Sunday sweaty Sunday

This big sister went to SE MN and this little sister stayed home

Possible titles for this blog post:

• Sweating my balls off in Saint Paul
• Scared but ready for Shark Week
• 12 more pounds (and 10 million crunches) to go
• Favorite things about the U of M hospital 2002 vs. 2011
• My husband loves small talk with distant relatives
  
• One child is so easy

Sorry to neglect you but really, what do you do for me? Mom-ing is very time consuming. Noteworthy events from last week include the Children's Museum and the Seltz Family Reunion. My first baby is spending the week with her grandparents so Henny is an only child until Saturday! I am hoping to get some organizing and shopping done while the human tornado whoops it up in Winona with her new kiddie pool, complete with slide. My dad is doing pretty good all things considered. He gets walks and showers in everyday, is eating clear liquids, and best of all, no complications so far! And, I am pleased to report that my back is feeling much better, courtesy of a steroid injection and an SI belt. Now you know.

Look who finally sleeps in her crib!

2 months old!

Here is a little song Nori & I sing to Henley entitled Foosie Sue...

Foosie Sue

I love you, Foosie Sue
With a love so rare and true
Uh oh Foosie, my Foosie Sue oo ooh
Well, I love you Foos, yeah I love you, Foosie Sue!

Dad's surgery

My dad is in recovery after a 7 hour surgery to remove his pancreatic cancer. They explored, found no other cancer spots and then proceeded with the Whipple. Dr. Vickers said he was 3 hours into surgery before he felt confident they could get it all because the tumor was adhered to a vessel. Preliminary tests show the margins are negative. We should be able to see him in his room later tonight. Pray for no bleeding, infections or other complications!

Hanging on!

finally...sleep

Oh my, life is kicking my butt! Perhaps I had unrealistic expectations for this maternity leave. Okay, I know I did! I envisioned picnics, zoo trips, long naps, and glittery butterflies. My leave with Nori was wonderful but the unfortunate combination of back pain, heat, and house repairs meets parenting a newborn and feisty 3.5 year old while covered in dog hair has nearly done me in. Two kids are way more than twice the work of one!

They say age 3 is harder than age 2 and now I know it's true. What I wouldn't give for Nori to have an autonomous bathroom break or to put on her own shoes. They are Crocs Sweetie, just slip them on! Henley is an easy girl right now as she just nurses and cuddles, but Nori is adjusting to sharing my attention, loss of structure from no daycare, and a mother who insists on dental hygiene.

I am doing my best to survive the chaos, namely asking for help. Thank you to everyone who has offered us support. The girls and I made an emergency trip to Winona to take shelter in the A/C and so I could have help taking care of them. We paid someone to clean our house. My spunky first born is going on vacation to Camp Seltzbicki for a whole week coming up. And Jake & I have a date planned on Saturday (just dinner and a concert by little band called U2). Someday the hole in my roof will be fixed, the temps will cool, my back will stop hurting, Nori will let me comb her hair, and Kim K & I will laugh and laugh about these follies. Until then, forgive me as I try to survive my summer "off".

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Rock Lake 2011

We are back from 5 days at Rock Lake! I must be feeling refreshed because I just cleaned my kitchen like I had OCD (I wish). We had a wonderful time! Nori swam everyday becoming braver as time went on. At first she insisted on clinging but them became more independent swimming "all by herself" with just a life jacket and noodle. Jake & I had a real date night going to Poncho & Lefty’s for dinner followed by the movie Horrible Bosses which was really funny. Food highlights include Ellen's eggplant parm, Jake's pulled pork and Liz's blueberry pancakes. Charlie fell for a prank for the second year in a row (Char, did you really think 80-year-old Virg was cheating on Ione at Bar Harbor)? Steve exclaimed "this is the best song ever!" when Girls Just Wanna Have Fun came on WJJY. Jake gave Nori & Ellen tennis lessons while the girls and I chased "a beaver" (try gopher) around the park. We survived horse flies and mosquitoes although Nori came home with over 20 bites. Henley had lots of smiles and enjoyed napping on Ellen, the human mattress while Nori kept calling Uncle Charlie “Charming” and asking him to "kiss me until midnight”. What more could we ask for? The girls are so lucky grow up spending summer vacations here with their family!

only boat on the lake most days

dock swimming

Henny lounging with Grandma

Char goes country

we made Dorothy swim behind the boat

The eagle caught and ate a northern right in front of us

Sister's first dip

Grandpa loves her too!

Henley sandwich

Henley stew

so this is that nature I have heard so much about (photo take from inside)

having the time of her life

Nori can get Grandpa to do anything

Seltzes in sunglasses

Daddy & daughter

Happy Birthday Liz!