earthquake and ear infections

We didn't feel the 7.1 magnitute earthquake centered in Christchurch, NZ yesterday morning. Where we live in Auckland we are more than 660 miles (1000 km) away from the epicenter. It really is amazing that no one was seriously injured in such a large earthquake. If you want to read more about the earthquake you can click here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671218

We hope those in the affected areas continue to be safe during aftershocks and are able to quickly return to their lives.

In other news we have spent a lot of time at home this week. On Wednesday morning Maya woke up with a bit of a cold so we decided to cancel our playdate and get some rest at home. Thursday Maya's eyes were crusty and Max had also joined in with a runny nose and some coughing. By Friday afternoon I decided I should take this kids to the dr because Max's fever was over 102f. The dr said he though he had double ear infections and prescribed antibiotics. Thankfully Maya was acting brighter and wasn't given any meds.

Our weeks go so slow when we can't go our and participate in fun activities. We spent a lot of time watching Planet Earth and reading books while we all slowly went crazy. Lonnie went to Napier over night for work making the days seem even longer.

Late Friday night I decided I would join in the madness. My throat has swelled up and my neck and ears are sore. Thankfully sweet Lonnie is home and hopefully his trip out of town has saved him from the contagious period of this yuckiness.

Happy Father's Day (New Zealand) Lonnie. It looks like I am the one who will be eating breakfast in bed this morning.

paci update

It has been 14 days since took away the kids pacifiers. Max and Maya feel asleep for their nap today with out any threats, songs, pleadings, reminders or screaming (this never actually worked, but I admit I tried it anyway).

I have alway believed kids need time to adjust. When Max and Maya were infants I believed in the three day rule: Don't consider anything a failure until the babies have had three days to adjust. But this has taken much longer and to be honest, I really didn't think the adjustment would take so long.

I think I may have backed down on the pacifier removal were it not for all the social presure....who knew peer presure still had force from the other side of the world? The other thing holding me back, that sweet family who were the recipients of our pacifiers were on a trip to the states, meaning I would have had to go out and buy brand new pacifiers.

So today after 14 days, for the first time Max and Maya went to sleep for their nap and all I had to do was put them into their cot (pack and play), tell them I loved them and leave the room.

water...hopefully this will be easier to take away or at least lower the amount

magic sleep bear- Thank you Calla and Bryn

Staying in the room until the kids feel asleep

expalining that big kids go to sleep with out having to be reminded

Of course it also probably helps that Maya is feeling a little sick today.