The Children's Museum ~ 7-14-11

We have a one year membership to the Children's Museum in The Woodlands. We've only used if a few times and since our membership is about to run out we wanted to get the most use out of our membership.

Cameron in the grocery store.

Dressing up as a firefighter and sliding down the pole.

Sometimes the best of efforts does not produce a good picture. 

Braydon wanted no part of taking a picture and wanted down to roam around.

Cameron driving the fire truck.

We went to a local author reading at the Children's Museum and made an ostrich.

Fishing in the pond.

"I got one!!!"

Playing in the truck. Too bad he can't see over the steering wheel yet.

Braydon  trying to get his hands on the truck a little early.

Braydon playing with some giant checkers.

Cameron and another little boy playing with the air table.

In the kid tunnel.

In the kitchen...I hope he continues to want to wash dishes!

 Dressing up as a superhero.
He really was more excited than he looked in the picture.

Bishop going in for surgery ~ 7-14-11

Does that look like a dog that is sick?

We discovered Bishop had a kidney stone that was causing quite a bit of havoc on his kidney so we decided surgery was his best course of treatment. Two weeks ago I took a trip to the vet's office only to learn the office had written down the wrong date for Bishop's surgery. So, today I took Bishop up to the vet's office to remove his kidney stone . When I checked him in I was filling out paperwork that asked if I wanted him to have a heartworm test. I asked the vet technician if he had a heartworm test on his last visit. Much to my surprise she said yes and he had a "strong positive." Ummm, excuse me. And then she went on to say by the looks of the notes on the chart that the vet discussed the outcome of the test with Michael. After some discussion, not so pleasant I might add, and a phone call to Michael I once again left with my dog and children to return home. In tears I pull up and asked Michael what were we supposed to do now. We waited on a phone call from the vet to discuss our options and he apologized for us not knowing the results. Michael and I decided to go further with the surgery to remove the stones and to re-evaluate the heartworm situation after a few months of being on heartworm medicine.


He stayed at the vet office for the night and came home the next day. While he wasn't moving very quickly I knew he wasn't in as much pain as he had been in. Of course the next thought was to wondering how many heartworms he had and if we had been a little more diligent about heartworm prevention if he would not have gotten them.

Bishop was a Christmas present to Michael when we had been dating almost a year. He was born November 9th, 2000. We are hoping to have many more years with him. Now that Oliver has passed it was especially difficult to hear that something is wrong with Bishop. Unfortunately we can't change the diagnosis, but we can focus on trying to make him better and live a long and healthy rest of his life.

Living Longer ~ 7-13-11

Some relief...I feel relief that I woke up today. I know that sounds strange. Fear for no reason.

Bluebonnets were my moms favorite flower.

Probably because Bluebonnets were from Texas and Texas was home 

even when we didn't live in Texas.

Garfield was my mom's favorite cartoon character.

Anticipation ~ 7-12-11

As I posted in my birthday post, my mom passed away 8 days past her 33rd birthday. July 13th is 8 days past my birthday. As mentioned earlier, I'll be relieved when tomorrow is done and over.

Baby Boot Camp ~ 7-12-11

What do you get with a workout program where you CAN bring your kids??? 

BABY BOOT CAMP

I met a fellow teacher at a workshop and we were talking about me signing up for the bootcamp. She told me about a bootcamp where you can bring the kiddos. So I tried it out. I figured it would be a trial run to see just how out of shape I am. It...kicked...my...butt! I was huffing and puffing and was SOOOO sore for days.

They have a special for the summer for $100 this summer, but since it was already mid-July I am planning to sign up for it next summer if all works out. It's a balancing act trying to fit in working out with having 2 kids, not to mention feeling bad for leaving them when I do need to go some place. So I think this will be perfect; taking them with me and getting a workout into my day.

Having Fun with Friends ~ 7-11-11

A friend dropped by with her kiddos and the boys enjoyed having fun.
They were in the ball pit and we almost couldn't find them.

Braydon reaching over for a toy outside of the ball pit and almost fell out.

Are there 3 kids in there?

Ah, there they are!

Playing with Food ~ 7-10-11

I try to teach them right and then their DAD teaches them crazy stuff.

Notice the PICKLES on their foreheads!!!!

Braydon didn't follow their lead but he was having fun with the pickle.

More bounty from the Garden ~ 7-10-11

We have some great stuff coming from the garden. It's been such a great learning experience for Cameron to see where food comes and a wonderful feeling to see our food coming from our own garden.

Almost 13 months ~ 7-8-11

Braydon LOVES to vacuum. 

I hope he loves it as much when he gets old enough to actually vacuum!

Riding in his wagon which he LOVES also.

Student Loan balance? ~ 7-8-11

Thanks to Teach For Texas Higher Education for giving me $5,000 for 3 consecutive years I officially have a ZEROOOOO balance on my undergraduate student loans. I'm more than thankful for the opportunity to knock out the student loans. Pinch me I'm dreaming!!!

When I started paying on them they were scheduled to be paid off in 30 years! That's a house note, but definitely not that high. Hopefully now that my undergraduate loans are paid off I can motivate myself to start my graduate degree!

Who signs up for a boot camp? 7-8-11

ME!!! While I've never taken an exercise class I'm plunging into a boot camp to try to get in shape before school begins. I thought that perhaps I may die in the process. On LivingSocial.com a Bootcamp was advertised. $20 got me 4 weeks of unlimited boot camp sessions in The Woodlands. I texted and called a few friends, but NOT so much to my surprise NO ONE wanted to join me. But that didn't stop me. I went several times and it kicked my butt. I purchased 2 of the certificates and hope to use the 2nd one over Christmas break when I have a little more time on my hands. The bootcamp showed me I can do much more than I think I can. Wish me luck!

Goodbye to an era ~ 7-8-11

For the past 13 months I have been blessed with being able to provide milk for Braydon. In addition to providing milk for Braydon I've been able to provide 5,192.5 ounces of milk to two other babies who are adopted by wonderful families. I still keep in touch with Miss Z's mom and may be donating the last bit of milk in the freezer in a few weeks. Here's my signature on a website I belong to. I'm excited to have kept up with the amount of milk I donated and proud to have been able to provide for my 3 little monkeys.

     Milk Mommy 5192.5 oz     

Miss Z 704 oz. 6/19/11, 1045 oz. 5/6/11, 887 oz. 3/12/11 & 856 oz. 12/31/1

Mr H 791 oz. 9/12, 449.5 oz. 10/10 & 460 oz. 11/18/10

The 2 breastpumps that have become my friend over the past year. They are all cleaned and packed up.

The picnic bench that was my little campground with computer.

The mound of bottles cleaned and ready to get packed up.

A natural question has been "are you having anymore" and "when's the next one" and "are you trying for a girl?" The simple answer is I am not 'HAVING' anymore kiddos. After 2 c-sections I don't have any desire to have another baby. Do I feel like we are 'done?' Not really. We may revisit the situation in a few years and adoption may be in our future. We'll have to wait and see what God has in store for us.

I found this clipart when pumping and one of the mom's I donated too found it cute also.

Space Shuttle Atlantis ~ 7-8-11

We watched the liftoff of Space shuttle Atlantis today. I was a memorable occasion to be able to sit in our living room with my two boys and see history be made. At the time Atlantis was lifting off it is scheduled to be the end of the USA space shuttle program. I have mixed feelings about this. The US has pioneered the way into space along with only a small few other countries. The cost of the program is enormous. I'm hoping the US can join other countries on their space shuttles to continue our research and programs in space. I'm hoping the employees that have lost jobs due to lack of funding find jobs quickly.