Trip to Jamaica

We managed to get organized enough to get the boys off so we could head out to Jamaica! We had a fabulous time and I think the boys had a good time too. Jake and Ben spent two nights with their Aunt Pam and 3 nights and G & G Bergmann’s. When we got home on Saturday night Ben gave us, especially me, the extreme cold shoulder but we were expecting that. It took him about 45 minutes or so to forgive me for leaving him. Until that point I couldn’t touch him – though he didn’t want me too far out of his sight either.

Brian and Jenny’s wedding was just about as perfect as they come. Taking pictures of such a beautiful bride makes the job pretty easy. I think I took about 350 pictures – of course lots of them are pretty much the same. The wedding was at 4pm in a little tucked away cove on the beach (due to too much wind close to the water). After the ceremony we had champagne and cake followed by dinner at the French restaurant.

On Friday morning some of the bunch went off of the resort to zip line, bob sled, etc. I didn’t think it was such a good idea for me so I took the morning to relax – boy I needed that. I had a chance to nap, read my book, watch around and take some photos. It was great.

Since we’ve been home I’ve been trying to get things washed and put away – I haven’t totally managed that yet. We dyed Easter eggs last night at Feldewerd’s – Jake enjoyed that while Ben enjoyed the outdoors. Today Jake got to go with Grandma Marilyn to Gabe’s house. They had some gymnastics’ adventure planned and an afternoon movie. I think we are going to have a bum day at home tomorrow and are planning to spend Easter at the Bergmann’s.

Happy Easter to Everyone – I hope you can find time to enjoy the nice weather.

Healthy Again

Well now that I’ve accomplished to get both of my children healthy – I’m sick as a dog. Oh well, I guess that is what happens to moms when our defenses get a chance to rest. The good news is that I have a week to recuperate before we leave for vacation. I did decide to go on some antibiotics – I hate to take the chance that it will develop into a horrible sinus situation. My right side of my head was already giving me some trouble.

Jake’s check up at ENT yesterday went great. His stitches are dissolving nicely and the incision looks great. The scabs from his tonsils are healing and look good. The gross stuff that was in his mouth for the last 2 weeks seems to be gone. The best news of all – his lymph node was benign. They classify is as a reactive node. I think that means that it reacted to something at some point and just never resolved itself. His blood work for toxoplasmosis and cat scratch disease were both normal as well. That was all a relief.

Not much else going on – we need to do some major planning, packing and organizing this week to get ready for the boys to be at Pam’s and for us to go on vacation. Oh I’m sure we’ll be ready. If we aren’t, we’re going anyway!

Signs of Minnesota Spring

Our cat - out of the garage!One of the ice puddles in our yard.
Out for a 4-wheeler ride.

Loving the mud.

Just hanging out on the last of the snow, or is it sand?

One day this will be a dirt bike I'm sure.

Pictures

Jake the first night after surgery.

Jake made sure that Ben also shared in all the popsicle treats!

By far Jake's favorite thing to do - cut boxes apart. This was the day after surgery. He was already feeling quite a bit better as long as we stayed after the pain meds.

Jake and Ben playing with the new play sink. The garage was pretty wet by the tme they were finished.

Jake’s Recovery

It has been nearly a week since Jake’s surgery and he’s doing a whole lot better. His throat is still sore but manageable. He didn’t want any Tylenol this morning, that is the longest he’s gone without it. Now that he is on the road to recovery we need to work on getting back on a schedule. He’s gotten used to a late bedtime, late get up time and a late nap. Tomorrow will be his first day back at daycare so we better get busy.

This weekend we spent some time out of our house (much needed!) at G & G Bergmann’s. Amy and her crew were up so my boys got some playtime with the cousins. I think it helped Jake start to feel better. The weather was nice enough to play outside. Once everyone was thoroughly soaked they played forts inside.

Ben is as busy as ever. He was a little out of sorts with Jake being under the weather. He knew something was up and just didn't know what to do about it. He is talking a lot and can mimick almost any word. Between Ben and Jake I don't think I'll have any chance of staying indoors this summer (at least I hope!). Ben loves to be outside cruising around.

I don't think I wrote anything about us buying a camper. We finally broke down and bought one a few weeks ago. Jake is sooooo excited about it and it seems to be growing on Ben. At first when we went in he wanted to go right back out. We don't have a lot of days planned for the summer yet but we've talked about lots of them. I think Curt is just about as excited as Jake.

I started my 17P shots today. Curt also had his stitches removed at the same time, so he took Ben and Jake went with me. Jake thought it was pretty funny watching his mom get a shot in her butt. We’re crossing our fingers that the shots help. I also got them when I was pregnant with Ben and the doc feels that I’d never had made it to the end (even with bedrest) without them.

In 2 weeks we leave for Jamaica – it should be a blast. Hopefully we are organized by then. Both Curt and I need to figure out what we are going to wear for the wedding ceremony plus we need to find some vacation clothes for bumming around.

Hope everyone is well, enjoying the nicer weather and that your kids are enjoying the huge puddles everywhere!

Jake's Surgery

Jake had his tonsils removed, some re-growth of his adenoid and some lymph nodes on the left side of his neck removed today. He did an absolutely great job. We were a little worried about how it was going to go because last year when he had his ear tubes and adenoid removed it was an awful experience. This year was a totally different story. After surgery was a little tense due to an IV and a pressure bandage wrapped around his neck but as soon as he convinced the nurses to remove both of them (mostly by kicking, punching and screaming), he started coming around. I had a little episode of nearly passing out to add to the day but that is a whole other story.

He ate a popsicle as soon as we got home, then another, chewed some gum, had another popsicle, then a bowl of sherbet. I have this feeling that he’ll like his new diet just fine. We watched some movies, put a Lego tractor together, started the Lego combine and then I FINALLY convinced him to lay down for a rest. He really needed it.

We are spending the evening laying low and enjoying the snow coming down (since we don’t have to leave and can’t do anything about it anyway!). Hope everyone is well.

Ben has finally given up the bottle! I know, some of you moms are thinking, “oh my, he’s plenty old.” You’re probably right but for whatever reason I didn’t feel the need to yank it from him (mostly because he seemed like he really needed it) and now he pretty much decided, on his own, that he was done with it. He hasn’t had one since daycare on Friday and Melissa said he wasn’t very interested in it at all. I even packed them away.

I’ve been waiting to get the bottles off of the counter but I guess I can’t get too comfortable with that idea because in September we’ll be starting all over with them! We are getting pretty excited for our new arrival in the fall and crossing our fingers for a bedrest free pregnancy. Oh, I know, that isn’t likely but we sure can hope! I am feeling pretty good, just can’t seem to sleep at night. It has been 4 years with restless sleep what’s another couple?

We started a “Good Jar” and a “Not So Good Jar” for Jake today. Overall he’s really a good kid but he has a really hard time listening to us. Just keeps doing whatever it is (sitting on Ben, screaming, talking back, you name it) no matter what we do. So we are going to try this – pennies for good and pennies for not so good. If the good jar is full first he gets to pick out something new, if the not so good jar is full first he has to give up one of his favorite toys. I thought this was a great approach until while we were eating supper he asks me, “If I’m good, then bad, then good, then bad, both jars will be full at the same time. Then I can give one of my toys away to make room for my new one.” Not really what I had in mind!

Today the boys kept themselves busy riding bikes in the house. They were having a great time, crashing, falling over, ramming into everything. It’s time for spring – my boys can’t wait to get outside to play more.

Next week I have training Monday – Wednesday in St. Paul. Curt and the boys are going to come down and stay with me. We’re staying at the Raddison Waterpark of America. It should be a really good time. Curt isn’t sure what he’s going to do all day Tuesday with both boys so if any of you are looking for something to do, give us a call!

Ben doing what he loves to do - walk around in other people's shoes, especially Jake's, and now he's starting to want hats on while he does it.

Jake taught Ben this trick. I usually don't make too big of a deal about it because I remember how much fun it used to be. What's a little spilled milk right? Well, it might not have been such a good thing. Last week when we were out to eat, Ben did this and we had milk everywhere!

Riding bikes. Jake is still riding Ben's because the pedals on the Big Wheel are just a little too far away. Ben loves the big wheel because his Flintstone feet work great with it.

Another milk and straw experiment. Three straws together!