Thursday, July 31, 2008

It's a summer thing!

Super hot day. One hose. Two kids. And endless hours of fun. I swear my kids will play with the hose until the entire yard is a marsh. They swap out all the different sprinkler heads that we own and take turns running, leaping, giggling, and tasting. In the end, they turn back to the traditional--the plain old regular hose. And they love it.




Summer just rocks!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Allie's birthday!

Is it possible that my baby is really NINE? She is pretty sure, but I think we must have counted wrong. Where did these last few years go? zoooooooooooom!

We had a Hannah Montana day--watch, tshirt, dolls (looks like barbie to me), doll clothes. All Hannah, all day. Everything except music. For that she prefers Taylor Swift.

Here is the birthday girl:


Monday, July 21, 2008

broken ribs suck!

ok, so this is not the first time I have broken a bone. I have done the arm. the toes. a finger or two. No, I am not a total clutz, but an athlete is going to be injured. When you break something it hurts. A whole lot. But then, you cast or splint it, baby it, and it only hurts when you bop into something or touch it a bit too hard.

Ribs are NOT the same. You are not allowed to baby them since if you do not breathe with nice full lungs, you will breed lovely lung mucus. Ick! So you have to keep breathing and are not permitted to wrap or cast those ribs. And with every breath, the darn ribs move and they hurt. I am 5 days into this injury and let me tell you, it is not at all fun!

Oh, are you lost? My bad, let me back up a bit.

On Sunday, I played my usual beach volleyball. Three games with the team and then three games pick-up. The team games rarely include collisions since the boys on my team know that I will cover my area just fine. But sometimes in the pick-up games, people come over to "help" and there is a crash. Had one and it hurt, but I thought I just bruised my ribs.

Monday and Tuesday, they were sore. Wednesday was the next game. Played just fine, but noticed that when we would have a good volley and my breathing would get deeper, it would hurt. Kept playing. After 6 games, I headed home and couldnt even get into the shower. Was afraid I would pass out.

Off to the emergency room I went to discover what had probably been cracked ribs on Sunday were now broken ribs. Two of them on my right side. As I am right handed, this means anytime I do anything with my right hand, it is going to hurt.

Vicodin was the drug prescribed and off I went. Took two and started the final preparations to get my house ready for company. A bit of sweeping and mopping and bed making. A few errands. All good. 4 hours later--another pill and into the car to pick up all my friends. Dinner and giggles (which hurt even with the meds) and off for another pill and sleep.

Morning on Friday brought breakfast and a pill. Off to the Craft and Hobby Association trade show for a day on my feet wandering around. Luckily, my girls did the fetch and carry portion for me. Had lunch and another pill. Following all the rules--actually taking less meds than prescribed.

Halfway through Friday, it happened. One of the ladies flipped around with her arms full of goody bags and nailed me dead on in the ribs. Saw stars. Saw my life pass in front of my eyes. Saw the white light and was heading towards it in a hurry. Friends dragged me back and into the food court. What was open? Ice cream and nachos. Went for ice cream and a pill.

NOT A GOOD IDEA.

Pretty darn quick, we were in the car with Katy driving heading for home. And I was GREEN. Teeth were sweating, body clammy, end was near. And we were in a construction express zone. No exit for 12 miles, no shoulder, no salvation. I am trying to lower the window. EEEk! child locks! Trying to empty a bag, but no time! yep. tossed my ice cream all over myself in the car. Lordy, was that embarrassing. Oh and messy.

Got home and spent the rest of the night running to purge. Tried just a simple tylenol the next day and that worked out no better. Had to go cold turkey. Trust me, the pain of tossing those cookies is nothing to sneeze at. And you really do not want to sneeze.

So that brings us to Monday. I survived class. I survived playtime with the kids. I hurt with every breath.

And I do not care if I sound like a baby whining about it!

Monday, July 14, 2008

silly sleeping children

Here are my darling babies having one of their summer sleepovers. They absolutely love to giggle themselves to sleep and take turns "hosting" the party. Poor angel is one confused kitty hunting for her mama each night. I am pretty sure that she would prefer Allie to stay in her own bed every night. They are so cute all snuggled up together:



Of course, if you look at it from another angle, you can see that this sleepover missed the bed. Yep, they started out in the bed with the trundle pulled out, but decided that was no fun. They grabbed their video game cushion--big round one and squeezed in together.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Summer game

Tonight we went to check out the DuPage Dragons baseball game. Everyone should be required to spend one beautiful summer evening watching a semi pro or college ball game. Honestly. It was good family fun--felt like we turned back the hands of time. Kids were able to play in a field in sight while we watched the game and chattered together. We felt comfortable sending them to the concession stand alone. They ran the bases and had baseball signed by the team members. A little slice of perfection.

Here is a picture of me. Ok, of my wristband (yes, I got carded!). And of the hand blended margarita (so strong! yum!). And my front row seat (yes that is the dugout my drink is sitting on).




and a shot of Zack in front of the field sporting his brand new Cubs hat. He may only be six, but that is a hat purchased today from the men's department of Walmart. The boy has a huge melon!



And my little princess with her pink hat and braids looking like a diva. Of course, she sat still for only long enough to wolf down some food and then she was off and running barefoot through the fields like the tomboy she really is. Go girl!

Welcome to the world, little one

Here she is: Hannah Mary. Arriving on July 3, just after 1:30pm. Big sister Isa will be thrilled to be a big sister just as soon as she understands what that means. Mom and Hannah are home now and doing beautifully. Here is a picture of Allie holding Hannah for the very first time at just one day old. Already she is in love!


Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy 4th!

My favorite holiday is here! I wish you all the best of everything today--best bbq, fireworks, weather, and fun! We started the day with our annual bike parade and penny carnival. I run the carnival every year with lots of help from mom who flies in to run our prize table. The kids play games like puttputt, duck pond, horseshoes, football toss, and a bunch more of the same. They win tickets that they trade in for patriotic prizes. Every one has a blast. We had around 70 kids from babies to teens. Thank goodness the teens take turns running the games for me!

Here are Allie and Zack from today. He drove his jeep in the parade. It was a compromise--I wanted him to be able to ride his bike, but he is just a smidge away from ready for that. I did NOT want him pulled in the wagon by Daddy. Driving the jeep was the middle ground.

Happy 4th, my friends!


designed with love by beautiful dawn designs