We went to Logan's first baseball game of the season tonight. Oh, it was so nice out! It was really fun and we'll be going to more of them this year. Here is a picture of Todd (proof that he's out of the hospital). He got a little excited a few times and Lynnie told him to settle down. We don't want anything more happening to him.

We played outside all day today. Madison REFUSED to come in all day! That was fine with me. It was so beautiful out! We went on a 5 mile walk today. My calves are going to be super sore tomorrow.

Look at this cute picture of my little rug rat in her princess dress which is so torn and tattered! This was after the baseball game tonight. She goes from rug rat tomboy to rug rat princess! hee hee, my little cutie.

Make sure to check out the little video of Madison playing softball! Holy cow, can she ever hit the ball. She really has an awesome little swing on her. She had fun with her cousins over the weekend. Here is a layout of kayla and haley.

Hey, I guess Todd is coming home from the hospital tomorrow....blood clots and all! So not sure of what they plan to do with the blood clots still. But I suppose they wouldn't let him come home if it wasn't safe. Logan made the A team for baseball for high school and has a game tomorrow night. We are going to try to make it if it isn't raining. I guess Todd is going to go too. He is supposibly really bored, as anyone would be if they were cooped up in a hospital room for so many days. Glad to hear that he is coming home.

Do you know if you go to Moorehead University's web page at http://www.mnstate.edu/home/ in the header there are 2 photos of Tyler for the school. I just went there to look for his play info over the weekend and by golly, there he was! (Mom...the header is the rotating pictures of the college students.) I don't think Ty called his Dad to let him know how the play went. I am sure it went just as fine as always. We didn't really know that his play was even going on so we couldn't of made it without someone watching Madison. Hopefully we'll catch his next play. Anyways, I couldn't find any info on his play so I can't blog about it!

gotta get to bed. btw, I am on some new medication that is helping fall asleep at night and it's working really good. Usually within 1/2 hour of taking it I feel tired. No more of me staying up all night anymore! That sucks.

No news on Todd today. I just tried to call Lynnie and she's not answering her cell phone so that must mean that she is sitting in the room with him. They said they medicine is working on the blood clot that in on his heart valve, so that's good. Wonder how long it will take. Still unclear what's going on with the blood clot on his brain.
This morning after breakfast, me and steve and madison and kayla and haley went to the park. The BIG chutes and ladder park is still closed so we went to a nearby one instead. It was fun. Nice to be outside. It was suppose to be sunny and 70 out today but it is NOT. I just got done raking some of the front yard. Eeks...steve is home from menards so I gotta get off the computer! BYE

Hey, remember there is another book where some of my layouts is being published in? God, that was so long ago...but they have a "preview" on their website and one of my layouts is on that preview....you can go to: http://www.layoutblueprints.com/LB2Preview.pdf
It's on page 6 on the bottom. That was so long ago that I am embarssed by how my layouts looked. I would never of picked those! Guess it was what they were looking for because they picked about 7 or so if I remember right. Anyways, they say that shipping will start in May so I should hopefully have my free book(s) shipped out to me by then. Like I said, I am embarssed by them because I think my layouts look so much better now than at that time....oh well. Another 15 mintues of fame for me I guess! I should take it as it happens, right?

Yes, we are growing out her bangs...I don't know if it'll last though...I am having a hard time with them in her eyes.

Here is a photo of us tonight...
and Madison the other day pushing the stroller. She pushed it all the way up the street!
And here she is at the park. Thank GOD it is getting warmer out and we can go to the park again! Whew!

Here's a little video clip from Madison at her gymnastics class on Friday. I finally got the video to work. Sometimes I can't get it posted on the blog right. Every once in awhile I gotta wing it and pretend I know what I am doing. Usually works out. Right now Kayla and Haley are over. They are doing a sleep over. We just got done making a fort in her room. I use to LOVE making forts. It was always so much fun.

Here's a update email from Lynnie...
We received good news yesterday from the cardiologist. After another TE Echo, the clot on his heart valve seems to be diminishing in size! This is good news. His INR (this has something to do with how thin his blood is) is at 1.75, but it needs to get over 3.0 to go home. Dr. Ip said it will be a boring weekend for him. We will take it! His double vision still bothers him, but the patch seems to help. He is in good spirits and gets tired easily, especially after that procedure and when they do vision things with him. It is a crazy weekend now with Logan under the weather. He has had some stomach flu type symptoms mainly from 10 pm to 3 am. Just when you think you can get a little sleep...... He's resting quietly with gatorade, tv, and a piece of toast at the moment. I'll let you all know any more news as soon as the action at the hospital picks up on Monday. They say not much happens on the weekends.Again, pass this on to all who want updates.Thanks for all you prayers!

Update on Todd:
Not sure if I mentioned earlier that they found another blood clot on his heart....but they want to do surgery but they are in a delima because his body will retain water which is determental to his brain. So far for stroke issues, he is acutally looking pretty good so far. He does still have double vision and his right side is a little weaker. They said he will remain in the hosptial for quite awhile. That's all we know right now. Mom and I will go up to the hospital tonight after steve gets home because I'd hate to see the damage little missy m' could get into with all those hospital tubes and stuff! hee hee. Guess it's not really funny. I guess we'll take Todd's lead...if he can find humor in all of this then I guess we can too. I guess when the doctors put a patch on his eye to try to correct the double vision he wanted to know if he looked like Johnny Depp (Priates of the Carribean).

Sorry that I haven't posted for a few days....my brother-in-law Todd has had a stroke. He is in the hospital and they tried to get the bloodclot out of his brain but they weren't successful in getting the whole thing out. Not really sure what they do now. There is a 6 hour time frame they have to try to work on the brain before they have to be done with what ever they are doing. He has been told just how lucky he is to be alive. They are going to take the tube out tonight and see if he is able to swallow. Inspite of it all, he is able to move arms and legs and still has a sense of humor. To be honest, they aren't sure of the extent of the stroke yet. Not really sure of anymore details. We were at the hosptial all day yesterday. He is still in the ICU and will remain there until tomorrow. I'll keep you updated as I find out what's happening. He's only 49.
UPDATE: They went to check Todd's heart because he does have an irregular heart beat and did have open heart surgery when he was 42/43 and they just found another blood clot sitting on the valve. They are going to try to dissolve it chemically. That's all I know.
Please say a prayer for him.

Just some layouts I did for the girl I ct for. I LOVE her stuff. My designing is so different than hers and I'd love to design like she does....but then I'd be copying her. Some things I can find somewhat similar and that's too close for me. But I am totally inspired by her!

Did not do too much today. Just ran around and did some errands. Oh..bought madsion some pull ups to GET HER GOING ON THE POTTY TRAINING! That is as exciting as it gets around here these days. We watched the finale of "rock of love 2". I love Brett Michaels. Notice the last name?

Check out our daughter dancing....it's a little dark but you should be able to see it! She's quite the dancer with quite the dramatic moves. A little too dramatic if you ask me....

Here's a picture of Steve's little indoor garden that he has planted. Hopefully these will grow and then if it EVER gets warm enough we can transplant them outdoors. Some of these are seeds that he took from last year's plants, so who knows what will happen.

We had a fun day today. We went to a huge indoor park in Edina. It was sooo huge. Steve had to be the one to go in the chutes and ladders part with Madison because I am too colostrophobic to go in there. It really bums me out that I can't enjoy that part with her and that one of my "issues" interfers with her childhood fun. I really hate that. I might try to take her there myself during the week when there aren't sooo many other kids there. It was nuts how many people were in this place. I don't know if I'll be able to do it or not. I'll have to decide later on if I am going to attempt it. I would HATE for us to go there and then I can't handle it because Madison isn't going to understand.

We just watched a movie called "a death at a funeral". Pretty funny movie. It's worth renting if you are looking for a dvd to get.

After our date Steve and I went on 2 rides at Camp Snoopy. You guys...it was so fricken funny...the two of us on the biggest roller coasters there. We were laughing so hard! On the first one it was really funny because I was laughing and my gum fell out of my mouth. And you know how they take pictures of you on there? WELL, now they take DVDs of you on there which is twice as funny. Of course the part that is on there is my gum flying out of my mouth.

You've got to see the movie 21. So good. I loved it. Go see it if you haven't. God, I want to go to Las Vegas. I really, really want to go to Vegas. Maybe I'll try to talk Steve into it. Now that it's getting warm *ha ha* outside I am not sure where I'd want to go on a vacation. hmmmm. Maybe we wait abit longer. I want to go on 2 vacations. One now and one later. After paying for those rides last night, which costed us 20 bucks for the both of us, the cost of the movie...and popcorn and pop, AND the babysitter...maybe we can't afford to go anywhere...
Anyways, our date night was fun. Even Steve said it was.

I'm so damn tired from cleaning everything else all day that I don't have TIME to get to my desk area.....

This is the 200 posted blog entry! Wow...can you believe that I have sat down at this computer and blogged 200 posts? hee hee, I am sure Steve can believe that! He wants me to put my blog in a book...wonder if I can do that. It would be fun to read through all the posts in book form.

Lynnie came over tonight and got her hair cut. We couldn't spare the few days apart after last week of being together almost every day! hee hee.

Oh..okay people, I have to tell you about the crab that escaped from our fish tank. You guys, I thought I was going to die...Madison first saw it scurring across the office floor and I had to be the "adult" and not freak out. I went and put my big boots on so I wouldn't step on it. I didn't even know what it was in the first place...thought it was the biggest centipede that I have ever seen...SO GROSS!!!! Anyways, I ran and got the broom and tried to smoosh it and it TRIED TO GET AWAY. I was so grossed out by this thing. THEN I went and got a big bowl and put it over it so Steve could continue to try to kill what I was trying to do for the past 10 mintues WHILE trying to contain my screams so I wouldn't frighten the child.....I DID take a picture of this cuz it was kinda funny. I had to put my bag on top of the bowl so it wouldn't escape from my killer hands. I had to call Steve cuz I was so grossed out and we determined it WAS the crab. It sat in the bowl until Steve got home where he sent it back to the fish tank....

So disgusting. I hate the crab. There will be a cover for the fish tank from now on.

ha ha, I found this photo of Madison and laughed so hard at it....this is sooo her. Don't ask me why because she is just eating a tomatoe, but it is just her total personality!
Today we went to the Mall of America. Of course we had to do the "routine" of 3 rides, ice cream cone, me *trying* to shop, her getting crabby, us going home and her falling asleep in the car. That is what happens EVERY time we go. I guess she's 3, what can you expect?
Not much more happened today...went to Target and spent unnecessarily. Is that a word? Did I use is with correct grammer? Maybe I should of said I spent unnecessary. Nope, that doesn't look right either. Then we came home from there and I proceded to make dinner. Only I would blog that I made dinner. But since it is more of a rare occassion that I do *wifely* duties, it is bloggable news. Some of you may ask, what excatly do I do? Good question. I don't cook much, cleaning is even less.....I do sleep alot. I blog. I workout, not that you'd be able to tell. Oh...yes, I have the child. Can't forget that little cutie! Well, I hear Steve snoring on the couch...I am going to leave him there and go cuddle up with Madison who is tucked away nice and cozy in our bedroom. Oh, was she ever crabby tonight. Daddy could do noooo right tonight and she kept crying and running to me. I just smiled as I told Steve that sometimes you just need a mommy. Do you know the other night I slept out on the couch *(guess who was snoring again?) and madison came out about 6:30 am and I told her to go back in the room and wake up Daddy...and she went into the room and said to Steve, "YOU need to get up and get to work and Mom needs to take me to daycare". It sounded so funny and teenager like. She's funny.
Oh...wanted to tell you about a good book that I read. It's Valerie Bertanelli's book, "regaining my life one pound at a time"...it was a really good book. You should read it if you like biographys. I borrowed it out already but if you would like to borrow it when I get it back just let me know. I didn't think I would of been so into the parts when she talks about being married to Eddie VanHalen, but it was rather interesting. Anyways....very good book.

Here was our conversation....
Kelly: Steve, you need to start getting healthy.
Steve: That's why I put broccoli in my bloody Mary.

Here is a picture of our new car. Did I mention that it's a Chevy Cobalt? I sound like I know cars when I throw in the make and model.
Cute picture of Nana and Alyssa and Anna.

This was Madison outside yesterday in the nice, nice weather we were having! Steve and Madison initally went out looking for dog poop to clean up from when we had Toby over! They found some! I was obiviously inside during that adventure they par-took on!


Well, we finally got ourselves a new car! Yea for us! It's a 2007 Chevy Cobalt. Not that many miles on it...I think like 29,000 or something. But we were able to keep it in the amount we wanted to pay for our lovely once again monthly payments. Believe it or not they acutally took 1000.00 bucks for my car. Steve said he wanted to get out of the place before they drove it. So now he will drive the new car everyday to work and we'll be saving a ton on gas. Our new car gets 33 miles to the gallon so the amount we are saving while he drives this car instead of the truck which gets 18 miles to the gallon, will be applied to the car payment. Pretty cool deal actually! We are excited to see how even it comes out with gas money vs car payment. We think it's pretty close. Ok, Steve thinks it's close...that's too much math work for me:) I never claimed to be smart with the numbers....I'm artistic. Actually this was pretty funny....tonight I was thinking about blogging and then kinda let go of the idea cuz I really didn't think I had anything to blog about. We got a fricken new car...most people would be really excited about it!! Don't get me wrong, it's cool and all that we got a car but I am just not a "car person" if ya know what I mean. I am excited that it's silver though. I care more about the color of the thing than the rest of the stuff that I am suppose to care about like gas milage and style, etc. Anyways, it was a major purchase on our behalves and I really let it slip my mind already! It does drive nice. Maybe tomorrow I will get some photos and post them.


On Friday me and Lynnie went to McDonalds AGAIN in Eden Prairie. Yes, the one that had their playland closed up when we went earlier in the day. This time is was open so we were happy campers. The child was not participating in the photographic memories so I don't have really good ones except a few. I was going to post "the struggle" with Lynnie trying to hold Madison while she wrangled herself out of the "hold" but it turned out blurry. It was pretty funny. Here's 2 of her that turned out....

Tyler was suppose to come home tonight to do a comedy gig with his group "the bearded men" but I guess it was snowing so bad that they had to cancel tonight's show. Bummer. It would of been good to see him, although I am sure it would of only been for a short while, if even! I am not sure when his next play is going to be. Can't remember what the dates were! That's all I got for you folks!

Hee hee, isn't this cute? I PROMISE not to do too many potty pictures, but they are just so dang cute. So today, mom reminded me that I have not blogged much this week.....and I haven't! Too many things going on I guess. But if you ask me what they are, I can't remember! Jim and Alexis were over during the weekend. They left on Sunday. We had such a blast with them! That was really fun with them being here over the weekend. Here's a funny picture of Jim and Steve holding Madison's hands when we were walking into best buy...

They look like a happy family, don't they (wink, wink)? I always tease Steve about Jimmy being his boyfriend!

On Tuesday me and Lynnie took Madison to McDonalds to go on the playland but we couldn't play because the workers were fixing something in the little park. You'd think they could of picked a better time beside LUNCH time to fix it. Tons of little kiddies waiting to go play. So, we went over to Eden Prairie Center to go play on their playset and as we were walking up guess what we saw? The fricken cleaning crew. What are the odds? Anyways, Madison got to go play for awhile. She had fun. Then we did a little shopping. Don't ask me why but the child wanted me to take a picture of her in the clothes rack in Kohls...

I ended up buying the shirt that Madison is holding onto. Lynnie bought it but in black and white.

Not much else really going on. I went to Sam's Club with Lynnie yesterday and then today I met mom and Lynnie at the Casino! If you are wondering what the heck does Lynnie do and why is she with me all week, it's because she's on spring break from school. We possibly might go to McDonalds and try it again tomorrow and then on Saturday is Logans birthday party so I'll see Lynnie again!!!. I haven't spent this much time with any of my sisters since me and Kim lived together! It's been fun!

By the way....not much happened at the casino by the time we left, so that's why you don't see me writting much about that! I am DONE with the casino for a long, long time.

That's about all folks. Oh, I DID get excited that Lynnie said she never voted on who reads my blog so that means there's 14 of you! Please, please....the paparrazzi MUST move back, I can't see anything!

Oh...I did forget to mention that Tuesday was Madison's LAST day of ice skating for this session. I'd like to announce that she passed her class and is advancing to the next class. Check out her awesome patch that she got....I've already sewed it on her jean jacket!

Do you like her friendship pin that Jimmy (yes, this is Steve's friend Jim) made for Madison? He also made her a pair of earrings that is sooo cute. Oh, and a braclet that I think could actually sell for some bucks... The bottom picture is earrings that Alexis made for me! I HAD made Madison a necklace to go with her nice essamble of jewerly but it broke! Bummer.
Hey, I forgot to say that tonight I went to a motivational speaker with some high school friends, Kim Schwartz and Kris Rice and guess who was sitting in the row in front of me? My cousin Betty! That was so funny!

Check out the awesome pictures of me, Steve, Jimmy & Alexis! Aren't they great? We actually went down to Steve Berg's house (high school friend of steve's) after not being there for about 2.5 years....we KNEW he'd be in his garage where he has a bar. Actually a really cool bar. But we KNEW he'd be there because that's about where we left him 2.5 yrs ago and sure enough, guess who was there? None other than Steve Berg. He has a drumset, guitars, microphones ets...just like a real band and we played around with all the stuff. Had a blast actually. We had Logan babysit last second *as in we called at 7:30 pm to see if he wanted to and he did so we headed down there. Don't worry folks, it was I who drove:)

Here's a cute layout done of Kylee with her graduation pictures.

Kylee, do you like either one of these down below for your invites for your graduation? Of course I don't know the details...but if you like either of these let me know or else I can make up some more. I know you said you liked Barrett's so I basically made the same ones, different colors.

Like how I use my blog as a conversation to just one person when there are actually 13 people who read it. Can you tell that I am still in awe that anyone other than our mothers read this? Lots of babbling on and on and on about nothing. Anyways, I use it as a somewhat mass email that is acutally only meant for one person for certain subjects. Ok...I know you are saying *whatever kelly*..... you all get the picture. Like I have to really explain.

Well, I can't sleep what so ever and hope this isn't a total sleepless night again, but I think it's going to be.

Oh, here's a cute picture of Madison with Alexis...

And this one of her alone...hee hee, she's so cute. She's got a cute smile in here.
Well folks...I am SURE I have more to post but I'll have to do that later on...the sun is coming up and I need to try to sleep even if it's only for one hour!

Honest to God we created a monster. She won't get off the potty. She's determined to get her sucker that she gets when she goes. She's seriously won't get off. It's almost bed time.

Exciting news or what? I have to admit I am a tiny bit relieved because I really didn't think it would take this long...although she just turned 3. I don't know why I thought it would of been sooner but everyone said not to push it and it'll happen...and it did. NOW I guess we are in a new phase, which will mean more work. Damn, diapers seem easy now! Anyways....I told her she was offically inducted into the little girls hall of fame for big girls and now we get to go to the toy store tomorrow and buy her a little toy of her choosing. We'll hit TOY "R" US tomorrow after her ice skating lessons. I am excited to see her skate tomorrow.

Nana, obiviously I got your CD with yours and Ty's pictures! thanks for sending them. Here's a little layout I did. I will try to make some more up too. I LOVE getting pictures to be able to do stuff with! Thanks for sending the new CD.
Here are some more Easter photos. Good night everyone! I am actually tired for once!