Not to Trump the SuperBowl or anything but.......

I just received the best news this morning!!!!!!! And yes, it does deserve 7 exclamation points! As I'm sure a lot of you know, we found out this summer that Max is hard of hearing. We also found out that our insurance does not cover anything to do with his hearing loss including dr. visits, ear molds, future hearing test and most importantly hearing aids. (we are talking thousands of $$$ every year) We went through several appeals, all to be denied. In fact the final denial appeal letter came exactly one week before Christmas and left me very deflated. We truly thought that John's employer would do the right thing, because ultimately it was their decision whether to cover it or not. John has always been upbeat about things like this and it doesn't seem to faze him. I'm glad he kept encouraging me to push and knock on every door possible. I spent a full day researching on the Internet and applying for grants and any charitable donation I could find. Today the Lions Club of Maple Grove called and told me that they are going to pay for the full amount of Max's hearing aids. I literally asked this guy Ken on the phone if he was joking and then began to ball like a baby. (I've got an excuse, I'm prego!!) I feel like this is one of the biggest answers to my prayers I have ever received. What a blessing!! If you would like to check out the MG Lions Club, you can go here: http://www.maplegrovelions.org/index.html

They have many opportunities to help raise $$ including things as easy as going to a pancake breakfast. Maple Grove Lions Rule!!

The Super Bowl Opened up for the BOSS!!

General Mills was feeling sorry that John has a cranky, mean prego wife at home and decided to send him to the Superbowl. (men just don't get it, they thought this would somehow make it better....ha ha ha he will pay!!!) Here is John at the game in a t-shirt. That's right a t-shirt. Today it is -5, and I am inside wearing my coat.


Pre - game time hoopla......

Pre - game party with a long time friend Michael Wheeler. Somehow John managed to look like he represents the lolipop guild in this pic. A friend hooked John up with these tickets. He saw lots of celebs and athletes, but by the time he was telling me, my eyes were already glazing over so you will have to ask him who he saw.

This is where the real entertainment began - 1/2 time!! Let's face it, Bruce rules. When John got home, we watched and Jackson loved it. He asked if he could go to the superbowl next year even though he has yet to watch one full minute of any other football game in his little life. John told him how much his ticket cost and that General Mills paid for it Jackson replied "I don't want to be a policeman anymore, I want to work for General Mills so I can save my own money and still go to the Superbowl." We told him to keep his policeman dreams and we will take him to a concert instead.

Overall, I thought I would be super jealous that he was in sunny Florida while I was holed up here in the tundra, but it wasn't too bad. When John got home I asked him who won and he was floored! He couldn't believe that I had no idea, and that I didn't watch the game. I actually enjoyed a whole weekend void of anything sports!!!

I'm on a ROLL!!! Warning: This is a long one

I guess I am making up for lost time! Here are a pics from our trip to the Wisconsin Dells a while back. As I looked through the pictures I thought of how lucky we are to be able to make such fun memories with our boys! We had a blast.

We spent a lot of time in the various hot tubs. We would go on the lazy river or hit the wave pool and then come back and warm up. I especially enjoyed seeing how fast my crazy boys could clear a hot tub of adults looking to relax!


When we weren't at the pool, you could find us at the indoor amusement park. The first night we were there John had some work obligations. The boys and I decided to peruse the hotel. The one thing Jack HAD to do was to climb this 3 story rope maze thingy. (that is the technical term) I was so impressed with how he went on his own. No baby mamas aloud.This boy has no fear.


To illustrate my point on how scary this thing looks, here is a picture of Max the next day going up with the help of John. The first picture is him at the end of the course. Once you start, there is no turning back. By the time he reached the end, his lips were blue from crying.



This is what Max looked like when he started out with John.



We ate a little too good this weekend if you ask me. They had so many restaurants inside the hotel, we didn't have to go outside into the frozen tundra all weekend! Now that makes the 4 hour drive worth it.

As many of you know, my kids wake up at the crack of dawn. Well this doesn't exactly fit waterpark hours. We were up for 4 hours before it opened. We filled our time painting and riding silly rides.

Overall we had a awesome time. Hopefully John can plan another business trip next winter so we can go again.

Anyone notice there are no hot pics of me in here? Orca Fat Prego's in swimsuits are the only thing not aloud on my blog.

Glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty??

I am now officially 20 weeks prego (as of yesterday)! Yippee! To celebrate I did what any other preggers would do with both kids at school......went back to bed. :)


Self portrait of the baby belly. Although it appears that I am also pregnant in my buttocks, I will not be posting any pictures of that any time soon.

Sarah...this one's for you!

I guess you know you've dropped the ball when friends and family are emailing you asking if you are OK because you haven't posted in a while! I had no idea I had such a following that people would be begging for more. The truth is....I'm a slacker. John can attest to this simple and honest fact. Whew, I'm glad I got that off my chest. I know people hate excuses, so I'm going to stick with that. Slacker=Jamie.

Our winter so far has been packed with fun. To name a few of our adventures: we've gone sledding, tubing, visited the Science and Children's Museum, crashed a few parties and had a weekend of fun at the Dells. That doesn't even cover the big stuff like Christmas, winter break, New Year's and that Max started at a new Deaf/Hard of Hearing preschool. (we are super stoked about that one)




The boys enjoying some snow that is actually snowman compatible. (usually the snow is so dry here, it is hard to even make a snowball)



Max loving the wave pool at the indoor waterpark at the Dells. (a full post of all our fun there will come soon)


Jackson "surfing." The picture is pretty blurry, but you get the gist.

Some dive in Wisconsin that had the best fresh Strawberry milkshakes!

Max for Hire

Attention slackers: Haven't decorated for Christmas? Well Max is you guy....he is now available for a small fee. He specializes in ribbons and tape, but is willing to branch out depending on your tastes and decor. Here are a couple pics of the outstanding work that Max does. Also, he can make a mean batch of brownies or cookies if you are behind on Christmas baking. This guy is versatile.

Assumptions

Keep in mind that I am just assuming these things......

But you all know what assumptions can make out you and I right? So please, correct me if I'm wrong.

Why I want a baby girl:

I'm pretty sure when she is potty trained, she won't pee on the toilet seat and onto the floor. Then to make matters worse, she definitely won't use her Mom's make-up brush to "mop" up the mess. (again, just assuming)

I'm also just about positive that this little angel will not be angry with me if I think the cartoon star wars clone wars is totally lame. She will also not throw a tantrum if I will not let her rent it at blockbuster after she has seen it a dozen times.

One last thing, uh er assumption....if I have a girl, eventually there will be more than one person in the house that looks like their hair has been combed in the last 48 hours. Not saying she will be willing, I just won't let a girl look as scraggly as I let my boys do.

On the other hand......

Why I want to have another boy:

ummmm, still thinking.

Just kidding, if I did have another boy, it would be a piece of cake. (just assuming)

I would already know all the silly little tricks like to push his bits and pieces down while changing diapers if I don't want to get an April shower.

I would also know that I would spend about 90% less on baby clothes. (this one is not an assumption but true and honest fact.) Have you been gymboree lately and checked the girl to boy ratio of clothing? 10 to 1 people, 10 to 1

One more thing, I would also (john willing) be able to fulfill Jackson's lifelong dream of having a brother named Luke Skywalker. Who could pass that up?

I guess it's a wash. Either way I'm just hoping for one that is healthy and happy. Oh, and one that loves their Mom like my boys do. (assuming, yet again)

The million $$$ Question:

What everyone wants to know when the topic of Max and his hearing loss and recent hearing aids is: "Do you notice a difference, is he talking/understanding better?" My answer is always yes, absolutely. He is doing great, making big strides and actually listening when I tell him not to punch his brother in the face again. However, almost on a daily basis he throws out a gem of a one liner that leaves me questioning. Does this kid get it? Here is just one sample of things I hear on a daily basis.

Max and I are enjoying some alone time together while Jackson is out sledding. This is the part where I have to admit something. No, I am not being a good mom making cookies with my boy, I was just trying to get out of going out in the bitter 4 degree weather to go sledding with him. I let Jack go out on his own, he is old enough. Max on the other hand, well if he goes, I go. Thus the cookie making bribe. OK, so back to the point of this post....here we are making cookies and Max starts grabbing knifes and flinging them on the counter. I immediately start in on how little boys can not touch knifes. He then replies: "Only Mommy and Daddy can play with knifes?" I answer back: "Well no one is aloud to play with knifes but yes, adults can use them to cut things up." Now this is the questionable statement: "Why Mom, will the hot lava burn you?" Then I think to myself, are we having the same conversation, does this boy comprehend anything?? OK, I know a little bit dramatic but seriously this happens every day! Then I proceed to tell him: "No Max, I will not get burned by lava, the knife might cut me and I will bleed." The best part is he then repeats my sentence in a questioning tone: "the knife will cut you and you will bleed?" As if this is a totally new concept to him.

So yes, he is listening better.....understanding, well that's questionable at this point!!

We had a hilariously funny holiday TACKY party last night. Thanks everyone for coming, we had a blast. With tacky in mind, the pic below was our table centerpiece. And yes, it is real. Well...not the pee.

"Uhh Mom, Christmas fell down!"

This is what Max came to the basement to declare to John and I last night. Now, having listened to the language known as "Max speak" for the last four years, I immediately knew that our enormous Christmas tree had fallen down! The whole family rushed upstairs to find our freshly cut from the woods 12 foot tree smooshed on the living room floor. To make matters worse, there were broken glass bulbs scattered around and a wet floor to top it off. John had to rush over to Menards to find a bigger tree stand that could handle this big boy. It went back up pretty easy, but a ton of my ornaments have been ruined. :0( What a great way to start off the holiday season! I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of winter as much as we are! Happy Holidays woo woo!