October

Highlights:

October was a busy month for me. The kids and I went to Pittsburgh at the beginning of the month to visit before Margaret was born. Justine and I organized the house and generally tried to get things ready. Then I was home for a few days before heading to Chicago to be with Jacque and Will leading up to Lenore's birth. I kept Jacque calm and made lots of freezer meals and then got to be there for Lenore's birth. The next weekend I was in Indiana for a half marathon (and a PR!) and the last week we had Halloween, Olivia's duettist competition, and some friends from college visiting.

I did manage to injure my hip pretty thoroughly. I was stiff at the end of my half marathon, and the car ride to Columbus (because the rest of my family was at a party at Keshia's house) didn't help anything. By the time I was walking up Keshia's driveway, my right hip was struggling to support my weight. I saw a chiropractor, took the week off, and ran the parent mile after the Healthy Kids Race. Even that was rough, and I could feel my hip locking up about a quarter mile in. Being stubborn, I finished anyway, but that one mile did me in again and now I've been to OIO and I'm waiting patiently on an MRI.

We wrapped up the Healthy Kids Running Series this weekend. Unfortunately for Olivia, it's a points based system over 5 weeks and she won 4 races but missed one week, so she didn't get the first place trophy. Everyone got a medal, though, and they seemed to have a good enough time over the five weeks.

Pictures:

In the hospital when Lenore was born:

Saying hello to the kids after school when I came back:

After my race. I ran a 1:53:13!

Race day:

Theodore shows off his sucker. He's enjoying all my extra visits to the chiropractor because they always have dum dums for him.

Theodore and Sebastian reading together at the library:

Theodore's first dentist appointment:

Halloween. We have Ariel (live action), a Soulless Reaper, a dog, Evie from Descendants, and a dragon.

Duettist Competition:

Gretchen plays volleyball:

October Updates

We had doctor's appointments recently, so I have updated stats for all the kids. Our appointments are very delayed because the office won't let us schedule a year in advance and also doesn't send out reminders, so by the time birthdays hit and I think of yearly check-ups and call, we're looking at an appointment two months out. They also won't let me schedule more than 2 kids for consecutive time slots, so I spend the better part of 2-3 days returning to the same office with the same 5 children so that a different 1-2 can be the star(s) of the appointment.

Olivia: 76 pounds, 59.25 inches tall

Gretchen: 61 pounds, 56.5 inches tall

Kaitlyn: 58 pounds, 50.5 inches tall

Matthias: 51 pounds, 47 inches tall

Theodore: 40 pounds, 42 inches tall

Matthias has joined his sisters at school, so Theodore is the only one at home now. Some days we get a lot done, and some days we just get on each other's nerves. Theodore's most recent weigh-in meant that he got to move to a high back booster in the car, so we currently have zero five-point harnesses in the van. He was a reluctant buckler of his five-point harness and is not any more pleased with the booster. Mostly he feels strongly that, as the littlest, things should be done for him.

We've been making lunches the night before and Theodore was jealous of everyone's yummy food getting packed away, so now he gets a lunch most nights, too. He picks the food and helps pack it up in a cute little lunch box that he pulls out of the fridge the next day at lunch time. Usually he is not irritated at the choices he made the night before. He is always excited to have the lunch box to open, regardless of the contents.

Kaitlyn played soccer this fall and enjoyed it for the most part. She's pretty good at defense, although she spent the first few games gesturing apologetically at the other team after kicking the ball away from them. She got more aggressive as the season progressed and learned to stay with the ball after kicking it. 

Gretchen played volleyball for the first time, and might take after her mother in this regard. Which is to say, she did not manage to serve over the net this season. She got closer each game, though, and if she decides to continue with volleyball next year I think she has a good chance of making it.

Four of the kids are participating in a Healthy Kids Running Series this month (Kaitlyn declined). It's a nationwide program that just found its way to Lima. I'm definitely more excited than they are, but they humor me. :) Theodore runs an adorable 75 yard dash, Matthias guts out a quarter mile, and Olivia and Gretchen have to complete a mile. Olivia has been the first girl across the finish line each week. Gretchen gives it her best and managed to land herself in the ER with stomach cramps last week that Bryan was worried might be appendicitis, but the doctor decided were probably due to poor running form. Sad day. She likes the idea of running. Next week is their last week and is followed by a parent mile which I plan to run. Bryan will run if the kids make him.

Matthias is looking forward to a basketball technique season that starts at the end of the month. No games, just learning ball handling skills. I think mostly he's excited to have something of his own on the calendar.