picking strawberries in Wisc.

I'm crabby and not in the mood for words tonight, so here's some pictures of Hannah and my parents picking strawberries on a hot morning last Friday

Just call me Elmo

Steve actually bought this hat that Bailey picked out and wanted. Steve comes home and tells me, "I just don't understand kids these days." : )

gonna eat some cake, cookies and ice cream and add a milk shake to that

Just a update from my last post:

Bailey had a re check doctor appt today at the Noran Neurology clinic in Minneapolis regarding his migraines/medication change. I wish they would have told me that the entire road that we have to turn on to get to the clinic was being tore up. uuggh. We just went up another block and made it around, but not without some stress in wondering if I'm going the right way and lots of traffic also trying to get around the blocked road. It all worked out just fine and we made it to the appt right on time. Bailey says not to worry that he's always behind schedule, and we wait anyway. Yup he was right, we waited about 15 min after getting there right on time.

Ok anyway-- so right to the point... Bailey has lost 5 lbs. on this medication, he went from 89 lbs to 84 lbs. 5 lbs doesn't seem like much, but on a kid it's pretty dramatic. That dose is not safe to continue. Dr B. lowered his dose on the medication, and we'll see if the appitite comes back some. He's says as long as it's working some on the headaches, we'll try a decrease on the drug first to see if the appitite comes back. That's how this entire last year and half has been with these medications, just trying things out to see what will work for Bailey.

He also said that he doesn't believe his migraines are seizure related and left it at that. I guess from what he has viewed and heard it makes sense, and I'm not looking to make this anymore than it is, i've just heard from a 2nd cousin who also has a daughter similar to Bailey's age, was diagnosed as a toddler after an abnormal EEG showed that small unnoticable seizures were causing her migraines. Since this seizure medication seems to be working I just thought.....well it doesn't matter right now, just seems kinda ironic. The medication he is now on has been proven to work in kids with migraines, it just depends on each individual and how their brain works. He said right out he doesn't know why this medication may be seeming to work, and may infact see improvement over a few months and be able to take him off of it. Which I guess now that I think about it, if it's working how do you know when to take him off of it for good? Hit and miss and try I guess.

It's been a good month, the best month in 5 years, and I hope and pray that it keeps working on the lower dose, and that my growing boy can pack on some pounds. Dr B told him that it's ok to eat cake, cookies, ice cream and milk shakes for awhile. :)

As summer swirls around us

As summer is in full swing and seemingly racing by, I find myself in a whirlwind of thoughts, activities, things to do, places to go, and just plain keeping up.

However, this transition into summer this year seemed to go pretty well. Usually I get a different feeling of craziness....but this time, it seemed to go more smoothly. I'm not sure why. Although as soon as school let out, we were off to North Dakota, to visit Steve and see the wonderful city of Minot ( Ha!), and our summer transition was sight seeing and hanging out someplace other than home.

It was nice, a change.

Kids still fight like cats and dogs, and it's hard to see that change anytime soon. Hannah gets on Bailey like a bossy little brat, she wants it her way, as any little princess would, and just no other talk about it will sufice. Poor Bailey tries to defend himself, which irritates Hannah all the more. Most of you can only imagine this as Hannah is the most sweetest, quiet, girl around most. Dealing with me and Bailey, however she turns into a monster. :) Of course we have our good moments and I cherish those, believe me. Silence is a good thing, having fun and getting along is wonderful, even though it may only last minutes at a time.

So onto summer. I'm excited.

I've accomplished alot over the past few weeks. The pool is up and running, that is not an easy thing to get set up, but I guess it could be worse, cuz I am able to do it myself, with instruction from my "princess" on how I should do it.
Hannah has been swimming in it once so far, and Bailey says he will not be in it. I'm not sure why, but I'm sure he'll change his mind...he cant' be too old for a pool!!!










I have been keeping up with yard work, as there is always ideas swirling in my head on what I can do outside. I spent a couple of warm days working in the garden, planting flowers, repairing grass with seed, cleaning up and revamping certain areas of our yard, watering, cutting grass-- which is seemingly right now neverending.
I forget to not take a shower in the morning, and end up taking 2 showers cuz I'm so dirty. Steve was kidding me the other day if I was gonna need a 3rd shower. HA!

The garage is my next task, it is filthy. It never stays clean after I clean it. I envy nice clean garages. Someday. We bought a new garage door, because the other one was literally falling off the hinges, and was breaking in every spot, so that may help in the looks department. I asked my dear hubby after he bought the garage door if he knew how to put it in, and he replied with a solid-- nope! Should be interesting. He said he will get his dad over to hold the directions. Maybe they can talk it out and get it done right ....I'm sure I will have to help on this one.

We are leaving for WI on Thursday this week for my family's annual Christmas in June (or July--whenever it gets planned) on Saturday. Hoping to be able to go pick strawberries again this year on Friday. YUM!! The kids loved doing that. Party is at Lisa and Wil's house this year, they are the hosts. They are having a tailgate style party at their house and later we will all head over to the WI Timberrattler game (baseball). Bailey is going to be throwing out the 1st pitch. yea! When Lisa got the tickets, I guess there is an option with groups to have a kid throw out the first pitch, so Bailey agreed to do it. A fireworks display will be after the game as well. My grandpa had hip surgery a few weeks ago, so sadly they will not be able to make the game, but hopefully he can get comfortable enough to come to Lisa's for a bit. He's doing well, but sore.

Man-- by the time we come back, it will almost be the 4th of July already. I have to work that entire weekend, but am grateful for all the time off and flexibility I've been given with my job. I have a super manager who gives me so much flexibilty which I need right now. My kids are my priority and since I dont' have a job that pays well enough, I'd rather spend the summer with my kids and husband ( when he gets a day off that is). He will be going back up to North Dakota sometime in July, so we are also planning a trip back there, if it all works out, we'll be able to go to the ND State Fair the end of July.

Bailey has a doctor appointment tomorrow and will update on what's new in the headache department. There is good news and bad news, the good news is he hasn't had any headaches in a whole month, that is-- since his last headache on May 19 until June 19-- NOTHING. Unbelievable. He just had a small one yesterday after a busy day, warm day, didn't eat well day, and then went to a loud street dance day, and came home at 8:30pm with a headache. It went away in a matter of 15 min though after Motrin.
Since he's been on this medication (started May 4), he's had 4 headaches and 3 of them were in May when he was transistioning off the other med and onto this one. This news is awesome, BUT....the bad news is the new medication has a noticeable side effect, he is just not eating much. Decreased appitite. I've been noticing more now the weeks he hasn't been in school. He never is hungry much for lunch. He will eat some but not alot. Now lately he's been waking up in the morning and not hungry for breakfast either. He will eventually eat something, but again not alot. He still drinks good. So when I called in to the neurology clinic with an update, as to how this medication is working, I was excited to report very few headaches and almost forgot to mention the side effect. Then the nurse brought it up and he was due for a recheck appt, so I thought it would be best to talk to the Dr in person. I was hoping to hold off on driving in for an appt until closer to school starting, but he might be loosing too much weight for this drug to be effective or safe long term. I'm not sure yet if he is loosing weight or not, but I'll wait for the comparison weight at the doctor visit. I also am hoping to find out why he thinks this drug is helping his headaches. Could he be having mini seizures causing his migraines ? Is there any tests that could confirm anything or what else can be tried if this drug isn't safe. It sure has been a great couple of months with less headaches though.

Steve had a Happy Father's Day with the kids and Bailey's friend Holton, at Canterbury Park partaking in horse racing. Sounds like they all had a great day (while I had to work).
Happy Father's Day-- Dad I love u, and miss u and will see u soon :)
Steve you are the best daddy and am so glad our kids have you in their life. I love you.

b-ball time

Hannah wrapped up 4 days of basketball camp on Thursday this week. She really enjoyed it, and it helped that her 1st grade teacher was her "coach". He had some assistants help him and Hannah made sure to tell me who they were as well, coach Smith, coach Dahlman, and coach Weber, and coach Nowak.
Mon and Tues I just dropped her off and went to workout, and came back and got her later.
Steve was able to bring her to b-ball on Wed and watch her play, and I went on Thursday to watch her. She's been practicing her skills at home on our hoop and I hope she gets some more chances to play on a court. She had some time to learn basketball in phy-ed this past year, and her teacher is big into basketball, so her love for the sport as developed and she really is pretty coordinated and good at it already, I never started basketball until 4th grade. She is still pretty young and has plenty of time to play sports. Only time will tell if she sticks with it. She seems slightly interested in softball and gymnastics-- maybe next summer she says.
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I love this picture of Hannah shooting-- look at that form, use your imagination as to the expressions of the 2 other kids in the picture. This picture definately needs a caption.



Hannah dribbling...stay low, guard that ball, says the coach


doing some passing drills


some game time


Hannah warming up

North Dakota pictures available on Kodak Gallery

Here is a link to all my pictures from North Dakota. I had too many Zoo pictures to post, so if you'd like to view them, they are on my Kodak Gallery website.

copy and paste this link to view pictures:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ViewSlideshow.action?&collidparam=40315674207.827914788307.1245343580145

hotel and waterpark fun--Minot, ND--Thursday June 11, 2009

Hotel we stayed at Thursday night- June 11



Hannah by the water fountian

Hannah

Bailey comin down the water slide

Steve on the water slides

purple slide in the middle was the fastest and also was totally enclosed-- pitch dark all the way down-- it was also the slide that goes on the outside of the hotel building. Bailey went down once, and I was surprised he tried it, he said he kinda got thrown back starting out and hit his head, and didn't want to try it again. I was nervous about trying it, but loved it. Steve also did that one. Hannah was too scared to try any of them. There were kids younger than her, not scared one bit. Gotta start them young when they are not scared of anything.
That's Steve comin down the yellow one


ok -- here's Hannah's version of a water slide




Hannah in the hot tub-- can't see the full hot tub in the picture but it was huge-- 48 person hot tub== she can only stay in there for a few minutes at a time as it really lowers her blood sugar

many miles to Minot

We made it to Minot,ND after a 10 hour drive.
I had a mapquest that told me it was 7 hrs and 12 min, so we didn't leave MN until 10:30am. I thought why rush and Steve works all day, so figured on getting here around supper time....we made it at 8:30pm,-uuggh-- very sick of driving. We had to stop for 2 meals, and then stopped for a break about half way, and probably spent too much time in Kmart. :) So we wasted probably 2 hours in breaks. Dreading having to go home, but we'll leave a little earlier, and not take as long of breaks?? It's a long boring trip. The last 3-4 hours to get to Minot is nothing, only a couple of gas stations to even stop at.

Well we are here and had a fun day today while Steve worked. We went to a park, a Scandinavian Village park, a mini golf place, and the mall.
We are staying with Steve in his cheap hotel room, which is fine, no breakfast or pool here though. :(
The kids devoured a McD's breakfast this morning (they love the eggs), and I had my first McGriddle... not the most healthiest thing, but it was yummy.

Tomorrow Steve will have an earlier day and we will check into the Sleep Inn for one night with a waterpark and it's also connected to the mall and maybe plan on going to the Zoo here, or a movie, depending on the weather. There is a bowling ally too, but not sure on that yet or even if they are open during the day. Then plan on spending the afternoon at the hotel waterpark. Going home on Friday morning.

can go 75mph on I94, almost seemed too fast at first but I got used to it :)

Went to Oak Park in Minot-- had a hard time finding it, but it was actually simple to find when we realized where it was

Hannah in her calm adorable state

Kids at the park doing their thing- Hannah running and Bailey swinging his bat

Kids posing


Bailey lost his baseball in the weeds-- he did find it, but got this cool pic in the mean time

Hannah found a big feather

cool sign in the park, told the kids to stand by it, and not sure what prompted Bailey to hig his sister, but he starting doing it it several other pictures later


We visited a Scandinavian Village Heritage Park-- the church




Dala Horse- National symbol of Sweden

kids by the viking statue



Bailey having fun by the Hans Christian Anderson statue



We also found the mini golf place, and had a fun time






Well I guess that is enough pictures for now :)
Steve got done with work early today, well about 4pm and then we all went and found a baseball field and another park for Hannah to play on. We did a little family style baseball towards the end. We went and ate at BWW then and had to get a few things at Walmart for breakfast tomorrow. ( we are doing cereal-- no more McD for breakfast :) We are all very tired, Steve is already trying to sleep and the kids and I will be shortly.