Penny Plus Two

Two weeks ago, we were the temporary parents/guardians to two additional children, and one dog. It was a fun, crazy, busy week that our children thoroughly enjoyed. Imagine going to bed (on a week night, no less) with a good buddy in the bed next to you. Our kids were in heaven!

Ben and Olivia got to come spend three days with us while their mom had a baby. Cute baby Will needed the love and attention of both parents in the hospital, so we happily invited the big brother and big sis to bunk with us for a few days. It was so fun having built in playmates, 24/7 for my kids...I actually think I got more done with them here. I did learn you have to be more organized when you are a mother of 5, than a mother of 3.

Case in point - their mom went into labor on Tuesday, so they arrived that morning. The day was gorgeous, and the kids were having so much fun playing outside, into the evening, and who was I to spoil that fun? So, I let them stay out until dark, which was about 7:45. At this point, they were stinky, dirty, and worn out, so I figured I'd get them all in bed and bathe them all in the morning. I got the backpacks all ready the night before, with lunches and snacks packed.

I woke up early Wednesday, around 6, to make sure I would be ready for the day before any little ones came calling. As each arose, around 7, I made breakfast and started pointing each toward a shower. Now, everyone had to be out the door at 8:45 because Jackson and Ben had school at 9, Delaney had piano and 9:15 and Olivia had preschool at 9:30. Addie had to get in the shower because that girl cannot hear water running in this house without having to get involved. In fact, my guess is she took 3 separate showers that morning, with 3 separate people.

Right about 8:15 was when the panic started setting in. Showers were over, but then I have 5 heads of hair to do, 5 sets of clothes to locate, 4 children to assist in getting dressed, 5 mouths to make sure were brushed, 5 pairs of shoes and socks to locate. At one point, I was literally running around the house from child to child. We had 3 backpacks and 4 piano books to remember. We're racing, racing, and Jackson is helping as best he can. We're almost out the door, and then I remember...WE HAVE A DOG THIS WEEK! I'm begging Jackson to walk Penny (the dog) while I'm changing water and food for her.

We made it to school on time, piano on time, and preschool on time. I was patting myself on the back, while making the mental note to never again bathe 5 children before school. I know if I had 5 kids, they'd come one at a time, and I'd naturally become more organized, but it was a lesson learned!

With 4 playmates in the house, you can imagine how quiet it was for Addie when everyone was gone to school. This is where Penny comes in. Addie LOVED Penny! Addie has always been stingy with kisses, but not where Penny's concerned! She'd make kissy noises and Penny would always oblige.


What a fun experience it was to have extra friends in the house. We would gladly take Penny, Ben, and Olivia back any time (hint, hint...I know you both read my blog:)). In fact, just last week my kids were deciding the Browns need to go out of town next time for longer, so we get to love on Penny for more time.

Happy Easter! (yes, 2 weeks late)

We took our Easter clothes down to Arizona with us, because we figured it would feel a lot more "springy" down there. Don't ask about Jackson's smile, because I don't have an answer.


It was fun matching the kids clothes (and Children's Place made it awfully easy to do so). But, I just couldn't find a tie I liked for Jackson. I feel like often there are shirts/sweaters I'd like to get for Jackson for church, but I don't because I know I don't have a tie that will match. So, I bought a pattern and made one that matched perfectly. I was really happy with how it turned out, so I have a feeling he has many more to come!

Spring Break

Well, you know it's time to catch up on blogging when your visiting teacher asks you to do so. She tells me it's her way of knowing all is well. So, Ursula, this is for you.

For Spring Break we went down to Arizona to visit my brother, Spence, and his family. It came as a shock to me, but as I thought about it, I realized I'd actually never been in the state of Arizona, so I guess that's another to cross off the list!

Our trip coincided with a trip my parent's had planned, so we got to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Critt, too!


Our first day we headed to the Phoenix Zoo. Phoenix has an amazing zoo for being a smaller city.

Lez fell in love with the monkeys.


Jackson waited patiently all day to see a komodo dragon.


All the "big" kids (3 and older) got to ride a camel.


Grandma bought everyone a snow cone, so we had lots of colorful lips and tongues!


There was a sting ray tank that was shallow enough for the kids to reach in and touch them. I was surprised that my kids weren't scared, but they loved it.


While in Phoenix, we also got to go to a Cubs Spring Training game. Jackson has really wanted to go to a Cubs game, and was thrilled to finally go. The stadium was packed and the announcer said the attendance at the game broke a stadium record that day. I forgot my camera at the game, but here's everyone, decked out in their Cubbies gear, cooling off with an ice-cream treat afterwards.


And we can't forget a pic of Miss Addie, even if she's too grumpy/stubborn to get in the picture with the rest of the kiddos.


The weekend before we came, Rachael's brother was married in Salt Lake. After the wedding, Spence drove Mom and Dad's boat back down to Arizona so we could go boating while we were there.

The lake we were at was gorgeous, with tons of cacti. I can't believe I never took a picture of the scenery. Grandpa drove the boat and spent most of the time pulling tubers. Jackson, being the nervous Nellie that he can be about certain things, surprised me by going solo in the tube. Jackson also "attempted" wake boarding (he got in the water with the board on, but then demanded to be immediately pulled back out), and blamed the cold water on his getting out (I have a feeling he was nervous, too, but I'm proud of him for trying). Delaney, who has a fear of nothing, was more than happy to join him in the tube.


Addie even got in on the action.


All tired out from lots of fun and sun.


We had a great time. Arizona was gorgeous, and lucky for us, we brought the gorgeous weather back with us. We have had extremely above average temps over the past few weeks, and I couldn't be happier. Chicago owed it to me...I just about gave up on our relationship. But, after these past few weeks of warm temps, I have to say I'm in love with Chicago once again.

Luck o' the Irish

How lucky are we? This is our second year having gorgeous weather on St. Patrick's Day. Last year my Auntie Carolyn, cousin Alli, sister Tess, nephew Marc, and niece Abby were all in town and we played hooky and spent the day at the zoo.

We're not at the zoo today, but the weather is beautiful at 65* and sunny!

I'm obsessed with the girls matching. I figure Delaney will only let me get away with it for a little longer, and until then, I'm living it up!

Addie's Been Here

Walking up the stairs last week, with the sun coming in the windows just right, I happened upon this:



Kind of reminds me of the poems they attach to plaster of paris handprints they create in preschool. One like this:

My Handprints

Sometimes I might upset you
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
on furniture and walls.

But everyday I grow a bit
And soon I'll be so tall
That all those little fingerprints
Will be so hard to recall.

So here's a special handprint
Just so that you can say
This is how my fingers looked
When I placed them here today

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Who needs plaster of paris when we have sticky little hands? They've been there for over a week. And I haven't had the heart to wipe them off. They make me smile, each time the sun comes in at the right angle, and I see them.

I Feel The Earth Move...

Yesterday it snowed all day. It didn't amount to much...just a few inches. Last night as we watched the 10 o'clock news they were calling for strong winds today. Snow continued throughout the night. The snow plows came by all night long. Periodically, I'd wake to a snow plow driving by.

This morning at 4 am, we were woken out of a dead sleep.

We could hear a loud growling noise.

That must be a snowplow.

However, the whole house was shaking.

Did the snowplow hit the house?

"Jeff! Jeff! What's going on?", as the bed shakes violently.

Is it wind? But if it's wind, I must be Dorothy and he's Toto because I've never heard or felt anything like it.

Those 10 seconds lasted for 5 minutes. Then suddenly, it's over. Jeff and I scurry out of bed, over to the window. Neighbor's lights start coming on. Good, it's not just us. Everyone felt it too.

Jackson comes in. We reassure him it was just strong wind. If we admit it's possibly an earthquake, he'll never go back to sleep. Jeff helps him back to bed.

We never fall back asleep. The adrenaline of being shaken awake in the middle of the night was too much. The sound of it was so startling. The earth was groaning. It was scary.

Those poor people in Haiti.

The epicenter was just about 5 miles west of here.Ours was a 4.3 magnitude. I cannot imagine the terror of anything stronger.

But, we are safe and sound. My kiddos are snug in their beds and I'm grateful for a well built home.

Miss D and Her Troubles

Delaney has had quite a week and a half. A week and a half ago, she lost her first tooth! She discovered it was loose back in December, while we were at Grandma and Grandpa Clark's house for Christmas. We'll while eating lunch 10 days ago, it finally succumbed and she was thrilled!

I'd found a cute tooth fairy pillow to put it in, because we've lost many a tooth to the covers and pillows in Jackson's bed (you try finding a tooth, in the dark, in the midst of all that bedding...not easy!). We had a babysitter, Nicole, here that night. I love Nicole because she does great things like send me a text, reminding me that the tooth fairy needs to come. Well, unfortunately, the tooth fairy didn't heed the babysitter's text and forgot to come. So, the next morning when Delaney woke up, excited to claim her riches, she was highly disappointed to see her little tooth staring back at her.

After deciding that the tooth fairy probably didn't come because she was nervous that there was a babysitter here, Delaney settled in for a second night with her tooth under her pillow. Two hours after lights out, Delaney comes running into our room, crying and yelling, "You have to wash this!". She is some how covered in neon blue goo. After a few seconds, I realize she has thrown up all over herself (blue, you ask? She was at a birthday party earlier, so I assume there was blue frosting). I go into her bedroom, and somehow she has managed to throw up on everything. We're talking every pillow, blanket, quilt, the carpet, the curtains, the dust ruffle. So, we begin operation strip-down of the entire room. Jeff starts the loads of laundry (the thing I love about this experience is I know every mom can totally relate!), and I help Delaney into the shower.

After seeing the neon shade of blue that came up, I assumed it must have been bugging her tummy and am sure that's the last we'll deal with for the night. We tucked her into her makeshift bed of mis-matched sheets, beach towel blankets, and a giant bowl, should her stomach feel the need to wake her again.

Not twenty minutes later, I hear her coughing. I rush into her room, and sure enough, she's throwing up again. This time, though, she had the bowl so it's easily contained, and she's off to sleep again. But then, twenty minutes later, coughing again, throwing up again, and cleaning out the bowl again. Every.twenty.minutes.for.four.hours. At this point we're into the wee hours of the night. I've gone through an entire container of Clorox wipes and I'm begging the tummy-bug gods for some relief.

See, I think my husband is perfectly perfect in every way, but he cannot do puke. Namely, he cannot do puking. If he hears, sees, or smells it, he will start, too. So, I've learned it's much better to deal with it alone, rather than have two pukers to deal with if he gets involved.

So, finally around 2 am we all fall asleep for the night. Miracles of miracles, the tooth fairy found her way in between all that mess, and left Delaney a $5 for that tooth ($5 for the first, $1 coin hereafter). It took a few days for Delaney's tummy to right itself all the way, but by the next weekend she was back to normal.

But, as the story with kids always goes, by Friday she'd started a cold. Sniffle, sniffle, all day long. By Sunday she told me her right ear felt plugged. I told her it was all that sniffling and she should blow, not sniffle. By Sunday night, the inevitable happened, and it was an ear infection. All the doc-in-a-box places close early on Sunday (why on the day all other regular doctor offices are closed???), so we figured we'd weather the night with Motrin. Again, she was up all night, tears and wailing from the pain. For some reason the Motrin wouldn't relieve it all the way. So, by early on Monday morning, we head to the walk-in clinic, long before our pediatrician opens. Sure, enough, it's an ear infection. We take the script, head to Target, and within an hour, she's on antibiotics.

She spent all day Monday sleeping and laying around in the fetal position. She really wanted to go the library for story time that evening, and by the time she came home, she looked miserable. I figured that for sure, by the next morning, after being on antibiotics for a full 24 hours, she'd be back to her old self. But, nope, by the next morning, there's more pain and crying. Now she's telling me her whole ear is sore and her head behind her ear is sore. So, I call the pediatrician and soon enough, we're on our way. Note to future self...the actual pediatrician is highly insulted at the fact we went to a walk-in clinic. Try to never have to admit that to her again.

As it turns out, Delaney's ear drum burst and now the bacteria that caused the inner ear infection has also caused an outer ear infection, so she has swimmers ear! So, another day home from school, nursing a sore ear. Finally, yesterday she perked up enough to go to school. She came home looking worn out and moping around, but after some more Motrin, she felt great again.

So, here we are. Both girls are actually on antibiotics. Delaney for her ear, Addison for a sinus infection. Both girls are on Motrin (Delaney's ear, Addie's darn canine tooth). And me? I cannot wait to get out of this house. I've been cooped up for weeks with grumpy, sick kids.
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But, on a more positive note, Chicago has given me a gift this year! We have stayed well above 0* all winter. We haven't even really come close. Most days it is 25* or warmer! For the past three winters, we have had weeks on end of 10* or below, and every winter we've had days that have gone below 0*. Remember last year? So, thank you Chicago. It is a gift I am grateful for, and am not taking for granted!