Ipod created a monster

One of the perks of getting the Mac Book Pro is that it came with an Ipod Touch.  Muddy and Brian are both very impressed by it.  Brian has been checking my email on it, so much so that I just said, "OMG, Kim left the funniest comment about the video of the kids climbing up the waterslide..." and he cut me off to say, "the American Gladiators?"  I said, "Yeah, how did you know that?" He gestured toward the Ipod.  No wonder I didn't remember getting a message that there was a new comment!  Seriously, go look at Kim's comment from yesterday's blog- it might be one of the most appropriate and funniest comments ever.  WTG Aunt Kim!

The waterslide never even made it up today! Can you believe it?  Major slackers.  We did the usual breakfast out, then ran an errand to BJ's, then came home.  Ben has requested to "go night night" about 5 times today.  It's code for, "I want to nurse and lay down."  His teeth are really bothering him, so I think the soothing makes him feel better.  We put Enchanted on, since we bought it at BJ's.  Addie and Brian watched it while I cleaned up, did laundry, etc.  I eventually ran out to Ann Taylor (which for those who know me in person, know how dangerous this can be!).  I found a whole lotta stuff! I came back home and Muddy and Guppy were waiting, playing with Ben and Brian. Addie was asleep.  We played the Wii for a while, then all went to dinner.  Came home, then Mom Mom and Pop Pop came over.  And here we are. 

Phew, what a day! 

Nice day

Uneventful day, mostly at least, is how today was described.  Brian mowed the lawn, while Addie, Ben and I drove around in the their jeep for an hour, on a fully charged battery.  That's the only way that 210 lbs of people can ride in that thing at the same time.  One full hour, though, not too shabby.  We were all over the streets, through the whole neighborhood.  They thought they were hot stuff.

We put the waterslide up.  Muddy and Guppy came over.  Looking back at it, we didn't actually spend too much time in the water at all.  Addie and Ben wanted to go on the swings, which is code for "I want to take a nap."  Muddy and I graciously obliged and no kidding,pushed the swings with sleeping kids for almost 2 hours.  We had a bbq and then Muddy and Guppy went home.

We took the kids out for ice cream, since we ate a relatively early dinner. At Friendly's Addie solidified who's child she really is.  As we were getting up from the table, which was FULL of gooey napkins by that point, Addie noticed some chocolate sauce on the table.  Not one to pass on such a delight, she literally spun around to swipe her finger through it and put it in her mouth.  She looked to Brian and said, "MMMMM, that was SWEET." I'm so proud. :)

Addie and Ben both learned they could climb UP the waterslide today.  That's pretty funny, especially when one or both slips or loses footing!  What a riot.

Tomorrow will hopefully be low-key. We kept the slide out, so that'll definitely be going back up.  

I'm trying to work on getting pictures transferred over, etc onto this Mac.  Aye caramba!

What a weird week

OK, finally pics from the Italian Festival.  Yes, you can see my pit sweat- it was ungodly hot out.  This is after the $16 ferriswheel ride.  Yup, 4 tickets per person. $1 per ticket. NOT WORTH IT.

The best family picture we have- all looking at the same camera!!

On the hang glider ride....wayyyyy fun.  

We had a fun video chat with Onkteb and Aunt Gail tonight.  Addie thoroughly enjoyed that.  I can see them becoming nightly events.  

Last night I took Addie and Ben to the dj dance party that my old job was holding for some young adults with disabilities.  It's a project I coordinated before I left.  Anyway, they had a blast.  Ben sang into the microphone, in his karaoke attempt.  He sang this, "lalalaaaalaaa Daddaaaaa, Daaaaada, lallalalalalalaaaaaaa, Daddddaaaaaa." Addie did a stellar version of Girlfriend, to which everyone was laughing and applauding hysterically.

Brian hasn't been home before 830 all week long.  He hasn't seen Ben  awake, if that puts anything in perspective. That sucks.  Tonight he got home at 941.  

Not much on tap this weekend, besides spending time together. It's going to be HOT and HUMID, so I'm expecting the waterslide will be up in full force.

Kim has an appointment with the guru of FMD on July 11th in New York City. She's sitting tight until then. Thanks for your continued thoughts! 

Gonna try to share some pictures

First time trying to upload pics from the Mac, which is waaaaaay different than the pc. OMG, so different.  Do I really have time to learn how to do all of this? Um, no!  

So there's an internal camera, so we can converse over the internet with people (Onkteb and Aunt Gail!!).  We can also take pictures, which the kids think is awesome.

Muddy thinks it's awesome too! 

 

I'm alive!

Sorry it's been super busy.

Kim is home and recovering.  She goes to see the NYC guru for FMD on July 11th. That'll be good for her to see those guys!

I got a new Mac Book Pro this weekend.  Brian and the kids with Guppy picked it up for me while I was doing my final training for CDS.  I'm DONE there! Officially totally done. 

I'll try to upload some pictures later on.

Muddy and Guppy picked the kids up for lunch and back to their house for the afternoon. I have lasagna in the oven, and we'll all be eating dinner soon!

Life changes

Sometimes it's easy to get into the day-to-day routine of life. Then something happens that, WHAM, reminds you how fragile life is, how in an instant everything can change. That happened on Tuesday morning.

Kimberly, my 24 year old sister, had a stroke. She's still in the hospital. It turns out she has a "rare disease, and a very unusual case of it." She is diagnosed with Fibromuscular dysplasia. And she has the issue with her carotid artery, which has an aneurysm on it that has blood clots travelling to her brain. It's really, really rare. She might get discharged today, to go home and reover from the stroke, giving her brain some time to heal before surgery. The surgery is risky and controversial. Being the advocate that I am, I contacted the FMD Society of America, who have been awesome. She's had world renowned experts from Ohio review her case with her physicans at the hospital. The head honcho of FMD, Dr. Olin, is supposed to call today. I'm working on getting her seen by him in New York City, so he can assess what should be done (and maybe perform the surgery). It's all complicated by the fact that the bad part of the artery goes behind her mandible in her skull, so in order to do surgery, they'd have to dislocate her jaw completely to access the area. Scary stuff.

Italian Festival and my first day...

Ben decorated himself this weekend. Luckily, those markers wash off with just the touch of water. My kind of markers!

For some reason the other pictures won't upload- so that'll be another post.

I started my new job this morning. Overall, I'm going to love it and fit in very well. I need to work on their People First Language, but just give me time! :) I had to get my PPD screening and a tetanus shot. Holy moly, my arm is soooo sore from the tetanus. I can't believehow sore my arm is!