How were the holidays?

Lets see....much time has flown by since my last post. Christmas, actually most of the month of December, is a blur. My work Christmas party was Friday, the 14th. There was a lot of running around and last minute details to get done....and of course, work (my "real" job) was very busy too. I survived. There were times that I didn't think I would but I did and, as always, was so glad when it was over.

My birthday was Sunday 12/16. It was a nice, semi-relaxing day. We did our normal weekend running around on Saturday so we could stay home and relax a little on Sunday. That's what I wanted for my birthday. Some time to relax w/ Billy and the girls. The weather was not so nice. There was sleet and freezing rain part of the day, rain at other times of the day, and lots of wind. In the late afternoon, we starting hearing a sound that reminded us of a lawn mower or snow blower - off and on...off and on. We couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I went to the basement to do some laundry and realized it was our sump pump running off and on. Oh my word!! We had the water problem in the summer of 2006 and Billy finally permanently installed the pump this past summer but it never ran until now. It kept up with the water that was trying to get in but neither of us slept well that night. By the time Bill got home from work on Monday it had stopped. Can you imagine how much trouble Bill would have been in if the basement would have flooded again (on my birthday) because he didn't install the sump pump like he said he would after the water problem in July 2006?? He's a terrible procrastinator but was so glad he got this project done!

On my way to work on Monday, I learned something new from Liv. The ice formations hanging from bushes are not icicles, they are really bananas. Silly me! I tried to explain that they were icicles but she would not believe me. Finally, I gave in. They are bananas.

OK, what's next.....the daycare Christmas party.

Wait, oh wait, we can't talk about the party yet because we first have to talk about the TV kicking the bucket. The popping and sizzling sounds it made before the picture disappeared were not good. Now what was I going to do with Liv while I got Addie ready?????? I know, lets have a special morning treat and sit on Mommy and Daddy's bed to watch TV (on the little 19 inch TV) this morning! Phew....it worked! So, now work is busy, Christmas shopping/gift wrapping is busy, I have a ton of presents to wrap (coworker gifts, daycare teacher gifts, family gifts) there doesn't seem to be enough time in the day or enough days in the week but lets add in TV shopping. You know we can't live without TV! We did some Internet price checking and called some stores and found the one we wanted. A Sony 46 inch LCD HD TV. After the daycare Christmas party, it will be ours.....

OK, so the party was on Thurs. 12/20. It was nice. Billy went to Addie's room and I went to Liv's room. Santa brought gifts for all of the good girls and boys. Of course Liv and Addie were good girls and they both loved their gifts. Liv kept saying that Santa brought her a Rescue Pack (from "Go Diego Go" - a favorite show). After the party and before Liv decided she was done and not going to cooperate and before Addie got hungry for her next bottle and sick of being in the carrier, we ran to the store to get the TV. We had all good intentions of getting the 46 inch but it looked so little next to the 52 inch. So, the 2 of us who have no willpower gave in and bought the 52 inch. Budget? What budget?? Load it up let's get it home. OK so we did and I was really scared when we brought the TV in the box into the house. Somehow on the ride home either our house shrunk or the TV really grew. Billy said there's no such thing as too big but it is a little big if you ask me. Don't worry, I've already adjusted. OK, what's next......

We were pretty good with having the shopping done. Just a gift or 2 left. The daycare gifts were wrapped and delivered and so were the ones for my co-workers. I had one last day scheduled off, Friday 12/21 - a day to take Liv and Addie to daycare and get the last few things taken care of before we go to Bill's parents' house on Saturday 12/22. Right?? Wrong!! I got Liv up and ready like normal. She was very happy to be downstairs watching the new TV. I went to get Addie up and dressed and found her covered in vomit. Not good! Could it be from the peaches we tried for the first time last night?? Well, I'll take Liv to daycare and keep Addie with me while I run around. Maybe it was a one time thing. Right?? Wrong!! We got a few miles down the road and Olivia told me that Addie was "spitting up her milk". Well, we all know that wasn't really what she was doing.......so, I turned the car around and went home. Called the daycare to let them know the girls wouldn't be in and found out that another baby's parent also called their little on in sick. Never fear, the last minute running around still got done when Bill came home. But what about going to his parents' house?

Well, Bill and Olivia went by themselves. We couldn't decide if it was a good idea or not because usually when one gets it the rest of the people in the house get it too. She was feeling fine and Billy was brave so they packed up and made the trip to western PA. They exchanged gifts with Billy's parents, grandmothers, brother and his family and were just about to eat when......you guessed it....Olivia threw up. I was home at the same time getting thrown up on by Addison. Boy are we having a fun holiday! Billy made the long trip home with Olivia trying to sleep. She'd occasionally wake up to throw up again and would then go back to sleep for a while. Needless to say we're all exhausted.

Christmas Eve, they both seemed to be doing better so we decided to still go to my parents' house. We really didn't want to miss out on the home made pierogies - a family tradition. That trip went well. The girls were tired and Olivia starts to get a little mean when she gets overtired but we survived. That was the easiest thing to deal with over the past few days. Christmas morning, Liv had a blast opening presents. She opened every gift she could. It didn't matter who it was for, she just wanted to open it. I'm sure Addie appreciated the help. We then went to church. We were asked to light the Advent candles. Liv and Addie looked so cute in their Christmas dresses so I was glad to be able to show them off as we walked to the front of the church to light the candles and then back to our seats. After Mass we went back to my parents' house. The girls got a million gifts from everyone and then we ate dinner. While we were there, Bill started feeling sick. After dinner, we stayed for a few minutes and then packed everything up and went home. Bill didn't end up as sick as Liv and Addie but it took a day or 2 until he felt back to normal. He was lucky especially because we told the daycare we wouldn't be bringing the girls in all week and I had to go to work. So he was on his own with the girls, sick or not. Fortunately, he was feeling pretty good on the 26th and much better on the 27th.

Now it's New Years Day and Addison and I have colds. I guess since I missed the other sickness that went through the house, I had to catch something. I love the holidays but I'm glad they are over! Now I'm ready to sit and relax (yea right) and get a chance to watch that new monster of a TV we bought.