Over the Weekend

On Friday (while I was sick) Steven decided to climb into the baby bouncer. Unfortunately, it was ON the coffee table (a little precariously, I might add)!!!

On Sunday, we were all doing decidedly better!

Steven and daddy had a good time playing. Steven got this really cool truck for Christmas. The entire truck disassembles. You must use the screw driver to reassemble it. Way cool!

Penny and Steven also enjoyed some play time! Just look at Steven's smile during every picture. He sure loves this cat.

Loooong Week

Sorry for not posting recently, be we have had a REALLY long week.

Two weeks ago, Gennessee was sick with a (seemingly) minor stomach bug. We didn't worry to much about it, because it only seemed to effect what she was eating; she didn't eat as much as normal, but that was about it.

Unfortunately, it wasn't as minor as we had thought... A week ago Friday, Steven started throwing up... Now, I know I really shouldn't complain since this is the first time in Steven's 20+ months that he has ever had a stomach bug. He was sick all day Friday and most of Saturday. But it is really hard to see your little one suffer and not be able to help at all.

Sunday comes. Now, add to the stress of having a poor, little sicky, Nathan needed to work on the major project for his masters. Chapters 1-4 (of 5 chapters) were due on Monday. I had planned on taking Steven to the Children's Museum in the morning so we were out of daddy's way to work on the project. But first we needed to see if Steven was feeling up to it. Apparently, he seemed well enough to go to the museum, so we went! It was a lot of fun, actually; I'm so glad we could go.

On Monday, President's Day, Nate continued to work on his paper. He finished it that night and I did some editing on it. All said and done, we went to bed by midnight. I was EXHAUSTED. I haven't been sleeping well because of being pregnant and it just was compounded by a poor, sick Steven. My bed felt so good! Unfortunately, Nate started tossing and turning around 2:30 in the morning. Intuition told me what was going to happen next... Sure enough, by 3:00 am, Nate was throwing up. After two rounds, he called into work. We were up most of the night.

Tuesday comes. Nathan tried to get some rest, but it's really hard when you have three kids (including the girls I babysit) running around the house while you are VERY ill. By Tuesday evening, Nate realized that he was still just too sick to go to work, so he called in again. We were all in bed by 8:00, with the prospect of refreshing sleep. That night, around 10:30, Steven throws up again. I carried him to the bathroom, because he was still retching. I start throwing up with him. I found out after the fact that Nate threw up, too... NOT FUN!!! We clean Steven up, threw some towels down on our bed and all tucked in for the night, Steven sleeping with us, which means we didn't get the "quality" of sleep we truly needed. Thankfully, though, Steven didn't throw up again! I called Donita and asked the kids not to come on Wednesday, thinking I was probably coming down with this nasty bug.

Wednesday was truly a day of recuperation. Nate and Steven were on the mend. While I was really nauseous, I think I was in the clear.

Thursday was a decent day. Nate, while completely drained, was back to work and I had the kids. I was definitely exhausted, after a week of very little sleep, but was doing pretty well! Once again, we try to get to bed early. Unfortunately, Steven threw up yet again!!! Once again, Nate and I cleaned him up, surrounded our bed in towels and put Steven down to sleep with us. Steven got really restless, which was actually a good sign. It meant that he was well enough to NOT sleep with us.

This past Friday, a week after the terrible stomach bug first struck the family, I woke up completely drained from the exhausting week, but that's ok... The weekend is just right around the corner, right?! Unfortunately, I woke up completely nauseated. But is this just morning sickness (which I always seem to have a little bit of during the first and third trimester) or the nasty bug? I ate a gingersnap, my morning sickness friend... and throw it up twenty minutes later. That's right... I now have the stomach bug. Unfortunately, I also have Gennessee, Dellany, and Steven to contend with. Did you know that it is VERY hard to be sick while chasing a five year old, a five month old, and a toddler? Thankfully, my dear father-in-law came to relieve me for a few hours. I was able to get a little bit of sleep.

Okay, I think that just about sums up the last week. It's now Monday and everyone in the Smith household is doing well... For now... Dellany has a cold, so we'll see how long it takes before that gets shared!

I happened to get several very cute Children's Museum photos. Looking at poor Steven now, I can see how pale his poor little cheeks are:

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today was a pretty unassuming Valentine's day. Nate and I enjoyed a romantic Wing Stop take out dinner! I love Wing Stop! It was so nice.
Steven got a box of chocolates from his favoritest stuffed bear, Bobo!
The following are a few VERY cute shots of Steven with his mouth CRAMMED full of chocolate!

Hint of a Big Brother

Steven just loves Dellany. He likes to pat her head like I do his. He tries to hug and kiss her, which usually just makes her cry. He even tries to pick her up on occasion! I asked him to sit on his bottom so that he could hold Dellany. He promptly listened and we got a great shot. Gennessee was really good about helping Steven support Dellany.Okay, so I know that Dellany goes home every night and right now she doesn't play with his toys. I can't expect it to be this perfect all the time. I can wish, though... Right?

Noah

Just a quick moment to reflect on Steven's cousin (and our's). Noah is almost exactly one year older than Steven. He has been struggling with scoliosis for a long time now.


When he was two, he was put into a cast for his back. The cast comes off only occaisionally, and then only when the doctors are preparing to recast him; he is a growing boy, afterall. Well, this time when they went to Salt Lake City from Montana to get his new cast, he ended up getting some sort of stomach bug before he could even get to the hospital. Well after a night of monitoring, the doctors decided that his cast could come off and he spent the day cast free. Can you imagine the joys of a two and a half year old without a cast? Amongst his greatest joys: A BATH!


Noah was going to check into the hospital the next morning to get recasted. But, that night Noah decided to throw up again. No recasting after that. They rescheduled for two days later. He did great the first day, but once again, the night before he was to go back to the hospital, he threw up again. No go again. The doctors rescheduled him to be recasted on March 11. That would be five weeks with no cast. Noah's back is looking much better after the casting regiment, so Susan was, understandably, nervous about this prospect. Thankfully, though, Susan got the call that they could move Noah's appointment back to February 19. So they are off for another trip from Montana to Utah.


Noah has really enjoyed being cast free. He loves his baths, of course. He also loves to show off his... BELLY BUTTON!!! Oh the simple joys of which we take for granted.


Please take a moment to say a prayer for Noah and his family. This his been a tough time, but it sounds like things are going well. Thank you!

The Art of Sharing

Steven is practicing his sharing skills...
With daddy... Well, everything, according to Steven, is "mine!"

With Gennessee... muddle through this one. When he comes running back with the dump truck listen for the word "neen." That's turn. He is willingly giving Gennessee a turn! Yes, we're learning!

Lapful of Kids

Normally this is me with Steven and Dellany on my lap while Gennessee sits on the ottoman (Julian is at school). It was so precious to see the kids piled around Donita in order to read a book.

An Interesting Chinese Dragon

If you don't have a cat cube but you have children, I highly recommend you finding some...

Gennessee and Steven reminded me of a Chinese Dragon. We learned that Gennessee had to be in the back or disastrous falls would insue.

Nice Gesture

Steven and Nate conspired together to get me some roses. According to Steven, I am the best mommy in the world. As I said the last time I got flowers, who am I to argue?

Sorry about the delays between posts. I'm not sleeping as well and my motivation level to do anything has seemed to decrease. I'll get it figured out... I hope!

Bear Wrestling Match

After a lounging dinner at the coffee table... ...Steven and SB had a wrestling match on his chair. I'm not sure who won.

Fun with the Reisers

I asked a friend of ours and her daughter to go with me to the mall to play on the breakfast food. They were game, so we had a GREAT time!

The kids had so much fun!

Cece had some gift certificates to Build-a-Bear Factory. That was SO much fun! Steven was a little frightened of the "stuffing" machine, but when the lady offered the bear to Steven, he grabbed his bear and has yet to let go! THANK YOU SO MUCH, CECE!

Steven liked reading to his bear in the car