Happy Easter

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter. We started our day at church for the festival service and then home to get prepared for the family. Mom really made most of Easter dinner this year...lucky us. We hosted dinner for Mom & Dad, Jo, Ole, T & M, Dean, Lauren & the girls, the GGs, and UB. We had a lovely spread of delicious food - ham, pasta, potatoes, cabbage, corn pudding, asparagus, fruit, french toast bake, cheese stada, and salad. Great desserts, too - pineapple cake, cannoli, cupcakes, pies and candy. The kids did an egg hunt in the backyard and played well with each other. It was a great time and a lovely day.
Spring Break was a blast, we had such a good time. We left early on Sunday morning and drove to Columbus, Ohio. We got there mid afternoon. Traffic wasn't bad and the weather cooperated. It was off to the pool the second the bags were set down in the room. It was funny because the pool was an indoor/outdoor pool and you could see the steam coming off the outdoor portion. We stayed at Drury Inn hotels and we love them. They include breakfast and happy hour. We didn't have to get dinner that night because the heavy appetizers during happy hour.
Monday we woke up and were thrilled that the snow predictions were wrong. They said we could be waking up to 9"-12" and it turned out to be about 2"-3". We had breakfast and were off to COSI the science museum. On the way there, I noticed my rear turn signal was out. The museum was awesome. There were puzzle/maze exhibits, space exhibits, gadgets and gears. We watched a show that the kids got to see things blow up. There was a submarine that the kids could sit in and a deep ocean exhibit. We got my signal fixed at a local dealership on our way to Graeter's. It is an Ohio ice cream chain and the location nearest our hotel had a self guided tour of production. We had really good ice cream and the kids got to play in the playground for a little bit. It was pool time when we got back to the hotel and then another happy hour.
Tuesday we had breakfast and headed to Anthony Thomas Chocolates. We got a very cool tour of the factory and got to see many different chocolates being produced and packed. Our tour ended with a sample Buckeye and a visit to the chocolate store. We switched locations on Tuesday and traveled to Dayton. Our destination for the day was EnterTRAINment. It was a ginormous model railroad warehouse, play area and fun house. We spent a couple hours there. The layouts were amazing and so detailed. The kids loved the fun house, with its mazes and games. We had lunch at this great Mexican restaurant, El Rancho Grande. The food was really good and we lucked into lunch specials. We finished our drive to Dayton and checked into the Dayton hotel. Can you guess what the first stop was - pool! We tried to hit Scene 75, a huge entertainment complex but found it was closed until Thursday. We ended up at Chuck E Cheese for some game time instead.
Wednesday we started off at Boonshaft Museum. It was sort of nature center meets children's museum. We spent the morning there - so much to do and see. They had a great discovery zoo with animals you don't usually get to see close up. Bobcat, otters, mercats, porcupine. We saw a movie in the Dome theater  The kids got to run around and play in the various exhibits. We went to the US Air Force Museum/Hall of Fame. It was incredible how many planes were in the hangars. It was a lot of walking and Nick was running out of steam. We went back to the hotel and hit the pool. We had another scoop of ice cream from Graeter's and hit El Rancho for dinner - both were that good that we had them twice.
Thursday was the best weather day. It was sunny and in the 40s. We spent the morning at Carillon Historical museum. It was a favorite day. The museum park was like a smaller version Henry Ford Greenfield Village. There was an indoor museum with hundreds of the items patented in Dayton and a carousel. The park had about 2 dozen shops and buildings from historic Dayton. There was a one room school house, a tavern, a house, a print shop, the Wright Bros shop, a Mill. A huge transportation center, a new exhibit about the great flood of Dayton. We had the park to ourselves - seriously didn't see another family until we were leaving. We learned so much and it was great. We went to Scene 75 for an afternoon of game playing. We did glow in the dark mini-golf. We bowled, and we played games. Ellie hit the jackpot on a couple games and ended up with over 3,000 tickets. We had so much fun there, too. We came back to the hotel and hit the pool and then happy hour. While I was packing up our bags for our trip home, Rob took the kids for a bonus trip to the pool.
Friday we had breakfast and got on the road. It was Nick's actual birthday and we wanted to try to get home for a nice dinner. Our only stop on the way home was to Albanese Candy in Merrillville, IN. They make gummy products and their gummy bears are out of the ordinary flavors. We got home late in the afternoon because traffic once we hit Chicago really slowed. We had dinner at Red Robin and a scoop of ice cream from Chocolate Shoppe. I started our massive loads of laundry. Mom and Dad came over with a little something for Nick's actual birthday.  It was super nice to sleep in our own beds again.
Saturday, Ellie and I ran to the grocery store to pick up what we needed for today. Rob worked outside trying to clean up the yard. I took the kids to an Easter egg hunt at a local church. They had a nice time. Rob took the kids to the park while I got the house prepared for today. It was just a kick around day. We worked on Nick's bug project for school and started to get back to our normal routines.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Great Day

Putting my feet up and writing this blog post before a week off with the kids and Rob.
Thursday we had some morning play time at Mom's house with Matteo and Tony. We had conference's at the school. This was the first year for electronic portfolios...nothing tangible anymore, just computer files. It was great to see how far they have each come this year. Nick had his last sports class. Coach Jimmy told him it was a treat to have him in class. Ellie had jazz but will continue after break.
Friday Rob went to paint while we did miscellaneous stuff. The kids and I went to Unique and totally lucked into some great deals. It was 50% off day and we found clothes, games, American Girl accessories...really good score. We went to the library to get some new books. Mom and Dad came over and Mom baked the cakes for today. Ellie's request was a chocolate cake with flowers and Nick wanted a SpeedRacer cake. I got some laundry done while the cakes were cooling. Nick had a pink lemonade cake with strawberries and white frosting and Ellie was chocolate cake with turtle filling and chocolate frosting. They both looked marvelous.
This morning Ellie and I ran over to Salvation. We were able to pick her up some tank tops and t-shirts for the summer. I picked Nick up and took him for a haircut. He looks so handsome with his new cut. We did the rest of our grocery shopping for today and came home. Rob took the kids over to Whole Foods for the Easter event while I finished cleaning up. They came home with goodie bags and the cutest eggs. We had The GGs, Mom and Dad, Jo, Ole, Tony & Matteo and Dean, Lauren & the girls over to celebrate. It was a very nice evening. I made pizzas and we had salad. The kids were crazy together.
Hope everyone has a nice week...will post again on Easter. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Spring Break

Technically when the kids got off the bus this afternoon it was the beginning of Spring Break except it is freezing outside. We are supposed to be getting a snow storm this weekend.
Monday I did some shopping at Target and was able to pick up the kids Easter gifts. For the past few years we have gone to giving the kids one gift instead of a basket of junk for Easter. I picked a Lego set out for each of them. Monday evening was Ellie's SOAR reception. The photo is of the art piece that was entered. It was inspired by van Gogh. It was fun...I got a bit of time to visit with Christi, Mom and Dad came, and Rob joined us after work. Ellie got to stand next to the Mayor and get a picture with the other students from East Prairie. The exhibit will be up through the first week in April and I believe you can just walk into the lobby - her picture is with the East Prairie board.
I volunteered yesterday morning. I helped Mrs. Breiler with some conference prep and paperwork. Afterschool we picked up Nick's treat for school. He was so very excited to be celebrating his birthday at school. He really wanted to take the ice cream cups but we couldn't find the plain vanilla ones, so he took ice cream sandwiches.
Today Mom and I hung out. Dad was at a conference, so I had her all to myself. We went to the Dollar store & did a bit of grocery shopping. We spent the afternoon on the couch - trying to keep warm. Dad came over after the conference and we had Wednesday night dinner. We played a couple games and had a very enjoyable night.
I will most likely post again on Saturday night but then I am going on Spring Break for a week and enjoying the time with the kids and Rob...will be back for an Easter post and catch up. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree
PS - Most exciting news of the moment...Mariano's is most likely coming to the corner of Touhy and McCormick in Skokie. Sad news...not until 2014 or 2015.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Hope everyone enjoyed their St. Paddy's Day. We had a lovely dinner at Mom and Dad's house - vegan and traditional. The kids had a ball playing with Tony and Matteo.
On Thursday in sports class, Nick did great with the football drills. He wants to take just a football class now.
Friday was Ellie's 11th Birthday. She is growing up so quickly. I finally got the call that the biopsy showed nothing from the doctors' office. We went out for dinner at California Pizza in Old Orchard. We went to see Beauty and the Beast at Niles North afterward. It was a great performance and kept the kids entertained.
Saturday we went to the years' 1st rummage sale. I love rummage sale season. We were able to stock up on some clothes for both Ellie and Nick. We had a nice lunch together at Cici's. We stopped at their bank to spin the prize wheel and trade in their postcard for a birthday certificate for ice cream. We rented some movies and had a movie night. Rob painted for a bit on Saturday. Ellie helped me make some cookies for St. Paddy's day.
In the wee hours this morning, Ellie started to cough - we all know what that means by now. Luckily, it didn't continue too long and she woke up fine. Rob and Nick went to church and Ellie and I had some couch time here.
Time is flying by this month, it does every year with all the March madness in this family. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Early Week Achievements

Don't have much to share but the news I have is pretty awesome. On Monday afternoon, I received an email from Ellie's art teacher. Ellie was one of 10 children from East Prairie that had their art works entered in the SOAR (Students Outstanding Art Recognition) art exhibit. Ellie will get to meet the mayor at the reception next week and her piece will be at the exhibit at North Shore Center for Preforming Arts through April. Nick came home Monday with a Principal 100 award. He received it for outstanding listening. He was thrilled and glowing. He came home today with another one. This time it was for being respectful to his fellow students. Pretty impressive week here.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Clean & Clear

Just a quick update to share news from yesterday. My prep felt different this time around. I had the same gallon of prep but it tasted a tad better this time. I also actually took the dulcolax pills this time around. Anyhow...I started the prep on Sunday evening and really didn't even have the running to the washroom moments. I had a good night sleep and then had Rob wake me up when he left for work. I drank an additional 5 glasses and was ready to go. The zofran worked well and I was able to keep the prep down this time around. Really the only bad moments were the abdominal cramping.
I drove to Mom and Dad's house and we were on our way to the hospital. I was pretty much taken right in and prepared. I have learned a bit something from each test/procedure and this time I learned to ask for a hot pack. I immediately put it on my left hand to heat my veins up. It worked...5 minutes later the nurse was able to insert the IV without too much trouble. The procedure itself was fine...I can recall certain conversations and moments but overall cannot recall the entire thing. No polyps were found, just a couple patches of seeds?!? I think they might have been from the berries I had on Saturday - would have never thought that berry seeds would stick around. I have a 2 year recall which she wants more prep for. 2 days of clear liquids, citrate magnesium the 1st day followed by the go-lytle the 2nd day. I agreed to it yesterday but will re-visit this with her closer to that time.
Thanks for keeping me in your positive thoughts...Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Early Post

History has taught me that once I begin the colonoscopy prep that I will be pretty much washroom bound for the rest of the time...thus the AM post.
The past few days have been a sort of blur between Nick still not being 100% and Ellie's party prep. I did some cleaning around the house. Picked up some plates and napkins that matched Ellie's pink theme. Nick had sports on Thursday night and clearly wasn't himself. He came over to sit down with me about 2/3 of the way through and his heart was thumping so hard. It is good that duoneb was only a very temporary med.
Friday night we went to Mariano's to pick up Ellie's cake. She found a cake in the case that matched her theme and they wrote on it for her. We watched the North game stream on Friday night but they lost.
Ellie and I went to Salvation yesterday morning. She found a couple t-shirts that we were able to use to make up-cycled flower headbands. We also found a few dresses that we were able to quickly wash for her party. The run way/red carpet for her party looked great. Rob had brought home bulletin paper and we covered the living room wall with black and then hung white plastic tablecloths from the ceiling. The girls worked on a banner for the middle. We had red paper lining the floor for them to strut their stuff. It was a very nice party and the girls seemed thrilled to be able to dress up in things they normally wouldn't be able to.
Ole got news that he passed his final CPA exam...very exciting. Jo has her husband back and the boys their father. We went over to Mom and Dad's for an hour last night so Ellie and Nick could have some playtime with Tony and Matteo while Jo and Ole went out to celebrate. The kids had a ball together...played real nice.
With the time change and me being clear liquids today...I sent Rob and Ellie to church. We were asked if we could do Sunday school earlier in the week and I didn't 100% think it through with Nick being sick, the time change and prep day. Nick just woke up at 9:30 AM and he hasn't coughed yet. I am hoping that we have finally cleared this hurdle.
Keep me in your positive thoughts, please. I am hoping for not one polyp and just very normal, healthy tissue and then I can spread these suckers out more. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Happy Anniversary & 600th Post

Holy Crap! My heart is beating so hard. I just finished watching the live stream of the Niles North basketball game and they won! Rob is at the game and I watched here and it was intense, to say the least. All came down to a foul shot in the final seconds.
Today is our 14th anniversary. The weather is just as it was 14 years ago. We had a snowstorm come through yesterday that provided a lovely blanket of white snow. With the snowstorm came school cancellations - not out schools, of course, but other schools in the area. This postponed the game from last night to tonight. Rob wasn't supposed to be taping on our actual day but it happened. We were able to squeeze in a quick dinner in Glenview before the game. Rob dropped of a lovely bouquet of lillies at lunchtime.
Working backwards now...the kids and Rob had off of school on Monday. It was good because Nick really had declined. I took him into the doctors office and he was prescribed an oral steroid. We went to Target and picked it up and came home to relax. We had pottery on Monday evening and we all glazed. It was fun to see how the things we have made the last couple weeks came out. Nick had his worst night yet.
Tuesday morning he woke up and we went down to have breakfast and give him his breathing treatment before school. Not 2 minutes after eating breakfast had he started coughing so hard that he vomited. I kept him home and Ellie was off to school. I talked with his allergist and she scheduled an appointment for him to be seen today. I shoveled a couple times and brought a bowl of snow inside for Nick to play with. I got an email from Ellie's teacher that her 504 plan would apply to her ISAT testing and she would have all of her testing accommodation available to her. For some stupid reason these teachers really make these kiddos nervous about these tests. We had dinner, showers and got the kids to bed. Nick's over night was terrible.
This morning we were off to a better start. Both kids got off to school and I did some cleaning around the house. I took Nick in to the doctor at lunchtime. He is wheezing and is junky. She doubled his steroid dose, gave him an antibiotic and we have a new med to add to his nebulizer. He got a treatment while we were at the office and this new med makes him high. I sort of felt bad taking him back to school because he was off the wall. Hopefully it will knock him better in the next day or so.
So this post marks my 600th blog post...sort of special that it coordinates with our anniversary. Hopefully Rob makes it home okay...I cannot imagine the nervousness at the game. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

TGFFDW

TGFFDW - Thank goodness for four day weekends.
I spent Thursday afternoon with the AT &T repairman. Our internet keeps going in and out and it needs to be fixed. He ran tests and climbed poles and eventually ran a new cable from the box to the pole. It seemed to be better but subsequently we are getting knocked off again. Thursday night Nick had sports...I was wrong, he has 3 more weeks. Ellie had dance. Nick and I picked up Shamrock shakes for dessert and rented a couple videos. We had dinner when Rob and Ellie got home and then they enjoyed their first green shake of the season.
Friday the kids had off of school and it was a very good thing because Nick's asthma is in full swing. We started his nebulizer treatments and we just hung out watching movies all day. His appetite was not really there. The kids packed their bags for their overnight at Mom and Dad's house. I brought them over and stayed for a bit. Nick was clearly not himself and was complaining his chest hurt. He decided to try staying overnight with the understanding I would come pick him up if he needed me. Rob was taping a game and I was watching it via stream. It was a nail biter game but North won.
Saturday morning I hit Salvation Army and was able to get a couple bags. I went to pick up the kids. They were doing crafts and making jewelry. The overnight was a success. After a couple games of checkers we were on our way home. We had lots of cuddle time on the couch and more movies. I did some laundry and Ellie really cleaned her room. I picked up more inhalers at CVS.
This morning Nick was up early and I came down with him and started his nebulizer. We made a cake and a pie for their birthday celebration at Mom and Dad's. I finally talked Nick into a shower and tried to really steam him out. Rob had to work a couple hours at the softball clinic. We went over to Mom's for Family Sunday. We celebrated March Madness - our anniversary, Ellie's birthday, Nick's birthday and St. Patrick's day. Mom made chicken, baked ziti, asparagus, salad and fruit. The GGs brought cannoli and Mom made Irish Car Bomb cake. The kids had a great time but Nick seemed to be getting worse. His eyes are blood shot from his coughing. His stomach hurts from the coughing. I scheduled an appointment at the doctors office tomorrow morning. I just went upstairs because he seemed to be gasping for air and he was crying in bed. He was soaking wet so his fever obviously broke but  he is regularly coughing still. Rob decided to go up and sleep with him for a little bit. It is good we have the day off tomorrow and can get him seen. I am hoping Ellie doesn't pick any of this up because she begins ISAT testing this week and cannot miss school.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree