Bradlee's Teeth

This is not an official "blog", but I just wanted to update you on Bradlee's bruised front teeth. I took him to the pediatric dentist this morning and after some x-rays, the dentist came in and said it was not trauma. He got out his polisher and the "Scrubbing Bubble cleaner of dentistry" and scrubbed off the "bruise" from his teeth! He said that baby teeth are soft at first, so on some children, the iron from vitamins, food, milk, etc. "sticks" to the soft parts and makes it look bruised. It also explains why the coloring has faded. He polished the teeth and said that it will most likely not happen anymore. Bradlee got a new CARS toothbrush, a Winnie the Pooh and a Tigger sticker, and a glow-in-the-dark bracelet from the toy box! What a great kid. All the nurses were just ooh-ing and aah-ing over him, and of course, he wanted to show off, so he showed them how he says "Please", "Thank You", "More" and "All done" in sign language! Then he gave all of the a high five. What a great kid. I'm so thankful that this was an easy fix!! :)

Sick, sick...and more sick!

Well, if I said our lives were uneventful, I'd be lying....

We've been in school for about 4 weeks, and Tony and I have yet to pay for a full week of daycare! First, Bradlee had a virus/possible ear infection. Then Emma had a "stuffy nose" bug. Then Bradlee had another ear infection. Then Emma had a stomach bug. I blame school. :)

Last night I ended up taking Emma to the after-hours clinic. She had a temp of 102.2 and complained of a headache. No other symptoms. She actually asked to go to the doctor...once we got there, even though she felt so horrible, she was so funny. She didn't feel well at all, and all I could do was smile at everything that came out of her mouth! Here's a good example:

The doctor comes into the exam room. He shakes my hand, then Emma's hand, then Pinky's (Emma's stuffed bear) hand. He asks Emma what her friend's name is:

Emma (in a complete monotone voice): "Pinky."
Doctor: "Well, that's a good name for her."
Emma (still monotone, "with a roll of her eyes" in her voice): "Yeah. 'Cause she's pink."

HA! How could I not smile at that! :) Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. As she was drinking glass of water, (my first mistake...should of had her SIP the water!) she said her tummy hurt, put her hand over her mouth. I looked for the trash bin, but it was too late, she threw up all over me. I got some paper towels, and went to try cleaning some of it up...and she did it again...all over me. Ugh. What a mess! Then she started crying and said she had an accident. So there I am, my sister-in-law was getting the car, and I have a 4-year old with puke all over her, her bear and some of her blanket she brought...also ALL over me!! Good thing I have a strong stomach!! I stripped her down to nothing, wiped up as much as I could, and wrapped her up in her blanket. Lynne carried her out to the car and buckled her in and we got bags for her pj's and for Pinky. She was spending the night at my in-law's so Tony and I could work today. So, I've still got puke all over me, so I got in the car and drove home with no shirt on...what other choice did I have?! :) I didn't pull up next to anyone, and I drove the speed limit the whole way home! LOL Thankfully we had a blanket in the car that I wrapped around my shoulders! I got home and Tony looked at me like "What's this all about?" I just looked at him and said, "Got thrown up on.....twice." and headed for the laundry room! LOL Makes for a good story, though, eh?? :)

Except for these little bugs, my children are relatively healthy, and for this I am grateful. I am also grateful for the fact that Tony's parents are retired, so they are able to help us out when one kid, or both kids, are sick, so Tony and I are still able to work. Ugh. I just keep praying the worst is over...at least for a while!

On a brighter note...last weekend Tony's parents and I took the kids up to Frankenmuth to Grandpa Tony's Petting Zoo. For those of you who are familiar with the area, it's right across from Bronner's. It's a little farm area with all kinds of farm animals. Emma's been talking about "petting a bunny" all summer, for whatever reason! So, Emma got to hold and pet a bunny, Bradlee got to pet a miniature horse (named "Leroy") and see a sheep (which he now says, "BAAAAAA" to!) and a HUGE cow!!! For some reason, he just loved the pigs, even though they were sleeping!!! Emma loved feeding the pigeons they had in a wire cage and, of course, the wagon ride!! Here are some pictures:

Emma and Beepee feeding the pigeons.

The joys of holding a 3-week old bunny!

He wasn't sure at first, but then he went for it!

A day at the petting zoo! (With the sleeping pigs!)

Other than trying to just get our kids better, we've been pretty busy. Our DVR survived premiere week, and Tony and I have found a few new shows that we think we make like this fall. :) I'm back with the Flint Symphonic Wind Ensemble and am just loving it! We have our first concert on Sunday at Wolcott Orchards in Mount Morris at 1pm. If you're able, I hope you can come! There will be a little something for everyone in our repertoire!! Have a great weekend!

First Week of School!

Well, it hasn't been a good week for pictures, but it's still been a good week! The first week of school went really well. By Friday, though, both kids were just exhausted! Emma cried all the way home on Friday because she was just "hungry and tired". She slept 12 hours that night! Bradlee's been good. Friday he was finally getting used to the whole new daycare routine. When my in-laws picked him up, though, they were told by his teacher that his teeth were gray. Sure enough, they looked like they were bruising. So into the doctor he went. We were recommended to a pediatric dentist, which we have an appointment set for the 29th. They aren't looking too bad, but they are still gray. Don't know what happened, but the only thing we can think of is that he fell and it didn't hurt him, but he hit is mouth just enough that it caused this mouth trauma! Poor baby boy! His smile still melts my heart, though! :)

Saturday I went to Tony's parents' house for the day while Tony had to DJ. We cheered on the Chippewas for their win against MSU!! Here's Emma in her CMU shirt ("Hey Mama! We MATCH!") and Bradlee and Beepee watching the game!

Unfortunately, Emma's now got either a really good cold or pretty bad allergies. Although, it's comforting to know that she was one of 3 out at school today...poor kids! Never fails!! Hopefully we'll get through this quick and move on!!

I've met Emma's teacher and she has so many positive things to say about Emma every day! She's stressed how much she's a natural leader and is such a joy to have in class. She's also told me how she can tell Emma was close on the Kindergarten cut-off, but believes Emma will do just fine and have the upper edge throughout school. That made me quite comfortable with the Holly schools. I'm excited to see her grow this year!

Emma and Bradlee got their flu shots yesterday. Tony met me there with the kids after school, so we had 2 cars at the doctor's office. When we left, the "boys went with the boys and the girls went with the girls" (in other words, Bradlee went home with Tony and Emma with me!). When we got in the car I said, loud enough for Tony to hear, "Emma, let's see if we can beat Daddy and Bradlee home!" Emma was all for it. At one point, Tony got in front of us and we got stopped at a light. I said, "Oh Emma, Daddy got in front of us!" She sighs and says, "Oh cramps!". "What?" I said. "Nothing." She replied. I said, "No, honey, it's okay...what did you say?" "I said 'Oh cramps' because Daddy got in front of us and now we're not going to beat us home!" I was trying so hard not to laugh. Instead, I said, "Ya know, Emma, maybe that's not something little girls should say. How about we say 'Oh nuts' instead?" "Okay, Mom. That sounds good."

Have a great week! :)

First Day of School!

Here they are....my babies on their first day of school!! Emma was so excited and ended up having a great day. Bradlee was a little fussy during the day, but it was attributed to teething and just being in a new place. Once he was in Char's hands (a worker from his old nursery), he was a happy baby!! Tony had a great day, too. Things are looking good for this school year!!

What a busy weekend!!!

First, though back on the last Sunday in August, Tony's school hosted a "Summer School Session" for the high school staff and families. That morning, while we were getting ready to go, Bradlee wanted my attention so much! We had to bring a dish to pass, so I was busy getting that ready. I gave Bradlee a pot and a wooden spoon and he went to town!!! I think we have a drummer on our hands!

This is the second year they've done this Summer School, and it was so much fun, again! They open up the gym and have a bounce house and games, as well as a BBQ and tons of food, and they also open the pool for swimming! Last year, Bradlee was barely a month old, so I didn't get in the pool, but this year, I promised Emma I would! She went under water twice (and survived!) and we all had such a great time!! Here's a picture of her in her swimmies in "the big pool at Daddy's school"!!

So back to this weekend...we dog-sat for my sister, Kathi's, dog, Holly. She's a big black lab that is so great with the kids and basically just sleeps all day. Her only downfall is that she makes a mess with her water bowl and she she like to chew on things when she's lonely. She chewed our remote control (one of her favorites) and one of the kids' toys (both are still usable!) this weekend, but she's so good and we just love her. We put her bed in Emma's room, and she was ecstatic that Holly came and slept in her room with her...On Saturday morning, Holly had an appointment at the "dog spa"...so Emma, Bradlee and I loaded her in the car and took her over to PetSmart. Here's my view in the rear view mirror:

As you can see, Bradlee's hair was out of control, so after we took Holly to the spa, we went over to Grondin's and had his haircut. He had to sit on my lap, and was kind of nervous the whole time, so as a result, his bangs are a little crooked, but other than that, it's so much better...and you can now see those beautiful blue eyes!! Here's the "after" picture...

Each year, for about 4 years now, the Sunday before school starts, we've made it a tradition to go to the Detroit Zoo, just the (now) 4 of us. This year was no different. We let the kids sleep until they woke up on their own, then we got everything together and headed to the Zoo. What a day! There were tons of people there, but we all had a great time! Bradlee loved the animals (especially the giraffes) and Emma loved "the polar bears and all of the animals"! Here are the kids getting ready to see some animals!

Emma also loved the flamingos, so here is her and Daddy posing like a flamingo:

Like I said, Emma's favorite part was the polar bears. The Detroit Zoo has an amazing polar bear/seal exhibit, where there is a 70 foot glass tunnel where, on a good day, you can see the bears and seals swimming all around you. Well, they were performing for our visit! Just as we walked into the tunnel, a polar bear dove into the water and headed for the tunnel.

He swam right to where we were (below) and walked on the tunnel, so we could see his GIGANTIC paws:

Then, as Emma told EVERYONE....the polar bear "sat on the tunnel and we saw his butt!"!!!! LOL

It was a great day at the zoo! Bradlee also loved watching the seals swimming around! We enjoyed a picnic lunch we had packed, and then were home in time for dinner with Aunt Karyn...not before having our traditional picture taken by the bear fountain!

Monday was supposed to be a day full of surprises...Kathi's boyfriend, Garrett, is in the Marines. He has been in Japan (and surrounding areas) since March on a humanitarian tour. He was due to come home this first week of September. In the mean time, Kathi's gotten a new job, new apartment, and a new car (convertible!)...so there have been so many changes in her life that he's personally missed. She told him about everything except the car...which she got back in July! So, Garrett emailed my parents and said that he wants to surprise Kathi and come home on a different day he's telling Kathi...my parents were going to be up north this weekend, so mom had Garrett talk to me. Garrett and I emailed quite a bit, and I managed to get Kathi to agree to come up on Monday (today, Labor Day) to pick up Holly and to enjoy in our "back-to-school BBQ" we always have. Great! That means everyone will know where she is and Garrett can come surprise her here! Well, Kathi was also in a wedding this weekend, where a bunch of Marines that know Garrett were...and the whole surprise was blown when they told Kathi he was going to be home late Sunday night instead of Wednesday, like he had told her! Surprise spoiled!! Damn! Well, it was still nice to see them together again and we still had the surprise of Kathi showing Garrett her new car! LOL Here's Kathi and Emma enjoying the spaghetti salad I made:

Here's Kathi and Garrett, WELCOME HOME! :)

Uncle Garrett brought Emma home a present from Japan...a silk kimono-like dress! She was really shy to try it on, but once I told her we could put some chopsticks in her hair, she was sold! Here's a nice picture of the dress...it's so beautiful!

Then, of course, Emma decided to pose...she did this one on her own!

So, as busy a weekend it was, it couldn't have ended better. We are all so happy to have Uncle Garrett back in Michigan safe and sound! We've all had a great summer and are also happy to have school starting again. Emma said her favorite part of summer was "playing in the pool, going to the Zoo, and being with Mommy and Daddy when Mommy was on vacation!" What a sweetie!! Tony's favorite part was watching the advances Emma made in the pool...from going to the "death grip" when she got in, to floating on her back with just some arm floaters on, it was amazing! Our goal is to have her comfortable jumping in by the time next summer comes around! My favorite part of this summer was watching my kids grow and making new and continuing old traditions...Look for first-day-of-school pictures tomorrow!!!

A Slight Hint of Fall....and a SCHEDULE...is in the air!

I cannot believe it’s been 3 weeks since I’ve updated this blog. Even more, I can’t believe it’s only been 3 weeks since I was on vacation! We’ve started getting so busy that it seems like it was forever ago! I’m glad I have this blog, too, ‘cause then I can remember what even did on my own vacation! LOL I’m going to do my best to remember what’s gone on the past few weeks in our lives…

Emma visited the eye doctor again in mid-August. He said her eyes are looking good and to keep wearing the glasses for now. He’s going to see her again in November to check her progress, but I was given strict instructions that if her eyes seem to be crossing more and more, then to bring her in sooner. I really think she’s getting used to them, and her eyes are also. They cross, but not as much as without…we’ll see what happens when school starts and she’s concentrating on more direct things. I’ll make sure her teachers know about the problem as well, since they will be seeing her more during those times. If she doesn’t seem to get better, then she will be put into a bifocal to help direct the vision.

The weekend of August 21st is known as “Crim Weekend” here in the Flint area. It’s the big event where, undoubtedly, a Kenyan will win the big 10-Mile run. In fact, Tony saw a man wearing a headband that said, “In my dreams, I’m Kenyan”. We participated as much as possibly could in all the activities going on right in our own backyard: downtown Flint! There was some kind of ceremony Tony DJ-ed for on Thursday and Emma, Bradlee and I went to see what it was all about. We also picked up our registration packets for our individual races that weekend. Friday is the big party…they have kids activities and a big pasta party (hosted by Italia Gardens…if you don’t live in the Flint area and don’t know what Italia Gardens is, they are a family-owed Italian restaurant to DIE for…they also catered Tony’s and my wedding!). The proceeds to the all-you-can-eat Pasta Dinner benefit the Women’s Shelter of Flint, so you’re not only getting good food, you’re helping out a great cause as well!! Emma and Bradlee DEVOURED their pasta and had a great time with the activities!

Saturday was race day. The events started at 7:30am that morning and ran until around 1:30pm. What a great day for Flint!! The streets were packed with cars and downtown was packed with people!! Tony and I did the 5K (3.1 miles) walk that morning. Tony finished in the top 100 participants! His time was around 44 minutes. I finished in 50:22, so I was pretty happy. We are going to “train” to do it again and improve our times for next year. We may even do a few other walks throughout the year as well. We really had a good time. That afternoon, Emma was entered in the Teddy Bear Trot. It’s a ¼ mile run right down Saginaw Street. Last year, Tony ran with her and he ended up carrying her for about half of it…this year, both Tony and I ran with her and she only walked about 20 feet, then we got her to pick it up again and run! She did so well!! I don’t have any pictures of race day, by my in-laws do, so I’ll be sure to get those soon and post them.

The night of the Crim, Flushing Parks was showing “Bolt” in the park. I have been promising Emma I would take her to see it all summer long, and I did not break this promise! Lynne, Emma and I packed snacks and drinks and went to the park and watched “Bolt” outside under the cool night stars! It was a great night, and it is a great movie!

That same weekend, Tony and I noticed our van was overheating while we were driving out to his parents' house. We didn't drive it all weekend and took it to the dealership for repairs. The total in repairs was going to be over $1000...so we just had the minimal done, about $600, and then decided to buy a brand spankin' new minivan!!! We got a great deal from the dealership, then my grandfather got us the employee pricing, and since our old minivan was almost paid off, we didn't have to rollover too much from there, so all the stars aligned and we were able to get our new car. It is a 2009 Chrysler Town and Country - "sparkly" black...we LOVE it! Emma's favorite part is that her windows (the middle row windows) roll down!

Other than that, we've been working on getting the kids back into a schedule (especially sleeping!) and especially getting Tony used to waking up at 6am again! After we found out Bradlee's nursery will not be opening again this fall, we went on a mad chase for a new one. The Holly District will still have a nursery/day care at another elementary school, about 10 miles south of the high school. It's not exactly "on the way" for either of us, but after checking out other places and visiting it today, we are pretty sure we're going to enjoy having Bradlee there. It a great looking room and there are great people who work there. I'm excited for him and for us in this new experience!

Emma will be starting Preschool this fall...since she missed the Kindergarten cut-of by a week! (You have to be 5 years old by December 1st to start Kindergarten the previous fall...her birthday is the 8th). Today, while talking to the director of the Holly Kids program, we learned that they are offering a 5-day Preschool. S-O-L-D!!! She is so excited, although I don't think she really know what it means. She will be in a latch key program when she's dropped off, then preschool, back to latch key room for lunch, preschool until 3pm and then latch key until she's picked up! I'm excited that she will be getting ready for her non-nap days...not that she's been taking one this summer anyway!!! It's going to be a school year full of new and interesting experiences!