Nebraska Trip - Part III

While I was back in Nebraska, even though it wasn't a holiday season, I had lots of plans. I got to spend a lot of time with my immediate family - we got to play some cards, go out to eat, have a tea party, etc. It was a lot of fun getting to see my niece and nephew and how much they have grown. My brother also had his birthday while I was back and of course, we had to let him win a few games ;)

I also got to see a few of my aunts and cousins spread throughout the week, and even happened to get to see my Uncle Wayne since he happened to be in town.

I got to spend some time with my in-laws, and a most of O's great grandparents. O really loved getting to see his Uncle Austin, and definitely missed getting to see him the second time we were out.

I got to spend lots of time with my great friend, April. She is moving at the end of July to Minnesota, so it is going to be more work for us to get to see each other, but I am sure we will manage.

I also got to have lunch with an old friend from high school - it was a lot of fun catching up!

But one of my favorite parts of my trip was getting a pedicure with my Mom and April, without O! I really missed getting those and may have to find a place here to get my toes done!

Nebraska Trip - Part II

One of the more eventful part of my trip happened in my first 4 hours of being there. I had told my parents the week before that I was pregnant and due around March 8th, but I hadn't told my brother and sis-in-law yet.

I decided to "tell" my brother by sending him a picture of my positive pregnancy test shortly after he arrived. Once he finally got the picture, his first response was "yes". We both sort of looked confused at each other. And then asked, "so what do you think?" He then asked "is that yours" - which of course I responded "yes" and showed my sis-in-law. Then he gave me a shocker and told me that was where they had been today and found out sis-in-law is due March 15th! He then told me that he thought I had gotten ahold of their test - which is where the confusion came from.

As if we couldn't get the first two close enough...

Nebraska Trip - Part I

The most eventful part of my Nebraska trip was getting my first speeding ticket in Northern Illinois.

73 in a 55...construction zone...mandatory court appearance...$375 minimum fine - judge decides. I didn't see that darn reduced speed sign...there weren't even any cones or anything yet.

Luckily, the judge saw it my way and reduced it to a regular speeding ticket...$75 fine. Much better, but still I got my first ticket :(

O behaved relatively well in the court room. I can now tell him he first appeared in court when he was 2!

Summer Update

I am done teaching for the summer!! Woo hoo! All but 3 of my 46 students received a C or higher in the class. One stopped coming to class and then magically showed and thought they could pass the final - that wasn't happening. Another constantly had excuses for why is wasn't in class, but since he had taken it before, he would be fine. Don't students get that if you have to RETAKE the class, you don't get it and should be coming and putting more effort in. The last tried really hard and did real well on the homework, just couldn't pull off exams.

On July 2nd, O had an opthomology appointment at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital. After pinning him on my lap, they did a quick exam and they finally saw his eye turn in. Then they had to dialate his eyes - which takes effect after 30 minutes. Then we came back in, pinned him in my lap again while the doctor determined the prescription for glasses. Since I don't have glasses, this was a bit hard for me - but the doctor tried to show me what O was seeing, then I felt worse for having not gotten O in sooner! The doctor also said that there are no guarantees, but wearing the glasses all the time right now may correct his eyes so that he may not need glasses for "the rest of his life." We have a follow up appointment in mid-October so that they can see how the glasses are working, if they aren't, it may mean surgery. The on Friday, I took O to pick out frames and order the glasses. Now, if you have never tried to force glasses on an almost 3 year-old, I hope you never have to. Go on this journey with me....

So, you are in the store with a little boy that doesn't want glasses, but you know you need to get them TODAY. You try on glasses yourself so that he may want to try them on too. But, that doesn't work. You sit him on top of the counter so that he can watch in the mirror as he tries on frames. No dice. So what is a parent to do? You grab two pairs of glasses and take him to the floor. You pin one arm under each of your legs while you put glasses on him, while of course he is kicking and screaming and trying to take them off. First pair, no go. the second time you pin him down and put the glasses on, he stops his crying and fussing and wants to see himself in the mirror! SUCCESS!! Finally, he picks out a pair of frames himself and puts them on, all by himself - these are it. Now, to start the fight to take them off so that we can get them...

Even after this fun couple of days, O still wanted to cuddle with me, go on walks and everything! At least he is this forgiving - if only we all could be!