A Well-Timed Sucker

We went to get Flora's and Scout's second and final H1N1 shot on Thursday . . .
*cue dramatic, ominous music*

The vaccine is so abundant now that most people are getting it at their doctor's office, but 1) I'm cheap and didn't want to pay the $30 copay (x2) for office visits, and 2) I didn't want to wait for the free H1N1 vaccine clinic our doc is offering on December 31st. So, I packed snacks, books and an extra shirt and hoped for a shorter wait this time.

***Remember, last time we waited 3 hours and then Flora threw up on me after getting her shot. Fun times. So, I was not looking forward to this trip, but I was excited about finally being done with it all.

What a difference four weeks makes!! When we got to the clinic site, there was NO wait!! We filled out our paperwork and went right in to see the nurse. Since most of the "target groups" have been vaccinated, Chris and I were given the option to get the vaccine too. So, Flora and Scout rolled up their sleeves and Chris and I pulled down our pants . . . . wait, reverse that . . . . Chris and I rolled up our sleeves and Flora and Scout pulled down their pants and we all got tiny little dead viruses injected into our bodies. The immune system is such a weird, cool thing.

A well-timed sucker resulted in a VERY short crying spell and we all left the building smiling and amazed at how easy this trip was.

And, WHEW, we're DONE!! This has been the season of the flu shot for the Borkert family. Poor Scout has taken the brunt of it. He leads the family with 4 flu shots, Flora is right behind with 3 shots, and Chris and I are tied with 1 shot each. I'm sure all the anti-vaccine people are gasping in horror . . . but I'm okay with that. Have a sucker . . . it will make you feel better.

Right Now

Right now, Flora is sitting on the couch, wearing only her diaper (because she can), eating a chocolate chip cookie, sipping on her milk, and staring into space. Occasionally she will look around and comment on whatever Scout or I am doing. Toby just whined from his crate and now Flora is fiddling with the crate door. "Toby outside," she tells me. She's a bossy little thing.


Right now, Scout is alternating between taunting Toby at the door of his crate and irritating Flora by nibbling on her bare toes. When these activities don't provide enough of a thrill for him, he will balance precariously on top of a laundry basket or walk back and forth on the hearth . . . just because he can. He's a joker and a daredevil who has already had more bumps on his head in his one year of life than Flora has had in her two years. Of course, Flora has provided some of those bumps for him . . .


Right now, there are two humidifiers in the kitchen and it is still too dry in here. My lips are chapped, Flora's hair is standing straight up with static, and Scout gives a shock every time he touches us. There are several inches of snow on the ground outside and a layer of dust inside. I think I just heard a chunk of ice fall off our window . . .

Later, we will clean, eat, get dressed, and go get our FINAL flu shots of the season, but right now, I am enjoying this calm before the storm!

Mommy's Helpers

The Christmas Tree Elves Strike Again!!

Two doggies and a snowman......why didn't I think of that???

Christmas Tree!!!

Christmas is perfect. I cannot think of any part of Christmas that is not perfect.

I am so excited about decorating for Christmas this year!! There have been tiny babies putting a cramp in my Christmas style for the past two years, but this year I have two little "helpers" to assist with the decorating.

We put up our tree a few days ago. Flora was introduced to the magic of the Christmas tree the previous weekend at "PoppyGigiShane house" (her words, not mine), so she knew the drill. We put on festive clothes and said "pleeeeeeeeease" to convince Chris to bring up all the Christmas boxes. It worked!! Once we got started with the Christmas tree, Flora worked tirelessly, intent on putting HER Christmas tree branch in exactly the right spot.

Scout was more interested in eating the Christmas lights than being helpful, but he was easily distracted (like most men) by a project that tested his brute strength and wits.......I jammed a Christmas stocking onto his head. It was stuck on there pretty good, so trying to get it off occupied him for quite a while. He looked so cute in it though! I didn't feel bad about it.

We ended up with a simple, but perfect Christmas tree with only soft ornaments that cannot be destroyed by little hands. Well, actually I'm sure that those little hands COULD destroy any or all of the ornaments if they so chose, but at least the ornaments can't destroy the little hands. Of course, my little Christmas angels politely posed next to the tree.......HA! After many failed attempts at a cute picture, we finally got this one.
Yes, that's right.....Scout's still got the stocking stuck on his head.

So, we're done, right? No, apparently not. The very next day, Flora and Scout decided that our Christmas tree was missing something......something.......hmmm.......WHAT could it be missing??? Never fear! My little Christmas elves are on the case!! Working, working, working.
And the finished product.........
Ah, yes. Perfection.

Badge of Honor

Flu shots today!!! After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to get my kids vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. Clay county was holding a clinic today at a huge local church from 10am to 7pm, so I packed some snacks, books, and diapers and headed into the unknown. I had no idea how long the wait would be or how many shots they had available, but off we went.

As I rolled our monster double stroller into the church foyer at about 10:15am, I was handed two little tags with the numbers 653 and 654 written on them. Hmm.....well, that's not encouraging. I looked up to see a river of chairs that flowed as far as I could see down the foyer and around the corner. This is NOT a small church, so we're not talking about a small foyer here. I pushed the stroller down the aisle, looking for a seat.......still pushing.......still pushing......around the corner.....still pushing.......THERE! A seat with enough room for the stroller!! Hooray!! At this point, I am thankful for small victories!! I later found out that people had begun lining up outside the church at 4:30am!!!! Crazy......if I'm going to wait for several hours I'm going to do it indoors.

Alright, now we are going to fast-forward THREE HOURS to the moment right before the shots. I will say that the three hours really did fly by and my kids were SO GOOD. No fussing, no whining. If I must wait in line for three hours with two kids, I'm glad I got stuck with these two!!! Also, the church provided cookies and Veggie Tales movies!! Woohoo!!

So, back to the shot.....Flora was a little bit nervous, but the nurse was really nice and comforting. However, nice and comforting flew out the window once she poked Flora with the needle.....

Flora cried!!
Flora coughed!!
Flora gagged!!
Flora vomited her chocolate chip cookie all over Mommy's shirt!!
Ugh!!

The nurse was quick to hand me a wad of Kleenex, but this job was too big for Kleenex alone. Luckily, we had planned it so Chris arrived just before our number was called so that I wouldn't have to comfort two kids at the same time and good thing!! Flora and I sped to the bathroom to wipe ourselves clean while Scout got his shot. We returned just as the nurse was finishing up with Scout. She looked at my shirt, laughed, and said, "Looks like you got the badge of honor!"

My kids are not vomiters, so this was my first time wearing this particular "badge of honor." I tried to enjoy it, but, well, it was gross. Next time we go for shots, I think we'll pass on the cookies.

Fashionista

Ok, giving into peer pressure...... :)

Flora has a pair of boots that are still a bit too big for her, but she LOVES to put them on. Almost every day, she wakes up from her nap and puts on her boots......sometimes she even puts the boots on before she falls asleep.

Sometimes she even puts on panties.......but the point is that she loves her boots. Now you are ready to hear the funny story. :)

We were at Walmart and Flora was perched in the cart observing our fellow shoppers. A dad with two young girls was walking towards us and one of the girls caught Flora's attention. She was probably 6- or 7-years-old and wearing bright pink boots. As they passed us, Flora leaned over the cart, pointing and nodding enthusiastically, and told the girl, "Cute boots!"

The little girl just gave Flora a dirty look and kept walking. I guess she wasn't happy about her cool, big-girl boots being complimented by a 2-year-old.

Husband of the Year

This post will be about the kids eventually, but I'm going to start by describing the wonderful day that my wonderful husband planned for me. Today I got to sleep in as late as I wanted, take a leisurely shower, and get dressed without the running commentary of a 2-year-old ("Mommy's legs! Mommy's tummy! Mommy's socks!" etc...).

When I finally graced the family with my presence, Flora and Scout were already fed and dressed for the day. My hot breakfast was served as soon as I sat down at the table. Ahhhh, this is already the best day I've had in a LONG time!

After breakfast, my wonderful husband gifted me with a day off and three gift cards to go spend! Woohoo! I am being run out of the house without the kids and FORCED to shop! Pinch me! I think I'm dreaming . . . . . So, I shopped and shopped and shopped. I left the house before 11am and didn't get home until after 5pm. It was wonderful. OH! And I came home to my favorite dinner! Yep, I've got a pretty wonderful husband!! I think I'll keep him.


So, anyway, back to the kids . . . . Chris stayed home with Flora and Scout all day and played Mr. Mom while I was gone. He had a bit of a scare when he decided to peek in to check on Flora during her naptime. He opened her door and couldn't find her anywhere.

This is what Chris saw:

Can YOU find Flora in this picture? She's in there . . . . Look very closely . . . . . I'll give you a hint . . . .She's wearing brown pajamas . . . . . and all you can see are her legs. Good luck!!

horror. disgust. amusement.

This is story of the first and only time Flora and Scout will ever share a pack 'n' play.

On Sunday morning, I was getting ready for church with both kids (Chris goes early to Sunday School......we don't) and I was running a bit late. I decided I could pick out their clothes and get breakfast ready much faster without their help, so I put them both in the pack 'n' play for a few minutes.

I was in the kitchen putting waffles in the toaster when I heard Scout start to whine like he was unhappy about something. I assumed he just wanted out of the pack 'n' play, so I decided to get Flora's sippy cup ready before I went to get them. Scout's tone was becoming more and more irritated. . . .

To my horror, disgust, and amusement, I returned to the pack 'n' play to find Scout flat on his back, stripped of his pajamas, and in the process of having his poopy diaper changed by his 2-year-old sister. Oh my.

This is not a picture of the actual event, but I imagine it looked something like this before Flora finally managed to get Scout's pajamas off . . . . poor kid. :)

Teaser

I have a funny story to tell, but no time to tell it because the computer is in the bedroom and there is much to do in the living room with the husband and kiddos. However, tonight after the kids are in bed we will be moving my computer into the newly rearranged living room! I think my blogs will become MUCH more frequent. Stay tuned for the funny story......

Free Time

I know when naptime is over because I start hearing bumps and thuds and cute little jabbering out of both Flora's and Scout's room. They don't cry for me right away, but spend some time in quiet, imaginative play. I think this is SO cute.

Sometimes I will peek in at Scout to see him sitting in his crib with a little picture book in his lap, just babbling away like he is really reading. Or I will catch Flora rocking all of her dolls to sleep before tucking them into her bed.

Of course, sometimes they are less docile in their post-naptime play. Scout will sometimes rock his crib so hard that it bangs against the wall and Flora can very often be found perched on top of her dresser with several pairs of underwear layered over her pajamas. She can also be quite destructive......see the picture below for a sample of Flora's work.

It's still cute. And it's nice to get that extra time to myself for picking up toys, washing dishes, or playing solitaire on my phone. Or Facebook. Or blogging. Or researching players for my fantasy football team. Or reading a book. Or taking a nap. Or clipping coupons. But probably never for exercising.