Catching Up~ SoCal

We have been able to go down to San Diego to visit twice already this year! It is so fun! The first time we went was in January. Derek's awesome sister Sandi and her family live there so that is the best part, getting to see and stay with them. My kids love it there! Her home is fun and inviting and beautiful with all the lush greenery and beautiful flowers that grow easily in San Diego! My kids absolutely love it there and love seeing cousins Annelise and Caroline! Even though they are quite a bit older than Travis and Makenna, they are always willing to play!

Makenna and Annelise- they look a lot alike!! So cute!

Annelise holding Thomas- He was so little!

During that first trip, we ventured up north to Seal Beach where my Grandma Howe lives. She lives in this cool retirement community called Leisure World. We were able to go to lunch and back to her place for a nice visit. She is so great! She will have her 30th Great grand child this year! (#29 is on the way TODAY!!! Way to go John and Christy!)

Grandma with the kids!

Climbing trees in Leisure World. Fun for kids.

Frowned upon by some locals!

We also made a stop at the beach! Sandi and I took the kids while Derek played golf. Even though it was January, the day was beautiful and nothing beats playing in the sand and dipping your toes in the ocean!

Thomas' first trip to the beach!

(have to document it because he slept through it!)

Back again in February, this time we still had fun with Sandi and the girls, as well as getting to see Christa, Scott, and Reed! They were there for a conference of his and it was the first time I had gotten to see baby Reed! He is a cutie!

Travis, Makenna, Caroline, and Annelise on the playground at Balboa Park

I was able to stay for the evening on Friday night with Reed and Thomas while Scott and Christa went to dinner. It was fun to have the two baby cousins together!

On Saturday, Christa and I met up with Grandma and our Aunt Janeen for lunch while Derek took the kids to the zoo! They had a great time!

Annelise and Travis at the front gate

Out of all the things at the zoo, Derek said that the kids loved the sky tram the best!

The aerial shot!

Loving the ride!

That is a happy girl!

Some more fun at the zoo:

Although the monkey's were not as silly as the Madagascar monkey's, the kids had a great time! We love going to San Diego and can't wait to go back!

(wouldn't this post be great topped off with a great family photo? or include some pictures of my sister? How did I not get ANY pictures of them?

Check here for that:

http://perioprices.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-diego.html

Thanks for always taking good pics, Scott and Christa!

Too Much?

There are many things in our lives that have become too much. Too much TV. Too much (many) toys. Too much food. Too much clutter. Too much stuff. Too much... it's all too much.



Today I am talking about too much of another thing.



Too much... sleep deprivation.



In the past few weeks we have been battling some illnesses in our house. It started with me getting shingles. I have NO idea how I got it and it is totally weird. It is like adult chicken pox but all the spots are concentrated in one area. It itches and hurts and is quite annoying. It has cleared up and I feel better from that but lost some good hours of sleep due to discomfort.



Then Makenna battled a nasty raspy cough for the longest time. Then Thomas had the same thing and luckily both have gotten over it without trips to the doctor.



And now.



You know how I said shingles is the adult form of chicken pox. Well, just about everyone in our house is immune to it. Either had it in youth or had the vaccine.



Almost everyone.



Yep, you guessed it. Thomas has full blown chicken pox. I probably gave it to him before I even knew what I had and it takes at least 2 weeks to incubate. Poor baby. I'm so sorry! Luckily, he really hasn't had a fever and he was just acting normally until late last night. Which brings me to the sleep deprivation.



It is starting to add up. Derek spent last Friday and Saturday away on a campout for scouts. Then of course his Sunday is filled with church responsibilities, meaning I never got my catch-up-on-my-lost-sleep nap. Then last night Thomas would not go to his own bed till well after 1:00 a.m. He just wanted me to hold him. Of course it then takes me some time to let go of my thoughts and finally go to sleep myself.



And back up at 7 am. Or more like 7:30 before I actually got up.



My eyes were still burning when I tried to open them. My head was fuzzy. My limbs heavy.



Got to get up, got to feed the baby, shower (since I didn't yesterday), got to get Makenna off to school. Oh yeah, I'm driving. Should I really be driving? Will I be able to focus and see clearly? Yes, I can. It' not that bad. Breakfast. Luckily I went and bought cereal last night and so at least I don't have to cook this morning. But why didn't I just get the other things I needed no matter how expensive they are at Vons? What can I possibly make for dinner that doesn't involve cheese and tortillas? Ok, drop the girls off, make a quick stop at the store with just Travis and Thomas, who will stay covered up in his baby seat.

Just get this one thing done. Get to the store. Travis won't put his sandal on- his foot hurts and he will not walk. Why am I trying? Get back in the car and go home. Frozen pizza will have to do-again.

Make it home. Thomas is fussy, wants to be held. We're going to try a bath, maybe that will feel good for him. Works a little, doesn't last long. Still fussy. Time to feed him again. I better eat, too, if I'm going to be able to keep feeding him all day. I'm tired. Sit down. Phone rings. Baby wakes. Up again. Eyes burn. Back aches.

I'm still tired.

There is hope. It looks like some of the pox are clearing up on his face and head. How long do they last? Hopefully not for too long.

Here's hoping Thomas will be able to sleep tonight, and we can all get good rest.

I love my family and being a mother and I love feeling rested. I can have both, right?





(I'm not writing this to gain pity, just as a record of events in our lives right now! And, bloggers, keep posting, as it is our only window to the outside world for a while!:)

Funny home video...

I love this video of Trav- it makes me laugh every time!

It's kind of hard to tell, but Thomas sticks his tongue out every time we blow in his hair!