A Merger

I've obviously had some issues with keeping this thing updated lately. I have a blog for my pregnancy related posts and I've been doing a better job with it, so I've decided a merger is in order. Perhaps the burden of two blogs is just too much for my little brain to handle.

I wanted to keep them separate so that I could print the other one into a book easily if I wanted, so I'll just label the posts instead so I can find them quickly when the time comes. Be forewarned; I post weekly bare belly pics, so sorry if pregnant bellies gross you out.

And now for a semi-update from the last month.

- Let me begin by saying summer has begun and thank goodness it's Friday!! I'm watching all four of Jessica's kids this summer. This past week and next are the only hard weeks, because after that and a nice vacation, the older three will be attending YMCA camps every week and I'll just have to take them and pick them up every day.

This week Jessica was on a business trip for a few days so I had the kids until late one night and then overnight last night. Feeding five kids is hard! As is finding entertainment for a 3, 4, 6, 11, and 13 year old that everyone will enjoy. By 9:30 a.m. it's too hot to play outside and I'm just not up for going to the pool with five kids, three of whom can't swim. I still have no energy, especially in this sweltering heat. Plus, my idea of going to the pool is cooling off for an hour and then heading home. Can you even imagine the whining that would ensue? I shutter just thinking about it.

- Chris went to Rio de Janeiro for 10 days and got back last Saturday. It was a bit disconcerting to read about the plane that crashed after taking off from Brazil while he was gone, so I was very happy to have him home. He had a nice trip and went to see the Jesus statue this time. Sorry, can't remember what it's called. I'll try to post a picture later. We got to chat with him on the web cam several times and Clara really enjoyed that. He stayed in a staff house and someone came to clean and do his laundry every day. It was nice to open a suitcase with one dirty pair of clothes after a week and a half trip.

- We had an unsuccessful camping trip with Jessica's family over Memorial Day weekend. We had planned to go to Dave's property up in Huntsville Saturday through Monday. The weather was very uncooperative. It looked like rain and there were several thunder rumbles right before we were to leave. I was feeling pretty lousy and just wasn't up for a camping trip in the rain with 3 dogs and a 3 year old, so Chris relented and we decided not to go.

Of course, it never did rain here that night, so we decided to try to go on Sunday. We got there around noon, got set up and then it rained hard for several hours while the 8 of us sat on the porch. Our tent got a little wet inside and then right before it got dark, we looked at the weather and saw another couple of strong storm cells headed straight for us, so we made the quick decision to pack up and head home.

The storm looked about 30 minutes out, so we loaded very quickly in the dark and got home around 10:00. It never rained here, but I'm not sure what the weather did in Huntsville. Anyway, it was quite the bust. It wasn't all bad though. Chris was leaving for Rio on Tuesday, so he had a day to rest before his big trip.

- On my last post I mentioned Clara's allergic reaction to penicillin. Well, they prescribed another antibiotic, and 24 hours after her first dose, she did the same thing. I never did call the doctor back. She's felt fine and I'm convinced she never had an infection in the first place, so I just decided to give her body some time to calm down. I think it was in attack mode and I didn't want to risk running through every option we have available when there's not even an infection present.

Last night another allergy surfaced. We had watermelon after dinner and the three little ones were pretty sticky, so I threw them in the bath. I started scrubbing Clara's face and chest, but it wasn't coming off. Then I noticed the other two didn't have any juice stains on them and realized Clara's wasn't juice, but was red and a little bumpy from a reaction. She also said it itched. GRRRRR. Ok, I really should get her in to that allergist.

I have another couple of posts started, so stay tuned.