So I am a little behind on my blogging. I am totally aware of this and yet I still haven't done it. That makes me a very bad blogger. It also means I have been a very busy non-blogger.
Zach's therapy.
Zach is attending a feeding clinic at a University in Denton (see blog dated 5/19 for more information on the clinic). There are three clinicians, one for each child. We have had two sessions and the other children have not shown up. So little man has had the total attention of three pretty college girls and their instructor. He is pretty much "eating this up"...pardon the expression. What a flirt. After the first session, he hugged his primary clinician, Leah, and then blew her a kiss. Are you kidding me? Zach blew his very first kiss to me on my birthday, and here he is blowing kisses to another girl just 8 days later. Kind of makes my kiss feel a little less special. The sessions are going ok. Play time is fun, but anytime they put him in the booster seat screaming ensues. Not pleasant to watch. (I am on the other side of a one-way mirror so he is unable to see me). The instructor says he's doing well with the different textures. Pretty good for the first week. She's had kids gag at the sight of food, so for Zach to play with his food is a good thing. He did actually pick up a piece of macaroni and cheese up and put it in his mouth all by himself. The next day he picked up a piece of rice. It's only been a few days and he's started using his fork all on his own. PROGRESS!! I am so proud of our little man.
Emily's therapy.
Emily's therapy has been going pretty well too. Her clinician, Kelly, says she is saying words. Why is it that I can't understand her??? She is starting to mimic and she is making a lot more sounds. I have a feeling my little cubs will be talking in no time, and then I'll wonder why I put them through all these sessions. Either way, I think it's good that Emily is getting some one-on-one therapy/attention. It is so hard to do that at home because the cubs are always together.
Grandma Bear.
Grandma Bear is visiting for the next two weeks. I am so excited to have an extra set of paws (hands) around the house. I was actually able to schedule a physical exam at my Doctor's office that is long overdue. The next two weeks will be very busy.
Mommy's GNOs
Mommy still has her GNOs. Over the last few weeks I've been to Gloria's, Campania's Pizza, and Blue Mesa Grill. I love that we pick new places to go each time so I get to sample new restaurants. Yummy!
Our landscaping project.
Still in progress....although we have the cutest little helper (and cutest little supervisor).
Emily supervising:
Stopping for a water break:
Love for Husky.
Emily loves her husky. So much so, that lately she has been putting him in her booster seat and strapping him in. He must be secured. The other day she took a facial wipe and wiped his little face. He must be clean. This weekend she gave Husky a drink out of Baxter's water bowl. He must be watered. What a spoiled Husky. We can't leave home without him. He even attends Emily's therapy sessions. Can you say "attachment issues"??
Potty training.
I postponed Emily's potty training because every time I would try working with her she would scream and cry. Grandma Bear has worked with Emily one day and already she has used her potty, both for #1 and #2. Makes me look like a potty training failure. I guess Grandma Bear can't leave until Zach is potty trained too.
They still fit.
Great Grandma Betty handmade these outfits for Emily and Zach last year when they were not even walking. Zach can still wear his but it's getting a little tight. Emily's was a dress but don't you think it looks just as cute as a top? I paired it with some shorts and she can still wear it throughout the summer. Awesome! 
Monday, June 22, 2009
Just a little behind
Happy Belated Father's Day
Steve and I would like to wish our dads a happy belated Father's Day! We love you and hope you had a wonderful day!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Our storm experience
Wednesday afternoon was as normal as any other Wednesday, although Zach had a slight fever. I was playing with the cubs and Steve had a kitchen pass to play golf. I signed up for a weather text alert on my phone so that any time a warning is issued for our area, I receive a text message about it. The text messages started coming in around 5:30pm. Severe thunderstorm warning. So I turn the TV on and the storm looks ugly even on the radar. I am desperately texting Steve telling him to come home. "BAD STORM COMING!" The text I get back...."I'm on the 6th hole". What??? I don't care. Then at 6:04 I receive the text for the Tornado Warning. Still desperately texting Steve. He manages to rip himself from the course to get home just in time. At 6:30 the sky is looking ugly and the tornado sirens are going off. Steve and I watch the rotation of the clouds. The storm is moving pretty quickly but I can't help but think that it's not moving quickly enough. The winds are coming from my left across the front of the house. Steve takes Emily upstairs to see what is happening on the other side of the house that I am unable to see from my viewpoint. Then I look to my right and all I see is a wall of darkness heading straight for us. I yell at Steve and we all run into our pantry which is the most central point in the house. We get there just in time. It is rather loud as the wall hits us. The lights start flickering and I am extremely nervous. The cubs also sense that something is wrong. Steve sticks his head out and comments that the fence is gone. I am just thankful that the fence didn't come through our back windows. What I'm sure was just a few minutes seemed like hours. The power is off but at least the house is still standing. We briefly survey the damage, wait out the remainder of the storm in the dark, and eventually head off to bed.
At 1:30 in the morning the power is still out, it's hot in the house, and it starts thundering again. We have to close the windows so it becomes even more stuffy. I'm worried about the food in the refrigerator, I can't sleep, and did I mention that I'm HOT!? I'm worried about Zach because he has a fever. He even managed to throw up all over me right before we put the cubs to bed, just as an added bonus. Somehow I manage to drift off for a few hours of rest. Steve went to work early Thursday morning as usual. The morning was rough. We had no AC, no TV, the cubs were restless and Zach still had a high fever. The food in the refrigerator was starting to spoil and it was storming again. Stupid text message at 6:30am says Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 7:00, then extended until 7:45, then extended again until 10am. The morning just keeps getting worse because by now the battery on my cell phone has died (my only link to the outside world), I need to call the Doctor, and it is STILL storming. I plug the phone into the car charger just to get enough juice to text Steve about Zach's fever, it wasn't strong enough to place an actual call. He calls the Doctor for me and gets us an appointment for 10:30. I pack up the cubs and head out into this latest round of storms. The scariest part of this storm was the lightning. Cloud to ground and it was vicious. It is hitting on both sides of the highway as I am trying to desperately get to our final destination. I see smoke on my left and look briefly at a house engulfed in flames, probably a result of a lightning strike. (I think I read that there were 45,000 lighting strikes in the D/FW area during these waves of storms.) All I want to do is get to the Doctor's office. I take a wrong turn...UGH...twice. Surely this has got to end soon! Finally I get to the office and Steve meets us there. Poor Zach has a sore throat (but not strep thank goodness). The storm has let up and I get everyone back home just as it starts raining again. Will it ever stop? The power is STILL off. It's lunch time, it's raining and we still have no power. Steve and I take a closer look at the damage. We were pretty lucky. In our immediate area, several homes had fence damage, many large trees were knocked down, our neighbor's gazebo and outdoor kitchen was demolished, two houses under construction were destroyed and one burned down. Steve and I actually ended up taking some of our food to the apartment since the power is on there. We still have the lease until the 18th. Who knew we would actually use it?! Over 260,000 homes and business were without power at the height of the storm. Our power was FINALLY restored around 7pm so we went 24 hours without power and I must say it was rough. It sure does make us appreciate our modern conveniences. As much as I complained about it, I know that it could have been so much worse.
We want to thank all of our friends locally that offered to help while we were without power. We are so fortunate to have such great friends!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Look at Mommy's pretty plants
Take a look at the pretty plants Steve (and Zach) spent three days planting for me. This picture was taken at the beginning of our outdoor project (on Sunday) and it took Steve three days (he would come home after work and spend all evening outdoors) to do everything. We finished up the final touches on Tuesday night. Aren't they pretty?? Steve worked so hard on it. Thank you sweetie!
Here it a picture of my pretty plants on Wednesday evening, the day after Steve was finished planting everything. 
A little later that evening. The next round of storms can be seen in the background.
The next morning we took a closer look. We had a total of nine posts splinter like toothpicks.:
Most of the panels held together. However, the pickets are stripped completely from the panel in the center:
View from the upstairs window. The panel in the center of the picture is also from our fence.
So nine splintered posts and just as many heavy fence panels thrown around like toys results in a repair bill around $1100.00 hard-earned dollars. We should count our blessings though. It could have been much worse.
The pile on the left previously looked like the framed house on the right. These houses (frames) were in the same stage of construction. The one on the left was reduced to rubble, the one on the right appears to be ok.
Our storm experience: story to be posted later. Stay tuned.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Car shopping
I am so sorry that I am late posting pictures....again. Things have been crazy here at Cub Central....as always. We had to go car shopping over the weekend. Not a lot of fun with two toddlers in tow. We finally came to a decision and made the big purchase. Here are some pictures.
At the assembly plant:
Finishing up on the final touches:
Getting ready for the test drive:
Final photo op before the big debut:
Drag racing:
Accident scene:
Off-roading:
Comparing notes on handling and gas milage:
Hmmm...there appears to be a slight problem with this windshield:
Getting ready to cruise for chicks:
"Can I get your number?"
Exhibiting a little road rage:
"Crazy women drivers!"
That's all folks!
