Good Morning

Good morning.

That's all I got.

Maija is 100% better.

Micah is getting there.

But guess who is now pink cheeked with a fever?

Poor little Ruari.

Finn and I both started medication yesterday so that leaves Sidhe, Brendan and the twins........

I am beginning to think that instead of initially trying to quarantine everyone, which obviously didn't do much, we should have just had a big old exposure slumber party and gotten this all over with at once. The delayed domino effect is torture. Guess we like to do things the hard way!

Confirmation Call

Maija tested positive.

ARGHHHHHHH!

The confirmation call came as a complete slap in the face.

She is fine.

Has made a full recovery in less than 48 hours.

Micah however has not.

He is achy.

Hot.

Telling me that he keeps seeing strange things.

That his eyes hurt.

That he is scared.

What do you tell a six year old when they are afraid to shut their eyelids?

How do you plan ahead for preventative measures that you aren't even sure your family needs?

Which road do you choose?

Maija's case was very mild probably due to the fact that she had a casual exposure.

Unfortunately Micah's exposure to HER was anything but casual since they are siblings who live together full time.

His case seems much more severe.

Finn is getting preventative treatment no matter what since he'll be traveling.

As for the rest of the children, I think we'll hold off.

But what about the gown ups who run this operation?

What happens if we get sick?

Even 48 hours is too long to be out of commission, especially right now.

There is no way I can imagine bringing a newborn into this situation and I can only hope that June8ug will hold out a little bit longer until things calm down and blow over.

Just Another A

Well you would never guess it by looking at this picture, taken just this morning as the girls were leaving for school, but Maija has tested positive for influenza A, which unfortunately is the strand associated with H1N1. Tuesday she was sick, really really sick, Wednesday she was on the mend and this morning she was symptom free so I sent her back to school.

Opps.

Don't worry, she's back home now and I have been on the phone all morning with her pediatrician, her school, my obstetrician and a handful of family members. Micah has also been home today after a terrible start to his morning, I'll spare you the details, as he most definitely is NOT better. Last time I checked on him, he was sprawled out half naked, fast asleep and burning up. I was torn between waking him for medicine or letting him sleep, but decided to let him sleep for as long as possible. At this point I think it is safe to assume that he has whatever Maija does and so until we know for sure WHAT that is, there is no real need to panic. My main concern right now is keeping him hydrated and comfortable.

Here's the real deal....

The timing of all of this sucks.

It just SUCKS!!!

Today is the spring music concert at school, 2 performances, both of which Maija will now miss. Tonight, her dance studio is having a dress rehearsal for the upcoming recital this weekend, 2 performances she might miss. She is definitely missing the dress rehearsal, which incidentally is when they have the professional photos taken.  And as if it couldn't get worse, Finn is scheduled to leave on that Boston trip this coming Monday, you know, the one he almost missed during the early days when H1N1 was still being referred to as the "swine flu"? So if in fact Maija does have it, things could get very complicated around here, as the implications for a family of our size are fairly serious. 

Back in the fall of 2007, Maija caught Pertussis (whooping cough) and within a matter of 24 hours the health department was calling to make sure that everyone in our family who had been exposed to her had access to antibiotics. This included our household of 7, the twins were still in utero at the time, her dad's household of 3, and both sets of grandparents. So we had 14 people on antibiotics, it was crazy, not to mention quite costly! That was around the time that I started questioning vaccinations, but we'll save that discussion for later. Our pediatrician gave me a few options to think over today, in terms of how we proceed from this point, and we'll discuss it further once we know for sure what we're up against. For now I am keeping my fingers crossed that it's just another A brought home by one of our kids and not actually H1N1, but I guess you never know what might be hiding underneath the surface and for now we'll just wait and see.

First Impressions

*

I am IN LOVE.

I haven't even had time to really tinker around with it yet, but our new camera has already made a wonderful first impression!

More to follow.....

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The Silver Lining

This is just nutty.

Tracking a UPS order is just nutty.

Look at the journey my little Rebel has made so far:

May 27, 2009	07:37:00 AM	ELM GROVE WI US	Arrival Scan
May 27, 2009	07:29:00 AM	ELM GROVE WI US	Arrival Scan
May 27, 2009	07:05:00 AM	ELM GROVE WI US	Arrival Scan
May 27, 2009	06:35:00 AM	OAK CREEK WI US	Departure Scan
May 27, 2009	05:25:00 AM	OAK CREEK WI US	Arrival Scan
May 27, 2009	05:18:00 AM	LOUISVILLE KY US	Departure Scan
May 27, 2009	02:27:00 AM	LOUISVILLE KY US	Arrival Scan
May 27, 2009	01:05:00 AM	LOUISVILLE KY US	Arrival Scan
May 26, 2009	10:46:00 PM	INDIANAPOLIS IN US	Departure Scan
May 26, 2009	09:44:00 PM	INDIANAPOLIS IN US	Shipment received by carrier
May 26, 2009	04:33:44 PM	Whitestown IN US	Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit

And now we wait for one last "departure scan" that will mean our new camera is on the last leg of it's long journey home. I cannot wait for it to arrive and to start playing with it! On a day like today when I am feeling overwhelmed and a bit run down, on a day like today when there are sick kiddos to tend and crabby toddlers to entertain and laundry to fold and dishes to, well, ignore, I really needed a bit of the silver lining to unravel right before my eyes. Sometimes the silver lining is the simple ringing of the door bell. Sometimes that is all you truly need.

*

Look what pulled up right after I published this post....

By

Yesterday morning Maija woke up at her dad's house with a fever and a sore throat, so instead of taking her to school with Micah he dropped her off at home on his way into work and she spent the morning curled up with a new book. Aside from being a little flushed, she seemed perfectly fine, had a decent appetite when lunch time rolled around and was practicing piano when I left to pick up the other children from school. However, by the time I got back her fever had climbed up to an uncomfortable level and she was complaining of blurred vision and dizziness.  

By 4pm I was on the phone with our pediatrician's office, by 4:45pm we were in the waiting room, by 5pm they were running a rapid Strep test and by 5:15pm our dr. was coming back into the exam room with a mask over her face. Uh-oh. Poor poor Maija had to be swabbed for "THE" flu, and even though I had assured her that it was nothing like a Pertussis swab, which incidentally she had to endure a year ago, I was wrong, it is EXACTLY like a Pertussis swab. For anyone who doesn't know what I am talking about, consider yourself lucky, and for everyone who knows precisely what I am talking about, well then you can sympathize with Maija and even understand why she flat out refused to let our beloved pediatrician anywhere near her. It's really quite difficult to restrain an 11 year old and the entire ordeal practically had ME in tears too. Maija was still crying half way home.

By 5:45pm I was hand delivering a bag labelled "Biohazard" to Children's Hospital where they will run it through the lab to figure out what has infiltrated her body. To be honest, this was probably the first time I can remember ever being DISAPPOINTED that it wasn't Strep.

By 7am Micah was waking up with a fever and the chills.

Oh great, there goes the neighborhood!

For The Record

In case I never mentioned it before, Nuala is a dancer.

I love how she got Finn and Oscar to join her out on the dance floor.

And for the record, I am on a Sade kick lately and cannot stop listening to her Lover's Rock album, which of course is where this song came from.

Six Years In The Making

Ruari and I spent a couple of our afternoon hours making another blanket for June8ug. Remember when I first became convinced that number eight is a girl? I made a beautiful pink blanket for her and then announced it to the world (refresh memory here) all the while feeling very confidant that I was in fact correct. Well, what if I'm not? At the time I remember saying that if I was wrong I would simply come home from the hospital and make a new blanket for our new little boy, because obviously that makes perfect sense seeing as how I will be chipper and bright eyed and feeling oh so crafty with oddles of spare time to devote to the sewing machine.

Obviously. 

I am rather relieved we got the second blankie done today and now have a "his" along with a "hers" waiting for whomever decides to arrive on the scene.

What's really special about this particular blankie is that is has been 6 years in the making. I used some fabric from Micah's layette that I have saved since his birth 6 years ago. He had this farm pattern in a gown, a snap romper and a receiving blanket. Somewhere along the way I cut up the romper, great idea I know, because I was going to use it in a quilting project that never quite made it off the cutting room floor. I was thrilled to discover the romper remnants today and decided to use them in this project instead.

Although the romper never made it past 2004, I DID manage to hold onto the original gown and blanket, I just LOVE this pattern!

As you can see, Oscar got a great deal of use out of both items, and you can bet that June8ug will as well.....

(opps this ^one ^ is actually Nuala)

I wish I had some scanned pictures of Micah wrapped up in the blanket, for he too spent his first days, weeks and months snuggled up in this very same thing!

Our Newest Rebel

We DID it! We finally decided on an upgrade.....

The Canon Rebel XSi to be exact.

I really hope we did the right thing. 

Layette

Friday night I started having contractions that were so painful they actually woke me up from a deep sleep. As I laid there trying to imagine how in the world I would pack our hospital bags at 3 in the morning, it occurred to me that it was probably time to get ready, like for REAL. Fortunately I was able to fall back asleep after about an hour or so of "false labor" pains, but it was definitely a reality check that made me realize just how close we are getting to June8ug's birthday. Ever since then, I have been washing the layette like a mad woman and dusting off our suitcase.

DaDa

When Nuala first began saying "Da-Da" she said it in the most hilarious, if not slightly over the top, girly-sing-song voice ever heard! I tried to capture it on video a couple of times, but to no avail. This is the closest I ever came to it......

It really was adorable the way she would lovingly sing out Brendan's title when calling for him, even if she never used the same sappy voice when referring to plain old Mama.

Better Late Then Never, Right?

I just found this while tidying up my movie library and I couldn't resist....

Little Oscar back in December 2008, just getting used to his land legs!

Still

I still go into the nursery every single night to check on the twins before I go to bed.

Still.

Of course I usually don't document the event, but it is a part of my OWN bedtime routine.

I touch their hair, their faces.

I make silent wishes.

I whisper love's promise.

I say one last goodnight.

I still do this.

Still.

Doh-See-Doh

* Junior Docent night at the Art Museum*

Last night we took everyone to the Art Museum for Sidhe and Maija's Junior Docent affair. This is a really neat program that their school takes part in and they have been preparing for it all year long, even longer really if you take into account the fact that they have been studying the arts academically now for the past 7 years. 

*No flash allowed in the gallery, it can damage the art*

Maija presented Monet's Water Loo Bridge to us with grace and articulation, and even a little bit of humor. It was nice to watch her having fun in the spot light. 

As you can see Micah found a way to wiggle onto center stage as well and took his role rather seriously.

Sidhe chose a sculpture, The Lynx, by Felipe Archuleta and was very poised and insightful while describing her feelings about the work. 

I was really impressed with all the students, there were about 9 all together in our group, their foundation in the arts was evident and it reaffirmed my confidence in the path we have chosen for them thus far. The arts have enriched their growth and development and will have a lasting impact on their education as we move forward into middle school. As usual though, I am somewhat sad. Sad to see them leaving the school that has been a second home for the past 7 years and sad, in a way, to see them growing up, to see this chapter of their lives coming to a close. This is only the first of many meaningful endings and exciting new beginnings to come. Fortunately, I know that they are prepared to face the next stage with confidence and flair.........and hopefully a little bit of caution as well!

Houston.....

Well would you just looky here! Houston we HAVE a crib.

Micah had off of school today for K-5 testing and so he was willing and surprisingly able to help me with the assembly. He's very skilled and nimble with an allen wrench, that one!

Meanwhile the twins were perfectly happy to watch us from inside their new luxury yacht, remember what I said about boxes?!? Still SOOOOO true.

All of this work really took a toll on Micah however, and when I called him down to brush his teeth this evening there was no response. Brendan went up to wrangle him downstairs for a little toothbrush action only to discover that Micah was already tucked in and dreaming. 

Naturally he reserved the bed for his new American girl doll, Kate, who is actually a Kirsten by birthright, but has been given a new identity ever since joining our household. I hope she isn't in trouble with the law or anything....This American Girl was recently gifted to Micah by a family friend (thanks again Mary) who must have known deep down that he would be a gracious and generous host. One who wouldn't hesitate to give up his bed.........

For the beanbag instead!

(Gail, I thought you would get a kick out of this)

The King's Robe

Finally!!! After our FOURTH weekend working on this, we have progress, we have COLOR, we have the King's Robe of all blues (who makes up these paint names anyways?) and we have the beginning of a little nest for our little June8ug.....

The Great Outdoors

After thinking it over very carefully I have decided that one of the things I have missed the most since the twins were born is camping. Pretty glamorous right? 

I grew up camping on our family land up north and spent countless summers exploring the woods and lakes surrounding our camp site. One of the first trips that Brendan and I took when we began dating involved a tent and a fire pit, and we've done our fair share of additional tent trips since then......that is until the babies were born. Since Nuala and Oscar have joined our team we've only made ONE stab at the great outdoors! The now infamous adventure that ended with us driving around dark northern back roads at 4am trying to find a place to buy some infant's Tylenol since SOMEONE forgot to pack it. Poor Oscar, the way I remember it, he was screaming the whole way into town. As you can see, it was not a pretty sight.

***Note to self for future reference~If you are going to take group camping shots, try try TRY to take them when you first get there and are fresh from the city. Two days worth of camping dirt does not a pretty picture take! Oh and definitely pack Tylenol***

So yeah, I am currently trying to come up with some creative ways for us to take a fresh approach to camping this summer. I know there are plenty of people who take their babies camping all the time, so obviously it CAN be done! Right?

And just look at what we are missing out on if we don't figure out how to make it work!!!

And just in case you were wondering how on Earth we fit everyone into one tent, well it's simple: We don't. In fact, Finn now has his own tent and so ours is a three tent circus.

How?

"Mommy! How do you keep fitting all your shirts OVER your BIG BELLY?!?!?"

This is what my darling Micah greeted me with early this morning, lucky for him I was in a reasonable mood for 7am and had quite a chuckle about the whole thing. I mean, he does have a point after all.

Just Because

Alright, these photos were obviously taken LAST summer, August to be exact, but they are just so darn cute I couldn't resist! Now that I have learned how to enlarge my photos I sure am taking advantage of posting some random shots Just Because. Just because I feel like it, just because I think they're cute, just because maybe I have nothing else to say today and perhaps maybe Just Because I can. 

Now would you just look at Oscar's goofiness and Nuala's gumption!?!

And since this day is all about nothing or rather a bunch of Just Becauses, I wanted to share these beautiful eyes with you. Nuala's eyes have always been quite extraordinary, and they stayed blue for a good six months after she was born which threw me off a little bit although I'm not sure why, I mean have you seen my husband? She has finally settled on brown, but they still remain rather light to this very day. Oscar on the other hand has very dark eyes just like me and Micah.

I really need a new camera, or should I say I really WANT a new camera, maybe even more than a new stroller (gasp). Just because I think we'll get more bang for our buck with a camera, just because I take about 5,000 pictures a year, just because my flash totally bites the big one and maybe just because I like to torture Brendan a little bit now and again with all this talk about all the big expensive items I think we should invest in! Cue laughter......