Our State Fair is a great State Fair....

Don't miss it, don't even be late....

Going to the Iowa State Fair is a family tradition of mine. Every summer, whether we liked it or not, we'd trek to the State Fair. One year my family even camped there (it rained...that was no fun). When I worked in politics, I was given the task to work the fair, 9-9, every. single. day of the fair. Spot the mullet was quickly becoming my game of choice. It's still a fun game we play today.

Traditionally, we've gone to the fair with my folks as it was tradition. However, we're quickly realizing that there are many things we'd love to do with our children...just our children. I don't want them to be grown and gone and look back and say, "We never did (insert event) with just the kids." So we've decided that we're going to start doing things, just the five of us.

We decided that Sunday would be the day as Beckett (our cat) had a vet appointment on Saturday and Sunday seemed to be the best day for temperatures. Usually it is scorching during the fair but Sunday was going to be 83 and nice.

I had planned on getting everyone up early...Sean usually gets up at 5:30-6 so that wasn't going to be hard. But this happened to be the one day of the month Sean decided to sleep in. We finally got out of the house around 10 (rounding up three kids is a task) and made it to Dave's co-workers house.

We had made a list of food we wanted and things we wanted to see...I was kind of hoping to stick around long enough to see the Vanilla Ice/Tone Loc free show. Yes, free Vanilla Ice and Tone Loc. Unfortunatley we didn't make it that long. But how cool would that have been?

First on the food list, deep fried cheese curds.

Cheese curds. Check. As you can see, getting three kids around the fair can be a task. Our double stroller worked nicely and Liam was very good about staying where we told him to stay. Brendan slept most of the day but Sean LOVED to see the sights.


 I kind of wish I would have had someone include me in the picture...



 After the cheese curds were in hand, we went to the Varied Industries building to see the Iowa State booth (where I got my yearly ISU football shirt), the GOP booth (where the kids were a big hit), and Dave's work booth where Liam REFUSED a temporary tattoo.

We also made sure to get cookies. I wanted the bucket of cookies, Dave got the cup. I figured you'd get more cookies for the money, plus have a bucket left over. Looking back, there were a lot of cookies in that cup and we didn't really NEED a whole bucket of cookies. But they were sooo good. Right Sean?

After the cookies were devoured, we ventured out of the Varied Industries building (that place gets CRAZY once it gets warm at the fair) and we stopped by the Iowa Wine Growers (my old employer) booth and tried gelato. It was alright. Next up on the fair food stop, corndogs. You can't go to the Iowa State Fair and not get a corndog. Liam insisted on the footlong.

YUM!

Once the corndog was gone, it was Gyro time! Noticing a trend here? We caught a bit of the Bill Riley talent show while eating and walked a bit more. We saw the biggest Bull (a mandatory at the fair) and the One Man Band...he was really entertaining!

It was getting pretty warm (I'm convinced that the fairgrounds are at least 10 degrees warmer once you enter the gates) so we decided to let the boys cool off at Pella Plaza. Sean hated it. Liam loved it and it gave me a chance to nurse Brendan.

 A couple of people walked by while I was nursing and pointed (oh hey, how's it going) but whatever. I was covered and sitting on a bench in a shady area. I was using my nursing tank and nothing was visible.  If you can walk around the fair eating a turkey leg, I can sit on a bench and feed the baby.

We stopped to get the mandatory tenderloin and fries basket (we ate a lot) and once that was finished we continued viewing what the fair had to offer. It was at this time that some idiot made the comment "THAT'S what's wrong with the fair," while pointing to our double stroller. I spun around and saw the moron making the comment. Carrying a beer. At noon. It took everything in me NOT to yell back. But I'm classier than that. And prepared for next year.

Liam had been really well behaved the whole fair so we made good on our promise. One ride down the giant slide. Liam was such a big boy that we allowed him to go by himself and Dave took Sean down. Liam LOVED it.

We were only there for four hours but that was enough. Next year we'll be sure to go on a weekday to avoid some of the crowd. I didn't get to see all that I wanted to but I was exhausted. 5 weeks after giving birth that was the most walking I had done...we were all tired. Sean was asleep before we got onto 235. All in all, a great day at the fair.

The Bug...

Last weekend we had Brendan's first trip to Ma'am and Papa's house. While we were there, Liam was complaining that his hips hurt. I thought they were just growing pains (he was walking around with ice packs on them to make them feel better).

We got home on Sunday afternoon and on Sunday night, Brendan threw up (not spit up, but projectile vomited) on me. I thought maybe he was just over hot from the long ride home (even though I had the air on high). On Monday, Sean was acting feverish and lethargic. After his nap, he was cuddling with me and I could see his reflection in the doors of the fireplace. And then he threw up...all over me. I put him in the bath and changed my clothes. I laid him down and he threw up again. Not awesome. When Dave got home from work we started to eat dinner (not Sean, he was sitting on the couch) and Liam threw up. Great. Then Sean threw up on Dave.

I had been thrown up on so many times I was down to my high school prom shirt for my "around the house" shirt. I was pleased it still fit, but those lime green fish and "Glidden-Ralston Jr/Sr prom" staring up at me was a reminder of just how much laundry I was going to have to do.

It seems everyone is feeling better today...well, Dave is feeling a little under the weather. I have informed my own immune system that I am not allowed to get sick because, well, I'm mom. Moms can't get sick. Right?

Going home...

I realized I never posted about Brendan's coming home! I always forget how little they are when they are born. We had to reset our straps on our car seat...Brendan was not a fan.

And, of course, I had the ride down to the car...David pushing the cart o' stuff behind.

We set up the "big brother's" present, which included taking down the Cars items on Liam's wall and replacing it with the "Fat head Woody" I was able to snag on kid's woot a few months back.

They also got a Buzz (Sean) and Woody (Liam) doll and Liam got a Hulk Smash game...also from kid's woot.

When Ma'am and Papa brought the boys home, chaos ensued. My breastpump that I've been using to up my supply/create a stash turned into a garage one night.

And Daddy got the two older boys dressed up for a comic book convention one Saturday.

And, a la Kids in the Hall style, Liam was crushing Brendan's head.

Welcome to the chaos that is the Bowman Household, Brendan. You've already learned how to "play possum" when your brothers (mainly Sean) are around. You learn quick. Pretend to be asleep and they'll leave you alone.


Even if "Spidey sense" says you're awake...right, Spider-Sean?

Sean Launches Cheerios

Being the mother of boys I've already become accustomed to cleaning up messes. But sometimes messes can be fun. I always try to document these, as I know once they get older, I'll cherish these moments.

Sean discovered he could launch his Cheerios. Granted, once he was done eating I had a lot of Cheerios to clean up, but it was fun.

Enjoy the video!

The Perfect Summer Dessert--Oreo Pie!!

My husband enjoys looking at my cooking magazines. I'm convinced he likes to find the most difficult recipe and then ask me to make it. I've succeeded on occasion but I've also horribly failed. Horribly. Some recipes have made it into our rotation, some I believe the CDC would have given a half-life before covering in concrete.

While I was in the hospital after delivering Brendan, Dave went to the cafeteria and came back with a HUGE piece of Oreo pie. It was delicious. Yes, you read that right. Hospital food=delicious. At least this was. So I tried to do what my mom is so successful at doing. I tried to "back engineer" (my dad's term) the dessert. And then I googled, found a recipe, tweaked it a bit and voila! The best Oreo pie ever.

Don't believe me? See the pictures below. Maybe if you're lucky I'll bring it as a dish to a barbecue.

And a single serving slice...

YUM!!!  Sean devoured it. Liam passed on the Oreo pie and requested a Go-Gurt. I was glad he chose the healthier option...but really? If your mom offered you this when you were four, would you opt for a yogurt?

Now tell me this doesn't look good....

Yum!!!

The Big Brother's Vacation

Before Brendan was born, we decided we wanted the "big boys" to stay with my folks. We didn't want to separate the boys (they are attached at the hip) and they only get to see my folks once every few months so we thought it would be nice for them to have some face time with them. Sean had never slept at my parents house without me there, so we thought Liam needed to be there as well, to have a bit of "common" for Sean. Plus, I do have quite a few rules when it comes to my kids and I knew my mom would abide by those rules. Not only did she follow the rules I set, she exceeded them by getting Sean to fall asleep in the crib (we had been laying down with him then putting him in the crib) AND she succeeded in getting him to sleep in the crib ALL NIGHT. This additional bonus from mom would have been enough of a gift when Brendan was born. BUT, she (being the planner she is) also bought us a double stroller. DOUBLE WIN! Having Sean go to sleep in his own bed and staying there all night has really helped us out. Mom=Awesome.

Liam had ear drops for an infection and had been fighting us with those...it was a battle. Kicking, screaming (he actually kicked me in the stomach while I was still pregnant) and what should have taken 5 minutes would take 30. In just two days at her house, she'd gotten him to lay down and accept the drops as well as lay still for 5 minutes while they worked...with no screaming. Again, my mom is awesome.

The boys had a great time with Ma'am and Papa. They helped Ma'am in her garden, rode with Papa on his tractor, played with Maci and Austin (neighbor kids that are their age) and she even brought them down to Des Moines when I was missing my big boys just to visit again.

But herding a four year old and 15 month old is like herding cats. As you can see in the video David took below. They had come to visit us and mom was trying to get them back to the car.

My parents were even thoughtful enough to send us pictures of the boys...to show us what was going on. My mom, being the great mom she is, even wrote down nap times, sleep times and number of diapers and bathroom events for both of the kids so I would know what happened and when. For the third time, mom=awesome.

We need to make it to Glidden more often to visit. Once every three months isn't near often enough. I do believe the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" and the boys are sure fond of Ma'am and Papa. Here are a few pictures of the boys spending time with Ma'am and Papa.

 Sean LOVES Sweet Corn...mmmmm.

Sean and Liam in the IH chairs watching cartoons.

You can see Sean contemplating the fact that he's trapped and Liam is outside of the play pen..."how do I get him back" is written all over his face.

Sean says, "I'm trapped? Well, I've got your nipple."

The boys had a great time with Ma'am and Papa and with the constant updates, the documentation and pictures and videos uploaded in (almost) real time, I never had to worry about my boys. Which, I believe, helped keep my stress level down and assisted in my healing. Thanks Ma'am and Papa!!

Brendan's First Visit from His Brothers

By our third child I have learned a few things. For example, I know every one means well when they want to see a new baby, but there's a reason that tickets to labor and delivery are not sold on ticketmaster. It's a private event. Some people may be into the "takes a village to birth a child" thing. But I'm not. And that's just me.

Our first child, Liam, was the first grandchild on my husband's side. So I understand the excitement. I also wanted my mother in the labor room as she's a nurse, she's been through this before and, well, she's my mommy. Anyone in pain always wants their mom. However, the birth didn't go as planned and after 18 hours of labor and an hour of pushing a c-section was required as he was not tolerating the contractions. When he was born, everyone, except my future father in law, followed the baby down to the nursery. When I woke up in recovery, I was surprised to see my future father in law there. I will always be thankful that he stayed there with me. However, the first time I held my child, there were 5 people (other than me and the baby) in the room. It was a little overwhelming.

Our second child, Sean, came before his scheduled c-section date. I labored for 12 hours (6 at the hospital) while waiting for a c-section. After they wheeled me into recovery, we had called my mom and told her to pick our oldest up at daycare and bring him to the hospital, as we wanted him to be the first family member to see the new baby (his new brother). She brought him in and he did get to hold him, then my mom saw him and left. I didn't get a chance to nurse him before they wheeled me into my "permanent" room where I would spend the next few days healing. My husband had called his family to tell them they could come and they said they were already in the parking lot. So I wasn't able to nurse/bond with him as I would have liked.

We informed our family that with this child we wouldn't be accepting visitors the same day as the birth, however, we still wanted the older brothers to be the first to meet the new baby. As you know from my previous post he too came before his scheduled date and my parents had come down to watch the boys. We went through the surgery but due to fluid being in his lungs, they were unable to bring him to me while I was in recovery. My husband was running between the nursery, taking pictures and video of him, and back to my recovery room to show me our new little boy. A long three hours later they wheeled me into the nursery so I could see him and then into my room. Finally they brought him in so I could hold him. 

  My emotions got the best of me. I told my husband to take a picture and he did. I'm so glad he did.

After I had a chance to bond with and nurse my new little boy, we called my parents to let them know it would be okay to bring our older two to the hospital to meet their new brother. We also called his parents to let them know that visitors would be okay (after 4...this way we wouldn't be overlapping visitors, everyone would get to see him on his birthday and we wouldn't feel so overwhelmed) the same day.

My parents came to the hospital, ushered the older two into the room (as was our wishes) and waited patiently outside my room while the brothers met.

And boy, did they love him. Liam thought his new brother was the greatest thing. After Daddy sanitized the big brother's hands he took baby out of the "drawer bed" (the moving "dresser" unit with the plastic crib on top) as Liam called it and showed him his brother. We hadn't quite settled on a name yet for him, so we asked Liam what he liked best, Gabriel, Brendan or Declan. Liam responded, "I like Brendan." And so he was named.

After Liam and Sean had a few minutes with him, my husband called my parents in to see him and start taking pictures. Sean couldn't get enough of the new baby but was having a hard time understanding "gentle" and "be nice". But Sean is a brute. It took one adult to handle him and one to handle Brendan. Sean kept touching him and playing with his little hospital ankle bracelet. He'd also grab at his little legs and touch his head.

But that's okay. That's what brothers do. And they all love each other. So much.