Feb 21-27...falling behind!

Feb 21

We went to early church (something we don't do very often!!) because Maddie's class was singing. She still didn't feel great, but she really wanted to sing. The song is so adorable, too!!

After the service, the kids went to Sunday School, and I stayed for a meeting about a group called Tomorrow's Choice. It is a group that helps pregnant teens/women in less than desirable circumstances--jobless, homeless,etc. They offer supplies and counseling services in a Christian atmosphere. I found it very interesting, and would like to find the time to volunteer at the place.

Later that afternoon, Cal went to a birthday party for a boy in his class to a hockey game. I am excited to see that he is forming friendships at the new school. Okay, the school isn't that new anymore, but while he is friends with every one, he doesn't really talk about anyone as a close friend (his real best friend is from is old school). The boys in his class at his current school aren't really interested in sports--at least not to the degree he is!--but they are really into legos. I'm glad Cal took a few steps back so to say, because it seemed like he was growing up too fast. He had been thinking legos and star wars were getting babyish. But now he is into all that again. Thank goodness!! Anyhow, he had a great time at the hockey game; it has been years since he's been to one (my Dad used to have season tix) and years since Cal took hockey/skating lessons.

Kaycey went to a soccer game with my sister (the Wave). My sister's friend is dating someone on the team, so I'm not sure if the team does this for just anyone, but they made a special point to talk to and take photos with Kaycey after the game. She thought it was so incredibly cool. She brought a soccer ball and almost the entire team signed it for her!

While the two big kids were gone all day, the little girls and I went to my Mom's for the day. We had dinner and watched the Olympics (Maddie loves it!!) Mike was at home working on Kaycey's new room--he's building a loft bed and also putting the shelving in the closet.

Feb 22

The kids made up their own version of American Idol. They took turns being the judges and made up contestant's names, and even Mike participated as a contestant, Cheesehead Bob. It was hilarious! Maddie thought everyone who performed was "great!"

Feb 23

Sadie can't get enough of her thumb...taking after a certain big sister, I guess! During the day the little girls and I went to my Grandma's for a few hours. I ran to a couple stores, and then she made pancakes and lingonberries for lunch. YUM.

Feb 24

WHen I picked Maddie up from school, "All the single ladies" was on the radio. She told me it's her favorite song. We went to the mall and met Ria (my stepmom) for lunch and shopping. We were looking for Easter dresses for the girls (well, also they will wear the same dress to Mike's sister's wedding in May). Maddie found lots of dresses she wanted, of course. She wanted them all. She decided on a white one with pastel colored embroidery, with a price tag of $80. Um, no. But, with my Stepmom's discount, some coupons, and a sale in a few days the dress came to $23.50. You read that right. Can't beat that!! And I got a cute pink one for Sadie with a little white sweater. I really wanted to shop for myself for some things, but ran out of time.

It snowed a bit and when we were leaving to go to the pre-church pizza dinner, Maddie said, "If our car gets stuck in the snow, we'll just have to call a mater to get it out." We had watched "Cars" recently...funny girl!

Feb 26

Did not sleep well last night. Root canal today. I was so nervous, it was insane. Mike stayed home from work to take me. The anticipation of course was terrible, and I don't think the nitrous oxide really worked to relax me. But once my mouth was numb, I really didn't feel anything. I was surprised how long it took, and I won't say I enjoyed the experience but I really didn't feel much pain at all...maybe because the tooth is dead?? I don't know, but hope I don't have to go through it again.

Maddie went to her friend's house to play for the day, so that was nice to come home and take a long nap, while Mike hung out with Sadie. Late in the afternoon, once the kids came home from school, I took the 2 older kids shopping (Cal doesn't have a pair of jeans without holes) & to dinner. Later that night, I met my old BFF, Fran, out for a couple hours. It was so nice to see her again & talk about all our crazy old times.

Feb 27

Mike worked all day on building Kaycey's bed. That night, I went out with my sister, and two cousins, Laura & Sara (the other crazy NKOTB fans, haha). We went to dinner and to see "Valentine's Day". It was cute, kinda predictable, but fun nonetheless. Still disappointed on the whole McDreamy/McSteamy deal---gotta see it to see what I mean : ) I really wasn't feeling great through the night, but I thought maybe it was from the root canal or just being tired. During the night, I got really sick and thought I might need Mike to take me to the Emergency room. I wasn't quite sure how we'd do this, with four kids in the middle of the night. So I decided to try to wait it out, at least till morning. And after getting sick, I thought I felt a little better, at least enough to make it till morning.

week Feb. 15-20

Feb 15

The kids are off of school. We spend the day just hanging out at home. Late afternoon, we went to Emma & Papa's, and nearly got killed on the way there by a swerving woman talking on her cell phone. Mike met us @Emma & Papa's after work, and we had dinner there.

Feb 16

Maddie has a new phrase..."What's the point?" But she uses it sometimes when it doesn't even make sense. It's pretty funny, really. In the afternoon, we have Kindergarten Round-up at school, where all the incoming kindergarteners for 2010-2011 come for the afternoon to hang out in the Kindergarten room. There were 14 kids there, which is an awesome turn out! It's only half day kindergarten, so several kids tend to leave the school after preschool to go to a school with full day kindergarten. It was great to see so many of the kids will be sticking around (and some new faces, too!)

While we were watching American Idol, Sadie grabbed her giraffe all by herself and put it in her mouth. She loves sucking on her hands now, too!

Feb 17

Today my doctor calls and tells me that surgery is the only option if I want to explore my hip pain further. I'm not ready to go down that route, so I'll wait it out and hope it gets better somehow.

Emma and Papa came over after school and ate dinner with us. Then they went to church with us, too. Everyone gets a kick out of Sadie's adorable "shoes" (socks).

Sadie is loving her thumb...she hasn't taken a nuk for a while now!!

Feb 18

just because it's a cute picture, before the running around all day begins!

Well, I posted several days ago about my tooth situation...not good. Later in the afternoon, Maddie and Kaycey had doctor appointments for physicals and shots--Kaycey has to start over from scratch, which totally stinks. Maddie is now all caught up for Kindergarten. She did not take the shots so well...a very long day. We were at that doctor appointment for 2 hours. Ugh. Note to self--make appointments for physicals and shots one kid at a time. (Thankfully my grandparents surprised us and came out to our house to watch the other two kids while we went to the doctor!)

Mike went out after work, and the kids and I went to my Dad and Maria's for dinner. Today was filled with lots of driving back and forth, and I was exhausted. I couldn't wait to just go to bed.

Feb 19

I didn't sleep very well though, because I was too worried about my root canal!! Sadie didn't sleep well either. Back to the eat every 3 hours and fuss in between.

After school, the girls had a couple friends over for a couple hours. Once their friends left, Cal had a friend from his old school sleepover. And Kaycey packed up her bag...she was going on her first sleepover--that didn't involve staying at a relative's house! The girls' group at church/school was having a lock-in at the school. About 25 girls were sleeping over in the school gym. We didn't know what to do about Kaycey's wig (she doesn't sleep in it) but she insisted on going without it. Many of her friends know about her wig, but haven't seen her without it. She insisted on not wearing it. We decided to leave it up to her; we explained to her that lots of kids might want to talk to her about it, or ask questions about it. She was convinced that the kids at this school were very different, and she wasn't worried about them making fun of her at all. So she wore a cute little hat and away she went. So Mike took her to the sleepover and I had talked to the moms that were sleeping over with the girls. They gathered the girls together and Mike gave a quick schpeel on Kaycey's story. It went well, but I was still nervous as to how it would go.

Maddie didn't mind being home without Kaycey (I thought she'd be mad!) but Cal and his friend included her a bit, and even let her watch a movie with them. Apparently she stayed up and watched all of Star Wars (not my movie of choice, that's for sure) and the boys fell asleep.

Feb 20

When I picked her up the next morning, she was so excited to tell me how much fun she had! And the moms came up to me and told me what an absolute sweetheart she is. Which I agreed. I am so happy she feels confident enough that she doesn't need to wear the wig, and I just hope that it continues to go well (she really wants to stop wearing it to school, too, though I'm not quite sure how to approach that). She was really pooped though; it sounded like alot of the girls were up till 5am (I'm sure Kaycey was one of the girls trying to sleep most of the night) but she had a blast, and that's all that matters. She rested most of the day, and then took a super long nap later in the day. When she woke up she felt sick and ended up throwing up all over the island in the kitchen. We figured it was because of the lack of sleep the night before, or maybe the shots from a couple days earlier.

Then during the night, Maddie got sick. Once she made it to the bathroom. Once her bed took the brunt of the mess. So my conclusion is that the reason they got sick is from the shots. Nobody else got sick, so that's what I'm sticking with!

lil fashionista

A doll, yes she is. But Morgan, I am sad to report this sleeper fits her already!!! : ( This babe is growing too big too fast. She is super cute, though!

officially freaking out

While I plan to post on the past few days happenings, I can't wait to post this. And not in a happy I can't wait mode either. I went to the dentist today (rewind about 22 years...I can recall my Dad having to force me to take valium to go to the dentist, and then carry a kicking and screaming girl into the car...way too many traumatic dental experiences as a child) So honestly, just going for a cleaning is a major freak out for me. Well what brought me there today was the fact that an area below my nostril (but inside my mouth) has gotten numb and tingly. I went hoping for something simple...like a canker sore. But alas, my front tooth is dead. And I need a root canal. Majorly freaking out, and I don't know how I am going to make it till then without throwing up from being so freaked. Apparently these things can just happen, or it can be extensive decay, or trauma. I am banking on the trauma perhaps...years ago as I was cleaning the floor in the kitchen of our old house, I stood up quickly and I smacked the back of my head against something on the wall. It knocked me to the ground. Immediately following that, I had weird things going on with my front teeth. But nothing it seemed that required a look. Sigh. I am hoping I can be completely sedated for it all. Though I may have to be sedated to even get to the dentist in one piece.

Valentine's Day

Okay, so I'm post happy today. I'm on a roll. Almost all caught up.

Five years ago on 2/14, Kaycey had been home from the hospital for a few days after her initial admission to Childrens, having spent 6 days in ICU following sugery, and several more days on the oncology floor. We knew she had neuroblastoma, but we spent Valentine's Day 2005 wondering what the next course of action would be. We didn't know much else at that point. It was about one week later they called and told us we needed to begin chemo. They gave us two days notice of when they wanted to start her on chemo. Talk about a shock, when we were thinking that just maybe life would go on, and be fine and normal. Boy were we wrong. Little did we know the hell we were about to begin. This photo is from the first time we brought Cal and Maddie to see Kaycey since she had been in the hospital. At that point she was only days from coming home.

But today, five years later 2/14, our family has grown a little bigger yet. Everyone is happy (most of the time--Maddie would not pose for a picture, she was busy screaming in the background) and healthy. And we are so grateful and thankful for that.

Happy Valentine's Day!!