But there's sick here again.  Since I last wrote, pre-Christmas, Sam, myself, and Jack have all been sick again.  Here's a summary, read it and pity me:

Nov 11-15 Jack diarrhea
Nov 13-15 Ben cold (missed office party)
Nov 18-25 Jack flu/cold
Nov 22 Jack ear infection, plugged eye duct
Nov 20-25 (ish) Ben cold part II
Thanksgiving - Jack and Ben still recovering with mild symptoms
Dec 1-4 Jack stomach flu
Dec 3-4 Ben stomach flu
Dec 10  Jack stomach flu part II
Dec 12  Sam rash
Dec 15-17  Rachel stomach flu
Dec 20-25 Ben walking pneumonia
Dec 22-26 Sam cold
Dec 25- 29 Rachel cold
Dec 31 Jack stomach flu part III
Dec 31 Sam plugged eye duct

WHEN WILL THE MADNESS STOP???

Brian is coming over to eat pizza and play munchkin with us after bedtime. Sam and I are cuddling by the cedar fire.  It's softly snowing outside.  We are watching the Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular.   It's. . . weird.  But jolly, and Jack likes the Muppets.

For fun, I put Sam in the same outfit Jack wore in this 3 month photo.  Can you tell who is who?

Ok, the extra hand going "Boop!" gives it away. 


JACK:



SAM:





(Boop!)

They actually aren't that different.  I know Sam is humungous for his age, but Jack was big too.  And the difference is just an inch or so.  I think Jack had more limbs, and Sam more belly.  But both boys are big and perfect!

I made a quick recovery and now the whole family is HEALTHY!  Jack has sprung back to life.  His imagination and his appetite are both in full swing.  With all the presents bought, parties done, and errands run, we are in spontaneous jolly mode.  Pics below. (kind of wonky, I realized part way through that flickr changed my default code, and I'm too lazy to fix them all. :-P )

Adorable Sunday outfits:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457543725/player/

Self-wrapped present to send to Maine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457648456/player/

We delivered on foot to the UPS store:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457586044/player/

Which had cookies!  and toys! and a tree!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457645436/player/

Devouring cupcakes from Amanda
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457537305/player/

Sharing toys with brother
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457536105/player/

Showing me his "Shield attack upgrade"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457636816/player/

From today, Jack practice wrapping more presents.



We made BOTH tree ornaments and cookies today.

Feeling jealous of Ben's Christmas party at work, I took the kids to Chick-fil-A.  Sam was sleepy.  Jack was ecstatic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457631316/player/

I had to buy a peppermint chocolate chip milkshake to share with Jack, because he lost so much weight.  It was for his heath, guys.  I HAD to.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457523695/player/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsmason/11457695083/player/





 Waiting for Ben to come, I let Jack play Skylanders while I sat with Sam.  Ahh, knitting and ballet.  I found a new-to-me Nutcracker on youtube!  It opens in a kitchen with sausages and carcasses, Drosselmeier looks like Nosferatu with a mustache, and the family is like the Thenardiers in Act 3 of Les Miserables.  Can't wait to see the rest of this.  It's from the Mariinsky Ballet.  Those crazy Russians.

Last night I became the latest victim of the stomach bug.  Luckily I think tomorrow I'll be good.  Ben stayed home with me today and I was able to actually sleep and heal. 

Too much sick.  If you will recall, this streak started on November 18th with a flu-like virus for Jack (and a week of diarrhea for him prior to that).  Almost a full month later and we are still dealing with illness.  Blech blech blech.

Well I'll be, it's another Friday the 13th!  I wonder how often those happen so close together?

  
He had this rash on his belly and back this morning.  He doesn't seem bothered by it, so I'll just keep an eye on it. 



Nope, not bothered at all :-)

Sam gets bigger and bigger.  I have no idea what his weight or clothing size is.  He fits Gerber, Circo, Gymboree and Carter brands size 9 months, some 6 month things still fit but are quite snug.  This outfit from Tea is 12-18 month sized.



He loves peering into faces and laughing at toys.



Everything gets swept into his mouth now.  He's been trying to suck his thumb by using the other hand to push it into his mouth.  Moderate success with profuse drool.



He still hates tummy time.  This was the best face I could coax from him.







Sam still eats every couple hours during the day.  For the last week he has been going down to bed at 7:30 pm, staying asleep until 5 am, then up again at 7 for the day.  Of course, last night he got up three times and broke the pattern.  That's babies - always changing :-) 



I love you, big guy.

We made it through auditions and turned out a stellar cast.  We are really excited about this show and group of kids. 

Jack was well enough for me to leave with sitters on Monday and Tuesday.  Still uneasy, still coughing from the November cold, but well enough that I would have sent him to school were he in school.  Tuesday night he had another bout of stomach flu, complete with fever and nightmares and hacking cough.  I think I slept 3 hours that night, between him and the usual Sam needs.  So Wednesday and Thursday were spent in our never-ending convalescence.  Sam and I are still healthy, and I don't think Ben cough the stomach bug (though he suffers from lingering cough too). 

I remember thinking, if we could just get well by Thanksgiving, I'll be happy.  Now I'm repeating that mantra but for Christmas. 

Oh, and my hormones have changed and I'm losing my hair like crazy.  And Sam had a weird rash this morning. 

I'm so glad I don't have to go back to a full time RN job now that Sam is 3 months.  Being a mom is work enough.