Jack's Best Comment

Ugh. We're working on a dearth of sleep this week. Declan is fully recovered from his ear infections and diaper rash, but he's still not sleeping on his own. We want to let him "cry it out" to get used to sleeping on his own (and through the night again!) but now there's something up with Jack. No fever, no ear infection, no strep, but he's cranky and not eating or sleeping well. He's up and crying in the middle of the night. I don't think it's nightmares because he's cranky and crying during the afternoons as well. We'll see. I'm hoping he'll feel better today and we can get on some sort of routine.

Monday we went to the Rodin's house, thank goodness for Irene and her boys. Conner is just a few months older than Jack, Jake is just a few months younger than Declan, and Irene is wonderfully relaxed and refreshing, a good friend to be keeping company with.

Jack is talking more than ever, but it's so funny because he's a labeler and an aper. We were watching TV as a family and a Claritan commercial came on - the picture was blurry and there was a woman with big hair and Jack said "Troll". It was hilarious. ("Troll" comes from Dora, naturally.) What's going to be scary is when he says things like that in public, I wonder if I'm going to be horrified or want to laugh.

Despite the lack of sleep, both boys are good. Declan is just cute and smiley - provided he's getting his way, which means I pick him up when he wants it. (Although he's playing on his own now at the train table, and Jack is catching up on the sleep that he missed out on last night.) Jack last night at the doctor couldn't be cuter. When he saw me shake her hand, he went up and took her hand and shook it. And then he just sat in a big person's seat while she examined him, looked in his ears and eyes. When she went to listen to his chest, he took the stethoscope from her and put it on his belly and chest. He was just so cute. I guess Jack had a cute day yesterday because he was also amazing in his music class.

Back to Writing After a Bit of a Break

I may only have a few minutes to write, but I won't try and catch up the past 4 months. Right now it's Saturday evening, 6pm, Javier is sleeping on the couch with Declan sleeping on top of him, and Jack is just waking up from his nap. Needless to say, we haven't quite adjusted to day lights saving time yet. I'm a little sad because it's too bad we're not on an earlier schedule. I'd be pretty psyched to be putting the boys down to bed at 7pm, but looks like it will more likely be 9pm. The boys are napping later and going to bed later... it's nice because they see more of Javier when he gets home from work, but it also means there's no down time in the evenings.

This past week Declan has been sick with an ear infection - had to go to the doctor 3 times this week - Mon, Wed, and Fri, but finally he seems to be getting better. At least the fever is gone, but now the antibiotics he's on are screwing up his digestive system enough, that we're dealing with diaper rash. Boo. Fortunately I've been getting a lot of help this week from Mom (and Dad!) - went down to EW on Monday after the doctor, spent the night, and then back on Wednesday - Friday, so I could spend Thursday in NYC.

Thursday was great - I haven't been away from the boys for that length of time since Declan was born - left at 8:45am, and arrived back home at 7:15pm. I must admit, by the time I was leaving the city, I was so so ready to see the boys, it was like a weight in my heart. The whole drive home I could only think of how much I wanted to see them. Crazy. It's just that I'm not used to being away from them. I know that people can get used to anything (afterall, this is what it would be like if I went to work everyday and that I would get used to it) - but it made me appreciate the time with the boys, challenges, ear infections, no personal space and all. I had a great day though - got my hair cut and highlighted and I feel like the old me - it's so nice not to have to defer to the default pony tail. Today I got out of the shower and my hair was done. Hooray!

Today we went to Ikea - a full day and we could have spent more time there if the boys were game. We had lunch and strolled around for awhile, buying shelves for the laundry room, checking out the kids furnature. Jack fell asleep on the way home (around 2:30) woke up when we transferred him from the car to the bed, and went down til just about now. Going up to get him now, it'll be nice to spend some quiet time with him while Jav has Declan, since when Declan's awake, he's pretty commanding for my time.