Ben, Ben, Ben

After surgery
At the hospital

After his haircut

Before his haircut

Today was a day for Ben! I had to wake up at 6:30 this morning to get him medicated and fed before 7. Luckily, he was up in the Living Room, so it was pretty easy. He ate so slow that he only got to eat 2 oranges for breakfast! Then I had to keep a constant eye on him to keep him from eating anything! He tried to sneak some mac and cheese and later a twizzler. Poor kid, it's hard to understand that he couldn't eat before his surgery! I also buzzed his head, since he cut his hair so short! My sisters and sister-in-law came over, and we all went on a walk to keep him distracted for awhile. I took some pictures of him. Sort of a before surgery photo shoot. Of course, I got pictures of everyone. We got back 15 minutes too late for him to drink any water, so then I had to make sure that he didn't try and drink anything, and I felt so bad for him! We all wanted popsicles, so I made whomever was eating them stay in the kitchen, so as not to torment him! Kim came back and watched Kira and Emma while we took Ben and Leah with us.

We made it there in good time and got a pretty good parking spot. I got to read with Ben a whole lot. He really wanted me there and I'm so glad I got to be there! I held him when he was supposed to be falling asleep from the medicine they gave him, but, no. He was still wide awake when they put him on the bed and started rolling him away from us. They let us tell him goodbye and then were off. Right on time! About an hour later we were told that everything went fine. He had 5 teeth pulled, some crowns put on, some fillings and three spacers put in! They're fast! Then we had to wait for him to wake up and when they finally came to get us, of course I was feeding my baby. Little awkward... Either way, he was excited to see us! He told me that he had been crying for me and his dad. He was still out of it, but was glad to let me sit and hold him while he started waking up more. He gladly drank some Sprite they gave him. He was so thirsty! I felt so bad for him when I saw his mouth! Wow! He no longer has top front teeth! I'm glad that they were able to do everything though! He really wanted the IV out (he called it a "Stick." The Nurse also told me that he told her he wanted to be a Pokemon master trainer when he grew up. (I doubt it pays well.) He was pretty silly, but not more than usual. He got a shirt that said he had a surgery at Children's Mercy. And he got to ride in a wagon out to the car, since he was "under the influence." He didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay there! So, he was crying about getting out of the wagon and into our car. That made me sad! But, we stopped by Hy-Vee and I got him all kinds of foods and popsicles to eat. Which is good, because he was starving! He went after the popcorn the girls had left on the floor! In a bowl, mind you. So, Scott had to take that away. Then we let him have real food, because obviously he was up for it. He ate a ton of strawberries, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, half a can of ravioli with meatballs, a little Golden Cakester, and a few popsicles right after he got home. Poor kid was starving! Of course, so were Scott and I, since we weren't allowed to eat or drink the whole time either! Not as much as him! I was perfectly okay with letting him help himself! What a good kid! Luckily, Kim took Kira with her when she left, so everyone got along just fine! Kira really enjoys beating Ben when he's down, and since he was just out of surgery, I'm glad he got a break! I was really wishing I hadn't sworn off of tv for the week! But, we made it! And Ben seems to be doing fantastic, though I did make sure and give him more Ibruprofen before bed, just to make sure! We're so lucky!

Looong day!

Oh my goodness, what a full day! And, of course, almost everything had to happen today! Luckily, Ben's surgery is tomorrow or we would have had all kinds of problems! So, I had to wake up "early," feed the baby and get both Emma and I ready to go. I went to my mom's house and picked up My sister-in-law and her mom to take her to her Doctor's appointment in KC. She had to have an in-depth ultrasound. We were way early and they were way nervous! Turns out her regular doctor was using the wrong due date, and freaking out everyone for no reason! Her baby is a little small, but it's not that big of a deal! So, good news there! On the way back I put a check in the bank, also good news! Then I got to wait for Emma to come back and we went home. My mom so kindly lent us the money for registration! After lunch, Scott took Emma and Kira to the dentist. They LOVED it! Jenkins and Leblanc are excellent! They got balloons, stickers, a new toothbrush and toothpaste! Kira loved watching some of a movie, since we're not allowing the tv on for this week, and playing a video game! Emma's teeth are fantastic and Kira needs 10 cavities taken care of, which will happen in 3 appointments. Fun! I'm sure she'll be thrilled! Really! While they were gone, Ben started pacing like crazy! He did clean the living room and his bedroom and said he did his chores! What a great kid! He spoiled it by cutting his own hair. Like buzz cut short on the front left half of his head! Should look fantastic with him going into surgery tomorrow to get all of his teeth fixed! Yikes! So, Scott gets back with the girls and I take Kira with me to the school and get my kids registered and Kira signed up for her Kindergarten screening. Then we went to Wal-Mart and got the rest of the school supplies, plus some comfort items for Ben to take with him to surgery! I'm so glad they moved the surgery up a week so I can be there! When I asked him what he wanted to take with him to the hospital, he replied, "My mom!" I'll get to be there! Next week I had to go to the bus driver safety meeting, so I wouldn't have been there! Anyway. I came home, washed dishes and made dinner. Then I stood in line for a meeting and got $25 for my effort (gas money to last us, hopefully). I came home, helped put the kids to bed, fed the baby, and sent Scott off to his late night meeting. What a day! I'm glad everything has went so well!

Another day bites the dust

Man! Emma's age is wearing me out! I really don't like the phase of not needing sleep! She woke up at 1am this morning, then wanted to get into bed with me. She had had a nightmare, so I understood the want. But, when she didn't go back to sleep in the next hour, I began to rethink my position. She wanted to go potty, so I took her and had to change her diaper. She tried everyone's bed out, and decided she still wanted in mine. I was exhausted and cranky at this point. She took her diaper off (that was the last one upstairs) and wanted to go potty again. Now, mind you, she didn't go potty the first time, just sat there. So, I just put her in her room and let her cry it out. I was so tired! Obviously, because when she woke me up, she smelled. I forgot to put a new diaper on her! Whoops! Oh well!
I was tired this morning, so my kids got their fill of Saturday morning cartoons, while Scott went to a baptism. What a mess! I had them help me clean up some. My determination to leave the tv off all week next week has been cemented! I'm actually excited! Then, after the week without any tv, I'll let them earn screen time with doing their chores. I'm tired of being the only one who cleans! I'm doing a huge cleanup this week and that will make it easier on the kiddos the week after. Funnily enough, while watching cartoons, they saw a commercial for the new Swivel Sweeper and both Ben and Kira want one. I think they're pretty cool too! Especially if it encourages my kids to clean! If I had the $50, I would totally do it!
Anyway, we went over to my parents' house as soon as Scott got home and everyone was ready. I was so excited to see Kim! It's always nice to visit with my family too! We ended up getting to see the new Harry Potter movie today! Hurray! I've been wanting to see it for a week now! It was Bill, Laura, Kim, Sam, Leah and I that went. It was pretty good! I got back too late to consider going to the Ward BBQ. Oh well. So, I watched a few Hannah Montanas that I had recorded on my parents' DVR, so they have a little more space! I really like most of the Disney Channel shows. They're clean! And somewhat humorous. Some shows more than others! It's nice being able to watch shows with my kids!
So, now Emma is wide awake and not wanting to sleep. Ugh! What a funny kiddo! Hopefully, she won't be cranky at church tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to me!

Leah is a pilot. She looks surprised!
Kira, Emma and Scott "flying"

Me, Leah, Ben and Kira inside one of those huge helicopters

Scott and Kira

The kids and their newly made treasure chests

Me and my birthday fruit pizza (Sam made it) in my beautiful birthday clothes that Mom and Sam got me (mom paid and Sam helped with the choosing)

Leah eating rice cereal for the first time, she loved it so much, she wanted to take the spoon to the bowl herself!

My version of the cute picture at Picture People. If only I had professional backgrounds!

Happy 6th of July!

We ended up going to my dad's classroom for the 4th. Hurray! They got back with plenty of time. We had an awesome view of the fireworks in Corporate Woods! So, Leah got to see her very first set of fireworks! She was absolutely interested and wasn't scared, since the windows blocked most of the loudness! Even Emma kept saying, "Wow!" She's talking so much better! Little by little! It's actually cute when she says, "No!" It's too bad we got home at 11 and then had to go through Kira's bags to find stuff. I got to bed about 12:30, yikes! But Emma slept all night!

Yesterday I enjoyed seeing an old friend at church! I miss the 3rd Ward! I talked to Julia for about 10 minutes and still didn't miss any of Relief Society! Then after church I spent at least an hour making potato salad. It turned out well! Emma had a small bowl's worth right after I finished it, so she thought it was good! We got to go to a really fun get-together after I finished the food. We all went to Shannon's house and saw old friends! Most of us have kids, so we spent a lot of time chasing kids and trying to talk. Scott and I swapped off, so we got to do some talking. It was great being with other adults!

I totally want to have a get-together on my birthday, but I don't want it to be a birthday party. So, I was thinking about having a Swap shop/Game night. That way I have something fun to do on my birthday! And how great would it be to save money by swapping good stuff! I'm still working on the idea!

Leah is so cute! I got her all dressed up today and she's so cute, not that my other kids aren't. I'll be adding more pictures onto my slideshow!

Kira's picture is from Louisiana and she's holding a baby alligator (about 3 or 4 years old)! Crazy!

Moving Right Along

So very tired! Tuesday I did some deep cleaning, hurray! And then stayed up until midnight helping my mother-in-law with her speech (she's in a public speaking class). Yes, she was at my house. The sad thing is that I can't sleep in, ever. As long as Hash-baz is awake, there's no rest for me. The things she can destroy in just a little time... Yesterday while I was trying to clean up before Scott got home, she threw a candle down the stairs. There was glass on five of the stairs and the floor. Of course I stepped in some, but it didn't bleed. Luckily no one else did! Then as I was trying to replace the two letters that she obviously trashed somehow (at the Post Office), she got upset at me. She didn't seem to want to let me make brotchen (German rolls), which was the only big thing I wanted to do yesterday. I did it though it took me about 5 hours. Talk about a labor of love! Two of the families I was going to bring them to weren't home. Too bad I left some at one of their houses. They're going to come back to stale/moldy bread when they come home. Unless I drive out and pick them back up!
Happily, Emma went potty three times. Too bad she fell asleep on the couch and peed in her panties. Then when she woke up, the first thing she did was pee on the floor. Anyway, suffice it to say I had a long day. Then Hash-baz woke up at 1:30 this morning and got into bed with me. I never sleep well when I have a kid in bed, but I was too tired to wake up enough to put her back in bed. Sad catch-22.
Leah's doing fantastic though! I think she looks a ton like my dad! Turns out I did when I was a baby too (my mom would say when I still do)! I love her little dimpled smile! She's so snuggly. Everyone should have a baby to snuggle with. Even if they have to borrow them. That's what babysitting is for!
Kira is doing well in Louisiana. She doesn't seem to miss us. I'm glad she's not homesick. She seems to be behaving. Woohoo! Maybe she'll come back better behaved and with manners. I can dream, right?
Now if I can make it through today without sugaring myself up to stay awake, I might get something done! Scott's still working, which is fabulous! Yay Yay for Scott!