Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The boys will play...

...when mom's away!

And play they did! Check out my poor Owey's noggin'...



Looks like it hurts, huh? When I was at work last night I called home just to check in to hear Tim say "I really can't talk, I need to administer some first aid". Which one, I inquire-thinking he'd say TJ or possibly Jake. Nope-it was the Owester. He took a header off the neighbors mini John Deer truck thingy (kinda like a small golf cart) thanks to TJ's error in judgement. Apparently, there was no concussion and he's still cute as ever this morning so I guess it's just one for the record books.

I find myself remembering back to the days when it was just TJ as a 2 year old and we had some neighbors who let their 5 and 3 yr olds run free between our few houses and we TOTALLY JUDGED them and were appalled that they would let those kids out of their site. Well, we are now those parents: letting our 3 (yes I said 3) boys out of our sight more often than I wish to confess. Not a day goes by that I don't step away for a moment and then back out to check on the gazillion kids at our house and we'll find Owen in the street and the boys over at the neighbors. Um, hello? Who's watching Owen here? Uh, thanks God-at least someone has his back;-)

Here's 2 funny videos of Owen:

Mommy sing:


Cute Owen:

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Photos for health;-)

Today was a great day-a really GREAT day. Remember this post? Well, today was the day that we headed to Indy to view my selected photos and spend a little time in the "big city".

It was all so great. We arrived at the IUPUI Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center at about 10 til 3 and waltzed right in. They told us there would be a ceremony in a few minutes in the lobby, so we patiently waited...









and then noticed this cool poster:




It was the small gift that they had for us...each of us were given a poster and a coupon for custom framing;-). My picture is at the very top, 4th from the right:-) And the names of all the those whose photos were selected were listed on the poster. There were over 6000 photos entered and about 700 were beautifully framed and placed all over the $150 million, 405,000-square-foot building (which was breath taking, by the way!).

Finally, they got started (about a half hour late, but it was ok-minus the fact that the kids had used up all their "good" behavior within the first 15 minutes or so;-). It was a really nice little ceremony where a few people spoke about the center and how the photos for health program came about and how well it turned out (despite concerns that it might not work out to have this photo entry type contest). Anyway, when the ceremony was over, they gave us a print-out where we could easily find our names and the location of our photos. Mine was listed twice and both on the 2nd floor waiting. Should be easy enough...






...but we looked and looked and could NOT find the pictures. There were truely lovely pictures everywhere. It was so neat. I really can see how these beautiful pictures of nature will touch the lives of cancer patients and their families for generations to come. Not only are pictures of nature timeless, but it is very soothing and inspirational as well. Anyway, we knew that the ladies who spoke in the ceremony knew where the photos were so we headed back down to ask. One of them had thought maybe it was on the 3rd or 5th floor so we split up and looked and looked. Finally, we found the gal in charge and she knew just where they were placed...they were on the second floor-just up the main staircase and not in the waiting area per se:








Ta-da! They were blown up and beautiful! Tim had made a joke when we couldn't find them that they were probably in some bathroom which I quickly poo-pooed (pun intended) to let him know what an honor it would be for your pictures to be in such a public area...tons of people will use these bahrooms!!! Isn't it cool?

So we had to have some fun with it:







SO much fun!!!

It was such a neat event and they really made us feel special and we could go pretty much ANYWHERE within the building with pretty much nothing off limits. We really saw a lot of the 2nd floor. I recognized 2 other names on the poster including a local pediatrician and my coworker Selina's husband Dan, who is a very talented photographer. Incidentially, they are on a very special vacation in Selina's home country, Austailia! We'll be working at Clarian Arnett together this fall.

Anyway, we shot a few more pics before leaving:




And then we headed to Castleton Mall:







Tim poked fun and said I must think I'm a photographer now...course on the way down, I swear while driving he thinks he's a Nascar driver-so, whatever.

The mall was awesome and we found the most amazing deals on kids clothes at Sears! Like seriously, $90 for 29 items!!! Jeans for $3 and $4!!! Plus, Sears already has the best garauntee ever with kids clothes -so if they wear out before the grow out, they'll replace them for FREE! Then I got t0 go to one of my fav stores, White Barn (a division of Bath and Body)~more great deals there, of course!

Oh, I almost forgot...I even had to perform first aid at Sears: please note-while paying for your large purchase, do NOT allow your husband to distract the kids on escalators. TJ nearly ripped his toe off...he has about half a toenail left-but he was a trooper even in the midst of the blood and pain. Thanks Tim, you always keep it interesting;-).

And finally, we headed home:




These truly are days to remember. A special thanks to my family for taking me to feel so honored today;-)

Monday, July 21, 2008

Feeling better?

So you are wondering how I am doing?



Who me?



Ok, ok...I'll tell ya!



YAY! I'm feeling better! Three cheers for antibiotics...and mom-who took me to Urgent Care yesterday! Thanks mom!



I still have my moments (and a really yucky cough that sounds like an 80 year old man with emphysema) but am mostly like this:





So, to answer the title: I am!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Hot fun!

Friday we went to the Cove. It was a really fun time. I didn't get any pics of the older boys but the younger guys hammed it up;-) We went with my pal April who has same aged boys-Mason (not pictured as he and TJ "hung out" at the sand pit), Isaac and Weston who are Jake's buds;-). Owen was a good boy, aside from his usual need to "eat" the minute we got to the pool-ugh! I didn't get any good pics of him (per usual) and when we got home I got him out of the van and he felt really hot-uh, yeah, he was hot! So, he was fussy Friday night. And today too. He's been really clingy. And fussy. And Ugh. But we pressed on. He was assymptomatic of any real ailment (well, except for that hoarse voice he woke up with today;-). The MD's office was closed and I'm anti-urgent care unless it is obvious that more than a virus is likely so we haven't been checked out yet and his fever was very low today. I needed to get out so we headed to the County Fair. Tim's fav! Not! Pretty much everything about it drives him bonkers-red neck hicks, carny people, people in general, spending money, heat, people, people. You get the picture-but he went to be a good and dutiful husband and father. The kids were ecstatic to go...I was ok with everything but the heat. It was like 6pm and HOT-humid-low 90's I think. But it was fun;-) And Owen was, well, Owen. Jake was the most fun...strangely. He was good the whole time and quite the poser;-) Then, back at the ranch-eh hmmm, I mean home, the boys headed off to bed fairly easily. I couldn't sleep-and right as I was about to drift off to la-la land, I hear Owen...ugh. I tried everything. Finally, it was a popsicle that calmed him a bit (for a moment). I had to put him back in bed since I didn't know what else to do with him. I still can't sleep and he's cried out here and there since I put him to bed. Anyway, that was our last couple days. Tomorrow-make that today, I'm sure I'll be sans church and in Urgent care for a visit. Yay.

Here is sad, but true proof-warning it is 43 heartbreaking seconds;-( Don't forget to pause the music before pressing play.