What's Happening.....

Where have I been? There has been a lot going on in the Snyder household. Last Friday I had my two bottom molars taken out. I know, most people get theirs out in their teen years, but I took care of Brian in college when he got his out and that made me wait forever!!!!! Well, I was right in doing so because I was miserable!!!!! Way too much pain for me. I ended up getting "dry socket." Very painful. I had to go back Wed morning for him to pack them. Then I went back this morning to get them packed again. The packing really does help. It takes away the pain, but I have a constant minty flavor in my mouth. I guess that is better than pain.

I started my externship in the NICU this past Wed night. It was a great!!!!!! I am going to be working third shift (7pm-7am). I thought it would drag, but it went pretty fast. I felt pretty comfortable. My preceptor is awesome. She actually took care of Hayden and Ava so that was nice. She kept introducing me to people (which is great) but everyone kept saying I already know her. It was funny. What was amazing to me was there were some nurses who I remembered and they remembered where Hayden, Ava, and Miles spots were in the NICU. It really meant a lot when they remembered Miles and even his name! They really are amazing up there and I am so happy and lucky to be apart of their "family." Anyway, I was put right to work with the babies and the routine. I really do have some advantage with my past experience because I already knew how to do their temps, change diapers with wires all over, and feeding them (which you need to have some technique). I really think I am going to like working in the NICU. We shall see next week how things go. It was a super great first shift experience!!!!

Hayden had his last day of school yesterday. So now we are concentrating on potty training him. I know, he still is not potty trained. This has been a very big struggle with Hayden. He just doesn't want to do it. So, this morning he has big boy pants on. This might be a silly prayer request but please pray for mommy and daddy and especially for Hayden. I want him to feel empowered to do this. It is so time!!!!!!! Funny note: last night we were over at my mom and dad's house booking our resort for our first trip to Disneyland next May. Well, we were showing Hayden in the magazine which resort it was. Hayden said, "We can't go in the magazine" he kept saying it because he thought that we were literally going to the picture in the magazine. How cute and funny is that? I was cracking up!

Don update: He is doing much better! He has moved back to the floor that I was working on. He looks great and is gaining strength everyday. Thank you for all of your prayers!

Here are some recent pictures of the kids.

Hanging out at Mackinaw

Going on their favorite pug ride with Grampy

This is a picture of Hayden's bug shirt that he made at school.

Eating some yummy popsicles

I let them play in the water yesterday for a little bit.

TA DA!!!!!!

The playset is DONE!!!! I am so proud of Brian. He built the entire thing all by himself! What a super Dad! The kids are having so much fun playing on it.

Here is the proof for Brian's coworkers:

We had a nice lunch outside

They wanted to eat their snack on the playset

Swinging fun!

Their favorite: the bronco rider

Hanging out

Tonight as we were winding down together, Hayden was sitting on my lap. He was giving me kisses. He then took his ear and put it to my cheek and said, "Mommy, this is an ear kiss" I thought that was super cute and creative. So give all your loved ones "Ear Kisses" tonight.

Update: Please pray tonight for Don and his family. He coded twice last night. They did take him off the ventilator today and he got to watch his Cubs play and eat lunch. He got to talk to all of his family. My mom just called me and told me that he is back on the vetilator. Please pray for Don and his family to have Peace! Thank you!

Swimming Fun

We had a fun morning today! I didn't send Hayden to school today (I know bad mommy, former teacher) instead I took Hayden and Ava to an indoor swimming pool. They had so much fun! We met up with my girlfriends and their children. Then we went and got McDonalds and came home for lunch.

Before they got in the pool

Hayden loved feeling the water go down his pants

This is Isabelle and Ava

Update: Don ended up coding in the middle of the night. He is now in the intensive care unit. Please pray for him, my Grandma, and his family! Thank you!

Ava's Last Day of School and Update

Today was Ava's last day of school. She had a program at the end of the morning. It was so cute! We were so proud of her. She did all the motions and sang the songs. This is a huge improvement becaue in the Fall and at Christmas time when they did programs she stood there and did nothing and was mad. Last night she told me she wasn't going to sing and she told me the same thing this morning. When I told her that if she didn't sing it would make mommy and daddy very sad. So she said she would sing and she did!!! She was very proud of herself.

Update: We still need those prayes coming! Don was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He has been having a lot of chest pain. Please pray for him and my Grandma. She is going through a tough time! Thank you

Ava doing some motions

Ava before school


My babies!

They always have to do silly faces!

Cheesing it up for mommy

More motions

Playset Progress...

I thought I would post some updated pictures of the playset. It is getting closer to being done. Brian is hoping that it will be finished this weekend if the weather cooperates.

They got to test it out before bed, hence the P.J.s

Ava was acting like a pirate... Argh!

Prayer request: Please pray for Don, my Grandmother's husband, he is in the hospital tonight (actually on the floor that I work on). They aren't really sure what is going on. We will know more in the morning. Thank you!

Done and Done!!!!!!

I am officially finished with my Senior 1 semester!!!!!! I had my last final this morning. I won't know what I got on it until Friday. That makes me really anxious. Although, whatever grade I get won't effect my grade. I will end up with a "B" in the class. Which is pretty good considering a lot of people were hoping for a "C." I only have one more semester left. I will graduate on December 13!!! Believe me it is already on my calendar. In a couple of weeks I start my externship in the NICU. I really am praying that is where I want to work. I won't know until I start working in there. I just hope it isn't too emotional for me. I think I will be fine but you never know.

We are hoping there is no rain this afternoon. Brian wasn't able to work on the playset last night due to the rain. The kids are getting antsy to play on it. Here's to good weather!!!!

Mother's Day and Progress....

I had a great Mother's Day! It was very relaxing and Brian cleaned the whole house (plus dusting) and did all the laundry. We went to my Aunt Julie's house for an early dinner. Hayden and Ava had a lot of fun saying "Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!" because they kept saying it throughout the day. It was funny. Here are pictures from the afternoon.

Brian has been working on the playset. It is slow going but he is doing a great job. Hayden and Ava are so excited for it to be done. In fact, Ava came out in the middle of ballet class to ask me if the playset was finished.

Grammy, Ava, Hayden, and Grandma Mavis

This is the question.... Who is really pregnant? Just kidding!

(We were making that joke on Sunday)

Grandma Mavis had a great idea to play a game. We played "Button, Button, who's got the button?" The kids had so much fun playing this game

Hayden got the button twice

The beginning of our playset

Brian working on the playset

Having fun with Grandpa!

Banquet and Baby Shower

What a very busy day!!!!! Ava and I went to a Mother/Daughter Banquet at the AC Fellowship Hall today with my mom, my Aunt Julie, my Grandma, and Valerie (my sister-in-law). It was a very nice luncheon. We ate lunch (frozen fruit cup, chicken salad on a croissant, cheese bisque, and a chocolate ice cream oreo dessert) and there was a program too. People did a skit, sang, and read a poem. It was very nice. Then we had to rush home because my mom and I were going to my friend Maureen's house for a baby shower for our friend Macy. It was a really nice shower and I got to see some people that I haven't seen in awhile. My friend, Polly, came up the games. We did the dirty diaper game with the melted chocolates and then we played a pricing game with baby products. It was really fun. She held up a baby product and we wrote down what we thought the price was. Who ever was the closest without going over got a point for the product. Needless to say, I didn't win either game. Then I came home and Brian has been busy putting together a big playset for the kid's in the backyard. It has 47 steps and he is up to 6. He is doing a great job considering he is doing it by himself. I will take pictures tomorrow of his progress. I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day! Ava has already whispered to me that they made something for me with Daddy and not to tell anyone. Then Hayden told me they got me flowers. We have no secrets in our house! So Cute!!!

Ignore me, but here are the gifts from Hayden and Ava from their preschools. Ava's is her handprints with a poem and Hayden made me a coaster. Precious!

Ava at the Mother/Daughter banquet

Ava got a special kid's plate (chicken nuggets, grapes, veggies and jell-0 jigglers)

Mommy and Ava

Mommy, Ava and Grandma

The girls at Macy's shower (btm left: Maureen, Macy, Beth. top left: me, Polly, and Beth)

Macy opening a gift

Beth and Her mom, Carol, smelling the diapers

Beth and Maureen smelling diapers

The proud new Mommy, Macy, and baby Moses

Bathroom update and other stuff....

Here are pictures of our semi-finished kid's bathroom. We still need to find a curtain and other things but you can get a good glimpse of it. The kids really like it and we always hear them say, "Our bathroom." It's cute.

Hayden and Ava got to go out to my parent's property in Mackinaw this afternoon. They got their first Pug ride of the season. Then they ate dinner out there, too.

They had such a blast!

Ava eating her PB & J

They had so much fun this afternoon!

I had a really fun afternoon/evening too. I went to see a movie with Megan, Ashley, and Krissy. We went and saw "Baby Mama." It was so funny!!!!! Then Megan, Ashley and myself went to eat at Chili's for dinner. Afterwards we went to get ice cream at Double D's in Pekin. I somehow got my arm/hand stuck in the door. It was very funny but it really hurt and it still does. Then we went to Megan's sisters' house to visit. We have a really great time and a lot of laughs. This is our last week of school before finals. Yipeeeeeeee!!!!!