This guy visits our pond occasionally...it's a Blue Heron (at least I'm pretty sure it is). It's always fun to see him come around and I am rarely able to get a picture of him. Even though he's across the pond I was able to zoom in on the camera and capture this shot. I'm fortunate to have a dad that knows so much about plants and animals and just a lot about nature in general. I feel that he educated us on the small things we see in our world. Growing up, he told us about so many things I probably would have never learned on my own or anywhere else. I don't know how many times I've said something dorky like "Oh, look at the turtle dove, isn't she pretty?" only to have a whoever is near (like a day care teacher in the turtle dove incident) say "Is that what that is? I never knew that."
We've got an empty lot next to us in our neighborhood and there are always Kildeer that make their nest there in the spring. Yes, right on the ground in a neat little pile of arranged rocks. The interesting thing about these birds is that if you get too close to the nest they will walk away from the area and sort of flutter on the ground. They are pretending to be injured in an attempt to attract the predator away from the nest of eggs. It's very interesting to watch but I sometimes feel bad if we're outside minding our own business and they carry on like that. It seems so unnecessary...but, I guess they do not know we don't want to hurt their nest.
Luckily we have a great neighbor who lent us his riding mower and little trailer to haul the mulch in. It definitely saved us a lot of trips with the wheel barrow! Both boys have gotten very good at shoveling the mulch and helped SO MUCH this weekend. They got a little break now and then by riding with Doug when he delivered the mulch to the beds where I was waiting to spread it.
We always work great together on these big projects. The boys do a fantastic job, even though it's not always what they want to do. We do enjoy having them work with us on projects and feel that it also counts as family time. When we're finished we can look back and see what we did together.
This is Angela, our long-time babysitter. She's been around since before the kids were even here. Long ago, she was dating Doug's friend Bobby and we would go out with them quite often. I also remember her coming to the hospital to visit us when Kaleb arrived. Who knew that almost 10 years later she'd be a true friend and great babysitter. Although, she's more like a friend to the boys now than "babysitter". I think they're getting too old for that word but not yet old enough to be on their own at home.
On this night she came over for a couple hours so Doug and I could get some dinner together for a little date night. Nothing extravagant...just went to Cheeseburger in Paradise...but it was a beautiful evening and perfect for sitting outside on the patio!
In case you're wondering why this post is titled "Mommy on the weekends" I'll fill you in. A long time when Kaleb was in Kindergarten or 1st grade and Kaden was still at Beech Tree House day care Angela picked them up from there. During those years the school bus picked Kaleb up and dropped him off at Beech Tree House. It was perfect because I only had to drop them both off at one place in the mornings.
So, on this day that Angela picked them up...one of Kaden's teachers asked him "Who is this?" when she showed up, trying to get him to introduce her and explain who she was. Kaden's answer?? "She's our 'Mommy on the weekend.'" I obviously wasn't there but would have loved to have been. I guess Doug and I went out enough during that time and Angela was our primary sitter so that was the way he felt. We still laugh at the comment to this day and even discussed it again on this night.
I love having a hummingbird feeder right outside the kitchen window. I got this one one last year and it was the first time I'd ever had one. Doug mentioned earlier in the week that he'd seen a hummingbird come to the window only to find the feeder wasn't out yet. I had been trying to figure out how early they'd show up so I guess now I know.
I got the feeder out of the cabinet, made up some sugar water and filled it up for them. Now it's just time to wait and see when they'll come back. Last year there were usually 2 different birds that would frequent the feeder...maybe they'll bring their friends this year!
This was a monumental game for us. It was our 4th ball game of the season and we played the Orioles. Doug was able to stop by while on duty during his dinner break. Not long after he'd left Kaleb hit a home run! Not just any home run but one that went out of the park! It was his first ever and it just SAILED over the fence. It wasn't one of those giant smacks that you knew would just send the ball flying. I'm not sure how he did it but it was obvious it would go over the fence. Chris and I were on our feet jumping up and down as we watched it go. I don't think the coaches quite believed it because they were all just laughing.
They were tied at the bottom of the 6th inning with a 21-21 score. We were up to bat first and got the max of 6 runs so next came the Orioles. We were able to hold them and got 3 outs before they got a runner in. We won 27-21.
Here they are in the outfield for the post-game chat. If you notice, Kaleb is leaning up with his arm out ready to accept the home run ball from Coach McSorley. We were SO PROUD of him!
Today is Earth Day. We don't get into it as much as we probably should at our house. The boys did want to be sure to be home and watching Nickolodeon at 9:00pm for the 1-minute Power Down. That channel wanted everyone to turn all lights off for 1 minute as a "pledge" do what we could for Mother Earth. We did turn the lights out and the only thing on in the house was the TV. Nickolodeon had a 1-minute spot that ran where they showed cities "powering down" and had kids making the pledge.
Tonight was 5th grade band sign-ups. JG-E has both a band and an orchestra. Kaleb knew he wanted to play an instrument but was very undecided about what he wanted to play. He thought about percussion but didn't want to make that his final decision because there might be something he "likes better". He tried out percussion, the saxophone, and the viola. He didn't like the way the sax felt on his lips when he played it and he just didn't seem comfortable with the viola...so percussion it is.
DAY 109 - April 19, 2009
These are the boys' latest projects. Kaleb did a very small sewing project during one a Pioneer unit he had in Social Science. For that project he stitched around an outline of the state of Indiana. He seemed to really enjoy it and I told him that if he liked that type of craft so much he'd probably enjoy cross-stitching. I told him that I'd done many cross-stitch projects when I was younger. I told him we could go to the craft store and they'd have some small kits we could get.
We went to Michael's today and got each of the kids a little kit. Kaden chose the little tan dog and Kaleb, wanting a challenge, chose the eagle. I didn't notice until we'd bought them and got home to start that Kaleb's is actually a needlepoint kit. He's still enjoying it all the same. Actually, I didn't know the difference between cross-stitch and needlepoint until now. With needlepoint you don't sew in X's but rather just diagonal lines.
They are having a good time with their sewing kits and have even been taking them in the car when we do somewhere.
DAY 108 - April 18, 2009
It's Friday night and we didn't have anything we needed to do...the boys were also very understanding and a big help at the grocery. So, as a small reward to them and because they wanted to be outside playing with friends (but it was too late) I surprised them with a late-night walk. They were getting ready for a snack thinking that was it for the night when I told them to grab their bowls of sherbert I'd scooped out and come outside with me. Together, we went on a walk around the neighborhood. It was a great night for it and helped them settle in still feeling like they got to play outside after our errands.
The boys and I did a little baking tonight. It was our 1 night for the week that we didn't HAVE TO do anything. Well, we did have to run to the grocery store to pick up some sodas but that was all. While there, Doug texted me and suggested we get some brownies or something to bake in the evening. He knows that both boys really enjoy cooking and have gotten into "doing it themselves" lately.
Of course we couldn't "just get" brownies because Little Bit does not like chocolate. So...that meant picking up some sugar cookies so he could make something that he would like also. Kaleb mixed up the brownies and Kaden mixed up the cookies, of course doing it all by themselves. Kaleb poured the batter into the pan and Kaden put out the spoon fulls on the cookie sheets (and got angry when I tried to help so it would go quicker). They both put their things into the oven themselves; with adult supervision of course.
On a side note, the frosting package showed a picture of frosting covered apples with sprinkles and Kaden, being one to want to do surprises for everyone, wanted to make "a surprise" for both Kaleb and I. We picked up 2 apples while at Kroger and we made those while the cookies were baking...that's what the 2nd picture is of. He did a great job and they looked really nice!
Talk about a game! It was really cold and a little rainy tonight for the boys' 2nd baseball game of the season. Probably not even 50 degrees but they played...
They played the Red Sox and it was quite a game. Both boys did good and got hits...their fielding is coming along as well. The game came down to the 6th inning - Little League plays only 6 innings so this was it. They were down by 3 at the top of the 6th (7-4) and they held the Red Sox not letting them score. So...when it was our turn at bat all we had to do was get 4 runs to win. Kaleb even asked me if I thought they could get enough runs to win. I didn't really know what to say to him...so I just told him to think positive and everyone would do their best. After all, that's what is important isn't it?
Well, we actually scored 3 runs and then got their 3rd out. So...they were tied and it was the end of the game. The coaches decided to go 1 more inning...we held them without letting them score at the top of the 7th and then we were up to bat. We had runners on 2nd and 3rd and had 2 outs...we pulled through with the batter getting a double so the 2 runners on bases made it across home plate. End result? We won 9-7! It was really a good game. Everyone was so excited but got out of there quick because it was still so cold. The White Sox are so far undefeated in 2009!
This shelf hangs in our entry way. Doug found it soon after we moved in at Pier One. I really like it...we've got several pictures around the house and they occasionally get rearranged and end up here. This is what is currently on this shelf.
Kaleb and I will be going on his 4th Grade Study Trip to Southern Indiana in May. Tonight was the informational meeting where we found out who we would be chaperoning, who would ride on what bus, what the eating and sleeping arrangements would be and, most importantly, the itinerary. Kaleb has been counting the days until this trip which is May 7th and 8th. He was very excited for the meeting tonight and had to grab a notebook and pen so he could take some notes. I thought it was so cute and "responsible" of him the way he was very intently writing down all they said. Sometimes they just went too fast and, when he read what he'd written to me later, he had to say something like "we'll see Lincoln's boyhood home and grounds...whatever that means".
This trip should be very interesting. I don't know why but I thought it might be relaxing. Well, come to find out, we've got to be at the school between 5:30 - 5:45am! What?!? This is my day off and we're leaving the parking lot even earlier than I leave for work! Oh well, it'll be fun and we'll get to see a lot. I've lived in Indiana since 1994 and haven't been to Southern Indiana an more than a handful of times. At least 2-3 of those times were to simply drive to some courthouse in some county so I could testify. I guess it'll be as much, if not more, of an education for me as it will be for Kaleb. Stay tuned, I know the picture of the day for those couple of days will have something to do with our trip.
I seem to be taking a lot of pictures of trees this week. This type of tree is EVERYWHERE right now. I'm not sure what it's called but I absolutely love the large pink and white blossoms it gets. I pass several to and from work every day...this particular one we drive by between home and the Edgewood ball diamonds.
Doug was sick today. So sick that we had to make a trip to the ER...he was there all day. His symptoms? He couldn't walk. Very scary, I know. This happened to him a couple years ago while we were on vacation in Florida. It was very hot that year and we (the doctor's included) thought it was dehydration. While in the ER in Florida they did some additional tests and determined his potassium levels were very low. At that time he spent the day in the ER getting fluids and potassium. Went back to the hotel that night and seemed fine and our vacation picked up where it left off.
today he got up and felt very weak in the legs...almost as if his legs were going to give out on him. He seemed fine other than feeling weak...so I headed to work and he continued to drink some Gatorade. About 30 minutes after I'd gotten into work I got a call from him. He needed to go to the ER...his legs had completely given out under him and he couldn't' walk. Being that this had happened before I felt confident that we'd get him to the ER, get him the fluids and potassium, and he'd be fine. And he was...the ambulance came and they whisked him off to the hospital with me following behind. The kids had already left for school so we knew they would be fine for the day.
After getting in and having some tests run it was determined that it was indeed his potassium levels that were low. He was with the day shift doctors and nurses for some time and then the staff changed. It was his new doctor that actually came up with an actual "diagnosis". The doctor feels that Doug has a rare genetic condition called "familiar partial paralysis"...the paperwork they gave us on the subject called it "Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis". Apparently under certain conditions his body decides that it needs to push all the potassium in his blood into his cells. While this condition is rare (the ER doc has only seen it 1 other time in his 30 years in ERs) it is thought to occur during times of stress or after consuming carbs and salt. He couldn't' really tell us specific guidelines to follow other than to know this can happen, try to watch what he eats and his stress level, and to supplement his diet with potassium. I am thankful that in Doug's situation it seems to affect only his hips and legs. In the doctor's other experience with this condition it affected the patient from the neck down.
Doug spent the entire day in the ER and they eventually brought his potassium levels back up to where they should be. The boys had their team baseball pictures this evening so we headed up to the hospital after those were done. Doug was released at about 8:45 pm.
The boys spent the night with Richey and Riley Peavler last night. Well...they must have had a great time because I found out today that Kaleb fell asleep at 4:00am and Kaden and Richey lasted until 4:30am...and probably would have lasted longer if Joann hadn't told them that it was time to settle down for bed. I was completely shocked that Kaden lasted as long as he did AND that he outdid Kaleb!
The boys stayed with them on Friday which helped us out a bunch. It is the last day of Spring Break and Doug had to work. Joann kept them with her until I was able to meet them after work. She made them a fantastic breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage...MUCH better than they would have had at home! They played through the day and then she took them to the PlayPlace at McDonald's where I met them. She and I chatted for about an hour while they played then we headed out. We stopped to see Doug for a few minutes and the boys and I grabbed a quick bite to eat at the Food Court in the mall then headed back home. We pulled into the drive at about 6pm and this is what I found when I looked back. Kaleb NEVER falls asleep in the car anymore. And, while Bit does often, he was really in a deep sleep this time. I must have snapped 15 pictures trying to get just the right one of the 2 of them as well as some of them alone. They slept through it all!
