Jill and Kyle Visit

Matthew and Kyle are only 3 1/2 months apart in age. Every time Matthew is with Kyle, he learns something new. Every time Kyle is with Matthew, he asserts his dominance and reminds Matthew that no matter how hard he tries, Kyle will always be older and more advanced! I love first born children (because I am one)! That's my nephew and I LOVE HIM!!!!

Jill and Kyle's visit was everything that is was not supposed to be. We had planned to do a lot of fun things but when the flu took over, all of our plans went out of the window. But I will tell you something . . . it was really nice to have no agenda. We couldn't go anywhere but instead just hung and talked- watched the kids bumble around and try and get better. It was exhausting to deal with the flu but I gained real strength from my sister and for that- I am grateful that they were here when I needed them the most.

Jill and Kyle decided to stay a few days past their planned return date so that we could actually have some fun! We went to Happy Hollow, swam in the pool, had picnics, and just relished in the health that had returned to all of our babies. My kids thoroughly enjoyed having both Jill and Kyle here and won't soon forget all of the craziness and fun we had. One of my favorite things about Jill's stay was that almost every night we took the kids for a walk. We had a major heat spell here where the temperature reached over 100 degrees a few times (thank goodness our new house has AC). At about 7:00 p.m. we would load any number of the kids up in the strollers and go walking. The weather was perfect, the conversation wonderful, and we loved smelling the different floral fragrances drifting through the air as we caught each other up on our lives. Jill told me that when she went home she would have to put some Star Jasmine (a very fragrant flower that permeates the air here) in her yard. I hope she does and I hope when she smells it she is reminded of her sister who loves her very very much.

The Dreaded Chain Reaction

While I hoped it wouldn't happen, I was pretty sure it would. This nasty, seriously terrible virus went right through our house. On day #1, it took Michael down. Just for the record, this particular virus lasts around 6 days. 4 straight days of high high fever, vomiting and cha chas for 3/4 days, and significant weight loss as a result. For instance, when this virus started Michael weighted 52 lbs. By the end of his illness, he lost just over 6 lbs. That is more than 10% of his total body weight! It was so hard to watch them suffer but like the trooper he is, he got through it!


To complicate the way our family dealt Virus Poop Shoot 2008, Damien had to fly to Denver the morning after Mother's Day. At that point, only Michael was sick and we were still holding out hope that it wouldn't infect the other two kids. Damien was going to be gone until Thursday night and I had complete confidence that I could handle the troops! One thing I was really looking forward to was that Jill and my sweet nephew Kyle were flying into town to stay with me for the week. I had let her know that Michael was sick but we decided to go ahead and have her come down anyway. This might have been a decision we both regretted later- but for the time being, we were rolling along with the plan.


Jill and Kyle arrived and Michael was feeling a lot better. Still sick, but showing some signs of improvement. We went on a walk that night (it was a gorgeous 95 degree day) and then settled in for the night. It wouldn't be long for things to get more dramatic. At 4:00 a.m. Matthew threw up and then continued to do so until about 9:30 a.m. I had to tell Jill the news that this illness was not only isolated to Michael and that things were going to be really nasty for the next few days. By noon, Matthew was fevering at a steady 104 degrees and nothing I did brought it down. The only thing that seemed to knock it down a few degrees was the tepid bath. He hated it! I got him comfy and we went to bed. At 12:30 a.m. I heard Claire call me. I got out of bed, still holding hot Matthew when I saw her throw up in the bucket I had preventatively placed beside her bed (thank goodness). All night long I heard her throw up. I would get out of bed and try and keep Matthew sleeping in my arms while dumping out the bucket, washing it out, and then going over it with a Clorox wipe. All night long. Seriously- all night long. I am so happy that Claire is a good sick patient. She totally handled herself and made it in the bucket each time. Such a big girl- that Claire!

By morning I was spent. Emotionally I was pretty much depleted and physically I was dizzy with the thought of another night alone with two really sick babies. Matthew was still fevering like mad and I knew I needed help. Thankfully after desperately making a call to my mother-in-law that afternoon, she arrived in time to distract Jill and I from the absolute hell we were in. She went the grocery store and brought us back food, medicine for the kids, and made us forget for a moment that we were really inthe thick of the worst virus I have ever encountered. Claire fevered but not as bad as the boys did. Lucky for me, Marlene said she would take care of Claire that night and that helped out so much!

The next morning, we wait for Kyle to get sick. We watched his every move knowing that there was absolutely NO WAY this kid was going to escape operation Poop Shoot. Sure enough, on the way to buy Shrek at Target- he barfed in the parking lot. And that is when we breathed a small sigh of relief that all the kids were infected and now we could just focus on getting them better. Flus are terrible. It takes you down so hard and fast that you feel like you will never get over it. This flu was interesting because it took the kids down one at a time so we were in this illness for a long time. By the end, all of the kids had cabin fever. We just wanted to get out of the house and breathe fresh air for a while. When I took this picture of Kyle and Matthew I didn't realize the significance of them trying to get outside. It should be titled "Get Me The Heck Out Of This Place!" Luckily now- with a little space from Poop Shoot 2008, I can laugh at the pure ridiculousness of the entire situation. Thank God for Jill, though. With Damien a few states away, I would've cracked if she weren't here.

A True Mother's Day

For some reason I was really excited for Mother's Day this year. Maybe it is because I am knee deep in children and just wanted to be pampered and taken care of. Before I tell you how my Mother's Day went, let me back up and give you some background. The plan for Mother's Day weekend was to head north to Damien's parent's house where most of his brothers and sisters would be. The weekend promised to be relaxing and family focused and I was really looking forward to it! We planned to leave our house on Saturday morning after Michael and Claire's soccer game for a much needed change of scenery and chance to celebrate. Let's go backwards and find out why Mother's Day wasn't anywhere near what we expected!

Early Saturday morning at 2:00 a.m. precisely- Matthew woke up. I got out of bed and got him out of the crib to walk him around. I noticed movement in the bathroom and yelled to Damien that Claire was going to the bathroom and might need help. As I walked by the bathroom, I heard that unmistakable sound of someone throwing up. "Damien, Claire is throwing up!" I quietly yelled! He scurried out of bed to find Michael on the toilet and he had definitely gotten sick. I got nervous- as any parent of a vomiting child might get. Thoughts started going through my head of the entire family getting the stomach flu but then I would be more rational thinking that maybe Michael just ate too much. Michael eating too much? That has never happened! I had a pit in my stomach and just knew that things were not going to be okay in the morning.

I stayed with Matthew all night and Damien tended to Michael as he continued to get sick all night long. We knew in the morning we weren't dealing with overeating or even food poisoning. We were in for it! We called Damien's parent's and told them that the probability of us coming up for Mother's Day was not looking good. By mid morning, Michael was still getting sick and now running a 104 degree temperature. Basically he was completely miserable. I felt bad for him but knew that I had to quarantine him to try and avoid Matthew and Claire getting the virus, too. Then I remembered how Michael had shared his Slurpee with Claire the day before and how I had given Matthew a few bites of Michael's cereal. I was tired. Damien was tired. But the stomach flu doesn't care who is tired- it just takes over!

On Mother's Day, Michael was on day two of his sickness and only seemed to be getting worse. Poor baby. We would comfort him and then literally scrub down to try and not infect the other two kids. Here I was on Mother's Day- ready for relaxation and pampering and I was washing out barf buckets and administering medication and tending to my sick baby. Then I thought of something. My first ever Mother's Day was spent in Paris and I hadn't even held my baby yet. I remembering so badly that I wanted to feel like a Mom, but because Michael was so sick, the feeling of being a Mother was confusing. I shook myself from my daydream and looked at Michael laying limp in my family room. "You know what?" I told myself. "You may not be pampered on Mother's Day- but you are Mothering. Today is the day to remind you what life is all about." I started to not feel sorry for myself and realized the true meaning behind Mother's Day.

We picked up Thai food for dinner and poor Michael was barely able to make it to the table to join us for grace. It was a sad day (to see Michael so sick) but a wonderful day to not think of Mother's Day in a Hallmark way and instead think of it literally. I was Mothering to my fullest capacity. Michael who lay sick and fevering- just wanted his Mommy. While I would have never planned it this way- he made this Mother's Day one that I will never forget. Never have I felt so needed and important. Sure I wanted to put my feet up and be Queen for the Day, but I had a job to do. The most important job of my life. While I do regret that Michael had to feel so terrible, I thank him for being my first child and making me a Mother. Buddy- seven years ago . . . all I wanted to do was pick you up and hold you and call you mine. But you were too sick and still- I had never held you. Today, in your beautiful seven year old body- I held you and felt a real purpose in being your Mom. Thank you for making me feel like I have a place in this world.

A Walk In The Park

As a child- it was such a treat when my Mom would take us to the park. We would all load up in the station wagon and roll down to the lake which had a great park area for kids. We'd bury each other in the sand, climb all around the big toy like little monkeys, and unbeknownst to us all- give our Mom a break from having to entertain us.

One GIANT perk about our new house is the location. Just a few blocks away is a fabulous park with so many different areas to have fun in and explore. The kids love the two different play areas and I do too! What is great is that the little kid's area is completely gated. No escaping here!

Pretty often, we'll get popsicles, strap Matthew in the stroller and just walk over to the park. It has proven to be a lifesaver for those 'stuck in the house' days and I have a feeling we'll be there a lot this spring and summer.

It has been a lot of fun to see Michael and Claire play with Matthew at the park. They like to help him do things that he is a bit scared of (the tunnel slide) and it also brings them great happiness to just sit back and swing with him. You know- sometimes life can just take off on you. There are times when my weeks seem so scheduled and it is hard to find time to relax as a family. I think this park is going to be a great place for us. A place where we will spend a lot of time just enjoying one another while breathing in the outdoors. I can hardly wait . . .

Literally Speaking

Matthew is trying so hard to communicate. He has a few words, but still reaches that point of not being able to tell me what he is thinking. When he learned how to shake his head no, some of that frustration was lifted. The tough part was that he couldn't figure out how to say 'yes'. Damien and I have been trying really hard to get him to make the connection by emphatically shaking our heads 'yes' and applauding him when he made the effort to do so. He tried and tried but it just hasn't clicked. Instead of giving up, I just kept trying to give him different ways to say yes.

He knows most of his body parts and so I thought that if I said, "Say yes with your head"- he might make the connection. It didn't work. Later that day, I asked him if he wanted a bottle (because I knew he did) and he started hitting the top of his head with his hand. I thought nothing of it. Then later when I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk- I realized that he was again hitting his head. And then I made a connection. I kept telling him, "Say yes with your head" so he figured the way you say yes is by hitting your head. Now that we have a new, albeit silly, way to communicate, understanding what Matthew wants or needs is a lot easier. Sure, he walks around all day hitting himself on the head but at least we have a way to communicate!

The Stickiest of Situations

Out of my three children, Matthew seems to be the most even tempered and easy going child (at least at this stage). I think a lot of this has to do with the environment in which he exists. Matthew basically fits into our already established schedule and goes along for the ride. He really hasn't gotten into too much trouble and generally knows right from wrong. I know he is only 15 months old, but I am so thankful for the safe way he approaches things at his age.

One thing Matthew has been doing since he was just about a year old was popping the top off of things with his teeth. I briefly considered calling David Letterman to see if he could qualify for Stupid Human Tricks, but realized that even if he made it on- the crowd would scare him and I didn't want him to think that his Mommy thought he was 'stupid'. Basically, if you give anything to Matthew with a lid or a top, he will most certainly get it off. It started when he would play with my Starbucks cup. Within seconds, he would pop the top off with his teeth and be covered with the leftover coffee. Then it moved to canisters at home, then yogurt in the refrigerator, then soda cups, etc. This game became less funny when he popped the top off of the Folgers Coffee canister and played with the million or so coffee grounds. I have a video somewhere showing this 'skill' and it is hilarious.

After the coffee grounds incident, I started moving things with lids that could be popped open from the low pantry shleves. If it had a screw top, it was safe. Otherwise- up to a higher shelf it went! So- on with life we went . . . until yesterday when I went to retrieve the box of corn meal to make corn bread. It appeared to be stuck so I pulled a little harder. Still- it wouldn't budge. Instead of investigating like I should have, I really pulled at the box and that is when the bottom of the box tore off- leaving me a ridiculously large heap of yellow cornmeal strewn about my pantry shelf! It didn't help that the day was already a stressful one. I got closer to see what had happened and that is when I noticed this interesting glistening substance. It was everywhere. A smooth coat of it covered nearly the whole shelf and paralyzed every item in its sticky path. But what was it? I pulled bottles and boxes from this mess in search of the culprit (which I was pretty sure Matthew had something to do with). After a few moments of searching- I had found it. On it's side was a half full bottle of corn syrup. And would you know that now a days, they make it with a flip top? What happened to the good old fashioned screw top that used to adorn this bottle? One of the stickiest substances in the kitchen world now has a flip top? What non-Mother made this decision?

Cleaning this mess up was nearly impossible. I decided the best decision (since we plan to redo the kitchen in the near future) was to let it completely dry and harden and then deal with the consequences. Then I realized that during the past few days, it had been slowly leaking between the panels of the pantry shelf onto the floor and now had stuck that was on the floor- onto the floor. I have now surrendered to this giant mess. I am going to make due with what I can salvage and try to ignore this problem. In the meantime, Matthew's little trick isn't as cute anymore. Okay, it is still pretty funny but now I am nervous for the things he might pop open when I am not around!

A Day in the Gardens

Gorgeous Weather- check. Lazy Sunday afternoon- check. Ready to go out on a family excursion- check! Both Michael and Claire had a four day weekend at the end of April. We really didn't ask why- instead we just enjoyed it. At the beginning of the month, Damien and I tried to decide if we wanted to do something big with that weekend, or just stay near home and enjoy ourselves. We looked at going to Disneyland, but after realizing that we would have to spend $2000+ to spend 12 hours in the car with our three kiddos and thoroughly exhaust ourselves, we decided to put it on the back burner. So, a long weekend at home was in store for us!!

There is this fabulous non-profit theme park less than an hour south of us that we have enjoyed for the past few years. It used to be called Bonfante Gardens, but has since changed it's name to Gilroy Gardens. The theme park is designed to educate guests and to foster a greater appreciation for the environment and horticulture. It has about 40 rides, a water play area, educational exhibits, and is all surrounded by beautifully lush and gorgeous foliage. There are really interesting trees, flowers, and bushes that make you forget that you are at a theme park and instead help you to relax and just enjoy the day (while the kids have a blast!).

The kids had an absolute ball! We went from ride to ride without any arguing and really had a great time. Matthew enjoyed all the rides as this was really his first time at a theme park. The kids rode roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, and ran through the various water play areas. All this with 85 degree weather. It was seriously perfect.

One great thing that was new for us at the park was realizing that Michael and Claire are now old enough to go on rides together without us. Take for example the Garlic Bulb Ride (The town of Gilroy is the garlic capital of the world). Basically this ride is just like the Teacup ride at Disneyland. It spins and spins and spins and neither Damien nor I had any interest in going on it. So, Michael and Claire went along and spun and spun and Damien and I smiled. A new milestone for us as parents. Getting to choose what rides we go on! All in all, the day was wonderful. We topped if off by stopping by Straw Hat Pizza (a blast from the past) on the way back and casually drove home feeling really good. We have season passes there and are looking forward to spending a few more hot spring/summer days enjoying time as a family.

Memories- Like The Corner of My Mind

So- sometimes the most significant moments or memories of a trip don't take place during the big events. Sometimes what makes you laugh 'til you can't breathe or is just plain fascinating is what happens when you are doing nothing at all. For instance, we had a laughing fit watching people drink from these glasses at my Mom's house. It was funny when people knew they were drinking from them- but even funnier when they didn't know it. Damien fell victim to the 'cup trick' and it was hilarious!

Next on the agenda was Matthew's first ever big mess. Yes folks- my sweet little boy dumped an entire box of cereal onto the floor. And the most brilliant part about it was that he didn't alert us to his mess- instead he ate his breakfast off the floor in peace and quiet. That is until Claire freaked out when she saw the disaster! In my house, the cereals are all up high. But in my Mom's pantry (where Kyle and Matthew play a lot) they are on shelves that are within reach of our little distructos. I personally thought it was funny because Matthew (up to this point) really hasn't gotten into a lot of trouble. Maybe he is just saving up until he turns two!

Matthew and Kyle had a lot of fun together. It has been so fun to watch them interact over the past fifteen months. Matthew has always been lagging behind, but he is 3 1/2 months younger. This trip they were more on the same playing field. Matthew was able to hold his own (a little bit) but Kyle still runs the show. It is so fun to see them together- especially when they are up to no good!

This picture cracks me up! It of me and my sister Gina (who we affectionately call The Ween) sandwiching Matthew's cheeks between our own. Poor guy. He was probably minding his own business when we came along! This picture is so surreal when I look at Gina and my coloring as compared to Matthew's. I would have never in a million years have thought that I was going to have a blond baby. While I didn't expect it- I do love it. He is my little guy!

The last picture is of my dear sis, Claire. After Damien and Michael headed back to California, I did a lot of fun things with my Mom, Dad, and sisters. One afternoon, we went to this amazing park not far from my Mom's house. We walked around the trail and then Claire wanted to touch the water. She looked so beautiful perched on the ledge. Such a big girl! Makes me wonder where the time has gone.

P.S. If you don't get the title reference- you need to watch the movie Big again.

Laura- The Soccer Princess!

Laura is an awesome soccer player. She is also a great basketball star! We were lucky enough to be in town when Laura had a Special Olympics soccer tournament. Of course, it did fall on the morning of Michael's birthday- but nevertheless, we wouldn't have missed it! She was so happy to have everyone out there supporting her and we were equally as glad to be able to see her kick some serious butt! She did great! Michael and Claire cheered her on from the sidelines and Laura did some extra fancy moves to impress them!

One thing I loved about the way Laura played in her game was that she would get the soccer ball and dribble it the whole length of the field and then pass to a teammate. She is incredible! She had one great shot on goal, but missed it by a few inches. Needless to say the Sacco Girls were screaming like crazy at her goal scoring opportunity. She hustled, tried her very best, and made us all so proud! You go girl! Because her team did so great, they qualified for State. We will be rooting you on Laura! You can do it!!!!! P.S. You are the best Auntie in the Whole World (don't tell anyone!)

Goose Wears Shoes!

At about 14 months, Matthew started walking. He took his first step in the very beginning of March and by the end of the month- he was on his way! I had figured this was the course that Matthew would take to being fully mobile. He is a pretty conservative little guy. In other words, he is not one of those children that will just walk down a flight of stairs or try and crawl off the bed. He usually checks out his surroundings before he makes a decision and for this- I am truly grateful. Being that he is the third child, I don't watch him as diligently as I did my other two. Any conservative attempts made by him are just fine by me!

By the time we went up to see my family for Michael's birthday weekend, Matthew was happily walking around. At that point, he could take about 7 or 8 steps before he fell on his little bottom. I hadn't bought him shoes yet because I knew that it was best for kids to learn to walk barefoot. But being that Matthew is now totally interested in getting down from my arms and walking no matter the environment, I thought it best if we invested in a good pair of shoes.

My Mom suggested we go to the Stride Rite in the mall to get him some new shoes. Her treat- she insisted. Thanks MOM (and Dad, too)!!!!!! We found this great pair that would be perfect for the California climate. They have bottoms like a tennis shoe, but are open like a sport sandal. They can get wet and they velcro closed so I can adjust them as his foot gets bigger. He measured a 6 wide (which we had to laugh at as we have always thought he had skinny feet. I guess we were wrong!).

As soon as the woman at the store put them on Matthew, he felt super cool. He wanted to walk alone and was actually really coordinated with them on. The funny part- though, is that he tried to run in them. He would start out slow and then start booking . . . and eventually bite the dust. It was really cute and just another little reminder that this sweet chubby guy is getting bigger and bigger. I better hold on for the ride!

Party All The Time

I couldn't be happier to be at the tail-end of party-palooza. We arrived at my parents house on Thursday and settled in and just hung out as a family. I of course ADORE this but the party was in the back of my mind and I knew I had to get organized. We always have a great turn out with my family. Because they are such good sports, we decided to encourage people to wear disguises to the birthday party.

The birthday party featured a picture of Michael wearing a mustache he got at a candy store. He is so unfazed by people staring at him when he wears it. Instead, Michael is able to completely dead pan and just act like nothing is happening. We encouraged people to wear disguises to the party to go along with the 'Spy' theme. The winners of the disguise portion of the party were my Grandma and my Dad's brother- Bob's family. They were awesome! Such enthusiasm and creativity! We loved it!!!!!

The party went really well. We opted to have a barbecue (despite the fact that it did snow on his party day . . . mind you it was April!). The food was delicious and we all had a great time. Downstairs in my Dad's movie room, we had the movie Spy Kids playing and the bigger kids loved it! The rest of us just sat around and enjoyed each other's company. When it came time to open presents, we were all anxious to
see Michael's reaction to Gina's gift. It was by far the biggest present out there and we were all in on the joke. See- Gina bought Michael the DVD Big with Tom Hanks. Gina did the whole 'box after box' gag and Michael had never seen that before. There was all this anticipation for him to get to the smallest box which was seriously under 15 over boxes. We kept telling him it was really 'big' and he kept tearing open box after box. When he finally reached the DVD- he wasn't happy at all. I think he said, 'I thought it was big!' and we all said, 'It is!'. All the build up and Gina might as well have given him some socks!

The funniest part of this story was when I was driving Damien and Michael to the airport the next afternoon (Claire, Matthew, and I stayed a few days longer). I asked him if he liked Gina's present. 'You mean the adult movie?'. He didn't make the connection that the movie he loves (which is Big) was the movie Gina gave him. I explained that the movie she gave him is the one where Josh Baskin makes a wish to a Zoltar machine to be Big. Michael thought about it and then perked up. Then he started screaming!!! 'You mean the one with the giant piano in the toy store?', Michael asked. I told him yes and he went absolutely nuts. With all the build up to Gina's gift, he really didn't look to see what DVD it was! Anyway, Gina was relieved to hear the story later that evening. We had a great trip and it was so nice to see everyone! And after it was all said and done, Michael's birthday season finally came to an end.

20 Energetic Kindergarteners

So, yesterday was the big family/friend party at our house. We kind of had to change things up a bit this year because Michael is at a place where he actually has school aged friends. Having a party in preschool or even before that is purely driven by the parents. But now that Michael has a big group of buddies- he had some definite ideas of how his first-ever class party would go!

We started the party at Round Table Pizza in Willow Glen. Damien and I wanted to have the party somewhere where the boys would actually eat the food (what little boy doesn't like pizza?) and where they could run around and have fun without causing a scene! We were expecting 20 boys and were thrilled that Heather was able to help us corral the boys and make sure that we kept track of each and every kid with a sugar high! They had an absolute ball and actually did really well. Basically- there was no drama! They ate a lot of pizza, opened gifts, played video games, and then had cake.

After all the hoopla at Round Table, we asked the boys to all hold hands so that we could cross the street safely to go to Powell's Sweet Shoppe (which was across the street). This was the only part of the birthday party that made me nervous. But with Damien manning the front of the pack, me in the middle, and Heather at the end- we made it in one piece! It was funny to see the boy's reactions as they crossed the street and realized they were doing it successfully. I was impressed because they recognized the seriousness of following our directions but also giggled as they snaked across Lincoln Avenue.

Powell's Sweet Shoppe did not disappoint. They offer a 'scavenger hunt' of sorts for birthday parties. You go in about a week in advance and pre-buy 7 or so pieces of candy (per child) that they incorporate into a Candy Land board game. The kids then receive their own Candy Land game board and wander through the candy store to find the 7 pieces of candy you chose. They had to look high and low to find the candies that we chose for them and then once they found them all- showed it to a Powell's employee who either sent them to hunt for more or congratulated them on successfully completing the scavenger hunt. It was so great and they boys did so well. After it was over, they all sat on the sidewalk with their candy bags and waited for their parents to come and pick them up.

Michael had a great time and really enjoyed being the center of attention on his special day. Party #2 was over and now it was time to regroup and focus on the next weekend's party at my parents house. All this celebrating is really getting out of hand!

Michael Turns 7!

Seven Years Old. Seriously- how did this happen? We have officially been blessed for the last seven years by having Michael in our lives. We have been through a lot, seen him overcome overwhelming odds, and have watched him mature into a respectful, fun-loving, sensitive little boy!

For some reason, 7 years old seems so old to me! I am sure I will read this post years from now and wish that he was seven again, but for the time being- Michael as a seven year old is just plain crazy! It has been a big year for him. First of all, he started Kindergarten and goes to school every day. No more lazy mornings and afternoons with him (until summer!). He lost two teeth this year, moved into a new house, made all new friends at school, and continues to be a wonderful big brother to Claire and Matthew.

As customary here, Michael started his 'birthday season' in full swing! We started the festivities on his actual birthday with a family/friend party. It was a great crowd of supportive and loving people who helped us celebrate Michael and his big seven years with us. We had an inaugural barbecue in the new backyard and could not have ordered better weather. The temperature hit mid 80s that day and all the cleaning and prep of the house proved useless as we stayed outside the whole time!!!

The kids had a picnic together on the lawn while the adults happily chatted together on the patio. I was happy to have Damien's family here and also thrilled to have such a great turn out from our friends from Santa Clara University. The kids smacked the bat at the piñata, they all shot hoops, they drew with chalk and just had a great time hanging out.

When everyone had left the party, we cleaned up and got ready for his class party the next day. Matthew was a mess from not getting a nap and we were all tired with getting both kids to their soccer games and planning a party all in one day. At this point- I was really happy with my decision to have the party out of the house. 20 Kindergarten aged boys + pizza parlour = good idea!

Claire Loses 2nd Tooth

Just as I was starting to get used to Claire with a big hole in her smile, she goes and loses tooth #2! Claire's whole mouth is practically loose. Just as she loses one tooth, we find that more are loose. The bottom two have been wiggly for a while but weren't quite ready to come out. That was until Claire came to us yesterday saying her tooth hurt so bad she couldn't eat. After further inspection, she had reason to be uncomfortable! The bottom right tooth was hanging on be a thread!

As I mentioned before, Damien is the designated 'tooth puller' in our house. We asked her to muster up the courage to let Dad pull it out. She decided that she could do it and sat on a chair in the dining room. Damien assumed the position and it was tooth pulling time. But before you think that you know the end of the story- you should know that Claire didn't lose her tooth that night! As she was crying a little and was squirming, Damien tried to pull it out and the kleenex slipped. Claire was so mad and thwarted every effort we made to let Daddy try it again. (We didn't blame her, though.)


It wasn't until the next morning before school that she decided it was time. She sat down with Damien and in a matter of seconds, Claire's tiny bottom right tooth was in the palm of his hand. That night, Claire put the envelope containing her tooth under her pillow and by morning- she was the proud owner of four shiny quarters. One more tooth is gone but her piggy bank is richer. Stay tuned for the next episode The Dramatic Loss of Tooth #3! I am sure it is coming soon!

A Friend In Need

I think that sometimes it is easier to go through something difficult than to see someone you know and love traverse through a difficult journey. This past October, we got some amazing news that our great friends Aaron and Eileen were expecting their second baby! We couldn't have been happier for them. Damien and Aaron went to high school together and all four of us graduated from Santa Clara University together. We have known each other since we were both dating and it has been amazing to stay in touch and watch our families grow! That being said, another baby for Aaron and Eileen was a huge source of excitement for us! With all I have been through in my pregnancies, Eileen has been one of the most sincere people who has really supported me. She truly cared about my outcome and her friendship and support were priceless.

When Eileen was pregnant with her first child, she went into preterm labor. She did some bedrest but nothing could stop the eventual birth of their adorably beautiful baby girl. She was born at 34 weeks and 1 day and seemed to be really healthy. However, a small (yet stubborn) complication kept her in the NICU for over 2 months! It was a long and difficult road for them and Damien and I both could relate with our past dramatic pregnancies and births. This shared experience brought us even closer and we have a real connection today with their little girl who is now 2 1/2 and healthy!

Knowing that Aaron and Eileen were facing another pregnancy without knowing it's eventual course was hard. Each day is so precious and each week even better! We have chatted on the phone frequently and cheered the months that passed without incident. That is why it was hard to hear the news that at 26 weeks, Eileen had gone into premature labor. After a brief hospitalization and with no real answer to the cause of her preterm labor, Eileen was 'sentenced' to bedrest for the vast remainder of the pregnancy. I did what I could to support and help her and give her any tips I used to get through Claire and Matthew's pregnancies. It takes a strong woman, a strong relationship with your partner, and a large circle of understanding and supportive family/friends to make it to your goal on bedrest. I know that Eileen and Aaron had all of this and were equipped for long long journey ahead.

With each new hiccup Eileen has experienced, I have had to push away the very real and fresh feelings I had during my difficult pregnancies. I know that I have been through it and made it to the other side- but these experiences will never fully leave my heart. We have laughed together, consoled each other, and cheered the days that have passed in her pregnancy! Eileen is amazing and I am so incredibly proud of her determination and recognition of her very important role and responsibility. With the help of her husband, the hope her daughter gives her, and the amazing support of her family- she is on her way!

We brought them up dinner tonight in an effort to 'lighten their load'. It was great to see her looking so good and strong. We barely talked about the pregnancy- instead we enjoyed each other's company and tried to give them the strength and encouragement they'll need for this final stretch. They don't know if it is going to be a boy or a girl but one thing is for sure. This baby will be blessed to be in their family and will be so proud of his/her Mom and Dad for dedicating themselves to the journey. It is hard to slow life down at times like this- to do the right thing. However, in the end- it will have all been worth it.

Welcome Baby Caitlin!

My dear sister in law, Lani, has been such the trooper with her third pregnancy. Every time I saw her, she seemed to be in control and handling things so well! I don't get to see her all that often because we live about 2 hours away from each other, but when we did see each other, I couldn't believe how fast her pregnancy was flying! Her doctor had told her that she would probably deliver early which threw everyone into a tailspin waiting for her new little girl. There was one false alarm (I didn't want to see Hearst Castle anyway) but lucky for her; Lani's doctor set an induction date in case her labor didn't get the show on the road!

Days past and before I knew it- the day was here! She was set to be induced on April 1st and thanks to Damien taking care of my two older kids, Matthew and I made it up north for the big delivery. We set out at 6:00 a.m. and Lani didn't know we were coming. When we did arrive, she was so surprised and happy to see us and we were equally as happy to be there for the delivery of my new niece and Matthew's new cousin! Lani's labor started out well and as expected- quickly turned intense which led to the birth of Caitlin! I was worried that I wouldn't be able to be there when she delivered because of Matthew, but like the trooper he is, he napped in my arms for most of it. He did wake up just as she started pushing, but sat quietly in my arms for the big debut!

It was AWESOME to be there for the birth of Caitlin. I love everything about birth. It is such a miraculous occasion where you get to witness a tiny little person entering our world and taking their first breath. The only other birth I have seen was Lani's first daughter- Megan (who is now 2 years old). It is truly a gift if someone allows you to be in the delivery room. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been there and will certainly never forget it. Lani was so strong- so focused and handled the pain so well. I am so proud of her and was so blessed to have been a part of it all.

That afternoon, Damien brought Michael and Claire to the hospital to meet their new cousin. After it was all said and done, Lani sat in bed with her three children and looked so beautiful and so happy. Caitlin is here and so lucky to Lani and Eric as parents! Welcome Caitlin to this Big Big World!