It's been rough in my house lately.  My kids and I are tired of the cold and staying inside.  This is the time of year when I get grumpy, and my kids are picking up on it, too.  Ainsley keeps asking if we can go to the park... or even the pool!  I'm ready for spring... and it's only February.

So, today we had a tea party lunch.  Ainsley set up the tea party all by herself while I made the entree, grilled cheese.

We also made Valentine's for all of their little friends.  I even let Lorelei make one for her little friend Naomi. 

They were Disney Princess Valentines that came with a bunch of stickers to put on.  They had a great time making these.  I asked Ainsley who she wanted to make one for and she named off every single person in her 3, 4 and 5 year old Sunday School class.  I was happy she didn't leave anyone out.  The first person she named:  Leo.  Oh boy!

Yes, she is in her pajamas... in the middle of the day...  She loves to wear pajamas.  She will sneak upstairs and change into them at any random time.  I had to make a rule today that it was no longer allowed.  Too much laundry... too much pain when we need to go somewhere and she's back in her pajamas.

I had to show these...

This is Ainsley's drawing of her daddy.  See the hat above his head?  She said that was his Pirate Hat.  She was just a baby when her daddy was Captain Hook-Patch-Peg in a VBS skit, but she still talks about it.

This is me.  Notice that we are not drawn to scale.   The scribbles under my head are my clothes.  She finished drawing it and then said, "Oh wait mom, you're naked."  So, she thankfully drew me a dress.

What is everyone else doing to beat the winter blues?

My husband is still in mourning.  I can't tell you how many times he's said to me today, "I can't believe they lost."  How many years did he say, "there's always next year" about the Red Sox????  Well, there's always next year for the Patriots, too.

We are still battling much sickness in my house.  Lorelei is still not over that sinus infection.  Poor little thing...  Ainsley has a cold and has had a hard time sleeping because of all the coughing she's been doing.  Josh has the same thing.  For now, I'm still fine.  Please pray I'll stay healthy and the rest of us will get healthy.

The highlight of my weekend was the 3rd Annual Friends Valentine Party at my friend Shanda's house.  I left the picture-taking to her and Trish.   Believe me, they look much better than anything I would have taken.   Please head to their sites and see the pictures.  We had such a lovely time.  I am so thankful for the wonderful, godly women God has placed in my life.  It was such an encouragement to laugh, talk and share with one another.  I am very blessed.

Here are my girls' new passions...

Lorelei is our budding artist.  She absolutely loves to color.  She will sit for long periods of time just scribbling.  I think since my first child still does not sit for any length of time, seeing my other child content at one task for longer than two minutes is quite fascinating.  (Don't you love the little mullet she's growing. )

And now I'm competing with a nearly 4-year-old for computer time.  I haven't really let her do much on the computer until now, and on a whim last week I let her try out a few games on the PBS Web site.  Turns out, she's quite good with the mouse, even with the laptop.  (And yes, I guess she does sit for some length of time to do this.)

I'd like to ask some advice from all you experienced moms.  The aforementioned nearly 4-year-old has never made it through the night dry.  She has been day potty-trained for more than a year. She makes it through naps just fine, but we can't make it through the night.  We do not let her have anything more to drink after dinner, which is usually around 5-5:30.  We make her go to the bathroom before bed (7-7:30), and I've even been waking her up when I go to bed to make her go.  Right now, she wears a pull-up to bed because, like I said, she's still never made it through the night.  Should I just start leaving her in her panties so she doesn't mentally have the idea that she can just go ahead and go?  I realize this will increase my laundry load, but I'm just not sure what else to do.  Or should I just wait it out????  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Go Patriots!!!

As you can see, this Connecticut family has a preferred favorite for tonight's game.  (If you can't tell, Ainsley's pajamas even say 'Go Patriots!')

My husband is quite sick, but that hasn't stopped him from getting all set for the Super Bowl.

So, may the best team win.

I guess I've been spoiled.  Once my children were sleeping through the night, well, they never stopped.  And they both started sleeping through the night at 9 weeks.  If they don't sleep well, I know they're sick.  And this weekend, they've been sick.

Friday and into Saturday, Ainsley was sick... stomach sick.  She woke in the night throwing up all over... several times.  Poor thing was so upset that she had made a mess.  It doesn't help that her mother does not handle throw up well.  I throw up every time.  So, she thinks she's done something wrong.  I'm not sure if she had just a small bug that she fought off really fast or had a touch of food poisoning or what, but when she woke up from a very long nap on Saturday, she was back to her normal, very energetic self.  I did get some nice cuddling time with her while she was feeling lousy, though.   I hate when my kids are sick, but I love when my non-cuddler suddenly becomes all nice and cuddly.

Lorelei has had a yucky cold for several days and has been waking up every few hours for several nights in a row.  She's been miserable.  My normally sweet baby has been crying all day and night.  I decided to take her the doctor today, and she has a sinus infection.  Please pray that she'll be feeling better very soon.  She's just so sad to look at.  She has "the look."  You know the one.

So that's how we spent our weekend, taking care of our sick kiddos.  Josh also installed new windows in one section of our church, so I didn't have him to clean up throw up on Saturday. 

What did make my day today was seeing baby Weston.  Amanda and Jason finally got to bring him home yesterday. I brought dinner over to them earlier this evening.   He's so tiny, but oh so incredibly cute.   He made me want a boy...

... And it's the one we're in!

I know that sounds crazy, but God certainly does work in mysterious ways.

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
Isaiah 55:9

Please pray for one more thing, we have to tell our real estate agent what has happened.  We feel so terribly because he has helped us a great deal, and could really have used the money a sale would have brought.  And he's a family member.  

EDIT BELOW

So much has been happening around here.  We had the shower for Amanda here on Friday night.  Several people couldn't come, but it ended up being nice and small and intimate.  She got some very cute things for her baby boy on the way.

A look at some of the people at the shower.
 

That's Amanda in the glider.  We had a good time smiling and laughing.

And it was a good thing we had that shower.  Her water broke Saturday night!  She is due one month from today, so that was not expected at all!  Please be in prayer for Amanda and Jason.  As I am typing this she is STILL in labor.  They are anxious to see their son and they are a little apprehensive since he is a month early.   Now all my friends are saying they want showers at my house when they get pregnant again.  Apparently they induce labor!

With Amanda in the hospital, our little family has grown another girl... and soon one more will be coming, too.  I have had Amanda's little daughter, Naomi since Saturday night.  She's six months older than Lorelei.   Later this afternoon, Naomi's older sister Abbie will join us.  She's been away visiting a family member for the weekend.  Thankfully, everybody has been playing well together.  Right now they are all taking a nap and I'm happy to have some quiet.

One more big thing to mention...  Lorelei finally took a few steps last night.  I was talking to some people at church and put her down so she was standing, but leaning on my legs.  All of the sudden, she just took a few steps and then fell down and crawled away.  She didn't even realize what she had done.  We tried to get her to do it again, but of course, she wouldn't.  At least she took a few steps.  That means she CAN do it.

Here's a picture from last week.  Ainsley was playing with play-doh, so I decided to let Lorelei try it out.  She thought it was hilarious.  And she didn't even try to put it in her mouth.

Have a lovely Monday, everyone.

Edit: Weston has arrived safely.  He's in the NICU to check out his lungs, but is expected to be just fine.  Thank the Lord!  Amanda and Jason are fine and are anxious to hold their baby again.

I went out by myself last night.

I had to do a story and then I needed to get some things for a baby shower that's going to be held at my house this Friday.  My friend Amanda is having her "joy" baby in just a few short weeks. 

I have some new friends visiting my blog who may wonder, what is a joy baby?  It's what I call a baby born after a mother has suffered a loss such as miscarriage or stillbirth.  Lorelei is my joy baby.  In fact, her middle name is Joy.  The name comes from my Bible study of the word following our loss.

Amanda's having a boy after already having two girls, so we want to shower her with all thing boyish and blue.  I'm looking forward to it. 

I went to get some paper goods and such for the shower.  I wasn't sure how long it would take me, and didn't want to take the girls to a bunch of places, if that's what happened, so I asked Josh if it would be ok if I just went out by myself for awhile.  He never minds letting me take off like that.  In fact, he often encourages me to do it when I've had a bad day.  But this is one of the few times I've gone out and I haven't already been exhausted by a less than great day. 

I ended up finding what I needed at the first store I went to.  It was so nice to have what I needed to get done finished, and then having "nothing" to do.  I also enjoyed just driving in the car in silence.  No one was talking, crying, singing or irritating someone else and Patch the Pirate wasn't coming out of the speakers. 

I got a magazine, went to Panera Bread (which was empty and quiet, too) and sat quietly in a corner.  (I think I do this every time I go off by myself.)

It was just enough to rejuvenate me.  I was done so early that I got home in time to tuck Ainsley in.  (Lorelei was already in bed.) 

Thank you Lord for time by myself.  Thank you Lord for an understanding, agreeable husband.  Thank you Lord for children to tuck into bed and sleepy heads to kiss. 

EDIT BELOW

It's been quite a day for us.  Lorelei had her 15 month appointment this morning, which I had planned for, but I did not plan on having to take her directly to the HOSPITAL!

You see, my little one is still not walking.  Which, I know, sometimes happens, but her pediatrician has been concerned about her hips for quite awhile.  They have made a clicking noise, but she still has full range of motion and does not fuss when the doctor moves them in all kinds of strange positions.  Also, some creases in her chubby legs are not symmetrical.  So, those things in combination with her still not walking, or for that matter standing on her own at all, made him want me to take her to the children's hospital... TODAY.  The reason: an x-ray by people who know how to look at children's x-rays.  He wants to rule out a congenital dislocation of her hips.

When a doctor tells me I need to do something now, it makes me concerned.  So, I called my mother in law and asked her to watch Ainsley, so I didn't have to bring her with me.  And off Lorelei and I went to the children's hospital in downtown Hartford.  I used to work in downtown Hartford, but not in this area, and it was pouring rain.  Needless to say, I was nervous, about everything.  But God was good, we found it and we didn't have to wait too long for her x-ray.

Poor little Lorelei is already a timid thing, so having this giant x-ray machine pointed at her and strangers holding her down, was more than she could handle.  She cried and cried through the whole thing, it about broke my heart.  Thankfully, she didn't move too much so the first pictures were fine and we didn't have to do it again. 

We are waiting to hear about the results.  If her hips are dislocated, she will have to be in a cast, I believe.  Please pray that she is fine and just a slow walker.

We are home now for just a short time before we have an appointment to see a few more houses.  My goodness, this is a busy day.

Other than that,  things are normal.

Ainsley had her first ballet class at the community center yesterday.  She was so excited.
 
 
Doesn't she look cute?

We had to wait out in the hallway while the class was going on.  This is what Lorelei did the whole time, watched her sister through the door.  It was so cute.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

EDIT: Lorelei's x-rays were clear.  Praise the Lord!  I really do think it's just her timid personality.  I think she's just scared to walk on her own.  The doctor wants to check her legs again in six weeks, just to make sure we're not missing anything.  Hopefully, she'll be walking and fine by then.  Thank you for your prayers.