$25 eye drops with a side of spring fever

We have been dealing with sickness in our home for over a week now. On Monday last week the 3 oldest kids had ear infections. William had a side of pink eye to go with the ear infection. Isabella had a helping of infantigo to go with her ear infection. Jack had fever to go with his ear situation. And Suzy seemed to be o.k. However when we left for our mini vacation- Donovan's mama called to say they were sharing the love and Suzy developed pink eye. She called the Dr. who said, he doesn't pass out Rx's for pink eye. It should clear up in a couple of days.

By yesterday (1 week with pink eye) It still was not better. I called our family Dr. --same response different day. No Rx for pink eye. URGH!!! So we went to my eye Dr. in Sturgis who examined her. And snap!! Suzy is not covered under our eye insurance program...because why would I sign up a 1 year old?? And bummer this appointment would be out of pocket. Gee--Watch the money fly away....Anyways...the only appointment they had yesterday was 1:30. Snap! again~Nap time. But I really wanted this resolved, so we went. The older 2 kids were in school, so that left Suzy and William to take. Look how cute they look waiting at the Dr.

Hey...what else was I supposed to do while waiting 20 minutes to see the Dr. I mean it's totally normal to take pictures of your kids at the eye Dr. waiting room, right??

So come to find out....it may have started as pink eye...but now has turned into inflamation from rubbing it so much. Something was irrating her eye and it wasn't healing. The eye Dr. gave us a Rx and we were on our way.

So we headed over to the super center and dropped a $25 load on the Rx. Man that stinks. Not buying diapers but now eye drops....that is a tiny, tiny bottle of eye drops. So while we waited for the gold to be dispensed this is the kids favorite spot at Wal-mart. Looking at the books. Again, it's totally normal to be taking pictures inside Wal-mart, Right?? But aren't you glad I did.....how sweet are they? Even though at times it is so frustrating dealing with toddlers....I want to remember all the things that made them so happy. The simple things like looking at brand new books at Walmart and pressing all the buttons on the noisy books. Hearing them laugh at the potty training book that has a button sounds like a flushing toilet. I love that laughter. It reminds me to slow down and savor this time.

So today Suzy's eye is doing better. But -her and William are running fevers of 102-103. ALL DAY.

But we did go on a walk and got outside a little. Oh how I love spring. We are so ready for warmer weather. It kept climbing today and actually reached 56 degrees!

I love how entertained the kids are playing outdoors. I love not needing to put boots, coats, mittens, and hats on the kids.

I love that the snow is almost melted. I love that William had a little energy despite the fever and the boys worked on sweeping the street.

I love sittin' around....enjoying the outdoors. I love having kids old enough to be photographers. :)

back from.....

We flew from South Bend to Cincinnati and then from Cincinnati to Las Vegas. After a 4 hour delay in Cincinnati, because of mechanical problems we were finally there!

The view from our plane.

Isabella wrote letters for us for each day we were gone. The first day the letter said....."Dear Mom & Dad, What does everything on the ground look like from the plane? I hope you arrive there safely. Thank you for helping me with my homework on Monday Mom. And thank you for bringing me on Monday Dad. That was the first time in second grade that I've been picked up by anyone. Hope you have a nice trip! Love your daughter, Isabella Rose


P.S. The people in the airplane I drew are you two."



What a pumpkin. Each day the letter was just as sweet.

Thursday night Sealed Air put on a dinner for us. It was wonderful!

My favorite part....The dessert bar.

Inside our hotel there were beautiful fresh flower arrangements everywhere. WOW!






More pictures inside the Mirage.

Again inside the hotel. Showing one of the restaurants in the background.



One of the waterfalls inside the lobby.

Our first morning there we started off site seeing with friends Travis and Kristen. This was just leaving our hotel.

more pictures of the town....

....then back to the hotel for swimming. 3 pools, and warm sunshine. I was HAPPY.

Our friends...and I wanted to show you the amazing waterfalls at the pool.

Friday night Sealed Air bought tickets for everyone to go to the Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil. It was the first show we had ever been to. It was absolutely amazing. You can watch the trailer here.

For those of you who have never been to a show in Vegas...Let me explain a little. The Love theater at The Mirage houses 6,341 speakers and 2,013 seats set around a central stage. Each seat is fitted with three speakers, including a pair in the headrest. Video images on two walls above the audience on two sides of the auditorium emphasize elements of the show and provide transitions. High-definition projectors also create enormous images on four translucent screens that can be unfurled to divide the auditorium. (that all came directly from Wikipedia....check here to see more) People were bungie jumping from the ceiling....other people were doing stunts. Everywhere you look people were doing dangerous things in cool costumes. I just can't begin to describe all of it. It was super fun to experience it. And at $130 per ticket I was super glad it was free for us.

Breakfast the next morning at the hotel. The hostess was looking for a larger group so we joined Travis and Kristen and the VP of Sealed Air (18,000 + employees) and his wife. It was fun to get to know Jim and Gail. They were super down to earth and fun to talk to.

After breakfast we started out for more site-seeing on the town, but after about a mile of walking we decided it was much to warm to waste one more minute away from the pool. I'm so glad Kristen is so like-minded with me. We joined another Sealed Air wife....Kelly.

Feeling good to be warm!!

More pictures of our friends, and I wanted to show the cute cabannas in the background. And ahhhh...palm trees.

The last night there Sealed Air transported us downtown Vegas to a Jazz Club. We had a delicious dinner that was topped off with Chocolate Mousse. The hardest part was.... hors'devours started at 7:00 with dinner at 8:00. People...there is a 3 hour difference. That means we didn't eat until dinner until 11:00 our time. I mean I am a night person...but we were flying out the next morning. However when food is involved I can make exceptions to my bed time.

After dinner we realized that we still had not purchased gifts for our kiddos so Kristen, Travis, Donovan and I found this little gift shop. We decided against the hats, but I think Travis got the sunglasses.

Krisen and I. I really think this trip would NOT have been even 1/2 as fun without this couple. I loved being in West Palm Beach with them 2 years ago...and this was even more fun. I love their sense of humor, I love how they break into song at any given moment, and I love their spontenaiety.

Yesterday on our flight home. What a Trip. What alot of pictures!! I couldn't help myself. It is such a different place. Thanks to Kristen who was such a good sport to take so many of them. I wouldn't trade my spot here in the midwest in 100 years. I love home, I love my kids, and I'm so blessed to be back home safe and sound.

This morning at 7:20......

I couldn't help but take a picture of the sun just coming up and Isabella and how sweet she looked all ready for the day. Last night she lost another tooth and was just so excited to have 4 missing teeth at the same time. She was smiling from ear to ear, excited to show the class her new loss. Dad usually takes Isabella to school...but this morning was a trial run for Thursday and Friday because Donovan and I are going on a trip tomorrow morning. Isabella has a hard time with new things and so we were just working on the adjustments for riding the bus. She did great and had NO tears!

After I got Isabella on the bus, and later in the morning got Jack off to school......William, Suzy and I took my little sister Holly lunch at work. She only has 20 minutes for lunch so we usually eat in the van. Today we were celebrating Holly's 32nd Birthday. She requested Pizza Casserole, Applesauce, and Peanut Butter Pie. She is easy to please. Love Ya Holly!

Donovan had won this trip through work back in December to go to Las Vegas. So we are off in the morning and will be back Sunday. My little sweet Isabella left me this on my dresser.

It is a note for every day while we are gone.

And she also left this taped to the back. It reads: "money to spend" I couldn't help but peak inside. It was 50 cents. The exact amount we left her under her pillow last night for her tooth she lost. She MELTS my heart!

I still have packing to do and notes to write for the kids, instructions for Grandparents, and a bath to take. I gotta get off the computer! But I had to post something -my older sister Melissa was going postal on me about how long it had been since I had written on the blog. So here you are Melissa! :)

4th times a charm......

Look at me in my new big girl pants. I am proud.

If you been reading me for a while you will remember that Suzy had ideas of potty training herself back here. I however was too lazy to go with it. Things like surgery, Christmas, and a vacation were keeping me from working with this little girl. But this past week I felt a sudden burst of renewed patience, after coming back from my trip and decided to see what she would do. I've never trained any of my other 3 kids this young. So I prepared myself mentally that this was just for fun. That was Wednesday.





Here it is Sunday and she has surpassed any of my expectations. The first day she went 13 times in the potty!!Thursday, Friday and Saturday she wore panties all day. She was going at least 10 times a day. She got it! She understood. This is not to say we have had meltdowns, we have. We have also cleaned guano out of panties. 3 days in a row we have cleaned them out. But tonight she got the guano in the potty. She is getting it. The sheer thought of not buying diapers for the first time in 7 1/2 years makes me down right giddy.

One thing that worked for the others was a small treat (ie: fruit loop or fruit snack) when they went potty and to put a sticker on a chart. (thanks Aunt Melissa for all the stickers) This was Suzy's potty chart from the first day on the job. I am also a firm believer in using the thick cloth panties while at home. This is more laundry...but the learning curve is huge when they can actually feel themselves wet, unlike a pull up. I do however use pull-up's when going out anywhere. Man, I'm going nuts just thinking of all the money we are going to save by not buying diapers anymore.

ice-skating

I love teaching my children something for the first time.
Today was girls day out and I took Isabella ice-skating for the first time ever.

I loved watching her so much through the camera it was hard to put it down. All the 1st's. First time feeling ice skates on her feet, her first fall. She is growing up so fast and I think if I don't take lots of pictures I will forget....because I can't believe she is almost 8. Eight years...where did it go??? And somedays it makes me so sad that we are doing some things for the last time. Because she is getting so independant. Don't get me wrong there are alot of times I can't wait until all of my kids can put their own shoes on and wipe themselves. But then that means that they are growning up....and wow! the time goes so fast. I remind myself daily not to "wish" these sweet days away.







Somedays I just want silence. But today it was so fun to hear all of the things forming in her little mind. I loved all of her questions....Like where will we put our shoes while we skate? How do they get the ice for skating on? Where will we pay? She was just so excited.















What a sweet day with my little sweetie.