is my hernia still there?

Rowan 4 Comments »

Y’know Rowan, when I said that eating homemade oatmeal would give you extra energy, I didn’t think it would go only to your face:

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Scary clown! Ok seriously, I’m getting a little creeped out right now!

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Grandma may have been wrong when she told you your face was going to get stuck that way. But I’ve got some news for you: There’s something down in your drawers that ain’t supposed to be there!

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Whaaaat? I’m not teasing! That’s why you’re sitting in the doctor’s office half-naked. Don’t you grunt at me!

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Diagnosis: Two hernias, a small one behind her belly button and large one in her groin. Sorry Rowan, er..Nomar, even the most educated and affluent people in the world can still fall prey to the simplest of ills…

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We went to the pediatric surgeon’s office to confirm the doctor’s suspicions…Looks like Rowan is taking the news well!

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Try explaining to your 3 year old that a doctor is going to cut her open and sew her back together:

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The fateful day arrived. Howyadoin’ Roastie?! I’m letterboxing…on a gurney! She was more excited about the cartoons than anything…

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Tic tock…Rowan seemed oblivious to the boy-themed hospital gown she was wearing, and that it was almost time to meet Puff the Magic Dragon…

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This is the first time she’s ever gotten to stamp on her own without interruption…

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She wanted her nails painted for the occasion, but we ran out of time. So she improvised!

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A busy Roastie gives me the freedom to take scandalous photos.

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And then the stroke of 9am came…All of a sudden things became a little more scary. Ok, a lot more scary! Rowan released her nervous energy in the form of a fluff, air blow, toot – whatever you want to call it! Like it or not, it was time for a casual stroll to the operating room.

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Doot dah doot…What do you do to pass the time while your child is a million miles away?

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10:30ish a.m.: Welcome back from the dark side of the moon Ro-dog! What’s your fancy? You’ve been fasting for hours…let’s start off with some juice!

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Howyafeelin? It’s a good thing Baba (zebra) stayed by your side when mama couldn’t. We love that Baba!

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Now for the main course: Popsicles! What’s your favorite? Grape! But if they don’t have grape, I’ll have cherry, because it’s a favorite too…

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Are you almost done with your cherry popsicle? Because Daddy has a surprise for you!

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It’s right behind this book! Can you see it?

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It’s a grape popsicle, of course! Princess gets what princess wants today!

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Looks like even the hospital followed the Princess Protocol with a pinkalicious IV-O2 thingamajiggy…

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And just like that, we’re home sweet home. On the way I asked Rowan what she wanted for lunch, to which she very assertively replied, “Chips, dipped in peanut butter!” She couldn’t be swayed no matter what cuisine I offered. Ohhh-kaaaay…

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No sharing. Nope. Nuh-uh. My chips! Mine!

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You are hereby restricted to this couch. Any and all requests, trips to the bathroom, up or down stairs require a parental escort. Oooh she is gonna love this!

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A few days later, she bounced back to her usual spunky demanding self.

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Way to be tough Rowan! We are so proud of you!  

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hippopotamusses like Rowan too!

Rowan 2 Comments »

Hey Rowan, do you have any pre-show butterflies hopping around in your tummy? Hmmm…better let Daddy do an “inspection” just to be sure. Tickle tickle tickle!

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Sorry Rowan, but I don’t think Daddy has the butterflies…but don’t stop trying!

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Suddenly, the lights dimmed, curtains parted and the show began. This was Rowan’s first dance recital, so it was nice for her to see what she was going to do before walking onstage.

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Alright you little prima ballerinas…Its showtime! But not until your teach just gets you to be evenly spaced…

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Those little hips aren’t gonna lie! These girls are about to have a blast…well most of them anyway. 

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Did I mention they were going to have a blast? It looks like Rowan is rocketing through the stratosphere!

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Or maybe she’s being translated? Don’t  go towards the light Row-ina! We want to keep you for a good while longer!

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Not really sure what’s going on here…but I think the secret’s out…except for Sophie’s (Rowan’s BFF).

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Why put your hands over your head to twirl when your helo-piggies can do it for you!?

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Because sometimes it’s fun to listen to the jingle bells on your wrists…DUH!

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Time for the finale…now shake it, shake it, shake it shake it like a polaroid picture!

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Security? Security! We got a crazy fan trying to rush the stage! Maybe next year Ellie!

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Oooh, it’s time for the hit everyone’s been waiting for! C’mon, you know the lyrics! “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas, and only a hippopotamus will do…”

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Wooot! You rocked it Rowan! Between her dancing and us watching I don’t know who had more fun. Way to go Roastie!

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rowan vs. eleanor

Eleanor, Rowan, Vicious Beasts No Comments »

Don’t get the wrong impression, Rowan & Eleanor are not archrivals locked in a heated, epic battle of cute vs. funny. Roastie and Ellie are constantly doing hilarious things wherever we may be. Many times they can be caught doing those charming things together. Hmm, now that I’ve written this down, it’s extremely obvious: These two girls are locked in a heated battle of cute vs. funny! The good news is everybody wins! Alright, out to the front lines!

Whoa, wait a minute! I thought this was a friendly competition!

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That’s a pretty sweet shiner you got there Ellie. Are you and Rowan really throwing punches?

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Apparently so! Alright that’s it, break it up! What’s going on here?! Don’t you give me that stone face!

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Ha! I knew you would crack under the pressure! Crack a smile that is…

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Ok, so the truth has already been told in our last post. Both Ellie and Rowan got into fights with the bathtub and the bathtub won. That’s the story we’re selling anyway…

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We took these two bruisers on another boxing adventure a couple weeks ago. So what does Ellie do while the bigs search for the letterbox? Just chill and look pretty…while sitting in the middle of the road!

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Another important activity is to stay hydrated and fed…otherwise the junior tupperware hunters start to get cranky and make obnoxious loud noises…

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Ellie knows the game you’re playin’ Rowan. No amount of kisses is going to earn you her Z-bar.

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Sometimes the hydrated and fed rule only makes the littles louder…I can even feel myself straining for this cupcake right now!

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Ellie, there’s evidence on your upper lip that you’ve had some already. You’re not hooked, are you?

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Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Now it’s a battle for the last cupcake!

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Better watch out Rowan, I think Ellie’s balling up her fist!

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Trying to convince her that it’s yucky Rowan? Well, she may not like blueberries, but she knows what frosting is!

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No sister rivalry after all? Aww, how nice! Caring is sharing!

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Uh-oh, Rowan scooped up the cupcake and Eleanor immediately started to tense. I don’t think Ellie cares if the wrapper is on or off, since all she wants is the frosting anyway…

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She also doesn’t want to be fed. An independent stubborn daughter of mine? Imagine that!

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Have we reached a compromise Ellie? Has this illegal cupcake immigrant been granted amnesty?

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Looks like a decision has been delayed on account of sugar-clouded judgment.

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It came to a point that Elea-sweet had to go through a 12-step program to detox from all the sugary treats she was inhaling. Rowan was there by her side for moral support. C’mon Ellie, you can do it!

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Alright! Yay for fiber…and its end result!

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How’s it taste? A little rubbery & bland? The dressing should help, but don’t loosen your grip on that banana!

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I see that this is going to take a while. The tabloids are going to lose interest in reporting on this celebrity…

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But not if she relapses! Caramel popcorn?! Say it ain’t so!

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It’s hard being almost 1½ with a hopeless addiction to sugar, isn’t it? Yeah, it looks real bad. Not cute or funny at all. Nope.

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Keeping the sticky sweetness of your outside has not proved any easier than keeping it out of your insides either!

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In case you were getting tired of sweets, Rowan wanted to share with you the familiar sounds of a private corner inside Costco…

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Daddy, did Mommy really just take a picture of Rowan on the potty? As sure as I am that Rowan has plumber’s crack, she sure did!

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It’s been a while since Cheddar made it into a blog post. He’s a nice, affectionate cat, but there’s still plenty you can do that will annoy him…

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Making him a babysitter is probably somewhere on the top of his list. The problem is that it’s hilarious!

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It’s a good thing you’re cute, because this is not hilarious. Especially when it’s the 15th time I’ve had to clean this mess up in two days!

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Are you trying to present a solution to your incessant drawer destruction? I don’t think spray glue is going to do the trick unless we glue your hands to your knees. That sounds like something a loving mother would do, don’t you think?

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Ms. Eleanor, can you please identify for the jury the person who threatened you with the spray glue?

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Ladies & Gentlemen, please direct your attention the glass where my assistant Rowan recreates the crime scene with extreme detail…

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Are you sure Ms. Eleanor? May I remind that you are under oath? Are you pointing to the reflection of the cat in the camera lens? Meowjection!

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While the jury deliberated for days, it was back to the usual routine, starting with an early morning cup of joe…

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…Chocolate joe, that is. Rowan has her own particular way of enjoying a beverage…

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Thanks, but we didn’t really need another demonstration…

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Meanwhile, the defendant kept living her flamboyant lifestyle.

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The evening came, and the jury had made a decision. Ms. Eleanor wore Polka-Dot Panda„¢ and appeared confident that the verdict would be in her favor.

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Guilty on all counts! Aggravated Physical Assault on a thread drawer, Vandalism & and Disturbing the Peace… 

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Shocked? Devastated? Just plain tired? Ok, nigh-night!

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I know that this never happens at your house, but occasionally our kids don’t always make it to bed on time. Such was the case on this particular evening. Showered, jammied, teeth brushed and ready for bed, but Rowan wouldn’t go to sleep until every hair on her head was thoroughly baked. It’s all part of her evil plot…

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This part of the plot didn’t work out as well as Rowan hoped. In an attempt to keep herself awake she stripped herself down Calvin & Hobbes style, but couldn’t quite get her jammies…off…before…yawn…zzzzzzzzzzzz…

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