Can someone say STRESSED

Simple run down of how stressed I am...
Work today
Clinicals tomorrow, Thur & Friday (6am-2:30pm)
Work on Wednesday
Closing in Milaca on our refi tomorrow at 3:30pm
Friday night we have a BDay party for Max
Saturday CHD walk in Plymouth
Sunday TC 10 mile
And, other things...
Robert hurt his ankle so he has really needed my help and then of course the lovely gals... anyway... they are all in bed now. Ellie will wake up probably in a hour... but at least a little time to get some things done.

Okay, enough whining as I am thankful for everything in my life... but I know you know how it goes...  But, I am reminded everyday that life is short and here are a couple reminders. Today we lost a great teacher... Mr. Searles. He was a amazing teacher, I had him in high school for most English subjects. He retired about two years ago. He loved to golf, he was my golf coach too my senior year. He knew that I would go into the communications field even though I wanted to be a Doctor, he was right. Actually when I think about it he was probably my favorite teacher and he taught me how to relax and enjoy English and communications. Thanks Mr. Searles for that... I need that lesson now. I am so sadden by your sudden death and I am praying for your family. He passed away today doing something he loved and that was playing golf with his son. Also, I am reminded that Ellie's heart buddy Tyler will be having his upcoming surgery this Thursday the 29th of Sept. Janie his mother, has become a dear friend of mine through text and facebook. We both can relate to each other and our worries. I know she is so worried right now and I pray for her to have strength. It is not easy knowing your little guy is going to have surgery. He is having the Glen procedure as he was born with HPLH. He will need one more surgery when he is 2-3 years old. He is 6 months old now. Tyler, I am praying for you buddy! You will be fine... Dr. Moga is amazing!

Update on our First Getaway!
Anyway, Lutsen was great, THANKS so much Tom and Jean, I love that place. The colors are not peak yet, my guess is this weekend will be peak. Robert and I arrived late Friday, we did the usual Saturday... shopped, ate pizza, bloody at the tavern... we returned to cabin for afternoon cocktail and then we went to Lutsen to check out colors. We decided to do Alpine Slide since we were kid free. Robert tried catching up to me and he flipped his slide... thus spraining his ankle. He laughed about it. He eventually was upset Sunday as the pain crept up on him, but we got it under control through Sunday and Today... he did the RICE... REST, ICE, COMPRESSION and ELEVATION. That method worked... it is better now. He won't be running though...

As far as the race weekend....
Robert and I, along with gals will be at Tom and Jean's house around 1pm or so. We will come there after the walk in Plymouth. We plan to leave Isle Saturday morning at 7a to do walk, believe 10am.
Then... We can get the gals down for naps. Robert and I will go to St. Paul to pick up our packets. And, leave the gals with Jean. Laurie and Bruce will meet up with us in St. Paul. Then they will follow us back to the T&J house. My parents will either do that as well or I will give them directions. So total is 6 adults and two little ones for the night. Planning on a pasta & a salad for dinner. Whatever is easy... My parents plan to come down to watch and either my dad or Robert can give us three a ride to St. Paul in the morning. So much to figure out... but it will all work out! I hope!

So hopefully that novel helps relieve my stress... THANKS so much for letting us crash with you Jean! I hope the weather is nice... pray for NO wind! Or, tail wind!
So I am nervous for tomorrow, the start of my clinicals. I know it will go okay but it will be a long week. I am also hoping to get in some running... I know I sound stressed but it will be okay, it always is. I just know that I am so happy to have the ability to run, the ability to multi-task and the ability to have a glass of wine because that is what I think I need to remain calm!

Later!!

Happy Half Birthday

Our baby is 6 months old already. Today was a big day for our family as we had a cardiologist appointment for Ellie. It was at 11 am at the Children's Heart Clinic in Minneapolis. She hadn't been in for a visit in 4 months so I was assuming that we would have a full work up but as it turned out, we only had to check BP and Pulse/Ox. She weighed 17 lbs and was 25.5 inches. She was full of wiggles when the nurse was getting her pulse/ox... we tried Sophie the Giraffe, we tried our fingers for her to chew on, we tried letting her nurse. Finally it was the pacifier that did the trick and calmed her down and I hummed twinkle twinkle... as I was doing that I was thinking, wow the things you have to get used to doing in front of people when you take your kids to the doctor... whip that boob out, sing songs and make funny faces. I am sure the nurse has seen it all!
We proceeded to BP and her lower right leg was tested and her upper right arm. She was in the 90's over 60's. Normal ranges for her. Next Dr. Rios came in and we chatted. He listened to her heart and held her... she grabbed for the stethoscope and he didn't care. She was also intrigued by his facial hair. She was happy and not scared at all. He said she was just perfect, no concerns with anything. We can continue to give her prevacid as needed. He can refill that if we run out by just giving him a call. He said she was a normal baby and we can move into yearly visits now. He told us to call if we have any questions at all.
So we are so happy to know that we have a great little gal and everything should be as it should be. She is healed and we just have to be so thankful to God that he is good!
We love you so much Ellie Bell! You make our family complete and for that we are thankful. We know that you fill our hearts with happiness and everyday you add sunshine with your smile! Always keep smiling!

She loves squash!

 

Ellie is becoming a better eater everyday!

She seems to love squash... She also enjoys her plain rice cereal.

My cookie helper!

She is armed with her most helpful tool, the one cup measuring cup. When I asked her where the cookies go after we mix them together, she said after thinking about it for a minute..."In the cooking thing." That was super cute... I hope she stays little forever!

About time for an update

  August was a blur... we tried to pack in some fun since June and July were filled with school and many other events. We went to two county fairs, the Wahkon Day parade, spent the weekend in Marshall, went to Pete's Retreat three times, visited Nicole, went shopping with Michelle, Hadley spent the night at Auntie Michelle's house for the first time (more to the story below), we enjoyed our Saturday morning strolls up town and spent time at our local parks. Here are some pictures from the Wahkon Day parade. Hadley is starting to get the hang of gathering candy. Robert was away at State softball, he has been very busy too. He had softball, then two fantasy football drafts, went bear hunting over Labor Day weekend and has been very busy at the farm working on cleaning up and food plots for hunting.

It was great to get away...

I have been meaning to visit Nicole for sometime now, finally I figured out midweek would have to be the ticket, so Auntie Michelle came up on Wednesday, Aug. 24 and watched the girls to give my Mom a break. Then I got off work at at 3:30 and Hadley and Michelle took off for Chuck E Cheese. Hadley was so excited to go to Chuck E Cheese, she had a great car ride and enjoyed some pizza and games. Then Auntie Michelle took Hadley to Target to pick out a toy, she was soo excited to see all the toys, she said something like, "Wow, there are so many toys here!" She picked out a new doll, one that can go in the bathtub with her, it pees too. Then they went back to Michelle's and Hadley wanted to take a bath. After they watched a movie and bedtime was a breeze.

Ellie and I left Isle around 4:15 and ventured towards Lake Elmo to visit Nicole and Brian. It was a easy drive. Ellie was a little cranky, so I stopped in Wyoming and gave her a snack, that helped... she feel asleep and I finally arrived to Nicole's at 6:45. We had a tour of her new pad and relaxed. It was so nice to catch up and every time we get together it is seriously like we live next door to each other. I wish that were the case... but we will just have to make due. Ellie was good, she knew she was somewhere else. She finally stayed asleep around 11pm and we continued to talk and sip on wine. We finally went to bed at 1am. It was late but not so bad considering we had not seen each other in that type of situation for probably a year... who knows. That night I slept well, got up around 8am and was on the road to pick up Hadley and Michelle at 9am. I arrived at Michelle's just before 10am, it was a pleasant drive because Ellie slept the whole way. We got coupon ready and hit Albertville Mall. Shopping was fun, we got a ton of cute things for Hadley and a few new things for Ellie. Auntie Michelle just spoiled Hadley and Ellie like always. Thanks a ton... we love all our new stuff. I especially love Hadley's new shoes... they are Puma's. Super cute, I almost don't even want her to wear them because they will get dirty, but I guess that is why we bought them.

Well we are in September now and the weather couldn't be better. Hadley is still doing well on peeing in the potty but not doing well on pooping in potty. She says she doesn't want to poop in potty. So I am at a loss... no idea what to do there. Hoping she just changes her mind. Bribes don't work... we gave in on the bike, because she did go once in the potty, I think because she knew she was going to get a bike. We gave in to the bike and she hasn't gone since. She loves her bike though and she can ride it extremely well.

So another weekend is upon us. We are heading to Onamia in the morning for Autumn Fest. There will be a kids band there... so hopefully some fun dancing! Then we are heading to the cabin for the night. Robert is going to help Tom take out the dock and other odds and ends. We are hoping to relax.

Have a fun weekend and make sure to look at the moon... no matter what size it is... Hadley always notices it!

 

Baby Food

Where does the time go? It is almost the end of the second week of September. We have been trying rice cereal with Ellie, she is not a big fan. Actually she is not a big fan of eating in general. We have tried potatoes, bananas and just a second ago pears...all of them got crazy faces except potatoes. I will have to wait on pears until she is a better eater...they are a little gritty. Again, I plan to make 90% of Ellie's baby food. It is pretty easy and so much healthier!
Today the girls are going to my moms. I have to work at the Messenger. Daddy is already at work...he had to be there at 4am this morning to get a project out the door.
Here's to the start of the weekend.