It’s been a long week… Quick update because it is a busy day today as well.

- First off the Hearts At Home conference last weekend was incredible. I want to go back next year for sure.

- Wednesday Night we stayed up until 1:00 a.m. to watch our five new kittens come into the world – born on the first day of spring. (pictures coming eventually) It was a great first day of spring – 79 degrees!

- Speaking of weather… We had our first big spring thunderstorm last night – We haven’t seen the totals yet… but it rained 3-4 inches and both our basement and church’s basement are a complete mess (lake) If you want to see our weather check out http://www.weather.com/weather/monthly/60953?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared

- Yesterday I picked Ryan up from school and he was crying and crying because his throat hurt, so I hauled him off to the doctor – it ended up just being a cold – no strep thankfully.

- This morning a little before 6:00 Ryan woke us up crying again saying the top of his stomache and chest hurt. That scared me as it was obvious he was in pain. However, we gave him water and propped him up on the couch and he was better fairly quickly, so I think it was acid reflux. By school time he insisted he was fine and wanted to go to school.

- I lost 2 more pounds this week – for a total of five pounds (although I haven’t been as diligent this week, so we’ll see on Sunday morning the outcome…)

- We have a babysitter tonight through tomorrow night so Matt and I can go to a pre-marital couseling conference designed for pastors and wives to take. It sounds nice, but I am so tired I would rather crawl into bed at 8:00 and sleep, but that’s okay, it will probably be fun.

Well, I have a hair appointment at 1:00 and then we are out of here right after that so I need to run and get organized. Have a great weekend!

I just spent a half an hour writing a HUGE blog post and it didn’t save it! ARRHHHHGGHHH! Oh the joys of computers. Okay, I feel better now – trying this again.

My vacation this week could not come at a better time. I am ready for it! I leave Thursday and get home Saturday night. I am going to the Hearts at Home Conference in Bloomington, and I am really looking forward to it. I have had crabby customers and sick kids for a week now. I’m ready for a break!

I ended up getting the cold the kids had, but I am on the mend now I think. Dane was better Sunday and then ended up with a 104 degree fever again Monday (while we were gone at the trade show). Poor little guy! Today it was around 100. I’m hoping we’re done with it tomorrow. He has finished up his antibiotics, but I think it is just viral. I hear the 1 week fever thing is going around. No fun!

Sunday we had a 92 year old lady stop breathing and go into cardiac arrest. She was revived twice by members with CPR and then rushed off to the hospital. She is still there getting some testing done. That was pretty scary.

The weather has been in the upper 60’s the last few days so the kids have gotten to go outside a bit. That has been nice. Unfortunately it is supposed to get cold here again in the next couple days. Spring definitely feels like it is on its way though!

I did get Dane’s wallpaper down once I had the right tools in hand. Now I just need to get the new stuff up on the wall and we’ll be set! Maybe I can get that done tomorrow before I leave. We sold the crib to our neighbor’s sister who is going to be a grandma soon. It was very sad to see it go and know that chapter of our lives is through. However, I am very excited to be out of the diaper stage!

Last week on my first week of “Weight Watchers” I lost 3 pounds. I thought I would check in here each week since I am not going to the actual meeting to check in. Hopefully I will do okay this week – being gone on Monday and then this weekend means a lot of eating out. We’l see!

The trade show was fun and interesting to see so many products. It was a lot of walking – we estimated about 6-7 miles. There were about 10,000 booths. A lot of companies had multiple booths, but it was big! Matt whined and complained the whole time about his hip, and his back and his knee and….. he says he’s old. I think he just needs to get in shape, but he doesn’t care to listen to that advice…. We didn’t realize it was such a formal event. We both wore jeans, and we ended up only seeing one other person in jeans. Everyone else was in business suits. Oh well.. we were comfortable!

It’s almost 10 p.m. and I have only seen Matt about 25 minutes today. One of those crazy days! I’m going to do a tad bit of work and head to bed.

The excitement today was that Ryan won a contest. It is Lutheran School’s week, so they are doing all kinds of fun things at school. One thing they are doing is each day they pass around a jar full of candy and all the kids in the entire school guess how many are in there. Whoever is closest wins! Ryan came home last night and said he guessed 410 Skittles and he is pretty sure he is going to win. I of course told him to not get his hopes up. WELL….. He won! It was 420. I’m so proud. He said he counted down the edges and figured it out. So he brought home 420 Skittles. Just what they need!

Christian and Dane are still hacking away. Christian seems to be on the mend thankfully. He sneezed about 20 times this morning, then he looked up at me and said “I feel much better now!” Dane is about 2 days behind Christian I think. He had the fever today. Now my throat is starting to get scratchy of course. If I get sick I would like to be better by next Thursday when I leave for my weekend away by MYSELF for the Hearts At Home Conference. I’m so excited!

We worked on getting our taxes ready today – fun fun! We’re having an accountant do them this year so that will make things a bit easier, but it still takes some organization. I think we’re just about ready to send them – we just have a few questions so the accountant has to return our call.

Our mommy cat made an appearance today. She only comes around about once every two weeks or so. I’m not sure where she has been hiding out. She either gets fed very well where she is staying or she is pregnant again, because my she is round! By the way she gobbled up the food and water I gave her, I think it may be the latter.

I have been freezing all day – it didn’t get up above freezing today, but I see in the 10 day forecast it is supposed to get up to 60 next week! (with rain) but still I’m looking forward to that!

Monday we are going to our first trade show. The home and housewares show at this huge conference center in Chicago. I have babysitters all lined up throughout the day for all kids. (They are each going in their own direction). Should be fun – If nothing else we get away without the kids for a day – we haven’t gone out on a date by ourselves since we moved here – been on a few with other couples, but it will be nice to get away for the day.

C-

Sorry it has been a bit since I posted. Things just get busy I guess… I did update the photo album today, so you can go take a look. It is mostly Dane in his new bed. The transition to toddler bed went quite well. He’s such a big boy now!

Christian had to stay home today from preschool – he has a nasty cough! Hopefully he’ll be ready to go back on Wed.

I have been in the decorating mood, while I wait for spring so I can go plant my garden. I bought these and put them up in the bathroom – so cute! Now we’re working on Dane’s room. The pink birdhouse wallpaper border is coming down and we’re switching over to race-car theme. These are going up in his room and these. Should be fun. I’ll try to post some pictures when I’m done.

It’s Lutheran Schools Week at school so Ryan has to wear something different each day. Today was clash day. Thursday they have a big open house day where family and friends can drop in any time and observe the classes. There is a potluck at noon and then I work the bookfair in the affternoon. Saturday is the big school carnival day. Busy week!

I started the Weight Watchers program at home this week to see if I can shed some extra pounds before summer. We’ll see how it goes! Hopefully well. I told Matt he has to weigh me in each Sunday morning. That wasy I am accountable. I gave up dessert for lent, so that makes it a little easier to eat healthy too. I don’t usually give anything up, but Matt did a sermon on it and so I had to, to be an example. LOL He is giving up pop, which is a pretty big one for him! The goal is not to just give something up, but to remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross every time we desire that item. If Jesus can die on the cros for me, I can give up anything for 40 days – no problem! It actually hasn’t been too hard yet – although it has made me realize how often dessert is presented with Wednesday night dinners, and the various Bible Studies and events we attend.

Well, I am in the process of hiring a new assistant for my business, so I need to run and get some things prepared for her. I hope everyone is well!

C-