Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion Fun Daddy and Owen getting ready to ride the Drop Tower!

We survived the first week back to work. It always amazes me how quickly we become so crazy busy once work and school starts again. We get up at 6 in the morning and I don't stop moving until I crash into bed around 11 or 12. I forget how relaxing the summer is. The kids did great at the sitters this week. They had fun swimming and playing with all the kids at Ms. Beth's. I had fun setting up my classroom and meeting some of my new students. It seems like a wonderful class and I'm looking forward to a great year. Owen was glad to get Mrs. Carr as his teacher. Emma also had her and she's right next door to Mommy! I think he will do great with her (thanks Charma!) and Emma got Mr. Stonebreaker. She is glad to be with some of her friends and excited about the year. This will be her first male teacher, so I think she's a little unsure of what to expect, but I know she will have a great year.

We surprised the kids with a trip to Kings Dominion on Saturday. We have lived down here 12 years and never made the trip to Kings Dominion. We had a lot of fun! The kids didn't know where we were going, so needless to say, they were very excited to see the KD signs. The park was not crowded and the kids got to meet a lot of characters and ride a lot of rides. I can definitely see us getting season passes when the kids are a little older.

We had a little picnic tonight. Emma's friend Mary and my friend Kim came over. Kim also brought her puppy, Maddie, to play. The kids had a wonderful time chasing her around. Owen was a natural taking care of her. It was a beautiful evening and we had a great time. Tomorrow we plan on relaxing and getting ready to go back to school on Tuesday. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Picnic Fun

Firetrucks and Cousins

The kids had a great time at Connor's birthday party. It was at the Lutherville Fire Department and it was one of the most awesome birthday parties we've ever been to. The firemen (and women) gave the kids a lesson on fire safety and let them put on their gear. They showed them around the fire trucks and then they gave them a ride on a real fire truck! When they got back, they let each of the kids shoot the fire hose. The kids had a blast. We ate pizza and cake and enjoyed the birthday boy. Connor was in heaven. It was certainly a birthday party my kids won't forget any time soon.

Connor and Logan waiting for the party to start.

Emma trying out the gear.
Logan...that helmet looks a little big.
Logan loved shooting the firehose! How cool!
Owen was shy, but he still tried the jacket on.
We also got to spend some time with Ethan and Madison, who celebrated their second birthday a few weeks ago. They are getting so big. They are both talking and they are as cute as anything. It's so nice to see them and have them know us. I always worry about being so far away and not seeing them often - but it didn't take long for them to warm up this time. Owen and Logan took their remote control trucks and the kids had a great time playing with them. It was quite cute in the picture below. Ethan thought he was controlling the truck, but Owen was really doing it standing behind him. Owen thought that was so funny! He is really great with the little ones. I am always amazed at how patient he is and how he doesn't mind sharing with them. Now...if only he could be like that with Emma and Logan. Anyways, we had a great visit with everyone. Can't wait for another weekend trip to PA.

Owen helping Ethan control the truck.

Ethan...so handsome!
I loved this! Ethan was pushing Madison on her new scooter. How sweet!
Madison...so beautiful!
Owen helping Ethan fill up the car.

Summer is coming to an end

Well, I knew it would happen. Summer flew by and it's time to go back to school. Emma had soccer camp this week, so the boys and I spent a little time in my classroom. They were a great help at helping me set up my room. So I got a head start on my classroom - there is never enough time during the work week.
We are headed to PA tomorrow for my nephew's birthday party. Connor loves fire trucks, so his party is at the local fire station. It should be fun. We're also going to get to see Madison and Ethan, who just had their second birthday a few weeks ago. We're looking forward to seeing everyone and spending some time at "home".
Owen has been amazing this week. I have my Owen back! I can not believe what a difference we have seen. He is calmer and just all around "settled". There isn't the bouncing on the couch and the up and down at dinner. I can't even begin to explain it. He still has his moments, but I truly believe we did the right thing. Jonathan hasn't seen the progress as much, but I think it's because the meds are starting to wear off around the time he gets home from work. Today Owen sat down and did Pixos (a craft where you take tiny little beads and put them in a tray) for an hour. He didn't scream or cry from frustration. He sat there and made two incredible fire trucks all on his own. He would never have had the patience or ability to sit there for that long. I could have cried watching him. He recognizes the difference too. He says he feels calmer and we talked about how nice it is not to fight about everything. Even Emma admitted she saw a difference, so we are thrilled with the changes. We'll see how he does with a weekend in PA.

Jonas Brothers Groupies

Owen at Ridemakerz with his monster truck.

Logan's monster truck at Ridemakerz.

We decorated the van and were ready to go.

Emma and her friends signed the tour bus - how cool!

The girls waiting to see the Jo Bros!
Emma and her good friend Mary.
What does that say?!? Jonas!

Well...I think we are official groupies! Jonathan pointed out that we have seen the JB in concert four times since January - so I guess we are! We went to the concert at Nissan Pavilion last night with a bunch of 8 and 9 year old girls and had a blast. We had lawn seats, and we knew that the show was sold out, so we weren't sure what to expect. We met friends at 3:00 and arrived at the venue before 4:00 - no problems, no traffic. The girls were able to sign the tour bus and we got in line a little before 5:00. The gates opened at 5:30, so we didn't have to wait too long and we were fairly close to the front. Other friends of ours had been there even earlier and were the first ones through the gate, so they got a good spot close to the front. Once through the gate we ran up the hill (okay, we started out running and ended up stumbling by the time we got to the top!) and found our friends and set up our spot. We grabbed a bite to eat and relaxed until the concert started. Once again, my ears were not ready for the deafening screams from 20,000 girls!!!! Anyways, the concert was good and the girls had a blast! They danced and screamed and waved their glow sticks and screamed some more and laughed and jumped up and down and screamed some more! The concert ended around 10:45 or so and we left the parking lot around midnight. We were home around 1:00. Needless to say, Emma was dragging when I woke her up at 7:30 for soccer camp, but she was a trooper and got up (with me promising iced coffee) and went to camp. The boys had a good day. Daddy took them to Ridemakerz (it's like a Build a Bear, only you build remote control cars) and they had a blast. Luckily I was able to see them and take a few pictures since it was in the morning. Owen made a monster truck and Logan made a monster dump truck. It was a really cool store and they are enjoying their remote control trucks. Joe, Nick, and Kevin - we meet again!

Before I sign out, I would like you guys to pray for a Mom and family at the concert. My friend Amy was sitting a little ways from us and while they were sitting there, somebody fell on her blanket. She thought that somebody had tripped. The lady tried to get up, but then fell and went still. She had two little girls with her - about Emma's age and they were crying Mommy, Mommy. A lady who was a nurse ran over and started CPR. Amy said the lady was non responsive and turning blue. The rescue squad came and took her away, but we don't know if she was okay or not. It was so sad and scary. I can not stop thinking about those poor girls. We weren't in there more than 20 minutes when it happened. So, please say an extra prayer for the family and hope that she was okay.

Another Busy Day

T-shirt Fun!
The Marsden Girls

All Dressed Up

We had another busy day. It's hard to believe that school is just around the corner. We have one week off before I have to go back. Next week, Emma has soccer camp all week, we have the JB concert on Monday, dentist on Wed., another appt. on Friday, and I have to try to squeeze some time in to work in my classroom. Basically, summer vacation is over.



Today, Emma had her friends over to decorate t-shirts for the Jonas Brothers concert (yes, we are going again). She had the idea for them to decorate shirts and write the letters J-O-N-A-S-! on the backs. The girls did a great job. They used iron ons and fabric paint to decorate their shirts. Owen's friend Adam also stayed to play, so they quickly made shirts and then went on to do other things. It was a bit loud and crazy at times, but they were all super good and had a fun time. We ordered pizza for lunch - no way I was cooking for 9 children! Then the kids got into dress up. It was hilarious. The tub of dress up hasn't been out in ages. Most of the clothes are for toddlers and are too small, but the kids used their imaginations and came up with some interesting costumes. After they were all dressed up, they went on to make up a play for me. It was quite humorous.



So now we are waiting on Jonathan to get home from work. Emma's friend Mary is spending the night, so we're going out to dinner. Owen had his first pill today. No noticeable difference - but it was hard to tell with 9 screaming kids in the house! It's a start.

Halleluia!

We have meds!!!!! Owen and Emma had their check ups today and I swore I would not leave that office without a prescription in hand. Dr. Loving, our pediatrician, is such an understanding and caring doctor. She has seen us since Owen was a baby and has listened to our struggles. She was never judgemental and never made us seem like it was our fault (although we blame ourselves for a lot!) that Owen was having difficulties. So when I told her the process we had been through this summer with the EKG and all of the tests, she knew we were ready. I told her that I had been reading about different meds and I knew of some of my former students that had used certain ones - and had success with, so she wrote me that prescription. I skipped out of the office and drove directly to CVS. Tomorrow morning Owen will take his first pill. We've been practicing swallowing tic tacs, so hopefully he will be fine. I know it's not going to be a quick fix and I'm not excpecting a miracle. I just hope that it will help him a bit, and in return our family will be less stressed. We have struggled with this decision and we certainly don't want Owen's personality to change. It just feels like we fight all day long, every day. If he's not standing on the couch, he's standing on a chair. Or he's standing on his head on the couch and falling all over the place. The child can't walk anywhere without falling or tripping. He is an amazing boy...I just want everybody else who meets him to see that.

Back to Reality

Well, it's been a few days since vacation and I think we have finally recovered. It's always so hard to adjust to reality after a week of relaxing on the beach. Not to mention getting used to not eating ALL the time!
The kids started fighting immediately in the car on the way home and it hasn't stopped. I was amazed at how kind my kids were to Connor and Maisie last week (well, most of the time). I just wish that they could be half as nice to their siblings. Today in the car, Owen hit Logan in the face with a cup and gave him a black eye (not horrible, but bad enough). Emma and Owen are constantly hitting, kicking, spitting, yelling, or annoying each other. I know, I know....they're brothers and sister - that's how it is. I remember my father telling Nathan and I to go outside and fight until one of us couldn't come back! I guess I now understand his frustration. I'm being paid back for my childhood I guess.

We haven't been doing too much. Jonathan took the boys to see Wall-E on Sunday, since he hadn't seen it. Emma and I went to see the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. The movie was great and we had a good time. It's funny - Emma and I can get along so well and have a wonderful time, then ten minutes later, we're ready to hurt one another. Hmmm....who does that remind me of Mom?! Monday, we ran errands and tried to clean up the house. We had a little playdate with some of our friends. The weather has been beautiful, so the kids played outside and the adults just sat and talked. Tuesday I had to take Owen to get his holter from the heart doctor. They hooked him up with a few electrodes and then he carried this little machine pack in his pocket. I was very proud of Owen. He did a great job and took good care of the machine. I was a little nervous. I told the nurse that she was very brave to allow a hyperactive 6 year old to take care of the equipment. I got out of there before I had to sign any waivers or paperwork. Anyways, we wore it and we went back today to get it taken off. They will only call us if they see anything wrong - otherwise, no news is good news. So cross your fingers.
Emma and Owen go for their physicals tomorrow. I am so hoping to walk out of there with a prescription for Owen. I think we have waited long enough. He even said that he hopes medicine will help him calm down. He realizes that things are more difficult for him. He always says that his brain can't help it. He knows that one of his friends from school takes medicine to make him "be good" and when he doesn't take it, he has to flip a card for bad behavior. I really hope that we are doing the right thing and that he will benefit from it. I think the whole family will benefit!

More pictures!

Please forgive all of the pictures. I took over 850 and it was very hard to choose!

Daddy taking Logan swimming.

Mommy and Emma

Owen running from a giant wave!

Beautiful Beach Baby

Logan driving the big rig at Funland. He looks like a natural adjusting his mirror.
Cousins and best of friends.
See...they can actually get along!
My favorite photo - just look at Owen's face!
Another precious moment!

Maisie checking out the beach for the first time.Owen on his boogie board. More proof that they can be civil to one another.
Look out guys!
Daddy's little clone.
Emma getting the hang of boogie boarding.
Connor having fun on the beach.
The cousins - not so cooperative.
My precious baby!
Owen surfing.