March Madness

Now that I have my picture blog, I find myself not updating this one as much.  Whether that's good, bad, or indifferent, I don't know.  Personally, I use this blog as more of a "baby book" to record and remember little moments, milestones, and thoughts as my babies grow up.  The other blog is more of a photo timeline -- pictures of the mundane, of the silly, of the normal daily business that goes on in our lives.  I like having them both, for different reasons, even if they overlap sometimes. 

In any event, today is the first day of spring break.  While that means pretty much nothing to my schedule (other than no Coffee Break next week), I know some day it will be as exciting as it was today for roughly half of my immediate family.  We were invited to Myrtle Beach with the Raredon's, VanderLugt's and my mom for the week (just like we were invited to Gulf Shores with the Ploeg's while they "wintered" down there), but it just doesn't appeal to me.  Something about a long car ride and a week away from our normal surroundings with my three kids three and under, just sounds exhausting.  Let alone, our "vacation" last year to Big Star with the VLugt's was a total disaster with both Tyler and Sam all but refusing to touch the sand or water.  Maybe next year ... maybe.
On the bright side, though, we had a lovely and SUNNY day here in good old Grand Rapids.  At around 50 degrees, it was warm enough to ditch the mittens, hats, and even the winter coats for some extended fun riding bikes, coloring the sidewalk, and playing with neighbors unseen in months.

 



The last month or so, we've finally had a pretty good stretch in the health department.  Other than Lukie's tube surgery, we've been relatively cold, flu, doctor-free.  (That said, Sam is coughing in his sleep right now.)  Since the tubes, I think Luke has been picking up many more words and is really just feeling better.  He's still a lot of work -- and a lot of weight (nearly 30 pounds) to carry around -- when he's crabby from cutting new teeth or getting clocked by one of the brothers while trying to keep up, but that comes with the territory.
I did have my first mortifying potty-training adventure this week at Coffee Break.  The ONLY time I've forgotten my diaper bag (all that more important for me, remember, as I have to bring snacks for my boys every week) was this week.  And wouldn't you know it, this is the week Ty decides to forget to go on the potty during his class and I have NO spare clothes for him.  Luckily, I was saved by a fellow momma and didn't have to abandon ship, but still, no fun.  I know it happens to everyone at some point, but still, no fun.  On the bright side, they are (relatively) potty trained at this point.

Unrelated, here's Sam playing "boo" with Lukie.

Tubes

Today was my first surgery with one of my kids.  Granted, ear tubes are outpatient, routine, and really not a big deal -- but surgery nonetheless.  We arrived at 7:15, checked in, was shown our room and waitied til 8:30 for the action.  We played a lot of peek-a-boo with the hospital bed and the curtain on the door (see below).  Thankfully, he was in a pretty good mood, despite not having eaten in 12 hours. 
I got to go back with him for the anesthesia (it was a little wierd seeing my baby go out like that), then waited all of fifteen minutes to scoop my crying baby from the nurse after the procedure.  It was really quick.  Lukie was not particularly amused but by the time we got home, he had settled down and was READY to eat. 
Is it crazy to say I think he already feels better?  He took a great nap today and after that was a pretty happy baby.  He is such a little love bug and I'm so glad it's over and he's on the mend!!

Lukie playing around in our room while waiting his turn for tubes. 

Lucas and Tyler playing a game (while Uncle Bri played a similar game
but with ping pong paddles with Sam for nearly 45 minutes). 
Joy in the basement.

On a separate note, potty training with the twins is finally hitting smooth sailing.  We haven't attempted the night-time business yet (diapers for bed), but Sam has been good for about a month now and Tyler is finally catching on now that we've lured him with a new Cranky-the-Crane toy once he masters the whole bit (it was like he just wasn't trying sometimes).  I still feel a little panicky once and awhile when I leave them in just undies at Bible Study or the gym but, fingers crossed, no oopsies yet!