Easter & time with the kids

We had a nice Easter with our family this year. We had an Easter Egg hunt at Aunt Sarah's & Ronnie really loved it. I figured that Gracie would really love it since she's so adventurous, but she didn't like the feel of the grass, so she didn't appreciate the egg hunt. Ronnie & Gracie received Easter "bowls" this year instead of baskets as Ronnie put it. I couldn't get everything into a basket. I didn't think he would notice or care, but I have learned my lesson & will never get a bowl again! Gracie is standing now & trying to walk around furniture. She is very mobile & I am very tired! Spring is right around the corner & we have had some nice weather on a few occasions. They love to swing & be outdoors, but Gracie HATES the feel of grass. When we go outside, I have to hold her, so we don't go out too often. I have taken her for rides in her little car & she seems to enjoy that as long as the car is in motion. Ronnie wants me to get my bike out with the trailer & pull them around the neighborhood. Maybe when the weather is a little nicer. Sounds like a good way to start getting in shape again.

Gracie loves to bang on the patio doors. Ronnie thought it would be fun to bang on them with her. It was loud, but I did find it cute to see them both standing there together, so I had to get some pictures. Also, if you can't beat them, join 'em! Every year for Ronnie's birthday, we have a pumpkin hunt. Gracie has become obsessed with dragging them out if we forget to close the pantry door. It's getting a little tiring to pick them up constantly. Trust me when I say that she drags them everywhere. So I decided to drag them out to the living room & let her play with them. Ronnie enjoyed them as much as her. I have pictures to prove it!

Going for the egg?

Nope. I want my Mommy!

She's not that tall! Ronnie is on his knees...

My friend Annie!!!

My bestest Minnesota friend, Ann, came to visit me over President's day. It was the most wonderful surprise when I found out she was able to come. It's the first time she's been here & we were all so excited. I haven't seen her in about a 1 1/2 years or longer! Too bad the flu hit on the day she arrived. We all got sick & were very gracious to share it with them! Emily has grown up so much & is so bright & funny. Gracie fell in love with her. Ann's boyfriend, Ron, is the most wonderful man & I am so glad she has finally found a guy who is decent & will treat her like a queen. I miss them already! Maybe we can go back to New Ulm to visit this summer. Ronnie keeps talking about his "best friend" Emily. Very cute!

The 3 Musketeers

Ann & clan!
Emily & Gracie
Ann got to meet Gracie!

Every time the camera came out they got crazy!

Ronnie & Emily
Ahhh! Such good friends!
Ann & Ron - Love his name Ann!
Bestest friends

My little Gracie

She absolutely amazes me with her curiosity. She learned to pull herself to stand & within a day of mastering that skill, she started climbing, stairs, the hearth of the fireplace, anything & everything that she can... She learned how to open cabinet doors & pull out all of the tupperware dishes. She learned about toilet paper & oh yeah, she's even taking up golf! She's very inquisitive! We definitely have our hands full. I came home today from taking Ronnie to school & she had gone into Ron's office & found Ron's paper supply & emptied an entire pack of unused printer paper, & then she proceeded to drag it all over the room. When I came in to the room (Ron was "watching" her), she was chewing on a cord from the fish tank. She has dumped our trash can numerous times & then played in it. She requires a constant eye. If it's too quiet, there's something wrong!

On another note, Ronnie made 2 baskets last Saturday at his last basketball game! We are all so proud of him. He really enjoyed it, but now he's moved on to baseball. Daddy will again be his coach! Can't wait...

Isn't this the cutest? LeeAnn & Gracie

Update on Dad

My Dad came home from the hospital on Thursday in much better shape! He's still experiencing soreness in his leg/groin area from all of the procedures he has had to endure. I am a little worried since he told me today he is experiencing swelling in that area. It just seems like his recuperation keeps getting complicated. I'm praying for a positive outcome. Before he left the hospital, he had another setback with a hematoma (I think that was what it was called...). I guess it will just be a lifelong thing to get his blood levels checked & his Coumadin forever adjusted. For those interested in reading his perspective on what happened, he wrote a column for the paper. I might add that he wrote this while in the hospital because a deadline is a deadline! Plus I believe he may have been bored out of his mind! To be honest, I'm sure he was thrilled when he learned he had internet in his room!

http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/archivesearch/local_story_068205254.html

Love ya Dad & I know we don't say it often enough, but I'm so glad you are my Dad & that you are okay. I know my little boy tries to teach me that heaven is something to look forward to, but it's hard for those left behind to comprehend losing you! It's funny how a 5 year old's perspective can be clearer than an adult's!

Dad

I have been a little preoccupied lately. My Dad has been having trouble breathing. To make a long story short, he ended up at St. John's Hospital in Anderson & they sent him via ambulance to St. Vincent Carmel Heart Center in Carmel. It took them 2 days to figure out what was wrong & it turns out he had a pulmonary embolism (basically a blood clot that started in his leg & went up to the passageway to his lungs.) It was blocking the airway to his lungs & causing him to have severe breathing problems. They said the clot was so large that it had been there for awhile. Once they found it, they rushed him to surgery to put in a filter. That will stop any blood clots from entering his lungs & they are giving him shots to thin his clots & prevent future blood clots. It was quite scary seeing Dad unable to breathe or get up to even walk to the bathroom. I was so scared he wasn't going to make it through this. I am so thankful to God that they found the blood clot when they did because it was so close to cutting off all of the passageway to his lungs. He is feeling much better & is getting his sense of humor back now! It's good to see him smiling (and breathing!) again!!!

The lung doctor asked Dad if anyone in the family had problems with blood clots. My Dad's uncle died from a pulmonary embolism. I told him that I was on blood thinners for a short time & he asked me if I had ever had any miscarriages. It was so unreal that he knew that. I guess whatever is wrong with Dad could be the cause of why I miscarried twice. The doctor told me that if Dad tests positive for a protein deficiency, then we all need to be tested & if we are positive, our kids should be tested. I don't really know what this means, but his advice could save us from future problems. I am even more grateful for being able to have Gracie than ever before! Thank goodness the doctors had the suggestion for me to take blood thinners. So, I haven't blogged in awhile & will try to get to add more pictures soon. I have a ton from when my friend Ann came to visit. My mind has been on my Dad & I haven't thought of much else. Thanks to all of those who prayed for Dad & came to the hospital to visit. I know the emails from his friends greatly cheered him up!