Since I haven't posted much in the past couple of weeks due to holidays and sickness, I thought I would catch you up today on what has been happening at our house lately.
Despite three of the four of us having colds for Christmas, we had a good one. I don't have any pictures because no one felt like taking them. My family had Christmas dinner together that evening, and John was the only one who could go. Actually, he had to go because everyone was planning on his frying the turkey since he had done such a great job at Thanksgiving. He did bring us home some leftovers which was nice. My favorite present was a pump for the water heater from John. It recirculates the hot water throughout the house so that there is hot water (at least, warm) as soon as you turn on the faucet. It was a little over our budget for each other, but it was a very sweet present and much, much appreciated while I was sick. For our children, we made two small mistakes when buying presents; it's not a big deal, but I hope to learn from them. Everything we bought Sarah Beth was something to play with at the table, e.g. Candyland, puzzles, Wikki Stix, except for her dollhouse which is up in her room. However, she does enjoy playing with all of Daniel's cars and trucks; yes, that is all we bought him. Even the puzzle we got for him is of cars and trucks. Oh, well. They're happy with their presents, and that's what counts, isn't it?
The Saturday after Christmas, I started running fever, and we realized that I had developed a sinus infection on Monday. I don't think I have ever been that sick for that duration. I have been pretty sick before, but only for a day or two. I still have sinus headaches in the morning when I get up, but they go away, thankfully. I wish I had stock in Puffs Plus with lotion facial tissues because I have used boxes and boxes over the past couple of weeks. (Those are the best kind, in case you didn't already know that.)
I had a doctor's appointment last Thursday; it was just a routine one, but I had a sonogram, too. "Baby Sister" is still a girl. (I like to double check, just in case.) Everything was fine except that the amniotic fluid was a little low. My doctor thinks that was just because I had been sick and wasn't getting enough fluids. I'm trying really hard to drink a lot because she is going to recheck the level next week. And because "Baby Sister" needs it!
My goal for this week is to get "Baby Sister's" room ready for her. She will be here in about a month. I had been waiting until after the holidays anyway, and I started today with sorting through Sarah Beth's old clothes, the new things I was given at my shower, and the few other things I have picked up. It was fun looking back through these these things because I had forgotten about some of the really cute outfits I had for Sarah Beth and the other things I had been given. We bought a new crib before Christmas, and John put it up this past weekend. (No, I am not ready to move Daniel into a "big" bed.)
Several of the ladies whose blogs I read are participating in the
Eat from the Pantry Challenge hosted by Crystal at
Moneysavingmom. I'm not...at least this month. As a matter of fact, I plan to stock up my pantry and freezer as much as I can, spending as much of our grocery budget as I can. Why? So that when "Baby Sister" comes, I won't have to cook or go to the grocery store for as long as possible. I figure we will do our Eat from the Pantry Challenge in February and hopefully into March. I plan to have a bunch of casseroles in the freezer and the fixings for easy meals like spaghetti and chili which John can prepare. (He really doesn't mind cooking.)
So, do you feel caught up? What have you been doing lately?