Father's Day and Baseball

Andy was able to go golfing on Father's Day (only the second time all year).  He loves to golf, but our schedule is so busy that he rarely has time to go.  The kids gave him their Father's Day gifts when he got home and then went swimming.  We finished the day off with dinner at one of his favorite restaurants.  I think he had a pretty good day.  

While Andy was golfing, the kids recorded these videos for their Grandpas:

The kids had games scheduled for every day this week, but a couple of games ended up getting rained out.  Here is some video of Drew hitting from his double header on Tuesday:

And some video of Kayley batting in one of her t-ball games last week:

Drew had his home tournament this weekend so Mom came on Friday to catch the weekend games. Drew had 3 games on Saturday and Kayley had 1 game so there was plenty for Mom to see.  Drew's team ended up taking 3rd place.  We were so proud of them.  They played hard, but ended up losing in extra innings to a very good team so they just missed the championship game.  

Mom is spending the week with us to spend time with the kids and watch more of their games.  It is a good thing she is here because we think Ryan might have strep throat and Kayley appears to be getting it again.  That poor girl just can't catch a break.  She already has a well child check-up tomorrow so it looks like we'll be doing double duty at the pediatrician tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, Kayley!!

Kayley is 7!  It feels like just yesterday that I had her.  For obvious reasons, her birth is still very vivid in my memory.  The 12 days I spent in the hospital after my water broke were spent worrying.  I am a worrier by nature so I was in overdrive at that point.  I tried to pass the time by watching tv and ended up watching hours of college softball.  I still get a sick feeling in my stomach to this day during the end of May and beginning of June when I see college softball on tv.

I remember details of Kayley's birth much better than I remember Drew's.  All the emotions.  Feeling so utterly helpless when I went into labor and they wheeled me into the operating room.  More people than I could count in the operating room.  The NICU team introducing themselves to me and explaining what they would be doing once Kayley was out.  The anesthesiologist talking me through everything as it was happening and telling me Kayley had good color when she came out and that was a good sign.  The silence in the room when Kayley was born - no crying and doctors working quickly and quietly to intubate her.  The cheers in the room when they weighed her and she was 3 lbs.  HUGE for a 27 weeker.  The 2 seconds they stopped the incubator so I could see Kayley before she was taken to the NICU.

If someone would have told me where we would be at today with Kayley, I don't know if I would have believed you.  She shows very few signs of her prematurity and we owe that to the NICU at Phoenix Children's Hospital and the March of Dimes.  People we meet are shocked when the eventually find out about her premature birth.  She doesn't have the preemie look that some kids carry with them as they get older and she doesn't have any physical impairments that preemies are prone to have.  She isn't that much shorter than Drew so they are mistaken for twins all the time.  She gets sick easier than Drew and Ryan (see below!) and has to work harder at things than other kids (which frustrates her at times, but will make her a harder worker in the long run), but she is a happy, kind, smart, easy going, caring girl and we couldn't be more proud of her!

We celebrated her birthday in multiple parts.  First, we celebrated at the farm in Iowa with my family (see previous post).

When we got home from Iowa, we planned to do her birthday dinner the day before her birthday because Drew had a double header on her birthday.  She picked Red Robin so the kids and I met Andy after work at Red Robin on Monday.  Andy walked up to our table and said he just got a reminder email that Kayley had pictures at 5:55pm before her game.  It was 5:15pm and we were about 25 minutes from the ball park.  Not sure how we missed that, but it wasn't on our calendar.  Andy took Kayley home to change and the boys and I paid for our drinks and left and headed to the game.

Kayley opened up a few of her presents the morning of her birthday and opened the rest after Drew's games.  Because she had to have dinner at Drew's game, we let her pick a place for ice cream after the game and she picked Cold Stone.  Drew's games went late and when you add on ice cream and present opening after that, it was a late night for everyone!  Ryan and Kayley were a little hard to get up and going the next morning!

We were supposed to spend the rest of this week at Kayley's t-ball game and Drew's game, but we only got through Kayley's game on Wednesday and then everything else has been rained out.  We finally made it to Red Robin for Kayley's birthday dinner.  We also got time for Ryan to test out his new Ybike - a balance bike.  A friend recommended it so we decided to try it. The videos below are of Ryan's first night with the bike.  He isn't quite used to getting his feet up yet!

Kayley complained of a sore throat Friday when Andy picked her up after work.  She seemed fine, but said her throat hurt and didn't eat a lot at dinner.  That poor girl has yet to have a sore throat and it not be strep throat so I was thinking the worst.  My diagnosis was all but confirmed when she slept in until nearly 7:30am on Saturday morning.  She NEVER does that!  When she got up she said her throat hurt a little when she swallowed, but generally seemed fine.  I took her to the pediatric after hours clinic anyway and sure enough, her rapid strep test came back positive.  This has to be the 4th or 5th time this year and she doesn't even have tonsils.  Can't imagine how bad it would be if she had tonsils!  This is her showing her sad face about being sick (looks real sick doesn't she?) after we got done at the doctor (yes, we are at the Pour House in this picture - had to drop the kids off with Andy to take home while I ran errands!):

Look What I Found!

Drew had a 6 day break from baseball so we made the most of it and went to my parent's farm to celebrate my Dad's, Ryan's and Kayley's birthdays (all within 5 days of each other).  Andy is working on a big project at work, which means he can't take much vacation until it is finished in August so he had to stay home.  Talk about terrible timing to not be able to take any vacation!

We got to the farm a little before 9:30pm Wednesday night.  The kids were wound up and a certain little boy had trouble calming down and going to bed.

The kids had a picnic and played outside most of the day on Thursday.  I drove to Waukee to meet one of my best friends from college, Brooke, for lunch.  We had a great time catching up!

The kids, mom and I drove to Huxley on Friday morning to see one of my best friends from high school, Sarah, and her kids.  It was so fun to catch up with her, see her new home and let the kids play.  Seeing Brooke and Sarah definitely made me wish we lived just a little closer!

Matt got to the farm just as we were getting home from Huxley.  The kids were excited to see him.  Well, Drew and Kayley were.  Ryan was a little unsure at first.  He hasn't seen Matt since Christmas and I guess that was just long enough to be a little shy.  He warmed up quickly though.  We played outside all afternoon.

For Dad's birthday on Friday, we grilled and then had a bonfire.  Matt roasted marshmallows so the kids could have s'mores.  It was Ryan's first time and he is a fan!

Showing off his farm "work" gloves

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Ryan decided Matt is pretty cool after all

Ryan was a little excited when he went to bed because he knew when he woke up he would be 3.  This picture was well after 10pm...he had trouble falling asleep again!

Ryan woke up very happy on his birthday, despite the late night.  He opened presents and was entertaining as usual.  He kept saying, "Look what I found!" every time he opened a present.  It was pretty funny.  I can't believe my baby is 3!!!  Time needs to SLOW DOWN!  Well, speed up and get him potty trained and then slow down again.  Ryan is talkative, happy, loving, funny, curious, ornery (sometimes downright naughty).  He is also a little stubborn - a trait he shares with his Dad and siblings!  :-)

We also celebrated Kayley's birthday.  She got to open her presents from my parents and brother this weekend.  She gets the rest of her presents on her actual birthday.  She was really excited about getting two birthday celebrations!

We took the kids to see Tomorrowland that afternoon.  Ryan did awesome the entire time, but was starting to get tired and restless with about 10 minutes left in the movie so Mom took him out.  Matt and I really liked the movie.  I think Kayley was a little young for it, but Drew seemed to get it and like it, but it might have gotten a little long for them too.

The kids played with their presents when we got home and Ryan chose Casey's pizza for his birthday dinner.  After pizza, we FaceTimed with Andy so he could watch Ryan and Kayley blow out their candles.  After cake, we had another bonfire and another late night.

Grandpa and Kayley making bracelets

Ryan was very excited this morning to get his first ride on the tractor with Grandpa.

Drew and I spent a lot of time playing catching and hitting baseballs.  This crew was in charge of rounding up all of Drew's hits.

We grilled again tonight and the kids finished off the night with more cake.

We are heading home in the morning.  The kids are torn.  They don't want to leave, but they want to see their Dad too!

School's Out!

Drew and Kayley had their last day of school on May 28.  I can't believe I now have a 3rd grader and a 2nd grader!  They are growing up too fast!!  

With the start of official summer vacation, we have been busy, busy, busy with tee ball and baseball.  We live at the various ball fields in the area!  Here is some video from Kayley's first tee ball game:

Drew had a baseball tournament last weekend, but all of the Saturday games were rained out so I took the kids to the Caterpillar Visitor's Center to pass the time.  They didn't enjoy the history and educational portion as much as the simulators and equipment exhibits.  :-)

Drew's baseball tournament finished up on Sunday and his team took 3rd place!  Andy had to fill in for one of the coaches so it must have been his coaching.  :-)   

Poor Ryan's nap schedule is all messed up on the weekends because of Drew's games.  We got home from Drew's game on Sunday around 3pm and I told Ryan he needed to take a nap.  He absolutely INSISTED on putting on pajamas (his winter pajamas no less).  Then, this happened:

Drew had a game earlier this week and he hit a home run.  He was SO excited!  We have a little break this weekend so we are in Iowa to celebrate my Dad's, Ryan's and Kayley's birthdays!