When I grow up to be a man...

So, Gavin's preschool hosted a Grandparent's Day play on March 27. Gma and Gpa Vitale were still wintering in Florida but Gammie and Papa were able to make it. Gavin's class prepared a 50's music inspired play to entertain their grandparents. Parents were strictly prohibited and Gavin told me if I tried to come that his teachers would "throw me out". I thought that was funny (despite the tiny ping in my heart).

Gavin had a big part. He preformed to "When I grow up to be a Man". He pretended to play with cars as a boy, fix a bike as a teenager and then donned a sport coat with a briefcase to be a man. Gammie and Papa were impressed with teh performance as well as the speed of which he removed his coat.

So Sick...

So, I cursed my girlie girl. I said in a recent post that she had been the least ill when the boys were sick, well, she is is taking her turn. Nora has been fighting something since Friday night and fever was bad Sunday and today. After lunch, with Mommy working from home, she wanted to color before books. As you can see, we never made it to books. She was talking to me right along but next thing you know...she passed out. Never dropped the marker. Snoring and all...

I love you Daddy

Dylan thinks hats, or anything on his head, is a riot. He has been playing with hard hats, firemen hats, whatever. He had one of Gavin's baseball hats recently and then one of his own. He then found Dad's hat. I know he knew who's it was because the pure joy on his face was evident with the wore, blue Tiger hat on.

Oh my big boy!

WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot even believe how much of a big boy Dylan is with his new fancy haircut. He did really great today getting a haircut. He had some milk and a few pretzels and other than normal wiggling, he did great. It was family haircut day. Everyone but Gavin - still looking good...Nora went first followed by Dylan. Another major milestone* in the books.

* I did trim/cut his hair in September due to the bad toupee he had developed from a combination of newborn hair fall out and the top continuing to grow. You could have made it into a mohawk I guess.

Big Brother

Gavin was so excited to see Dylan outside on the driveway for the first time this spring and really ever. Dylan was stroller bound or on a blanket last summer and fall. Dylan was thrilled to be out and about and has since gone to the park and other running around. He can power up on little driveway hill and wants to go for a walk. Gavin is very concerned that Dylan will get hurt and was following him around. He has been telling me more often lately that it his job to make sure he does get hurt nad stays safe. What an awesome big brother. At the same time, Dylan is very curious about what Gavin is up to. They were quite a pair!

Gavin is starting to climb-higher. He is much braver this spring. We'll see how that develops...but wanted me to take his picture on the monkey bars because he was up so high. He was funny.

New Pictures...

Very excited. New pictures from Target. Click there and enter "Nicole Vitale" for customer name. I will be posting some of the pictures soon once I receive them on CD. It went pretty well (despite/minus Nora deciding to get pictures taken unscheduled - still cute; Dylan deciding that khaki pants are evil - blow out diaper mid-pictures; and having to wait 30 minutes past scheduled start -still happy?). Weird...

Thanks to Papa for the support at picture time and an extra set of hands. Pete was working the weekend and the thought of me taking all three for pictures solo was a little daunting.

Nora Bean

At last a warm day. Not that that is lasted. Today is ~40 but Saturday, it was almost 70. We enjoyed two consecutive trips to the park on Friday and Saturday. The kids tore it up. Slides, swings, running, jumping, you name it. Nora is so much bigger and seeing her on the "big blue slide" this year makes her look enormous to me. By fall of last year she was climbing this slide by herself but still making me nervous. She is up and down now before I can catch her.

Who new that it could be so hard on the kid that is the healthiest? Knock on wood but this little girl has been the healthiest of the bunch. She had this last illness but not nearly the fever that Gavin had or as long. She bounced back with no other symptoms. Awesome, right...except an attitude!?! She is suffering from what I think I'll call attention-deprivation. Between the boys' birthdays, illness in Feb. (including hers) and doctors appointments as of late, Nora has been tagging along. Couple that with the fact that Miss. Nora Bean is a sleepy head and not a morning person. I have learned to deal with that (opposite of Mama). We know how it fits into our routine. [Routine: 6:50 am open Nora's door; 7:00 Speak to her for the first time; 7:10 ask her to get up; 7:15 carry her to the bathroom, etc.] Oh, did you remember the time change this weekend? She ate breakfast at school all week because we could barely get her moving for school, get her dressed and out the door. Well, Nora has only today (day 5) begun to accept her new schedule. She was at least human this morning. So, we are all trying to find a new normal, progress.

March, in like a lion or lamb?

I think I'll lay her and pretend to be a Jedi. Maybe that will fix this cold and cough...

Illness update - It has been a whirlwind since the boys' birthdays. Illness has been our Achilles heal. We are mostly past it although, unfortunately, not 100%. Gavin saw the ENT on Friday. Persistent ear infection along with external ear infection due to the tube rubbing on his ear. He prescribed drops for 2 weeks and nasal spray to see if inflammation could be reduced in his nasal passages (what, to prevent snoring I ask? Yes, says the Dr.! - um - insane - OK). He is feeling LOTS better. He finished oral antibiotic yesterday. He was dragging a little this weekend but the poor boy had to get immunizations Friday morning. That seems to have passed this morning based on appetite. :) Dylan is another story. He has basically been the same for a week. Fever is gone (thank goodness), cough is minimal except laying down and cough and wheezing is a wet yucky thing. No fluid in his lungs and still on oral antibiotic. Just can't kick it. The five day yucky fever going around these days has lead to viral bronchitic and/or sinus infections. We are working on a plan for little man. Both boys had x-rays on Friday too. Gavin was a discovery look (how big are the adenoids? - "Wow" says the tech) and Dylan was actually for the same but to look for inflammation. In case you didn't catch on, Friday resulted in four doctor office visits. I was exhausted, they slept in the car. Thanks to a patient and kind (my) father and husband, we went out to dinner Friday night.

I, I can survive....

So, The Vitale family has weathered a big illness storm in the past two weeks. Shortly after my last post on Feb. 18 (yes, Dylan's birthday), daycare called to inform me of explosive vomiting and a fussy baby. I arrived at daycare about the same time as one of the daycare teachers as she returned to work after a shower and change of clothes. Hmmm Dylan was "quarantined" in his daycare crib "away from others". He was pretty happy watching the other kids play and running around in his crib. He was stinky and hot. No real continuation of stomach virus symptoms (TY God) however, the fever persisted for five (5) days. Right through family birthday night (no traditional banana pancakes) or present opening. Right through birthday party on Saturday and baptism on Sunday. Come Monday, fever persisted, he returned to the doctor (from Thursday prior) and we began treating massive sinus infection (byproduct of fever/illness). It was a long 6 days. Couple very fussy baby with house full, parties, special events, etc - Not a great time.

Exhausted at the beginning of last week (2 night break) and begin again. Gavin had a fever from Wednesday night until last night. He had a wellness visit scheduled for his birthday this past Friday which of course turned into a sick visit. That resulted in confirming what we already know...persistent ear infection, enlarged tonsils, possible adenoid issues - couple that with the five year old snoring and possible sleep apnea and we are booked to see the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor on Friday this week. Luckily, we already have one. Dr. Gottlieb performed both of Gavin's ear tube insertion surgeries and Nora's too. [Note: minor miracle Dylan still fighting the urge for ear infections]. We will see what he says. I figure on a minimum - ear tubes again but tonsils and adenoids may be coming out sooner rather than later. That should be fun.

I will post again soon from birthday party, baptism, etc but had to record the month of birthdays saga first...