Respite.

We continue with our Hand, Foot and Mouth, and it continues to suck. Naps are short, night sleep is terrible, mom is slowly losing her mind.

But we did have a brief break from the fussing yesterday, when Tim went to the hardware store and came back with a baby pool. He was the hero of the day, and our little bathing beauty was so excited to splash splash for her Mimi and Paw.

Having some tea with Mimi

Ah yes, that's the ticket.

The Plague.

Whelp, Ellie sure does know how to have fun on a holiday weekend.

Yesterday morning Tim headed down to San Diego for a nerdy cousin LAN party (ie: playing video games together nonstop while drinking Red Bull and eating chips) and I headed out to Balboa Island, where a friend of mine was borrowing her parents' fabulous house. Leslie had invited Cara and I and our husbands and babies to come and spend the weekend. I was unsure about having Ellie sleep overnight someplace without Tim around, but I knew we would have a fun Saturday playing with the other babies (and drinking with the other moms.)

We got there around 10 and after everyone got arrived and settled, we headed out to lunch. Ellie was happy as a clam when I loaded her into the Ergo carrier, but when I got home to change her diaper, her entire torso was covered in a red rash, as well as her hands, feet and mouth. Considering her friend Lexi came down with hand, foot and mouth disease last week, I was pretty sure I knew what I was dealing with. And then when she woke up from her nap, she was also running a fever, so it was a pretty easy diagnosis from the nurse on call at the doctor's office. Poor little Bug.

So after unwittingly exposing Penelope and Clare, we figured we'd stay the rest of the afternoon as planned, especially because there's nothing much to be done for HFM. It's a common virus, so the key is just to push fluids and watch the fever. But within a few hours, everything seemed to result in a lot of crying, so we packed up and headed to Gigi's. Ellie perked up with her grandparents, and it gave me a chance to run to the grocery store to buy supplies recommended by mom friends on facebook - mostly popsicles and pedialyte just in case Ellie got mouth ulcers.

Thankfully, she's been mostly an angel. Just a rashy one. She slept great last night - only woke up once, at 5am. I curled up in bed with her, where she informed me "Lulu sleep mama pillow" and then we both passed back out until 8am. Took a nice long walk this morning, and now she's napping again.

The other good news is that between Lexi, Ellie, Penelope and Clare, we have a plenty of places to go for play dates this week, since I can't really take her to swimming or music class. We'll make our own baby leper colony!

Amusing.

Hey, who wants some dip dip? You can just CRAM IT IN YOUR PIEHOLE.

Looks like someone is not "mom enough" to handle cosleeping with all of her babies. No attachment parenting for you, kid.

Monday/Wednesday Walk and Park.

Jonathan, Elizabeth Rosemarie (E1) and Elizabeth Layton (E2). They are quite the fun little trio.

Too Grown Up.

This morning we went for a lovely walk, and on our way home, stopped and talked to my kitty corner neighbor, who is an 81 year old Southern lady who I can't believe I haven't gotten to know sooner. She is a HOOT. She lives alone (though her daughter lives nearby) and bought her house when it was new. It has a pool, and she insisted that we come and try it out. Ellie was happy to oblige her by skinny dipping while Miss Mary and I chatted. I foresee more visits this summer.

So when we got home it was time for a bath, of course. Afterwards, I was combing Ellie's hair, and as she sometimes does when I'm fixing her up, she asked for a boinger. I told her that I could try doing TWO boingers, and she was very excited about this possibility.

Folks, I am absolutely dying over here. When did she get so big? The pigtails instantly transformed her from a baby into a little girl. I don't know that I'm quite ready for it.

Pushy, Pushy.

Ellie and Clare at Mr. Pickles, plotting their escape. Once the cookies are eaten, they don't have time to sit around and chat.

Six Remaining.

Our little friend Ellie is cutting her two bottom canines and ornery as heck today. The good news is that once those babies are in, she only has six more teeth to go. I loathe baby teeth. I can't believe someday she'll want money in exchange for those pieces of junk. I am going to make HER give ME money.

We managed to keep her close to the edge of sanity today through lots of outdoor play. Can't stop to complain about your teeth if you're busy on the slide I guess.

And this morning we spent our time getting a little fresh air at the Pre-Eclampsia Foundation's Promise Walk. We were walking in memory of Fluff and Jasmin's son "Blue," who was born in 2010 at only 24 weeks because of Jasmin's pre-eclampsia. They did the Promise Walk last year too, and said it was a nice way to celebrate their son's life and raise awareness about pre-eclampsia. Sadly though, they weren't able to join us because their baby Lucas has been in and out of the hospital since he was born, with digestive issues. He was having intestinal surgery today, and thankfully has been given a good prognosis. The little sweetheart is a fighter, and I know he's got his brother keeping an eye on him. Tim and I are hoping to see them and keep Lucas company in the hospital later this week.

But today, we were happy to walk in Blue's honor, along with Fluff's best friend Alfredo, his wife Denise and his sister and nephew. We were a small but mighty team! And as you can see, Ellie was fussing about her mouth (and her desire to swim in the fountain behind us.)