Time for wine

So tonight Ella was bawling and begging to watch a show before bed. She’s already watched two movies and two shows today, but Eva had been crying wanting me to hold her for the last several hours and I just caved. (I swear we haven’t been watching that much TV but today we were all exhausted and I had to do some work too.)
Anyway, I then tried to turn the TV off and get her to get her pajamas on and she threw a fit. Meanwhile I noticed the cat threw up all over our bedspread. So, amidst the puke, the crying from Eva and Ella throwing a fit, I’d had it. So, I threw her jammies down and said “Fine! Don’t put them on. But just remember that I tried to make today really nice for you since you had to go to the doctor. I got you McDonalds, ice cream, and let you watch 2 movies. And you sure aren’t being nice to me!” And I stormed out.
I went downstairs to vacuum and blow off a little steam. Next thing I knew a sad Ella was standing in front of me saying “I’m sorry Mom.” It was sweet and sad. I was still mad though and I just said “OK Ella but get back to bed.” Then she disappeared again, but reappeared with her jammies on. Funny how she always acts like she can’t put them on without me, but this time she got them on in 2 minutes flat. Completely by herself. It was really sweet though. She felt bad and I could tell. And I explained to her that I forgive her and sometimes I just get so tired and would be really great if she could just not give me such a hard time to do everything. I don’t know if that’s too much for a 3-year-old, but I actually think she’s really smart and she responds well to honesty.
Anyway, I guess her guilt wasn’t too much for her so she’s asked for a few more minutes. Then I asked her one more time to go to bed. And she went.
So, I don’t know if I handled it perfectly, but she’s testing her limits and I let her know she’s crossed them. Maybe we need to get the sticker chart out again. Oy. I think it’s a good night for a glass of wine.

Shameless plug

I didn’t even write about Ella’s birthday because I was so busy getting ready for it, and Eva’s baptism. But my husband wrote a sweet post about it on his blog. Yep, we’re that couple that has two blogs. So, go read it and tell him you like it! Click here.

Another doctor appointment

Man, I’m beat.

I took the girls to a puppet show this morning at our library. I figured, why not? It was something different and it would be something fun before Ella’s annual hematology appointment.

But then after we were at the hospital for an hour and 1/2 and they had not even taken her blood yet, I realized I had overdone it. We were all tired. And very hungry. But as always, they always put things in perspective there. The nurse said she was working on some other kid’s chemo while we were waiting … and that would be a million times harder than what we’re there to do.

Anyway, Ella’s thriving and healthy, but she sat on my lap and cried, as any kid would, as they took her blood. It is sad to watch, but easier than when she was really young and people had to hold her down.

So, I promised her McDonalds after and a movie at home. And Eva is napping. And my house is a mess. And I really need to do some work. Hubby has been out of town for a few days again and I think it’s all caught up with me.

OK, not sure why I even wrote that post. Maybe because I’m too braindead to do much else!

Now the good stuff

We’ve had a busy morning with storytime and a trip to Toys R Us. Now Ella is relaxing to an episode of the Flinstones and Eva is in her swing drifting off to sleep.

I really should be cleaning my floors. Really.

Anyway, Eva takes several naps during the day still, but she seems to take her best one after lunchtime. She’ll sleep for 2-3 hours. And for the past couple of weeks she’s been sleeping from around 8:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. She’ll get up a few times to eat in that stretch. And usually for the last couple hours she wants me to hold her. But still! This seems so easy compared to the first couple of months. I love it. I feel like we have a real routine now and I know what to expect. And she really smiles a lot for me. And she is starting to grab her toys. I’m remembering now how fun babies are … after you get through the rough stuff.

She did have an appointment yesterday though so they could make sure her ear infections cleared up. And they did. But once again they told me that having an ear infection this young almost certainly means she’s in for more. Yikes. I hope she’s not going to get them all the time and need tubes.

Ella meanwhile pinched her real hard at the doctor’s office. I was so upset with her. She’s still not really learning to be careful with her sister. I don’t think she’s trying to be mean, she just is grabby and pinchy and hyper. But she’s getting time-outs or something taken away when she does it. She needs to stop doing it!

Ella has an appointment tomorrow at her hematologist to make sure she is doing well – with her anemia. Ella was at the doctor this weekend too. Boy with doctor appointments, and soon dentist appointments and eye appointments I’m glad I only work part-time!

I bought an outdoor picnic table at Toys R Us today. It is supposed to seat 8 kids, so that will be great for when her cousins are over and for parties. And we got some more accessories for her dollhouse. Now I need to put myself on a spending fast because we’ve been spending a lot!

OK, time to turn TV off and have a little “quiet time” before we go for a walk and enjoy the weather this afternoon.