Can't sleep

Moving stress is getting to me tonight. Can't sleep so I thought I'd blog about the kids. They've been driving me nuts lately but in a good way. And in between the crazy times there is much awesomeness.

While Eva was finishing her dinner (always last to finish) she informed me that we were playing rocket ship. We proceeded to blast off, put on seat belts, and Eva drove the two of us to the park, space, and the grocery store. Prior to that she came running inside to tell on Alex who was doing too much sweeping in the playhouse. Alex went outside after dinner but quickly came back in to convince Lucy to go out with him. The playhouse Is often referred to as "grandma's house" a place where they remind each other to be careful going up and down the stairs and eat pretend cookies. They have figured out its fun to spin each other, their dolls, or nothing in the swivel chair. Yesterday they got to get into a fire truck for the third time (at a childrens event downtown) and the novelty has not worn off! They always want us to make their blankness into mermaid tails. And tonight I had two children sobbing to read berenstein bears go to camp as their readin bed book. Eva won. Alex ended up with , "go to the doctor"

Here are some unrelated pics of them being adorable:)
https://picasaweb.google.com/earlymiller/2013MayJune
https://picasaweb.google.com/earlymiller/2013July
Martha

A new job, move, and surgery

I found out a couple weeks ago I get to do my postdoctoral fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I'm really excited about it. My postdoc is 2 years and I will get a ton of great experience treating kiddos as a part of interdisciplinary or medical teams while also doing research. I will also get licensed so I will be well prepared for my next "real" job. Because my internship started later than most I don't start until later in the fall.

So we will be moving, selling the house, finding new housing, daycare/preschool, pediatrician, oh and a new job for Matt. At least we still have half a year!

About Matt. On Thursday morning he will be having surgery to decompress some bulging discs in 2 vertebrae that are impinging on the nerves in his spine. If all goes well after he recovers from this surgery he will be able to walk more than a block with out intense pain in his foot and leg. Lets really hope and pray that all goes well! While Matt recovers for the first couple weeks his parents and brother have graciously volunteered to help keep the household running and kids taken care of while we are down a parent. Please keep Matt in your thoughts as he goes through the surgery and healing process!

Thanks,
Martha

Magic

Uncle Sam and Aunt Stephanie came down for a quick visit this weekend. Back story: Mom (Martha) had been to an interview towards the end of last week (more on that later). Matt had been a single parent for a majority of the week to 3 kiddos with strep throat (and he had strep throat himself). So Sam, Stephanie and Martha took the kids to St. Louis to visit the Magic House so Matt could have a badly earned day of rest.

Here are some of the highlights.

Feeling Different Textures.

Playing with cool instruments

Stephanie being silly.

Whats behind hte alphabet doors?

Alex Driving the Magic School Bus 

Sam and Stephanie show the kids intriguing aspects of the finance business.

Trucks and messless dirt.

S&S and the girls. (Alex did not want to be a part of the photo)

Alex still loves the ring around the rosies statue

Lego racetrack

We had a great time and Matt got a little r&r. The kids are getting more brave about being in new situations. The last time we were at the Magic House the kids were attached at the hip. This time they were much more assertive in exploring.

Thanks Sam and Stephanie for a great visit.

Take Care!

Christmas in Iowa

I will let the pictures tell this story. Matt has a fancy new camera!

https://picasaweb.google.com/earlymiller/2012December

Hey, I got my new boots on!

This week is looking up. Everyone went and stayed at daycare today. Woo Hoo! I stayed home with Lucy and Eva yesterday after a terrible night of sleep for everyone. Luckily the only parenting they required in the morning was for me to operate the remote in between netflix episodes of backyardigans, so I got caught up on sleep a little bit. It was warm enough to play outside so the girls took "baby eva" and "baby lucy" on stroller rides around the block. They played very nicely out back even though we don't really have any great outside toys right now (it being January). The girls did invent a game where one would fall down and ask the other one for help getting up. Not gonna lie, that was adorable. Lucy was a little more into it than Eva. Then we did some water color before lunch and I was able to work as they got excited about dipping the paint. Then Eva tried to drink the water and it was time for lunch. And I actually finished a report during lunch. Not bad for a day staying home with sick kids, though we went through multiple boxes of kleenex (not to mention my shirt sleeve).

Also their new rain boots came last night. They are really cute and Lucy is WAY excited about them and got her through her trepidation about going back to daycare this morning. They are a little big because I wanted them to last a couple seasons so hopefully they can actually wear them this spring. I'll try to post pictures of that as well.

 Another cute thing I remembered is a game we invented Monday? The kids took turns bringing me the red car, sitting on it, and having me gently push-kick them into the living room. The cuteness lasted quite awhile and they even took turns with little prompting. I'll post pictures of that later tonight.

May these small pockets of cooperation, cuteness, and charm sustain us through the rest of the terrible twos. Because it gets easier right? RIGHT?

Bonus double alliteration in that last paragraph :)

Kids did not get the memo about 2013 being the year of no sickness. And while i was frantically trying to turn left out of the HyVee parking lot while Lucy was throwing up in her car seat, a black SUV cut around in front of me. This happened at 4:30 and I am still plotting revenge. Also, poor Lucy's digestive antics prevented me from being able to purchase a reliable thermometer (apparently left ours in Des Moines). Luckily the girls' fevers are high enough that I can diagnose them without a thermometer, yay? I NEED THIS TO GET EASIER!!!

15/31 days in Decemmber someone was sick enough to go to the doctor or stay home from work/daycare.

4 days so far in January. Grrrrrrrrrrrr