Sickies

We've been house bound with little sickies. Maxwell and Ella have had strep throat but I can tell they're getting better, Maxwell is running around chasing Ella with a flashlight and she's screaming "Save me Mommy!" I'm tempted to use this post to vent about cleaning up vomit, having to wash their 'blankies' at 2:00 a.m., and never ending sleepless nights- but that's just the deal when you've got sick kids. Instead, here are some of the things that have been making me smile. Oh, the things they say.

Maxwell: Whenever he's been naughty to Ella I know it before she even has a chance to cry. I hear him across the house tell her, "It's OK Ella! It's OK! I'm your best friend!"

Ella: If she's not crying hard because she's hurt, she'll reply, "Behave little boy!" Which is hilarious to me. I rarely say 'behave' and I always call him 'big boy.' She came up with this one on her own.

Maxwell: "Knock it off!" This isn't necessarily cute, but they both have been telling everyone to knock it off when they don't like what's going on. This one they did learn from me. Oops.

Ella: "OK Captain Mommy!" Ever since Halloween they have both, especially Ella, been calling me Captain Mommy. What? I have no idea. There was never any mention from me that I was going to be Captain anything. They are into Peter Pan...really? I'm trying to to be offended by the comparison to Hook.

Whenever I ask an open question to both of them, like, "Who's hungry?" or "Who did this?" Maxwell always replies, "Not me! Not Ella!"

The sayings go on and on but let me think, what else has been going on? One of my best friend's, Molly, came to visit me with her two little ones! We has such a great time and I can't wait to do it again soon. We're four hours apart, but we need to get together more. I love, love, love her. And the kids all had so much fun playing together. Both Maxwell and Ella were totally infatuated with her 8 month old (I think he's 8 months?) baby Ben. Ella was 100% concerned with what he was doing at all times. She is still asking for him. And Maxwell has told me a couple times that 'BB' (Vivi) can ride his motorcycle.

My keyboard hasn't been working so I haven't liked the computer. At all. It's better now.

Mike is working out of town Monday-Thursday so we get a little lonely during the weeks. What I mean to say is I miss my husband and I get a little crazy from the lack of interaction with friends.

Michael is now a TV star and he makes me smile. And hold my breath because I get nervous to watch. And then smile again because, it's just him being him.

No matter how many times I pick up my house, it's dirty and I miss the days when we both worked and I spent money on unimportant but such gratifying things like designer jeans and a house cleaner.

I guess that's it. The kids are quiet which probably means something bad is happening. The past two days during the quiet spells I've found a roll of stamps used as stickers/sharpie on the hands and arms/Burt's Bees shampoo dumped on the carpet/a glow stick broken and gone everywhere (even the eyes, ouch!)/water bottles dumped on the carpet/my pictures from college scattered around my closet floor...I'll just stop here and go check on them.

Before they got bad and we thought they were just feeling crummy, we played outside during a break from the rain. Mike tuned up their motorcycles.

Bigs flashed me one of his million dollar smiles.

Ella asked for it to rain so she could catch rain in her bucket.

Her quote: "Oh rain! Where are you?!"

Smile gone. Ready to go inside.

If you're still reading, you've made it to the end. This is what happens when I don't blog for awhile.

Colds and Silly Boy Max

We've had colds around here. No fun. I've had a sore throat that won't go away, but it's not a big deal. The bummer is sick kids. Maxwell is almost over his, but Ella's hot and whinny (literally). It is easier now that they can communicate. They can tell me if they want water or milk, where it hurts, and what they need. Their second birthday is next week so I'm hoping they're getting all the sickies out of the way so we can celebrate on their special day.

This week Maxwell has been especially mischievous. He is driving me crazy, but then looks up at me with that smile and says, 'Awe Mommy,' and it's so hard to stay frustrated. Take yesterday, Ella was running a fever and very clingy. I set her up with Toy Story (that's a whole separate post, they are OBSESSED. It's getting ridiculous). Anyway, I had her situated and I was going around the house picking up and in a matter of five minutes Maxwell managed to get the top off of his cup and dump milk over Ella's head (mind you, we had just finished baths and they were cozy in clean clothes). I put her back in the bath to wash the milk out of her hair and during that time he rediscovered the water spout on the front of the fridge and pressed it so the kitchen was flooded (that counts as me mopping, right?). Later that afternoon he kept saying 'Buzz, poo poo.' I just nodded and honestly kind of ignored him. He finally took my hand to show me the diaper champ. I opened it and found Toy Story toys mixed in with poopy diapers. Joy.

None of that is really a big deal. It's just kind of a pain. But what do you do? Anyway, we're praying for a healthy family around here! In the meantime, as I'm thinking about my babies turning two, I pulled up pictures from last February. I wish I could borrow these babies for a day.

Things Are Bound to Get Better

So, awhile back when I said we were having a good couple of days and we were all healthy...false alarm. These poor kiddos have been sick for so long. I don't know if they keep giving it back and forth or if they are getting it from other people, but somethings gotta give. We are on our third antibiotic and you know what they say, third time's a charm? I haven't blogged much because

a. Haven't had time with two sick ones.
b. Too tired at night.
c. Not much to say. Boogers. Fever. Cough. Not too exciting.

Whatever they had has turned into a yucky cough and wheezing. I feel like people think I'm that crazy Mom who thinks her kids are always sick. Or even worse, that psycho mom who keeps her kids sick...remember that lady in the movie The Sixth Sense? Why would I think that? Because they have been sick for SIX WEEKS and I'm going slightly crazy. Anyway, this week I felt like we would just wait out whatever this sickness is and pray that we are almost over the last of it. Until Ella started coughing yesterday. For over 45 minutes she coughed and wheezed hard and I didn't know how to help her. I took her to the urgent care and a nice, elderly (like, seriously old) doctor helped us. He looked at her ears and Ella still has a double ear infection. As I held her against me I felt her little body huffing and puffing, though the coughing had stopped. He listened to her lungs and with a smile he told me, "Well I just don't hear a thing." At which point I wanted smash the stethoscope over his head and ask if he was @#$*@&! kidding me. Instead I explained that I could hear her right then and I was concerned with what I should do if she started coughing for another long stretch. To be honest, I couldn't really understand what he said. I realize that's the time that you ask questions and advocate for your child. But this was all happening as Maxwell was screaming in the stroller and Ella started to cry/moan/wheeze. We had been waiting for two hours and at this point we were all done. Anyway, I called my pediatrician and yada yada yada I feel OK with our new dose of antibiotics. The point of this post is just to say...this is why I haven't been posting. I feel like I would either write to complain, or sound like a martyr 'poor us.' Not too exciting to read about.

I also realize that although we have had a rough month, this will pass. Many families struggle with much worse. Our kids do not have cancer. They are not disabled. They are not in the hospital. We are OK and soon enough this will be over. I am so thankful for our overall health. Maxwell and Ella are not miserable all day everyday. They have bouts of smiles and playing. This morning I took the camera out and this is a typical morning around here when they are feeling alright.

Points of interest in these photos: Yes, I know Ella has a mullet. I'm not sure how to handle it so I cleverly tried to disguise it with a headband. Which lasted two minutes longer than I thought it would.
Both kids know exactly what to do with Kleenex and the thermometer.
I think it's adorable that they kiss each other, but we are working on close mouthed kisses.
As always, please ignore the annoying mommy voice in the videos. It's a habit I just can't break.

Loving Them Love Each Other

It has been over a month since we've all been sick. We just keep passing it back and forth. Once I think we are well, someone starts feeling bad again. Last weekend Ella started running a fever, this week she got up to 106 degrees. Poor baby has an ear infection but she's on the mend, dreaming of smiles and motorcyle rides. Maxwell has been amazing, patiently sharing my attention and playing on his own. He is such a good natured boy.

We ran to Target today and when I stopped the car and turned around in my seat, this is what I saw. Sister not feeling great and brother holding her hand.
Totally teared up and remembered that having twins is the best thing ever. It's been hard this month taking care of sick babies. Dividing my attention and feeling a wee bit overwhelmed with arms constantly clinging to me isn't the glamourous picture I usually post. But it's real life. Having two babies isn't just 'cute.' It's also double the diapers, food on the floor, crying, etc. But when I see the two of them together, loving each other, it really is as great as I make it sound. Actually, better. I love them loving each other.