Just what I Needed

To say the least this week has been a bit overwhelming.  Now that it is almost over I can finally talk about it without tearing up.  I have no idea why but everything always has to happen when Paul is out of town.  I guess it is just one of the laws of life.  

The week started out normal. Monday I tackled the yard. pulled out some plants dug out weeds, treated the grass, tackled Costco, and cleaned the house. My typical super human day, I usually have at least one of those when Paul is gone. Just as I started to feel good about the week, and make plans to be super human, reality slapped me in the face! Just as I was headed up to bed I went to change the washer and the dryer! As if I wasn't tired enough, my washer didn't spin the clothes so I set it to rinse and spin them again.  It only added water no spinning! Me and Google ended up flooding the laundry room and 11pm! AWESOME! 

Tuesday morning: made lots of phone calls, finally found a repairman, with a good reputation, unlike the weed eater people who refuse to actually work. Ring out towels, spray paint my outdoor light fixtures and continue on.  I had it under control, the repair man was scheduled and I was caught up on laundry so I was good for a few days! 

Then Wednesday: The day had finally come.  I went to the specialist to have my hearing evaluated. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I was hoping it wouldn't be a big deal. I had noticed that in the last few months my hearing was worse, but I did not expect it to be terrible and in both ears!

After meeting with an Audiologist for an hour I was immediately referred to an even more specialized specialist.  Luckily he was right down the hall.  He cut his lunch short to give me the good the bad and the ugly. Dr. Darley was able to explain that I have otosclerosis and I need implants.  Yup that is plural. I need to have Laser Stapedotomies.  The good news is that I have great odds of having my hearing restored, but I have to have 2 surgeries.  They won't risk total deafness, so I have to have each ear done separately. He was excited and his nurse was eager to book the surgery (It just happens to be his specialty), but as I explained that my husband was out of town they quickly realized that I still needed time to process.  I didn't have a wedding ring on, so the nurse thought that I was single, She was startled when I mentioned Husband and 2 kids!  I make it back home just in time to pick up the girls and meet Addie's Preschool Teacher! As if my brain wasn't already overloaded, Me and Google had a date!
Thursday:  Wide awake at 5am terrified that my insurance isn't going to cover my stapedotomies and that I am going to have to be deaf or rob a bank! As I finally realize that it is still way to early to panic, it hasn't even been 24 hrs. I fall asleep as Addie is waking up. All to remember that we have gymnastics in 30 min. Then after Gymnastics we have Addie's Doctors appointment. She got caught up on her vaccines. 5 shots later and a few screams we made it out of their alive.  All to do it again with Avery next week.  (Addie was really concerned that Avery was going to get shots, they are ouchy.  I had to explain that they are important, and only hurt for a min.) Then I seem to have the entire neighborhood at my house, a pounding headache and an empty stomach. After I had a chance to eat and rationalized that I was going to send everyone home, McKenna from my Primary glass stopped by just to say Hi. Then a few minutes later Her and Tia came over and played with Ellie and the girls and somehow managed to put me in a better mood and take my mind off of the last 24 hrs.
I can't say that I even know when I am going to schedule my surgeries, I still not even sure how I feel about it all. However I am grateful for small and simple blessing!  I am grateful that my washing machine will be fixed, my children are healthy, my hearing can be corrected, and 2 sweet girls stopped by and took my mind off of things for a couple of hours.
As this week has proven to be less than stellar, I am vowing to get our stuff ready for the weekend and dive into a good book! That way I won't even have to worry about asking to turn up the volume!

Update: A Stupid sensor went out on my car, and I was stuck in the Shoe Carnival parking lot trying to get my car to go into gear!  Stupid sensor! At least it was all under warranty and I only had to pay for an oil change and some new tires!

A Day in the Life of a Kid

I must say I have it pretty good most days!  I get to spend my days with these cute little monsters!

 Those moments when the stars align and the girls play together are absolutely priceless!

 As infuriating as those cute monsters can be, they can also be twice as adorable!

 What can I say, I spoil them and what do I get in return! One Giant headache, Thank goodness for nap time!  Still working on sharing, I have the feeling this lesson isn't going to be a quick one!

 Everyday is a new adventure.  Somedays we have super heroes running around, other days we have princess! If you ask Addie, she is going to be a super hero princess for Halloween! 

 For Little Monster each day is a new opportunity to make an even bigger mess than the day before! I pretty sure we have more piles of sand scattered about the yard than actually in the sandbox!

 Off Off and Away she goes. Really I try to keep her dressed but lately I seem to lose more than I win!

 Addie is so funny!  She only rides her bike on the sidewalk and refuses to go fast! She is the only kid in the neighborhood with training wheel and she could care less.  

One thing is for sure, my girls are strong willed and have a mind of their own!  They are an absolute joy and somehow seem to amaze me each and everyday. (Okay more like most days)

Why we call her Monster

This might just look like a cute rag-a-muffin, but don't be fooled she is a Monster!

This girl has all kinds of personality, independence, and far too much curiosity! 

 Not only does she love to push buttons of all kinds, she loves to take off her clothes! 

 It would be one thing if she just didn't like to wear clothes, but she likes to get into things and make messes!  Like to today it was take off clothes and find a stamp and decorate her body.  Last night it was get naked and put on her swimsuit and then pee on the front porch.

 She likes to do things herself!  Loves to take off her diaper, trust me this isn't a good thing!

 Good hygiene is one thing, but for the love of all that is good in the world don't let this child find the floss! 

 My personal favorite is trying to eat out with this child!  She dumped a perfectly prepared lettuce wrap all over my lap and then she cried!  What did she have to cry about? She wasn't starving and covered in  her lunch!

As much as I love this sweet child she earns her nickname of Monster on a daily basis.  Beware she loves all things expensive, just a warning! She can be rather sneaky!

New Adventures!

Back track to When we were in Arkansas! We decided it was time to share the adventures of Sliver a.k.a Silver Dollar City.  While everyone else was baking to death we were at least sweating in funnies!

 Avery thought that she was big just like Addie, She had me haul her up to the top of the tree house and then she wimped out on me! I had to carry her though the cargo net.  Then she wanted to do it again!  REALLY KID!

 We tried to teach Addie about life on a farm, she was not impressed!

 More impressed by the rides at the farm!

 Yup it was HOT! But Addie got to ride the train, which I think was a high light of the day.  Addie is usually a thrill seeker, we had her ride one of the big dollar coasters and that is why she loved the Train!

 Do you think that we can get a 2 for? Just kidding, with a little water they perked back up!

 I promise, just napping!

 It is a good thing that we brought the Aunties along.  I am not sure I could have ridden all the rides, I barely survived the drive to Branson!

 As much as Addie loved all the rides, I think that the sprinklers that they had randomly placed around the park were her favorite! Not only did they cool us off they proved to be entertaining as well!

It was a blast showing the girls the rides that we rode as kids and watching them run around excited by it all!

Birthdays Extravaganza

August is an exciting month at our house!

Yup you guessed it.  It is Birthday season at our house, and it wouldn't be a Birthday without a trip to the Toy Store!

After searching high and low, scouring the shelves, Addie finally decided that she just had to have a Pogo Stick!

We were able to tear the girls away from the new treasures, but only with the promise of cupcakes!

If I had to guess I would have to say that Addie had a wonderful 5th Birthday.  She finally got her Pogo stick, got to run around a toy store and she even got her Tinkerbell cupcakes that she picked out special! What a lucky duck!

Day 2, Avery's turns 2

We ended Addie's birthday with cupcakes and started Avery's with cupcakes! 

After a breakfast of champions we break in Avery's new loot! She is a Stepford wife in training!

The Celebration continues on!  Complete with a Minnie Mouse cake, but of course the girls were sitting  in front of the wrong candles.

 But that is okay because Addie wanted nothing to do with fire! She wanted those candles far far away from her.  I guess the 4th of July incident is still fresh in her memory!

 Yay Yay Yay, more presents!  Wait a minute, thats not Avery's present!  Grandma put the wrong cards on their gifts, So while Avery is excited about a Pound Puppy, Addie is giving the death stare, I want that!

Good thing, Grandma really got Avery a Minnie Mouse and the Pound Puppy was happily transferred to Addie who couldn't be happier. 

 All in All the 3 day Birthday extravaganza was wonderful!  The girls were spoiled rotten! The parents were able to appreciate the wonderful gift of having them both in our lives!  All the while running on a sugar high!  I think we will need a family detox after all the good food and immense amount of icing! Cupcakes/chocolate for breakfast lunch and dinner for 3 days straight is a bit much!