Detour Ahead

Well after my return from Florida I went to post some pictures and was frustrated to find out that I had reached my maximum capacity on my blog. After only 4 months of posting I was kind of let down, kind of my own fault with all the videos. Carlos decided to build our own website, which he spent all day yesterday doing. The website is www.ckrodriguez.com I hope you will enjoy our new site!

We made it home!

It has been so long since I posted last. We got back from Florida yesterday after a 16 hour drive! The boys were great considering it stinks to be stuck in a car for so long. We had a great time visiting with Carlos' parents in their new home (all that yummy Cuban cooking) and visiting with his sisters Leticia and Betty and her two boys Eric and Christopher. Amazingly the 4 boys got along really well together, don't get me wrong they had their moments but overall all went really well.
So much happened while we were gone. Carlos and I left Missouri on the 1st we drove halfway and stopped in Atlanta and stayed at the JW Marriott in Buckhead, Georgia. We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary on the 2nd which we commemorated by finishing our drive to Florida (we had dinner at California pizza kitchen the night before and I had yummy shrimp scampi pizza). Luke was such a trooper the whole time, I fed him babyfood alot in hopes of keeping him occupied and happy and it worked.
On the 3rd we went and visited our old neighborhood in Poinciana. We hoped to visit with our neighbors, the Alvarezes but they were not home (only Adriel was home). We went to Publix to visit with Eduardo (where he works). It was nice to see them but wished we could have seen Helen and Gustavo too. On the way home to Carlos' parents house we got stuck in good old central Florida traffic for 2 hours! I was completely miserable and quickly realized why I moved away from that place. The DOT in Florida needs to learn how to plan for growth something they have neglected to do.
On the 4th we went to New Smyrna beach with the whole family. It was fun but the beach was horrible. It was cold, and the water was very murky. Carlos didn't swim at all because the water was too cold. The kids really enjoyed it for the most part, except Caleb who is just like Daddy in wanting the water to be warm.
On the 5th we went to the Sanford Flea market, what a dump it was. I was miserable because it was hot and it was basically all junk.
On Sunday we went to Anna Maria Island on the west coast which happens to be our favorite beach. The water was like bath water and crystal clear. I swam so much and even did some snorkeling. I saw tons of fish and founds some neat seashells. Our visit got cut short when a horrible thunderstorm rolled through and we had to pack up and leave.
Monday was Eric's ninth birthday. The boys and I went to my friend Debbie's house to visit. It was so nice to see her and her two boys. I met Debbie at the breastfeeding luncheons at the hospital after I had Noah and we formed a great playgroup with some other Mom's who stayed home with their children. I wanted to visit my other friends too but in my advanced maternal age I have become paranoid about the way people drive, especially in Florida. When we got home we had cake for Eric to celebrate his birthday.
Tuesday was the big day that we went to Magic Kingdom. Oh it was so much fun! It was oppressively hot but so worth it. I took Noah on Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain. It was great and he enjoyed it. Caleb was able to go on Splash Mountain too, which we stood in line for 60 minutes to ride. They wanted to back out 3/4 of the way through the line but I wouldn't let them. Luke was such a trooper at the park. Eventhough it was miserably hot and probably really boring for him he only fussed when he was hungry, I am so lucky to have an easy going baby like him.
Wednesday we laid low and did nothing! It was great I was exhausted. We left Florida at 5:30 EST on the 10th and arrived last night at 8:30 CST.
Today Noah had his Kindergarten orientation and met his teacher Mrs. Muench. He got to ride the bus which was a big bonus. The school looks great and is all new.

HELLO!

Ok before I start this post let me first say I am not one to brag about my kids accomplishments, don't get me wrong love them to pieces but I get bored to death when mothers start to compete and say "oh my baby walked at 9 months, said his first word at 5 months" and so on. But today I was talking to Luke while changing his diaper and he started to mumble back. Was really cute and I thought I wish I could get this on video. Well totally thinking I wouldn't be able to get anything I got 3 minutes worth.
On another note Noah and Caleb are headed to Rochester, New York to help Carlos' parents move to Florida. On their first leg out of Saint Louis there where only 2 seats available in the cabin. So the boys had to sit by themselves while Carlos sat in the jumpseat located in the cockpit. The boys didn't even sit with each other! I guess they were wonderful and slept for most of the flight, wow I may be teaching them how to be good young men after all (good grief they are only 5 and 3!). So Mommy is enjoying being the parent to just one baby, forgot how easy I had it when I just had Noah! But no rest here I have decided to give my house a good scrub down and I have to mow the lawn in this oppressive heat tomorrow...YUCK!

Noah swimming at the pool

Not the best video but it was kind of hard to get this one while holding Luke and watching Caleb!

His bark doesn't bite!

Mister Luke made it to the Doctor again today...blush, blush!! This time you could hear and see he wasn't well. His little nose was running like someone opened the floodgates, his eyes where glassy and his chest was rattling away. He woke up from his afternoon nap and was barking like a seal. I immediately called the Pediatrician and they got him in right away. He is on steroids and was much better about an hour after the steroid was given.
I just got off the phone with Carlos and he passed his oral and checkride...Yay!! Stress free for 6 more months (stress free what is that?)
Yesterday the boys and I went to the O'fallon pool with our neighbors Jenni and Kelsey. We had a good time, their pool is so much more fun. Noah got rescued by the lifeguards twice, once in the vortex where he totally went under and once in the lazy river, he just couldn't get the strength to get out of the current.
The boys had their last day of VBS today and they really liked it. Caleb I think really enjoyed it, he totally loves all the singing. I even got Noah to sing the song for me (shocking I know), I purposely stayed a little longer each time I dropped them off so I could learn the words and sing with them.

The ever elusive paci!

Here is Luke trying to get his paci once again.

Sprint stinks!

Those of you who talk to me on my phone know for the past 3 months I have been having issues with my cell phone. Usually the only place I can carry on somewhat of a conversation is in Luke's bedroom. Carlos and I have been stalking the people at the Sprint store to see what is wrong with my phone all of the sudden. Last night we went in there together (I tend to make somewhat of a big stink when it comes to lousy customer service). We told them that something has to be wrong with the phone. It worked fine for 9 months and now it doesn't work right. Our house sure hasn't moved so it is the phone. Well they did the diagnostic and said it is fine and there was nothing they could do, maybe it is because of all the power outages. Are you kidding me?! The power outages just happened last week my phone has been junk for the past 3 months! Anyhow the woman was absolutely useless and basically told us they couldn't replace our phone that is still under warranty. We called customer care and told them we wanted to cancel our service because they were unwilling to help, I guess they realized that we were serious and decided to replace my phone. I honestly think Sprint has the worst customer service in the world, we have had many issues with them but have been customers for 8 years!
In other news, Carlos is doing his recurrent this week, every 6 months I become a widow to constant studying and stress!! His oral is Thursday so please keep in your prayers that he does well! He also has an ear infection which he is taking antibiotics for and he should be well before his sim test.
Luke finally decided to sleep last night(9-2 and 2:30-5:15. 5:30-8:30). I introduced squash last night which he hated! He pitched the biggest fit that I would even think of messing with his yummy rice cereal. I took him to the Dr yesterday because he slept so awful the night before, up every hour and so fussy during the day! He was fine and had gained 11 ounces in one week. Dr. Dunn makes me feel so much better when I bring him and doesn't make me feel like an idiot.
Noah and Caleb are attending VBS at the Baptist Church in town. They were invited by Leigh Ann and I kind of had to get over the fact that I wasn't going to be helping in any way, I feel so darn guilty just dropping them off. Noah has also started another round of swimming lessons and has the same teacher as last time and she is amazed at how well he has progressed. There is only one other child with him so he has good one on one time with the teacher. He has to work on his front crawl and trusting his teacher.
We got a new Target closer to our house, it is great and I found a great diaper bag for me at a great price. I was so excited to have that search come to an end.

The countdown is on!

Noah officially starts kindergarten in 26 days! I really can't believe it, my boys are getting so big. He is not excited, but he was feeling the same way last year when he started preschool, and he LOVED preschool. We got our shopping list and the things the kids need for school these days is amazing!
Luke is officially back to being a newborn! He wakes up every hour and a half. Last night he just wanted to play. So there goes the idea that once you start solids babies sleep better, I absolutely hate when people say that because it is so false!!
Carlos had his last baseball game of the spring last night and they lost by one. He pulled another muscle in his leg and was hobbling all day but was well enough to go shooting with Eli and Nick this afternoon!
Can you believe it that people in Saint Louis are still without power? Luckily it is much cooler today, but holy smokes I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must be for them.
This week has been relatively quiet. I took the kids to the Science Center on Tuesday, which was probably the biggest mistake I could have possibly made on a day that was 100 degrees. Every YMCA and summer camp in the metropolitan St. Louis area was there. I could only handle so much with 4 kids and a baby that wanted to eat so badly but I couldn't find anywhere to sit to feed him..arghhh! Needless to say we went home after only an hour and a half!!

It is sooo Hot!!

I can't believe how hot it is here in Saint Louis. Yesterday I was at my friend, Leigh Ann's house and on the walk home (about 7 houses) I almost died! The heat index yesterday was 107! Then the sky just opened up around 6 pm. It was awful here in Wentzville but Saint Louis got hit even harder with winds in excess of 60 mph and lots of rain. 500,000 people are without power in Saint Louis which is just awful when the heat index is supposed to be 115 today!
I was scheduled for my foot surgery today in Saint Louis at 6 in the morning, not knowing the extent of the damage. When I got to the surgery center there was no power so that meant no surgery! It was frustrating because my schedule is so weird with Carlos being gone so much, and I had all my ducks in a row and now I have to reschedule for another time, but what are you gonna do? So Leigh Ann (she drove me) and I went to IHOP for breakfast which was nice without kids (just Luke he is so iffy with a bottle), I don't get to experience that usually.

Luke's first taste of food

Here is Luke enjoying his rice cereal...YUM!! Watch his little hands shake in excitement, he loved it so much I gave him 4 tablespoons of cereal.

4 Month checkup

Luke had his four month checkup today and he is still perfect...imagine that!? I waited this long to get his checkup because my favorite Doctor, Dr. Dunn was on vacation. Luke weighs 16 lbs. 1 oz (75th percentile), he is 26 inches long (85th percentile) and his head circumference is 44.0 cm (90th percentile). He is growing, that is for sure! Dr. Dunn also told me that if we wanted to we could start rice cereal. He really enjoyed his first go round tonight. I usually don't start food till about 6 months but he really has been showing great interest in food! Dr. Dunn also informed me (we got into a conversation about gas prices and the price of formula) that I will have saved over 2,000 dollars after a year of breastfeeding, kind of encouraging considering everything is so expensive.

How do I get this in my mouth??

Luke trying to get his paci in his mouth.