Tuesday Fun

This week is the start of swimming lessons for Miss M and Big Will.  It goes something like this: me wake up frantic bc I woke up late, frantically wake up the kids, get frantic text from babysitter that she's locked out, babysitter gets here and everything is magically all better.  She gets them dressed and out the door in minutes. Swimming lessons starts at 8am which is tough b/c it's so early!

Kayleen then feeds them breakfast and takes them to summer camp.  Cate and I entertain each other until it's time to pick up the big ones at camp.

Today I was just feeling kind of down so I decided I would take the kids to lunch at the train restaurant. They love the train restaurant and their food isn't McDonalds.  I thought we could all agree it was a good place and I had a gift certificate for a free kids meal!

The ice cream store is next door.  We needed some sweet treats! Cate demanded and I mean demanded a cone. She wanted the one dipped in chocolate with sprinkles but got the plain one. It took about five minutes for her to stop screaming at everyone and accept her lot in life.

We need to waste about an hour or more before heading to the gym to meet Cyn and A so we went shopping for me. I needed some retail therapy.  It helped! And we'd overstayed our welcome as the kids were tired of coloring and started running laps around the store so we had to buy three headbands to get out without an epic meltdown by everyone (including me).

I swam my 2500 yards and went outside to sit on the sun deck and just relax for a few minutes before it was time to pick up the little people.  We then went to Nando's for dinner with Cyn and family.  It was a good afternoon spent together and out and about.  My grand plan of getting all the kids in bed by 7 was a success until we just heard the footsteps of Big Will coming downstairs b/c he thought he was taking a nap.  Welp. Time for the second round of bedtimes.

Baby house projects

I bought Andrew saw horses for Father's Day.  I gave them to him and then promptly put them to use! I needed to paint a large board with chalkboard paint for the baby house. I am getting rid of the baby toys and putting in new toys that will keep the kids in there for hours instead of seconds.  

I've added markers/colored pencils/pencil sharpeners/coloring books. Miss M will hang out in there for so long coloring so many pictures.  While I was working on my last project Miss M decided to tattoo herself and Big Will.  She drew all over his face/stomach/arms and proceeded to draw on herself.  She's perfected her flower tattoo.  Cater colors pictures a little but prefers to color all over herself.

I found a board in the garage (during my clean out/reorganization) that struck me as the perfect board to make shelves out of for the baby house to hold Cater's kitchen stuff.  I got the electric sander out and sanded the boards so no one would get hurt. I figured out the saw and cut the boards to size. I went to the hardware store early one morning (thanks for waking up Willie) and bought the brackets for the shelves and voila...we've got shelves!

 My chalkboard! It's probably not level but asking the kids to hold it up was a disaster.  I also drilled the skinny board into the wall to hang all Miss M's pictures with clothes pins I hot glued on. It's the perfect place for ALL the pictures she colors.

Father's Day at Arlington Race Track

We were invited to go to the Arlington Race Track by Cynthia and her family.  We were invited to watch the horse races from a suite including all you can eat and drink. Miss M took full advantage of the all you can drink and drank as mini kiddie cocktails as she could get her hands on.  

Cyn and Willie having fun at the race track.

Alex and Andrew in the background.  There was no formal memo on wearing peach/orange but all the girls had some peach/orange in some way or another! There was a dress code in the suite so we couldn't look like we'd just rolled out of bed...like usual.

He loves being apart of the group.

His genuine smile makes me so overwhelmed and happy.  He's grown up so much in the last few months.  There have been quite a few people comment on how he has changed and grown up. He has less all out fits. He is communicating his feelings in a more positive way which makes life easier for everyone.

Andrew and Cyn's brother took all the kids down to the paddock area. They were able to see the horses and even feed them peppermint disks.

They were out of control and having so much fun.

Until the fun had to end.  Cyn's sister rocked Cater to sleep on her shoulder near the end of the event. Andrew eventually needed to transfer Cater to his shoulder and then to the car.  She was so tired she slept through all of it.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

I have been wanting to take the kids to Waterfall Glen for awhile now. It's a forest preserve area about 30 minutes away. I ride my bike to the general area a lot and have run around the trails once or twice. I thought it would be a fun activity for the family.  

I didn't wake up early enough on Saturday to get my long run of two hours in before the kids woke up. Andrew is insanely supportive of this whole triathlon thing whether he really wants to be or not...he does frequently tell me he'll be happy when it's over.  He wanted to ensure I got my run in as to not disrupt my training schedule.  He thought it would be fun to load up his bike, the bike trailer, Miss M's bike, the kids, their snacks, their drinks, their sunscreen, and you get the point.  By the time we got to the forest preserve it was about 11am. Nothing says a good time like running from 11-1 in 90 degree weather.  I knew I needed the run and the kids were excited to hang out with him.  

The kids got to play in the water and splash around. It sounds like the perfect place for them. The water was cold (per Miss M) but not deep. They could walk around okay and there weren't a lot of people crowding the area. 

I don't know where Cater is in any of these pictures. I just know that she left with him and she came back with him.

The waterfall was approximately 3miles from where we parked with a lot of hills in between. Miss M did really good on her bike. She had to walk some hills or needed help being pushed up some hills but she didn't get discouraged and when I saw her speeding down one hill she seemed to be having the time of her life.

Miss M's MRI

Selfishly I wanted Miss M to have an MRI done on her ears.  The ENT had warned me that the MRI could show nothing meaning it wouldn't show us why she lost hearing in her right ear.  I wanted the MRI done more to determine if we could see if her other ear is compromised.  My fear is she will lose hearing in the left ear too. It's not likely to happen but was was the likelihood of her losing hearing in her right ear.  Exactly.  

We woke up early on the day of her MRI. She couldn't eat or drink anything in case they sedated her for the procedure.  She stayed in her pjs and willingly got in the car.  The nurses were wonderful as usual. I chose not to sedate her. I wish they hadn't given me a choice. It's really ridiculous to ask a parent what the hospital should do when they have the medical background and understanding of a procedure I know nothing about but I digress.  I was upset and overwhelmed with emotion when they laid her on the table.  They had her wear ear plugs and then put a helmet-like thing over her head to help keep it from moving. They wedged in little pillows around her ears/face to help stabilize the head.  Then they scooted her into the donut hole as they called it.  She was so brave. I am not sure I would have been so brave. There was a tv on that she could watch but it was difficult to watch as it was reflecting onto a mirror in her helmet and she wasn't supposed to move her head.  She eventually got pretty fidgety and they had to restrain her arms by putting a mesh wrap over them.  I thought it was going to be the end of both of us.  She just kept being strong.  She was clearly over it before it really began but she did what she needed to do.  It went on for what seemed like eternity. They had to run more tests b/c she would move and the technician would say last one and then run three more. It was exhausting.  

I told her she could pick where we ate breakfast after the MRI. I would have bought her Target after the MRI if she'd have asked. I tried to lead her into picking a place that wasn't McDonalds but we ended up at McDonalds. It seemed like a small price to pay.  

 At the hospital before they took her to the MRI truck they let her pick out a prize. The prizes at the children's hospital are no joke. They aren't McDonalds plastic crap. They are legit toys that kids want i.e. new Barbies, lipgloss kits, stuffed animals, purses, crafts, and the list goes on.  Miss M picked a large Cheshire Cat from Alice and Wonderland. She loves it.  I'm not entirely sure why but she does. She's a sucker for a stuffed animal.

I don't remember what the rest of the day entailed but I suspect Miss M didn't want for much!

We did get the results back a few days later. The pediatrician and ENT called to say the images didn't show anything. The nerves and structure all look good which is a positive. It leaves us not knowing what the reason behind the hearing loss is but it doesn't really matter as long as everything looks okay, I suppose.

The kids

Each Sunday a local park has a concert in the park.  It's set up for families to bring a picnic and a blanket. Enjoy the evening and let the kids run around like crazy people.  I went to the concert with the kids a couple weeks ago with the expectation that Andrew would join us.  We went with Cynthia and family too which shouldn't come as a shock to anyone since we do just about everything with them these days.  The kids caught a whiff of Andrew nearing our picnic location and quickly attacked/swarmed him so he couldn't move.  The big three (mine plus A) each grabbed a leg and clung for dear life! Cate just holds on like a baby orangoutang.  It's sweet and impressive. 

After the concert we walked to Cynthia's house to hang out for a bit before heading home.  The kids busted out the kid four wheeler. It was dangerous.  It was fast. Three kids sort of fit on it so they all wanted to ride at the same time.  In the picture below we just barely caught Miss M and Will before they fell off the back.  We warned them they needed to pay attention and hang on. It wasn't five minutes later when Miss M fell off the back of the four wheeler onto her head on the concrete.  That was the end of the four wheeler for the night!

Birthday party fun! These two are really inseparable. It's amazing how well they get along even when they've had a lot of each other.  Grandy (A's grandma) describes them as two little old ladies who bicker at each other but have no problem getting past their differences and being the best of friends.  A is probably Miss M's first friend that she's chosen on her own.  They won't be in school together next year. I hope it doesn't phase them as they really are adorable together. 

The one and only Cater

As the children grow up they say you forget things. I don't think I will forget Cater's tenacity. Google provides synonyms of tenacity to be: persistence, determination, perseverance, strength of purpose, staying power, stamina, stubbornness. I think that's enough.  Each of these words so accurately describes Cate.  She has a passion to her that is unstoppable. I think each of the descriptors are great qualities...when it's not in your 20 month old.  She isn't easily distracted when she doesn't get what she wants.  We ensure her safety, inside the house, and let her scream for awhile (sometimes 20 minutes) before going to see if she's ready to move on.  She's usually not but more willing than 20 minutes earlier.  She is her father in so many ways.  

If she could sleep in shoes and all her accessories I think she would. Her bed is full of dolls and blankets and stuffed animals and who knows what else.  I never understood a child who slept with "stuff" and now I have one. She isn't phased by all the stuff and is a good sleeper once she's had her say in telling you she's not ready to sleep and screaming her lungs out for a few long minutes.

She is the best one at playing by herself and entertaining herself. She loves to play in the baby house, with her dolls/babies, or the play kitchens.  Her main goal every day is to keep up with the big ones. She refuses to be thought of as small.  She is her father's child. 

She loves food. She eats better than either of the other two at her age.  Willie hasn't really ever been a great eater. Miss M was a good eater for awhile but quickly started turning her nose up at everything I put in front of her that wasn't a quesadilla.  Cater.  She loves juice and 'nacks and just about anything else.

She's an exhausting creature but I can't imagine her any other way.

The land of Iowa

We loaded up the minivan with bikes/scooters/strollers/suitcases and everything else we could fit and drove to Iowa. I had a sprint triathlon scheduled for Sunday morning.  Ashleigh was at Grandma's house while we were there so we had the added benefit of hanging out with her and having her help out. She's the sweetest almost 13 year old and she's amazing with the kids.  It's an incredible combo.  Grandma had a wedding Friday night so Ashleigh went with us and we went to check out a friends restaurant.  There were lots of video games and the kids wanted to play them all but really couldn't.  Ashleigh helped the kids play pac-man but mostly we just wasted a lot of quarters!

On Saturday Andrew and I went for a bike ride on the trails since CR has amazing trail systems that we don't have the luxury of having in the city.  We showered up, went to pick up packets, grab a bite for lunch and then headed to Coe College.  Yep. We went and toured Andrew's old stomping grounds with the kids. It was hot but it was fun to walk around and just be outside.  We ended up at the football field which was open.  We ran around the track and infield. The kids also insisted on climbing up and down the bleachers. 

Sunday we woke up early to get to the race to set everything up.  I wasn't really nervous. I was excited until the swimming started. I forgot how much open water swimming isn't anything like swimming in the pool and what a panic it creates b/c there are people everywhere. I survived and didn't drown so I kept racing! Next up the bike.  It was a hilly course but didn't feel bad until the turn around point (pictured below) when the headwind was horrific.  It was hard to keep going but in my head I knew the course wasn't too long and manageable.

I need a new wetsuit. This one was purchased three kids ago and it doesn't fit well enough anymore! But it got the job done for Sunday. 

The picture below makes me so happy b/c it was taken by the dearest Megan. I didn't know she was at the race until I came into the turn around and saw her and Nic. It was such a refreshing change of scenery.  My dearest Jenny came out too.  She hung out and entertained Andrew!  It's nice to see familiar faces and know they are rooting for you no matter what.

I finished.  I am trying not to analyze or dissect the race too much. It's too easy to be critical.  I just want to be grateful for the experience.  I have lots of work to do before the long course in August.

Pictures.

Oh Cater.  

The kids love to go to the zoo and in the Children's area is a face painting station. The kids can draw on their face whatever they desire. Miss M always asks Cyn to paint her a panda bear. Clearly neither Cynthia nor Miss M know what a panda bear looks like but everyone is happy!

 Willie is a lion and Cater is a butterfly.

Cate's usually look. As many purses/bags she can carry with any other accessories she can carry/wear/find.

Ahhhh. I felt like I won the lottery. Until he woke up at midnight. As though a nap from 9-midnight was reasonable.

 Ahhh. I really should have bought a lottery ticket.