February 22, 2013

Yesterday we had lunch with Wyatt at Silverlake with his preschool class.  I got there a few minutes early to find the kids having a Pirate Scavenger Hunt.  Arrrrrrrrr!!  They walked around the complex trying to find certain things with the clues that their teacher was giving them. They found beads, coins, candy & all kinds of goodies.
 

The kids made their way outside to continue their fun, so the parents waited in the gym where the tables were set up for lunch.  Lunch was supposed to start @ 11:45 but the kids didn't make their way into the gym until about 12:00.  We had ordered our lunch from the cafe, & it had been just sitting there since 11:45 so it was cold pizza with carrots & ranch for us.  It definitely was not the greatest food and we'll probably just bring our food the next time.  What it was, was a great little mid-afternoon date with little man.  He had a hard time spotting us when he came into the gym but when he did see us his face lit up.  He was so excited we were there.

After we finished our lunch, the kids put on a little show with their parachute tricks & we bought cookies for dessert.  Around 1:00 it was time for us to head back to work & Wyatt to finish out his school day.  He knew what was next....nap time!  He did not want us to leave & did cry a little.  Bribing him w/ a game on my phone when I picked him up did the trick & he was fine to give us hugs & kisses & get in line with the rest of his class.  Creag & I both headed back to work.

After work, we all met up back at Silverlake for dinner.  Gold Star Coney's & then I had parent/teacher conferences with Miss Lisa, Wyatt's teacher.  We've been considering enrolling Wyatt in Kindergarten next year.  He wouldn't be 5 until September, but meets the age deadline.  She expressed her concerns to me about him going on to Kindergarten & I agreed with her for the most part so we are going to wait another year.  The only negative thing about it is that he will basically be repeating the same pre-school program again next year because he will be in the same class with the same teachers.  We had him in the Pre-K program because we were considering Kindergarten.  Hopefully he does well & learns a lot more next year without getting bored due to the repetitiveness of it.

After conferences, Creag took Hank to the batting cages & I checked the other kids into Kids Quest while I did my class at the gym & then I took them swimming when I was finished.

They had fun and actually played with one another the whole time.  They tend to seperate when they're in the pool so it was nice to see.  The kids had a 2 hour delay this morning, so we were able to sleep in a little & tonight my kids are going to their Dad's for the weekend & Sam is going to her Moms.  I have a girls night scheduled tonight with Amy to do dinner and see the new movie that's out "Safe Haven" so I'm pretty excited.  I don't get out with my friends often, so I am looking forward to it! 

February 21, 2013

Two weeks ago Hank had been complaining of just not feeling good & being tired.  He really just wasn't himself, but I blamed it on the blah weather or the winter blues, or maybe just a cold.  I sent him to school after I had given him some Tylenol & told him to just try to get through the day.  I went in to work wondering if I had done the right thing.  I always find myself second guessing my decisions, but I guess that's natural.  You definitely can't keep your child home from school every time they're feeling a little ill.  The Truancy Officer would be on your door step if so.  But, this particular day, I should've just listened to my son & kept him home. 

I got a call from the school around 9:30, only about an hr. after he had gotten there.  The nurse said that he was running a low grade fever & just wasn't his normal self.  I told the nurse that I would finish up at work & be there as soon as I could.  I called his Dr's office before I left the office & they said they could get him in @ 10:30.  Perfect.  I left work & headed to the school to pick him up.  When I got there, he was sitting in the office & looked the same way he did when he left the house that morning.  Very tired.  We got in the car & headed to the Dr.  After the Dr. checked him out, he found that one of his tonsils was larger than the other.  He was worried that Hank may have an abscess, so he wanted to refer him to an ENT and I needed to take him that day.  This obviously worried me, and it worried Hank.  He heard abscess and thought it was something that was going to have to be drained or removed & he was scared immediately.  The nurse called an office of an ENT in Ft. Thomas & they said they would see him right away.  So, we checked out & off we went. 

By the time we got to the ENT office he was wiped out.  He really hadn't had much to eat and it was close to lunch time.  He just laid on the sofa in the waiting room and did not move.  I felt terrible for sending him to school at this point.  After I filled out his new patient paperwork, the Dr called him back.  She found that one of his tonsils in fact, was larger than the other but it was not an abscess.  Instead, she thought that he had mono.  To confirm that it was mono, he had to have blood work.  She also said that he was very dehydrated.  Not enough at this point to hospitalize him, but if he did not get liquids in his system that she would have to admit him.  She told us to go for ice cream & then head over to the hospital to have his blood drawn and she would see him back in her office in 2 weeks unless something changed.  We went to Greater's & got ice cream & filled Creag in on what was going on.  He was in Chicago for training at the time so I was all alone & pretty nervous of what was going to happen at this point.  If he was hospitalized, I was going have to figure out what to do with the other kids and that worried me a little. 

After we had our ice cream, we headed to St. E's for blood work.  He was a nervous wreck & so was I.  He is not good with pain/needles & I was so unsure of how he would react.  We did the whole pre-registration process & waited for the phlebotomist to call us back.  I tried to reassure him several times that it was nothing to be too worried about.  I told him that it didn't hurt but a tiny bit and for a split second & then it would be over.  When he sat down in the chair & they tied the rubber band around his arm he started crying.  I asked the nurse if he could sit on my lap & she said that he could.  She started to try to draw his blood again & he freaked.  There was another man who had come in the room to get his blood drawn so he told Hank he could watch.  We got up & watched this stranger have his blood drawn.  I wish I could say this helped put Hank's mind at ease, but it didn't.  It ended up taking 4 of us to hold him down so they could draw his blood.  It was a mess, he was crying & I was crying.  There is nothing worse than seeing your child scared & in pain & not being able to do anything about it.  It was awful, but he did it, they drew his blood & we were done.  We could finally head home & relax. 

He was pretty sick the remainder of the day, but I was able to get him to continue drinking fluids so he was not admitted into the hospital, thank God!  I kept him home from school the following day as well.  I felt that he still needed one more day of rest.  He slowly recovered that day & was back to his normal self by that evening.  We got the results back from his labs and they were negative for mono which shocked us all.  He was so bad off & so tired that I just don't understand how it wasn't a positive result.  It must've just been a very, very bad virus and I'm glad that's behind us.

Yesterday, he had his follow up appointment with the ENT.  She said that his tonsils were still at plus 2 & his lymph nodes were still a generous size.  We talked about his sleeping habits, his attention span, his eating habits & if he's tired a lot.  When I answered yes to most of her questions, she recommended a tonsillectomy.  This didn't surprise me at all because his Dr has always said that he has large tonsils & he has always snored.  She said that it was not anything that had to be done right away because he will have to miss a week of school.  She said that she'd just have to see him back 30 days before the surgery.  I think June will be the best time to have it due to school & baseball so I scheduled his follow up at her office for May 15th & hopefully he'll have his surgery early June.  I really hope that this helps him in the future.  I feel like he's so young that I just want him to have this done now to prevent problems in his future.  I pray this surgery leads to a happy, healthier Hank!

   

February 20, 2013

I've got the Wednesday, mid-week pep in my step today!  So glad to be halfway through the week already.  Bring on the weekend!  We've had something going on just about everyday of the week & it's only going to get busier in the next few weeks/months when soccer & baseball starts up.  We have Skylar, Sammie & Wyatt all signed up for Independence Soccer League & Hank is signed up for Northern Kentucky Youth Baseball so it's about to get insane but we're all looking forward to it. 

Creag has been working with Hank in the batting cages at his office to get him prepared for the start of the season.  He's been getting better each week & Wyatt's also been hitting a little off of the tee.  Sunday, Creag was working, but he texted me asking if we wanted to meet for lunch.  We were all pretty hungry, so the kids & I headed to pick him up from the office for lunch.  We went to Skyline & then were treated to FroYo at Sweet Frog.  After lunch & dessert we dropped him & the boys back off at the office so they could hit in the batting cages & the girls and I went shopping so Skylar could spend her money & gift certificates that she got for her birthday.   It had been burning a whole in her pocket since she got it.  We went to Justice, Target & Walmart and she found quite a few of really cute things. 

One of her new outfits.

This morning before school before she could even do her hair.

 



After we finished shopping the boys met us @ home w/ Jets Pizza and we watched the first Indiana Jones movie.  Creag had bought it that day because he thought the kids would really like it because when we were at Hollywood Studios over Christmas break we saw an Indiana Jones stunt show.  They loved the movie & were actually able to point out the parts that we had seen recreated in Florida.  Every one of us made it through the entire movie w/out falling asleep, so I'm pretty sure that's a record in our house.

Monday, I had an aerobics class after work and was on my way home until I got a call that Creag was heading to BW3's with the kids & I could meet them there if I wanted to.  I could've said no because I had just exercised, but who turns down Buffalo Wild Wing's?  Not me!  I got the buffalito's to be a little on the healthier side & the rest of the family ordered wings.  The kids played games & Skylar was quite embarrassed to see her crush Brad sitting in the booth behind us.

 

This would be Skylar hiding from Brad.......

 

Last night, the girls had their soccer clinic so it was just the boys & I at home after my Jamz class.  We made Salisbury Steak, Macaroni & Cheese and corn for dinner and then I was able to do a little bit of much needed cleaning around the house while Hank worked on homework.  I was mopping the kitchen & Wyatt says...."Mom, you're such a good mopper!"  It was so cute.  I love it when he gives compliments to people because he does it often & it's just the sweetest thing.  After dinner, cleaning & homework it was getting late.  I sent Hank upstairs to get in the shower and about that time, Creag, Skylar & Sammie were getting home from soccer.  Things got hectic from there because the girls needed showers too & it was already 8:30.  I hurried Hank up & when he got out of the shower he came to me and said his lip was bleeding.  I gave him a tissue & didn't think much of it and then sent him to get his PJ's on.  After he went to his room & I got to thinking about it, I realized something!!  That little turd cut himself SHAVING!!!!  He's not old enough to shave, but Skylar has a razor in the shower for when she shaves & I just knew that that's what he did.  He wouldn't admit that that's what happened, he said he "bit his lip" but his lip was not bleeding like he bit it, it was bleeding like he nicked it shaving.  Mama's not stupid AND when Sky got in the shower she noticed her razor was moved so he was busted!!  It wasn't a bad cut, but hopefully enough to teach him a lesson.  After everyone was showered it was finally bed time.  I tucked the kids in bed & was able to watch The Bachelor.  I may or may not have also eaten a whole peanut butter heart that was one of the kids....hopefully they won't miss it;)

 



   

February 19, 2013

Skylar recently had her TENTH birthday on February 8th, so I figured I would go back & try to recap what we did to celebrate this year.  Her actual birthday fell on a Friday, on a weekend that she was scheduled to be at her Dad's so we had her party a week early.

We decided this year to have the party at our house & let her have a sleepover.  She invited about 10 friends & about 6 of them showed up.  We also had both sides of our immediate family over as well.  We ordered pizza for dinner and of course had a few snacks.  For her cake, I made owl cupcakes that I had found on Pinterest, cut out heart shaped ice cream servings using a cookie cutter & also had nail polish bites.

The cupcakes were made with Oreo's & Reece's Piece's

Nail Polish Bites were made with marshmallows, tootsie rolls & icing.

 

She had a great party.  The girls were up until 4AM so I was pretty exhausted the following day to say the least!!  She got a lot of cute gifts, the hat from the picture above was from one of her friends.  She received another initial pillow from Justice, a book & jewelry box, some clothes & jewelry & quite a few gift cards.  I'd say she made out & appreciated it all.

 

The following Wednesday night, we gave her our gift because Creag was leaving on Thursday for a business trip & wouldn't be around on her actual birthday.  We got her a new purple laptop & she freaked when she saw it!!  Friday morning I sent her to school w/ cookies for her friends & after school she went to the school dance which was held by the PTA.  Pretty neat that that fell on her actual birthday & she was really excited.

 

I can't believe that she's 10 years old...a ten-ager as her teacher said!  Time sure does fly & before I know it, she'll actually be a TEENAGER!!  



February 18, 2013

Well hello Monday, so glad to finally see you, said no one ever!

Our weekend flew by of course!  Please bring back Saturday.  We packed our weekend full of a lot of fun, non-productive stuff.  The best way to do it, right?

Friday night, Skylar stayed w/ Evie so Sammie & myself tried out our first class of parent/child Zumba at Silverlake while Creag & the boys were shopping at Jungle Jim's for our party on Saturday.  We had a great time!  I didn't realize that the kids actually do these type of classes during their school day & in Summer Camp so she really knew what she was doing & I was pleasantly surprised.  She kept her energy level up most of the first half of class & then I could slowly start to see her getting tired & bored the second half.  We had a lot of fun though & will definitely be going back.  They have Zumba & Yoga for parent & child so I'm excited to try all of the classes & maybe take all of the kids the next time.  After our exercise class we stopped by the Red Box to rent a few movies & then met the boys at home for an 8 o' clock dinner.  It was late, so we were all starving!  Creag surprised me w/ Chicago Style pizza from Chicago!  He recently went for business & instead of bringing me back leftovers like I asked him to, he had the restaurant Lou Malnatti's deliver the pizza via UPS.  It was delicious.  We ate the pizza w/ a glass of red wine & watched the Red Box movies w/ the kiddos.  We all passed out during the movie on the couch.  Never fails!  Happens.all.of.the.time.

Saturday morning, Creag left pretty early to get in his 12 mile run.  He's training for his first full Marathon in May so Saturday's are usually his long run.  I fed the kids their breakfast & let them watch their movies again.

While they were occupied, I started cleaning & decorating for our Mardi Gras party & then went to pick Creag up from the park & picked Skylar up from Evie's.  When we got home I made a big pot of chili while Creag & Wyatt napped.  The boys got woken up by Wyatt throwing up in our bed...poor kid.  I put him in the bath & got ready to leave for my 2:00 hair appt.  I was way overdue for a trim & my hair so needed it.  After I was finished at the salon I stopped by the store to pick up the ingredients for a crab dip that I was making & the stuff to make Hurricane Cocktails:)  Got home & it was crunch time to get ready for our 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Party!!

Yvonne & Dave got to our house just as I was preparing my Hot Crab Dip.  They needed to come a little early to make their Oyster's Bienville.  My parents arrived shortly after & my Mom decorated her version of a King Cake.  A confetti bundt cake w/ regular icing and it turned out really cute!

While the crab dip baked we talked and had a few Hurricane cocktails which were very tasty...much better than the ones that about killed me the night before our wedding.  The crab dip came out of the oven & we had a little bit of that while the Oyster's Bienville baked.  I think Mica, Tyler, Ellery & Willis showed up while the oyster's were baking w/ chips & salsa which the non-seafood lovers appreciated very much!  We munched on those until the oysters were done....let me just say that they turned out phenomenal!!

 

Oyster Bienville

Hank was a little nervous to try them, but ended up liking them a lot!

We really took our time to enjoy the appetizers & each other.  It seems like we just don't see everyone nearly enough, so I was really enjoying it.  My Dad's birthday was on the 13th and since we live so far away we were not able to celebrate it with him until Saturday.

 

The masks were brought out shortly after the beads and made for great photo opp's.  I'm glad I invested the money for them becuase everyone seemed to enjoy them!  By investing money, I mean dollar because I found them at the Dollar Tree!  Can't beat that & we'll have them again for next year!

 



 

We were all having so much fun, but it was getting to be that time....time to start the boil!!  Potatoes, Corn, Crab Claws, Clams & Shrimp is what the chef decided to go with this year!

I snapped the above shot after he poured everything in:) 

 

It definitely doesn't take long for the boil & be ready to dump!  We were all so ready to see how it turned out...

 



 

It turned out amazing per usual.  Creag really, really loves to cook and his food is always amazing!  The crab claws were the favorite this year, along with the oyster's bienville!  Some of us had seconds & even third's...I will not mention any names:).  I also have to mention that the kids have come so far since last year & actually wanted to eat the shrimp.  Last year we practically had to make them even try shrimp!  I guess it paid off.

 

I don't know what separated this year from any of the other parties that we've had, but this year's was our best yet! The food was AMAZING, everyone was in a great mood & we had soooooooo much fun together.  I'm already looking forward to next years party!!  Let the good times roll:)

 

 

 

February 15, 2013

Well, we survived our 4th Valentine's Day together!!

I came home from work last night to a cooked meal ready at the table with 4 kids already sitting down to eat.  Talk about nice.  After we had finished eating, Creag went outside to get our goodies out of  his truck.  Let me just say that he really knows how to spoil us all...

He walked back into the house from the garage with two bouquets of the prettiest flowers for the girls & their faces lit up when they saw them!  They were the prettiest purple, pink & white flowers.  Absolutely perfect!  Things like this make my heart the happiest.  It is so important for girls to get this kind of love from their father.  These little gestures are going to teach them what kind of man that they want for a husband some day.  Women should always be treated very special on days like these & it starts young from their Dad, Step Dad or even their Grandpa.  Whoever their main male figure is in their life & I'm so grateful that Creag takes the time to do things like this for the girls.  They are very lucky!

 

He also had a bright lilac orchid in his arm for me along with a small box.  I've been wanting an orchid for so long & was so excited to finally get one!  I can only hope that it survives my care.  When it comes to house plants, I don't have the finest green thumb so we will see in a few months how it's doing.  In the small box was a gift card to DSW.  I've been holding out on getting a new  pair of riding boots all winter because I do not want to pay full price.  The ones I wear all of the time have almost seen their last days so he told me that I can now get the boots that I WANT.  I capitalized want, because I won't ever buy what I really want, I'll usually just get something similar that's a better price.  I'm pretty cheap when it comes to shopping for myself.  It's got to be either on clearance or on sale or I will not buy it!

 

 

After us girls were spoiled, the boys looked a little bummed that they didn't have anything so I gave them the chocolate hearts that I had bought them.  That seemed to cheer them up right up!  They honestly did not need any other candy because they all came home with tons of it, but what's one more piece?

 

 

Wyatt's shirt said "Mr. Right"

 

After all of that, which was more than enough Creag opened a box that he had gotten from Emerson's Bakery & inside were chocolate cake shaped like hearts w/ Bavarian cream & heart shaped sugar cookies which were for breakfast the next morning (today).  They were delicious! 

 

 

I wish we could've stayed at home and just enjoyed a quiet evening after all of that but let's be serious, that never happens!:)  We cleaned up what we could, & quickly I must add then Creag & I changed into our workout clothes & I headed to Silverlake on my own for my Jamz class and he was leaving right behind me with all of the kids.  He checked them into Kids Quest while we both worked out & then afterwards he took the boys up to his shop to practice in the batting cages.  Hank did  a little better this week.  If he gets a little better every week before Baseball Season starts he will for sure be more than ready come April!  After my class, I checked the girls out of Kids Quest for their last gymnastics class of the session.  They're also getting better every week but we're debating on whether or not to re-enroll them for the next session since Spring Soccer is starting in about a month.  I guess we'll have to make that decision very soon. 

 

 

Today was pajama day for Hank so he was excited to wear his pj's & robe to school.  He's also had good behavior all week at school & if he's still on green today he's allowed to buy a pretzel from Silverlake tonight.  He is constantly asking for one & I'm constantly telling him no, so I hope he gets gets his green.  It's all on him though.  He doesn't get in trouble for anything major at school, it's always small things like not sitting right on the carpet, or talking out of turn so these are just small things that he needs to work on.  With something to work for, like a pretzel, it may help him.  Skylar is riding the bus home w/ Evie & sleeping over so she was excited for that.  Tonight, I'm taking Sammie to parent/child Zumba.  I'll pat myself on the back for 4 days straight of working out when we're finished:)  And Creag is going to take the boys with him to Jungle Jim's to get seafood for our seafood boil tomorrow, which everyone is looking forward to!  My Dad's birthday was also the 13th, so we're going to celebrate that tomorrow as well.  I'm hoping for a fun/relaxing weekend!!

 

 





 





February 14, 2013

Happy Valentines Day!

Today has been a good day.  We sent the kids to school this morning ready & excited for their Valentine's Day Parties.  I didn't go all out this year & buy treats for them to take in.  We've been so busy lately that I really just was not up for spending the money or taking the time to make something.  I'm lacking energy lately & that's OK every once in awhile. 

I do have to add pictures of the Valentine's Day boxes that the kids made.  Hank's is definitely the winner this year.  Creag came up with the clever idea to use his name last night & we both laughed & laughed when it was written on the box.

The box says..."Dill you be my Valentine?  Hank you very much!!"  I thought it was absolutely hysterical & fitting.  The best idea from Creag!  I also wrote on the side of the box "I mustache you a question, will you be my Valentine?"  I read it out loud, & then Hank looked at me with a nervous voice & said "will you be my Valentine?"  My heart melted!!  Look at those dimples, can you blame me for saying yes?

I got this text this morning while at work & it was a nice surprise....

 

I'm very grateful for lunch dates.  I usually work through my lunch so it's so nice to get out of the office for a bit, especially with the hubby!  We had a nice lunch at a place I had not been before, J. Gumbos.  It's Cajun & made us both want to head right back to New Orleans.  I stuck with a safe choice, Jambalaya & Creag ordered a Po Boy.  I forget what it was called but it was very good.  A little to spicy for me, but still a better choice then what I ordered. 

I had his gift at the office so I decided to give it to him here before we left for lunch.  I'm pretty sure he loved it!  Crazy that our wedding was almost a year ago.  It was actually last Valentine's Day that he proposed!!  Hard to believe how quickly time passes. 

I got him a UK frame & put a picture from our wedding night.  I also found a card that was absolutely perfect.

Sometimes life gets me all wrapped up,

and before I know it, it's been a while since I've given you a sweet sexy kiss.

A while since I've told you how handsome you are,

or said thanks for the million things you do to make our life so good.

But you should know, your are what matters to me.

And though I'm not always great at showing it,

I'm always feeling it.

Gratitude, happiness, and an intense love for you & only you.

It's important to me to show you everyday,

every chance I get,

what a difference you make in my world.

Because YOU are what is important and good,

and oh so right in my life.

And I love you, everyday.

In every way imaginable.



We have a busy night tonight, so I'm glad we met for lunch & I was able to give him his gift.  Tonight, I have a class at the gym, Creag has to run, the girls have gymnastics & Creag is taking the boys to the batting cages to get Hank ready for baseball season.  We're going to sneak in a little treat for the kids after dinner which is something that we always try to do on special occasions.  I think it's so important to give them small gifts to let them know we're thinking of them & they are important to us on Valentine's Day & every day.