Brandon's Wedding.

Before our trip to Colorado we spent the weekend in Lincoln celebrating Brandon & Paige. We're so happy for them and were so glad we could be there for their big day.

We stopped to visit Papa when we got to town.

 

Brandon came over to hug Maggie before we went down the isle- she was so happy!

The reception was at the UNL Alumni Center, Grandma Margaret was on the Board of Regents when the building was
dedicated so the sign above Maggie's head has her name on it.

 

Haddie was tired of all the noise so we took a walk over to the TriDelta house and looked in the windows and talked
about when Mommy used to live there.

TROUBLE!

Arnie Update

Arnie will be thrilled that he's the topic of my post (can you hear my sarcasm??) Considering where he's been, he's doing great. A couple of weeks ago when we were in Lincoln he wasn't feeling great, we thought it was a stomach bug and surely it would pass. We headed for the mountains and he did okay the first day or so we were there but then he got really uncomfortable. He went to see a doctor in Breckenridge, she diagnosed altitude sickness, gave him some fluids and some nausea medicine and we thought things would improve. He tried to tough it out but we could tell he wasn't feeling very good. Friday we decided to pack up and head down, hoping getting to lower elevation would improve things. He did a great job driving home and seemed to be feeling decent. After another visit to the doctor and a trip to the emergency room they finally did a CT and discovered he had perforated his colon. There was lots of infection making him feel pretty awful. He spent ALL of last week in the hospital, came home Friday afternoon and is finally starting to feel human again. He's lost a lot of weight (I think he weighs less now then when we went to college) and is tired of having a drain in his abdomen (hopefully it will come out later this week). Yesterday he went to work for a few hours and he's back there today. There is likely another surgery in his future to ensure this doesn't happen again but it will be awhile before we have to worry about that, for now we can just focus on getting him feeling better and his strength back.

It's all been completely miserable for Arnie, but there really were a few small blessings in it. First, thank God they found it and while it's awful, it's fixable. Second, I've never been so grateful for the Olympics in my life, if we had been at the hospital for an entire week with normal daytime television we would have gone crazy, at least we had entertainment! Third, We had all the people we needed....Maggie was already in Omaha when Arnie went to the hospital, she's such a worrier that not having to tell her what was going on was good, Dick and Betti were home and could help with the little girls all week and Jen and Amy weren't back to school yet so they could be my extra hands. It took a village!

Haddie hung with me at the hospital a lot, she was such a good girl!

 

 

 

 

Maggie was in Omaha having a great time during her Grandma and Grandpa days! She'd have
been worried sick if she knew Arnie was at the hospital so it was the perfect distraction!

 

 

Good-bye Reagan.

Yesterday we had to say good-bye to Reagan. She was truly the best dog, there will never be another like her. Arnie and I have never known married life without her and our girls have never known a house where she wasn't waiting at the door when they came home. We're all broken hearted and our house seems empty and quiet today.

July

I can't believe July is almost over. My kids only have 2 more weeks of summer vacation :( I can't imagine sending them back....I vote we have another month! We are headed to Lincoln for Brandon's wedding and then to Colorado. When we get home it'll be time to buy school supplies (Gracie's been asking every day ALL summer) and start going to bed at a decent time again!

 

The week after the 4th Gracie got to have her Grandma and Grandpa Days in Omaha. She had such a good time and relishes in being the center of attention and having Grandma and Grandpa all to herself!

 

 

 

While Gracie was in Omaha, Maggie and I spent a few mornings at the barn. One day she talked me into washing
and braiding Jude's tail. Add that to the list of things I never thought I'd do!

 

 

Our house is coming along. The basement floor is finally finished and some of the beams are going up. I'm really hoping
when we get home from Colorado we'll start to see some framing!

 

While Gracie was in Omaha she developed an obsession for the movie Parent Trap and Oreos with Peanut Butter.

 

Maggie and Arnie working on their drone flying skills.

 

Haddie was VERY excited for Bri's baby shower :)

 

Right before they poured the basement floor....

 

 

Haddie is growing like a weed. Last time we checked she weighed 15 lbs, I'm guessing she's added a couple since then. She sleeps great and loves to be wherever her sisters are. She still needs a weekly visit to the chiropractor and her reflux medicine to be a happy baby, but as long as she get's those she's all smiles (and giggles!) 

 

Crazy hair night at Bible School!

 

Gracie's crazy hair cupcakes!

 

 

 

 

 

The other night the girls slept in curlers. Gracie looked at herself in the mirror about 4 times an hour, she loved her fancy curls!

 

Last Sunday Maggie and Arnie played in a adult/child golf tournament. It was Maggie's first 18 hole round. They
won the girls 12 and under division. I think they both had a really good time!

 

 

HELP! Gracie dressed me and she keeps adding accessories! When does school start??

 

It's all hands on deck around here when we can beans!

 

Haddie's favorite toy!