Roll after Roll

This picture can show you the reason we had to take Corbin into the ER on Sunday. I don't know if it is in the genes or if it solely based on the possible "pure cream" I produce. All of my babies have quickly become rather chubby. I can not complain because chubby babies are quite cute and lovable. However, it has raised a few concerns for us. These rather numerous rolls under the chin make for a rather wonderful and ideal conditions for a yeast infection to grow. It is warm, often moist and free from air! It started early last week. I did not think much of it because we have battled this before. I just layered the red creases with some left over yeast medication. But it got worse through the week. A talk with a nurse left us trying some other options to try. Little did I know that corn starch actually feeds yeast infections!!! So after a long day of a very sad little boy (one who is never sad unless he has good reason) we ended up taking him in for a visit. I feel like the nurses in the ER should know me by now (after Dylan and Ashlyn's episode in the fall)! It is slowly getting better with a new and improved Nystatin powder!!!

I really can't complain. Corbin has been a GREAT baby and puts up with so much and still continues to be as happy as can be. He really loves Dylan and Dylan can inevitably get a smile and some coo's out of Corbin. Looks like they are a great match! Ashlyn, on the other hand, smothers him until I pry her off of him! She has to be constantly touching his head in some form or another- from her elbow to her feet.

Here's to THREE months old!!

My Security Blanket

Before I begin I want to apologize for the long post, I have decided that another reason for blogs is to remind us how fun it is to "write"- since for most of us mothers, it has been awhile since we wrote a paper of any sort. So here it is...

I have taken a run or two alone, without my jogger and kids. However, it wasn't as wonderful as I thought it would be and really missed having my jogger. So this is just a list of all the things I LOVE about my JOGGER... (some of which are filled with sarcasm- but make me stronger, right??)

1. I love to have room for things I would not normally take on a run- water, cell phone, extra clothes (or a place to shed them), ipod and Kleenex (so I don't have to do what my friend in Cross Country did- use her shirt.) And then when the kids come there are sunglasses, blankets, coats, books, snacks, water and whatever else they demand we bring.

2. If the kids get cranky and I really want to stop and catch my breath, they are the perfect justification for stopping. But then when I am determined not to stop, I really hate to listen to them cry it out.

3. If I go slow it is ALWAYS because I am pushing a jogger! When people pass me I can talk myself out of speeding up because I am pushing something super heavy.

4. The wind seems to always be against us, and when I turn around and come back, it conveniently changes direction and the canopy catches every gust!

5. I know my jogger is getting useless when my oldest child wants to get out of it, demanding that he run too. Possibly to slow me down, but really making me look bad when I can't keep up with him.

6. Realizing there is just not enough room in my double jogger to go on a run when my husband is gone (as if a double isn't big enough!)

7. When driving the same route I run it seems like there are no hills, but when I run it there suddenly are hills and they are gigantic.

8. Never getting to stretch after my run because I am far to busy getting everyone and everything back in the house!

Running has been on my mind as you can see all because we are finally seeing the sun. We all have this desperate itch to be outside (even if it is only 50 degrees) because we never know how long it will last. But I think spring may be on it's way!!

You know you haven't seen the sun in A REALLY LONG TIME when...

1. You forgot that sunscreen even existed- making for red faces! (So we got our our great Utah and Red Socks baseball caps to help us out.)

2. When your neighbor is back to cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner on his grill- so with all the sweet smells you wish they would invite you over !!

3. When you see an 80 year old man sitting on a lawn chair out in his front yard with his shirt off (either trying to get and extra dose of vitamin D or sunbathing.) And when you wave at him, getting no response, you figure he is either dead or asleep.

4. Your loveable 4-year old, who is not keen on PDA, can not stop hugging you. All because he is overjoyed by the fact that he can finally wear his shorts and t-shirts (and even when it is cold again, there is no going back for Dylan.)

5. You are still recovering from a devastating bout with Strep throat and you want to get out and exercise anyways.

My neighbor was right when she said that there really is no spring here- it just goes from 20 to 80 in a week (seriously, gloves to swim suites!) My sister-in-law also told me that, in Cleveland, you can expect to see snow during ever month with an "R" in it. So I guess we are not quite in the clear yet!

P.S. A few of you have been mislead and confused by the fact that I even dared to show my 5 week post-baby body in a skin-tight bathing suite. I just want to clarify that I gave myself full and complete permission to not care that my belly was hanging over my tankini bottoms and I made sure to bring my swim skirt to hide the bulging buttocks and thighs! The pictures all hid what you should not be jealous of! And thus the reason for my running!

West Side

My wonderful neighbor, Sheri, has been wanting to take me to the Cleveland market called West Side Market. I have never been to a market (well, in the US) and to be honest, I wasn't too excited. But now that I have been, I wish I lived right next door to it. The building alone is an architectural gem but it is also a cultural and culinary diamond in the rock! I was so impressed by the diversity in foods - from meat, poultry and produce to breads, pastries and exquisite pastas. Not only are they all of high quality and freshness but more affordable than the local grocer! There are also stands that sell prepared foods and I was tempted by all means to try all the different ethnic foods.

I guess this reminded me a lot of Boston (which I dearly miss) with it's cultural diversity mingled with history and elegance. There are few cities in the US that have such great markets, so if you are in the area, this is a stop worth seeing!!

Simple Pleasures Tag

List 5 simple Pleasures

1. Chocolate!

2. My automatic minivan doors (my Odyssey as a whole).

3. The Sun (since we rarely see it here). 4. My pampered chef microwave bowl- I use it daily from steaming veggies to scrambled eggs 5. Of course the Magic Eraser, for all those messes you never thought would come clean!

I tag Melanie, Robyn, Katt, Morgan, and Kadi!!

The Falling Dead

To me this was hilarious- especially Ashlyn, but you will have to judge it for yourself. This is our self made "wrestling mat" and it gets used daily. Now that we have it I don't know what we would do without it.

Bag Tag

I have always thought this was a fun one, so hear it goes:

RULES:
1. You have to show your bag...

2. Show all contents of your bag (and no cleaning it out first)...

This is a new purse, I figured being tagged was a darn good reason to finally get a new, and more stylish purse. One that looks more like what a woman who is old enough to have three kids should carry around instead of one that looks like it came from the closet of a 12 year old.

- Fish crackers ... for when I do not have my diaper bag on me and need to quiet a screaming child.

- Fruit snacks... only because Dylan put them in there.

- A ring box... because a tip of one of the prongs on my setting broke off and I needed a safe transport.

- Nail files... I am always breaking my nails and tearing them, I need to change my habit.

- Gum... I mean when does a busy mom have time to brush her teeth- just about never!

- Miniature bottle of bubbles... the Child Life Specialist in me- for when I am really in a bind and need some distraction.

- My wallet... which I am surprised hasn't fallen apart with all the things I try to shove in it.

- A pen... I am always in need of one- and funny how I still have a hard time finding this one.


I think that is pretty good- really not much stuff.

Now let me explain, this is like showing you only half of the contents I actually carry around daily. The other half is my diaper bag, which I have decided not to show because it all would not fit in one picture. Then if I told you what was in my diaper bag you might actually laugh (you think I am crazy) or cry (realizing that I carry all that weight around.) But it is the boy scout in me (I want to be prepared for everything.) Seriously, I think my diaper bag weighs as much as Dylan.

For those who really want to know what is in my diaper bag, here it goes:

Diapers (seriously about 6), wipes, Pullups, Desitine, A&D, hand sanitizer (all packed in a changing pad), a nursing cover, extra set of clothes for Corbin, burp cloth, 2 water cups, fruit snacks, fish crackers, granola bars, pretzels, honey nut cheerios, more fish crackers, trail mix, peanut butter crackers, more fish crackers (can you tell my kids like fish crackers, but I want to allow for some variety if they happen to choose it), raisins, the kids shot records, CPR pamphlet, crayons, stickers, paper, pens, sanitizer, Motrin, Vasoline, plastic bag stuffed in a film container (for poopy anything), candy (for real emergencies or sanity), Magnadoodle, cars, more bubbles... and thats it!

I just realized I should add one more thing to it- an extra shirt for me for when someone spits up, throws up, or poos on me. Any more suggestions?

3. Bag Tag 5 more people...

Jenny, Melanie, Meg loveless, Katt, Morgan,
(I am going to add a few more)...Carrie, Leslie, Liz, Jeanine, Maegan, and Meggan, Robyn

Easter, Birthday and 80's all rolled into One

Isn't She cute...
Sunday was Ashlyn's 2nd Birthday. I can't believe she is two, but then it often feels like she is fifteen! She is so sweet and cuddly one moment and sassy the next. But she is an amazingly wonderful fit in our crazy family. We enjoy every minute with her and I am excited to watch her grow into a beautiful woman and enjoy a wonderful friendship with her. She truly is a doll! She even picked out here own cake- Chocolate of course!

Here are some of her cuttest words and their real meaning:

"team up"- clean up (when we sing the clean up song)

" butt"- button (for her coat or to push a button)

"dumb"- gum (funniest when she is yelling "I dumb, I dumb" when she wants gum)

"coke"- no we don't give her coke, this means coat.

She can't say her C's very well so she is calling Corbin, Tobin and her aunt Cami (whom she LOVES) Tami. Good nickname huh.

We had some friends over last night for cake and ice cream. She really loved all the princess gifts! She didn't know girlie things even existed until recently.

We had a busy week last week trying to fill up our spring break (so we wouldn't drive each other- Dylan and I- crazy.) We raced cars at the American Hot Rod store, went to Fun times (an indoor inflatable playground) and played with a few of our good friends. So we had a fun week to lead up to her birthday.

Last Sunday was Easter (ironically it snowed just a day before!) We also blessed Corbin that same day.

A few weeks ago was a family dance put on by another ward. It was a decades dance. So Ashyln and I dressed up at 80's. I mean come on, what other decade is so awkward and most likely not to come back into style. We were decked out with the two different colored sock (revered on the other leg), side pony tails, snap bracelets and side tied t-shirts. Ashlyn couldn't get enough of the dancing!