Hello to my friend.

Oh, hello Yaffa, hello.  Welcome.  (I'm sure you have seen this picture before, but it is so you.)

Sleep & Other Things

It is nearing 3pm on a Thursday.  The weather is beautiful, the kids are all sleeping, the dishwasher humming, and the laundry almost done.  I am sitting down for a moment (with some Southern Blackberry Cobbler ice cream) to update my blog before time slips away from me again and I feel so lost in my own thoughts that I don't even know where to begin. 

We are now less than two months away from my sister's wedding, which means that the festivities are in full swing.  The bachelorette party was a hit (both in terms that it was an absolute blast and that it literally "hit" those of us in attendance flat on the floor for at least two days), the showers are, too.  Sadly, because of my work schedule, I haven't been able to attend one yet, which will make my cry if I think too much about it, so I try not to.  However, we have one coming up in just a few weeks that promises to be legendary.  Here are a few pics from the low-key points of the Bachelorette Party (pre- and post-debauchery):

Katie Marsh looking fabulous at a winery 3 weeks post-partum

Kelly R., always looking more sober than she actually is



Megan M., the glowing mother-to-be

Giggles

And more giggles

Not the most in-focus picture, but our beautiful bride and two of her also-beautiful friends

Making sure our bride is stocked for her wedding night...and after

Camille H., looking lovely, despite being a little under the weather :(

Someone is happy ;)

Kemrie, another glowing mother-to-be (again)

A small segment of the attendees

Kelly R., the next morning

On our way to brunch.  It looked this bright in real life, too.

Veronica is the only one who still looked cute (but wearing sunglasses inside) after that kind of night

Just last night, I bought the boys' wedding outfits, and if I could post them on here, I would.  They are absolutely precious.  Er, handsome.  Whoever thinks that dressing up little boys is not very much fun is sadly mistaken.  Or hasn't had the pleasure of being around these three in their Sunday best.  Beautiful boys, they are.  (I can say that.  They are mine.)  Patrick asks at least a few times a week when "the party" is, and I just have to keep putting him off.  Unfortunately, though he understands the basic concept of time, he doesn't really understand it in terms of "months" yet. 

Personally, I feel I am in a state of constant nervousness.  My heart is always beating fast, or skipping beats, or just sitting like a lump in my chest.  Between planning for the wedding, managing life at home as a part-time single parent, and working nights with the bare minimum hours of sleep needed to survive, I can't help but to just feel "off."  Not unhappy, mind you.  In fact, I feel very happy.  I just don't feel like myself.  It's actually quite bizarre.  However, as I tend to like things in a constant state of evolution, I rest assured that I can't feel like this forever.  It's just for now.  Right?  Everything passes.

Physically, while I do feel at least a little ill almost always (it's the night schedule.  I'm still not fully-adjusted), I am doing what I can do take care of myself.  Most of my extra baby weight is gone.  In fact, as of this morning, I have 1.4 pounds to go until I have lost all of my baby weight...as in, all of it from all three babies.  For the first time in a very long time, I feel so much more confident, so much more like I used to, at least when it comes to appearances.  It feels fabulous.  (I started that I was sitting down with some ice cream.  I ate two bites and put it away.  Dieting.  See?)  Thanks to Green Bean Delivery, we eat far, far more fruits and veggies than we ever have before, which has to be credited, at least in part.  In fact, since the bin was dropped off at 5pm last night, we have devoured two heads of broccoli, one bunch of asparagus, a pint of strawberries, and five Gala apples.  I kid you not.  So, even though I'm functioning on fumes, at least we're all eating well.  I get an A in this department.

Come August (wedding time), my plan is this:  I will rest.  I will figure out some way to sleep because, as the house is more organized, well-running, and tight-shipped than ever now, I figure that once I sleep, I will be unstoppable.  Or not.  But, either way, I really need some sleep.

From My Phone??

This is the first unofficial blog post from my phone, and while I won't know for a little while whether the template comes across as one I will accept or not, perhaps this is my answer to the long gaps in between posts that has recently been happening? (Except, of course, I absolutely despise typing on a touch pad, so therein lies a problem.) It's worth a shot, though. Please enjoy a test of how photos will upload, as well:

The Walden Boys Are Sick, 2012

Another late post.  Original date of composition June 3, 2012.

Little kids get sick a lot.  I feel like ours are certainly healthy more than they fall ill, but at least every couple of months, something small gets them.  Sometimes, it's something big.  In fact, just a year ago (11 months, to be exact), our little Leo made his first trip to the ER for RSV, after two cases of croup before and one since.  This year, it's strep (I think.)  He's teething, has an ear infection and upper respiratory infection, but the doc (the excellent Dr. Grandad) was unable to look into his mouth because Leo isn't always the most cooperative patient, even for Grandad.  However, with the frequency of his swallowing and refusal to eat or drink anything, I have an inkling he has strep throat.  Not that it matters, since he is getting antibiotics anyway.  His fever has gone from 104-99.1 and he ate his first meal since Friday afternoon this morning.  (He has lost 4 pounds.  He is skinny!)  However, he is on the way to recovery.  Here is a video of him at his worst (Day #2, the day we contemplated an ER visit just to rehydrate):

And now tiny William is on his way down. 

It's 10:30am and our baby has a fever of 101.  He hasn't eaten since 7:30pm (technically, he has only skipped one feeding, but since I am still nursing, I feel like I could explode.  Too much?)  He is sound asleep with no signs of an arousal anytime soon.  Leo, too, is passed out cold in bed next to Adam (who is working from home today...not  home sick and in bed.)  What a sad, sad day. 

And, I don't know if I am alone in this or not, but there is something about taking care of my sick kids that makes me feel like the best mother in the world.  Weird?  Hear me out:

These kids are so cuddly.  They are so easily comforted by just a little bit of lovin'.  This morning, Leo and Hatch were both sound asleep in my lap...next to each other.  I had not a free hand to do anything else but snuggle them, and that was ok.  When it's time for medication, they line up like little birds and truly believe what they are getting is a special little "snack" from Mom.  I get to give them Sprite and popsicles (which have lately been refused), but they look at me like I am queen of the universe.  It's so very rewarding to take care of kids who love it.  LOVE it.  (Also, it makes me feel like I'm playing house and pretending to be my own mother, who is still the best person in the world to go to when we are not feeling well.  These days, she does house calls.)

Here are some pictures of my small, sad, sweaty little boys at their less-than-finest hours:

Leo and Me, Day #2 (Nothing but Snuggles)

Leo, Day #4, Sleeping on Daddy's chest

Hatch, Day #1.  Sleepy Sheepy.

Hatch, Day #2. Happy and Sick (and sweaty)