Dinner and visit

Sunday we took that 3 hour nap that I mentioned that felt so refreshing, but when I woke up there was no way that I was going to cook.
We headed out to Moretti's, close by our house and is a very family friendly restaurant.
We enjoyed our delicious food. I requested for the TV by our table to be on ABC so we could watch the red carpet.
D enjoyed my fries so much he was eating them off the floor under the table.
It was nice not to cook for a change. Mommy was happy.
and so was daddy
Afterward, we stopped by my mom's since she claims that she's been sick for two weeks and neither of her daughters visited her. She's like that, makes us feel guilty about such things, even though we were avoiding her so we would not pass the germs back and forth. D was so excited, he kept saying "Bunia's house, only 5 minutes" wonder where he got that from :) HA!
If all goes well with sicknesses around here we may ship him off to Bunia's this weekend for a sleep over. He remembered that on Monday morning after my mom promised him a sleep over on Sunday because he didn't want to leave her house. He likes the toys she has. Really, all she has is blocks that are 10 years old and a tiny car that he loved when he was one and barely fits in it. I don't get it.
It's been a busy beginning of the week!

Weekend

Our busy weekend has ended and I barely had any time to relax, except that 3 hour nap we took today. It was very nice.
Saturday was very busy, with a memorial, getting our taxes done and a birthday birthday. The party was for a 4 year old princess and the theme was The Wizard of Oz.
D enjoyed himself at the party, he spotted a car and it was all over. The car appears in all pictures.
He wasn't crazy about the pinata but I think that's because when the candy fell the screaming kids scared him. He enjoyed the lolipop from it though.
and there is the car
He even took it with him to the table for cake. There was no convincing him.
Sunday always starts with breakfast together as we catch up on some gossip or some letter and number learning. Can't beat grilled cheese, strawberries and apples.
When we woke up I was not in the mood to cook and there was no time. We headed over to Moretti's for some food. The pics from my phone wouldn't send to my account so I will update on our delicious dinner in a day or two. Right now I'm going to enjoy watching the Oscars and hopefully I will be able to sleep tonight. One can never get too much beauty sleep.

Happy Friday!

We have a busy weekend ahead of us. I'm hoping for no snow but we shall see. Have a great weekend everyone!

Planning a party

Not a lot to report from this weekend except that our basement is organized!!! After 3 hours in the basement during D's nap the cob webs are vacuumed, baby clothes organized and stored and the exercise equipment ready to burn some calories off of two people in this house.
It felt great but our lungs paid for it. Both Ry and I are allergic people and hanging out in an unfinished, dusty basement for that long really did a number on us. It was worth it though. It was overdue.
Today I completed the design of D's birthday invitation. I always tell myself they are not that big of a deal and then I start obsessing over them; font, color, wording and before you know it I'm on proof number 5!!!
I mentioned before that this party is CARS themed so I'm having fun looking at decorations and fun things that kids can do. The kids that will be there will range from 5 months to 14 years so making it all work is a challenge but as long as family and friends are there it will all work out. I was so stressed for D's 1st birthday but this year I'm actually enjoying the details and looking forward to a nice day that we'll celebrate our little man turning 3.
This will be his cake if the bakery will make it. Simple and to the point.

My mother in law always asks "what is the theme?" about everything; parties, showers, holidays, room decor, memorials, etc. I think we're going way out with the theme this time!!! Usually I'm not one to do so much theme stuff but this child's love for cars is an obsession, so who's to say his favorite fan can't go a little over board this year?!

P.S. Daniel is feeling better and after visiting the Dr. on Friday and getting a diagnoses of pneumonia, we have kept him home from school all last week. Today he stayed home with daddy. We are hoping Wednesday he goes back to school and this trend of sickness is over!

As I sit in front of my computer screen while listening to D talk to himself in his room, even though he should be sleeping I figured I would post.
I've been bad with blogging but honestly with all the sickness around this home, I just didn't have the time or had anything to write about besides germs.
A few random things on my mind today:

1. Why does my child turn into a bad boy when I'm around but both grandmas claim he's an absolute angel when I'm not there.
2. What is up with gas, food, clothes, etc. prices? How can a family pay bills and save with the crazy inflation going on?
3. Related to #2, I need to get going on purchasing our airline tickets to FL before prices go up. On our way to the ER with D on Monday, I sat in the back seat and about 10 minutes into the drive we both said, "we need to fly or we will kill each other trying to get there".
4. Why am I still listening to D talk instead of sleep? Doesn't he know how much I look forward to this time of day.
5. I should have ordered our new phone with an answering machine because people call and don't get the hint that no one is picking up after 8 rings.
6. I love the sun, today makes me feel so grateful that winter is almost over.
7. Why is it that about a year into your marriage people ask, "when is the baby coming?" The baby comes and as soon as the first one turns 2 it starts again with comments like "when is #2 coming?" Unless you're planning to pay for their college education, I'll let you know about #2. Stop asking.
8. I loved having breakfast with my boys today in our sun filled kitchen.
9. So glad I cleaned the 1st floor yesterday, the laundry....is another story.
10. Goodness, I lead a boring life. I need a hobby.

It's quiet now, there is laundry that needs to be folded and a basement that needs major organization.
Have a great weekend!

A wild weekend

Since a lot has happened, I'll break down the happenings of our weekend quickly.
Friday, has no pictures but I picked up D from daycare with our old sitter, who was visiting and D did not look good. I called the Dr. who informed me that he must be fighting a virus but I could bring him in if he was worse the following morning. At this point D had a red rash, a fever and did not look good. We debated going to the ER but he seemed OK after some Motrin. I thought the rash was from all the vitamins I've been giving him. Immediately I felt guilty over my plan to "overdose" him on vitamins.
He looked even worse on Saturday morning. I called and got in to see the Dr.
It was confirmed, not only was it strep, but because he had a rash, it was now Scarlet Fever.
With a prescription in hand and a happy guy (only because he got a lollipop) in toe we left to get his meds filled. In the mean time I called Ry to cancel our long awaited theater tickets to see Les Miserables that night. Thank God he was smart and purchased insurance.
I started to feel pretty cruddy at home. My throat was on fire and I was getting the chills. We were a pathetic trio. Ry was feeling fine but sad we didn't go to see our show.
I went to a local clinic and was also diagnosed with strep.
The rest of Saturday went something like this.

Kept D busy with art work.
Dug through old toys. Stayed in pajamas all day.
Daddy and D created art while mommy was resting.
Proof that a child is more resilient than an adult.
Sunday we relaxed and medicated D. His cough became horrible at night. He was wheezing. He didn't sleep all night and had a fever.
Sunrise on Valentine's Day brought us to the ER.
An x-ray showed "congestion" in his left lung. There was also "crackling" in the left lung and no one could explain why it was only the left and not both lungs. I was asked "Did he swallow a toy?" I think I would have known....
2 Albuterol treatments, a dose of steroids, a Build a Bear gift from a nurse, a new car from Toys R Us and more prescriptions we came home 4.5 hours later.
His shirt says "Eligible Bachelor", appropriate for Valentine's Day in the ER. That sliding door and a security guard kept him busy for quite a while.And that folks was our Valentine's Day weekend.
Today we had a follow-up with D's pediatrician but have to go back on Friday. He's doing much better and we are hoping that with keeping him home all week it will really help him to get well before catching another virus. This parenting thing really takes a toll sometimes. Don't get me started on teenage years, drivers licenses, late nights and dating. I will be curled up in a fetal position for about 5 years.

200 posts

Today, this blog celebrates its 201st post! WOW! I didn't know I wrote that much.
Today, was also the first day in oh, I don't know 3 years that I finally worked out. My body is in major pain right now. I did the elliptical for 20 minutes followed by sit ups, lunges and squats and you would have though I climbed a mountain.
I packed my girly pink bag (that I bought at Target about a year ago in hopes of being inspired to work out) last night after I stepped on the scale and almost fainted.
I don't know when it happened but I gained 5lbs over night. I know HOW it happened, the break down of my weaknesses include: peanut butter oreos, Polish pastries, overload on bread and pasta and before you know it all my pants mysteriously shrunk.
I enjoyed a lovely sandwich with some fruit today and I caved to La Croix. My new obsession! This drink is 0 calories, sugar, salt, carbs, etc. but it tastes so good! It's very refreshing.
I'm hoping to continue on this path of using my lunch hour to work out as opposed to spending money at the mall across the street.

On a completely different note, I love when D pulls out toys that he played with when he was 7 months old and finds them hilarious. This little phone entertained him for an hour straight, this time he was talking back to the annoying voice on the other side and asking "Who are you?" No one replied thankfully.
On a sad note, Ry's dearest great aunt passed away at 96 (would have been 97 in May). She passed away in her sleep, and for that we are thankful.
She was the matriarch of the family and will be missed greatly.
At the young age of 96 she was sharper than I am. She loved the John Stewart show, cross word puzzles, was on top of all current events and carried on a conversation like no one's business.
We will miss you Aunt Marie. Rest in peace.
The pictures below are with Aunt Marie at our wedding shower and then our baby shower.
Thank goodness for photos but most of all the memories.

Weekend

I've been really bad lately with taking pictures and blogging all together.
I'm just so tired lately and still getting over the bad cold. I think this weather doesn't help.
This weekend nothing exciting happened but I figure I should post to prove how boring we have been lately.
Saturday, with food shopping done I tried tackling the basement (it looks horrible) much of the day and then at night I met a friend for some tea. We lost touch after I moved to the suburbs from the city and we went to different high schools. We found each other on FB and the rest is history. It was nice to catch up. She brought pictures of us that we took and we were dying laughing.
Sunday, we went to church and I think all the kids at family mass were cranky because the wailing that echoed in church was deafening. Our trick to give D a lollipop at church still works because he continues to behave as he licks away.
We went to my sister's for the Superbowl, I forgot the camera and was not happy, but walking back to the house was not an option.
D ran around with the dog as we stuffed our faces with chili, beef sandwiches, chicken and side dishes. By 8:15 we were home and collapsed. Mr. D is finding ways to stall his bed time and we're catching on to his little antics. All of sudden at night he loves going potty, is extremely thirsty and loves cuddling on the rocker.
I'm ready for winter to be over because I totally have the winter blues. The additional 2 inches that fell sealed the deal that I'll be looking at snow for a while longer.

Just a snow storm

We're stuck inside the house after the Blizzard of 2011 has passed, although they claim we are supposed to get more snow.
We ventured outside for an hour of snow blowing, shoveling, sledding and water dumping fun.
Daddy was snow blowing while D and I tried to use the sled down the driveway. This time D did much better and with my sister helping to pull we almost made it to her house but the wind started blowing in his face too much and I was done.
As Daniel chilled in the garage with his car I had to scoop out water from the garage floor (the floor slopes into a hole and the melted snow from our cars is just sitting there, eventually a huge puddle forms), while Ry worked on the driveway. Some fresh air was good for D as he's been in full swing of terrible two's. We thought we were saved but I guess he was a few months behind with tantrums.
The front AFTER it was plowed.
The snow blower master
The tantrum master
Before the snow in our back yard
AFTER
Love before and after pics.
Stay warm everyone!