just another day

Well, my dad's surgery went well as I expected. It was a bit shorter than I was told...I went for a walk after the 1st hour of waiting. I was enjoying the time by myself looking around University of Iowa (from which I graduated) and noticing the changes. It was the first day of class for students. Wow how things have changed and stayed the same. The same ages of people, the same buildings, the same bars. Wow, they took out the fountain affectionately known as "3 women pissing"-wait I think they did that a long time ago... I so rarely get the chance to go to Iowa City and just look around, I have always loved when the students come back, the hussle and bussle-it's like Christmas time! One thing I noticed that even that really old student had on low rise jeans and a skin tight t-shirt with the back pack straps on BOTH shoulders. Wow, what a risky life I lead I only used one strap! I could tell that the night before had been a really GOOD night for 2 reasons-1) when I was walking in the ped mall by all of the "hot spots" (yes the same ones I frequented) my shoes stuck to the ground and 2) there were several people (mostly females) that were less than perfectly groomed for class-hair kind of up in a quick ponytail, in pajama looking attire-we've all wished we could literally get out of bed and go... They have poured new sidewalks and put in little quotes in the sidewalks, kind of neat, but I did not stop often, because the students would have run me over. I was at the old capital area when I got the call that dad was done, so I had to haul ass to the hospital to hear what the doc had to say. I did make it not horribly out of breath. The report was all thumbs up! As a matter of fact dad did great and went home on Wednesday (they had expected 4-5 days-knowing healthcare as I do I knew it would be 3-4 days).

It has taken me a while to do this post (so sorry) I've been busy.

My friend Jasmine's son A turned 4 and what a party. I think that she should pack her kiddos to CR every birthday!!! I saw some of my friends from High School and saw their children. It was fun!

The fair started last night and it had rained then stopped just in time for the parade, which they cancelled just as the sun was coming out. We went and looked around-big news there is a new carnival company providing rides, some new and good rides. I wanted to post that we walked by a frazzled mom pushing a 3-seater stroller, babies in each seat. I knew that they were triplets--THE triplets that everyone has talked about, since they have been born. I immediately thought of my cousin G and wife K (especially K) and resisted the "are they triplets?" or the "are they all yours?" or the "wow, you must be busy with three" all of the things that would point out the 3 baby show. Anyway I did not say anything, I even just glanced at them, but smiled at the mom, who smiled back. I thought that I must have been the only one not to say anything... Although this family has been in the paper and now has personalized plates--"3-babys" and "all 3", I mean that does draw a little attention to the whole triplet thing. She had worked at Wal Mart, which is kind of the "breakroom" of Bethany--if you want to know something just ask a Wal Mart associate. Anyway I'm sure that K is pleased that I did not stop to look and ooh and ahh over the babies. People still do that with Benjamin, although it is always "wow, he's gotten so big, to think he started so small". No one ever says that about me-I started out small and I can gain more than 20 pounds in 2 years!!!, but that is never a good thing. Twins, Triplets, and preemies are not freaks, not fun (at first), and not for everyone! I can only imagine the "ordeal" that people who have multiples go through.
I started with my CPAP. Yeah, not so much fun...I sleep ok, I guess, I don't snore at all, according to Jacob, but I really have not woke up feeling refreshed. I guess that will come...
I have got to quit, I will post pictures next week...

a little of this and a little of that

After peach picking wow were they quiet! It did not take long after we dropped off Amber for it to be snozzville in the Element!




Fun in the sun! My work rents this HUGE slip n slide this is Levi going "down" it. Unfortunately he is not heavy enough to slide the whole way.









Benjamin LOVES Darci (the Recreational Therapist at work). He comes in wanting "Darci" he really does say it very clear. He spends a good part of the day with her and the department, I am so thankful that she really like him, otherwise bringing kiddos would be even harder.










Benjamin turned two and we did football, partly because I had this cool cake pan, and partly because he likes balls, and we did the round ball theme already when Levi was one. We had a good time everyone who is dear to Benjamin (except Darci) was there and he had a great time!










The first day of school! I so badly wanted Jacob to take Levi, but Levi wanted to take the bus (I am so thankful that he has a mind of his own).







We are off to CR this weekend, there was a time when we first lived in MO that I loved to go back, CR was still home. Now, I think that MO is home and most of my friends have moved away or lost touch. So it seems so hard to get geared up to go. At least this time Jasmine will be there and I will get to see her and her family, I really do wish she and I lived closer-even though she and I live just off of I-35...

Happy Birthday, YES to me!

Today is my birthday, so I thought I'd put down some words. My birthday has always been very special to me. I usually start August 1st with my birthday month, then the week of my birthday is my birthday week, and a birthday weekend (depending on what day of the week my birthday falls on-I LOVE it when the 21st is on a Wednesday--you guessed it 2 birthday weekends). This is the first time I have actually worked as a professional on my birthday (I usually take the day off), but Jacob is working today at Liberty (yes he asked if I wanted him to take it off), Levi has school, and I thought my family of work friends deserved a little birthday joy. My big family birthday celebration was last night-Jacob made supper and got me a cake, gave me exactly what I wanted a Wii Fit. I had an appointment this morning and I had to go to Wal Mart (yeah the Wal Mart trip not so good and I was afraid that the rest of my day would go south-I mean really why would someone want to upset the birthday girl?) so I got to work around noon, wearing my super cool "BIRTHDAY GIRL" button that Jacob and kiddos got for me and with the attitude that I would have a good day! My boss and friend Amber took me out to lunch. I brought a peach swirl cake and my buds sang happy birthday, and got me flowers and a balloon. I love my Birthday!!!!!

This weekend I think that we are going to CR and visiting my parents and my friend Jasmine. Her big boy is having a birthday party so we are going to the party, then probably whatever my parents have planned for us. Then Jacob and the kiddos go home on Sunday I will stay my dad is having surgery on Monday. So I will stay Monday for that assuming he does well I will be home Monday night.

Here are some pictures Oh how we love Sadie! and Peaches! and Helping!

Oh how cute am I?

Kids at work

Benjamin is on my lap right now so if there are random keystrokes they are his way of communicating. Every Friday is inter gen era tional day at my work. Benjamin comes nearly every Friday and Lev i come s when he can (school). People (that I work with) think that it's an easy day and it's extra fun, but not really. I still have to do my work, and be a mom. HOWEVER that still does not stop be from bringing them. The residents LOVE them and have adopted them as their own. Today is the annual FUN IN THE SUN day where the whole afternoon is devoted to the sunshine. We do water balloons and rent a massive slip-n-slide. I will post a ton of pictures (including the ones I have been promising) later!

PEACHES

It is peach season! We went peach picking on Aug 2-which was the hotest day of the year and got some, not many peaches and blackberries. They are really late this year. Since my children were so cute and helpful on Saturday we went with our friend Amber this Sunday also (8-10-08) and got LOTS of peaches and blackberries. Not too hot and the peaches were riper and juicey. I will post pictures next time.
Saturday Levi was so cute. He often does these "cheers" before bed. He usually stands at the top of the stairs and makes up something. Saturday night it was all about me. I'm not all that sappy, but this was so kind and amazing that I have to share. Levi's cheer went "Mom is the best! Mom is awesome! My heart beats for my MMMOOOOOMMMMM!" it was all sealed with a hug and a kiss. Levi has such a kind heart, wow he is amazing!
Saturday I took a lot of pictures of Benjamin, because he was so smiley and just CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!
I will post pictures later (probably tomorrow). Jacob has fire meeting tonight and I have LOTS of peaches to put up!!!

update

I was so excited to see a comment from Benjamin and Levi's favorite NICU nurse, H on my last post. She moved to NH and we have lost contact. It is amazing to hear from her and read her blog. I cannot convey how much the special nurses (especially H) helped us through those 73 days. They became part of the family, and know far more about us and the situation, wow is all I can say. H used to let Levi take my milk to the freezer. He always loved to see her and we even visited her after Benjamin was out of the hospital.
On with new news...
We are dog sitting for Keri and family--they have a boy golden retriever puppy. It has been a long time since we had a puppy, and my kiddos have never had a puppy so they are really not used to the running, licking, and puppy biting and Benjamin is just about done with it. He says "no, Shaggy" very well and "stop it, Shaggy" is good too. Shaggy is a good dog and has not done anything wrong nor has he hurt the boys. Levi has become Sadie's (our dog) protector. Sadie is a girl Shaggy is like a teenaged boy. Sadie wants NO PART of that and lets Shaggy know, but boys will be boys and you can hardly blame Shaggy for trying-Sadie is a pretty good girl. Levi just keeps telling Shaggy "no, leave Sadie's butt alone-it's hers not yours". Sadie is so laid back and gentle, so not a puppy (she's 8). It is fun to have Shaggy, it is just different to have a puppy and a boy dog. Shaggy is so pretty...
We went peach, blackberry, and blueberry picking on Saturday. All are really late this year because of all the rain. I have a lot of peaches to put up, the blackberries and blueberries are already done. I have a lot of requests for pie, yes dad you will get a peach pie...

The ROOM

Here are you see Levi and his friend R painting the first coat of white. BYE-BYE clouds! In life you must get some paint on your hands. Not worries he washes!
This is the "diamond plating" that I did on one wall. I could only do so much until the fumes of the spray paint got to me. I cannot believe people huff this for fun! The fire hose is the baseboards-Jacob's idea isn't it COOL! (BFD=Bethany Fire Department)

This is the ceiling. With real fire hose. We are getting more. The painting the hoses on did not work so good. I hate to paint ceilings!

Here is the "front" of the truck. I spray painted the blinds silver-only on one side. I plan to get a picture of the fieghtliner logo from the front of a real fire truck and put it on the "grill".
Here is the making of the head board cabinet. Both of the boys loved to play in them while waiting for installation.

Here are the finished bunk beds. Again we used fire hose. The "poles" are PVC pipe painted to look like the real thing. Gray sheets, we are waiting on Benjamin's fire quilt that will not match Levi's, but will be close. The yellow things at the bottom are air bottles from air packs. We also have retired airpacks and helmets. All we have left is moving in the rest of the furniture and putting on the quilts. They love to play, play, play in their room!

amazing

I think that it was yeasterday morning or the morning before...Benjamin got out of his new big bottom bunk bed and came into our room. This was good and bad-it was time for me to get up and he was just wanting to snuggle and go back to sleep-the benefits of big bed life...So he started laying on Jacob's belly-Benjamin's head was on Jacob's belly, Benjamin had is hands behind his head and his ankles crossed, I laid there thinking " I should get up and go to work, but this is a picture I want to remember" (it was 5:30 AM I was not taking a real picture). After a bid of self guilting I got up and started to get ready for my day. When I got back to my room to get dressed Benjamin was laying on my side sleeping then he started laughing-I mean LAUGHING. I stopped at that moment and again wanted a mental picture and recording-what could he be dreaming about, it was a good dream!
The inside out firetruck room is DONE! I will post pictures probably next week. My kids LOVE the room and the bunk beds. Jacob did an amazing job!
We are now getting ready for school. I cannot believe that Levi will be in kindergarten. He had not been little long enough. We just finished vacation bible school and I was amazed at the 5 year olds interacted, how much they loved the science room, all saying that Discovery Room was the "funniest room in the whole world". I was their leader and will probably stay with the 5 year olds next year, something about the freedom to have fun...
Jacob has been working a lot-we had a 17 year old drown last Sunday. Jacob helped with the recovery until Wednesday when they finally were able to get him out. What a life we lead. This accident will lead to more and more responsibility for Jacob. Jacob is such a good role model, he has an amazing commitment to public service. Jacob will be leading a lot of training for water recovery and rescue. This is the second teenager our town as lost in July. The high school will have their work cut out for them this year.
Gosh, what a cheery note. We are all good and I promise some pictures next week!!!!!