Day Two at cabin Casabella

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Surprise, surprise! Robb was up with the sun and had his morning coffee and oatmeal with the dogs out on the lake, with Max and I still all snug in bed. It was all going well until he decide to test out the cabin provided kayaks. One of the dogs, who will remain nameless, decided not to swim but to run along the shore in other peoples yards and bark/whine! She finally found a yard without a friendly face and so ended the blissful morning kayak. Luckily, we were able to get over that pretty quick. (It's never fun to get yelled at on vacation!) We had our breakfast and mommy decided she need just a little more sleep, after all we are on vacation, thus went back to bed and let the boys fend for themselves. Once up for the day, we decide on a hike at Temperance State Park.


We had a pretty good hike but ran out of water and turned back. Probably a good choice since it was pretty warm today! I am guessing we still got about 5 miles in. Not shabby!



After our hike we found a cute shop to look in and some dairy queen to help us cool off and recoup our lost calories! We headed back to the cabin for the evening. Robb cooked a fabulous steak, potato and green bean meal. And, Max and I played down by the dock in the water and on the pontoon. We even snuck in a kayak ride. After dinner we just hung out as a family. We got Max down a little early and Robb and I were able to read some magazines! How nice is this?






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Day one of cabin Casabella

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Every year we make our annual pilgrimage du north du Duluth. This year we chose a cabin near Lutsen. It's a pretty big step up from "our" cabin with no running water or heat. This year we found a cabin on a lake near the gunflint trail. However, I am ahead of myself.

Friday! Happy vacation! We headed to Duluth to use our best western gift card from four Christmas' ago ( thanks, dad and Julie!). We thought it would cut the drive in half AND allow us some fun time in Duluth. We got up about 7pm( yay, for Robb getting out of work a little early :). We had a subway stop on the way up so we could be all business once we got to Duluth. We stopped at a park in Canal Par to walk the dogs and let Max stretch his legs. It was very chilly from the summer we are used to but very refreshing. Then we headed to the lake walk/ shops of Canal Park. We also got a tasty treat from Cold Stone, after all, we are on vacation! Then off to check into our "suite" at the Best Western ( we might have ordered Pizza Luce in, as well)






Saturday, August 28th, 2010
The next morning we packed up and picked up Robb's sister Lisa and headed to our favorite Duluth breakfast locale, Amazing Grace! We were not disappointed in the pancakes, yet again! It was a fun time. The. We headed to look at few shops with Lisa before dropping her off at her work where her car was. Then we were officially headed to the north shore. Next stop, Two Harbors SuperOne. That is where we have gotten groceries the last six years. Robb is some kind of a sentimental traditionalist! We made our list on the way up, very efficient, and got the shopping done lickety-split! Then we piled our food and ourselves back into the car for the final two stops, check-in and "our" new cabin. When all was said and done we arrived at approximately 3 pm and we were not disappointed with the new place! The dogs loved it and Max loved the fact that there was a boat to drive!






After unpacking, we thought we missed the car and so piled back in for a trip up to Grand Marais 17 miles away. We found some lunch and a few other things we could not live without. Finally, we headed in for the night to watch the Vikings pre-season game against Seattle. Did I mention the cabin had a flat screen TV with a dish? Cause it did! That about wraps up our day!
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Yesterday..

no not the beatles song..

yesterday I did something I have been wanting to do for the last several months actually. Go for a walk before Robb heads to work. Normally I hear Robb get up and get ready for work and I try to fall back to sleep. Some days I can and some days I get crabby that he is "so loud". Then this summer started and a new initiative to try to lose some weight. I figured the best way for that to happen was to get up when when Robb does head out for a little am activity and be home to kiss my honey good-bye to work. It was such a great way to start my day. The weather was in the 60's, skies.. clear blue and I was out for a walk! I really could not ask for a better morning.

Max needed to get some shots so I got him up and we had a quick breaky. He just makes my day how happy he is in the morning. He decided he wanted to bring his friends Uniqua and Austin ( backyardigans) along for the drive. He was so funny holding the stuffed animals by their necks and showing them what we were going past. "See 'em? see da cars, back dere"



We got to the peds and i felt so bad for him, knowing what we were heading into but trying to not let it on to him so he wouldn't be nervous. He played happily in the waiting room however when the nurse called his name he didn't want to go. Smart little guy. He was so brave. I always get a little tear when they poke him. The nurse was fast which is the best case scenerio, I guess. When she was done max turned around and hugged me. I told him the "pokes" were all done. My sweet boy even said "bye-bye" to the nurse followed by "all done". I felt so bad that I wanted to get him something in the gift store for being brave. (when he was a baby I'd nurse him or bring in a bottle to soothe him but I don't want to give him a treat or have him soothe himself with food) so we stopped to see what they had in the gift shop. Wouldn't you know they had the remaining Backyardigans buddies we wanted. ( Randomly one saturday Robb took Max to the grocery store and they had a little stand with beanie baby's. Max found an Austin character and Robb had to buy it. Max's love affair with the cartoon justifies it, right?) His reaction to having all the buddies was so priceless. He wanted to hold all five of them. Max= one smitten kitten!



Next, we stopped at my dad's to pick up something we left in Hayward and had a nice visit. We took home some peppers, too. On the way back to our house Robb called and said he was going "out" for lunch so I decide we should, too! Noodles and Co. never disappoints, so that's where we went. Max ate a whole meatball and then flirted with the teenage girls next to us. He is ALL boy!

We got home and I napped a bit in between what else Backyardigan episodes. Finally about 23o max fell asleep and I got enough of a second wind after my mini naps that I went out to cut the grass! Hurray for getting stuff done! My mom came over to hang out with Max while Robb and I went to a training for working the concessions at the Twins games for a church fundraiser. God was on our side when I got distracted and almost got us pummeled by a bus. Thank you, Lord for keeping us safe. I dislike that feeling of what might have been.

Mommy's big day out!

These last few days Robb has been at a management retreat up at breezy point. Since he wouldn't be home and I had to work evenings Wednesday and Thursday, Grandma Lois saved the day and took care of our baby! Nice for her to spend time with him, nice for us to have someone who loves him so much taking care of him! And especially nice for Me, because that meant Thursday before work and Friday I had some free time for myself! That is a seriously nice perk! And gave me time to realize I haven't blogged for a month. Hoping to improve soon. I think it will be my resolution for a long time.

So this month Max has mastered walking up and down one step without holding on to anything. He loves his new talent and practices whenever he can. He is still cautious with a flight of stair, thank goodness. He has also created quite a passion for backyardigans! Maybe more of an addiction. Now it is the first thing he says in the morning. "Backigans" as he says! I have to say, it is pretty good... I am not sick of them yet. We have downloaded several episodes to the Ipad and we use that when we travel! Works out quite well!

Max is also in a funk with going to sleep. It has been late nights lately and the newest thing is wanting to sleep in " mommy's room" oh man. We are realizing how we need to get this bedtime thing under control and early so that Robb and I can have sometime together before we both fall into bed. The things you learn as a parent! I am hoping we can get that back on track here. And we are very open to advice.

Funny how in the summer when wearing shorts you don't necessarily notice the growth spurts. Tonight I tried some new jambes on the kid and 24 month jammies are fitting perfect. Geez, he grows to fast!

Max can count to 3 and has found a love for puzzles. I love it. He totally gets that from me!

Walking the dogs is a new challenge, especially by myself. The dogs, the stroller and a little boy that wants to walk after about one minute means we don't get far very fast. But that is life and it's fun to have him ask to go for a walk. I think we need to try to lead by example, so this going out for walks is good. Start them young!

The garden has been growing wild! We had a great pea pod crop and the magic purple beans from Nancy have been a huge hit. Max will pick them fresh from the vine and take a bite! So cute to watch. He also loves to pick the raspberries (from Nancy as well)! Those don't make it to the house though. I think I oveeplanted the pumpkins and am slightly bummed because I am not sure I'll have a good spread for entering in the state fair. I just couldn't decide what to plant. So far we have one round pumpkin, one tall pumpkin, a few mini orange and just a few mini white pumpkins just beginning to grow. I was hoping to better my fifth place finish last year with the mini white pumpkins. Still a month out so we will see. The cucumbers have been plentiful, too! Robb pickled some last weekend and we have been trying to eat lots of salads! We grew lettuce for the first time and that was incredibly easy and yummy. I am bummed, though. One of the things on my list of things to do with all my free time was clean ip the garden and we have tried growing watermelons and cantaloupe the last two years and both years we get a vine but no fruit so I head out to clean out those vines since it wasn't fruitful and after yanking on the watermelon vine I notice it is heavier then I thought it should be. Darn there was a fist size watermelon growing! It was just hiding under the pumpkin leaves. Ugh! Just a reminder to always look carefully before I yank. Dang!

Well I should spend sometime with my hubby since he is now home! Thanks for checking in! Hope to add some pictures soon!


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Rocking Max's world!

This last week or two I have been noting all these cool things that Max can do. Like for the last month he has gotten really good at feeding himself applesauce and yogurt. That is crazy! Basically over night he was good at it. I still make him wear a bib but it is so fun when he can wear it multiple times. Instead of having a whole load of laundry of just bibs!

We are up north in Brainerd today. We spent the weekend in Pequot lakes for Robb's sister Lisa's graduation ( as opposed to my sister Lisa, poor Max with the two auntie Lisa's to keep straight.) it was a fun weekend and now my parents and aunt and uncle are at Breezy Point for the week of the fourth. I thought as long as I don't have to work until this weekend and there was nothing going on, I should stay up. Who knows with all the strike business if I will get another vacation otherwise. So here we are up north waiting for mom to come back after her one day of work. I noticed we don't have a life jacket that fits Max so off to fleet farm we went before we could go on a boat ride. Whoa! Did I just rock Max's world! All i had to do was take him down the ceiling fan isle. He is so funny! He just sat staring up for five minutes, enamored.

He is talking so much and so well! He tries to repeat evereything, even said his first naughty word! Ha ha daddy, busted! I love when he says big words like bulldozer, he pronounces each syllable. He can count to three. And just learned to hold up two fingers ( which can be cute to watch him try to remember how to do it again) and say two. He just learned from papa Craig to say peace while holding up two fingers, too! So now he says two...peace!

Last week on Friday Max and I got to meet baby Evie and Lizzy for a walk and then lunch. The whole ride down to meet them he said baby Evie...cars.. Meaning he was going to show baby Evie his cars. But, in usual Maxwell fashion he saw her and was very quiet. Then at lunch he decided to climb up the highchair right to the top to sit down. I guess I now have a monkey on my hands. man how do they grow and learn so fast?


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My first ER visit

Last night I noticed my fever start to creep up. Trying to be a good patient I called and the talked to the on call MD. Her decision was to get checked out at the ER. So, at 9 pm the three of us packed up and drove to Southdale. In my almost 31 years, I've never gone to the ER for myself. At first, I just felt silly going in and hoped they'd find something to justify my experience.
Once we got going with test I realized I was in for the full meal deal. The ER doc wanted an ultrasound, an exam and labs. Then the on call doc came And I got to repeat the exams. Once the D&C was decided on I had Robb and Max go home. That was 1230 am. I got into surgery at 0130 and moved to a room for observation by 0330. The reason for all of this is that I passed most of the tissue but some was lingering that was infected. I was made aware that if left much longer I might have gotten really sick. I got put on some "big gun" antibiotics and left to not sleep in the hospital bed. By 0530 I took a shower and was dressed ready for a hopeful early discharge. But I could feel my fever going back up and got worried that I just might not be going home today. My doctor found out I was inpatient and came in to see me by 0830. We discussed the infection and my still tender tummy, but I begged to go home. I used the nurse card...I promised that I would administer my own meds, take my temperature, get rest and see him in clinic tomorrow. After 45 minutes ( and a bunch of why didn't you have me paged) It was decided that I would get one more dose of IV antibiotics and could go home! By 1330 we were out the door and made a quick stop at my favorites: Jamba Juice and Punch Pizza. Now we are nestled at home watching the Sex and the City movie. Grandma Mary came over to help our sleep deprived household with our lil energizer bunny. She also brought DQ Blzzards! Yum- o! We would be grateful for prayers that the infection gets taken care of with the antibiotics, that the infection won't spread to my Fallopian tubes ( causing infertility) and that I won't get scar tissue ( that would not allow implantation). That would be ever so kind.

Now this was all very surreal to go through but couldn't have have happened on a more difficult day. The strike day. At 0700 the night shift nurses were escorted out and the "scabs" took over. I can vouch for the Rn's being qualified and nice. But everything took three times longer and the little detail got missed. It was hard to know my colleagues were out picketing and I was spying on the inside.
Also, depressing to know that this one day strike did not make an impact on the hospitals. From my experience the only ones this hurts is the patients no matter what the hospitals say. But enough of me on my soap box.
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Single parenting

This week has been pretty good with a few hiccups.

I had lost my creadit card, more like forgetten where I left it. I remembered on MOnday morning that I must have left it at Wildfire after a wonderful dinner and conversation in a quick attempt to get to see SATC2 without missing many previews. So Max and I headed to Eden Prairie Tuesday morning. Because it was almost lunch time by the time we rounded it up we scooped up some Panera for lunch and we checked out a park in St. Louis Park that I used to go to as a kid. It's now a super nice park with a splash pad. Let me tell you, Max loved it! It was cautious at first started just by touching the water, then tried to touch it with his foot, then his belly and finally his face. He wasn't brave enough to run under the water but that is okay. There is always next time. It was fun to see how things there had changed and what I could still remember from 20+ years ago. It was still recognizeable.

Then, Thursday early Robb, his dad, brothers, cousins, uncle and friends headed to Babbit for a weekend of debauchery and I started my 4 days of single parenting Max and the two dogs. Thursday we were pretty low key.. mostly I just thought about all the fun things we should have done. We did go to a new garage sale that had plant for super cheap that were in really great shape. So I bought a bunch to plant in the tulip bed since they have died off and look so drab. Then we grabbed some dinner and watched some of my lil brothers softball game. After the game we headed up to my mom's to potential swim but the weather was still omnious and I got caught up in find her a new house since their house might actually sell this year. Bummer, Max is just getting to an age to be able to enjoy the pool. It's an amazing house, but much too big for what they need as almost empty nesters. I found a few good ones, all close to us. Hey, when you have a great Nana like that you want to keep her close! max let me know he was turning into a pumpkin so we headed out.

Friday morning we landed at McDonalds for breakfast.. I'm not normally a Mickey D's kinda girl but for breakfast.. okay, I'll splurge. Then we found a few more plants for the gargen and mulch and the hardware store next door to McD's. Following that we headed to my mom's neighborhood to garage sale. I found a couple fun things and got a good walk in. I think I wore out Max because he finally took a good nap for me, almost 3 hours! That is nice quality mommy time! Especially with Robb gone. I planted all my plants and even mulched. It looks so much better now. Oncve Maxers woke up we took the doggers for a walk and made some dinner. It would have been a great night for a bonfire. But I got Max in the bath and attempted to get him down early. No such luck. I guess a great nap = not sleeping until the crack of 11.

Today is Saturday, I am starting to miss Robb. Hope he is getting all his fun in and having great weather. Max and I took the dog for a morning walk, then got a call from our friends Andrea and Andrew. We met up with them for some Original Pancake House Pancakes then headed to the wet and dreary Como Zoo. We were troopers there for about an hour then the rain got to us. We did get to see the new Polar Bear Exhibit and max's new favorite Buf-lo ( Buffalo). It was fun to see them and glad they braved the rain to see some animals. Now my lil non-sleeper is napping and I am finally getting the chance to update.

It has been so much fun having this time to spend with Max. I know its totally cliche but they grow so fast. last night we were swinging at our playset and Max decided he wanted to swing on the big kid swing all by himself. And he did just fine! We are so blessed with this little man. Before I know it, he won't need me anymore. Well lets hope that he will still "need" his momma, just for supprt and advice. I am taking full advantage of being "needed" now. It's fun being someone's mom.