We interupt this love story...

Sorry, but life has been a doozy and I haven't had time to breathe, literally. This last week has been full of asthma, a leaking roof, and Blue's visit to the pediatrician.
Asthma in 100 words or less.
Caught cold, got rid of cold, still couldn't breathe. 5 days and sleepless nights coughing, used inhaler more than recommended times per day, Mr. CB made me go to the doctor. 1 nebulizer, spirometer, major steroids, and $60 later I feel better! Still can't sleep because of the steroids but at least I can breathe.
Leaking roof in 100 words or less.
This winter sucks. Squat insulation in the roof, melting snow creates ice dam. Water pools on roof, leaks through walls, window, closets, basement puddles. Mold, wet drywall, and wet clothes. Clean and pack stuff up, call insurance. Ice dams are covered!
Pediatrician in 100 words or less.
Blue is too short, dropped 40% on growth chart. Height age is 18 months, actual age 24. Screaming x-rays of hands and wrists to measure bone age. If bone age is 18 months, we're ok. If bone age is 24 months, we go see the endocrinologist for hormone checks.
Oh, and I didn't even mention school.
BIG assignment due tomorrow (today actually). Spent 30+ hours on it. Lots of tests this week too that I haven't studied for because of aforementioned house, asthma, assignment, and boy.
BUT I am happy, whole, and warm. PLUS I am a Child of God, and nothing beats that. I have a great family, a reliable car, and a warm winter coat. Whew, okay, I'm ready to face the day (or hit the hay)!
Next post will be more lovin' with pictures!! Promise!!

How I became Ms. Crackle Berry, Part 1: The beginning

I met Mr. CB through my high school dance company. The company was performing a swing dance, which meant we needed boys. Big, strong boys who could swing us around without hitting our heads on the ground (it really hurts when that happens). Naturally all of us girls had our boyfriends be our partners because even if they didn't want to dance, they don't want us dancing with anyone else.
Mr. CB was dating another girl in the company (as was his brother, I guess the Crackle Berry boys have a thing for us dance co girls), and I was oblivious to other guys besides my then boyfriend James. The thing I remember most about Mr. CB at that time was that he was the only guy that seemed genuinely interested in being there! When our guys didn't show (which, unfortunately, was often), we'd practice with Mr. CB so we could teach our guys later.
The swing dance went well, but that was not the last I would see of Mr. CB (or so he tells me). I have quite the brain fog when it comes to high school. I remember very little unless it concerned dance or James. Anyway, Mr. CB tells me I sat with him and the dance co crowd every day at lunch. I do remember vague people-like shapes talking around tables, and their was food, so I am inclined to believe Mr. CB. Besides, several other dance co girls have backed him up. Continuing on.
Mr. CB and his girlfriend broke up, so I didn't see him for a while until he started dating a different dance co girl. See, even then he needed to be near me, even though we didn't know it yet. But life moved on once again and Mr. CB and I went our separate ways. I graduated and moved to the midwest with my family, Mr. CB stayed and worked various jobs, one of which was apprentice body piercer! Little did we know that it was his skills with a hollow needle that would earn him my number. More to come!
Click here to go to Part 2!

LOVE

A ver quick post since it's super late (or super early). In honor of Valentine's Day, I think I'll write Mr. CB's and my love story. If you would like to join me, let me know and I'll link up your blog! Fun, fun, fun! Stay tuned!

Oh, Blue!

Do you ever feel like your focus in on one child for a while, then it switches and your other child(ren) is your focus? I have found that right now I think more about and I do more things with Blue than I do Razz. She's pretty self-sufficient, but I still feel like she doesn't get enough of my attention. I always have to take care of Blue first. Blue needs this, Blue has to go in time-out, Blue needs a new diaper, Blue needs some "magic" time ("Magic" time is a good 20-30 minutes of uninterrupted Mommy play time my sister suggest when I have homework to do and Blue won't leave me alone. Once "magic" time is over, Blue is usually content to play next to me or with his sister. Thanks Sis!). Oh, and when I was downloading pictures off my camera, guess who was the main subject? Blue! Poor Razz, I think she'll get her own "magic" time this weekend doing some girly pink valentine's day crafts...after I finish my homework!
Back to Blue, my sweet little man. We've been spending quite a few nights at Grandma and Grandpa's house since the weather is often too bad to go home, or I have early class and trying to get the kids up at 5:30 in the morning in order to get to town on time is out of the question. Last night after we put them to bed in the same room, Blue bit Razz! Auuuggghhh! I have *another* bitter on my hands! So Blue came and laid down on the couch next to my desk, and after a million denied requests for milk he finally fell asleep and stayed asleep! Otherwise, if I put him back in the other room, he wakes up several times a night crying until finally I just sleep next to him. I'm not sure I like him sleeping in the same room as Mr. CB and I, but at least he's not in the bed with us. I DO like the large chunk of rest I get with this arrangement. Maybe we'll just have to move Blue into our room until we have seperate rooms for the kids....hmmm. I don't think Mr. CB will go for it, but if it's the only way I get an uninterrupted night of sleep, it just might happen. Any suggestions?

A little bit crazy...

Mr. CB got me this shirt a while ago. I like to wear it with striped socks.

I wear it when I'm a little mischievous. But since I'm a parent and need to act like I'm an adult around my kids, goofing off has to wait until they're in bed.
My mom says this video of me is embarrassing and she can't believe I'm posting it.
I say it was way fun, and besides, this is how Mr. CB and I relate. No, really, it is. We're dorks. In fact, I knew Mr. CB was the one to marry when he partially closed a ziplock bag leaving a small opening where he could suck all the air out, then finish closing the now vacuum packed leftovers. My heart went pitter pat.
On another note, we had Blue's party yesterday which rocked! I'll post some pictures soon.

Happy Birthday Blue!

 

 

Dear Blue,

At 11:11am Central Time you entered this world 2 years ago. At the exact same time your sister was diagnosed with RSV and wasn't allowed near you without being disinfected and masked for two weeks!

 

But once you were allowed to be together again, you guys have been the best of pals. I love that you're a Mama's boy, never wanting to leave my side. I'm glad you force me to find new ways to parent, since you and Razz have such different dispositions. Thank you for having your Daddy's brown eyes, his nose, and his hitchhikers thumb. My love for him makes it easy to love you.

Have a great 2nd birthday!

I love you,

Mama

It's a long one!

Alright, so now that school has officially started, I have no time to blog. I expected this, so I've been keeping a list of things I'd like to write about, hence this post is a hodge podge of subjects and events. This will probably be the norm until summer when I have more free time. Okay, back to school.
I just recently received a letter telling me I made the Dean's List for the College of Nursing last semester. This isn't really surprising but at the same time I wasn't expecting it. All I have to do is keep my GPA above a 3.6 each semester and I'm in. This could prove difficult given the amount of homework and studying I have to do as well as taking care of two little Crackle Berry babes. So far I've kept up with studying and reading assignments, but this is just the beginning and it's only going to get more hectic. Going to school with kids is not easy!!!!! Being pregnant and being in the same room as moldy petri dishes (like I was with Blue) is not ideal!!! As much as I wish I had finished school before I had my family, having kids really makes me focus on putting in quality work into school because I have other people depending on me. Flunking a class only takes food out of their mouths and clothes off their backs, which is not an option. I don't have time to repeat anything, I'm not getting any younger, and I don't have the patience. Four more semesters to go!
Our house if falling apart. We need to replace the windows. Here, you'll see what I'm talking about.

This is an old problem, but not one that has happened since we've moved in four years ago. My parents replaced the roof, so we thought that it was taken care of. I understand why the window is leaking, but I don't know why the ceiling is leaking too. I'm worried about mold. Luckily I haven't found any, but we'll see what we run into when we insulate the roof this spring. But wait! There's more!

Our lovely awning is breaking from the weight of the snow and ice. Okay, so it's not that lovely or well made of an awning. This too will be replaced this spring. Yay! Mr. CB took off all the icecicles and as much snow as he could. Goodbye Door of Doom! You were breathtaking, but also house breaking, so you had to go.

Besides the screen door being frozen shut, we can use the front entrance again! Not that we will, but it's a nice option.

Since we were outside, we decided to have a little fun. Blue was inside taking a nap, but Razz was frolicking in the snow...

She made it all the way down on the snow skate without falling! Mr. CB wants to take her snowboarding this year. I think she's ready. We also made a mini snowman.

 

The snow wasn't packing really well, so this is as big as we could go. Still, we had fun!

Blue will be 2 this Tuesday! Here is his invite I made up. The bottom picture we cut out around the shapes and attached them to the bottom of the invite with some star brads.

 

I would usually make the cake too, but since I've started school full time, it's just not possible. Luckily, my sister Kay used to work at a bakery in a local grocery store. The head decorator there got to know our kids pretty well and loves to do really intricate stuff for them just because our kids are awesome. We love you too, Vicki! We were there ordering the cake and I gave her an invite to go off of, and she decided to frost a cookie for Razz to practice a bit. Not that she needs to practice.

Blue's cake will rock, I'm sure.

On another Blue note, he is obsessed again. Not with balls this time (although they are still a favorite), but with a certain orange fashion accessory...

(Sorry I forgot to take out the red eye!)

He has to wear it everywhere. To the babysitters, to the store, around the house. It's the last thing off at night and the first thing on in the morning. He even has to wear it outside. In order to keep his bald buzzed head warm, I insist on him wearing his knit hat. We've compromised.

I love you Blue, you make me laugh.

(If you're not up for mushiness, you might want to skip this last little bit. Just warning you there are some PDAs.)

Because it's hard find lots of outfits to match Blue's orange hat, I went by the bookstore to buy a toddler hat from Mr. CB hoping that Blue would see the error of his ways and convert to a nice blue hat that showed some school spirit (The answer was no, in fact when I asked Blue if he wanted to show Grandma his new blue hat he said "No! ORANGE!". At least he knows his colors.). As I approached the returns window where Mr. CB was located, I asked him a very simple question.

Cherry - Excuse me sir, do you have any kisses in stock?

Mr. CB - I think so.

Cherry - Oh, great! How much?

Mr. CB - Well, that's the tricky part. They cost a kiss.

Cherry - Hmm, so in order to get a kiss I have to give a kiss?

Mr. CB - Correct.

Cherry - Okay, sounds reasonable.

*K*I*S*S*I*N*G*

I was almost late for class....

The bookstore has great customer service, don't you think?