Ricky's Drawing of a.....a....ummm

The other night we were all sitting around the TV and Ricky was drawing and coloring. He proudly showed us this drawing. Mark and I laughed til we cried and he told us what this is - but you know what this really looks like! This is a picture of a walker on Star Wars, the Empire Strikes Back. See the guy sitting up top?

Mark sent this pic out to our friends and family to see if anyone could correctly guess what this was - and nobody got it. It's hard!! hahahaha!!

A Lesson on Race

Our local outdoor shopping mall has a mini park that's hilly where kids love to run around. The other day we all ventured out there because I had some presents to buy. I left the boys with Mark and went on my way. Teddy slept in the stroller and Ricky played in that park for about an hour.

When we were going home, I asked Ricky about the park and asked him who he played with.  

Ricky said, "I played with a boy, but I didn't ask his name. He didn't look like any of my friends."

I said, "Oh really? Who did he look like?"

Ricky said, "The boy I played with looked like James Brown!"

I tried not to laugh and later found out from Mark that the boy Ricky played with was Indian. We talked about race in a car for a little bit - as long as a four year old boy was interested.

Timber!!!

We've had some crazy weather in Chicago the past few days. Thunderstorms and tons of rain. Last night it came back again and the wind was pretty bad. Not sure if I mentioned this before, but we're actually in the process of moving to my mom's house this summer - she moved to a condo - and we're going to buy her house once we sell ours and Mark is employed.

Anyways, the storm uprooted this huge pine tree in the backyard. The neighbors say there was a big microburst. This tree is enormous - and it's been there for about 50  years or so. It was this large when we moved in - in 1979 and it's pretty much watched me and my sister grow up. I'm not a big tree hugger or anything, but I must admit I feel sad about it - like my family lost an old friend.

We just went over there to check it out and see what can be done. The utility guys are there, trying to restore power. The tree took out the electricity for the whole block - since last night - and they are having a block party there right now. I should charge admission and have Ricky set up a lemonade stand - there are neighbors from that block and other blocks coming over to take a look. 

We feel bad for the neighbors' garage - it had some damage to it. I guess their insurance has to pay for it under their homeowners policy because it was an act of God. My mom already talked to them and got it figured out. We're just glad nobody got hurt. 

Anyways, the yard is already large, but without the tree, it is mammoth and kind of bare. Should we plant another tree? 

Sleep & My Latest Read

For once in several weeks, I actually feel well rested. It finally worked! After about 3 nights of hardcore putting Teddy down to bed after nursing, he is finally not crying and putting himself to sleep!!! yay! Thank god all the crying is over - it was driving us all nutts. He only got up twice last night to eat. Then again, I would burp him and rock him for about 5-10 minutes and then put him in his crib and leave the room. No crying. I could kiss Dr. Weissbluth's book. 

On the day to day front, we have a birthday party to go to at dinnertime and I still don't have a gift. It's raining here and I hate dragging the boys out in good weather, let alone crappy weather. My mom might be able to watch them during her lunchtime so I can go out and get a present quickly. 

I just finished a light read - kind of chick lit book called, "The Undomestic Goddess" by Sophie Kinsella. A librarian I work with recommended it to me. I had asked her for a book that was light, easy to read, and enjoyable. This book was exactly what this stay-at-home-mom needed to read. The book is about a high powered lawyer in London who is working her ass off to be partner and things happen and she ends up as a housekeeper. It's a nice story - and pretty funny. I could see a movie being made - like her Shopaholic book - which of course, I checked out of the library to read next. 

When do I read? When the boys nap, when Ricky is playing video games and ignoring me anyway, and any time I find myself on the couch - like 10 minutes after eating lunch or dinner, I'll read a few pages. I used to be *such* a bookworm my entire life and it's been really hard for me to keep up that hobby. 

Anyway, I'm going to steal 15 minutes now to watch more of an "L Word" episode now. I love that show, and no, you don't have to be a lesbian to relate. It's about a bunch of girlfriends. And yeah, they kiss and have sex once in a while but who cares. I totally recommend it. 

A Whole Lot of Rambling

Well, it's been a week and things are slightly better. I still need to nurse Teddy to sleep when I put him down for the night, but he still gets up 5 to 6 times a night screaming for me to nurse him again. Last night I was so tired and fed up by 3a.m. that I turned my monitor down and let him cry. I had already been in there every hour. This baby is so stubborn - if you let him cry, he will cry for HOURS and HOURS. It's heartbreaking and horrible to listen to because you feel so bad. He sounds like someone is murdering him - it's awful. 

Well I reserved the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" from the library because my copy is at the other house and I have to freaking clue where it is. If I get 3 hours of sleep straight, I feel golden - isn't that pathetic? Luckily Ricky can sleep through the bloodcurdling shrieks - I have no clue how this is possible. They are in separate rooms but next door to each other. 

Mark got a freelancing gig last week and it's for this week too. I am tempted to nurse to shush up Teddy all the more so he doesn't wake Mark. And poor Mark, I have been so freaking tired, that any other activities (wink wink) are on the backburner. 

As for nursing, I am on fenugreek but haven't been so good with the pumping. Teddy is a chunker - already wearing 12 months clothes and he's only 5 months old. So he's not starving...

Ricky finished his 3 year old preschool last week. They had an end of the school year picnic. The parents of the class  clown named Ryan - the worst behaved boy I have ever seen - was laying it on thick and asking me to have playdates with their son. I felt like a total asshole, but I said thanks but never said anything like Ryan is also welcome in our home, let's get together at the park this summer, here is my phone number, etc. I DO NOT want Ricky playing with him. Bad behavior feels contagious.... do you think that's totally overprotective?

I'm meeting 2 of my girlfriends for lunch tomorrow. Mark is working so I have to bring the boys. It will be great to see my buddies. One is married with 3 kids and the other is newly divorced with a boyfriend and has 2 kids. I've been friends with them for about 12 years. (shit has it been that long???)

Help- My Uniboober Baby Won't Let Me Sleep

I've been up all night the last 3 nights with Teddy and it's all my fault. He is happy during the day but then he's been up 10+ times a night screaming.  It's a combination of a few bad habits all rolled up together. Here are my problems:

1. I've been nursing exclusively, and my right boob stopped making milk almost completely (less than 1 ounce a day)

2. Teddy hates bottles, binkies, basically he's just a boob man.

3. For the first 4 months of his life, he was sleeping in our room in his pack n play next to our bed. Whenever he would cry, I would be afraid he's wake Ricky or Mark, and immediately pick him up in my sleep and put him to my breast - without looking at the clock to see if it was feeding time. So as a result, when he wakes up in the middle of the night, he wants boobie to put him back to sleep - even if he's not hungry. Just a comfort thing. 

4. I'm a stay at home mother, and would just nurse on demand. On demand has turned into every 1.5 hours and it's driving me nutts. He nurses for 5 minutes and has basically brought my milk supply down. He is snacking all day long. (my baby is very chubby so loves to eat). 

5. He has very bad eczema all over his body - gotta be itchy! He scratches all the time. He has it on his head, and pulls his hair and scratches and screams about it. I tell him to stop pulling his hair but not sure if he understands me..... so fun

6. He loves to roll, but doesn't know how to get back - he gets stuck and cries his head off until someone comes in and helps him get back. The more he cries, the hotter he becomes - and then he gets more eczema!!! Aaaaaaack!!! 

So I took Teddy to the doctor this morning to make sure all is well - and that he doesn't have an ear infection or any other problems causing him to be up all night. I also called my lactation consultant at the hospital. Basically, this is my game plan:

1. Feed every 3 hours, no less. If he seems like he needs more, give him a bottle after nursing.

2. I need to pump. The lactation consultant and pediatrician think my left boob went down in production as well. If he eats every 1.5  hours, it's not enough. Pediatrician suggests formula because it's thicker and stays in the tummy longer. The lactation consultant wants me to give pumped milk as the supplement and refuses to say the word "formula." heehehe...

3. He has to cry. The pediatrician and one of my favorite nurses told me to let him cry and that they let their own kids cry for hours at this age. It's just hard to hear.... 

Well, I nursed him at noon and gave him 2 ounces of formula in a bottle and he took it. I also put him in the crib and let him cry. I had to go in there twice to give him a binky suggestively and I let him cry. He is now fast asleep. YAY!!! Now let's see how tonight goes. 

Am seriously feeling like I'm drunk....so out of it. I gave Ricky a sippy cup with no cover on it.... 

Is there such a thing as the Terrible 4's?

Ricky is no angel but is usually a pretty good kid. In his preschool class, his teacher and all the kids' parents have always told us that Ricky is the best behaved in school. The school year is almost over and -knock on wood - he almost finished this year without being "bad" once. Bad meaning bad enough that the teacher has to tell me he did something in school. In the beginning I was happy about it but kind of freaked out that maybe he wasn't normal - I always thought little boys were supposed to be troublemakers by nature. 

Well ever since we had Teddy, it's been hard for Ricky to adjust. This weekend was hard because we really didn't leave the house much. Mark has come down with some virus that he's on antibiotics for and we've stayed home a lot. Mark is unemployed at the moment too - so both parents are home. He loves playing video games with his dad. 

So yesterday I told my family that we had to get out of the house. We pored over the internet looking up museums and all kinds of things to do. But everything was either too expensive or too crowded - we thought - due to the holiday weekend. So we decided to make it simple and do a little shopping and get out for lunch.

God was Ricky so bad. Not listening, and doing the opposite of what we ask to a dangerous level - like leaving us in the store to run around or run to the other parent when he/she isn't aware - hello kidnapper!! Pulling his hand away while walking in busy parking lots - like he wants to run and get hit by a car.  It was so bad that Mark spanked him in the parking lot of Old Navy. Thankfully nobody saw - that I was aware of. Before I had kids I always tsked people for doing that in public and thought they were really shitty parents. Now I know why that happens. Ricky hasn't been spanked in about 3 months - his last spanking was because he whipped a piece of cardboard very hard on his baby brother's head. Teddy was about 1 month old. 

We've tried really hard to spend quality time with Ricky whenever we can. I played Legos with him for a few hours over the weekend and I always try to read books before naptime and bedtime. I struggle with this and also keeping a tidy house and all the million other things I have to do around the house. 

Well whatever the heck is going on, I hope it stops because this really sucks. 

Teddy at 4 Months & my Crappy mother's day

Here is Teddy at four months old. How time flies. I have been awful with the pictures - I take them but never get around to developing them. They all sit on my card. As the second kid in my family, I used to whine about how the second kid gets the crappy end of the stick - and I vowed I wouldn't do that to Teddy, and look at me - I'm doing it. bad mommy, bad mommy.

Mother's Day was pretty crappy for me. I hate that holiday usually - it's a hallmark holiday and a day to make you feel guilty for everything your mom does for you - at least that's what I used to think. I wanted to spend the day doing nothing if I wanted. I got bullied into a lunch with my in-laws by my mother in law. When someone tells you that they prefer not to do something 3 times, isn't that your cue that they are politely saying no?? 

When we got to the restaurant, I needed to sit in the corner, so we could put the baby carrier there and if I needed to nurse, I could do so with plenty of room. But no, my mother in law sat there - and Mark asked her if I could sit there because of the baby, and she said no, that she is left handed and needed to sit there. What a beeyatch. I ended up sitting in the worst spot - smack in the middle of the walkway where the waiters enter/leave with food. I spent the whole lunch standing and holding a crying Teddy (because the restaurant was so noisy) and when I had to nurse him, my sister in law put a chair in the corner for me behind my mother in law - facing the wall. Now, do you think maybe my mother in law would offer up her seat when she saw what a hard time I was having? No way. 

That was the worst lunch. Mark held a crying Teddy while I shoveled the food in my mouth - it was cold and I didn't even get to taste it. I was so mad when I got home - at least I met my mom at the book store to browse in peace and quiet and have a cup of coffee!! 

In any case, Teddy's christening is this saturday so we've been busy getting ready for that. We're having a lunch here at our house afterwards. We just got new furniture for Ricky - and we got rid of our office so he has that room now. I've been busy organizing the boys' clothes and toys and I'm still not finished! 

My mother in law was nice and emailed me that she's bringing 2 dishes. I called her the B word to my husband's face on mothers day before leaving for the bookstore. I think she didn't think she was being selfish by sitting in the best spot. I think people are just stupid and don't know better.

A Sad Story from my Backyard

A bird has been sitting in her nest on top of the light outside our garage door. She just sits there all the time - and leaves to get food - but she is always sitting there. Mark and I assumed that she had a baby in there - why else would she spend so much time at home? So we've been really quiet going in and out of the garage all the time - being so careful not to scare the poor thing. 

Well everything for this poor bird came crashing down today. Mark said that the bird was squawking all over the place. He looked over and saw the bird baby in several pieces on the concrete - with ants eating it. He said the pieces looked dry so it happened a while ago. Isn't that the saddest thing? We've been trying to figure out how that might have happened. I wonder if it fell out of the nest when she went out looking for food or if a squirrel or some other bird pulled it out of the nest - making it fall. 

Mark and I are so sad. We've been looking at this bird and we felt like it was our friend. Mark says that when she was squawking he felt like she was trying to tell him something. I went out and saw the dried blood on the sidewalk while Mark buried the baby in the garden. I looked at the nest and it's empty. I feel so sad for this mother who lost her baby. 

Both boys were sick over the weekend. Ricky missed his friend's birthday party but he was able to go on the field trip today. Mark isn't working this week - his assignment was cut early - so the four of us all went. Teddy was so good on the trip. It was to a nature place and my stroller is for walking around the mall. So he was able to nap with all the bouncing around. I was home all weekend and was beginning to get stir crazy so it was good to get out of the house!! 

Farewell Chipper Librarian

It's official - I'm going to have to quit my part time job at the library. I am sad because this was my break - my chance to actually have adult conversation and feel good about myself. It was my time to surf the net and do personal things when it wasn't busy. I've made a few friends at work too - and I will miss joking around with them and being just me. For 13 hours a week, I am seen not as Ricky's mom, but as Carrie Ann. 

Teddy is adorable and he loves me waaaaayyy too much - so much that it's hard for anyone else to watch him when I'm not around.  I am nursing exclusively and he gets formula when I'm not around. When I've left him with Mark for an hour or two to do errands or grocery shop, I get voicemails with just crying. That's my cue I need to go home. When I walk in the room and he sees me, he's all happy again. I have to admit I love it - but sometimes I need a break! The last 2 times I took a shower, I heard crying and Mark was calling me to take the baby. I couldn't even put on moisturizer or dress!!

Mark and my mom both told me that they can't babysit for me - it's too hard with two kids - especially if Teddy is the way he is. I can't work 9-5 on a Saturday and have Teddy cry the entire time I'm gone. I can't work weekends because that's family time, and Mark has too much work to do around the house to be stuck babysitting every weekend. Working was a bit stressful - trying to make sure that Ricky (and now Teddy) has eaten, that Mark's dinner is cooked, and that all the things at home are taken care of before I leave, etc. 

So I'm meeting with my boss Thursday to tell her the news. I'm sad about it - but maybe I can work there again someday. At the same time, I am happy not to work. I remember not being able to take Ricky to the park when the days were beautiful because I had to go to work last summer. I need to be a full-time SAHM - especially now that Teddy is so small. I'll be taking him to toddler classes next year and doing all the things I did with Ricky when he was that age. There is a little bit of guilt Mark and I have for quitting when the economy is so bad - but there doesn't seem to be any other way. I'm happy to quit but sad at the same time - if that makes any sense at all... 

Teddy at 3 Months

We were supposed to meet Ricky's buddy from school and his mom at this bouncy castle place but when we all woke up this morning, we were all sick - me, Ricky, and Mark. I am hoping the baby doesn't catch it - but I'm noticing that he's sleeping an awful lot today - more than usual. 

So Mark stayed home from his freelance job and I am watching them play videogames all day - that Indiana Jones Lego game is really cute. 

I never posted a picture of Teddy and here he is. He actually has blue eyes but you can't really tell in this picture. I find that interesting because I'm Filipino and my hubby is caucasian. They could still change, but I hope they don't. So here's my little man. Like the hair??

Irish Twins?

I've been having cramps for the last few days and had that barfy feeling a few times - and the thought came - am I pregnant?? I have a 3 month old baby!! I did the math and the baby would be born in December - two babies born the same year!! Do they make bunk cribs?? I am breast feeding exclusively and I read that it's 98% effective....

The odds would be so low considering that it took us almost 3 years to get pregnant successfully again. We didn't have to worry about contraception because nothing was happening anyways.  I was supposed to have an IUD insertion at my 6 week post partum check-up but my OB/gyn suggested that I do that when we are sure we are done having kids since those things can stay in you for 10 years. Not to mention that when I saw all the instruments laid out on the table I totally chickened out. She gave me a prescription for the mini-pill which I took while I was nursing Ricky but then Mark lost his job and I didn't know our insurance situation and didn't want to take the pill for 3 months and then stop. Mark actually has a freelance job for the next 5 weeks but he spent quite a bit of time home the last 2 months......so it could be possible. Well, I took a pregnancy this morning and I am NOT pregnant. I have to admit that I was disappointed. I told Mark and he called me Octomom!! I think not. 

We joked about a third child but never thought it was even an option given our history. I'm grateful for the 2 healthy boys I have but my mom, cousin and sister say I need a girl. My aunt actually told me the last day I saw her that I needed a girl. I would love to have a girl but I feel like wishing for another child would be greedy after going through secondary fertility. Having 2 kids isn't as hectic as I thought it would be so what's so bad about adding one more? I guess I'm just intimidated by the cost of private schools and college. Then there are other day to day things I think of - isn't traveling harder with 3 kids? With two you can tag team, with three, they outnumber you. I guess we'll have to see.

My dad and stepmom were here visiting from the Philippines for 3 weeks so I didn't get to blog much. They stayed in our basement where they pretty much had their own bedroom and bathroom. My dad worked here in Chicago since the late '60s and retired a few years ago and moved back there. 

I love my dad but it was nice to have our house back. I don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn to put out breakfast if I could stay in bed a while longer if Teddy would let me. But it was nice to have them around. 

Right now our priority is buying Ricky a big boy bed. We were contemplating bunk beds for the boys, but am afraid their age difference is too big that they wouldn't be interested in sharing. Teddy is huge - he just turned 3 months but he's wearing 9 month clothes! He sleeps through the night sometimes, but is usually up twice to eat at night. Ricky was up at least 4-5 times a night!! I'm still trying to adjust to having 2 kids and a house to take care of. I always try to be more organized - it's been my new year's resolution for years.

It's Saturday Everyday Thanks to the Recession

Mark lost his job over a month ago and I feel really guilty admitting that I've enjoyed having him home. I mean, he should really be working somewhere, but it's been very nice to have Saturday everyday and have an extra pair of hands especially now that we have 2 kids.

He lost his job when Teddy was 5 weeks old and since I'm nursing, I was up with the baby every 2 and a half hours. It was exhausting and it was nice to be able to have Mark tend to Ricky while I was taking care of the baby or trying to sneak in a nap.

Mark has been taking Ricky to preschool and picking him up - he was even the parent volunteer twice. Ricky's been loving having Mark home - so much that when Mark said he had to send out more resumes so he could get a job that Ricky cried and said he didn't want Daddy to get a job. It's kind of funny. With the market so bad right now it's hard to say when Mark will get a job. It's actually a bit scary. It seems that if you aren't a nurse, doctor, policeman, fireman, or work at a funeral home, your job could be in jeopardy.

We've been doing pretty well controlling our expenses. My credit card bill was a whopping $151 this month! Probably the lowest it's ever been since I was in college. We put off buying a lot of stuff like clothing for ourselves - but we still buy the boys what they need. We eat restaurant food once a week and I cook at home everyday. The menu kind of sucks - I really need to pour over some cookbooks to make things interesting but I've been kind of busy these days. It's amazing how you can live comfortably on so little and I wish we were doing this all along. Maybe we would be thinner and have fatter bank accounts. But we love eating out - and we were enjoying ourselves so I don't regret it.

So now my dad and stepmom are in town and are staying with us. It's kind of cramped but okay. He is here for 3 weeks and this is the only time this year I get to see him. He lives in the Philippines and comes here once a year to pay taxes and to to all his doctors' appointments. I love my dad but it is hard having guests for more than a week....

I don't really know the point of this blog entry but I guess it makes sense. Saturdays are lazy days and you don't really need to have a point for the day.

Feeling Like The Bachelor This Week - Taking it All Back

I can't believe we just un-asked our brother-in-law to be Teddy's godfather! He is very pissed off and I wonder if this will begin a grudge that will last our lifetime.

It's a long story. We only asked Jack to be be godfather because he's married to Mark's sister-and she's the godmother. Jack is sexist, misogynistic, and lacks social skills. He is not a good role model and I was against asking him in the first place. But went along with it because of Mark. It undermines what a godfather is supposed to be. Besides, I can't tell Teddy that, "Jack is your godfather, and by the way, please do not listen to anything he says or do what he does." It would be irresponsible of us to go along with someone we don't think is good and it's not fair to Teddy.

So something happened that brought his sexist and misogynistic beliefs to the surface - not to mention he's being a jerk. So Mark and I decided to take the title away. Godparent selection should be easy and pain-free.

Oh Binky Head Gear, Where Art Thou?

Teddy is 9 weeks old and hasn't figured out how to keep the binky in his mouth - or how to pick it up and put it in his mouth. He's too little - plus I make it kind of hard for him by making him wear those no-scratch mittens at night. If I don't, he'll scratch up his face.

The problem is that at night, when the binky falls out of his mouth, he wakes up and cries for it. I have to put it back in his mouth for him. I got sick and tired of getting up out of bed and walking over to the bassinet so I just pushed the bassinet next to my side of the bed. That way, I just stick my arm in the bassinet and put the binky back in his mouth throughout the night.

The problem is that during the day, when he naps, and this happens, I have to stop what I'm doing to walk over to him and put the binky back in his mouth. It's kind of a pain. If I just let him cry, he won't stop crying and gets all red and stuff. When Ricky cries too much, he throws up, and I am always afraid Teddy is like his big brother.

Do they make binky head gears? Or special scotch tape to solve this problem? I am just joking around...I guess it will just take him time to figure it out as he gets older....

Clone trooper live with, I do!

I live with a clone trooper - a 4 year old one who wears his helmet while he plays the Lego Star Wars video game and while he walks around our house with his gun. Our house lives and breathes Star Wars - the movies, video games, action figures, you name it. Ricky recites lines from the movies and hums the Imperial March while he plays or sits on the potty.

A few weeks ago, Mark (who claims the first movie was life changing--of course he was 5 at the time) decided it was time to let Ricky watch the Star Wars movies. We waited on the third episode - Revenge of the Sith because it was a bit too violent (i.e. dismembering and decapitating Count Dooku, dismembering and burning Anakin Skywalker, etc.) but eventually watched it with him and fast forwarded the bad parts or covered his eyes.

It's waaaayyy too late to do anything about it now, but I wonder if it was a bad idea to expose a 4 year old to Star Wars already. I guess I was 4 myself when my parents took me to see Episode 4 and they never covered my eyes. Am I crazier than I would have been had they not? Can't really tell.

A Bad Patch or Bad Luck?

I can hardly believe I haven't blogged since November! I stopped working at the library because I was oh-so-huge and I think that cut into a lot of my online time. A lot has happened since then.

We had our baby boy, Teddy, the first week of January. He was supposed to be a c-section on 1/15 but decided to come 3 weeks early. It was kind of funny. I knew he was coming - I wasn't feeling well and decided to stay home. I have a fear breaking my water all over someone's couch and having to replace it. The day Teddy arrived I stayed home and watched the Sex and the City movie (again) and Mark and Ricky went to the mall. When the arrived, Mark brought me a sub sandwich and I was so hungry and couldn't wait to eat it. I took the sandwich and plopped on the couch and when I did that, my water broke. I ran to the bathroom and left a lovely trail behind me.

Teddy arrived 2 hours later at 8 pounds, 3 ounces. He is now a chunky 13 pounds at 2 months old. He is our little miracle baby. Ricky took it kind of hard in the beginning - you could totally tell he was jealous. It's been a few months and I think he is used to the change. He has to kiss Teddy all the time - so cute.

When we brought Teddy home from the hospital, a pipe broke in our house and our refrigerator died.

My postpartum was rocky. I developed a few cysts - one the size of a golf ball- along my incision. It hurt like hell and I was on vicodin and popping Advils every few hours. It went away the morning my dear aunt passed away. I am no longer diabetic - I passed my glucose test the other week - yay. My asthma is another story. Looks like she is here to stay.

My aunt was dying and had a few months. She had some complications and left us a lot sooner than expected. I was taking Teddy to the hospital with me on death watch - I wanted to be with my aunt but also wanted to nurse my baby. This went on for a few weeks. She passed away the first week of February. I really miss her.

To make matters worse, 4 days after my aunt's funeral, Mark was laid off. He survived their layoffs at least 4 times around. Not so lucky this time. I love having him home - and so does Ricky. It is nice to have every day feel like Saturday. He has been taking Ricky to preschool and picking up - and was even the volunteer room dad last week for me. In Mark's industry freelancing is common, so that eases my worry a bit. He should be able to get jobs here and there until a permanent one comes around. Meanwhile, we've been spending as less as we can. This has a domino effect - we can't put our house on the market if Mark has no income. The housing market sucks so bad anyways - we're planning on renting our house out.

With the exception of Teddy's birth, this year has really sucked the big one so far. I don't think it could get worse - at least it better not.