Plague House

 This week started out promisingly, with a visit to Zion National Park for their fee-free day. We hiked from the Lodge along the Grotto trail, and from there hooked up with Kayenta trail, believing (according to the map we had) that it would lead us to the lower Emerald Pool trail and back to the Lodge.

We stopped about .5 mile into the Kayenta trail to have lunch. Incidentally, the Kayenta trail was *much* warmer than the Grotto trail--the difference of being in shadow v. sun.

Oliver got to enjoy one of my new birthday presents (a Beco Butterfly II baby carrier). When he fell asleep, I just hooked the hood over his head to keep him in the shade. He slept for probably 3/4 of our 2 hour hike.

The kids were troopers. They hiked uncomplainingly (they even enjoyed parts!) even when we got to the Lower Emerald pools to discover that the through trail was closed.

So we hiked up to the Middle Emerald Pool. The view was gorgeous, but the trail was closed there as well (although clearly people had been ignoring the sign, given the relatively sparse return traffic we saw on the hike). We hiked up to the Upper Emerald Pool.

 When that was closed too, I was tempted to ignore the signs and keep going. But Andrew, who's inherited a law-abiding streak, freaked out when we mentioned the possibility. So we returned by way of Kayenta again. While we waited at the Grotto (the kids ate and I fed Oliver), Dan went back to the Lodge to get our van. After hiking some four miles or so, the kids were too tired to walk any more. I don't blame them.

We rounded off our hike with some delicious ice cream (not in the Lodge, Bubby, sorry! The cafe is only open in the summer) in Springdale. I love that we live so close to such beautiful places--and I hope that by dragging our kids on these hikes they will eventually learn to like it as much as Dan and I do.

The rest of the week wasn't as promising. Sunday afternoon, we'd noticed some signs that Andrew might have pink-eye. He looked much better on Monday (and we rationalized that he'd be outside and not touching people) so we took him on the hike. By Tuesday, unfortunately, the signs were clear: he had pink-eye. A visit with the doctor confirmed it, and Andrew stayed home from school. The eyedrops we picked up at the pharmacy helped a lot, and he was cleared to go back to school Wednesday (thank goodness! A bored Andrew is not always an easy Andrew to deal with).

Wednesday night, Evelyn woke up crying that her ear hurt. So Thursday, she visited the doctor. (The nurse said: "You're back again?") The doctor confirmed that she had an ear infection--a bad one. That night, I thought her eardrum had burst (the doctor said it might), but it was just the excess fluid and junk draining through her remaining tube (she had tubes put in when she was 13 months old) in her healthy ear. Needless to say, it was pretty gross. Thursday evening, she started showing symptoms of pink eye too.

Also Thursday--I was supposed to have my writer's group that night, but Dan called half-way through reporting that Oliver was unusually fussy and wouldn't settle and could I come home? I was more than willing to come home--but I'd gotten a ride with a friend (I wound up having to borrow another friend's car to get home to my baby).

So Friday saw us back at the pediatricians again (for the third time in four days)--and yes, Oliver had an ear infection too. Apparently they run in families, since genetics often gift siblings the same ear structure. (Here's hoping that Oliver won't have chronic infections like Evelyn did). Poor baby. At least he's been sleeping much better with the antibiotics.

We didn't get a lot accomplished outside of being sick, but at least everyone's on the mend now (knock on wood).

So that I don't end on too down of a note, I had to include these drawings of Evelyn's. She's finally progressed to the actually-look-sort-of-human stage of drawing, and her pictures crack me up. Oliver is inevitably the tiny one with the spiky hair. All her girls look like they're wearing Cinderella dresses--funny little puff sleeves and long skirts.

Something to celebrate

After a blah couple of weeks, it was nice to have something to celebrate. A couple of somethings, actually.

On Wednesday, Oliver hit his 7-month birthday. It still surprises me sometimes to think that we've had him for so long. He's disrupted our lives--but in the best possible way. We sure like him.

Once again, for comparison purpose: Oliver at 2 months--and again at 7. Someone at church today told Dan that he could tell we'd been feeding the baby meat (we haven't, in case that's not clear!)--he was gaining weight so nicely. He's also much more interactive with Eeyore.

This is one of my very favorite Oliver faces--that funny tucked-in smile of his.

The other celebration was mine--I had a birthday! We didn't do much on my actual birthday, but we've been having fun this weekend. In fact, Oliver clearly didn't get the memo about my birthday, because I wrestled with him all afternoon trying to get him to nap (well, for two + hours anyway). It was painful. It made for a tired, cranky baby and a tired, cranky mama.

Saturday, we took everyone down to SG. We took the kids to Golden Corral for breakfast, which delighted Andrew. (He's been begging to go for months). We didn't let them eat gummy bears, which they always want to do (I'm not sure I understand why the dessert bar is open for breakfast--I saw kids eating cotton candy and kids eating sundaes and it was just past 9 in the morning. I'm all for sugar now and again, but that early? Yuck). But Andrew sure managed to pack in a lot of other food. Oliver slept through most of breakfast, which was fine with all concerned.

The rest of the day rotated around shopping and food. Dan let me get out for a while to shop hands-free (my main birthday request)--so of course I mostly bought clothes for the kids. We had lunch at the Black Bear Diner and then took the kids to the park. (Well, Dan took them to the park and I went to Kohls). Lest you think that Dan was used too hardly during the day, I took charge of the kids so Dan could go to Harmon's, and he got in a showing of the Hobbit while I put the kids to bed.

We're looking forward to tomorrow--fee free day at the parks. We're going to take Oliver hiking (or walking, most likely) for the first time. Wish us luck!

January Blahs

We don't have much to say this week, but we're posting regardless because, well, this is what we do on Sunday nights.

It has been bitterly cold here the last few days. I went to a meeting at church this morning with wet hair and it froze within minutes of getting out of the car. Also, we have started driving to church (which is sort of ridiculous given how close we live), but I refuse to make my children--esp. my baby--walk in single digit temperatures.

Our ward got a new bishop today, which is sad and exciting at the same time. The new bishopric will do great--but it's a little sobering because all the members are within a few years of our age, which means we are officially grown up. When did that happen?

School started this week for the kids--and both of them seem to enjoy being back.

Oliver is, well, drooling a lot. I'm not sure I'm ready to enter the teething universe. Other than that, he's still generally fat and happy and blows darling drool bubbles.

I've started a pseudo diet. It's not really a diet, because I'm nursing--I'm just trying to be more mindful of what I eat, limit my carbohydrate intake, and avoid sugar most days of the week (I need a cheat day if I'm going to make this work). So far, it seems to be working. I'm back to pre-baby weight. (Not that this is a particularly impressive weight, but at least I'm not still *fatter* than before I started). I figure if I post this publicly, I may have more accountability.

How's this for a totally random, disjointed post?

Happy New Year!

I have approximately 13 minutes until Downton Abbey starts, so I'll have to write fast.

(Now you know where my priorities are).

We've had a lovely final week of vacation--tomorrow it's back to reality (and to healthier eating habits . . . )

We spent the first part of the week up north with my family. We got to open more Christmas presents (last Friday) and hang out with lots of cousins.

New Year's Eve we spent the afternoon with Sarah and gang. Bubby and Poppy even put in an appearance, and we enjoyed some cheesy fondue and salad. Dan and I spent the evening playing some rousing hands of pinochle with my parents (I think we each won a hand). None of us made it till midnight, party animals that we are.

One of the highlights for my kids was sledding on New Year's Day at my sister's place--her father-in-law constructed a cool sledding hill and the kids were thrilled. However, since I hadn't packed with sledding in mind, we also had makeshift snow outfits: mismatched gloves, too-big gloves, rain boots (Andrew's had flowers on him, which embarrassed him no end. But he still wore them). And no snow pants. By the end, my two were very wet and cold. But also very happy. So I guess it was worth it.

We spent the last half of the week trying to recover--and putting up a bunkbed in Andrew's room, which he now shares with Evelyn. So far, they seem to be doing pretty well with the room sharing. Much as I hated (at times) having to share a room with my sister growing up, I think it was great preparation for being an adult (roommates, mission companions, my husband), so I'm glad my kids get to experience it.  I do know that their room is going to be a lot messier now that there are more toys in it.

We also set up the crib, but to be honest, I'm having a hard time with the idea of moving Oliver out of our room (where he's been for five months). You'd think that with each child, I'd be quicker to move them out, but instead the reverse has happened. Poor Andrew only got a month with us before I decided we'd sleep better with him in the next room. Evelyn had a few more months. And now Oliver has had almost half a year. In any case, I think we will move him into the other room this week--he's big enough that I think he'll be more comfortable in the crib than the pack n play. Probably warmer too, since the "nursery" doesn't have two outside walls like our room does. I'm still having a hard time with it.

So. 2013. Last year was an interesting year for our family--equal parts delight and drudgery. We'll see what this year brings!

Ooh, and look--four whole minutes to spare. :)