Roller Coaster Jack

This is what Jack has looked like the majority of this week. Not always with tears, but always snuggling up and sad because he is not feeling well.

Doesn't it just break your heart?!?
He wouldn't eat anything except Cheerios, Mac & Cheese, and fruit. When he did eat we were able to take that energy, combined with new toys, and get a smile...
Here he is post his first meal after 2 days of boycotting all foods, with his new toys, and in the big kid bathtub with Nick.
You could tell he wanted to smile but I think he was so used to being sad he had to warm up to it...
BUT alas we finally got a good ole Jack smile.

Last night is the first time this week he slept the whole night (even through a hail storm), in his crib, and woke up fever free without any meds. Still only eating mac & cheese and fruit but I'm going to go with it...but has had some significant wheezing this morning so I'm taking him in this afternoon for them to listen to him breathing. I'm sure it is just a matter of a few breathing treatments but want to make sure before we get into the weekend. Poor man just can't stay on going up on this roller coaster. Can't wait to get out of the house even if it is to the doctor's....I feel like the walls are caving in on Jack and I and fear how our skin/eyes will react to sunlight when we do step outside.

Exactly How Many Molars Do We Have?

Jack has been waking up every hour screaming at night. Desperate-seeing no end in sight-we bring him to bed with us which helps him sleep, but none of us (including him) get a good night sleep. Thinking he was playing us for fools I mentioned it to someone that said what about teething...Oh, he has more of those to come doesn't he?!? Sure enough a big fat molar is breaking through on the top, left side of his mouth. Poor baby. That explains the faucet of a nose, slight fever, crying at night, and him not eating anything (even cheese pizza!). Hopefully it will pop through soon so our little man can feel better and all of us can sleep better. Why weren't we just born with teeth to avoid this misery? Exactly how many molars do we have? I fear that we might not live through this one...much less a mouth full.

Excuse the cheerios on his chin...that is what I used to keep him still to put ice on his face. If you look closely you can see how his left side is red and kinda puffy. And look at that yucky runny nose... :(

Playing House

So Jack and I have been touring local Daycares now that I know where I will be working next year. There are a ton to chose from as far as chain establishments, but no small family owned and all the churches are for Mom's Day out a few days a week only. Yesterday we went on our daily outing and checked out this place down the street. From the outside it looked perfect. All nice and even kinda home like. Once we walked through the doors we both knew that it was far from perfect. The place was cluttered, disorganized, and there were 22 toddlers in a room that looked to be about the size of Jack's nursery. Yes there were 2 teachers and an aide...but come on....22 in one small room with tables and chairs....it was borderline inhumane. When I walked past the 2 year old room there was this little boy on his mat with a blanket over his head just crying his eyes out. When I said, "Poor Baby"....the director said that he was new. My response was, "First days are scary"...she replied with he had been there for 2 weeks. I'll be damned if Jack is still that sad and crying after 2 weeks if I let him stay there no matter how "good" it is. So needless to say I got to the car and absolutely lost it. We've been to tons of places and I spend all his nap time searching the Internet, Phone Book, and local parenting magazines but NOTHING has met my standards yet. Here we go again...

Karen and Olivia are going through the same situation and since misery loves company they came over in the afternoon to play. Visiting with Karen (although we talk "shop" a lot) and watching the kiddos play helped to cheer me up and keep my mind off of things...temporarily.

"Ask my Dad if I can play house with you Olivia...I don't think he will mind because he is the one that wanted me to get this kitchen...don't tell anyone though-don't want him to look like sissy Dad."

"Hi Honey, I'm home from work now. Could you make me some dinner?"

"Jack, Your dinner is ready...turn off ESPN and come eat before it gets cold."

"Mmmm, I love carrots. Olivia I knew I married you for a reason...you sure are a great cook (not at good as my Mom though)."

Watching them play house made me think how everyday I feel like that is what Nick and I are doing...I never thought I'd be married, living in the burbs- with a kid....heck, I never thought I was going to college...a chef in San Francisco...that was where my heart was. My how things change-and I wouldn't want it any other way! At the same time...I'm so envious of Jack and Olivia being able to play house because the real thing sucks sometimes when you have to make decisions that affect someone that you love so much. I wish I was playing house right now!

I WAS

Going to orchestrate a Master April Fools on Nick...It would have gone like this...have Lisa pee on a pregnancy stick (which since she is due in May it most definetely would have been positive), told Nick to come home straight after school, put on some fake tears, and proceed to tell him I'm pregnant and that I've already contacted Mike to tell him that I won't be working at McGowen next year because there is no way I could have a baby in November and then go back to work 6 weeks later. BUT....I decided against it, NOT because it is too mean, BUT merely because it would have been too much work for this lazy stay at home Mom and a waste of a pregnancy test. That just means that next year's will have to be even better to make up for us skipping out on this year's.

Happy April Fools Day!