Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Winter Warm Up

Last year at this time, Chicago was preparing for the worst blizzard in recent history. We got over 2 feet of snow in 24 hours.
This year, we are on the opposite end of the spectrum. This afternoon, the temp is supposed to get up to 55 degrees. The girls and I went to the park so they could burn off a little steam. Maggie is terrified of the swings and the slides but she loves to run up and down the stairs and to watch the other kids. Lucy loves the swings. I like getting out of the house. I think the fresh air and activity is good for all of us.
Lucy had her six month appointment yesterday where she got three shots, her regular vaccinations plus her flu shot. She has been running a temp and just wants to cuddle and rest. I am trying to get better about putting her down for naps instead of cuddling with her all the time but this week I think the cuddles are more important. I know vaccines are important, but it sucks how hard their little immune systems have to work to fight off these terrible diseases.
Hopefully all the running around will help Maggie take a long nap, so we can all rest well this afternoon.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Yay!!

Last Friday my husband got a rejection letter from the paramedic program that he applied to. It was devastating for both of us. He has wanted to work as a paramedic since I first met him almost eight years ago.
Then two days ago, he got a call asking if he was still interested. Apparently someone dropped out, and he is now in!
The last few days have been a whirlwind of him running around getting copies of transcripts and making doctor's appointments.
His first class in next Thursday evening and I don't know who is more excited, me or him!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Snow!

We had a really dry winter here in Chicago up until the last few days. Yesterday it snowed six inches. I was supposed to go into work but I took a mental health day instead. (Plus, I was exhausted from waking up every 90 minutes or so with Lucy). So I slept in until 10 am thanks to my awesome husband and didn't have to drive in the snow.
Of course, now that we have a house with a garage, the snow has become much easier to deal with. I used to have to shovel out parking spaces and parallel park my way into them skidding back and forth on the ice. Now, I just open my garage door and drive right in. Best part of owning a house!!
Maggie and her daddy went outside to shovel the sidewalk and play in the snow yesterday afternoon and Lucy and I stayed inside.
I was starting to worry that we wouldn't get any use out of Maggie's light-up princess snow boots, but I guess I shouldn't have worried. This is Chicago afterall!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Lazy Days

A huge benefit of my job is that I work three 12 hour shifts a week. This allows me to work full time while still having four days off every week. I get to go to play groups and story times with the girls while still earning a full time income.
On the flip side, 12 hour shifts are loooong. I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning and I don't get home until 8pm. (Although I realize there are people who have hour-ish long commutes who do something similar to this Monday through Friday!)
So when I do have a day off (which means my husband is probably working), I like to take it easy. I always think about how productive I could be during naptime. But the reality is that I like to spend naptime watching TV, playing around on the computer, reading, or even napping.
There are few things nicer than waking up with your kids knowing that you don't have anywhere to go or anything to do all day. We play, we do crafts, we eat, we laugh. It's heaven!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Things are looking up

My husband lost his (well-paying) job when I was about six months pregnant with Maggie. It took him almost two years before he found a new job. Part of the reason that it took him so long is that he is also going back to school to get a degree.
Last spring, he got his EMT certification. And last week, he took the admission test for paramedic school. The letters were mailed out today and we should know tomorrow or Thursday whether or not he gets in.
I got a new part-time job to help make ends meet, which I am excited about. It seems like finally we are going to be able to take a deep breath financially. Once he is finished with school (hopefully in November), we will both be able to work full time and make a good income.
What a relief!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Whirlwind

What a crazy few weeks it's been!
Maggie's birthday was three days before Christmas. My parents came up from St. Louis to visit starting on her birthday. They were able to stay until Dec. 27 which was fun for everyone.
We celebrated Christmas with my dad's family on Christmas eve. My dad is one of seven kids and I have 18 cousins on that side alone. It's kind of like the family from My Big Fat Greek Wedding! We had a blast!
On Christmas day we celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family, although my husband and I both had to work. I was a little disappointed, but my cousins on that side can be a little crazy, so it was ok.
We had Maggie's birthday party the day after Christmas. My mom got her some giant helium balloons and she got tons of presents (of course!).
We opened some Christmas gifts at her party from people we were unable to catch up with in the previous weeks. (Although I think next year, we will just make her party about her and celebrate Christmas another time.)
We went to my parents house on Dec. 30 so that my husband and dad could go to the 49er/Rams game on Sunday. They had a blast and my mom and I had fun taking the girls to the park.
It was a busy few days but we all had a lot of fun!

Christmas/ birthday

Maggie's birthday is two days before Christmas. Even though this is her third Christmas, it is still a little shocking to me that I have to plan (and make special) her birthday in the midst of all the Christmas craziness.
Of course, the first Christmas, we were just lucky to survive with a three day old- fresh from the hospital infant.
Last year, we went a little crazy with the toys and presents. I figured it was her one time a year to have everything special and we might as well celebrate. That turned out to be a good plan as five days before Christmas last year I found out I was pregnant with Lucy.
This year was a bit more work. I wanted to keep things even between the girls (they both got 4 presents and a book from Santa) but I still wanted her birthday to be special.
I think that this Christmas birthday will be something I will have to adjust to, but I hope that it turns out to be a lot of fun.