One Of Those Days

Today was one of those days.  After a string of what I would call "not so good days" we finally had a great day, beginning to end. 

The below zero temperatures caused us to have another delayed start to school.  The kids and I took advantage of our extra time together to have breakfast at Dunkin Donuts.  

As you can see, the sugar kicked in quickly and had the kids taking funny pictures with my phone.  McKenna can be so shy and reserved but surprises us some days with her humor.

Cooper had a great day at school.  His table won the class contest and earned extra iPad time during centers.  He also moved up a level in books!

Kinley had a great day at school, too. For the first time ever, I dropped her off in the gym and she walked away from me to go play on the bikes with the other kids.  Kinley does not generally like being dropped off during gym so this was a huge accomplishment for her.  

I'll be honest, I usually dread the whole after school scene.  It's chaos with kids coming home, starting dinner and homework and trying to keep Kinley entertained.   Add to that the fact that today after school pick up I had to run to Walmart.  It could have been disastrous.  Lucky for me, it wasn't.  

So, here we are, the quiet of the evening.  All the kids have been in bed for awhile.  I can say proudly that we made it through the day with no meltdowns, no temper tantrums, no time outs or raised voices.   Today was wonderful.  I wish I could clone it.  Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.  But hey, I'll take even just one day like today to keep me moving on and looking to forward to the next awesome day!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

It's a good thing that a picture is worth a thousand words because I don't have the energy for all that lately.

Kinley and I have been frequenting the library this winter.  She loves to go and play in the ball pit, read books and do the many puzzles.   It gives us both a chance to get out of the house and I can stock up on books for McKenna and Cooper.

Friday while I was cooking I spotted Kinley snuggling up to Tucker.  

And last night Tucker was snuggling up to Cooper's pillow pet while we watched a movie!

How do you occupy a two year old who wants nothing more than to be included in her siblings' play dates...iPad of course.  Bless her heart she stood for a good 10 minutes outside Mckenna's door asking to be let in.  

Cooper patiently (or not) waiting for his friend to come over. 

That's a look at some scenes from our week!

2014 Upward Season Opener

 Today was the start of the 2014 Upward season at FBC.    Cooper and Earl were both excited, especially since Earl is Cooper's coach this year.

Kinley wasted no time in getting comfortable and digging into her snack!  Hard to believe that by the end of the game I was dragging her out kicking and screaming in the midst of a full blown temper tantrum.

The first game is always a bit of a challenge when you're dealing with a group of five and six year olds.  The kids had a great time though. 

Our dinner plans with the Lehman's were cancelled due to the supposed threat of snow so we opted for Chinese and rescheduled with our friends.  It's important to point out that the projected 

2-4 inches of snow turned out to be 1/4 of an inch and that is being generous.   We were a bit bummed but I guess it's always better to be safe than sorry when traveling with little ones.

After dinner we snuggled in the basement and watched the newest Percey Jackson movie.  The kids assure me that they won't have nightmares of mythological creatures but I'm not so sure.  Regardless, it's a really good movie!   

Tomorrow it's back to church and probably more basketball for the boys at open gym.   They are really spending a lot of time practicing and hanging out together.   It's nice for them to have that time and for the girls and I to have a little time to hang out, too.

The forcast for next week promise MORE COLD TEMPERATURES!   This winter has been brutal.   The kids are constantly being sent home from school early due to snow and we've had many morning delays due to the below zero temps.  Kinley and I rarely leave the house and we are both about to go stir crazy!   I cannot wait to slip on a pair of flip flops and lounge by the pool.  Until then I guess we will settle in, put on our warm clothes and grin soak up time together.

Home Sweet Home

If we are Facebook friends then you already know that Gram and Pap have both been discharged from the hospital and spent last night in their own bed.

I can't imagine how excited they must have been to see each other after all they've recently been through.

The kids and I are really going to miss having Gram here.  It was a lot of work, but it was nice for me to have someone to talk to during the day.  Of course, the kids liked having her here reading them stories, watching movies and sneaking cookies!  

Ultimately we are all thrilled that they are well enough to be at home.  

Love In Action

When I left the house Friday morning to head to an appointment with my gram my last words to Earl were, "Just say a prayer that this doesn't turn into an all day event."   "It will," he responded.   Some 18 hours later I had to tell him that he was right.  

Gram's wound became infected during the week and a follow up appointment quickly (and I mean quickly) turned into a return trip to the operating room.  While we got her prepped for the OR, I was on the phone with numerous people including my pap and one of my old friends, trying to get my pap seen for a heart condition he's been putting off.  His atrial fibrillation was causing heart failure and it took a variety of people to finally get him to GMC emergency room.  

To say that my mom, dad and I were stretched thin on Friday would probably be the understatement of the year for us. But looking back now things really kind of fell into place and the outcomes were all good.  

Tonight gram is out of the hospital and recovering here at our house until pap is discharged.   This morning pap had his heart shocked and it's now in the correct rhythm.  We hope and pray he will be feeling better soon and getting back to his normal activities.  

The kids have loved the chance to have Mom-mom here.  

This afternoon they spent time making welcome home posters for them 

I'm fairly certain that this is a weekend that I will not soon forget.   I won't forget all the people who helped to make sure my gram and pap got the medical care they needed.  Or the people who helped Earl and I do things like pick up our car or the neighbors who offered to take the kids if we needed.  People who drove my pap part way to Lewisburg or took their clothes out of the washing machine at home and swept the snow from their sidewalk while they were gone.  I haven't forgetten the numerous doctors, nurses, nursing assistants and ancillary staff who did an exceptional job in getting us through the healthcare system.  It's amazing to watch love in action.  That's what I won't forget. 

This Week

This past week has been focused on these people.  Some of the most important people of my life, my little family and my gram and pap.

Last Saturday/Sunday I spent with Gram at GMC.   She was ultimately diagnosed with an infection, given IV antibiotics and sent home a day later.   She continues to fight the infection and tomorrow we will go for a follow up appointment.   I hope they have positive news for us.   In the  mean time, Pap continues his struggles with his heart.  He has proven to be stubborn in contacting his doctors about changes in his health, opting to try to "wait for his next appointment".  Of course, this doesn't go over well with me, but I'm learning there is not much I can do.
I was scheduled to work last Friday, Tuesday and today (Thursday).  Each time I was called and told I was not needed.  Each time I was a little (sometimes a lot) let down.  I love my job as a nurse.  I want to go use my brain, my skills, see my friends.   Again, I'm learning that there is not much I can do.   I am resting on the assumption that God needs me here at home this week taking care of my family.   It probably really is for the best.  Tomorrow after Gram's appointment she will be able to go home with a couple of home cooked meals that I made yesterday and some yummy desserts to go with them.   And today Kinley developed pink eye so at the very least I have used some of my nurses training in diagnosing her and will continue with the medication administration for the next few days.   I hope and pray that these people that I love so much will soon be on the mend.

My Big G sleepover with Gram

After sailing through surgery for her breast cancer and doing well through radiation, Gram has hit a bit of a speed bump.  She developed an infection and needed to be hospitalized.   She was transferred to GMC late this afternoon and after almost 12 hours in the emergency room, we are finally settled in her room.   Gram has been a trooper.  She hasn't complained and has joked with the nurses often.  I'm so glad she hasn't lost her sense of humor.   She told me if I posted this picture on Facebook people would think she was my great grandmother.   She's so concerned about her hair.   At least I get that honestly. 

Since it's 3am and we don't know yet exactly what the course of treatment will be, I decided to stay the night with her.   She's fast asleep beside me and I'm trying with all my might to get comfortable in the recliner in her room.   Sadly, I'm apparently not heavy enough to keep it reclined.  Not that it really matters as I'm not the slightest bit tired.  

I know that eventually it will catch up with me but right now there is no place that I would rather be.    I can't help but think of the time that I had back surgery and Gram came to stay with me for a week.  Or, most recently, when I was so sick with my pregnancy with Kinley.   She dropped everything to come stay with the kids and I.  She waited on me,  cooked anything that sounded remotely appetizing and didn't complain when I only took one bite.   She's always been there for all of us and so sacrificing a little sleep seems like only a small repayment.  

I hope and pray that we can get her infection cleared up easily and she can get back to shopping her way through the Bon-Ton and spending time with her friends.   Until then, we will enjoy our time together here at the Big G.  This will definitely be a memorable night.  

Baking Bread

At Christmas my Mom-Mom commented on how grown up McKenna is becoming.  Although I still see her mostly as a little girl there are definitely times that even I can't deny that she is growing and changing.   I find it difficult sometimes to walk the line between treating her like a 10 year old and, well, treating her like a 10 year old.  I feel a little unprepared to parent her during this stage - much the same feeling as parenting your first two year old.   It's a delicate balance where we are both testing the waters.  She doesn't really push limits at all.  She's a good girl.   She doesn't ask for much and has always been such a helper.  But it's becoming clear that I need to start allowing her to become a little more independent.   

During our latest snow day I decided that McKenna needed a new challenge.  Having just finished all 634 pages of Little Women, she was bored.   She had been asking me to make banana bread and to be honest I just didn't have the time in between refereeing Kinley and Cooper.  So I decided to have her make the bread herself.    She was a little caught off guard at first but I assured her that I would be close by if she had questions.  That was all she needed to hear.   Off she went.  

One hour and one semi disastrous kitchen later and we had 4 mini loaves of delicious bread and one proud little baker.   

It was fun to watch McKenna take on this new challenge.   Already I can see the benefits as her confidence in all things cooking has increased.  She's already talking about baking cookies next and I have no doubt they will be as yummy as the bread. I can definitely see the benefits of her new found skills!

Good job, McKenna!  

Two Birthday's, Six Hours, Tons of Fun

Inclement weather has had us back in the house for half of Thursday and all day Friday.  The kids and I were so relieved that today brought sunshine and a very good reason to leave the house.  
Cooper was invited to a bowling birthday party this afternoon and since Earl was working I had to take the girls along.  It worked out that one of my friends was going to be there and had two of her other kids with her also. 

These two welcome any opportunity to hang out together.

This was McKenna's second time bowling.  We all had a blast.  I have no idea why we don't do this more often.

McKenna and Aja have known each other since they were 18 months old and in the same daycare class.

 

Kinley even got to bowl a couple of times.  She loved it and would squeal, "I did it, I did it."
After leaving the bowling alley we made a quick stop at Wal-Mart which prompted a phone call to Megan regarding a recent recipe she gave me.   That prompted a discussion about Mara's birthday party planned for tomorrow and the icy weather that is forcasted.  THAT prompted her to move the party to tonight.   So, we dropped our groceries at home, fed the dog and headed toward their house.

I can't believe the last of our "babies" is two!

 

The boys are such good sports about getting their picture taken.  
We were so blessed today to spend time with special friends.  It was just what we needed between what seems to be days stuck in the house.   Hopefully this weather pattern shapes up soon.  The kids have had 6 hours of school in the past 15 days.   As much as it's been nice to have them home and as much as we've enjoyed ourselves, it's time to get back to a routine. 

Big Kid Fun and Ringing in the New Year

Monday was a special day just for McKenna and Cooper.   With Kinley at daycare and daddy at work it was time for the three of us to spend some quality time together.  

We called up a few friends (who we also call neighbors) and headed to the ice rink.  This was McKenna and Coopers first time on ice skates but they loved it 

The fact that the kids can use these cool "walkers" was awesome.  

We all skated for around two hours until our feet hurt and we were freezing. The plan was to head back to Lewisburg and warm up with some Starbucks hot chocolate.   Good plan until we passed Sweet Frog and really who am I to turn down Sweet Frog! 

On Tuesday morning it was back to school for poor Kinley.  She was a bit teary when I dropped her off which made me feel awful.  On the other hand, my time with the bigger kids is so limited and I really wanted to treat them to a fun day. Hopefully someday when she reads this she will understand.   At any rate, after dropping off at daycare, McKenna and I went to the nail salon.   We had been trying to get there for two weeks!   Earl and Cooper met us when we were done and we quickly made our way to the mall to see Saving Mr. Banks, the new movie about the making of the Mary Poppins movie.   Mimi came along, too, which was an added bonus!

By the time the movie was over it was time to pick Kinley up, prep our food for the New Year's get together that night and we were off again!  

We arrived home around 11pm.  Kinley couldn't wait to get in bed but McKenna and Cooper were determined to make it until midnight to watch the ball drop.  Cooper almost missed it, drifting off with just two minutes left, but he rallied and can now check staying up until midnight off his list!

Today Mimi and pappy made us a delicious dinner of pork and sauerkraut.  

We spent the rest of the afternoon napping, watching football, reading and

building Legos.  

Now everyone is tucked in their warm

beds, sound asleep.  Tomorrow morning it's back to school and it may not be pretty for anyone.   I have to admit that with the exception of one particularly trying day during which I lost my mind,  this break has been just what we needed.  We spent a lot of time togetjet and with family and I'm happy about that.  I'm not sure I'm quite ready to get back to the routine and busyness of school though it looks like some snow might give us one more day this week to spend together.