The weekend flew by a little more quickly than expected. We are now hustling around with lots to do....haircuts, Mary's cast is coming off, shopping, oil changes, work ...the list is ongoing. I'm happy to be part-time and have a little more time to accomplish things :)

Potty training is coming along nicely. I probably should take some pictures of big-girl Katie sitting on the potty. We are so thrilled that she is wearing big girl panties and using the toilet. Many people told us she would be 6 or 7 before we could potty train her. She will not be 5 until October -- so that is awesome.

2 more days until the cast comes off -- don't worry, I'll take pictures.

I'm tired today...Katie always wakes up as soon as the sun rises...regardless of what time Mommy got home from work :)

Have a good day.

For those of you with whom I talk to on a regular basis, you already know that I started my new job as a "part-timer" this week. I'm still at Kohl's, but only on a part-time basis...no longer a manager. To be honest it has been nice to have a little more time with the girls, and an ounce of time for myself.

Only 5 days until Mary's cast comes off. I can't wait (and neither can she :) Hopefully it is healing up well and we won't have any further issues.

Well ..as a part-timer :) I have been home all day, but need to go in for a few hours this evening...so I had better start getting ready. I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend....

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary. That is hard for me to believe. The years have literally flown by. When I look back at all that has happened over the past 10 years I find it so amazing to see where we have been and where God has brought us.

I took the day off work and Bill is coming home early. We have a sitter and we are planning to do dinner and an IMAX movie ---a real treat for us since with Katie we don't tend to get out very much!!

The other bonus is that the weather has cooled off so much here that it is beautiful out. High of 75 today -- no more of that 97 business (but the girls do love the pool :)

So, I couldn't figure out why Katie was a little crab this afternoon. She loves to swim -- and I mean LOVES -- usually she is standing at the slider door waiting desperately to get into the pool, but today that wasn't the case. I even had my swimsuit on (miracle) and Mary and I were in the pool, but Katie just stood at the slider crying and trying to open the door to get back into the house. I guess she was tired. I should have known. She had both Occupational and Speech Therapy this morning -- and for some reason she was up in the middle of the night crying her eyes out. I went in and changed her and she calmed back down, but needless to say, the "bug" is pooped out. She been asleep almost 4 hours now. She probably won't sleep tonight! Yikes!

Well the 4th of July flew by faster than expected. I had to work in the morning and then we went to Bill's dad's on the lake so the girls could swim and then do fireworks. It was a good day. I'm off today -- much needed to get the house in order and catch up on some much needed mommy time with the girls.

I'm glad to be blogging again. It's nice to look back and see what has been going on. I am thrilled with Katie's recent progress. The pool seems to be good therapy for her as well. She would spend all day out there if we would let her. It's hard in the summer because she only has her two therapy sessions a week at the hospital. The school doesn't have anything structured for the AI kids (Autistic) in the summer... which personally I think is a shame. These kids need structure so badly. We try to give her as much structure at home as we can -- but the routine and schedule that school gives her is really the best option.

I recently joined facebook...that has been kind of fun. I am finding a lot of old friends from college which has been a nice treat....

We finally broke down and bought a pool. The girls love it - but it is still ice cold, and I think they are crazy for wanting to swim in it. Thank-goodness Mary has a swimmable cast or we couldn't have gotten the pool yet. Two more weeks to go in the hard cast and then hopefully she can wear a removable one .

This is my last week of being full-time at work. I am so excited to go part-time. I am looking forward to having more time with the girls - especially now with the pool because they just love to hang out all day outside.

THE PINK CAST...

Can you believe she is allowed to swim in it? Casts have come a long way since I was a child, but I am really happy for her. It's a hot summer and it's been hard for her to not be able to swim :)

Mary's garden is producing hot peppers like there is no tomorrow. She is loving it! The garden is almost outgrowing the small space that we have fenced in for it.

We're hoping for a "pink, swimmable" cast on Wednesday, so when we get it I will be sure to post pics.

Okay, so I know that everyone thinks I've stopped blogging -- but I'm back!!! It has been a crazy few months and there is a lot to catch up on...but I'll have to spread it out over a few days :)

The latest and greatest is that Mary broke her arm on June 1st with one week of school to go. She is in a huge cast and the hope is that it is off for our vacation plans in July. This is a recent pic of Mary with her cast standing in front of her garden - which is her new project this year. It is doing awesome with all of the super hot days we have had.

Katie is doing well. She has received a new therapy bike courtesy of "Gram-moo" and Papa -- she is so cute on it - and it is helping her a lot already. Her pic is on her new bike right after she got it.

I am going to be going part-time at work after being full-time again for almost 2 years. I am really looking forward to the flexibility of scheduling this will give us -- and it will also allow me to have more time with Bill and the girls.

Bill is really busy at work. Summer is flying by already. He has his motorcycle up and running again -- and he is riding it to work almost every day. He loves riding it and it gets great gas mileage... so after a few years of pleading with me to get it insured and licensed, he is cruising around on the bike!

More to come, soon! Glad to be back!

Spring is finally here! Yee-hah!! It has been a long cold winter in Michigan, and the girls are itching to be outside. Especially Mary... I need to take some pics of her riding her "big-girl" bik with no training wheels. She looks like she's been riding forever! We measured her height a few days ago, (compared to Mama's) and she comes up to the base of my neck.... She about 4'6" and she's only 6 years old!! Yikes!!!!

Katie's doing well. She continues to make drastic growth and improvement while on her chelation therapy. She is learning to communicate without words by "leading" us with her arm or by bringing us her diaper when she needs to be changed. She does use the potty on a somewhat regular basis -- as long as we are the ones initiating it.

Bill & I are both continuing to be super busy with work....it's that time of year. Not much else to report...I'll try to get some new pics up soon!!!

Well, I think winter might finally be breaking -- it has been so cold and snowy lately. Yuck!! It was 50 degrees today - a heatwave of sorts. It was a nice break from the cold. I need the weather to warm up so that we can wash the van and vaccuum out the inside -- I need a break from winter!

The girls are good. KATIE SAID TWO NEW WORDS THIS WEEK - "No" and "Poop" - both in appropriate context. :) Too funny! She is doing so well. We are just thrilled with her progress.

Mary is loving school and is enjoying life as only a 6 year old can. She has two very loose top front teeth -- I have a feeling the tooth fairy will be returning soon......

Per usual, I am short on time - but I finally was able to upload the Father Daughter dance pics. Things here are good, but hectic. Bill and I both have lots of changes going on at our work-places, so it keeps us hopping!!!

Katie is starting to make excellent progress and is beginning to use words, it's so exciting!!

Mary has a 'boyfriend' - I'm not sure we're ready for that -- but more later..enjoy the pics!

I know that I am way past due for a post, but as we have discussed before, I will not apologize for the craziness in my life. We are doing well - just really busy. Mary and Bill had their first father daughter dance last night. I'll try to upload some pics later today. Right now I am rushed for time. It's my mom's birthday and we are meeting them for Chinese - but I am sitting here in pj's with hair color in my hair - waiting for that to be done so I can get dressed and get on the move. It seems as though it is a never-ending cycle as of late -- but all in all we are good.

Mary is doing well in school - she continues to be the toothless wonder -- losing teeth like crazy - but is loving it. She is tying her shoes and reading -- it's awesome to watch her grow up.

Katie continues to be responding well to treatments. She is beginning to use more words and is having meaningful play with toys-- both of those are huge for her.

Bill is liking his new position as harbor master a lot -- he is back doing the things he loves -- parts, moving boats, etc. They are getting ready for the big Boat Show in GR this week - so he is nuts right now. Valentines week is always crazy for us because that is always the week of the boat show.

NASCAR is back -- lovin it!!! I always look forward to the return of NASCAR season. See my link to #8 for more info!!!

Well, I'll try to get those pics up later......

Well the weather is cold here -- and winter is in full swing -- plus I have a house full of "sicko's" too - so it really feels like winter. I was really sick yesterday -- and now both of the girls - especially Mary - are not feeling well. Mary is burning up with a fever and a bad cough - she stayed home from school. I've been trying to disinfect the house so that Bill doesn't get sick. He has so much going on at work.

Not too much else going on. Mary lost another tooth - and Katie is starting to say more words - it's awesome! We're all as busy as ever! More later....

Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time to do all the things you need to do. I have been feeling especially crazy lately when it comes to getting things done. Between work, the house, the girls - it is a neverending cycle. School is back in full swing - Katie is thriving - continuing to say new words, eat new foods and she is truly a joy to me --- Mary is doing well also - the happy kindergartner tying her shoes, learning to ride a bike without training wheels (which is a trick in the ice and snow :) )

Bill, too, is staying busy with the new line of Hobie's and Hobie cats at the marina. Considering it's 12 degrees outside, the marina is suprisingly steady.

Not much else to report. I'm off for a haircut and then I need to take Katie to her speech therapy. It's always exciting to see how she's progressing ----

Okay, well I finally gave in and converted my blog from Beta to Google, so I am back. The holidays were crazy - but I will refrain from apologizing for not being faithful to my blogging family.

We are doing great - especially Katie -- she is starting to talk -- which is a huge answer to prayer -- and so encouraging for us. She has said her name three or four times this week -- which is amazing -- it brings tears to my eyes everytime she says it. I am hopeful that we can do another round of medication the end of this month as it seems to be making a huge difference for her.

Mary lost her first tooth over break and has three more that are loose. She also learned how to tie her own shoes - thanks to "grammo" who spent a whole afternoon patiently teaching her (thanks, mom!).

The Christmas craziness is finally waining at work - so my life is getting back to normal. Bill is back to work after a two week shutdown - which was great as he got to spend a lot of time with the girls.

We have decided to go to Disneyworld this summer - I am so excited!!! We went in 2005 -- but the girls are at a better age now --especially Katie - we are hoping to have a blast.

More later -- lots to do today!

Please allow me to be one of the first to wish each of you a Merry Christmas. I can't believe it is already that time --- December flies by too fast. We have had a wonderful Christmas Eve day - -and I am looking forward to a great Christmas. I am trying to take lots of pics so that I can post the best ones on the blog. I actually didn't have to work today, so that was a huge bonus. It was great to have a day with the family. My parents came over and we ate and played a game - and of course had presents - which is a tradition in my family - to have presents on Christmas Eve - ever since I can remember. :)

Well, I wish each of you a splendid holiday --- I'll post pics as time allows! Happy Holidays!

Apparently it is flu season in our town ! Yikes. Mary woke us up at 4 am to let me know that she needed to "puke". I am so thankful that the Lord gave me a steel stomach to deal with these things. Bill (hubby) was not so blessed and has a really hard time with such things. She laid around all day -- she could barely keep Sprite down. She wants to go to school in the morning -- but we had to draw the line and say "until you can eat, you can't go to school". This is almost humorous because usually we can't stop her from eating == and today you couldn't have shoved food down her throat if your life depended on it. Poor thing -- it made me so sad just to watch her. I think she and I watched "The Polar Express" 3 times before Katie got home from school at noon.

Work tonight wasn't too bad. I can tell it is only 2 weeks until Christmas because people are crazy. We weren't really that busy after 8 pm -- so I got to come home a little early. No complaints here...I'm tired from my 4 am wake-up call. I have cute pics to download from the weekend -- 2 parties and a Christmas program - so as soon as I get those done I will upload them for everyone's viewing pleasure! Have a good day.....

Wow -- the days are flying by. Hard to believe that we are closing in on Christmas fast! Work is nothing but insanity. Today was my 6th day in a row, so I am ready for a break. Tomorrow I am off and I have the infamous scrapbooking/cookie exchange tomorrow night so I am really looking forward to that. I am getting my hair cut in the am and then I need to put some serious time into getting my house caught up. It seems like when I work for a long stretch of days in a row that my house often gets left behind. Oh well, such is life.