Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Boredom

What do you do when your bored? Eat, read, watch TV, .... or blog! I am at work and the boss is gone and did not leave me a much needed project. So, I decided I would change by background; isn't it cute?! I still don't have the pictures from Madison's trip. Argh! I will hopefully get them tonight and try to post them tomorrow. Also, Tony's parents and grandmother are coming into town on Saturday. They are staying for 5 days and I think we are going to the zoo and Six Flags. Not sure what else we are doing, but I am hoping this will cure my boredom. The combination of this and the fact that Tony is in one of his spring cleaning moods, we will be cleaning out our house of all unneeded crap. Sounds like fun! (this is sarcasm; I really don't enjoy this, especially with two kids under my feet) Wish me luck! The good thing about this is that I will get my bottom kitchen cabinets back, and Steven won't be able to pull everything out or get in. They have been off for a month or more trying to get painted.
Okay, enough complaining. More fun stuff to come. See you soon.

Stomach Flu Update

I have had a few people ask me about Madison's status. I am happy to inform you that she does not have the stomach flu. Her symptoms were really weird, because she would be fine for a day and then the next night complain that her stomach hurt. Sometimes she would throw up and sometimes not. Well, she had planned to visit her cousin Ethan up in Minnesota (leaving Saturday July, 12th) and the night before she threw up her dinner again. So Saturday morning I called the doctor and they told me to bring her in. I am so grateful they are open on Saturday because I knew I couldn't send her on a week long trip in her condition. So the doctor checked her urine and said everything was fine there. Whew! But, then he proceeded to tell me that he thinks she has acid reflux. What?! Isn't that supposed to only effect adults? Well I guess not. He gave her some medicine to take for the next two weeks to see if it goes away. If it doesn't she will have to go back for an ultrasound to check her stomach and intestines. I am certain that the medicine will do the trick and so, much to the relief of Madison, she was able to go on the trip. She went with Aunt Shirley and cousin Stephanie and will be spending the whole week with her little cousin Ethan. Although she has never been away from home before, Madison is pretty independent and I am sure she will be fine. As for me, I am enjoying the time I can spend with Steven, but I am sure I will want her back soon.

The 4th of July

We spent the 4th of July at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Mike's house along with all the neighbors. Every year the surrounding neighbors go to Indiana (fireworks are illegal in Illinois... I'm talking the only things that are technically legal are snakes and smoke bombs. LAME!) and buy thousands of dollars worth of fireworks. We only saw one cop the whole night and he didn't do anything. I guess they only stop you if someone complains. Luckily we didn't have any scrooges around us. We got there around 4pm and started grilling around 6:30pm. Just as a side note for those of you not from around here, the Midwest must hold stock in grills. I don't know a single person who does not own one and use it on a regular basis. (Yes, even in the winter. They're crazy!)

Steven trying his first piece of watermelon.

Madison loves it too! (they are my little fruit bats)

Independence day gear.


Notice Steven's curling iron burn is healing nicely. Looks like he won't have proof of his war wound for long.

Getting sunblock to go outside.

(he's only smiling because I haven't started rubbing it in yet.)

Hanging out on the front porch.

(Uncle Mike middle, Tony back left, Cousin Stephanie right)

Got her in mid-kick. You go girl!

Daddies are always good for a little tickle torture.

My turn!

Taking a ride in the tractor trailer. (also a Midwest thing)

Madison left, Nicky right

Steven left, JJ right

Steven with Donna. (babysitter, aka mommy #2)

Madison was not feeling well. (literally 20 seconds after I took this picture she threw up all over herself and the blanket. Yuck!)

10:30pm, poor little guy is pooped. If not for all the excitement of the fireworks he probably would have been asleep by now. He loved the fireworks and would laugh and clap for every one.

Poor Madison fell asleep about 9pm. She had a hard time really enjoying herself.

All in all it was a good day and with all the neighborhood fireworks we didn't even miss seeing the city ones. I hope you all enjoyed your Independence Day! God bless America!

Stomach Flu

This is Madison telling Auntie Cristina all about how she was sick. We were planning on going to the zoo over the weekend but Madison woke up early (4am) Saturday morning with a very disgusting poopy pull-up. I will spare you the details. She was sick all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Pretty much the only thing I could get her to eat was Cheerios and water. Even that she couldn't keep down. She finally slept through the night Monday night, but I wanted to make sure she could keep food down so she stayed home with Dad on Tuesday. Even though she was feeling better, she said she didn't want to go back to Donna's (daycare lady).
So Daddy took her to the zoo since she was so upset about not being able to go on Saturday. They had lots of fun and Madison was even able to buy herself a new silly elephant hat. What a great ending to a crumby weekend!

New site, same great stuff ... I hope.

So I have decided to get on the same blog site as the rest of my friends and family. I hope this one is as easy to use as the other one. Plus, this way, everyone will be able to view without being a member. That's nice! I hope you enjoy seeing and reading about our family. I know I enjoy hearing about all of you.