I have a new camera

Steve decided to buy me a camera spur of the moment (that's how he shops and I'm usually not involved in the purchase). He knew originally I wanted the Kodak Easyshare Z1085, but didnt' know I was also reasearching a couple different ones, newer ones, that were a little better for not that much extra money.
He placed a bid on ebay on the Z1085, and then told me.
He did win that camera at a good deal, with shipping and everything, we got about $40-50 off. I really like the camera so far, only have had time to take a couple of pictures though. Still trying to figure it out some. It's very similar in buttons and such to my other camera since that also was a Kodak Easyshare.
I got it on Monday, and took with with me to Bailey's appt., we ended up afterwards eating at Mcdonalds and going to see a movie, "The Journey to the Center of the Earth" It was so hot outside, and Bailey ended up thinking that was the coolest movie ever !!!!

Bailey next to Wall-e at the movie theater


Movie poster


Bailey at Mc'D's

on our way to less headaches???

Bailey's doctor appt. was good and we figured out that he needs to be monitored more on a monthly basis. Each month I will call in to get his medicine dose raised until we hit a good level, with only 1-2 headaches a month is our goal. He doesnt' think he'll be headache free, but we'd be doing things right, if we got them down to 1-2.
It was raised now to 30 mg, and I found out we have alot of room to play with before we say it doesn't work. The doctor said that we have up to 80-100mg before we can say that it isnt' going to help. So it will be a constant adjustment now until we find the right dose, and he will see him for a follow up again in 6 mo, which we set up and happens to be the day before his birthday.
The clinic will be moving in September about 2 blocks away, just as I was getting used to figuring this place out. Although leaving today I turned down the street out of the parking ramp the wrong way, on a one way street. Luckily cars weren't zooming at me, and I quickly turned around. I guess I don't remember it being one way the first time, but as I went the right way, things started to look familiar, as I headed around the block and back up on 94. uuggh.

headache help

Bailey has his follow up appointment with the doctor at the neurology clinic in Mpls. tomorrow. I think we were supposed to go back for a recheck in April, but wanted to wait to give this medicine time to work. I was hoping to avoid another trip to Mpls. but since the medicine isn't working, I'd like to see what he has to say.
Bailey started a preventitive for migraines on January 18, 2008, at the lowest dose of 10mg. It was upped a month later to 20 mg. He's been on that since Feb 15, 2008.

His headaches really haven't lessend in amount. Motrin always helps right away, and very rarely will he get sick....that happens maybe once or twice a year. He has had a few dizzy spells, maybe 4 times, in the last 7 months, so not sure that is too significant. The medicine can make him dizzy, so I guess I attribute the dizziness to that, since he has never complained about that before.

Total progression of headaches so far has been:

Jan 18--Feb 17------9
Feb 18-March 17-----8
March 18-April 17---7
April 18- May 17----3
May 18- June 17-----8
June 18-July 17-----5
July 18--Aug 17-----2 (have until mid Aug. yet)

So I guess you can see why something called a preventitive medicine, isnt' really helping him. I think he'd have just as many without having to take medicine.
I will let you know what the doctor says tomorrow.

off she goes

It was a sad send off today, as Hannah left with grandma and grandpa back to WI. Usually she is thrilled to go, but not so today. My parents were here for 2 days to catch Bailey's baseball game on Thursday. The plan was to bring Hannah back with them for a week when they left today. Hannah decided just before leaving, she didn't want to go. It took a little talking to her to convince her she should go. Heck she was all packed up, and counting down the days. She has been very attached to me lately, so I think some of reason was just leaving me. I told her she'd have way more fun there, as I have to work 5 of the 6 or 7 days she is gone. I planned on painting her room while she is gone too, and said I wouldn't do it if she stayed home.
She is very stubborn and almost didn't think she would go. Finally, she did agree to go, but was sad. I know the minute she gets there, she will be fine. She doesn't care for the long drive either, since we just did it a few weeks ago, but she is used to it, so there again, she'll get through it. It was a little more difficult to let her go this time knowing she is sad, but it also was a relief she decided to go, since it was all planned. We have never done it this way either, her just leaving from our house to go with them back, usually we meet 1/2 way or I just have left her in WI too, so maybe this was a little different for her. At least with the 1/2 way drive there, she has me with her, and once we meet them, she probably figures there is no changing her mind now.

Bailey will go next week, my parents are gonna take it day by day, the plan was to meet 1/2 way on Friday to get Hannah and drop Bailey off, but now they want to come see Bailey's last baseball games on Thursday, so they may just drive all the way back here on Thursday, and go back with Bailey on Sat. Bailey's team has to win one more game, to play in the championship game.

Day at Valleyfair

I just got a letter in the mail yesterday that I was choosen by my manager at work, as 2nd quarter's Outstanding Performance Award recipient. Since I started working there last October, 2 others have received this, and both have been there the longest, head housekeeper, Sherry, and night auditor, Abby. I'm thinking they choose someone every 3 months or so, and you have to be there for 6 months before being able to be choosen. I've been there now almost 10 mo (Aug 4) and was surprised to get a check in the mail for $150 for being choosen this quarter.

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So to celebrate the kids and I went to Valleyfair yesterday.....well not really, we already had it kinda planned. Since the kids had a rough weekend, they had to spend Sat. and Sunday "home alone" for 5 hours each day. Both Steve and I worked, and we didnt' have anyone to watch the kids, or more like we wait too long to ask someone. I guess we have subconsciously decided it's "ok" for the kids to be home alone, as we didn't have any other choice and it just kinda happened. I called them every hour from work, and made sure they were good. It is more stressful working knowing I left my kids home. It's happened several times now, for an hour or so until grandma Barb could get there, but 5 hours was a different story. It all worked out this weekend ok, but the kids were getting antsy being cooped up in the house all day for 2 days.

I decided Monday we'd go do something fun. Valleyfair is what the kids decided. Kids have never been there and I was only there once about 13 years ago, the first summer I lived in MN, I decided I needed to see and do some of the MN fun spots...as I took in The MN Zoo, State Fair and Valleyfair that summer with my parents.

We had a fun day. First got there about 11:30. Hannah got lucky and was about 1/2 inch too short, so she got to pay the junior price, which was half price. I also had a coupon for $7 off, the tickets for Bailey and I. We first played mini golf, something familiar to us, as the rollercoasters towered over us. We got a drink and rested a bit in the AC after golf.




Bailey then wanted to play a 3 point shoot out game we passed, he had 40 sec. to shoot and make as many 3 point shots. He only made one, but gave it a good effort and had fun, he was hoping to win a cool jersey or basketball they had, but got a stuffed monkey. (which he kinda likes, by the way)
We continued on and went right into the section with all the games. Kids wanted to do them all, they love carnival type games. We ate lunch first and then I went broke in the game section and we just had to quit. Hannah won a moneky, cheetah, and care bear and Bailey also got a cheetah, along with his monkey and a ball. Luckily I had brought our big stroller for Hannah, and had a place for all of the stuff in the bottom of the stroller.
Then we headed to the water park. We were all hot, although it was a beautiful day it was hot in the sun. We spent about 2 hours in the water park. Hannah was not liking the water, she said it made her cold. She hates to be splashed, doesnt' like waterslides, and too young for everything else. So I forced her to go on the lazy river. First she said no. But becasue she was that 1/2 inch too short she had to wear a life jacket, and this made her feel more comfortable and we got her a tube as well. We started down the lazy river, but apparently you had to have your feet on the tube somehow, she was just in the center with her feet on the bottom. We tried every position with her and the tube was just too big for her to be comfortable, she is just at the boardline size, not quite big enough. It was a challenge to try to get her on the tube half way into the moving river water, which is why we gave up. So she ended up riding with me on my lap on my tube. She liked that so much, later we came back and did the lazy river again.

Bailey also got to try one of the water slides. He has been on some before and he didn't care he had to do it alone, because I didn't want to leave Hannah. He went back up to do it a 2nd time, and they sent everyone back down because the pump wasn't working right.
He was also just under the height requirement to do the rapids tube water slide. We had 2 lifeguards measure him, one said she thought he was close enough, to ask the other lifeguard. The other one said that he was too close, that he had to go be officially measured at the lifeguard station. They ran this bar over his head and it cleared his head just bearly and they said it has to touch his head for him to be able to ride. He was bummed. Well anyway we got cooled down for a bit. Kids are just not at the right age and/or height for some of that stuff. I remember as a kid we rode down the water slides the first few times with a parent, they dont' let you do that anymore and just have to be a certain height. So little kids can't even do it.

Bailey coming off the water slide


We changed and headed out of there and made it over to the kid rides. My kids are not much for spinning rides, but we all decided to go on this hot air balloon ride that goes in circles. At least it wasn't a long ride, cuz we all were getting dizzy. After that they really didnt' want to go on anything else that goes in circles and that's mostly what all the kids rides do. So we continued on, and needed to eat again, as Bailey never did eat lunch, and I was worried about him. So in all of the excitment of the day we found a Pizza and Grill restaurant that he finally agreed to eat at. Stopped in there and ate, kids loved the pizza, which Hannah is not a big pizza person. I felt better that Bailey ate and drank a bunch. We then went a little further and found the Kid Works section, where they had a Foam Ball Factory. We were in one of these a few years ago at Six Flags Great America. Kids had a blast then and I think even more so this time. I took a gazillion pictures of them having fun in there, which only a picture can tell you what a foam ball factory is. It was fun to watch all the action too. They wouldn't leave, and I didnt' bug them to leave until we were in there for 2 hours!!!




After the ball factory we took the train ride round trip, which it wasn't a long ride at all, Valleyfair isn't nearly as big as Great America.

kids on the train


We planned on getting back to the Imax movie, called "Wild Oceans", but took too long in the ball place...uuggh. I wanted to see it, but the kids didn't seem to interested.
We made it to the Antique Cars and Hannah really wanted to go on these, in fact she was insistant. Bailey really didn't want to, so we went back and forth, kind of arguing what to do next. Bailey decided he wanted to go on "The Wave", and he only hesisited because he didnt' want to go alone. He really really wanted to go on it, so he finally did by himself, while Hannah and I drove the anitque cars (they were right across from each other). I was bummed I wouldnt' be able to see him come down. It's a big boat that goes up around, and DOWN, with a big splash, and then you stand on the bridge and get more wet than on the ride itself. Hannah loved driving the cars, ( I did the gas pedal), and she kept saying, I'm a good driver, right? She did awesome and felt proud to drive.

Hannah driving the antique cars



We came off the cars and there was Bailey standing...... SOAKED!! He loved the ride, and wanted to do it again, (not too much of a line), but he said the water(?) hurt this scrape he had on his leg too much to do it again. Oh well he was wet enough.
The ride Bailey just went on, and I missed him coming down, so I just took his picture by it, as he was soaked.


After that we pretty much were back to the front again and headed into the souvineir shop and the kids picked soemthing out and we left for the night at about 8:15pm. Bailey needed to get his wet shoes and socks off and the AC in the shops made him freezing. We had a good time and the kids said it was really fun and Bailey really wants to go back (maybe without Hannah this time):) We really didn't do many rides, but took in the whole atmosphere this time, and spent most of the time there in the water park and foam ball factory.
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a fort in the livingroom?

This "fort" takes up the whole livingroom. Kids were bored so this is what they came up with.

camping?????!!

Decided to set up the tent in the backyard last night, and we pretended we were "camping". It didn't turn out quite as planned, but it was fun. I got the tent from my parents, they were gonna sell it, but decided I'd take it, for some future use. Steve and Bailey aren't much for camping though.
We had a "picnic" supper, Bailey preferred to eat inside with the TV.
Then the kids went swimming in the "lake" (aka: pool), while I tried to set up the freakin tent--HA!! One person can not set up a tent. So I called the kids over to help, they whined of course, but I tried to keep the situation calm. Not only can 1 adult not set up a tent, but 1 adult and 2 kids can't either. I figured I needed to wait until Steve got home and gave up in frustration as poles were falling over. So just as I had given up, I started a camp fire. A few minutes later, grandpa Steve came over and surprised us. He asked if he should go home and get his sleeping bag.......... kids were being loud and obnoxious in the pool and suddenly when grandpa came and asked to sleep in the tent, they got real quiet, and said ahhhh, no!
Grandpa just came over to take them to the mushroom bldg activities in town, which they have music, ice cream and popcorn every Friday night. They always liked to go with grandpa to that, but apprently have outgrown that routine, and continued to swim.
I got my extra adult, and took advantage of grandpa and had him help me with the tent. We got it up in just a few minutes, and 2 adults is exactly what it takes. yea!


Steve got home a short time later, and we sat and vistited. Kids got out their golf clubs and started hitting wiffle type balls around the yard and having fun. We got all the pillows, sleeping bags, etc out to the tent. We had marshmellows and smores over the fire and I popped some popcorn as the kids wanted to watch a movie in the tent.
Steve decided he was gonna be a party pooper and he took and shower and went to bed (in the house). He says his back is too sore. The kids and I got our flashlights together and headed out to watch 'George of the Jungle 2". We all came back in a bit later to use the potty and then Hannah and I fell asleep and Bailey watched the entire movie until about 11:30pm. He tried to fall asleep for awhile, and decided our secluded campsite, was too loud. We had highway traffic, trains, and just misc. city noises, and finally Bailey said, "I'm going in the house". ( don't hear that too often camping). So off he went to the comforts of his room, about 11:45pm. Hannah and I slept in the tent all night. It was a nice night, I woke up a few times during the night, and Hannah I relaly didn't hear much from her all night until she finally woke up at a little before 7am, and had to go potty, so she went, and came back and I told her to go back to sleep for a little bit. It was pretty bright in the tent, even though it was a cloudy morning and she couldn't sleep anymore. So about 7 we came in and ate some cereal. Bailey of course is still sleeping in the comfort of his bed.

I'm having way too much fun today....

The pool was full....6 kids full. Wait a minute, where did they all go
.

The ice cream truck is here!!!.....the kids all scream and scatter. "I need money, NOW".(Bailey), Hannah just ran away without any money, as I'm scrambling, to find money, to which I have none. Luckily I save my change, and quickly got together a bunch of quarters that I gave Bailey, to find Hannah and give her some as well. As I went to the front to see where everyone went, I spotted the much loved ice cream truck with all the kids by it, it was down by where Kendall and Elizabeth live, so I'm sure their mom's helped keep the kids in line.

ok... I lied

went from 3 kids to 6 kids

So not long after I posted the swimming pics....I just had to post once more, with a new hourly updated picture...more kids. I'm such a nice mom.

We've added Bailey, because he came back from playing baseball with his friends, and he was hot, and then Kendall and her sister Kaitlyn, (who is a year younger than Bailey), also came over to swim. We've never had that many kids in the pool. All we need is Stephen and Matthew yet (Elizabeth and Lydia's brothers)...I'm praying for no more kids at the moment though.

HELP

summer, sun & swimming

"Hannah Montana"


The girls swimming (Hannah, Elizabeth, Lydia)




The girls have the giggles...

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Hannah has been enjoying the pool this summer. She is just learning (getting brave enough) to get her face in the water. She took swimming lesssons when she was 4, but refuses to try it again. I think she liked the lessons, but they kept wanting her to get her face wet and she wouldn't. So that has taken her awhile, and I should have started younger with her in the water. I thought I was doing that by getting her in lessons at 4, apparently not young enough. I was way behind with Bailey and he took his first lessons at the same time as Hannah, and he was 8, just learning then to get his face wet at 7-8 yrs old. I trust that Bailey can swim fairly good now, but wish he would have continued lessons as well, which he also now refuses. He did pass level one and tried once in level 2, and needed to take that one again, but now he feels he's too old for that. Level 2, is like for 2nd-3rd graders.
So maybe I can get Hannah in level one soon if they offer it again soon, now that she can somewhat get her face wet. Elizabeth and Lydia are little fish and have no problem going under the water, even little Lydia at 4 yrs old. They go to their grandma/pa's lake all summer long though (Long Lake here in Dassel), and were started very young swimming, I think. Elizabeth is even water skiing already!!
Bailey usually joins Hannah in our pool, and I play Radio Disney Online, outside on the computer speakers. I have only been in the pool once so far, but most times it's been Hannah and her friends, Elizabeth and Kendall. Elizabeth's sister, Lydia, is now old enough to join in on the fun, as she is now 4, and apparently old enough to come over now. She is so excited as she has wanted to "come over and play", since last year. She loves Hannah, and has told her so. :)

I took some pictures today of them swimming, since I had the camera. Minus Kendall though, who just happens to not be here today, WOW.

Bailey n baseball

Bailey is down to his last few games of baseball this summer. His team has won most of their games, which is exciting. They lost one game by 1 run, and one game they tied.

Next week is the tournament. They decided to cancel the remaining week of games and run the tournament for 2 weeks. There are 7 DC teams, and they have a good shot at the championship. Last year his team didn;t do so well in the tournament, and didn't even place for a medal.

Bailey has been hitting a bit better the last few games, and has had several doubles, but most times he struggles to just get a base hit. He's a left handed batter (throws right), and he has a swing that carries the ball to the left or center field way. It throws the kids off a bit, thinking he will hit it to the right field area. Often times too, he will foul the ball off to the left. He tends to swing late. He really has a good hard swing, he just needs to figure it out better for more control. He fields the ball well and usually will play 1st base or 3rd base. He has played shortstop, centerfield and pitcher position as well.

GO STORM!!

pictures added

check back at my previous posts on our Wi trip, added many pictures.

Summerfest and Miller Park

One day yet to post about on our trip to WI. Last Sunday, we had one more day of adventure.
We decided to play it by ear and decide last minute if we were to go to Milwaukee's Summerfest. We went to church, and ate lunch and then decided, yup! let's go to Milwaukee. I havent' been to Summerfest on Milwaukee's lakeshore (on Lake Michigan), since the last "New Kids on the Block" concert at Marcus Ampitheater.:)

The Summerfest Smiley!


Marcus Ampitheater in backround


Our main reason for going was to try to get tickets, last minute, to see the Jonas Brothers, who were playing there sunday night. I could have gotton tickets before leaving MN online, but decided againest getting them at $21 a piece for lawn seats, just not sure that we'd really be going. My kids are a little young for the concert scene, and I just wasnt' sure we wanted to be surrounded by a bunch of screaming teenage girls (the majority of the Jonas Bros. fans). My kids listen to Radio Disney, and Bailey has the Jonas Brothers CD, so they are the mini version of their fans.


So anyway we get to Milwaukee (about 1 1/2 hr drive), and get a little lost trying to park, but got one of the last 2 parking spots in this lot. Since it was the last day of Summerfest we needed to be there by 3pm and we got into the grounds FREE. We bearly made it.

Summerfest--Lake Michigan lakeshore.


It was SO loud, with all side stage bands playing all over, the people there was CRAZY busy and I started to second guess our decision to come. I kinda enjoyed the atmosphere, but knew the kids wouldn't last long. I specificly told the kids to relax, not whine, and be good and listen...HA !
They did the opposite pretty much, as this was not the place for them. I saw other kids their age who were also dragged here, but none of them seemed crabby....yet. Hannah lasted a whole 1/2 hr, before she was a full fledged crab, and Bailey made it a few hours, before deciding that this wasn't for him. We walked from the front entrance, to the other end where the ampitheater was, to see if there was Jonas Brothers tickets left....of course not, sold out, we never had our hopes up. It was just a thought. We saw a few things on the way, tried to get some food, Bailey and grandpa went to see a Milwaukee Admirals hockey demonstration, so us girls sat by the lake and I had some chinese chicken and rice; mom, ate corn on the cob and Hannah had popcorn. Later, Bailey got the biggest slice of pizza I've ever seen. We walked around a bit more and made it back to the entrance, and decided to leave after only 3 hours there. Bailey was pouting, and Hannah was whining. "I wanna go home" every minute.

Oh well, as we were leaving a few people where trying to sell Jonas Brothers tickets outside the gate, it caught my dad and I's attention for a minute, that maybe ???, we could still get tickets, but then the kids were not in the right mood to even care anymore, they were hungry and just wanted to leave. My mom insisted that the tickets were fake and argued her point until we just had to walk away. It was for the best, as the kids would have never made it until concert time.(another few hours). The guy was selling the tickets for $10/ piece so it would have been a good deal, provided they weren't fake.

We got to the car, Hannah needed to go to the bathroom, of course, so we got back on the highway quick and my dad decided to go to Miller Park ( Brewer's baseball stadium), and we could grab supper at the TGI Fridays, open even when the Brewers aren't playing. The Brewers played there in the afternoon and we passed the stadium on the way to Summerfest. My dad could hardly stand it, passing by Miller Park and not going to the game.



It was kinda neat to sit in the restaurant looking out over the field, as the sprinklers are watering the grass and the employee's are still cleaning up the seats after the game. Bailey and I didnt' eat much as we had a pretty good choice of food at Summerfest, but my dad never got anything there, and Hannah only had popcorn and my mom only her corn. So they were pretty hungry. I did order one honkin' margarita.

Bailey sittin in TGI Friday's @Miller Park overlooking the field


Hannah at TGI Friday's out on the deck overlooking the field




It was a beautiful night, and after TGI's we wandered around the outside of Miller Park, we found the playground, and a little league field, positioned in the parking lot, where County Stadium used to be. (Brewer's old stadium where I went to games as a kid). Home plate at this little league field is the same spot home plate was in County Stadium. I had flashbacks of County Stadium surrounding that home plate, and then I just saw the little kid field again.( ahhhh... memories). Bailey and grandpa really enjoyed watching the kids play ball, (I did too), they were about Bailey's age, and Hannah loved the playground.

Little league field in parking lot of Miller Park


Miller Park in the backround..... playground




We spent a good amount of time there just watching and enjoying being there. Everybody's mood had changed from a few hours earlier when we were all frazzled, whiny, and pouting.
We were all now relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful night at Miller Park.



We left after a few innings of the 2nd game that started with a bit older boys it seemed. It was about 9pm by now, and just getting dark, they had just turned on the field lights. We made it back home just before 11pm, and everybody went right to bed. We had lots of late nights those days we were there, but we had lots of fun too. (maybe minus Summerfest for the kids).

Bailey n Prince


Hannah n grandpa


parking lot plaque, Hank Aaron's final home run spot hit in County Stadium



Pictures taken just before leaving Miller Park for the night.

Halfaer Park-- (Little league)



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We made Monday a rest day, and didn't do much. The kids and I had lunch with a friend, whom I haven't seen in about 5-6 years. She is getting married in November so I got to meet her fiance'. We had a good lunch and conversation at Olive Garden. I'm glad we are being given the chance to rebuild our friendship.
From there the kids and I then met my parents over at my grandparents apartment, and we got to visit more with them, and then we went to Culver's for some ice cream, before my grandparents had a chiropractor appt. The rest of the day was spent on the computer, laundry and packing up.
We left Tuesday morning about 9:45am, and had an uneventful trip home, we stopped once for lunch about half way, and that was it. Lou rode home much better, was tired out, or so it seemed, and never threw up this time. Made it home before 4:30pm. Didn't give me too much time before I got the kids something to eat and Bailey then had baseball practice at 6pm.

Vacation is over. Now I can look forward to my parents taking the kids for a week each yet this summer, and I can work on house projects.

We're sorry daddy had to miss all the fun, as he was busy working!!