A Good Weekend

Last Wednesday Cash had Special People Day at preschool.

I took the day off to spend with him!!

We were both excited about that!

I got to go to his classroom and watch him do fun activities!

Tyson, Cormac, Cash and Tenley

Cash with his teachers...Miss Debbie, Miss Dawn and Miss Stacy!

This cracks me up!

Cash is a vendor and Cormac is a big bad billy goat!!!

Cash had one line "Sure for a dollar!" and three outfit changes!

This is outfit #1.

Outfit #2 and #3!!

The preschoolers have to memorize their lines and perform in front of a big group of parents and grandparents!  They all did awesome!

 

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I was also off on Friday for my 24 week appointment and Cash's 5 year appointment!

 

I took the boys to school and headed to my appointment...ALONE!!

Everything looked great...except my weight!

Good lord...I need to slow down the full feed!

 

The first 20 weeks I only gained 10 pounds...

...then my fat ass stepped on the scale at my 24 week appointment and I gained 7 pounds in 4 weeks!

EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!

My doctor wasn't thrilled with me...oops!

 

In my head it's a battle...on one hand I do not want to gain a lot of weight for obvious reasons and the fact it will be hard to come off in the summer....

...but then I think screw that!  It's my last pregnancy and I'm going to eat whatever the hell I want!

 

I quickly moved on and headed to my facial!

It was amazing!!

 

My mom brought Cash to me in Coralville and we decided to eat at Red Lobster (full feed!).

After lunch Cash and I had about an hour to waste before his appointment!

 

We found a park and enjoyed the beautiful weather!

This kid!

One of his babysitters taught him this!

After I took it he said "Send that to Kenady!  She'll like it!""

I did and it made her day!

 

Cash had a great checkup and is growing right along!

Some of his 5 year stats include him weighing 54.8 pounds and measuring 46.93 inches!

He's  >95% for both.

His height and weigh balance each other out so that's good!

{Wish someone would say that to me!}

 

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I got my hair cut Saturday morning and Travis took Cash to Romp'n Raiders!

I decided to go shopping after my appointment and took my time...it felt awesome!

 

Saturday night we had plans to go over to the Horvath household but they were hit with the flu.

We decided we were going to stay away after coming off 10 days of germs at our house.

 

I lined up a babysitter last minute and Travis and I went out with Joe and Shelly!

It was nice to get away for an evening!

 

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Sunday was a lazy day...for me!

 

Travis took the boys to help clean the fire station.

I went grocery shopping and did 5 loads of laundry...washed, dried and put away!

Feels so good to have that done...until next time!

 

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And today starts a full week of work!

I haven't had one in 3 weeks because of germs and time off!

 

It's a busy week for the local firemen because they are getting ready for their annual fish fry!

You should all consider supporting your local VOLUNTEER fire department!



New Mini

We did it...

...we did something we said we would NEVER do again...

...we joined the minivan club!

 

We owned a minivan 7 years ago and Travis and I both hated it!

It was spur of the moment (our car died and we needed something ASAP!)

It wasn't something we researched and picked out...it was just something available at the time! 

And I'll admit, I had a complex about driving a minivan at the age of 27!  Not sure why, I just did! 

 

Two years later we traded that in for our Traverse...which I LOVED from day one!

 

With baby number 3 on the way we have been kind of throwing around the idea of getting a new vehicle.

And for anyone that knows me knows when I get an idea in my head it's full force until it's done!

 

I was totally okay with looking into minivans.

{I'm 34 and more mature now;)}

It's the most practical vehicle for us at this time...price and space!!

{Although my dream vehicle is a Tahoe!}

It was my husband who did NOT want a van!

 

But I knew if I got him to test drive one he would like it!

Turns out he loved it!!

{Who would have thought a heated steering wheel would have sold him?!}

 

And a week later we are the proud owners of a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country!

A big thanks to our BIL Jeremy for hooking us up!

He dealt with all my demands, emails and text messages!!

He deserves an award!

 The boys are super excited!!

 

 

I've never had a brand new vehicle before!

It was exciting to see this only had 3 miles on it when we got it!

 

I cannot wait to take our first trip in it!

Not sure when that will be but I'm still excited!

 

For now, it will sit in the garage most days until we find places to go!

 

And just for the record...I was really sad to see my Traverse go!

It was the first vehicle I ever loved!

I'm sure it will make a great vehicle for another family!!



Friday Funnies

After spending several days stuck in the house with sick kids I decided we needed a Friday Funny post!

 

Enjoy!

Bahahahahahaha!

 

Oh so funny!!

 

Even funnier!!

 

This just cracks me up!

Very true!

For now I'm just sober and hungry!

This couldn't be more true!

He is cute though!

Give the baby a cupcake!!

I die every time I read this because I SOOOO had wind suits...numerous wind suits!

Word!

Every damn time!

 

Hope you enjoyed these Friday Funnies! 

I know I always do!

 

I have a folder on my phone dedicated to them and if I'm having a rough day all I have to do is read through them and my mood instantly changes!

Gotta love the power of words!



Deep Thoughts...

Sometimes I come across some ecards that make me think and I've always wanted to share them!

Today I decided to do just that!

 

Hang on and enjoy this blog about deep thoughts...by someone else!

 

Just be nice!!  It's not hard!!

 

 

I'd like to think so anyway!

Sadly, yes.

I do like the 'F' word... however I know when to turn it on and off!!



I absolutely love this!

Every day!  Mommy guilt at its finest!

I proudly believe this!

One of my favorites!



Germs....UGH!!!

Oh my, where to begin?!

I guess we'll take it back to last Wednesday (one week ago!!).

 

Pierce's teacher texted and said he had a horrible headache and was not himself.

Luckily my mom was around and she went and got him.

 

He looked terrible when he walked in...

...so much so this emotional mama had to fight back tears!

 

He had a temperature of 101 and fell asleep immediately.

 

Thursday he stayed in our bed ALL day...which is NOT like him!

Around 4pm he said he couldn't see and everything was blurry!

That initiated a last minute call to the doctor, and a visit within minutes!

 

Sure enough, positive for strep throat.

Great, get him on meds and he'll be on his way back to healthy in no time...

 

Friday he bounced back and seemed like his normal usual self!

 

Fast forward to Friday night and Cash was up all through the night with a temp over 102 and also vomited once.

Saturday morning Travis left bright and early for fire training in Ames ALL day and I manned the sickies...

 

Pierce got up shortly after Travis left and could hardly walk because his legs hurt so bad.

I thought he was having charley horses so we pumped him with Gatorade, water and bananas.

 

Meanwhile I got Cash into the doctor and another confirmed strep throat.

This kid refuses to take any and all medicine so I opted for a shot of antibiotic...

...he was so pissed at me!!

I know it's not very fun getting shots but it's also not fun fighting this kid to take gross medicine twice a day for 10 days!

 

Saturday Pierce got outside (the weather was gorgeous) and Cash stayed on the couch...ALL day!

His temp climbed to 103.6 and he was just miserable.

 

Pierce put himself to sleep Saturday night pretty early and Cash followed shortly after!

 

Each night was a mess...we were all up numerous times through the night every night...BOO!!

One big slumber party!

 

Like I mentioned earlier Cash refuses any and all medicine.

I tried everything (I even chopped up chewable tablets and put them in yogurt!) and we were close to an acetaminophen suppository...but luckily I found a non-dye, no taste liquid he could handle.

This was our counter for 5 days!

I also had to keep track of who got what and when!

 

Sunday brought more fevers, sore muscles and grouchy kids {and maybe a grouchy mama}!

 

Pierce had been fever free since Thursday but all of a sudden spiked one of 101 around 4pm.

I gave him medicine but he continued to be miserable.

 

 So we ended up here...

...in the hospital where he tested positive for influenza A!

Ugh...are you kidding me?!!

 

He was diagnosed too late so they could not treat him.

 

Monday I closed daycare (honestly who would want to come anyway!).

The doctor who tested Pierce for influenza wanted Cash and myself checked out and tested also.

 

So I was on the phone with my baby doctor and Cash's pediatrician. 

My doctor put me on Tamiflu just to be safe and Cash's doctor didn't want to test him because there was nothing they could do at that point anyway.

However, I am convinced he also has/had influenza!

 

The rest of Monday was a day of rest for the boys and cleaning day for me!

It's Tuesday night as I'm writing this and we have been fever free since Sunday!

 

 

I attempted this homemade chicken noodle soup...

...and it was amazing!

It's just what the doctor ordered:)

Recipe here!

 

So, here's to warmer weather and healthier kids!!!

 Out with February and in with March!

 

 

**Wednesday Update**

Cash coughed so hard last night he threw up all over.

He also has sore leg muscles today and can hardly walk.

No school for him today...he gets to spend the day with Grandma Van.

{Thank God for Grandma Van!}

 

**Thursday Update**

Cash started running a fever last night after being fever free since the weekend.

It was 101 here at home so I called trusty old Mercy on-call.

He also developed a nasty cough and they were concerned about pneumonia so he needed to be seen right away.

Our pediatrician office closed at 8pm but they were booked solid. So our second choice was a Mercy Urgent Care.

By the time we got there his temp climbed to 101.8 with Tylenol and he was miserable!

Luckily his lungs sounded clear and there were no signs of pneumonia!

Just the same influenza running it's course!

And home we went!

 

Let me paint a little picture of our night last night.... I had just picked Cash up from my moms because she had him all day yesterday.  I rushed home to get them supper before Pierce went to church (so I may have stopped and got them popcorn chicken and pizza fro Casey's...haha!)

Cash sat down to eat and went pail white!  He said he couldn't see and everything was blurry and he didn't feel good...ummm PANIC!!!

Pierce was picked up for church so he was taken care of (for an hour and 15 minutes!).

I was on the phone with mercy then headed straight to Iowa City.

My wonderful, loving husband {enter sarcasm here} was at a fire meeting and was not answering his phone.  I was trying to figure out what to do about Pierce and the 3 girls we had to pick up from church at 7:45.  Luckily everyone else was answering their phones so we got it all worked out that they would drop Pierce off at my parents after church.

Of course after everything was situated Travis called me back.

I wasn't the nicest wife last night...I'll admit it!

I'll also admit I'm over my husband being Assistant Chief!!!

I'll leave it at that!

 

I AM SERIOUSLY OVER THESE DAMN GERMS!!!

 

 

 

Check this post out from last year at this exact same time!

 



Valentine CatchUp

We had a great Valentines Day!

 

The boys actually posed for this picture for me...

...and I LOVE IT!!!

 

Speaking of love....

 

 The Valentine fairy found my boys!

 

Travis got his beef sticks he wanted!

I got the cupcakes I wanted...12 of them to be exact!

But there's no picture of proof because they are now gone!

{Don't worry...I shared!}

 

We celebrated Valentines Day by attending Cash's preschool prom!

 He sat on Travis' lap all night and didn't dance!

The only time he got up was when they were calling names for raffle and door prizes!

He was very lucky and won an annual pass to the Children's Museum AND a family pool membership for our local pool!

There's a reason his name is Cash;)

 

Cormac and Cash have been buds since birth!

And Cash has always been huge compared to him!

Cash may not have danced but his older brother did!

Here's the 1st grade older brothers busting a move (or popping bubbles, whatever!).

 

After the dance we joined the Ackerman family at Pizza Haus for some much needed grub!

Then it was home for comfy clothes!

 

On Valentines Day we celebrated Travis' grandma Alice's 80th birthday.

She had a very nice open house!

 

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Our Monday started out a little rocky but we have since recovered!

A daycare dad dropped his son off and said he smelled natural gas outside.
I called and texted my husband with no response (in his defense he was busy!) so then I called Alliant Energy.
Fast forward a half hour and we had the city police, firemen and 2 Alliant trucks at our house!
It was our meter and they had to shut our gas off for a few minutes to fix the problem!
They were in and out rather quickly and all is good now!
I am just thankful nothing worse happened!!

We've been taking it easy since then!

Travis worked late Monday night so the boys enjoyed Lincoln Logs and I enjoyed the Grammy's!

 

Cash is really learning a lot at his gymnastics class and loves everything!

 

 

Our family is into UNO lately and this kid is no exception!

I stepped away for a quick minute and he dealt the cards...

He has no idea how he ended up with 4 wilds!!

 

 

 

Mom Venting Corner:

 

It's been one of those weeks...

 

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed in the evenings?!

I feel I'm jumping huge hurdles just to have my kids are fed, bathed, homework done, backpack ready for the next day... and all the little stuff that doesn't seem like a huge deal.

And none of this includes adult stuff like meetings, errands, volleyball, Ass Chief duties, church, carpool...

 

I feel like I'm surviving...but not winning...

 

I've been going to bed with the worst mommy guilt lately!

{I should have handled that differently! Why did I raise my voice? Am I being the best mom I can be? Am I ruining them? What will they think when they look back on their childhood? Ugh...and so on and so on! Some nights I'm in tears over this stuff!}

 

I get my hormones are way out of whack AND I'm emotional...but please tell me I'm not alone!

 

I'm not a fan of putting myself out there like this!

I read a lot of blogs and some of my favorites are real women with real "issues".  I feel like I connect with them more!  Hopefully some of you know where I'm coming from and can connect with me on that level!

 

Things are not always peaches and cream around here and real life can suck sometimes...

...BUT we are all healthy and that's something to be grateful for!

 

You see what happened there?!  I'm feeling guilty about venting about mundane things and in my head I hear, "Kim...your family is healthy!  You have a roof over your head and food on your table!"  I feel terrible because a lot of you are dealing with real "issues" and are probably thinking "Shut the hell up!!!"

 

I debated deleting this "Mom Venting Corner" but today I'm deciding to leave it up!

I'm a real mom who sometimes needs to vent.

 

Thanks for not judging me;)