A date in the OR for Ben

Ben had an early morning date with the ENT in the OR this morning to get a new set of tubes in his ears. His old tubes were no longer in the right place and the second they moved he was hit with a massive double ear infection!
It was a no-brainer, he needed new tubes and quickly. For so long he was in a vicious cycle of asthma, reflux, ear infections, and thrush which also caused, we believe, some pretty major eating issues, and we didn't want to go there again! Did you know that reflux can cause ear infections and ear infections can cause reflux? Or that reflux can make asthma worse and asthma can make reflux worse? And that massive amounts of antibiotics can cause thrush? Yep, we have had them all under control for over six months and didn't want to mess up the good balance.

He was so funny while waiting. He knew something was going on but didn't understand what. My normally happy baby was super serious and wouldn't crack a smile for anyone! Including mommy! But he didn't cry or anything.
Well, until he woke up from the anesthesia, then he cried. For quite a bit but not too bad. I remember waking up the one time I had anesthesia and it's not pleasant at all so I can't blame him one bit. Eventually he settled down when we turned the lights off and his farm animal dvd on.

By 9:00am we were home and he ran in to play with his farm animals and barn. I bought him a couple new ones for today, you know, because a farm animal makes this little guy happy!

He is doing great and I am so relieved it is done!

This is what I woke up to the other morning...

I came down stairs to see our living room transformed into a club house...

Ben was in awe and wasn't sure what to think of it.

Ben and I coming down was the beginning of the end to the club house though because Ben is like a bull in a china shop!

Oh well, will just have to build it again another day!

sink play

Playing in the bathroom sink has been a favorite pastime activity for all of my children as soon as they could reach the sink.

Ben is definitely no exception.
But let me ask one question...

When did he grow so much that he could reach the sink?!?!?!

Ellis Island Day

At Katelyn's school the entire third grade does a long, intense unit on immigration. The kids have to do a lot of research into their back grounds and complete many projects based on their family history.
It was fun and interesting but a lot of work, for her and us!
To end the unit they have "Ellis Island Day" and reenact the ships coming into Ellis Island with immigrants from many different countries. Katelyn came from Poland.

Thanks to Chris' cousin, Colleen, Katelyn had the perfect outfit for the day!

She packed her pillowcase with the items she needed on her journey from Poland to America. She had her passport, money (not much since she was very poor), documents from Poland, a stuffed animal, a book about Poland, and a picture of the family she left behind. (The picture was one we had taken a couple years ago and I changed the coloring to look old.) She also brought "mini polish sausages" to share with her class.

When the boats (buses) arrived at Ellis Island (the school) the kids had to stand in a very long line waiting to be admitted in America. They had to answer a lot of questions and if they didn't answer correctly they were deported back to the country they came from (the end of the line).

Katelyn was deported once because she didn't answer a question right and was almost deported a second time when she coughed, since they didn't want people coming into the country that possibly had a disease.

It really was a wonderful unit and we learned quite a bit about Poland. If the other three kids chose to come from Poland as well we will be pretty set but they may end up choosing another country and we will be learning a lot more!

Katelyn loved Ellis Island day!

Happy Easter

For the very first time ever...

I colored Easter eggs with my children...

In the past I didn't mind shaving cream, paint, flour, rice, playdough, and many more messy projects but I wouldn't dye eggs...

Last year I bought the kit but never ended up using it...

This year my children saw the kits and asked many times a day, "When are we going to color the eggs?!?!?!"

So really, I had no choice this year...

They LOVED it and really it was crazy but not so bad. No worse then any of the other projects I do with them.

We may even do it again next year!

Happy Easter everyone!

I have a 9 year old!

Really by the time I got around to doing this post I have a 9 year and three day old!

Katelyn is 9! Nine! Really? Has it really been 9 years since I gave birth to this amazing little girl? Who isn't so little any more.



She had a wonderful day but I think her favorite part of the day is when these flowers got delivered to her at school.

They were from her daddy! What a guy he is, I had no idea that he was sending her flowers. As the matter of fact when I got a message about picking Katelyn up from school because she wouldn't be able to bring the flowers on the bus I was completely confused about what was going on.

It completely tickled her pink to receive flowers at school! What girl doesn't like to receive flowers?

My sweet 9 year old birthday girl...

After dinner we had birthday cake and peeps, which came on the cake, and Katelyn happens to love.

Then her brother and sister made cards for her and gave them to her. She also opened up the gifts that we bought for her.

Can you tell by the look on her face that she was happy about the gifts???

Flip flops and racing goggles for swim team.

Along with a Harry Potter Lego game and a new scooter.

It was a great day for a great 9 year old girl!

The turtle stop...

On the way to Maggie's school there is a wonderful garden/flower/gift store that has some very unique stuff.
I could walk around that store for an hour and still miss some really neat stuff. And they totally make walking around for an hour easy by providing free cookies, popcorn and drinks!
Ben's most favorite part is the indoor "pond" they have.


Although, when he got splashed on the face he was a tiny bit distraught.

This is what you see in the pond!

Although most days you can see many of the turtles hanging out on the rocks too.

I never realized just how fascinating it is to watch turtles.

The frogs are really fun to watch too; however, if you are too close you may get splashed on the face when the frog hops into the water. Ben didn't think that was much fun. I, on the other hand, thought his face was priceless!

Seriously, I could watch the frogs and turtles all day and so could Ben.

I also could watch Ben watching the turtles, fish, and frogs all day long!

Which is why we stop at the "tutles, frogs, fishies" quite often and spend an hour just watching them. And all it costs me is the 15cents on the way out for a "pop"! Well, unless I see something that catches my eye!

Colored Bubbles

If you see these bubbles in the store I highly recommend that you leave them there! They are TERRIBLE!
They say "washable" and yet our tub and hands were stained for days after using them!
And, they are not easy to blow either!
Yep, good ole fashion bubbles are way better then these colored bubbles!

I think spring is here

The daffodils have bloomed.

The pansies are planted...

Our flower garden has been freshened up with a new bush, some flowers, and some puppies in a basket...

So I think spring is here but I'm not positive because it is still COLD most days! Bring on some more warm weather and show us that spring really is here!

Jumbled thoughts on a great day...

Yesterday was a great day. A wonderful day. And, sadly, I never took my camera out and don't have a single picture to treasure. I know, crazy, it was so busy and wonderful that when I thought about taking pictures I didn't have the opportunity to get my camera out. (A little side note... Chris has had the same best friends since elementary school. (Justin and Chris going all the way back to kindergarten!) I came into the picture in high school so although it hasn't been quite as long these guys are definitely "childhood" friends of mine too.) Andy, his wife Jenny, and children Taylor and Ryan. Justin, his wife Jessica, and children Leah and Caylee. Joe, his girlfriend Brandy, and Joe's son Kyle (along with a friend of his) all came over for a BBQ. Also to meet the newest baby, Caylee, who is absolutely adorable! The weather was perfect. The kids and us parents were just thrilled after such a long, cold winter to spend the whole day outside. The kids played, the women chatted, and the men cooked. Perfect. I wish I could put into words my feelings on yesterday. Just watching everything going on. I really can't seem to though. The feeling of amazement at how life has transpired and transformed and yet so much is still the same. When the men get together it's like they are 16 again! And, to watch my children growing up with their children, just wonderful. Special. Making memories with each other like their fathers did at their age. Well, after all that jumbled writing that few will understand I will just say it was a great day. The playing, chatting and laughing, that's what Sundays are really for! Oh, and I got a serious baby fix with an absolutely adorable and cuddly baby Caylee! This time next year she will be running around with the rest of them!

Reptile Expo

Yesterday the three big kids and I went to a reptile expo and it was really fun. There were more snakes and lizards then I could possibly count, with some frogs and turtles thrown in there. Oh, and I can't forget reptile food. You know what snakes eat right? Yeah, there were mice, alive and frozen, eeewww! Actually I don't mind mice, well pet mice or mice that are out in the wild, but when I see frozen ones, yuck-I can't even go there! Ok, let's go back to the good parts before I get sick. The kids thought it was just fascinating, the whole expo. Watching turtles trying to escape,

And lizards galore!

They really liked it when they got a chance to touch one of the animal.

Connor probably asked me about 243 times if he could buy one of the lizards or frogs. I said no about 243 times. "But Mom, those frogs are only $10! That's not bad at all!" Yep, still said no.

I did let each of them chose and bring home one "pet".

(Look at Punky Brewster's outfit)

Yep, I did let them each get one plastic reptile to bring home, you know, cause I am a cool mom like that!

Maggie's flowers...

The other day I told Maggie she could pick a little something when we were at the store. She looked over all the toys, crayons, and other art supplies.

This is what she ended up picking. A bouquet of daffodils "to brighten our house".

She definitely picked something we all could enjoy! And I love that about my Maggie!