Happy Veteran's Day!

I was heartbroken yesterday as I watched the Ft. Hood Memorial. Wives, husbands, children, moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends were lost during that horrific shooting. I pray that those they left behind can find peace in this situation, and I am ever more grateful for their service. Thanks to all of my friends, uncles, and father-in-law who have served or are serving our country with honor!

We were treated and tricked

It's been an interesting few days around here. Madelyn takes gymnastics on Saturdays and really enjoys it, so we knew something was amiss when she was practically refusing to participate last Saturday. She told us her throat hurt, but we just assumed she had some congestion and a cold. She seemed fine, and as you can see from the pictures below, participated in Halloween activities. After trick or treating, though, she had a temperature of 102 and didn't show much interest in her candy. Her temperature on Sunday reached 104 and she complained of an ear ache, sore throat, and she threw up. When she got up from her nap, she walked down the stairs, grabbed a pillow, and parked herself in front of the TV. She did not move from that spot until she threw up and had to take a bath. One of her friends, whom she had spent time with at church the previous Sunday, was diagnosed with H1N1, and we were concerned that she might have it. The doctor said no ear infection, no strep, probably not swine flu. Her temperature returned to normal on Monday and she was back to her tricks on Tuesday. Thankfully, no one else has displayed symptoms.

Pumpkin Painting

Daddy's Girl

Mission accomplished

All three kids and I ventured to the store today. I had been dreading doing this, but it had to be done. I know people do this all the time, but for some reason, I was finding the thought overwhelming. Anyway, we did it and it went really well. The kids were on their best behavior which helped tremendously. Pierce rode in the front part of the shopping cart and didn't complain that Madelyn got to walk. Madelyn walked and kept up with me and didn't wonder off. Isabel slept in the sling(highly recommend, by the way). We were in and out in under 45 minutes, and now I know it can be done.

Notable quotes from this morning

"Sometimes life is an accomplishment." (A friend, commenting on trying to get the kids out the door for the morning.)

"I don't want to have good manners." (Pierce, as we were driving to get Madelyn from school. He was demanding I turn on his CD.)

"God made it." (Pierce, pointing to his private area.)

"I need a nap." (Madelyn,, after being disciplined.)

"Mommy, you need a nap." (Madelyn after I raised my voice in frustration.)

"But I love her." ( Pierce, after being told to stop touching Madelyn. Madelyn was not enjoying the head rub.)

AND, it's only Monday afternoon.

My Dilemma

If Isabel goes to bed peacefully between 7:30 and 8:00 with the other kids (like she did the last two nights), then she wakes up at 3:30 am and goes right back to sleep after I feed her. (I tried letting her cry for a bit to see if she'd go back to sleep, but no luck.) I really enjoy having some down time in the evenings, but I really don't like the 3:30 wake up call.

If Isabel screams her head off like she did most evenings before these last two (from 8:30/9:00 until 10-10:30), then she sleeps until 6:15. That is fabulous, but the late evenings can be a bit stressful.

I contemplated waking her up last night around 9:00, just to let her scream it out, but I was hopeful that she would sleep through the night. (We do feed her at 10:00 pm but she barely wakes up for that.) However, after two nights of the same thing happening, I figure I have a decision to make: either suck up the 3:30 feedings for a while or wake her up and deal with screaming for an hour or so at night before I go to bed.

Any thoughts?