Maggie's adenoids are gone!

A couple weeks ago we headed to the hospital nice and early for Maggie to have her adenoids out. She has needed them out for a while as they were pretty big. She snored louder then a bulldog and during the winter pretty much breathed through her mouth all the time because her nose was always full of gunk. Not to mention, she was the loudest breather ever.



She kept busy looking at pictures while we waited for it to be her turn in the OR. She was much more relaxed then I was. Although I was hiding it pretty well to keep her calm.

Chris stayed at home to get the kids on the bus and get Ben settled at a neighbors and then he came to the hospital. We figured he would have no problem getting there in time. Yep, we were wrong. Which was a problem because Chris is always the one that brings the kids into the OR.

Well, I had to pull up my big girl pants, and this lovely sterile outfit, and take her back because Chris hit traffic and didn't get there until a little while after Maggie went into surgery.

Surgery went great. No surprises. We like no surprises in this situation! Maggie woke up pretty upset but since we have done this before we know to expect that.

She was promised as many popsicles as she wanted for the whole day! When she found out that after she ate two with no problems she could go home she wanted to get started right away.

Daddy went down to get Maggie's medicines filled and came back with a cozy and snugly horse just for her. Which, not surprisingly, Maggie loved!

That afternoon Auntie Stephanie stopped by with roses which were BEAUTIFUL and Maggie thought she was just the princess to receive such a surprise.

Our sweet little neighbor girl, Christina, picked these flowers and gave them to Maggie! They were beautiful and so thoughtful.

After surgery we were given orders to keep things "low key" with Maggie for a week. Yep, obviously the doctor doesn't know our Maggie very well! It was all I had to keep her from climbing trees that afternoon!

Oh, and as a side note, probably a week after the surgery Katelyn said one morning, "Oh wow, I haven't heard Maggie snoring at all!" Looks like it was successful!

Tid-bits about Ben

For starters this guy is now over 2 1/2! Oh my, where has the time gone! He is so much fun and I just love this age.





His language has just exploded and he is talking in full blown sentences. We can have full conversations and I just love it. I seriously could listen to this guy talk all day. The things he comes out with are so funny.

Like when he is doing something, almost anything, and I ask him why, he answers, "Because my two!" Like that should be a reason to be going into the fridge and eating a stick of cream cheese.

When it's time to go somewhere or stop doing something he will say, "pay few minutes?" (Play a few minutes?)
Or when he says, "Mere a sedon pease" which means "Come here a second please"

"Gooboy, gooboy, gooboy" when he rubs my face to his is a favorite of mine! Especially since I have no idea where he came up with it.

He has such wonderful manners, almost always saying please when he wants or needs something, and "welcome" when he gets it. If he does say thank you it's pronounced, "Daapoo" but he hasn't quite figured out when to use thank you and your welcome. Which, honestly, I love, because it shows me he is still little!

He has had eating therapy now for a year and is doing AMAZING! He is down to once a month visits now!!!! For the first few months it was once a week so that really shows how far he has come. We have even discussed having him discharged but want to wait until we wean him off his appetite stimulant. We gave that a try this past spring again but failed pretty bad so I am hoping this try will be better!

He sleeps a lot less then he used to but I think he is more on a "normal" toddler sleeping schedule. He used to sleep so much it concerned me. Although, I won't lie, him sleeping late in the morning made getting the other kids out the door for school a lot easier!

Oh, and two and a half weeks ago we made the big jump to big boy undies! Yep, potty training and it has been going really well. Some days he still has accidents, like when he is so busy playing he doesn't stop, but most days are accident free.

He absolutely LOVES playing hide and seek but hasn't really figured it out yet. It is just hilarious and I LOVE to play it with him! He hides in the same place every single time. Oh, and he tells me where before he hides. I walk around, loudly saying where I am looking for him, and after a minute I say, "Oh, let me check in the closet". When I open the door he is beaming and laughing and is so excited I found him! Oh, it's such a moment. We can do it 15 times and it still makes me laugh every single time!

Now that school has started Ben and I have some mommy and Ben time every day. Although he spends a chunk of it napping. I think we are both cherishing the quiet times. I know I am because it won't be long before he is climbing on that bus too!

He is doing great!

He is so much fun!

I LOVE this boy!

mini carnival

We went to a mini carnival recently. It was just a small carnival/fundraiser that was held in a parking lot in town.

Maggie, Katelyn and Ben went on all the rides they could.

Leah and her family joined us too!

Connor wasn't a big fan of the rides so he decided to spend his money on the games instead. I will say he quickly learned that these games are very expensive and the money runs out quick.

Oh, how I love the smiles on every one's faces.

Sweet baby Caylee is no exception, I just love that smile!

It was HOT that day so a break with snow cones was very welcome by the kids.

Ben's favorite, by far, was the giant slide. He just went up and down, up and down. Thankfully we bought bracelets instead of tickets so he could go as much as his little heart wanted to.

Aunt Jess and Uncle Justin treated the kids to a couple of games.

So much fun was had at the mini carnival! It may have been small compared to most but the smiles created were anything but small!

Go carts

We decided to check out a "go-cart" place recently.


Katelyn just made the height limit and was able to drive her own car. My stomach was in knots watching and Maggie held on for dear life! Which was probably good considering when it was time to stop the go-cart Katelyn couldn't push the brake pedal down all the way and ran into the tires on the side of the track. Katelyn got off, completely embarrassed and let us know she is NEVER driving anything again!

The bumper boats were much slower and more relaxing for them and me!

The kids really loved them.

Katelyn's decree of NEVER driving again didn't last long though. She decided to give the small go-carts a try and enjoyed them quite a bit more.

Connor and Maggie were able to drive these too.

They were much slower which was a lot better for them, and for my heart watching them!

The kids really loved taking control of the wheel!

Last minute BBQ

This past weekend we had a last minute BBQ and it was for a very special reason. Chris went to the grocery store and picked up all the fixings for a yummy and simple BBQ.


Oh, you are wondering why....

Well, it was so my family and my sister Stephanie's family could get a chance to meet my niece Nicole. It was the first time her cousins had met her. The last time Steph and I saw her she was just a tiny baby.

(Kyle, Nicole, Sarah and Dylan)

My sister Jen had Nicole when she was very young. Too young to take care of herself never mind a baby. So Jen made the best decision for Nicole and gave her up for adoption.

(Heather holding Ben, Maggie, Kate

Kyle, Nicole Sarah, Dylan, Julia,

and Theresa)

It was such a hard decision all those years ago and the years since have been challenging at times. But this weekend, finally, Nicole was able to come and meet her sisters for the first time.

It was such a wonderful and special weekend for everyone but especially Jen and Nicole who mended all old hurts and got to know so much about each other!

I was brought to tears when I got to hug my niece for the first time after all these years.

The kids got to know Nicole a little and she got to know them a little. We know this is just the first visit of many, many more!

Hehe, she even got to know JJ a little when he came outside to join us!

First day of school

Last week brought with it the first day of school! I wasn't ready for my kids to head back to school because the summer went by way too fast but the kids were very ready and very excited.
Connor started 2nd grade this year so he and Katelyn are now in the same school.

Katelyn, whose outfit I just loved, started 4th grade.

The two big kids head off on the bus first thing in the morning. I love that they still wave until they get out of site!

Then after lunch Ben, Maggie, and I headed off to drop Maggie off at kindergarten! UNBELIEVABLE I know! We live pretty close so I put Ben in the bike trailer and rode down while Maggie rode her scooter down.

My nephew, Maggie's cousin, Isaac also started afternoon kindergarten this year.

They are in separate classes but we will get to see Isaac every day at drop off.

They were both so serious while waiting to go in for their first day of kindergarten.

Maggie did great though! She didn't even really look back.

Then Ben and I rode home and waited for his big sisters and brother to get home from school.

We were so happy to see their excited faces come off the bus that afternoon.

All three of them seem to be really happy with their class and teacher so it looks like it's gonna be a great year!

Comments

Wow, you have your hands full!

You must be very busy!

How do you do it?

Do you know what causes that?!?!?

A couple of weeks ago the four kids and I went to a local diner for breakfast. It was a different diner then we normally go to so the owners don't know us. Not that we go often but when we do we usually go to the same place so the people do know us. So anyway, the cook, who I think is also the owner, came up to our table to tell me how well behaved the children are. I thanked him and away he walked. Next the waitress came back to our table and asked, "Are these all yours?" Well, yes, "these" are all mine. To which she then said in quite an exaggerated voice, "WOW, you have your hands full!" Now mind you, the kids were being well behaved, mostly, other then kicking each other under the table, but people not at the table wouldn't have known that.

This kind of comment doesn't even catch me by surprise any more. Quite honestly, I barely even put another thought into them after they are said. However, that day I realized that my children, especially Katelyn, put some thought into them. A few minutes later, long after I forgot the comment, Katelyn said to me, "Mommy, are we a handful?"

First my heart cracked a little. I wonder what my kids think of all these comments. I can't say that I ever really put much thought into that. I came up with "comebacks" to say but they make me feel better. I now realize that they are also very important for my children as well. So my answer to Katelyn was, "Well, sometimes yes, but you are always a heartful!" It just came out, without even a thought, and that was the perfect response for me to say and for her to hear. And, I meant it!
Sometimes the comments must make the children feel like we have done something wrong by having more then the average amount of children. What I say back to these comments is extremely important. Not only am I setting a good example for the kids but also to let them know that they were all very much wanted and loved.
So when people say I have my hands full I will let them know that my heart is also full!
When people say that I must be very busy I will let them know that I am very busy but it is a great busy and one I love!
When I am asked how I do it I will tell them that I do it with a smile on my face because I am doing what I love!
And, when people ask me if I know what causes "that" I will let them know that I do but enjoy it so much I just keep doing it! And just giggle inside at the shocked look on their faces!
BTW, I would like to add, most people just make these comments as small talk and don't mean anything negative by them, and that really doesn't bother me at all.