I love Tues/Thurs

Laura started taking care of the kids this week. Tuesday she was here from 10 -2 and I ran a thousand errands. It was wonderful!! As I was cleaning up the kitchen that night, I realized that my dishwasher had been unloaded. And everything had been put away. I asked Jason if he had done it; he hadn't. Laura did. I can't tell you how much I appreciated something so small. Just the thought that she was looking for ways to be helpful was so great.

Then today I ran some errands, came home, and gave her the keys to the car so that she could take the kids to the park and to lunch. When I walked in from running errands, I found her under the dining room table with the kids. The chairs and table were covered in blankets. They were very obviously camping in a tent. My kids were laughing and having the greatest time.

She has got such great energy. I love that she's not sitting on my couch, watching my kids play... Although I wouldn't blame her if she did. They can be exhausting. But instead she's under my table, pretending to be camping out.

Laura has always been one of my favorites. I actually used to babysit her when she was 8 or so. Now she's here with my kids, and it's so fun to see how much she's grown up and how much my kids love her.

I've also realized how much I love having a little extra help. I think I'm learning to be more vocal about needing help and not being ashamed to ask for it every now and then. It doesn't mean I'm a failure. It just means that sometimes it's easier to have an extra set of hands.

(BTW, she told me she really did find my flipbook helpful, and she referenced my paper on the cabinet with Jack and Sarah lingo. I knew it'd be a hit. haha)

Control Freak? Me?

Alright. Delegating tasks is not one of my strengths. It never has been. Maybe it comes from teaching for a few years and having to leave notes for the substitute any time I was absent. It's easier to just not be absent. I don't care what job you do... you have quirks and systems and things about the way you do your job. When I start to think about how many things I have swarming around in my head about how to relate/respond to Sarah and Jack, the thought of someone coming in to help me when Caroline arrives is overwhelming. I can "read" my kids. I know when the meltdowns are about to happen. I know which battles are worth fighting. I know from the moment they wake up whether or not we're going to have a good day.

My in-laws have very sweetly offered to stay with Sarah and Jack while I'm in the hospital. Jason is going to take a week, I think, off of work to help with Sarah and Jack once I come home and his parents leave. My mom will pop in and out to help as she has time since she lives locally. I have a soon-to-be college student coming on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting tomorrow to play with the kids from 10 - 2 while I run errands and get some things done. (It's SO much easier going in and out of stores alone.)

But how many people did I just name that will be coming in and out of the house, taking over different shifts, trying to help? I want it to go well for them. Especially for my in-laws. They don't live locally so they don't see the kids as much as my parents. And I want them to feel like the 3 days that they have them is fun. So I have been getting my house ready for all the people who will be coming over to help in the next several weeks... I'll explain under each picture.

Oh this is just a picture of our electric gate. We crossed our driveway recently and it really opens up the backyard. Now the kids can play on the driveway and I don't worry about them running into the alley.

Ok, so this is a canopy we bought to provide a little extra shade so that playing outdoors is an option for my fair-skinned children. It collapses and sets up easily. We can put a wading pool under there. Whatever. But this is so whoever comes over to play with Sarah and Jack has the option of going outside and not getting completely fried.

This is a work in progress. The white basket will be full of crafty supplies and the green vinyl tablecloth makes a good mat so that the kids can play with play-doh and not get it everywhere. This will provide an option for indoor play.

The laundry baskets downstairs on the kitchen table. One for Jack. One for Sarah. Each has pjs, swimsuits, change of clothes, etc. I don't want anyone to have to go all the way upstairs to grab a pair of socks. Plus, there are things in each of the kids' dressers that just plain doesn't fit them anymore. But I haven't gone thru their dressers yet separating the "good" from the "bad". So this is my solution: Don't go thru their closets and drawers. Just grab from the laundry baskets.

The flip book. This is a book of color-coded index cards. Yes, I know I have issues. But I'm really only trying to be helpful to my substitutes. In this book are the following: In orange, the codes to the security system, back gate, etc. In purple, directions to 4 neighborhood parks the kids enjoy. In green, channels they watch and how to turn on a DVD. (I know my mom would never figure out how to work the TV without step-by-step instructions.) In red, nearby fast food locations and the # to Pizza Hut. In blue, bedtime routines.

This Ziploc has the above flipbook in it, my library card, a key to the front door and the electric gate opener. I think I'll also put $40 in it so that a babysitter could take the kids to lunch if needed.

Stickers denoting what you will find in each of the important cabinets. If a cabinet doesn't have a sticker on it, you don't need to open it.

This is taped to a cabinet. In blue, it's Sarah and Jack lingo. My kids call things by weird names sometimes. For example, they'll ask to have a green bar for a snack. Well, Jason and I know that a green bar is an Apple Nutrigrain Bar, but no one else would know that. So I sat and tried to think of all the weird things that my kids say and decipher them. Then in purple, I have the things that you would find in the closet under the stairs.

Now that you've seen how neurotic I am, I think it's important to say that I really don't care if my in-laws, my mom, Laura, or Jason use any of the things that I've left for them. They don't have to take the kids to a park just because I left directions to a park. The point to all of this was simply that I have a memorized arsenal of weapons to combat boredom and meltdowns. I would feel TERRIBLE if I went to the hospital and left my 60-something year old in-laws with a 2 and 3 yr old without a flipbook of ideas, instructions, help. That's like being thrown to the wolves.

I'm not crazy. Really.

Friends

This past week has been a good week for Jason and me to spend time with friends... sort of a rare thing these days. (Of course I have no pictures because we're losers that forget cameras all the time.)

We went to a Frisco Roughriders game with Jason's best friend from Tech and his wife and son. We had a really good time, hanging out and letting the kids play.

I went to dinner Tuesday with a really good friend that I never have time to sit and talk with. It was such a nice night and fun to be away from the family for a little while.

Thursday Jason had his turn to get away. He had a few beers with some fraternity brothers that he hadn't seen in years. I laughed when he told me that they did the math and realized they pledged 17 years ago. Wow! I told him that 17 years ago I was in 6th grade. :) But he had a really good time, and he never makes time for himself and his friendships in that way. So I'm really glad he had a fun night.

Then Saturday night my Monday morning Bible study class threw me a baby shower. A baby shower for my 3rd baby. Unheard of. But these are my mom friends. They don't care which baby you're pregnant with... first, second, third.. who cares... We're having a party and we're leaving our kids with our husbands for the night. :) Anyway, it was such a great time... appetizers, dinner, and dessert at Shelly's house. It was so nice to focus on Caroline and get excited about her arrival. (Plus I got lots of diapers and much needed essentials, which I appreciated.)

This week was so eye-opening. I need to spend more time with my friends. But my very best friends understand that my schedule is hard and my free time is limited. They always seem to wait around for me and work around my craziness, and when I finally set aside the time to spend with them, we pick up right where we left off. Those are the best friendships in the world.

The Boys' Fishing Trip

Every time we get together, my dad organizes some kind of excursion for the men. It's either golfing or fishing. This particular fishing trip started a little before 6 a.m. and was supposed to wrap up around noon. They didn't get home until close to 3.

The women voted while the men were away and decided that next time the women are leaving the kids with the men and we're checking out for 8 hours. Now THAT'S what I would call a vacation.

(And, in fairness to Jason, he would be more than happy to let me go out with the girls rather than be stuck on a boat or on a golf course for 8 hours.)

Rockport, Memorial Day on the Texas Gulf Coast

Our cousin, Alex, brought a bat and tee. Sarah and Jack loved playing t-ball. Jack can't be bothered with details like how to hold the bat.

Thank goodness Rachel and Alex brought a portable DVD. One TV in the house without any good kid-friendly channels. Sarah and Alex watched a couple of movies together while we were there.

Brian's wife (my sister-in-law) Abby and my niece, Rachel. Abby turned the big 24 while we were on vacation. I love her so much. She is so perfect for Brian. It's been 2 years since they got married and they're having fun being newlyweds without kids. Good thing because Brian has about 6 more years until he's done with med school and residency.

What you're looking at here is trouble. 4 kids ages 2 to 4 yrs. So much work. It's getting easier. The Fishero clan gets together every other year. So the last time we went to the beach as a big family, Sarah wasn't quite 2 and Jack was 6 mos. That was a lot harder. But still... the house could have been about twice as big to contain the energy and chaos that 4 kids can bring.

End of Year Preschool Program

I think they may have been singing about the Bible.

The Pledge of Allegiance

We have loved Sarah's preschool experience. She has learned so many Bible verses and Bible stories. She learned how to write her name. She learned her phone number. She's learned how to be more social. She has friends that are truly her peers. They were all born within 3 weeks of each other. So when I conferenced with her teacher and asked questions about Sarah as it relates to her other classmates, I felt like I got good feedback. She's not being compared to kids who are 3 months older than her. We have loved it! And will be back this fall for one more year of preschool before we start Kindergarten! *Gasp*

Sarah's Dance Recital

Finale

Waiting in line to do the gymnastics part of the program. The little girl with blond hair that is 4th in line is named Cate. She is a few months younger than Sarah but gives us lots of good hand-me-downs. It pays to be shorter than everyone else your age. :)

Very serious

We were allowed to take pictures at her dress rehearsal but not at the actual recital. Good thing too because at the actual recital, she just stood there with a BIG smile and waved at us. Not a lot of dancing took place that night. But I think that's what makes recitals cute.... when kids pay no attention to what they're supposed to be doing. Otherwise it's just a long show with a lot of dances that can be kinda boring.

Nesting

There are some that will argue that the nesting instinct when you're pregnant isn't real. Those people are CRAZY. There is definitely a need that comes over you to get things in order.

Sarah will be 4 at the end of July. I am letting her have a birthday party with friends for the first time ever. (Before I decided that a cake with family was reasonable. Now she knows what parties are and she wonders why she never gets one.) So we're having it at the Wiggly Play Center. Not knowing when Caroline might arrive (and because she's due the day before Sarah's birthday) I booked the party back in March, just so it'd be one less thing to think about. Last week I finished her invitations (with the exception of addressing them and mailing them) and stuffed party favor bags. They are now sitting on the top shelf of my closet.

My niece turns 5 mid-July. Tomorrow I'll be buying her present, wrapping it, and putting it on that shelf in the closet.

I filled out the necessary paper work to bank Caroline's cord blood. Already got the collection kit in the mail. So we're ready to go whenever she gets here.

The nursery has been ready for probably close to 3 months with every drawer in her dresser filled with clothes that have already been washed and folded.

My project this week will be to clean out Sarah's and Jack's dressers so that everything in every drawer is something that fits and is wearable. That way no matter when I go into labor and no matter who is here with the kids, it will be easy to find clothes for them. (Lots of times I just know which shorts or shirts to avoid because they're stained or they don't fit well. Don't know why I keep washing them and putting them back in the drawer.)

I'm only 32 weeks, but I think the nesting instinct is real and only gets worse with each pregnancy.

We have finally decided on a name....

Caroline Grace.

So there it is. I now feel very vulnerable to people's comments. Like "Caroline McGlamery is an awfully long name." Or whatever. But I've always loved that name. Had Jack been a girl, he would have been named Caroline, so we went back to it.

I am relieved to have a name for her. Each of my kids has his/her own journal that I write in every month and last night I was able to write to Caroline, calling her by her name for the first time. It makes her feel like much more of a person and not so much just the big belly in the way.