MIA

WOW! It's been almost a month since I last posted. Slacker! But I guess that means that we have been pretty busy - so that is good. Patrick finished his last month of trauma and is finally around again. I forgot how nice it is to have a husband :-) This post is going to be very sporadic since I have so much to blog about and not enough time to do it appropriately!

Gavin had spring break the last week of March, and since Patrick was never home, we decided to visit our family and friends back in PA. We had so much fun - but it was quite exhausting with all the stuff we try to cram in.

First, we went to the Poconos to "Whiff's" house. Whiff is what Gavin calls Wil. It was amazing. I was very sad Patrick wasn't there, because it was right up his alley. Wil and I got to go out on his new 4 wheelers (Yamaha Grizzlies - AWESOME) and mom and the kids went for a ride in the heated Gator cart. It was supposed to be in the 50s - but it was really cold - so we couldn't do too much...which was fine by me. Gavin's allergies were really bad though, so it made sleeping in the same room pretty tough!

Then we went back to mom's house. Evie got a nasty cold and was pretty miserable, so we laid around in pjs all day on tuesday and did nothing! I had a dentist appointment (no cavaities again) but we just rested and chilled which was great. Then we went to the Please Touch Museum in philly with Eileen and Eddie! It was perfect for the kids. Yes, I was THAT mom that brought her sick kid to the museum - but she liked it. So who cares how many other kids we infected :-) Later on wednesday I got to meet up with one of my BFs, Emily and her boyfriend for dinner which was super fun.

The kids and I also got to hang out with my dad for lunch on Thursday, but that was really all the time we got to see him :-(

I got to go shopping at the amazing outlets near my mom which was a treat! She spoils us! But it was so nice to just sit around, eat dinner, drink coffee and watch tv. I miss her a lot! We talk all the time, but there is something so soothing about hanging with your mom.

On friday, we packed up some stuff and headed for the Elmwood Park Zoo (super cool) and then to the Bull's house! Evelyn was a riot with PopPop Bull - hugging and kissing him, saying "I love you PopPop"...she just melted him. She is going to get her way with the gentlemen all her life I bet! She melts her Daddy too!

I had a morning to myself on Saturday and met up with Eileen again for our annual spa treatment. We went to lunch afterwards at PF Changs which was very yummy! When I got back, we had Patrick's sister and her family (all the cousins) over for dinner and then I stayed in and played games with RyRy and MomMom! It was fun!!!

Sunday I had a get together with the alumni of my sorority, D Phi E. I caught up with some of my old roommates, my big sister, and even my real biological sister. I then went back to my moms and had the other sister (and her kids) and my girlfriend Michele over for dinner. It was a great way to round up the end of the trip. We drove back on monday - but didn't get to see Daddy until Tuesday - because he was still on call!!!

Pictures from Lynn

One of my girlfriends from college used to live in Columbus (she actually stayed here in Hilliard) and was visiting her inlaws who still live here. She came to the house on saturday and we had an amazing visit. Easy talks, catching up, and good eats! Her 2 favorite places to eat were on the agenda (since she is 17 weeks prego - it was an important part) but she also took time to snap some shots of the kids with her fancy dancy equipment. She would love to become a pro photographer - but it will have to wait for now! I am posting her awesome pics! She got more of Gavin than Evie - but anyone who has tried to take a picture of her would understand!

I was so glad she visited, it felt so good to have someone linked to my past visiting in my present!!!! Thanks for coming Lynn!

Swinging into spring

These past few days have been so much warmer than any weather we have had in a while. We have taken full advantage by going to the zoo, Homestead park, and just spending HOURS outside in our backyards! Evie is growing up so quickly and is now only interested in the big kids swing! She does pretty well, but I still don't push her too high. They grow up so darn fast!

Grateful

Today I am grateful for:

- An awesome outlet for my kids to run off some energy during crazy winter months.
- Fun friends who we look forward to seeing every week (and often more than that).
- Women who help each other through tough times;
when you are sick (or your other kids are) and need a break - they watch your kids;
when you receive terrible, life altering news - they make you dinners for weeks;
when your almost 3 year old throws a tantrum - they help get your other kids to your car;
when you have the winter blues - they make sure you get out of the house and go to playgroup;
when you are missing your husband because he is on call every so much - they remind you this is just a "season";
when you are trying to sell your house - they take old toys;
when you are sad because your "baby" is now a big boy - they cry with you;
and when you didn't get enough fries for your kids - they share theirs.
- Gavin's amazing school that celebrates every child's achievements and good deeds and that teaches him about filling up other people's buckets and focusing on positive things/deeds in life.
- 40 degree and sunny weather after a long bout of cold weather!
- Having the perfect park right around the corner to play at after school.
- Having friends join you at the drop of a hat to play at the park.
- Having friends that bring Cafe Mochas to share on a 40 degree day at the park!
- Gavin choosing the dinner for tonight and making yogurt parfaits with granola, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, pineapple, cantaloupe and raisins!
- Patrick taking the kids to play after dinner so I can put the laundry away (aka - blog time and facebook :-)
- Kids who would rather play outside than play video games (which then turns into kids who go to bed at 7 because they are exhausted from play).
- A quiet evening to spend with my husband however we choose ;-)

A new-found respect

I think Patrick gained a little new found respect for me and all other stay at home moms today. We got a great little surprise when he ended up not having to go into work until almost 6pm (he was supposed to go in at 6am - but the other guy on call did rounds for him since he was already there, and then there were no traumas until 6pm). Anyway, he went to the grocery store, made breakfast, read the paper, went to the library with the kids, ate lunch, took a little nap, played Wii, played games with Gavin, taught Gavin how to play Guitar Hero, built a train track, talked on the phone to friends, and by 3 o'clock - was TOTALLY BORED! He didn't know what to do. He was so antsy and just wanted to go outside but it was too cold. He wanted to exercise, but didn't want to wake up Evelyn. He wanted to go to a store, but didn't want to spend money (that we don't have). He felt bad that he was losing ideas to do to keep Gavin busy, let alone himself.

All in just ONE afternoon. Imagine that day - after day - after day. I think he now understands that when I call and practically BEG him to let us come to the hospital to eat dinner with him, it is not because we miss him terribly (I mean we miss him some - but can deal with it). It is because I AM SO BORED and need to get out of the house, break up the mundane routine!!! I think he finally gets it.

humongous!

Another Daddy-Gavin shower conversation:

Gavin: "Daddy - your butt is humongous!"
Patrick: "Oh yeah, what about Mommy's butt?"
G: "Her butt is pretty tiny."
P: "Good answer."
G: "But she doesn't have a penis."
P: "No, she has a vagina. Girls have vaginas, and boys have penises." (side note - we decided to use proper anatomical terms for teaching purposes - but we also have silly names like Shina).
G: "Hmm. I think that vagina means tiny butt in spanish."

Potty Training Pitfalls

Now that Evelyn is potty training - she feels she has free use of the toilet. Point in case, as I was typing out an email, I hear her in the bathroom...

"Bye Bye poopy". - Hmmm, I think to myself, I know she didn't go so she must just be pretending.
"Bye Bye pretty (what she calls her hairbands)".
"Bye Bye watch".
"Bye Bye tooth brush". Now I think it is cute that she having a conversation with herself.
Then I hear the flush, in which I immediately jumped up and ran to find the toilet overflowing with hairbands, a watch, and a toothbrush - and Evelyn waving proudly. Luckily there was no poopy or peepee...but for now, I think I will continue to keep the bathroom doors shut and locked.

blue

February - the shortest, yet LONGEST month in the year.

I always get a little blue this time of year. Post holidays. Pre sunny weather. It sucks. I know everyone else gets bummed around here too. Days blend into each other. It doesn't help that Patrick is on trauma (the worst rotation) and is working on call every other night. That means weekends don't exist. Which makes the week even longer. I swear I am so in cycle with my routine, I don't even know the day of the week. I just know it as Spanish lesson day, or Pilates day. I come up with stupid things to do - like go to Target to buy diaper wipes - just to get out of the house. I BEG Patrick to let us come visit him at the hospital and eat dinner with him so it breaks up our mundane evening. I do lessons out of the preschool book. I let the kids watch tons of movies and play countless games. The kids bedtimes get earlier and earlier. I facebook to feel connected since so many people hibernate here. I go tanning to feel some warmth. I go to the gym for fun.

March 20th cannot get here soon enough.

Out of the mouths of babes...

After getting out of the shower together and drying off, the following conversation was said between father and son.

Gavin: "Daddy, why are you so hairy on your body?"
Patrick: "Well, that's what happens when you get older - you get hair on your body."
Gavin: "You must be REALLY old because you are REALLY hairy."

5 amazing things...

Here are 5 amazing things that Patrick did for me this Valentine's Day:

5. Bought me PINK roses.
4. Made sure the kids got me a card and something sweet.
3. Watched Fireproof.
2. Bought Evelyn the sweetest card.
1. Snuck home from his trauma shift to make me homemade buttermilk pancakes!!!

He also cleaned, did laundry, and remembered our first Valentine's together - 8 years ago. We were only friends at the time, getting together for lunch at the mall for a work project. At lunch, he gave me one of those cheesy valentine's cards that kids give to each other, but when I went out to my car there was a single red rose with a very romantic card....the beginning of our story.

V day mailboxes

Last night I finished up the mailboxes for Gavin's class party today! They are from the dollar spot at Target, finished with some stampin' up designer paper, and some punched out hearts. Each mailbox is stuffed with yummy cupcake treats (3 cups strawberry yogurt blast cheerios, 1 1/2 cups melted white chocolate, 1/2 cup dries strawberries), snack sized candy bars, some hershey kisses and a valentines card signed by Gavin. They took a while - but I am sure the kids will love them!

Double Rainbow

Tonight we got to view an amazing site...obviously it was much cooler in person. The one rainbow was so bright - it almost looked fake!

Who do you love, baby?

The good old boys club

Dropping off our Valenitne's!

Making our bags

Eating the goods

Storytime!

This week we have had lots of love going on around here! We had lots of fun activities planned since we thought our friends Cara and Hailey were going to be staying with us, but Hailey got really sick and they went back home to Illinois :-(

Sunday we had our friend Ellie's birthday party. Then another party for Nathan and Carter (at the famous Pump It Up) on Monday.

Tuesday, we had our weekly storytime and read some Valentine's books about loving your mommy and daddy. It was really cute when Erin (who reads the stories) asked the kids who they were going to love this Valentine's day. One of the boys, Seth, being the good Christian child, said "Jesus". Some other kids said their families. But Gavin said "Brenna", one of the other little girls in the group that I think he may have a crush on. What a pimp!

Wednesday we had our playgroup V-day party. The kids made valentines for each other and we decorated the bags and lined them up and gave each of our friends some love (and candy!). The moms made some yummy treats and we had a crazy good time. Crazy being the main word there.

Thursday Gavin will have his class "friendship party". It's their PC way of saying Valentines party. I am making 15 mailboxes and special treats for it! So fun!

Friday is our only down day - but we will probably do something special with Daddy since he is on-call on Saturday, actual Valentine's Day. We made special gifts for Daddy - and Mommy made a really cool photo book on Shutterfly (called "I love you more than..." it has cute pictures of the kids and little quotes like "I love you more than eating ice cream in the tub" - and has a picture of Evie eating ice cream in the tub). And Saturday we have ANOTHER birthday party! It has been busy - but we LOVE it!

Who had more fun?

The Moms? Or the Kids?

We went to Pump It Up for playgroup this week and I think the moms were just as excited (if not more) to get out of the house and run off some energy! Lucky for us, we are going there again this week for a birthday party!!!

ER renovations

Before


The Ladies hard at work!



After!

Tonight, the ladies (wives) did a service project where we updated/renovated the children's waiting area in the ER. This ER is not as big as most (the real traumas go downtown) so it really had a pathetic little room with a cardboard box to hold toys!!! They are building a brand new ER (due 2010) so we didn't want to invest too much $$$ into this. I think we did a great job! Some IKEA furniture, Target, and the almighty, Once Upon a Child...and we were set! Ashli redid the border and some cute wall pictures and we added a colorful mat too! What do you think?!!?? I think we did a great job!

She did it again!

She did it again! More poopy on the potty! I do have a picture - but thought it wasn't what everyone would want to see.

up again...

It seems like every night Patrick is on call (when he has to actually stay overnight at the hospital), I avoid going to sleep. I don't think I feel like I miss him, but obviously, psychologically/physically/emotionally, I do. I put off going to bed without him. I read books. I watch tv. I blog or go on facebook. Because when I lay in bed without him I can hear everything. The wind, the refrigerator, the heater, the ice melting off the shingles...everything. I fear someone will break into the house. Or that the house will catch fire - all bad things that will happen on my watch, without Patrick here to save us. I know it is crazy - but it is true. I've resorted to taking cold medicine (ok -I actually do have an awful cold) just to try to sleep better - but it doesn't work...I just get groggy in the morning.

When he is on block nights or an away rotation, I get used to it. The first night or two are rough, but then I suck it up and get through it. But this rotation he is on call like this every other night or every third night. So I can't get used to it. I sucks. I am sooooo tired! I know he is working hard (although he has been so lucky to actually get a lot of sleep compared to what some people get on trauma) - but I will be happy to have him home again. I am in no way a co-dependant person (anymore :-) but I need him to be home to get a good night sleep!!!!

The kids and I decided earlier that we wanted to go out to eat - so I took them to Red Robin's. I actually had a blast! They were so well behaved and funny and polite. The waitress loved Gavin and when he acts good, so does Evie. So it was a nice evening - even without Daddy.

On another note, the moms in our group have started a a storytime each week. We have our normal wednesday play groups, but now we also have tuesday storytime! Erin Ross started it and has had it at her house most of the time, but today we went to Julie's for a change. I think it may be at my place next week. The kids get together and play (as usual) but we also read a book or two (or more) and try to get the kids in a learning environment. There are babies to Preschoolers and almost all of them love to sit down and listen to Miss Erin read! She does a great job of interacting with them!

This picture is only of some of the kids (thanks for the pic Laura). Evie was playing in the back and some of the littler (sp?) ones weren't listening - but this picture will show you what an awesome support system I have here in Ohio. And this is just a sampling of the exposure and friends my kids have!!! Mondays are family day - but Tuesdays are storytime, wednesday is play group, thursday is spanish lessons and fridays are just fun!

Here are 12 of the kids in the group...we are so blessed!