The duo are OK.

We recovered well from the Friday incidence. Hopefully all will stay good. They dont remember a thing from it and that is good.

The kids left yesterday with Sue. She came to St Louis to get them. She also took Trevor back to Indiana so he could spend the week with Nanny up at Jellystone. He will also get to see Hayden and Simon as well.

My new job is going well. I really really like it and would like to move down there when our lease is up here. There is a college there I am looking into to complete my RN and hopefully wont have a waiting list either. The ozark mountains are so pretty down there. I can't get enough after living in flat Indiana for so long. I just love looking out and seeing trees for ever.

Weight update: I am down 43 lbs now. Now that I have a tan, I am not looking so shabby these days and have worn my swimsuit more this year than I have in the last 8. I may have even turned a head or two. I still have about 20lbs to lose to get where I really want to be. I need to exercise more, but lounging next to the pool is so fulfilling, LOL.

This picture is me this past weekend. A bunch of Moms from my mmessage board came to STLouis to meet up and we had a great time. I was a bit too excited to have a night out with some girlfriends, and I may have had a tad too much, but had a blast, nonetheless.

it

Our first ambulance ride with lights and sirens!

Sorry for the poor quality, but these were taken with my cell phone camera.

Poor swollen Connor after shots and breathing treatments.

John was eating a mix of nuts we bought that was cashews, almonds, and pistachios. Well, they have never had them and wanted to try them. Well they loved them, but the nuts didnt love back. within a half hour or so, their eyes began to swell and lips were swelling and they were both wheezing and coughing and became lethargic. I called the pediatrician to see if I could give a mega dose of benadryl and she said to call 911 immediately. They got here in 3 minutes. Both Connor's eyes were swollen shut, and he took it the hardest. His oxygen saturation was only 69% and his heart rate was 189 before the epinephrine, benadryl shot and steroids. WE took off in the ambulance- me with Logan, and the other paramedic had Connor. John needed to stay with Jake, Trevor and Lauren. (Jake and Trevor theought he fire truck and amulance were cool.) They did pretty well and slept the first hour. Then the steroids kicked in. They were wound up soooo bad. It was crazy!

Logi after shots and breathing treatments

My poor duo

An hour after steroids and they were bouncing off the walls. The ER was entertained by them....I was not.

We are home now and they are whooped on the Benadryl- but are extra snuggly. We now have to carry an Epi pen for each of them where ever we go. YIKES!

Lauren and Jake are staying with us!!!

So Sue and Wade could go and get married in Jamiaca, I brough Lauren and Jake to St Louis for some fun. I have missed them and it has been so wonderful having them here.

Transportation Museum. We got to walk on and touch real big trains!!!

The pool at the apartment complex.







Six flags was a blast. Lauren and Jake got thier pictures with so many characters it was too many to post.
Villans, watch out! They all got superhero capes!

We went to the Science Center today for some hands-on learning. We had lots of fun here. I love the picture of Jake playing with the tornado exhibit. He was fascinated by it.

We are having so much fun with them here. Tomorrow- er, today (I need to get to bed) we are going to a small water park in Farmington, MO with my friend and her 3 children. Thursday we are hoping for the zoo and Friday maybe Manchester pool. They have both been so well-behaved and Jake is loving playing with his big cousin Trevor. They play for hours together and (almost) never argue. Jake is such a sweetie. Lauren is a huge help to both John and I. She helps with the babies and never complains- in fact, she is always taking them off our hands. Tonight Lauren and I had girly fun and painted our finger and toe nails so we are pool-ready tomorrow.

Will post more pictures of the water park tomorrow!

Weekly update...

OK, so you have to admit I have been much better at this lately....
Summer is fully upon us now- so is the aweful humidity. That said, it is time to go to the pool and brave a swimsuit. That will be on the agenda for next week. We have lots of exploring to do. Lauren and Jake are coming to stay with us for a week and a half. We are looking forward to having them here. WE have lots planned, including another trip to Six Flags for some more fun. We also want to get over to the aquatic center to go on the slides. I can't wait.
I really like my new job. It is so different than Scenic where I am currently still employed. Pisses me off that I have wasted a whole year working in that dump when something was clearly better out there and pays more too. Plus, it is so organized, I dont have to wear all white (like I did at the other place). I will try to take some pictures this weekend of my old crew. They are hard workers and I will miss them. I will still see them, but sporadically.
The duo are saying new things this week. A new word is "mine!", spoken with true toddler attitude. 'here you go", "ball", "no", mind you that their speech is quite delayed. As of late, it is flourishing much better and they are enunciating better too. Logan told John off the other day in his own language. He was red hot angry at him for picking up his toys and I laughed my butt off. No one knew what he was saying except Logan. I wish I had gotten video of that. All I know is that he meant business and he meant what he said.
Another bad thing is the hitting. They hit each other constantly. Following the toddler rules...if they think it should be theirs, it is theirs and they will hit for it. We are working on time outs for that.
That is all for us right now. More updates to come......

Fun in the aftermath of a storm......

Many a day, I sit stressed out at the amount of attention and work it takes to raise 3 very active boys. But then there are moments, like today, where the duo is upstairs asleep and after an intense storm the sun comes out, and the world becomes a 7 year-old's paradise. Nothing is more innocent than splashing around in the "river" created by a heavy downpour. Love the lazy summer days!

my long and pleasant drive to work...

The drive to my new job is a bit longer than my other job, but it is by far a more beautiful route. I go on a very non-busy highway that goes through the rolling hills and cliffs. It is perfect to put on a good CD like Jason Mraz's new one and sing. Very peaceful and serene. Coming from the very flat Indiana landscape, these hills are breathtaking for me.



In the morning when I leave, there is fog resting in the hills and valley's. It is very beautiful.

Fun in the midst if busy-ness.

Went to six flags today to have some summer fun. It was almost 90 and very humid. Boy, summer sure decided to pounce right on us!!! I braved a sleeveless top and exposed my girly parts for the first time in years. Now I need a good tan.