It's the Last Day of School!

And even though it's 11:30pm, I'm still doing a happy dance around my house. (OK, maybe it's only happening in my head, but you get what I mean!)

Wow, has it really been that long?

I was just looking at my blog, and it has actually been almost two months since I posted? Yikes! I guess I need to update everyone.

First of all, as most of you know, Andrew had his surgery on April 8th, and he came through with flying colors!! The doctor was very happy with how everything turned out, and at our post-op visit on the 30th, he said we don't need to come back for another four months! Yeah!! Plus, we got all of our insurance back, and all together we will be paying about $1000 for everything. While that is a lot of money, the insurance company paid alot more. Like close to $20,000 more. So, I can't complain. Plus, George W. Bush came through for me, and we got our stimulus check last Friday just before the bills started rolling in. I was able to use a little bit of it to buy a new camera (And, yes, Mr. President, I am expecting a personal thank you note from you for stimulating the economy at Best Buy). The camera was a floor model, and I'm sure the guy at Best Buy thought I was the dumbest person in the store. I had no idea what I wanted. The first camera I picked was a 10 megapixel camera with a 5x optical zoom. Unfortunately, the only way I could get that one was by ordering online. Now, if I wanted to order online, do you think I'd go out on a rainy Saturday in our crappy traffic just to choose a camera? No, I'd stay in my nice, dry house and click and buy. Anyway, after spending another 20 minutes looking at all of the other cameras and trying to decide how much I could spend without Jeremy having a heart attack, I settled on an Olympus Stylus. It's got the 5x zoom, but it's only got 8 megapixels. The guy at Best Buy told me I'd be OK with that though unless I wanted my pictures to be 16 inches by 24 inches. So, I got my camera. I have to go back, though, and get the charger for the battery since he forgot to give that to me. He would have forgotten to give me anything if I hadn't asked about an instruction manual.

I have been so incredibly busy at school. The last day is Wednesday, and a couple of weeks ago, we got a three page checklist of everything we need to do before we can check out on the 23rd (the last teacher day). So far, I've gotten everything done. It hasn't happened all on time, but it's getting done. I was supposed to export my grades for report cards on Wednesday, but they didn't actually get done until this afternoon. I had a good excuse though. I wasn't really expecting a four day trip to Indiana last weekend. While it wasn't a happy reason for going, it was good to see my whole family. I wasn't able to see them in November since we weren't able to go up there for Grandma's funeral. We have decided that we are going to come up with a happy reason, any happy reason to get our families together. Having three funerals in thirteen months stinks. There really isn't any other way to put it. We really need a wedding or a graduation. I'd say a baby, but I already took one for the team there, and it still didn't work out since Grandma died the same day. Thankfully, she at least knew she had a new great-grandson. Grandpa never got to see him face to face, but I know that he heard a lot about him! Especially since Andrew has decided that he wants to make sure he's the topic of every conversation with all of his medical issues.

Speaking of Andrew, I took him the pediatrician a couple of weeks ago, and two very funny things happened. First, he had exactly doubled his birth weight. He was 7 lbs 7 oz at birth, and at the visit he was 14 lbs 14 oz. I'm probably the only person in the whole world who finds that interesting. Then, when the doctor was doing his examination, he checked for the soft spots on the top of Andrew's head. I wanted to say, "Sir, the boy doesn't have your average soft spots anymore!" He had already asked me about the surgery, plus, you can't really miss the scar, so I think it was just habit. Beyond that, he is your average five month old. I'm planning on starting solid food next weekend, so I'll be sure and get pictures up!

Matthew and Nathan are still playing baseball. Matthew's team is playing in their tournament right now. This year, they divided the T-Ball league into two tournaments. The top 8 teams are in Division 1 and the bottom 8 teams are in Division 2. Matthew's team was seeded 9th, so they're the top team in Division 2. Better to be the best of the worst than the worst of the best I guess. It's double elimination, and they've won their first two games, so they'll at least play a couple of more games. Nathan's team doesn't have a tournament. He's still in the league where they don't keep score. Tomorrow is his last game, then we'll have a team party sometime after Memorial Day. While I sad to see the season end, it will be nice to have our Saturdays back. Two Saturdays ago, we were at the park for about six hours. It was a good thing I had brought two bottles for Andrew.

Hopefully, it won't be another two months! Yikes, that would put me at the end of the summer already. Yuck.

Spring Updates

I need a new camera. This is the best picture I got of Matthew at his Awana awards tonight. Yes, he's the one with his back to the camera.

The problem I have is my camera only has a digital zoom, so I can't zoom in on anything without losing sharpness. If the hospital bill for Andrew's surgery is not astronomical, I may do just what our President is asking and spend money to buy a new camera.

Matthew had a great year at Awana. He got an award for finishing his book, and then a patch for reviewing it which means he pretty much did the whole thing again. His leader loved having him, and wants him in her group next year.

Nathan is all done with Cubbies too, and he's very excited about being a Spark next year. I was able to get a better picture of him at his awards ceremony on Sunday. While he struggled with his behavior Wednesday evemings, he really loved coming. His troubles come when the time is unstructured. He just has a hard time understanding how his actions affect other people. He also gets really tired in the evenings, and those are the times when he has a tendency to lose it as well.

They are also both playing baseball. Nathan is in the Rookie league again this year. They don't keep scores, and everyone gets to bat every inning. He's playing on the Red Sox. Matthew's in T-ball again this year. He's getting a lot better at hitting the pitches from his coach. He's also doing better at actually running the bases. Last year, he liked to prance down the bases rather than run. Here are some pictures of them playing.

Nathan getting ready to bat.

Matthew getting a hit.

And no post would be complete without the requisite Easter picture. It's not great, because Matthew likes to squeeze more Andrew more than actually hold him. But, I was able to take one outside in our beautiful weather. (Yes, I'm rubbing it in for those of you up north.)

Making Easter baskets

Happy Easter!!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I feel like I have been so busy over the last couple of weeks. I'm not really sure why. The last two weeks were both four day weeks, which were nice, because they were, you know, four day weeks. But I feel like I have to get just as much accomplished in a four day week as I do a five day week, so it seems a lot busier. Plus, Matthew's started baseball, so we have one game during the week and one on Saturday. Nathan's playing too, but his games are just on Saturdays. Needless to say, that makes our Saturdays really busy. I have been lucky, though. Jeremy has had the last two weekends off. This weekend, he has Saturday off, and he has to work on Sunday. I think that's why my weeks have seemed busier as well. When he has the weekend off, obviously, he works all five weekdays. So I can't get as much accomplished after school since I have all three with me all of the time.

Awana is over for the year. Nathan's award ceremony is Sunday, and Matthew's is next Wednesday. While I have loved helping out in Awana, it will be nice to have our Wednesday nights back again. Plus, I'll enjoy not eating supper in the car every Wednesday. Since Andrew arrived, there is no time to even make mac & cheese on Wednesdays, so we go through the drive thru at either Wendy's or McDonald's and eat in the car. AND, I won't miss driving on Five Forks at rush hour. For those of you not familiar with the lovely county I live in, Five Forks is one of the major arteries that runs through southern Gwinnett County. Unfortunately, it's only a two lane road. Plus, it's gotten a lot busier in the last month as the state starts a MAJOR widening project to US 78 which has sent a lot of traffic over to Five Forks. It is a major pain, and I avoid it during rush hour (which lasts from 3:30 until 7:30 around here) at all costs.

I'll get pictures posted soon of Matthew's birthday and of Easter. I loaded them up on my laptop at school, but didn't bring my card reader home to put them on the computer here.

Easter Cookies

I got this off of a mom's site I belong to. I can't wait to try it!

EASTER STORY COOKIES: Make the evening before Easter...
1c. Whole Pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
1c. Sugar
Zipper Baggie
3 Egg Whites
Tape
Wooden Spoon
Pinch Salt
Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300° (This is important-- Do it now!)
2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. (John 19:1-3.)
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. (John 19:28-30.)
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. (John 10:10-11.)
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. (Luke 23:27.)
6. So far the ingredients are not appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. (Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.)
7. Beat with a mixer for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. (Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.)
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. (Matt. 27:57-60.)
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. (Matt. 27:65-66.)
10. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. (John 16:20 and 22.)
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. (Matt. 28:1-9.)

Surgery Scheduled!

Andrew's surgery is scheduled for April 8th at 8:00 am. I don't have a tremendous number of details right now. Out pre-op appointment is April 7th where they will do the bloodwork and give us instructions to prepare for surgery.

Attack of the Sickies!

It looks like sickness has attacked our house. Both of the boys are in bed right now, and there is a coughing duet going on in my house. Nathan was very mellow over the weekend, which is usually a sign he's getting sick. Matthew was fine this weekend, but now he's coughing too. He had baseball practice tonight, so we spent an hour in the park. I doubt being in the cold air helped either of them. Of course, it is still 53 degrees right now, so it probably wasn't too bad. Matthew really had to go to practice though. He hadn't been able to have one yet. He was supposed to practice a week ago Sunday and that got rained out. Then, he was supposed to practice last Friday evening, and that got rained out too! (Really, we are still having a drought here, really!) So, Saturday his coach got them together for some work in the batting cages. Yes, we have batting cages at our park. They're really just a fenced in area with netting. My $200 for baseball at work, I guess. He's made a lot of improvement over last year. His league is called t-ball, but each at bat starts with the coach pitching to them. After six pitches, then they hit off of the tee. It's helping them get ready for the next level where the coach will only pitch to them. Nathan's league just uses the tee. His league is the one where they don't keep score either. Matthew's league keeps score and has an end of the year tournament as well as all stars. Whew! Anyway, last year Matthew did a lot of hitting off of the tee and very little hitting of pitched balls. This year, it looks like he's doing much better hitting pitches. I realized though that he is really young for this league. Their cut off date is April 30th, so last year he was probably one of the youngest players on the team. This year, you can see the way that he has matured. Nathan's doing a lot better too. He's had two practices so far, and we haven't had any meltdowns yet! He's doing great with listening to his coach and waiting his turn. We also haven't had any fits when someone else gets to the ball before him. Maybe baseball will work out. I tried really hard to convince him that soccer was more his style, but he had none of it. He kept insisting that he wanted to play baseball. I guess he was right.