Saying Good-bye to Summer

This past weekend we went down to Tom's River for the last time. Usually we are done by now, but our weekends filled up and we didn't get to do our final packing and cleaning until now. It was a beautiful weekend, although a little chilly in the mornings- we woke up to outside temps in the 50's and since the house is unheated, it was a little cool inside as well. But both days it warmed up, and today was down-right toasty by lunchtime.

Ed's parents were there too, which is always very nice. We enjoy spending time with them, and they love playing with the kids. It's always nice to have an extra set of hands, or two, especially when on the playground.

The kids had 3 things they wanted to do while we were there. One, visit the "big" playground in Beachwood, which we did Saturday morning. It was funny remembering that the last time we were there K was a 4 month old little lump that couldn't even sit yet, and now she was walking the balance beam (with some hand-holding, of course). E has really gotten very good on the monkey bars and was able to go down an inclined swinging set that was more like the rings in gymnastics than monkey bars. She was quite proud of herself at that accomplishment. N still enjoys the baby swings because he can get pushed really high and not have to worry about falling off. His favorite is when I push him from behind as far forward as I can reach, and count down from 5 before letting go and saying, "Blast Off!!"

The second thing on the list was riding bikes. They both were begging us to take them down the track, until we finally took them after naps in the afternoon yesterday. They raced around a few times before deciding it was time to move to the last thing on their list.

Flying kites. When Ed was in Chicago so much a couple of years ago, he got a kite for E that we never flew. Then N got one for his birthday that he has been dying to fly. Everytime he went into the laundry room and saw it leaning up against the wall, he would sigh and say, "When is it going to be a windy day so that I can fly my kite?!" They were so excited to get those things up in the air!! Although the wind wasn't perfect, it got the kites up for a short while and the kids were satisfied. N's kite especially looked really cool soaring, and he loved "landing it" himself.

Today was mainly a cleanup day, stripping sheets, laundry, packing, putting all the toys away in the closet for next year, so we didn't get to the beach. It was definitely warm enough, but there was no time. We did fit in a trip to the playground and track again, so the kids were able to ride one more time.
E and N were thrilled to throw their sheet over the balcony to be washed, and N found this ray of sunlight filled with dust "cool".



Although it is sad that summer is over, officially now, I am definitely looking forward to apple picking next weekend, and pumpkin picking in a month. Isn't it nice that no matter what season it is, there is always something to look forward to?

4 yr. old logic

This morning I was packing up N's bag for school and he saw me put in the ziploc bag of spare clothes.

"Mommy, what's that?"

"Those are extra clothes in case you have an accident at school."

"Oh."

Fast forward 3 hours to when I picked him up. He came to the door wearing ... his spare shorts!

"N had a little accident today", the teacher said to me in a low voice as I took his bag.

"Really? I can't remember the last time this happened. I guess it's lucky I brought the clothes today! heh, heh " On further thought, I considered that maybe it wasn't an accident after all. So as I walked out to the car I said casually, "So N, what happened today? Why did you have an accident?"

He turned to me with a look of surprise, "But Mommy! You said I had extra clothes for an accident!"

I thought yesterday was going to be my "lucky" day. I went for my morning walk and found $10. Excitedly, I walked in the door waving the bill for Ed who was at the computer googling GI stuff, and knew something was wrong. (He is never in front of the computer at that time of day) He told me of his discomfort, and some other symtoms and I said he definitely needed to call the Dr. As he showered, I googled a little and came up with some very scary stuff. Needless to say, I was anxious, but didn't want to jump to any conclusions. I kissed Ed good-bye before I left to go baby-sit. All morning he was on my mind, and I gave into a few tears, but mostly I just prayed.

The next I heard from him he was headed to the ER, with possible appendicitis. I was unable to go be with him since I had all the kids. My mom did come over to watch them when I took N to a pediatrician's appt. that he had, but she was unable to stay longer since she needed to be at go home to care for my dad. My original hope was that Ed's parents would join Ed at the hospital so that they would be able to keep me posted on his condition as well as give him support and company. Although I tried reaching Ed's parents, they were never home and I later remembered that they were on a day trip to NYC. So it ended up being a very stressful day for me as I waited by the phone to hear updates from Ed and any possible word from his parents that they had received my message and were on the way to the hospital. Around 5 John came to pick up his kids and I called my sister Sandy to see if she could watch my kids while I went to the hospital to check up on Ed. As I was driving my kids to Sand's house, Ed called and said he was being released. I turned around the car, came home and gave the kids baths before putting them to bed. Ed walked in soon after.

Apparently they didn't find anything abnormal in the CAT scan, but they put him on a clear liquid diet for 24 hours. They guessed it may be colitis, but even that they are not sure of. He will have to follow up with a GI specialist and see what the next step is. I am so thankful that he is home, and there wasn't an emergency surgery yesterday, but my heart is still full of fear and worry for Ed's health. This is his second ER visit in less than a year and it is worrisome. I just need to trust in the Lord and that he will be with us no matter what comes.

Urgent Prayer Needed:

Just a quick note. Ed woke up this morning with some abdominal pain and scheduled a dr. visit. I just got a call from him that they sent him to the ER for possible appendicitis. I am on my way out for a dr. appt. for Noah and then I will be back home this afternoon (I am babysitting today). I will let you know if there is any new news. Please pray.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you so much for your prayers. Ed just called and they are releasing him. Apparently they think that it is colitis. Still a serious condition, but not the one that they originally thought. So I guess we have to wait and see what this means for him.

(edited at 6:30)

Just in Case...

Ever since I changed from xanga, I have kind of felt sad about leaving all my old posts behind. I got a bright idea at 2am to undertake the project of transferring them here to my new blog. So, just in case you want to relive the old memories, or maybe are a newcomer, feel free to browse back in time, or at least, 3 years back in time. Just check out the archives on the side, and click on stuff from 2005-2007. (that is, when I get the time to finish my little "project". I am signing off for the night- Jon & Kate + 8 is on!)

Visiting

My brother Andrew, and his wife Erin came for a visit last week. They live in Chicago, so their visits are few and far between (about twice a year). My kids love them. They don't have any kids of their own yet, so they have lots of love and energy for their nephews and nieces. Andrew is, by far, their favorite uncle. He picks them up and flies them around, teases them, gives them shoulder rides, and is just really interested in them in a genuine way. He doesn't talk down to them and his love for them is evident, and in return, they love him back fiercely. As for me, I too look forward to their visits. Andrew has a great sense of humor, and always comes out with one-liners that has the whole room laughing. Erin is so sweet, and a perfect compliment to Andrew. We have whole-heartedly embraced her as a sister, and look forward to these times to spend with her as well as him.

We saw them 3 times over their stay, each a fun time both for the grown-ups and kids. Monday night we had them over for dinner and it was really hard to say good-bye, knowing that we wouldn't see them until December. As they hugged the kids, N would run full steam into Andrew's arms as he squatted on the floor, and bowl him over, and then back up and repeat. E just clung to him, refusing to let go. Finally though, they left and as they walked out the door E buried her face in the front of my shirt. She was noticeably upset as she got ready for bed, and when she lay down, she finally let it out. She sobbed into her pillow,"Christmas is too far away! I don't like saying good-bye! Why can't they live closer?" I tried to comfort her, but I couldn't say anything that helped, so I said good-night and closed the door on her cries. It broke my heart to see her so upset, but I have to remind myself that it is a good thing that they love their aunt and uncle so much that parting is painful. I am so glad that my kids have a relationship with my brother and sisters.

(this is a picture from Christmas, because, strangely,  I didn't get any of the kids with Andrew during this visit)

First Day of Second Grade

I was looking through my archives a few weeks ago, and came upon a post on E's first day of preschool. I wrote,"So I took her to school, the last year before she starts "real" school. It's hard to believe she is in the Froggie class. I remember how old those kids looked 3 years ago, and now E is there. And to think ahead 3 years and of her starting 2nd grade, my mind can't even go there!"


And now here she is, my big second grader, and I still can't believe it! Wasn't it just yesterday that she had those round cheeks and baby-tooth smile? Who is this long-legged girl with the glasses and thoughtful gaze? I know, I know, this will happen over and over throughout my life as a parent. Yet even as I expect it, I still marvel at how my children grow and change all in a blink of an eye.

Anyway, enough of that, here are some fun pictures from the first day.

A special breakfast of waffles:


As E showered, I made her lunch (yes, lots of sugars, perservatives, food coloring, high fructose corn syrup, white bread, etc., etc., but it's a nice feeling to eat some favorite foods when everything else is new):



E, fresh and ready to get dressed:



Hair, pulled back into a nice, tight, cool pony tail (the classroom will probably feel like 90 today):



Ready to go!



Out front, greeted by the principal:



In front of her classroom, with her teacher, Mrs. D:



At her desk, all set ("Mommy, you can go now!"):