Just a few random pictures

The weather has finally cooled off here and drastically so! So much that I had to go out yesterday to buy warmer clothes for the boys. They don't fit into any of their pants or long sleeved shirts anymore, so they need all new clothes! That's a good thing- they are growing like weeds! Grandma sent some warm clothes for Mairead that arrived just yesterday, which was perfect timing. She'll be in her comfy new pjs tonight!

These are just a few pictures of the kids from last night and today. First is Ben. He LOVES fabric. He always wants to have it in his hands, roll around on something soft, and chew on blankets, shirts, or whatever he can get. Today, I went to get him after a nap and this is what I found.

He had pulled the crib bumper over his head and was chewing on it and laughing at me.

Mairead is feeling much better. She is still run down and tired, and she still has most of the spots, but they are fading, so that is good news. She does seem to have her voracious appetite back, though about half of her peanut butter is on her face.

She looks SO grown up-- I'm not ready for that!

This is Jack last night. He was happily watching the Red Sox game on the couch and he fell asleep sitting straight up. When I tried to take a picture, the flash went off and Jack showed us his grumpy face. I think it's a pretty cute face, though!


Little by little, things are coming together here in Lowell. We are hoping for a sense of normalcy soon!

Chicken Pox

As my Facebook friends already know, Mairead has somehow contracted chicken pox, and is not feeling her best this week. The poor thing came down with them on Thursday, so we are hoping that we are heading into the home stretch with them now. She is handling it really well, actually. I don't think she realizes what is happening, but she definitely knows she does not feel good. She has pretty much been attached to me for the past few days, which is great when it is 97 degrees and humid. I don't mind so much, though, since when she is healthy, she doesn't want to sit on my lap or snuggle at all, so I'll take what I can get.

So far, the boys do not have any symptoms. It is very rare for babies to get chicken pox before their first birthday, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. It may seem like a good idea to have all three kids have them at the same time and be done with it, but since Jack and Ben were preemies, their immune systems are still not 100%, Jack in particular because he had RSV. They seem very happy and healthy, though, so let's hope they stay that way!

Our NY family was scheduled for a visit this past Saturday, and we were sad to have to cancel. It was the right decision, though, since Rachael has not had chicken pox, and Mairead was not very much fun this past weekend.

We have spent the past few days coloring, playing with blocks, and watching WAY more Blue's Clues than I ever thought possible. I hope we are able to get outside again soon.

We have to trick her into taking Benadryl or Pepto Bismal (she had some serious stomach issues the other day), but I am able to put Calamine lotion on her by calling it 'pretty pink lotion.' She repeats that and seems to fall for the idea. I guess she likes polka-dots.


Still smiling!


The chicken pox have certainly not helped us to get things done any more quickly around here, but progress is definitely being made. Just the windows and a second wall coat of paint need to be done in Mairead's room and then we can start organizing the kids' rooms. I never realized how much stuff they had until I saw it all in a giant pile of Rubbermaid bins. My dad and Dave have been working like maniacs to get work done while my mom has been helping me with the kids and with keeping the rest of the house as organized as possible.

We are starting to organize things in our new surroundings- Dave has been to orientation at his new job, I am finding time for my online classes, and I went to our new pediatrician's office yesterday to set up appointments for the kids and to drop off the kids' medical records. You know we are frequent fliers at doctor's offices, so that was something that needed to be done! Luckily, a doctor my mom works with in the ER is married to a pediatrician, so we know we are in good hands.

Thanks for checking in on us- things are hectic as usual, but we are lucky to have a lot of help. And, our kids make it all worth while!