Real Fevers and More Spring Fever

After such a high we hit a bit of a low. Last week started with roof damage from the strong winds that accompanied our warm weather and cold front. Matthew and Molly got fevers and upper respiratory issues AND Drew left town!

Drew had the amazing opportunity to go to a practice round of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, GA. He said he had an amazing time and that words or pictures could never describe how amazingly beautiful the course is.

While he was enjoying the Masters, I took Andrew to school, then Matthew and Molly to the pediatrician. They diagnosed Molly with a sinus infection and said Matthew needed a chest x ray to rule out pneumonia. I knew I would never be able to get the x ray and back to get Andrew in time so I called Andrew's school and said I was coming to get him early. Then I took all 3 to the hospital to get Matthew's chest x-rays. Poor Molly was feeling the worst and I just wanted to get her antibiotics in her but in reality the x-rays didn't even take an hour. After that we grabbed Molly's prescription and McDonald's and finally came home! I was ready for a nap! Unfortunately Molly's 30 minute car nap was enough for her and she didn't nap...just par for the day:)Then poor Molly was up from 3:00-5:30am coughing and then my early riser came in 30 minutes later. Thank God for coffee!

Luckily Drew got home that evening and I had a girls night planned! Drew's parents were also headed in town from Oklahoma so the kids were super excited about seeing Mimi and Paw Paw. I waited until after naps to let them know because I knew they would be asking nonstop when they would arrive. I kissed everyone goodbye and was FREE for a few hours. I had a great time with my girlfriends. It's amazing how we can always pick up where we left off.

Friday Drew went to work and Drew's parents came over to hang with us. We took them with us on our Friday field trip: A walk to the library. It was a nice day so everyone was up for it. After lunch I put the kids down and Mimi and Paw Paw ran some errands. Molly woke up after 30 minutes with a horrible croupy cough. She was so miserable. I called the pediatrician and of course since it was a Friday they had no appointments left. They told me some symptoms to look for and to take her to the ER if any of those symptoms arouse. Awesome! The poor child coughed constantly for about 3 hours and then was able to play and cough. Luckily we didn't have to take her to the ER. The cough finally settled down around 11pm and she slept the rest of the night.

Saturday Molly was better and we were able to go out and about with Mimi and Paw Paw. They bought the boys light sabers which they have been BEGGING for for months and they bought Molly some really cute spring clothes. Thanks for a fun morning Mimi and Paw Paw. Drew and I had to attend a charity auction that evening and his parents graciously offered to watch the kids for us. Drew and I had a great night out and everyone did great for Mimi and Paw Paw.

After church on Sunday the whole crew went to my brother John's soccer game. The boys came home and put on their soccer jerseys before the game to impress uncle John. We arrived to the game before John and I had nice surprise of running into a high school friend. Her husband plays on the same team and she has a daughter a few weeks older than Molly! Everyone had a great time and John managed to score a few goals! After the game we had lunch and then some much needed naps and of course the Masters was on. We enjoyed the warm day with some amazing hamburgers and hot dogs from the grill master for dinner:).

Thanks for making the long haul to St. Louis Mimi and Paw Paw. It was a great weekend!

Spring Fever

So our enthusiasm about Opening Day may not have helped to this point, but it's a long season. The kids were decked out in Cardinal gear and had a fun "Cardinal Holiday". Anything out of the norm is fun for them. I mean, I had the amazing privilege of eating lunch with Pujols and Molina!

Saturday Andrew had his first baseball practice! Drew took him while I stayed home with the nappers. He had a great time but Drew said everything we had been working on at home went out the window...oh well, I guess we can only improve from here.

Saturday night we took the family over to see my good friend Catherine and her family. She was in from Wyoming and we had an awesome night hanging out catching up. The kids got along great. Her oldest daughter is between Andrew and Matthew and she was IN CHARGE. That's exactly what my crazy boys need. Molly enjoyed trying to keep up with the big kids and playing with Catherine's daughter that is a few months younger. Of course the adults enjoyed the adult conversation and planned a few family trips when the kids are older:).

Sunday we had an amazing Sunday dinner at my parent's. Both my brothers attended with their families and the weather was perfect! It felt like a mid summer day and the kids just played and played. Before everyone else arrived Matthew collected some sticks so he could take them to the woods with grandma. Poppa just got home from a fishing trip and had his pick up truck at the house. So the kids got to take a special ride. Then grandma bought a pack of seeds for each grandchild to plant. They all really enjoyed that activity. It was also Natalie's first Sunday dinner! After dinner Grandma took the oldest 5 down to the tennis courts. She was the only adult (besides Kiersten:)) but she came back with some great stories. She said that Andrew and Kiersten got "married" and on the way home Andrew said, "Grandma, Kiersten and I need to go on a romantic drive." They ran the other direction and thought it was the funniest thing ever. The night ended with mini drumsticks for all the grandkids! So fun. Thanks for a memorable night mom and dad.

Spring Break 2011

We had a great Spring Break in good ole St. Louis. No packing, no long car rides, no airports, no hotels...just good old fun! Monday we celebrated the fact that we had nothing to do. We spend the morning cleaning out my car (WAY overdue). The kids loved being able to play in the car while I vacuumed and scrubbed. Then we decided to try an industrial vacuum at the gas station. To our wonderful surprise they were doing major construction so I put the car in park, drank a Starbucks and let the kids watch the action. The weather was beautiful so after naps we played outside and enjoyed the weather.

The Home Depot worker driving Miss Daisy

Tuesday our field trip was to dad's office! The kids have never been to his office so we made the trip into Clayton to see where dad disappears to everyday. Matthew asked several times, "are we there yet?" and I continued to tell him that dad has to do this every day! They had so much fun at the office. Dad showed them the TV that comes up from a cabinet, all the special meeting rooms, the fire place, the copy room, the kitchen and of course his office. The kids enjoyed the field trip. Thankfully it was another nice day so after naps we were able to get some fresh air. My special field trip was a night out with the girls!

Molly was so excited and surprised to see dad!

Here comes the TV

Who's in charge?

Wednesday was our BIG field trip! Drew took the morning off and we headed to the zoo. We picked up Andrew's buddy Charlie on our way and had a blast. Of course our first stop was the train. Then we headed through the Rivers Edge to see Charlie's favorite, the rhinos, and Matthew's favorite, the elephants. Unfortunately the elephants weren't out which was a bummer but Matthew was ok with it once we told him we'd go back in a few weeks. Then we headed to the Children's Zoo and brushed some goats. Molly was hilarious with the goats. At first she was in shock, then she was intrigued by the boys who were brushing them, and finally she got up enough nerve to touch one! After the Children's zoo we grabbed a bite to eat and then headed up to see giraffes and cats with a nice construction show on our way. Drew had to run to work but the kids seemed to be having so much fun that I told them as long as the big boys could walk and no one melted down we could see a few more animals. That lasted about 5 minutes:) Andrew's legs hurt, Matthew needed a drink, and Molly needed a nap...of course Charlie was fine. I had to get gas on the way home and went for "cool" mom status and agreed to getting a car wash:) Thankfully we left when we did because by the time we got home the wind was crazy. That night we had 50mph winds....along with a cold front. We got our zoo day in just in time! The boys were so worn out that I had to wake both of them up from nap about 4:30 and neither of them would budge. Molly on the other hand got her 10 minute nap in the car and was bouncing off the walls all afternoon. Good thing she's so cute!

First train ride

Brushing the goats

The dump truck was dumping and LOUD

Trouble...

Thursday was low key and chilly! We took a trip to the library and then that evening Matthew had his first dentist appointment. I met Drew and he took Matthew while I came home with the other two. Unfortunately Matthew did not enjoy the dentist and by the time he got home I think he was over it but Drew was traumatized. I should have given Drew a heads up because Matthew is nothing like Andrew when it comes to doctors. Andrew thinks everything is fun and exciting while Matthew is more of a typical kid who does not like anything to do with doctors offices. Matthew has to have quite a bit of dental work done (not as much as Andrew did) which is never fun to hear. Drew and I spent the evening discussing the option of taking him to St. Johns and putting him under and having it all done at once or taking him to the dentist office for two separate visits. We've decided with option b and are praying that a little bit of bribery will help with the second appointment....I'll keep you posted.

Before...

After:(

Enjoying some library books

Friday we woke up to snow! We got the feel of going to Florida and Colorado all in the comfort of our own home:) One of the mom of twins from Andrew's class invited ALL the boys over to play (siblings included)! Everyone had a great time. The highlight for Andrew and Matthew was all of the Star Wars toys the twins had. I was the worst mom in the world when I told them it was time to leave. But I redeemed myself when they found out our special end of spring break dinner was going to be Dominos.

Pretending Molly's golf clubs are light sabers

Saturday we had a very nice lunch out with the kids. As soon as we walked in the door the snow began to fall...and fall...and fall...We ended up with about 5 inches by the end of the day. After dinner the kids got bundled and headed out to play in it. Poor Molly was so excited but ended up slipping on the playset and getting a fat lip. I think we need to start calling her bruiser.

My favorite picture!

So sad that our flowers are freezing

Before the fat lip

Fat lip

It was a great week!