Healing

So I am on the mend. In retrospect, I really should have gone to the ED that night after the accident, but I didn't, and it doesn't make much sense to go now. My clavicle area is much better, and I can drive w/ a seatbelt & not be in pain...major progress. I am still sore in my left wrist & across the abdomen where the seatbelt restrained me, but getting better. The hard/weird thing is my blood pressure. I have always had low to normal BP. At the scene it was extremely high, and while it dropped some, it did not drop enough. So, my PCP now has me on BP medicine. I also realized I was trying to do it all and that was making it worse, so I have retreated and stayed home sick for two days, and the combination of rest, heating pads, BP meds and time to be less overwhelmed is helping. Prayers are still appreciated. I am not back to my old self yet...but I am getting closer.

So - (Auntie Ann especially)...please don't worry. I am on the mend. Its just slower than I had hoped.

Pictures

We went trick or treating at "the college school" last night, and it was fun. Since Jackson's dad is their radio anouncer, he gets included in teh invitation for employees to bring their kids trick or treating...and we join 'em!

Buzz & Iron Man were big hits. My little Buzz was especially popular on the dorm floor decorated like Toy STory. Enjoy....

Ready for November...

October has been a rough month. Maybe blessed and cursed at the same time. A quick review: got diagnosed w/ celiac disease (means I have to join the gluten free ranks of my sister & cousin), go gluten free and one week later get a wicked stomach & vertigo virus. Hoped it would be 48 hours, but it was 7+ days. FInally doing better, trained for a 10k (6.2 mile) race to run last Saturday. But, Friday night got hit my a drunk driver (Lilly was blessedly not in the car). BUT, the car is totaled, and I am really beaten up.

So - cursed side...got hit by an uninsured drunk driver, car totaled, have to buy a new car when my totally paid off car was working just fine thank you very much. Have had a rough week of battling the insurance company...who (now 9 days later) still has not even looked at the car to appraise it. Arrghh. But, after trying nice for a week, the bitch came out Friday and I finally got them to agree to pay for my rental until they get their act together. They had said timing was off since I was hit on a Friday night. I told them that the next time I get hit by an uninsured drunk driver I will try harder to do it during regular business hours.

The blessed side - It could have been sooo much worse. My neck seems ok, my injuries seem mainly from seatbelt & airbag, but I seem to be getting worse w/ time, not better - so prayers are more than invited. Lilly was not in the car, and hasn't seen the car, so she doesn't realize how bad it was/ could have been. And, situations like this always help you get perspective. As that car was headed to my face, I wasn't thinking of work. My friends and family have come out of the woodwork to help and be supportive. I am so lucky to be so loved.

Lilly is doing great at school. And, she is playing soccer & doing sooo much bette w/ it this year. She scored a goal in a scrimmage this week, and did a fabulous job at playing goalie yesterday! She is psyched about her Buzz Lightyear costume for Halloween, so I do promise pics from that soon.

Little Surfer, Surfer, Surfer Girl....

I know - its been a month with no posts. Sorry!

This past week we have been at the beach with the extended family, and had a great time. This was the third year at this spot, but the past 2 years had really bad weather. But, the 3rd time was the charm, and we had 7 straight days of PERFECT weather this time. The weather, combined with how fun a 4 year old can be, made it a really terriffic week. One of the most fun things is that Lilly is really a surfer chick! Really! She's been attracted to surfing since last year when she saw some folks doing it. I had contemplated getting her a lesson this year, which I decided to do after watching her on the boogie board that first day at the beach this week.

Another fun thing was that my parents' celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at the beach. Maren, Lilly & I gave them a large picture collage to update one we had given them for #25....and I found Lilly just sitting in front of it enjoying all the pictures and thought it was so sweet.....

So - Lilly is now officially the youngest student ever at the Kitty Hawk Surfing School! The instructor was wonderfully patient. I know at first they thought I was crazy to bring a 4 year old with only marginal swimming skills to a surf lesson. But, pretty soon they realized that she REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to learn to surf. So, with a super-duper life jacket, and a little help from mom in the water to get back to the instructor each time (& super cheers for MY mom who waded way out to get the great pics), we were off! It was so perfect...we even saw dolphins at the lesson. She was able to get up and surf on in almost instantly! Soooo cool. So, later in the week we rented a surf board to have at the house and she did great there too. But, that day the seas were rougher, so she didn't try to stand up. She has now told me that she is going to tell all her friends she is a "real life surfer chick." And so it begins.....

The rest of the week was fun too...enjoy some pics.

Big Fun with Big Bird

We had a great little vacation to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania (outside Philly) last weekend. Its a theme park (owned by the same folks who own Bush Gardens & Sea World) that is totally for kids under about 7. As it's about 70% water park - the camera had to stay in the locker most of the time. But, we had a fun "Dinner with Big Bird & Friends" Friday night which you can see Lilly loved. Lilly would want me to tell you that she went on all the water slides and that she was "really brave of it." Enjoy the pics....

Lilly & I drove to DC Thursday night, heading up to PA Friday morning & spending a long, fun day at teh park on Friday. Maren joined us Saturday morning, and the three of us got to enjoy the park together most of Saturday before heading back to DC late that evening. And Sunday we headed home after seeing Maren's soon to be new house in DC. Very busy & very fun trip....and yes....EXHAUSTED on Monday ;)

Back in DC.....

Establishing pecking order with Maren's dog Ollie (sorry - can't get it to rotate right)

Visting Maren's new front porch

What a Whirlwind of Days!

Survived my first garage sale Saturday. With a 8 am start time, the first whackos showed up at 6:50 (which I had anticipated, but its still weird). Also weird to tell them its not open and have them sit on my sidewalk and watch us run around and finalize stuff while they just watch!

Sale was incredibly successful, and gracefully over at 1...packed up and took stuff to thrift stores and made it to CHuck E Cheese by 3 where Lilly was hanging out at a buddy's b day party. I managed to stay upright for another 30-40 min or so and then we left that chaos. I was whipped!

But...the big news is that today I took Lilly's carseat out of the car and replaces it with a "big kid" booster seat. SHe is sooooo excited and so thrilled. She wanted to sit in the car and take a pretend practice ride. How has she grown up so quickly?

Fun Friday Night

Had a blast at a spontaneous Busch Gardens night w/ Jackson & family. My favorite part? Ms Kendra likes alllll those rides that make me dizzy, so she was the official ride taker. Soooo... a great night was had by all. Had such fun, we stayed way later than planned...luckily leading to sleeping in today!

Happy Fourth

Had a nice fourth of July...

Friday night Lil and I "camped" on the porch. The weather was freakishly wonderful, so I figured if we were ever going to try it...that was the night. We had an air mattress, sleeping bags, a candle for a camp fire and smores made in the oven. Great baby steps towards getting us actually camping. She fell asleep quickly once I convinced her there were no lions or tigers. And...lets face it...we were on a screened in porch...mosquitos were the most viscious prey we faced. She LOVED it and was ready to do it again immediately. Mama however, was thrilled to be back in her own bed on Saturday!

Sunday was the 4th...we started with a walking 5k at Yorktown (Kendra & I walked while Coop kept the kids entertained in the battlefields). Then Lil & I headed to IHOP for breakfast, which was fun. She was covered in strawberry syrup in about 10 minutes...but at least it fit in with the color theme of the day.

Then home to decorate the trike for the neighborhood parade...a quick nap... and then the family came in time to enjoy the parade. Lilly won the blue ribbon / 1st place for bike decorating. She couldn't have cared less, but I enjoyed it. Actually...I handed her the ribbon and explained she won, and she asked "what's the prize?" She seemed disappointed when I explained the blue ribbon was the prize. Guess we'll work on that achievement for the sake of achievement concept....

Lil and I stayed up and watched the fireworks on tv that night. We watched the fireworks from the capitol, and I told her it was in DC. She said "Oh, where Maren lives! Which window is her apartment?" (meaning of the capitol building). Too cute. Anyway...enjoy the pictures!

Tee 90th B Day and other catch ups

This weekend was not only Father's Day - but it was also my mom's bday (today) and yesterday we had THE party for my grandmother's 90th birthday (which is actually this coming Thursday). We had family coming from all over. Even family I had never met. We - of course - had the obligatory family pictures that no one wanted to be in and everyone is glad we did. I told Lilly she couldn't have any dessert until after the pictures. Good decision as you can see here...Lilly vs Chocolate Fountain...I guess its a draw:
This is all on the heels of Lilly having a wicked bug late this week. No puking or anything, just wicked high fevers. She was hitting 103+ for 4 days. Ugh. But, she was feeling better Saturday, and after motrin, a forced nap, A LOT of sugar at the party, she was a whole new woman and ready to party. SO, we headed to my mom's late last night to hang with my cousins at the unofficial after party. She arrived in PJs and loved it. It also allowed us to hang out today and have a nice casual day. We hung out at the pool in my folks' neighborhood and Maren cooked a great dinner. Very nice weekend.

Tomorrow is Lil's first day of "Summer Camp" at her old daycare. Montessorri has a summer program, but it is 1) too expensive, 2) worse hours than the regular year and 3) not the crazy fun summer I want for her. So, I went back and enrolled her at her old place for their "Pre K" summer camp. I have heard great things in the past...about 3 field trips a week and swim lessons. Sounds fun. Most fun? Hanging w/ Jackson and Carleton all summer.

And...lastly.... me and my great Dad circa 1976. I can't give Lilly a Dad...but she has a great Grandaddy, and for that I am extremely grateful.

Fun Summer Friday Night

We had a classic, fun, summer Friday tonight. It was waaaay above 90 today, and VERY humid. But, our Buddy Carleton had a T Ball game, so Jackson's family & our family grabbed a quick bite after work and headed to the local ball field to watch him play. Only problem...the other team never showed. So, they eventually called the game off. But, teh concession stand was set up, there were parents & kids hanging around - so Lilly & Jackson joined in batting practice & running the bases. And I mean RUNNING. My little sweaty girl...her hair was just soaked & plastered to her head. As Jackson's dad put it...not a single hair on her head could move. After our "game" we headed to the park next to the ball field...and after teh kids were completely run into the ground, we headed to the local ice cream dive "Monty's Penguin" (for you old Mt Toppers....very similar feel to Mac's!) for a cool treat. Very fun. Hot night, baseball, playground, good friends, ice cream. It doesn't get much better than that.

Oh...and in the past 10 days or so you could say that my house is where (litterally) the shit hit the fan. Or the AC anyway. Had to replace the main sewer line after having raw sewage back up in teh side yard (lovely). While the front yard was still dug up for the sewer line and surrounded in yellow caution tape, the ac died...requiring an entirely new system. Ouch. But, I am thrilled to say that I can flush the toilets in confidence, and it is nice and cool in my house despite it being over 90 outside. The money will work out at some point. Despite my summers of roughing it at Mountain TOP, flushing toilets and working AC are no longer optional in my life.

Fast Weekend of Florida Fun!

Lilly and I headed down to Florida for a long weekend of fun with my dear old friend Farzana, and I finally got to meet thew newest addition to her family - baby Dani!

Lilly fit right in with the three boys (Zaki - age 6 1/2, Adam, not quite 2, and Dani 10 months) and had a blast. Unfortunately she did a face plant on the sidewalk the first night we were there, so all of the pictures show her lovely nose scar. She's fine...it will just take a while for the scab to clear.

Thursday we saw Zaki's school show (200 kindergarteners...200!...and all their parents, extended families, video recorders, etc....and each kid had a line! and LOTS of songs...and no AC...ouch). We got there really, really early (partly a mistake...we only meant to be really early to get a good seat, but had the time wrong, hence the really, really....) But, they enjoyed playing around in the school and on the stage. After an hour in the heat we saw Zaki do his line with great gusto, and then Lilly and I escaped out to the fresh air for the rest of the show. Friday we played at a splash park during the day and headed to Downtown Disney that evening, which was a blast! It was just walking around and looking at all the over the top restaurants, crazy stores, etc. There was a great Lego store that had all these bins where you could build cars and race them. And, we got to "dig for dinosaur" fossils, which was a big hit. Saturday Lil and I headed to Sea World in the morning, where Farz, Zaki & Adam joined us in the afternoon after Zaki's soccer game. It was great.

Lilly has developed a "collection" of sorts. She has started collecting those cheesy penny souveneirs (where you pay 50 cents to squish a penny and stamp it with a picture of whatever place you just were). At first I thought it was lame. But, she has gotten into it, and has them from several different places. And... it occurred to me...what else could she collect that would 1) only cost me 51 cents, and 2) fit into my change purse? So...suddenly I was a fan of cheesy pennies instead of stuffed animals, movies, figurines, etc. Here she is adding to her collection at two different spots....

Wanna guess Lil's favorite parts of the trip?

Wearing matching shirts with her mom. (Not my favorite to be matchy matchy...but she loves it soooo much when we match, so its worth it)

Riding in Zaki's booster seat instead of her car seat back home. Visiting the cockpit on the airplane (sorry - no pic - I didn't get to go !)

Lego car race at Downtown Disney ...

Finding a giant lego dog that looks exactly like her stuffed animal "labradog" that she named Jackson

Playing with Zaki and all the boys! Sea World's roller coaster! No pics either....I had hoped she could ride w/ Zaki (and I thought what a cute pic it would be as I waited with them in line). But, alas, she is still under the magical 42 inches, so I had to ride with her....ugh...(I am not a fan of roller coasters....come one 42 inches!)

My favorite part?

Spending time with my best friend of almost 20 years, watching all of our children play together, truly enjoy each other, and having Farz & I enjoy the general chaos of this phase of our lives.