Playing in the snow.... not so much :P

Well... the whole thing was a comedy of errors... on my part :P I had gotten stir crazy in the house and so had the girls on Wednesday when Columbus got hit with that ice and snow storm and so many things were closed. So I thought I would hunt down their snow suits (not even sure if they would fit), hats, gloves, boots and anything else I could find that was warm. Then I started the dressing process... which was about 10 minutes worth. After I was done, I got dressed and looked at Cassie and all I could picture was the kid from "A Christmas Story" that kept saying "I cant put my arms down!"... I finally had to dig out the back door just so we could get out... and out we went! About 30 seconds into it ... I was sure it wasnt a good idea... but I was desperate to take pictures of my pink marshmellows in the snow! First Cassie lost her gloves and then she could not see out of her hat.. then Kaiya buried her gloves and was upset and I could not find them for her... still have not found one... and then the sobbing started. This was all in a span of five minutes! SO I gave up, I knew they were too cold and unhappy for snow fun :P As we are getting undressed, Kaiya was still crying and turned around to me and said through her tears "that was great fun Mommy"... I was hysterical. That was the end of our adventure!!!!





Also - after we came in, Cass went missing about 5 minutes later... nothing scary, just not in her usual places.... I found her asleep on her blanket with her butt in the air by the basement and garage doors.. I guess the whole ordeal took a lot out of her :P:P:P Ahh anaaa aahhaa, hee is her pic:

I stole this from Emily's Blog - thought it was cool.... if you read it... your tagged :P

I live: day by day
I work: taking care of my girls
I smell: The lotion I put on the girls before bed
I listen: To the people I trust, Em, my parents, Preston and close friends
I hide: my hips if I can help it... not my best feature currently
I walk: usually with a baby on my hip and walk fast usually... although I am clumsy
I write: Cards to people who have done some thing wonderful
I see: tiny babies when I look at the girls.... I still see their newborn faces when I look at them
I sing: all the time... even though I suck:)
I can: twirl a baton, change a diaper standing up (the child) and sometimes pick up vibes on things that will happen
I watch: mostly stuff my husband and kids watch
I daydream: when I watch my kids dance...
I want: my loved ones to be happy and healthy
I cry: at lots of things, happy and sad.... I am a total softy
I read: Books that are mostly biographies, but I did read the entire Harry Potter series and loved it
I love: when people do nice things for other people for no reason.
I rode: one a Dora mini quad for kids and fell on my booty
I sometimes: I wish I could know what my kids are thinking when they give me funny looks, my dogs too
I fear: loss
I hope: happiness for all the people I am surrounded by
I eat: Lots of Target granola bars
I drink: Coke and water
I play: Bejeweled deluxe on MSN to kill some time when the girls are board... they love it and call it the "Diamond Patch" game... everytime I level up, they put their hands in the air and yell "Blastoff!"
I miss: Pops, baby Duncan, my angel babies, Nanny, Don
I forgive: quickly and fully
I drive: my urban land cruiser.... AKA minivan
I lost: a tiny peice of my heart with each miscarriage, but my girls have filled those back in
I dream: About bizarre, endless and pointless dreams, I usually rememer every detail but cannot recite it back to someone becuase even I cannot make them make sense... weird I know
I kiss: My girls all the time, Preston everytime he leaves and comes home from work
I hug: Anyone I love
I have: been through a lot but when you are down... people come out of the wood work and show so much love and support
I remember: Songs and movie lines... but I am terrible with names, faces and birthdays:(
I don't: totally like myself right now, but know I will again
I believe: in angels and God
I owe: Kaiya some new playdoh because hers is so flakey that the vaccume will not even get them... so we through them away
I know: That God is up there
I hate: lying and being late
I wish: a massage
I wear: My wedding and engagement ring and an emerald ring my Mom gave me
My ex: I am friends with all of them pretty much
Maybe I should: stop eating too much... :)
People would say that I'm: kind of a nut, but I like that
I don't understand: what God has in store for my family, but I trust Him
My past is: filled with awesome memories and happiness
I get annoyed when: Preston leaves his clothes on the floor
Tomorrow: Will be better then today - we wont be so snow bound!!
Never in my life have I: not believed in God
When I was younger, I: was hyper and sooooo dorky
When I'm nervous: my neck gets stiff and my stomach gets messed up
When I was 5: My parents got a video camera and Em and I could not get in front of it enough!
My life is not complete without: hope
If you visit my hometown: Go to Colonial Williamsburg and then go to Busch Gardens and ride the Loch Ness Monster
The world could do without: war
If I ever go back to school: I would be a moron! I am quite happy with my little MBA, that is enough school for me!

I *think* things are starting to look up:)

Ok.... so, Preston was able to fix the toilet all by himself, the ceiling is still a huge issue, but it does not need to be addressed immediately. The fridge has been hauled away and a new shiney working one is in its place:) My Grandmother was generous enough to help us pay for the new fridge and so that was a lot of stress off our plate. I finally got a call for an interview, and it is from the job I really want... part time human resources! So cross your fingers for us that that works out because that would be huge for Preston and I. Also my Mom's doctors have been going back and forth with each other and discussing her medical issues and we think we may be getting our answers faster then we thought as well as Mom wont have to have another test. We are hoping and praying that we get some good news. My Mom certainly deserves it, she has worked her whole life as a nurse and retied just in time to be covered with grandchildren:) She is a very healthy person and deserves nothing less then a clean bill of health. I feel good luck coming on and I am wearing my Mom's ring that she gave me a while ago and it is Kaiya's birthstone. I love it and wearing it seems to make me feel even more hopeful :)

Today was my Dad's 62nd birthday and we went over to Mom and Dad's to celebrate with cake and of course jumping on the bed:) All the kids had a ball and Daddy seemed happy with his little day:)

The girls are good, still battling Kaiya daily on the glasses issue which she seems to be winning at this point.... but I intend to continue being all over her.... Her eye has been much more noticeable turning in and out and it worries me that it is getting worse. She will be seen again in 2 months. Cassie is still completely happily obsessed with her Bink... it is too funny and she still says virtually nothing at 18 months... I find it sweet:) But man does she say Mama... she knows where the goods are!! They are now playing together more as well as fighting more... but they are both strong willed and strong enough to fight and know what they want. Sometimes its funny, sometimes its ugly:) I did not think I would be breaking up catfights so soon (biting, hairpulling, slapping) - still semi humorous:)

Preston is finally on the mend and we never were able to put a name with his mystery illness... all test results came back normal with the exception of his white count... which was elavated. I am starting to think he may have had salmonila or E-Coli... I kept asking the doctors at the specialist and the hospital if it could have been food or water born and no one seemed to think that was possible... but there were no other answers and he finally seems to be without symptoms all around. So we will just pray that it does not return. SO far so good *knocking on wood!* If it had been E-Coli or Salmonila... he could have taken antibiotics and been healthy in days, so I was kinda ticked, but nothing is for sure.

I think that is it. Please keep Mom in your prayers until we know what is happening. Thanks for all the love and support everyone.

*crossing fingers, knocking on wood, throwing salt and watching out for ladders and black cats!*

My sister......

What can I say. As most of your know from my endless complaining, Preston and I have had a heck of a year so far... Preston's illness, my eptopic pregnancy,everything breaking, money issues... and some other issues. Non-stop. Well... today - when we went to get a new fridge... Em trying to give me money... money she might need or could have used on herself and family. But she wanted to give it to me and Preston. I was so blown away. I am so glad we did not need to take it with some help from GiGi and Papa Clay we were able to get a good fridge/freezer... but the gesture was simply an essence of Em's constant selflessness and love for other people. So tonight, Em and Adam offered to make us dinner and we went over there and had a great time and enjoyed an excellent home cooked meal. It was just what we needed after this crazy string of events that has become our lives... Emy -all I can say is thank you and I love you.

When it rains it pours... in my living room....

Ok....so a few days ago I ran up stairs to pee and grab some clothes for the girls because we were going out and I sat down on the toilet.... and it cracked open about 3 inches and water came flying out every where. I could not stop it..... I finally found the valve and shut it off but at that point the water was about 2 inches high in the bathroom.... NO EXAGGERATION.... and that is when I heard the "rain" downstairs. My Mom was here at the house Thank GOD. We ran down stairs to find water coming out of the the front door frame, inside and out, both the fire and carbon manoxide detecters and lights. Then the ceiling started to break open... and continued to.... in three places. We have gaint wet spots and we have about 6 water stains that were still damp 2 hours later. Water continued dripping out of the ceiling for six hours. The ceiling needs to be totally replaced do the damage, mold and the fact the it is textured.

I will edit this post with pics, I have them on my upstairs computer. I took them in case we need them. Talk about an ego booster... breaking a porceline toilet by sitting on it!!! Well, my Mom made me feel a lot better suggesting it was so cold and the water was freezing, so that made the prociline more breakable. The water was ice cold because I was standing in it for about 30 minutes... until it all made its way into our living room.

This has been the nuttiest year of my life.... we are done with bad things happening... I just hope God agrees and gives up a break:)

GO STEELERS GO!!! They are on ther way!

One more win away from being the only team in history to have SIX Super Bowl wins!!!! In their honor... here are some family Steeler pics over the years!!!

Kaiya's first Steelers game



Mommy and baby steeler feet



Kaiya, 3 days old, curled up in the STeelers Blanket her Aunt Jennifer made her and me


Preton repesenting at Disney World on a game day.... by wearing that shirt, he literally had people coming up to him telling him the score since we could not get in at the ESPN zone...


Our basement


My first Steelers game at Three Rivers before it was Hienz Field


Our first baby gift, CHristmas 2005 (I was 5 months) from Emy!!


Cassie sporting her Steelers bib


Preston's feet... with some Kaiya on them...


Cassie in her coming home outfit (it was Kaiya's)... with a bow :P


Our first day home with Cassie


Preston and the girls

Some updates

Me: I feel much better and I think all the side effects are slowly leaving my body from the Methatrexate. On the up and up mentally and phsyically:)

Preston: He had his HTA scan yesterday without event and was not in too much discomfort afterwards. We wont have any reuslts until next week and we will see if he needs to get the endoscopy test done again (after 6 years). But he has a bit more energy and he has been getting his butt to work each day some how. I am proud of him:)

Mom: Mom had her ultrasound todat to check out the mass she has in the wall of her uterus. They were not sure of the results becuase of the location of it, but she will have to have a follow up CT scan, instead of surgery, which she was happy about. We are still praying for good news. So far nothing to worry about yet.

The girls: are sassy as ever and I am now seperating REAL catfights complete with biting, hair pulling and slapping... it would be funny... if it were someone else's kids hee hee:)

My SIS: Em is hanging in there after having her first Migraine in years.... that lasted 4 freakin days:( Their heat went out today as well... did I mention it is -4 today and that is NOT the windchill.... BBBRRRRR. They are working on getting it fixed, if not tey will be heading over to Mom and Dad's for the night.

In other news, my sweet cousin is visiting from NJ. He plays for the Red Sox farm team, which the whole family is so excited about since we all are fans.... and he is doing great, he is 20 now and was drafted directly out of high school. His name is Ryan Kalish.... I am sure everyone will know him someday!! He is such a sweetheart and so down to earth, you would have never known what he does for a living. I am really proud of him:)

I think that is it.... things are "quiet" for now and I would LOVE for them to stay that way :P

The Stapleton year in review.... 2009 SO FAR

January 1st: Preston wakes up feeling iffy and sick and then starts to puke and have lots of bathroom issues. His Dad came down as planned and we both convinced him to go to Urgent Care.... His Dad went with him and I stayed with the girls. ABout an hour later his Dad called and said they were taking him over to the ER because he had "classic gallbladder" symptons and he would likely be in surgery within a few hours. I met them over at the ER as Emy and Mom came to get the girls. They did a few tests and found very little. THey could not do the big stuff because is was a holiday,,,, no one was there.. GGRRR SO the said he had either gastroenteritis or pachreatitis. Sent him home with some meds and said to eat light.

January 5th: Preston went to work as I started to feel some pain in my side. I did not think much of it, but decided to call the OB (since it was in that area) and make an appointment. Preston was gone until 8pm because he started teaching a new class that night and he was exhausted.

January 6th: Went to the OB at 10:30 with Kaiya in hand. Mom watched Cass. I got in to the doctor and he did a urine sample. I assumed that it was to see if I had a UTI... he walked in a few minues later and said "Congratulations!".... "your pregnant!".... Before I could even figure out what my head was thinking all I got out of my mouth was.... "but I am on birth control?" He said, well, lets go see how far along you are... I walked down to to ultrasound room and went in, as soon as his start looking I could tell something was wrong... there was NOTHING in my uterus... and at about 5 or 6 weeks I know you can something! Then he looked into my right tube due to the pain and then we figured it out... I had an eptopic pregnancy. One big shot of Methatrexate (a chemo drug used to shrink tumors) and Phenergan and three Ultrasounds later I was off to get Cass with anti-nauseua drug in hand. Preston came home from work that night stll feeling lousy and the two of us curled up on the couch together and feel alseep almost immediately after putting the girls to bed.... I think it was 9pm. I was scheduled to see him again on Friday.

Januray 8th: Kaiya had her follow up eye appointment which is always stressful. My Mom and Cass came with this time just in case I had any issues with the meds I was on. We were there for 1 hour and 35 minutes. We did discover her vision had improved!! Not a ton.... but there was progress! So we left happy, but I was starting to feel miserable because of the meds I was one. I then got a call from Preston that he had decided to go see his regular doctor the next day because he was still feeling lousy. His appontment was at 2pm, mine was at 10:30am the next day. We feel asleep on the couch once again very early, together.

January 9th: I got up and took both girls over to Moms so I could go to the OB alone this time since Kaiya seemed freked out last time becuase I was so all over the place and confused. I got there and they immediately did another ultrasound... they were pleased wit the "shrinking" and decided I needed another dose of Methatrexate - YUCK! But this time it was a smaller dose. So I thought that was good news. I went back to Moms and could not keep my eyes open so Mom sent me upstairs for a nap. I was asleep in less then a minute. Next thing I know, Em comes running into the room with her cell phone saying Preston was trying to reach me and he needed to talk to me now! I got on the phone and he imformed me that he was in an ambulence on the way to the Hospital again. I was so upset, I jumped out of bed and threw my clothes on... the weather was terrible and I was nervous about driving to the hospital, it is about 10 minutes from my Mom's. I got there in one peice and finally found Preston getting settled into a room. He had an IV going already. After a quick exam they loaded him up with anti nausea meds, Big pain meds and pepcid via IV to try and hep settle his stomach, he had been vomiting everywhere at the doctors appointment and could not even stand up from the pain in his stomach as they were trying to give him a CT in the lab in the building... that was when his doctor called the rescue squad.

All the meds did great getting him comfortable and this time we were very hopeful that we were going to at least get some answers and get him fixed, not like on the 1st. They did an ultrasound and a CT scan. They found very little. His labs came back odd thought. His white count was "significantly elevated" from his last visit. SO we knew SOMETHING was happening his poor body. So after all was said and done (about 6 hours later) they told us they were thinking about keeping him just for pain control. After we discussed the findings .... we discovered that he needed two more tests.... that they DID NOT do in the ER and would not even be available until Monday. It sucked. We still did not have answers and were heading home again. Our only hope is that we can get him in to the doctor do do the tests as soon as possible, but we cannot call until Monday. When we got the girls and got home it was about 9pm and then after they went to bed I went to the 24 hour pharmacy to fill all of his prescrptions (since they were calling for a severe winter storm the next day, that did not happen)... but I got them all to have in the house just in case. I got home at 10:30pm, he was out cold because of all the meds he was given in the ER and I just dropped next to him, we both slept all night on the couch and never made it to our bed.

He will need a Hytascan (sp?) as well as an endoscopy. Both are condsidered outpatient procdures but both are pretty uncomfortable and invasive:( So he are hoping to get some answers from these tests... becuase he is still not feeling well, and he is on tons of meds, which he hates.

Soooo here we are today (January 11th): I am feeling better after vomiting a few times from the Methatrexate yesterday and I have almost no pani any more which is a great sign. I am watching Preston like a hawk because his "episodes" for lack of a better term come on quick and knock him on his butt fast.

Thank you all for your kind words, emails, calls and the prayers we have coming our way. It has been a warm feeling being surrounded by all of this through this crazy few days.

Special thanks to Em for keeping everyone posted and even though she has npot been feeling great, dropping anything to help us. She is a God send and has made all of this a tad bit easier. Alsp thanks to my Mo Mo for all the offers to help and coming over and hanging out with me yesterday which was just what I needed. Love you darlin!!

I think that is it!! After this week I am praying for NO MORE DRAMA for the remained of 2009..... even though it has just begun:P

The binky obsession.....

About 3 weeks ago, Cassie decided to put a binky in her mouth... and that was the end of that! Ever since, we have never been any where without one. It is the first time she has ever wanted binks, and she is 18 months old :P She is now inseperable! So bizarre.... :P

Saturday, December 27th

Exhausted from all the excitement, both girls took 2 and 1/2 hour naps....
Sleep in heavenly peace....

Christmas Day, December 25th

Christmas Day got off to an early start with Cassie getting up at 6am, then falling back asleep on Preston's head as Kaiya and came down stairs. We then had a ball opening our gifts at our house and then went over to Grandmas for a whole load more of presents and craziness.

Christmas Eve, December 24

Christmas Eve was a fun and busy day. We started it off by some last minute shopping, then lunch with Em, hanging with Mom and then got all dolled up to go the Knights house. The Knights are life long family friends from Williamsburg, Em and I have known them and their children all our lives. We even got a surprise visit from Em and Adam and the kids:) After that we got the kids to bed and loaded up the presents under the tree :)