Silver Dollar City

The kids and I took my parents to Silver Dollar City on Tuesday.  Unfortunately, summer decided to make it's presence known with 90+ degree heat.  We made it till about 3:30 before the heat zapped every bit of energy Baba had.  The kids were a little unhappy about not riding the log flume before we left, but it was a good lesson in putting other peoples' needs above their own.

In order to avoid lines, Allie and I headed to the Wildfire first.  Jaelyn wants to be 52" sooo bad so she can ride it too.  It was a great roller coaster!

The Giant Barn Swing - we measured Caden at home on a hard surface with his shoes on, and he was exactly 48."  Unfortunately, according to the lady running the ride, Caden is 47.75" tall.  He was soooo sad, but at least he got a consolation prize.  The lady gave him a token that gives him a free pass to the front of the line once he is 48." 

Maybe it was bad of us, but the girls and I loved the barn swing without him.  The woman next to Jaelyn did not. I was worried she was going to throw-up.

Baba got on ONE rollercoaster...I'm not supposed to tell you it's the rollercoaster that 3 year olds can ride ;).

The absolute worst ride in the entire park...I was feeling so bad about Caden not being able to ride the swing that I rode it with him.  I looked like the woman from the swing.  I was sure I was going to throw up at any point.  The girls absolutely love this ride.

After we got Baba cooled off, we stopped at stopped at Longhorn in Springfield for dinner....Oh how I love Longhorn.  We made quick stops at Petsmart and Best Buy and headed back to the middle of nowhere.  Stay tuned for another road trip planned in a few days.

Last Day of School and First Day of Summer

My blog has been picture heavy lately and hey, who doesn't love a picture.  It seems there was a big break where I didn't touch my camera and now I'm a little picture happy :).

Introducing the newest Second (Caden), Fourth (Allie) and Fifth (Jae) in the family; although Jae says she won't be a fifth grader until she starts school in September. 

To celebrate our freedom, who pulled on our bathing suits and heading back to the Roubidoux Creek.  I called it a river another day.  I found a sign that called it a creek instead.  It looks more like a creek, but Roubidoux River has a much better ring to it, don't you think?

The highlight of this visit was finding crawdads or crayfish or mudbugs depending on where you are from.  They were tiny.  We were quietly laughing at a family there catching them to eat for dinner.  They needed to catch about 300 or have a lot of side dishes to fill up a family that size.

This picture is like I Spy - there are 2 - can you find them???

I know I'm not always the most positive about Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, but if you look past the lack of anything to do and lack of shopping, the ticks, the gnats and the poison ivy (Allie), it's a really pretty place.

Summer Fun

The kids aren't the only ones enjoying the sprinkler.

Allie and her poses...

Jaelyn enjoys some shade instead of playing in the water..

Last Day - Teacher Pictures

Jae with Mrs. M - I have so enjoyed working in her classroom this year.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Allie get her next year.

Allie with Mrs. M.  She has the sunniest personality.  I'm sad no one will be going into her third grade class next year.

Caden and Ms. S.  Today the last day of school for both of them.  Ms. S is retiring after 33 years of teaching.  It's been a rough year with her class so I know she's ready to say good-bye :).

My Favorite Smiles

I wanted new pictures to hang on the wall in the living room.  I'm horrible about taking the kids for professional pictures, but I think these turned out pretty just as well with my own camera!

Last Week of School

I can't believe it's finally here.  This is the last week of school.  As a matter of fact, today is the last full day.  Tomorrow, they get out at 12:30 and we are done!  Wahoo! 

Monday, in an attempt to get well, I cleaned my house from top to bottom.  Every time I bent over I thought my head was going to explode from the pressure but it was worth it.  I cleaned the fans, a/c vent, bathroom exhaust, and blinds.  I dusted and vacuumed and mopped and changed the sheets on the beds.  My vacuum was so packed full of junk, but it was worth it because on Tuesday, for the first time in 6 weeks, I woke up without a sinus headache!  I'm sure it wasn't just the cleaning because I didn't find any mildew or mold or anything like that growing.  I'm sure it had more to do with the fact that I've increased my nasal rinse solution to three packets from one and that whatever grass has been blooming is done.  My doctor said memorial day is usually the end of this round of allergies and I think she's right.  I'm just praying round two isn't about to start.

Tuesday, all the kids had field trips.  I walked with the first grade to the bowling alley.  The kids had a good time bowling.  Caden scored a 103 on his first game, which was an all time high.  He bowled 4 spares and was very proud of himself.  After the bowling, we had a picnic lunch at a nearby pavilion and then the kids played on a playground before walking back to school.  Caden got a little nauseous while he was playing so we hitched a ride back with a parent that drove.

The third and fourth grade classes went to Happy Hollow for nature activities and a cook-out. Dan spent some time there and said it was very well organized (I was worried about so many kids and the water).  Of course, Allie was one of just a handful of kids that fell totally in the water they were wading in knee high and had to change into her spare outfit (insert eye roll and head shake).

Today, the kids are having a field day.  No one asked me to help out so after my walk, I spent the morning grocery shopping and having lunch with Dan (our last alone lunch until September 3rd).  The kids are going to be excited by the trail mix I made them for snack...

Did you know you could buy chocolate goldfish or a bottle of those teeny tiny hot chocolate marshmallows?  I didn't until today.  I should pay more attention when I'm shopping.

Tomorrow afternoon, I've planned a play date with a friend and our slip 'n slides.  Should be fun!

Picnic at the Park

Dan suggested we get out of the house yesterday.  Great suggestion, Dan.  We picked up McDonald's (not exactly healthy, but the kids were happy) and headed to a park in Waynesville to enjoy the beautiful day.  We weren't sure if the splash pad would be turned on yet, but Allie and Caden dressed appropriately, just in case, and they were rewarded.

Cloths didn't stop Jaelyn from playing in the water too.  (Check out Jaelyn's cut-off shorts...her winter pants fit in the waist and butt and since they will be too short next year, snip snip and now she has 5 pairs of shorts.  HA!) 

Caden spent most of his time punching and kicking the water fountain.  Go Karate Kid!

Once we got bored with the splash pad, we walked down to the Roubidoux River (which was more like a creek at this location).  We've taken Gracie to Happy Hollow many times and have had to drag her into the water each and every time.  The water must have been perfect yesterday because Gracie walked right in and flopped down with a big, happy SIGH.  She loved the water.  Check out fluffy Gracie here.

Check out skinny Gracie here! 

It's taken a month of working with Gracie and her gentle leader to get her used to it, but it is truly the best dog invention ever. Normally, when we have her around people, she pulls and pulls and pulls and jumps, but with the leader, she is a well behaved dog. Jaelyn managed her easily in the river without any adult help. Thank you, Mike and your obediance classes!

I don't know if this is a normal occurance or not, but we were entertained by a group of people dressed up as knights with stick swords hitting each other. 

It was a great day that we wrapped up with chocolate dipped ice creams cones at the DQ!  Dan's a smart man!

Sewing

Skinny Minny is the hardest child to buy cloths for.  Things have to fit a certain way and nothing feels right.  (On a side note, we have a sensory evaluation on Friday) It doesn't help that her waist is the size of a 5 year old, but the rest of her is the size of an 8 year old.  Two years ago, I made her shorts out of frustration.  It was easier than endless shopping that resulted in zero purchases after trying on 158 pairs of shorts (and pants are even worse because of the length issue).  I have a handy dandy new sewing machine that is AWESOME so I decided to make her shorts again.  She picked out the material, plain denim and denim with polka dots, don't want to get too wild.  She also actually sewed everything herself except the waist and hem.  She was impressed, I was impressed and the sewing machine didn't lock up a single time requiring me to say a string of bad words (the only time I say bad words - never again with my new AWESOME sewing machine - yes, my husband is wonderful).

I really thought we'd solved Skinny Minny's issues...until she put the shorts on.  She's gone from wearing pants above her belly button to on her hips (as long as she has on the correct pair of underwear - insert eye roll) and from loose fitting things that don't touch her to skinny jeans.  So...the shorts pattern we picked out are loose and at her waist and "they don't feel right."  THREE pairs of shorts.  HOURS of her and my time.  Congratulations Allie.  You have 3 more pairs of shorts to add to the over-flowing drawer you already have and Jaelyn is still at four pairs that she will wear.  I think I'll give up and do laundry more often!!!!

My mom always sewed custom tags into everything she made.  I made custom tags for the shorts, mainly to tell the front from the back.  LOVE!

The Hard Way...Lesson Learned

Allie isn't into listening to us.  She pretty much does what she wants to do within reason.  This week, unfortunately, she learned a lesson the hard and painful way.  On Thursday morning, Allie had a scratch on her cheek....well, I THOUGHT it was a scratch anyway.  Thursday afternoon, she came home looking like this...

After a thorough questioning, I learned that Allie has intentionally been playing in the poison ivy that's at the edge of the woods behind our house.  She even said she "fanned her face with it."  We hightailed it to Walmart for some poison ivy cleanser and caladryl.

Friday morning, she woke up with whelps on both sides of her face, behind her ears, down her neck...you get the picture.  I called the doctor.  Dan said caladryl was the best thing, but because it's on her face, I wanted something more.  They said to bring her in and gave her an oral steroid to take as well.  Today, it's on the inside of one arm and she has a few spots on her legs.  I sure hope Allie has learned the "don't play in poison ivy lesson" well this time.

Sick of Being Sick

I have been sick since the beginning of April. I finished a week of antibiotics for a sinus infection before I went to Seattle. I was well most the time I was there. The tickle in the back of my throat and a cough returned as I was flying home. I went to the doctor last Monday and got prescribed a pharmacy of meds for allergies. It hadn't gotten better, as a matter of fact, I've gotten worse. On Mothers Day, we'd planned to go to church even though I hate church on mothers day, but when Gracie barked at 6:30 that morning I mumbled at Dan and went back to sleep. He woke me back up at 11:30 to tell me he was going to pick up pizza for lunch. I guess I needed to sleep. Jaelyn had a Monday morning doctors appointment that I piggybacked on. I had diminished breath sounds in my right lower lung so she suspected pneumonia and sent me for a chest x-ray. The phone call today says my lungs are clear but keep taking the z-pack because it can't hurt. I still feel horrible and have this yucky cough that won't leave. Caden thinks its cool that I have my very own inhaler to match his. Gracie and I spent today camped out in the living room (me on the couch, her in Dans chair). I am so sick of being sick! Uncle Sam, get us out of here, PLEASE!

Scattered Thoughts

 

I'm allergic to Missouri. Have I mentioned that yet? I can't seem to stop coughing. I've been to the doctor and I'm now doing a nasal rinse everyday followed by nasonex spray. I'm taking steroids and zyrtec in the morning and singulair at night. Today is day 5 of this regimen and I've only had a couple of coughing spells today compared to coughing constantly yesterday.

I've taken advantage of feeling better.  I've gotten my entire house cleaned up today.  I folded and put away laundry.  I prepped dinner and made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for the kids (shhh, don't tell them about the whole wheat flour).  Gracie is at the groomer.  It's quiet here.  I love it.  Of course, I have exactly 30 minutes of peace and quiet to sit and enjoy before I leave to pick up the kids and the dog and our weekend begins.  Dan is on his way home from D.C.  He should be home around dinnertime.

While I was in Seattle, Jaelyn went to a district wide track meet of 4th and 5th graders.  She got to pick 3 events to compete in.  She chose the long jump and the 50 and 100 meter dashes.  She didn't place in the races, but she came in 3rd overall in the long jump.  She said that she was able to get a running start and that everyone was shocked she did so well because she's sooo short (5th percentile y'all).

Allie and Caden also got awards at school last week.  They were recognized as student of the month for their classes.  The word of the month was accountability.

I missed the school volunteer banquet; although I'm not sure I would have gone if I had been home.  Caden brought me home a certificate and a bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Pin.  I logged 158 volunteer hours this year.  I'm pretty proud of that and I'm thankful that Dan is a good provider for our family so that I can be so involved with the kids at school.  It brings me a lot of joy to be a part of their world....so much so, that I'm thinking about subbing at their school next year.  If I'm going to be there, it would be nice to get paid.  We'll see!

Could You Help???

I don't like to ask for help.  I like to do everything on my own, but today, I am coming to you asking you to help my friend.  I know I've shared here and there about Kendra. She's 35 and on April 15, she had a series of strokes.  They air lifted her along with her husband from Ft. Wainwright, Alaska to a stroke center in Seattle where she is today slowly recovering. Her sister flew to AK to hold down the fort, but they want very badly to reunite their 3 year old little boy, 6 year old twin girls and 9 year old girl with their Mommy. They are renting a house in Seattle and are flying the kids there. They are looking for any help they can get to purchase plane tickets, not only for the kids, but for the adults who are flying to Alaska and Seattle to transport and take care of the kids. I know I don't usually ask anyone for money, but there is a great need here. If you feel you could help...

Money donations to help with expenses for the family can be sent here:

 First Baptist North Pole, P.O. Box 55249, North Pole Alaska,99705 and please put notation on the check for Kendra Drummond. They have already set up an account within their church family to allow them to help the family. Thank you all. It is totally amazing how hearts have been touched. So grateful for your love and prayers!

 

We are also sending cards, encouragement, silly socks with grippers and silk scarves to cover up her trach tube to:

 

 Kendra Drummond

PO Box 10481

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

You can follow Kendra's recovery on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kendradrummond  They are calling her the Miracle Girl.  According to Scott (who as a radiologist, I know he's peaked at every scan), she shouldn't be able to move anything, but she is.  She has good left arm and leg movement and just a few hours after 3 neurologists declared her right arm paralyzed, she started purposefully twitching her right ring finger.  Yesterday, her OT detected movement in several muscles on her right side.  She has a long road ahead; however, there is so much hope in just how far she'll be able to recover!

 

Dead Squirrels, Flooring and PB&J

In an attempt to catch you up on the craziness that is dog...

The weekend before I went to Seattle, Gracie was bad. And not just a little bad. She was a lot lot bad. Saturday morning, Dan and I wanted to sleep in. Gracie always starts crying to go out around 6:30. Allie was up and dressed so she took her out. The next thing I heard was the door opening and Allie screaming "she has a dead squirrel in her mouth." huh? Not exactly the best way to start a Saturday morning. I race to the laundry room to see Gracie standing with an actual real dead squirrel in her mouth. It was stiff and it's little legs were sticking straight out of her mouth. I freaked out a little bit. Dan might say a lot bit. He took his time getting dressed before coming in to get the dog back outside. Ewwww...I'm not sure what I would have done if Dan hadn't been home. All it took was a whiff of wet food for her to drop the squirrel. After breakfast, she got a good teeth scrubbing. I was wishing they made mouthwash for dogs!

Later in the day, I was off shopping and Dan texted me that Gracie had been a very naughty dog. She somehow managed to slide her tray in her crate forward and he chewed two holes in the vinyl floor.  That's not an expense I wanted. 

Monday morning, Dan took Alie and Caden to choir while I got Jaelyn ready for school.  Gracie is a people food thief.  If she gets a chance...and well, she did.  Let's just say Jaelyn took half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in her lunch that day.  Bad Bad Gracie Mae.  It's a good thing you are so cute or I'd be really mad at you!

Home

Last week was such a hard, but unbelievably wonderful week.  If I could handpick sisters for myself, Kendra would be at the top of my list.  It was a true blessing for me to be able to go and sit with her.  There's nothing I can do to make her well except pray, but I was able to holding her hand and brush her hair.  I rearranged her pillows over and over as she fought to find a comfortable spot.  Kendra's pain was pretty high last week.  She described it as her entire right side and ranked it as a 10 for days.  Her doctors are/were concerned about something called Central Pain Syndrome which is an unbelievably horrible thing.  With CPS, your nerves send regular signals to your brain, but your brain interprets them as intense pain (Kendra described burnings) instead of what they actually are.  A blood clot was discovered in Kendra's arm on Thursday around her PICC line.  The line was removed on Saturday and now her pain seems to be localized in her right arm.  While pain of any kind is still bad, the fact that the pain is localized is really, really good.  Kendra is still fighting some sort of infection in her lungs.  They are also worried about a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in her lung). She has elevated white counts and heart rate.  Her blood pressure is really high too.  Please keep praying the blood thinners and antibiotics work to alleviate these problems.  I just want to scream at God, "Enough already!  She has enough to deal with.  She doesn't need more."  But I know he's crying right along with us and He's right there with her holding her other hand.  None of this is a surprise to him.

Our wonderful friend Michele and her family were awesome hosts (even if the house was filled with sickie germs).  They live on an island off the coast of Seattle.  I had a lot of new experiences in my commute to the hospital.  I rode the ferry into and out of Seattle every day.  Jaelyn was jealous when I told her.  I took a cab to the hospital every morning (my first cab rides) and walked the two miles back to the ferry in the evenings to decompress and enjoy the pretty city.  I also figured out Seattle's light rail system with the help of some nice strangers.  I was rather proud of myself.   

We had been planning a trip to Alaska to visit Kendra's family in August.  Dan and I had finally sat down the afternoon she had the stroke to pick our dates and flights, but ware waiting to hear back from a friend to confirm our lay-over plans.  The last text she sent me that day was that she'd bought new sheets for us for our visit.  I'm so thankful we hadn't bought the tickets because now I will need to plan a Seattle vacation instead.  I told Kendra and she was very insistent...she spelled "stay my house" over and over.  I'm not so sure about that as her family will have their hands full, but I can't wait to get back to Seattle to hug my friends again!

Dan deserves a big shout out.  I've only left my kids three other times, but I can always leave and not worry.  He did a great job of being daddy and mommy while I was gone.  I even came home to a clean house complete with vacuum lines.  Anyone who knows me well, knows vacuum lines make my little OCD heart happy.  Dan left this morning for Washington.  He'll be gone a week, home a weekend, gone another week.  I joked that he left me with crabby and crazy and a really sweet boy this morning.  I really hope it wasn't a glimpse at the week ahead!