Speaking of Katie, I realize I hadn't shared Katie "lovin'" from Thanksgiving. She was all about hugging and loving several family members. I think you'll get a kick out of this.
Miss Katie spent some time with us the end of last week. She had a fever and sniffles so she got some Grammie & Papa lovin'. We played a lot of tea party.
The Martin crew are home! (Check Jenn's blog to see pictures.) Mom & Dad needed to get some shopping done so the girls spent the afternoon. Shelby was more interested in the computer (and eating the cookies). Avery napped. But Riley wanted to help me bake cookies. We had a great time. She was very helpful and enjoyed doing this with me. She is growing up. Thanks, Riley!
We decorated pretzel sticks, made the cookies with the "kisses", and made pizzelles. I've had the pizzelle iron for a couple of years but hadn't used it yet. I like pizzelles and found out they aren't that difficult to make!
Jenn wanted me to post to her blog, but I can't get on. So.....I'm posting here hoping some of you will check my blog. They have been busy, busy since arriving yesterday. Basically at Give Kids the World where they are staying. There are things to do and activities there. Shelby seems happy just to do the things there. They have a villa there and all had a good night's sleep. They are going to Sea World today. There's only one building at GKTW that has internet access so Jenn said she would try to post tonight. They are loving the warmer weather and find it strange that the locals are wearing sweatshirts and long pants!!
Winter that is. As of today, I have the crusty white slim of road salt on my van...affectionately known as Grandma's taxi, and only from less than an inch of snow!
In better news, Shelby is home from the hospital. Grandma's taxi brought her home about noon today. I took Avery home from daycare about 4. Riley arrived from school so the sisters are together again!
Shelby's in the hospital. Something different this time, but nevertheless, she's in the hospital. Her American Girl doll, Ruthie, is there with her. Shelby requested that I "whip up" a hospital gown for Ruthie. So, during Avery's nap today, I whipped. I took it up to her tonight.
Chris turned 35 yesterday.....oops, wasn't it just yesterday that he was born? Wow! We gathered Saturday evening for homemade pizza (a family favorite) and pumpkin bars (a Chris favorite).
Chris's birthday "bars" with a hunk missing for Shelby's frosting.
My son and his son after blowing out the candles.
The kids played. A nice evening.....and a time to remember. One of these days, I'll post some pics of my little guy!
Enjoyed the day outside today cleaning out flower beds. Wish it would be nice again tomorrow. I'd like to get more done.
So, where have I been? Computer problems and then busy, busy, busy putting up garden produce and other things. So I need to catch you up on what's been going on.
Riley and I got in a shopping day finally, the first 1/2 day of school. She is growing up SO quickly. Here she is showing the necklace she got. It's a friends necklace. The other part went to her friend, Maddy.
We had birthdays. The kids all came over for supper on mine. Here's the troops with Grammie. It's pretty amazing that we all are looking in the same direction!
Since our birthdays (significant numbers this year) are a week apart, we had a party with some friends and our family. The weather was great and we enjoyed having our friends in our home.
Close......almost everyone is looking forward!
Shelby had a 3 day stint in the hospital. It also kept her home from school for a few days, but she is back in action again. We hope and pray that continues!!
There was open house at the girls' school. Shelby was still "under house arrest", so Riley had the rest of us all to herself. She did a great job of showing us everything in her classroom.
This last Sunday, we went to a award program held by the Rockford Fire Department for Fire Safety Week. Riley got 2nd place in the 4th grade category for her fire safety poster.
In between there have been green beans, tomatoes, pickles, and beets.
Riley attended Performing Arts camp again this year. Keep in mind, my little digital camera does not take good pictures in the dark! Well, the audience was in the dark. Riley also was in a dance routine (to SpongeBob Squarepants), but my picture of that did not turn out well at all.
There's been so much going on.....plus I have a computer that's not being real cooperative with me. Anyway, Shelby and I went shopping a couple of weeks ago. Thought I'd share those pictures.
We searched the mall and a couple of Hallmark stores for specific Webkinz. Today, I picked Shelby up from Y camp and then we went to the Discovery Center to pick up Jenn and would you believe it - the one we were looking for for Riley was there. And, I'm such a softie when it comes to Shelby - she got another one too!
We have a volunteer sunflower that is pretty amazing. Cars going by on Darwin slow down to look at it. Thomas counted 30 - yes, that's 3 - 0, blossoms on this plant! It's pretty amazing!
Today, I went with Shelby & Jenn to Children's Memorial in Chicago as Shelby had an upper endoscopy. Her last one was in August of 2007, so it was time to check again for varicies in her esophagus. Shelby picked "me" to go with her to the procedure room until she "went to sleep." So, to do that, I had to dress in the appropriate garb. Hence, "Marshmallow Woman" or "Marshmallow Gram."
Shelby is such a trooper. Of course, she was not happy about being put to sleep, but afterward, it was over and she was great. She was pretty chatty with Mom and Gram about lots of things. (Shelby or the left-over sleep med??) We just enjoyed her. By the way, the news was pretty good. Her few varices have not changed much over the past few years. She did question her mother about why they keep doing the same tests over and over. Her Mom tried to explain that with her disease they have to keep checking on what is going on in the inside of her body. Pretty good question for a 7 year old, I thought.
Here's the rest of the pictures I took (when I remembered to get out my camera!).
This is a fascinating process. We would come in from working in the garden to check on them. It's been very windy the past few days so we had to be careful letting them go. On Sunday, Riley & Shelby helped let #1 go. This afternoon #2, #3, #4, & #5 came out and left home. Be sure to check out my pictures. Then go to this site to see (much better) pictures of the process. Enjoy!
The gang stopped by on Father's Day. We tried to take a picture of "Papa" with all 5 grandkids. It was a challenge to get all five together no less all looking at the camera at the same time! This was the best of four pictures.
If you look carefully, you will see 6 chrysalis. Of course, I didn't think of taking pictures of the caterpillars. One of them was maybe only 1/2 inch long when Thomas found them on the milkweed. He found 6 altogether and brought them in. For a week we fed them fresh milkweed and they grew to 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches long. They then climb to the top of our container. Hang down and attach themselves to the lid and begin the process of becoming a chrysalis. It's pretty amazing! This past Sunday, the last of them completed the process. Now we wait for the beautiful monarch butterflies! I'll try to remember to take pictures. It's amazing !!!
Chris & Heather are working on a burm (spelling?) in their yard. William was helping move the mulch with his truck. He loaded it up, drove it down to the burm and unloaded his load. And the shirt? My sister sent it to William!
Life has been rolling along. I've been too busy or too pooped to post anything about it. First of all, Spring at Darwin & Norman was (wet, but) beautiful . The trees and tulips and irises bloomed - all in spendiferous color! We've had lots of people stop as they went by and comment on our beautiful flowers.
. Then we went to Oklahoma for a week to see family. We started our trip with a stop near Des Moines to have lunch with my best friend and her husband. We saw their new home before heading on to OK. We stayed with Thomas' brother, Carol, and his wife, Hazel. We also saw sisters, Betty and Janice and Janice's husband, Don. The weather was hot while we were there. We paid our respects to Roberts' and onion-fried hamburgers (and coneys), saw a few of Thomas' classmates, and got involved in Thomas' parents' journals. There are journals from 1929 to the year Mom died, 1986. Thomas talked his sister, Betty (journal keeper), into letting us bring them home to go through them.
When we got home, the seeds needed to be started!! So that's what I did. When they grew they got put in larger pots. At least we didn't have to wait for the weather to clear to do that!
Part of the deal with the journals was that we would get them to brothers, Eli & George, to return when they went to Oklahoma. We took the journals we had completed and met Eli and George at Effingham, IL on their way to OK (from Indy & North Carolina). We went to my Mom's and then drove just 45 miles to Effingham. It was good to see them and catch up a little with them.
I'm behind on posting. We've had several birthdays and Easter here. I'll get around to sharing sometime.
But today, Riley, Shelby & I went to the movies. This is our "we're excited to see this movie" look. Overlooking my double-chin. I think it's a pretty good picture of us.
We went to see Hannah Montana, the Movie. It was their Easter gift. We had a good time and did some shopping afterward. They were great and we had fun! Love you, girls!!
Shelby has been hospitalized since Wednesday with strep in her blood. Fortunately, it was identified and 7 days of treatment has begun. By my calculations, this coming Wednesday is the earliest she can be "sprung". At least she is only hooked up to the i.v. when the medicine is administered (every 6 hours), so she can walk the halls and go to the playroom. Here she is enjoying get-well cards from her classmates.
After William & Katie's party, I took Riley up to the hospital to spend some time with Shelby. The sisters were glad to see each other. When Shelby's vulnerability to her illness shows, it is also very hard on Riley.
We brought Shelby her gift-pack from the party so she had to model the sunglasses in her pack. And they were ORANGE - her favorite color!
And some pictures of the beautiful flowers Auntie Lu & Uncle Freddie sent to Shelby and how her hospital room is "decorated"! THANKS to everyone for your love and support!!
Riley & Maddy
Katie decided enough is enough!!
Katie, age 21 mos.
Shelby with Ruthie
She's 10 today!! 10 years old already!!! Where has the time gone?? Happy Birthday, Riley!!!
Love you, sweet girl!! So glad to have been along on this journey. Looking forward to more travels!! Love you, Grammie!
My son and his son after blowing out the candles.
Riley and I got in a shopping day finally, the first 1/2 day of school. She is growing up SO quickly. Here she is showing the necklace she got. It's a friends necklace. The other part went to her friend, Maddy.
Since our birthdays (significant numbers this year) are a week apart, we had a party with some friends and our family. The weather was great and we enjoyed having our friends in our home.
Close......almost everyone is looking forward!
WHEW !!!!!!
William, Riley, Katie, Avery, Shelby....with Papa
