I have been dragging my feet about what to do about a future dance class for Karla ever since her summer class ended. There were some things that I didn't like about where/who she took lessons from this summer so I wanted to find somewhere else. Everywhere else seems like such a huge commitment with dance classes going from September to May.
Today Karla and I finally went to the dance studio I had heard the most good things about and that was reasonably priced. I wanted to stop in and just see the place and get a feel for it. I'm glad we did! We got to meet the teacher she will have and she gave us a tour of the place. There are several studios and they all have mirrored walls and barres....our last place didn't have either of those. Karla got to see the studio she would dance in and see where I will sit to wait for her. I ended up signing her up and she and I were both excited when we left! Her classes start next week - glad there was room left in the class! She'll be doing ballet and tap again. It has been funny how at different times today she has started to talk about dance, the studio, or her teacher. She's thinking about it that is for sure!
We also went to the library today. I love how much Karla enjoys going there...mostly because I enjoy it so much too! She couldn't wait to get home to read ALL the new books we got. We spent lots of time reading together and she spent time looking at her books alone too.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Mammy and Pappy's house
Jason took his annual trip to San Francisco this week so Karla and I enjoyed our 2nd annual trip to Mammy and Pappy's.
My grandparents are pretty amazing. Mammy just finished radiation last week and was ready to host us this week!
Prior to going to Mammy and Pappy's I had asked Karla if she wanted to sleep in the bed with me for our visit (thinking she'd be excited about that) but she said "no, I want my own bedroom like at Grandma and Grandpa's." Last weekend when we went to Grandma and Grandpa's Karla slept in a bedroom by herself. It was the FIRST time she didn't sleep on a mattress in the same room as Jason and I. This was HUGE!!!!! This IS huge! :) I am proud of her! Also a little relieved to see some independence in this area. So, she slept in a separate room at Mammy and Pappy's house too! As most of you probably know, sleeping has always been and still sometimes is a big issue for us so this is great. We really haven't spent the night many places at all since Guatemala...so at least we are making progress and will feel less "nervous" about sleeping at a hotel or something someday.
Monday we hung out at Mammy and Pappy's house. Karla helped make home-made ice cream, did a taste test and then enjoyed two bowlfuls after dinner. She also learned to play Old Maid and we played many rounds of that!
Keeping an eye on the ice cream maker:
Taste test:
Karla and Mammy LOVE ice cream!!
Tuesday we went to the "Good Zoo" in West Virginia. It was in the nineties so it was quite hot! Karla was a trooper. She liked seeing all of the animals and was excited about riding the zoo train. When we first arrived at the zoo we were told they didn't know if the train would be running at all that day because it had caught on fire first thing in the morning! Karla was concerned about this but still wanted to ride the train. Luckily, right before we left the zoo they had their second train up and running and we got to go for a ride. Mammy bought Karla a souvenir...a stuffed lorakeet (bird) who has since been named Lora. Pappy and Karla played with Lora and Oso most of the way home.
After the zoo we went to Hoss's to eat. Karla enjoyed a juice box, pudding, and my mashed potatoes. She ate some of her hot dog too. :) And of course she also liked the ice cream with M&Ms on top. Next we made a stop at a farmer's market to buy some corn on the cob which we've (Karla) has been talking about since we first arrived at Mammy and Pappy's. The corn at the market was all gone! Karla was starting to cry (because she loves corn and was looking forward to it) when the farmer told us it was gone so he gave her a free little container of apple cider. She took a sip and then smiled and said "that made me feel happier!" I was glad crying was averted.
We hadn't been back to the house 10 minutes when the phone rang. It was someone Mammy and Pappy knew at the farmer's market who knew we'd been disappointed by the lack of corn. She said someone had just come in with a bunch of corn and that she was going to buy us some and we could come get it when we wanted to! Off Pappy went! :) We had corn for dinner - and more the next day!
We also spent time during our visit watching the Sound of Music. Mammy and Pappy had never seen it! Karla also learned to play Uno and Go Fish. She enjoyed following Pappy around to water his flowers and tomato plants....or even to take trash out.
Mammy and I worked on an idea for a shirt for Karla's birthday and/or birthday party this year. :) It is princess related...
It was fun to get away for a few days and relaxing! Not sure I can say the same about Jason's trip - except when he got to have dinner with my good friend Sara! But we all have the next 3 days together!! Yeah!
My grandparents are pretty amazing. Mammy just finished radiation last week and was ready to host us this week!
Prior to going to Mammy and Pappy's I had asked Karla if she wanted to sleep in the bed with me for our visit (thinking she'd be excited about that) but she said "no, I want my own bedroom like at Grandma and Grandpa's." Last weekend when we went to Grandma and Grandpa's Karla slept in a bedroom by herself. It was the FIRST time she didn't sleep on a mattress in the same room as Jason and I. This was HUGE!!!!! This IS huge! :) I am proud of her! Also a little relieved to see some independence in this area. So, she slept in a separate room at Mammy and Pappy's house too! As most of you probably know, sleeping has always been and still sometimes is a big issue for us so this is great. We really haven't spent the night many places at all since Guatemala...so at least we are making progress and will feel less "nervous" about sleeping at a hotel or something someday.
Monday we hung out at Mammy and Pappy's house. Karla helped make home-made ice cream, did a taste test and then enjoyed two bowlfuls after dinner. She also learned to play Old Maid and we played many rounds of that!
Keeping an eye on the ice cream maker:
Taste test:
Karla and Mammy LOVE ice cream!!
Tuesday we went to the "Good Zoo" in West Virginia. It was in the nineties so it was quite hot! Karla was a trooper. She liked seeing all of the animals and was excited about riding the zoo train. When we first arrived at the zoo we were told they didn't know if the train would be running at all that day because it had caught on fire first thing in the morning! Karla was concerned about this but still wanted to ride the train. Luckily, right before we left the zoo they had their second train up and running and we got to go for a ride. Mammy bought Karla a souvenir...a stuffed lorakeet (bird) who has since been named Lora. Pappy and Karla played with Lora and Oso most of the way home.
After the zoo we went to Hoss's to eat. Karla enjoyed a juice box, pudding, and my mashed potatoes. She ate some of her hot dog too. :) And of course she also liked the ice cream with M&Ms on top. Next we made a stop at a farmer's market to buy some corn on the cob which we've (Karla) has been talking about since we first arrived at Mammy and Pappy's. The corn at the market was all gone! Karla was starting to cry (because she loves corn and was looking forward to it) when the farmer told us it was gone so he gave her a free little container of apple cider. She took a sip and then smiled and said "that made me feel happier!" I was glad crying was averted.
We hadn't been back to the house 10 minutes when the phone rang. It was someone Mammy and Pappy knew at the farmer's market who knew we'd been disappointed by the lack of corn. She said someone had just come in with a bunch of corn and that she was going to buy us some and we could come get it when we wanted to! Off Pappy went! :) We had corn for dinner - and more the next day!
We also spent time during our visit watching the Sound of Music. Mammy and Pappy had never seen it! Karla also learned to play Uno and Go Fish. She enjoyed following Pappy around to water his flowers and tomato plants....or even to take trash out.
Mammy and I worked on an idea for a shirt for Karla's birthday and/or birthday party this year. :) It is princess related...
It was fun to get away for a few days and relaxing! Not sure I can say the same about Jason's trip - except when he got to have dinner with my good friend Sara! But we all have the next 3 days together!! Yeah!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Summer Review Part 1
I've had a draft with a list of things we've done this summer. Things I wanted to write about in detail but probably won't....time always gets away from me. So here is a summary:
*In July we had a visit from Aunt Brenda, Uncle Russ, and baby Kiera. Karla and Jason got to meet Kiera for the first time. Karla still pretends to have a "baby" in her tummy frequently and she either names it "baby Oso" or "baby Kiera."
Here is a picture of me,K, J, and my siblings and their spouses and all my NIECES!
*Uncle Kevin came over and played with Karla for a couple days right after my surgery
*for my birthday we got a family portrait taken :) I was the only one really excited about that...it was my birthday so that is what we did!
*Jason and I got to go out to a nice dinner for our 10th anniversary. It felt like we hadn't had a relaxed dinner out in quite a while. We almost didn't know what to do. We ended up walking around downtown for a while and then the mall. It was nice to spend some "quiet" time together. We got new bedroom furniture in April as our anniversary gift. Jason promised me soon after we were married that he would get me bedroom furniture for our 10th anniversary. I thought it was funny because 10 years seemed like a long time away and I just knew I'd have new furniture before then. BUT as the years passed it became a joke...and then by year 8 and 9 it became something that I told him MUST happen on year 10! :)
*We had VBS at our church. Karla loved it again this year. It was neat to see how much she has grown and changed since last year! I talked the 4-5 year old class again so it was a busy week for us. Next year I'm going to teach a different class since Karla will be in the 4-5 yr class then! AH!
*Karla and I got to visit with my good friends Sara and Jennifer.
*Our friends invited us to their house on a lake so we went there for a weekend. It was a lot of fun. We got to ride on a pontoon boat and an electric golf cart. Karla went fishing for the first time and she LOVED it. She had a great deal of patience with it and caught 3 fish! There was only one other man that caught that many fish that day. I forgot my camera when we went to the lake so I didn't get any pictures! I will have to ask our friends for some pictures. :)
*Karla still loves to play Barbies. I have recently had to set limits on how long I will play them at one time with her...otherwise...I could go crazy!
*We still play prince and princess a lot too...even outside in the yard or at the park. I had hoped being outside would spark new ideas... :)
*We've enjoyed going to the library every two weeks and getting new books. Books could be Karla's second favorite "activity" behind Barbies/prince and princess.
*In July we had a visit from Aunt Brenda, Uncle Russ, and baby Kiera. Karla and Jason got to meet Kiera for the first time. Karla still pretends to have a "baby" in her tummy frequently and she either names it "baby Oso" or "baby Kiera."
Here is a picture of me,K, J, and my siblings and their spouses and all my NIECES!
*Uncle Kevin came over and played with Karla for a couple days right after my surgery
*for my birthday we got a family portrait taken :) I was the only one really excited about that...it was my birthday so that is what we did!
*Jason and I got to go out to a nice dinner for our 10th anniversary. It felt like we hadn't had a relaxed dinner out in quite a while. We almost didn't know what to do. We ended up walking around downtown for a while and then the mall. It was nice to spend some "quiet" time together. We got new bedroom furniture in April as our anniversary gift. Jason promised me soon after we were married that he would get me bedroom furniture for our 10th anniversary. I thought it was funny because 10 years seemed like a long time away and I just knew I'd have new furniture before then. BUT as the years passed it became a joke...and then by year 8 and 9 it became something that I told him MUST happen on year 10! :)
*We had VBS at our church. Karla loved it again this year. It was neat to see how much she has grown and changed since last year! I talked the 4-5 year old class again so it was a busy week for us. Next year I'm going to teach a different class since Karla will be in the 4-5 yr class then! AH!
*Karla and I got to visit with my good friends Sara and Jennifer.
*Our friends invited us to their house on a lake so we went there for a weekend. It was a lot of fun. We got to ride on a pontoon boat and an electric golf cart. Karla went fishing for the first time and she LOVED it. She had a great deal of patience with it and caught 3 fish! There was only one other man that caught that many fish that day. I forgot my camera when we went to the lake so I didn't get any pictures! I will have to ask our friends for some pictures. :)
*Karla still loves to play Barbies. I have recently had to set limits on how long I will play them at one time with her...otherwise...I could go crazy!
*We still play prince and princess a lot too...even outside in the yard or at the park. I had hoped being outside would spark new ideas... :)
*We've enjoyed going to the library every two weeks and getting new books. Books could be Karla's second favorite "activity" behind Barbies/prince and princess.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Cuteness
Karla has been playing with Oso and his "mom" and "dad" a lot lately. She asked me to take a picture of her with "the whole family" last week...of course I wasn't going to pass that up!
We went to Grandma and Grandpa's this past weekend and went boating yesterday. Here is a link to some photos I put on facebook. Enjoy!
We went to Grandma and Grandpa's this past weekend and went boating yesterday. Here is a link to some photos I put on facebook. Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Surgery - done and mostly recovered!
I've been a bit slower to blog lately but a large part of the reason is because I had surgery on my right wrist 3 weeks ago. I was pretty nervous about it after having surgery on the left one in February. I didn't realize how "bad" the first surgery and recovery was until it was over...and took a few months to fully recover. I sure wasn't eager to do it again but was in pain and didn't want to further damage the right wrist. I wasn't happy with my first doctor so I went to a second doctor for a second opinion and I wanted a new doctor. I am almost fully recovered from this surgery and it has only been 3 weeks! I don't even feel like the 2 surgeries are comparable. They were totally different and this one was SO much easier - and it was my dominant hand!!
This doctor gave me a reason as to why this happened to both my wrists. My ulna is slightly longer than my radius (and it is supposed to be slightly shorter) and that puts extra pressure on the ligament that holds the two bones together (the one that tore in both my wrists). The surgery I had has an 80-85% chance of "success". If for some reason the ligaments would tear again then they would have to go in and basically cut the bone down to make it shorter. The doctor seemed optimistic that this would fix it so I am thinking positive...and am going to be more careful with what I do with my wrists!!
Anyway, the second surgery was at a surgery center rather than the hospital. I was given a nerve block rather than being put totally out (although I did sleep through the entire thing). I was nervous about going to a surgery center rather than a hospital and about the nerve block but it was SO SO much better! Quicker to recover too. If I ever have to have surgery again (and I hope I don't) I will definitely want to go to a surgery center!
Oh, and the other GREAT thing - I haven't had to have occupational therapy this time!! As long as I continue to do well, I won't have to!
In Karla-related news, she attended her first Bartels Family Reunion today! It is my mom's paternal(Pappy) side of the family. We didn't get to go last year because Karla was having asthma troubles. It was fun to take her this year since I have enjoyed going since I was a little girl. Now she gets to meet everyone, play on the same playground I did, and swim in the same lake. I didn't take any pictures - I was too busy - so I'll have to get some from other family members.
This doctor gave me a reason as to why this happened to both my wrists. My ulna is slightly longer than my radius (and it is supposed to be slightly shorter) and that puts extra pressure on the ligament that holds the two bones together (the one that tore in both my wrists). The surgery I had has an 80-85% chance of "success". If for some reason the ligaments would tear again then they would have to go in and basically cut the bone down to make it shorter. The doctor seemed optimistic that this would fix it so I am thinking positive...and am going to be more careful with what I do with my wrists!!
Anyway, the second surgery was at a surgery center rather than the hospital. I was given a nerve block rather than being put totally out (although I did sleep through the entire thing). I was nervous about going to a surgery center rather than a hospital and about the nerve block but it was SO SO much better! Quicker to recover too. If I ever have to have surgery again (and I hope I don't) I will definitely want to go to a surgery center!
Oh, and the other GREAT thing - I haven't had to have occupational therapy this time!! As long as I continue to do well, I won't have to!
In Karla-related news, she attended her first Bartels Family Reunion today! It is my mom's paternal(Pappy) side of the family. We didn't get to go last year because Karla was having asthma troubles. It was fun to take her this year since I have enjoyed going since I was a little girl. Now she gets to meet everyone, play on the same playground I did, and swim in the same lake. I didn't take any pictures - I was too busy - so I'll have to get some from other family members.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Last Dance Class
Karla had her last dance class for the summer today. I am going to try to get her into another class this fall but at a different location/studio. They had a short program today for family where they did tap and ballet.
Here she is doing one of her favorite moves.
Check out the seriousness. I'm not really sure that she was supposed to be doing that move again or not...
She got a medal (and a lollipop) at the end of the class. Her first medal! :)
And her favorite part of the whole experience may have been that Daddy bought her flowers! She said she has always wanted to get her own flowers. She was pretty excited and they were "all her favorite colors!"
I loved watching her perform today....and I don't think anyone noticed that I did get teary-eyed! Don't know why...I guess because it is just so fun to watch her do and enjoy new things.
Here she is doing one of her favorite moves.
Check out the seriousness. I'm not really sure that she was supposed to be doing that move again or not...
She got a medal (and a lollipop) at the end of the class. Her first medal! :)
And her favorite part of the whole experience may have been that Daddy bought her flowers! She said she has always wanted to get her own flowers. She was pretty excited and they were "all her favorite colors!"
I loved watching her perform today....and I don't think anyone noticed that I did get teary-eyed! Don't know why...I guess because it is just so fun to watch her do and enjoy new things.
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