And the reign begins...

We started our new reign with our first festival of the year. I knew this year was going to be different now that we have Delaney travelling with us!

I was proven correct when we had a "ketchup" incident within two minutes of being at the luncheon. Good thing her sash already has red accents! It is going to be a long year!

On the boy-side of things, Dax scored his first soccer goal! He was so excited, but of course, he had to call and tell me about it because I was at the girl's cheerleading coaching them. It is so hard to miss out on things. He was so excited telling me all about it on the phone. It absolutely broke my heart that I wasn't there to see it.

Now that we are back into all of our activities, it is so hard to split our family in two all the time. Usually, I take the girls since I coach their cheerleading, and, well, Daddy will go to the Queen stuff if he has to, but it definitely isn't his first option! Shawn ends up taking the two older boys since he coaches Daxton's soccer and soccer is his "thing". Poor little Drake usually goes with whomever feels they can watch him more easily. However, on Saturday while I was coaching that ended up being various parents at the football game. He is like the "mascot" of everything we are involved in. At church, he is passed around so that sometimes we are all left asking, "Where's Drake?" At sporting events, the question is "Who has Drake?", and at family events, it's usually, "Let me see Drake!". He doesn't lack for love or attention at all. I just wish his entire photo album wasn't filled with captions like, "Drake at Dawsyn's festival", "Drake at Drew's birthday party", "Drake at Delaney's Kindermusik class", "Drake at Daxton's soccer game", etc., etc. I tell myself that before I know it, we'll all be sitting at events for him!!!

I have a 9 year old and two Queens!!!

What an exciting week for Team Adams! Drew turned 9 last week, waking up on his birthday and reminding me that he is now closer to driving than he was to being born. His big gift was a DSi from his uncle CJ--even though Mommy DID NOT want him to have one! He had a sleepover with 10 3rd grade boys--that was exhausting! He also got a cell phone (for emergency use only--although he has already downloaded a SpongeBob ring tone and put a picture of himself making a peace sign as his wallpaper--really? When did he grow up?)

Dawsyn ended her reign as Little Miss 1st Attendant for the Amanda Firefighter Festival by trying out again. This was horrible on me!!! Both girls tried out in the same category and all I could think was , "This cannot end well!" I was wrong--Delaney was crowned Little Miss 1st Attendant and Dawsyn was crowned Little Miss! So, that means another year of travels for the Adams' girls! Delaney was so excited when they put the crown on her. She said she thought to herself, "I am so awesome!" Then she turned toward where we were sitting and said in a loud whisper from the stage, "Mom! Now can I go get some Dippin' Dots?" Dawsyn was just beaming! Not sure she has come down yet. She is very excited to have the biggest crown!

Dax and Drake were in the baby contest and they took 1st place and 2nd place in their respective age groups. So--a very busy, stressful week, but overall, it ended well!

First Day of Kindergarten

Delaney is a Kindergartener! Her first day went really well. I just can't believe my baby girl is in Kindergarten already! And Drew had his first soccer game for the travel team he made in the Spring!
We started her first week of Kindergarten off well too! As if our life needs something to make it a little more interesting, Sunday ended up being another classic, "making memories" day for the Adams! Sunday, when we got home from church, there were two huge dogs running around our house. One was a white pittbull and one was a black lab. They were friendly dogs--almost too friendly. They wanted in our house and made it almost impossible to carry groceries in. We finally got inside and after an hour of these dogs throwing themselves up against our doors and windows, and our children, in all their political correctness, calling them "WHITEY AND BLACKY", a truck pulled in the driveway, called the dogs and left. Glad THAT was over, we decided to go over to mom and dad's to help them paint their new addition and visit with my mom's sister who was coming in for a visit. We had a nice visit and decided to head for home so we could relax and get ready for the busy week ahead.

We pulled in the garage and I went in to unlock the door and set the alarm. As I was pushing the buttons of the alarm, I heard the sound of running feet and was greeted by a big black lab and huge white pittbull! Apparantly, they had gotten loose from their owner, somehow pawed open our French patio doors (the smear marks from their face and paws were good evidence) and then spent the next few hours running around and having a good time. Thank God they were still in the house when we got home, or I would have thought for sure we had been robbed! Pictures were off walls, paper and string was torn and all over the house, drawers had been pawed through, they pooped in all of our beds, created "LAKE DOGGIE PEE" on our bathroom floor, not to mention the lovely paw marks on all the windows, walls, bathtubs, etc. The kids clothes were skattered throughout the house along with teddy bears, toys, a few of my bras, the list goes on! I literally stood there for a minute and thought, "this cannot be happening!" When Shawn came in the back door, the dogs ran out and we never saw them again. Luckily, our family members came over to help and all took laundry home so we had clean beds to sleep in that night! Of course, the sheriff wasn't interested and after the dog warden asked if they were vicious, he wasn't interested either! So were stuck cleaning up the entire house at 8:00 on a Sunday night of the first full week back to school and all after-school activities!!! I was worried the kids would be really upset by the whole experience, but as I was on my hands and knees cleaning a spot where one of the dogs, obviously a male, had chosen to lift his leg and go to town, Dawsyn and Delaney came to me asked if they could have a tea party! I wish I was so blissfully unaware sometimes!

Back in the routine...again

Daxton started soccer! Daddy is his coach. You can see from the picture, he is a very big boy now, and just a little proud of himself! He is pretty rough out on the field. He could probably run even faster if so much effort didn't go into screwing his face into the most determined look you have ever seen on a 3 year old!!!
Dawsyn's first cheerleading game was today. Mommy is her coach. She wanted a picture of us with her in her uniform. She did a great job and really loves it.
Delaney is cheering this year too--and with the help of Aunt Cassie, mommy is coaching her team as well! Delaney is an old pro after watching her sister cheer for two years! She is the loudest one out there and really likes to shake it during her dance!
Back to school! Drew started 3rd grade, Dawsyn started 2nd grade, and Delaney starts Kindergarten this week! So far, so good. They come out happy every day. It will be interesting to hear Delaney's take on things this week! Mommy also started back to school with her 6th graders. This week has been full of opening lockers and helping kids find what room they should be in, but other than that, it has been good. I go to the doctors and should be cleared to pick up Drake after this week. I am feeling more and more normal--just still get tired and depend on my abdominal binder too much--but doing well other than that! This week piano, dance and Drew's travel soccer games kick in--so we will be on the go! Back to lots of family time in the car!!!

Last week at home

Another break over. I cannot believe we are waiting on our teacher postcards again. I cannot believe another summer is ending. I cannot believe that in less than a month, my son will be "closer to driving than he is to being born" as he so nicely informed me the other day. I cannot believe we are going to be back to our routine. Most days, Shawn and I will pass each other in the hallway and I feel like we should have nametags on so we know who the other is. Often, we pack everything up in the morning and give each other a high five as we get into our cars and head out for the day, our little sign of victory over the morning rush. Obviously, the kids don't notice the strain. The other night, Shawn and I decided we needed to start some Christmas shopping. We asked his parents to come watch the kids. The kids got very defensive and asked us where we thought we were going without them. I didn't want to mention Christmas, so I just said that daddy and I were going on a "date night". They didn't understand, Drew even went as far as to say, "But I thought your anniversary was in September!" Maybe we need to schedule some couple time in a little more often so the kids aren't so thrown by it. LOL! I cannot believe we have our "first day of school" clothes picked out. This activity took the better part of an evening. It started off smoothly, I picked out three different outfits, called Drew up, asked which he wanted to wear, he quickly scanned the outfits, not bothering to put down his Wii remote, pointed at one and ran back down the stairs with a quick, "Thanks, MOM!" Then it was time to call the girls up. Delaney tried everything on quickly and cared to see what was most comfortable and didn't hurt her belly. She did get very excited at the one outfit that I told her made her look like Junie B. Jones. She decided this was it and skipped happily down the stairs. Dawsyn was, of course, a small nightmare. I think I am getting paid back for every single trip to the mall that I made my mother, who despises shopping, take me on. I had bought an adorable outfit and I was so excited to have Dawsyn try it on. She dutifully put it on, went and looked in the mirror and came back looking absolutely adorable from the neck down. The look on her face, however, left something to be desired. I asked her if she liked it and then recoiled waiting for the answer. I still wasn't prepared when my seven year old put her hands on her hips and said, "Not really, Mom, it's so last season!" Really? Awesome--this is going to be a very interesting school year. I try to be proactive-- we went to a reconciliation service at church on Sunday. I thought it would be a good way to kick off the school year. Drew is the only one old enough to participate, but I told the rest of the kids to sit and pray about the upcoming year and all of the opportunities and exciting events they were going to get to be a part of: Drew's travel soccer team, the girls' new Irish Dancing classes, cheerleading, Dax's soccer, Kindermusik, piano, Church choir, Drew serving at mass, Sunday School, Dawsyn making her first reconciliation and First Communion, both girls trying out for Firefighter Queen, Kindergarten, Second Grade, Third Grade, birthdays, new friends, basically--they have a lot to look forward to and we have a busy year ahead of us. These are the times when I remind myself that I don't "have" to do all of these things, I "get" to and that's good enough for me. I sat in the pew and looked down the row at my children all sitting nicely. I could tell they were thinking about what I said and I had a moment of "maybe this year will go smoothly and be wonderful!" I really should know better by now. Dawsyn was the first to lean in and whisper to me. She said, "mom--I was just thinking that making my first reconciliation will probably be difficult because I am practically perfect and haven't really done anything wrong!" To which Drew replied, "I could say something here, but then I would probably have to stand up and go back to confession again." Delaney then piped in, rather loudly since that child only has one volume--LOUD--and said, "Well I already know I am going to have a terrible year!" and Dax started telling me what all the other kids do at the babysitter's that they shouldn't be doing. I looked to my saving grace, Drake, and he just clapped his hands and smiled a great, big toothless smile, reassuring me that it indeed is all worth it. So, as we prepare for another school year, I remind myself that I don't have to do anything, but I will get to coach cheerleading, drive to practices, wash laundry, help with homework, volunteer in classrooms, teach 6th graders who won't realize that I knew what I was talking about for many years, get up at 4 AM to get my workout in before the kids know, pack lunches, bake treats, plan parties, dry tears, have "those" talks, read books, stay up late worrying, lose sleep over issues the kids are having, try to make the money stretch to cover recital costumes, uniforms, and supplies we need, plus trying to schedule in date nights more than once a year! I am reminded of the Carrie Underwood song, "Jesus take the Wheel". I begin to hear it in my head and start to feel better until the voice is replaced with Daxton's version, "Jesus, take the Wii". Oh well, either way, I guess!

3 Weeks! Yay!

I have made it to the three week mark in recovering from the surgery. I am finally starting to feel like myself again, but I still can't pick up Baby Beluga, as we affectionately have begun to call our 25 pound 8 month old! Luckily, my cousin Lindsey, and her adorable little girl, Katie have come to spend the week and help take care of Drake. It has been so great having them here. Lindsey has been so awesome, the only downfall is you didn't really realize how crazy your life is until you see it on someone else's face. Lindsey has had her look on that face so many times this week, I am hoping it doesn't make Katie end up an only child! We have had so much fun with them this week, even though I feel guilty that she has to do so much for me and the kids. We have one week of summer left and I am hoping that I continue to feel good that I can really enjoy it before the craziness of school and schedules starts again!

Day 6 and I'm STILL HERE...

Ok--I know that I am an active person, and I probably do a lot more running around and "going" than the average person, but I really think the fact that I have not left my house since Friday (6 days!!!) is overkill! I don't think I have stayed home all day long this many days in a row since, well, ever!!!! Yesterday, I did get to walk all the way out the driveway to get the mail, but even this had to be done with the assistance of my 8 year old son who insisted on walking by me the entire way and then checking the mailbox first to make sure there wasn't anything too heavy for me to carry. Luckily, there wasn't, so I did get the awesome independent feeling of carrying in two envelopes and the weekly mailer--woohoo! On Sunday evening, I looked at my husband and said, "Surely, it has been 3 weeks!" "3 days" was his response--oh my. I know I am driving my babysitters (i.e. my sister, Cassie, and my mom) crazy. They are getting to take the kids to their activities and all I have done is become really familiar with old episodes of "Everybody Loves Raymond", and "Roseanne". Even the kids are becoming bored--with the very first summer utterings of "There's nothing to do" and "I'm so bored".
As for my physical recovery, it seems to be going well. Mom removed the pain pump on Monday afternoon and that freed up two tubes and a huge bag that hung over my shoulder everywhere I went. I still have two drains hanging out of either hip. I am hoping the doctor will remove at least one of them on Friday when I go in for my first post-op visit. Which also means I GET TO LEAVE THE HOUSE!!!! The second one will probably have to stay in for at least another week. It is very uncomfortable and makes simple things like getting a shower, much more difficult. The incision continues to look like something out of "Silence of the Lambs". It runs from the top of one hipbone, clear down over my old c-section scar, and then back up to the other hipbone. I'm not usually very squeemish about things like that (5 c-sections, and a gall bladder surgery tend to do that to you), but when I take all the dressings off the incision, it does give me chills. I just tell myself that the giant "W" the incision forms stands for "WINNER!" which is exactly the opposite of how I feel right now. I'm sure that I will feel more like myself each day and my stamina will slowly build back up. It is just hard to realize that a week ago today, I ran 2 miles, lifted weights, took the kids to a picnic at the park, and all while I was on a clear liquid diet for the day. I am hoping that removing my "energy" wasn't part of the surgery.