Reluctantly Unplugged.....

I could cry!

My lovely little computer needs to be sent in for some maintenance work.

I have had the box to send it back since the 1st of August and I just haven't found the right time to send it back. I know that there will never be a right time, so off my computer goes tomorrow.

I know others of you have went through this and have survived (and even been a bit more productive). :-)

This will no longer be my view for a couple of weeks.

Let the detox begin!

Because, yes, it is an addiction. :-)

Amazon Company Picnic

Sunday, 8-15-10

So FUN!

This was my first year attending the Amazon Company Picnic. Last year Elissa had just gotten home from the hospital, so just Darin and Zach went.

It was at Mountain Meadows Farm in North Bend. This is such a great place for a company picnic! It is a huge area so that everyone can spread out and easily take in all the different games and events that are happening. The food booths were good with little to no wait and lots of fun things for the kids.

It was probably the hottest day of the summer, so we got there right at 11am to get a couple hours of fun in before the 96 degree weather showed up.

We hooked up with Gary, Jennifer and their daughter Roslyn at the start.

We started with crafts - Elissa painted a little sign and Zach colored a balsa wood airplane and both Elissa & Roslyn colored some bracelets.

BUT then they saw THIS:

A huge Radio Flyer wagon filled with toys!

Here is what Zach and Elissa got.

Then an air brushed fairy for Elissa while Zach ran off to play on the bouncy(s).

The kids had so much fun watching the reenactment of jousts and sword fights.

Roslyn is trying to keep the fast melting ice cream off of her. :-)

It was getting REALLY HOT at this point, so we were looking for a way to cool off. The people running the little water boat station decided to take all the boats out and just let the kids wade around. This was nice!

Elissa and Roslyn are doing a pedal cart race.

And then Elissa found her own way to cool off.

Then the Crazy Cool Motorcycles!

This was definitely the highlight of the day!

The last thing we did was the climbing wall.

Elissa was a little scared. She made it about a 1/4 of the way up.

It was the funnest company picnic that I have been too!

Clean Room

Thursday, 8-12-10

Zach

He cracks us up!

It seems like he has gotten older in just the last couple of weeks.

The things that come out of his mouth make us wonder where he heard it or how he figured out how to use the words appropriately.

 He goes around hitting and kicking everyone and he is not trying to be mean. He is just showing you some affection, I guess. He really doesn't understand how much it hurts (though he is learning as he gets in trouble).

Another quirk of his is his morning routine. When he wakes up, he immediately goes to the restroom and throws his pull-up in the garbage. Then goes back to his room and shuts the door. Then he decides what he is going to wear - though sometimes he does have us lay it out the night before and he has a specific place where he wants us to put the clothes. He gets his underwear, pants & shirt on and if there happens to be shoes in his room then he might come out with those on too. He likes to rise and shine and get ready for the day! This is definitely a trait from Darin. :-)

He comes and wakes me up and wants me to go downstairs with him. He immediately wants chocolate milk and for me to sit with him and watch a cartoon. I love that he still loves a little cuddle time. :-)

Today he came down stairs and said "Mom, I cleaned my room." I smile thinking wondering what that means. I said, "You cleaned your room?" and he said, "Yes, I cleaned it all up." So he takes my hand and tells me to close my eyes and he leads me up the stairs and into his bedroom. I open my eyes and he has a very clean room! He is smiling from ear to ear and I give him a big hug and tell him what a great job he has done. He is very proud of himself!

I ask him why he decided to clean his room. He tells me that Daddy called while I was on my phone (my cell) and Daddy told him to clean it. I texted Darin to see if he called and he hadn't. So I have no idea what got into him, but now I know he can do it. hee, hee

ONE YEAR Seizure Free!

Elissa is doing great! Praise God!

I can't believe it has been 1 year since she had her seizure. Here is a refresher on what happened. Also day two and three in the hospital.

She has been on medicine to lower the risk of having another seizure since it happened and it seems to be working. Her follow up visits with the neurologist have been great. There seem to be little side effects from the medicine. I think it makes her more easily tired and emotional, but thankfully we have not seen any of the slow learning issues that could arise.

She has her 1 year visit on September 1st. I don't think they will do another EEG until her two year mark. There is a high chance that Elissa will grow out of the abnormality and that, of course, is what we are praying for. If not, it seems like the medicine is working well to control her proneness to seizures.

I'm so thankful that I haven't had to go through the terror of that day again. I pray I never have to. But since there is a likelihood that it could, my mind is never quite free of worrying about it. It is not a forefront thought, but one that pops up when she sleeps a little longer or squirms around at night or is quiet for too long.....then the fear rears up and my thoughts are immediately "Is today the day?"

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I'm sure thankful for each day I get to spend with her.

She is a vibrant, intelligent, talented, very social and sweet little girl. She is so independent and just can't wait to grow up, but she also loves to snuggle too. :-) She would much rather be at a friend's house then at home. Her favorite color has been pink & purple, but this year she decided to buy a light blue & brown backpack for school because it was "older" looking. She wants to be a rock star as well as own a farm so she can feed all the kids who don't have food. She's a funny mix. I'm so excited (though can wait) to see what she does in her adulthood. I know it will be something great!

We are so thankful for your prayers and we ask for you to continue to pray that she has another seizure free year. Thank you!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Wednesday, 8-11-10
(the day before Nana's b-day)

We love you very much!!

We met Nana with her friends, Teri and John, at Dukes in Kent Station. One thing about Nana, she loves her free deals. :-) So she had her free birthday meal email and since we had 6+ people, then we all got free dessert! It was a great meal! Yum, yum!

Afterward, we came outside to a fun band playing in the plaza area. The kids ran and jumped around as we listened. A nice little surprise and ending to the evening.

********

Since it was the first sunny day in days, I brought the kids down early to Kent Station and we spent some time at the sprinkler park. It was a wonderful afternoon.

200th Post!

I started blogging back in November 2008.

Here is my first post.
Kind of funny that I didn't do any intro post. I just "plunged" in. hee, hee

Thank you Amy for talking me into starting (and reminding me that my 200th post should be coming up). I'm so glad I did. It has been such a great way to capture all the little moments that happen every day.

I'm going to make this into a book soon!

Blue Angels

Friday, 8-6-10

It truly is awesome to see the Blue Angels fly. 

It was the first time for the kids to watch an air show. They thought it was pretty cool when we watched the rescue helicopter and then a jet fly by and so fun when Fat Albert showed his stuff, BUT the Blue Angels had them yelling and giggling. It was amazing!

Elissa made a friend and watched the show with him and his brother.

Fat Albert

The Blue Angels!

They just make you smile!

AMAZING!

Good Bye until next year!