whole lotta pictures

Yesterday morning after breakfast we took the girls to Greenfield Corporate Center (where Matt works) to feed the ducks, walk around and play on the playground. I love this place. It is so pretty. They have a path all around the park, which is huge. There are usually many ducks, geese and swans. However, yesterday there were so many that we actually had to put the bread away. Otherwise we would have been attacked! The last time we were there two different sets of geese had gosselings. They were so tiny and you could tell they were very young. Laney fell in love w/ these baby "cucks", as she calls them. She was dissapointed to see that they are not small anymore. You really couldnt tell a difference between them and the older geese. Except the younger ones did have a hint of the fluffy feathers left...Laney did not notice that. She thought all the babies were taking their nap. We did have a lot of fun. The girls were chasing each other on the playground and making a game out of me trying to take their pictures. That's probably why I was able to get so many good ones. It seems they turn out better when they are random and the kids are not "posing." I always seem to get a generic, cheesey smile. But this time I got real laughs and giggles. Even some irritated looks from Laney. Enjoy!!!



just some of the geese we fed



Kayli riding the wobbler

Laney was screaming...she said she was stuck

on the wooden push-up table

Laney on the wobbler

weeeeeeeeee

tube slider

hangin' out

attacking me...she was mad I was taking her pic. again

giggle

some more giggles

shocked I got her pic while she was hiding

in front of the fountain

rock-n-rolla's

big wooden chair

pouting, she didnt want to go home

weeeeeee

yelling for Kayli

on the balance beam thingy

just love the smile :)

Lets just vent a little...

I do not know how many of you get frustrated easily. But I know I do! It is something that I am aware I need to work on. Especially with my children. From the minute I wake up each day, all I hear is, "I want this or that or anything in between" from my kids. Some day I deal better but other days, like today, I could just explode I get so mad. Being a mom means putting all your wants, desires and most of the time, needs aside until it is convenient for everyone else. I hate saying this because it is so selfish. But that just bugs me sometimes. I know I am selfish and I always have been. I clearly remember, before I had kids...when someone would ask me if I wanted children after marriage and all that jazz...I would say, "I dont know, I am too selfish for kids." My five year old, Kayli, is the queen of asking for things. Matt and I have tried time and time again to explain to her that you can always get what you want. And you shouldnt always ask for things...she asks for unattainable things all the time. There are times, when I hear one of them ask for more juice or a snack and I find myself cringing because all I want to do is sit and not hear anyone ask me for things. I do think this is wrong of me because, I am their mom and thats what moms do. DO any of you have this issue too? Or is it just me? But then there are times like today, as soon I opened my eyes at 6am, Kayli was right there and asked me if we could go to Dutch Wonderland. I said, "no, we have already been there this summer." I did not say it mean or snappy and she immediately threw a fit. whining, crying and thrashing around like a baby. And what did I do? I freaked on her! I was mad because she woke me up. I was mad because she asked such a silly question. And I was mad because she threw the fit. I just wonder how long it takes to get it through her head that acting that way is wrong?! I know she is young and she doesnt do it to be mean. But I swear she purposely thinks of things to ask for just to ask for something. And it usually is something that we cant do that day. Like go to the beach or to Disney World. She gets so mad when I say, "no not today...but possibly sometime" She didnt act like this before Laney was born. And Laney does throw her share of fits too. But for some reason it just really makes me mad when Kayli does it. How do you teach your kids to be grateful for what they have? How do you get them to not throw fits everytime they hear the word, "NO?" I am sure some of the blame is mine/ Matts. I dont think we raised either of our children to do this. They do not get what they want all the time. And I keep thinking that it should pass and it is just a stage. But so far it hasnt and it seems to be getting worse. Dont get me wrong, I love my kids with all my heart. I am just at a loss sometimes on what to do to get this to end. If any of you have days like this, please share! I just had to get this off my chest :)

Update on Dad

Since my last post on my dad a few things have changed. Lets see, tomorrow he is coming home. Good news...however, he does have a long road ahead of him. Since last Tuesday (his initial surgery for the abscess) he was put on IV antibiotics. He had a tube going in his nose to his stomach, I think it is called a nasogastric suction. http://www.enotes.com/medicine-encyclopedia/nasogastric-suction. That was removed on Sat. morning. He has been eating very well. Since he didnt get any food at all until the 3rd. day and even then it was only liquid for a day or so. YUCK! He has gotten a PICC line put in his arm on Sat. also. That is for his antibiotics and for nutrients. My mom said he has large bags of different colored mushy stuff that goes into his PICC to give him everything he needs to build his strength back up and help him gain weight. He is currently about 145lbs and is 6 feet tall. Skinny! His kidney failed at some point. We do not know if it was before he went to the hospital, during the surgery or after. But today he had some procedure done by the urologist to get his kidney back up and running properly. From my understanding it worked. The Urologist said he did very well in the surgery and everything looks great. My dad is still in pain from his abdominal incision. They didnt sew it back up. They just pack it shut w/ gauze since they are going to go back in to take the mass out of his colon in a few weeks. He has been walking a lot. He gets around well. And his Dr said he is doing great. My parents are going to have a visiting nurse go out to the house once a day, for a few weeks, to change his dressing on his abdomen and to give him the antibiotics via the PICC. I dont think they are sure about the food bags yet. They may not send them home w/ him. My mom will learn how to do all this, but changing the dressing is very iffy for her. I dont think I'd be able to do that either!! ha!

Overall my dad is doing well. We are all worried what the future holds for him. I mean, a mass in the colon never sounds good. The Dr. never mentioned how big it is or anything. When he has that surgery he will remove the mass along w/ part of the colon a few inches above and below. And then sew the good parts of the colon together. This article will describe it best.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002941.htm

We do not know wether he will need any further medical treatment after that or not. We pray he doesnt. He will need to go get frequent colonoscopy's after all this. Fun times! But hey, would you rather have one of them done OR have a mass growing up in your ass? As of now his spirits are good. Better than they were a week ago. I am sure he is dying to get home to take a shower...a real shower. And sleep in his own bed! Please keep him in your prayers. It was stupid of him to put off seeing any Dr. all these years and because of that he is in this position. But that isnt what is happening NOW. I am sure he is learning his lesson and he feels like a jerk for not listening to everyone. And oh how I wish this didnt happen. But we all live and learn. I could kick him, throw rocks at him, yell at him, but that doesnt take away that, right now, he is dealing with. As some dude once said, "We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future."

random stuff

This post is rather ho-hum. But I thought it was funny...you may not since you werent here at the time but it really made me laugh...hence the, "guess you had to be there" phrase comes to mind. Kayli and Laney were in the living room the other morning. Laney was fake coughing and sneezing. I even heard her say a few times, "oh Docta, Imma frowup". After she said that a few times it got my attention and I turned around to this...


Dr. Kayli said her patient had the 'swamp flu'


Laney said, "docta, yea I hadda pamsfuuu"

This is just a pic. Kayli drew of her fav. cartoon. Phineas and Ferb.

Candance and Perry are on the left. Phineas and Ferb on the right. It is jumbled together but let me tell ya...this kid can draw. And I know she doesnt get that from me!

Independance Day

Our 4th of July was simple but fun! My mom came down to enjoy the day w/ us. We all had a long day but it was well worth it. The girls behaved very well and I was pleasantly suprised that both of them loved the fireworks. This was Laney's first time seeing them and she was so excited. The entire time she kept singing "oh Christmas Tree" because a few of the firt fireworks were green. It was a fun day! I was able to get tons of pics.of our day. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday weekend! Independance Day, is one of my favs. Nothing like being w/ your family for some food, fun and fireworks.



Kayli w/ her sparkler


singing "twinkle twinkle Little Star"



waiting for dad to light her sparkler

watching dad fire it up

Kayli and Laney's fav. person, Nanny! (my mom)

smokin'

my girls <3

laughing

running to find Andrea

so excited she started dancing


I gotchu sucka

beach babes gone pool side

Kayli w/ her water soaker

silly

her "amika" t-shirt (as she calls it)

and Kayli's America t-shirt!

playdough and fun

up close


playdough drink



swinging the wrong way

love the smile

Long lashes

cheesin' for the camera

having a playdough tea party

she said, "no more pics mom!"

me as a playdough figure

Matt as a playdough figure

4th of July Weekend

Wow, what a week it has been! Between my dad going to the hospital getting emergency surgery. Going to visit him or help my mom out. Then, I was sick yesterday and went to the DR. He said it looked like I had strep but he didnt do a culture...just gave me some zithromax and good cough stuff. And already today I can tell I am getting better. My throat isnt near as sore as it was 24 hrs. ago!!

And now it is the beginning of Fourth of July weekend. Yah!!! I am so glad my girls didnt get sick too. Usually it is them who are sick first. Tomorrow we are doing nothing exciting. But we live near the river so we can see the firework display from our front porch. My mom is coming down for a little cookout and then we are going to try to keep the girls awake to see the fireworks. Hopefully they wont be scared. Here are a few pics I took of the kiddos in their 4th of July digs! I hope you enjoy your holiday weekend!