Catching Up

So we haven't posted in a while, which goes to show that we're back in the full swing of school and life in general.

Jaymeson is growing like crazy, she's crawling, standing, and has now started standing without holding onto anything. She'll be walking in no time. She has four teeth on the top, and four on the bottom and has started to eat some big people foods. Finally, teeth!

Ellie is loving school, her sister and pretty much everything else. She's such a happy kid. She had her preschool pictures taken a few weeks ago, and has been working on doing things independently, as well as learning about fire safety! She's got a great little song to sing if you have a few minutes.

The girls enjoyed their trick-or-treating as well. We had a beautiful day to head out and visit some family and friends, and wrapped up the night with a trip around the neighborhood. Ellie is loving all the candy, and Jaymeson is trying to steal it, with little success.

Josh and I are good. We are going to watch Josh's cousin, Ashley, play volleyball next weekend. She plays for the U of M, and the Badgers and Gophers square off in volleyball on the 14th. We're going to have an adult weekend and hit up the Badger-Gopher football game the next day since I scored some tickets from one of my co-workers. We're really excited, since we missed hockey this year, and haven't been to football for a few years.

We hope that all is well with everyone!

Oktoberfest

We have all enjoyed celebrating Oktoberfest over the past week, and may even wrap it up with a visit to the North Side Fest Grounds on Saturday. We attended the Maple Leaf Parade last Saturday. It was a beautiful day, even a bit warm for a Branson, and we had a great spot. We sat on the north side near Copeland, so we didn't have to wait for the parade to get to us, and there weren't any breaks in the action.

Ellie loved all the bands and was doing what we like to call "the booty shaker" most of the parade. Jaymeson started getting into things, and bopping up and down in her stroller as well. At one point she was even clapping her feet!

On Wednesday we ventured down to the South Side Fest Grounds for some dinner and rides. Ellie scarfed down her dinner, and was ready to ride before anyone else was done. Our friend Jason took her on the spinning strawberries, and she followed that with a trip on the kiddie roller coaster, and then a ride on the carousel with Josh. The picture of her filled with excitement were taken as she exited the roller coaster.

Jaymeson loved all the sights and was perfectly content (what's new) to hang out in her stroller and look around. She even posed for some adorable pictures.

Thursday night we bundled up for the Torchlight Parade on the north side. The brats were delicious, the weather was cool, and the girls had a blast. Jaymeson zonked out about half-way through, so I held her/she kept me warm. Ellie attempted to hula-hoop with her glowing necklace, which was pretty funny. We didn't get home until nearly 9, but it was worth it.

Tomorrow we're off to Pee-Wee bowling, Pumpkin Fest at Festival, Frank Bahr's 50th Birthday party, and possibly a little festing.

Five Years

Josh and I celebrated our fifth anniversary yesterday. Hard to believe we've been married for five years, and together even longer. A lot has happened in the last five years, both good and bad, and we've gotten through it together.

We spent our anniversary at Pee-Wee bowling...I tried to post a video of Ellie throwing the ball into the lane next to hers, but for some reason it wouldn't post. The video is very Uncle Don-like, but it is hard to hold the camera still when you're laughing so hard. I'll give it a shot again one of these days.

After bowling we went to La Crescent where Ellie walked in the Applefest Kiddie parade with the kids from her preschool. It was a short parade, just a trip around the block, but the weather was warm, and the meeting spot was the blacktopped school parking lot. Needless to say, both of us were sweating.

Josh and I rounded out our day with a trip down memory lane as we attended the wedding of one of my high school friends. I'll never forget her anniversary. The reception was at the Waterfront, and they had the UW-L Screaming Eagles band perform in front of the deck. It was pretty awesome.

The only thing I'd change about yesterday is the fact we didn't have any pictures of the two of us taken...oops! We have many more years for photos though!

Pee-Wee Bowling

We decided to bring Ellie to Pla-Mor lanes this morning for Pee-Wee bowling. I think it goes without saying that she had a fantastic time. Because she only rolled a 38 we will be practicing day and night until she can break 100.

Just a quick update..........there is nothing new to report. So, without further delay....more pics of the kids!!

Preschool

Ellie started preschool today!!! We dropped Jaymeson off at Kimmy's this morning, and when I got back in the car she said, "Just the girls going to school. I'm so excited!!!!!!" Except "excited" was screamed in a super high, drawn out way. It was great.

Got some pictures of her on the bench outside of school, as she found her cubby, by the welcome sign, with her teacher, and again as she waved goodbye to me from the waving window. Managed to hold the tears back until I shut the car door, and lost it.

It was one of those moments that made me realize that my baby is growing up, and reminded me that my dad isn't here to share it with us. Bummer. I reached for my phone to call him, but knew he wasn't there. Wanted to call someone, but figured my mom was sleeping in on her day off (she picked Ellie up at school), and that it was 6 a.m. in Idaho. Way too early to call Stephanie. The tears blended with the raindrops on the windshield and I made it to school, where the kids asked if I had allergies. I told them of my ordeal, and they all said, "Aw."

My mom and my grandpa picked Ellie up from school. She came running out yelling, "Great Grandpa!!!!!" The teacher said she had a great day, sent home a calendar, and Ellie got dropped back at Kimmy's. Ellie will be the "Special Helper" on Sept. 23rd. She gets to bring three things to share, and the daily snack. She's pretty pumped, and said it was a great day. What a big girl.

Just an update

Everything here is good. We took Jaymeson to Urgent Care again last night because she was fussing and just not acting like herslf. We found out that she has thrush. They said it is pretty common after being on antibiotics, and gave us a prescription that should get us through the next two weeks.

We all had a blast at Sesame Street Live on Friday night. Ellie used her free pizza certifcate that she earned through the library's summer reading program, at Happy Joe's before the big show. Both girls really enjoyed themselves.

Last night we attended the parent meeting for Ellie's preschool. She gets to go on Thursday for a little orientation, and drop off her school supplies. I was able to switch the day she visits to the 4th, rather than the 2nd, so I'll be able to drop her off for her first day. We're very excited for her, but sad at how quickly she's growing up!

We both head back for meetings tomorrow and Thursday, will enjoy Friday at home (or at least part of it), and then head back to school on Tuesday. We're going out with some friends on Friday night, attending a wedding on Saturday, and Monday is the Labor Day parade, also known as the Candy Parade in these parts. Should be a good end to the summer!

The end of summer vacation

Well, summer vacation is wrapping up, and it is almost time to head back to school. Besides Josh and me, Ellie will be heading to Peli Preschool in La Crescent this year. She has all of her school supplies and school clothes, and is anxious to start. She'll go on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-10:30.

Josh is at a meeting today, and we go on the La Crosse Queen tonight as part of his new teacher orientation. I thought it was the Island Girl, but was wrong. He has meetings tomorrow as well, and I have meetings all day Monday. We both have inservice Wed. and Thurs. next week, and Friday off. We have a wedding and some other get-togethers with friends planned over the long weekend before school starts.

I'm going to try to attach a video of Ellie making Jaymeson laugh. It is very cute! I love the belly laughs!!!

Keeping the gallbladder...for now

Josh and I went and met with the surgeon this morning. She basically said that at this point if I can tolerate the "attacks" it would be better to just deal with them, then deal with the risks of surgery. I'm okay with this since recovery would be about two weeks, meaning I would use all of my sick days right at the beginning of the year.

She said she can't guarantee it is the gallbladder, although many symptoms point in that direction, as well as the gallstone. She mentioned it could be a muscular/skeletal thing from holding Jaymeson wrong, sleeping funny, etc. So, we'll see what happens. If things continue and I feel like I can't deal with them anymore then they'll take it out...it is pretty much my call.

On a family note, Jaymeson is getting her third tooth. It is on the bottom left-side. She seems to be getting over her ear infection as well, which is great. We tried to go to family night at the pool on Sunday, but some kid tossed his cookies before we could even get our feet wet, so they closed the pool and sent us home with some passes (note: pool closes Aug. 24th, passes given Aug. 18th...not a huge time frame). We're going to try again this afternoon, but seem to always go when there are "accidents" in the pool.

Ellie is very excited for Friday when we get to go to Sesame Street Live! at the La Crosse Center. Josh and I are going on the Island Girl on Thursday as part of his new teacher orientation stuff, so that will be fun. Josh heads back for school stuff Thursday and Friday this week, and we both officially start Wed. next week. My teaming partner, Katie, and I were asked to mentor the new 5th grade teacher, so we're pretty excited about that. Other than that...not much going on!

Not what I wanted to hear...

I went to the doctor today to have an ultrasound done on my gallbladder because I've been experiencing some syptoms related to gallstones. I only found this out when Mary was telling me about Beth having her gallbladder removed, and was listing off symptoms. As she listed them I was thinking, "Yep, I've had that, I've had that, exactly..." So I got in touch with Beth, she said what I was feeling was pretty much exactly what she went through. It had happened to me about four times, so I called the nurse line.

The nurse advisor didn't seem to give a rip, and said that many of the things I was saying weren't associated with gallstones (although the ultrasound tech today listed those things as symptoms), and that the doctor probably wouldn't see me, but she'd pass it along. I also sent my doctor a message asking if I should be concerned about the pain or if was associated with some other problems I was having earlier this year. Got a call on Wednesday to set up an ultrasound.

So, the tech, who happened to be the mom of a kid I'll have in class this year, found one small gallstone, but said others may have "escaped" since I'd had other attacks. She said the doctor would call or send a letter. The doctor called about an hour ago, and set me up with an appointment to speak with a surgeon next week. So, I think we're going to decide exactly what needs to be done.

I am not excited about the possibility of having to have my gallbladder removed since school starts in 13 days. If I do have it removed, maybe they'll let me bring it home in a glass jar. We'll see what happens.

Mystery Solved

So, for the past week or more our happy little baby has been not so happy. She's been clingy and whiney and just not herself. I'd noticed her tugging at her ear a few times, but wasn't sure if it was because it was hurting, or she just happened to snag it as she flailed her arms around. We'd thrown around the idea of a doctor visit if it wasn't better by Wednesday, but today's performance convinced us to bump up our plan. (Her face says it all.)

I'll give her credit, she was great during our play date at McDonalds. However, as we started packing up, it began. She cried when you put her on her back, on her belly, when you sat her up, when you held her, when she was in her seat, when she ate...nothing we could do. She'd have a few smiles, then meltdown for no apparent reason. As Josh fed her she would take a bite, then scream as if you'd pinched her. We'd already decided to take her in tonight...it was just going to be a right now, rather than after dinner.

Josh rang up pediatric urgent care (so much better than regular urgent care b/c you can actually make an appointment, and you don't have to wait eight years), and they scheduled her for 5:50. I gave her part of a bottle quickly, and he took her to the doc while I finished making dinner for Ellie. Around 6:15 I got the call. Ear infections. We had narrowed it down to that or teething...or perhaps both.

Josh picked up a prescription, so hopefully she's on the mend. When one of the happiest kids in the world suddenly turns into a giant fuss-budget...you know something is up.

On another note, Josh and I are off to a Twins game with Joe and Sam tomorrow. Our friends Jenn and Jason were going to join us, but since Jason just had surgery on Thursday, it just isn't going to work out. Instead they're going to pick the girls up at daycare for us and watch them until we get back...what a deal!

Our weekend

It is getting to be dinner time on Sunday, and I'm realizing another weekend has passed, and we're getting closer and closer to the start of the school year. Not only will Josh and I be heading back, but Ellie will be starting preschool this year. Wow...where has the time gone?
We've gotten her school supplies and a few new outfits. I now realize why we weren't able to wear our school clothes until it was time to actually go to school. I think I've scrubbed out more ketchup and pudding stains in the last week than I have in my entire life.
Josh had his final 10Sped class of the year in Stevens Point this weekend. The girls were in prime form while he was gone...whining, crying, not listening...all that great stuff. I'm pretty sure Jaymeson is getting teeth because I've heard her cry more in the last week than I've heard in the first seven months of her life.
Ellie is getting into the terrible threes...starting to say "no" and giving us the hairy eyeball. She's redeemed herself today though, and has been helpful and easy to get along with.
Jaymeson is working on sitting up on her own. She can sit, but you have to set her up, and now she's laying on her side and pushing herself up. She's not quite strong enough yet, but it won't be long. She's also starting to lean and reach for things, which can only mean that crawling will be coming shortly...not sure how she's going to get those giant thighs moving, but we'll see.
Right now we're anxiously awaiting the arrival of our friends Jenn and Jason, who are bringing us pizza as a thank you for the lunch we took them the other day after Jason had surgery. We'll probably enjoy a little more time outside before catching up on the Olympics!

The first of many...hopefully

Here is our first official post, and hopefully the first of many. We decided to set up this blog so people could log on and read about what's going on in our lives, and comment if they feel like it. So...here it goes.

As Josh said yesterday, "I can't believe school starts in three weeks." Where has the summer gone? I've spent much of my time at meetings, conferences, classes or school doing curriculum work. I see myself spending a lot more time at school in the next few weeks, as we have to hire a 5th grade teacher before the start of the school year. Josh taught summer school during July, and is finishing up his summer work for the 10Sped program.

The girls have had a good summer. Ellie took swimming lessons at the Holmen Aquatic Center. She was a little jumpy after the first few, and refused to go under. We talked it up for a few days, and now she's virtually fearless. She jumps off the side, goes under, and even does an exaggerated nose plug and submersion while plucking toys from 6-inches of water. We went to Pop and Ruth's last weekend, and once again she was swimming like a fish. She couldn't touch, so we fastened on the life jacket and let her go. She was jumping in and swimming all over the place.

Jaymeson is continually growing. She's rocking the growth charts at nearly 18 lbs (75% in her age group) and just about 24 inches (50%). She started swimming lessons last night at Gundersen Lutheran. She did awesome, and even got a little dunk from the instructor! Not a tear was shed. We've discovered that she's a much more mellow swimmer than Ellie was. Ellie rarely cried, but was a big splasher and kicker, and Jaymeson just chills. Lays on her back and just enjoys the water. It is very funny.

We'll do our best to keep you posted (no pun intended) on what's going on in our world.