Tailgating

One of the perks of living so close to Notre Dame is that we can easily walk to campus.

Campus is beautiful! Green lawns, huge trees, buildings that flow together in style and placement, tasteful splashes of color from flowers, and two huge lakes that harbor geese, ducks and mute swans. There aren't any specific bike paths, but it is our favorite place to ride bikes together as a family, or go for walks.

Another perk of living so close is that we can easily walk to campus on Football game days and enjoy the festivities.

Now, tailgating definitely includes booze for most people around here, but it isn't at all what it's about for our family. Alumni, students, faculty/staff head over to campus, set up their tables and hibachis (or gas-powered massive grills), tables spread with all sorts of food. On-campus groups set up their grills and tables to serve hamburgers, hot dogs, brats to raise funds for their organization. People wander around on cell phones trying to contact their friends. Many people get drunk.

We try to head up early enough to enjoy the food and fun atmosphere, but avoid the drinking part as much as possible. The girls enjoy watching the band march across campus and seeing the leaping leprechaun and cheerful cheerleaders as they lead the band across campus to the football stadium playing the school song. We all enjoy eating the food, and running into lots of friends from all sorts of places (church, school, work).

This year, in order to make it more family-friend, Notre Dame has offered the Irish Green where there is live music, more food venues (elephant ears, snow cones, etc.) and our friend Twister Mike. He's a member of our ward, and is an amazing balloon sculptor. He's made some very fun balloon toys for the girls. They also have face painting. This has made our experience even more fun! The balloons, the designs painted on their faces, and the walk with our family- fun together time!

Of course, Travis and I enjoy watching the football games at home. (Travis has attended two games in the stadium, but I've yet to step foot inside those famous walls). Zoë asks periodically if Notre Dame is winning, but her sisters are not so interested in the game. Although, Miranda likes watching the TV and saying "Oh, Crap!" when people get tackled (Hmmm, maybe I need to change my vocabulary), and she's learning how to signal TOUCHDOWN with her arms (She can say it when prompted).

Football days are fun, a little crazy, and we love being part of these Notre Dame Football Traditions.

Oh, and have you heard? They are moving the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta, Georgia. We'll be sad to see it go- we've loved the parades and showing off this little piece of history in South Bend. If you want to come see the museum, you'd best come visit us before next year...

Grandparent's Day

After studying and learning about families and community, Zoës class at school had a special celebration for Grandparents.

Unfortunately, none of her grandparents live nearby. Still, we wanted you to know that she loves you (we all do!), and is grateful for her grandparents! So for Nana, Grandpa Wing and Grandma Jan, for Grandma and Grandpa, for Grandma Winkie, Grandma Welling, and Nanaunt, we send you our love and here's the poem Zoë and her class worked hard to memorize and recite for you:

And a closeup:

Spray Bottle

All three of my girls have loved to use the spray bottle as a drinking bottle. It is one of my tools in the "hair dressing" drawer, which also includes a brush for each child, hair clips, hair rubber bands, bobby pins, etc.

Miranda has decided upon a more entertaining way to use the spray bottle:





She was VERY wet when we finally took away the bottle. But, she had so much fun! and she didn't try to attack any of the rest of us...

August 30, 2009

Makeup Artists

I try hard to not to allow secular media (music, television, etc.) to be too much of a focus on Sunday. Yes, I do play some Disney (music and movies like Mary Poppins) on occasion, but I really try to play spiritual music and I'm loving the new Scriptures on DVD/internet, and other videos that we've got in our collection (Thanks Grandma!)

This morning, after Zoë couldn't convince me that she needed to watch TV or listen to her mp3 player (I said she didn't have any church music on there, and she asked why didn't I put some on?), she decided to get out her own watercolor paints and her paint pad. She got to work. Megan saw the fun and decided to join, which means, of course, that Miranda was quickly clamoring to join as well. I wonder if Veronica will be a "Me, too!" kid... or if she'll be more on her own...

Anyway, I guess I need to sew another paint smock for Miranda. She, of course, made the biggest mess (but was the only one not wearing church clothing). Oh, and I think she likes makeup. This isn't her first encounter with "touching up" her features, but it certainly shows some skill. Remember, she isn't even 2 yet!

But, of course, after Megan saw that Mom didn't completely freak out about Miranda's makeup skills, she decided she could try her hand at it, too:

Thankfully, the paints are "washable" and came (mostly) off their skin. We'll see what happens to Miranda's jammies. Still, it was a worth-while activity that kept them occupied until it was time for church. Whew! Now, if I could just find something that didn't require supervision so I could get a shower and get lunch ready before it's time to go. I am still wondering what I'll do when I have to get myself and Veronica ready as well as the three other girls. Hmmmmm.... tiem will tell!

Back Up Date

It is sometimes difficult to have medical knowledge; I have just enough to be dangerous. I know what some recommendations are, but I often question if what I know is outdated, or if what I am remembering is right.

That's how I felt when I discovered my numbness and weakness in my left leg two weeks ago. I knew it was neurological, and I knew it was probably my back, but I didn't know enough to reassure me- I just knew it was not good.

Over the last two weeks I've tried hard to not do too much, to let my body heal from the c-section surgery and from my herniated disk. It is almost lazy decadence to let somebody else bring me water, a heating pad, medicine, wash the clothes, cook the meals & clean up after them, etc. But, often, it's just really hard not to do it myself, or at least not feel guilty that I'm on the receiving end as opposed to the serving end.

I've heard many talks by general authorities in our church about humbling oneself. I've read stories and heard anecdotes about how people had a hard time receiving service. I've always known that it was harder for me to accept help than to give it (I find it much more comfortable to "chip in" and help in pretty much any setting).

I have been humbled once again- not only must I fight myself to not do too much, but I also have to allow people to help. I have been so grateful for ALL the offers, and for all the help given- much of it unsolicited and the initiative taken by the giver.

How can I thank these wonderful women (and men)? Will my penned thank you notes be enough? I am sure that the notes won't convey how truly grateful I am for their help- nor how much I really need it (even though I'm still trying to do as much as I can on my own).

So I'm "back up" and at 'em. I'm getting around (with a limp), and I'm able to walk and can even carry Veronica (which is a huge relief!). My medical knowledge helps me to remember that there are good signs (I am walking, I am relatively young, I am in relatively good physical condition, the pain is improving- I am even needing less medication) and my experience in oncoglogy and all the advice I gave my patients, particularly "LISTEN to your body!" has also come back to reinforce what I am doing. I want to do enough to keep me a little challenged, but not enough to stress my body to the point of creating more problems. And that balance is hard. And that is also why I'm so very grateful for all the help from friends and family.

My appointment yesterday with the neurosurgeon went well. He said that since my pain is better, and I'm already having some restoration of muscle function (I was able to get on my tip-toes for a split second on Sunday!), that there's a good chance I'll recover without any surgical intervention. Of course, he was his professional self by being sure to be diplomatic: I may not fully recover. I might have some residual weakness, and numbness. And, these two deficiencies will take six months to a year or longer to reach their maximum improvement. He also said some days will be better than others. I just need to do what I can and rest when I need to. And the best exercise (or physical therapy) is just to walk.

I am getting better. I am feeling better. I am recovering. I don't need surgery. But I'll probably be a gimp for another six months (with gradual improvement) to a year, and I may have some permanent nerve damage leaving me with possibly some muscle weakness, and probably some numbness.

So, I'll push myself a little and I'll rest when I need to. And, I will ask for help. Because I know I need it. And, because accepting this help might make the difference between me walking normally next year, or limping for the rest of my life...

Megan's 4th Birthday!

What a great (and busy!) day.

After eating pancakes made by dad, Megan opened her first birthday present- a pink booster seat. She's been asking to sit in one for months, and she was super excited to get this seat installed in the van.

She felt very grown up!

Zoë was glad to have company in the back-seat.

Megan then headed to Notre Dame campus to let the world celebrate her birthday with brats and hotdogs, burgers and soda pop. Okay, they were really tailgating for the first ND football home game, but it was still fun to run around on campus and see the cheerleaders. (I stayed home, so there were no pictures of this adventure).

After watching Dora Snow Princess, we loaded up the presents, cake and accessories and headed to the mall. We met up with friends at Build-a-Bear where Megan, her sisters, and a few friends got to pick out their own bears...
stuff them with hearts...
and stuff them with fluff...
and then give them a squeeze to make sure they're just right...
and after they're sewn up, they are your bear...

This was followed by a "bath"
and then each girl got to decorate her bear with bows.


Nanaunt spent this week helping me with the birthday cake: a three-flavor Castle Cake
(whew!) covered in buttercream frosting and fondant.

Nanaunt spent the rest of the week sewing adorable little jumpers for all the bears for the guests. Each girl got to open a little bag with their name on it.

The girls were very excited to get a little outfit for their bear! and they immediately dressed up their bears. Thankfully (to my relief and Nanaunt's) the jumpers fit the bears!

We took another group shot:


Once the girls packed up their bears, we went to the food court and sang "Happy Birthday" and cut into the Castle Cake (choice of Hot Tin Roof Cake or Strawberry & White cake.... Travis called it "Neopolitan Cake".) Then, a quick ride on the merry-g0-round,

and Megan opened presents.

She loved every card and gift she got!

Thanks to the moms/dad/grandma who helped with the whole party and even helped clean up afterward. I was VERY grateful for all the help!

After playing (crazily) on the mall playground (they worked off some of the sugar they consumed) we headed home where we had yummy zucchini quesedillas and then the Megan shared her birthday presents with her big and little sisters and the three played with their bears and dolls until it was time for bed. (Miranda even put her bear in Veronica's bed so her baby sister could see her big sister's new bear).

Happy Birthday, Megan!
We love you, SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!

*There are no longer patterns available for build-a-bear bears, so we added an inch to the back of an American Girl doll (or rather a 15-inch doll) pattern. The jumpers were absolutely perfect! Even the sales ladies at Build-a-Bear were oohing and ahhing over them.

Brief Health Update

Veronica is doing great. She sleeps for good chunks of time, especially at night (11pm-3am, then 3:30-8am). That helps me get some good sleep, too. Whew! She's also a great eater (but I have to watch her bottom lip- she'll tuck it under and pinch me occasionally). She's still sleeping a lot, but it's fun when she wakes up and looks around. She's got her dad's eye shape, but I think they'll be closer to her mom's color.

As for me, I'm recovering very well from the c-section. I'm a little sore, but moving around in that regard. I have some back pain, but less than I did before I had Veronica. I'm only taking ibuprofen in small doses now, which is another indication I'm healing well from the c-section, too. My leg is pretty much no change and I am still limping horribly. My calf muscle doesn't work, so I can get my leg out there, but I can't push off my toes, and it makes me really limp. I also have the same numbness in my thigh and foot. So, there's not much difference from when I was in the hospital, other than that the rest of my body is healing and I can compensate for the deficiency in my leg.

I'll see the neurosurgeon on Tuesday. I don't know if he'll add anything, other than, "Let's wait and see how you're doing at six weeks". But, I'm getting around, and I'm really doing well overall!

I've had some wonderful help from Claudia and Carole these past 12 days, and I am sure that I'll be calling on friends and neighbors who have offered their help once my live-in help leaves. Thanks so much for all of your well-wishes, prayers, and emails!

Veronica Selene at one week old.