Black Eye

Ian fell from the top of the ladder on the bunk bed with a little help from his brother (who didn't want Ian on the top bunk).

Disney Pictures

Here's a few pictures from Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Happy 34th

Happy Birthday to me! We came up to Disney yesterday and are staying at a new hotel at the Bonnet Creek Resorts. We had a lot of fun in the pools, especially liked the lazy river. I contemplated skipping Disney and instead thought about floating around the pool all day:) As is usual, the kids had trouble sleeping last night so we were all tired this morning. Ian could only handle an hour of Magic Kingdom this morning, he went on three rides. We decided to head over to Hollywood Studios. Ian slept on the way there and I let him sleep for while. I woke him up to go to the Playhouse Disney show because I thought he'd really like it but I think it was too loud for him so George had to leave with him. It was so darn hot today that I started getting sick from the heat and from dehydration so we let the kids play for a while at the playground and then left. I got to take a nap, yay! George's mom came to the hotel to watch the kids so we could go out. We went to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival and enjoyed yummy food and wine. It was nice to meander around and enjoy our food (anyone relate to taking kids to restaurants and speed eating to get out of there?) Disney gave me a happy birthday button and it was fun having everyone walk by and wish me happy birthday. Who wouldn't enjoy that?

Ready for Disney

At least I think I am. George bribed me into going for my birthday. After our last experience, I refused to go back until it was a distant memory. He bribed me by inviting his mom and said she could watch the kids while we go in to Epcot for the food and wine festival, he also threw in a trip to Eddie Bauer. So, I said yes. But Ian has a cold and I'm sure Ethan will have it before too long. Ian also has an infection in his legs from scratching bug bites to death. And it looks like George's mom isn't feeling well so we may change our plans. We can't cancel the hotel so we'll at least just hang out in Orlando.

George continues to have ongoing sinus problems and it turns out he has a bacteria that is highly resistant to antibiotics. At first we were thinking he may have gotten it during surgery but now we are wondering if he's had it the last two years and now finally someone decided to do a culture. If his current treatment doesn't work, there is an IV treatment available. I know he's tired of being sick and frankly so am I:)

God is Good

What a crazy time we've had here! God has been so good to us. It seems like we have had a constant stream of surgeries and illnesses this year mixed with crazy work schedules and I'm always suprised and grateful that I have the energy to get through it. George worked all weekend after I had surgery this week and Ian appears to be sick and I am still standing:) I am reading a book by John Piper that talks about us looking back on what God has done for us in the past and having faith in what he will do for us in the future and he calls it "future grace." These experiences have taught me that no matter the circumstances or challenges God is there and will help me to bear whatever it is. And he also shows me his love through other people. Though my surgery was not a major thing, the members of my church loved on us and brought us meals for a few days, watched the kids, sent encouraging notes and emails and prayed for us. What an awesome God we serve!

Ian is 2!

Ian turned 2 today. My baby is no longer a baby though I still call him Baby Ian sometimes. Everytime I said happy birthday to him he said, "happy birthday to you mommy." George had to work all weekend so we had Ian open his presents last night. He was very excited about what he got and of course, he and Ethan fought over his new toys. I feel badly about his birthday being kind of a bust because not only was George working today, but I had a set back in my recovery from surgery so their babysitter had them over to her house all afternoon. He had a great time so that's the important thing. It's amazing how much Ian has grown! He talks a lot and understands everything you say. He loves playing with Ethan and even though he's only 2, he can play like a four year old sometimes:)

Gymnastics

I've been taking Ian to gymnastics the past few months. He has really been enjoying it and loves jumping the most.

Surgery

I had my procedure this morning. I had asked my doctor to prescribe me some anti-anxiety meds in case I was nervous before the surgery. The night before, when I went to bed I felt fine, my mind was in a good place about it so I decided not to take anything. But then I couldn't sleep, it's like my body was being disloyal to me. My heart was racing and I was feeling nauseous so at 11:30pm, a half hour before I was supposed to stop taking anything, I decided to take the meds, and I'm glad I did. We had to be there at 6:30am for the 7:30 surgery. They took me back for prep. without George so I was getting nervous. As is typical for me, I cried when she put in the IV. The nurse could have been more helpful about it as she tells me, "What's wrong? You know this is an elective surgery? You don't have to have this done." Really? Could I have then gotten up in my gown and walked out if I wanted to? Then she anounces to everyone in the pre-op area that she has a scared Nelly. Anyway, it was true but I did calm down when George came in. When they wheeled me off to surgery I felt okay but they hadn't given me any drugs yet. The last thing I remember is the surgery room with all the big lights. George says that the doctor told him that I was very upset in there. That's the nice thing about the amnesiac effects of meds:) The doctor was done about 30-40 minutes later and I was in recovery for an hour or so. George said she showed him a picture of the before and after of my uterus and I'm thankful she didn't show me:) I didn't have any negative effects from the anesthesia or the tube that was in my throat. The cramping was pretty significant though. During surgery they had given me shot to help with pain followed up by something I drank for pain before I left but George had to stop on the way home for some Advil because none of it was working. The Advil didn't work either but a few hours later when it was time to take the Tylenol with Codeine, it worked and I got to take a nap. The doctor told George she thinks it worked great and I should never have a period again in my life. Anyone jealous?:)

Latest Pictures

Just a few recent pictures. One of the boys with their pumpkins. A couple of the ant colony Ethan got for his birthday. It has become an obsession for us all. We are constantly checking it to see if the ants made more tunnels and it's cool to just stare at. We went to a birthday party this week for Ethan's "fiance." Trying to get a group of kids to look at a camera at the same time is hilarious:)

Four Times

Four times this week I got a chance to be by myself. Four times! I feel spoiled. Granted a couple of those times was to go the doctor's and one of those was for bloodwork. One day this week, one of my friends took Ethan to her house for a playdate and while I was home with Ian and he took a nap, I got to work on my online scrapbook. I also got to go out one night to the book store and look at books and have coffee with a friend. And yesterday after all my doctor's appointments I had time left over to stop at Panara's to read a book. For those who don't have kids, you may not be able to appreciate just how freeing it can be to go anywhere without young children. For one, you can get in and out of the car faster. Secondly, you can browse. Fellow mommies, when is the last time you got to brouse? And to be able to sit and read for an hour uninterrupted is a treat. I love my children dearly and love being with them but I also enjoy the times I get to be away. And I can't tell you how awesome it is to be able to go to the bookstore and look through the grownup section without ever having to sit next to the train table in the kid's section:)

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday I took the boys with some friends to visit the pumpkin patch. A pumpkin patch in Florida is different than it is in the rest of of U.S., for one thing it was 95 degrees out! The kids had fun checking out all the pumpkins and I tried to get them still long enough to take a few pictures.

Pre-surgery stuff

Next week I'm having elective surgery and this week I have more doctor's appointments than I need. The brochure for the surgery makes it sound like no big deal, a five minute procedure. Well it turns out I'm having it not at my doctor's office but at a surgery center and will be completely put out for it. So this week I have to see my Gyn. to sign consent forms as well as my regular doctor for clearance for surgery. After seeing my regular doctor, she is sending me for a chest x-ray and bloodwork. Don't these people realize that babysitting is not easy to come by?

Partying in Sebring

Finding his hidden present

Finding one of his clues out on the dock

Helping Ian open one of his presents

Over the weekend we went to my in-laws house in Sebring to celebrate four of our birthdays (mine, George's mom's, Ian, and Ethan). I went with George's mom and sister to a thing at church on Saturday and George hung out with the boys and his step-dad at the house. They had a great time with their balloon rockets and foam rockets. Ethan got to hang out in Pop Pop's shop and watch him build his remote control sail boats that he races. George's sister put together a scavenger hunt for Ethan to find his present from her (she got both boys scooters). It was fun following him around the house as he found and read each clue. The best news of the trip is that I had no allergy symptoms whatsoever. Woohoo!

Thursday Pics

What do you Wannado?

George had the day off yesterday and so we decided to go to Wannado City again. We have really come to like it there, it's such an awesome experience for kids. We brought along one of Ethan's friend and his family too. It's so much more fun for Ethan when a friend comes along. The dad's and older boys went to Wannado City and myself and my friend with the younger kids shopped around the outlet mall. What kind of shopping can you accomplish with a 2 and 3 year old? Not much, we just went to two stores. There's a nice indoor playground that the kids played at too. After lunch we took them to Ikea. I've always enjoyed going around Ikea but not so much with little ones:) When the kids were done with Wannado (they got to pretend they were vets, surgeons, miners, fire fighters, police officers, anthropologists, and candy makers), we headed to where my husband works. The boys got to tour the fire station, get in the trucks, and even take turns working a fire hose--spraying water on a tree. They also enjoyed a short ride in the fire truck. In the rescue truck George did their EKG's and told them about the equipment they use to help people. They had so much fun! Nearly 12 hours later we returned home. What a day! Next time though, I think I want to trade off for a while and let the dads have little kid duty:)

Silly Ian

I took Ian to the park with a friend yesterday. It was a park that is located next to a river. While I was talking with my friend, Ian walks away and heads toward the water. Before I knew it, he had taken his shoes off and was walking right into the river. He was soaked head to toe and I realized that I was not bothered by it. I surely would have been when Ethan was little, it shows how much I've relaxed I guess. Ian is pretty fearless and confident. Last week, he jumped in the deep end and swam to the other side of the pool, all without an adult being with him in the pool--and he's not even two yet! To make it more challenging for me, Ian then fell face first in the sand so his soaked clothes were now covered in sand. I had one diaper left in my bag and he went home wearing only his shoes and a diaper. Boys, gotta love them!

Forgetfulness

It seems like I post about this every once in a while, I guess because it is a persistent problem for me. I continue to find that since I had Ian, I have not gotten my memory back. In the past week I forgot a doctor's appointment (even though it was written on my calendar) and I forgot what time I pick Ethan up from school (I was 15 minutes late). I also forgot to pack George's toiletries for our Disney trip. I keep thinking it will improve but I've come to realize it is now a part of who I am. I am no longer the reliable, dependable one who always remembers everything. Sometimes being so reliable can be a curse because then everyone relies on you to remember things for them. So now I just have to find someone I can rely on to help me remember things. Have I also mentioned that I'm frequently late?

Birthday Bash

We had a lot of fun at the boy's party. It seems to take twice as long to get ready for a party when there are kids to take care of at the same time, good thing the party was later in the day:) We had a Hot Wheels themed party so in addition to swimming, I had some crafts for the kids to do that were car themed. The boy's cake was of course Hot Wheels as well. There were 71 pictures on my camera but I'm just going to post a few:)

Bouncy Ethan

Ethan is finally sleeping all night without needing a breathing treatment. I for one am very glad he is getting better. He's on so many steroids though that he is so hyper all day. When he was younger and on steroids he would become very irritable and even aggressive but now he is just hyper. He pretty much bounces his way around the house all day. He is also pretty productive and industrious when he is hyper. He worked very diligently on building a big train track the other day. I can relate because when I'm on the same meds I have so much nervous energy that I can't sit still and end up organizing closets. If only I could harness Ethan's energy to help me get ready for the boys birthday party on Saturday. Mopping maybe?