Full Week

The latter part of the week went much faster than the first part, that's for sure. Of course, when you are factoring the weekend, it always goes much quicker.
My first week back to work is under my belt. It has been a full week with work and grandpa being in the hospital.

They are running a myriad of tests to try to figure out what is going on with grandpa health-wise. The other hospital's diagnosis of an aneurysm was inaccurate. They have found a tumor in his stomach. They believe it to be a carcinoid cancer tumor. Test results are pending from bloodwork and urinalysis. These are to see how far it has spread in his body. Obviosuly, the hope is that it has not spread everywhere so that they can remove the tumor. If it has spread, they will not remove it, but rather give him a drug to counteract the chemicals that it releases.

We (the girls and I) were finally able to visit this afternoon. He is in an area that is restricted to children. The hospital is pretty large and taking 3 children there alone is pretty daunting when they can't even see him. Well, they asked today and the nurse said we could visit. He was excited and they were excited and there were a few tears from him, but mostly lots of storytelling. The girls LOVE to hear grandpa's stories. The stories go on and on and on. It had been a week since we last saw him which is quite a bit considering they had usually been seeing them both quite often as we would stop over during our daily walks.

My mom has been going back and forth daily as has my uncle (to the hospital). My mom comes back and watches the girls while I work and then goes back to see grandpa and bring grandma home later in the evening each day.

Noelliah is 7 weeks old today. I have no idea where the time has gone! She is so bright eyed and alert and enjoying the world around her. The smiles are so beautiful and delightful and they really make my day! She is settling in nicely to the family and getting used to our go go go routine. She got a lot of attention at the hospital today from people wanting to see her. I saw a mother leaving the hospital leaving the hospital with a new baby and it brought back those emotions again...that thought of it seeming so long ago already and not wanting it to go by so fast. We have tried to savor each day for what it is and September and October were perfect for doing such! There have been endless walks, time enjoying the breezes, many bike rides (with us watching), and lots of snuggling.

Aliyah took a rough tumble on her bike today. They have put that "lovely" rock stuff down on various parts of our street. Some of it is still loose. She caught some of the loose gravel and spilled over completely and fell on her face. Her eye is black on the corner and on the eyelid along with a gash on the corner and scraping all along her cheek. Poor thing. It looks horrible.

Keirah is ever helpful. She enjoys school. She makes sure she does each and every thing in her work and is sure to bring whatever we have not completed yet to my attention so that we can get it done.

Josh just completed another project. He installed a new carriage house garage door. It looks beautiful! I'm really happy with how it dressed up and changed the appearance of the garage. Speaking of Josh, it was 11 years ago today 10/30, that we got engaged! I came home for a quick weekend from college. I flew in to Chicago on Friday night, we arrived home very late and then spent Saturday enjoying the fall weather and leaves (that is very non-existent in Florida--usually). On Saturday evening, we went to dinner and shopping and then to the park where we spent our summers working. It was on one of the docks that overlooks the water (I was worried that he would drop the ring through the spaces between the boards). The next day (Sunday) we showed off the ring to people at church and then left to go to Chicago to take me back for my flight. I remember it so well. It was Halloween so all of the flight attendants and airline workers were dressed up for Halloween. I'm going to imagine that with today's security and restrictions, they are no longer allowed to "dress up" for Halloween anymore. I think we had a Tinkerbell flight attendant. That was the best but quickest trip I ever took considering how far it was! I'm so blessed to have a wonderful husband!!

Well, my checkbook is calling to be balanced and I need to get the girls ready for bed.

It's Time

...to go back to work. This will be interesting to get settled into a bit of a different routine. The babysitting situation should be interesting for a bit as well as grandpa is in the hospital and grandma won't be watching the girls and mom will be taking grandma to the hospital while grandpa is there and whatever else. I'm sure it will work out, but it could get interesting on some days I'm sure since the girls can't sit up in a hospital all day.

There's a few things I'm "anxious" about...

-getting us all out of the door in the morning alone on a regular basis
-homeschooling (hoping it goes smoothly at night).
-the babysitting thing for Aliyah & Keirah
-grandpa and whatever is going on with him to get straightened around healthwise

Other than that, I feel out of the loop on work stuff as my brain has been on mommy/teacher/house brain switch.

The girls have been instructed that we are going to have to work like a "well oiled machine" so that things run smoothly. Aliyah really misses spending time at great grandma's. We visit there often, but she asked the other day when grandma will watch them again. I told her that I don't know (and this was before grandpa was sick this weekend). She never gets tired of hearing the stories that grandpa tells and visiting.

Well, I'm off to get them ready for bed and get stuff ready!! Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work I go...

NEW Picture!

WOW...she's fast! My neighbor and our family picture taker squeezed us into her busy weekend of shoots after my realization that we should take pics before the leaves are gone. Not a moment too soon as the scenery is GOR GE OUS! I told her we didn't need them and if she reads this...I totally meant that we didn't need them right away. Apparently, to her that meant that we didn't need them within 3 hours...because she's already done!

I don't know how she managed to pull out any photos from that being as we had a 4 year old that had just awakened and was not agreeable and a newborn to work around. But...she did! So, after almost a whole year, I have a new photo on my blog!!!

Thanks, Mila!!

Family Friday

It is a very RARE thing that we all get to spend ALL of Friday altogether. It maybe happens 2 times a year if that. Today was one such day! It started early because of my dr. appt and getting everyone up and ready to go.

The dr. appt was kind of bittersweet as it is the last doctor visit for this pregnancy. It's like it closes that chapter now. It was weird being at the doctor's office NOT pregnant. The last time I was there, it was 8 days before Noelliah made her grand entrance and it was at the end of the day on Friday so nobody was there. This time the waiting area was FULL! The midwife came in and was happy to see Noelliah and told us that it was a fun delivery (I'm assuming since she was Josh's former classmate it was probably memorable). Actually, it was the best delivery for me of the three. She is great and not that "out there" midwife that wouldn't be for me.

We made our way to a nearby store to get some boots for me. I have been wanting some, but didn't want to wait too late (sold out like last year). I had looked at Nordstrom in Chicago where every pair of boots that I liked was in the $400-500 price range. Great boots...just really not necessary for where we live as they don't even sell that brand here (that I have seen). So, I got a pair for much less...much much less. We then went upstairs to see what shoes they had for Josh. He always finds great shoe deals there. Today...no exception. We purchased 3 pairs of shoes for LESS than what my one pair of boots cost. He got some Puma's, Born, and then a pair of Skechers for my brother.

We came home for a bit and then finished getting ready for our family photoshoot. Our neighbor graciously squeezed us into her busy schedule this weekend! Hopefully, there's something good she can get out of it. Noelliah had her moments as did I'm sure all of us. Beautiful location and perfect with fall in full glory!

Josh is putting the finishing touches on our new garage door. It looks really great I think! I will post a pic soon.

Now, we are scratching our heads figuring out how to best spend our weekend. It's back to regular routine on Monday and I'm sure that will take some getting used to with adding a little baby to the mix! Yesterday and today have been the first days of all of the time I have been off, to take it easy and not do any household chores or schoolwork. We did extra work on Wednesday so we could be off the last two days. If anything, I didn't want to be behind on school especially while off work since it will be more challenging to do school in the evening with a baby. We will figure it out, it will just take some organization and time!

One thing is for sure...spending a Friday together as a family of five for the first time is delightful! We love being together!!!!!!!!!!!

Ticking away

...time of course. We went to the park today after we finished school. I don't usually take the girls there because it is normally loaded with children, teenagers from all over. We like more of the "laid back" empty playground to play. It wouldn't be that way if the children that are typically there were obedient and talked nicely, but that's how it is.

Today was a wonderful day to go as that dry October breeze made its way through. The leaves were flying off the trees making their own confetti. I couldn't help be sentimental while we were there as I have spent thousands of hours at that park. Why? It was my (our) summer job during the end of high school and college. Even more special, it is where Josh and I met 15 years ago. Just saying that kind of makes me feel old. Granted, we didn't start dating until we had worked together for 5 summers. So, I snapped a few photographs today of where it all began. Three little girls later, it was a nice visit. Oh yeah, and I can't forget, we got engaged there as well.

I'm trying to get various things accomplished at home before going back to work. I am happy at the large amount of progress made!! It's not that I cannot accomplish anything at home because I work, but I'm still getting used to having a 3rd child--a newborn and doing homeschooling and everything else. Today, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have fall pictures taken before the beauty of the leaves on the trees is gone. We are trying to squeeze that in on Friday afternoon. Got the car taken in for service yesterday--check. I'm trying to get yoga in every night (or almost). Last night, I was exhausted and did not. This is a 6 week program. I'm GONNA DO IT! The closets have all been cleaned out and organized, and the basement has been purged of what I can purge it of now, the blinds have been cleaned, and a host of other things that I won't bore anyone with.

Well, the girls want to ride bikes, Noelliah needs fed, and we need to go on our walk...all before it gets dark.

Yesterday...

...in the midst of me having several "projects" going while taking care of Noelliah, Aliyah is in the living room with a dust rag dusting the furniture. Since I hadn't asked her to do anything, I asked her what she was doing. She told me that since it seemed to be my house cleaning day and I was really busy with a lot of things, she was trying to help me. She continued around the whole living room dusting.

She later picked up Noelliah and was holding and entertaining her to help me out. I must say, it was really sweet of her to be so thoughtful and try to look out for me! She also asked if the mail was in yet. It may seem small, but it was big to me because she was so thoughtful and sweet! I love these 3 little blessings we have!!

We did get several things organized and stuff as well as some bike riding for the girls, a birthday dinner with grandma H. and then plenty of reading time and Playmobil time for the girls also.

October Sunday

It is another beautiful day today. Temp is high 60's I would imagine. We didn't go to church today. Keirah has a drippy faucet for a nose. My SS class is helping with various duties around the new building so we didn't have class today so that would have meant an hour with me having no place to attend while the girls were in SS. I wouldn't have been much help while caring for a newborn =).

We did spend some time outside--on a walk and then the girls rode their bikes. The sun felt very nice.

The girls have a new cousin as of today (a new boy cousin). He weighs 8 lbs. 10 oz. and is 20 inches--already bigger than Noelliah is currently...lol.

Well, there is a laundry basket sitting in my LR that I can't quit looking at because it is nagging to be folded.

Can't wait for Josh to get home as always!