Photoless UPdates

So remember my last post that was all victorious and like, "no puke for 24 hours - yay!"

Well I spoke too soon.

Later that night I was stricken with the loveliness that had been plaguing my kids all week. Poor Gabe! He had to take 2 days off work because I was so sick - and the kids continued on their explosive rampage! So we are on day 9 today and both kids are still actively throwing up and having diarrhea. SPLENDID!

This flu bug has been a doozy to say the least. In the last 2 weeks I have left my house three times -twice for church related activities, and once to the grocery store. My sweet parents gave us a hefty gift card to Albertsons for christmas so we finally went and spent it! We now have enough popsicles, jello, and, chicken soup to feed an army. Thanks Mom!

In addition to the tummy troubles, both kids have runny noses (again) and low grade fevers. I am going to call their Dr. tomorrow and see if I should take them in. (again). That would be the 3rd visit in the last 6 weeks. It seems like everyone I know is having the same viral takeover in their houses. I cant wait for some sunshine to come and nuke these pesky bugs. Also, I find the sunshine out to be a tad misleading. I think - Oh wonderful! The sun is out - lets go for a walk! Only to open the garage door and immediately get stricken with frostbite. Curse you lying sun!

But there was one small insignificant blessing that came from this. I did manage to shake 4 pounds of that extra lingering baby weight! Ive had an annoying extra 10 pounds that keep me just so uncomfortable in my clothes, so I was glad to have no appetite for a week so my food choices improved greatly. Plus Im off caffeine. Wait, did you catch that. THIS IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL. And no im not pregnant. But I feel SO much better off it that its ridiculous. I thought it had been taking the edge off my day, but in fact I think it was making me meaner. If thats possible :) Anyway, no caffeine for me right now. And dare I say it - I think I have MORE energy. Dont ask me, Im not a scientist - I dont get it either.

So.....On saturday our Stake Young Women's program had this huge service project called "Hearts and Hands". We had a big Personal Progress awards ceremony followed by a big marathon service project where we sewed humanitarian quilts, receiving blankets, and comfort hearts for kids undergoing surgery at the hospital. I LOVED doing these projects. I meant to only stay for 2 hours because I had left the sickies home with Gabe (and the explosions are a 2 man job!) but once i was there I couldnt leave!!! Anyone that knows me knows I live for a service project. If you have any doubt please look in my backyard and see the 4 stray cats that have accidentally become ours. Which brings me to my next story....

The cat lady. I have become her. Now, dont mock me - despite the cruel jokes from my husband and sister - I have not become an episode of "Hoarders". Here is what happened. Around Christmas time on a dark blustery evening I heard a small pitiful meow at the door. I pulled back the curtain only to see a mama kitty and a little fat kitten. They had such sad little cries. BUT - I did not buckle then and there. I calmly told myself that  obviously they were someones pets that had wandered into our yard. So I closed the curtain and that was that.

Well two weeks later I happened to discover much to my horror that these little homeless cats had taken up residence in the playhouse in my backyard. So then I gave in. I started to put a bowl of food out. For the starving cat family. And they were so cute, and thankful, and full of purring. Not at all your usual scrawny run of the mill homeless cast. These were obviously pets that had been dumped in our neighborhood. And my kids LOVE them. They love to feed them and watch them through the window. Honestly, it worked out great because we wanted an outside cat anyway.

But then...one morning I looked out and there was ANOTHER CAT! "baby daddy". Now HE was a street rat. I think he is the skinniest  saddest looking ugliest cat ever. But he was so desperate for love and you could just tell he wanted to live. So I fed him too. And here is where it gets really tricky - he brought along his buddy "black friend" who was nice, and quiet, and a little shy. But how can you shoo away just one cat and feed the rest? So he moved in. Every time I looked in the backyard the four cats were there all snuggled together in their little homelessness.

So yes. 4 cats. However I recently had to take black friend to the pound because his eye exploded. But thats a whole different story entirely. Just know that I draw the line when the cats have medical issues. Im no half way house. And I couldn't cope with the suffering. So he had to go.

Brigitte has been FULL of her usual hilarity. She is now completely obsessed with Snow white, Sleeping beauty, and Cinderella. Although it baffles me why Snow White with her annoying voice, twilight skin, and poor choice making ability is her favorite. But she sings all the songs and I MUST tape it soon before she grows up and wont sounds so cute shouting ONE SONG, I HAVE BUT ONE SONG.....

I LOVE love love having two children. I want about a billion more. But only because there is nothing in this world cuter than seeing my two babes hiding under the kitchen table hitting the metal chair legs with stolen spoons. Brigitte is Spencer's supplier for all things mischievous and so she sneaks silverware from the drawer and gives him one and they sit and drum on things under the table. He is her little accomplice and follows her everywhere. If hes not paying attention to her she shouts PENSE CMON! CMON LITTLE DARLING! And then he turbo crawls right after her.

Spencer is our little grizzly man. He sits up on his haunches just like a wild bear. He refuses to walk even though he stands up independently in the middle of the floor all the time. He is also obsessed with the stairs. Gabe went to blow his nose and came back only to find out that Spencer had crawled up the ENTIRE flight of stairs and was sitting at the top. I found him there and carried him down and officially up the baby gate up - where it will stay until he is 2 1/2. Also my most favorite thing about butters right now is that he will give kisses on demand. I say "Wheres my Kisses?!" And he leans in and holds his face right up on mine. I LOVE it. I know someday he will grow up and not want to rub my hair across his face - but until then I am SOAKING him in.

And now, in  closing I would just like to say THAT ITS OSCAR NIGHT!!!! WOOT WOOT! Im about to go stake out in front of the tv with my fondue spread and check out of life for 6 solid hours while I recap all the fabulous fashions and annual awkwardness that is Tilda Swinton. ...