"Mom, are you ok?" "Yeah, I'm just a little tired." "You can take a nap on the couch while I watch a movie." "Who's gonna watch Nora?" "I will!" "Who will clean the kitchen?" "You can. After you wake up."

Smart kid...

No more Tubes

Nathan got his ear tubes out today. Remember this post when he got them in? I was a little nervous about how it would go. We had to go to the ENT's office, they weighed Nathan, wrote out a prescription for the medicine that makes them forget things. I gave it to him and it only took 10-15 minutes for it to start taking effect. He was acting a little drunk, talked slow, a little slurred, couldn't stand up, his head was going in circles, he'd giggle for no reason, he kept holding out his arm and just staring at his hand, when he'd try to look up he had a hard time holding his head so it wouldn't just fall back. It was actually kind of comical. They laid him down on a chair, I held his arms down so he wouldn't try to grab something, a nurse held his head still, and the doctor reached in his ear through a little metal funnel and pulled the tube out, along with some wax, ew. Nathan did flinch a little, but did great. There are holes where the tubes were that will hopefully heal themselves. We go in for a check-up in 6 weeks to make sure everything is healing right. He was still a little out of it most the evening. When we got home, he kept trying to walk around and would say "Mom, look," as he was practically falling and not walking straight. I kept having to tell him "I know, Nathan, it's from the medicine you took. You need to just sit down for minute so you don't fall over and hurt yourself." I wanted him to just lay down for a minute so I could get Nora some dinner (and me!). Crazy kid. He was pretty much back to normal by about 7:00. He's such a good little guy.

Biggest Loser: Week 11

Previous weight: 143
Current weight: 146

I knew it was coming. I've had a hard couple of weeks. I was really, really down. It started with Nathan's birthday. Three birthday celebrations in one week plus a practice round of baking cake pops meant way too many eaten calories on my end. Also, Nathan's birthday really made me miss Corey. Like, bad. It was just something that a dad shouldn't miss and it really put me in a downward spiral. On top of that, I only made it to the gym twice that week because of sick little Nora. She was much, much better but would still cough once in awhile and when she did, it sounded horrible. I knew I'd had a bad week so I weighed myself just for me last Saturday to see how much work I needed to do to make up. Um, yeah, it was bad. This actually only made me more depressed to know that I'd thrown away so much hard work in just a few days time. Then I was thinking that maybe there's more to it... this might be TMI, but I still haven't started since Nora's been born and I was actually feeling what seemed like similar symptoms from what I remember of this lovely monthly gift (it has been quite awhile since I've experienced it) and I wonder if I had gained a little water weight? Hormones do affect that, don't they? Anyway, I still had sort of a bummer week. Missing Corey, missed another day at the gym because Nathan had a fever, missing Corey... I was feeling super burned out. Exhausted on so many levels. Wanting to throw in the towel and just call it quits for good. I was done with exercising. Done with eating healthy. Done with Corey being gone. Done with doing all of this by myself. Then, I strained my feet while running on Wednesday and on Thursday I could hardly walk. This made it not easy at all to work out. I did my best. My feet still hurt a little today. I'm hoping having another day off tomorrow will help. Yesterday, Nathan had a field trip at Willow Park in Logan. Getting out and doing something fun and in the sun and seeing friends was just what the doctor ordered. The kids were angels that day. We had fun. We went to Subway after. Both kids ate great. We got home and my in-laws, last minute, ended up taking Nathan out to dinner with them. I went to my Bunco group last night. Nora was even cooperative there. When I got home, I got to talk to Corey for a minute (he's been in the field all week long and we haven't been able to really talk at all, just text a little). The whole day was good. I felt better last night. Then at the gym this morning, I was given a boost from all my friends there who are all just so darn supportive. I've made a new 2 week long exercise/eating plan that will hopefully get me down those last pounds. There are only 2 weeks left of biggest loser, 1 more weigh-in. There are only 2 weeks left until Corey gets home (as of yesterday). The last weigh-in is the day after he gets home. Only. 2. Weeks. I know that if I stay focused (and if my kids don't get sick again. seriously...), I can get to my goal. I'm feeling good today. Motivated again. Rejuvenated again. Excited again.

Thank you for reading my rant. The ups and downs of life... that's what you get with me, I guess.

Just Cute

She found the piano yesterday and it has become a new favorite. Lucky me.

Baths together are always fun.

 Nora was goofy as usual and kept nodding her head back and forth saying "Aaahhh"

Pulling all the books and toys off the shelves are a favorite past time.

 And Nathan is thinking "What the crazy..."

Calling all Super Readers!

The day started out with sprinkles on pancakes. I make pancakes almost every morning, so it's not that special other then the fact that he totally loves them all the time. These did have sprinkles and a candle. He also got a candle in his peanut butter sandwich. He's pretty routine, so I had to spruce it up a bit. He did tell me he needed to eat his vegetables, so I cut up some carrot sticks.

Nathan had a Super Why! birthday party. The kids had to find the super letter to spell out our super story answer. I had a banner to attach all the letters to that said Happy Birthday Nathan. We played musical chairs to songs from the show I downloaded. The winner got a Super Why sticker. We also played a form of twister, but I just had letters all over the floor and they had to simply put a hand on a certain letter, or a foot. Then we opened presents and ate cake pops! I asked my friend, Anbre, to take pictures to document. I knew I'd be a little too busy and really wanted Corey to see what we did.

"See, kids? This really is fun!"

Corey gave Nathan an army uniform for his birthday. We're planning on having him wear it at the airport when Corey comes home. He knew right off the bat what they were and that they were from Daddy.

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

Cake pops!

Me coaxing him to say to each friend as he gave them their goodie bag "Thank you for coming to my party!"

"These are all my friends!" says Nathan. Hayden, Aiden, Micah, Issac A., Nathan, Issac L., Emma, Tayven.

My parents came up and brought him a little present. He played for probably a good 45 mins to an hour putting this together and then when it was finished he wanted to do another picture. Way cute gift.

Saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it was great. Questions to ask each birthday and see how they've changed.

What is your favorite color? white

What is your favorite toy? My monkey toy

What is your favorite fruit? pears

What is your favorite movie? Incredibles

What is your favorite tv show? Word World

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? pancakes

What is your favorite thing to wear? Cars jammies

What is your favorite game? Five Little Monkeys

What is your favorite snack? fruit twists

What is your favorite animal? zebra

What is your favorite song? Super Why song

What is your favorite book? Five Little Monkeys

Who is your best friend? Tayven

What is your favorite cereal? rice krispies

What is your favorite thing to do outside? ride my bike

What is your favorite drink? milk

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? blankets & Bear

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? pancake dinner (remember what he likes to eat for lunch?)

What do you want to be when you grow up? a big daddy

One more thing. At his 4-year check up, he weighed 35lbs (50th%), 41 in tall (60th%).

Love you Nathan! Happy Birthday!

Some funny things Nathan has said that I don't want to forget...

"Nathan, do you need to go potty?" "No. I went last year."

"Wow, that's a lot of poop."

"Wow, that's a lot of toots."

"Wow, that's a lot of boogers."

Mom: Nathan, what are you doing?

Nathan: Oh, any.

Mom: You mean nothing?

Nathan: Oh, yeah, yeah, nothing.

Anybody: Nathan, you're so *insert compliment here* (ex: cute, strong, nice).

Nathan: Yup, I'n are. (no, that is not a typo.)