It's been so long since I've updated, I'm not sure where to begin! Not that anything major has happened, just lots of little things.

Chris is working like crazy, which means he hasn't been home much. But we're very proud of him, and appreciate how hard he works for our family! The work will hopefully ease up in two weeks. I am struggling to keep up with my class, the kids, my job, and the house, but we are making it through.

Dexter is getting baptized this Sunday! Sunday is also Easter, where we celebrate the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ. What a joyful day of celebration it will be!

Dexter has also had his 4th ear infection since late December this week. We're getting a referral to an ENT, which will probably result in tubes for his ears. He's also able to eat yogurt now and a milk-based lactose reduced formula without painful amounts of gas. Hurray and hurray!

Frankie and I had some major power struggles and disobedience issues starting last week (of course when Chris is out of town!). I suddenly realized it was time to actually start disciplining her, not just correcting and reminding. She's always been put in time out for things like hitting other kids, but the tantrums and the willfull disobedience were spiraling out of control. I realized I was getting angry at her and just in general didn't know what to do, which is not the position a parent should be in! So I spoke to some friends, and read Ginger Plowman's "Don't make me count to three" (Thanks, Gretchen!). This book was so, so helpful. It gave me a plan and the words to use to discipline her. And after about 24 hours of putting my foot down, she was drastically better. She got progressively more obedient over the next three days, and since we've been maintaining a relative peace. Discipline is one of those constant chores, like weeding a garden, where you can't let it go for a while or it becomes a major chore if not impossible to correct! I know I'll need to re-read this book and repurpose to discipline my children often because I am forgetful, sinful, and lazy. But I love them too much to not discipline them!

In other news, the family fish, Manny is now among the dearly departed. I had to flush him this morning. We knew he was nearing the end for a while - he got progressively slower and had this ugly-looking buldge around his eye. Frankie's going to help me pick out a new one this weekend!