Easter Pictures

I am FAR too lazy to upload pictures to both Facebook and this blog, so I'm just going to post the link to my Facebook pictures of the kids at Easter and let you do all the work.  :) 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150232857101349.366263.550041348&l=d26ac802a8

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day! Yay! I remember, growing up in Pensacola, they used to have an Earth Day Festival (do they still do this? I really hope so.) that my mom would take me to. They had arts and crafts for the kids, cool art on display and for sale...just a really nice time to get out in the fresh air. Thinking back to that makes me a little home-sick. This is probably the only time of year that I can actually say I miss living in Florida. The reason? It's pretty simple, really. Current temperature in Pensacola, Fl: 73°. Current temperature in Philadelphia, PA: 52°. *sigh* I keep reading posts from all the people I know if P'cola about heading to the beach. Hmph. I still haven't worn flip-flops yet! Ah, well. I'll brag about having the windows open to a nice breeze in May when they (or you depending on who's reading this) are blasting the A/C! Muahahahaha! <--- my attempt at typing an evil laugh.
On a totally different note, I'm really interested in couponing. One of my oldest friends (and by oldest I mean we've known each other forever, not that she's actually old...just clearing that up for everyone on behalf of Suzie...don't think she'd like me calling her old. LOL) actually went to a couponing class and found this website that makes the whole thing so easy. All she does is pull the Sunday coupons, check the website, and the site tells her what coupons to use in conjunction with what sales to make the most of the coupon. I need something like that. I need a class. I don't know what an EBT is. How do you know if a store doubles/triples coupons? Help! Aaaaak! I always go into coupon clipping really gung-ho and end up getting tired of keeping up with the coupons and sales...and half the time the generic brand (which I buy 90% of the time) is still cheaper than the name-brand with a coupon. *whew* See?! I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But, given the current state of things financially, I really feel like it might be worth the effort. Any helpful hints, Suze? Mom? Anybody? Hello?

Whaddaya Mean it Hasn't Been 9 Months Yet?!

*groan* It is not a good indication that at my current stage of pregnancy (9 weeks) I am already "done." With the last two pregnancies I made it to at least the third trimester before feeling this way. I think it must have something to do with the fact that I'm working full-time this time around and the last two I got to nap pretty regularly. I'm exhausted! That said, I am pleased to announce that the nausea seems to have run its' course and is showing no sign of returning. *fingers crossed*
I had my first "official" OB appointment last week and everything is coming along nicely. My due date is November 6, 2011. I'm thinking I'll probably have the baby more like late October, though. You see, I had to have a c-section with Paige (long story...induction went awry...labor stalled at 4cm...blah, blah, blah), so I am left now with the decision of whether I want to attempt a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) or have a repeat C-section. The more I think about it, I'm leaning toward repeat c-section. Although the chance of anything going wrong during a VBAC is slim (I think less than 2%), I just can't make myself see why ANY unnecessary risk is worth it. Ah, well...I'm sure I'll change my mind another 20 times between now and then, so stay tuned.
On to the kids. Oi! Carl IV is going through a phase (please, God, let it just be a phase) where he has something to say about everything! Carl III must have said to me a dozen times over the weekend, "Why, of all your qualities, did you have to pass on your smart-ass mouth to our kids? WHY?!" To which I reply, "I would rather have my kid be a smart-ass than a dumb-ass." And it's true. As obnoxious as it can be, I'm convinced that sassiness at least shows intelligence. Now, how to get the boy to curb the know-it-all attitude into funny sarcasm...I've always been a fan of sarcasm. I know what you're thinking..."NO! Dee, not you! Sarcastic?! Never." But, alas...it's true. I find sarcasm very appealing, when used properly. Unfortunately the art is lost on 4-year-old boys. And on that note, what's with 4-year-old boys?! What a bunch of freaks! Seriously...just weird. 6 months ago, my son was not as weird as he is today. What happened? My fellow parents with kids 4 and over...does this go away? Is it just my kid? Is it just boys? Please help, because I'm starting to wonder if the kid will ever be able to mingle with the rest of society without drawing "those looks."
This past weekend marked the official peak of Paige's journey into the Terrible Twos. And let me tell you, I thought Carl IV was bad...boy was I wrong. You see, Carl IV was a tantrum-thrower, but he sobbed. Paige stands exactly where she is and just shrieks and screeches when she doesn't get her way. I have never in my life had a more constant headache than I have over the past 2 days. I was actually sort of relieved to come to work today because I knew my boss wouldn't screech in my face because he couldn't have another cup of juice and was getting water instead. *sigh* I'm hoping she gets over this pretty quickly or I may have to resort to ear plugs.
We added a few new members to the family a couple of weeks ago. Paige got a few fishies (and don't ask me to tell you how she pronounces fish, because this is a family show, people...let's just say it's similar to a little boy's slang for female mammary glands), and Carl IV got a turtle. We haven't named any of the fish because all the stupid things look the same, so they're just "the fishies" (unless Paige says it, in which case see above). Carl IV's turtle has gone through about 4 different names now. Everything from Sammy the Snail (Me:"But, dude, he's not a snail." Carl IV:"He's my turtle! I can call him whatever I want to!") to Stretch to just Sammy (Carl IV:"You wight, mommy. He's no snail."). One day last week Carl IV just decided it was easiest to stick with "My Pet Turtle." I think this is a wise decision as I was finding it hard to keep track.
Now, I need some advice/tips/etc. It came to mind the other day that Carl IV is 4 now. (I know. Duh...) But, when I actually think about it, 4 is kind of a big deal. That's when I think back and can first really remember things. And one of the things I remember is that's right about when I started to read. I remember my sister had all these cool Archie comics and Katie Keen comics and I was desperate to know what was going on with those incredibly colorful pictures, but my mom refused to read comic books to me. "If you want to read comics, you'll have to read them yourself." ...and I did. I need help, Internet. How can I get my kid interested in reading? I feel like I have to sit on top of him to make through anything longer than 5 or 6 pages. I vaguely remember my mom labeling everything in her classroom when she taught pre-K so the kids would associate certain items with their names. I think I might do that. Thoughts? Suggestions? What worked for your kids?

On a Serious Note...

There is a little boy in the Philadelphia area (that happens to be related to a girl I used to work with) who is undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer. Get this...he's already been through this once, and I think he's only 4...and it's back. Trey Love and his family are in dire need of prayers. If you belong to a church, if you could please ask that your congregation pray for this child and his family. If you live in the Philadelphia area, there will be a Beef & Beer fundraiser to benefit Trey's family this Saturday, 4/2 at the Phoenixville Firehouse. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for kids 5-12, and kids 5 and under are free. One of my friends on Facebook shared this link today, and I have to warn you...it's a bit of a tear-jerker, but the one thing I could not help but notice was the smiles on the parents' faces. They are going through every parent's worst nightmare for the second time and are still able to put on a happy face for their son.
 http://www.danielfullamphotography.com/archives/343
The group shots in this video are of a candlelight vigil held for Trey a week or so ago...so moving to see so many people...complete strangers...come together to pray for Trey and his family. Okay, I have to go before I start crying. The point here people: Pray.

Movies Not to Watch When Pregnant:

1) Fried Green Tomatoes ---Ruth dies, sobbing ensues.
2) Steel Magnolias --- Shelby dies, sobbing ensues.
3) Someone Like You --- Ashley Judd's character's sister has miscarriage, sobbing ensues.
4) Moulin Rouge --- Satine dies, sobbing ensues.

I foolishly watched THREE of these movies this weekend and ended up an absolute wreck. Fried Green Tomatoes was on Saturday afternoon, and I absolutely adore that movie. Watching it pregnant came with several side effects: 1) the obvious sobbing, 2) Frank Bennett, Ruth's husband, was a royal jerk and deserved what he got, but the thought of Idgy and Big George BBQ-ing a human...it almost made me gag, 3) For the entire length of the movie I wanted some fried green tomatoes...and that's a really long movie...and I still  want some fried green tomatoes.
Steel Magnolias was on yesterday while the kids were napping, and having learned my mistake from the day before, I flicked the TV off the second Shelby went into the hospital. Whew! Dodged a bullet there.
Then, to wrap up the weekend of chick-flicks, Moulin Rouge came on! I watched about 10 minutes before I gathered enough self-control to turn it off before I was beyond hope. That movie gets me over and over again...but I did DVR it, so I'm sure I'll end up a blubbering mess before the week is out.

What a freakin' week!

Dude, last week was hellacious! Ugh! Where to start...? I woke up on Monday with tonsils so swollen that drinking water hurt. Woke up Tuesday covered head to toe in red spots and itchier than I think I have ever been in my life. I came into work, my boss took one look at me and said, "Yeah...go away and get to the doctor. Whatever you've got...I don't want it." Turns out I had strep throat, so 7 days into my antibiotics I'm doing much better, thanks for asking.
Wednesday was pretty uneventful.
Thursday, we had the scare of our lives. I was at work, went to the bathroom (because that's what pregnant women do...a lot) and I noticed blood...enough to make me totally freak out. I managed to call the doctor and my boss before I totally lost it. Poor Carl, by the time I called him I was hysterical. I was absolutely certain that I was losing the baby. The doctor wanted me to come in right away, so I headed home to get Carl and zip over to the doctors' office. While in the car I called my bestie, Carla, who managed to calm me down because she's amazing and that's what amazing people do for their hysterical best friends. By the time I got home I was in a complete daze. I understand that miscarriages happen every day, and that most women have at least one in their lifetime. But you never actually think it'll happen to you. At least I didn't. We get to the doctor (which is my new OB that I'd never been to before, so I had no idea where it was...turns out there are 7 OB/GYNs in the same building and in my state of panic I forgot my doctor's name, so here I am completely panicked running into every OB's office asking if I'm in their computer...not my brightest moment) and long story short, they check me out and everything's okay. WHEW! I don't think I have ever been so relieved in my life! EVER! I could've hugged my doctor, but those pesky stirrups were in the way! Bahahaha!

Yes, we know what caused it. Sheez.

I've been getting that stupid response to my announcing my 3rd pregnancy on an all-too regular basis. "Have you guys figured out what's causing that yet?" Har-har-har. That made me wonder, though...when did it become so unusual for people to have more than 2 kids? At what point did society come to decide that 2 kids was the "norm?" Not too long ago it was totally common and accepted for families to consist of 4 or more children. When did that change? Is it because we're no longer breeding helpers for the family farm? I just don't understand. Not only that, but why is it anyone's concern but mine and my husband's how many kids we have? I am not some leech of society sitting at home popping out babies and collecting my welfare check so I can blow it on booze and cigarettes. I work. My husband works. Ugh!
Alright, thanks for letting me vent. Now onto the fam:
Carl IV's 4th birthday was yesterday. *I'm on the verge of tears just typing that sentance...stupid hormones.* I cannot believe that he's 4! That's the official age of "little boy" not "toddler" or "baby", but "little boy." I can't think about it too long or it freaks me out. My co-worker told me today, "Just think...this time next year you'll be signing him up for kindergarten!" I just looked at her slack-jawed. Kindergarten?! My baby?! Oh, my goodness. Okay, I have to change the subject before the reality of that sets in and I start sobbing. *deep, cleansing breath* We had Carl IV's b-day party at our place on Saturday, and it was pretty low-key. Some family, some friends...no big. I did, however, make the cake this year. I have to say, I was pretty impressed. I'm no Chef Duff (Charm City Cakes reference), but it could've been worse.
Paige is fully invested in being the poster-child for two-year-olds across the world. Tantrums over nonsense one minute, random hugs and kisses the next. The girl's a whacko. She's pretty funny, though. I've started mentioning to the kids that we're going to have another baby soon and every time she hears me say that "Mommy's going to have a baby," she runs off, grabs a doll and hands it to me and says, "Mommy have baby!" So, I'm thinking she doesn't really get it. It's so weird to think that she's older now than Carl was when she was born. And here I go again, running face-first into the fact that I'm going to have 3 children under the age of 5 before the end of the year. Yowza. I have to go splash some water on my face. And maybe lie down. And take some deep breaths.