jennifer

jennifer

Monday, March 28, 2011

Weekend Warrior

What a weekend my Hannah girl had!  She started off with her brownie sleep over on Friday night.  This is a girl who has never slept at a friends and rarely sleeps at her nana and papas or cousins house because she will miss me.  When her brownie troop said they were having a sleepover with other surrounding troops I was pleasantly surprised she wanted to go.  I knew she would have so much fun, but I also knew the night time and sleeping would be a bit hard.
Here she was all packed up and so excited to go.  I was so proud of her for going and breaking out of her comfort zone.

Chris and I waited all night for the phone to ring saying it was Hannah wanting to come home!  Every time the phone rang I just knew it would be her, but it was not.  My girl made it all night and had such a fun time.  She talked on and on about all the fun things they did.  Way to rock it honey!
Later that day we went out with Nana Sharon to get Hannah's veil for first communion.  We now have a dress and veil and it only took about twenty different stores and trying on about fifteen dresses.  Now we just need the perfect shoes.
Sunday Hunter went to see The Harlem Globe Trotters with Papa Fred in Boston.  I promised the other kids I would take them to the movies to see Diary of A Wimpy Kid.  We were just about ready to head out when I hear Hannah cry out.  I was upstairs getting ready and Ryland came running up to tell me Hannah was hurt.  She can sometimes be a bit dramatic so I called down calm and slowly asked what had happened.  Well, I heard her really crying so I ran down and saw her grabbing her hand.  She said she was climbing up on the counter to get a cup and placed her hand on the stove.  A few minutes earlier I had made a cup of tea. At this point she was screaming and I was afraid to look.  I immediately ran her hand under cold water and it blistered right away.  Now I am staring to PANIC it looks pretty bad.  I called my neighbor who is a doctor, he is not home.  PANIC.  My husband is at work.  PANIC.  Although I did not want Hannah to think I was panicking, I sure was inside.  My adrenaline just kicked in and somehow I remained calm and focused.
Being that it was Sunday, my doctors office was closed.  I talked to a nurse on call who said to bring her to the emergency room right away.  I packed up the little boys and Hannah who was just screaming and screaming it hurt.  I know she is in terrible pain, but I am trying to keep it together.  Two of my go to neighbors are not home and I had to leave right away, no time for my mom to come over.  Luckily, Finn and Rye are so laid back and just go with the flow.  My only saving grace was that Hunter was not here because it would have freaked him out.  He gets so nervous and worried I would have had to calm him down along with Hannah.
We finally made it to the hospital and Chris was able to meet me there and take the boys.  Turns out she has second degree burns.  She was given morphine for the pain and they actually cut some of the blisters.
She screamed the whole time and I just felt helpless.  I know how bad just a little burn feels I just can't imagine the pain she felt.  The whole palm of her hand was burned.
Today we had to go into Boston to the Children's burn clinic, Shriners.  They changed her bandages and just evaluated her condition.  They said it looked like good skin underneath, it just looks so bad to me.  We will have to go back on Friday to make sure it is healing properly and her fingers can move right.
Of course after Hunter heard what happened to Hannah he was so worried.  He asked my dad to stop on the way home from the game  and get some flowers and a card for Hannah.  He walked in and went right up to give them to her.  Hannah is so lucky to have such a caring and great big brother.  We are so thankful she is doing well and pray for a speedy recovery.

. . .  Just as a side note, as a mom to four kids, and three boys no less one would expect various trips to the emergency room.  This, however was my first time ever with any of my kids.  I never thought it would be with Hannah.  I hope I won't be back for some time!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Spring Has Sprung. . . .

. . . . and what a lovely spring weekend we had in New England.  It even got in the 70's on Friday. Glorious!  The sun made some headway on the snow this weekend.  I can now see about a quarter of the grass.  I just love spring so much.  I would have to say it is one of my favorite seasons.  I think fall would be my absolute favorite but spring is not far behind.
I must say a lot of people have been talking about that one hour we sprung ahead really throwing them off, me included.  I don't know if I am just getting old but I feel like I've been trying to catch that hour all week.
I don't mind that extra sunlight.  LOVE it!

The leprechauns made a visit to our house and you would have thought that it was Christmas morning the kids were so excited.  We are an almost all Irish household so we do take the whole St. Pats day very seriously round here!
This is a trap the kids built to catch the little guys.  I just love the trail of Lucky Charms. Clever!

The kids were sad to see no leprechauns but excited to see their gold coins and little treats!



Hannah and I painted our nails green!

Photo by Finley!







Later that night Ryland had his first Dad's night at preschool.  He was excited all week asking how many more days every morning he woke up!  He could not wait to show his Daddy all his little projects and friends at school!

Ryland did not want me to take his picture before they left.  He just wanted to get there!
 Hannah also had her second grade music show this week.  The Three Little Pigs.  Much enjoyed by all.

Off to get the kids to bed and get ready for another busy week.  Snow is on tap for tomorrow.  Insert crying here!  Waah!  I have had enough. Only 1-3 inches so hopefully it wont last long.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Am I the Only One!

Tonight I am playing a game I like to call "Am I the Only One!"

It goes something like this:

Am I the only one in my house who can change a toilet paper role!

Am I the only one who can put the toilet seat down!

Am I the only one who can answer the phone!

Am I the only one who can empty a full dishwasher!

Am I the only one who can empty the trash can!

Am I the only one my three year old can ask to get him a drink even though I am in the shower!

Am I the only one in this house that knows what a hamper is for!

I'm just saying.  Can anyone else relate!  Just had to get that off my mind.

. . . . .   Funny story from my three year old, Ryland's, preschool teacher today.  They are getting ready to celebrate Dads night in couple of days where Dads visit the school with the kids after work and share their work etc.  Miss Ellen was asking some ideas as to what they should serve to eat and drink.  She said Ryland was so excited and raised his hand right away.  "How about beer.  My Dad likes beer!" was his response.  While she explained that this was not the type of a party for beer she could see he was a little sad his idea was not the best.  She asked how about something to eat.  To this he responded "How about beer cookies.". . .   Way to make your daddy proud!  . . . .    Wow it's a good thing she knows us or she might get the wrong idea!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

March Madness!



O.K., so not really madness, but it is vacation week and that qualifies as some craziness in our household.  I am not going to lie.  I do love myself some routine and structured order.  Vacation is anything but that.  It is nice to sleep in and not have any deadlines.  But with the weather as its been, it makes it hard to plan.

So the first day of vacation starts out like this:


Followed by two more days very similar and ending with a day of freezing rain.  We can handle the snow around here, but freezing rain is no good for anyone.  No matter what you drive, you are going to be slipping and sliding.  This called for lots of change of plans followed by plenty of indoor time in our jammies!



Sometimes you have to get just a little creative around here so you don't go too crazy while you are stuck in.

Don't Ask!!!!


Of course there was a lot of these little people all over my house this week!


When we were finally able to get out the kids had fun bowling, swimming (indoors of course), sleeping at Nana and Papa's, going to the movies and shopping!
Hannah and I met up with my mom and mother-in-law to do something I have been so looking forward to.  Shopping for a dress for her first holy communion!  Seeing that she is my only daughter I want to make it special.  However, if this dress shopping is a for-shadowing of her wedding, than heaven help me.  Everyone has an opinion and they are not afraid to share it if you know what I mean!  Of course Hannah loved every over the top dress.  The more glitter and glam the better. The girl likes her fashion.   I like more classic styles and my mother-in-law just wants us to get whatever she likes! Sigh. . . I know in the end we will find the perfect dress but it's going to take some time!

I did sign the boys up for t-ball and soccer which is always exciting this time of year as it means spring will soon be here and all this snow will melt.  Hannah tried out for the play, "Charlottes Web" in our town this afternoon.  It will be her first play and she is really excited to see if she gets a part.

Hard to believe it is Sunday and I survived the week.  I love spending time with the children, but I have to admit I am looking forward to tomorrow when they are back to school and into a routine and I can get my house back in order.  Today it is in the fifties which makes me long for spring even more.  I know it is just a tease but I will take it!