I know mom, my heart was beating super fast the whole time!"  Awesome, I’ve taught my child to lie by withholding information, I’m such a great mom! 

 The last load of laundry is in right now.  We’ll be treated to Audrey telling everyone "my brother has bugs in his hair" for the next few days until she forgets which will probably coincide with us getting it again, fun times at the Millers!  Remind me to share yesterday’s folly too, Jason in the principal’s office for writing "poop" on an assignment…they LOVE the Miller family at our school!  Wait til they get Missy Miss!

She’ll teach me…

In true Audrey fashion…I write a whole blog about what a toot she can be and she’ll slam me with perspective.  She has been pull-up free at night for months now without ever having an accident.  This morning she woke up with a "little accident mommy".  Of course the message I heard was, "Complain about how tough she is and she’ll remind you of something you should be thankful for…she may be tough, but she is potty-trained already, oh,  and ALIVE, be thankful beyotch!!"  Got it.  She’s still a toot though

 

Ethan stayed home today and I wasn’t going to take him in but something told me I’d better and yep, sure enough, Strep.  They just went to the dentist this week, what a waste of a new and free toothbrush, bummer.

 

Have a good weekend!   

Thinking about a return to blogosphere…

Hello old friend, how have you been?  Facebook took your place but I’m ready to try adding to my verbage again!  The Millers are well.  Audrey is fabulous and terrible all at the same time…her health, FABULOUS, her rating on the ease of parenting scale?  HARD!  If I would have known before she was born how stubborn, independent, determined, and smart she was, I would have NEVER doubted that she was going to live.  Of course she kicked CDH’s ass, she beats me down daily!  Seriously can not win for trying with little miss I-don’t-miss-a-thing-and-don’t-you-try-to-sneak-anything-past-me.  Negotiations with her are never win-win for anyone but her…."Audrey, in 2 minutes we are leaving the park"  "but I won’t be ready then, I need 10 more minutes of swinging"  "sorry, my car is leaving in 2 minutes"  "but I won’t be in it yet" and it goes on and on and on until I get done and carry her kicking and screaming to the car where the fight continues trying to buckle a 3 year-old who is stronger than 10 men!  It doesn’t always go that way, but it’s a great illustration of how her 4th year is going–Audrey wants everything on her terms when she want it!  Just tonight we finished everything early and so were watching a movie together; "Audrey, get your TT (blankie) and cup before we go upstairs" (essentials for AJ to watch a movie with) "Mommy, I just need TT, I’m not even a little bit thirsty".  Everyone is settled in, Horton has just determined that he definately heard something on the speck and Audrey starts, "where’s my drink, where’s my cup, get it mommy, get it mommy, get it".  Lights on, movie paused, boys annoyed, "I’m sorry Audrey, what?" (her cue that she’s being rude), "mommy, will you please go get my cup?"  "oh, Audrey, I would love to but I asked you to get it before the movie to get it and you said you didn’t need it"  "I need it now"  "okay, go and get it"  "no, I need you to get it"  "I"m sorry, I can’t do that"  "but mommy, the light isn’t on in my room and that’s where my cup is"  "I’m sure your light is on, you can go" panic and fit start  "mommy, mommy, mommy go get it"  Ethan pops up, "come on Audrey, I’ll turn the light on for you" smug, Audrey goes down with him.  When they return, Ethan looks at me deadpan and says, "you were right mom, the light was on, start the movie"  Poor boys! 

 

As crazy and frustrating as she can be though, we still gaze with starry eyes at her.  She told Jason tonight "I love being your sister, we are like the best brother and sister ever" (not sure where she gets her vernacular from, strange!)  Yesterday out of blue she wrapped her arms around my legs and said, "I just love you so much mommy".   I think she knows that those moments pull me through the fits and irrational 3 year-old stuff!   I am hoping that turning 4 will help, I remember 3 being a tough age for the boys too. 

Ethan and Jason are great.  We moved this summer and the new school has been a little tough on Ethan but Jason is a ROCKSTAR Kindergartner.  He’ll tell you he doesn’t like school but only because he thinks it the cool thing to say…he LOVES it and is just thriving there.  E is doing well but still finds himself missing his old friends.  He’s so big now too, the conversations we can have with him blow me away, he’s insightful and so observant.  I wish he could stay 8 though, I’m scared for the loss of innocence that is coming too quickly. 

Our new home is coming together well; we moved in late June after a whirlwind of craziness.  Our house sold in 2 days, we had our first offer 2 hours after it hit the market and I hadn’t even gone out looking yet for a new place!  Nathan has still been on the M-TH travel schedule this whole time but it is finally coming to an end soon– as in next week is his last week!!!  His new gig will still have some travel, but nothing like now.  Last week when I told the kiddos at dinner, all three danced in their seats at the prospect of having dinner with daddy during the week!  We can’t wait! 

 

That’s the update in a nutshell…I hope to be back much sooner than 6 months!

This past weekend was my birthday, the crown is compliments of Jase!