Family vacation: Day one...

We headed out nice and early (yeah, right) Monday morning.  We ran a couple of errands and were on the road by 11:30 or so.  I was thankful to plug the hotel address into the GPS and find it was only 4 hours, not the 5 that I thought.  Funny how important just that one hour seems when travelling with small children!  This was the view from the front seat - a car full of kiddos and stuff.

We decided to give the boys a small gift everyday to keep them entertained.  Monday's gift was a couple of new movies.  My favorite store recently had some good $5 deals so I grabbed a couple of those.  We pulled out the headphones and bought ourselves a couple hours of nearly quiet driving.  Max threw a huge fit the first half hour or so, but with a little reassuring he ended up taking a nice little nap.  We let them eat McDonald's on the trip there, but that was the only visit with Ronald!  It was by far the dirtiest, ickiest McDonald's I've seen in a loooonnnnngggg time. 

NO idea why this child thought that he needed a blanket as miserably hot as it was outside, but he seemed quite content and, really, who am I to argue with content?  Guess the air conditioning in the van was doing its job that day!  Unfortunately, on the way there, I discovered that the same could not be said for my point and shoot camera.  I also have my bigger, nicer camera, but I'm not too excited about lugging it around everywhere so I'll be asking for a new little camera for my birthday in the fall.

I took this picture while Dave was checking us into the hotel.  Yikes!  Maybe we won't go to the zoo tomorrow.  Perhaps an indoor activity? The hotel turned out to be manageable.  Not the wonderful homes we've stayed in in Florida, but we did have two bedrooms and a fridge - the essentials when traveling with kiddos - the adults didn't have to go to sleep at 8:30 and cold milk was ready at the boys' request.

We got settled in, hung up some some clothes, separated out the boys' clothes (all packed in big ziplocs by outfit) into three drawers to make life easier, set up the pack and play, and tried to get the boys to rest a little.  I figured out then that most of my time in the hotel would be me begging someone to quiet down.  Thankfully we didn't spend THAT much time there! 

That first night we headed to the local mall and had dinner at the food court - easy to please everyone that way.  Plus, the mall had a sporting goods store that Dave wanted to take the boys to see.  They have LOTS of taxidermied (made up word?) animals, a big aquarium, some turtles, etc.  Yes, that is a catfish.  Yes, it is bigger than Luke.  Yes, family vacation with small children means a trip to the mall for fun. 

And because no one really slept on the way there, this is what happened on the way back to the hotel.  Poor Seth.  That cannot be comfortable!

And sweet Max, he looks plenty comfy.  I was pretty jealous at this point.  Ready for a good night's sleep. 

Unfortunately, Max had other plans.  The older boys' room was too small for the pack and play, so we set it up in the corner of our tiny room.  We got everyone ready for bed.  Seth and Luke did quite well.  While they are used to sharing a room, on vacation they actually had to share a bed.  I was surprised that it didn't seem to bother either of them too much.  Max did not think the pack and play was a good plan.  I put him down and he started crying (remember we're in a hotel and I'm already begging people to quiet down).  I figured he would fuss for a few minutes and then fall asleep.  After about a half hour I got him up and calmed him down.  I decided I would just go to bed and maybe if I was in the room with him he'd be more content in his own bed.  We moved his bed to the side of our bed and I laid down.  He stood in the pack and play with his little face resting on the side and held my hand.  I tried to transition my hand down further into the pack and play, hoping he would lay down and fall asleep.  I closed my eyes trying not to cater to his every whil but while still staying close by.  I opened one eye and found him still standing there in the corner of the pack and play, staring back at me.  Poor baby!  I finally ended up laying on the floor next to the pack and play.  I only had to stay a few minutes and when he was out I got back into my bed!  Night night...

Family "vacation:" The Where

One day David said, "Where do you want to go on vacation?"  I'm sure I sighed and said, "Ugh, I don't care."  Because as a stay at home mom to three small children, vacation means doing pretty much the exact same thing, just without much of the things that make it easier.  Nevermind all the things that do go have to be organized, packed, laundered, etc.  I know, I know - spoiled sport. 

Anyway, we talked about sun and sand - Seth is 5 and has been to Florida three times.  But then it occurred to us that we are outnumbered, and in a few years that won't be a big deal, but this year - that was huge!  Max isn't walking yet so would need to be carried at a beach.  Luke is WILD and would need to be watched every second.  And Seth is not very adventurous - probably he would've kept a safe distance (read 'back at the hotel if we would let him') from the water but then that's a problem when Max and Luke want to be in the water.  I could go on, but I'm sure you are all either asleep or get the picture.

So, we decided to go for the family oriented outing.  Dave asked some co-workers for recommendations and we settled on St. Louis.  We were told (and then investigated) that they have a huge zoo, a nice children's museum, and Grant's Farm (allegedly the seventh best family attraction in the country).

Next, the issue was where to stay.  Max likes his sleep - like 13 or so hours a night.  To put all of us in a one room hotel would be torture - imagine trying to contain Seth and Luke for 13 solid hours so Max could sleep all that time. So, we checked some vacation rental sites and Dave found a house we could rent for the week.  However, words like "cozy" and "rustic" sent me to the computer as well!  I found "luxury condo" and was sold - a beautiful pool and modern looking accomodations.  Dave contacted the owner, signed the contract, and asked how she would prefer payment.  She contacted us about 36 hours later.  To tell us she rented the condo to someone else.  Ugh.  Back to square one.  There were no other condos available, so we ended up finding a hotel/suite with an outdoor pool.  I convinced myself it was a dump so that anything better would be exciting.

And, off we went....

Daily Pix

This one is not quite right.  Ha ha.  But, that's probably why the grandkids adore him!

Ready and waiting for a local parade. 

Modeling new jammies.

Loving on Daddy.

Strawberry Festival.  Sooo yummy.  Seth wouldn't even try it (what? I  don't get it - he loves strawberries and ice cream.)  Luke ate all of his and tried to mooch off of me and my mom, too!

The boys LOVE s'mores - and they always make a huge mess.  But, I love them too so I'll suffer through the mess. 

Slow down, Max!

It occurred to me that I kinda left you all(?) hanging re: Max and the bottles, nursing, sippy, cup, etc.  Hope no one lost too much sleep over this!  Sweet Max has made great progress.  The seventh sippy cup we tried really seemed to appeal to him.  I heard from/knew of/was told about 2 moms whose kiddos really liked a certain cup so Max and I made a special trip to the store to find it and he loved on that sippy cup all the way to the register.

I did stop nursing him.  I knew it was time for me, but I also know Max is our last baby so that made it really difficult!  Dave and I chatted about it and I stood in the kitchen crying while Dave took Max up to bed.  I didn't want to start a bottle at bedtime that I would just feel like needed to be stopped in a few weeks so he just went to bed.  And that sweet little boy never made a peep.  My parents were at our house watching the boys the second night and we came home early because I didn't want my mom to have to put a crying angry baby in bed, but when we got home he was already in bed, without incident.  And he's been that way ever since.  He tends to sleep later in the mornings and then get a later start on naps and then nap later so many nights he stays up a half hour or so later than the older boys.  It's still a nice little bit of one on one time with him.  Then he loves to wave good night to Daddy and blow kisses and say "nigh'nigh'" as I take him up to bed. 

He's loving eat more finger foods too.  Right now, he eats nearly anything we give him.  Of course, I know he'll eventually notice his super picky big brothers and start turning up his cute little nose too, but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!  He loves chicken - grilled, breaded, anything we toss on his tray!  He gobbles green beans.  [And doesn't even attempt to pick the little beans out like Luke.  Yet.]  Cubed up cheese is another favorite.  And he cries when the baby yogurt cup is empty!

Eating the bowl isn't going to work, silly boy!



A mouthful of Cheerios

Drinking like a big boy.

A work in progress...

Mostly me, but the blog too.  Ha ha.

I'm not done yet, but I'm working on a little blog re-do.  Unfortunately, most things in my life are accomplished slowly, in 10 minute increments.  I'll be back later....

I'm a plantin' me an apple tree...

If there's any truth to that whole "apple a day" thing, I might prefer to nurture a tree rather than load these three up and be confined to an exam room!  [Let me say though that I adore their pediatrician - that is NOT the issue.] Last Thursday they all had doctor appointments. When I made Max's 12 month appointment (at his 9 month check-up, while Seth was in school), I also asked if I could just bring Seth for his 5 year at the same time.  It made sense.  Because I often don't make sense. Only having to load them up once and get them there on time once seemed like a great plan.  In my head I also recall thinking, Luke will be 3 months older, he'll be better able to handle this excitement.  Or, perhaps, I could find someone to pass him off to for the morning?  Then, as the date approached for the two check-ups, Luke developed some symptoms that I deemed worthy of being seen by the doctor (since we were going to be there anyway), and suddenly you have a package deal.

Thankfully (?) the appointments were early and Dave didn't have anything too early so he was home to help me get everyone ready.  This trip required a bag change - from baby diaper bag to three kid backpack filled with soft books to occupy the time spent crammed into the tiny room.  So, thanks to Dave, we got there on time.  [He did go to work, not with us.]  Upon entry to the office the older two boys immediately headed off for the germ infested toys.  I'm not a huge germophobe, but it IS a doctor's office.  Does it get much ickier germier than that?  I headed to the counter to check in the boys and Max snuggled into me so as to not have anyone else in the world ever touch him.

The wait wasn't too bad and soon we were called back. They sent me and Max to an exam room with a nurse (or medical assistant, not sure, but we'll call them nurses because it's shorter to type than medical assistant).  I wasn't really so sure about leaving Luke with Seth and a stranger/nurse for fear of them ganging up on her, but it was just for weighing and measuring heighth so I enjoyed my 3 minutes of quiet and odd questions about Max.  I should mention that I always feel like a completely absent parent when they start asking me if the boys can do certain things - is he walking?  Does he drink out of a sippy cup?  Can he say 1 to 3 words?  Does he stand on his head in the corner whistling a tune?  I think I always just answer, "uhhhh, yeah."  Except, of course, that he's not walking and he hates sippy cups (we're on #7) so I had to answer 'no.'  But, never fear, Luke came bursting through the door and attempted to answer every question for me.  "Yep, yep, he does."
Then they took Max to measure him.  I stood beside the table.  He immediately burst into tears and screamed at the top of his lungs.  Then we all went (maybe not Seth?) out to weigh him.  I carried him out, sat him on the scale myself and stood next to him.  This one started out with the pouty lip and progressed quickly to crying.  Oh, sweet Max! 

Then we headed back to the exam room for more questions about the other guys and a discrete discussion of Seth's "immunizations."  I hadn't really prepared him for this and the nurse didn't really tell him that was what was coming either.  I knew it was inevitable, but Seth tends to overreact so waiting until the last minute seemed appropriate this time.

Then the doctor came.  She was there about 2 minutes after the nurses left us.  I'm thinking they went out and mentioned that if she wanted her room to be intact she might want to hurry things along! 

There was one stool in the room (to get to the exam table) and Seth and Luke both wanted to sit on it.  A lot of whining ensued and Luke ended up sitting on the doctor's lap.  She's great with him and he adores her so it worked out.  Except that he wanted to push the buttons on her computer. 

She very simply explained to Seth that he would be getting a few shots because he had to have them for school.  My neice and nephew are also patients and she knows my sister.  She told Seth how brave his cousins were for their shots.  She said it would hurt a little and he could cry if he needed to but that it would be over soon.

Once we finished up with the visit, including all of the questions I had written down on the back of a flyer that came in the mail (wow, I'm so organized), the doctor left, the two nurses came back and Seth got his shots.  He was very brave and I was so proud of him.  Max wasn't quite so brave.  But Max is a bit younger and he doesn't get to go to school in the fall so he couldn't really be reasoned with.

The outcomes:
Luke's issue turned out to be not nearly as big a deal as I thought it might.  Easily treatable and we are doing so.  He weighed in at 37 pounds.

Seth weighed 43 pounds and is 3' 9.5".  He is 50-75th percentile for weight and 90th for height.  I didn't have any big concerns with him, just a few questions and she reassured me he's 'normal.'

Max weighed 18 pounds, 13 ounces.  He is 28.5".  His height is 10th percentile (I think).  His weight is just under 5th percentile  I am thankful these numbers aren't things the doctor gets worked up about.  She laughed and said, "just under 5th percentile is better than well under 5th."  But, that's consistent with where he's been the last few times so she thinks he might just be "my little guy." I can handle that.  He also had a nasty bug bite that blistered up really ugly so she gave us some meds for that.  That made me feel a little better.

So, over all everyone is doing well.  AND they got to eat lunch with Daddy after the appointment.  I was SO thankful that he called and said he was free for lunch because, all kidding aside, I was zapped from trying to corral the 3 of them at the doctor's office.  Wow!

May Daily Pictures...

Nothing like a frosty! It was about 90 degrees outside. Please notice Luke's choice of footwear.

My order from the craft/hobby store. They had all their page protectors 40% off. Then there was a coupon for another 10% off just for two days. I am enjoying my simple little scrapbook so much that I am going to tackle some of the boxes of unscrapped photos and make simpler books with those pictures also. So I bought page protectors with a bunch of different orientations - mostly for 4 x 6 photos. Having all boys, I know they won't care how "pretty" the books are but they already enjoy looking back at the pictures, so just having it done has become more important to me than making it beautiful. Nevermind, that if I could just feel like some things were caught up around here I could breathe easier!

Again, Luke LOVES to dress up his feet. He found these in my stuff and decided to wear them. And for a couple of hours he was meticulous about pulling them up and having them just right.

Just a sweet boy - you can't see his shirt, but it says, "I'm not small, I'm fun size!" And is he ever.

Taken close to Mother's Day. Just to prove that I do exist and I'm not a ghost blogger.

We need more sidewalks around here.