Surgery Day...

Yesterday began at 5:30 in the morning for us. My husband stayed home with the older 3 kids, so they could sleep in. The baby and I left the house at 6:15 and arrived at the surgery center at 6:30. By 7:15 he was in surgery and my stomached ached. You would think by four children it would get easier...but it doesn't.

Within, 25 minutes they were done. Ear tubes were in and adenoids were out. (Before this moment, I couldn't even tell you where those things were located...much less did I want to know how they came out). The doctor appeared to say that everything went well...did he notice that I was about to cry? Ten more minutes went by and I was allowed to see him. My tears flowed as I sang to him his favorite lullaby as he screamed. Nope, this doesn't get any easier...this whole parenting thing.

By 8:30 we were home and I laid down with a groggy little boy who wouldn't let me go more than 2 feet from him for the rest of the day. I'm sure if he had asked for a pony I would have given in. Personally, I'm glad it's over - simple procedure or not...it's never easy to go through. I'm glad to say though that today is a new day and my happy little boy is coming back to me.

From the desk of the CEO of domestic affairs...

I feel like I have all but given up on updating our blog everyday...it's just too hard to sit down with four VERY ACTIVE children in the house. Plus, it's summer for us and we rarely stay in the house, we are always going and doing something. So with two children asking "what's for dinner?" and two children playing right below my feet....I'm going to have to be quick with an update. Here goes...

-Soccer ended on a high note for our smallest little girl scoring several goals this year...yeah for her!!!


-With soccer ending swim team training began for the oldest two (actually it's a non-competitive swim team, but we hope that they can join the competitive one later)...so everyone is swimming up a storm here, twice a week.

-Gymnastics training is once a week for the girls (but between you and me...I'm hopeful it's a sport we can give up soon...terribly expensive).

-The older kids just finished a two day science and engineering camp up at Iowa State University.





The crying has begun from the little one below my feet so I've got to get faster....


-The dog has survived two years with all these kids...Happy Birthday you four legged one - good luck holding your own with now four kids ( I only thought she was hyper-active)

-Our baby has reached the "toddler stage" and now RUNS through the house...cabinet locks here we come...oh, goody.

-We leave in a week for a quick trip to Chicago and then onto Kentucky to spend time with my husband's family.


-And finally...as of today I have caught SEVEN chipmunks and one is awaiting his destination in the trap outside the front door....a big ol' fat UGH!!!!







O.k., the crying below my feet is now too loud to be ignored and dinner can no longer be put on the back burner so it's off to my "Mom job" and my "quiet time" (whatever that means) is over.

So from the desk of the CEO of domestic affairs...I'm signing off for now...

And don't come back now ya hear...

Alright, so you know I've been having some chipmunk "issues" here in my garden. I caught the first chipmunk and was overjoyed. I had read somewhere that chipmunks are notorious for coming back to their homes even over long distances. With that in mind, we took the first one with us on our way to Costco (several miles away and over the interstate) that day and released him telling him loudly..."they got more food than they know what to do with so stay here and enjoy yourself."

The second chipmunk took three days to catch and when we finally did get him we took him to our gymnastics classes (even further down the interstate and over the river). We told him that "they've got exercise classes here so he could enjoy himself just fine".

Three more days went by without any problems...and then. Yesterday, there was a half eaten strawberry in my garden. Oh no you did not come back. This had better be your brother or cousin or somethin'. Because I'm pretty sure I told you...and don't come back now ya hear.

What do I do with it now?...

For the past few weeks (and probably all of last summer) I have been dealing with a tiny little garden nuisance called a chipmunk. Some people think these things are quite cute. Obviously those people have never had to deal with coming down to their garden only to find many much awaited strawberries partly eaten. It was like the chipmunk said to himself..."Nope, not this one. How does this one taste? Nope, this one's too tart, how about this one?" Frustrating for all of us since there is nothing like the taste of fresh strawberries.

Now, it wasn't just the strawberries this creature had gotten into. This weekend I have been staining our deck and left a bag of bird seed among the flower pots on the ground. The next morning...man, what a mess! Bird seed everywhere. That was the last straw for me...

So I took it upon myself as a challenge. Last night, I set a trap to catch it (actually it was a store-bought trap) and baited it with bird seed...apparently they really like that stuff. Lo and behold...it worked. I got me a chipmunk. YES!!!!!

After about two seconds of rejoicing I look and see yet one more problem....there are two of them. UGH!!!! This one had a buddy trying to break him out of his jail cell. As the two seemingly communicated their plans as I watched from the window it finally dawned on me one important fact about this entire fiasco I had overlooked in catching a chipmunk...what do I do with it now?