She was BORN to swim!

Many of you readers know that Allison has ALWAYS loved to swim.  We've just done the bar minimum in swim lessons... until this summer.  Several of our friends have their kids go to Wichita Swim Club, so we decided to give it a try.  There were several sessions, 2 weeks (Monday-Thursday) long with lessons 30 minutes long.  I signed both kids up for 3 of the 4 sessions.

Today was the last day of summer sessions, but based on the results both kids will be continuing these lessons during the school year.  Allie finished ready to start level 5!!!!  These are the skills she completed to reach this goal.
     streamline
     ready position from walls to streamline
     swim Freestyle 50 yards
     swim Backstroke 50 yards
     Freestyle Catch Up drill
     Breaststroke Separation drill/timing
     Butterfly body-dolphin
     Front somersaults
     Long shallow dive with correct streamline position
     Know Individual Medley (IM):  Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle

I'm not saying she's heading for the Olympics... but if someone starts drowning I'm betting she can save us!

Summer Learning at Butler

Today was our last day of Kid College at Butler Community College.  This is a program that Owen has been participating in for the last 3 summers.  HE LOVES IT!  This summer was Allie's first time going.  Allie got to go to 3 different classes.  Owen signed up for 8 classes.  Here are the classes:  Smart With Money, Ocean World, Animal Care, Lego Mania, Basic Digital Photography, Art With Carle, Play Dough Creations, Rockin Rockets, Science Experiments, Origami and Build Your Own Airplane.  I'm very proud of them for wanting to learn during the summer and thankful they had so much fun doing it.  Here is a sample of what they did.

Art from "The Grouchy Ladybug"

Diorama of a tide pool 

 Self portrait, even framed

Summer 2012-done!

Read MUCH????

This summer, we have been the typical busy family.  Swimming, Kid College, Play Dates, Birthday Parties, Family Visits... you get the idea.  These few pictures capture my favorite way to spend the HOT summer day.

Owen reading on the couch. 

Owen reading in the car. 

Owen reading at Panera.

These pictures depict the first half of a day, same outfit, 2 different books.  I love that he LOVES to read.

Color Run Fun 2012

For those of you who like to get exercise and get a little dirty (not mud this time), you should look for a Color Run close to you.  It was FUN!!!  I wasn't able to run it (see previous post) but I speed walked the whole thing!  In fact, about 80% of the people walked it.  I was PASSING lots of people.  Talk about an ego booster!!!  This fun run was in KC, which means a "girls trip".  The trip was "memorable".  Here are some of the pics from the run.

Angela and Jill.

Me and Angela. 

Snorkel Crew-Me, Lea, Kris and Amanda 

Look at all the white shirts!!!! 

This is where the finish party is. 

Pre-run picture. 

 FINALLY!  The start line.  I was in wave 11.

The finish line. 

This "would have been" an awesome pic.  But some dude photo-bombed it with his hand!!!! 

Post-run picture. 

Me, Angela and Jill

Kidney

I'm not a radiologist, but just by looking at this picture and seeing what is measured, I would guess...that isn't normal!  Unfortunately, it is a pic of my abdomen. In the last 2 weeks, I've seen a general surgeon, radiologist, 2 urologists, 2 different admissions teams and a pre-op clinic.  I've had a sonogram, 2 different CT scans, chest X-ray, EKG and several tubes of blood drawn.

Apparently, there is a small funnel that leads from the kidney into the ureter to the bladder.  Mine has an obstruction.  They call this a UPJO.  It is blocked, for some unknown reason, and fluid is backing up causing it to swell.  This swelling is causing fluid on my right kidney.  They call this hydronephrosis stage 4+.  At one of my CT scans they said the kidney still looked healthy.  So that brings us up to today.

At 10:30, I will be checking into Wesley Hospital to have surgery.  I will be having robotic laproscopic pyloplasty to remove the section of the area that is having problems.  I may have to stay at the hospital 1-2 nights, but then I'll be home.  If you get a moment, think of me and hope everything will go well.

End of Second Grade

YEP!!!  It's summer!  Owen's last day of second grade was Wednesday.  I, of course, took a few pics of him and his friends.  (Ironically, Allie is in most of them!!!)

Paige and Allie 

Allie, Owen and David 

Jake and Owen 

Me, Allie and Owen 

This last one was one I took as he walked out the door.  He looks HAPPY to be done with second grade, doesn't he?

Pre-K Graduate

That's right folks!  Allie is no longer a "little girl".  She will be a "big girl" kindergartner this fall.  Her graduation was so cute.  They walked in to Pomp and Circumstance.  They sang several songs (with motions).  Then the teachers passed out the "diplomas" through the tears.  It was very sweet and a happy ending to a fun year.  Here are a few of the pics I took.

The Graduate and her Diploma.

Allie and her 3 teachers. (Mrs. Patti, Gretchen and Laura) 

Allie and her 2 best friends.  (Evin and Kate)