We had a lot of fun spending time with our extended families last week, but it involved a lot of driving (I was in the car for a total of 10 hours last Thursday and Friday for example). Aside from going to the grocery store and church, we've stayed home the past two days. On Friday we also started taking down our Christmas tree. On Saturday I finished putting away almost all our Christmas decorations. I leave a few of the snowman decorations up until March as they are "wintry" rather than "Christmasy." Although I really enjoy Christmas decorations, I have to say I always feel a sense of relief when they are put away. Does anyone else feel the same way? I think it's partially because I don't like clutter, and the house feels less cluttered without a Christmas tree and such. The other reason I wanted to put the decorations away was I wanted to figure out where to put the things we received for Christmas. It felt overwhelming at first as we had accumulated a lot of new things over our three days of opening gifts. Everything has been put away aside from the train table, which is still at Paul's parents' house.
We have already been putting many of our new things to good use. I used a new pot that my mom gave me our first night back home. Over the last several years I've only had one small saucepan and one large stock pot. One of the pots my mom got me has a strainer type lid. I love it! We also used the new spatulas my mom gave me when Nadia and I made brownies on Saturday. In the picture (above) I am wearing the new silver necklace that Paul gave me. I've also been wearing the Steelers scarf Millie gave me with my black winter coat.
At this point I would say that Nadia's favorite gifts (based on how much she's used them the past few days) were the Snow White costume Paul's parents got her, the princess tent Paul's brother got her (which Paul set up in the dormer window area of her bedroom), and her two new books of Bible stories (one we gave her and the other my parents got her). The new toys that Ian has played with the most thus far include the tractor my sister got him and some small plastic animals that my Aunt Janet got him. I'm pretty sure the train table will rate rather high once it's in our house. He was rather disappointed when we arrived at my parents' house. He kept saying "train, train train." I guess he thought all grandparents have a train table at their home. He continued to ask for the trains on Monday, but then he stopped asking and enjoyed the toys that my parents have at their home. Paul has worn the new t-shirts I got him, and I'm sure he'll enjoy eating the cashews my mom got him and using the tools his parents gave him.
On Saturday I almost forgot to give myself my two shots. I remembered as I was going to bed, and my plan had been to take them every night right after I put the kids to bed. Although I've given myself hundreds of belly shots over the past 8 years, it hasn't been the norm lately. Hopefully I will do a better job of taking them on time over the next week. The nurse left a message on Friday night saying they want me to get my next bloodwork done Tuesday (instead of today as originally planned). She also said my E2 level was good on Friday (thiry something). I'd be concerned about stimming for four nights before having any bloodwork done if it weren't for the fact that he's starting me on only 75iu of Menopur (I started at 150iu the previous cycles). I am on 150iu of Follistim, and she said they might lower that after my first bloodwork.
It's also been nice that the kids have been able to take their naps in their beds the last couple of days after taking them in the car the majority of the time the previous seven days. Nadia has now taken a nap ten days in a row! Ian took his typical 30 minute nap on Saturday, but he shocked me by sleeping for one HOUR on Sunday. What a great way to start 2012, Ian! This meant that Ian woke up in a good mood for once. Normally he is a total crab apple when he wakes up from his short nap.
Nadia's ballet and gymanstics classes resume this week. Cubbies and the preschool story time at the library will resume next week. Paul has been working from home for the last few weeks. He'll resume his daily trips to PSU on January 12. I haven't taught on campus since December 2010, but I'll be teaching on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning on January 24.
Since life calmed down a bit, I had time to upload the video that Paul took on Christmas Eve. As you can see, Ian didn't sing that night like he did on December 10 at the Christmas dinner. Nadia did a great job though! I'm sure Ian will be singing again in the future as that boy LOVES to sing!!!
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