Sushi makin'!!

Lets Go Rams!

CHARLIE'S FIRST FOOTBALL GAME

Santa was good to us!

Updates

Last weekend, chuck and I had our annual night out without kids. Ann came to babysit while we had our Christmas dinner with friends. I think it was our 5th annual trip to Maggianos. These are most definitely 5 of my FAVORITE people in the entire world, and I don't know what I would do without them... I love you guys! Today we got about 4 inches of snow. Daddy and Chuck played for a little while.



They are 2 peas in a pod!

On the 20th, Chloe had a vertebral body stapling to correct scoliosis. She was very excited to get rid of her brace, and ready to go!

in pre-op holding

The first few days were pretty rough. She got her chest tube out after about 24 hours, and only spent one night in PACU. Moving remains painful, but each day is getting better and better.

On Thursday, we came home. She is doing remarkable! Her appetite is not back completely, but she continues to make progress! We are sooooo proud of her!

**Please pardon the extremely sensitive material in these photos. I just wanted to show the incredible journey that Chloe has had in the last week and how unbelievably proud of her
that I am. She has done everything that we have asked of her, although sometimes with a wince and a tear. You are amazing, Chloe and I love you very much!!**

Merry Christmas... part 1

Chelsea is at our house this weekend, so we decided to open a few gifts... Mommy got a new Eskimo coat... I should be able to stay warm now!

Chelsea got a new outfit from her Mee Mee.

Mee Mee and PaPa sent Charlie a train set that he LOVES!

Chloe got a beautiful Barbie from Mee Mee and PaPa.

Silly Chuck...

has a new friend! Thank you, Ann!

Aunt Ann and Uncle Kenney sent a box of game sand puzzles!

2 new pics

Chloe and her brace... and thanks to my favorite occupational therapist Val, now Zoe has one too!

Chloe and Charlie at the Girl Scouts Christmas Party! SHHHH... Charlie has no idea that he isn't a girl scout!

The tree is up...

"Charlie... leave the tree ALONE!"

chloe's new brace

We picked up Chloe's back brace yesterday. She was a little nervous about wearing it at first, but has gotten used to it quickly. It fits great, doesn't rub or hurt and she picked a great pattern... purple with butterflies! Luckily, she doesn't have to sleep in it and she can take it off for P.E. Now you see it...
Now you don't! Can't even tell it is under there!

NEW POST

As fans of Hells Kitchen, we have long been wanting to try Risotto. Nearly every episode features some form of Risotto. This recipe was very easy to follow, made the house smell fantastic, but was very rich. If I choose to make this recipe again, I will cut the Parmesan in half. I may have to alter the fluid a bit then, so it doesn't end up too soupy. The recipe says that the cream is 'optional'. We did use it. http://http://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-mushroom-risotto-192083

After dinner, the kids and I decided to play Barbies. Chloe chose Barbies that looked like each of us...

And lastly, my Barbie...

GRRRRRRR :(

Chelsea's 15th birthday

My lop-sided cake. Hope it tastes better than it looks :)

Very Cute... Thank you, Grandma Otterman!

Lots of Loot!

My biggest pet peave

not washing your hands... GROSS!

What is in my purse...

• wallet with 58 cents, drivers license, debit card, Costco card, library card, insurance cards, Starbucks rewards card, Once Upon A Child reward card, Borders rewards card, Nursing license card, BLS card, PALS card, Carseat tech card, etc
• 3 diapers
• wipes
• sunglasses
• a pony tail holder
• pay check stub
• small pack of raisins
• lipstick
• hand sanitizer
• lotion
• perfume
• 2 tampons
• church bulletin

My worst habit is

picking my finger nails and cuticles.

My week... in great detail

Monday: wake up, stumble into the shower. Wash. Stumble out of the shower. Get jolted into reality by, "MOMMY... me EAT!" Fix breakfast for the kids. I'm sure it was something very healthy like Fruit Loops. Then I usually go back to my bathroom to finish getting ready. A little make up and a little hair gel later, I make sure Chloe is getting ready for school. We argue about her pants. We argue about her socks. We argue about her shoes. We make up and vow to have a good day. I get Charlie ready against his will. We all pile in the SUV and head to Kindercare and then school. After signing each kid in their proper place, I head to highway 70 to sit in traffic. I finally get to work and I save some lives until lunch. Then I eat my mushy, tasteless left overs and gossip about the people that are not there. Then I save some more lives and go home!! I investigate dinner, only to find that my beautiful, wonderful husband has already started cooking. We sit down to dinner, then plop on the couch to relax. After listening to our children argue about the most amazing toy in our home, i decide that it is time for baths. I first toss Charlie into the tub, scrub him clean and allow him to play... flooding the bathroom in the process. I retrieve him from the tub, dry him, lotion him down so that he smells delicious and dress him as he squirms and fights. Then I chase Chloe all over the house. I catch her and convince her that showers are not toxic. I ensure that she actually uses soap and shampoo, then tell her that 45 minutes is long enough to play in the shower. I then supervise the kids playing. It is my job to make sure that they do not hurt anyone or anything. Then it is time to brush teeth. Charlie consumes 1/4 pound of toothpaste, Chloe is done in 10 seconds. It is finally time to put the children in their beds. AAAAHHH, it is quiet. No, wait... "MOMMY... I need a drink". "MOMMY... I need some chap stick". "MOMMY... I'm scared". After threatening them, they both finally fall asleep. Chuck and I play a little X-box, I steal a little Facebook time, check my email, make an adult beverage, and call it a night.

Tuesday... stay tuned

My favorite Holiday

This is an easy one... I LOVE EASTER!! I love the drama, the sadness and lastly the hope and peace. Holy week is my favorite week of the year. It hasn't totally been ruined by commerciality and business opportunity. I love the emotional highs and lows that you experience during the week. We go from the joy of entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the sadness of the Last Supper, the drama of Good Friday and then the hope on Easter.

where I live

Smack dab in the center of the continental US of A.

A you-tube video

This video has really impacted me... this was the song that makes me cry (if you'll remember back to day 14)

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

catch up on my challenge

Day 21: A Recipe
My favorite pumpkin bread... use real pumpkin instead of the canned crap!
http://http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinbread.php

Day 22: A web site
When I turn on the computer, I usually visit:

• www.gmail.com
• www.facebook.com
• www.espn.com (especially during fantasy football season)
• www.blogger.com
• www.ksdk.com
• www.msnbc.com
• www.wfaa.com

in that order!

A hobby

um... I like to eat, shop and play (in that order)

day 19: A talent of mine

um... I dunno.... leave me a comment and let me know!

Day 18: My wedding

awaiting my husband to scan a pic...

An art piece

This first piece of art was done by my sister. She does amazing work. It took me a couple years to get this piece back home because it is so large. It was too big to take on an airplane, too big to mail and almost too big to fit in my car. It looks fantastic in Chloe's room, though! See if you can find all of the hidden fairies... This is my favorite picture that Chloe has done. It too, hangs in her room.

A song that makes me cry

turn your volume up!
http://http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

Day 15

Favorite meal

This is actually an easy one. I absolutely LOVE snow crab! However, since it is so much work (and you don't get much in return), I will have to say that I want my crab wrapped in rice with a slice of avocado and cucumber... aka a California Roll!! With my sushi, I think I will be having a brewed beverage, flavored with hops... aka BEER! To finish my meal, I must have something smothered in chocolate.

My favorite non-fiction book

I read this book while I was in high school. I spent the next month sleeping on the floor next to my parent's bed. I spent the next year terrified that aliens were coming to get me. When I say this is my favorite, I don't mean that I enjoyed it. No book has ever affected me this much!

day 13: fave fictional book

Favorite Childrens Fiction: Favorite Adult Fiction:

Something I am OCD about

HANDWASHING!! Do it, and do it right!

Challenge day 10/11

my fave vacation spot

Although not exactly relaxing, Washington DC is a great place to visit. Probably one of my most favorite vacations was to Disney. I can't wait to take the kids back!
Unfortunately, this is not me... but a beach with your honey... what could be better?!?