Happy Birthday, Bob!

Bob turned the big 4-0 today - yikes! I married a much much much older man! All of the kids woke up bright and early so that we would have plenty of time for a small celebration before school. American Idol was on last night so my intention to go get balloons and make the place festive was a failure but we did get donuts and candles - okay I confess that I sent Bob out during AI to get his own donuts and candles for this morning but the thought was mine and mine alone!

Everyone was dressed and ready for school by 6:30 a.m. and thrilled to find donuts waiting for breakfast. They had to wait until I was done getting sick before they could sing and eat - my 2 hour ritual in the morning!
Happy Birthday to Daddy! Annie was only interested in ONE thing - getting her hands on that donut! She did manage to convince Daddy to give her his eventually!
Daddy sharing his donut with Annie!
Molly and Daddy doing cheers with their donuts while Annie tries to find a way to get some!

Peter and Daddy hugging with their donuts this morning! Peter was on his best behavior for Daddy's birthday - morning is not usually his best time of day but he did great!
Daddy and the kids celebrating - check out Annie with her mouth open trying to get a bite!
Annie still looking a little bit sick but loving her donut!
Annie needed a diaper change and I asked Molly to watch her while I grabbed new pajamas for her. Molly decided to try to change Annie's diaper and didn't realize that she had pooped! She was disgusted and yelling for me to come quickly. I told her to wait so I could get this on film - my daughter changing a poopy diaper! Annie was so patient as Molly and I cracked up!
Peter and Annie - he is very concerned about her ears and blesses them every day and night! We may have a priest in the making!

The kids helped me compile a list of ten things they love about Daddy!

1. Daddy is handsome and strong.

2. Daddy loves us!

3. Daddy helps us with our homework everyday and he knows the answers!

4. Daddy tucks us into bed with big wet sloppy kisses!

5. Daddy is happy to see us when he picks us up at school!

6. Daddy coaches our baseball team!

7. Daddy plays board games with us everyday!

8. Daddy shares his Swedish Fish with us!

9. Daddy always helps people when they are in trouble!

10. Daddy hugs and kisses us all the time and for no reason!

GNM - ILY!

Annie Update

Annie Bananie is still feeling kind of awful but she is such a sweetie pie. She hates the antibiotics and tries to spit them out - we think Molly has been giving her pointers. We have managed to get a couple doses into her today so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for her. She had a rough time sleeping last night and was just miserable so she spent lots of time in our arms - not that we're complaining - soon enough she'll be toddling all over the place and won't want any part of us so the snuggles were sort of welcomed by her Daddy and I.

Our sweet little angel with her Grammy blankie - sleeping in Daddy's arms very contently. I just want to bite those cheeks!I hate that she is so sick and feeling terrible but look at how rosy her little cheeks are. At this time last year we had just found out that she was a girl and I was just starting to feel her move around in my tummy. What a miracle!

Both of those pictures were from Very Very Very late last night! (if not early this morning!)

This is Annie tonight with a little bit of her smile back but still with her runny nose and watery eyes. Bob is loving all of the time Annie wantes to spend in his lap - between him and being with Grammy and Papa all day we have a very spoiled baby on our hands!

Bob and I are off to watch American Idol in bed - I'm too tired to even sit on the couch tonight! I promise more pictures of the big kids and a better Annie update tomorrow.

GNM-ILY!

My poor baby!

We were up all night with Annie last night and finally heard what her real cry sounds like. The poor thing was so tired but every time we laid her down she would start to scream. Once she was upright and in our arms she was smiling and happy but it was a tough night - one that would have had us in the ER if she was our first but we sort of thought it might be ear involved so we hung in there and snuggled her all night. Molly is also coughing all night thanks to the dampness in the air but she rallies quickly in the mornings. She did tell Annie to be quiet at one point last night but didn't remember it this morning! We did end up taking Ann to the pediatrician this afternoon and she does, in fact, have an ear infection in each ear that is oozing and blistered and she has some fluid in her lungs that we are going to have to watch. I had a moment of panic in the pediatricians office as I flashed back to Molly getting pneumonia several times during her infancy and ending up with pretty regular asthma but the doctor assured me that since Ann has never had anything lung involved before and is very healthy otherwise that is probably an unrealistic fear - apparently she's never been with Molly during a breathing episode where her lips turn blue and she gasps for breath. Once Annie gets some antibiotics in her she should be feeling better and she is such a trooper! My sweet baby has probably had this for a while and you would never know it based on her personality.

Bob was at school last night so I ordered pizza for the kids and

no one enjoyed it more than Annie! How this child manages to eat

so much with so few teeth I will never understand!

Annie got the royal treatment after her doctor's appointment today - we held her, kissed her and just gave her all of the TLC possible. I ran a nice warm bath for her and Bob ended up going in with her since she was feeling really awful - that got lots of smiles from Annie and the big kids. Afterwards she snuggled into Daddy for a rest.

After 20 minutes we put Annie in her crib but within a few minutes she was back out on the couch with her Daddy. She is such a great kid that when she is like this it is really hard not to give in to whatever she wants! I have a feeling we may see lots of Annie tonight! Usually once a day or two of antibiotics are in the kids systems they start feeling better so let's hope that works for Annie!

The 2 David's just battled on American Idol and David Archuletta kicked butt - YEAH!

GNM - ILY!

Bob turns 40!

I know Bob is my husband and all but he is a pretty terrific guy truly worthy of the incredible birthday bash thrown for him by my family on Saturday - if I do say so myself. Bob married into our family 3 1/2 years ago and I have to say that at times he puts into perspective for me the importance and blessings of my family. He is so appreciative for the closeness of our family, for his inclusion in it from day one and for the abundance of unconditional love that surrounds, not just our kids, but Bob and I, too, through whatever pain or joy we encounter. It is easy to forget how unusual our family is - for all of the bickering and fighting there is 100 times the love and laughter - Bob always reminds me of that and thanks me for the gift of his place in our family. That being said Bob is a pretty spectacular addition to the family - he is quiet and reserved at times but his love of the kids and I is boundless - even as we endure our 2nd pregnancy in a year. Because he is objective as a new member of the extended family he is able to remind me of the hidden gifts of family members that have gotten buried in the years of being together. Bob is a grateful son-in-law, treasuring the way my parents love us all with such gusto and admiring their willingness to take on the grandkids at a moment's notice. He is the father I always imagined for my children - patient, kind and a positive role model even during trying times. He is the kind of husband that I hope Molly and Ann find if that is their path in the future - he is not perfect but he tries constantly to make the best decisions for our family and his love comes without strings. I was so happy that for all Bob gives to the kids and I and the love he has for our extended family that his birthday celebration was so special.

A few months ago people started asking what I was going to do for Bob's 40th - I tossed around a few ideas and everyone thought it sounded great. A few weeks ago after not hearing anything more from me my cousin KK called and asked what the deal was - If you know me at all this is not shocking - I cried, whimpered and complained to KK - I was pregnant again by then, I was throwing up, dizzy, exhausted, caught the flu, Molly caught the flu, Annie was up all night with a cold and I was throwing in the towel and admitting defeat - there was to be no party - I was not up for it and Bob fully supported me, telling me that he wasn't much of a party guy anyway. So KK ripped off her clothes (Get your minds out of the gutter) revealing her tightfitting Wondercousin outfit and cape and she planned a birthday bash fitting for the wonderful birthday boy. The aunts and my parents made and brought food in abundance, Auntie Kake cleaned, weeded and let us take over the house, Brendan and Colin were out of bed by 10 a.m. on Saturday to get drinks, booze and help move stuff, KK and Meg kept the kids entertained with games, prizes, candy and a pinata, and Auntie Ann made a gorgeous cake and so many other things. It's hard to think about all of the contributions from family and friends. And KK oversaw everything from invites to food to entertainment and decorations. Bob thinks of something else from the party every five minutes - it is all he has talked about for 2 days. When we came home on Saturday night we sat up talking until 1 a.m. about everything and all the people who came to celebrate with Bob. There is no way to thank everyone for so lovingly making this day wonderful for Bob.

(picture stolen from Brigid)

My handsome husband and I - he hardly looks a day over 39!

(another picture stolen from Brigid)

Molly and I dressing up Bob in his crown and grass skirt.

Annie and her Daddy!
Auntie Ann made a sports themed birthday cake - beautiful!
Auntie Meg organizes the kids for baseball.
Mom and Auntie Ann trying to light ALL of those birthday candles!
Bob with all the kids while we try to light the candles on the cake!

Still trying to light the candles - there are just too many!
The kids help blow out the candles!
Our friends Randi, Chris and their twins Nate and Tony came from Worcester to help celebrate Bob - we were so happy they could be there!
Peter breaks the pinata!
Poor Molly went to bed at 11 p.m. the night of the party and ended up waking up wheezing a few hours later - she was throwing up and coughing all morning but recovered enough to inspect her prize from the night - a basket of shells that she spent two hours examining! KK knows MOlly pretty well apparently.

To top off Bob's birthday week Patrick is taking him to the Red Sox's game on Thursday - his actual birthday - he is extremely excited! So thanks to everyone who came to Bob's big 40 and especially to KK who took on the planning and everything else for the lazy pregnant chick - Macky and I thank you profusely!

And to my adoring husband - I'm happy that you had a great first 40 years of life but I'm happier about the 2nd 40 years or more because we get to spend them together! I love you!

GNM-ILY!