Head, Shoulder, Knees and...ears

So, this past week had three kids at the pediatrician for 3 separate ear infections.  Cole has his second in less than a month and the twins each had their second in approximately two months.  All three got the standard Amoxicillin prescription since they didn't seem to be kicking these on their own.

The past few nights Sarah has woken up screaming and ended up in our bed.  Where she has proceeded to scream for 20 minutes at a time, head butt us, kick and scream.  Last night she was finally able to verbalize what was bothering her - she grabbed her ear and yelled "OW OW OW OW OW".  Okay, we got it.  Back to the pediatrician today (for those keeping score, this is visit 5 in 6 business days for 3 kids) and one eardrum is bulging with a raging infection and the other was so much more infected that the doctor just winced looking at it.  She's now on a stronger antibiotic and we were smart enough to give her Motrin before she went to bed.  Hopefully she'll start feeling better soon and Mommy will get over the guilt of not realizing before last night that her ear was getting worse.

Pictures of the kids

Erin modeling her new winter coat:



Cole's version of playing on his mat - eating the mirror.



Sloane and Cole on her sick day



Sarah being just a cutie:


Cole's baptism:

Bye Bye Bo

We finally took the plunge and took the twins' pacifiers away. We've been contemplating it for awhile and our trip to the dentist for the 3 girls this morning solidified our decision.

Erin acted like such a big girl and went off alone with the hygienist to get her x-rays taken and then let the dentist clean and examine her teeth. Sarah was less convinced of the purpose of a dental visit and I had to sit with her in the chair and convince her they weren't trying to hurt her. Sloane was the most surprising, hopping up into the chair and sliding a pair of sunglasses on, reclining to watch Dora while they cleaned and examined her teeth and she never complained. Erin still has dysplasia in her enamel but they don't know if it will occur in her baby teeth. Her great dental hygiene has kept it in check so it needs no treatment. Sloane and Sarah also got a clean bill of dental health with the only other surprise that Sarah has two teeth fused together on the bottom. We don't know the long term impact - it could mean that one of her adult teeth is missing. The dentist wasn't concerned and advised that even if the adult tooth was missing there, it could be treated easily orthodontically.

Of course we received the pacifier speech and saw the damage it was causing. So, we made the dentist the bad guy and when the kids came home from school and asked for their "Bo"s and told them we left them at the dentists office. Commence screaming from school to home (poor Matt). After they were distracted with their new jump ropes, they stopped. Another 5 minutes of complaining at bed time and then to sleep. Hopefully it will stay this easy....and if it doesn't, please remind me that it was our wonderful idea to take these away the day before I have to have dental surgery and will need to rest at night tomorrow?

Sloane's sick day

A beautiful day

Cole was baptized yesterday and it was a wonderful day. Matt and I had chosen yesterday when talking with the Reverend because it was the fall contemporary service. I usually go to 8am mass with no music, so going to 10am with music was a completely different experience. Our wonderful Reverend included not only the parents and godparents but also Cole's sisters and grandparents. I'll add pictures later. One of the hymns the music director chose was just so perfect that I wanted to add it here so we don't forget:

I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry

I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell."

"When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I'll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk 'till rising sun.

In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I'll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I've begun.
When the evening gently closes in,
and you shut your weary eyes,
I'll be there as I have always been
with just one more surprise.

I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.

A new take on a classic

Heard from the backseat as we were driving last night:

If you're happy and you know it, clap you your hands

If you're angry and you know it you go grrrrrrr

I'll leave it up to the imagination as to which daughter updated the song!

Halloween

Ballerinas round 1 for school (dress up clothes from home so the costumes didn't get ruined)

and actual costumes for trick or treating