"Handy Abby"

We stumbled upon Lowe's Kids' Clinic on Saturday while shopping for a new dishwasher. A&G built their own pirate ship with little hammers and nails. Funny part to the story was A refused to take off her apron and goggles after she finished...she wore them around the store post construction, wore them in the car home, and we had to pry them off of her for naptime. She awoke this morning asking for her "ga-ga"!! G didn't want any part of the dress up fun...he was more interested in the "boom" (broom) aisle but he had a blast hammering!




Tonight she HAD to wear her goggles during bedtime "sssssssnak"....too hilarious. Hard to keep a straight face while looking at her! (p.s. check out our new sage green dining room--no more 1964 paneling!)


(SN, thought of E&Q the whole time we were at Lowe's!!)

Case of the bedtime crazies

Last night G&A were wired before bedtime. So we had some exercise time, which consisted of running (around in circles) followed by hopping. Fell fast asleep afterward.

Pre-bedtime workout from Matt on Vimeo.

8 years...

8 years later...

2 towns we called home
1 mortgage note
2 cats
1 dog
2 careers, one full time, one part time
2 babies
countless moments of joy, heartache, excitement, and contentment

...and I wouldn't change a thing.

Happy Anniversary, my love.

Silver and Pearl, my fave.

I have to brag on my honey. He (and G&A, of course) presented me with a post Mother's Day happy that I will treasure for years to come. Simple. Classic. The reasons for my journey of motherhood.
Lisa Leonard Designs, www.lisaleonardonline.com

I can't resist...

...posting more pics of my adorable babies. They are just the cutest things ever!

The car was packed...

and we were ready to travel for the weekend to celebrate C&JC's 2nd bday in AR, but then struck the latest round of virus and infection. We had an inbound weekend and hoped the "measle" viral rash and respiratory infection would heal. Instead, we watched movies, played in the backyard, danced to G&A's favorite Lawrence Welk show on PBS (yes, we are completely lame, but G&A LOVE the music and dancing-after all, we do support PBS, you know! wink, R&R) and laid low while recovering. They enjoyed playing in the baby pool...they thought it was more fun to watch the water go OUT of the pool!


G loves showing off his belly button and stout figure!
"Wock, wock, wock" (rock, rock, rock!)

Laxmi & Michal's wedding in NOLA

A quickie...

...before I return to my mountain of paperwork while the babes are snoozin'.

Biting has returned. A bites out of frustration. She bites hard, leaving teethmarks or bruises. To date, she only bites me or G. Not sure if that's good or bad. So how do we correct this?

I tried ignoring it for a while, but it hurts. Bites illicit a primal response: I get mad and G cries. My latest is to firmly tell her "no bite" while getting down on her level, holding her jaw with my hands and making her look me in the eye while I say it. She then starts bawling, and I remove her from the situation. But apparently it's not working because she has bitten three times today, and it's only 2pm.

I thought natural consequences corrected it as before I left, she would bite G and he would bite back...she did not like that and stopped. But that doesn't seem to be working either....and do two wrongs make a right?

Any success stories?

**editor's note: they weren't asleep...**

No more hospital...

Mom is home from the hospital and adapting to her new challenges within her beloved environment. She was showing off her walker promenade on Skype earlier. She'll have her home health nursing eval today and HH-PT eval tomorrow: our good friend Kathy will be taking her on as a client for PT! Kathy, whip her into shape!! Dad is feeling like Hercules thanks to the new meds while he awaits the orthopedist appt. He was already modifying Mom's walker...sounds like he's back to normal!

G&A are great...finally re-settling back into life with two parents. They are the only 21 month olds I know who must have 2 naps...these kids are monsters without adequate sleep (wonder where that comes from? did I mention my 2 hour nap yesterday?). We are preparing for a "normal" work week and new child care schedule for the summer: G&A will be going to their former CDO teacher's home 2 full days per week and Northhaven Day school for four hours on Thursdays. Hopefully they will do well with their new routine.

I have literally 300 pics to scan through/edit from visit at Monique's, Laxmi's wedding, and John Thomas's baby shower at Matt's firm. I have big plans to get to that this week....until then....have a great week!

p.s. Tomorrow, happy 3rd Birthday Darby and Happy Anniversary Mark and Missy!

Home again, home again...

I have finally returned to OK and it is wonderful to sleep in my own bed!!

G&A were thrilled to have me home, smothering me with kisses. However, I think A was used to being the only chick in the house, as we have been butting heads since I arrived home. I can definitely feel "2" right around the corner and I am truly frightened....

Mom is doing great! Still in the hospital as of current, but today she bragged about walking without her walker 4 days post-op! Surgery seems to have been a huge success...now if she can only kick the pneumonia. At least the hospital made good on it and agreed to eliminate all ICU charges....how's that for admitting fault? Mom's homecoming should be tomorrow.

Dad is still recovering too, struggling with his leg/butt/hip pain (probably related to the L4/L5 fractures). L is still in S'port in the role of "case manager" for both. She got him in to the GP today who started steroids to tide him until he can see the orthopedist. He has slept very little in the past six days which has not helped the situation. He tries to be a good patient some of the time....

Planning on a quiet weekend at home, still physically and emotionally resting from the roller coaster ride.

Back from the OR

Carrie's Mom has returned to her room from surgery. The surgeon also stopped by and gave two thumbs up to the procedure. Everything went as planned, and Carrie's Mom came out of the anesthesia without incident. Carrie said that she did have some funny stories to tell, and was cracking them up as she came out of it. Of note, especially for those of you who know them, was that she told Jerry at one point that he was a control freak. The whole room got a good chuckle at that.

So now the rehab begins. Word is that they will attempt to get her out of bed tomorrow, and keep going from there. I was able to talk to her tonight and she is definitely relieved to have the surgery behind her, and is very grateful for all the support she has received.

-mdj

Awaiting Surgery

Carrie's mom has continued to improve, and is currently awaiting the surgeon. They were about to wheel her out at 9 this morning when an emergency was moved in front of her. As of 11:30 she is still waiting for the surgeon and the OR to free up.

We'll post some news when she gets out, but the surgery should take place this afternoon sometime.