Relief!

I am one of those nerds that suffers from allergies for three straight seasons. I'm allergic to grass, ragweed and pollen - which makes for a TERRIBLE situation when you're pregnant. At my last appointment I asked my doctor if there was anything I could take to relieve my sypmtoms - to which he said, "Well, technically all of the over-the-counter allergy medicines are safe." I was pretty surprised to hear that because I had always believed the complete opposite. He then said, "Some people are trying to prove that they cause deformities like holes in the heart and cleft-pallet, but there's no proof yet....so it's up to you."

Now, I have to be honest. There have been a few VERY severe moments that I found myself thinking, "It's never been proven..." but I still can't get myself to take the meds - after all I don't even use normal household cleaners anymore because of the toxins. Just as I was thinking there was no end in sight, my brother Greg reminded me of the most wonderful invention sitting in my medicine cabinet. It may be weird, unconventional and incredibly awkward to watch - but I feel SO much better. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you NASALINE!

What's in a Name?

Growing up I got my fair share of name-teasing. The last name Kopp brought on jokes such as 5-0, the fuzz, kopp-out, Kopp-a-feel, Robokopp - you get the picture. On the flip side, cops would have a good chuckle whenever I was pulled over, and I got out of many speeding tickets because of my last name. Oddly enough, not a SINGLE person in my family has decided to join the police force - which is quite unfortunate, because Officer Kopp would be quite the title. (According to a friend of mine, it's also against all odds - because he's sure that all Chicago-ans are mustached police officers named Bob. The correct statistic is 94%). Believe it or not, my mother's name is Anita Kopp, and it took her ten-plus years to realize the comedy behind it. Some idiot finally dropped the line, "Why - is there a robber?" after she had introduced herself. Despite the jokes, I loved my last name - it was memorable, short, and ALWAYS spelled with a C by strangers.

Names have been on my mind a lot lately with little baby number three coming. Trying to find the perfect first, middle, last name combo can be quite daunting. Madelyn, however, thinks she's got things all figured out. If you ask her about the baby in Mommy's tummy, she'll let you know that there are two. She says that there is a girl baby and a boy baby (because she wants a girl and Jude wants a boy). She's even gone as far as to name these children. The little boy is named Ropey and the little girl is named Closure. Seriously...I have NO idea.

All of this name-thinking came to a head this morning when my regular pediatrician was out of the office. The receptionist said that he would be back tomorrow - but I could meet with the Physician's Assistant if my child was sick. Jude's been running a fever for four days, so I decided I should take him in today. My appointment was with...in ALL seriousness, Dr. Broken Leg. It was even two capitalized words. So even though all members of the Kopp family failed to go into their pre-destined line of work, I'm happy to report that there are many out there that are doing what they are supposed to. AND she was fabulous. It must be the name.

Keeping up with the Wilsons

I have this friend who manages to "immaculately conceive" every single time I say the words, "I think I'm ready for another one." The very-well-educated couple then act shocked to find out that she's pregnant - and wonder..."HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED!" A couple of weeks ago she even called me to say, "Thanks a LOT" when she found out that she was expecting her third. I then always get pregnant within the next few weeks, so we can have children that are the same age.

To this lovely friend and her blaming husband I'd just like to say, you can blame the first two on me, but number three is all your own doing....because I'm due five days before you.

I wasn't going to post this for a few more weeks, but due to some complications we had to have an ultrasound yesterday - and it showed that everything was a-okay. We saw the little peanut, and were able to hear the heartbeat. We're unbelievably excited and due in November. I tag Stefanie, Stacey, and ooooh - how about a little surprise for Jodi as well.

OH! I ALMOST FORGOT - the biggest, fattest, curse of a tag goes out to my sister-in-law Jessica. Your kids can thank me later.

Hair Cut

Here's my newest chop.

Aunt Jessica gave Madelyn a 30 piece Ariel puzzle for Christmas, and by New Year's Day Madelyn could put it together with her eyes closed. Yesterday we bought her a 48 piece puzzle, and she can ALMOST finish that one too. The child seems to be a puzzle genius...which she must get from the Wilson side of the family. I DESPISE puzzles. During one very long Christmas vacation at my parent's house (aka - was in college, unmarried, and missing my boyfriend) I decided to do my first, and only, puzzle. I worked on it for four hours, then tried to go to bed. I spent all night dreaming of a spinning puzzle that I couldn't put together, woke up dizzy, and then threw up. So, yes, puzzles literally make me ill. But, hey - if Maddie loves them, then good for her. She'll be smarter than me by the time she's six. Oh - and I do get her out of her pajamas every once in a while.

It's Just Who I Am

For Christmas this year, my lovely friend Ashlee gave me a book called "The Female Brain." I'd first like to say that I loved this book. I learned a lot - and it has given me tons of insight to my moods, my husbands thoughts, and what makes us different. I recommend it 100%. That is, however, all I'd like to say about this book. I know there are a lot of people out there that genuinely enjoy reading books, and then discussing them in groups. I believe these people say that they are in "book clubs." I have been invited to these "clubs" on several occasions by my friend Stefanie, to which I politely decline, and say, "friends don't invite friends to book club." I just don't have the desire to sit around and say things like, "remember that part where she..." to which the other person says, "yeah. that was awesome." I spent all of high school regurgitating my readings to my teachers, and I think that was enough for me.

This takes me back to my book. Because quiet time is rare in our home - I kept this book in the bathroom, and would read a page every time I took a seat. It took me a LONG time to finish, but it was a good way to make myself read. A few weeks ago Rob and I had some friends over for games, and one of them snuck off to the bathroom and saw my book. When he returned he shared the title with the four other guys that were here - and they had a hay-day with it. Here are some of the highlights from the ONLY "book club"I have ever been to. Again, the book was called "The Female Brain."

Ben - "You turn the book upside down and it moos."

Brad - 'It's 200 + pages of 'letting you down easy'."

Adam - "It's just blank pages."

Ben - "It's extra toilet paper."

Brad - "It's actually a coloring book."

Family Portrait

Maddie is all about the drawing these days - here's a picture of Rob, Me, Maddie and Jude. As a mother, I'm unbelievably impressed with her skills.

Back to Normal

Madelyn's pneumonia started clearing up - and wouldn't you know it - Jude starts with the same cough. We immediately took him to the doctor where we learned it wasn't pneumonia - it was asthma. We already had steroids and a breathing machine - so we were set up. We added him to the daily nebulizer schedule, and I'm happy to report that he is doing much better. Here's proof:

My Poor Little Poopsies

It has been a rough month for kids at the Wilson home. Three weeks ago Jude came down with a terrible cold that lasted for two weeks. JUST as it was starting to go away, he slipped off the fireplace and put his tooth through his lip. Ouch.

Just as Jude's cold was clearing up - Madelyn started showing the same symptoms - only worse. After a few doctor visits a chest x-ray was ordered, and it turns out that our little miss Maddie has pneumonia.

This is the shirt that the doctor gave her last night. I know you all are dying to get your hands on one, so here's an insider's tip: you have to vomit ALL over yourself at the doctor's office. Twice.

Here's Maddie with one of the MANY treatments she's on. She hates the Amoxicillin and Prednisone, but thanks to a small fish mask, Madelyn is happy to do her breathing machine - and that's the most important part.

I don't think I can handle any more sickness, so here's to a healthy April.

The Sky is the Limit

My husband comes from a family of "child-throwers" where they toss children up for fun. This was something that my family never practiced growing up (I think it's against our religion) but I am starting to get used to it. We have a pretty low ceiling at our house, so the kids can't go that high - but at grandma and grandpa's house, I'm fairly sure the kids go up a good sixty to seventy feet. The kids all LOVE uncle Rob for that reason. Madelyn took her first BIG throw last night, and had a blast. Thanks for the pictures, Stacey. I wasn't sure if I should put these pictures up because I'm sure that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE is thinking, "Oh MY! How ABUSIVE!" But then I realized this is MY blog, and if some over-protective-cyber-parent feels the need to criticize - then BRING IT ON!!


Unfortunately not all the kids had the same reaction.
Oh, I kid. Coleman loved it too. He must have done six or seven throws, and made the same face every single time.

Socks and Sandals

It's totally back...embrace it.

We Heart St. George

We took a mini-break to St. George last weekend and stayed at Rob's parents' condo. It was a wonderful weekend of swimming, shopping, exploring, and some much needed R&R. And to be honest, we were pretty glad that ALL of our friends had other plans. No, seriously, we don't really even like you guys.
This is how the Wilson family travels in style. I should also add that we wear our sunglasses at night. This was the small cramp in our style. Our front tire went flat somewhere on I-15 between No-where-ville and Nothing-to-see-town. Rob is a flat tire GENIUS, and had us back on the road in less than ten minutes - luckily the next big town, had some tires they could sell us for an arm and a leg. No hard feelings though, the town's slogan is "Best Tasting Water in the United States," which means it's probably a HUGE tourist town - and they're always more expensive.
Madelyn spent a GOOD portion of the trip actually looking for George. There were a few possible spottings, but no confirmed sightings of this "George." She just couldn't figure out why he was not at his house.


Rob's ready to go back and golf at this gorgeous course, so hopefully we'll be headed back soon. Thanks, again, Ross and Tammy!

Two Left Feet

We have a little tradition around our house called, "Two O'Clock Dance Hour." It started when Maddie was a little over a year old, and it basically means that at 2:00 everything in the house stops, the music goes on, and we boogy. It has undergone a few changes in the past year - as it is now at 4:00 to accomodate nap times, and now includes Jude. The music starts, and we all go nuts. Maddie and I do similar dance steps (that she has taught me) and random arm flailings that she calls, "like this," - as in, "No mom - do it like this." I look forward to it all day, because its an entire hour of laughter at our house. Maddie looks forward to it because it helps her get her energy out. Jude looks forward to it because he gets to do his best "Rainman" impression. Boy does this kid know how to rock! You can pause the background music on the left side of the page if you'd like.

JOHNNY!

(Johnny and my sister Sarah)

Yes, yes, it's time for another birthday in the Kopp family - and today my little brother Johnny turns 23. Wait, really? 23? That's how old Rob was when we got married. That's scary.

Johnny undoubtedly has the biggest laugh of anyone in our family, and it is incredibly contagious.

Johnny is the one that doesn't "match" anyone else in our family. He's the only blonde, which was already odd - but then he grew a beard....and it was red. My mom calls him "The Viking" - along with many other odd nicknames.


About 3/4 of Johnny's vocabulary was learned from The Simpsons and/or Family Guy, making me confused about 1/2 of the time.

Anything you can do, Johnny can do better. He learned it faster, he was humble about it, and now he's making more money at it than you.

Johnny and I used to ditch school together...a lot. We would pretend we were going to school (backpacks and all) go to Denny's for breakfast - and then just go home.

Johnny has had more concussions than anyone else I know - combined.

Johnny is a natural born Rock Star. He plays piano, composes music, and is amazing at bass guitar. Oh yeah - he also has his own little recording studio.

(Johnny's Band's Christmas Card Photo)

Johnny once stole Greg's hat, and told Greg that he could have it back for $10 - which Greg then paid.

I used to let Johnny drive my car - when he was thirteen. He would follow my instructions SO closely that he once tried to get out of the car without taking off his seat belt - because I forgot to tell him to.


(Johnny and his girlfriend, Sierra)

Johnny, we have had some AMAZING times together, and I miss you terribly...come see me! I hope you have a wonderful birthday - I love you.

We are Hilarious

These are the lovely ladies that help keep me sane. We had our dinner and a movie last night...which reminds me, DON'T see "The Other Boleyn Girl." That is unless you are a man hating masochist(aka anyone who enjoys Lifetime Original Movies). We all felt like we had been shot in the stomach when the whole thing was FINALLY over. Anyway, back to girls night. Here are a few top pics from the evening. I hope I chose the pictures that do my friends all the justice they deserve, although I know I'll be getting grief no matter which pictures I put up.

Stefanie and Ashlee having a "genuinely funny" moment.


Kat and I. We really are that funny.

Kat has a shrunken head, but we try not to stare - and usually treat her like an equal.

The other man that Kat secretly came to see. Careful, Ben, he was quite a looker. So much so that Kat couldn't stop taking pictures of him.

Thanks, ladies! I had a great time!