Rob's family

from Tracey When I was still pregnant, a mom of 2 told me that the first time she went out with 2 kids by herself was a huge ordeal, but that you just have to do it. Kim can probably relate as well. Well, today it is sunny and 40 degrees, beautiful day, so I decided to take my chances and take my girls (?!) to the mall. Let me just say we have a ways to go on the efficiency scale! Melinda woke up at 7:05 (I was already feeding Gretchen), and we didn't leave until 10:00. I'm not exactly sure where the bottleneck occurred, perhaps with the 2-year-old who wanted to make a game out of getting dressed, or perhaps with the baby who, when I was THIS close to being ready at 9:15, decided she had to eat immediately. I have also discovered that 2-year-olds (at least mine) just have no concept of time. I have told Melinda that when it's cold out, we need to move QUICKLY getting into the car so we don't freeze. Our definitions of "quickly" are no where near the same. So I

From Tracey Susan, know what you mean about the lack of email, but as one of the perpetrators I can only sigh. I think Rob mentioned a while back how smoothly things were going so far with Gretchen around, and we were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Well, last Friday, we heard a thud. Not literally, of course. Gretchen's too young to fall out of her crib and Melinda does just fine in her twin bed. No, more like a cough, as in Rob coming down with the flu -- the fever, chills, coughing kind. A little scary with a 2-week-old baby in the house, but not bad, I just took care of everybody all weekend. Fine (except poor Rob, who at least had the common sense to get sick on the weekend, he thought) until Sunday night, when I developed a sore throat and fever. Fortunately Rob was better by then, so he took over Gretchen's care. Monday morning, Melinda woke up with a fever. Let's just say, she's not easily fooled by bubble gum flavor -- Rob had to force the Tylenol down her