Memorial Day Weekend Fun!

We had a pretty quick work week with dad in Wichita Tues - Thurs.  Thankfully Maci was a pretty good girl and Connor was my usual chill boy!  On Tuesday we had Connor's follow up Dr apt post finding out he is allergic to Cats and Milk.  Fortunately the new $$spendy formula seems to be helping but Mr Milo is officially up for grabs.  If we don't find a home by this Thursday, he will be taken to the animal humane society.  A good friend of mine is the HR director and assures me she will watch him and ensure he goes to a great home.  Fortunately our humane society has a really quick turn around rate and cats take on average 3 days to be adopted.  In addition, they charge us $50 to help cover costs for vet care, food, liter etc while he is there.  As long as he does not have a life threatening disease or become ill tempered, he will wait out his adoption.  We feel bad for Mr Milo but I feel even worse trapping him in a basement until we get this figured out.

Ok so back to our week - Connor had good days at daycare and was glad to be away from cat dander.

Painting

Mommy's Helper

Holding his own Nebulizer tube during a breathing treatment - Dang Cat Dander!

Thursday Morning Selfies!

Friday - Finally it was the long awaited long weekend!!!  Clint got home late Thursday night and Maci was up with me watching The Sound of Music.  Her usual horrible bedtime routine keeps up and we got her to go down around 11p - UGH!  Clint had Friday off and I just had to drag my butt through one more day of hopefully getting lots done.  Unfortunately I had a few things pop up and didn't get as much quiet, get things done time as I had hoped for but it made for a fast day.  After work, I met the family at swim lessons.  This week was safety week and the kids had to swim in a wet t-shirt to get use to the feel of "falling" into water.  We had a good time laughing at the girls and saying this was their first "wet t-shirt contest" and when they had to pour water over their mouths, well that looked like drinking games. . . .give it a few years I hope before this comes true :)

After swim, we attempted to go to Pizza Luce since it was rainy, the Cassem's have a cat and our basement is barricaded with our cat right now.  The wait was insane and we finally blew it off and did Pizza Rev instead followed by some Yogurt Lab - Yum!

Saturday - Gym followed by brunch.  We then did some lazy stuff around the house since it was a rainy Saturday.  This was not Maci's best day as we attempted to do dinner/grocery as a family.  Maci proceeded to pee her pants in the kid's car grocery cart, splashed in said pee and then ran around the store SCREAMING when we told her no candy for peeing in the car. . . 1 year of being potty trained - what the hell?!  Clint had to manage both kids and clean the cart while I checked out acting like I didn't know that awful, loud child.  UGH - here is to a better day!  At least she went to bed at 8p. . . that is Maci with NO naps.

Sunday - Wahoo sun and fun!  We decided to haul the kids to the MN zoo since we haven't been in a while and keep going to the smaller Como option.  Maci was a really good girl and took a nap in the car both too and from, thank God!  Connor loved riding on mom and Maci enjoyed some sing along group during a very busy day at the Zoo.

Our Dancer in Red

 Mr Chill in the Stroller

 Dino Feature

Not Worth the Additional $ but M liked it

 Carousel Fun with Dad

While Mom Holds Napping Connor

 She was ALL about these statues 

Diva!

After the zoo we came home to rest up and then went out back to play a bit while waiting on pizza.  Maci had fun chatting up our neighbor Karoline's ear while she did yard work and Connor was excited to try out the "baby" swing for the first time.

Monday - Thank you Veterans!!!  We LOVE our Holiday Weekends!  Today we hit up our favorite man made beach/lake.  It is a beach but with chlorinated water so Maci likes it since it isn't full of bugs etc.  She was SO excited to go to the beach and packed her own bag of toys.  Connor on the other hand mainly napped in the shade.

We got home a little over an hour ago and since have been finishing up some yard work/errands for the weekend.  I am about to check over some work to get ready for the week ahead and Maci is playing in the backyard.  All in all we had a great weekend, exhausting at times but wouldn't change it for the world!!  We love making our family memories and are excited for the summer ahead!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Connor Gets Answers, Momma Heads to Chi Town and We Enjoy a Gorgeous Weekend!

Science Project

Hey Mom - Just Hanging w. My Fav Pink Bunny @ School

We got back into the flow of another week and on Tuesday Connor had a follow up Dr Apt.  I had an all day meeting at work and since we thought it would be more of the same, Clint flew solo.  Unfortunately, the Dr was ready to start allergy testing since Mr Connor had been showing signs of irritability with this Soy Formula and the cough was STILL there.  Since lil man has really small veins, they had to send Clint to Children's to get the blood drawn which turned this into almost a whole day ordeal.  Fortunately, on my way to the airport Wed I looked down and saw a voicemail on my phone from the Dr.  Turns out Mr Connor does test positive for a mild allergy to milk protein (formula issue confirmed) and cats (sorry Milo).  We already had a follow up apt scheduled for this Wed to discuss the results and we are so thankful to start to have answers and to hear there is no auto immune disorder, another thing they were checking.  So until we know more, Milo is currently banned to the basement and Connor isn't playing downstairs.  We are planning to give up Milo, deep clean vents/carpets/curtains etc and hope that does the trick.  However, before we pull any triggers, we want to have this follow up appointment Wed - More to Come!

Wednesday I had my first overnight away from Connor.  Of course I thought I would veg out and go to bed at a really early hour.  Turns out I can't sleep without my crazy mess of a family making noise and I went to bed at 1130p with quite a bit of tossing and turning.  It was a worthwhile trip to Chicago with lots of good learning and ideas.  While I was gone, I asked for pics of the kids as I waited for the airport on the way back home Thursday.  These boogers sure make me laugh!

HOT MESS haha

Cutie Pie

Friday - The day kicked off with me realizing it was our 10 year anniversary of our first date!  What a journey we have been on these past 10 years. . . what a great team we make!

It was a gorgeous day and every one was ready to get out of work after yet another busy week!  I met the family at swim lessons in time to get Maci changed and this little girl has totally turned a bend.  She is a little fish and now "hides her eyes in the water" for the count of "6 bananas"  So crazy how far she has come in just a few weeks!  After swim, Maci and Clint were off to the St Louis Park princess/daddy ball with Natalie and Ryan.  They had such a ball dancing, playing on a playground and eating candy.  While they were partying, I was cuddling Connor, eating my favorite pizza and catching up on Shark Tank and 20/20 HA

Fresh From Swim

 Only Gal Eating Cookies on the Dance Floor 

Saturday - We had the usual gym class and afterward we ate brunch on the patio since it was yet another gorgeous day ahead!  After brunch, the Zehr family came along with our broad while we walked a street art/craft show.  Maci got a tutu and we headed home for some attempted naps.  Connor and I got in a nap while Maci and Clint played outside in the sand box.  After naps, we got some carry out dinner and then momma ran to a later night grocery trip so we could have Sunday for fun.  After bed time, Clint and I were able to have some cocktails on the stoop.  What a fun/pretty day!

Happy 5 Months Lovey!

Sunday - Clint and I had planned out a Sunday Funday during our stoop party the night before.  Everyone actually slept in for a first and we rolled out of bed around 8a.  We got ready and were at Como Zoo right when it opened at 10a.  We saw the animals, rode rides and headed out in time for some car naps.  After some good naps (for once) Maci came outside to play in her baby pool and Connor chilled in his bouncy seat.  After getting a few things done around the house, we headed to our neighbor's The Verplank's (twin girls) to do some grilling out and swimming in their in ground pool.  Connor tried a pool for the first time and did pretty well although I think the water was a tad too cold for his liking.  Maci on the other hand was a fishy and daddy was a good sport.

Too Cool at the Polar Bear Show

 My Doll Baby 

Stroller Chilling

 Froggy Ride

 Just so Chill on a Pretty Sunday

 Ready to Swim for 1st Time

Maci Says "Connor has crabs"

Me "What Maci?!"

Me "Ohhh those are Lobsters" hahahha

Pool Time!

 Drying Off w. Momma

We had an awesome weekend and I look forward to learning more about how we help our lil man mid this coming week!  We hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

Lots of Love!
C, K, M & C

The Cough Returned - UGH!!!

Another rough week in the Mondell house :(  Mr Connor started with a cough again on Monday morning.  By Tuesday we were sending the neb machine and arbuturol back to day care.  He was on it all week with the meds seeming to help but then he would revert to coughing a few hours after the meds.  We kept this up throughout the week even while Clint took a quick 24 hour ish trip to Indiana for work.  Come Friday we had his follow up Dr apt where they were going to listen to his "healthy" lungs to see if she in deed though he had asthma or not.  Well they weren't healthy lungs but we went anyway.  The Dr was relieved to hear it was back vs still going.  We told her we wish she had seen him the week prior because you would have never known he was sick and then it came back like that UGH!  We now have him on Soy Formula as she seems to think he may just be that super sensitive guy who needs extra sensitive skin stuff and same for his tummy.  Clint will be taking him back yet again for a follow up on Tuesday morning - PLEASE GO AWAY COUGH AND NEVER COME BACK!!!!

Maci Having Bubble Wrap / Paint Fun on a Monday

 Costume Kim Came as  Butterfly

Maci was front and center in Bright Pink

 Morning Scene in Mom's Bed on the Day Dad was Gone to IN

 Shaking Ice Cream Bag 

 Getting to Smell Roses at School 

 Coloring Rainbows on a Friday While We Were at the Doctor w. Connor

Friday - The Dr recommended us to not send Connor to daycare on Friday since she wanted us keeping a close eye - How much more of this?!  Clint had the day off anyway as he continues to burn vacation days on Fridays through the remainder of May.  I had only a few calls so decided to help out too and work from home.  We ran to get Miss M around 430p for swim lessons.  We thought the humidity may do Connor's congestion some good.  However, since he was a tad under the weather, we grabbed a Pappa Murphy's take and bake pizza and headed home vs hanging with the Cassem's.

Saturday - We had a super lazy morning and decided not to do gym after a rough night all around.  Maci was happy to lay around and watch cartoons while Daddy ran some errands for us.  Mr C took a ton of naps on mommy which I didn't mind one bit.  I enjoyed quite a few Law & Orders, it was like maternity leave all over again - except add on coughing UGH!  We ended up renting a few movies throughout the day and enjoyed some Culvers for dinner.  Such a lazy Saturday but much needed for this crew.

Morning Sibling Cuddles 

Sunday - After a lazy day on Saturday, we were up and at 'em today.  We were at the grocery by 9a, followed by Target where Maci bought her bike with pacifiers (That's Right One Success This Weekend - NO MORE Binkies in Her Mouth!!!), then to Bruegger for bagel breakfast and finally the last stop was Bachman's for our annual petunias for the pots and hanging decor.  Clint built the bike, Maci and Clint planted flowers and I attempted to keep a fairly cranky/gassy little boy entertained inside.  It ended up being a gorgeous day so we took a really nice long family walk!  Maci crashed on the walk and is still napping in the stroller on the front porch now :)  I am now getting ready to prepare for the week ahead, Clint is about to run and grab us some take out dinner and Connor is ready to wake up without a cough tomorrow!

 New Minnie Mouse Bike!

 Family Selfie by the Lake Across the Street

 Another but You Still Cant See Connor

 There He Is!!!

 Clint's Gorgeous Perennial Landscaping 

Coming to Life Better & Better Each Year

 She is OUT

Two Big Milestones for me this week : I have my first co-ed soccer game Tuesday night since I use to play in my women's league in Dayton OH (I hope I don't pass out!) I also have my first overnight trip away from 2 kiddos on Wednesday night.  I will attend a work conference Thursday in Chicago but fortunately it is about a 24 hour trip so just a nice break.

We hope you all have a great week ahead and please say a few prayers that Connor kicks this cough once and for all!!!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C