Christmas 2009

Since I'm up and haven't gotten around to writing about our Christmas I guess I'll do it now :). We had a great Christmas. The kids as always got tons of toys and spent the whole day playing with them! This year we realized that M's opening style is way different than N's. She opens a present then looks it over enjoying the new toy for a few moments(usually just by looking at it and the pictures on the box) then she'll move on to the next one and repeat. N he ripes off wrapping paper like no ones business(M is also much more "gentle" with the removing of the wrapping) then he'll get excited about he new toy and move on. They had the same number of presents, but N was done and M still had 4 left! N finally asked her if he could help her(at this point she was getting a little tired of opening, which I thought was funny) He pretty much opened the rest of her presents as she looked on riping off piece here and there it was really cute!

N showing me the bakugan that came with this awesome display case
M opening her DS, she didn't really know what it was till I took it out of the box then she was all over it lol!
N and his DS he got a Transformer cover for it too!
This is the point that M was getting tired of opening and just wanted to play see the presents still behind her?!
N helping M unwrap the rest of her presents
N as BumbleBee!
The kids playing their DS' for the first time! Daddy was very excited lol
M really getting into the game.

Lacking in Posts

I've been lacking in the posting again, I know. Really I think about it when I'm just about to fall asleep, some days it's fun stuff, but the last week it hasn't been. Every Christmas since my mom passed I get a little depressed around the Holidays, usually it's around Thanksgiving, and lasts a few weeks, by the time Christmas is close I've got a handle on it. This year has been a good year, I even made it through July pretty good. The last 4 days, have been rough, it's not a terrible depression(I've had it worse before), but I feel it. I'm so excited for Christmas, but so very sad inside too! I miss my mom, I miss my family! I really wish my brother and Sarah could make it down here. Really I wish I could spend one holiday with my brother, I don't even remember the last holiday I got to spend with him was! I'm really glad I got all my Christmas shopping done early, cuz I really don't want to go out.
That's pretty much been life around here. Last week was crazy! M had her normal speech therapy, then we added a new group speech/OT class, plus her OT eval, and the school eval to see where she may be "placed" in April. To top it off we had two birthday parties! It was a good week, but CRAZY!! I know you are wondering...OT eval was good, they want her to go twice a week to work on the small skills she's still behind it, though over all she's pretty much on target. The school eval was good, I was very afraid they would want to place her the next week, but they don't(wipe brow). Unfortunately she's still on the fence about where she'll be placed, it depends on how she test on her over all skills, if her OT "issues" affect her learning then she'll be placed in a full time school('s class, which she already knows the teachers and her brother is there), if not then she'll be in part time school(two or three days a week for a few hrs) I'm still on the fence about which one I feel better about, but it comes down to which will be better for her over all, and how she scores. She'll have that test in Feb some time.

Is school in the future?

I guess at some point M will be going to school right? I'm just not so sure about now! Why am I talking about this you ask? Cuz tomorrow morning we have an appointment to meet with the school district program about where to place M. Right now she's in the Early Steps program, but when she turns 3 the school program takes over. She is over 2.5 now so we have an appointment to see how to transition her into the new program.
I am so beyond nervous, I don't know what you would call it. I half want to cry, half want to curl up in a ball and forget this is about to happen. Why? I'm not 100% sure. I guess you could say cuz I have know clue what they will say, then add in my own fears for her, and what I feel she needs, top that off with not knowing if they can fill what I would love for her to have. N's eval wasn't this bad, I sort of know he would go to a school(the whole 5 full days was a shocker), but I also know that would be best for him and he would love it. Which he does! M, 1yr ago, I though she would be ok with school at 2.5yrs old. Now I'm not so sure, I don't think she'd do good without me for that long. Trust me I think she needs some time away from me and with other kids more, but I don't think she could handle being without me for that long. I know that sounds crazy, but she depends on me for so much, help get her dressed, calm her down.....I just don't know. Then add in that she finally got OT back, how are they going to work that? She really needs it. I'm just so nervous I guess we will see how it goes.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope everyone had a great day, we did. We stayed at home enjoyed our wonderful, beautiful children, had turkey and stuffing(that grandpa made for us), mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes(that you just reheat in the microwave), rolls, and I did make green bean casserole. Yes it was a very very laid back Thanksgiving, but I'm still so thankful for so much even with my scary(ok it was for me) surgery, and the scary(that turned out to be "ok") heart issue!
I'm thankful for
My wonderful husband that help me heal from the surgery, was my rock when I didn't know what was wrong, and been so supportive in starting my business.
My cute and silly N. Even though the boy knows just how to push my buttons, he also knows how to make me laugh. Everyday he puts me in aw on how much he cares for others, and how smart he is.
My adorable princess M. I'm so so grateful that she's finally talking, and saying the easy words. She still has a ways to go, but I'm just happy she's made it this far.
My little brother, who I love so very much. I'm so happy he's found his love.
My family who I don't get to see half as much as I wish I could.
My best friend, and sister, who is there when I need to talk and always there to help encourage the kids even from far away.
My wonderful in laws, nieces, and nephews for being a wonderful family.
My new sister in law(and her family) you are the best thing for my brother, and I'm so grateful you have all taken him in like you have!
T who understands me so much, and helps us out so we can have date nights. And her kids, without them my kids wouldn't have best friends!
All my friends that let me just vent about stupid stuff and are there for me when I just need to get out of the house and walk around the mall.
N's teachers, who have helped N's speech so, so much, and helped him not be quite so shy, and really made sure not to hold him back with his smarts and wanting to help others.
M's speech teacher, who gave her a test that other's may not have cuz she's so young, but cuz of it, she was able to really help M learn.
My dr who, sent me to the heart dr went there was only one little thing pointing to my heart. Many other drs would have(and did), just dismiss my symptoms. If he hadn't I may still be drained and miserable.
Thank you for everyone in my life you all are so special to me and I'm so thankful for everyone of you!

What a Week!

This last week has been fast, but not very much going on. We all have been sick with head colds. It started with M last weekend, she was fussy, had a runny nose, and just wanted to be held. By Monday N and I both were sick with the same thing(well I could feel the head cold part, hence knowing we had head colds lol). Tuesday I made it out of the house for a bit thanks to grandpa who watched the kids who were still sick. I was too, but I had to get ribbon for a bow order, a card for my niece(which of course I forgot the gift card so it was useless), and some food for the house. The rest of the week was the same sit around the house trying not let the kids run around to much cuz then they would just start coughing and the noses would start running really bad again. Poor N ended up with the worse cold sore he's ever had, it's like three in one, it covers most of the area between his nose and mouth. Thankfully we still have his meds of it, but it's been a heck of one.
Some very good positives of the week, M started getting potty trained. She did really well, but the whole thing didn't go so well. It would have been much smoother and been done by now if a)we weren't all sick and b)her brother wasn't here. The "problem" with N being here was that he would get her to run around the whole house were when it's just her and me I can get here to stay in the living room(which I had covered in vinyl tablecloths) so I could watch her better and she would also focus a little better on it. So it was just one day of that, the rest of the days we haven't for gone it, there just isn't any undies involved or me asking if she has to go all the time, she just tells me if she has to go. The funny thing is last week I wanted to start on Monday, but then we got sick so I was going to put it off. Well Monday M had different ideas she keep taking off her diaper, at one point she ran to the potty had her diaper off and end up going on the floor (she couldn't get herself up on to the big potty :)!That is when I decided we would full out try it and we got out the undies and everything. She did great had 2 accidents, and then went 2 times by herself and her undies were dry both times! Then she wanted a diaper, I'm not fighting this time, I'm just going with the flow, maybe nugging a little if I see she needs it, but other then that I'm not stressing. After everything with Nathan(UGH) I'm letting God do the timing!
Another good thing, I watched Twilight on Monday(after having it sitting here for two weeks). I really didn't think I was going to like it. I'm not really into the vampire stuff, but all my friends keep telling me to watch it and read it, hubby had put it on our Netflix list, I was in no rush to watch it really, I figured some day I'll watch it. I saw it and I LOVED IT. It is not anything I was excepting. There really isn't any(ok that much) normal vampire stuff, it's much more of a romance then anything else. I feel so connected to the main characters and their relationship, cuz it "feels" like mine and hubby's in so many ways. Anyways, I liked it so much, I wanted it again Tuesday and when I was at the store, I picked up the first two books in the series. Yesterday I had to run out and get the third one(I couldn't find the fourth in paperback so I have to wait to get that one). I'm already on Eclipse and about 1/3 of the way through it. I'm still amazed at how much I liked it.
That's about from here, I can't wait till next weekend, I can finally put up our tree! Which I'm so excited about cuz we have a big own now. Last year we managed to get a 7ft tree on clearance for $20! I really wanted the one with the lights predone, but hubby said no, but the deal was he has string the light on the tree then. I didn't really care that much(well I'm not going to string a 7ft tree) as long as I had a big tree. I've been wanting one for so long. I can't wait to get it up. I think I'm going to have to get some more lights(all ours are 100strings and different). I also picked up a few(3) new ornaments for the tree, since I really don't know if all our ornaments will fill a big tree. I don't want it full full(cuz we will always be adding at lest 4new ornaments a yr) but I want it to look like it's got ornaments, know what I mean!?
That's it from here I'm off to read!

Another Milestone

Today M had another milestone! For me it was an extra bittersweet one. Like daddy I loved her long hair and the cute little ringlets she had, but it was so long every morning was becoming a struggle trying to get it brushed. The ends were just knotting up really bad, so I know deep down we had to get it cut at lest a few inches to get it manageable again. But unlike daddy, there was an extra bitter sweetness for me. See, my mom cut my hair(I'm sure even did my first hair cut though I'm not 100%), up until about 9 months before she passed away. At that point she was just to sick to do it anymore so I went to a family friend who was the only person I truly trust to cut my hair(though since moving so far I've had to let others do it never really has happy as if it was her). As a child I always dreamed that she would give my kids their first hair cuts, but of course that dream has died. And with both N and M I wanted to have our family friend do it, but the kids hair always seems to get unmanageable before we are able to make it back to Chicago. I think it's God telling me it's ok to let go and trust others, even if it is scary...but anyways, back to today! For the last month I've been saying I have to cut M's hair, but 1)I wanted daddy there for the special occasion, and 2)the whole bitter sweetness was getting to me. We decided to try this hair place that we've seen in the mall they have cute little cars for the kids to sit in and they can watch TV's, it's really cute.

Here's her in the Barbie Jeep seat right after the first snip!

M did sooo good, she fussed a little, more just girlie wining(as daddy calls it lol), I think more cuz she wasn't 100% sure what was going on. There was no tears, unlike her brother who cried and still cries and throws a huge fit when he has to get his hair cut. I'm sooo happy on how it came out too. She had about 3 inches cut off, so when it's wet it's about an inch below her shoulder, but dry it sort of curls up and bounces right about her shoulder.

M right after she was all done

This is in the car waiting for N to get out of school

You can see the length a little better

Halloween 09

The kids had a great Halloween this year! N was Iron Man and M was Tinkerbell. It took me all day to get a picture of them together, but finally I got one!!

Tinkerbell and Iron Man

First we had a first birthday party to go to. N went in his costume I had planed to have M in hers too, but it was bugging her(I think the seam for the tulle was itching), so I changed her into a dress. That was after I put her in tights to try and help the problem which only helped for about 5mins. The party was fun, M had two little boys chasing her around...I swear she was enjoying the attention, which means we'll be in big trouble as she get older lol!

M and her boys

N fell asleep in the car(I swear he's like his Uncle T and falls asleep in the car everything it's over 20mins of a drive). So once we got there he was took extra long to get comfortable with all the new people(he's still my shy one). He sat and ate pizza for a good 30mins before he decided to join his sister running around.

N and his pizza

We had first planed on staying and Trick or Treating with our friends, but it was muggy out and the kids were already really red from the heat. Plus, I wasn't feel to hot so we decide it was best to just pack up and Trick or Treat at the mall were it would be cooler and easier on me. N LOVED it like normal. Every time he got something he would look in the bag either tell us what he got, or say "I'm getting so much Candy!!" it was really cute. M sat in the stroller for most of the walk, which is very odd for her she's usually the one walking, but I think the running around for an hr outside was catching up with her. She did finally get out of the stroller, and she loved saying hi to everyone and having people say how pretty she looked!

Waving at people

N showing off his costume

Towards the end I took N for a potty stop well N was going M was dancing around the room it was so funny I had to take a picture of it...

M Dancing

Once we got home we had dinner, checked out the loot.....

And watched some TV.

The funny thing M didn't want to take her costume off till I finally had to take it off for bedtime, after she was making such a fuss about it before we left....such a silly girl!!

And here's a picture of our pumpkins this year they came out really cute!!

Been Awhile!

Yes, yes, I know I haven't posted in like a month! Things have been busy and hextic, but all good/great and exciting!!

Cody started his intermediate class 2 weeks ago, he did pretty good. We have to rework on watch me. Last week there was no class since our trainer was on vacation, so I had two weeks to work on watch me and well, I haven't! I know bad girl, but I've been a little busy...you'll see in a little bit.

M is doing great in speech therapy! She had a test done a month ago to find out what type of speech delay she had. It came out that she has speech apraxia, which is what I figure all along. Now her therapist knows how to better teach her and it's going great!

N is also doing wonderful! He loves his new teacher. On the first day of school this year his teacher(who he just adored) told us she was retiring at the end of the first week. N was out of sorts for the next week, which we figured cuz he loved her so much. He then got to meet his new teacher two weeks later(they had a sub/helper from last year come help out the assistant for two weeks to help the kids adjust to being with out their teacher and getting a new one.) His new teacher is his old teachers daughter! And I love her(well I loved his old teacher too!) and N loves her too! Then he gets extra bonus cuz his old teacher comes to visit for a few hrs here and there.

I've been busy starting my business! I'm so excited, it's going pretty well so far. I've had a few orders which is good. M's loving it cuz she's getting new hair bows, and it's really funny cuz all the ones that I didn't make she will not wear now! I'm sure she will again soon(I hope so!) but it's still really cute and funny! N's been a little jealous about M getting all the bows though he knows that some of them are for other little girls, so I told him I'd make him a smaller afghan for school. He loved that idea! And it will be better for his back since he keeps wanting to bring the other one I made him to school and I swear the thing weights like 6lbs! Anyways, back on track! I ended up opening an Etsy store since I love that site and I loved that I could set it up like a little store, unlike if I did Ebay where it wouldn't be as cute and nice looking. It's also easier then setting up a whole website, and more traffic, at lest that's the idea!

Well, I'm off to come up with a few more bow ideas and help Daddy get the kids to bed!

Excited and Nervous

I'm going to attempt to start a hair bow business. I'm so very excited about it, I'm jumping for joy(ok not really, but I feel like it). At the same time, I'm very nervous, what if it doesn't work out, all those sort of things. I thought about doing this when M was about 9 months old, but I was still working part-time, and it seemed like there was always something going on. Then last week I made M a Chicago Bears Bow and remembered how much I liked doing it. Hubby and I talked about it and I decided I would give it a shot. I'm still working a lot of things out so it's still going to be a little while before I get everything up and running, but I feel really really good about it. I've had a few stress moments trying to come up with bow ideas, but I think it was the nerves coming through and not letting my creativeness come through. For now I'm just trying to get all my ducks in a row and pray it does good.

Wandering

I've been meaning to post for awhile now, and about a lot of things. It's weird we'll be doing something during the day and I'll think O I want to blog about that, I'll do it tonight. Then bedtime comes, I check my couple of websites, and then all I want to do is go play World of Warcraft. I'm trying to level up my Death Knight, she's so much fun. I just want to get her to 80 so bad.....anyways, back on track. I end up playing that till I'm ready for bed. Needless to say this post will more than likely just wander around about everything I've been wanting to post about.
It's amazing how a little everyday item can make you feel like a better mom, or even a little closer to someone. My mom had this Tupperware pitcher, that always had ice tea in it. It was an ugly thing, almost a browny-orange color. I never thought much of it, even after she died, it was just a pitcher. I've of course purchased pitchers since then, just cheap ones. Lately I've been making lots of lemonade and Koolaid, and my pitchers have done, just fine. Then a few weeks ago an online friend who just started selling Tupperware, asked if anyone wanted to buy any. I love Tupperware(I mean really who doesn't), but it's pricey, so I figured I'd just pick up a nice divided dish so I can do cute bento lunches for N. As I was looking at the catalog I ran across their classic pitcher(of course in a much nicer color!) Though I've looked at their catalog a few times of the years I never noticed it before, but this time it just seemed to stand out to me. I felt like I should get one, so I spent the $32(I know for a pitcher, but I know we'll have it for the rest of our lives where our $5 ones hopefully will last til next yr). I got it last week, and immediately fell in love with it and felt......I don't know.....more like a mom, more like my mom. It's crazy how every time I open the fridge and see it I feel more connected to her, and great that I made something good for my family.
On the subject of my mom, (another little back story sorry) I'm not 100% sure how the frog came about or how it came to look out the door(though I know my mom told me the story more than once, I just don't remember it lol). She had this bean bag frog, that sat on a shelf and looked out her bedroom door(sort of watching out). When her and my dad got married, the frog came and sat where he could look at the front door. When we moved he was the first thing to get put in it's place, on a curtain rod looking at the front door. When the Beanie Babies came out my brother and I both got a frog(I do believe my mom got them for us, but I'm not 100% on that one) we both followed and put our frogs where they could look out our door, and when we moved out they came along and did the same thing. When I was pregnant with N I know he had to have a frog and I had a second one(a little different looking that my Aunt had gotten me) so I dug it out, and put it on a shelf, but this time I put him so that he was watching over the crib. When M came we got her a frog too, and the same thing he watches over the crib. Both the kids know that the frogs are there to watch over them and they know which one is theirs, and they know that mommy's sits in the living room and watches the front door. Last night after we had tucked the kids N came to me and said "Mommy I need my grabber hand so I can get my frog down." I thought this was strange since they have never asked to have them before. So I asked him why he needed to have it down. He told me"I want to hold him, I'm scared!" It was just to cute, so of course I let him have it for the night, which of course made M want her's which she then laid on her pillow next to her and petted.
For Halloween, M is going to be Tinkerbell, and N is going to be Snake Eyes(from GI Joe). We have already purchased the costumes and accessories they need for them. N of course can just where his regular shoes since they are already black, M would need some fancier ones(or at lest plain white). They had cute green Tinkerbell ones, but for $15 and she can't really wear them again, I don't think so. Instead I found these silver shiny ones for $12 and she can wear them with her Christmas dress(well at lest for pictures), and of course everyday. The girl is in love with them....one day she wore them ALL DAY even to nap I finally had to make her take them off cuz she was starting to get blisters(we only had them for one day they were not broken in at all). And she's the one that is normally taking off her shoes as soon as she gets in the door. Which still cracks me up, the girl LOVES shoes, but hates to wear them much....don't get it.
I know there was bunches more I wanted to tell you all about, but for the life of me I can't remember, plus I think this is long enough lol!

Disney World!!

FINALLY after 29 years I made it to Disney! It was really for the kids, but I was so darn excited! For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to go. For the last few years I've been "bugging" hubby to go, but he hasn't really wanted to and since the kids haven't been pushing, I've been losing the battle.

N telling Grandpa who he wants to seeM sitting with Daddy

Tuesday we finally went with Grandpa. Our first stop was to Splash Mountain. On the way we saw a vendor that sold Mickey ears so both the kids got a pair. I let them pick out the ones they wanted and go fig my kids like the classics.

N in his ears

His eyes were bugging him so he wouldn't open themM in her ears

Splash Mountain's line was 40mins so we got fast passes for later in the day, and headed to Fantasyland. On the way N saw some raffle guns that he wanted, so we got him one. Across the way they had a shooting range, N had fun on that and went through all 35 shots in a min!

N shooting!

Once in Fantasyland, I found the Tinkerbell store, and amazingly only got M a Tinkerbell doll(trust me I wanted everything, but I was good). I almost got a cute mug but thought I don't need need it, so I passed.

We headed to see Ariel, but the line was huge(or so I thought), so we passed. Next on the list was the carousel. Hubby took both the kids so that Grandpa and I could sit down and relax a bit.

Next we ran into the speedway so N and daddy went on that. At this point it started raining(a heavy drizzle). Grandpa, M, and I found a nice spot under a tree that we could sit down at and barley got wet.

N and Daddy heading into the pits!

We where starting to get hungry and there was a food place right there so we decided to eat before continuing on. After food, was Minnie Mouse's house, it was just M and me, the boys didn't want to come. The house was packed, we made it through two rooms when I decided we would just leave(should have stayed). Then it was time to try and find the fairies. We did find Chip(or Dale) and Aladdin, they passed us as we were trying to figure out where we were, so I snapped a quite pic as they passed.

Chip(or Dale)

We finally found the fairies(this is the point that I realized how you meet the characters and how long it really takes)! The fairies and the princesses were right next to each other, princesses=30mins; fairies=60mins(according to the sign). At this point it was almost time for Splash Mountain so daddy and N went to Splash Mountain and M and me waited for the fairies. She did amazingly well(I also think it was only about 45min wait). The wait was totally worth it!

M's face when Iridessa talked to her

She loved meeting the fairies she sat down like they do in the movie right next to Tinkerbell and Iridessa. You would have thought they were her best friends!

With IridessaChatting with Tink
She could have sat there all day!With Rosetta
She gave her 2 hugs I think she's her new fav

On the other side of the park N was also having a great time(and I wish I could have been there to see his reaction). Daddy said he was begging to go on it again, but the wait was just to long. After that it was time to go, everyone was wore out. On the way out the parade was going on so we walked and saw it at the same time it was good! When we were walking in N saw these huge balloons and wanted one, so we told him on the way home we would get one, so we got both the kids ones.

The parade

Hubby had to run across the "street" to get them cuz of the parade ending, so I took M into one of the stores since I didn't get to go to all of them. They had some ornaments that said 2009 and had the characters all over it. I got that to show us going to Disney for the first time. As I was looking around they had the Tinkerbell mug I was looking at before, this time I got it! I figured I saw it twice it was trying to tell me something. It's totally me thought, it's got Tinkerbell in a robe, hair all messed up, eye mask on her head, holding a coffee mug, and the back says "Mornings aren't Magical!"

N's balloon(s)

The kids had a great time! We had a great time! Hubby even was excited about going and I think he's looking forward to going again(bonus for me!!). The kids took a good nap on the way home!

N took about an hr before he fell asleep,

usually he's first to sleep in the carM fell asleep about 10mins after we left

We did learn that the kids really wanted to and enjoyed seeing the characters. And that you have to wait to see characters so next time, we will take that into account!

Collaboration

Tonight the kids painted! I got them an easel at the beginning of the summer along with a paint set and shirt to cover up with, but they have yet to paint. Something always comes up or they change their minds right before, so it just hasn't happened. Tonight after dinner N came up to me and said can we paint? I jumped on it, we got down the play dough mat(ie a vinyl tablecloth), got them in their paint shirts, put up the paper and got the paints! They were off and running.

Painting

M only used the same piece of paper(it's going to take forever to dry too!) N made three different "pictures". During the whole process M would go over to N's side every few mins, say "Brother come" and he would walk over to her picture say "Sissy it's beautiful!", then work on his a little more.

N two brush paintingBeing silly she does this look all the time trying to be cute

For N's fourth picture he asked M if she would like to help him(really I wish I had a camcorder to record the whole time, they were so cute). They did such a good job together. N would say "Sissy put some green here." and she would.

N telling M which color to use next

I'm so going to get a frame for it and hang it up I'm so proud of them working together and it looks good.

The finished piece hanging on the fridge to dry

Puppy Graduation

Last week Cody graduated from puppy class!! I was so proud of him! We got his picture taken with a little graduation hat so cute! He didn't really think so, but I did lol.

Next is the intermediate class, but we have to wait till Oct. We could start next month with another instructor, but we really like your instructor, but she doesn't have another intermediate class til then. Plus I want Cody to really have down what he already knows before we start another class.

First Sleepover!

Last night the kids had their first sleep over, and bonus with their best friends! A few months ago my friend T and I were talking about how neither one of us had been on date with our hubbies in a long time. Hubby and I are lucky and get a couple hours here and there, but haven't had a whole night or even dinner and a movie since M was a few months old! It's our fault I'm just so nervous about leaving the kids with anyone we don't know I haven't really persuade a babysitter. Anywho, she's in the same boat(except they don't have any family down here and don't get the couple hours here and there). T came up with this great plan of us switching off watching all the kids and the other couple have a date night. It's great all around cuz we get date nights and the kids get to spend extra time with their best friends!!

Everyone watching some cartoons!

Cody confused he wants to play and none of the kids want to play with him

Last night was the first test for all the kids. Her kids to be at a sleep over and N and M to have friends sleep over. They dropped them off about 7:30ish, they got to play for a little bit then watch some TV and lights out at 8:30. We planned to have the boys sleep in a tent(thanks to grandpa for letting us borrow it), daddy sleep on the couch in case the boys needed anything and the girls sleep in the kids room M in her bed, S in N's.

The boys in getting ready for bed in the living roomThe girls getting ready for bed in the kids room

That was the plan anyways! It quickly changed when the girls didn't want to leave the tent so I set up one of the little play tents in the kids room for the girls to sleep in~that helped. Then at about 9:30ish both girls wanted their brothers so the boys ended up also in the bedroom, soon after the play tent came down cuz the boys wouldn't calm down. For the most part everyone was doing ok, M was in her bed, Sam was in N's bed N was on the floor by M's bed, and So was on the floor next to the toys. M wasn't doing good with all the change in routine so I finally had to bring her out to the living room to get her to stop crying and calm down. About 15mins later N then wanted to be with his sister, Sam wanted to be with N and So with her brother, you see the endless circle forming right! We then put the boys on the couch, M went in N's bed, So in M's(still not sure how that happened that way, but whatever). Nwas the first to fall asleep at 10:30ish, next was the girls not far after. Sam was a little more stubborn, he wasn't bad, he just didn't fall asleep he finally made his way to the tent and fell asleep just before 11:15.

This morning Sam was the first to wake up at 7:45, then N, and the girls followed around 8:20. We had mini eggo's and T came and picked them up at around 9:30 this morning. It was a little crazy there for awhile, but over all it wasn't terrible....Though I can't wait for our turn!!

My Beautiful Children

I know all moms say that their kids are the cutest and everything. And yes I think my kids are so darn cute! As for my daughter that is totally true she is just so beautiful and every day she just gets cuter and prettier. I know we are in trouble once she hits high school or even jr high! And N he's so cute, but more his personality. He's just so darn cute in the way he says things and does things.

Anyways, as you've seen I always seem to get the cutest pictures of M. Ones that you'd think we posed her and stuff or a professional took, but it's just the way she is. It's so "easy" to get great shots of her. Where as N in 4.5yrs I only have about 2 GREAT shots. That was till last week when he was standing at the back door waiting for Grandpa to come get him to watch him while I took M to therapy. And I looked at him and thought man that would be a great shot, and grabbed the camera!

New way of life

I've been meaning to blog about this for over a week now, just to get it out there, face the facts so to speak. I just haven't done it. I've thought about it how I really just want to write about this whole thing, but I'm to tired to do it. And then we had the fourth and M's big achievement, so now finally I'm writing about me!

For a few months now I've been getting really drained and at points feeling really dizzy and fainty. Thankfully I haven't fainted, but just feel like I am. Three months ago hubby and I were leaving Petsmart with M and I went to throw something away, turned and started walking. As I took a step I knew I was going to fall off the curb(you know when your foot hits the edge and for that split second you know you're going to fall so your body goes into brace mode) well after that split second(before the bracing mode) I blacked out and "woke up" on the ground. I bruised my hand and knee. Nothing to bad, didn't even think much of it except it was really weird. Til the next day at work I had the same thing I blacked out just walking to a register and was just really fainty and drained. Hubby called his mom to see what she thought. She figured I was just dehydrated and needed to drink more. That's what I did. About two weeks later I was still feeling fainting and drained at work or even sometimes during the day at home. I went to the dr to see what he said, he came up with the same thing drink more, but had blood work done just to make sure. Everything came back normal. Then about a month ago, it started getting really bad, to the point I get so drained from just doing dishes I would need a 3hr nap. After a two days of that I went to the dr's again, this time, my heart rate was avg 95. Blood presser and everything else was normal. Next was a cardiologist. I managed to get an appointment the same day, had an ultrasound on my heart done, and had to wear like a little EKG machine for 24hrs. All that came back normal. Next step was a tilt table test. Simple test you lay on a table for about 20-30mins, then they tilt the table up so it's like you are standing, but you are strapped to this table/bed, you do that for about 45mins or so till they get some results. I managed to faint in 3mins~positive results!

What does all this mean you ask!? I have something called Neurocardiogenic syncope. Here is a good article on it if you want to read it the first 2 paragraphs don't apply. Basically(this is how the nurse explained it) my brain and heart are not communicating correctly. When I stand up the blood "pools" in my legs cuz my brain is telling my heart to slow down not speed up. I'm now on a medication that ups my blood pressure to help keep me from fainting or feeling faint. The kicker about the meds I can't lay down when I'm on them so I have to take my last pill by 6pm. I also need to try not to be out in the heat for long, or stand for long periods. Have more salt in my diet, and still drink more. I've been on the medication for a week now and I'm doing better, I still feel faint, but now I just need to sit for a few mins and I feel fine, where before I would be out for a few hrs. Hopefully someday I can get off the meds, but right now I'm just making sure I don't overdo anything since I now know I can faint if I push it and that will make me really feel drained, besides what that would do to the kids. I'm just happy to have answers that don't involve surgery.

Mama

FINALLY O how my heart aches with such joy! My little beautiful blue eyed princess called me Mama! She said it the other day, but it was just like she was saying it, not at me or for me, just saying Mama. Last night we tried to get her to call me Mama with no eval, but every time we asked her to say mama and she did she got lots of hugs and kisses. I was just happy she was even saying the word! Then today God answered my prayers. We took M to the drs cuz her nose has been runny for a week now and the last 2 days it's getting worse, and as you know with her history she doesn't really show signs of ear infections or any infections. So we took her in to get checked out, just to be safe. BTW she looks good, we did get eye drops just to prevent pink eye cuz she gets snot all over her face at night(I know to much info lol). And we have a script for meds in case her symptoms don't seem to get better in the next few days then we will fill it. Anywho, we where talking to the dr about how she was doing and she says. "Mama go!" THREE TIMES! O I could have just cried, but I was good and didn't. I'm so happy!

Happy Fouth!!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

I know a day late! I was so tired last night I didn't get around to posting. We had a great day. I made some really cute firework sandwiches.

THE CUTE SANDWICHES

I also made a cake and frosted it using the fondant I made last week. N helped me with the stars and letters.

THE CAKEN HELPING WITH THE CAKEM ENJOYING HER CAKE We didn't do much I did have to run to the store so we did that. Other wise is was just hanging out at home. N just couldn't wait till night time so he could watch the fireworks that's what he was looking forward to ALL DAY!!
CODY ON THE PORCH WANTING TO COME SIT BY USM READY FOR THE FIREWORKSTHE SMALL FIREWORKSCODY SITTING NICELY WATCHING THE FIREWORKSN TELLING ME THAT DADDY WAS DOING ANOTHER FIREWORKWATCHING A NEIGHBORS FIREWORK "SHOW"The kids had a blast watching the fireworks and they got to stay up an hr past bedtime, and went out like a light as soon as their heads hit their pillows. Which was good cuz I was so tired and didn't want to fight with them to go to bed!