Lapinskas Happenings....

It's been a busy few months for us.  I thought I'd share some pictures, and some stories of what has been going on.

Olivia turned 11!!  We attempted to do a cupcake tour the day after her birthday.  The day was cold (I'm talking 40's), rainy, and we had to go to Chicago.  We made it there, but our tour guide did not.  So, we went to one of the bakeries to warm up and figure out what to do.  We ended up going to see a movie, and then out to dinner.  

Thankfully, we were able to reschedule, and went yesterday.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day and our tour guide showed up and we all got totally hopped up on sugar.  Then, once the tour was over, we walked to the zoo.  We roamed the zoo for awhile, then met up with Derrick to have dinner.  Did I mention that Jory was with us for the tour and most of the day?  Hanging with both of their uncles is one my girls' favorite things.  We spent a whole lot of time walking in the city and came home with cake balls from the first bakery.  It was a great day!

Thanks to the tomato and pepper plants that Mia brought home from Girl Scouts, we built a garden!  The plants needed a new home out of pots, so we built ourselves a garden today.  In addition to the tomatoes and peppers, we've got strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and many hot peppers for Tony.

Mia got her tonsils out (as you may know), and she's been very dependent on her Tylenol and Advil.  We are pushing her to not take any more, and are paying with our sleep since she likes to FLIP OUT at night and then no one sleeps (except Mia, during the day).  It's awesome.  BUT - since we've been able to be together all week, we got some fabulous park pictures.

We also had the last day of school, last day of soccer, some wicked storms and a dance recital. 

We also welcomed a new member to the family, Olivia's kitten Charlie (Barley).  Olivia picked him out and was her birthday present.

Tonsils....

Before getting in the car and heading to the hospital.  Mia was apparently being attacked by my hair.

Tony and I were in the waiting room.  Anxiously, but not anxiously.  Tense, but not tense.  Waiting to hear when Mia would be out of surgery.  I was reading a book, Tony watching a movie on his phone.

The doctor surprised us.  It couldn't have been 30 minutes from when we sat down in the waiting room.  And the doctor was in front of us.  Mia was fine.  She did great.  Her tonsils were out.  Her adenoids were enlarged as well.  They were covering 80% of her nose.  They had been taken out as well.  Did we have any questions?

No.  No questions.  I had to fight back tears though.  I was relieved.  The surgery was over and we could go back in and see her in a few minutes.  The adenoids and tonsils were out.  Which means that my little would be able to breathe, normally, for the first time in her life.

Excited!

I remember when she was first born and I worried about her breathing.  Every little sniffle, every place we went, every snore.  Every time she stopped breathing.  Sleep apnea in a baby is not fun for the mom.  I have been worrying about this kids' breathing since she was teeny.  

So, yeah, relieved is how I felt.

Rockin' her surgery gown.

I went in to see her as she was coming out from under the anesthetic.  She was crying and out of it.  I was asked to lay down with her on her bed, and I happily obliged.  As she calmed down, she fell asleep.  I listened to her breathe.  Freely, no snoring, no stopping of breath.

Relief.

Mia took this picture, while we were waiting.

She did so great too.  At the hospital, making the nurses smile, asking about what flavor of Popsicles would be available after the surgery.  Laughing and waving her arms as she got a 'ride' (when they wheeled the bed down the hallway).  She was even excited that I got to 'ride' too, after the surgery.

Afterwards, heading out, with her red popsicle mouth.

She's doing well.  She's eating today, much more than she has been eating.  She's taking her ibuprofen and acetaminophen when she needs them.  But, she's also sleeping.  Talking clearer than ever.  And breathing.

Cards from her daycare/summer camp.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that....

I miss you guys.  

Seriously.

I MISS YOU.

I've been overwhelmed lately.  So.Much.To.Do.

It's spring time (obviously) and school is winding down and we've had swim lessons, soccer, dance, girl scouts, vacation planning, dentist appointments, doctor appointments, vet appointments, dog grooming, normal errands and we made it to the library.

Sporting the full spaniel 'fro on the way to get clipped.

The library is my Mecca.  When I walk into the library, hear the quiet, smell the books, I'm in my favorite place.  I love the library.  We've been trying to get there at least every 3 weeks so that we can turn in finished books and check out new ones. 

So yeah.  Not writing so much, but reading a whole lot.

What have we been doing?  Well, we found a graveyard.  An old poor farm graveyard.  Stones with no names, just numbers.

We've been working on the house.  The playroom is no longer.  It is now in transition to be an office.  We've run electricity to the ceiling and put in a light fixture as well as having sanded and filled all the holes.  The trim is off.  The primer is ready.  This summer ya'll.  It'll be finished this summer.

In conjunction, we've also been shopping/pricing new floors.  We have to replace the carpet in the office and really in the whole house.  We've talked about re-carpeting, putting in hardwood, or ceramic tile.  We're still getting estimates.  But, hopefully, this summer we'll have new carpeting.

My Home Depot Helpers

We've put up screen doors.  We've been in our house for 8+ years, and now have a screen door on the garage entrance and ordered a storm/screen door for the front entrance (today!).

We had Kindergarten Mother's Day Tea.  Mia and I got to spend some time together, just her and I.

We've been slowly de-cluttering the house and stocking up Goodwill.

Mia is playing soccer, her first season.  I think she likes it.

Mia is Orange #6

We've been hanging out, bike riding, eating ice cream, enjoying the weather when we can.

I hope you are having a good spring too!