Updates

I have been writing in journals for as long as I can remember. It seemed only natural to start journaling for my children when I found out I was pregnant. So I did. Jack's journal is black leather, with a little flap that latches and I first wrote in it Tuesday, February 4th 2003, exactly one week after taking my very first pregnancy test. Riley has an orange leather journal, slightly bigger than Jack's with no latch. I first wrote in hers on November 16th, 2005, two weeks and one day after taking a pregnancy test with her.

I faithfully write in their journals, usually at the same time, as to not play favorites. Until this blog came along, that is. I love writing this blog, it is like journaling for me and I can write so much more because I am pretty fast typer and I never, ever hand write anything anymore, especially since I quit teaching. It is therapeutic for me in ways and I enjoy getting emails from friends and family far and near telling me about a recent blog they read. It's such a fabulous way to keep in touch with everyone. I wish all my friends would write one (hint-hint), because I would be a faithful reader of them all.

Since I began this blog two and one-half months ago I haven't been too good about writing in their journals so I recently began the laborious process of printing all entries related to each child and skimming down their size to glue into their journals. The anecdotes I write about are not to be forgotten and I'd hate for this blog to be deleted by accident or something, so tonight, as I watch American Idol in peace (Riley's in bed and Todd took Jack to see a Charlotte Bobcats basketball game, court side) I will cut and glue all of these entries (well, most of them) into their little journals for them to someday read and hopefully laugh, cry, giggle and be amazed at what they put their parents through.

Anyway- as I was printing out these entries I realized I should probably get everyone up to date on a couple of things.

For Jack- he's feeling so much better. We actually had to put him on steroids and do breathing treatments with him last week b/c of minor wheezing and a bad cough, probably from me. He's all over that now and back to his normal self. He's not napping as much anymore, much to my dismay. I like that quiet time, but I know it's not going to last forever. He's obsessed with the movie Cars, so if I need some time I just pop that in and he's good to go. NO success in the poopy department. None. It's just so frustrating, but time will come for him. He's not going to go to kindergarten pooping in a diaper. Lucky for him he can squeeze his tiny little booty into Riley's size three diapers so I don't buy him any. He is critically aware that he should be doing this in the toilet and gets embarrassed, but is afraid of the toilet. Oh well- it could be worse I guess. He's really into writing and drawing these days. He can actually write some letters on a good day and "writes" words like mommy does. I bought him his own journal that he loves. I love spending these quiet times with Jack and realize he is quickly growing into a boy who loves to learn, much to my happiness. Now if we can just balance his sensitivity with his intelligence and we'll be good to go.

For Riley- she's sitting all on her own now and eating these little fruity puff things that dissolve in her mouth. She still has zero interest in baby food, but will suck down quite a few bottles a day. Her 16lb body is surely not lacking in calories, but we'll have to take her to a food specialist in a few weeks if she still isn't eating baby food. That should be interesting. Her napping is still sporadic, but in her crib none the less. She naps about 3-4 times a day for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Although she napped for 1 1/2 hours for Todd yesterday while I was at the doctor. Go figure. She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth so I suspect she might pop out a tooth soon. I love every minute I get to spend with her, she is such a joy and doing her little hair makes me so happy. She is truly a blessing. If only she could give me a good afternoon nap.

For me- I am finally on the mend after weeks of being sick. After printing out all these blogs I realized we have been one sick family this year. I guess it's God's way of punishing us for all the blessings we have had this year. No one was sick last year, so we are paying for it now. Along with my bronchitis I developed a mild sinus infection and an ear infection (can't hear a thing out of my right ear and could take 2-3 weeks to regain it) and had an asthma attack on Monday. I ended up in the ER Monday afternoon after I struggled to breathe all morning. I guess when your body had a lingering viral infection like I have had it can cause temporary asthma, from what the Dr. said. Great huh? I am taking an antibiotic for my ear, decongestant for my sinuses and Advair for my lungs. I can finally breathe normally now, but am still weary of doing too much. It will be nice to finally get back to normal and start spending more time with our friends.

For Todd- he is hanging in there. He's been a trooper listening to me hack my way through coughing spells in the middle of the night (those are gone now) and rushing home from work to help me. He went to the Dr. himself last week for a tight chest and slight cough and ended up on a Z-Pack and cough meds but feels better. Work has been busy, as usual, but he's doing his best to balance it all. God bless him.

That's it for the Milligan's. My fingers hurt from typing. Forgive me if there are typos- don't feel like rereading this, plus AI is about to start. I think it's in Seattle tonight.

Until next time...