Help!

I'm stuck in in-law land. Be back soon...I hope.

Lots to Talk About

Part 1 For the past two weeks, my babies have been runny, coughing, phlegmy, all around slimy kids. We ALL had this cold, but with the kids it is hanging on FOREVER. We took them both to the doctor today because Morgan has not been sleeping well and I kind of suspected an ear infection. Since we will be flying next week (more on that in a minute) I wanted to make sure all was well. I expected the doc to tell us that Oliver was fine and we just need to wait it out with him and that Morgan had the infection and needed antibiotics since she seems worse to me. It was just the opposite!!! Oliver has an infection in both ears and Morgan's are totally clear. Good thing we brought them both. Anyway, she recommended some over the counter stuff to help with the runny noses and coughing. Apparently there is a new law here in MA (not sure if it is everywhere) that limits the amount of products containing psuedoephedrine you can buy at one time. I went to the store to pick up Oliver's prescription and the Children's Motrin Cold. The Motrin was behind the counter in the front of the store and they wouldn't let me pay for it at the pharmacy counter. So, I went to pay for the Motrin first and also picked up some Nyquil for Joel who is still coughing a bit, too. I had to show ID and sign a form in order to get the Motrin and then they wouldn't let me buy the Nyquil because that exceeded the limit for psuedoephedrine. So what are people supposed to do when everyone in their famliy has a cold and needs medicine? I guess they do what we did - go to another store and buy the Nyquil there. Could it be any more difficult for sick parents with sick kids? It's not like the people who are buying this stuff to make meth (which is what I learned when I questioned the poor CVS girl who was just doing her job) will be thwarted by these guidelines anyway. They will just go from store to store instead of getting it all at once. It just makes life more difficult for good, upstanding, law abiding citizens like me. Part 2 We went to a friend's wedding on saturday night. It was so much fun! I got to see alot of people I have not seen in a long time. People I spent a whole lot of time with in high school. It was so fun to think back to all those times. Just seeing these people again made me smile. Plus, it is always nice to go to a wedding when you feel very happy for the couple. I mean, you always are happy for them - who doesn't love a wedding? - but I think this couple is really great and I care so much about my friend that I was just so happy to see him so happy. Know what I mean? The funny part is - there was a time that I thought I was going to marry this guy. Pretty much all through high school and part of college I thought for sure he was The One. I'm glad things have worked out the way they have. We're both happy and that's what is important. I did have some strange dreams about this wedding. I don't know why. Nothing happened that happened in my dreams, though. I didn't cry every time he kissed his wife and my bridesmaid dress did not get stuck in an escaltor and get ripped off my body. Sometimes I wonder about myself... Part 3 We're going to Chicago next week for two weeks to visit the in-laws. I have mixed feelings. I am looking forward to seeing them and to them seeing the kids. Some of them have not ever seen Morgan and have only seen Oliver twice. So, it will be nice for the kids to connect with Daddy's side of the family. But two weeks, man that is a long time. What will we do with ourselves for two weeks with no car and no money in Chicago? Any advice on flying with kids? How about on flying with a kid with an ear infection? Should be a blast...

Luxury

I hope you are all still alive after the deluge of cuteness in the last post. Guess what I did today? I painted my nails! Fingers and toes! I haven't done that in...hmmm...a long time. Maybe close to two years! (Wait, I take that back, I did get manicured and pedicured once during each pregnancy) But today I did it myself. Managed to get both kids down at once. Well, in their beds at least. (Oliver is still whimpering in his crib.) They look pretty good, too. We are going to a wedding tomorrow and I am so excited to get dressed up and go out without spit up or snot on my clothes. I might even do my hair, too. I'll let you know about that one.

He's a Giraffe

Halloween was fun. We went to Scituate Harbor with the cousins and their friends. That is the best place to trick-or-treat, if you ask me. They close the whole street down and the stores and shops hand out candy. Fun and safe! If I do say so myself, my cherubs were so darn cute. I couldn't stop looking at them and laughing at the cuteness. I'm thinking next year I might dress them as a bride and groom. Is that too weird? Warning: don't look at these pictures too long - you might die from the cuteness...really.

I can't help but think back to my trick-or-treat days and how they were so much different. I would get together with a big group of friends and wander the whole neighborhood, going to every single house. Things were so much more innocent then. Not as much worry about kids wandering around alone, going into people's homes, literally taking candy from strangers. Never in a million years would I let my kids do that now. But, back then that feeling of freedom and independence was the best. What are your favorite halloween memories?
Oh, and I was sorely lacking in the creative costume department. I always thought I was creative, but it never amounted to anything. I always ended up as a baby or something easy and boring. I always envied my friends who were super creative and fun. I remember one year, I had a friend who dressed up as a tomato. That was funny. What was your best Halloween costume?