Winter (In)Sanity

With all the ridiculous snow we keep getting we've really had to keep ourselves occupied. Grandma Peggie made it here safely and thankfully had one of the flights that was not cancelled. As soon as Grandma got here Rooney ran up gave her hugs and kisses and wanted her to take him outside. So they went. They played for a long time in the snow. Rooney really seems to like to roll in the snow and make himself slip on the ice. He thinks that is great fun.

Yesterday, after about a foot of snow fell, Grandma, Rooney and I decided to make a sled run on our driveway. We went through several sled prototypes before we settles on the Ultra Deluxe cardboard inside a garbage bag model. It worked really well and we made it all the way down the slope. Rooney ended up tuckering out but Grandma and I kept on going. We had a ball. Too bad Mike was working out and missed it. He plans to go today before he shovels the drive. Hopefully we get some good pics.

Rooney vs. the Santa Claus

The nice thing about being basically snowed in is that I have alot more time to update Roon's blog. I think I've posted more this month than in any month since Rooney turned 1. Yesterday it was forecast that a really bad winter storm was rolling in. Winds were supposed to be between 50-70mph in some parts, with wind gusts up to 90mph! Thankfully the forecast was not as grim near our house (winds 25-35mph with gusts up to 50mph), but more snow was forecast for everywhere.

We had tickets to go to the Santa Train yesterday morning. I was a little nervous because of the impending storm but thankfully our tickets were for morning and the storm was due to roll in during the afternoon. Despite my earlier apprehension it turned out to be a good thing because North Bend is where the 90mph wind gusts were expected! Santa Train could have been alot of fun. You got to take a short train ride to Snoqualmie and to where Santa was waiting. After taking a picture with Santa there were cookies and cocoa available plus you could do a little shopping before the train rolled back out to North Bend. This could have been great for photos and a nice little Christmasy family activity. This could have been alot of fun if it was not so cold!

We were a little unprepared. I thought we were dressed warmly, but I thought we really only needed to worry about the short train ride so I didn't worry about wearing heavy boots. I figured it would be heated where Santa was and the cookies etc. and it was. I did not take into account the walk from the car to the train station, through a couple inches of snow, that would start our trek off with frozen feet. By the end I was so cold. I only remember 2 others times being as cold. Rooney was getting kind of fussy and wanting to bounce around when were standing in all the lines and on the train. Of course we eventually started getting annoyed and Rooney started getting upset but we made it through to see Santa. I was not really sure how well Rooney would receive Santa. He is very intrigued by him, especially when he found out he brings gifts, but I think he is an imposing figure. That makes Rooney a bit shy. Roon decided he did not want to sit on Santa's lap but he okayed standing next to him. Santa got Rooney to put his hand on Santa's but unfortunately for Roon he blanked when Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas. Mom remembered but possibly not in order of importance. It wasn't until the train trip back when Rooney said his feet hurt that I realized why we had been so antsy and moody. Of course his feet hurt! They were 2 ice blocks like mine were and I know mine really hurt. Poor baby.

We got him in the car finally and got him all warmed up. He actually fell asleep pretty quickly and that short cat nap was enough to keep him up the rest of the day. That was unfortunate for Mom and Dad because we were hoping to take a little snooze when we got home. The day was exhausting but we did have work to do. Grandma Peggie is due to arrive today so we had some cleaning to do and with the impending storm we didn't know if we would have power in the morning.

The storm came and it was pretty nasty. The wind howled and I watched the trees in our backyard. Every time I heard a crack I ran to the window to make sure the trees were still there. We lost a strand of Christmas lights and Mike will have to scrape the driveway yet again but we still have power! Mike will try to venture out to pick Grandma Peggie up from the airport. I'm sure they will be in for a little adventure. Keep your fingers crossed.

Snow Angels

Our weather continues to be a bit difficult and we received a new fluttering of snow at our house. It was much worse everywhere else so I guess we were lucky. Mike had to work from home due to the road conditions closer to work. I would prefer no snow, but if we're going to have some, I would not have minded a few inches for Rooney to play in. We made do so I snapped a few photos of our morning. I later spent the afternoon making biscotti (my MIL's recipe YUM!). It was a great winter day.

Here's Rooney making a Snow Angel. This is his first one! It took a little bit of practice. He decided to lay head down on the slope of our driveway and had problems getting up without rolling all over his angel.


Getting up is the hardest part




































This is my Snow Angel
























Talk about a Snow Angel...

No Can Do

Since we're all kind of holed up today I wanted to post a few pictures of our morning. This is probably the first real time Rooney has been able to "play" in the "snow" (it's mostly ice). He had a great time throwing the huge chunks of ice that Mike was scraping. I only had to remind him once not to throw it at the windows.


Mike scraping the driveway of death


















Rooney helping Daddy













"The whole driveway?"

Deep Freeze

Help we are in the beginning of a deep freeze! As someone from Southern CA I really have an aversion to the snow and ice and it looks like it will be here for a few days at least. The snow started last night while we were at Mike's Holiday Party. We were staying overnight in Downtown so we weren't too worried about driving home until this morning.

According to the news we were receiving an Arctic Blast. I became very concerned about the dogs (they were home alone) and getting Rooney. Where Annie lives is kind of rural so the roads going out there can be scary. Once we left the hotel the streets in Downtown were absolutely clear and there was no problem getting on the freeway. We have some pretty large hills here (Seattle is built on 7 of them I believe) but thankfully there were no issues...until we got back to where we live.

Dana and Renae were attempting to stop by our house and let the dogs outside for us. We live up another big hill and even though they were following a sand truck they said they were not able to make it up the hill. Now Mike and I had to find the least hilly and most sanded route to our house. We made it with only a couple scary moments. Mike has mad snow driving skills. I was very white knuckled for the whole trip and I think we both agreed for every one's sake it would be best if I stayed home while Mike trekked out to get Rooney.

He just called and said the route was a bit treacherous. He decided to chain up for the ride home. I'm still so nervous but I know Rooney is in as safe of hands as possible. I am pretty sure we'll all be home for a least the next day. The snow stopped but the Arctic Blast should last a few more days to be topped off with more snow on Wednesday. This is really unfortunate because we are supposed to go to our IVF Orientation class that day. I hope they reschedule the class and that this weather doesn't push us back.

Before the nasty weather hit we were able to get out and enjoy the season a little bit. On Thursday this week we went to Snowflake Lane and took in some festivities. Rooney really enjoyed himself and was so excited that he said "It's a Party!". He got to take his picture with Rudolph and really seemed to enjoy the Toy Solider drummers and fake snow that came down. That was a fun night. I originally planned to write more about that night but this stupid snow stole the inspiration. Although we did not have the foresight to take pics of ourselves dressed up for the holiday party there was a roaming photographer so hopefully we'll be able to get some pics of Mike looking handsome in his sweater vest.

In Preparation of Santa

Does anyone else feel like this year is screaming by? Rooney is still talking about pumpkins and here we are decorating for Christmas! Rooney is really getting into Christmas this year. He is talking about Santa, couldn't wait to decorate the tree and loves to look at the lights on the house. He has even sneaked a peek at his presents! Ugh they start so young.

Not too long after Thanksgiving I went into our spare bedroom (where the gifts are hiding) to do something. I walked out and closed the door. I come by the room a moment later & Rooney is coming out very excited and asking to play with the train set he saw in there! Of course I did what instinct tells you to do and lied and said there was no train set and I don't know what he was talking about. It's debatable if I saved this Christmas gift but I am surely driving my son slowly insane. I guess this won't be a Santa gift either.

Roon is definitely now such a kid. He is a real chatterbox at times, and it's generally the "wrong" time to be one. He has found his whiny voice, which I frequently ask him to turn off. We have to look for his listening ears alot and there is non-stop touching of everything (including emergency buttons in elevators). Rooney is also very loving to his Momma and it really pains him if I'm upset. He asks me to please be happy and will try funny faces to make me laugh (they generally do). He is always willing to give me a hug and a kiss- especially if it extends bedtime just a minute or two more.

Speaking of bedtime...this is starting to become a little issue. Now that Rooney is a big boy and we are really trying to potty train we decided that the tiny water he went to bed with was not a good idea. We took the water away and opened flood gates. We didn't realize how attached to the water he was and that it was his soothing device at bedtime. Roon was always really easy to put down. We rarely heard a peep from him once we closed the door. Those days are over now. He no longer asks for the water but the door needs to be opened and then he is talking to us or calling us non-stop for about an hour. Last night Mike and I finished decorating the Christmas tree to the sweet dulcet tones of Rooney's moaning "Momma". Very relaxing. The potty training is going well and we'd probably be done if he would just tell us he has to go. He's still not there but I know we'll get there.

We are now set on our course for baby# 2 (or the "quads" as we jokingly refer to them/it). We have decided on pursuing IVF with ICSI. Although the MD felt I could be successful with others means since we already had a baby conventionally, we all felt the odds with IVF with ICSI would basically be the most bang for our buck. Or should I say Microsoft's? We did not want to run the risk of using lesser possibility methods, with the chance of them not working, and eat up the infertility funds we are allotted. I'm crossing my fingers about this working on the first round. I have already started the suppression meds and should be getting my calendar soon. The first round should be in January. Mike, the MD and I all had a good laugh when we worked out that if the 1st round was successful and given the earlier due date due to C-Section, the new baby should be due on Rooney's birthday! However, Rooney has been asking for a sister and a brother so if that works out then we should be even earlier.