Mike and I are getting away!

At about 11 we are out the door for a 24 hour get away! I am so excited!

We are going to do a little window shopping in Scottsdale and eat lunch then we will head to the hotel where we will have our facials and couple massage. Then a little relaxing by the shaded pool, it really is nice in the shade in the desert, and then take our time getting ready for our 8 pm dinner. 

I'm up early because the girls woke up. They are back to sleep now and I just pray that they sleep well for Leah. 

We had a late night for them. We hosted small group here. We are studying "The Truth Project" It is so good! I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever had any and all doubts about Jesus.

So Teagan didn't make it to stay at the 'kid's house'. Where we drop off so the kids can play while we host here. She got so upset and anxious about staying there, that she threw up and on the babysitter, our beloved Chris from church. She threw up on Mike. She threw up on herself. When Mike and she walked back through the door last night, they were such a sad sad sight to behold. Got them both changed and she watched 'Incredibles' in our room while we were in the main room. By the end, she was either on my lap or Mike's.  The boys were exhausted when they got home and very cranky. Such a long long day.

Oh and an update again on my Physical Therapy. Everything is staying put again and if it does for the next two weeks, I'm done. Fingers crossed!

I thought I had hurt it again earlier this week. Riordan was trying to get to the potty in our room and tripped over the stool. He face planted on the rim of the toilet. It was one of those cry's, you know as a parent the difference, that he was really hurt. Blood everywhere! His eye tooth almost went through his lip! He has a puncture mark on the outside of his lip from it hitting so hard on the inside! So in the moment, I couldn't get to him fast enough and my back felt like it went out of whack. Once I had calmed him down with love, cold wash cloth, and daddy got him and icee, I then iced my back. I hate saying now it's doing good because I'm fearful now of more set backs!

I worked out yesterday morning for the first time since last Saturday. I have had no energy or be able to breathe well because of this cold. So we went for a walk with a couple of jogging intervals yesterday. It was such a great feeling to run outside! Today I have another session, actually in about an hour. Then rush home for swim lessons at 9 and find sometime to pack in there in between!

Please pray for the children to be on their best behavior, to be well, and for all to be safe and us all have a good time for this next 24 hours!

Oh and you will notice that I have a new link on my right. One of my dear friends, that I have been out of touch with from back home in Georgia, has a super cute blog that she writes! Also she wrote a book for newlywed girls that comes out in September! Lo it's so nice to be back in touch with you!! I'm so proud of you and you never cease to amaze me! You rock! I can't wait to read your book! Much love to you guys and hope we can meet up in October!

Our week

Has been rather easy to say the least, even though I have had a rough time with this summer cold!

Aislinn cut her sixth tooth, finally! it was a doozy, on Wednesday! Her seventh on the bottom is right behind it.

Teagan had yet another fun time at dance class and asks all the time when does she get to go back! Her friend Macey was there as well as her friend Kate too! Wasn't hard to talk her into it! ;-) They were adorable!

Riordan is still loving school! You know it really says a lot about Ms. Angela. I mean every day Riordan was to go to school last year he cried and I would practically have to threatened him to get him in the car to leave. Then he wouldn't get out of the car. Then I would have to take him in instead of him walking in. I hardly ever get a hug and kiss from him now! He's excited, he smiles, he talks about it all day long when he gets home! Today a little emotional for him, he didn't get his hug and kiss and he could hear me outside and as I walked away he started to cry! Broke my heart! He said he didn't get his hug and kisses, so I wrapped my arms around him and gave him big kisses and he stopped crying and was ready to go on about his day! He is just such a different child than a year ago! Where now he strikes up conversations on his own, plays jokes, and is a cuddle bunny. Last year, no eye contact, no smiles, and God forbid if you wanted to give him a hug or kiss! I don't know what happened, but I am so grateful to see such a happy, fun-loving boy that I knew he could be!

Caden is having a hard time with after school. He is so overstimulated, over tired, and starving and is making it hard to enjoy him in the afternoon. I think he's about to make our sitter Leah quit! It's obviously so hard on her that he doesn't mind and is hyper, cranky, and just down right disobedient. It's easier for me to handle because he knows what buttons are being pushed to far. But with Leah, it's making it so hard on her on Wednesday's. When he starts doing things he shouldn't then Riordan does. So my newest suggestion is to just let him eat whatever healthy snack he wants and make it more of a meal than a snack. He eats at 10:55 for lunch! So early and then a light snack in the afternoon at school, where usually we eat little meals all day long. Plus he is just so tired, so if he needs to go have some downtime in our room with some tv then whatever works! I pray that he shows the fun, non-cranky, mindful child we have been so proud of this weekend for her while we take 24 hours to reenergize ourselves and have some good adult conversations without constant interruptions. I honestly don't know what else to do for him other than that. And thankfully I'm not in this boat alone. My friends who have children that just started full day Kindergarten this year are having some big issues as well with acting out of character.

So last and certainly not least, I get to share with you about my sister Jennifer. She is 15 weeks this week! But for almost two months now she has dealt with the diagnosis of cancer. It's a blood cancer that presents itself in the skin. It is an extremely rare cancer that only 1500 people a year are diagnosed with. It is called Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. She will always have it for the rest of her life. There is no cure, but there is remission. 

It is THE slowest growing cancer however. They, the cancer specialist in Atlanta, are very confident that it is in early stages. With her being pregnant she is limited to treatment, but a topical cream is allowed and keeps it from spreading and keeps it from staying inflammed and swollen. It's an interesting cancer none the less. She can keep using the cream and it won't be visible anymore, but it will still be there! Obviously because it's a blood cancer and most blood cancers you can't see physically! LOL She has been treating it for 8 years and only just recently decided to have a dermatoligist diagnos it because she was pregnant. It was then that she had a biopsy done and they came back with cancer, which flipped her world upside down immediately! And then of course as much as I was trying to be her support I found myself not sleeping at night and just thinking, why nnow?! Why now when she has been given this gift of her heart's desire to have another baby!

Thankfully, it's not in a serious stage so more aggressive treatment, if needed, can wait till after the baby is born. They did do three more biopsy's of the area yesterday and drew blood. She goes back in 2 weeks to get more results, her exact stage and where and what they need to do after. She will keep seeing the specialist as well, especially since she is pregnant. She is so much more relaxed now that she has answers, and knows that so far it's not life threatning.  She is of course now at higher risk for other cancers and will be seen on a regular basis for it, I think! That's one of my  questions!! She was lucky to catch it so early because it presented itself on her skin!

Please keep her and her baby in your prayers for good health! She finds out in 4 weeks what she's having! Oh I can't wait! I have been buying clothes already! Awful I know! But I'm just so darn excited for her!

So that brings me to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Walk! Oct 18th our family is walking in it with a lot of our friends in honor of my friend Rena who beat Leukemia this year. In fact, it marks that date of her one year anniversary of her bone marrow transplant from her brother! 

I have two reasons now to walk, Rena and my sister!! 

I am raising money for the walk and in lieu of birthday gifts for Aislinn this year, we would rather have monetary donations in honor of her Aunt Jennifer and good friend Rena! We are so wonderfully blessed with a million gazillion toys, clothing, and books. We seriously have no more room for them and what better use for your money and to donate it to LLS so they can find cures and better treatments!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN!

One of my fears

has come to light. Caden being bored this year in Kindergarten because he had Kindersteps last year. For over a week now, he either says he is bored with school because "all we do is color and trace" or he says "i'm sick and i can't go to school".

He never ONCE said any of this last, in fact on the day he was sick with a fever of 103, he cried because he was missing school.

Mike and I just look at each other. I have felt lost on what to do with him. I feel that boredom leads to misbehaving! (funny Dani to read your blog huh?!) I would hate to lose my good natured, well mannered little boy!

So I was sharing my woes with my girl Kristi yesterday. I was wondering should I just persue him going into the 1st grade, is it too late?, and then I don't want him turning 6 when most of his friends would be turning 7!

She says, "Why don't you look into the gifted program." I was in shock! Why hadn't someone told me about this before! Of course!! And I never knew they had one for Kindergarten. Well I called the CATS program, and they do! They have testing 3 times a year, the first one in September. If he tests well for the program then we would have the option, if there was room, to go to the school where the program is offered on a whole for Kindergarten, or remain at his school and a CATS teacher would assign him extra work. I prefer the latter of course.

Mike and I are so pleased with this opportunity! While we love his teacher, we can't expect her to challenge Caden more when most of the class is just beginning Kindergarten. I need to mail in his application today to get a time and date for his testing, which will be on a Saturday in September.

On a another note, another one of my fears, is my horrible summer cold has gone into my chest. Once again, Kristi to the rescue and she recommended Mucinex! Let me tell you it started working within the hour of releasing the tightness in my chest and making things a lot more productive!  It still amazes me where all this crud comes from! So today I'm breathing easier I think due to the Mucinex loosing up my nose and my chest. A lot of my pressure in my sinus is gone, just feels a little inflammed.

Today we will again take it easy, as I did yesterday. Take the Ca(y)dens to school and then come home to work on the playroom. Teagan is so excited for dance tomorrow and keeps talking about her teacher Miss Mimi!! And she especially keeps talking about her girlfriend Macey ;-)

And now I'm sick...

I started a sore throat yesterday afternoon about 4 ish. Never a good sign to happen in the middle of the day. Still went to the Braves game where we beat the pants off the DB's. Mike and I stayed till the end of the top of the 9th. Chipper hit a homer for us!

Our section had quite a few Brave's fans. We had four guys sitting to our right, three of them from Savannah! I immediately felt like I was back at home from there southern drunken drawl's and watching the game at Turner Field instead of Chase Stadium.

Sore throat was still there, but a little number by the huge cup of beer I drank. We got home abut 10:30 and soon fast to sleep. It was such a long day. In the middle of the night I woke up to swollen touching tonsils and searing pain and a stuffed up nose. Nothing soothed it :( I pray it's not strep but will give it another day. I do have a yucky nose, and my throat is still irritated from laryngisitis in June, so the combo could be the reason for such inflammation. 

I still made it to training this morning, which seemed to help dull the pain.. all those endorphine's running through my body. But an hour or so later, it came back just as fierce. I did manage to make it to sprouts to pick up food for Aislinn. I have been in bed since I got home.

I'm not able to go out tonite with the girls either, which I have already talked with Marcie and she's so understanding. It sucks, I hate to miss it, but I have to rest and get well to tend to the zoo come Monday.

Mike took everyone to swim class! He's so amazing!

So I'm just resting and I'm starving, but I can't eat LOL.. great! I needed a good fast ;-)

Friday friday Friday!

So glad it's Friday!

This seriously has been such a busy week!

Yesterday we had MOPS and it was so much fun! It was our kick off so all of us, mom's and children, were in the worship center. Snow White was there and a princess bouncer! Both Teagan and Riordan jumped so much and for so long! Teagan got pushed around by a little boy, so that ended it for her. We mingled, hung out with friends, and ate snacks. By the time it was over, we were all pooped, hot, and grouchy though LOL. Came home and Aislinn had a longggg nap.

Then we had everyone's dentist appointments at Dr. Welch's office. Mike was able to help out this time! Thank God! Caden of course was his usually friendly self.  He did say he was a bit nervous, but soon was feeling just fine. Teagan, I'm so proud of her! She let them do x-rays and a little cleaning! However when Dr. Welch came in, she flipped out, but still let him check all her teeth! No cavities for her! Caden has two again. Poor guy has my yuck mouth. Riordan however, was all talk up until and then flipped out. Didn't help that his assistant shamed him on crying saying he would make the other children in the office upset and scared. Instead of tackling her to the ground, I told Riordan that it's okay to cry and he didn't have to do what he didn't want to do. I think that was good enough. She should know better! So no x-rays, cleaning, or a open mouth check on Riordan.. next time should be better. He was so ready to show Dr. Welch his sugar bugs!

After that I rushed to my PT appt, while Mike took the zoo home. It feels so much better since it was moved back into place and I have just a slight twinge of pain on the left where it moved, but my SI is still not inflammed and my right side's tightness went away by Tuesday morning, the day after it was corrected! So he said he see's no reason that my next appointment can't be my last! HURRAY!! I asked when I could golf and play tennis again and he said to wait a good 6 months to really strengthen my back. Try golf first for a month and then tennis. So 6 months, I will be out swinging again! I'm so ready!

THEN I had to rush to the grocery to pick up a few things for Aislinn and milk for the rest of the zoo, then rush home to get Caden for cirriculum night at his school. Riordan came along as well. The sky was looking dark and angry and I thought for sure it would open up while we were there. It was a good night, Caden showed me all he's little places for his work and his blanket for rest, his art projects for the special night, and so much more. Found out they have Grandparents day on Friday Sept 6th, sooo no pressure out there, but I know how much it would mean to him!! If only it were later in the month, I know!

As we made it into our driveway, the sky let out a loud clap of thunder! We had a huge duststorm and rain. Mike's car was all muddy this morning.

I finished yet another book last night, The Rent Tent. It is an amazing book! I loved it! And before that, Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was very Bridget Jones to me, but did enjoy it. Both are for my book club. I just love being able to find time to read again. I was so exhausted before, the moment I would pick up a book I'd be asleep!I'm way ahead on The Red Tent, but couldn't put it down! LOL It won't be until Sept I think that we will discuss it. My other book club we are reading, Love the One Your With. Need to still pick it up.

This morning I went and worked out, it just feels so great to work out! 6 am, then rush home to get everyone ready for school. After dropping Caden off, R, T, A, and I went to Basha's to get a few things then I took him to school. 

Mike and I have date night. Our girl Julie is coming to take care of the zoo. Let me tell you how blessed I feel to have such two amazing women in our life helping us out! Both are so sweet and nuturing too! For our date we are going to see my beloved Braves play the Diamondbacks. I haven't been to a game all year, so I'm looking forward to it!

Can't be crazy though I have a workout at 7 am with Joe!

Oh and just my gripe for the week:

I'm doing so much better with Aislinn and her allergies. However I'm a bit miffed still at a comment made by a woman I just met. When saying all the allergies she had, she goes, "Did you have them pregnant and nursing?" I said, "Yes" I know there's a theory that exposing them is might be the cause of the allergy. So she goes, "That's why she has it". Is she a doctor? I don't know, because immediately following her statement she picked up her phone to answer.

My rebuttle is, I find it hard to believe that what I have eaten, which has been the same throughout every pregnancy of all my four children and even while nursing CAUSED her to have a Milk, Egg, Peanut, and Tree nut allergy. Why did Caden, Riordan, and Teagan not get it but Aislinn did? What the heckle jeckle is a pregnant and nursing mom supposed to eat if she can't atleast have milk and egg to supply important nutrition to herself and her child?

What I didn't get to say either is on Mike's side of the family his brother and his son both have food allergies and THAT is the reason Aislinn has them. And that is from my doctor, which is why we go in every 6 months because of family history. It's just how she was made up. I would never make someone feel that why nor do I feel guilty either, but she probably didn't know that her comment could be so insulting either.

Feel better now ;-)

So weird

the pictures for Aislinn here on the blog have some how muted on her reaction.. my photos in the camera and on our harddrive show the true nature of the reaction with the redness at it's actual state.... just a note to myself ;-)

Teagan's first day of dance

It was so wonderful! She was such a sight to see!

She was shy at first, but when it came time to go into her studio, she walked in with her girl Macey and her teacher Ms. Mimi. It is only Teagan and Macey right now, but they are sure the class will soon fill up.

Heather, Macey's mom, and I got to watch them from the video camera in the room on a flat screen in the lobby! What was really cute is the girls would turn to the camera and wave hi mommy!! So adorable!

Both of them were truly amazing and completely at ease with Ms. Mimi. We both feel so lucky that they did so well! We can't wait until next Wednesday!

*tried to post this on the 6th, which is now the 7th, but the pics wouldn't up load!

Update on Aislinn

Monday's reaction to mac n cheese

Another shot (aren't her ear canals in dire need of cleaning! they are like this every day!)

the skin test (double click it to make it bigger)

Oh how I will never forget this day!

She and I went in for her appointment at 7:30 am. It's always so nice to see Dr. Rishi and her staff! We show Dr. Rishi the pictures of the reaction Aislinn had on Monday night. She asked if Aislinn had been sick recently. Why yes she has, she had Roseola and the rash was on her Saturday and Sunday.

So she thinks that Aislinn's reaction is due to the virus. Apparently even a few days after a virus the skin can react in an allergic like reaction. She says that most likely it isn't food related, which she ate mac and cheese and chicken just 10 mins before the reaction happened, and that if I wanted we could skin test her just in case including chicken.

One minute after they left, #2 popped up in a welt. I, at first, assumed it was the control test. Then I was like, they didn't tell me which one it was, should I go ask? 5 mins later the welt is huge and now another was showing up under it. I have had both she and Caden have the skin prick test and this never happened before. I immediately brace myself for our world to be flipped upside down.

When the nurse walked back in, I ask, "Is number 2 the control?" She goes, "No 1 is, no wait, I didn't do a control prick, 2 is for milk.. Is she reacting?" I show her Aislinn's back. She goes oh yeah 2, 4 and she rattled off two other numbers. At this point I felt I was in a vortex. I couldn't wait for Dr. Rishi to come back in and help me!! At this point too, the nurse did a control test to show the test was accurate.

Aislinn has a level 4 (the most severe) milk, level 3 egg, level 2 peanut, and level 2 tree nut anaphylaxis. Basically, the 2 tablespoons of milk I just mixed into her mac n cheese on Monday night is where her reaction came from. And at 7 weeks old the 3 sips of milk formula earlier in the day were her cause for the reaction as well, even though she tested negative on both skin and blood tests.

We now have to carry a 2 pack epipen where ever she goes. The hopeful news is that one day Aislinn could outgrow the milk and egg allergy as long as I make sure she is not exposed to them at all until she's 3 and 4. Peanut and tree nut can be outgrown, but highly unlikely. If you know us well, my children survive on milk. It is their security blanket. To know how she reacts to 2 tablespoons, divided at that, in mac n cheese, makes me really nervous of the sippee cups of milk laying around the house. New rules have to be in place and stricter policies on milk.

I am no longer allowed to treat her allergic reactions with benadryl. Only with the epipen, then  call 911 and go to the ER and then after 15 mins adminster the other epipen if we aren't being seen. These were my strict rules with Dr. Rishi today. The next reaction could be 100 times worse and we got lucky with the first two.

Every year Aislinn will be retested. First by the skin test. If that's negative, then they will do the blood test. If that's negative, then they will do a controlled test in the office giving her whatever she was negative for. I pray pray pray and you please pray that she out grows this. I feel so bad for her, her first birthday cake with no eggs or milk. I know there are recipes out there. I made one for a friend once and it was actually amazing. But if you have favorite recipes of anything!, please feel free to send them to me!! I would be so grateful! 

I also feel torn. How do I take away things from Caden, Riordan, and Teagan that can be such a threat to Aislinn's health. Or explaining to Aislinn that she can't have the same things that her siblings have? I know it will work out, I have watched other families deal with this. It's just so shocking and still trying to absorb it all.

When she is one she will go on Soy Milk which shouldn't be hard since she is on Soy Formula. 

So that's my life right now, finding things that Aislinn can eat. Sprouts will undoubtedly become more of a favorite for us as well as any place that carries specialty foods for us.

She, of course, is worth every moment of it and while it definitely sucks, I will do whatever it takes as will Mike. :-)

** Oh and I left out to think that in just one month I start to transistion to milk by mixing it with her formula! The thoughts!! Thank God for following the rules of no milk, peanut butter, or eggs till they are one, and actually we weren't going to do eggs or peanuts till she was three because of her first reaction!

Aislinn

Had an allergic reaction last night. Most like food, since it began right as she ended her meal of Mac n Cheese and rotissere chicken, a staple for her.

So we are off to the Allergist tomorrow morning, I'm sure for more testing. 

This is the first reaction since her first one at 7 weeks old.

It was not severe at all, and she only reacted on her face and benadryl seemed to work within the first 5-10 mins. 

Love our Allergist! We were over due for a follow up any way, and so when I called they were ready to get her in as quickly as possible due to the reaction. 

Will post as soon as I know something.

My setback

I am sooooo mad at myself right now and so beyond frustrated.

My SI did move from having to hold Aislinn all day Friday with literally no rest while cleaning and making food for my party. Plus I ran 7 mins at the beginning of the morning. So all of this compounded into weakened muscle strength and I rotated up on my left side, which normally was rotating up on my right side.

So I did not graduate from PT tonite and I will be going back on Thursday to see if I stayed in place. 

The good news is the pinched feeling on my left is nearly gone now from being rotated back, it was a very minor slip, and if I hadn't gone back in by tonite, I most likely would have began spasms on my back again.

Ughhhhh! I was so ready to get back to life again, so now 4 steps back. But hopefully I will rebound very quickly.

Pics of Helicopter

Where to start?!

We've done so much this week! I kept wanting to post but there really hasn't been a moment long enough to sit down.. Today I have it! YAY for Sundays!

Wednesday we decided to walk the whole Zoo to Caden's school to see Fox 10 helicopter land. It's not a far walk at all, but it was so hot. We were walking into the sunrise. Caden took his Razor and halfway there he got bold, went faster and wiped out. He was a mess. More scared than anything and actually didn't break skin (thank God, I always have bandaids!). So he was done and walked the rest of the way. We ran into our friends, the Jaffies, and walked the rest of the way with them.

After standing in the hot sun for 10 mins, we are all dripping sweat at this point, we moved into the shade deciding it's not worth the heat and direct sun to be that close to the helicopter. So once the helicopter came in, none of the children wanted to really be close anyway. It was really neat to see it land! The children were allowed to walk by it, in a uniform line, and meet Rick the pilot. Riordan was the ONLY one who wanted to do it! LOL 

Mike took Caden to his class with the girls and Riordan and I stood in the hot baking sun to see it. He almost did a picture with the pilot, but at the last minute changed mind. But we got to see the helicopter on all sides. It was pretty spectacular. 

We walked back home with the sun to our back, pouring sweat at this point. I gave Teagan and Riordan 3 freezies each, aka Flav-o-ice, aka Otter Pops. Really helped them to cool down and calm down ;-) Aislinn slept 4 hours!

Leah came over in the afternoon. Aislinn had a fever from the day before, which at the time was a low grade one, and became a very high one. So I had to rule out that it was related to her cutting her sixth tooth, which has just been so miserable for her. Poor Leah saw them all at their worst. Everyone was cranky and disobedient. I'm surprised she wants to come back! :-) 

Aislinn's fever finally broke on Friday morning. Today I figured out she had Roseola! Yep nice rash along her torso today, which I noticed last night but chalked it up to formula getting on her skin.

Oh and on Wednesday, I decluttered and cleaned my clutter area in the kitchen and I got on top and behind the refrigerator. Mike came home early so I got to go food shopping for my skin care party that I was having on Friday. 

Thursday was much of the same thing, cleaning and just hanging out after I worked out. Riordan had his open house that night. He was terrified and mortified. He was that child and screamed and cried for the first 10 mins and then finally got acclimated and played. Ms. Angela even let him bring home a motorcycle from school to bring back tomorrow! She is already gets him! He didn't want to leave it ;-)

Friday consisted of working out, where I ran 7 mins straight! Came home to find out my friend Liz, who was due Aug 17th, had her baby at 5:16 that morning! And what is even so extraordinary about that is our friend Steph had her baby via planned c-section that morning and they both have 3 year olds with the exact same birthday! Steph didn't know that Liz was even there! The nurses stayed till after they were off and wanted to see the look on Steph's face as the rolled her into what she thought would be her room when in fact it was Liz's room holding her baby girl!! Chill bumps!! So amazing! I went with my girls Monica, Michelle, Amy, and Marcie yesterday to go visit them both. The babies are absolutely adorable, sweet, and yummy. But no bells went off in my head, so I knew AGAIN, that we are through with additions ;-)

So back to Friday, I was on my feet literally all day long. I cleaned, I prepped, I cooked, I had to hold Aislinn who was fussy. 

I hurt my back!!! By Saturday morning I knew and was afraid I had done some really damage again. Today is much better, but still discomfort. I iced a lot yesterday and did literally nothing, except for visiting the babies, but rest. Today church and again nothing but rest. Teagan and I took a 2 hour nap together. She's so sweet. 

Caden had a first great week. Miss Williams told me that he is a huge help in the classroom and a very good boy. She's really enjoying him and he loves her! Friday, he finally found the salad bar and said he had a salad and white broccoli aka cauliflower! Every day I would ask if he went to get fruit at the salad bar and every day he would say either he couldn't find it or he forgot to ask! He was so excited to tell me he found it! I was too because now he would have a much more balanced meal instead of a main entree and dessert! He said though there wasn't any fruit on it.. hmmm  I really have no complaints about school overall. I really am pleased, and I can't wait till it's cooler, although Teagan still freaks out if we drop off Caden. She just gets hysterical! This week Heather and I are going full throttle too with carpooling. The Ca(y)den's are so absolutely adorable. They insist on being dropped off in the car line! They feel like big men on campus I guess ;-)

Tomorrow is Riordan's first day of school with Ms. Angela!! We have been talking about it all weekend and how we need to keep up with it. Tomorrow is also playgroup and I'm hosting at Chick-Fil-a. The housekeepers come so early now, at 10 am, which I love and we had moved our time to 9:30. So that prevents me from hosting here anymore unless we change the day, but it really is the best day for all of us. When it gets cooler we can meet at the park which will be really nice!

I need to make it to Dee's Dancewear for Teagan's dance shoes and clothes for Wednesday! She is looking so forward to it! So from here on out I will have just the girls M/W/F mornings! Most of the time I will be home with Aislinn for her naps, but come January I'm sure I will be able to get her down to just one!! Wow!!

Thursday is also my first day back to MOPS! I'm so thrilled. I have really missed it. Thursday is an activities day where we will meet in our worship center and there will be bouncies (which R and T aren't very fond of). It's a meet and greet kind of thing. 

Friday Mike and I have a baseball date to see my beloved Braves! We have tickets for Saturday as well, but I forgot that I had dinner plans that night for Marcie's birthday dinner.

And Sunday morning we have a birthday party for Riordan's friend Carson at Hamilton pool! They rented the whole pool! How awesome! It's Carson's and his brother Hayden and sister Skylar's birthday party as well and our whole family is invited! I can't wait, we have never been to our public pools yet and now we can as a family and check it out and enjoy it. Plus our pool across the street is now open! I want to take them there soon before it gets cooler. We have been waiting this whole year for it to open!

So that's about it for us! Just hanging out here at home, which is so nice. We need down days like this a lot more often. Good for refueling and good for family QT.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

TO MY DEAR BABY SISTER!!!

HOPE YOU HAVE THE BEST DAY YET! LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU TERRIBLY!

Happy 10 months old Aislinn!

My goodness for something that seem to be going by so slowly, due to lack of sleep, seems to really be flying by now! 

Nothing like sleeping through the night (at least 2 weeks now with no waking up in the middle of the night and crying it out!), no back pain, no nursing, to enjoy the life of a baby even more! ;-) Now if we could just get some hair! She won't wear her banded flowers anymore, pulls them right off!  Oh and 6th tooth still hasn't cut, but she has a low grade fever today.

We got to play with Carson and his mom Amy today, while her older children were at school! Carson and Riordan were in playgroup together when we first met! It just got to be too much at the time with having Teagan and then Caden's school schedule so we haven't got to see them much. Then the last two weeks they were in camp together and rediscovered each other! So it was so wonderful to catch up and hang out. We adore them so much! Can't wait to get together again! She and I are going to do double dates and I will have Julie come in the morning to watch the girls.

Tomorrow we are all heading to Caden's school for there will be a local news channels Helicopter there! We are all so excited!

And Teagan keeps asking for Leah Leah Leah, and she will be here in the afternoon! YAY!

Thursday night is Riordan's open house and Friday night I'm hosting a skin care evening, by Great Skin Arizona! 

Saturday morning we have swim lessons and hopefully to visit Kate, Jason, and Micah ;-)

Okay Grammy, pics of Aislinn and Riordan! When ya coming out??

Can someone send me Kay and Don's addresses and email? I thought I knew the email by heart, but it bounced back.. And addresses of: ALL the Follett's PLUUUEEEAAAASSEEE and Aunt Claire and everyone, Karen and Bobby, etc.. I still have nothing! Don't make me hunt ya down!

Caden's 1st day of Kindergarten!

Daddy missed 1st day, but he was here up until we left!

Ready for school!

Love this smile! Love this boy!

Another shot?

Come on mommy, the sun is bright!

Can you stop, pleaaaaseee?

Caden playing, just before realizing we were still there ;-)

He did so awesome!

He was so excited this morning. He did say at one point, while watching the show 'Wipe Out' online, that he was a little bit nervous. 

Nervous?! He didn't even kiss and hug me good-bye! Riordan, Teagan, Aislinn, and I walked him onto the playground where they will meet every morning. Reminded him where to drop his backpack with the rest of his class, and he was gone! Playing and having fun. Gave his teacher, Miss Williams, a bag of goodies for the class and then was walking to leave the playground area. 

As I was going to get Aislinn, I kind of parked her at the entrance, I banged Riordan in the head with the camera. He started to wail.

Then Teagan didn't want to leave the playground and wanted to play with Caden. She started to wail.

I some how managed to get them all out and told them, let's watch Caden play and go into school when the bell rings. This made them all happy, also gave Riordan a thousand hugs and kisses. Now we were told to leave in a letter, but me and quite a few moms stayed around. I knew Caden would enjoy it more. And he did, because once he realized we were still there he started being his goofy adorable self. Waving and jumping and just having a ball. 

Soon the warning bell rang, Riordan recognized it immediately. Oh yeah and Aislinn started to cry in her stroller, so had to pick her up. So we walk closer to watch as they all lined up to go to their class. 

Caden's is the last one in all of the 6 classes because their room is the closest to the playground. As Caden came out of the gate, Teagan starts to wail again. She wanted Caden to come with us, not go into his class. It was so adorable and heart breaking at the same time!

My friend Heather, who's son is with Caden in the same class!, took the stroller for me and I held Teagan all the way to the car. 

All day long from Teagan "Where's Caden" "I want Caden" "I miss Caden"!! Oh just so sweet and never once did it actually get on my nerves!

I decided to do the car line to pick Caden up. I mean it's 100 and something and I was pretty sure there would be no shade. I was the 6th car in line too. Thank God for DVD Players in the car! We were waiting a long time. Heather came through the cars and offered to get Caden, the kids were out already at this point for some time now. I accepted! Thank you Heather!

Within moments she had both Ca(y)den's and we were on our way!

First thing I asked Caden (and always do for years now) was, "What was your favorite part of the day?"

He said, "Resting time!" I started cracking up!

Truly just like his daddy!

He can't wait to go back tomorrow. I did miss him a lot today, but I handled it better than a)I thought I would and b) better than some of my mommy friends. My advantage though is two main points: he was in public school last year and i have 3 other children to keep me distracted instead of thinking about it. Now last year and the year before, I really struggled with it, being I felt someone else would be raising my baby boy! But I'm confident we have set a really strong, moral, solid foundation with Caden and he will flourish ever more!

I can't wait!

For Aug 16th! Mike and I are going away for the weekend! Leaving Saturday morning and coming back Sunday around noonish!

I've been trying to go away with my girl Marcie, but she can't after all. So I was just going to go by myself. Well we have a new amazing babysitter, Leah, that does overnights and I said, hey! Why don't we see if she wants to keep FOUR kids for the weekend! She said yes! Worth every single penny!

We are going to Sanctuary, we have our spas all set up: a couples massage and a facial, and dinner reserved at Elements, one of my most favorite places to eat!  Okay if I close my eyes long enough will it come quicker?! This will be the first time we have had a true vacation together since our honeymoon, one that is only about us and no one else. Not a work trip, spouse got to go on while he had meetings everyday, and not a wedding, which was fun and all, but it wasn't about us. PLUS I'm not pregnant, haven't you heard he's been fixed ;-), not nursing either! 

One our way up, we are going to go to "Old Town" Scottsdale and do some window shopping and eat at Valley Ho Cafe Zuzu's. By the way, Leah, is more than I could have hoped and dreamed for as a replacement for our dear Kate. She is a permanent fixture in our home on Wednesday afternoons and then fills in any evening and weekend spots. We also hired Julie, who is just as great, but will be most likely moving in the Spring to go to Nursing school. But I still wanted her and will figure out what I will do for my days. Right now she will keep Aislinn while I take Teagan to dance, and then flexible for any other days for either me time or dates. Plus she does nights and weekends as well. I feel so blessed to have these two amazing ladies, who are devoted Christians huge bonus, helping me with the zoo. Leah is already doing letter of the week with them, she wants to be a 1st grade teacher and is so passionate about children.

Speaking of Kate, she was readmitted to the hospital Monday and got out last night. I'm not sure why, but when we did talk via email on Monday, she said she was not feeling very well and having a hard time getting around. She had hemmorraged during the birth, so I'm just assuming it's related to that. She says she is doing much better and for me to still come today! I can't wait!

Aislinn is cutting her 6th tooth and screaming at me as we speak. Teagan wants to go get dressed for it's their last day of camp. School as she says it and she's so ready to go! She's ready to go to school, but I'm going to keep her home one more year since she still has 3 years of preschool ahead of her. But we are signing her up for dance today along with her girl Macey! Heather is going to be tired of me for sure! Our boys, her son is Cayden, are in the same Kindergarten class, going to play flag football together, and now the girls will do dance together! She is just such an amazing, giving person. I look forward to some good time with her!

Okay off to tend to the zoo! 

Oh yeah, one more exciting announcement. I officially graduate out of Physical Therapy in two weeks if I don't have inflammation! Last night was the first night I didn't have ANY! You can tell when he press on the SI, it would be tender, actually a bit painful to the touch. Ummm, yep none and I have been running and working out hardcore?! Thank GOD for PT, and of course I have to give myself credit for doing my homework with strength training on my back  and abs ;-) 

The second half of this year is going to ROCK, I can just tell! FINALLY, and I'm going to take advantage of everything coming our way!

Okay making time

Aislinn is asleep and the olders are fighting as always!

But I'm ignoring them!

Mike came home Saturday night from his trip saying he was missing his family and ready. It was a nice surprise. We all geared up the next morning and went to church! We go to hear the most amazing Christian from India. Drs. Ajai Lall and his wife Indu, founders and directors of Central India Christian Mission spoke on being a Christian Extremist. It was so amazing and so glad that we got to attend and be present for such a message. Our Pastor had traveled there in January and brought back stories you would even see on the news. To be a Christian in India, you are constantly battled and attacked by Hindu Extremists. Husbands beaten, wive's raped and killed all because they won't sign a document saying they "Do not believe in Jesus Christ and are a Hindu Extremist." And yet these spectacular Christians continue to spread the Word!

We are sooooo fortunate to be in our country with the freedom of religion rights. It's sad that these Extremists are so threatened by the word and feel they have to make a statement to be heard by hurting people like that!

After church we hit our favorite lunch spot, Paradise Bakery! I had one too many cookies. I just can't help myself! Got to go to Tumbleweed and worked out for 1 1/2 hours! It was so wonderful, yes wonderful! Once I find a show to watch I can work out forever! LOL

I had dinner with my friend Kristi last night and we had such a nice time. We hit Barnes and Noble afterwards. I could live in a bookstore. It's like a candystore to me! So much to catch up from not being able to read like I love in past 6 years.

Tonite a few of us are going to go see Mama Mia! at our new mall. Which by the way, is pretty much my home away from home now. It's just missing Tiffany and Nordstrom! Gotta talk to Amy about that ;-) 

Mike and I have a date night Friday night and we are going to go see 'The Dark Knight'. I luvvved 'Batman Begins' with Christian Bale and felt it never got the credit it deserved. He was spectacular. So Heath Ledger's last movie part is just a bonus for me. 

What else.. hmmm I have Physical Therapy Thursday evening. My back is whole again, so these are just follow ups to ensure that my SI is staying in place. Any time my muscles feel tight on the right, I know it's trying to move, so cardio loosens it right back up! Oh and I have been jogging here and there. Just little bit at a time and not for a long time. It feels so wonderful!! I really was ready to give up on being able to ever go back to running.

Caden has Kindergarten Kickoff tomorrow night. We already met his teacher last Friday for his KIST testing. I can't remember if I said, but small world, his new teacher is our dear Kate's cousin!! Isn't that crazy?! She is super nice and was really impressed with Caden's skills.

I have tea at the Phoenician Saturday with my girls! I have been looking forward to this since Rena planned it two months ago! The last and only time I've been was with Amy for her Bridal Luncheon. It was such a great time.

*Okay I had to take a break for lunch and now it's 1pm and the boys are chasing each other and beating each other up with pretend swords, while Teagan is calling for her backpack "Backpack wherrrrreeeee areeee you" and Aislinn is watching it all in sheer horror!

I just heard myself say, "Learn to play nice or don't play at all!" 

Oh and by the way Aislinn has cut her fifth tooth up top. Sad thing is I didn't find it. Mike did and it had been in for at least 4-6 days because it was realllly in, not just cut. Poor Aisie!  She pulls up on everything now, but still can't get her legs moving. 

Teagan joined the boys at camp this week and loves it! She was very upset when I left, but when I picked them up, she was very happy and has said over and over again that she goes to school now. I'm at a fork in the road to send her this year.  Part of me wants her home, but the other part wants her to feel like a big girl since she wants to do everything her brothers do. I will be signing her up for dance this Friday, so maybe that will help? Don't know.

Haven't had the camera out in a while, so will work on that the rest of the week. I'm in closet organization mode again. Did the linen closet yesterday and sometime this week need to get the art and pantry done. They are horrendous. It's also frustrating when I'm the only one who cares if things get put back in the right spot. Yes, that was directed at YOU ;-). And the garage is a mess again after I cleaned it a couple of months ago. Sighhhhhhhhh......

Baby News!

It's a BOY!!

For our dear Kate and her hubby Jason!

Micah Thomas arrived yesterday morning at 8:57 am after 24 or so hours of labor!

He is 7 pounds 15 ounces and 21.5 inches long.

She had complications after pushing for 4 hours! but is doing wonderfully today. 

So great to hear her the happy jubilation of a brand new mommy's voice. 

We are so thrilled for you guys! 

We can't wait to see you and meet your precious son!

Trying to get back what was lost

So here I am, had my computer two nights now and I'm no where near trying to fix my technical life. 

Also, I have now been without a cell phone for THREE weeks! 

After a week of getting the right parts or phone here, it's here. Just gotta find time to sit for 10 hours on hold to activate it.

I'm trying so to remember everything that I lost and make it back from memory. Which brings me to, Malloy family and extended!, you know who you are and if you haven't sent me your address, phone numbers and such, I can't send you a card on Christmas! 

Grammy was lucky I still had her cell listed in our old home phone memory that I have been trying to convert to our new home phone memory. Send those addresses people! ;-)

Mike left today for the weekend with some guy I have never met to see the Sox game in LA tomorrow. He will be back Sunday.

The boys have really been enjoying Camp week at Riordan's old school this week. I signed them up for next week and it's an Olympic Theme and Teagan gets to go too now that she is fully daytime pottytrained! So just me and Aislinn hanging out most of next week.

Our landscapers are really letting me down. We have a white sheen that has been on the pavers for weeks now, due to the fact they cut the pavers ontop of set pavers and the dust with water set in. They can't figure out how to get it off. I recommended pressure washing and they said they don't have one. And this is the little things that make you wonder why you don't go with a company instead of an individual. Also they have left the sod wood palette in the front yard for a month now and still didn't take it today! After I asked them too! It has been not so good week for me.

Birthday was just another day really. I made it to 35! We did go out to Hon Machi for dinner with the Zoo, but if you know what going out to dinner is like with four children 4 and under, there's a lot of work involved. I got a lot of wonderful birthday wishes from friends too! Thank you so much!

Aislinn is lovingggggg her bottle! The Soy Formula and the new bottle must have been what she needed. She demolishes them. I'm still faring well here on not nursing. I haven't nursed at all for 4 days now. I'm on the downslope of pain thankfully! My body was reacting well to cutting back, so I took it as a sign to go all the way with cutting it out. Went down to one feeding a day for two days and then did one day two days apart, to nothing. Didn't get mastitis! YAY! 

She is pulling up to standing and you can see the wheels turning on willing her feet and legs to move to cruise but they don't. She gets so frustrated! I then move them for her to help her acknowledge what she wants to do. She is still an army crawler too! She moves so darn fast! Just like Teagan it's so funny! And hurray! With formula now she sleeps all night long!! For a week now! Sometimes she's up at 5:30, but heck so is Caden so that for us is all night! Today though she slept till 7 am!

Our twice a week swim lessons are now over as of this past Thursday. We will begin once a week in August on Saturdays. Not sure what we will do in September though. Now that we have been there 4 months, I know who I want the children with and who I don't. And those I want them with are available in the morning of course while Caden and Riordan are in school. 

Beginning September Riordan will be in Soccer! He is wishy washy about it now, but back when Caden was playing he wanted to play so badly. Caden will play Flag Football again. He just isn't interested in Baseball much. Teagan will be in Dance for the first time as well! I'm hoping to get in a class on Wednesday's while Riordan is at school. That would be perfection.

So this weekend not much going on here. We will probably stay at home and play in our back yard. They did move the swingset back to the yard and we are going to use it! I have to retake pictures since the ones I did before are lost forever. WELL actually maybe not! The guys at Apple did tell me that if I take my harddrive, they took out and replaced, to an data recovery person, they most likely can go in individually and get whatever I want back. So all is not lost, but it will be expensive. But what is the price of memories? Yep, priceless. 

Now, just where did I put that harddrive?

Anyone got an airsick bag?

I'm completely and utterly sick to my stomach.
My harddrive is shot.
Nothing can be recovered.
ALL my pictures for the past 1 1/2 years, GONE. Yes I have some uploaded to Shutterfly, but not all.
My address book, gone, for emails and home mailings.
Itunes, gone.
Videos, gone.
Anything else that I had saved to the computer that I can't remember now, gone.

SO if you ever want an email, phone call, or Christmas card from me again, please send me your info. You won't ever hear from me, unless I get it. heatheremalloy@cox.net

I'm off to cry some more.
Oh and just so you never feel this pain. Spend a good $100 bucks on a backup hard drive and backup you precious computer.

This week has gotten away so fast!

So let me throw out a huge bellowing shout of "FREEDOM!!"
Mike gave me a day of me yesterday, all day. Which meant no nursing for Aislinn. She in the past would take the bottle about an ounce at a time.
She took 4 ounces TWICE at one time!! AND
Today she took 6 ounces from me! I'm almost home! Hurray!!! I'm so thankful she likes her new milk! So I didn't get her on the sippee with milk, but she will drink the heck out of water, so that should be no problem when switching to milk in a couple of months. I always start mixing for them at 11 1/2 months, the formula and milk so that milk is their drink at 12 months.
So, I have to slowly wean her. With Teagan, she did the weaning on her own until the end and I cut off the feedings and then had to pump twice for relief, and with Riordan the pump was my tool the whole time for weaning. So in order to feel the least amount of discomfort and not to get mastitis I know the best way is to do it slowly. Night feedings out for over a week now, I can now cut out another feeding! Seriously, I am so excited to have my body back!!
My computer is in the shop till next week, so I don't have much access to the computer right now. Please pray that the harddrive isn't destroyed. I never backed up and that means all my beautiful pictures will be gone. I never learn the lesson of backing up, no matter how many times I have had this scare with the previous computer!! I think lesson learned now!
Tonite we are going to my friend Rena's party "I kicked Cancer's Ass" Party! We can't wait to celebrate that! Tomorrow night is my birthday dinner Mike and with some friends, who I'm not supposed to know who, but I have a good idea, however I have no clue as to where we are going or what time.
My day of me rocked yesterday. I worked out, went shopping, got my hair done, ate at Kona, and then came home. I was home at almost 6 and left at 11!! I haven't had that much of a day to myself in I don't know how long. It can get very addictive very quickly. Can't wait for next months day of me and I can't wait to plan my girl get away with Marcie next month! We are getting the heck outta dodge for two nights and 3 days! Just us two moms of four! I can't wait!

Pics so far of Mom's visit and more...

Well first the 4th of July at the Jackson's home was absolutely wonderful. We had such a great time and the spread was so delicious! The olders, Mike and Mom swam for a while and then Mom took Caden back in to swim. 

The whole time Teagan did amazing with bathroom duties! I think it's definitely official, she is potty trained. The past two days she goes on her own, by herself without anyone for both visits. She is amazing! So young, not even 2 1/2! Girls truly rock! :-)

Saturday morning we went to see Wall-E. Teagan went potty 10 times I think. So she and I didn't see much of the movie. Oh and Riordan went 3 times and Caden once. ALL at different times. It was a bit frustrating, but I kept reminding myself : no more poopy diapers for Teagan. In a month or so, she should be able to hold it better. 

After movies, we came home and all took naps for dinner out at Chelsea's Kitchen. It's in Phoenix, on the cusp of Scottsdale and worth the drive. The kids had eggs and bacon. It came on a tray plate! So cool, with fries and apples, grapes, and ketchup to dip! It was so right up their ally, the loved it! Mom and I split the short ribs and fish tacos and Mike had the short rib tacos (he preferred the steak ones though). It was delicious! We then headed back to our side of town and stopped for Cold Stone. Again another hit. The zoo did so amazing. It is so nice to get out and do things with them! It's been soooo long and the Disney trip most definitely has helped us with relearning dining out.

Today we have done pretty much nothing, but lay around and lay around ;-)

We did get some Carraba's for dinner. Mike left at 2 for his 4 o'clock flight to Cleveland for Super Star Training. He will be back last Tuesday night and mom leaves Tuesday morning.

Tomorrow we may try and go swimming. Need to see if our girl Lauren can keep Aislinn. If not we do plan on a trip to Paradise Bakery. And that's about it! Well besides my work out, oh yeah!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Hope it's a fun and very patriotic day for you!

Had so much fun last night out with the girls! I can't wait to get a hold of the pictures from dinner that Michelle took ;-) Blue Wasabi was pretty yummy, but  I think we all agree that Kona's sushi is still the best. But BW is a lot more fun atmosphere.

Mom's flight took off a little while ago, so we will all be heading to the airport soon! Can't wait to see her! And then we will come back here to break for a couple of hours before we head to the Jackson's. We should make it back here to watch fireworks on which really is so much better since we have such a large tv and a lot of cranky zoo members.

Tomorrow morning, the 10 am showing of Wall-E! I think a few of our friends may meet us up there! How fun would that be!

Okay Aislinn just woke up from her morning nap.. The stinker woke up at 5 am this morning and wouldn't go back to bed, but we consider that sleeping through the night. Not easy when you get to bed at almost 2 am.. I need toothpicks again, seems to be my thing this week.

The Arizona Malloy girls!

Aislinn and Maddy

How Aislinn likes to smile for the camera.

Finally Pictures from John, Amy, and Madeleine's visit!!

So much fun. Aislinn was grabbing at Maddy and Maddy would cry and then Aislinn would cry. Oh cousins! 

More Pics here.

Our week

Has been busy with and longgggg with no sleep.

I have cut out night feedings for Aislinn and we have her cry it out when she wakes up. It's been going well, that it only takes her a few minutes to go back to sleep. But she's up all the time. The first night she woke Teagan up and it was a bit brutal. Mike is the one that went in there for that one. Last night she didn't wake up quite so much as the night before.

And big big achievement is Teagan is potty-trained! We've been working on it all week. As you know it's been her decision at first, but this week was when I wanted to be done with diapers. Of course she didn't. So we had some huge fights, a lot of crying on both her and my end, but today sealed it I'm pretty sure as a done deal.  

She wouldn't go poo for the past almost 48 hours and we knew she had to go, because she would scream for a diaper. So I finally guilted her and shed real tears out of exhaustion because she wouldn't stay on the potty. She calmed down and said she would go and guess what?! She did! She was so proud of herself as was I! I promised her a toy of her choice and straight to Target we went were she picked out a Disney Princess Cash Register LOL. 

And she says all the time now that Aislinn wears diapers, not Teagan, diapers are for babies, I'm a big girl now, I wear big girl panties! She's the best!

Also another huge win for the me and the will benefit us all is Aislinn drank Soy Formula big time from the bottle today. I know I said I would stick with the sippee cup, which she drinks the heck out of water, but she wouldn't take regular formula (really it stinks when mommies milk is so sweet) Then I switched it up to Soy, remembering it was more pleasant smelling and tasty. And she started sucking on a soothie pacifier the past couple of weeks when she find one laying around. She's not a pacifier baby, but she was having fun with it. So my big idea was to get the bottles that are from the same company that use the same nipple. She drank 2 straight ounces today! Yee Haw! She's had it twice today already! I see a silver lining now with totally getting my body back and my much anticipated Palm Springs trip with Marcie!! It couldn't come any sooner. 

This time weaning is harder, because with Riordan I could do it on my own with the pump, and Teagan slowly cut her nursing time down as well. Teagan loves to nurse. She is always grabbing at me! But those teeth and this reoccurring mastitis. Not fun.

My PT graduated me up to just once a week therapy! My back is really doing so much better. Hardly a twinge just a couple of times a day. I'm still very cautious and I'm not allowed to do more than 30 minutes of cardio, and of course no bending or twisting, but really no one should bend at the back.

We had our first week back at swim lessons with Kristen and the children did amazing. Caden is really improving so much. Still hates to jump in though. We will continue with once a week once these two days a week sessions are done. 

My mom comes in tomorrow for a much anticipated visit until Tuesday. Did I mention Mike has to go out of town Sunday afternoon to late Tuesday night? Hmmm.. So tomorrow we are going to the Jackon's for a swim/bbq party. Should be a lot of fun! Saturday morning we are seeing Wall-E and Saturday night going to our new favorite non steak house, Chelsea's Kitchen with the whole zoo, but early. Can't wait to eat more fish tacos! Sunday and Monday I promised close to home rest ;-)

Tonight my group of girls are celebrating Kristi's big 40th birthday (which happens to be tomorrow, lucky girl they always have fireworks ;-) and my 35th birthday! We are going to Blue Wasabi and who knows where after that. Marcie should be here soon to get me. I can't wait!

I haven't blogged all week and still have so much to say! I will try and catch up this weekend! 

Still need to post pictures from the Malloy visit!!

Visit from Georgia!

This is so special for the dresser to be in their room, Teagan's clothes are in it

Teagan's side of the room

Aislinn's side of the room

Inside view of the drawers and cubbies, Aislinn's things are in the drawers

Aislinn loves playing with doors!

My Mom is coming on Friday to Tuesday to see the Zoo! We are all so excited to see her and hope she hasn't seen Wall-E yet so we can see it Saturday morning. The three olders are just dying to see it.

With Mom's visit, we were 'forced' to move Aislinn out of the guest/office. We have been talking about for months where she would go next and thought we would move her into our walk in closet. It has a vent in there and it would move her away from the playroom so the kids could be loud and she wouldn't be disturbed.

Disney was a good test for us though. When she woke up in the middle of the night, no one even stirred. So we decided it was time to move her to her big girl room in with her sister! So that's what we've been doing all weekend. Plus we gave Kate the baby furniture, armoire and changing table along with the first crib, so it was perfect timing for everything. Lots of rearranging and building two Closet Maid drawers and two shoe cubbies. It fits all perfectly in their closet and we still have all our amazing hanging space for them. Then we put my dad's grand mother's dresser in their room in between the two cribs. Just perfect. All that is left to do is hang shelves and wall pegs for backpacks, jackets, and a little peg for costume jewelry :-) And move their names to the correct sides of the room.

Now onto the boys closet. With all this moving things around, Teagan is officially a 3T as the boys move up too, I had to move stuff into storage and move some old stuff out that we will now never use! Made trips to 3 girlfriends houses today to drop off seasonal clothing and still have a ton left if Jen is having a girl. In the boys closet, I will be moving out all of Riordan's 3T stuff. I think it's the most of that size we have ever had, and more than half he never wore. Moving in the 4T clothing, which will free up space to move Caden's 5t and start moving in his 6's, which of course we don't have much of. I can't believe how fast this growing stuff goes. I feel like I just did all of this!

After their closet then I will work on the guest room before mom gets here. We have a lot of time this week to do it, plus I plan on potty training Teagan completely. Our big issue is poops on the potty. She wants her diaper. Oh joys of potty training. BUT that will just leave me ONE in diapers! How neat that will be!

And they are done

The landscapers are done and we are really really happy with the beautiful new HUGE backyard we have. It's funny, you don't realize how big your backyard is till you do something like this! 

Our new grass looks like a football field! 

The little racetrack is going to be perfect for riding bikes, our flagstone steps are awesome, we have a mexican lime tree and a lemon tree that have fruit on them already, the gravel on the kitchen side of the house has been changed out to pea gravel and so easy to walk on, plus you can ride your bikes on.. they re did our rock river and I didn't realize how many rocks we had! It looks amazing and our pavers on the side of the driveway makes a huge difference already. I got out of Mike's car yesterday and stepped on pavers not gravel. The sod needs to be soaked for the next two weeks and then Jose is going to reseed the whole yard to make it one. Then we can put the yard back together.. So right now, no pictures because it's still not complete. All our toys are on the new patio and still needs a lot of washing down.

John, Amy, and Maddy came over yesterday. What a great time we had. Maddy and Aislinn were very much into each other and Aislinn was a bit on the aggressive side. It's the first time she realized she had someone smaller than her to pick on. Maddy would cry and then Aislinn would cryd. We had yummy Joe's Real BBQ. Oh and yummy it was! Teagan couldn't get enough of Maddy and just wanted to mommy her and hold her and sit as close to her as possible, once she woke up from her nap which took about a half hour. The boys played in the very soaked backyard. The sprinklers never turned off, so we called Jose and had to have the shut off where they were installed because unplugging the timer did nothing. Not sure what's going on there, but I'm sure Jose will fix it ;-)

We had such a great time with them, we can't wait to see them next month for our next date in Peoria.

More Pictures Link

Enjoy some 200+ pictures, some random, some pretty much the same shot, but all having fun.

Click here.