A little bit of normal

After the whirlwind Payton's new medical stuff has caused, this past weekend we had a little bit of normal. Since it's an outside event, we hit up Touch A Truck ( or Touch A Tow Truck, as Payton says).

On Sunday, we went to Mighty Mavericks at University of Nebraska-Omaha with our friends from Respite Care. So much playing with all the athletes, so fun. Parker had a blast. Payton was a little whiny but was getting into it after a little while.

For those of you waiting....a Payton update coming later this week. Stay tuned!

On the move

These past few weeks have been PACKED with stuff. We've been all over the place. Here are our highlights (including a few triumphs).

Two of my all-time favorite art projects that came home from school. I can't get enough of them. Payton made sure to point out to me that her friend, Chris, has a really neat shadow outline because he has his trach on there too and so no one has a shadow outline like him. Love her.

Randomly dressing up like a bee...

Hitting the Labor Day parade where it is totally normal for storm troopers and princesses to be caught walking the streets. There was a little covering the ears for Parker, but nothing horrible. Alot of talking through the loud trucks but a total success.

Touch A Truck - one of our favorite things to do all year! Parker was wwaaayyyy more excited about it than Payton. But their names were written on a snow plow blade that will be cruising the city this winter.

It has been really, really, really, really, really hot here lately. Afternoons are pretty terrible, so the time to go out is in the morning. Last Sunday we cruised around town. They rode in the jogger and I was the manpower (which is why my face is bright red and theirs aren't). In what feels like 200% humidity and in already warm temps, that makes it a pretty good trip. 5.67 miles later, we were all still smiling so I'm guessing that means I can get them to go again with me.

Summer camps are over at school. This weeks topic is dinosaurs. They celebrated with a trip to the zoo for the dinosaur exhibit. All loaded up and ready to go! Payton was excited but Parker was a little nervous. Afterwards he told me "mom, I was bwave and I jus asked my teachers for help when it was jus a wittle bit scawwy."

Another week of over-the-top gorgeous sunrises.

And tonight of course as Payton is explaining that she wants a hot dog for dinner and I explained I didn't have hot dog buns, this is what happened. I had no idea this is where it was going to go...

Saturday there's a big surprise coming. Stay tuned. And Sunday afternoon we'll be doing this...pictures to come! :)
Mighty Mavs

Touch A Truck

On Saturday we went to the Touch A Truck event put on by the Child Saving Institute .  Since we Payton was sick, she stayed home with Grandma and Parker got a little solo time with Mom and Dad. We weren't too sure how he would do at first - he was a little rattled by the horns being honked on some of them, but he quickly got into it. He would point at whatever was bright colored and say "ooooo ooohhhh" (which is Parker speak for look at that over there). He loved the earth movers, and the bright orange city work trucks that were there. I'm really looking forward to being able to take both of them to it next year. I think they'll have a blast.

And a few other odds and ends...

Later Saturday afternoon, Ms. Payton and I took our quarterly trip to the ER at Children's. We had an amazing doctor while there who has her own boy/girl twins just a few months older than the dynamic duo. We chatted a lot and she completely listened. One quick x-ray and it was confirmed - pneumonia. Fourth time in 9 months.

Parker has a new "thing". He poops in the bathtub. Everytime for the past few weeks. Sunday evening, it was right after I cleaned the bathroom and all the tub toys and been sent through the dishwasher. When you do that, you have to finish your bath in the kitchen sink. Good thing he's still a bit of a runt.

I always figured at some point I would have to explain (or try) to Parker why he has an extra button and Payton doesn't. It never really occurred to me that I would have to explain it to Payton or that she would want one. She is now trying to hook up Parker's g-tube to her belly button when he's done eating.

We spent today at home since they both are sick. We had a long office visit with the pediatrician with Aunt Bo's help and are now home with strict instruction and meds for the next couple days. We spent alot of our afternoon watching the workers across the street and the big trucks they brought with them.

Keep us in your thoughts the next couple days and hope the meds work fast. We've got lots of stuff coming up and we don't need to be sick. :)