Five.

Dave left on his annual "Musky Hunt/Man Vacation" on Wednesday night, leaving me to work full time AND tend to two flu-ridden baby boys...

Grandma P. to the rescue!!!

Thankfully, my own mom is always more than willing and able to lend Theo and Emmett's mama a hand... or two... when I'm in need. She usually brings along a good lap for sitting, cozy arms for hugging, rested eyes for reading, a big heart for loving... you get the picture.

And, there is nothing that she likes more (as she frequently reminds me when she's here) than having her grandchildren all to herself (as if their own mamas cramp her style.) Yesterday, I adapted my work schedule a bit so that I didn't have to be away from home for 8 hours in row... leaving a little later, and stopping in for lunch. Today, however, I left by 6am and wasn't home until after 4pm... and, for as much as I worried about my mom being run ragged by my very active, despite still a bit snuffly/sniffly/coughy boys, she couldn't have been more pleased. She loves to be with them, free of my watchful eye.

Even more than I like having her here with us, I love how Theo loved her visit this time. She left this afternoon, and as she was pulling out of our driveway Theo told me, "Mama, I love that Grandma!" When I told him that I love her, too, he replied, "But Mama, she is mine. And I don't want you to say that you love Grandma today!"

I wasn't going to argue with him.

For the rest of this evening, he talked about his days at home with Grandma and Emmett.
"I spilled some water on the couch, Mama. And Grandma wasn't mad."
"I counted all of these animals with my Grandma, Mama. I don't want to count them with you now."
"Where did Grandma's puzzle go? Did she take it home for Grandpa Yucky?"
"I think Emmett and Papa love my Grandma, too."
"I will be sad to sleep here without Grandma!"

By bedtime, it seemed like both of the boys were on the upswing from this awful chest cold/flu. Emmett, however, has gums swollen to the size of marbles and was grizzly and inconsolable. I ended up giving him a little Tylenol before bed, to cut the terrible teething pain. I don't think Theo's teeth ever bothered him quite like this.

I'm not sure what's on our table for tomorrow and Sunday. I imagine that we'll stick pretty close to home, as it's been rainy and the forecast for Sunday is cold. I have some bulbs to get in the ground. I might try to meet Jessica at the Y in the morning for a workout, as both boys are becoming quite accustomed to the playroom there. It all depends on how we sleep, how we're feeling.

I had a little bit of time this evening to go over our application for AIAA. The agency included a note asking for at least 10 photos of our family and our home to send along with our homestudy to the Korean agency. The letter reminded us that these two items are the only way the Korean adoption workers will be able to know us. They are the ones who will choose our child for us. I'm nervous about what to send. We have so much to do in the next couple of weeks. Dave needs a physical, and we both need paperwork completed by our doctors.

Two little birdies told me that J.D. has begun sending out letters requesting recommendations from our family members and friends. Our next meeting with her is coming up, on Thursday!!

Finally, I've added a bunch of links to the left, under "Must read..."
I know that the first step in dealing with a problem is admitting that one exists. I am obsessed with these blogs. I can't stop looking at these families' referral photos. I am so excited for what lies ahead for my family. I can't wait to see the face, for the first time, of the baby who will make us 5.