Abby Has a Friend Over

Abby has always had to play mainly with boys. There are no girls her age in our neighborhood and of course for the most part she just plays with Bryce and Caleb. All year she has been asking to have Penny from her preschool class over. I had put it off at first because I didn't know Penny's family and wasn't sure they would be comfortable with having her come to our house and I didn't want to send Abby to a strangers house either. However with this whole ankle disaster Penny's mom offered out of the blue to start taking Abby to preschool. Over the last couple months I have got to know her and finally felt like I knew her well enough to ask to borrow her daughter for a morning so Abby could have a girl to play with.
Abby was thrilled to finally get her play date. A girl play date was so much different than when the boys have a friend over. Abby and Penny played so quietly I had to keep sneaking upstairs to see what they were doing. They were always being good. They played babies, fixed each others hair and played with Barbies. I will say it was refreshing to not have to worry about someone getting hurt with all the fighting and tackling.
Penny, however was a wealth of information and at lunch shared that she was going to have a baby sister. After that Abby had a lot of questions about babies in tummies and how they got out. I'm not sure if it was the right approach or not but I told her the doctor cuts them out of the tummy. It wasn't a complete lie. That's how all my kids have come out of the tummy. I decided to share the other way at a MUCH later date.

Time with Aunt Steph and Cousin Draven

This week my sister Steph and her little boy were in Lincoln for a dentist appointment and had some time to hang out with us. It was great to see them aside from a weekend trip home to Norfolk or a holiday. Everything always seems so busy and rushed that the kids don't end up getting much time to play. This was perfect. They came up on Wednesday and since I still can't drive she was also my chauffeur. We finalized a few plans for the upcoming bridal shower we are hosting and had some time for shopping too. Steph and Draven also got to go eat lunch at school with the boys, which they thought was very cool!

 

Playing Basketball against Robb

Aunt Steph was nice enough and brave enough to let Abby paint her nails.

Abby and Draven eating pretzels at the mall

DANCE PARTY!!!

Thanks for a fun couple days! Always enjoy hanging out with my sis. Makes me wonder why we spent all of our high school years at each others throats and now we are best friends.

 

Easter Eggs

The kids have always wondered how Grandma keeps her Easter Eggs year after year. After explaining the process of blowing out eggs we gave it a try. We didn't make it very far. Each kid did 2 eggs but in the process of blowing out eggs it took Caleb 4 eggs, Abby 4 eggs and Bryce 3 to end up with 2 that they could decorate. It was quite a mess but they thought it was pretty cool.

Bryce giving it all he's got.

Abby was a little grossed out by the whole process, which I can't say I blame her, so Robb had to help her with hers.

Since we didn't end up with very many eggs to decorate after blowing them out, we made some hard boiled ones too. Abby was pretty excited that she made an egg the color of her shirt.

 

All the kids had a great time dying eggs. How they dyed their eggs really reflected their personalities.

Caleb mixed colors and dyes and had all of his eggs in different colors at the same time. His favorite was an egg that he called a dinosaur egg. It was an egg that he had dipped in all the colors and had managed to turn it army green with speckles. Not to mention the crack mark from him moving it around from cup to cup so many times. In the process of constructing the dinosaur egg he also spilled 3 cups of dye and the poor dog still has a blue streak on her from being to close to the egg dying.

 

Bryce was very meticulous about decorating his eggs. He would hold the egg half in the color so he could make multiple stripes. He also liked the clear crayon that he could draw on the egg before he dyed it.

Abby tried to do mostly girl colors but that didn't work out very well since our pink dye didn't work. She was more excited to put the glitter on and the jewels than actually coloring the eggs. 

 

Surprise Surprise Look who has the messiest fingers!

 

Swimming Lessons

We started swimming lessons last week and this time we tried a new place. We had been going to the same place for 3 years and the kids liked it but it seemed like the boys weren't being challenged much. We had heard good things about Larson Lifestyle Center so we signed the kids up there. When we arrived last Monday it was a MAD HOUSE! Luckily Robb and I both went since I still can't drive. We needed 2 people to get everyone dressed and into the pool area.
1. First big mistake: I intended to just have them put their suits on there. It was way to crowded and busy, the boys aren't allowed in the women's locker room, and Caleb all the sudden is very modest and wouldn't take his clothes off in front of people.
2. Second big mistake: I told the kids we would stay and watch them. Well, parents can stay and watch but you have to do it from the balcony upstairs behind tinted glass. Of course that didn't go over well because Abby just wanted her Mama.
Once we finally got them in the pool area I was already thinking this was NOT the place for us. Watching from upstairs I could see Abby crying and it broke my heart. I sent Robb down to talk to her since it was a lot of work to get up the stairs in the first place. He got stopped by the lifeguard who told him parents weren't allowed and they just wanted them to cry it out the first lesson and they would come get us if they needed us. Well I was already stressed and that just put me into momma bear mode of its my kid and I will go talk to her if I want! Luckily I have a husband that balances out my high stress personality. Anyway, I stayed put and Abby did eventually stop crying.
It seemed like the boys were learning some new skills which was great and the pool is huge and they were using the whole pool to teach class. One of the main problems with the last place was that the pool wasn't very deep and they could touch most places. It's hard to learn to swim if you can touch.
We now have 4 lessons behind us and although I don't love how hectic it is getting in and out and the 2 times a week at 5:30 messes up the entire night as far as supper but I think the boys are learning a lot and Abby, well I'm not sure she is learning much but I think she will get something out of it.
(I don't have any pictures because I have to watch from the balcony)

Leprechauns Came

Sunday was St Patricks Day and last year Leprechauns came so Bryce and Caleb were so excited to see if they would come again. Abby on the other hand was again terrified of these little green people that were going to come into the house. She not only didn't want to sleep alone in her bed but she made sure that her toys were put away and made sure we would bring Penny upstairs so the Leprechauns wouldn't get the dog.

The kids woke up Sunday morning to little green footprints coming in from the patio door and they led up the table. The Leprechauns left candy and played some tricks. They tied the kids shoes together and leftt candy in them.

The Leprechauns also moved some of the Lego's to the plant shelf and tied up a Barbie. Caleb didn't think this was very funny and Abby about cryed when she saw that they had found her Barbie. Luckily Bryce saved the day by cutting Barbie down. I guess the Leprechauns failed a bit on their tricks this year. They managed to make 2 out of 3 kids mad.

Robb made corned beef and cabbage for supper that night. I can still smell cabbage in my house days later. Ugh! The kids loved the meal which reinforced the fact that my kids really are very adventous in what they eat. I however just ate the potatoes. My kids eat a lot better than I do! Thank goodness they have a dad that eats anything and everything.

Spring Break

Last week the boys had Spring Break all week. It was unfortunate that on Sunday we had a mini blizzard and ended up getting about 5 inches of snow. So much for a week of playing outside! I was a bit more mentally prepared to have all the kids home all week this time. The weekend before spring break I got to go on a scrapbook weekend to Mahoney State Park . It was a great weekend full of uninterrupted scrapbooking, yummy food and fun friends. Thanks Cindy for being my driver and for dragging all of my stuff in and out of the building.

The kids were very excited to be home all week! They really kinda needed it too. After being sick the week before and it being Daylight Savings time change I was excited for a really laid back week. We picked and activity to do each day to help pass the time and avoid Excess fighting. It seemed to work okay. By Thursday the snow was gone and it was in the 50's. It was wonderful to get outside and let them play. They had a blast!

We Share

The last post was "Sickies". That is how it stayed for a good week. Everyone had a respiratory bug and everyone was on antibiotics. On Sunday night Grammy Hansen came to stay with us for a couple days. We had warned her that she was coming into a house full of germs but she assured us that she wasn't worried about it. We also didn't feel like we had too many choices in the matter. I had to have surgery Monday morning in Omaha (not anything serious just a gynecology surgery) but we HAD to have someone to watch the kids.
We felt horrible leaving her with 3 kids that stayed home from school sick with fevers and coughs. I wrote down so many instructions on meds that I felt like a pharmacist. The surgery went fine and we headed home mid afternoon. When we got home all the kids were miserable and poor Bryce had a barky cough and had been miserable all day. Robb made him a pediatrician appointment for croup. Grammy again was stuck with sick kids while I headed to bed. Sure enough Bryce had croup and got put on steroids. For whatever reason he has always needed steroids to get over croup I guess he just has a weaker lungs than the other 2 kids.
On Tuesday the 5th Caleb was able to go back to school but Abby and Bryce still stayed home with Grammy. By Wednesday Bryce and Caleb were both in school but I could tell Grammy was starting to get sick. She had a cough and she actually sat on the couch to nap with Abby. If you know Grammy she never sits down. I knew she wasn't feeling the best. Robb took her home Wednesday night hoping that some rest at home would make her feel better. Unfortunately our germs got the best of her and she also got started on antibiotics and a couple days later ended up in the hospital with Influenza A and pneumonia. We didn't have Influenza A luckily but I'm not so sure Grammy didn't pick that up from Linc Care when she took Abby with Robb. We felt horrible! Grammy I know you are one of the few people that read this blog so know we are very SORRY. We promise to never knowingly share our germs again but your help that week was SO appreciated. We don't know what we would have done without you. All our kids are healthy again (Thank Goodness!) and Grammy got out of the hospital yesterday. Now we just have to hold on and hope that spring comes sooner than later.

Sickies

On Monday Bryce woke up complaining of an ear infection. So Robb took him to the pediatrician and sure enough he has an ear infection and likely a sinus infection. He came home with a script for Omnicef and he stayed home on Tuesday from school.
Caleb has been pretty snotty for a week and a half now but since they are usually pretty stingy with the antibiotics I try not to take them in until they have fevers. Sure enough poor Caleb was the next to get sick. On Friday I got an email from his teacher that he wasn't really himself at school and she thought he was feeling crummy. He however did NOT want to go to the nurse. Robb and I were in Omaha for an appointment and by the time we picked him up from the neighbors house he was feeling pretty crummy. He had a fever and later that evening was crying inconsolably about his head hurting. The poor kid also sounds like Darth Vader when he breaths. At 9pm I felt his head and he was much hotter than before. After digging out a thermometer he had a temp of 104.2 no wonder the poor guy was confused and completely miserable! We made the call to just go to the ER since his fever was so high. Poor Robb is getting suck doing 95% of the work around here and adding in sick kids is going to put him over the top. After a trip to the ER he also came home with the diagnosis of a bilateral ear infection and sinus infection. I feel bad because we really probably waited too long before taking him to the Dr.
The third one to fall victim to the crud going around our house was Abby. Not that I ever want any of the kids to get sick but she handles it the worst by far. Although Caleb didn't handle it great this time either. She woke up Sunday morning with a fever and a cough and just didn't feel good in general. Robb and the kids went to pick up Grandma so she can stay with them while I have surgery #2. I felt bad bringing her into our germ infested house! By the time they got back from Tekamah Abby had quite the fever and we attempted to get a pedi appointment but those aren't easy to get on a Sunday. Robb and Grandma and Abby headed out to find an urgent care that was open on a Sunday. My guess is a diagnosis of a sinus infection and an ear infection. Hopefully she also gets a prescription for Omnicef. Hopefully everyone will be feeling better soon. It is a lot of work for Robb with 3 sick kids and I am desperately trying to stay healthy so they don't cancel my other surgery.

The Cast Comes Off

Thursday was the day I had been waiting for, for 5 weeks now. I had an appointment to get my cast off! It has always been uncomfortable but the last week it had been especially uncomfortable. My skin was itchy and my cast was rubbing in all the wrong places. Bryce was home sick from school with an ear infection so Abby and him got to come see the cast coming off. Caleb was a little sad he wouldn't see the cast getting cut off but we promised to video it for him.

The actual cutting of the cast wasn't as scary as I remember, but I was only 12 the last time I had a cast cut off.

When it was off my leg was disgusting! It was covered in dry skin and hair. I was so excited to go home and soak it in a nice hot bath!

This was my x-ray showing all the new hardware that is now a part of my ankle. The doctor again said what an impressive break it was for just slipping and falling. I guess I am really good at being a klutz! Robb and I were both pretty discouraged when we left the appointment. The doctor had talked about how for a good year I would know I had severely broke my ankle. He said it would hurt and swell with activity and that water sports and snow skiing were out for a year as well as any activity that would stress my ankle (so no Mud Run this year :(. He also talked about the possibility of some arthritis in my ankle in the next 10-15 years. This was a bummer to hear since I won't be that old in 10 years!

I got fitted with a walking boot but the intent for this week was to only put 50 lbs of weight on it so I can't really walk around with it at all. I am almost less mobile now because I am supposed to be putting some weight on it so now I have to use crutches instead of the scooter. After the cast was off my ankle was incredible painful! I wasn't able to bend it to put it all the way in the boot and they had to use some lifts to fit my foot in. They said that was okay for a couple days but told me to be diligent about stretching it out flat so the tendon doesn't get tight. Ugh! Robb and I were hoping things would get better and easier after this appointment but instead I feel like we have taken a step back. I also got told that I would need to wear the boot for 4-6 weeks when I was planning on 2. I guess another month and a half of not driving for me.

Basketball Bryce

This year Bryce was really excited to do the YMCA Basketball Clinic again. This was the clinic that was semi disastrous for Caleb last year, so we let him decide if he wanted to do it or not. He decided that he did not want to, but Bryce was excited about it. They had 4, hour long, weekly sessions. I was a little bummed that I only got to see him play at one of them but he did really well. I think the year of kindergarten has helped immensely! He seemed to listen better and follow instructions better.

The session that I went to was the last one so they got to play a game for the last half of it. Although getting that many 6 year olds to understand and actually play a game looks next to impossible, the high school guy that was teaching their group did pretty well. I don't know a lot about basketball but I even realized that there was a whole lot of traveling going on instead of dribbling.

Bryce managed to score 2 times during the game. He was pretty proud of himself. They don't officially keep score but Bryce knew his team had won and was pretty excited about it.

Abby's Birthday Party

We finally got to have Abby's family birthday party last weekend. The poor girl had to have her party a month late since we had to cancel twice due to surgery and then Caleb being sick. I was worried with all the snow we were supposed to get that it would get canceled a 3rd time, but by Saturday morning the roads were fine to drive to Norfolk. She was so excited when we told her that she finally got to have her party! Kristen her babysitter and our neighbor made her a Rapunzel cake. It turned out adorable. Bob, Andy and Bryce and Caleb worked hard to make the house perfect for a Rapunzel party. They hung banners and blew up balloons. It turned out great. It is hard to believe she is 4 already.

It took her awhile to blow out her candles. She had to think of 4 wishes first.

The girls

The kids, minus AJ. He got away too quick.

 

Opening presents was her favorite thing! She got so many nice gifts.

She put on everything from her princess kit.

Thank you every one for coming to Abby's party and for helping us celebrate. It was wonderful to have so many people there!