How Do We Like Florida?

Yesterday, the babies, Whitney and I flew from sunny DC to sunny Florida for my work's annual meeting. It has been a stressful few days of packing and preparing, both for travel with the kiddos and for all of the stuff that goes along with annual meetings (presentations, preparations, etc.). The flight down wasn't too bad (both Whitney and I had extra space--hooray! And both babies took a nap during the flight--hooray!!), and so far we're having a good time in Florida!

Here is a picture this morning that captures our experience so far in Naples:

We have seriously been on the move since we got here! There is lots of space for running around and playing, both in our hotel suite and on the sun deck (where we ran around, played soccer, and explored for an hour this morning). It is warm, so we can play outside with abandon. There is a huge pool right off of this deck, which we intend to check out this afternoon. Florida: so far, so good.

My meetings start in earnest tomorrow--so (at the very last minute) thank goodness my mom will be able to join us tomorrow evening to help with the babies!

A Cousin!

It's official--I'm an aunt! And Addison and Jackson have their first cousin! After a long day of laboring, Rachel and Chris had their baby girl tonight--welcome, little one. Angels were singing again today!

Audrey Kaye Mcillece
6 lb 3 oz
18 inches long

Isn't she beautiful? Look Addison...your cousin wears bows in her hair...maybe you should too!!

And here's the new momma with her baby girl. I think this picture is absolutely the sweetest thing--those first moments with your baby are so precious, and overwhelming, and joyful, and exhausting, and full of love!

PS It is killing me to be so far away!! I can't wait to meet that little girl and give her mom a big squeeze.

Our first stomach flu

In sad, sick news, this past weekend the babies suffered through their first stomach flu. And oh man, we were all sick! The flu bug first hit Thursday afternoon--Addison had been crying and having kind of a sad morning, then had some serious diarrhea that afternoon. The poor baby had had a tummy ache all day. Friday morning, Addison had three baths before noon--poop, poop everywhere! On Friday night, the stomach flu hit Jackson. We had put the babies to bed, and around 10:00 p.m. heard Jackson fuss a little bit. Daniel went in to check on him, and a few seconds later carried him into our room--I have never seen a child so covered in vomit before. He had puke on the top of his head and on the bottom of his feet, and on every square inch between. We stripped him down and had a quick bath in the sink (mom learning moment--be sure to really wash the throw-up off well, with lots of fragrant soap--I washed Jackson's hair quickly, and didn't quite get all of the sour smell out, so had to smell it the rest of the night since he spent most of the night in our bed). He seemed like he felt better for a while, then started feeling bad again and threw up again. This pattern repeated itself four more times that night--then the poor baby was able to settle down and get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. After Jackson's night of throwing up, the bug moved into his lower belly and he had diarrhea for the next few days.

Further complicating the situation was that at about 2:00 a.m., I started to feel nauseous, and by 3:30 I think I literally tossed Jackson to Daniel and had to go lay on the bathroom floor for a few minutes so that I didn't get sick. And so began my stomach bug--I was so sick most of Saturday, and started feeling a little bit better on Sunday. Whitney got it at about the same time I did and spent Friday night throwing up and Saturday in bed. Daniel was the least impacted by the flu, but even he might have set some intestinal records.

The good news is that we're all on the mend and feeling better today--and that today is a holiday, so we all get to stay home and finish recovering. Thank goodness we all survived our first stomach flu!

WOW!

Aunt Olivia came over this weekend to hang out--we loaded the babies up and walked to Eastern Market, came home and played out front, then came inside for snacks and to play some more. We belatedly exchanged Christmas gifts, and of course Olivia spoiled me and the babies. She got Addison and Jackson, along with a cute jacket and shirt for each of them, an awesome set of cars--the kind that you pull back then release and they go on their own. The babies love the cars--Jackson in particular is taken by them. He has started yelling "WOW" and "WHOA" every time you let one fly. Not sure where he got that from, but it is the perfect reaction! Thanks Aunt Olivia--WOW!

Happy New Year!

Who doesn't like to ring in the new year with a good bath?! Here is Jackson on New Year's Eve (though Addison wanted to get the toys out and ready for the bath...um, excuse me young lady, who let your naked bum run all over the kitchen before your bath!?):






And Addison on New Year's Day: