Summer strings

I taught Ali how to do the old friendship bracelets I learned 20 years ago at camp.

Mammograms are NOT fun……..

My Dr found a “lump” a few weeks ago. After numerous threats from my mother (who has had breast cancer twice) I finally made the appointment to get it checked out. I thought I was just going in for an ultrasound but when I walked in they informed me that I was set up for a full baseline mammogram.
I have to say It was all that I’ve heard it to be and MORE.. A LOT of pulling, squishing and standing in awkward positions additional to holding your breath while the technician casually treats your milk jugs like they were play dough and asking about your plans for the day.
Afterwards I sat in a room while the radiologists reviewed my scans. The tech let me know that it would be looked at and then decided whether I needed the ultrasound or not. I was pulled back in twice for a few more views of my left side (the side in question), and then they took me into ultrasound. I hadn’t been worried about it at all for the weeks since my Dr had felt it, until that moment. There was a student with the ultrasound tech and the more she pointed things out to the student on screen the more nervous I got.
I sat on the table waiting and worrying while they grabbed the radiologist. He came in and did the ultrasound again looking at the spot that the tech had pointed out asking her questions about centimeters, and distance. I sat and waited. Finally he explained things to me. There are two large nodes on the left side and one of them is larger than normal but not anything to be concerned about at this time (this is where I took a breath again) but they’d like me to do another mammogram in six months to make sure it hasn’t grown in size (already looking forward to that one!). I was pretty confident walking in, and It was nice to walk out assured. I will be a good patient and follow up in six months, but I am so glad I can cross this off my list now.

Later** I just looked up my report and here is the final paragraph: "The node at the 1:30 position is at the upper limits of normal for size. I would like to obtain follow up mammogram in six months to confirm stability of these presumed probably benign intramammary nodes."

There ya go Mom..

Congrats Keena and Astin

Keena and I have been friends for 16 years. She used to call me "best friend".

Last night I got to watch as she married her "new" best friend.

It was a beautiful Ceremony and the bride was absolutely stunning.

Remember I never claimed to be a professional photographer ,That being said I had fun taking lots of pictures...

Go here to look at a few.

body surfing wal mart style.....

This was actually about 3 weeks ago walking through Walmart. Mathew loves to push the cart using the bottom rung. This time he had another idea. He dropped down to the ground and grabbed the cart saying "go!". Taylor and I were laughing so hard while trying to convince ourselves that we weren't the worst parents in the world. He loved it, he went down two full isles like this until we stood him up and realized that he just became Wal marts Swiffer sweaper.

just alot of venting..

This past week has been pretty taxing. We started out short of funds for the month due to my week out 'unpaid', and Taylor being called off two shifts at the U. But then Taylor’s car broke down, My van didn’t pass emissions, , Taylor was a dork and got himself a seatbelt ticket, Troy called ORS and claimed that he had ‘extended parent time’ so he wouldn’t have to pay child support for the summer, our basement has flooded (3) times in 2 days, So of course we HAVE to get our carpets cleaned and dried, and figure out the plumbing problem And because the flooding is directly linked to our washing machine we haven’t been able to do laundry for days (which was already stacking up) … I worked 32 hours from Friday to Sunday which is normal but being so stressed out it exhausted me. My OB told me last week that I was overweight, and then proceeded to find a lump in my left b r e a s t .(Which I am NOT worried about mind you , just irritated that she’s making me get an ultrasound anyway which I don’t have time to do). The girls have been gone since last Thursday and won’t be home till this Thursday and I miss them like crazy. I think everything will works itself out, I’m just so tired of worrying. Next week is going to be a good one. The girls will be home, we’ll get better paychecks, and we actually have a whole day off (Taylor AND myself) together to do something with the kids. Maybe we’ll do a bit of backyard camping again.

I think I'm in love............

HOT!

Camping

This weekend we'd planned on going camping.

That is until Mattie and I both came down with Nasty green mucous producing colds, and the Weather forecast said RAIN RAIN and more RAIN anywhere within our driving radius.

We'd all been looking forward to it for weeks and were really excited to try out our new tent (our old one outgrew us last year) so we decided to go "camping" right in our own backyard.

Mattie was right in there setting up camp with Daddy.
Once the tent was up we sent the girls in to set up their beds. Brooke spent the night with us.

The tent is HUGE! Plenty of room for all of us now!It was getting dark and cloudy so I suggested that We pull our portable picnic table into the large open area in the middle of the tent. It was PERFECT! we had it all set up and had brought in fun stuff to keep us busy just as the rain started pouring down.

The Rain was REALLY coming down! LOUDLY! see Mattie's face? HE was a bit nervous.
It was very exciting. Thank goodness for Water proof material! We stayed dry as can be.

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After awhile the rain let up and we stepped outside to eat our hot dogs. We had borrowed my parents backyard fire pit set up but we couldn't get anything to burn long enough to roast marshmallows for Smores.

We let the microwave do the melting.

MMMMMMMM they were tasty!
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Mattie had another allergic reaction to something (happening almost every day lately{got to take him to an allergist}) so We'd given him Benedryl again. He fell asleep in my arms at 6:30 so we put him in his bed, cozy and warm. (he slept through the night until 7 am).

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The rest of us played games to the light of the lantern and the sound of the rain outside our tent.
We played Uno, and Apples to Apples

Then we told stories while I drew dresses and outfits for the girls to design and decorate.
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We had so much fun.

Just look at this dirt covered little girl!

In the middle of playing we all had a hankering for Monkey Munch. I was happy to oblige
We all went to bed around 11. I slept inside so that someone was in with Mattie. I wished I was sleeping outside in my cozy sleeping bag next to my husband but oh well.

The girls landed on our bad side when at 5 am they came noisily inside talking and laughing. None of them would go back to sleep.

by 9 am Taylor and I were ready to sell them.

Meg only lasted until about 5 tonight before falling asleep to High school Musical 3. Ali lasted only an hour and a half longer before she crashed on the couch.

Gateway fountain.............

SUPERMAN

Children's Museum

Children's Museum was So much fun.

There was SO much to see and do. Megan came with her kiddo's to play with us too.

Meg and Mia were inseparable.
Unlike last year when Mattie refused to go near the Helicopter, this year he ran as fast as he could to it and jumped in. He can make a pretty cool helicopter sound when you ask him to.
Taylor liked it too............

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Ali was such a good helper and took Sammy (Megan's cute little boy) around to play. She's so good with the little ones.

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Mattie spent quite a lot of time in the playhouse. Notice he's the only boy in a large group of little girls? He didn't mind at all. He loved playing with all the food, and pretending in a kitchen just his size.

Taylor wished he was back at the Helicopter pad..................
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The girls thought the climbing wall was silly. Too easy for experienced climbers like they are.
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Mattie was thirsty so he walked over to the water play area, picked up a step stool and carried it the 20 or so feet to the drinking fountain. Self sufficient little smarty pants!

Cute little Sammy