If an apple a day keeps the doctor away...we need a bushel!

It seems as though Chloe has weathered her first sickness--she has had a cold all week, with sad little goopy eyes and some major congestion. Thankfully she seems to be recovering, and I actually avoided ever taking her to her doctor (although we have had a couple phone calls with the nurses to discuss medical issues, including her cord, which got all infected on top of everything else, but has now FINALLY fallen off, so first bath to commence asap!) Sadly, the next two weeks of our life are FILLED with doctors appointments--Chloe's one month checkup, my six week check up, Alex's swallow study, followed by Alex's sleep study, and finally Chloe has to have an ultrasound of her pelvis (since she was born breech). WOW. My head just hurts THINKING about all the germs we will encounter in waiting rooms...

A comparison of "likes"

Lucas--Age practically 5
Favorite Restaurant: Sonic, Purple Cow, and Larry's Pizza. (He couldn't decide)
Favorite food: Chickilada (or as most people call it--a chicken enchilada) Closely followed by desagna (or lasagna)
Favorite drink: Sprite
Favorite thing to do: watch TV
Favorite book: He claimed it was a book called "Alien Fight" and it has monsters and scarecrows in it fighting...I have never seen a book titled this in our collection. Most nights he asks to read the Bible and he also particularly loves Franklin and Bernstein Bears.

Alex--Age 2
Favorite restaurant: He cannot express his pick, but he enjoys ANY type of food. He is not a very picky eater.
Favorite food: anything with cheese on it.
Favorite drink: milk (and he is finally starting to say "I want a drink...please!")
Favorite thing to do: play with his balls...get your mind out of the gutter--the kid LOVES bouncy balls--we have dozens in all different sizes that he enjoys bouncing, throwing, and rolling everywhere.
Favorite book: Again, he has not expressed a particular favorite, but he is beginning to pay more attention to story time and will even go pick out a story for bedtime. He tends to prefer board books with lots of pictures and animals.

Chloe--Age three weeks
Favorite restaurant: Casa Chance
Favorite food/drink: mommy's milk...although she requests that mommy eat more chocolate and ice cream, cuz she particularly loves those in her dinner milk ;).
Favorite thing to do: Sleep, poop, be cuddled, and eat are all equally wonderful pastimes right now.
Favorite book: Anything mommy or daddy read...She just loves the sounds of our voices and enjoys watching our faces as we read to her.

Blah, blah, blah

It's been a while since I posted and I've been thinking I should say SOMETHING. I have pictures of Chloe that need to be downloaded from the camera. And Lucas has brought home some cute artwork that should be scanned in and featured. PA hosted a "Moms and Muffins" event that Lucas and I attended and I should discuss that. Alex got all his yearly therapy evaluations back and we have news on that front. But I'll be honest...I don't FEEL like talking about anything.

I've been fighting it, but I have post-something depression. Oh, I wouldn't call it post-partum...mainly because I don't think any of my issues have anything to do with Chloe making her debut into the world. It probably doesn't help that I still have massive hormone issues, but Chloe is the big bright spot in my world lately...everything else feels very...blah. I don't know any other way to describe it. And I am not coping well with it.

As I type this, Lucas and Alex are both in time out for hitting each other. Chloe is screaming in her crib (she was asleep until I sat down to do something...then of course, she decided to wake up). Dinner is on its way...courtesy of Domino's Pizza (although in my defense, it is school fund raiser night for Luc's class if you order pizza, so that one was a no brainer). The house is relatively clean...although it is no where near Christy standards of organization. It has been a bitch of a day...and yet, I am here, my kids are well, and life will go on. I just wish it would stop feeling so blah. Blah, blah, blah.

Okay--enough moaning. I promise that my next post will be chipper and lighthearted...or at least impart some kind of information rather than just a random crummy rant. Fall is here and my favorite month is fast approaching; I have so much planned for October I won't have time to feel the least bit BLAH!!

Headed home

We have brought all of our children home from the hospital in LSU outfits, so it was only fitting that Chloe come home in her tiger best...with a nice pink twist, of course. It didn't hurt that we came home on Saturday--when the fighting tigers played their first game of the season. Jennifer had been watching the boys for us and had decorated the whole house in LSU gear and had beautiful purple and gold flowers in honor of the game (and pink glads in honor of baby coming home!) She had also planned a tailgating feast for us. It was all a wonderful treat to come home to and to celebrate the arrival of our newest family member.

It was a wonderful day and it was a terrible day. Chloe got to come home and our family was complete, but later that afternoon we got the word that my dad lost his battle with cancer. I have tons of emotions and feelings about the loss of my father--but I will post all of that separately. I have struggled a lot with all the things I am feeling right now--as I said--a joyful time mixed completely with a sorrowful time makes for very complicated thoughts!

Meeting Chloe

The boys came up Thursday afternoon to meet their new baby sister in the hospital. It was really sweet--Lucas just wanted to touch her constantly. We had to coach Alex to use "soft touch" since he was too excited to do more than slap at her without guidance. But he got the hang of it...Here, Josh telling Alex all about baby Chloe. It was really funny--Alex came in the room and said "Happy birthday Chloe!" (I think he got a little coaching from Aunt Jenn on the ride, but still really sweet!) Thanks to KB for helping capture these special pics.

We had an endless supply of visitors...no complaints from Miss Chloe--being held is her favorite activity right now!

I think Uncle Scott is doing the Heisman Trophy pose here...(I'm sure I am butchering the spelling of that, but I don't do football trivia/knowledge, so that's what ya get!)

Labor Day

So what's a more appropriate day to discuss my most recent "labor" than labor day? Chloe Ann Marie made her debut on September 2nd at 9:04 am. I was already contracting when I arrived at the hospital, and was expecting a normal delivery to take several hours...but Chloe decided to be difficult; she was breech. So after some tears and discussions with doctors, we were whisked back to an OR and she was delivered by C-section. It was not how I would have chosen the day to go, but it was all very quick and boom...we had a new baby to love on. I'm exhausted (can't imagine why) so my posts over the next few days will be brief, but I've got lots of pictures to share (of course!) and I will try to post a little each day. Below, first bath...she has TONS of really thick hair--some dark, and some blonde--almost like she has highlights! Very cool.

Josh cutting the cord...

First glimpses before she was completely cleaned up...

Josh being a ham in his "bunny suit" as he called it. Sexy.

More pics of Chloe meeting her family and friends coming up tomorrow.

Things to remember....

Two quick sweet/bittersweet things to remember about today--

First, Alex chanted "I love you daddy" all the way to school today. Sadly, Daddy wasn't in the car...daddy didn't greet Alex in his crib this morning with a big smile to start the day....Daddy didn't feed him breakfast, brush his hair, or tickle him outrageously to make him smile. Nor did Daddy sing nursery rhymes to him as we walked to the car. Sigh. Mommy gets no love.

We also got two surprise baby presents today--both absolutely adorable outfits for Baby Chance. Ironically--they both say "Daddy's girl" and "I love daddy". Is God trying to tell me something? Will I ever be a favorite?!

Second (this one is just plain sweet and made my day!), Josh and I went to have lunch with Lucas at school today--which was really nice. Lucas was so excited to have us there. Before we left the house I spritzed on some of my favorite perfume--which I almost never remember to do anymore. Lucas gave me a big hug when we got to the school and he asked me "What smells so good mommy?" So I asked him what I smelled like to him--and with a big beaming grin he announced I smelled like "rainbows!" And then he gave me another super big hug. It was really innocent and sweet and makes me want to cry just thinking about him growing up and not saying such precious things anymore!