The Helicopter

The other night Nate was on call in the ER. We had dinner with Nana & Grampy. Then we took a walk. While getting ready to walk, they set the cones out on the parking lot across from Nana & Grampy's house. If you are not familiar with what that means...it means the helicopter is coming to pick up a patient at the hospital to transfer someplace else.

While they were getting the patient ready to get on the chopper, we took the kids over to see it. The pilot was a very nice gentleman. He asked HK if she wanted to sit up in the seat. Then Nolan wanted to get in too. However once he got in...

he decided that he did not like it!
HK told the pilot that her Daddy was working in the hospital.
What a fun little side adventure for an evening walk!

Sweet New Ride

The entertainment this week has been Lilli's old battery operated Cinderella car. Mom remembered that Lilli had gotten one a few years ago. The Fords were kind enough to let us borrow it while HK has her broken arm...since we are trying to limit the "active" activities. That is so hard to do with it being summer time!

However this has been a hit. When we pulled up in front of Nana & Grampy's Monday morning she was soooo excited when she saw the car. Needless to say Nolan was pretty excited too!

They managed to all three fit in it. She still needs some driving lessons. When she is out on the parking lot she does fine. It's when she has to actually steer to do something specific that it gets frustrating for her.

We came back Tuesday morning for some more driving fun!

I love her face in this one!

After awhile Nolan wanted to push the car. That was not really a very good idea. So I got out the umbrella stroller for him to push around. He loves to push things.

They all three managed to squeeze in again.
I can only imagine what HK is saying to Jack here!

We did almost have a crisis this time around. Jack was driving and HK got out. Nolan was trying to get in but changed his mind. Jack did not know that he was still holding on and took off on the parking lot. Nolan was being drug behind the car on his knees. He is screaming and crying. I immediately jump up running across the parking lot screaming Jack's name. Mom is also screaming his name. Unfortunately, Jack could not hear us over the noise of the car. I kick my flip flops off and am running as fast as my pregnant self will go. I just know that his knees are going to be a bloody mess. It seemed as if he drug him forever. Jack finally stopped when he saw me, I'm sure looking like a crazed maniac running at him. I picked Nolan up...bless his little heart. I held him close to me and went as fast as I could inside to the bathroom. All I can say is Thank God that Nolan had on a new pair of 24 month shorts that I bought him that were long! His shorts had stayed over his knees. He barely had a few scratches. I was so relieved. I could not believe his knees were not totally messed up. I think Jack was more shaken up by the incident than Nolan was. Nolan was ready to crawl back in the car as soon as we went outside. We had to convince Jack it was okay and to go back.

Crisis averted! Lesson learned for all! Battery is charging in the car tonight (they have managed to run the battery completely down twice in two days).

Nap Time

This series of pictures took place the other morning as these two were "playing". HK has really started wanting to "mother" Nolan on certain things. The other day she cleaned him up after lunch and was quite proud of herself. The funny thing was he didn't mind.

So here HK is trying to put Nolan down for a nap in his room...

He is quite the willing participant.

He didn't miss the chance to cheese me despite the fact that HK has him covered up to his mouth.

Then Nolan decides to put HK down for her nap. He turns the fan on just like we do for him. I thought that part was funny....they don't miss a thing!

Then Nolan decided to lay down with her.
Had to check the fan again!

Sweet dreams (actually they still have their pjs on from the night before).

30 Years

Thirty years have passed since I made my grand entrance upon this earth. I think my mother felt about the way I do right now....hot, tired, huge, could this baby just get here!

I wasn't too crazy about the idea of turning 30, but I decided to embrace it. You're only as old as you feel...right? Well, maybe I shouldn't say that because I am feeling pretty pathetic right now. As much of a challenge as 3 kiddos is going to be, I am ready to have a normal functioning body back!!! So the celebration was pretty quiet and low key. No need sending me into labor too early!

Thanks to my friend Kristin, I had this lovely hat and sunglasses to wear for the occasion. I think I had taken a picture of myself with it on my phone and was sending it to her with a grateful heart (ha).
On the actual day, Nate and I went to Evansville for the afternoon/evening. We had a wonderful time just the two of us. However, shopping for your birthday when you are pregnant is not quite as fun as normal. I think we ended up buying more for Nate. So I just told him we would reciprocate when it came his birthday!
Saturday evening we had pizza at Mackies...one of my very favorite things to eat! Morgan ended up breaking her arm the week after HK. HK was excited to see her pink cast (she didn't have hers yet).
HK & I posing for Nana in the fun birthday gear!

I am showing HK how to get a gooood lick of icing with your finger. If you are gonna stick your finger in...get a good swipe! It was very good ice cream cake!

I think this picture is funny because Nolan looks like he is planning his sneak attack for a swipe of icing!

Wow...if we feel/look this tired now...what are we going to look like a month from now! Oh boy!

Humoring Nana...

This picture is kind of funny...his pj's say "Mommy's Super Hero" ....yet he manages to have on a pink tiara. Maybe the tiara gives off some power we don't know about???

Here I am in all of my glory. Again...humoring Nana.

A few weeks prior to my b'day I did something for the first time. No...not mow the yard. I have done plenty of that in my days. I used the riding mower (a.k.a.-tractor) for the first time.
I am pretty sure I will never push mow again! It was actually pretty fun!

Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate in one way or another!
I love you all!

Here's to another 30!

Pink Cast Is On

Last Wednesday, bright and early, HK got her pins removed and her pink cast put on. We had to be at the Surgery Center in Evansville by 6 am. So we were rolling down the road by 4:45 am. What an early morning! HK never went back to sleep but she was a peaceful rider.

Nana & Ella, the Webkinz Cat, went with us. Nolan got to stay with Aunt Danica. Nana, HK, and I snuggled together as we waited for her to be called back.

After getting changed into her gown and socks, the nurse brought out a DVD player for HK to watch while she waited. She picked a Veggietales movie. I am so glad they did that because we waited almost an hour because the doctor was running a bit late. Without that, I am afraid her nerves would have gotten the best of her.
At 7:20 the anesthesiologist and the ortho doc came to get her. The anesthesiologist picked her up and carried her back. He was so nice and kid-friendly. She was such a big girl! I was so proud of her. I can imagine that would be scary for a little kid...strange doctor you've never seen carrying you away from your Mommy to have something done to you.

This is the groggy HK after the minor procedure. I think she was back there maybe 20 minutes. They put her out with gas. She said she sat on the doctor's lap and she blew up a balloon. Dr Johnson even gave Ella a pink cast! That was totally awesome! He has been an excellent doctor! I am glad he was the doctor on call that night in the ER!
After she woke up and had some apple juice we got her dressed. It was kind of funny because she kept freaking out that her eye hurt. She kept getting eyelashes in her eye. She never complained about her arm. Mom and I said she transferring the arm discomfort to her eye.

We had breakfast at Chick-fil-a and then HK convinced us she was well enough to make a stop in Hobby Lobby. She really had to twist our arm!

When we finally headed home she fell asleep holding her sucker. It was pretty funny. We were home by 1 pm but it felt like it should have been bedtime. The pink cast has been a hit. I am so thankful we were able to get it! It is now quickly filling up with signatures. She even started dance lessons with her cast on this week. She is definitely getting back into the swing of things as much as possible!

Now the question...which will come first....

Cast off or Baby Liam?

Want to make a bet?

More of the Injured One

I found some more pictures this afternoon of my little broken arm girl.

This was later on the day we got home. She still managed to strike a pose for us. She is drinking out of her frog cup from Rylee Kate's birthday party. That was our last big swimming hoorah the Thursday night before.
She was answering the door for some of her guests that stopped by to see her Sunday evening. She still had her lovely hospital gown on. We ended up having to cut it off to get it over her arm. You can tell by her face she is groggy and not feeling well!

That Monday Mommy had to get out by herself for a few minutes. So we got HK all set up on Nana's couch while I ran to the grocery (Nolan was already at Nana's for his mini-vacation).

She snoozed quite well there!

These were some of HK's gifts she received.

Here she is in her new booster seat (which she is extremely proud of) and with her newly covered sling. Thanks Aunt Heather for spicing up the Charlie Brown sling!

Hopefully after tomorrow she will be sporting a pink cast!

Spending Time Together

"Mommy, Nolan LOVES spending time with his Sissy! See!"

Those were the words loudly and excitedly proclaimed out of Hallie-Kate's mouth this morning as I walked in to find the two of them sitting in Nolan's rocking chair looking at books together.

She gets so excited when Nolan spontaneously comes up and hugs her or kisses her.

Truth be told, Sissy LOVES spending time with her Bubba.

I again watch them in awe as they "spend time" together so peacefully and adorably.
I put this image in my mind to ease the frustration when 5 minutes later she is antagonizing the heck out of Nolan and his response is to scream at decibels that little boys should not be able to reach! I then mentally try and pull this picture up and the sweet sibling love they were sharing.

These two have such a neat relationship together. It has been so amazing and wonderful to watch over the last 20 months. I was talking with HK the other day about when Nolan was born and spending time at the hospital. She was so little then! I told her she better bring a bag of M&M's again for us to share in the hospital bed! This morning outside she drew a picture of me with sidewalk chalk. She pointed out the orange part that was the baby in my belly. Memories to tuck away for a bad day! It is going to be so interesting to see how the new brother fits into their dynamic! I can't wait to watch the love and torment evolve between the three of them!