Thursday, April 30, 2009

Disappointed

Based on some things that happened and didn't happen earlier this week, I've been thinking I would need to return to work much sooner (like a month sooner) than I had originally planned. I was hoping for some kind of miracle so that I would not have to do that. Unfortunately, no such miracle has occurred and I will be going back to work in a week and a half. Fitz will only be 6 weeks old. I am so sad.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day

Recommended reading. You can now go back to reading about my family.

Must Do This Quickly

Because my kids are downstairs alone as I blog this. Good parenting on my part.


Easter Sunday pictures (also Fitz's two week mark)






Easter Egg Hunt, Family Home Evening, Monday After Easter


This is one of my favorite pictures of all time.


We actually got Charlie to pick up some of the eggs. That was awesome.


The kids had a good time playing at the park together while Dad hid the eggs.


Fitz had his two week check up today (at 3.5 weeks old). Guess how much this kid weighs?

10 pounds, 13 ounces! Can you believe it? He was 7 lbs. 15 oz. at his April 1 appointment, so he's gained almost 3 pounds in 3 weeks. Crazy. He's not super chubby, though, so the doctor thinks he is probably tall as well, although they don't measure length at their two week appointment. Is that weird? Anyway, doctor says he is strong and perfect. Of course, I already knew that. :)

I talked to the doctor about Charlie a little bit. He has his two year well visit in a couple of weeks and I wanted to share our concerns with the doctor as a heads up before that appointment. He said he would make sure to have this ASQ or something like that (Jen, is that right?) for us to fill out and send back in for their specialist to go over. So we should know soon about what is going on with Charlie and what we can do for him.

Okay, I have to get back to being a mom now. Will try to post again soon.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Charlie is Fine

Except he does appear to have the stomach flu. He does not have a concussion, thank goodness. I was very worried last night. I'll take the stomach flu over a concussion any day.

Emergency Room

Charlie threw up again. Josh and his dad are on their way to the ER with him, upon the recommendation of the Kaiser advice line. I'm at home with my other three children, completely helpless.

Great

Josh just reminded me that Charlie fell and hit his head pretty hard earlier tonight. So now he's got me worrying about a concussion.

The Fun Never Ends

Josh just went to check on the kids on our way to bed. Discovered Charlie had thrown up. We took him into the bathroom to put him in the shower. 2nd discovery: stomach flu seems to be affecting both ends. Joy!

Josh currently cleaning Charlie. All the commotion woke up Katie. My hallway smells like puke, since I don't have an actual space in which to keep dirty laundry or a washer and dryer to throw pukey stuff into to clean right away.

Looking forward to the inevitable spread of the illness. Hopefully, Fitz will be unaffected.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009

Family Outing






I'm trying to slowly catch up with my posting. Here are some pictures from Free Museum Day here in Sacramento, which happened way back at the beginning of February. Josh and I took the kids to the zoo and to Fairytale Town and we didn't pay a dime. Woo hoo! It was a lot of fun and the kids had a great time. We even eventually got Charlie to start looking at the animals.

Friday, April 03, 2009

Coming Back to the Land of the Living

I actually am feeling pretty normal today. I am wearing pants that do not have an elastic waistband. (Although, these are still three sizes bigger than the size I was wearing when I got pregnant. Good thing I held on to some of my fat clothes.) I have a little bit more energy -- thanks to Fitz who slept very well last night and also to Josh who let me sleep in a long time this morning. I've been home alone with Charlie, Katie and Fitz most of the day and am actually surviving, managing to keep kids fed, etc. I actually feel like a real mom.

I'm still a little sore in my back, stomach, hips and thighs. Carpal tunnel and swelling have not completely gone away. But I have to admit that recovery has been pretty easy thus far. Somehow I have the good fortune to have fairly easy pregnancies, labors and recoveries. Maybe that's part of the compensation I receive for not being able to be a stay at home mom.

Fitz's jaundice seems to be clearing up. And he is already having longer periods of wakefulness. He was up for about 2.5 hours this afternoon. A lot of that time, he was content just to hang out in his car seat and look around. That was pretty nice. It meant I actually got to eat lunch.

Josh is at the airport with Alek and probably won't be home for a few more hours. I hope my energy lasts me until then. And hopefully after the kids get to bed tonight, I still have some energy left to do some very overdue cleaning while Josh tackles laundry.

A girl can dream.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Announcing the Birth of Fitzwilliam Thomas Barker



It is a fact well-known that babies are one of the purest pleasures that life affords, and that the inevitability of these little ones growing older and becoming just like everyone else does little to deter most women from filling their homes and their lives with them. This being the case, it came as no surprise when Mrs. Jessica Barker decided that having four children under foot would be preferable to having just three, and it did not take long to convince her husband of the wisdom of the scheme. Thus within a short amount of time, Mrs. Barker found herself awaiting the arrival of a new little one, although unfortunately without the aid of a full-time nurse or the comfort of a quiet country home in which she could spend her confinement. After many months suffering under the complaints that women generally endure in such a case, the day at last arrived when Mrs. Barker would have to endure no more.




Fitzwilliam Thomas Barker was brought forth into the world on Sunday, March 29 at 10:28 p.m. Sir Fitz weighed in at 8 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 and 1/2 inches long. Many received the news with pleasure, and the baby was universally declared to be the most handsome in all Carmichaelshire. Most were struck by the amount of dark hair atop the lad’s head, as Mrs. Barker’s previous children were nearly bald as infants.


Despite an exhaustion that would no doubt last for at least 18 more years, Mr. and Mrs. Barker were thoroughly pleased with the outcome of their plans. Indeed, Mrs. Barker was heard to remark, "Four healthy children. Oh, Mr. Barker, God has been good to us," to which her husband simply replied, "It would appear he has, my dear. It would appear he has."

Announcing the Birth of Fitzwilliam Thomas Barker

It is a fact well-known that babies are one of the purest pleasures that life affords, and that the inevitability of these little ones growing older and becoming just like everyone else does little to deter most women from filling their homes and their lives with them. This being the case, it came as no surprise when Mrs. Jessica Barker decided that having four children under foot would be preferable to having just three, and it did not take long to convince her husband of the wisdom of the scheme. Thus within a short amount of time, Mrs. Barker found herself awaiting the arrival of a new little one, although unfortunately without the aid of a full-time nurse or the comfort of a quiet country home in which she could spend her confinement. After many months suffering under the complaints that women generally endure in such a case, the day at last arrived when Mrs. Barker would have to endure no more.
Fitzwilliam Thomas Barker was brought forth into the world on Sunday, March 29 at 10:28 p.m. Sir Fitz weighed in at 8 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 and 1/2 inches long. Many received the news with pleasure, and the baby was universally declared to be the most handsome in all Carmichaelshire. Most were struck by the amount of dark hair atop the lad’s head, as Mrs. Barker’s previous children were nearly bald as infants.
Despite an exhaustion that would no doubt last for at least 18 more years, Mr. and Mrs. Barker were thoroughly pleased with the outcome of their plans. Indeed, Mrs. Barker was heard to remark, "Four healthy children. Oh, Mr. Barker, God has been good to us," to which her husband simply replied, "It would appear he has, my dear. It would appear he has."