Summer Games

Taking a break in the dug out
Up to bat!
Michael "Carter" Phelps
If you are wondering why I haven't written in awhile, we are glued to the television watching the Olympics. We love them. Above are a few pictures of my athletes. We love watching the swimming. The boys enjoy watching Michael Phelps (who deosn't like watching him win so many golds), they have even started calling themselves Mikey. Watching swimming did get Carter to take his lifejacket off and start swimming without it. Both boys can now jump in the deep end of the pool and swim across to the steps - thanks Michael! We still try and get down to the baseball fields, it is hard with it being so hot! Both boys take turns pitching, hitting, catching, and sliding into home plate. We have to take all of our stuff and hang it in the dugout like the big boys. Benjamin starts T-ball very soon, so that will add excitement to our lives. I can't believe summer is over, I start back to work next week. It doesn't feel like it is time. But, when I look back 2 summers ago I started 2 weeks ago! With this school school comes new changes, my schedule is very different. Instead of every other day, I go everyday for half day. The boys are starting a new school on Monday. They seem excited, I am nervous for them (new places and people are not my speciality).

Summer Fun!

I need to get new pictures off the camera, these are last month pictures. The boys having been playing so well together this week (granted it is only Tuesday). It does make for a much easier week when everyone is getting along. Short update on the boys: Benjamin of course is in baseball mode still, still watching baseball every chance we get on TV, and still playing it all the time. We have moved up in the baseball world from blast ball to T-ball. Now that we are in T-ball, he wants to wear long black socks like "real" players. If fact last night when we strolled down to feed the ducks, Ben had to wear a pair of Ryan's black socks. He pulled them up to his knees, he said he had to look like a "real player" incase anyone saw him! I couldn't find the camera, but it was priceless. Daddy wasn't with us, and I thought it was too cute! Carter is the little funny man, he loves making anyone laugh. He still loves Blue's Clues and always has to have his handy dandy notebook with him. Carter LOVES to draw and color! He can sit at the table for almost a hour just coloring (comes in great when I am getting dinner ready). Both boys love to swim. Benjamin (believe it or not) is my no fear in the water. That kid can dive down and get anything on the bottom. He has really picked up swimming, now we are working on diving! Carter is "no fear" because he still wears his life jacket (not a problem with me). The both love jumping in the water and trying to get everyone wet! We have really used our pool this summer, we try and get in it everyday! As for me, I can't believe I have about 4 1/2 more weeks until school starts, crazy! We are excited about spending time with family these next few weeks! Summer really is the best time of the year!

Still here!

Sorry for the delayed blog. Things have been busy around here. I just pulled up my blog and realized 6/29 was the last - wow! My niece has been with us this week while my sister has been on vacation. We have really had a great time with her. The 4th of July came and went, we spent a great day with family and friends enjoying our community events. I can't believe half of the summer is already past! I have had fun with the boys this summer.

Fish Camp Pictures

I love the last picture because Carter thought he had caught the little fish on the end of his line. He didn't understand that it was his bait. He would wind up his fishing pole all the way to see it, and then slip it in the water and pull it back up. He did this for about 30 minutes. Everytime he would pull up the line to see the fish he would yell, "Fish"! Carter turned out to be our little fisherman, especially when we got his ring pop! Benjamin enjoyed fishing too. He was more excited that daddy caught a catfish on his fishing pole. He kept telling us, I caught the fish because it was my pole! Thanks to the daddys (we went fishing with friends) who were very patient with the small fishermen!

Jelly man!

On day 3 when Benjamin would finally get in the ocean past his knees, he got stung by a jelly fish. The top picture is meat tenderizer that a couple next to us had for stings! It was quite painful for him, but he did feel so much better when we got to drink my coke (diet, caffine free - just in case anyone was worried about the caffine or sugar). Ben was up and moving not too long after and did get back in the water the next day. We still have a scar from it two weeks later. Now he has earned the nickname - jelly man. We kept quoting the movie line "You took on the jellys!" from Finding Nemo!

More Beach Pictures

Beach Pictures!

This is one of my favorite pictures. Benjamin is trying to keep up with the bigger boys and their body boards. This was the first evening we were there, Ben didn't use his that much!
Uncle Doug came over one morning to play and see everyone!
YES, we had a head shaving party one night, 3 men and 1 child got in on the action!

All the kiddos, plus Meredith (not pictured). We got matching shirts for them to wear. It ended up being the shirts they worn on the nights we went crabbing!

If you have wondered where I have been the past 2 1/2 weeks, we went on vacation and I am still not recovered! We went again to Alabama with friends and family and spent a week on the beach. Here are a pictures from the trip!

Pictures!

Most of these pictures are from our last zoo visit. I am counting down the days in this week, it is my last to work (well until August!) We are ready for summer! The boys have been playing so well together. They are loving our pool, we try and get in it everyday! They are funny little guys, they often crack themselves up! Then it usually becomes a contest on who can make the other one laugh the most. Ben is loving it because we are in the middle of baseball season on TV, and Carter's new love is Blue's Clue. Don't know where that came from, but he loves it!

Pictures!

Benjamin at our last zoo trip. Both boys love playing in the Texas Wild area!
Breaking in the pool, it was a little cold!
Ben's baseball trophy, he got it at his baseball party!
Carter at the zoo!
Carter loves playing in the pool! Sorry, this is a very clear picture!!

Happy Memorial Day!

Pictures of the boys!

Before you freak, the snake is stuffed, not alive! When we went to Florida over spring break, we ate dinner at the place called the Linger Lodge. They had all kinds of reptiles stuffed on the wall. Benajmin hated it, Carter couldn't get enough of it. He wanted his picture taken by the snake. I have another picture of the waitress lifting him to be close to the snake stuffed along the ceiling, CRAZY boy!
No Fear Man, exept heights!
Can you lean to the right?
Benjamin is posing by sitting on a basketball. He is wearing one of his B-ball jerseys trying to be serious!
Daddy's roping days are coming back.

Oh Heart of Mine!

Before you even ask . . . yes, these are my pictures. I hope you don't have a weak stomach, but aren't the really cool? If I could take a moment of your time, this is my second time that I will be writing about me instead of my children. These above pictures are just a few of the ones I have from my visit with the heart doctor. Let the story begin! A few months ago I went to see my primary because I was very sick. After taking my blood pressure and getting a family medical history, she states, "before I even discuss why you are here today, I will be referring you to a cardiologist, and you will go." Okay, and several days later I call and set my appointment. Little did I know that I would be seeing one of the best cardio doctors around. Anyway 3 weeks ago I go in for my appointment. Blood is taken, EKG done and so forth, we are rocking along. Common question, "why are you here?" My answer, "family history", just coming to get checked out! Okay we concluded from that visit, my HDL in my cholestrol was way off, 25 points too low. For those of you that don't know about cholestrol, very quick lesson. Your cholestoral should be under 200 and it is made up of HDL (the good, in woman needs to be 50 or above) and LDL (the bad, can't give you a number). Anyway, my overall cholesterol was normal to low, but my HDL was extrememly low. When your ratio of HDL and LDL is off problems can occur. Like doc said, a low HDL is a silent killer because it can lead to other problems without you knowing. So he schedules me for a coronary CT aniogram for Monday, May 5th. We dropped the boys off at the Ps house and off we went. Little did I know that it would take 6 hours to complete it; yes, we got back to pick the boys up 6 hours later. Anyway, they had problems starting my IV, I won't go into it because my arm is bruised and STILL hurting. I had been taking medicine all week to slow my heart rate down to under 60. When it was finally my turn for the scan, my heart decided to stay a little above 60. So I then received over a period of time 4 more rounds of my medicine to slow my heart down. The scan doesn't start until it reads my heart as under 60 beats. Anyway long story short (because I can give you the long version), my heart rate finally dropped and off the nurse ran to start the scan. When she started the scan, it shoots dye followed by saline solution into my IV. If you have a weak stomach . . . stop reading. As I was saying, when they shot the last round of dye and saline ( remember I have tried it 2 other times without it working because the scan will not read until the dye passes into the heart with a rate lower than 60) the saline busted my vein and started building up a ball fluid on my upper arm. Did I tell you I had to hold my breath and not move while the scan was taking place!!! As I am screaming my arm, the nurse comes in to yank out the IV. She did tell me that they got the scan, it only takes 19 seconds if everything is working properly - HA HA! So out comes the IV an on comes the heat packs. Remember that I have had 5 rounds of medicine to slow my heart down, trying to get off the table and walk straight with my arm that is now bandaged up half my arm! Not to mention that I also have a blister on my arm from the heat packs being TOO hot. One hour later, we are finally meeting with the doc (8:00) to go over the pictures and the swelling in my arm is now slowly decreasing. I am telling you all of this because no matter how long or bad the day was, it was worth the wait. My heart looks great, no plaque or artery problems - a health good heart. After hearing that we talked about other things - the scan was able to see all of my organs - everything looked great, very healthy - YEA!!! So I brought up my cholesterol and the low HDL from the last visit that was the "silent killer". To my amazement, my HDL had risen the 25 points needed to get me out of the danger zone. He even asked what I had been doing last week. My answer, " I was on a cruise stuffing my face with whatever I wanted to eat - beef, chocolate, desserts, coke (drink not powder), hot dogs, etc." I mean I ate everything in site, gaining 2 lbs, but working out everyday! So I am telling you this because I know it could not have been from my huge appetite, I know it was all my family and friends praying for me these past 3 weeks. My doctor really couldn't explain it! I am in the clear, I don't have to go back for 2 years! I also want to encourage all women to be proactive for heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause in deaths among women. Most of the time women do not even know they have heart disease until it is too late, check your cholesterol and blood pressure regularly! As many of you know, I lost my father to heart disease, and I am four months away from where he was when he died. I am glad we have technology that will help detect diseases earlier, and I am very glad I have a network of friends and family that take time to pray for me!