Sunday, September 20, 2009

Summer fun


Letterboxing at Mt. Cranmore. We had a lot of fun that weekend :)

My artist


Rachel made this for me and I just love it. She loves crafts and is always trying to create/invent something. Currently she is planning next month's Halloween party. Go, Rachel!!

Fishing with Rachel



Dad went and got his fishing license and took Ben and Rachel fishing at Manahan Park. Ben wasn't impressed and spent his time exploring and doing other things, dad was the official worm-hooker and caught, ahem, nothing......but Rachel?? Miss Fishing Pro caught 6 fish! She was so happy and daddy was very proud. Happily, she threw them all back.

Ben the XV


Just had to post his picture. So handsome, my boy!

My Dad

My dad has had a tough time of it the past week or two. Started out with a UTI, then went to dehydration and kidney stones, then to severe kidney injury, hypertention and he rounded it out with type 2 diabetes. We have all been so worried. I had the opportunity to go down last Saturday and visit with him in the hospital. His eyes looked so sick. His voice was soft and his breathing labored. He spoke slowly and although he was able to carry on a conversation, you could tell he was just exhausted. His color was ashen, he was relieved to lay down and I had to help him with the blankets and cover his feet.
How did I suddenly become the caretaker?? I heavy feeling settled in my chest as I watched him and it still makes me teary as I sit here.
My dad. My caretaker, my protector, my cheerleader. You have to know him to fully appreciate him. He could talk to a post and makes friends with everyone he meets. He is involved--- in the church, in the neighborhood, with friends and family. He has never backed down from a challenge and always puts his best foot forward. He is always there to support me, from the littlest thing to those great big life-changing events. He is the best Bumpa, Pa and Grampa on the planet. His love for his family is genuine and goes to his core. He would do anything to help anyone--and he often does. He leads by example and has been a wonderful role model as a parent.
But....Did I mention that he has a bit of a history with injuries and sickness? He needs to be watched like a hawk because you never know what he is going to do next. It is not that he is careless, or clumsy. He just gets so into doing whatever it is that needs to be done that his feet get ahead of the rest of him and he seems to land on his butt. A lot. lol But that is just him, ya know? It is just his quirk. Usually we just help him recouperate, then tease him unmercifully and move on while keeping an eye out for his next adventure.
I will have to say that this time he went a bit too far, though. I was really scared. I got a glimpse of him as he may look in 20 years and I wasn't thrilled to see him in that light. It was a little too real, if you know what I mean.
So this is for you, dad. Please know how much you mean to all of us, and how big a part of our lives you are. Walk carefully, take your medicine, and listen to mom (hahaha) We want you to stay healthy for many years to come. <3

Becca-isms

Just wanted to post a few of Becca's favorte words/habits to remember:(she is 18 months)

Tink you!
Wow-wow-wow!
Pweeeeeze?
Uh-oh!
She loves to dance and ROAR to the Dinosaurs song by Laurie Berkner.
She wants to rock in the rocker for a couple minutes and snuggle before you put her
down to bed.
She is already trying to take her clothes off all the time.
She loves the water and will race you to the shower in the morning.
When I count to three for behavior mod for the other kids, she counts to three with me (one, two, threeeeeeeeee!) Thanks, Becca. Big help *rolls eyes*
She weighed 29 lbs and was 36.25 inches tall at her appt. last week. WOW!
She wears 24mos/2T clothes and size 6-7 shoes.
She is my sugar plum.
Anything Ben can do, she will try to do just as well.
She likes to stand on the coffee table and do trust falls forward into your arms (but she doesn't always wait for you to be looking!! Yikes!)
She refuses to wear a diaper and has been in pull-ups for a month.
She asks for her vitamin every morning and would eat toothpaste if you let her.
Her smile lights up her face and the whole room. Just beautiful!
She bites. (Gotta take the good with the bad, right?)
She tries to answer the phone and has had so much success that I had to put it in a cabinet!
She is gentle with the dog and when she calls him and claps her hands he comes.
She loves "this little piggie" and "trot trot to Boston" and will have you play them over and over and over......
She is my littlest princess and I love her and am so glad she calls me Mom. <3

Freedom

My oldest has recently discovered a new freedom. I have been allowing her to walk down to Kristopher and James's house, or up to Abby and Aiden's house to have playdates afterschool for an hour. She has also enjoyed taking her bike down to Amy's and riding with them in the street (CAR!). The topper came on Friday, though, when she asked if she could ride her bike to Steven's house. A mile away. Up a couple small hills. Sure! If you want to try then go for it! She went for it and she did it! I was thrilled. Steven was pretty impressed to see her riding up the street, too, lol. (Did I mention that I drove behind her in the van the whole way with the flashers on?) What an accomplishment :)

First day of school


My little man is off to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He LOVES it!! And the best part? The bus of all things. His driver's name is Claire and she is a grandmother and an absolute sweetie. He grabs his lunchbox every morning and asks, "Me bus, mom? Me backpack?" Big frown if I have to tell him to wait until tomorrow. His teachers say he is doing very well and currently he is one of 5 boys in the class- no girls. I can't say enough about how proud I am to see him still so tiny yet so enthused about going to school. My handsome boy.