No more pencils, no more books.....

So, it's official I have a 4th grader and a 2nd grader! How did that happen!?!?

The kids finished school! The last day was pajama day. They went for only an hour and had breakfast with their teachers and classmates. It was a great year for Isabelle and Jack! I'm so proud of how well the did. (Time for me to shamelessly brag.) They came home with straight As (again) and glowing reports from their teachers. Isabelle will continue in the gifted program next year. The gifted program does not start until 3rd grade, but Jack will be doing math with the gifted teacher; who is starting a new math program for kids in 1st and 2nd grades. He ended the school year with 98% in math and similar percentages in other subjects. He was honored with a special award for straight As the entire school year! He also got an "Excellence in Citizenship" award (basically for being such a nice guy to teachers and kids). Isabelle ended the year with mostly As and one B, one quarter. She was awarded with high honor roll and an "Excellence in Education" award that was signed by Barack Obama! We are so blessed that school has been easy for them so far. I hope they continue to enjoy school as much as they do now. Over the summer they are expected to finish work packets that will turn in the first day of school. Jack is thrilled that he will be having the same 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Fuss, that Isabelle had 2 years ago as well Ms. Newman the gifted teacher that Isabelle has and will continue to have.

Splish Splash!

We decided very last minute to take the kids up to Key Lime Cove Water Resort in Gurnee. We didn't tell them where we were going until we parked in front of the hotel. Kevin and I told them we were going out to a tree farm to get new trees for the yard. The were MISERABLE sitting in the car thinking all we were doing is getting trees! You can imagine their surprise and excitement when they realized what they were really doing! It wasn't easy packing or loading the car in secret. It was worth the effort. Everyone was thrilled!

Ella Jane liked the water! She was a little hesitant at first, but soon decided to it was great! She really liked the "bath" that had a slide. She also liked to watch the giant pineapple fill with water and dump on the the kids below. Every time she saw it dump she would put her hands to her mouth, gasp, and say, "oh no! I'm scared!".

Isabelle loves water, loves the slides, loves swimming, loves it all! We get the biggest bang for our buck out of her! She went on even the fastest and biggest water slides. Mommy was right there behind her. She reminds me of myself when I was a kid.

Patrick was very hesitant at first of the water. He stuck to the kiddie pool, but pretty much stayed in one spot. Something like this is an overload for his senses, with the movement, noise, water, etc. His occupational therapist loved that we did this with him. Finally the second day he got brave enough to go on a raft down the Lazy River with Daddy. They did this several times. He did go on one baby slide. It wasn't easy to get a picture of him actually in the water. He did spend a lot of time on the side watching, which is also good for him. He did a great job, especially since big crowds and lots of noise is often difficult for him.

Jack enjoyed himself also, but he's not as much of a dare devil as his big sister. He stuck to the wave pool and lazy river. I think he must have gone around that lazy river more than 100 times during our stay. He was the first asleep when we got back to the hotel room.

Jack on the lazy river again (see the center of the pack).

The Bowl Slide is supposed to be the fastest and scariest at the park. It's so fun! Here are a couple shots of Kevin and Isabelle coming out at the bottom of the slide.

In the end we had a great time! Everyone was very tired when we left. 75% of the kids were asleep in the car (Isabelle managed to stay awake). Everyone slept well last night, as you can imagine. I think the most worn out of the family were Kevin and me!

Springtime Fun!

It's been a busy month, so I haven't done much blogging. Here's a little snapshot of what we've been up to.
For the first time in 15 years Mom and I spent Mother's Day together. It was lovely. We went downtown, did some window shopping on Michigan Ave., and then had Afternoon Tea at the Drake Hotel. It was a great way to spend the day!

Isabelle's gifted class has a garden at the school. Because of mom's talent with gardening they invited her to spend the morning with the kids working in the garden. Jack was lucky enough to join them. They planted some bushes, spread mulch, and did some weeding. Everyone really enjoyed having Baba there.
Isabelle's 3rd Grade Gifted class with Baba


Of course the nice weather means being outside as much as possible. Patrick and his friend, Maddy, are learning how to pump their legs on the swing. It will be nice for the Mommies when they master that!

We got a new Gazebo for the backyard. It's been so nice to sit back and relax, bug free! Now, I just need a pool and I'll be all set! (I wish)

I threw a little "Baby Sprinkle" for my dear friend, Melissa, who is having her second baby any day! The ladies and I had a lovely time. The peonies were in bloom and the weather was perfect for an afternoon in the Gazebo!

My Baby is Getting Big!

Ella Jane is changing so much lately! I love it and hate it all at the same time! This is such a fun age, but she's growing much too fast. Everyday she has new words and phrases. She loves singing, reading books (Ella the Elegant Elephant is her favorite), and most of all being outside! She has mastered the ladder and slide, rides her little "bike" and completely falls apart when it's time to come in. My only complaint is that I want to freeze time just for a little while.

Acting like Animals!

We spent the week of spring break in Michigan with my parents. We spent a day at the zoo. It was absolutely beautiful. We had a great time. Our good friends Becky and Mia joined us for the day. Since then Ella Jane keeps saying, "see peacock". Adorable!





Not sure who the little girl is, but the kids are sitting in front of an"Arctic Circle" look out. We watched the seals glide by.


The baby girls were pretty tired at this point (Mommy's were too), but we managed to get a picture in the butterfly garden. Or "bufferfi" as Ella Jane says.
The weather was beautiful for our week in Michigan. The kids had a lot of time running in Baba's and Papa's yard. They caught a turtle and frogs. They walked along the "boardwalk" to find whatever other little creatures there may be in the wetland. We had a bonfire one night, but mostly just enjoyed the fresh air and time together.

Birthday Girls!

When I look at Isabelle I'm amazed at how far she's come. It seems like just yesterday she was 3 lbs and fighting to live. She's held onto her strong will, skinny legs, and dimples and now has grown into a beautiful, smart, witty, sweet, loving young lady.

When Isabelle was born on March 31, 2000 at 7:16 p.m. her APGAR was a 1, she was limp, blue, and not breathing. It was the scariest moment of my life (Kevin's too, for sure, he had two sick girls in his life to worry about). I quickly touched the top of her tiny head and she was rushed first to a table in the room where the doctors and nurses from the NICU resuscitated her and then she was quickly taken to the NICU which was her first home for 17 days (a blink in NICU time). When Isabelle was about 2 hours old the neonatologist came to my room. She sat down, put her hand on my knee and said, "if she lives through the night....." After that I heard nothing but "waaa wa wa waaa wa waaa" (like the adults in peanuts cartoons). I met her 24 hours later when my kidneys and liver were working again and I was moved from the ICU to the postpartum floor. Very quickly Isabelle proved that she was a fighter. She was off the vent in a mere 11 hours, breathing on her own with only a little help from oxygen through her nose for another couple days. She came home from the hospital on April 17, 2000 weighing 3 lbs, 14 oz. It was a couple weeks earlier then the docs had expected her to come home. She was little, but strong! That has not changed!

I often like to say that March 31, 2000 was not the best birthday I ever had (myself critically ill and with a sick baby), but the best birthday gift I've ever received. What a blessing this little birthday gift has been year after year. Isabelle and I love sharing our special day together. Nine years ago I couldn't see beyond that tiny, sick baby in the NICU. Now today, I wish I could go back (not to the NICU but to her early days) to hold her tiny little self in my arms. I'm not exactly sure what happened to the past nine years, but I am so so proud of the girl she has become. I feel so lucky that God has given me this child. There's never been a better birthday gift!

New Roller Blades!

We went to dinner at Red Robin and had a great time. Dinner is free when it's your birthday.

Hey! Where did my balloon go?!?!


YUM! Ice Cream!


We had a great birthday celebration!

After cake Kevin and the kids danced while Kevin played a little bowl drum.

Speed Racers!

We had a few beautiful days here so we were able to enjoy playing outside.
Jack had grown out of his bike (and everything else), therefore, both boys got promoted. Jack and Kevin went out to pick out his new 20" bike. Patrick inherited Jack's old bike. We lowered the seat and put the training wheels back on.

I was skeptical that Patrick would be able to ride the big bike. Last fall he was still struggling with peddling. His small trike has a back to the seat which gives him some help and support to peddle. He proved me wrong, hopped on that bike and headed down the driveway! We are so proud of him. He's come such a long long way in so many different areas. Even better, Patrick is proud of himself.