Daddy is way more fun!

This last Saturday was a service day in Columbus to kick of the Columbus Bicentennial celebration.  Devin and I sign up for a blood drive and Devin also went to clear honeysuckle from a section of the Olentangy river.  I got sent home from the blood drive for low iron :(  But Devin worked so hard then came home, showered and went to give blood.  Needless to say he was a little exhausted.  So when I asked him to go and sit downstairs to play with the girls, I thought he would just relax while I got some things cleaned.  

I started hearing him say funny phrases, like "Grandpa's bringing home the bacon!" and "Woman, where's my dinner?" Just loud enough for me to hear, then quickly changed to, "Honey, I'm home. Is there anything I can do to help?" (he likes to say thing to get a reaction out of me).  So I snuck downstairs to see what was going on.     

These two were playing with the dollhouse.  I got down just in time to see brother go for his skateboard ride.  But then dad fell and severely injured his leg.  Grandpa rushed him to the surgical table.  

(Don't worry.  Dad signed a permission slip waving his HIPAA rights.  He knows I'm posting this.)  

The surgery was a success!  And Katelyn now knows who is the better parent to play dolls with.  When I play with her, her dolls go to dance class, shopping, church and then they come home for a nice family dinner.  Dad takes them skydiving, sets up a golf course and then everyone ends up on the surgical table at the end of a hard day.  

And through it all, Elyse just sat on the chair dancing and saying cheese because she new my camera was out.  

(notice mom is now on the table in the background.)

Devin is such a great dad.  I love how he pretends with the girls and gets down on their level.  Katelyn thinks he is quite the companion.  She even likes him as a hairdresser.  Tonight, I was taking out Katelyn's 2 french braids and Devin asked her if they itched her head. 

 "They kind of hurt," she said.  

Devin said, "Wouldn't you rather that dad did your hair?"  

"Yes, ONE PONY!  Woohoo!"

I chimed in, "But your braids are so pretty. Don't you like your braids?"

"Well," she reluctantly replied, "  I like braids, but I like them to be... easier."  I could tell she didn't want to hurt my feelings.  It was very sweet.  But I don't think Devin wants hair duty.  One day every once in a while is good enough for him!

Eye Surgery

In May of 2010, I got a virus in my left eye.  It was terrible.  But the worst part was that after the infection was gone, my eye was weepy.  It is a pretty constant thing.  My make-up always runs and it is just annoying.  So I went to OSU ophthalmology to see about getting it fixed.   They said that it was a quick fix to go in and remove the scar tissue caused by the anti-viral drops.   So I signed up and scheduled surgery.

The surgery was yesterday.  And my eye is still weeping.  There was too much scar tissue and it was too far down in the duct system to solve the problem.   It was a little disappointing.  We are so grateful for our good friends and family for checking on us and making sure our kids were watched after and that we were fed. But I do have some funny experiences from the day.

As the were putting me under, they gave me the medicine in my IV.  Before I was out, the doctor came in and asked if I was ready.  Someone  responded that I was sleepy, but not asleep yet.  So the doctor said, "Just give her a little whiskey.  That will put her out."  I quickly opened my eyes and responded,  "No whiskey for me!  I'm a Mormon.  I don't drink!"  He was joking of course, but in my drugged state, I felt like I needed to make it clear that I didn't want any whiskey!

Another thing that is funny now....Before the surgery, the doctor marked which eye he was going to work on with his initials.  Stephen E. Katz---his initials are SEK.   When Devin came in to see me in recovery, he walked in and looked me, and looked at me.  He finally said, "Heidi, why do you have sex written on your forehead?"  I didn't know.  I thought the doctor had just put a star above my left eye.  Then Devin told me that the surgery wasn't successful.  (After I woke up from surgery and was still out of it, the surgeon had told me, but I didn't remember.)  I was so sad.  The nurse came in to see what was the matter with me.  Devin explained, then asked in a very different voice, "But what I want to know is why my wife has sex written on her forehead?" We soon got an explanation that it was S-E-K, not S-E-X.  Devin breathed a little bit, then we came home.   What a day!

Quiet Book

I joined a group at the beginning of June that was doing a quiet book.  There are 9 ladies in the group, and each of us agreed to make 2 pages 9 times and then we are swapping the pages to make one diverse quiet book.  I started on August 4th and have been working ever since.  My  pages are Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.  Each set has 17 accessories and each accessory is double felt and interfaced.  I made 9 sets.  Needless to say, I am sick of Mr. and Mrs. P. 

My ironing board covered in accessories ready to sew.   

 The finished project.  They turned out pretty cute.  

 They each have two outfits.  

And no potato head set is complete without angry eyes. 

 The whole set.  I also made nine pouches for the accessories. Mrs. P's eyelashes are my favorite part.  I had cut out felt eyelashes for her, but my feed dogs shredded them.  So my sister suggested getting false lashes and sewing them into the seam.  They turned out so cute.  

Devin is the most glad that I am all done with this project. It is time to say goodbye to the sewing mess...until next time!

Our Sweet Girls and Elyse Update

A lot has been going on at our house lately.  Devin has started seeing patients, I worked on quiet book pages and had eye surgery, and the girls have just been along for the ride.  They have been such good sports as we have been busy.  Here are some really cute pictures.  You'll notice that they aren't balanced (there are way more of Elyse).  That is because Katelyn got some really fun toys for her birthday and has been playing by herself a lot.  She likes to play with her dollhouse, princesses and coloring books.  I will make a better effort to take her picture while she is playing.  

Here is little Elyse.  She is so much fun right now.  She is blowing me a kiss in this picture.

 Cute pigtails.

 Katelyn with her bucket full of princesses.  

 Kind of a cool picture.  I should send it to the National Forest System.  "Only YOU can prevent forest fires!"

 Katelyn twirling.  We have a lot of fun dancing in the living room.  

Look at how curly her hair is getting.  It also changed color this summer from brown to gold.  Really cute.   

 Katelyn playing with her dollies on the couch.

 Elyse woke up with some crazy hair the other morning.  I like the sequence of these pictures.

"I cannot believe you are already taking pictures of me.  I haven't even eaten breakfast!"

 "Alright, I guess I'll look at you."

 "And maybe smile a little."

 "Awe, now I'm blushing."

 Elyse has started climbing big time.  She can climb onto the kitchen chairs, table, couches, Katelyn's bed and is always look for some new conquest.  She has mastered going up and down stairs but I think the kitchen chairs are her favorite. 

 I put some sunglasses on her.  

Then she was so proud putting them on herself.   

Saying cheese.   

Elyse says a lot of words.  She can say mom, dad, Elyse, cheese, please, thank you, love you, out, all done, cracker, cookie, more, up, down, water, sippy, night night, blanky, hi, go, amen and copies a lot of words we say. She is walking quite a bit now and is really getting a personality.  She likes to pick on Katelyn, steal her toys, and chase her around the house.  She has sat in time out a whopping 3 times now for hitting Katelyn.  I figure that even though she doesn't understand, Katelyn does and I don't want Katelyn to think hitting is okay.  But time outs for Elyse really aren't bad.  I put her on the kitchen chair.  She loves it.  The first time I put her in time out, she started smiling and Katelyn said, "Now fold you arms."  She did and then started babbling and said AMEN!  Katelyn thought it was so nice that Elyse was praying in time out.  

The girls are so sweet right now and I am soaking them up.  I love to be their mom and have them kiss and love me.  Thank Heaven for little girls!