Time to talk about Halloween!

Of course, I have to talk about Halloween 2011 now! Lets see, this year it was on a Monday, which anytime its on a week night it becomes totally inconvenient for everyone. On top of that, it had SNOWED the day before and half the state had canceled Halloween due to power outages, except for our town being one that did not. So wether we want to or not, we were able to go out.

This was Avery at home. How cute is she??

Since Cameron's first Halloween, we have been using my sisters house as the meeting spot for all that want to come trick or treating with us, or just come and see the kids all dressed up. This year, we had my family, my two sisters with their kids, my parents, my in-laws, and my bestie Steph with her family all get together. I got my littles dressed inside, since a fluffy watermelon baby does not fit well in a car seat, then we all went out for pictures. The ground was so wet and it seemed to get dark waaay earlier then in the previous years that pictures of everyone didn't turn out great.

Even fruit can put on a few pounds!

Me, Avery(8mos), Bryce(8mos), and Steph

Ryan the Fireman, Ashlyn the Witch, Cam the Police Man, Bryce the Cow, and Avery the Watermelon getting ready to get some candy. Aubrey was here, too, but didn't not make it into this picture. I think she was still eating inside at this point!

I switched Avery into something a bit warmer and stroller friendly for trick or treating.

Auntie Tina consoling Cameron after he was scared to death by a life sized zombie with bleeding eyes that moved and made weird noises!

The cousins

We went to about 12 houses, but it took us about 45 mins cause they had to get in and out of the wagon each time and walk to the house, pick out their candy and of course the people at the houses had to tell each kid how cute they were and blah blah blah. We know :) The kids had so much fun being out, but were fine when we got back to the house, which made it so much better for us parents!! I would say this Halloween went off without a hitch, even with the bad weather and it being on a weeknight. So much to say, that we may have to crash our in-laws town (which postponed it!) to do it all over again! We shall see :)

Snow before Halloween!

Before I get into it, I don't do much today and didn't take any pictures because I had the worst migraine of my life today! Glad Mark was home, for sure!!

So anyway, we had SNOW today!! It started last night, two days before Halloween!! Ridiculousness!! We hardly get snow before Christmas, let alone in October! We were scheduled to get a Nor eastern storm with tons of wind and rain, but as the time went on and the temperatures dropped, snow was in the forecast. We don't always trust the predictions of the weather people so we weren't to worried. It was raining, but we went to our friends house for pizza and then planned to go to a Halloween party at the towns Fire Department. As the dad's went out to get pizza, it started snowing and we nixed that idea! On our way home (at 8, mind you!) it was snowing pretty good and when we woke up it was probably 4-6 inches!! Not a ton of snow, but there are still leaves on the trees, so TONS of trees and branches fell down, knocking out tons of power in surrounding towns. Some of them have already canceled school for tomorrow, and maybe even longer! I'm glad to live where we live cause I don't know what my family would do with out power, aka HEAT! I feel awful for those people, which include my parents and in laws! Not a good time of the year for no heat. Stay warm everyone!!

And thank you Mark for being an awesome dad while I couldn't take care of the kids!! (He really is the best!!)

Weekend Recap, Part 2

Sunday we had our own pretend early Halloween get together. Originally, it was going to be a larger party so that I could see my kids dressed up in their costumes before my surgery, but since its been postponed, we decided to keep it to the family (mostly). Michelle, Chris and my niece, Aubrey, live an hour away so it's not the most convenient ride on a Monday night to do the real Halloween festivities. I've had Avery's costume, a watermelon (from Children's Place) for a few weeks but hadn't got Cameron anything as of that morning!! Forever he had been saying he wanted to be a pirate, but every costume I saw was pretty awful. Se we decided to go to a Halloween costume store in our town that morning so see what we could find. First of all, the store was kind of creepy for a 2 year old! Lots of creepy, gory stuff that I thought he'd be afraid of, but nope. He wanted to go up and touch everything!! So this did not make picking out a costume easy!! Also, he was so indecisive!! After showing him all that we liked, that came in his size, he choose the police officer, mainly because it came with a whistle. He NEEDED the whistle!! Funny thing was, without even talking about it, my sister had her son as a fireman!! They were way to funny together!

When we got to my parents house, the whole immediate family was there (all 14 of us!) plus some friends of ours and their 16 month old twin boys. We got them all into their costumes and they played around in the yard. Cameron and Ryan were hysterical! Cam was arresting Ryan, stopping traffic and blowing the crap out of the whistle! They turn into such little spaz's when together! Of course, Avery and Aubrey didn't do to much, other then look cute all dressed up! My pictures came out awful because I didn't change my settings as the sun starting to go down, but I got a few. Of course, trying to get all of them sitting at one spot, looking cute just wasn't happening, but maybe on the real Halloween night!! So here are the few I got!!

Mark with his puffy melon! I thought she'd hate me putting her in this, but she actually liked it!

Cam in character!

Trying to reach her pumpkin with all that padding!

The cousin fruits, Aubrey was a strawberry

The girls with their mom's

Weekend Recap part 1

We started out the weekend just laying low, which I love, by the way!! If I could just hang out and get things (although this rarely happens!!) done around the house all weekend, I would never leave!

So let's see, Friday night after Mark got home from work we just hung out at the house and had some goofy time. Cameron is obsessed with songs and dancing, so although I didn't upload the video yet, while I was feeding Avery her carrots for dinner, he played the Yo Gabba Gabba's "Party in my Tummy" song (so yummy, so yummy) on his iPod and danced around like a maniac behind me. At first Avery didn't know what to make of it (hence the picture!) but she eventually started laughing at him and banging her hands on the tray. I'll see how the video turned out!

After dinner, Cam decided he wanted to be a real life Mr. Potato Head. With a cold, that mustache got a good sanitizing after he was done! He really likes being in character, and was pretending to put out fires. He's quite the ham!

On Saturday, we hung out at the house a little bit and tried to push Avery into moving around a bit more. I feel like she doesn't get the attention that we were able to give Cameron, as an only child at the time, so she's a little slow with getting more mobile! I mean, she sits in her Exersaucer alot so I can make lunch for Cam or run him to the potty. She's a pro at sitting up, and has been for awhile and for the past few weeks she's been obsessed with pulling up and standing. She gets so proud of herself! She'll also walk (wobbly!) while holding your fingers. So cute! We just need to let her roll around the floor alot more to gain some strength in her arms to get that crawling started, even if she doesn't like it!! Its hard though cause Cam is constantly running and throwing things around, I'm afraid she'll get hurt!

We decided to break out the door jumper and see how she liked it. For a minute she wasn't to sure..
But she decided it was awesome!!She just bounced in circles as her brother danced around her, like a maniac of course!
He even pushed like an out door swing for a few, but she wanted to do her own thing!

So that was the "lay-low" part of the weekend! All the hectic family time usually falls on Sundays when all of us get together! To come...

Girls night out!

Quick, and no photos, but what can you do!! Tonight I went out with two of my longest friends for dinner. Originally, the plan was to go out a few nights before my surgery to take my mind off of things, but since that has been postponed, we decided it would still be awesome to go out and have a "play date" with no kids or husbands involved (sorry Littles and Mark!!, oh and Justin and Chris!) Oh, but before I get into the fun times out, I have to comment on leaving my house! Just so you know, I have not been out of my house for some sort of alone "fun" night for about 2 years and 9 months! Not that I'm complaining in the least! We go out with the kids, because we want to! But anyway, while I was getting ready, Mark was giving the kids a bath in hopes that I could sneak out with out them knowing. But of course, the bath didn't last as long as we had hoped, so as I'm sitting on the couch, I hear Cameron calling for me and go to the bottom of the stairs and see Cam at the top, naked, saying "look at my bum bum, Mommy!" He's standing there shaking it and laughing hysterically while doing so! He's such a ham. But when my ride shows up and he realizes I'm leaving without him, he starts crying and saying "mommy don't leave me, stay for me!" Over and over. It was kind of devastating! But I knew he'd calm down and I had to do this! So to the car I ran! :(

But anyway, I got picked up by my bestie since 1st grade, Steph, and we drove together to a restaurant called 3 in Franklin and met up with Anne, another bestie in high school (love them both!) for dinner and dessert, of course! Even though I was away from my kids and out of my current safety element that I have come so accustomed to, I had so much fun catching up, remembering old times and just talking about "stuff". These times really do help me put things into perspective. It helps me to realize that everyone in the world has a "situation" at some point in there lives. Sometimes the caliber of this situation may seem big or small to people on the outside, but to the person going through it will always see it as a life stopping, unwanted issue that they did not ask for. So to say "shut up, mine is worse" and not give the time, effort and compassion to the people you care for is a very selfish way to live. The support I get from these awesome girls (and my family of course!) is amazing and I hope they feel the same, or at least that I'm trying, to do the same for them, either now, in the past, or will in the future. For a long time I felt like as a 30 year old girl (or do I have to say women now??) I have learned all the things I will learn and have become the person I will continue to be. Now I know, this is the furthest from the truth, and people like Anne Marie and Steph have helped me to see this. If I allow myself to open my mind more, I will continue to learn more things and become a better, more compassionate and supportive person to the people I love. Because to make it through something, support is the only thing that helps you to survive. And when things are thrown on you that you did not ask for can be devastating! And you can never forget that you need to be with people who know your worth. You don't need to many people to be happy, just a few real ones who appreciate you for who you are, healthy or sick, happy or sad, rich or poor, married or divorced, etc. These people support you and continue to make you into the person you are destined to be. And all will be good as long as you can reciprocate.

Ok, enough about that for now (I'm babbling an prob. not making sense). To sum it up, it was a good night, and what we talked about got me thinking :) And no, that wasn't quick! Sorry!

My day, like most!

So we had big plans for today! But of course, when do plans ever work out? :) We went to my mom's in the morning and once I got there I realized I wasn't feeling good, brain wise. I was having cluster seizures and really, aside from daily medication, the only thing that helps to get rid of these is rest. So I laid down on the couch in the family room, while my mom played with the kids in hopes of resting for an hour or so and then getting on with our day's plans.

I ended up falling asleep, deep sleep. Kids playing loudly, a little crying, television, nothing could break this sleep! When I finally woke up, it was noon! Avery was out of her jammies, Cameron had been fed lunch and the 12:00 stretch of Cailou was on. I couldn't believe I had slept this long! But guess what? My seizures were gone and the later part of the day could go on, a little bit as planned. After a few errands, we went to a local farm to for a snack. Or should I say dessert! They make such wonderful seasonal desserts here, I should have taken a picture of what we ate! After eating these (and being sort of attacked by a very hungry bee!!) We walked around, played on hay stacks, took pictures in those little stick-your-head-in-and- smile scenes and picked out pumpkins.

Cameron was so excited for his pumpkin that he insisted on bringing it up to the cashier, after patiently waiting in line, and even gave her the precious money to buy it. I was very proud of my big boy! Hopefully it is big enough to carve. He wanted to be able to carry it, so we ended up with a somewhat small pumpkin. I think they were $.50 a lb and it was like $1.20! We will try! If not, markers and stickers it is!! Oh and btw, it was middle of the day sunlight, with hardly any shade to be seen, so many of my photos were blown out, so this is what we ended up with, blah. But I did get a cute one of Avery in her most common daily location:

And one of her little feet. I am obsessed with these little feet! And they are so little and its just starting to get cold, that this is only the second time she has worn shoes! How cute are these feet? Oh and the shoes!

Surgery Update

Ok, I'll make this quick. So my brain surgery was supposed to begin happening October 25th, so about a week from today. I went into a doctors appointment on Thursday, just a check up with my neurologist, Dr. Pennell, before the surgery. We knew something was up when we first sat down in her office. She just looked so nervous!! She began by saying that she had been milling over my case for a few weeks, with me on her mind for awhile now. Because of this, she decided to bring my case up to the neurological council a more few times and many people on the council decided that it would be in my best interest to utilize some new resources that have recently been installed at the hospital. Part of this is because with the testing I have previously had done, the area of the brain that they believe the problems to be located has been narrowed down to a small area on the left frontal lobe. This area, however, is about the size of a plum, and she wants the area to be narrowed down to the size of a pencil eraser so that more then necessary is not removed. This area is also very close to there area where language and memory in most right handed people is located, which if removed could cause some issues. A new neurosurgeon, who's specialty is in a bit more difficult cases like mine, has been assigned to my case. Her name is Dr. Alex Golby (her site is here: http://golbylab.bwh.harvard.edu/index.html which explains in more depth some of the things she does and will be doing in my case) and according to Dr. Pennell is very meticulous in her work and knows the equipment amazingly. They both believe that by using this new facility, The AMIGO suite (here:

http://brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/amigo/default.aspx), they will be able to pinpoint the problematic area of my brain much more acutely, resulting in a much higher success rate.

Although I am a bit (well, very) disappointed that surgery will not take place when we thought it would, I believe wholeheartedly that Dr. Pennell is doing this in my best interest to insure that my quality of life will improve amazingly after this new surgeon works her magic on me. None of the test and things that I did in the past few months were for nothing, as Dr. Golby has already looked at all of the results and is coming up with a plan of attack. She does want me to have two more tests in the mean time (one is a functioning MRI, where they put you in the MRI machine and ask you to preform verbal tasks, and the other is a WADA test, where they "turn off" one side of your at a time to make decipher where certain things like memory, language and other cognitive activities is located). I have not met with her yet, but once I have, a new surgery date will be set, hopefully sooner then later. I DO NOT want to wait anxiously for a long time, and Dr. Pennell knows this. She is trying her hardest to make things so smoothly and quickly. She is an amazing doctor and I have never met one that is this smart in her field, yet so concerned with her patients as well. She said she just does not feel comfortable having me go through with the surgery without utilizing all that is available to me a this hospital. And although it feels like 2 steps backwards, it will hopefully have a much better outcome then what was previously believed.

So that is that. Fun stuff, huh? Any questions, send them my way, along with patience and determination to get me and my family through these next few months without going crazy:) As most of you now, I am not a very patient person! Thanks for reading!

P&S Photos

I really have to get back into using my Cannon more often! But since I'm always holding one baby in my arm, and the hand of a toddler, this at least captures the cuteness of them, even if the quality isn't good. But at least be happy I'm using this little Cannon P&S instead of the camera on my Android! For a good phone, the camera is AWFUL!! I'll post some of those someday so you can see the grossness of that phone!! My contract is up and I'm looking into getting an iPhone. I hear that other then being a really good smart phone, the camera is really good, too. Opinions?

Okay, back to the pictures:

Hanging at the playground

Ryan talking...

Cam listening!

Tree climbers?

Feeding some little animals

Playing at Mimi and Papa's house

Loving each other

Being a big boy, while helping Daddy

On the Cape, having fun with Papa

Life's Little Instructions

I found this little list on a website and thought it was cute. You may have to double click it to be able to read it better, but I'm not a pro at this blogging thing yet! I think it's cute for a few reasons: First, it was created by a 95 year old man. He grew up in a whole different era that we are living in today, yet his life lessons fit in completely with how I want to live and even how I want my children to live. Things are constantly changing in the world around us, yet some things have never, and never will change. And second, nothing on this list mentions anything electronic. None of this man's life instructions pertains to emails, iPhones, texts, tv's or anything else of the sort. I say this as I'm typing on my MacBook Pro, in front of my television, with my husband on a separate couch on his own laptop. And without a doubt some things need to be done with life's amazing technological advances. But these things shouldn't define us and our lives. And although I don't believe that having a dog needs to be a life instruction (Ugh, Riley, I love you, but please, calm down!!) most of the things on this list have, are and always will be very important to being the great person that we all have the capability of being.

Quarterly Top Five Pics!

I found this on another blog I follow and thought it was a cute idea. You pretty much just find your favorite five pictures of your kids that you took during the summer months and add a little description of the photo. Some of these have probably already been posted, but oh well! I could look at them all day (and practically do!!)

So here you go, my favorite pictures of Cameron and Avery during the summer of 2011:

Cameron is obsessed with trains. And I mean obsessed!! It's all he talks about practically all day! So this is the train bridge that goes over the canal connecting Cape Cod, MA to the main land. Not only is he pointing to where he is hoping to see a train pass over, but he has his arm hanging over his daddy's shoulders, which just melts my heart. He is a mommy's boy most of the time, but oh he LOVES his daddy!!

My Avery Cate. My sweet, sweet Avery. This photo just captures her cuteness. And she had just started sitting up on her own, with the hydrangea (my favorite flower) in full bloom behind her.

Even though he looks like he may be hugging her a little roughly, it just shows how much he really does love his little Sissy. It isn't very often that we can get him to sit for this long with a camera in my hands to capture him hugging her. Swoon.

You may not see the baby very clearly, but this picture shows where she spent most of the first summer of her life, on the beach a 3 minute walk from her Mimi and Papa's Cape house, hanging from her Mommy's neck. I love her and her peacefulness, just like the beach.

Cameron being a boy! If he could do this playing in the water all day long, he would!

And lastly, Avery, showing her newly developed personality. Silly, goofy, and happy all in one. I think she is doing this most of the time of her life and I could eat her up anytime I look at her.

Now that I look at these, everyone of them was taken at my parents house on Cape Cod. We spend most weekends there, either all weekend or just for a day. We are very grateful for the opportunity to spoil our kids with the beach so nearby. And not only that, but we are the utmost grateful to be given the opportunity to raise such wonderful, beautiful and perfect (for us at least!) little children. It was a great summer!