A likely "ectomy".

Much to report on...again.

 

You'd think I could soon get it together.  But I wouldn't hold your breath.

 

I owe Lauren a post like this from her doctor's appointment in....oh I don't know....the beginning of October.  Maybe I should just summarize and say that she's perfect.  Grew well, gained the right amount of weight, etc.  All around a great visit for our little princess.

 

I took Joshua yesterday for his seven year checkup.  I was astonished to hear that it had been six months since Joshua was there for a sick visit.  I honestly expected a band to start playing and fireworks to start going off at the sheer wonder of it all.  But no.  Only in my own head.  The doctor assured me that we'd likely be seeing more of them agian as the winter months wore on- a realization I didn't need a reminder about.  Josh did great, too-- grew 3" over the past year and gained 7 pounds.  We knew he was growing and had put (a little) meat on his bones, but that confirmed it.  Our only hiccup seemed to be the exam of Joshua's throat, when (just like every other doctor who has ever looked at him) Dr. Baca marvelled at the size of his tonsils.  Although I had asked about them when he was having his apnea problems as a toddler, no one seemed too concerned at the time.  But they're thinking that it might be a good idea to consult with an ENT doctor to take a look at whether or not those tonsils would be better out than in.  I have to tell you, I'd rather do ANYTHING besides consider surgery, but we'll check this out and see what needs to be done.  The doctor is pretty sure his adenoids are an issue as well.  So stay tuned for the first possible "ectomy" of the Dugan family.  We see the ENT on 12/4 and will go from there.  Poor Josh is more than a little worried.

 

This week has buzzed past as most seem to do lately, but I thought I would include a few pictures from last weekend.  Jason had been away on a trip to California on Wednesday-Friday, so the kids and I were on our own Friday evening.  We decided to go to "almost" midnight madness at the kids' school and had a fun time.  Joshua loved seeing the big kids playing basketball.  Although Daddy was home on Saturday morning, he was off to the PSU game with clients on Saturday, so we had a day together at home.  I cooked up a storm- chicken corn soup, 2 pumpkin pies, oatmeal raisin cookies-- the house smelled amazing!  And then, after the hard work was done (and by that, I am referring to getting Mara down for her nap), the big kids and I headed outside for some fun in what may be turning out to be the last nice weekend before the cold chill sets in.  We played soccer and football and rode bikes and shot baskets.  It was awesome.  And there were pictures.  There are always pictures.



 

I had to laugh about this picture.  I think the kids were all very happy to have Daddy home from the game on Saturday afternoon.  There was much giggling!

Whoa.

Since my last post, I can report a whole bunch of good things that happened.  I don't think we sat down for longer than five minutes all weekend (and our "weekend" started last Thursday afternoon).  The kids were off from school on Thursday and Friday because of parent/teacher conferences at school, which they were thrilled about.  Jason and I were thrilled that we had an awesome report from Joshua's teacher.  We're so proud of him.

 

After the meeting with Mrs. Nornhold, I packed up the troops and headed for Lewistown.  I believe Mara started asking for Nana as soon as she woke up on Thursday morning, and didn't stop until we pulled into the driveway at my parents' house.  We spent the evening with Nana and Papa and Brooke and Hayden and had a yummy dinner and some fun tubs until Uncle Zig was done working and could pick up the girls.  Too bad Aunt Libby missed out on the fun, but we'll get her double time the next trip.  She was holding conferences of her own until late Thursday night.

 

Friday morning we got up and headed to Stacie's for some pictures of the kids.  My plan was completely shot when we woke up to howling winds and temperatures in the low 30's.  So much for my plan of outside pictures this year.  (When, WHEN, will I learn to do this in October instead of November?)  So we took a few outside shots, but spent most of our time indoors with Stacie.  I figured we had a better chance of seeing smiles if the kids could feel their cheeks.  Here's hoping that's how it works out.

 

We had a very fancy lunch of McDonalds...because I'll be honest and tell you that I totally bribed the kids with a milkshake if they behaved themselves with Stacie and cooperated without a bad attitude about the pictures.  That was mostly directed for Joshua, who has declared that he hates having his picture taken.  But it didn't hurt for Lauren to hear it either since she tends to get "hoooooooooot" when she's annoyed with something, and I didn't want to have to beat any children in front of Stacie.  Although I'm sure she would have understood.  But all was well and everyone got to have a milkshake, except me because there are like 30+ points in even a small milkshake and I get 32 all day long.  Sad, isn't it? 

 

After lunch we hooked up with Freda and headed back to Turbotville to get ready for round 2 of the day.  Jen was headed to our house for 4:30 so that Freda and I could jump back in the car and head for Williamsport to meet up with Jason to go and see "Hello Dolly" at the Community Arts Center.  His business sponsored the show and hosted a group of clients, and with one extra ticket, we asked Freda to be our collective date for the night.  We had so much fun.  We even got to talk to Sally Struthers (who played Dolly)...albeit from a distance...but at least we got to hear her answer some questions from the group.  It wasn't quite the same as the photo op that we had with Martina McBride last year, but it was still fun.  By the time we got home it was 11:00 and we were beat.  Off to bed it was.

 

Saturday was our "at home" day....a misnomer because we spent the morning at the grocery store and the afternoon doing laundry and putting things away from the trip on Thursday/Friday and trying to pretend that the Penn State game didn't really happen.  I won't dwell on that, but really....a little defense shouldn't be too much to ask.  I believe I crashed hard sometime around 11 pm that night too.

 

And then....on Sunday morning we were up and at 'em again and on our way back to Lewistown around 10 am.  There was a special little lady who was celebrating turning ONE and we wouldn't have missed her lady bug bash for the world.  The kids had a blast at Hayden's party, playing lady bug ping pong and making crafts and eating yummy cupcakes.  I find it impossible to believe that Hayden is really going to turn one on Thursday, but I guess it's true.  We returned home, shoveled some pizza into our tummies and then started the "get ready for the week" routine.  I fell into bed early due to not being able to keep my eyes open.

 

It was a very very full weekend, but a good one!



 

 This picture was from last weekend, but I love it.  Please don't miss Lauren's ballerina costume that she has been wearing over just about everything all the time, as well as Mara's pink ball cap that is turned backwards.  I don't know whether these girls are on the edge of fashion, or whether we're really in for it during their teenage years, but I guess time will tell.

 

 I love these cousins pictures--- all tubbed up and enjoying a snack before bedtime at Nana's the other night.  I have a bad feeling that the expression on Mara's face is likely the one we're going to see on every single picture Stacie took of the kids.  Oh my word.

 

 I dare you to find a cuter baby.  Seriously....isn't she adorable?

 

 Hayden and Pap....she has a serious thing for her Pap.  And I think he shares it for her!

 

And these were party craft time pictures.  Mara loved that glue stick- found it necessary to put it on everything.  And I do mean everything.  

A whole lot of catching up...

I think I am now officially so behind on blogging that I ought to just post these pictures and call it a day. We are all fine...just ridiculously busy. And despite my efforts to simplify, I seem to be failing miserably. But we have been having a good time anyway. Halloween was awesome and the kids were adorable. We ended up Trick or Treating in our neighborhood in the rain on Halloween and then going to Trunk or  Treat on Friday evening due to a significant improvement in the weather. We all had fun. I don't love Halloween, but I have learned that when it comes to the kids, I love any special day that makes them smile. And this surely did!

The deck is done!  Masonry work and all. The hot tub has become the respite spot for Jason and me after the kids are tucked into bed. It is wonderful!  I can't wait to be able to enjoy the whole deck this spring and summer to get the full effect. But for now, that 102 degree water around 10:00 pm is heavenly!

I'll end with some silliness....which there has been plenty of. These kids, while driving me to the brink of insanity on more occasions than I am proud to admit, bring a lot of joy, too.