Since I last posted....

My life has become CRAZY!!! So much has happened since I last posted...

1. My dad had open heart surgery on April 1st. He had a thoracic aneurysm that was 8 cm wide!! VERY SCARY!! Luckily, my prinicpal allowed the whole MAP schedule to be altered so that I could be with him. I spent the night in Joplin, with two of my sisters, so we could spend the evening with him prior to surgery. I shed lots of tears since he was very scared. There was no big, strong oldest-sister-thing going on whatsoever. Both of his parents had the same surgery and never left the hospital. My grandma died during surgery and my grandpa died as they took him off the ventilator. The surgery for dad went well, but lasted about 5.5 hours. He was in the cardiovascular ICU for several days. I went back to the hospital in Joplin to visit that Friday and he was doing much better. He has since gone home and is recovering slowly.

The picture on the right is my sister Tricia, introducing Tanner to her 4 month old, Baby Tristin!

2. Tanner has been sick with some kind of stomach virus that has him making more poop than a kid his size should be able to create. He ended up on a BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice cereal, applesauce, and toast. He also had to be put on a medication for the horribly raw rash that developed and a product called Culturelle, which is an expensive probiotic for kids (that replaces the natural flora in his gut). I have to rinse out the wipes before I use them so it doesn't sting/hurt so badly. It's very sad. He is still very active. He's constantly standing or crawling, and desires to be mobile at most times. His personality is definitely developing and we're loving it!

3. MAP testing (state tests) was over on April 3rd for me, but a fellow friend and co-worker went into labor, and I was asked to administer the four days of MAP testing for her English classes. That finally ended yesterday, and barring anyone in the math department falling ill, I should be finished with MAP for another year!

4. My sister and her boys arrived last evening. Tobin, Tanner, and I were again a part of the welcoming committee. It was wonderful to see them again! The boys have grown so much and are both talking much more than they were over Christmas Break. Melody brought up Griffin's crib so we can use it for our little girl when she arrives.

5. I am officially past the halfway mark for this pregnancy! This past Thursday was 20 weeks. I am showing WAY more than I was at 20 weeks with Tanner. The "all-day sickness" as I like to call it, has greatly slowed, but not subsided completely. I think my energy levels have improved, but it is a little hard to tell with so much going on! I am currently planning her nursery within a tight budget. Still no definite name chosen yet. She is a energetic lil' thing, all 6 inches of her, as she kicks me frequently throughout the day and night.

Mel and the boys will be here for a week, so that will be non-stop fun! Tobin's brother and family are in town for Easter as well! This coming Tuesday is the next high-risk pregnancy Dr. visit, as well as the next OB appt. I'll try to do better at updating anyone that is keeping up with me and my family! HAPPY EASTER everyone!