No good deed goes unpunished

Jennifer (with the help of Mark and Margareta) babysat the kids overnight Saturday night so we could go out and enjoy our 11th wedding anniversary. It was the first time we'd left both kids and gone out. It was a really decadent 20 hours and it was great to get some time alone with Bjorn when someone wasn't demanding more juice or Magic School Bus on television.

The kids had a great time. Andy even cried when he saw us because he was having so much fun and didn't want it to end. To pay Jennifer back for her hospitality, Andy snuck into bed with her this morning about 4 a.m. complaining of a bad dream. She thought it was really cute, I mean, the kid did walk past our bedroom, past Mark in his bedroom who was home for the weekend, past Meg's room and down two flights of stairs to the dark basement to find her. Jennifer wasn't quite prepared for the kicking and fidgeting from the almost five year old though. Later she woke up at 7 a.m. to start getting ready for work and he laid there sprawled all over his bed until nearly 8:30 a.m. I took a picture with my cell phone that I need to upload.


It was a great anniversary. We trekked out to Strasburg, Virginia, a place we used to visit in our younger, less encumbered days. The best was this place called the Strasburg Theater with the best performers at an open mic night that I've ever seen. We had planned to tour some antique/junk stores, but ran out of time. Next time, but hopefully it won't take us 11 years to get back.

Bjornism

I have to give Bjorn credit, he is definitely more of a half-glass full guy than a half-empty kind of guy. It's usually a good balance for me since I tend to be more cautious. Today is a perfect example.

Meg and Andy were beyond adorable after dinner as they were both in an empty diaper box "driving." I think it was a bus, but it could have been a boat. I'm not sure Andy was entirely clear. But they were playing together and laughing.

"Wow. Isn't that adorable? It's so great that they can play together a little now," I said.
"Yeah, it really is great. 'Andy, you are being a good big brother,'" said Bjorn.
"It was a long way to go for this, but I do love it."
"Are you kidding? This is worth everything."

I know, what a sweetheart.

I leave for a work trip for the weekend tomorrow. Meg has been sick this week starting with diarrhea Tuesday followed by the barfs Tuesday night into Wednesday. I was up with her Tuesday night and then Bjorn stayed home with her yesterday (again, what a good guy.) She was really whiny and sad off and on during the day (and refusing Tylenol) so it was so great when she woke up this morning much more like herself. It makes me appreciate the joy the kids were having together all the morning.

Oh, what's up with Michael Jackson today? I just have to add that my mom wins cool points for taking us to his Thriller concert at Texas Stadium back in like 1980. The killer? We had front row seats. Apparently Mom sent away by mail for the tickets from the back of a Rolling Stone magazine. Totally cool.

Baby Bjorn

See this picture? She looks like her father here, doesn't she? We have a picture in our hallway from when Bjorn was probably nine months old and the resemblance is striking.

Poor baby has a bit of a cold right now that is clogging up her tear ducts, making her eyes all goopy. Since she was a newborn she has gone through periods when her eyes would start to water and fill up with green goop. While ugly, it wasn't hurting anything except my pride that she's not a beautiful as she could be.

The eyes got goopy a few days ago and followed by a runny nose, a cough and her waking up twice a night for two nights. Fearing a sinus infection, I took her to the doctor who, brilliantly, has walk-in hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The diagnosis is a cold that is affecting her sinuses and perhaps exacerbating the blocked tear ducts. I'm relieved -- no ear infection, no sinus infection, just a regular cold.