What's in a Name Anyway?

I'm thinking that the people that made up the names for things were not as creative as most 3 year old's. Sometimes when Jack doesn't know the name for something he makes it up based on his experiences... For instance, today he farted and I asked him if he had to go poop. He just said "No, that's just my burp in my crack."
I may be bias, but I think burp in my crack is such a cooler name than fart .

Happy Thanksgiving

On this fine day of eating pumpkin pie I thought I would just let you think about where they really come from....

A Scary Day, Even for October...

Yesterday I left the boys at my parents while at an eye appointment. When I was almost back my dad calls and says "Where are you?"
"I just pulled into the Checker by your house to pick up some brake lights for my car."
He says "Okay. Just hurry."
I could hear Jackson crying in the background, but he had been asleep when I left and I thought he must have just woken up. Nothing they couldn't handle for 5 minutes. So I go about my business and buy the light bulbs and then go back out to the car and start over to my parents. My mom calls. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"Van Winkle and 9th East, be there in about 5 minutes."
"Hurry! I'm not sure if he needs to go to the hospital or not."
"Uhhhh, What?" (applying pressure to right foot)
"Jack fell and hit his head and his face is swelling. I'm not sure if he broke the bone or not." Just what I wanted to hear. I went in and my mom pulled the ice pack off of his face and all I could say was "Oh! Okay, lets go." His check looked like he has somehow managed to put an orange cut in half in his check to save for later. I wish I had pictures! It was huge. However, I am not unused to head swelling. My kids get goose eggs with the best of them. The thing that had me really worried is that he was like a sack of potatoes. Totally limp. I would talk to him and he wouldn't even look at me. When I asked where his eyes are he pointed to his nose. And he hadn't said a single word since it happened. After a couple of hours he slowly started moving and then he finally said a word. They ordered the CT just to be sure there was nothing else and found his bone was broken, some bleeding, but not in his brain:) that was causing swelling... Really? I didn't need the CT to tell me there was swelling. Not bad, but broken. Since it wasn't depressed into his skull they won't have to do surgery. Brings new meaning to the words "Lucky Break". Anyway, this is what he looks like today... Still a tiny bit swollen, but NOTHING like what it was. Hard to see in the photo's. As you can see he's handling it better than I would expect. He even went to his dentist appointment today. He is acting totally normal... which is making me crazy because Jackson's normal is crazy and it's not uncommon for him to trip. As proven by this post.

ps. Might I just add to dad... Maybe next time my kids face is swollen say something like, Jack is hurt and then maybe I won't go in the store...

One of the Many Unblogged Events of this Summer

My Grandma died earlier this year and I was going through my photos and realized I didn't blog anything about it. Not that a funeral is a hot topic or anything, but it happened and here it is. I am sort of at a loss as to what to say about it. For the past few (quite a few) years, my grandmother and I have been shall we say, at odds. It was actually really nice to go to the funeral and listen to Michelle talk about her. It was really just random memories, but they weren't the ones I always think of when I think of her. It was nice have someone elses thoughts floating around in my head, rather than my own. She would have been 100 years old this fall, it's hard to imagine all the change she saw in her life time.

The boys actually had a good time. They didn't really know her, so it was really just a good get together with cousins for them.

They all found gravestones with their names on them, Parker actually hung out with his for a while.

I have also decided that I want a black and silver casket... not for a while, I hope.

There was actually a really funny moment when Bus leaned in to giver her a kiss before they closed the casket and just about knocked it over. I don't think I have ever seen comic relief work so well as it did on my dad at that moment.

Come to think of it, I guess the kids aren't the only ones that had a good get together.

RSVP

Just so you know Saturday Riley is getting baptized.... the date was changed kind of last minute and haven't had time to really invite anyone... so if you would like to come please send me an email or call me and I will let you know where and when.

A Funny

Since Rob's surgery we have heard most of the pig jokes out there.... from swine flu to canabalism, to oinking, sweating like a pig, etc. This is however my favorite so far. From my mom.

Ah, School...AKA Audio Relief

I am so happy that Parker is in all day school this year. I absolutely HATED having to go to the school 3 times a day. Granted, I only cut out one trip, but it was the one that broke up my day and made it impossible to really get anything done. So school has started, the boys like their teachers, and me and Jack are spending LOTS of time together... He likes playing with Riley and Parker better. His favorite time of day is when we go pick them up and still insists everyday that he has to take his backpack in the car too. He still has 3 more years until he is in kindergarten! I don't think I like fall birthdays.

Before school started and before Rob went back to work (he was very

excited to get out of the house and go back to work!) we took the boys camping. It was only for one night, but that was enough. They got to fish and I got to read. When we went to bed it was freezing and they both decided that all they wanted was to sleep in their warm, soft cozy beds the next night. It was fun but we were glad to get home.

Oh, I almost forgot! We finally got the piano from my mom's house (thanks for all who helped!) and I refinished it. If you didn't see it before this won't mean much, but it's tons better. Rob's sister even came out and tuned it. Me and the boys have started taking lessons (also from Rob's sister) and can already play a few songs. I think I like it more than the boys though.

Home Sweet Home

So after what seems like a really long time I am home and can update you on the gimp and show a few photo's of the progress.  This first one is the first walk he went on after the surgery.  You can see all the crap they had him hooked up to, well almost all of it.   Some of it they left in the room and just hooked him back up when he finished.  This only shows the 4 IV's (still 3 more hanging on the bed) his catheter and oxygen.  It doesn't show the heart monitors... there were a few.  They had to put him on this cool blood pressure monitor thing that was actually inside his vein in his arm.  It would show what his pressure was with every beat.  They had to keep a close watch over his pressures (obviously), but especially because the heart/lung bi-pass machine chewed up his aorta a bit and they had to put a patch on it. 

He spent 2 days and 1 night in the SICU (surgical intensive care unit). Stewart was his nurse... so good.  If you have to spend some time in SICU I totally recommend him.  Then they moved him up to the 4th floor.

  The boys were finally able to come up and visit for a few minutes.  They were so excited to give Rob the pictures they made him.  Apparently they were all afraid that Rob would forget Chewy, because that is what they all drew.  Jack's is a little abstract.  I love it. 

We came home this morning.  This is what he has been doing since then.  

Here is a close up of his chest along with notes.  

Big thanks to everyone for helping us out so much!!!  (Especially Jodi for letting me crash in her hospital room.)

the Count Down is On

 Tonight is Rob's last night as 100% human.  This time tomorrow he will be squealing like a pig.  We report to the hospital early tomorrow morning where he will promptly be prodded in places he'd rather not think about.  Soon he will be stuffed with tubes and hospital paraphernalia.  I'm pretty sure he's rather be on a beach on the big island reading a book or napping, but at least he'll have the book and a nap... briefly interrupted by blood pressure cuffs and temperatures not to mention those cute hospital gowns.  

He seems to be handling it all alright.  The only sign of anxiety that I've seen was last night around 2:30 am when he woke up looked at me and said "FIVE!"  When I just looked at him unknowingly he repeated "FIVE, FRENTLY!"  I was laughing at this point and he just kept repeating it and then said "is that what I've been fleeing?"  I still have no clue as to what that all meant.  My only guess would be his subconscious is trying to find the right "F" word for the situation, but since he's never dropped an F-bomb it doesn't know how.  

All in all he's doing good, he has been going to bed around 9:00 every night, but still in good spirits.  We were talking to the boys the other day and telling them what is going to happen and explained that while they were fixing his heart a machine will be pumping his blood and breathing for him.  We finished talking and left it at that.  Then yesterday when Rob came home from the hospital from doing his pre-surgery blood work, the first thing Parker says to him is "Are you half robot  yet?"  We laughed and told him no and he honestly looked a little sad.  When all is said and done, I think the boys might be a little disappointed with the whole thing.  We (I) will let you know how it goes, but let me just tell you all now how much we appreciate the help you have been and will be in the next few weeks.  It has truly been wonderful to feel the concern and love from everyone.  Thanks to all of you.

We had Parker's Birthday party last night.  It was kind of an Indiana Jones fest.  He already had the hat and the whip, so I made him the over the shoulder pack the you apparently HAVE to have in order to play Indiana Jones.  He LOVED it.  My dad seemed to enjoy it as well.  

We also finally found a good use for the basketball hoop.  

My favorite thing about this party is that the kids all had a great time throwing away the wrapping paper and trash so clean up was almost non-existent. 

I also really loved seeing Parker open his presents.  Ellie gave him a spiderman marker set and coloring book.  He jumped out of his chair, (pausing the opening of more presents mind you,) grabbed Ellie and gave her a big hug and told her thank you.  He didn't do that for any of the boys that came... but I'm glad that he is such a grateful kid. 

And this is the cake.  I don't know if you can really see it in the photo, it's indy's pack with jewels and coins spilling out, his whip (made out of black licorice whips) and of course his hat.  

 I think my favorite thing is that the coins all have COPY printed on them just in case you had in mind to try and use it in a store.  He had a great time and I think Rob and I needed the distraction from everything else.  

A good day overall.

july 1st

So the date of the surgery for Rob is going to be July 1st. And the good news is, is that he will not have to have it done open heart. They are going to go through the ribs on the right of his chest. So he will only be out for two to three weeks instead of two to three months. Hooray for technology. 

A Little Sureal

 Yesterday we found out that Rob is going to be having open heart surgery in the very near future.  It was a little weird sitting in that doctors office listening to him saying that if we waited until fall we would be stupid.  

Life is precious.  Enjoys those you love.  Everyday.

Heaven or Hell?

Ok, I'm throwing out a disclaimer before you get to into this post.  Read at your own risk.  This is a delicious treat that you will want all the time once  you know about it and I will not be responsible for any weight gain... Heck, I'm not even taking responsibility of my own.  

So last summer my friend Kelly introduced me to this and I'm not sure if I am grateful or not because I like it a little too much.  I think it just took me by surprise, I am NOT a sour cream person.  I don't put it on tacos, potatoes or anything.  So when she told me to try it I didn't expect anything.    

A little sour cream, a little brown sugar, and of course the 

strawberries... and there you have it. 

Now that I've talked  it up it won't be the same for you, so lets pretend I told you it was gross.  Then maybe you will love it as much as I do.  

I want this to be an ice cream flavor.  If anyone has an ice cream maker try it and let me know how it was. Well, maybe tell me. Ok, tell me.

My Little Mini Me Man

Today is Riley's last day of first grade.  Last night after we got home from a friends baseball game, I was asking Riley if he was excited that it was going to be his last day today.  He started crying and telling me how much he was going to miss his teacher.  It was the sweetest thing ever.  He was so sad.  He is so emotional.  It's one of those things where it's the good news and the bad news.  

One of the things I love about him the most is his sensitivity and passion, but he can also be passionate about things he doesn't like... sometimes that is very bad news.  A little something he got from me, just ask Rob.

Anyway, he really wanted to make a card for his teacher and she loves the color orange and goofy.  So we tried to combine those two things into one and this is what we came up with.  

He did a good job helping and I'm sure his teacher will love it.  

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Summer

The boys were playing outside the other day, it was so nice.  They played with water guns for a long time and then Riley and Parker evidently thought they needed a spa day in order to relax and took a mud bath.  

Jack however was satisfied to just get himself a drink.  I love his tongue in the both the photos with Chewy.  I don't know if you can see it in the one with him running, but it is literally hanging out the side of his mouth like a dog.  And in the other one he is trying to show Chewy how to lap up the water... Which he also does

 whenever he thinks something is

 going to be delicious.  He is way too cute to actually be my kid.  

It was so nice to just let them play outside and not be in the house!  

The Odd Couple

Here is a link you should watch when ou are having a hard time connecting with those around you or just having differences.  It's cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBtFTF2ii7U

Not Quite As Cool As In Person

this is the zoetrope from California Adventure.  Jackson just loves this and I promised I would put it on to show Jodi, so now everyone can enjoy.  Like I said, it's way cooler in person as you can imagine, but it's still cool.

Unforgettable Moments!

Well, it took longer to update my blog than I thought it would, but probably not as long as you all thought it would.  We had so much fun in California.  The first day we were there we went to the beach.  It was super foggy and it looked pretty cool, everything just faded into nothingness.  The other day Davy asked Jack if he went to the beach and Jack just said, "Cold!"  He is definitely right about that, but we all had a blast.  The boys all dug out a huge hole for the water to fill in and they all went in pretty far, I really didn't know if Parker would or not, but I'm glad he did.

We of course took the required photos... In front of the Mickey made from flowers, in front of the castle, in the tea cup, you know, the regulars.  We spent some time in the mad hatters, saw some of the characters, got some autographs, my favorite moments were just seeing the boys light up when they saw something new.  I especially loved seeing Jackson's face the first time he saw the train.  The batteries in my camera went dead literally 1 second before he saw the train!  So pissed.  I also totally loved seeing Jackson at the character breakfast.  It was definitely most magical for him.  He ran up to Pooh Bear and gave him a hug, kept playing with Chip n' Dale's tails (he says chipmunk so cute!) gave Minnie a kiss on the nose and punched Tigger in the nuts.  It was awesome.  Totally priceless!  

We had a blast and I hope we can go back soon.  They boys are already asking when we are going back.