Destruction of Private Property??!!?!?

So when I got back home from town this morning, this is what I found...

My big beautiful oak tree has been destroyed. Now I know that they have to do this for the power lines, etc. But, what I was really wondering about is that since this is private property and we don't live in town with any sort of city ordinances or anything, don't they have to let you know in advance that they are going to deface your property. This really couldn't have come at a worse time, we are fixing to put our house on the market. This tree is one of the very first things you see when coming into our drive, and now it looks just plain awful. I remember this happening to Jennifer here recently, and they have done this to this tree before, but it just never affected me like this before. I guess I'm just thinking about resale value, and if this will hurt it. And I really wasn't sure if they had to let us know in advance for something like this or not.
At least they are coming back through and cleaning up their mess.

Yesterday, we all looked so cute for church, and we got ready early so I had Adam take some pictures of us (he was sick and not looking so cute). The ones of the 3 of us turned out really well, but when I tried to just get Lily and Avery, of course, Avery started throwing a fit. But I thought I would share with you all!!!

"LET ME GO, SISSY"

How cute!!!

I need to fix the lighting on this, just didn't feel like it this morning!!!

Well, we have started our 2nd week of school, and Lily was just as excited this morning as she was last monday. I was glad she woke up excited and not grumbling and complaining!!! To answer you ? Tracy, we have decided to send her full time. But I will not have a problem pulling her out from time to time if I so chose. If face we are planning a day to SDC in a few weeks, so that will be fun for her!!! I hope you all have a great week!!

Oh yeah, please get my friend Jennifer Rackley in your prayers for the next few weeks. She is having some female surgery tomorrow, and needs your prayers for a quick and easy recovery. She has 3 year old twins and a 6 year old in first grade. I think we can all sympatize, so please remember her in your prayers!!! Love ya!!!!

Lily's first week of Preschool!!!

Yes, my baby started preschool this week. I had a real hard trying to decide (in the spring and summer) if I wanted her to go to preschool this year. Well, I guess I should say "WE" had a hard time. Adam was as unsure about it as I was. I went and signed her up for the ABC program at Alpena. That is where we will take her when she starts BIG school. When I signed her up we were told that they were full and we were put on a waiting list. On Thursday 8-14-08, we went ahead and took her to their open house, so that she could see it and know what was going on. But, at that point (4 days before school started) we were still on the waiting list. We got a call on Friday night saying that someone had moved and Lily would be able to start school on Monday. Talk about short notice. I was just thinking I would have a few weeks to REALLY get used to the idea. NOT SO!! I really, to be honest, didn't even have to weekend to think about it. On top of being sick from on the antibiotics I had been on, we were trying to get the house as close to ready as we could, cause there was some people coming over to look at it on Monday evening. We don't have it on the market yet, but it was a co-worker of Adam's, and he knew we were selling it and they were looking so it just worked out that way. Anyway, Monday morning came and Lily woke up with a HUGE smile. Nothing would have wiped that smile off of her face. It was so precious. We all got ready (ALL of us) and went. I think the fact that I got there late and they were already reading a story helped me not start with the water works. I can honestly say I didn't shed a tear. Adam went in to work that day, and then turned around and came home so we could finish up work on the house. We worked ALL DAY long, so I had NO opportunity to really think about it, and definately no time for tears. She has had a great time. Short of the last few months that I have taken them to Mothers Day Out, they have NEVER been left anywhere. And, Mothers Day Out is only 5 hours 2 days a week. I was proud of how well she did, and how much she LOVED it. She is a social butterfly and this is right up her alley. I have to say that I think it will be good for Avery too. We (Avery and I) have never had the one-on-one time that Lily and I did, before Avery. We have had a good week. The only downfall has been how EXTREMELY tired Lily has been. She will get used to it though. Adam and I have said from the beginning that if she doesn't like it or it is to much for her, we will just pull her out. But, just judging from the first week, I don't think that will be an issue, or even a choice. She is loving it so much, and I have to say that I am super duper glad.

First Day Smiles!!!
Loving her new school clothes!!!

She had to show off her backpack and the fact that I spent the extra time to braid her hair (which she loves!!!!)!!!

There was NO complaining about going to bed that night. I think she was OUT as soon as her head hit the pillow. Once she actually goes to sleep, there isn't a lot that can wake her up. She 1 of only 2 kids in her class that didn't take a nap, until Friday. Finally exhaustion caught up and she took a nap on Friday. Hopefully she will get into the routine, and sleep will come easier to her. I hope so!!!

Passed out with her bible. How much better could it be??!!?!?!?!

I wasn't able to get pictures of Lily with her teacher, Mrs. Robbie, until Friday. It was just to crazy!!!

Lily and Mrs. Robbie

Lily putting up her apple attendance. They put up an apple on that tree every day. So cute!! I just can't believe how big she is!!!

I hope that everyone has had a great week!!! We love you all!!!

Interesting Week!!

A whole lot has happened since I last posted on Monday. This is what I woke up to on Tuesday...

I knew that it was swelling through the night, I just didn't realize how badly. So Adam stayed home from work and called the dentist as soon as they opened at 8:00. They said for me to take 2 adult asprin that day and to make sure I kept a heating pad on my face, and to stay propped up. I went back to bed around 10:00. When I got up around 2:00 this is what my face looked like...
Since my eye was basically swollen shut the concern and fear was that the swelling would go on up into my brain. So the dentist sent me to my doc (Dr Collins) to get a shot of potent antibiotics and then to come into the dentist office for an emergency root canal. I have never heard of someone getting a root canal without pain meds, but I did. Because of the immense swelling the dentist (Dr Kernodle) didn't want to inject any more fluids up there. So he started the drilling, and I felt nothing. He went all the way up into the root (nerves) and no pain. Apparently when you have an abscessed tooth the tooth is dead anyway, so I guess between that and all the pressure from swelling I wasn't feeling any pain. Anyway, he drilled all the way up, and then filed it all out and NO DRAINAGE. He was disappointed to say the least. So he left the hole open in my tooth and hoped that it would start draining through the night. There were a couple of times that night that it would drain just a little bit of blood, but nothing major. But when I woke up yesterday morning (Wed) this is what I looked like...

Not 100% but better. So I went back in and apparently I had developed a huge knot of infection right at the gum. That made Dr. Kernodle very happy. He stuck a needle in it in 3 different places and apparently got ALOT of drainage out. He was pleased!! Then he packed the hole in my tooth with medicated stuff, and then since once again I had felt nothing he decided to just cut my gum open. So he got a blade and cut it open (I didn't feel it!!!). I have had this nasty disgusting taste in my mouth ever since. I guess stuff is draining, just slowly. YUCK!!! Anyway, this is what I looked like last night...

And this was this morning...

There is still some swelling under my eye, around my nose, and on my bottom jawline, but I have to say, I feel a world better. The gum on top of my tooth (where he sliced and diced) is still very sore, but even this pain is minimal compared to the pain I was in Monday and Tuesday. There were points in there I was scared I was going to die. And then there got to be times, that I was scared I wasn't. Sounds awful, but I couldn't take it anymore. The pain meds weren't helping, and I really felt awful.

Anyway, I am on the mend (thankfully)!!

Abscess Anyone???

So I called the dentist this morning as soon as their office opened (they had probably not even had a chance to sit down yet, LOL!!) I had called on Friday, but they apparently don't work on Fridays, so after a very miserable weekend, I was ready to find out what in the world was wrong with me. My mouth - teeth - have been hurting for a couple of weeks now, but it seems like they have gotten progressively worse over the last week. It has been so hard to tell what exactly is wrong. I have had horrible headaches, which I was told by the doc was sinus, but turns out I have an abscessed tooth (probably sinus stuff, too). I cannot even begin to explain this pain...it is like someone is sticked very BIG needles up inside of my gums over and over and over again. The dentist gave me some Tylenol #3 which I am sure most of you know is Tylenol with codine. He said to take 2 of them every 6 hours, which I have done. I just got done taking it for the 2nd time, and to be honest, it is not working as well as I would like. I have also been alternating a heating pad and an ice pack. That seems to help as much as anything. So, anyway, I am on antibiotics to clear up the infection, then in 2 weeks I go back to start the grueling root canal process. I really am not a big fan of whine, but I really wanted to whine about this. I AM IN A LOT OF PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for listening, now I am going to go get the ice pack!! Love you all!!

Growth Spurt!!!

I spent the most of last week with a splitiing headache. I went to the doc on Thursday and he said it was sinus, but I am still not sure. My teeth are also hurting, which can be a sign of sinus but I have never had a sinus headache this bad. Anway, one day Lily and I decided to go ahead and get out her new school clothes. In order to do that I made her try on EVERYTHING in her closet which caused a huge fit toward the end. I can't stand to try on that many clothes either so I don't really blame her.

So as it turns out she has taken a rather large growing spell this summer. I didn't even realize how much she had grown. I usually go through her clothes 2 times a year. Before spring and before fall. I knew from the spring try on that most of her jeans were going to be to short, but I left them out so she could still wear them for the summer. Well, why would she wear jeans when she could wear dresses??!?!? So I was super surprised the other day when every pair of jeans she owns were not only to short but also to tight. Most of her shirts were also to short and tight. I was in disbelief at just how many of her clothes she had outgrown in such a short period of time. Anyway, to save some money I decided to list them on ebay. I have listed 25 auctions, and that was only about 1/2 of the clothes. The picture above is all the clothes that she outgrew. I can't beleve how big my baby is getting. I guess they all must grow up, huh??? I just wish that it didn't cost so much money for them to do it!!!! Love ya'll!!!

Pool Play and Other Ramblings!!

We have had a very difficult time getting our pool clear this year. All of the rain that we have had has just made near impossible. It is at least swimmable right now. We got in it the other day. It felt so good. It was one of those almost 100 degree days. The kids love to get in the pool. I just don't usually think to grab my camera. I did on this day and between Adam and I there were some cute pics taken.

The kids favorite game is jumping off the side and having one of us catch them. I think I was throwing Lily up in the air and catching her here. When she is REALLY happy it shows all over her face. I just love it!!
Adam is helping Avery "swim" here. This was his first time in his life jacket. We have tried a few different PFD's this year. It has been hard to find the right thing. He LOVES the water and wants to swim all over the place like Lily. We originally bought the one that Lily has been wearing (the gree frog one) for him, but it kept falling off of him (before getting in the water) that I was scared to let him get in the water with it on. So, next we got him so arm floatees. That is what Lily ALWAYS wore (until this year), but he moves to much and they just weren't keeping him from swallowing incredible amounts of pool water. So we bought this life jacket, and it does the job. It fits him really well (tightened up as tight as possible). We weren't thinking though, and just let him jump right into the pool before either one of us got in and he went spinning around from his back to his belly. It really scared me. Adam jumped in the pool (he had to push Lily off the ladder into the pool) and "rescued" him. I think it scared him as much as me. I KNOW it scared Avery. Avery just couldn't keep from spinning so he couldn't get a breath. Anyway, it didn't take him long to figure the whole life jacket thing out and he was off swimming and keeping up with Lily. It was so cute!!!

Lily striking a pose!!

Avery loved climbing in and out of the pool. He loves the gate in front of it. He kept shutting it and pretending to lock it. I had to keep an extra close eye on him though, cause he would open it up and jump in before I would even realize it. FEARLESS is a good word to describe him!!

Lily jumping off the ladder. She is not quite as fearless as Avery. She wants to make certain that Adam or I are there to catch her every time. She isn't scared of the water, but she does not want her head to go under. The funny thing is that she will hold her breath and put her head under on her own, but I guess it's different when you jump in?!?!?!?!

Avery was too quick. We never actually get pics of him "jumping". This was as close as we could get, but you can get the idea from it!!!

I have more to post later. My mother-in-law took the kids to a tea party a while back and we all went to the Butterfly Palace last week. My mother in law has the pics, I just need to go and get them off her computer, so I am waiting for that before I make those posts!! I took Lily to a birthday pool party last night. It was for her dance teachers little boy. It was fun. Funner for Lily than me. Being in my bathing suit in public is not my favorite, but I am not going to skip out on it for that reason. I don't want Lily to miss out on fun because of my insecurities, and I don't want to pass my negitive feelings about my body onto her. Anyway, she had a great time. I think it was fun for her to she her teacher, and friends from dance (tumbling in the summer) in a different environment!!! We have been debating on if we should put her in tumbling and dance this year. She has really enjoyed the tumbling class this summer, and it has helped her cooridination. But the delima is that she is also starting preschool this year. I can't believe that my baby is big enough to go to preschool. We have decided to just put her in the ABC school at Alpena. It is a government funded program, so it won't cost us anything which helps. I am just going to send her on Tues, Wed, and Thurs. But the tumbling is on Wednesday at 3:00 and dance is on Tuesdays at 3:00, so that would have me taking her out of school early 2 of the 3 days that she would be going. So I think we have decided to just put her back in dance this year and wait until next year to put her in both. She will take tumbling again next summer, so I think all will be okay. I wouldn't even be considering both if she didn't love them both so much. I just feel like I should encourage physical activity, especially since she is the one who wants to do it and loves it. But, also, this will be her first time to go to school. I think that doing both and school would just be to much for her. I have been taking them both to Mothers Day Out on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-2:30. That has been a great thing for ALL of us. Avery is really starting to enjoy it. He walked into the classroom yesterday by himself and started playing. He didn't even care when I left. I am so glad cause the first time I took them he screamed bloody murder and I stood outside his class and cried. He has continued to scream, but I just drop him off and then take Lily to her class. By the time I get back to sign the papers he has stopped screaming. But the last couple of times I have dropped him off he hasn't screamed at all. It is good for him, I know that, but it has been hard for me to seek help. I always thought that I needed to do it all on my own with no help. I now know that I need help to keep my sanity. It has been quite a summer for us all!!! Lily loves Mothers Day Out. She has always been such a social butterfly. She has never had problems making friends, and this has just been total fun for her. I know that school will be easy for her. She will really enjoy it. I am excited for her about it (not for myself). It going to be hard on Avery and I. We rely on her more than I'd like to admit. Oh well, they all have to go to school sometime, right?!?!?! I know this has been a great big ramble, and I hope it all makes sense. I just had alot to say and it's easier for me to type it out as it comes in my head, so sorry if it is crazy!!

I hope that everyone is well!! I am done for now. I will try and post the tea party and Butterfly Palace later on this weekend!! Love you all!!