Saturday, November 26, 2016

Thanksgiving Week 2016

November 19-We spent most of today getting packed up and ready to spend the night at Grandma's house. It amazes me how much preparation goes into spending just a night away from home. I think having 2 under 2 really complicates matters. You don't want to pack 100 diapers but you don't want to run out of any and have to buy more when you know there is a whole box back at home. But as Char says "It's not like they're in the middle of nowhere, there are 3 stores within a 5 minute drive of their house."

We (everyone but Char) left in the afternoon and got there just as it got dark. (I HATE, driving in the dark, the longer the drive the more I detest it! It gives me anxiety.) 

Grandma and Grandpa were out on a date night when we arrived. All the kids were exhausted from the days' activities and the long drive. (My kids don't sleep in the car during drives for some reason.) I was grateful when Rory went down because Grandma had the table all set up. Rory has a rule about nothing being allowed on flat surfaces. I keep having visions of broken glass, cuts, or stitches fill my head. They were all out by 8:00, even my little night owl, Anastasia.

I tried to sleep but couldn't. Around 8:30 Grandma and Grandpa came back from their night out. I visited with them until well past 10. 
November 20-Today we celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandma's. Everyone is either working or will be out of town on Thursday, Sunday was the day everyone could come together. There were 12 adults and 6 kids, that's a table for roughly 20 people.  

I woke up at 6:17 when Anastasia gave a startled cry and then simply fell back asleep. But I was awake despite my attempts to go back to bed. I went up to the kitchen around 6:30 to find everyone else in the house wide awake. Apparently, Rory woke Heidi up around 5 am, she then woke up Grandma and then a tad later Heidi Anne woke up grandpa. Who then made Egg Nog French Toast for everyone. It was like one of the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" mornings. 

After breakfast Anastasia was up (for real this time). Rory also discovered the stairs, which he promptly tried climbing up. Grandma learned that if you sit on the stairs he won't go past that stair. Now he can go up (YEAH!! He couldn't before.) But he can't climb down, he turns around and takes a step in mid-air. He doesn't understand how to slide / climb back down the stairs the right way.

Char came around 11:30 am, he had gone home to sleep and let the dog out. Then drove down to Sandy. He helped out with the kids and I helped out with cooking preparations as much as the kiddos would allow.  
Rory had fun playing with the blocks, playing outside, trying to go up those stairs, and playing with his cousin G. He had some good interactions. He gave cousin G blocks to play with. Played in the tent a little. But then he needed a nap. It's like he can only take so much interaction before he needs to take a break from people and recharge. 

I have to talk about him going outside, he went out in bare feet on the grass!! (Side note-it was warm enough that spring flowers were blooming). I have spent months exposing him to grass, he hates the feeling of different surfaces on his feet. He used to refuse to come into the kitchen because the floor felt different. I kept putting him on different surfaces in bare feet to help him with his sensory issue. I wasn't sure it was working until there he was, walking on grass in November, it may have taken since March but we got him there!  

Anastasia was just a happy, talkative, bubbly baby girl rolling on the floor, wanting cuddles, or chilling in her swing. She's sadly getting to heavy for the swing, I think it has a 16 pound limit and she's over 14 pounds. 
After Char arrived, people slowly began to trickle in. I was able to help out in the kitchen until Anastasia wanted me. Which was about the point the kitchen began to get crowded.(I made the vegetarian stuffing).  

It was the first time everyone had been together since Aunt Millie's wedding in the middle of August. Dinner was really good, with lots of vegetarian options, good food, yummy turkey. I can't remember who brought or helped cook what, it seems like everyone had a hand in making the feast. But Aunt Emily's homemade rolls really stand out. (Isn't it amazing you can spend hours prepping, baking, and cooking and dinner is done in less than 45 minutes.) 

Cousin A put together a performance for the family. She had been practicing different songs on the piano for days on end. Heidi Anne and some other family members had to quickly learn their parts. After half an hour of 
rehearsals it was time for the show. (Mainly because we had to get going and Heidi Anne was part of the act). 

We had to leave right after the performance, which was before dessert was served. It was getting late, the drive was going to be rainy and in the dark. (Blog, you know my feelings on driving in the dark.) Heidi Anne had school the next morning, and the babies were tired. Not that sleepy tired where they fall asleep in the car, but the cranky kind where they fuss the whole ride.  

Aunt Sarah was super nice and gave us some of her mini pies to eat at home. I loved her lemon and mixed berry pie! It's my new favorite pie. She also made an cinnamon and apple pie. Or maybe they would be considered tarts....Either way they tasted good. 

November 21-Today we deep fried a turkey! Don't worry we took all the precautions. We got a deep fryer on clearance last year and have waited that long to try it out. (Not sure why we waited that long come to think of it, maybe because I was a little timid about the whole thing). Great news is the house didn't burn down. The turkey tasted delicious, it was super juicy! We also did a brown sugar brine for 2 days to add some flavor.
In addition to the turkey, we made green been casserole, homemade stuffing with turkey sausage, and rolls (well, the rolls were store bought). 

Since Char had work that night we planned on doing an early bird dinner (at like 4:00 pm). Heidi Anne was supposed to come home right after school, instead of going to her after school program, which ends at 5:30 pm. But she forgot. So we waited 15 minutes, called the school and found out she was there. We went ahead and had a nice quite dinner and made a plate for her to eat when she got home. 

Heidi Anne was conflicted about all this. She wanted to spend time with us, but on the other hand, she had fun in Spooky Science (her after school program) testing out a little launcher she designed. It was one of those lessons that you can't have everything in life. It's hard with her ADHD, but she also needs to learn to control it and remember plans she has made. 

November 22-Today Anastasia had a dietitian appointment down in Ogden. It sounds simple but it took nearly half the day. I can't wait until we live closer to all these clinics. (Just watch, as soon as we move we won't need all these doctor appointments anymore. Murphy's Law.)

Anastasia weighs 14 pounds and 5 ounces. She's drinking roughly 6-8 ounces every 3 hours, about 36 ounces in 24 hours. Yes, even at night. Someday I'll get a full nights sleep, but it is not this day. 

We really need to work on her eating solid food but the stupid tongue thrust gets in the way. Making whatever food goes in her mouth forced right out again. We just need to push for speech or OT therapy to come check her out. We've been trying since August to have her seen. But whenever I think I have an appointment set or the specialist will come to physical therapy, something always happens. How is it I can accomplish so much for Rory but can't seem to get speech therapy for the life of me for Anastasia?

November 23-Not much happened today. We made some more stuffing because my kids and husband are addicted to it. I must admit, I do love this recipe we're using and the turkey sausage. Today is just a prepping day for tomorrow. Tomorrow we're having Thanksgiving at my friend, Valerie's house, then going to grandma's for pie and to spend the night. 

It snowed at least 4 inches! There was a plow truck that became stuck in front of our house. You could easily hear the driver restart the plow over and over. A police officer even showed up, not sure what service the officer could provide but there he was. Finally, the plow moved on. 

November 24-Happy Thanksgiving! Char has a 16 hour shift today!

This morning we finished packing up and left the house around 12:00 pm. It took nearly an hour and a half to get to Valerie's house. We got there around 1:30 pm. 

I haven't seen Valerie in nearly 2 years. Last time I saw her I was pregnant with Rory!  to say it was wonderful getting to see her and her kids again, would be an understatement. Rory has developed a fondness for going up stairs but doesn't know how to go down them. Which made it so I'd have to bring him back down the stairs before he toppled down them. 

Rory really blends in with her children really well. He fits in their age spacing and has matching blond hair (and even the same hair cut as her little boy). All the kids wanted to hold Anastasia, which she was totally cool with. She's such an easy going baby who just loves to be held. 

Dinner was wonderful, but fell during nap time. Rory only wanted to eat rolls. Heidi Anne was pretty good. Anastasia must of felt left out because she demanded to be feed, too. I sadly didn't get any pictures. Sad face! As soon as we finished eating we had to go, so the babies would take their naps. I hated to eat and run, I wanted to spend more time catching up with Valerie. 

After Valerie's, I noticed we were low on gas. Well, the pumps were closed at the gas station in the small town. We drove the longer way to grandma's in hopes of finding an open gas station in Ogden (which we did) much to my relief. The girls fell asleep but Rory stayed wide awake. 

We got to Grandma's thinking there would be pie, but everyone else had a change of plans. But it was still nice to spend time with them. I did get to eat one of Sarah's mini pies. Heidi Anne liked that they made rolls for her. 
 Grandpa brought in some snow for Rory to play with in the kitchen. Which he loved. Apparently, Char did a similar thing around the same age. 
Then we built a little fort in the living room. Rory wouldn't go in that night but Heidi Anne thought it was the perfect place to read a book. After a long day the kids and I were down for the night by 8:00 pm. 
November 25-Anastasia said her first word today! It was Dad-Dad. That makes Dad the first word for all three kids. Char is batting 100!

Grandpa made a special breakfast of waffles. He always tries to make a special breakfast when we spend the night. 

It was a busy day. Aunt Laura and Anthony brought cousin G just in time for lunch. After which, Laura, Anthony, Grandpa and Heidi Anne went to go see Fantastic Beasts. Grandma and I stayed home with the baby boys and Anastasia. 
The boys had a lot of fun playing together. But they wore us ragged. They ran around in a big circle, played with the tent, played a version of Hide and seek. Played with blocks and cars. They refused to go down for a nap, despite many attempts on Grandma's part. 

Sarah and Blake came by for a visit. Shortly after, everyone returned from the movies. We had Cafe Rio for dinner (I haven't had that in years). After dinner Sarah and Blake had to go. Grandma went to put Rory down to bed.

While she was gone, Anthony and Grandpa started to set up the tree. Heidi helped put on some decorations. I was holding Anastasia. Grandma was shocked when she came downstairs to see the tree up and almost finished. 

November 26-Rory woke Grandma up early this morning. He had thrown up all over the crib. She gave him a bath. Shortly after drinking his pedisure he threw up again. I thought it was time to leave. I felt bad because Grandpa was going to make pancakes for Heidi Anne but I wanted to get Rory home as soon as possible. 

Luckily he didn't get sick in the car. Once we came home I put him down for a nap, where he slept for 6 hours. We gave him some more fluids, which he promptly threw up, again. 

To make matters worse, I also got sick. It was a rough day. 

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