Feeling Good

By Sunday, I was feeling good. After church we went to my brother John's soccer game. Then after his game Josie and Natalie came over to play while their house was being shown for an "Open House". We had lunch, played on the play set, on the motorized cars and then took a trip to the pond to show Josie the baby ducks. I think the girls had a good time but there's a chance that Josie was a little overwhelmed by the amount of toys and activity going on at our house. After naps we headed over to my parents for Sunday dinner. 

We spent a lot of the work week getting ready for Father's Day. We took a trip to Michaels to get supplies to make Drew a trophy and my dad and Drew picture frames. It was fun watching all 3 create their own masterpieces. Wednesday and Thursday the boys had swim lessons again. Also on Thursday Andrew had his first Jr. Golf lesson. I was cleared that morning to start running again so once he was settled with his buddy Nick, I took the little two on a slow run around Whitmoor then came back in time to watch the end of "putting".

Matthew, do you need these?

Saturday we were woken up at 4:59 by a tornado siren. We turned on the TV to see what was going on and decided to get the kids up, better to be safe than sorry. Unfortunately this meant everyone was up for the day! Talk about a long day! Luckily we had plans that evening so there was a light at the end of the tunnel:)

In the basement on a mattress dad set up

Sunday, Father's Day, we went to church and then Drew took the boys to hit golf balls. They thought that was the coolest thing ever! They grabbed lunch on the way home, Drew dropped the boys off and then headed to play golf with my dad and brothers, a father's day tradition. I met Drew at my parent's with the kids for Sunday dinner. I'm so thankful I was able to spend Father's Day with my amazing dad and my amazing husband.

Making a cicada obstacle course:)

Surgery Week

The Monday after my mom's birthday, I had surgery to repair an umbilical hernia. My mom took me to the surgery center while Drew stayed home with the kids and took the boys to their first day of vacation bible school. The surgery went well, I woke up very sore but a little loopy from the drugs. I was still feeling good when I got home so I had lunch with the kids and heard about vacation bible school. Andrew loved it even though he didn't know anyone in his group. Matthew on the other hand had a rough time and was not a fan. After lunch I went to bed while my mom took care of the kids and Drew did some work. Then my mom headed home and Drew was in charge the rest of the evening. I was totally out of commission when the anesthesia wore off and I was on the pain meds.

Happy to be home!

Monday night was rough because I was in so much pain and Tuesday was by far my hardest day. I was trying to stay off of the pain meds because they made me feel weird. Drew decided not to send Matthew back to vacation bible school and I totally supported that decision. My mom arrived bright and early so Drew could head to work and she took over the parenting responsibilities. I tried to get up and down as much as possible because I was beginning to feel stiff from laying in bed for so long. It was hard getting out of bed for several reasons but the main problem was Molly wanting me to hold her when she laid eyes on me.

Playing on grandma's ipad

Slowly but surely I was starting to feel better but frustrated because I was pretty useless around the house. Wednesday the boys had their first swim lesson. Since Matthew decided to nap, I took Andrew for his lesson and my mom met me there with Matthew and Molly for Matthew's lesson. The boys did really well considering this was their first lesson. Matthew was a little leery about getting in the pool but once Drew arrived he decided to get in and was fascinated with a bug that was on the side, hey whatever it takes. Of course I was very sore after this outing so I was pretty much out of commission the rest of the evening but I was happy to get out of the house.

Thursday I decided to take advantage of having my mom around for a few more days so I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. What a nice treat!! That afternoon we had swim practice again and then the boys earned a special nacho treat for doing so well. They were in heaven!

Friday I picked Andrew up from his last day of vacation bible school because they had a little closing ceremony. It was so cute to see him singing the songs and interacting with the new friends he had made. Then we had a little lunch date, just the two of us! It was so fun because I rarely get one on one time with him. It was a bitter sweet day because it was the last day my mom would be around to help but I was happy to be feeling better and move on with life as normal. Thanks a million for all of your help mom! A big thank you to Drew too who was in charge from the time he got home until everyone was asleep. 

VBS

Icing the belly with my helper

The Big 6-0

Yes, I'm way behind on blogging...anyway...

HAPPY 60th MOM!!!! What an amazing mother, friend, and teacher you are! My hope for this big day was to make my mom feel as special as possible! I met her for a little shopping and lunch before Andrew's baseball game. She kindly came to his game on her special day and then took the kids out for FroYo to celebrate with them. Drew and I hurried home to get the kids down for naps and prepare for the adult only party that evening.

If you read the previous blog you know Matthew and Molly were just getting over their illnesses. So needless to say leaving them with the sitter was quite a challenge. I told her she would earn her money and I had faith in her:). I texted her about 30 minutes after we left and she said all was calm and everyone was happy. YEAH!!! Time for a Cosmo!

Drew and I were the last to arrive so we met my mom, dad, brothers and their wives in the bar. I had the slideshow all ready to go and made sure my dad had made arrangements for a TV and DVD player in a back room. Of course the DVD player didn't work but I was prepared and brought my computer JUST IN CASE! My mom and everyone else loved the slideshow. I must admit it turned out pretty well. My biggest challenge once I had all the pictures was picking out music but with the help of everyone else involved it turned out great. (Drew was so tired of me talking about the slideshow and music!)

After the slideshow we sat down for an amazing dinner. The adult conversation was priceless. I can't remember the last time my immediate family got together without kids. We need to do that more often...it was so much fun! My mom's big gift was a iPad. We decided on the iPad for two reasons. First of all she will be traveling to Greece for her big present with my dad and she loves to read. We debated on getting her a kindle but also know she needs a new computer so we met in the middle and bought her an iPad. She can read books and check email! I had a few apprehensions because I know new technology can be a little overwhelming but she took the challenge head on and LOVES it! The next morning she called to let me know she had already set everything up and downloaded a few books. I'm so proud mom!

Jill made beautiful centerpieces for the table and Christiana brought a delicious cake for dessert in the shape of the Greek flag. It was the perfect evening. As we headed back west we got a call from John asking us to meet he and Christina for one more drink. Why not! It was an amazing night, our sitter had all 3 in bed at a reasonable hour and everyone made it home safe and sound.

Memorial Day Weekend

After Andrew's baseball game on Saturday we headed to some friends' house for dinner. It wasn't exactly a warm sunny day so instead of playing in the pool, the kids played in the bounce house and of course with toys. Molly had a runny nose and a little cough but I knew she was getting her last tooth so I was pretty sure it was because of her teeth. As the night went on she was very crabby and not acting like herself. She was also starting to feel warm. We headed home and got everyone in bed then in the middle of the night she woke up with a 102 fever. Poor thing was miserable. She was tossing and turning all night long and seemed miserable.

Watch out!

The 1 year olds

Dinner time!

Mmmm desert!

Sunday we were supposed to go the the Benoist family reunion. We were all very excited about this fun day ahead but unfortunately I knew it would be best to keep Molly home. So instead we laid low. We got the blow up pool out for the boys. Molly was in great spirits during the day but still had a fever. She was the only one who actually got in the pool and sat down, the boys said it was too cold. We did a lot of stuff around the house and had a nice day hanging out as a family. We found a lizard (I think) right inside our garage so the kids had fun with that until we let him go rejoin his family.

Always entertained by hoses

Our lizard friend

Molly had another bad night and I was really hoping the pediatrician's office would be open Monday but no luck! I also noticed that Matthew had 5 huge welts on his back and neck. They looked similar to the hives he got after he had Amoxicillin for the first time. They told me to discontinue the antibiotics he was on for his teeth and bring he and Molly in the next day. My parents invited us over for ribs Monday evening and since Molly was in such good spirits during the day we decided to go for it. We were dying to get out of the house! We had a fun night hanging with grandma and poppa...and the cicadas. (There were very few at our house but my parents had a million. It was so LOUD). The ribs were delicious! They grabbed our reunion t-shirts for us so we were very excited to try them out and get a family picture:).

A Solo Tea Party

Reunion shirts!

Tuesday we took a trip to the pediatrician. After Matthew's dentist experience he was not excited about this visit and he made it clear to the entire staff. Very embarrassing but I'm sure it's not the first time this has happened. It ended up that Molly had a double ear infection and Matthew had a reaction to mosquito bites. So we headed to Walgreens, got some hydrocortisone cream and some Amoxicillin. Then it was back home to lay low. Every free second I had I was working on the slideshow for my mom's birthday surprise.

Miserable 

Sums up our week

Thursday I had to go to a pre op appointment for my umbilical hernia repair. My mom watched the kids. Over the weekend we had discovered that baby ducks were living at our pond so the kids went to check on them and show grandma. My mom and I both agreed that Molly was not back to her old self and mean while Matthew had developed a fever and cough. I debated going back to the doctor and finally decided when no one would nap, just scream, that we should head back. Sure enough Molly was not responding to the Amoxicillin and her ears were now full of puss:( He said Matthew probably had a virus and the antibiotic he had been on was still in his body so even if it was something he probably wouldn't give him another prescription. So back to Walgreens we went to get Molly next round of antibiotics. I got home just in time for the air conditioner repair man. Our AC conveniently went out that week as well. Then Drew got home and offered to grill something for dinner so I could go on a run. GREAT! Andrew and Molly wanted to come with me but I didn't care, I was just excited to get a run in. Molly ended up falling asleep and slept through dinner. After dinner she wanted to swing and while I was pushing her she got very sick all over the swing. Poor thing! Must have been in so much pain from her ears, the new medicine probably upset her stomach and she hadn't eaten in probably 5 days. Oh and I was pushing her on a swing...

Refusing to nap...

By Friday everyone seemed to be on the mend. I was very grateful for this because we had my mom's big celebration Saturday. I knew leaving the kids with a sitter was going to be tough but at least they were feeling better.  

Ice Cream and Yogurt the only things she would eat