Week in Review ~ May 26

My last week of maternity leave has come and gone.  It's hard to be too sad though because in three weeks (11 full days, 2 early release days, and one work day to be exact :)) I'll be home for the summer.  This week went by pretty quickly because we had several things going on.

On Sunday we went back to my hometown church with my parents.  It had totally gone over my head the week before when it was announced that my favorite past preacher would be preaching, probably because I was in "keep Sam happy" mode.  When my mom mentioned it the day before, I knew I wanted to come and figured Avery would be fine to go as well.  My parents mentioned going out to eat at the new restaurant in town, so Ned decided he would go and keep Sam at my parents', then we could all go eat.  It was so great to see Charlene and hear her message, especially since we hadn't seen her since she married Ned and I.  I was only four when she came to our church, but I always remember her hugs each Sunday in the vestibule.  I also remember the time she did her sermon on the Lord's Prayer and had her husband "answering."  He had gone to the back of the church without me noticing, and boy did my ears perk up when his voice boomed in.  I pray that at some point Avery and Sam will have those experiences in worship too.  We went back to my parents' for awhile after church then went to eat.  For a small town restaurant, we had a great meal, Avery stayed clean, and Sam stayed quiet, so that's success all around.  It was nap time when we got home, then Ned took Avery to his parents' for awhile.  Avery came home with a card and plant for Mother's Day that her Sunday school teacher had done and sent with Mimi since we had been in Newsoms the past 2 Sundays.

Not much went on Monday.  Avery went to Jennifer's, and Ned was able to go pick her up.  It was nice to not have to drag Sam out, and it was also nice not to rush in with both of them and fix dinner.  Ned had left earlier than normal to get her, so they were home early.  What a difference it makes at dinner time when he's home the whole time I'm preparing it, even if it's just heating up lasagna from my mom.  For quite some time I've been begging him to open the office from 8-4 instead of 9-5, or at least make those his hours.  Monday night I kept pointing out my joyful attitude, and he says he'll try to do it more during the summer.

Tuesday was another regular day, and I can't really remember what went on. Ned picked up Avery again because he was going to a dinner for the fire department and rescue squad in town for their response and hard work at a logging accident last year. This was the last week of school for my mom, and she started getting out early on Tuesday, so she came for a visit and arrived just before Avery. She visited for awhile and left a little bit after Ned did. Avery and I ate dinner, then we took a walk. Sam hung out while I got Avery to bed, then I held him for awhile before putting him to bed.

Ned got off at noon Wednesday and came home to keep Sam for me to get ready to go to school.  I wanted to talk to the lady who's been substituting for me to see what the students still need to work on for the science SOL Thursday and what to do with them the rest of the time.  Avery loves to go to my school, talk about school, and dream about going to school as a student, so I took her with me.  It was good to visit with all of my friends and get back in the school news loop a bit.  (I haven't missed the stress that loop sometimes causes, though.)  Avery had fun with things in my room and visiting everybody.  She never seemed to mind that I would tell her we were going and then find someone else to talk to.

Once we got home, she amused herself well, as she always does, taking care of Bitty with her many trinkets and treasures.  We played outside after dinner and are trying to enjoy our time before the mosquitoes carry us away.

On Thursday, Jen-Jen's group was going to a local park for Adin's birthday.  Avery, Sam, and I just met them there.  They played awhile, ate lunch, then played some more.  Sam had a complete meltdown when we got there because he was hungry.  He got so worked up that it took him forever to realize that I was trying to give him a bottle.  He was fine after he ate and was happy to sit in his seat so that I could eat and help Avery.  I took him out for a little while when the kids started playing again, but when he started fussing again I knew it was time to go.  I put him back in his seat and started pushing the stroller and he was out in about 2 seconds.  Avery stayed awake in the car with the help of some crackers and her music.  She took a good nap once we got home.  Sam was napping when she woke up, so we painted her toes after first giving her toes a bath in the big tub.  She liked her pretty toes but had some difficulty waiting for them to dry.  Next time we'll paint in front of Barney.  We had dinner together then Ned went to drill.

I took Avery to the doctor Friday morning because she'd had an off and on runny nose and cough for about a week.  Ned played golf in Richmond Friday but was home while we got ready and out the door.  Sam started fussing as soon as we got to the doctor's office, so I took him out to bounce him up and down.  The fussing continued in the exam room, so I decided I would feed him a bit early.  I pulled out the first bottle and found that it had no nipple, and much to my dismay, the spare bottle I'd so carefully packed didn't either.  We have more bottles than we do cereal nipples, so sometimes Ned will make the bottles while the nipples dry.  He forgot to go back and put them on and I never noticed.  There wasn't much to do then but to try to keep Sam as happy as possible.  Avery's left ear was infected again and she had fluid on the right, so it's another round of antibiotics and a trip back to the ENT.  We also discussed more things to try with Sam's reflux since his congestion is worse and his little cough is back.  By the time we left it was past time for him to eat and he was done.  We quickly went to Walgreens where I had to buy a bottle just to get a nipple.  Sam didn't seem to mind that the nipple hadn't been boiled or that he was eating in the car.  After a stop for gas, we were off to Jen-Jen's.  Avery was spending the night with my parents, so she needed to be there so that my mom could pick her up.  Sam slept there and all the way home, even while I got lunch.  He woke up when I sat him down in the kitchen, but I stuck my phone in his seat with the white noise app on, and he slept for an hour. 

He woke for a bottle and some playing then took another good nap.  Ned was after 6 p.m. getting home and brought King's Barbecue for dinner.  We took Sam outside for a little while after we ate.  Ned had a fire while he was feeding Sam his bedtime bottle, so I went and took him so Ned could leave.  I washed the bottles and cleaned up then fell asleep on the couch before Ned got home.

Saturday was a day away for me.  I think a trip to Raleigh before Christmas was the last time I had time away.  I went to Short Pump Town Center in Richmond and did some shopping for me and got Sam and Avery's outfits for 4th of July.  I had lunch at Panera and finally tried the strawberry poppyseed chicken salad my mom always gets.  It was delicious as was the turkey avocado BLT I paired it with.  I took our rings and my earrings to Helzberg to be cleaned and inspected then went back in the mall to look for an iPad case.  The one Apple sells just does not seem to offer enough protection, so I'm still searching.  I stopped at one of my favorite Targets on the way home to get underwear for Avery and to look at pictures frames.  I strolled out over $100 later and realized I had completely forgotten picture frames.  I did luck up and fine metal buckets in the dollar bins perfect for favors for Avery's birthday party.  The dollar bins also had the perfect items to make a cleaning kit for Avery, which she is in love with.  My first maxi dress and some sandals called my name as well.  I was tired when I got home, so I just held Sam while he napped and I rested.  My parents were bringing Avery home and we were going out with them.  My dad called just before they arrived and said that Avery had an accident (a big one) and someone needed to meet them outside.  I was pretty glad to be feeding Sam at that point.  I think her stomach was upset and she was upset that she had an accident.  She was much happier after a bath and was ready to go eat.  It seemed to take awhile at Cracker Barrel even though they weren't busy, and I was afraid Sam wouldn't make it.  He finally drifted off with the help of the white noise app.  For awhile I was holding his pacifier with my right hand and eating with my left.  I'm not left-handed but I was impressed with my ability.  It was past Avery's bedtime when we got home, so she went right to bed.  Shortly after that it was time for Sam to get a bottle and go to bed as well.