Our Loss....

On October 11th Joe and I found out we were expecting our 3rd child. On Monday October 25th we found out that we lost the baby. I was admitted to the hospital on monday and had to undergo surgery for a possible ectopic pregnancy as well as a d & c on tuesday. I was out of the hospital on wednesday. The recovery was much more painful than I expected both physically and mentally. I have been unable to drive for the past week (the doctor compared the recovery to that of a c-section only I'm out of the hospital the next day and had to take care of the kids). Joe took off the week to help with the kids, which was nice to have him around!

I just wanted to say that I appreciate all the emails and calls. Sorry I haven't returned many emails or calls, it's been hard. I was sleeping a lot from the pain medicine and everything. Hopefully I'll be returning to "normal" in the next few weeks....

Loren's Birthday Parties

Saturday October 25th we had Loren's birthday parties. She had her "kid" party at Pump It Up in the morning from 10-12. She had 22 of her friends and family there to celebrate with her! The kids all had a blast jumping in the "moonwalks" (as did many adults...Amy, Chris, Joe)! Loren enjoyed having all her friends in one place as well as her princess cupcakes and the many wonderful gifts she got!

Here are pictures from the "kid" party: (will post soon)


Then later that afternoon we had her family party at 4. Grandma/Grandpa, Booma/Boompa, GG, Great Grandma-Nana, Amy/Chris, Gail/Adam, Brittany and her friend and Tony/Maggie were all there!! Daddy bbq'd some yummy burgers, dogs and chicken. And again, Loren got many wonderful presents!! It was a wonderful day!!

Here are pictures from the family party:

Daddy, Great Grandma-Nana, Gail and Booma

GG, Grandma, Uncle Jeremy, Grandpa and Loren (aka: Snow White)

Daddy grillin'!

The great balloon fight!

Loren is VERY excited about the Sleeping Beauty movie aunt Amy got her!

Opening a present from Booma (it's a walking horse)!

Kaylynn making a funny face and Loren very excited about the horse!!

Kaylynn really wanted the drawing toy Loren got from the Poders

Loren's ice cream cake!!

Lighting the candles!!


Here is video of the family singing happy birthday to Loren:

Happy 4th Birthday Loren!!!!

Yesterday was Loren's 4th Birthday!! I can't believe she's 4 already!!! She's so big!!!! She had a wonderful birthday!!! She woke up with a balloon in her room (and you all know how she LOVES balloons)! Then came out to streamers hanging from her door (which she thought was really cool)! Then she had a chocolate chip pancake for breakfast with a candle in it! Once Daddy and Kaylynn were up, she opened her presents! She got a new game for her leapster and pajamas from mommy and daddy, a jump rope from Kaylynn and a new bowl and fork/spoon from Tigger and Pooka!!

Then we got ready and went into Arlington Heights and went to McDonalds for lunch and had quiet time at Booma and Boompa's house (they were out of town). After quiet time we went to Rosemont to the Disney Playhouse to see Mickey Mouse and Pooh Bear along with the other disney playhouse characters)!!!! The girls LOVED it!!!! Loren danced in the aisle and Kaylynn was mesmerized by the show!!!

After the show we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for cake! She then opened her presents from Grandma/Grandpa and GG! She got 2 nice new shirts, some coloring and activity books and a bouncy ball from Grandma and Grandpa and some new pajamas from GG! It was a WONDERFUL day for her!!!!!!!

Here are a few pictures from her birthday:

Loren, opening her first birthday present from Kaylynn

It's a jump rope!!!

Kaylynn got a little something too!! :)

Next present, a new princess game for her leapster!!

At the theater! Eating popcorn in the lobby!!!! They both have a mouth full!!!!!

Daddy and his girls enjoying some popcorn!




Mommy with her girls!!!






Fists full of popcorn!!!








At our seats waiting for the show to start!







Loren's cake at Grandma and Grandpa's!



Happy Birthday to Loren!!!

Blow out the candles!!!

Mmmm!!! Cake!!!!

Yummy!!

Presents!!!!!

Fun in the leaves!

The other day (10/13/08) we went outside to enjoy the beautiful fall day!! What else would you do in October when it's 80 degrees outside?!? The girls had a blast, they helped rake and loved to jump into the leaves!! They liked to be buried in the leaves and throw them at each other (and me)!! It's amazing how leaves could keep them amused for over an hour!!!

Kiddieland

On Sunday October 12th we took the girls to Kiddieland with Joe's parents! It was soooo much fun!!! The girls LOVED the rides! Kaylynn's favorite was a whip ride (see first picture) and the roller coaster!!! Loren loved the big pirate ship that sways back and forth and goes really high!! These girls are like their mommy...love rides!!!!

Here are some pictures from Kiddieland:

Loren and Kaylynn on the whip ride. While she's not smiling in the picture, she was laughing soooo hard on this ride!!

The girls driving their race cars!! Kaylynn is very serious about her driving!

Kaylynn, Loren and Mommy on a spinney ride! I made it spin very fast!!!

The girls on a boat ride, ringing their bells!

On the little train ride that goes through the entire park! I just

love this picture of Kaylynn in her hat!

Random September and October pictures....

Here are a few miscellaneous pictures that we've taken the past few weeks:

Here is Loren playing "doctor kit" with Tigger. I couldn't believe he let her do all this to him!!

Kaylynn and Loren playing in boxes!

Kaylynn giving herself a breathing treatment!

Loren on the computer while Kaylynn watches.

When one binky just isn't enough.....

Loren doing Pocket-pocket at Storytime

Every week we go to story time at the library and the teacher often does this thing called "pocket-pocket" where she gives clues and the kids have to guess what's in her pocket. Lately she's let kids do pocket-pocket as well, and Loren has done it a bunch of times!! It amazes me that she can get up in front of about 20 people and do this!! I'm so glad she's not shy like Joe and I were as kids!! I finally took video of it so you can all see Loren doing pocket pocket!

Apple Picking 2008

On Sunday 9/28 Joe, the girls and I went Apple Picking to All Seasons Apple Orchard in Woodstock! It was so fun!! My cousin, Katie came with us with her 2 kids (Colleen and Grace) and Loren's friend Addy met us there with her dad Jim and his girlfriend, Julie. After we picked about a million apples (and the kids ate some too) we went to the little petting zoo to pet and feed the animals! It was lots of fun and hope to do it again next year!!!

Also - I made a very yummy apple pie from some the apples (my good friend, Chan gave me a fabulous recipe)!! I'm pretty proud I was actually able to do it, I'm not much of a chef!!

Here are the pictures from the apple picking, but the website isn't letting me upload the ones from the petting zoo area! Grrr! I'll try to get them posted soon!!!

Daddy and Kaylynn, enjoying an apple!

Reaching soooo high for a good apple!!

Got it!!!!

Jim, Addy and Julie (and Katie in the background)

Grace and Kaylynn in the wagon, covered with apples!!