Rex's Health

What a roller coaster of a year!  

The day after Emmett was born, Rex had a stroke that made his back legs unusable.  I went home and took him to the vet in tears, sure I was saying goodbye.  The vet said, "you go take care of the grandbaby and let me take care of Rex."  When I returned, Rex came running out of the back only dragging one leg.  It took him about 3 days to regain the use of his leg, then he was fine!

A month or so later, shortly after I got home from work, Rex passed out then quickly came too.  I took him to the vet the next day and she said it was a heart murmur.    She said it then explained the stroke as related to heart disease.  

Rex has had many other episodes where he falls over, loses consciousness, sometimes twitches, sometimes screams, and almost always pees. It's pretty horrible to watch but it doesn't ever last long and within 15 minutes, he's his normal happy go lucky self.  At one point, the vet had us put him on low salt food and he almost starved to death!  There was another time he was pretty sick that I took him to the vet prepared to do whatever and he recovered yet again.  At that point, they said he has congestive heart failure.  

The last episode was a doozy.  I took him to the vet and she said his heart murmur is bad.  She said don't take him for walks, and try not to let him get excited. 

Last week Rex got pretty sick.  He was panting hard and coughing and didn't want anything to do with me.  So we had conversations and let everyone who cares about Rex know, and made two appointments for euthanasia, one with the vet, and then one with a vet who will come to your home.  I prepared myself and the kids as best I could but when I got home from work, Rex had regained his health!  He was breathing easier and followed me around happy as could be!  

This dog has more lives than a cat.  He currently has a cold, but I guarantee he will get over it soon.

Easter Weekend

No kids home this year but I was busy!  Saturday our church helped the Lions Club put on their annual giant egg hunt by providing additional volunteers.  They added bouncy houses, a pancake feed, and a bunch of other activities.  Adelle and I volunteered.  She got inside the bouncy house and wiped down all the surfaces after it rained.  Then she ran and got me pancakes about halfway through for energy!  For three solid hours, I helped kids get into and out of a bouncy house.  And tried to figure out Joe long they'd been in there and how to convince them their times was up!  There was a huge line the entire day.  Most kids were very polite and it was fun, even though it was also exhausting!

Then in the afternoon, we had rehearsal for the TRU choir!  I got my dream of singing on the worship team!  Sort of.  We had 7 people on the bleachers on the stage to back up the guest worship leader.  We had a very full worship band with two guitars, a bass and mom on keyboards.  Scott said he could hear the choir at all!  It was harder than I thought, too.  But fun!

Girls Night

I had the Homestead girls stay the night Thursday night and it was so fun!  We had group out on the deck then I fixed a yummy dinner, chicken fettucini Alfredo, salad, bread, and brownie all mode.

Left to right, Teresa, graduate Ashley, Amber, Alexis, hidden Veronica, and Samantha.

 Then the girls took turns soaking in the  spa tub which they said was a real treat.  We did a dance contest with the kinect and painted our nails and did some painting and some meditation using the muse.

 Then we lit candles and sat out on the deck and talked for over an hour and Teresa and I talked til almost midnight.  Some of the girls slept upstairs and some slept on the couch.  We got up in the morning and had cinnamon rolls and coffee.  After they'd left I got the sweetest text from Teresa telling me how special our talk was.

  Being involved with Homestead has been such an incredible experience.  I love them so much!  

Emmet

I am in love with baby Emmet.  It's so fun to see him change and grow!

Leah and David came Friday night after Emmett's regular bedtime.  He was grumpy and clingy to Leah and didn't want to say hi.  He laid down and slept all night--over 12 hours!   Saturday morning Leah and I grabbed some rare one on one time to drink coffee and chat.  When Emmet got up he was all smiles.  I love how he gets excited when he sees me.   Leah fed him and got him dressed while I got ready then we went to Target.  

Talking pics of Emmet really makes me admire Leah because it's harder than it looks!  He is always moving!  I had fun while pushing the cart and watching Emmet look around the store.  He likes to make sounds.  Once when he was being noisy, I leaned in and whispered to him.  He whispered back! Then I tried to get him to do it again and he got frustrated and balled up his fist and yelled loudly!   I don't think that Emmet's personality is strong willed but he is definitely his own little person!

Leah and I went to Target where Emmet enthusiastically chewed down half a blueberry muffin.  He picks up little pieces and crams them in his mouth then insists on water.  He doesn't use words but communicated his needs well.  

We then stopped by Vintage Round Up to drop by some of Leah's products for sale.  While there, Emmet waved at himself in the mirror then waved goodbye to the store owner!

Back at home, Emmet was pooped so Leah let me take him back to my bed to lay down with him.  He had a blast crawling and wiggling around and even managed to stand up a few times holding onto the blankets tightly.  He petted Rex a bunch.  But there was no sleeping to be had.  So he took one by himself in his crib.

Next stop was Hibachi hut for lunch with all four of us and Emmet.  Emmet ate cornbread and chicken nuggets and entertained us all from his high chair.  One of his favorite things to do is shake his head no.  And throw food on the floor.  At one point, he held up a piece of food in his tiny little fist and Leah said, "Emmet, do not throw that on the floor."  Emmet looked right back at her, shook his little head no and threw it anyway, only it hit him right in the head!

We returned home and let Emmet play some more between the couch and the ottoman, up down, sit, stand, throw toy, pick up toy, all the while making sounds and babbling.  

What precious good times and memories.  What will you be doing new next time we see you in a few weeks, baby Emmet?  

Serenity Silo

What a great weekend!  Scott and I took Friday off after a busy week (Mom here all week looking at houses).  I got up, ran a few errands and drove to Newton.  Joel flew in to Wichita Thursday night.  It was so good to see him!  And it had been since Christmas since I'd seen Emmet.  Got a big hug from Joel and Leah for her birthday, and a sweet smile from Emmet.

Joel, Leah, Emmet and I went for lunch at Mojos then I took a nap with Emmet.  He grabbed my lip and fell asleep holding it.  

We checked into our B and B, Serenity Silo, a block from Leah and Dave.  

It was so cool!  It had all kinds of nooks and a silo we could go up inside of and comfy spots to sit. 

Scott picked up Hannah in Salina and we were all together!  We just spent time sitting around either up in the silo or in the house.  

We picked up pizza in Hesston and ice cream at Prairie Harvest.  Oh, we did make a stop downtown which I love and I hit my fav boutique.  Only bought slippers and Joel bought a watch.

On Saturday we drove to Strong City and ate lunch at Ad Astra and then walked the land where the kids got married.  

 

It was quite enjoyable.  We sat around Saturday night making Emmet giggle and eating cherry pie.  The boys had a late game of Agricola every night up in the Silo.  I got to walk Emmet home by myself and give him a bath and put him to bed.  

Sunday scott left early to get Hannah to the airport and Leah came over with Emmet.  We had coffee and chatted.

 After she walked Emmet home, Joel got up and I had coffee with him.  We took a pic of him for his portfolio.  

We went to lunch at The Breadbasket, yum.  Emmet threw his food all over the floor and tried to make friends with everyone there. 

I love my kids and get sad when I leave them.  I love Emmet so so much, too.  So thankful to have had this amazing weekend.  Happy 26th Leah!

Christmas 2016

Every year the weeks leading up to Christmas are tough.  Not sure why other than it is hard for kids at school and so they act out.  I was easily offended at work, stressed about buying the right gifts, sad about Joel being alone, Hannah not coming, Mom being alone.  I spent some excellent quality time with Cheist who once again met me where I was and found that neverending peace that passes understanding.  Cliches, but not.  Very very real for me personally.

The Lake Christmas was smaller due to the weather but special as usual.  It was Shari, Sam, larry and Joe of course, and Bonnie, Norman and cj along with Scott and I.  Shari and Jo loved the prints I got and framed for them, of Leah's. Got some. Quality time with Shari that seems so hard to have for whatever reason.  

A couple of days before Christmas, Shari brought Julie down overnight.  Got more quality time with Shari then Julie.  We had the most delicious meal at Longhorns, just Scott and Julie and I.  

Then Christmas Eve, Leah and Dave and baby Emmet came!  It was a small but very special Christmas as it was Emmet's first and maybe the last we will have them here as they want to build their own family traditions.  We had a Mexican meal and enjoyed plying with Emmet and sitting around.  

Christmas morning Leah and I had coffee and gave Emmet his first Clark traditional orange Danish rolls.  He loved them!  

We did the exchange of gifts  and everyone was thrilled with what they received a sw hat they gave.  I always worry then people are so happy.  Emmet loved his sticking stuffers and his first chucks as well as the giraff I got because his elephant didn't come yet.  

I had some sweet times with Emmet, playing and watching him try to crawl (he can scoot/army crawl.). He likes to stand up at the ottoman with little support and crawl up people.  He giggles when he makes eye contact and grabs at earrings.  He tilts his little head to look beyond at something g that interests him.  I got to rock him to sleep three times!  One afternoon, I took him to my room to see of he would nap with me.  He played with my eyelashes with his little fingers for ten minutes.  

Later that day, we did Skype Joel for two hours.  He did ok alone.   Mom didn't end up being alone after all.

Overall,  grist as 2016 was a. Huge success  and I loved it!

Thanksgiving

Such a great week and memories to hold onto!  Scott and I took Friday off work and drove to Denver.  We listened to a good book on tape, Ready Player One, and stopped at qdoba in Colby.  Joel was already at Hannah's apartment when we got there.  Kent was out of town.

We went out to eat at a lovely Chinese restaurant then went to the Gothic theater to see Seu Jorge, who does David Bowie music acoustically in Portuguese.  We all enjoyed it immensely.

We got up Saturday morning and ate sweet treats  and drank coffee then went for a long walk down Hannah's street to a park.  Scott and the kids had a snowball throwing contest.  There was now on the ground but it wasn't too cold.

We left Saturday afternoon  and drove back to Manhattan bringing Joel.  On Sunday, Scott and Joel and I walked the konza as is our tradition then the boys went to the kstate basketball game.

I worked on Monday, inservice day, and we hung out and just relaxed with our Joel.  I tried to make him homecooked meals every night.  

Leah and David and Emmet arrived Wednesday afternoon.  Leah had warned me that he is going through the stranger stage and not to take it personally if he didn't warm up quickly but he gave me four sweet mushy kisses in the first hour!  Hannah and Kent got here Wednesday night.

Thursday morning we got up and had breakfast and coffee and started cooking. Mom, Dave, and Lisa arrived and then Alexis, Jeff, and Jake!  

I kept dinner simple, the only new thing I made was Carmel Apple sangria.  Emmet got to eat his first table food!  Scott put the tv in the livingroom and we had Gilmore Girls in the new room and played with Emmet.  He's sitting up and still squeals spontaneously.  Every time the theme song came on, he turned to watch the tv.  Leah said she sings it to calm him down and it works!

 After everyone but us Clark/Gaeddert left, we all sat in the livingroom and had a really great conversation, coming up with deep questions to ask each other.  When Leah and David and Emmet left, everyone spontaneously sang "where you lead, I will follow, anywhere, that you want me to....."  

Friday julie came and also Larry and Jo.  

Saturday Joel, Kent, and Scott went to the kstate football game. Hannah and I hung out then went with friends. I got sad then when they came back and were packing, I cried.  Hannah may be able to come home for New Years but not Christmas. And Joel can't take the time off either.  I love having my babies home.