Right to Read Week

It's a fun week for my kiddos. Monday, they could wear crazy hair (not painted though) or a crazy hat. Cinderella wore her princess Mickey Mouse ears and Mr. C just didn't want to cooperate. Today, it was crazy sock/shoe day so Cinderella wore two different socks and two different shoes. Mr. C cooperated and wore two different socks.

Tomorrow, they are supposed to wear shirts with words on them. Thursday is slipper day so we are trying to find their slippers. Friday will be the best day because they get to wear costumes to school as a fairy tale character. Cinderella will go as Cinderella or a pink princess. Mr. C will be Prince Charming in his royal garb from Halloween 2010.

It has been really easy to get Cinderella moving in the morning thanks to this special week!!

Family Day at the Aquarium!

Today, we went across the river to visit the aquarium. Matt and I have been there before (years before children) and wanted to take the kids. They were so excited about going! They talked about it for several days!! Despite waiting in a 20 minute line outside in 32 degree temps, they LOVED it!

Mr. C would talk to the fish and say "Come over HERE!" I was laughing so hard because he seriously thought the fish should obey him!! When he saw the penguins, he was MESMERIZED! He absolutely LOVED them! He sat and watched them for 20 minutes! We literally had to drag him away! And what did he get in the gift shop? Yep! A stuffed penguin! He talked to it and said "I love you penguin!"

Cinderella loved the Frog Bog where she climbed and played in the indoor playground. She also liked the penguin play area. We all enjoyed looking at all the variety of fish. The octopus was the most amazing creature to watch!

This Spring, we have a few more family outings planned with maybe a weekend out of state.

Creation Museum

Today, my co-worker and I attended "Answers for Teachers" Teacher Workshop for Christian educators at the Creation Museum. I have been wanting to visit the Creation Museum, but haven't been due to my overly energetic kiddos. We had a great time viewing the museum without a crowd (it wasn't open to the public in the early morning) and had time to read and take in everything. Then, we had speakers that gave us great Biblical knowledge on teaching Genesis as well as other areas of study.

I highly recommend going if you are in the area. We definitely will take the kids in a few years. I really want them to be a bit older so that they can understand all the meaning.

Making plans

We are making some family plans for a few weekend of fun coming soon with the first weekend family day being this Saturday. Cinderella is so excited and no doubt Mr. C will be excited when we get there! It's been quite awhile since we did something fun and since I am slowly getting back to normal, I am up for the challenge this weekend.

We are also getting season passes to Kings Island this year which will be so much for the kids and for Matt and I. I love coasters and cannot wait to ride Diamondback!! I think Mr. C will enjoy coasters as well so we will test him with the kiddie coasters first. As long as it doesn't drop like the Tower of Terror, I think he will be good!! It's going to be a fun spring!

It kills me

Tonight, Mr. C started laying around. When he does this on his own, Matt and I just *KNOW* something is wrong. Upon asking him if he was sick, he started to cry. This breaks my heart to know that my son is hurting and cannot verbalize what is wrong. I cannot imagine not being able to tell someone what is wrong. It has to be soooo frustrating for him.

So, Matt got to pointing and asking him questions and he finally pointed to something, so we finally figured out (hopefully) the missing piece of the puzzle. We gave him some Miralax and is hoping nature will take over. Poor thing!!! It's times like these that I wish I had a medical background. I am just so glad that we know what generally ails him and can use our intuition to figure him out!

Planning another party

It's time to start planning another birthday party....this time, it is Cinderella's time! We originally thought about Chuck E. Cheese, but the more I think about it, the less thrilled I became. I had been debating about having a skating party for her, so... we have her party reserved at a local skating rink and will be inviting some of her little friends from her class and of course her cousins and sort-of cousins/family friends. She is very excited!

I took her to the doctor for her 7 year old well visit, and despite getting 1 shot, she did great! It's sad and exciting to see her in this new childhood stage.....independence yet still needing/missing her mommy. *sigh*

Wordless Wednesday - Valentine's Day 2012

Valetine's Day Flashback

Happy Valentine's Day 2012! Thought I would share a pic of the kids a few years ago!! Time goes by so fast!!

Valentines, valentines, lots of valentines

Back in the "good" ole days, I would help the kids with their valentines and it would take like 5 minutes. Well, those days are over! Cinderella has 25 students in her class and Mr. C has 27 students. I must say that Cinderella handled it like a champ and wrote her name (very well I might add) on all 25 Valentines. Then, we get a note saying that the kids are exchanging valentines with all the students in their primary special ed. class. Granted it was only 8 more kids, but geesh, we ran out of valentines and had to buy more!! Cinderella happily put her name on the next batch.

I on the other hand had to help Mr. C. His fine motor skills are very lacking which meant I had to write ALL 35 valentines for him. Then I wrote out the valentines for the students in my class. Needless to say, I had a sore hand afterwards!!

Gotta love cute valentines though......Cinderella has Smurf valentines this year and Cody chose his all-time favorite......SpongeBob. (In case you are wondering, I had Christian valentines for my students.)

Amazing New Toy

Mr. C fell in love with his Aunt Connie's Kindle Fire the first time he played with it. What is so great is that it is so very similar to an iPad without the major costs! It is a THIRD of what an iPad costs and you can get the same or similar apps all FREE! Last night I'll admit I was up late getting some elementary school apps for Mr. C including sight word practice, math, telling time, handwriting practice, and much, much more!

So, we tried to get the Walmart special, but if you know Walmart deals, you have to act very fast (like the minute the deal comes out) and so every Walmart in our area were sold out. So, we found PLENTY at Target for the same price minus the gift card.

When we brought it to Mr. C charged and downloaded with lots of games, you should have seen his reaction. He said, "Ohhhhhhhh!!!" and then was engrossed with it! He loves the piano app, puzzle app, and the matching app. I like the Angry Birds, Facebook, and Bible app. This will no doubt be a lifesaver when there is no children's church on the 5th Sundays of the month as well as it doesn't frustrate him like his DS does when he tries to manipulate the DS buttons.

It made for one interesting and challenging bedtime, but luckily for him that the weekend is coming up!!

(Hopefully) On the Mend

Yesterday, I visited a section of the hospital that I hope I NEVER have to visit again. My reason for being there was so minor compared to some of the people who were there with me. An older woman who shared the same hospital room (for a short time) that I was in was obviously there on a daily basis for cancer. Others were there for the same reason, there were a few of "us" who were there for minor things, but mostly people were there to fight a cancer battle.

I must say that those nurses are so up-lifting to those patients and am so glad that God placed them there to cheer them up! I heard lots of laughter and cheerfulness.

It makes you REALLY think about what you are thankful for that is for sure! So even though I spent most of the day there getting 2 units of blood, I was thankful that it could have been worse...much worse!

And I can say I am slowly mending from all the health issues I have been battling for months. This was the first step, today I go back to the eye surgeon for the last time, and then I will continue to be monitored by my other doctors. I cannot wait to start my exercise regime again and be physically able to do things that I need to take care of.

Will it ever end??

I am sooooo ready for my health problems to end!! Who would think a 35 year old would have so many health issues? I have been ordered by my MD to get two units of blood tomorrow at the Cancer Center nearby. This will be my first ever transfusion ever and I have to have 2 units which some have informed me will take most of the day. Hopefully this will be the final step on the road to recovery!!

If not, I am requesting a new body please!!!

Update on Me

My surgery went well. I had a rough Friday with pain, ice packs taped to my face, and being uncomfortable. Yesterday with a little better, but boredom set in with the lack of vision. Today, I am trying to get my eye open so I can go back to work tomorrow. I have some redness, brusing and swelling and I am hoping that goes away so I don't scare my students tomorrow. Anyone have an eye patch? LOL!

I have learned through all of this to depend totally on the Lord. His strength is amazing! There were several things that worked out with only divine intervention and I know it is only through His work that this surgery happened.

So now I am recovering, praying that healing comes fast, and looking forward to becoming healthy again. Thanks for your prayers!!

Last Minute Stress and Drama

Without having to re-hash everything, let's just say the last two days before my eye surgery has been quite stressful and drama-filled. I don't like drama and try to steer clear of it! There's nothing like being in limbo and wondering if you are going to REALLY have surgery the day before the actual surgery.

Anywho....the surgery is for sure on and although I am a bit nervous, I was more apprehensive about it NOT happening! So now I can relax, try to do a million things tonight in preparation for 48 hours of "downtime."

Prayers are appreciated for the surgery. After I get the kids on the bus, then we head to the surgery center. I'll update whenever I am feeling up to it!

Wordless Wednesday - Flower Girls To Be