THANK YOU!

I would like to THANK all of the our soldiers, and their families, for the sacrifices that are made each and everyday to protect the United States of America!!

Surgery #2

Today Garrett will have his second set of tubes put in his ears and his adenoids removed! Garrett was in a great mood going into the surgery center - even without having his routine cup and muffin in the morning and he even walked up to and HUGGED to older men sitting in the waiting area. Yes, we are still working on teaching him that other people enjoy person space too =)

Things went from good to not so good once we entered the scary little room where they (try) take vitals and change patients into scrubs. Garrett was NOT impressed with the surgical gown OR the fancy slippers...he went from a happy little man to a scared arm-swinging-leg-kicking little man =( and then he was off.

Then we wait. We have to wait in that creepy little room until Garrett is out of the hallway - so he doesn't see us leaving to go back out in the waiting area. After 45 minutes or so our pager (just like at the restaurants) goes off and the doctor is ready to talk to us.

We find out that his first set of tubes were completely out and siting in his ear canal, acting as a magnet to wax (gross). Garrett did great and we would be called back to recovering soon. Back out to the waiting area.

When we FINALLY get to see him he is giving the recovery room nurses one heck of a time. One nurse is at the food of the bed trying to get a pulse reading - while Garrett kicks his feet! After a few minutes Garrett realizes that Matt & I are standing right next to him and I'm able to pick him up! We get moved to another recovery area and wait for our discharge instructions.

The first 2-3 days of recovery was hard! The pain medication they gave him also caused some constipation =( which would make anyone grumpy AND he was getting up every 1-2 hours during the night. That makes for some really long days for both Garrett and Mommy!

Garrett is doing great and he is making all sorts of new noises and "talking" up for a storm.

Funny Man Garrett

So this morning my 28 month old son - who survives on peanut butter crackers, grapes and the occasional yogurt steps on the scale...38.2 lbs! Solid little monster =)

OMP LOVE!!

Our weekend was low key - which is exactly what we needed!!

We were blessed to be able to take Dan & Jenn out to dinner at Jolly Pumpkin to celebrate their engagement! It was a great dinner with amazing family!! Thank you Grammy (Maggie Russell) for taking care of Garrett while we enjoyed some adult dinner time!!

Sunday was the start of my helping out Aunt Val prepare for Jake's open house. It was SO much fun going through all the adorable pictures of Jake, is was (and still is) an adorable kid! Jake will be attending Michigan State University in the fall - GO GREEN!!

We rounded out the weekend with a visit to our favorite OMP beach! Garrett loved running to the water, kicking it (yes, my son tried to kick the water) and trowing rocks! He was really working hard to throw every single rock into the water - good thing it was just us at the beach! Grabbed some ice cream from the Peninsula Market (to eat AFTER dinner of course) and then headed home for burgers on the grill and local asparagus for dinner!!

WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!

Engagement =)

CONGRATULATIONS UNCLE DAN & AUNT JENN!!!

Dan proposed to Jenn and........she said YES!!!

 So excited for them both, we can't wait for the wedding =)

Mother's Day!

I had an AMAZING Mother's Day and I could not have done it without my family!! I had a great run in the morning, a nap later and then we drove out to Empire park with the kids - finished off the evening with burgers from Joe's Friendly Tavern ("from and not "at" because Garrett decided eating out was NOT on the agenda and we ended up asking for the orders to-go) LOVE THAT KID!! Madison and I had ice cream too!

Funny kids!

Madison had her second track meet of the year last night and it was FA-FREEZING! I took my winter ski coat and mittens and Matt asks me (only joking) if I was going to wear by snow boots...I only wish I had!! Being a member of the track team in high school was a blast - being the parent of a track team member is as sticking a fork in my eye. It is a very intense game of hurry up and wait. I pick Madison up from school, she freaks out on me because I am late (I've been late to things her whole life, why is she so surprised) and she needs to get to the track early to practice hurdles. Hurdles are the first event. I tell her she is silly for signing up for the first event of the meet =) Madison ran the 55M hurdles, 4th grade relay and the long jump! She did great and I am hoping for sunshine and warmer temperatures for the track meet tomorrow.

2011 JOGATHON

Garrett and Matt even made an appearance at the meet which is a "win" for Matt because he got Garrett to wear pants! Not sure what this new "phase" is but Garrett is ALL about wearing his PJ pants all day, everyday. When I told him it was time to get dressed this morning for school (daycare) he went and grabbed a dirty pair of PJs! He was less than impressed when I wrestled him into a real pair of pants!

Kids =)

Happy Birthday Matt!!!

Matt's birthday gift from the kids and me - GO STATE!!

Grammy hostessed a BBQ dinner for Matt (complete with HOMEMADE Carrot Cake!) - Uncle Dan grilled up some yummy burgers and Garrett, well, finally decided to wear pants =)  Madison was a little late to the party because she was still celebrating her friend's birthday!

So, why no pants? No idea! Garrett woke up from his nap less than pleased to be greeted by his Dad (who has been gone out at the cabin "fishing" all weekend) and apparently his lack of pants was his own non-violent protest. Don't want to wear pants? Fine. Get in the car, Grammy is waiting =) So Garrett greeted Grammy, Uncle Dan and Aunt Jenn with no pants on!