Summer Lovin'

One Giant Leap for Toddlerkind.

Lately it has been so hot that we've had the windows down and the A/C on most of the time. The other day it cooled off so we had opened the windows midday and enjoyed the fresh air. Sounds like a good idea, right? Read on.

For supper, we had spaghetti, which means lots of clean up under Esias' high chair. Dan cleaned him up after he was finished and set him down in order to clean his chair. Esias ran full speed out of the kitchen toward the living room where Eden was sitting in our recliner. He buzzed past her toward the screened window, hit it with both hands out, and FLEW OUT THE WINDOW! He had pushed the whole screen, frame and all, out of the window and landed in the hostas! The fall was about 2 ft. since we live in a ranch style and the windows are very low in the front room...Dan ran out the door as fast as I've ever seen him when Eden yelled, "ESIAS JUST FELL OUT THE WINDOW!" and I ran toward the open window. There he lay, covered in mulch, in the pile of obliterated hosta leaves. He was wimpering a bit, but he was totally and completely fine. We checked him over head to toe and he was perfect, just shaken up and mulch-covered. Once we brought him inside, he was even laughing and thinking it was funny! Oh my. I hope I have the nerves to handle this one!

Calculated Errors.

Marcus: This is a cal-cu-lator.
Elly: He's trying to say "capulator," Mom.
Eden: Elly, do you mean "calpulator"?

Chicago Weekend

Dan and I headed up to Chicago Friday morning to see my "dizzy doctor" at Northwestern University. He is a specialist in dizziness and balance disorders, so he is basically my kinda doc! We got there and checked into our hotel in the south suburbs (near IKEA!) and then drove the crazy city traffic to downtown Chicago. On the way there, we were scanning the channels for radio stations and heard one announcer say that Michigan Ave. was going to be closed due to the filming of Transformers 3! Our first thought was UH OH! Our appt. is on Michigan Ave. And then we thought, AWESOME. Supposedly they had been there working for a few weeks getting the set built and filming was going to start Saturday (yesterday) at 8am. We got down there and fortunately (or unfortunately) the set did not disturb our route at all, but we did hear that Shia LaBeouf was running around in traffic. So, off we go to the dizzy doc. First off, when you have a clinic that deals with people with balance problems and dizziness, DON'T have wet floors upon entrance. And, while we're at it, can you NOT make me ride an elevator? SHEESH. But I made it up to their floor in one proverbial piece and only waited 10 minutes for my appointment time. The Verdict: Dr. Hain does not want me to switch meds, he just increased the dose to 900ml per day (3 x 300). I tried to persuade him that I was a good candidate for a vestibular system removal :) but he didn't buy it. So, Rx in hand, we left and I had a mini-meltdown in the hallway because I hate doctors and I especially hate when doctors tell me to "be patient" or "wait and see" or other patronizing remarks. I know they are just being logical and methodical, but sometimes I want them to experience what I am experiencing, and maybe then they would move a little more quicker to a solution. Ug. Rant over.

We decided to avoid downtown because I was exhausted and emotional (woopsie) and went to IKEA. Shopping therapy! It was nice, but I was exhausted afterward. We ate in the cafeteria there which sounds silly but it is goooood. I love me some Swedish meatballs. We left there with a lamp, sheets, some curtains, a little green potty chair for my boy, and some chokolad for our hotel room enjoyment. Then we proceeded to get my scripts filled at Walgreens.

We handed the lady our scripts and she said, "When did you see this doctor? These scripts are dated April 2008." YGBKM. (That stands for "you gotta be kidding me." Try it out on Facebook, I dare you.) After much cajoling, the employee paged Dr. H. and he corrected the info, even though it was 7pm on a Friday night. Sorry, doc. Didn't drive four hours to leave without my meds!

The rest of the weekend was great and non-eventful in the good sense. Saturday, we met my cousin Matt who is in Chicago for an internship and had lunch together, followed by some geek-out time at the Apple store. After we said bye to Matt, we went back to the hotel, ate chocolate, watched HGTV and napped. Then we woke up and swam and then trekked over to the BEST barbeque place I have ever been to! Sweet Baby Ray's in Elk Grove. It was yummy!

We had fun together, just the two of us. We don't get to do that often. Every time I called home to check on the kids (and Esias especially) they were doing GREAT. Esias has never been left overnight by both of us at the same time so we wondered how he would do. Answer is--FABULOUS! Thanks Grammy, Papa, Berkley, Tiel, Claude, Brynn, and Will for watching them in shifts! Family=awesome.

Uncle Rick

My uncle Rick, my dad's oldest brother, passed away almost a week ago. My two sisters and I traveled down to Great Bend, KS to go to his funeral this past Sunday-Tuesday. It was a sad reason to get together with our extended family, but when it came down to it, the Stantons are tight, through thick and thin. And we made a bad situation a good one by reminscing and enjoying each other and living life together. Rick's service was beautiful and meaningful and we all let the tears flow freely. Much needed and so good. We also laughed and joked at the funeral and while others might not understand us, that's the way we Stantons roll. It's hard to know that we are aging and this is going to continue happening but Lord willing we have lots of years left to laugh and cry and tease and be sarcastic with each other.

I think this quote from my 80-year-old grandfather says it best: "If you came her to take one of us, you'll have to take us all."

I will miss you Rick. You always gave us a good laugh and never failed to tell me how much you loved me and how proud of me you were. I love you Daddy, Aunt Cindy, Uncle Stubs, Uncle Terry, Uncle Tim, Grandma, Grandpa...Aunt Deb, and cousins Ty, Cody, Dillon, Star, and Tia (Rick's kids).

This was waiting for me in the bathroom.

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Ham, anyone?

This is Esias, rocking the mic like a vandal.

Watch out Jay-Z.

The girls staged "America's Next Top Barbie" Show. It was as fabulous as it sounds.

Local (Free) Fun

We had the best weather for July! I know it's only the 5th but still. We avoided the indoors and had some cheap/free fun at local parks and attractions!

The Reservoir...a.k.a. The Rez

The Fossil Gorge...

Awesome fossils were exposed after the 1993 floods.

Johnson Co. Courthouse, the girls call it a castle.

(don't ask what that pose is all about. no idea :)

Below- Iowa City Jazz Fest! We're sitting on the lawn of the Old Capitol.

Much fun!

cOnKeD OuT

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Praying for Wellness.

Eden has been out of sorts since last week. Tuesday night she went to bed not feeling well. Wednesday morning she woke up nauseous and vomited several times that day (so did Elly). Thursday she laid around most of the day, while Elly seemed back to normal. By Friday night, Eden was ok, so we went out to the Fossil Gorge for some exploring. Friday night after midnight, I awoke to "the" sound again! Yuck. So she rested again Saturday. By 7pm, we decided we could go out to Kent Park--this was the nicest weather of the year and we didn't want to miss out on it, so we stayed away from other children and just tried to be outdoors! Anyway, she has gone now ~38 hours without throwing up and still cannot "stomach" the idea of food. She's probably eating 100 calories total since Tuesday night. I can tell she is low on energy but every time she tries to eat she gets grossed out. Elly is back to 100% now. So if you're a praying person (and I highly recommend it :) please pray for Eden's good health to be restored! Also, while your praying, I have an MRI on Tuesday just to recheck my brain. It's been 7.5 years since I started down this vestibular disorder road and we need to do another MRI just to rule out other things. My meds are starting to not work as well so my days have been a little dizzier than I would like. Well, if I'm being honest, I would choose NO dizziness at all! But anyway just pray that the MRI would show something that can be controlled or fixed so vertigo doesn't have to be a hindrance for my family. And we might as well just pray that it just goes away! I go to Chicago on July 16th to follow up with my dizzy doctor, Dr. Hain.

Elly's Big Catch!

We decided to spend the evening at Kent Park doing a little fishing! Elly was the only one who caught anything-- it was hilarious watching her try to reel in this tiny guy. Instead of cranking the reel, she took off running away from the shore! But we got it in and she was proud of her catch. We, of course, threw him back!

\m/(>.<)\m/

Esias just ate ice cream naked, peed on the floor, and then threw his spoon and bowl down. To all this behavior, Dan offered: "I think Esias is a rockstar."

I pledge allegiance...

Elly was waving the American flag yelling, "I LOVE ETHIOPIA!" and Eden corrected her, "Elly, that's NOT the Ethiopian flag." So Elly started yelling, "Ok, I LOVE IOWA!"

Nake-a-roo

Eden got her modesty (or lack thereof) from the Woldruff side. She and the other kids were getting ready to hop in the bath while I brought in some laundry from the line. When I came in, right near the open door, Eden came running up to me stark naked. She started to tell me something and I got after her--"Eden! You are totally naked! Get back in there, away from the door." She looked down at herself and said, "Oh, sorry! I thought I had socks on." And off she ran.