More Kianisms

The boy just doesn't stop lately. The vocabulary lately is growing rapidly. We can't say anything at all, or he repeats it, uses it properly forever! Like the time Kevin said "stupid lady!" to a car that cut him off on the expressway. Now, every time we get into the car and drive down the road he says that to another car, or in wegmans parking lot to a very elderly lady. Luckily we were still in the car when he said it. Grr!

He likes to tell me that Karter is wide awake. Not just awake, wide awake. If he cries, Kian coos "Mommy's coming Karter, she's coming".

This morning I asked him if he had scratched his eye injury, as the scab was gone. He said yes. I said we needed to put some cream (neosporin) on it and please don't itch it anymore. He says "it's all better mommy, how about another bump?" Um, how about NO! No more lumps and bumps!

When I asked him who his cousins were, he said "Grant and Grandma" guess he's just wishing for more cousins. Who is going to provide those cousins, I have no idea!

His new favorite saying? "Let's figure something out". And that covers a lot of issues from lunch to toys to cleaning up to who knows what. It's a stalling technique, a request for help, and a way to get out of cleaning up.

When changing his poopy diaper last week, he was reaching around to get a new one and I (firmly, slightly annoyed) said "Kian! Stop rolling around, you're going to get poop everywhere! Stay still!"
The boy knows how to work it. He looks at me with his big eyes and bats his eyelashes and says "Thank you for helping me mommy. Thank you for changing my diaper" and flashes a huge smile. How can you be mad at that, and then he makes me feel guilty for being annoyed with him! I am scared about what to do when he gets older...he'll use those techniques on girls and they'll be all over, doing whatever he wants. Oy vey!

Because it wouldn't be October without...

bumps, bruises, lumps, blood and more! If you recall last October I was getting the scary call from daycare stating my child split his head open and needed stitches and to please come get him now.

I just realized, after this happened, it's October after all, so why not again?

Kian asked to feed the fish. I said yes, I would help him after I put something away in the kitchen. Two year olds are not known for their patience. But, you already knew that. He knows how to undo the cabinet safety locks (didn't take him long at all to figure that out once I put them on) so he got the fish food himself apparently. The tank is next to the couch, so he climbs on the arm of the couch. But, all I heard was *THUD* and *shriek, scream, sob*. I found him wedged between the wall, couch and fish tank, face first, looking like this:

there's a huge lump forming under his hair on the right side

He needed lots of ice and kisses he said, but then kept saying, while sobbing "I'm okay, I'm okay". I said "you are not okay!"

One hour later after lots of ice:

oh my oh my

and 24 hours later:

Thankfully, the skin didn't break, it did more of a road rash deal underneath. It is starting to scab a bit and he says it's itchy. The lump went away after the icing. I kept checking his eyes to make sure he could see and that he didn't blind himself. I hope he learned his lesson about patience, waiting and listening to mommy and not climbing on dangerous things. Ha! Doubtful since he's full-blown boy, two year old thinking he's five. I'll just keep my first aid kit stocked and doctor's number on hand...

Not Me! Mondays

Check out MckMama's blog for the Not Me! Mondays "rules" and more hilarious stories!

It wasn't me who has been putting my previously almost-potty-trained 2 yr old back in diapers. I did not do it just because he said he wants to wear diapers like the baby. Nope, not me!

I did not give my child an eye test after he fell and almost gouged his eye out because I was afraid he went blind. Wasn't me!

I did not look the other way when Kian picked up cranberries out of the dirt pile I was sweeping and pretend he didn't eat them. Nope, not me!

And it definitely wasn't me who, after getting up in the middle of the night with both boy being woken up way too early by Kian, put him in his room and told him "stay there until I come get you, I need more sleep. Wasn't me! And I certainly did not try to ignore him and then finally bust out laughing when he stood at his closed door repeating "mommy, come get me. I need you to come get me mommy". Not me!

And for sure, it was not me who at 4 am ignored that Karter was wet...as in his pajamas were getting wet through from his wet diaper. I did not wrap him with another blanket next to me and fall back asleep just because I didn't want to wake him or myself up again. Never, not me!

What about me?

So, you've noticed most of my recent posts are about my kids? What about me? I grumbled this last night after the third time I'd fed Karter in as many hours. After he threw up/spit up for fourth time, requiring i put on new jammies and get rid of dirty clothes. After he had been awake since 3:30 and it was now going on 9:30 (ok, save for a few 10 minute catnaps on one of us, waking upon being put down). After he'd been having bouts of reflux causing him to grunt, fuss, gag, spit up, etc. I said, to him and to Kevin, and to myself "I just want a few minutes to pee by myself and work on this scarf!" (the one I've been crocheting for awhile, that isn't going anywhere lately.)

I was on the verge of tears and shoving this kid at Kevin and going far away for awhile. But, I did not. I sucked it up, muttered a few rude comments under my breath and continued on my (albeit fake) happy voice to soothe the baby and ignore the sleeping husband watching tv. Then told myself this is normal and I am not psychotic. At least, I think not. Lest you think Kevin did not help (he didn't) he couldn't, as the child was screeching to be fed yet again, not caring that it would cause more reflux and vomiting. But, eventually at 11 pm he let me sleep and he slept until 3 am. I even woke at 1:30 wondering why he wasn't wanting to eat or wasn't fussing yet. My arm was quite numb and stiff (as he slept in the crook of it on my pillow) but I had 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep, so I didn't care.

My days, are not my own anymore. Even with Kian, I could still carve out a lot of "me time" because he wanted to play with daddy or do his own thing, or was napping. I knew that Karter would be different than Kian, his in utero antics proved that a long time ago. I/we were spoiled with Kian, he was essentially the perfect, text-book baby. And that is why the first is so; so that couples will go on to have more and continue reproducing I believe. There's a lot of needing and demanding and whining and crying going on lately. Some has been from me.

I was slightly disillusioned, ignoring what I knew to be true, and tried to believe that Kian would adjust perfectly and this would be easy. I knew it wouldn't, and I'm finding out just how not easy it is. (It isn't?) The routine helps us a lot. It helps me to not stay in pajamas all day and be lazy, letting Kian take over (ahem, trash) the house. It helps me get things done and it manages our time much better, scheduling meals and naps and outings. I feel better when I get things done. I am a list maker and a list checker. I have a need to accomplish and complete things to feel that I haven't wasted a day. To feel I actually did something. And I like feeling that I'm keeping the house clean, teaching my child things, making things with him and just having a handle on all things children, house and husband.

Now that we're on somewhat of a routine I am starting to incorporate some workout time for me. Kevin is good about letting me have that time, as working out/exercising is his passion obviously. Kian can even come down and jump on the mini trampoline or play with toys down in the basement while i run on the treadmill. And it feels great. I've been asked how I can workout, isn't it boring, isn't it time consuming, isn't it icky sweating, etc. Yes, it's all those things! But, feeling that burn afterwards, knowing I'm doing something good for my body, and having that time on the treadmill to think whatever I want to think (about things besides baby poop and potty time and what's for dinner, adult thoughts, deep thoughts, or shallow, whatever I want thoughts!) is priceless. And I love that.

Squeezing in me time and some hobbies that I had done before is definitely helping my sanity. It makes it easier to deal with the fussing and misbehaving children. While, this is exactly what I want to be doing right now, it doesn't mean it's not hard. But, giving in to what I want sometimes makes me feel like me again, not just mommy. And of course that includes time to focus on just Kevin as well, to keep the us part good too. I don't want to lose me in the mommy.

I'm late!

No! Not THAT kind of late! Trust me, no worries there. Sometimes I fear I may turn into my mother, in that she's always late. For everything. However, I do not like it, sometimes it just happens!

When it was just me, I was on time. When I had Kian, I might be a few minutes late, but if I absolutely needed to be on time, I definitely was. Now, with two kids? I'm about 15 minutes late for everything. Thankfully, nothing exceptionally important per se-no big meetings or anything. And I see Elissa has figured this out and adjusted her meeting times with me haha! Sorry!

I'm also dreadfully, terribly late in cards. I started thank you cards for the gifts everyone got for us and Karter. I think I got through 3 or 4. I have 3 birthday cards for family and friends who recently had birthdays. One is filled out and addressed, but missing a stamp. One is filled out, no envelope. And the other? (the one for my mother, oops!) is not even filled out at all, not even her name. Shame on me.

Forgive me, will you? In time I shall gain my brain back-I think?! It's the last minute diaper changes, spit-ups that need shirt changing, the last second "feed me now or I'll wither" screech, that keeps me from getting out the door on time-no matter how early I begin the process. Then of course, there will be a train. And then we'll hit the one way at a time construction stop.

So, if I tell you I am coming or meeting you, plan on seeing me late. But, I will always bring my screeching children to put a smile on your face. =)

Confessions of a dairy-free cow

It's kind of funny if you think about it... I won't drink milk yet I make milk...therefore the cow label. Yeah, I guess it's only funny to me, the sleep-deprived mooing mama. My confession would be that I have been craving cheese. On my ham sandwich. Slices of sharp cheddar on my (freshly picked) apples. Melted provolone on a chicken panini. Blah! And, that it is hard! It's ridiculous that dairy is added into so many things, unnecessarily even! Like, crackers. They put whey in there just to get a smidgen of protein in a cracker! No one expects crackers to have protein! And the dairy-free rice cheese? Casein- the milk protein. Um, hello? False advertising! The rice milk in cereal is just fine. I can use the smart blend brand of "butter" and it's all good. I use olive oil for all my cooking anyway, so that's easy enough. I do miss an occasional ice cream cone. But, fruit sorbets and those new fruit chillers give me my fix.

caught the middle of a goofy smile

We are getting into a sort of routine. The chart I made for Kian has helped both of us. It's the days we just sit in pajamas forever and have the tv on that tend to be the worst days for us-behavior and frustration-wise. So, getting up and going, even if we're not actually going somewhere helps a lot. We do some sort of art "project" as Kian calls it daily. Even if it's just coloring or stamping. We continue to try to get to the library weekly and the museum hopefully as much now. Kian says he doesn't want to go back to 'school' but then asks to play with kids, so we'll figure it out. There's a gym program for toddlers starting in November that I plan on signing him up for-I think he needs that interaction and to get out of the house sometimes. He went from hardly being home, to hardly going out, so we'll balance it out. That has helped with behaviors. He had a decent week last week, a rough Sunday, but so far this week is starting out great. He's been gentle with Karter for the most part, and so polite it's scary. He thanked me for dinner, saying "Mommy, thank you for cooking this dinner for me. It's delicious". Get a spoon, 'cause I'm a puddle. He thanked me again at lunch and dinner tonight. I asked him who told him to say that, he said "me". And has been asking for things so nicely that even Jon and Kevin made fun of him. Don't do that!

the beginning of a smile

Karter has started to get his own schedule figured out. He likes to take a long nap in the morning and wake up for awhile when Kian goes down for his nap-of course! Then take a couple short ones in the afternoon/early evening, being very wide awake in between. He goes down around the same time Kian goes to bed, so I've been feeling like I'm getting a little "me time" or house cleaning time, either way. I feel that things are getting done and falling into place now. He is cooing and smiling a lot now. After I said that we had to work for it, he started smiling a ton. He sits and makes noises and kicks his feet at dinner to get Kevin's attention, never mine, just Kevin's. (I suppose because I am with him all day.)

Picking apples in Penn Yan (we picked 100 lbs!)

Spring Wagon Orchards

It took me 5 weeks to figure this one out, am I an idiot or what? Kian would scream and screech if Karter was crying and become crazy and that's when the roughness would start with him. Finally, the light clicked on and I realized the crying was hurting his ears and bothering him (you'd think I'd never worked with sensory integration issues before?!). So, I told him to either cover his ears or leave the room if he didn't like Karter's crying. It's worked. Jeez, ya dummy, should have thought of that sooner!


I've determined that Karter's losing some of that dark newborn hair. The hair that's smack-dab in the center of his head, in the front. This means he'll have that bald top and that old man ring of hair around the sides and his ears. Fantastic! If he's lucky, he'll follow Kian's path and continue to get cuter as he gets older. He's definitely getting fatter that's for sure! When I try to weigh him he's looking like around 12 lbs. Possible to gain 1.5 lbs in 2 weeks? Probably, again if he follows Kian's path he'll be quite the fatty around 4 months, then barely gain for the next six. He still has some reflux, which manifests itself as gagging, grunting, loud, rapid swallowing and fussiness if laid down right after eating (or if I eat a lot of spicy foods). I made the mistake of having "just one tiny bite" of Kevin's ice cream the other night. I paid for it in the middle of the night and the next day by being puked on non-stop. I do enough laundry as it is, so dairy-free is how we shall stay.


But, I'm getting scared because the holidays are coming up. And I bet one does not realize exactly how much butter, milk and cheese is in everything. And I mean everything! *Sob* Not sure what I am going to do about that. Make my own meal? Blah! Try to set aside portions before it's all added in? Maybe. I can't knowingly and willfully eat all that food with gobs of butter and cheese in it, when I know what it will do to Karter's stomach--and my shirt! If I do, we'll be up all that night and next day getting it out of his system... oh well, that's for another day.

Wordless Wednesday: random pictures in my camera

*this hybrid grew in my garden from last years thrown out seeds! it looks like zucchini inside*

Museum trip

We love our membership to the Strong Museum and thanks to Jon, will be enjoying it for at least another year. Just a few shots of our recent trip with Elissa and Grant. It's nice for them to play together and there's a lot they can do even at their age.

Here's Kian's television interview with Elmo:

Playing in "sand" aka plastic beads

Berenstain Bear Country, hoisting the produce up the conveyor belt

Groovin' Glor babies:

Kian's giving this kid "the look", I think he really wanted to run him over

We'll just call it a tie...even though Grant can't reach the pedals yet

The crazy room, one side makes you look huge, the other side makes you look very tiny

And of course, Kian's favorite place to hang out? The aquariums in the entrance. One wall aquarium and then 2 large tanks with all tropical "nemos" and "dories" as all the kids were calling them. Kian loved the puffer fish the most and kept running back to the tanks over and over. I told him we had fish at home, but I guess he didn't think it was quite the same. It was the first time I took KIan and Karter out besides someone's home or a store (where he/they are contained) and I put Karter in the sling and brought the umbrella stroller (mostly for carrying things) and let Kian walk (ahem run) around. He did good, listened pretty good, only ran off a few times. So, we will be going more often, as I know it went fairly smooth. I think we'll both need that, to get out of the house occasionally!

Kian: live and unplugged

I thought it was so great to have a verbal child, an above-average talker who learned new words at the drop of a hat. Who has the conversation skills and vocabulary of a three year old. Who can articulate things so well...

WRONG!

Yesterday, I was coming back to the table while he was eating breakfast and he says (out of the blue) "you're dumb, mommy". There was a talking-to about that one. (that's a paddlin'!)

He heard Kevin call the cat a dingus, so he runs around singing "dingus, dingus" all day long. He tells me that he's a dingus, daddy's a dingus and Rocky's a dingus. At least it's not mommy.

Somewhere he heard the word 'dinglehopper' (no we haven't watched Little Mermaid, where they say it) and he calls himself that now.

He took my pen from me and I said "Kian, that's my pen".
"Actually, mommy, it's my pen" He says.

"I'm just really thirsty mommy; fill my water bottle up please."

Just? Really? Actually? All these complex and interesting words lately. I was so proud and pleased of my big boy when he called the neighbor Mister Taylor. And using his please and thank yous all the time lately. That, I can deal with.

Painting today: "feeking dupid paint" (freaking stupid paint) lovely. grrr. our only downfall is using that kind of language when the cats are doing bad things, running away and in the food, etc.

To make me feel like a horrible, terrible, no-good mother: after a rather crazy morning with a cranky Karter, who then had an explosion needing a bath, most of my time was spent holding or feeding the baby and Kian was getting rather crazy and annoyed. I asked him if he was upset when mommy had to hold and take care of Karter and not spend time with him, if it made him mad or sad. "How does that make you feel?" I asked. His heart-wrenching response? "Cry. I cry." I promised him some mommy and Kian only time very soon.


Upon waking, and waking everyone in the house, this morning he rushed into our bed and snuggled up to Karter stating: "Mommy, I love this new brother". Can't get any better than that.

Karter: One month

Maybe it's just my boys, but it seems that as soon as they hit the one month mark they really come "alive". Kian was exactly the same way. Suddenly, they're awake more, more alert than ever, more interested in the world around them. I know it varies in babies at which age this happens. But, I swear that Kian and Karter both hit this on exactly their one month 'birthday'. It's a little more rewarding now too.


Karter has begun smiling, but it's few and far between. Usually he smiles at the towels on my head after I take a shower. Or maybe he just thinks I look funny? Kian was a smile-a-minute baby, Karter-not so much. He is cooing and beginning to interact a bit more and when he's awake, he's awake.

It's subtle still, but I can see personality differences already between the boys. (It still seems funny to say "the boys" or "kids"!) Like I said before, smiles are harder to elicit from Karter, and his eating habits are way different than Kian's as well. Kian was very textbook, easy baby-eat every 3 hours, nurse both sides for 10 mins each, sleep soundly, etc. Karter is a bit fussier with eating, which is probably due to the milk allergy we've figured otu he's got. He nurses one side for about 5 minutes and he's done, or needs a break for a few minutes before he can go again. And he burps a lot, which also may be related to the allergy thing, and has some symptoms of mild reflux. In fewer words: he can be a puker. He's a bit pickier about things as well-he loves to be warm, loves to be swaddled and sucks his thumb, things Kian never cared about.


His check-up yesterday went well. He's at 10 lbs 4 oz, up 2 since birth, plus whatever he lost and regained. We got complemented on how "alert, focused he was and his good emerging hand-eye coordination for a one month old". I said, we just make smart babies I guess haha. He likes to push off with his feet and bounce up and down. He lifts his head up and pushes off with his arms. There's so much going on around him, he's just got to see what it is! Mostly, that would be Kian the whirlwind.

The doctor commented on something that others have as well, Karter's coloring or skin tone. (In my head, I was thinking "where is he going with this? Is he going to ask if my kids have different fathers or something wacky?") He asked me what I thought about it and I told him it's darker than Kian's hair and skin tone, and that family has commented on that, but we do have Italian and other backgrounds in the family. He said it could be his skin tone, just that Karter will have a different tone (I think Kevin's a little darker toned than myself) or it could be a slight jaundice. That woudl be abnormal for some jaundice to be around still, so we decided to get the blood work done. It was not pleasant having to hold him while she stuck his heel twice, but way less awful than when I had to hold Kian at 12 months and the lab techs stuck his tiny arm for veins they couldn't find for his lead and iron tests. Ugh. So, we should know by Monday either way.

I also asked if the pink marks on his eyelids and between his eyebrows would be going away, as we were told it was from the bruising during birth, but I was suspecting it was more like a birthmark. Doc did confirm it's a birth mark but will probably go away in a year or so. I'm not that worried, it's just more noticeable when he's been crying and gets his face all red. We still think he's cute anyway.

The only struggle right now is trying to find time for each of them independently. It's easier to spend time with Karter when Kian's in bed for the night, but during the day they both always need something. It's easier to handle as the days go by, but I know Kian's struggling with alone time for mommy, so we're going to make that happen. I don't know how the Duggars do it, and not feel guilty about no individual attention paid to each child? It's a good ting Kian is so in love with Karter. He even tells the cats "don't see my brother!" Some days he loves him too much, but Karter seems to roll with it for now. There will be a day when it's not like that, I know. It will be interesting to see if Karter will be laid-back and let Kian take over or if he'll give it right back to him. For now, we're happy with our sweet and snugly baby.

Like sands through the hourglass

...these are the days of our lives. No, I haven't taken to watching soaps. No time for that, and no desire either. We're still figuring out our routines and schedules and what things make for good days and what things make bad days happen.

Today was a great day. We went to my grandma's and visited with her and the kids. We came home for a late lunch quick, t hen took Kian out to the Fire station's open house in town. He loved that of course. No nap, but he did fine with that. (He refuses to sleep in the car anymore, no matter how long the drive!) Best part? He wore underwear all day and went on the toilet whenever we asked or told him too. He was too busy playing and being silly to remember himself, but stayed dry all day...until we were at the fire station. But, that was my fault. I told Kevin we should take him halfway through. We did the stupid parent mistake--asking him and when he said no, still not taking him. But, plastic underwear covers over his real underwear? Best thing ever.

Another thing I'm finally being able to be in tune with, is Kian's needs around adjusting to the baby and all the changes. I was just too tired and sore and worn out before. But, it's getting better. I've said many times before that he likes routine and is like me and likes to know what's going on, what the plans are, etc. and needs that processing and transition time. I realized he and I were used to getting up, ready and out the door in the morning. Then, once at daycare he had a full day lined up of playing, crafts, music and gym time, lunch, nap and more outdoor play. It hit me that this leisure, lounging around, not even always getting dressed and being too lax just didn't mesh well for him. There was not enough 'plan' in his day and everyday was different and he first took advantage of his free reign and second it just makes him wild.

So, the new plan is (and yes, I know that we need to allow for flexibility, that each day won't go smooth and like we say) for him and I to create a routine for each day and the week. I will include a library trip each week and maybe a museum trip (before our membership runs out!). Also, each day we will have a little routine so he knows what to expect, somewhat more than what's been going on. It will be simple, get dressed, eat, play, outside, lunch, "art" time (even if that's just coloring in a book!) etc. I think I am going to make little posters of the days' activities and post them, so he can look and see what's going on each day, or next. I think this will give us both a good plan to start with and help him . And sure, Karter will interrupt things, that's a given. Maybe one day will be great and we'll get to follow the routine, and then there will be more that don't. But, that's okay. I'm just shooting for like 14.29% right now =)
*that's 1 day out of 7, for those of you that couldn't figure out the math*



*here's Kian with the Cheerios box with my Aunt Jackie's picture on it! She's second from left. She's an ambassador for the Pink Together promotion. (Ok, it's something close to that, sorry I botched her title!) Two-time winner!

Some things are getting better

Karter's started giving some- very few, sporadic, and extremely hard-earned smiles in the last few days. He gave me one Saturday, then nothing for a few days. then, Yesterday, I get out of the shower (he came in for a rinse off with me too) and put a big, brown towel on my head while I got dressed. He was laying on the bed, and I leaned over to talk to him and he cooed a bit and then looked at my towel and smiled. Um, thanks. Not for mommy, but a brown towel. I got another one out of him after making lots of faces and googly voices this week too. Sheesh! Kian smiled around 3 weeks and never stopped, he was easy to get lots of smiles out of, but Karter's just asserting his differences I suppose.

Kian has been better this week. We went to the library Monday, with Grant and Elissa. There was a train table and books and he was happy. We spent about and hour and a half there. Tuesday, our friend Francesca came to visit. Kian loved that, and the fact she brought him stickers--Cars stickers! Last night, my dad came over for dinner and Kian was thrilled. He also helped me cook the stew, and the cornbread, and the apple crisp and was very proud of himself. He also peed on my dad right before he left, before Kian was to get ready for bed. Of course. I guess he figured he had to even it out, since he peed on my mom a couple weeks ago. Whatever.

Today, it was chilly (was? still is!) but not raining so Kian and I went outside for over a half hour before lunch. He just ran around, we dug some carrots out of the garden that we forgot we planted. He helped me pick up lots of sticks that the wind has been blowing down. He just needed fresh air I think. He's listened better and has been more pleasant this week. He's been taking better naps, but not going to bed as early, so we'll figure it out.

On the flip side, he's been wetting his pants a lot the last two days. Exasperated, I said to him this morning, after the second soaked pants removal "Do you want underwear or a diaper? You just pee in your pants as soon as I put them on and don't even tell me until it's too late! Should I put underwear or a diaper on you?" His response? "I want to wear a diaper like Karter". Ugh! I should have known better. He's made remarks about Karter needing to pee and poop on the toilet the last week or so, and I tried to explain that once Karter is walking and talking like him then he will. And he's laid on the floor a lot saying "I'm a baby, cover me up. I need a blanket. I'm a baby, change me too mommy." Regression. Fun. So, I did what any sane mother would do (to keep her sanity of course) I put a diaper on him. I said, let me know when you're ready to wear underwear. And I've asked him several times if he wants to pee on the toilet and he does some times, and I ask him if he wants to continue wearing the diaper today or put on his underwear. Oh well. I know we'll get there. He was doing great right before all the changes and baby coming home, and I knew it would upset the progress a bit, but not quite like that. Eventually he'll be tired of wetting himself and trying to wear diapers and be wanting to be fully trained. He does great if he has no pants on, but now that it's getting chilly out, that can't happen as much.

While both boys are sleeping (and I"m not because I thought Kian would be up sooner, but of course he's still sleeping) Kevin and I are looking at some cost-cutting measures around the house. Don't come over--we keep it pretty chilly in the house (cough 65 cough) we just wear slippers and sweaters and layers. We're changing Internet and phone providers to save $15 or so, but getting free DishNetwork in the deal (even though I don't like DN, prefer DirecTv). Free is free. I'm not using as much $ as I"m not driving barely these days. I think I've filled up once since Karter has been born and still have quarter tank left. We need to get some wood for the wood stove so we don't rely solely on the furnace and RG&E, since they are upping the costs 15% or more. Thanks. I didn't plan on needing heat and firewood, um, before October 1st!! Thanks, Rochester.

Wonder what houses cost in Virginia...