Aches and Pains

also known as Andrew’s birthday party. Andrew had a big party with friends and a sleepover last year. This year we decided to do something just as our family. There’s an indoor trampoline place in Raleigh called Defy Gravity. Monday night is family night and for a very reasonable price. We got a babysitter for William and Aurelia and just took the big kids. They ALL had a blast. We will definitely be taking advantage of that again. Here are a few pictures and videos from that night. I only had my phone so the pictures aren’t great quality. There are several videos at the end of the post for Grandma. I figured she would enjoy watching Nathan jumping since he spent a lot of time as a kid jumping on her trampoline.
A view of most of the space.

 Christopher in relation to the trampolines.

Nathan flying high.

Andrew taking a dive into the 8 foot deep foam pit.

There are things hanging from the ceiling, eg-basketball goal, punching bags, ball, etc. You can jump up and sink a basket here. Christopher and Nathan shooting hoops.

Aria.

Pretty much the only picture where Joshua isn't a blur.

Trick or Treat

For Halloween the boys wanted to be the Robertson’s from Duck Dynasty. They’re a Christian family that is about as redneck as they come. And I say that will all love. Don’t forget-I’m WV and KY bred and born. Aria was unsure what to be. I decided I had some things I could remake and she and Aurelia could be matching little black cats. After trick or treating for awhile Andrew and Joshua came home to hand out candy with me. They ended up hiding in the bushes and jumping out to scare the middle and high schoolers who were out. They totally cracked me up!

Here are some pictures before they headed out. Nathan took Aurelia with them in the stroller and she had a blast strolling around the neighborhood. She was much admired!

And someone had too much sugar and face planted right on her bed, ears still on.

Pumpkin Carving

Here are some pictures from our recent pumpkin carving. It took two hours to finish these pumpkins and even longer by the time we roasted the seeds. The pumpkins look great. Andrew and Joshua chose to make their own design. Aria and Christopher picked patterns from a book. They traced over their designs with something similar to a sewing/tracing wheel. Then they sawed away and cut them out. Aria and Christopher had help from me and Nathan.

Clockwise from top left. Andrew, Joshua, Christopher, and Aria’s pumpkins at night.

In Which No One Got Any Sleep

Thursday morning Aurelia woke up feeling a little warm and a bit fussy. I figured she was teething or fighting a bug. At our pediatrician’s office they do all the infant well checks in the early morning before all the sick kids come in. William had a check up scheduled for Friday morning. I decided to be a good mom and cancel it so I wouldn’t expose anyone to whatever Aurelia had.
She spent the day napping and being a little crabby. By bed time she was still warm. I gave her some Tylenol and Nathan tucked her in. She woke up a couple hours later still fussing. I tucked her in the chair with me to watch some tv and entertain her with my phone. She’s getting good at self portraits.

At 10 pm she was feeling warm enough that I was concerned. Her temp was 101.3. I called the UNC nurses hotlines and they gave me the usual tips, Tylenol, light clothes, lots of liquids, follow up with the doctor tomorrow. She rolled around on our bed and the more I felt her the more warm she felt. We took her temperature at 11 pm and it had jumped to 104.2. Meet concerned mama!
I packed a diaper bag and Nathan got dressed. Since William’s sole source of food is me, I couldn’t take her. Off to the pediatric ER. Thank God for living in a large city. It was after midnight when Nathan got there. I’m very helpful with texts. My messages are in blue and Nathan’s replies are in white.



















As you can see, they were very thorough. They did an X-ray to check for pneumonia, which I learned how to spell that night, thank you Iphone. They did a cath to check for a UTI. They checked for an ear infection. She did NOT appreciate all this attention. At one point Nathan and I facetimed (Skype for the Iphone) and I sang to her for a bit. Ignore my 2 am hair and facial expression.

Ultimately it was ruled that everything was clear. And of course, proper follow up for an ER visit is a doctor appointment.They got home about 4 am. The other kids all have to be up at 6 am to get ready for school.
Remember that good mama that I was being earlier….now I had to call first thing Friday morning and try to get her in to see the doctor.
Thankfully we had a great pediatrician and they were able to see her and do William’s check up. She was stuck to Daddy for most of it, still in her pajamas.

William is healthy and fit and weighing in at 12 pounds 9 ounces. Yes, that’s correct, porky boy gained over 3 pounds in 4 weeks. Sheesh.
It’s now Monday morning, she seems to be back to herself. And I learned that you never cancel a doctor appointment.

Photo Shoot with William

This is him in his little kilt that I made him. He wore this to the pub and matched his daddy. Nathan was so proud carrying him around and showing him off. I wasn’t quite sure if he was more proud of the baby or the kilt. It was very sweet.

A Picnic Lunch

The week after Nana and Papa went home Nathan worked from home to help with all the Aurelia lifting since I was still recovering from William being born. One day we took lunch outside in the back yard. William was napping in the house so he isn’t featured here. But there are tons of pictures of Aurelia, mostly because she’s super cute and because she doesn’t more quite as fast as the others.

Our yard does have a nice slope to it. Make great slip and slide space.

This is the face of growing orneriness. She’s becoming super mobile, very charming, and more than a little ornery.

Katie says, ‘Do I have to be out here mom?’

 

Now I have a ball.

Thanks for the help Joshua.

Andrew, up close and personal.

Now I have a stick mom!

I see you Aria!

Joshua thinks he’s a pirate.

And now I have some grass.

Christopher always stops and smiles. No candid shots of him.

Sisters.

Here’s a good view from one end of the yard to the other. Lots of construction in our neighborhood. I look at it as free entertainment.