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Cora- 8 months old!

Our toaster oven has turned into our medicine cabinet.

Jude placed a car in between every single post on the banister!

Here is a better photo of our HUMONGOUS tree! (it is long gone by the way!)

After our trip to the doctor for the third time this month we discovered Cora has another double ear infection and probably some sort of RSV and Jude also has a double ear infection. So that makes a quadruple ear infection in our house! Both got on an antibiotic and both are doing MUCH better, although Jude really is still wiped out and taking long naps each day (I'm not complaining about that though!).

Gil, on the other hand is not doing better. He started coming down with a cold on Monday. Today he is still down for the count and has a fever. Pretty much he's laid on the couch all week. I think he must have an infection but now that it is Friday I don' t know...it could be a long weekend again!

On the up side I feel fine and just wish the rest of my family did too so I wasn't sitting her all alone with no one to do anything with cause everyone is sleeping and feeling like crap.

Home At Last!

Sorry this post is so overdue, but I do have a few excuses!

Gil arrived home around 10:30 pm last Monday night! His trip went well and over the past week I've heard many stories illuminating his experiences, from rats on the concrete floor they slept on to a visit to a Honduran prison. Yes, I'm glad I didn't know most of the details while he was away! Anyhow, the first week having Gil back has been wonderful...not exactly perfect...but I'm sure glad he is home!

On Monday morning I woke up feeling a cold coming on. By Wednesday I not only had a full-fledged cold, but I was feeling a little queesy as well. I took a nap and went to bed at 8:30 (actually bedtimes this week all ranged from 8:30-9:30! It was great!). In the morning I felt much better, but in the night Gil had started feeling under the weather and threw up in the morning. He stuck it out with the kids at home on Thursday, but by that night he was wiped and I was single mom again. Not to mention Jude had his cough going again and actually threw up during his nap on Thursday. Then there was Cora. By Thursday evening we had also decided she was not doing to great anymore and should go back to the doctor. Gil took himself in on Friday morning to make sure what he had wasn't anything dangerous he acquired while in Honduras (it wasn't), and we were supposed to take Cora in in the afternoon. By that time she seemed a little better and I was convinced she must've just had a touch of what we had. After all she just finished her 15 days of being on antibiotics that day, surely she had kicked her ear infection! She confirmed my thoughts by sleeping 14 hours that night and throwing up herself during the night. Yesterday she perked up a little and we both thought she was on the up and up. Then today...Jude and Cora both have had a temp all day and have not wanted to eat and only wanted to sleep. They also both have a cough as well. So now what!? I am taking off tomorrow AGAIN for yet ANOTHER trip to the doctor. I'm thinking maybe RSV? or bronchitis? I don't know, but this sicky stuff has got to stop. It has been quite a school year of it.

Day 12

Yep. It's finally here. The day we've all been waiting for (or at least I have!)....Day 12!!!!!! Gil called about an hour and a half ago to say he had landed in Omaha. They left from there around 8, so I'm thinking 10:00-10:30ish he should be here!!! (please don't mind that sometimes I write to Gil and sometimes I write about him. I also probably switch tenses and make a million other grammar no-no's...I may be a reading/English teacher, but remember that I am VERY sleep deprived when you read these posts!).

I made him ginger snap cookies tonight as a welcome home gift. I'm kind of wondering how Jude will respond when Gil gets him out of bed in the morning. I hope he is really excited to see daddy. We have been talking about it and usually he is very chipper in the morning so I think it should go well. Cora I'm sure will be elated to see her father!

In-service today was so-so. Ok, honestly, it just sucked. I hate being one of those whiney, complaining, negative teachers, but really it just wasn't very good. The auditorium was too big and bad for discussion, the topic was too broad, the microphone didn't work, the lunch was all packaged foods with only pop as an option- no water!, the teachers were not enthusiastic. It just kinda sucked. But it did get over early!

I was really really hoping for a snow day tomorrow or at least sometime this week, but it's not looking like that is in the cards. Oh, I'm so tired, but I have to stay up until Gil gets home. I think I will watch a Gilmore Girl's episode and enter some grades into the computer.

Day 12! Day 12! Day 12!!!!!

Day 11

Oh man, we're finally here folks! Tomorrow is day 12! Today is Gil Returns Eve! Day 11!!!!!! ('nuf exclamation points?)

This morning John went to church early so he could stay home with the kids while Carolyn and I went. That was kinda nice. I don't remember the last time I heard the sermon or was able to look at music from a hymnal. After church Cora took a nap and Jude played with grandma and grandpa while I prepped my lessons for the week. It will be a nice week because tomorrow we have in-service, so no kids, and the rest of the week we have MAPS testing so I won't teach 4th or 5th this week at all. We are going to have kinda a fun week in the 6th grade. Since we studied Greece in our last S.S. chapter, we are going to have the "Allen Olympics" for S.S. and do some mythology for reading. I hope it's fun anyway!

Our trip home went really well. We left at about 2. Cora slept the first half and Jude the second, but they were really really good. I think Cora does so much better in the car than Jude did at her age. When we got home I unloaded while Jude watched "Cars 2" and Cora crawled all over the house. You really won't believe what she can do now! I gave her a bath tonight too and I think that was the last time I will use the baby bath. She is sitting up so well I think it's time to graduate to the big tub. She is eating really well too. And she is finally better! I think I've mentioned this before, but she has also gotten really good at taking medicine. Tonight she spit out her binky when she saw the syringe coming!

Now they are both in bed. Cora has been sleeping since about 7:15. Jude is having trouble falling asleep as I put him to bed nearly an hour ago and he is still not sleeping...

I am contemplating whether to fold the massive pile of laundry on the couch or just leave it and go to bed...decisions, decisions...I just had a brief intermission to pop Cora's binky back in and find Jude's blanky. He has decided he wants to sleep with his little blanky again!

Well, I haven't heard from you today, so I hope all is well and I can't wait to hear your voice, but especially see your face tomorrow:):):)

LOVE

Day 10

We are in council bluffs tonight. Had a big day here. Didn't quite go according to plan because Ashtyn got sick this morning. So instead Carolyn and I went to target and then we all went to see beauty and the beast in 3-D and to buffalo wild wings. The kids did a great job through it all and Jude had a blast. Cora went to sleep pretty easy tonight and Jude conked out on the couch so I'm just going to leave him there. Okay, I'm calling it a night!

Day 9

Finally Friday! Did I mention that when you get home I'm going to sleep for three days straight?!? It feels so good to know that I don't have to get up tomorrow (until I hear a baby crying that is...let's hope she knows it's Saturday!). I am planning on heading to CB at some point, hopefully by 10ish. Then I'm going to hang out with Katie tomorrow too. And do my lesson plans on Sunday while your parents watch the kiddos. That's the plan anyway. Today was a good day. I was up early and to school before I usually get there (aka on time!). Cora took a good nap and Jude has just been amazing. We went to Alissa's JV game after I got off the phone with you. It was fun to see her coach. Her team was good, but she has like a million girls she has to play. We ate a sandwich supper in her classroom with Tyler and mom after the game. Jude LOVED her classroom and the fish tank in the library and the trains that June played with him and running on the bleachers and watching the girls gymnastics half time performance. We watched the first half of the varsity after we ate, but at that point Cora had had enough and needed to go to bed. Jude did too and in fact they were both asleep by the time we got home. I had to do a little diapering and feeding and pajama putting on, but in no time I had two sleeping babies and I could spend the rest of the time until now packing (and you know how I am about that process!).

3 more days!!!

I don't know for sure if I'll post much tomorrow since it will be from the ipad, but I'm gonna give it a go.

Oh, and last night you ask? MUCH better! Much as in Cora was only up twice and went back to sleep easily and Jude had NO coughing. None so far tonight either!

Day 8

I think I have morphed into some kind of being that can run on little to no sleep. Man I thought it was bad before, but it seems like ever since you've been sick it has been REALLY bad. I have a hard time falling asleep alone for several reasons, but one is that it is hard for me to relax since I'm the one that has to be "on" all the time when you're gone. I haven't been falling asleep until Cora is up at least once (11-12...oh and right now I think!) because I will just lay there thinking she will be up any minute so what's the point. And my head fills up with the millions of things I need to do in the morning and can't forget to do tomorrow. And now there has been Jude and his coughing fits. Last night I gave him meds twice and then in my delusion of no-sleep/2am I freaked out that I mixed meds and was going to scar him for life somehow. Finally I had to turn on the fan and try not to hear it (he is coughing now too...). Today was COLD! I got the fire going right when I got home, but I have only been able to keep barely above the furnace. Tomorrow morning is the last I have to get the kids to daycare. I did really good this morning because I made myself get up on time despite the wee hours of wakefulness instead of falling asleep after my alarm went off on Tuesday and then being so late I had to bring Cora to daycare in her pajamas (I'm mortified that I did that, but it is the truth). Right now it is a quarter past nine. I have to make my lunch and then brush my teeth and then I'm hitting the hay. We'll see if I fall asleep before Cora wakes (I don't hear her anymore).

TGIF tomorrow:)

P.S. Cora seems better, but she won't really tell me how she's feeling...

P.S.S. I won the Omnaris battle today!!! Me-1 , Pharmacy- 0, what now!

Day 7

Cora seemed to be okay today. She doesn't have a temp and eats good and slept good for naps. She didn't go down real easy tonight, but so far she has been sleeping sound. I think she should be fine to go to daycare tomorrow. It got a lot colder today though so tomorrow morning will be frigid. I have kept the fire going all day, so it has been toasty inside! I haven't got much done around here besides take care of the kiddos today. It was a good and fun day though. I wish I could have more of these days...lots of playing! I emailed about the speaker. I also am on the warpath about this whole Omnaris issue. I called Omnaris, I visited Hy-Vee again yesterday, and today I called Blue Cross. All to no avail! No one knows why I can't get my prescription for $11 like I'm suppose to. I'm going to call back to Hy-Vee again tomorrow. It just bugs me! I wanted to make rye bread, but didn't get that done. Did get some laundry done (none of your clothes to fold, sad!). Oh, Jude has started saying the funniest thing he got from The Lion King. He will say, "You are my son, you are the future King!" It took me a while to figure it out. And then yesterday on the phone he told you, "That's impossible, Dad!" Don't know where he picked that one up. He has been really good besides a few peeing and spilling accidents. Today he even went outside in his new snow pants and all the gear. I think he is getting so much easier than he was like a year ago. Easier than Cora, although she is really good when she is feeling well. She would be awesome if she could just sleep at night! Ok, I'm off to beddy-bye. Goodnight.

Day 6

Half. Way. There.

I wish I could say I feel like I'm getting good at this single mom thing. But I'm not. I can't do it all! Tonight after supper I was looking around at the mess and the 100 things I wanted to have done and not knowing where to start and I thought, "It's times like these that I don't like being the mom (aka the one who has to do it all!)."

Cora had a bad night again. At 11 pm she woke up and needed more medicine and was pulling her ear. At that time I decided I needed to bring her back to the doctor. She should be better by now. So I did. And I'm glad because they think she has croup or whatever and gave her a steroid shot. She also got a new antibiotic because her ears were still not good. I really hope this finally helps. Poor little girl! I am going to stay home with the kids tomorrow and try to get everyone some rest.

Even though balancing two kids is tough sometimes, I really like having Jude here. It is less lonely than if it were just a fussy baby and me alone. He is becoming a little person and it is sooooo nice that he can talk to me!

Day 5

Once again it is getting late and I really just want to go to bed. But unfortunately I spent too much time looking at the clearance at oldnavy.com and still have to make egg salad for MOPs tomorrow night:( I decided on egg salad because I'm hoping to go to Alissa's JV game which just happens to be in Wayne at 4 and then MOPs at 6:30. Hopefully it works out and the kiddos cooperate. On that note, today was the first day in like a year that Jude came running to me and said mommy when I got to daycare today. That was enough to make my day! Then we played outside for like an hour in sweatshirts when we got home. It was probably close to 60 degrees today. I don't know what's up with it, but I like it! Much better then being snowed in! Cora took a good nap this afternoon, but then was sort of grumpy again. She went down at 7:45 and I haven't heard a peep since. Jude went to bed rather early too again. I got the humidifier working after they were in bed. I hope I did the filter right...I did let the fire go out. It is supposed to be warm again tomorrow and I won't be home much. Maybe I'll get it going again on Wednesday. I called the Omnaris people today and it looks like Hy-Vee just didn't know what they were doing. I'll have to call them back. And I tried to look into the speaker situation, but I couldn't get hold of or contact the company...kind of strange. I will have to get your ebay info to look into it more. School went well today and this morning went really well getting the kids up and all. Hoping I can get a little more sleep tonight (hope keeps me going!). At least I'm feeling good and not sick at all. I think Cora is about over her cold so that should help her sleep. Jude had a coughing fit again last night, but so far so good tonight. Ok, off to pack a lunch and then make egg salad (doesn't that sound good....mmmmm....mayonaise!).

LOVE,

Shannon

Day 4

Really bad night with Cora again last night. When will it end?! Got up at 8 to get ready for church. Got chores and all done before hand. Went to Journey with mom and dad and Alissa and Tyler. Got a few groceries and dog food. Came home and Cora took a good nap while Jude just played in his room. He took another bath in the big tub. We made a video for you yesterday and he really wanted to do that again. Oh, he peed in the tub today! And on the floor in the living room...I shouldn't have gone with the undies (don't worry, I cleaned it all up!). Right now it is almost 10 and I just finished my lesson plans and am going to bed. Cora has already been up once and Jude is coughing again (he fell asleep on the couch with me at 7:30!!!). Darn cough! Fire has been going good all weekend, but I might let it go out tomorrow. It is work to keep it going, but I just love being warm! Oh, I think I should get the humidifier going, but I have to get a new filter figured out. I should work on that tomorrow. Well, I gotta gear up for morning....awwwww! Good to talk to you again tonight. Hope you enjoyed your cold shower!

Day 3

Oh man. Three seems so small when I have to get all the way up to twelve...

Anyway, today was Saturday and it was awesome! Cora slept like crap, but what's new. She's sick so I guess I'll give her a break. Jude woke up at 8 so I did too, but Cora did stay sleeping til almost 9 which allowed me to: eat breakfast, feed and water the pets, unload the dishwasher, start some laundry, and start a fire before she woke up. She really wasn't into nursing today, but was loving on her baby food....I don't know what is up with that. I even gave her some of her medicine in her food and she ate it right up. She seems to be doing a little better, but not a lot better. Hmmmm...

Jude took a bath in the big tub this morning for like an hour probably! He loved it! He also took almost all the pillows and cushions off of the couch and drug them to his toy corner where he made a fort because, "A monster is coming!" Cora and I had to get in the fort too. He took a short nap this afternoon and really didn't want to go to bed tonight. He just couldn't fall asleep. I gave him some cough medicine again.

I made a homemade pizza for lunch and mac and cheese and peas for supper. We watched a marathon of Veggie Tales Christmas videos during/after supper. We also read, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" a few times, played the fishing game, and painted a picture. Jude recognized a W on Sesame Street this morning and went to the fridge and grabbed it and said, "Two Double U's!"

After I put the kids to bed I folded the mountain of laundry on the couch and watched a Gilmore Girl's episode. I also talked to your mom a bit.

Ok, time to call it a night!

Day 2

It's late (aka 10 pm). I am tired (even though we all took a family nap this afternoon for 2 hours). But here I am. Dedicated to the cause!

The kiddos stayed with mom today because of the whole ear infection thing. They woke up early, so I got them loaded into her car and then went to school, almost on time! School was good, but all I could think about was SLEEP. When I picked the kids up Cora was on her second nap. It didn't look good. Luckily Jude went down no problem. I gave Cora a bath and got things put away and decided to try laying her down again. It worked! We all slept a good two hours and Jude got three. When we woke up we headed into the gym for the Allen vs. Ponca boys bb game. We saw Jacob and Trenton play, visited with aunts, cousins, parents, and grandparents, played tractors with Blake, played with some of my sixth grade students, drank from the water fountain, ran in the halls and on the court, and had a lot of fun. At the end of the night Jude was in tears not wanting it to end. But I decided to skip the birthday cake and ice cream at mom and dad's for grandma's birthday because despite the naps we all needed sleep! The minute we got home Jude said he was ready to take a nap. I knew it! Minutes after arriving home both kids were zonked in their beds and I am now heading to mine. Hope it is a LONG LONG time before I have to get up again (like 5 hours or something!).

It was so good to hear from you this afternoon! I knew as soon as I heard the rooster crowing in the background that it was you from Honduras. If you hear a rooster crowing you know it's either the Ridenour Ranch or Honduras!

Tomorrow's plan is to sleep, play, clean a little, do a little laundry, and relax. I might even make a pot of coffee...and maybe a meal or something!

GOODNIGHT:)

The Twelve Days of Honduras--Day 1

Gil is in Honduras starting today. For twelve days. This is the third year he has made the trip. But this is the first time I have had to hold down the fort with TWO kids (plus all the animals). And this is the first time it has been twelve days.

Last year I made Gil a photo album of things Jude and I did while he was away. This year I have decided to write a blog post EVERY DAY for TWELVE days...aka "The Twelve Days of Honduras." This is a HUGE (I'm enjoying caps tonight!) undertaking for me right now seeing as how I am averaging one post a month these days AND that I am a single mom for the time being. But I am going to do my best!

Ok, so day 1. Well, the first night was a little rocky. While Cora did sleep until nearly 4 am (a record as of late), I discovered she needed changing (poopy!) and that she had a fever. So after a feeding, changing, temp taking, and medicine giving (which she hates), she peacefully drifted off to sleep...until 5 am...and then 5:45 am...

Did I mention I am totally and utterly exhausted today? It's like just this one day of being "on" all by myself has completely worn me out. I had to exert extra brain power just to remember if the period went inside or outside of the quotes just now...you cannot criticize my grammar in this post!

The day got off to a slow start. I arrived at school after chores, loading kids, and unloading kids about twenty minutes late (luckily I still beat the students!). I got Cora an appointment at 2:15 because I was pretty sure she had an ear infection and she probably shouldn't have gone to daycare...(side note, it was 65 degrees out today!). Mom picked up Jude early from daycare and I got Cora to the doctor only about 5 minutes late (I'm afraid you might see a trend in my lack of punctuality). She had a double ear infection--goodie--but still was able to get her second flu vaccination. After the poking and prodding she was in a mood, but luckily she fell asleep immediately once in the car and stayed that way throughout the entire Target trip. I did get to spend an incredible amount of time in Target tonight with a sleeping baby which is the next best thing to being there alone. That was fun. I got some new mascara and foundation I'm excited to try (I know you're going to be thrilled!).

So after Target and my frustrating time at the SS HyVee pharmacy (they only gave me $40 back instead of $50 for the wrong charge...grrr). I arrived home with a much happier infant and Jude just behind me, also in good spirits. We ate supper, played, cleaned up, and the kids both went to bed around 8! After that I got caught up on the budget and guess what?! We had extra money last month!!! That was good to see after the Target trip...

Now I'm off to bed to read the devo Melanie sent me (that is another thing I'm trying to do each night).

Goodnight from Nebraska. I love you all the way to Honduras!

Shannon