I LOVE MY HUSBAND!

So after last night's meeting, I feel really bad going back to reading my last blog entry. I just complained about the kids, Patrick, etc, when I really should be embracing those types of experiences and feel fortunate that I have two great kids, a very loving and caring husband, and great physicians who help keep my kids well.

We met last night with Bethany Vosak(sp?) who talked to us about Love Languages and marriage during residency (or during any stressful time in your careers). The first thing she did was have us close our eyes and remember the first time we saw our husbands. When we opened our eyes, EVERYONE WAS SMILING!!! It is so easy to be mad at them for coming home late (even though it is not their fault), for not being there to go to the kids horrible doctor appointment (even though they wish they could be there), and for coming home to study instead of cuddle with you and do things around the house (even though they wish they didn't have t study). It was so nice to remember what made me fall in love with Patrick, and what keeps our love alive today. It is also nice to realize everyone else has to "work" or "choose" to love their spouse the best way they know how.

One of the best parts I realize about my marriage is my understanding of his time commitments, and his natural communication skills. He MAKES me talk things out and communicate - which is hard especially since I am from a non-communicative family. He doesn't yell (even when he finds my credit card bills), he doesn't hold grudges, and he gives me a lot of "get-out-of-jail-free cards" when he just knows I am having a bad day and acting like a bitch. I also respect he needs some "him" time, and hardly ever (I can't say never) give him grief for playing soccer or golf with his friends.

Some questions Bethany asked were:

"How do you feel when he comes home an hour and a half late than when he is expected"? - I am bummed but know he must be even more pissed than me for being stuck there and not getting home when planned.

"How do you feel when he forgets to take out the garbage"? - I feel like something really must be wrong or he has a ton on his mind - because he is so anal and has a checklist for everything so if he misses something like that - he is really off his game and not feeling well. He would never do it on purpose.

"How do you feel when he forgets your birthday/anniversary/etc"? - This one used to bother me as Patrick is not good with dates. When he does remember - he goes all out and comes up with very meaningful and special cards and gifts. When he forgets, I buy myself flowers to remind him - then he usually feels bad and goes overboard making it up - so I win either way!!!

It was great to be forced to remember to be selfless in a relationship. Stop always thinking of how it makes you feel, and try to remember that you are one, and that if you feel crappy about it - then they probably do too. Not in every case...but in ours (during residency) it can be stressful because of lack of time together, commitment to being the best doctor he can be (which includes studying every night and going to journal clubs and conferences), coming home late, being on call every other night, etc. etc. etc...

So instead of complaining about things - I am going to list some of my favorite things that I LOVE about my husband.

* He knows when I need a break and when I need help
* He cleans up after dinner
* He does almost all the laundry
* He always asks how the kids and I are doing
* He calls me during the day when he can
* He kisses me EVERY morning before he leaves for work
* He fills up my gas tank when he takes my car
* He tries to help put the kids down (bath, books and bed) every night he is home
* He truly cares about our house and takes pride in it (building a new deck, painting, etc)
* He is close to his family
* He accepts my faults and has learned to love them and laugh at them (how I turn on every light in the house - even during the day)
* He loves when I am girly
* He tells me what a good job I am doing with the kids
* He lets me shop!!!
* He wants date nights
* He communicates very effectively
* He is good in bed (he made me put this one on here)

I could go on and on - but I want everyone to know that I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!!!

the worst dr. appt ever!

So today was Gavin's 3 yr check up and Evie's 1 yr check up. Things were going good. Got there on time. Evelyn had a good morning nap right before. Remembered to bring snacks and lollipops in case there was a wait. Going good.

Then I made the fatal mistake. I thought...these kids have been so good, I don't need to bring in the stroller. Gavin won't need time out, and I won't need to restrain Evelyn either. Wishful thinking, huh?

We got in and it started well. Gavin was cooperating with Dr. Morran. She asked questions, he answered. She said open your mouth...and viola, he opened! But things started getting shaky when he noticed the food/candy. He wanted it then and now. So a mini tantrum later, we compromised and gave him a juice box...since I was informed he was to pee in a cup. Pee in a cup? For real...I can barely make it into a cup and they need it from a 3 year old who is barely potty trained (and pees sitting down). So we attempt the cup. We are directed into the public bathroom and I have no where to put down Evelyn. No nurse to help, no stroller to sit her in. So I am one handed-ly helping Gavin strip to get on the potty, getting him up on the BIG potty and trying to hold this cup under his wee-wee to catch any ounce of pee that may come out - which he does not like!!! He doesn't want the cup anywhere "down there" and says he has "no pee pee for the cup". OK. I take him off the potty and stand him on the floor and turn my back to pick up his pull-up and clothes, etc. All of a sudden I hear a whizzing sound, followed by Gavin going - "Look, Mommy! I am peeing on the floor!" So I quick grab the cup to catch the last few drops that come out (hey - they needed the pee). Then, I sit Evie down on some toilet paper while I get Gavin dressed. She starts crawling into the pee. I almost cried. If it wasn't happening to me it would be funny.

So somehow we clean up and get back to the exam room. They try to check Gavin's hearing and vision - but he was yelled at by mommy so he is sad and not responding well to demands or requests. No vision or hearing checked. Next up is Evie.

She does great through the exam, but then come the inevitable shots. 3 of them. Usually there are 2 nurses to help hold and give shots quickly, but today only 1. So I have to hold her arms and upper body down while they give her the shots in her legs. She is freaking out crying (a lot more than usual with shots). Gavin hears her cry and sees me hugging and kissing her, so he starts to cry and wants mommy to kiss him and hold him too. I try to throw him off with a lollipop. Success.

Then comes an even worse part. She has to get tested for lead and some other things, so they have to prick her tiny middle finger and squeeze blood out into 2 vials. This makes her hysterical, almost passing out from crying so hard. Now Gavin realizes that this nurse is hurting his sister, so he pushes a chair up to the exam table, climbs up (and there is nothing we can do because the nurse and I are helping Evie - who is bleeding a lot - just not into the vial) and crawls towards us, yelling at the nurse. Then he falls off the exam table. He didn't get hurt, but I know I lost my mother of the year award.

In the end, I was mad at my kids (but shouldn't have been), mad at myself for not bringing in the stroller, mad at Patrick for not being there to experience that with me, and mad at the nurses for not helping more. Let's just say I am having a nice drink tonight after my meeting!!!

Playgroup

So today was a super fun playgroup. I would say the most fun one ever - but I'll just say one of the best!!!

We went pumpkin picking at Jacquemin Farms - only about 10 minutes from my house. We had a great group (us, the Welshes, the Williamses, theVicenas, the Stevensons, the Porcellis and the Carozzas) and Ashli had set up a great tour for us. First, we went back and a lady came with us to the fields. When one of the kids found a pumpkin they liked, they raised their hands and she would come and show them how she cuts the stem and them they got to put the pumpkin in their bag. There was a great selection and the kids like being able to roam free and select whichever one they wanted. At first, our buddy Nathan picked a poor little starting-to-rot one, but the nice lady explained how the stem makes it not rot as quickly as one without a stem so he picked a nice green one. So of course, Gavin wanted a green one too. Evelyn crawled upon hers right away and it is very nice. Good shape, color, etc. But Gavin's is green with a yellow "face" or spot.

Then we got to go in the farm part and pick gourds. There were buckets for the kids to chose from, and Evelyn chose hers by eating them (and some rocks). We then proceeded to some picnic tables where the kids were given coloring books and a snack (a yummy doughnut - which I ate) and some apple juice. But Gavin could care less about that because there was a "sandbox" that was filled with corn filler that had tons of toys, dump trucks, buckets, etc to play in it with. He jumped right in, and the other kids joined after snack. That left time for the moms to chat or laugh at the kids playing! There was also a corn maze that had cool slides incorporated in it. Great job Ashli!!!!

You can also check out all the pics - http://picasaweb.google.com/kellybull/Playgroup10307JacqueminFarmsPumpkinPicking

PA trip - Evelyn's dedication and kids b-day party!

We just got back from PA and had an awesome trip. We stayed with Patrick's parents and had a great time. So our main reason for heading home was to honor our baby girl and dedicate her and welcome her to this world (ok - I know we are a bit late - but give us a break!). It was another gorgeous weekend and we had about 45-50 people coming to my mom's for the ceremony and party.

Patrick and I arrived at my mom's around 11am the morning of the party - thinking that was enough time to prepare. The party didn't start until 2:30 so we had 3.5 hours to work. Were we ever wrong! Thank goodness some people came early to help and my little sister and her friends were there to help watch the kids and decorate too! Anyway, after a long morning of getting balloons, food, tables, etc ready, we were greeting people as they arrived. Thank God my best friend Eileen was there (as well as my mom and sister Anna) because they helped do all the behind the scenes things, like getting Evelyn dressed (thank you Eileen for her beautiful Christening Gown), to making sure the food was set out in the right area, to telling people where to place the gifts. The Reverend arrived also at 2:30 (although not expected until 3) so that threw me a bit but she waited patiently until we were ready. The ceremony actually began promptly at 3 and was about 20 minutes long. We were under an awning - but it was still HOT! Evie was good for the most part - although there was a lot of passing her back and forth to keep her entertained. She suffered a major bump to the head right before - so she was a little solemn from that (nice concussion Kelly!).

After the ceremony everyone partied to celebrate Evelyn's dedication but also Gavin and Evelyn's birthdays. We got a huge moon bouncer from my friend Josette (her hubby rents them out on the weekends) and it was a hit - for kids and adults alike. It was HUGE!!! But also tons of fun! Gavin got overheated a few times though and had to come inside in the air conditioning to cool off. It ranked as a very cool party! I was a chicken with my head cut off so I barely spoke to anyone for more than a minute - but overall it was a success. The fightin' Phillies also were playing to clinch a play-off spot and won! So everyone watched that during the 9th inning and celebrated!

We had lots of finger foods, dips, cookies, snacks and a beautiful cake. We also did a piniata which was fun - the pull string kind - much easier than the one you have to hit! People filtered out around 5:30 but the med school friends stuck around until almost 7:30 and played horseshoes and drank and talked. It was so good to see them all again. It was the first time since we moved to Ohio that I got home sick. I got that sad feeling, knowing we wouldn't see these people all together again for quite some time. My grandfather, my godfather, aunts and uncles, mom, dad, sisters and their families, best friends from growing up and their families... it was truly a blessed occasion celebrated by those who we love dearly. Thanks to all who were there - you made it so special for us!

The only problem (if you want to call it that) was that we could not fit all the presents home in our car in one trip! I had to go back the next day to get some - and help finish clean my mom's house. I have to say she and my sister Kaitlin, went all out in decorating and getting goody bags, and food and making sure it was an amazing time. Thanks to both of them for making it all possible! And thanks to my sister Anna for the amazing fruit salad - oops...that's right - you forgot it (heehee Anna - you know I am kidding...thanks for all your help with everything).

Monday was Gavin's real birthday so we celebrated more intimately at MomMom and PopPop's house for dinner and cake. Patrick's mom, dad, brother, sister (and her hubby and 3 girls) and my dad were there. Gavin got a few more gifts (just what we needed) and we had a great meal, wine and left over cake. It really was a short but sweet trip home.

Check out all my pics - http://picasaweb.google.com/kellybull/KidsBirthdayInPA2007

A day for blogging - or is it yogging (maybe a silent bl?)

Anyone familiar with Ron Burgandy will get my title joke. Anchorman anyone? Anyway - this afternoon I have SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much cleaning and organizing to do that I decided to skip it and just blog to catch up. We have had a lot happen in the past week! My primary items will be about Evelyn's dedication ceremony, our trip home, the kids birthday party in PA, and playgroup from today! All of which were so fun and memorable! So here we go...