Well, we've made it through an entire week of having both boys home from school. I love them, but thank goodness they go back to school tomorrow!!!

This past week was very tiring. After the Dedication on Sunday(see previous post w/ pictures), we geared up for Layla to have her surgery on Tuesday morning. She had a tonsilectomy, another adnoidectomy(some of the tissue had grown back in the last year!), and her tubes were replaced (her left tube fell out prematurely). We had to be there at 6am and her surgery was at 7:30am. She did amazingly well. I prayed very hard that she would come out of the anesthesia okay. Her last post-surgery experience was just awful. She screamed for an hour and was thrashing around so much that she ripped her IV out of her foot. So, this time, she didn't cry at all and just wanted to be held. I sang to her and she fell asleep on me, which I really loved. It's been a LONG time since she's done that. She was in her room just after 9am and had some ice chips and popsicles, and even some chocolate ice cream and pudding. I had to leave around 2pm because Olivia was done for at that point. She would not stay asleep in my arms. So, I said goodbye to Layla and Matt and headed home. I had been up with the baby most of the night and was beyond exhausted. So, my mom, who was at our house with the boys, let me take a nap, which was WONDERFUL. I haven't had a nap in ages. Then she made us spaghetti and stayed until I had the boys bathed and off to bed. Thanks mom!!

Poor Matt and Layla didn't sleep much that night. They were giving her Tylenol with Codeine, and she is apparently like me, in that it kept her up all night. Anything that is supposed to make you sleepy, keeps me awake, and she is the same way. So, Olivia and I got to the hospital at 8am with McDonald's breakfast for Matt and Layla and they were just taking her IV out and she had been discharged. We got home at 9:30am. I ran out and got her prescriptions and we spent the rest of the day trying to keep her comfy and rested, and keeping the boys from aggrevating her. We just gave her regular Tylenol so that she could get some sleep.

Matt went back to work on Thursday, and the kids and I just hung around the house. My mom was off of work and helped me out for a few hours, which was great. Friday was my 31st birthday, so the kids and I went to my moms so that they could help her make brownies and birthday cards. Then I came back with Olivia to put her down for a nap and my mom kept the other three and fed them lunch. I got 45 whole minutes to sit down and enjoy my lunch and watch part of a TV show. Joy of joys!! I put Nicholas and Layla down for a nap, and Layla decided that she wasn't tired and that she would much rather JUMP OUT OF HER CRIB. YIKES!! I have never had a kid do that, so I was a bit shocked to say the least. Matt was in our room changing his clothes and out comes Layla. Oy. She is definitely keeping me busy. So, we went to my parent's house at 5pm for dinner and dessert. I requested "Make your own sub" night, and chips and dip. Then we had hot fudge brownie sundaes, also per my request. They were delicious! Then I opened presents. I got some great comfy clothes and socks and a nice shirt for church, and some money and a beautiful silver cross from the kids. It was very nice.

We brought the kids home after that and I got Olivia in bed, then I went back to my moms for our Friday night Gilmore Girls night. We haven't been able to get together in 5 weeks, and it was so nice to relax. Matt called at 10:15pm to tell me that Olivia was awake already and screaming. All good things must come to an end.....

Saturday was just hanging out around the house. After I got Olivia down for the night, I headed out to finish up Nicholas's birthday shopping and I picked up a few other choice items. Totally not needed, but there were some great sales and I had some coupons. I did get some summer things for Layla and a pair of sandals that are actually named "Layla". How could I pass that up?! I got home around 10pm and then Matt and his cousin Dan headed out for some male bonding time. I watched a bit of TV and then headed to bed.

That brings us to today. We've done nothing. Absolutely nothing. Layla's health isn't quite up to church and germs yet, and Olivia slept right through church, so we just stayed home. I will be so glad when we are healthy again so that we can attend regularly!!

Speaking of Olivia, she is up every 2-3 hours ALL....NIGHT.....LONG. I am so tired and therefore have no motivation to do anything. She is constipated and teething and is sleeping just horribly. She is eating her veggies and fruits well though, and is okay with cereal now if we mix it up with fruit juice. We are trying to figure out some way to help with her constipation. None of our children have had this problem. Actually she really is unlike any of the others. She has had more issues than all of them put together!! I really am trying to enjoy her, as she is our last baby, but some days, and nights, I am just thinking ahead to when she is three. lol.

Kenny has been extremely bossy and cranky for the past few weeks, Nicholas is constantly jumping around, despite several requests for him to stop, and Layla is as fun as she is frustrating. Ah, the ages and stages. No wonder I collapse at the end of the day. I don't know what I would do without them though. Their hugs and kisses are priceless and I would not change a thing.

Until next week, I'll leave you with a picture of Olivia. She tried chocolate pudding for the first time. Yummy.