Pumpkins, the Pukeys, and a 'Possum!

First, let's start with the fun stuff. Corey went back to McPherson last weekend for a boys golf weekend. He had a blast hanging with the guys and was super stoked 'cuz he actually golfed fairly decently! However, he was also super happy to be home as he mentioned more than once that his old bones cannot handle as much "fun" as they used to (i.e. late nights and alcohol consumption = D~) Today is Wednesday and I think he might now finally be fully recovered!

While Corey was back in Mac, my parents came up to Lawrence to visit. Riley and Gage were thrilled, they LOVE they're Grandma and PopPop! Saturday was a dream day -- sunny, 70, light breeze -- a perfect day for the Pumpkin Patch! This was our first visit to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch that is just outside of Lawrence and let me tell you, we had a blast! I didn't realize how huge that place was. They have it set up so nice for the little ones complete with piled up haystacks, a hay bale maze, and playsets with slipper slides. A great place for enthusiastic little ones to release some coiled up energy! The boys absolutely loved getting a hayrack ride out to the middle of the patch. Riley was in heaven getting to see so many tractors up close and moving as tractors are one of his current passions. Gage was impressed with the cows, constantly saying "moo" and "cows" and wandering that way every chance he got. There were a couple of frisky bulls that kept trying to mount the heifers, so we just kept telling the boys the cows were "wrestling." I am nowhere near ready for having that talk any time soon! Anyhow, picking pumpkins was a blast -- I had no idea there were so many different types! I guess I've been oblivious all these years and assumed all pumpkins were round and orange and the rest of the different colored and crazy shaped ones were gourds of some sort. Apparently, I was wrong -- believe it or not, that does happen on occasion = ) Here are some pics of the boys enjoying the day ...

As you can see, a good time was had by all! Every day the boys are still asking where Grandma and Pop Pop are. When I tell them they had to go home, but they'll be up again to visit next weekend, Riley sweetly demands that we again go to the "Punkin' Patches!" Too cute = )

Now on to some not so cute stuff. After such a fun weekend, we started off the new week with some major yuckiness. Gage came to the office with me Monday morning because he had his 18 month "well child" check-up scheduled for 9:30. Unfortunately, he was not so well. First thing as I get him out of his carseat, he pukes all over the parking lot. Nice. Luckily, he avoided getting any on himself, save for a little on his shoe. So, I cleaned him up with baby wipes and started into the office. He had eaten a ton of pancakes for breakfast, so I figured maybe his tummy was upset from overeating. But, lo and behold, a few minutes later as he was sitting on my lap at my desk, he started vomiting again. Thankfully it went into the plastic bag lined trash can. But, still -- yuck! So, from here we headed to the doc's office where we made it through the check-in and Nurse Debbie was able to get his height (32 .25" - 52nd percentile) and weight (25.5 lbs - 35th percentile) measurements. Being the pro that she is, she set me up with some tissues and a little vomit dish - "just in case." Well, Gage made sure her efforts were not in vain and put the dish to use in the middle of the check-up with Dr Kimuri. Again - yuck! Other than the pukies, he is pretty healthy = ) So, he got to stay home with mommy on Monday ... then on Tuesday I was sick. Double yuck! This was no surprise, though, as once we were home on Monday, each time Gage needed to upchuck, he would snuggle in really close to me first, then let the fun stuff fly. Needless to say, we both took several baths that day and did numerous loads of laundry. Today we're both feeling much better and I'm praying that Riley and Corey both continue to be lucky and avoid this nasty stomach virus.

And now for the opossum. I was cleaning out our cat's litter boxes this morning after giving them their morning chow. One of the boxes has a hooded lid on it, so you cannot see inside it except for the small entryway. Well, this was at 6am, so I wasn't fully awake, nor did I even think to peak inside before I lifted the lid. When I pulled it up I found quite a surprise inside -- a full-grown opposum staring up at me! This particular opossum has visited our garage before, he likes to snack on our cat's food. Unfortunately, this does not seem to bother our kitties, I think they may have even made friends with the little sucker. So, anyhow, there I was barefooted, in my jammies, with this critter just quietly looking up at me. After letting out a little screech, I calmly put the lid back on and left him be. It's kind of a gross place to hang out, but I guess if he's not causing any trouble, I will let him be for moment.

Well, that's all of the excitement for now, should be interesting to see what the rest of the week brings ...

Prayer Request and Important Reminder ...

A very sweet lady I know has recently lost her 4 year old son to E. Coli. This is such a tragedy, please pray for her and her family. I cannot imagine their pain and grief.

Below is a copy of one of the news articles about his death (and 2 other boys here in Kansas as well.) I know many of you enjoy taking your children swimming and to the petting zoos and farmsteads just as I do. Please read to the bottom of the article for important tips on how to avoid E.Coli. I know most of it is common sense, but I figure it never hurts for a refresher ... better safe than sorry when dealing with our sweet babies lives!

"A Chase County boy is one of two young Kansas children who died within the past several days from E. coli infection, according to an announcement from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Funeral arrangements were being made today for Brant Burton, 4, who died Sunday in Wesley Regional Medical Center in Wichita.
Brant was the son of T.W. and Rachelle Burton of Matfield Green.
An 18-month-old from Liberal, Tanner Strickland, reportedly died Wednesday in Wesley. Tanner’s brother remains in Wesley in stable condition with the same illness.
The KDHE announcement said staff was working with local health departments in the two counties to identify possible sources of the infection.
“The deaths are unrelated and were caused by different E. coli serotypes,” said Mike Heideman, communications specialist for KDHE.
E. coli O157:H7 bacteria can produce potent toxins, known as “shiga toxins,” which can cause severe bloody diarrhea.
Approximately 8 percent of people infected with the most-common shiga toxin develop a serious complication, hemolytic uremic syndrome. HUS produces kidney failure and blood-clotting. Children under 5 and elderly people are most susceptible to developing serious and sometimes fatal illnesses from the bacteria.
E. coli, however, is a common bacteria.
“It’s everywhere in our environment,” said Cheryl Jones, administrator of the Chase County Health Department, whose department is assisting KDHE in the investigation.
Meat, fruits, vegetables, and recreational waters are common carriers of E. coli, as are the intestinal systems of animals and humans.
“People are exposed to it constantly and, once in a while, if conditions are right, it can make someone terribly sick,” Jones said.
The incubation period between exposure and symptoms typically ranges from 1 to 10 days, Heideman said.
“It’s usually three to four ... but it can be up to 10. We investigate back 10 days,” Jones said.
Symptoms — which commonly include stomach pain and diarrhea but also may include fever, vomiting and irritability — generally vanish in three or four days, the KDHE news release stated.
“The one ... preventive measure that can help all of those things, with the exception of foods in some cases, it to wash your hands,” Heideman said. “Wash for 20 seconds with soap and warm running water. Wash all parts of the hand and don’t use a common towel to dry. Dry with a clean towel.
“It goes back to what our moms and dads told us growing up. Wash your hands.”
KDHE recommends the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure to E. coli:
* Wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom or changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food.
* Wash hands after contact with animals or their environments, including petting zoos, farms, fairs, and your own back yard.
*Cook meats thoroughly. Ground beef and meat that has been needle-tenderized should be cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A meat thermometer, not meat color, is a reliable indicator of “doneness.”
*Avoid raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products and unpasteurized juices, like apple cider.
* Avoid swallowing water when swimming or playing in lakes, ponds, creeks and streams, swim pools, and backyard “kiddie” pools.
* Prevent cross-contamination in food preparation areas by thoroughly washing hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils after they touch raw meat.
E. coli also can be spread by toddlers who are not toilet trained or by adults who do not wash their hands carefully after changing diapers, Heideman said. Children can pass the bacteria in their stool to another person for two weeks after they have recovered from an E. coli O157:H7 illness."

Shish Bops, Suck Ahs, & Peeez

So, you're reading the title and thinking what the heck? Well, welcome to my world. With 2 toddlers learning to navigate the English language, Corey and I are often left scratching our heads trying to figure out what in the world our boys are trying so hard to communicate to us. Luckily we usually have the benefit of hearing their interesting pronunciations in context with their surroundings with a visual of their actions - otherwise we'd be just as baffled as the rest of you most of the time.

Well, since we were blessed with another glorious and unseasonably warm October day on Sunday, we decided to enjoy some barbecue for supper. We put together some scrumptious Shish Kabobs for ourselves and the boys. So from here, I guess you can probably figure out where the Shish Bops came from. No surprise, getting the boys to say Shish Kabobs was almost as much fun as getting to eat them = ). The boys really enjoyed them, too. I was going to fix something separate for the boys because I wasn't sure if they'd like them, but I am so glad I didn't. They LOVED them! Instead of having just veggies and steak on theirs, we added pineapple and mango to Riley and Gage's. That was definitely the right call, they ate them up like nobody's business! They even ate the steak like champions (as long as they had plenty of ketchup and bbq sauce for dipping = )

Next for the Suck Ahs. I can't quite remember when Gage was first introduced to suckers, but he has been infatuated with them ever since! So, now they are his special treat he gets at bathtime (easy cleanup = )~ However, he still requests them numerous times throughout the day with his cute little Suck Ahs chant with a distinct break between the syllables. Then, if he doesn't get his request, he usually follows up with a drawn-out Peeeez for please, complete with hand clasp and squatting for added emphasis. Man, that little guy sure knows how to play momma, 'cuz that will usually get him at least one more sucker during the course of the day!

Below is a little video of Riley and Gage saying Shish Bops and Suck Ahs. Of course, I don't think it does them justice at all of how cute they are in reality when they are being spontaneous, but it's close ...

Shenanigans and Weekend Fun ...

Whew! Last week the boys were full of it - and still are! I don't know if they can sense the changing of the season or if something else is up, but they have been extra rascally. For those of you who know my boys, you understand that is really saying something! Maybe it is because they are both finally healthy (hope I didn't just jinx that) and they feel well enough to just let themselves go be boys to the fullest extent. Whatever the reason, it sure is fun to watch them explore and conjure up all sorts of mayhem. Sometimes I swear I can actually see the little wheels and gears turning inside their minds as they plot their next deed -- or misdeed would probably be a more accurate description = )

Riley once again decided to exhibit his Picassoesque mural creation abilities the other day. In the short time it took me to change Gage's diaper, Riley managed to break into the "no-no" drawer that has a child lock on it and wrangled out a red crayon. He then proceeded to draw huge swooping circles and wavy criss-cross lines across a section of wall about 2 ft tall and 4 ft wide. Aaaaarrggghhhh! Of course, when I asked him what in tarnation he thought he was doing, he proudly boasted "Look! Circles go 'round, 'round, 'round and whoooooooosh! I draw!" He was so pleased with himself and his art! I somehow found it within myself to not scream out loud what I was screaming inside my head and politely, yet tersely, told him that while his self-expression was lovely, it is not ok to draw on mommy's walls -- ever -- we only draw on the paper mommy or daddy gives you. Riley then looked at me sweetly and said with a sigh, " 'kay mom" and bounced off to his room where I told him to stay for a little while. Thank goodness for Mr Clean Magic Erasers, they really do clean up almost anything! I am also thankful that it was a red crayon on burnt orange walls as I may not be able to look back on this moment as fondly if this had occurred in another with non-complementary colors!

Gage has almost completed his transformation into a full-fledged monkey. He hasn't met an object that he hasn't attempted to climb and conquer. He has now mastered climbing up the side of his crib (from the floor) to make his way up to the changing table. From there he loves to turn the light and ceiling fan on and off 1,729 times per day. Okay, maybe that's a bit much of an exaggeration, but you get my point - he does this a lot. He's also taken to climbing up on the recliner and while it's in the reclined position, trying to tip it over. Other fun climbing adventures include up on our glass kitchen table (very dangerous - we'll be replacing that soon with something more stable) or scaling the kitchen drawers using the handles as footholds. Boys are definitely a different breed. I'm still trying to find the best way to stop these unauthorized adventures. So far, timeouts don't phase him nor does spanking or redirection. This boy has a one track mind! But, we will continue to be persistent in letting him know that these things are not okay and hopefully the idea will stick with him. Wish us luck! Also, any ideas or suggestions are welcome = )

Friday evening we decorated for Halloween and had so much fun! We put little ghosts in the landscaping out front so that they're peeking out over the bushes and trees. They are just the cheap little plastic baggy ghosts on a stick, but they are cute nonetheless. Riley was such a big helper using the mallet and a long screwdriver to help make guideholes for the stakes to go into. That boy sure loves his tools. Gage was his ornery little jokester self and enjoyed going around and pulling the ghosts off of their posts almost as quick as we could put them on. Needless to say, we had to finish the project after Gage had gone inside for his bath because we were losing the battle. He is so quick! We also put up various decals on the windows throughout the house. It is so cute how excited they get every time they look at them = ) Their favorite part is finding the black kitties that are peeking out of jack-o-lanters. My favorite part is trying to get them to say Frankenstein = ) It doesn't seem like too hard of a word, but it sure seems to stump them. The variations that come out of their mouths are hilarious!

We rounded out the weekend with another trip to Deanna Rose Farmstead. We met Aunt Tracy there, as well as our friend Carrie and her daughter Taryn. The kids all had a great time with the animals as usual. We had a really nice visit with my sis. The boys were so happy to see her Sunday morning. They cuddled and loved on her for a good long time = )

Sunday afternoon we headed out to Gloria's for a BBQ. She has the farm decorated really cute for Halloween with lots of hay bales, pumpkins, and scarecrows. The boys had so much fun being out there on a weekend without all of the other daycare kids around. They ran all over the place and totally wore themselves out. This, of course, pleased Corey and I because they went to bed early without any arguements whatsoever = )

Here's a little shout-out to Grandma & PopPop Soukup. Corey had the TV on the outdoor channel this morning and a deer hunting show was on. The boys were totally engrossed watching the deer. When I went to change the channel to their normal cartoons they watch while eating breakfast I was pelted with numerous "NOOOOOO's" from both boys. They wanted to watch the deer instead of cartoons! There's your future outdoorsmen in the making = ) Corey was pretty proud of his boys, too!

Crazy as Usual ...

Well, the boys finally broke their fever Monday night only to have Riley come down with the pukey flu on Wednesday. Yuck! Thankfully it was only the 24 hour kind and Gage somehow avoided catching it. But, poor Riley, he has such a dumb, mean mommy. The evening he got sick he only ate about half of his dinner and was being just whiny and clingy. Corey was working late, so I shooed the boys to the backyard after our meal so I could get everything cleaned up (which there was plenty of, it's amazing the mess these two little fellas can conjure up even while being confined to their chairs!) Anyhow, back on point - - I was getting frustrated as Riley was out there whining and fussing every other minute over things that would typically be nothing of special exception (a fly landed on his arm - waaaah, Gage had both sand shovels - tears, one of the dogs licked his face - meltdown.) So, I finally told him if he's going to be such a crybaby to just come inside and chill in a chair with his blankie until I was done cleaning. It wasn't soon after that that the vomiting started. Ugggh! Wow, I felt like such a jerk! Here I was upset because his tempermant was interfering with my cleanup and the poor kid was sick. Luckily, Corey got home soon after this so I could begin to baby and take care of him like he needed. Sorry, didn't mean to blab on about this, but this blog is a bit of my confessional sometimes. It just really bothers me that I didn't see he was actually sick. I try so hard to be the best mom I can be, but I really failed there. I'll just have to remember this lesson in the future when he's having an off day and do my best to handle the situation with more love and thoughtfulness. Dishes, floors and tables can wait ... my babies shouldn't have to wait for my love.

Ok, enough about that. Corey stayed home with the boys on Friday as daycare was closed so Gloria could go back to Hays for a friend's wedding. One of their projects for the day was to go to Vanderbilt's and get daddy some new work boots. He is a brave soul taking on this task with the gruesome twosome in tow. Corey decided during this outing that Gage's new nickname is to be Taz, as in Tasmanian Devil. I guess he was a whirlwind of activity trekking down the aisles and opening shoe boxes like they were Christmas presents. Bless his heart, amidst all of this he did manage to find a really nice pair of boots and clean up the disaster left behind in the wake of Taz. I'm sure the clerks did not shed any tears upon their departure. Here's a pic of the boots, they are Riley Shaw Huber approved = )

As for the rest of the weekend, it was filled with chores, meetings, and lots of outdoor time. I think everyone's favorite was the model airplane show out at Clinton Lake. Some of the planes were actually quite large. I think the biggest one was almost 5 foot long! The boys thoroughly enjoyed watching them take off and land and do various aerobatics and loop-de-loops. Gage again did his best Tatoo impersonation by consistently pointing upward and yelling - Airplane! Airplane! No matter how many times I hear him say that, it never gets old because each time is filled with as much enthusiasm as the last. However, after a while it was almost too much for Riley and Gage to take. They wanted to go in the restricted area to play with and "drive" the planes, which was obviously not a possibility. So, then it was time to go, plus it was almost lunch time. All of the excitement must've really worn Gage out as he was zonking out in his carseat. However, like magic, once we were in the drive-thru to pick up some lunch for Corey and the boys (not me, I have my healthy diet stuff at home) Gage popped up and began chanting "fry, fry ... fry, fry" until he had his beloved snacks in his eager little hands.

Oh, and speaking of my diet - - after 7 days of medication and strict adherence to my new mealplans I lost 5 pounds! I don't want to get my expectations up, because I realize it is not realistic to lose that much each week consistently, but it sure does help keep my spirits up! Especially when the boys are eating burgers and fries; Corey's barbecuing his special cajun cream cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped jalapenos; or our neighbor Vicki brings over her made from scratch, amazingly moist, chocolate cake with to-die-for chocolate fudge frosting - - the immediate progress helps me stay far away from these temptations. Okay, okay ... I did have a bite of the cake, but only one bite. If you've ever had the pleasure of tasting this awesome dessert, you understand that it not something that can be denied. Thankfully, Corey and the boys quickly demolished the 3 huge pieces she brought over, so my willpower will not have to be tested any further = )

On a final note, with winter on the way, we decided the boys needed some houseshoes to keep their tootsies toasty. We found the perfect ones. I wish I had audio of the boys delighted declarations when we revealed them to them .... Cars, Cars, Cars!!!! Eeeeeeeeeeellllllmmmmoooooo!!!! Too cute = )

So much to say ...

Well, we started off the weekend with a bang. Bright and early Saturday morning I headed out to help with the set up for the Cooper's Cause Fun Run/Walk. Corey and the boys met me out there later to participate in the event. Riley and Gage really enjoyed the pre-run stretching routine. Gage also treated those around him prior to the race start to some of his famous dance moves. He was a big hit = ) I was stationed at the one-mile turnaround point for the walkers. Once Corey and the boys arrived at this point, there was no proceeding any further without mom coming along, so they helped me cheer on the participants and Riley even doled out a couple of high fives to the runners = ) Too cute! We all had so much fun, but the most important part is that the event was a huge success!

The pics to the right are of the boys in their Cooper's Cause shirts. I wish I could have gotten them to stand still long enough to get a picture of the back that says Coop's Troops. They are really adorable.

After the boys went down for their nap, I headed to my appointment with the Nutritionist/Dietician. She was really helpful and gave me some great tips on easy and tasty ways to increase my soluble fiber. She also gave me a list of heart healthy foods and provided a 14 day menu. I'm really excited about all of the choices and taking these steps to make myself a healthier person.

The afternoon turned out to be absolutely beautiful, so we decided to take advantage of it and take our dogs out to the dog park for a hike. Gracie and Katie so love to go out there and sniff around and meet other dog buddies. The kids really enjoy it, too with all of the different breeds running around, as well as all of the various bugs. Yes, they are all boy! One leg of our hike was especially entertaining for Riley. Long, spindly tree roots were exposed crossing the path in several areas along the way. Each time he saw one, he'd yell "stick!" then bend down and try to pluck it out of its resting place. It didn't matter how many times we tried to explain that they were stuck in the ground and not coming out, his determination was not swayed. We eventually just went with it and let him try them all until he finally came to his own conclusion that the roots were there to stay.

Riley and Gage are both still dealing with this odd virus thing, too. They still do pretty well in the morning, but then as the day goes on, the fever starts in. I think Gage may be over it now as he hasn't had a fever since Saturday evening. Riley, on the other hand was really tired this afternoon and starting running a high fever again after dinner. I think I'll call the doc again tomorrow to see when we start worrying if this doesn't quit soon. I hate it when my babies are sick and there's nothing I can do to make it better.

And, finally, I'm going to end on some great news. As if I'm not busy enough, I have been working on setting up a home-based business for the last couple of months and as of now am officially open for business! I'm making hand beaded bracelets and am having so much fun doing it. Mother's bracelets, father's bracelets, kid's bracelets - you name it, I'll make it. Check out my site if you have a chance: http://geminigemssite.com/. If you know anyone in the market for this type of item, please send them my way. I greatly appreciate it! = )

Good News/Bad News ... I guess it's all about Perspective

Well, let's start off with the boys. Riley and Gage have continued to have fevers all week. They typically start low-grade fevers in the afternoon at daycare and they get worse as the evening goes on. Tylenol helps, but the fevers don't seem to break until around 3 or 4 in the morning. So, the boys have continued to be up and down each night this week. I finally ended up taking them to the doctor Thursday afternoon after dealing with this for 4 days and nights. She checked them for ear infections, strep, and something else that escapes me at the moment. Their ears are clear - - not even any fluid. The cultures came back on the others and no problems there, either. So, it looks like it is just some pesky little virus that won't seem to hurry up and burn itself out. I guess it's good news that it's not strep or an ear infection, but it is a little frustrating that it's something that can't be treated and just has to run it's course. But, Dr Kimurri did point out that the virus must not be too nasty since the boys were able to act as wiley as they were. Riley, as usual, showed signs of becoming a future gynecologist by pulling the stirrups out of the table and demonstrating the different positions the metal legs could be locked into. He also enjoyed turning the stirrup warmer on and off and inspecting various items in the room with the doctor's light. Gage was little a monkey climbing up on the chairs and exam table and had a total blast crinkling the safety paper on the table. Thankfully our doctor and her nurse are very patient people who love kids! Well, here's to hoping the doc's right and we're almost at the end of this darn bug. Riley actually slept pretty well last night, but Gage still had some issues. We'll see how tonight goes ...

I also had a doctor appointment this week to do the normal annual woman's check-up stuff. I have been feeling extremely tired lately. I know, I know, everyone tells me that normal -- I'm supposed to be tired after working full-time and chasing a 2.5 and 1.5 year old around. But, I really haven't felt like myself for awhile now and am tired to the point of utter exhaustion on a daily basis. Also, as most of you know, I've been really struggling with my weight since having the kids. I have been very conscious of my diet for a long time now, weighing and measuring everything. Of course, I cheat every now and then and enjoy some pizza or have an ice cream cone with my kids. But, I really try to limit this to special occasions only. Anyhow, I still have not been able to lose weight and have been really frustrated. Well, I finally know why -- my darn old body has turned against me. Apparently I have developed hypothyroidism. So, I guess that's bad news and good news. At least now I know what has been causing my fatigue and memory lapses and been making my weight struggle even more difficult. On top of this, we found out my cholesterol is through the roof. The thyroid issue can contribute to this along with heredity and diet. So, now I'm going to get some help. I'll be taking 2 prescriptions to help with these issues and am meeting with a dietician this weekend to help figure out a diet plan that will help get them both under control. I'm also starting at a new gym on October 1st, so hopefully the combination of all of these things will help me get back to being a healthy person. I am so hopeful, I really need to do this not only for myself, but especially for my kids. Wish me luck!

Here's a few pics of the boys from this weekend. The first two are of the boys playing with their favorite truck at Corey's parent's house. The last one is of Riley and Gage are showing off their matching Lightning McQueen shirts from Grandma (Nana) Soukup. I'm not usually much into cartoony clothes, but the boys LOVE the show Cars and Grandma's new shirts were a big hit!

One final note, Saturday is the Fun Run/Walk for Cooper's Cause. Thank you to all of you who have already signed up to participate, this is for a really awesome cause. For those of you who haven't yet submitted an entry, there's still time = )! You can enter at the race site which is at the trails by the movie theatre on the south end of town. Click on the links on the left of my site for more info. I'll be at the 1 mile turnaround. Looking forward to seeing you all there. Have a great weekend!