Kelan is back in underwear after a week of diarrhea (some stomach thing going around). This is only important because he has been in Pull Ups for a week, which has gotten "us" a bit behind (read: regression) in making it to the potty on time. Tonight was no exception. Kelan was upstairs playing with his new train table (which is maybe why he did not say a word when he let loose a big poop in his underwear). After the load was released, he started asking for help - with his train table - NOT the poop situation. Dan went upstairs and realized the REAL problem (which was NOT the train table). Kelan was quickly escorted downstairs and turned over to me.
Where to begin. We start with the shirt - it can be used as a clean surface to place all poop clothing. Next the shorts - which are wet, hopefully from pee. Then the underwear......S L O W L Y. Kelan is directed to stand - without moving - on the shirt and the dry part of the shorts because he has poop ALL OVER his bottom, thighs and legs. Maybe I have become a cheapskate and do not want to buy more underwear, maybe I don't want to create more landfill or maybe I'm just too tired to think about it. But I start cleaning his underwear by holding it in the toilet while flushing it and swirling the underwear itself. It takes two flushes before I can even bring it out of the toilet to place on the pile of clothes Kelan has now been given permission to leave. I now start to baby wipe Kelan's lower half.
It has been a long day after a long couple of sleepless nights (Lauren is teething) but I seem to be managing this very gross clean up when Dan finally makes an appearance in the bathroom to start running the water for bath time. "You should be proud of me," he says, "I no longer have to use a tissue to get the hair out of the drain. I can just use my fingers." Excuse me? Hair in a drain? Can you not see what I am doing? How about poop.... everywhere. Please, I could lick the hair out of the drain at this point. I'm so tired that my only response is to start laughing so hard I cry. I point out his faux-pas and he begins to laugh too.
It's these moments that I cherish. Seriously. I love laughing so hard that you cry and it's even better with the person you love. I am proud of Dan, although it is not because he can now remove hair from a drain without a buffer, it is because he is a great father and husband. I know he is proud of me too - or at least grateful - that I did a super job on poop duty tonight.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Heirloom Tomatoes
You know you're a mom when you can watch your three year old throw up his entire dinner on the table, the floor and himself, and then quickly clean up the table, the floor and the child and go back to eating your dinner. I know, because it happened to me.
Kelan had been complaining of a stomachache all afternoon and had not eaten anything since breakfast. He was a bit feverish and also mentioned that his right foot hurt. Who knows what was wrong with him, all I knew was that it was dinnertime and he wanted to eat bunnies and cheese (for those non parents or grandparents - this is mac and cheese with pasta that is shaped like bunnies). So I figured I would let him eat them if he wanted. Big mistake.
Within seconds of Kelan saying his stomach hurt again, he threw up all his bunnies (I don't think he even chewed them on the way down, because whole bunnies were pouring all over the table). Not a problem - we have baby wipes! I swear I will never cease to be amazed at how useful these things can be - I use them for EVERYTHING. I wipe Kelan down completely and move him into the living room (he's feeling MUCH better by this point). Dan starts throwing bath towels on the table and floor to catch the runaway bunnies and Lauren, unfazed, is still eating her bunnies. I "baby wipe" the table, the floor and Voila! good as new.
So good that I return to my dinner of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Meanwhile Dan is taking his unfinished plate into the kitchen - he cannot eat another bite. All I can think of is that you NEVER waste an heirloom tomato. They are seasonal and quite possibly the best tasting tomato...ever (and this is coming from someone who does not even like tomatoes).
Maybe it was the tomato that kept me eating or maybe it is just the fact that this is not the grossest thing I have had to endure these past few years. I bet if you were to ask any mom out there they would say that their "gross out index" has changed dramatically since the birth of their first child (hell, the birth alone can do it for some). I guess I looked at it like my son really needed help, and that I was really still hungry.
Kelan had been complaining of a stomachache all afternoon and had not eaten anything since breakfast. He was a bit feverish and also mentioned that his right foot hurt. Who knows what was wrong with him, all I knew was that it was dinnertime and he wanted to eat bunnies and cheese (for those non parents or grandparents - this is mac and cheese with pasta that is shaped like bunnies). So I figured I would let him eat them if he wanted. Big mistake.
Within seconds of Kelan saying his stomach hurt again, he threw up all his bunnies (I don't think he even chewed them on the way down, because whole bunnies were pouring all over the table). Not a problem - we have baby wipes! I swear I will never cease to be amazed at how useful these things can be - I use them for EVERYTHING. I wipe Kelan down completely and move him into the living room (he's feeling MUCH better by this point). Dan starts throwing bath towels on the table and floor to catch the runaway bunnies and Lauren, unfazed, is still eating her bunnies. I "baby wipe" the table, the floor and Voila! good as new.
So good that I return to my dinner of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Meanwhile Dan is taking his unfinished plate into the kitchen - he cannot eat another bite. All I can think of is that you NEVER waste an heirloom tomato. They are seasonal and quite possibly the best tasting tomato...ever (and this is coming from someone who does not even like tomatoes).
Maybe it was the tomato that kept me eating or maybe it is just the fact that this is not the grossest thing I have had to endure these past few years. I bet if you were to ask any mom out there they would say that their "gross out index" has changed dramatically since the birth of their first child (hell, the birth alone can do it for some). I guess I looked at it like my son really needed help, and that I was really still hungry.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Just a Little Help and Kindness
This morning while the kids were eating breakfast I noticed that my husband, Dan, had circled an article for me to read in the Seattle PI. It was about how a father tried to take his toddler and baby in the stroller on the bus (loaded with groceries) only to be ordered to collapse the stroller and carry the bags, kids, and the stroller itself on board. Metro bus rules. So instead of a "compactly loaded vehicle with baby and toddler inside, [they] have a tangle of wheels, metal bars, bags and towels spread across the aisle and two howling kids to hold. Profuse perspiration, high stress. And no seat." Turns out that the bus driver still had a problem with this father (the stroller - apparently - was not collapsed enough) and in turn asked the father to get off the bus. Seriously.
I was incensed! In fact, there were many comments online against this poor father who had tried to have one less car on the road on a Sunday. I immediately wrote a letter to the editor in support because I too have been asked to collapse my stroller with a new baby and toddler in tow. It is a nightmare to juggle and carry a baby, toddler, stroller and diaper bag onto a bus. Adding insult to injury, I wasn't even offered a seat (people are definitely possessive of their seats here - I remember when I was 9 months pregnant with Kelan. I rode the bus home every day after work and lost track of how many times I had to stand with my fat swollen throbbing feet with my huge belly protruding into the other passengers at each jerk and stop of the bus - but that's another story).
It's now after lunch and I am still upset about all the comments made to this father about how he should not subject the rest of the bus riding public with his stroller and kids, that he should have just taken his car, etc. These ignorant people seem to think they came to this world by themselves, and dammit that's the only person they are going to look out for (you just know these are the same people who talk loudly on their cells in crowded buses). To hell with the mothers and fathers out there who need just a little extra help. I know for me, that the smallest gestures (like offering to take my grocery cart back to the store after I have unloaded groceries and kids) can often turn my day around if I'm having one of those challenging moments.
I am reminded of the time I took Kelan to his first movie. Disney's Ratatoullie was playing at our neighborhood theater and I took Kelan to the 12 o'clock show. Kelan was playing with the seat and climbing in and out of it when I noticed this prissy little man glare at me. I tried to make nice by explaining that this was his first time in a theater and that he would be sitting for the movie (note that the lights had not even dimmed at this point). He looked at me and said, "I hope so, or we can move". Excuse me? Did he just cop an attitude because he thought his little movie experience at a kid's film during prime kid hour would be compromised by a kid? If it was that important to him, maybe choose another time? He actually decided to move before the lights went down but I noticed that karma got him and his boyfriend because a family with a crying baby and toddler sat down right next to him. I couldn't help but smile.
I'm even amazed at the reproachful looks I get at times when our family is out to eat - at family friendly restaurants. I have seen couples wanting to have an intimate dinner at a family friendly restaurant at 5:30-6pm (prime kid hour) give me dirty looks! Go to a different restaurant if you don't want to hear little voices and some baby cries. We do not go to non family restaura
nts out of respect of other diners - you never know what you're going to get with Kelan and Lauren (and they are actually quite good in public). In fact, Dan and I even tip more than we used to because of the mess we leave.
I know kids can be challenging and there are those people who do not want to be around them. Fine. But you need them more than you realize. Our children (who already have a debt when they are born due to the mismanagement of this Administration - but I digress) will be the ones working, governing, and caring about us when we are old. It actually is in your best interest to be kind. That's all we're asking.
I was incensed! In fact, there were many comments online against this poor father who had tried to have one less car on the road on a Sunday. I immediately wrote a letter to the editor in support because I too have been asked to collapse my stroller with a new baby and toddler in tow. It is a nightmare to juggle and carry a baby, toddler, stroller and diaper bag onto a bus. Adding insult to injury, I wasn't even offered a seat (people are definitely possessive of their seats here - I remember when I was 9 months pregnant with Kelan. I rode the bus home every day after work and lost track of how many times I had to stand with my fat swollen throbbing feet with my huge belly protruding into the other passengers at each jerk and stop of the bus - but that's another story).
It's now after lunch and I am still upset about all the comments made to this father about how he should not subject the rest of the bus riding public with his stroller and kids, that he should have just taken his car, etc. These ignorant people seem to think they came to this world by themselves, and dammit that's the only person they are going to look out for (you just know these are the same people who talk loudly on their cells in crowded buses). To hell with the mothers and fathers out there who need just a little extra help. I know for me, that the smallest gestures (like offering to take my grocery cart back to the store after I have unloaded groceries and kids) can often turn my day around if I'm having one of those challenging moments.
I am reminded of the time I took Kelan to his first movie. Disney's Ratatoullie was playing at our neighborhood theater and I took Kelan to the 12 o'clock show. Kelan was playing with the seat and climbing in and out of it when I noticed this prissy little man glare at me. I tried to make nice by explaining that this was his first time in a theater and that he would be sitting for the movie (note that the lights had not even dimmed at this point). He looked at me and said, "I hope so, or we can move". Excuse me? Did he just cop an attitude because he thought his little movie experience at a kid's film during prime kid hour would be compromised by a kid? If it was that important to him, maybe choose another time? He actually decided to move before the lights went down but I noticed that karma got him and his boyfriend because a family with a crying baby and toddler sat down right next to him. I couldn't help but smile.
I'm even amazed at the reproachful looks I get at times when our family is out to eat - at family friendly restaurants. I have seen couples wanting to have an intimate dinner at a family friendly restaurant at 5:30-6pm (prime kid hour) give me dirty looks! Go to a different restaurant if you don't want to hear little voices and some baby cries. We do not go to non family restaura
nts out of respect of other diners - you never know what you're going to get with Kelan and Lauren (and they are actually quite good in public). In fact, Dan and I even tip more than we used to because of the mess we leave.
I know kids can be challenging and there are those people who do not want to be around them. Fine. But you need them more than you realize. Our children (who already have a debt when they are born due to the mismanagement of this Administration - but I digress) will be the ones working, governing, and caring about us when we are old. It actually is in your best interest to be kind. That's all we're asking.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Wigawee Wigawee
Kelan has a problem pronouncing his "L's" - so what he's really saying is, "wiggly wiggly". The sad part is, he's usually holding my bottom when he says this. There's a part of me that just wants to cover up in embarrassment when he does this, but then I remember, it's not embarrassing to him. He just sees things in this world as they are. My bottom is no longer the "buns of steel" they once were (okay, maybe they were never steel, but they were NOT jello). I guess the combination of 2 kids, no time to work out like I should and the bowl of ice cream each night gets me: wigawee wigawee.
That said, I am trying to teach my children a healthy/positive attitude about body image and sex. I know, I know - they are only (almost) 3 and 1 years of age - but I would like to set the stage where our bodies and sex are something we can talk about. That these topics are not taboo and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
I took a "birds+bees+kids" class with my other co op preschool parents a couple of months ago. It was a class to learn how to talk to your kids about sex and our bodies. Great class. However I was amazed when the teacher said that children should know about sex by the age of five. Five!?! Yep, five. She wasn't talking about the down and dirty details, but just the basics and the real names of body parts. I was a little surprised, but then learned that it's better to learn from your parents (and not their friends who may not have a healthy outlook) and establish trust to talk about important and hard topics. Additionally, we can hope that our kids can learn to have a voice in the awful chance of an inappropriate relationship.
She went on to say that the conversations that you have with your preschooler are about 2 minutes over many months. They are not embarrassing to them (although the parents may not be breathing throughout those couple of minutes). In fact the first time I read this book, "What's the Big Secret" (a introduction to sex for young children), Kelan listened and then said "okay.... let's play trains". The teacher was right, he wasn't embarrassed, just curious in the same way as his wanting to know about how trains work.
Our teacher went on to say that these 2 minute conversations over the next couple of years are WAY easier than attempting your first "sex" conversation with a teenager. Makes sense. Set the stage for an open un-ending conversation now.
So I now try to answer Kelan the best way I can (and will do the same for Lauren) when he asks what my breasts are, what my vagina is, what his penis is, etc. Easier said than done, but I'm working on it.
Right now he's asking what tampons are. I take a deep breath - then answer. He now has a new phrase, "that tampon for your gina?". Is it better than wigawee wigawee? Hard to say.
That said, I am trying to teach my children a healthy/positive attitude about body image and sex. I know, I know - they are only (almost) 3 and 1 years of age - but I would like to set the stage where our bodies and sex are something we can talk about. That these topics are not taboo and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
I took a "birds+bees+kids" class with my other co op preschool parents a couple of months ago. It was a class to learn how to talk to your kids about sex and our bodies. Great class. However I was amazed when the teacher said that children should know about sex by the age of five. Five!?! Yep, five. She wasn't talking about the down and dirty details, but just the basics and the real names of body parts. I was a little surprised, but then learned that it's better to learn from your parents (and not their friends who may not have a healthy outlook) and establish trust to talk about important and hard topics. Additionally, we can hope that our kids can learn to have a voice in the awful chance of an inappropriate relationship.
She went on to say that the conversations that you have with your preschooler are about 2 minutes over many months. They are not embarrassing to them (although the parents may not be breathing throughout those couple of minutes). In fact the first time I read this book, "What's the Big Secret" (a introduction to sex for young children), Kelan listened and then said "okay.... let's play trains". The teacher was right, he wasn't embarrassed, just curious in the same way as his wanting to know about how trains work.
Our teacher went on to say that these 2 minute conversations over the next couple of years are WAY easier than attempting your first "sex" conversation with a teenager. Makes sense. Set the stage for an open un-ending conversation now.
So I now try to answer Kelan the best way I can (and will do the same for Lauren) when he asks what my breasts are, what my vagina is, what his penis is, etc. Easier said than done, but I'm working on it.
Right now he's asking what tampons are. I take a deep breath - then answer. He now has a new phrase, "that tampon for your gina?". Is it better than wigawee wigawee? Hard to say.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Pediatric Punch Card
Kelan got stitches (well, one stitch) this morning. He's not even three years old and he's had stitches twice, a split lip/gums (3 times), a black eye and countless bruises, cuts and scrapes. My sister even made him a t-shirt a year ago with a picture of the Fight Club pink soap and the quote, "The first rule of Fight Club, is that you do not talk about Fight Club". I think we need the next size up.
Lauren is not to be outdone. Last week we spent many hours over a couple of days at the pediatrician's office and the local children's hospital (for tests). Lauren - we assume - had a horrible stomach "thing" which gave her diarrhea (of course), high fever, irritability, loss of appetite and extreme diaper rash. No one could quite figure it out - but not due to a lack of testing (or attempt to test). She had her blood drawn, many attempts to get a urine sample - I won't even elaborate other than to say this is NOT fun - and she was poked and prodded. Finally she started to feel better this past weekend. Symptoms are now gone.
You would think I could be in the clear for awhile and not have to go back to our pediatrician's office. I was wrong. If I wasn't so worried about Kelan's bleeding gash on his forehead this morning, I might have been more embarrassed. As I walked into the waiting room, I stole a phrase from Kelan's "Vegas" repertoire, "I'm back!".
We must have looked ridiculous. Kelan was in a t-shirt, diaper and his red rubber rain boots - no shorts - and a big piece of gauze stuck to his forehead with a band-aid holding it in place. Lauren was in a long night gown of sorts and no shoes. I was decent only because Kelan's fall happened after I finished getting dressed. But with emergencies, you can not plan to have them when you are "ready", so you wear what you have on (or in Kelan's case, not have on).
I counted up the times I was either at the pediatrician's office or the children's hospital in the past week: FIVE! My punch card is full - I should get my next visit for free.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
I HATE Potty Training
We started potty training Kelan a couple of days ago. I HATE potty training. Why is it called potty training? They should just call it poop and pee on the floor training. I have realized that I do NOT have the patience needed for this - I may be changing Kelan's diaper until he's married (then his new bride can take over). I actually have a lot of patience for what my children "put out there" - but this is a whole new level.
People have told me that when you are potty training, this is all you do. They couldn't be more right - you really can't do ANYTHING else. Therein lies the problem. Kelan is actually fine on the potty and has peed and pooped many times, but now we're on a schedule every morning (sit on the potty the same time every day...) and I don't think he likes it. So while Kelan sits on the potty Lauren and I sit on the floor in the bathroom.
Sounds simple. But this is what is really going on: Kelan is getting on and off the potty (going against my constant reminders to sit), he's playing with the toilet paper, his feet, the toilet itself, saying he can't, then peeing a little bit, then peeing on the toilet seat and sliding off the toilet through the fresh pee. Meanwhile Lauren is crawling and somewhat walking around bumping her head on the sinks, playing with the toilet, then getting fussy because the bathroom door is closed. I open it and then she starts to climb the stairs (this is her FAVORITE activity). I get up and rescue her from the stairs, Kelan follows me. Then we all go back into the bathroom and start the whole routine over.
I'm trying to follow the "plan" which is to put Kelan on the potty at the same time every day and then put him in his underwear for an hour (the underwear helps him feel the sensation of pee and poop). Back to the potty for a bit and back in his underwear for another hour. Then the potty and finally the diaper (yay!).
I just can't stand the underwear time. He's peeing on the floor, pooping in his underwear, not telling me he has to go (and most times I ask him if he has to pee or poop - he says no and then goes on the floor). I remain calm (on the outside - but inside I am just getting angry and frustrated) and say, "it looks like you've had an accident, let's got sit on the potty." But then I have Lauren making a bee line for the pee/poop so I have to grab her, clean the mess, make sure Kelan is indeed on the potty and the whole thing starts over.
I want someone else to do this. I am exhausted by 10am and have no patience left for the rest of the day. - I'm totally frazzled. Today was especially hard, because after I put Kelan's diaper on - thank god, I proceed to get myself dressed so we can leave the house. I finish putting on my shirt and hear a "clunk" and turn around just in time to see Lauren falling down the stairs (she was only up about 4 stairs, but they are not carpeted so it does hurt). She whacked her head and started screaming. This all happened within a matter of seconds. So now I scoop up Lauren - make sure she's relatively okay, order Kelan to follow me to the car - we were going to the pediatrician's office! Lauren stopped crying within 3 minutes or so, but I was a wreck at this point so I needed a rational/sane person to tell me she was going to be okay. She is, thankfully.
Experts say to relax, it will happen (and so will accidents). My friends say this is just a messy time. I agree.
People have told me that when you are potty training, this is all you do. They couldn't be more right - you really can't do ANYTHING else. Therein lies the problem. Kelan is actually fine on the potty and has peed and pooped many times, but now we're on a schedule every morning (sit on the potty the same time every day...) and I don't think he likes it. So while Kelan sits on the potty Lauren and I sit on the floor in the bathroom.
Sounds simple. But this is what is really going on: Kelan is getting on and off the potty (going against my constant reminders to sit), he's playing with the toilet paper, his feet, the toilet itself, saying he can't, then peeing a little bit, then peeing on the toilet seat and sliding off the toilet through the fresh pee. Meanwhile Lauren is crawling and somewhat walking around bumping her head on the sinks, playing with the toilet, then getting fussy because the bathroom door is closed. I open it and then she starts to climb the stairs (this is her FAVORITE activity). I get up and rescue her from the stairs, Kelan follows me. Then we all go back into the bathroom and start the whole routine over.
I'm trying to follow the "plan" which is to put Kelan on the potty at the same time every day and then put him in his underwear for an hour (the underwear helps him feel the sensation of pee and poop). Back to the potty for a bit and back in his underwear for another hour. Then the potty and finally the diaper (yay!).
I just can't stand the underwear time. He's peeing on the floor, pooping in his underwear, not telling me he has to go (and most times I ask him if he has to pee or poop - he says no and then goes on the floor). I remain calm (on the outside - but inside I am just getting angry and frustrated) and say, "it looks like you've had an accident, let's got sit on the potty." But then I have Lauren making a bee line for the pee/poop so I have to grab her, clean the mess, make sure Kelan is indeed on the potty and the whole thing starts over.
I want someone else to do this. I am exhausted by 10am and have no patience left for the rest of the day. - I'm totally frazzled. Today was especially hard, because after I put Kelan's diaper on - thank god, I proceed to get myself dressed so we can leave the house. I finish putting on my shirt and hear a "clunk" and turn around just in time to see Lauren falling down the stairs (she was only up about 4 stairs, but they are not carpeted so it does hurt). She whacked her head and started screaming. This all happened within a matter of seconds. So now I scoop up Lauren - make sure she's relatively okay, order Kelan to follow me to the car - we were going to the pediatrician's office! Lauren stopped crying within 3 minutes or so, but I was a wreck at this point so I needed a rational/sane person to tell me she was going to be okay. She is, thankfully.
Experts say to relax, it will happen (and so will accidents). My friends say this is just a messy time. I agree.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Begas Bacation
That's what Kelan's called it (he has trouble with his V's) however, I would call it a Vegas ADVENTURE. Vacation is NOT a word I would use - and probably will never use - to describe traveling with children.
The plan was to find sun, water and pampering. We were on a budget (and I wanted some extra luxury - like water-side beverage service) so the ocean was out. We settled on Las Vegas because we were able to get a great package deal with airfare and hotel (5 nights). The trip was all set - we were going to stay at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (all the research pointed us to this hotel for kids...) - I couldn't wait! I had my new miracle suit (the "lose 10 pounds in 10 seconds" kind of suit), sunblock, sunglasses, toys and floats for the kids - we were set!
My husband and I are lucky that our children travel well. We have a mini DVD player for the plane that kept Kelan occupied and Lauren pretty much slept. But just because they travel well, doesn't mean it isn't work. We were EXHAUSTED by the time we got to the hotel (the kids are heavy, the luggage is heavy, the car seats are heavy...).
The first room we were sent to had two double beds (I had requested a king - so the kids could sleep in between me and Dan). This room would not work. I called the front desk and fortunately they were able to find us a room with a king bed - getting into the room was another matter. They said they could change the code on the keys to let us in the new room without us having to go back to the desk. Here's to the joys of technology! Too bad it didn't work. Now we are trying to corral two tired cranky kids in the hallway while they send someone up to help us. I started to get cranky and decided to go down to the front desk myself (of course they arrived the minute I got into the elevator). This is only important, because I got a new set of keys that invalidated the keys Dan was getting. So we had several "lock outs" the first couple of days because of which keys we had when. It just became absurd after awhile - we couldn't get the most simple task to work - opening a door.
We could not wait to go swimming so we put on our bathing suits first thing (seriously, I lost 10 pounds in 10 seconds in my new suit - the "tag line" isn't lying. Now they just need to figure out a way to lose 10 pounds on the parts of your body that are NOT covered...). Mandalay Bay has many pools (apparently Vegas has not heard of water conservation - most hotels have 1+ pools and fountains galore - and of course here I am supporting this horrible waste of water - a feeling I couldn't quite shake during our week).
There was one faux ocean with waves - which is very cool, but unfortunately our kids are too young to go in, plus there are SO many rules to be able to swim there - it wasn't worth it. Next was the "lazy river" which had an intense current to float you around the small river - very fun with inter tubes (but hard to walk around holding a child). At last we found the perfect spot. The "normal" pool that was next to the "beach" (they have imported tons and tons of white sand so you can feel like you are at the beach). This became our usual spot in the mornings and afternoons because there was shade, sand, pool and beverage service.
The weather was having some "wind issues" when we got there. At times it felt very tropical (a light warm breeze), but then the wind would pick up and became quite strong. Too bad we did not pay more attention to the strength of this wind.
It was our first morning by the pool. We loaded the kids into the stroller, along with our gear (sunblock, change of clothes, diapers, wipes, digital camera, cell phones, etc.) and headed to the pool. We settled into "our" spot by parking the stroller next to our chairs with our towels and got the kids into the pool. The water was great and Lauren and Kelan loved the pool. The wind started to pick up and before we knew what was going on, our stroller blew into the pool with EVERYTHING in it. I'm not sure if I could have yelled, "oh shit!" any louder (new word for the day for the kids). I quickly lifted Kelan out of the pool and told him to SIT and NOT MOVE (Dan was holding Lauren). I dove frantically to the bottom of the pool retrieving the stroller, cell phones, the camera and the rest of the contents of the diaper bag. Unfortunately, the phones and camera drowned. On an aside, I did learn that contacts don't float away when you open your eyes under water - not much of a consolation - but an interesting observation.
I spent "quiet time" (12-2pm - the HOTTEST time of the day) that afternoon walking around a not so nice part of Vegas looking for a Cingular Wireless corporate store (after being directed to a local mall Cingular kiosk that could not help me). With the tops of my feet burned, 2 hours and $200 later, I returned to the hotel with a new cell phone. Dan's work would replace his phone when we returned to Seattle (thank god) and I would get another camera when we got home (sadly, my camera and phone were already replacements for ones that were stolen last October - but that's another story).
Eating turned out to be more expensive than I thought. Whatever happened to all those cheap "all you can eat" buffets that were supposed to be everywhere in Vegas? Or maybe I have become super cheap and expect all meals to be around the price of our local Seattle taqaria. We ate mostly at the hotel (cabs would just add on to the dining "bill" and then what do you do with two car seats? Walking was out of the question - Vegas is NOT a stroller kind of town). There were many restaurants in the hotel itself - but we went to Raffles (American fare) for most meals. Kelan figured out that he was a "regular" by the second or third visit and started to announce his presence by stating (very loudly), "I'm back!" EVERY time we entered the restaurant. In fact he had his own little routine. After his entrance, we'd eat, then he would take off running through the restaurant (sometimes managing some laps) ending up in the entry hall to dance. The breakfast and lunch crowd thought this was funny, but the dinner crowd wasn't as amused. I personally thought it was hysterical every time he did it.
Other experiences included (but are not limited to) Lauren's allergic reaction to something (she got a really bad skin rash that made her SCREAM when we put sunblock on her or put her in the pool on the 3rd and 4th day), the kids not sleeping that well, Lauren's fever the second to last night of our stay, navigating the stroller through various casinos while attempting to walk the strip, and Kelan escaping and running top speed through the casinos.
The funny thing is, we had a good time. Yes, there are things we learned and would most likely do differently, but we did enjoy ourselves. The fountain/water show at the Bellagio was great and seeing Lauren and Kelan's faces while watching it made the walk down the strip worth it (plus they have great ice cream there). Things that kept happening to us were so ridiculous at times, that Dan and I laughed so hard we cried (and couldn't stop). And I didn't have to cook or clean for almost a week (you can't beat that with a stick). We spent days and nights together as a family and I hope that this is just one of many family adventures we will have.
It was not a vacation (we are NOT well rested by any means), but we have great memories (no pictures, sadly). I will always remember the way Lauren looked in her little sun hat sitting on a beach chair playing with sand (and eating it - with a big smile on her face). I will remember Kelan thanking our hostess at "our" restaurant ("thank you SO much" he would say on his way out, just before he would dance). I will remember asking my husband to bring me back some ice cream (after the kids went to sleep) and getting ice cream for himself and forgetting mine (yes I sent him back out to get some). I will remember this trip and laugh out loud every time. Viva Las Vegas!
The plan was to find sun, water and pampering. We were on a budget (and I wanted some extra luxury - like water-side beverage service) so the ocean was out. We settled on Las Vegas because we were able to get a great package deal with airfare and hotel (5 nights). The trip was all set - we were going to stay at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (all the research pointed us to this hotel for kids...) - I couldn't wait! I had my new miracle suit (the "lose 10 pounds in 10 seconds" kind of suit), sunblock, sunglasses, toys and floats for the kids - we were set!
My husband and I are lucky that our children travel well. We have a mini DVD player for the plane that kept Kelan occupied and Lauren pretty much slept. But just because they travel well, doesn't mean it isn't work. We were EXHAUSTED by the time we got to the hotel (the kids are heavy, the luggage is heavy, the car seats are heavy...).
The first room we were sent to had two double beds (I had requested a king - so the kids could sleep in between me and Dan). This room would not work. I called the front desk and fortunately they were able to find us a room with a king bed - getting into the room was another matter. They said they could change the code on the keys to let us in the new room without us having to go back to the desk. Here's to the joys of technology! Too bad it didn't work. Now we are trying to corral two tired cranky kids in the hallway while they send someone up to help us. I started to get cranky and decided to go down to the front desk myself (of course they arrived the minute I got into the elevator). This is only important, because I got a new set of keys that invalidated the keys Dan was getting. So we had several "lock outs" the first couple of days because of which keys we had when. It just became absurd after awhile - we couldn't get the most simple task to work - opening a door.
We could not wait to go swimming so we put on our bathing suits first thing (seriously, I lost 10 pounds in 10 seconds in my new suit - the "tag line" isn't lying. Now they just need to figure out a way to lose 10 pounds on the parts of your body that are NOT covered...). Mandalay Bay has many pools (apparently Vegas has not heard of water conservation - most hotels have 1+ pools and fountains galore - and of course here I am supporting this horrible waste of water - a feeling I couldn't quite shake during our week).
There was one faux ocean with waves - which is very cool, but unfortunately our kids are too young to go in, plus there are SO many rules to be able to swim there - it wasn't worth it. Next was the "lazy river" which had an intense current to float you around the small river - very fun with inter tubes (but hard to walk around holding a child). At last we found the perfect spot. The "normal" pool that was next to the "beach" (they have imported tons and tons of white sand so you can feel like you are at the beach). This became our usual spot in the mornings and afternoons because there was shade, sand, pool and beverage service.
The weather was having some "wind issues" when we got there. At times it felt very tropical (a light warm breeze), but then the wind would pick up and became quite strong. Too bad we did not pay more attention to the strength of this wind.
It was our first morning by the pool. We loaded the kids into the stroller, along with our gear (sunblock, change of clothes, diapers, wipes, digital camera, cell phones, etc.) and headed to the pool. We settled into "our" spot by parking the stroller next to our chairs with our towels and got the kids into the pool. The water was great and Lauren and Kelan loved the pool. The wind started to pick up and before we knew what was going on, our stroller blew into the pool with EVERYTHING in it. I'm not sure if I could have yelled, "oh shit!" any louder (new word for the day for the kids). I quickly lifted Kelan out of the pool and told him to SIT and NOT MOVE (Dan was holding Lauren). I dove frantically to the bottom of the pool retrieving the stroller, cell phones, the camera and the rest of the contents of the diaper bag. Unfortunately, the phones and camera drowned. On an aside, I did learn that contacts don't float away when you open your eyes under water - not much of a consolation - but an interesting observation.
I spent "quiet time" (12-2pm - the HOTTEST time of the day) that afternoon walking around a not so nice part of Vegas looking for a Cingular Wireless corporate store (after being directed to a local mall Cingular kiosk that could not help me). With the tops of my feet burned, 2 hours and $200 later, I returned to the hotel with a new cell phone. Dan's work would replace his phone when we returned to Seattle (thank god) and I would get another camera when we got home (sadly, my camera and phone were already replacements for ones that were stolen last October - but that's another story).
Eating turned out to be more expensive than I thought. Whatever happened to all those cheap "all you can eat" buffets that were supposed to be everywhere in Vegas? Or maybe I have become super cheap and expect all meals to be around the price of our local Seattle taqaria. We ate mostly at the hotel (cabs would just add on to the dining "bill" and then what do you do with two car seats? Walking was out of the question - Vegas is NOT a stroller kind of town). There were many restaurants in the hotel itself - but we went to Raffles (American fare) for most meals. Kelan figured out that he was a "regular" by the second or third visit and started to announce his presence by stating (very loudly), "I'm back!" EVERY time we entered the restaurant. In fact he had his own little routine. After his entrance, we'd eat, then he would take off running through the restaurant (sometimes managing some laps) ending up in the entry hall to dance. The breakfast and lunch crowd thought this was funny, but the dinner crowd wasn't as amused. I personally thought it was hysterical every time he did it.
Other experiences included (but are not limited to) Lauren's allergic reaction to something (she got a really bad skin rash that made her SCREAM when we put sunblock on her or put her in the pool on the 3rd and 4th day), the kids not sleeping that well, Lauren's fever the second to last night of our stay, navigating the stroller through various casinos while attempting to walk the strip, and Kelan escaping and running top speed through the casinos.
The funny thing is, we had a good time. Yes, there are things we learned and would most likely do differently, but we did enjoy ourselves. The fountain/water show at the Bellagio was great and seeing Lauren and Kelan's faces while watching it made the walk down the strip worth it (plus they have great ice cream there). Things that kept happening to us were so ridiculous at times, that Dan and I laughed so hard we cried (and couldn't stop). And I didn't have to cook or clean for almost a week (you can't beat that with a stick). We spent days and nights together as a family and I hope that this is just one of many family adventures we will have.
It was not a vacation (we are NOT well rested by any means), but we have great memories (no pictures, sadly). I will always remember the way Lauren looked in her little sun hat sitting on a beach chair playing with sand (and eating it - with a big smile on her face). I will remember Kelan thanking our hostess at "our" restaurant ("thank you SO much" he would say on his way out, just before he would dance). I will remember asking my husband to bring me back some ice cream (after the kids went to sleep) and getting ice cream for himself and forgetting mine (yes I sent him back out to get some). I will remember this trip and laugh out loud every time. Viva Las Vegas!
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