Good News and...

Bad News! First the gOoD. Justin finished his boards!!! Is he really done studying? Somebody pinch me! Inquiring minds would like to know, and for the record, this was the first weekend, in the last three and a half years(honestly), that Justin has not studied, and it feels good. Whew, what a run on sentence, but so describes the reality of being the wife of a student. I am afraid to blink, for fear this won't last.

Now the BaD. What first started out as the 24 hour bug, turned into a two day hospital stay for dehydration. Kate unfortunately did not escape the "throw-ups", as Zach calls it, this year. With all the vomit and the messy diapers she decided that if she didn't eat or drink anything then the vomit and messy diapers would stop, and she was right! But, the flip side of not eating and drinking is dehydration, which she got. I thought it would be a quick run to the ER, where she would get an IV and then start to feel good enough to start eating and drinking, but even after the entire IV, she continued to refuse anything we were trying to give her. She was so weak and lethargic and dropped a lot of weight.

They made arrangements for us to stay that night and finally after the second night in the hospital, she decided to start eating and drinking again. Because we were there so long I was able to grab my camera, when I went home to take a shower, to document her stay at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Did I mention this was all happening during the two days Justin had his dental board exams? It was a good thing Justin had prepared so well for these exams. This was not the celebration I had in mind for our little family upon Justin's completion of one of the biggest tests of his life, and I guess ours too.

This is the IV "House" the nurses created so that she wouldn't ruin the line into her poor little hand.

The Bryn Mawr Hospital has a special pediatric unit that includes a playroom with lots of toys. We weren't allowed to stay in the playroom because of the illness Kate had, but she took just about every toy back to our room to play with. The toys kept her momentarily happy, but her favorite thing was to be carried up and down the hallway.

This cage-like bed meant long sleepless nights for us. We are especially glad this part is over!

They were going to release Kate after the first 24 hours in the hospital, but after she threw up all her dinner and continued to have messy diapers, they hooked her right back up to the IV and kept us another night. I guess better safe than sorry.

Instead of feeding herself like she should be, she thought feeding her baby was much more fun. The little stinker...

And of course, the very last morning we were there she decides to finally take a nap. Such is life.

We are happy to be home, and she seems to be doing better, but is still battling a little ear ache that I think never went away three weeks ago. Yesterday it snowed almost all day. Since we couldn't go outside to play in it, I opted to attempt Kate's first pedicure...not too bad if I do say so myself.

Our Dinner Conersation...

tonight went like this.

Zach - (patting my chest) You have a baby in your belly.

Me - That's NOT my belly.

Zach - (patting his stomach) When you have a baby your stomach gets bigger?

Me - Yes.

Zach - And then your baby makes a hole and pops out?

Me - Yes.

Zach - And then you just close it up?

Me - Yep!

Zach - How?

Me - The doctor sews it up with stitches.

Zach - I wish I should have a new baby.

Me - You do?

Zach - Yeah... (patting Kate on the shoulder) She's an old baby. (a few minutes later) Because I want a little brother for Kate to play with.

Oh boy...what am I in for?

In addition to his curious little mind, he has an imaginary brother and sister. I thougt this was temporary, but it has been a few weeks that he has been mentioning things about his older sister "Trixie" and is younger brother "Alex". All three of them went to webelos with Daddy tonight.

Zach as DJ Lance from Yo Gabba Gabba. Thanks Grandma for this cool new dress-up!

The New...

Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is amazing. We met up with my friend Amber and her little girl Zoe to play for a few hours. Zoe snatched Kate right in! What Zoe wants Zoe gets. Not for long though. She is going to get a new baby brother any day now. Amber was such a trooper to even meet us there. She is 38 weeks along, and dying to get her pregnancy over with. So I guess chasing her little one as well as keeping an eye out for my two might be the ticket to moving things right a long. Here are a few pics from our morning. They don't even do justice to how incredible they have made this place. For anyone coming to Philadelphia with kids, it is a definite must see!

Right as you walk into the museum Zach was greeted by an over sized set of Drums and a Guitar. His eyes lit right up! This was his type of place.

Kate loved the shrinking hallway. She ran up and down so many times I lost count.

Zach learned how to work the life size hamster wheel. Poor Kate wanted so badly to be able to stay upright.

She eventually found her favorite thing...the slides. I am telling you, she is a little dare devil going face first like this.

This is the Jungle room, where there is, yet again, a million ways to make music. Zach could not get enough. Needless to say this will not be our last trip to the Please Touch Museum.

I Got a Little...

Ambitious this year and decided to make Zach's Valentine cards for his pre-school class. Sure it is easier to go to the store and just buy the darn things, but Zach had a lot of fun punching out the scalloped circle, big circle and little hearts for them. Eating the left over chocolate crunch hearts, we glued to the inside of the cards, was not so bad either.


And as usual Justin and I celebrated V-day with our friends the Milmonts, Broadbents and Fairchilds. Doing the same thing every year takes the pressure off of us trying to surprise each other with something. This year we went to Buca di Beppo, a yummy Italian restaurant. Their stuffed mushrooms are the best! We left the kids with Uncle Tyson and G & G Marostica. Grandma RaeLynn sure knows how to celebrate. She surprised the kids with their own Valentine's gifts and made sugar cookies to decorate with them. I am sad I didn't have my camera with me, she had bought the cutest apron and chefs hat for Zach and Kate to wear. They loved it! Of course anything dealing with sprinkles is sure to be a hit. Zach keeps asking if she can move with us. We are going to miss living so close to them in a few short months. Time is just flying!

We Are Going...

From weather being snowy, icy, and cold last week,

to weather being warm, sunny and perfect to play in this week. It is no wonder both Zach and Kate wound up with ear infections in between the two. Thank goodness for antibiotics.

Kate's new love...the slide. And all by herself might I add.

Zach always pulls this face, and it always makes us smile.

Anyone who has lived here knows that this is a favorite play spot for all the kids. What is it with these darn mailboxes. My guess is that it is enticing for a few reasons, but the most being that it is right next to the street...where she should definitely not be playing.

As naughty as walking on the street to get to the mailboxes is, there is nothing sweeter than this. Who doesn't need a little smooch, just in time for Valentine' day?

Look Who Is...

TaLkInG!!!

We Matched...

Justin got accepted into the University of Utah's General Practice Residency for Dentistry. It is a really good program and he is excited he got in. Will this experience make him a Ute fan afterall? Probably not, but who knows what one year will do to you.

White Stuff...

Finally made its way to our neighborhood. We got a whole three inches, not enough to be snowed in, but just enough to play in. And of course Zach's favorite part happens after we are done playing...HoT cHoCoLaTe! "with smarshmellows" as he would say.

Going From 2 Kids to 7...

And I think I now know what it was like for my mom to have 7 kids...even if it was but for a moment. This past weekend Justin and I took care of a family of five kids, while their parents went to Arizona for the weekend to go to the Eagles game. What lucky bums right? Did I mention they flew with the team? Their 5 boys, yes all boys, were so fun and entertaining, and do I dare say a little tender too, for sports that is... These boys love sports, and have a special place in their hearts for the Eagles and the Yankees. I took this picture of the three oldest boys while they were ecstatic after the Eagles, who had been behind the entire game, finally scored to put them ahead 25 to 24 over the Cardinals. They are such special kids.

Oh and a few things, among several, I will have to learn if I am to have more kids...

• Never pre-salt and pepper the food. I guess the more bland the better...pretty funny.
• It's OK if you don't know where each kid is at each moment of the day. I guess you just trust them to make good decisions and to look after one another.
• Getting dinner on the table will most likely be the hardest activity of the entire day, when you have at least one child, who of course, needs your undivided and uninterrupted attention. This is the truest test of your patience.

Twelve Pics of Christmas...

We had a great Christmas break this year. It all started with making gingerbread houses over at our friends, the Kinghorn's, house.

Zach is still eating the candy off of our house. Once Justin was done with his finals, we flew to Utah to see my nieces perform in Ballet West's Nutcracker, and to visit family.

Lauren was a Party Girl, and Maddi was a Bafoon. They are so talented. They take after their aunt of course. Ha ha just kidding, but they really did do a great job! While we were in Utah it snowed and snowed and snowed, Zach was so excited to go sledding.

He even learned to snowboard on his cousin's sled/snowboard, and in true boy fashion, learned what a snowball fight was. He loved nailing his cousins(he called them his brothers), Alec and Parker.

On Christmas day, Santa delivered Zach his first set of drums. Let's just say it was one of the loudest Christmas' to date.

He loved them so much, he even loved the box that Santa left for him to be able to put his drums back into for our move that will happen this coming May.

Santa brought Kate her first Kitchen. She loved her new toys, but could have cared less about unwrapping a single gift.

Santa brought Justin his new ipod touch. It gets the Internet, so you can imagine what he was doing over the break. Thanks Santa!

Santa brought the guys in the family Rock Band. Fun game...if only it didn't make me so darn dizzy.

We took the kids bowling for the first time. Justin and I hadn't been since college.

What great form right? Too bad I won both games though. Better luck next time babe.

Other outings included a Shady Maple Breakfast, post Christmas shopping, bouncing at Monkey Joe's, a date to see The Curious Case of Benjamen Button, and desperately needed new haircuts.

Zach played several hours on these drums. I guess you could say he was everyone's 9am alarm clock as well.

Kate learned how to Jump!