Date is Set

Well I finally got ahold of someone in Lake County about a speech evaluation for Brinlee. She has been harder and harder to understand lately and I'd rather catch it sooner than we did with Quinn. He has been improving with Speech Therapy and hoping to get Brinlee help 1 year earlier. A few days ago she was trying to tell Jay and I something and we had no idea what she was saying for like 10min. We then asked Bella if she even knew what she wanted and she answered in a heartbeat! I don't know how she understood her!

Since they never called me back from about a month ago, they didn't ahve an evaluation date set until October 14th! So we have to wait a month and a hlaf for her to even be evaluated, then if she qualifies it probably won't be until November that she would get therapy.

I will keep you updated on what we hear from the evaluation.

Getting Organized

This is a quick post...just updating things before major craziness starts with School for the kids, dance for me and much more. It's that time of year where everything starts and summer doesn't seem like it lasted long enough to actually sit down and relax or get things we wanted to get done, get done.

I hope to get some of the kids birthday pictures posted soon, we had  a blast taking the pictures with Michelle from Hill's Milestone Photography, as usual she did an outstanding job! You can see some of the pictures in our slideshow on the header of our blog. The party was a HUGE HIT!

More to come later, time to clean up around here and take the kids swimming before the rain comes and I have to go to work!

I need my 'TOOTISE ROLL'

Well Brinlee has been doing great with her potty training. We had 1 day where we had accidents right and left. However we are getting the hang of it and haven't had a diaper on in a week! We have little accidents but, we are learning. We decided that after she goes in the potty she gets a 'Tootsie Roll' as her reward. At first she didn't even want to sit on the potty but this seemed to do it. Well now we are second guessing ourselves...now she just wants to sit on the potty to get a Tootsie Roll!!

After time she now goes on the potty, she can climb up herself and go, and tells us wen she has to go!! We are struggling with the poopies on the potty but I know that is scary. I think in about a month we will have it down.

Yesterday we spent the day at the parks and we had NO ACCIDENTS! She told us when she had to go and we went. There was one time when we were not near a bathroom, about 5mi from one and she asked. Of curse she didn't get in trouble for that accident. She loves her Dora Pull-Ups!

The end of the DIAPER TUNNEL is near, I can't wait and probably will celebrate when we have no more diapers in the house! However I will be sad at the same time as all of my 'babies' are growing up!!

Family Update

It has been ages since I have posted. Life has been non-stop, as you can imagine. Between the kids taking ISR lessons, 2 recitals, planning their birthday party and the normal everyday things I haven't even gotten to breathe. So I'm going to try to update you with as much as I can, more posts to come as well.

ISR:
Kids haven been in ISR for at least 5 weeks now. Bella of course was just swimming for fun because she has maintained her skills and is a MERMAID! Quinn has things to work n but knows what he has to do, but just wants to do it on his terms. The other day at my parents house though he was jumping into the deep end and swimming to the steps. I guess there is no more fear of the deep end? Brinlee is stubborn just like Quinn but not as bad. She id progress nicely and was doing really well. I missed her clothes day because I had recital but my Dad said she did very well. We couldn't finish out her last 2 days because of an injury (to be explained later in this post). Brandi did get some cool underwater video of the twins swimming, I am going to make a little video and will post that later.

Brinlee's Injury:
Well last week Friday my parents were watching the kids while Jay and I were working recitals. Long story short Brinlee was told multiple times to stay away from the cook top, of course she wanted to be rebellious and put her hand on it while it was still hot! She burnt her hand, and when I saw her on Saturday it was starting to blister already. My Mom took her to the after hours pediatrics and the doctor said it was a 2nd degree burn and looked good, prescribed her some cream to put on it 2x a day. She has been using that hand but still favoring it. Sunday she was in a little more pain I think, the blister popped in one place so I think that bothered her. We took her to a follow-up with her pediatrician and she said that it is looking good, keep it clean and dry and it will start to heal itself. We just have to watch for infection. The skin will start to peal so that is my biggest concern to keeping to clean because she gets into everything.

Recital:
CAD recital went very well, long days and I got sick of course. UGH! Friday night I started to lose my voice, and very congested. By Saturday I had no voice for rehearsal or the 2 recitals. Also Friday night I could barely sleep and only got 3hrs of sleep so Saturday I am surprised that I made it through!! I went to the doctor on Monday and I have a sinus infection and am on 2 meds to get rid of it. I am finally starting to feel better and getting my voice back. No real time to rest and summer classes begin today.

Quinn and Bella did amazing in their first recital! I was soooo proud of them, and didn't cry until afterwords thinking about it. I was more nervous than them I think. They did all the steps, went on stage and no potty problems. They both told us they want to do it again!!! I have pictures to come so watch for them.

Other than that just busy as usual. Now time to organize things for their birthday party, get recital props back to the studio, try to clean house, make some crafts to sell at an even in July and somewhere in there enjoy the kids and the pool. They start VPK in August!!!

Sarah's Update...and then some

Had my check up today for my ablation surgery. Everything went really well and he expects good results, won't know for sure since I will have discharge for up to 2 weeks, then have to wait and see next month what happens and months after that as well.

Also during my check up I got to see pictures of the before, he still has to find the after pictures, but they all look like Mars to me LOL! He did find a cyst, and I could feel where it was too. He was going to order a sonogram for me for it, but decided to do it right there in the office since it seemed to be about 5-6cm. Well measuring on the sonogram it's 7cm! Clear fluid which is good for now. He said that this is something that needs to be watched. It could have been a small cyst that was aggravated by the surgery and will get smaller, or could grow larger.

Come to think of it I have had sharp pains there in that same spot in the past few months not thinking anything of it thinking that it was just from my bad cramps, etc. I will go back in 1mo, have a blood test prior to that as well and see if it has grown and then what the next steps are.

I feel good today but have been in a little pain from him pushing on the cyst today. No cramping which is good. I did feel sick to my stomach and I think that is from a bad breakfast, my Mom was awful sick today as well as the twins having the stomach aches.

So I will have more updates on this, thanks for all the support during the last surgery, might have to have another one done too.

Surgery Update

Yes I had a small surgery on Friday morning. I have been having very heavy periods and severe pain in my hips each month with each cycle. One of my options was to have the NovaSure Ablation done and I decided this was the best option for me. Despite sinus congestion last week and day of surgery everything went well. My gyno was able to do the ablation, and said it went very well. He wasn't sure if it was possible at first because I had had 2 c-sections and the microwaves from the procedure could have cut a hole in my uterus where the incisions were, if they were too thin.

Apparently our of recover it took me 45min longer than they expected for me to wake up. Hey I was sleeping, enjoying the peace and quiet!! I don't get that. I was about to yell at them when they woke me up shaking my legs. Hello!! I'm sleeping!!!

I went home that day, Jay made me some soup and I slept most of the afternoon. I then sat on the computer and worked on a picture video for work. Didn't do much at all. Saturday the same thing. I was feeling a lot better too! Yesterday, Sunday, I felt fine. We went to a birthday party and came home to make tacos and hung out with my Mom and John and Michelle. Janelle came over with Payton too for a short visit.

I don't know if it's from the surgery or because I was due for my next cycle this coming week, but yesterday afternoon and today I've been spotting/ bleeding a little. I'm not too concerned because I'm not gushing or anything nor and I in pain. If this is what my period is going to be like I'll be happy! I have my post-op appt on Wednesday to see how everything went and ask questions. I'll give you an update after that.

Recipe Blog Update

I updated my recipe blog. A new fresh look to it and I also hope to get more recipes up again soon. I can't stand the pile I have stacking up it's just that I need the time! So come and check out my recipe blog where I am posting all of our family recipes that we like, that I also modify for our liking that I have taken out of magazines, recipe cards from the grocery store, etc. I just hate having all different size papers, loosing them and not having them when I do a last minute dinner, snack, etc at my parents or friends house. This recipe blog allows me to access my recipes that we love from anywhere!!

Check it out at: http://www.yummytummyeats.blogspot.com

New Look!

Well it was time for a change so yes I re-did our blog as you probably noticed. I will be tweaking it some more, but did the biggest overhaul today while not feeling well. This layout is easier on the eyes, easier for me to update theme-wise, as you know I love changing it for each holiday!

Yesterday was such a gorgeous sunny war day we went and got Easter/Spring pictures taken at Hollis Gardens. You can see a lot of the pictures at the slideshow at the top of the blog. Michelle from Hill's Milestone Photography too these wonderful pictures!! Be sure to check out her website at: http://www.hillsmilestonephotography.com for pricing and to see her work or schedule your wedding or family sitting. She also has a blog at: http://www.hillsmilestonephotography.blogspot.com where she does giveaways sometimes too so be sure to become a follower!!!

Well time to go have some crackers I think for this darn stomach bug I have or maybe food poisoning, not sure. Thanks for checking in!

A New Look

Well the Valentine's Day look is up! yea! I just love it, it gets me out of the cold mood that we have had here in FL. Ummm...moved to FL for the warm weather not the cold. Besides the new blog look, I got a wonderful gift from Dianna! She was so sweet to gift me some beautiful highlights for my hair. She came by today and highlighted my hair for me and it looks soooo goood! Dianna, I'll be calling you to do all my highlights. I will try to post a picture this weekend too.

I have to brag a little now too. I had a blast teaching my pointe class last night. We started experiementing with recital dances. The pointe number is going to rock! The girls are really into in and it will look so cool! I can't wait to start all the other dances as well. Sometimes I get a blank in my ideas and choreography, but feels so good when the ideas are flowing.

Well back to getting recipes added into my recipe blog, have a lot to do there as well.

The look of Cheer!

Oh yes my favorite time of year I changed up the look of our blog!! Isn't it awesome? I used a kit from MK Designs, her stuff can be found at www.shabbypickle.com for all you scrapbookers out there. It was very cheerful and bright and goes well with the Christmas music that I have for our playlist too.

Well I better go and get the tree decorated, I hope to get out of the house tonight and get a good meal if we can find someone to watch Finna to give her her meds every 2hrs. Long story there, I had a very rough day yesterday and today so I think I need a good meal and a drink! And even better...we have gift cards!

Till next post....Love you all!

Update Here

Thought it was time to do an update for everyone. The holidays are approaching and as always a lot going on. We are getting very excited that my Mom will be finally moving down after 5yrs of not living down here with us. It is said because she is being laid-off from her job, but we will have our family all together! Sorry Quinn and Bella no more airport trips.

Twins: They have been doing good. They are loving their dance classes tremendously, having fun and participating without Mommy in the room. They are currently learning a little holiday dance to show parents the last week of classes before break. Of course I'll videotape and post! Nanny will be able to watch them every week when she is down here and I know they will like that. Quinn has a major attitude that has to be adjusted, or should I say temper! We never want to clean, help pick up, eat and just throw tantrums. I know it's the terrible 3s, but come on! We are slowly getting better, time-outs are happening more often. Bella is little miss bossy! She doesn't like it when she is asking Jay something and I answer for him she says, "Mommy I was talking to Daddy!." OK! When Quinn is bad she is little miss goody-2-shoes. They are both growing fast, as I just cleaned out their closets and drawers and they have like no clothes! Anything 3T is still big but 2T is too small! I do have to say even with their attitudes lately they are very SMART!! They are going to do great in school.

Brinlee: She is progressing so fast! She wants to do everything the twins are doing. She is picking up very fast, even though she can't talk. We are trying to teach her some sign language to help with the understanding of what she wants. She does babble a ton now, and last night she really was saying Mama A LOT!! Her new things she likes to do is play in the toilets, the dogs water bowl and eating crayons! So bathroom doors are now Always shut and trying to keep the crayons out of her mouth, I'm sure we'll see some interesting poopies. She plays well with the twins, and Bella loves to play with her. I am wondering how she will do when the twins go to school next year?

As for Jay and I pretty much the same old stuff. I am teaching now 6 days a week, and trying to get Christmas events/choreography done while also trying to organize and find music for recitals already. I am glad I have this next week off but probably won't get much done...I hope to do the Christmas decorations, clean up the house, bake some cookies for our studio open house, make some bows, and have fun when my mother comes into town at the end of the week! Then come December a lot of Christmas shows with the studios, parades, and wonderful family vacation I'm looking forward to in Dec because Adam and Judy are coming into town too!! Then right before Christmas I'm going in for foot surgery on December 22nd! What a Christmas gift for myself huh? I have to get my bunion fixed, it's been hurting constantly now, and better to get it done before the end of the year. So a long 3mo recovery, with the first 2 weeks doing nothing. Hope that goes well! I will try to keep you updated too.
Jay will be busy with the next week of doing LightHouse installs. Yea for Christmas time! This is our favorite time. He has about the same amount of clients as last year, we are hoping that within the next few years the business will grow.

Be sure to watch HGTV the day after Thanksgiving for a special from Disney. We went to the cast preview of Spectacle of Dancing lights and HGTV was there filming! We might get on we don't know. You won't be able to miss the girls with their BOWS!! At the preview too we got to meet David Bromstad from Color Splash! He is so nice, I wish he could come do a room in my house PLEASE?

I think that is it for now, I will be updating the theme of our blog of course to Christmas soon, yea for a new look and some new slide shows soon too. Sorry for the long post, had to update you on a ton of things.

New Fall Look

SO I finally got a new Florida Fall look to our blog. I couldn't do completely fall theme since we really don't see a change in colors here, which I do miss. So I thought a nice FL fall look with some bright colors would do us well. What do you think? I have figured out how to change the fonts on my scrapbooking blog, but don't have time tonight to do that here, a bit of leg work. Anyway hope you like the new look, there will be another new look for Christmas too!!

Please keep checking back, I have a ton of pictures to share from my birthday, just haven't had time to put a slideshow together.

New Changes

Ok so I've neglected our blog for awhile. I am hoping to this weekend or week to change up our blog to a fall theme, add a few posts etc. The newest addition right now is we have a Chat Box on the left sidebar! Leave us a message, ask a question, etc. Just another fun thing. Kids have been busy with being 3yr olds and Brinlee is definitely 'On the Move!' They are loving their dance class, Bella is very technical and Quinn is just there to be the class clown and have fun.

Jay is still working on SODL at the studios and can't wait to get back onto day shifts. He is also starting to do estimates for LightHouse and if you know anyone who is looking, or yourself please contact us: info@holidaylighthouse.com

I am of course busy with the kids and still teaching. Fall festival is right around the corner so I'm getting my students ready for that. I think I have found a fall festival fun day around one of the owns here that we will take the kids to. They have a pumkin patch, hay rides, face paintings, etc. I still ahve to finish up Bella's costume and of course I'm making the girls some halloween bows that I hope to finish today.

So be back soon to check out the 'New Look' it's will be very fall-ish!!!

New Look!

So I took the time while the kids were napping, and Jay to update our Blog with a NEW LOOK! I wanted something different, re-arranged things and added some things too. I hope you enjoy it, I will be adding new posts and pictures homefully tonight too!

We miss family dearly and hope that you keep checking back to see what's going on. And to our friends too!

Yummy Tummy Eats

Well it's been busy at the Cone household. But wanted to let you know that we are still alive, just busy as usual. I recently had my computer crash and am very frustrated but will get over it and everything eventaully will be back to normal.

I was cooking the other night and going through recipes and hate that they are all over the place, so I tried figuring out how I could keep them all in 1 place and not loose them. there are many software programs out there, tried them, but I can't access them from my friends house, parents house, etc. So I figured I'd make a Recipe Blog! Wow!! So I'll be working on it, adding recipes as I go at my own leisure. THis way I have access to them and you can too!

Once everything is set up I will post a link to it, as well as put it in my sidebar.
So keep checking back.

OK here is a link: http://yummytummyeats.blogspot.com

Friday Update

One again I'm slacking on our blog...that's a Mommy's life huh? I'll try to wrap up what has been going on with all of us today.

Brinlee: Wow what a fast growing little girl! She is now on whole milk. No problems what-so-ever with the change. We started her a bit early because finances are very tight, she did fine and I think is stronger than ever! She is now on completely whole foods, no pureed food, some things I have to mash, but mainly cut into small pieces. She now eats, mixed veggies, bananas, applesauce, pears, blueberries, fish sticks, mac n' cheese, pasta, cherrios, pudding, jello, juices- not citrus, and pretty mucha nything else she can get her hands on!! She is definately transitioning from one thign to another, as far as standing. She is not standing by herself without holding onto things yet. And we are not walking. However she is a very fast crawler!

Bella: She is our little helper, tattle-tale, attention getter, yes all around GIRL! She loves helping out and folding clothes or doing small tasks. Her job now is to make sure that Finna has water in her dog bowl. So she takes her plastic cup, fills it from the fridge and even puts it in the fridge to keep it cold then fills the dogs dish. Too cute! Bella is doing good on the potty, we had a few accidents here and there but now I thinkw e are getting a hang of it and actually going to the potty by ourselves and washing our hands. YES!

Quinn: Let me just say BOY BOY BOY! We are definately still into our tantrums, I guess it's just the age. We whine about everything and anything, getting him to talk things out, understnad things is hard. However I shouldn't say he doesn't understnad things, he does it's his actions and just not wanting to listen I think/ He teases Bella like crazy with hitting, bitting and also teasing the dog. This is something we are working on. Eating is a challenge with his as well. He just wants SNACKS all the time so this is where our tantrums come in....a long process here for this. Potty training is coming along, he still goes in his underwear, which I don't knwo why so we have to keep a close eye on him. The only thing I can think of is that he just wnats the attention right now! There is a lot of yelling in the house because he hits, bites, screams, throws tantrums, constantly teases the dog (she wil bite him oneday, honestly I don't blame her). He is very smart, loves to do puzzles with me, make-believe, count, etc. So I'm still trying to figure out what is going on....

The twins do play together very well for the most part, of course they have their moments. THem being in seperate rooms, nighttime routine has been better, and they are sleeping through the night for the exception of Brinlee. They play very well with Brinlee, I don't think Quinn gets the idea that she doesn't know any better when Brinlee takes his toys. Poor guy. Bella loves to share her things with Brinlee and sharing a room. She calls it 'THE GRISL ROOM'

Jay: First I have to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It was yesterday!! Jay is working everyday still, and trying to pick up overtime whenever he can get it. It's July already and we just put together a flyer to post on his website for Light House..check it out! http://www.holidaylighthouse.com We are hoping that Light House gets even more business this year!

Sarah: Do you really need to know about moi? Yep still keeping things as sane as I can around here. Taking care of the kids and the house during the day and teaching at night. Summer sucks for me since I don't get many hours at all. We ahve asked for my fathers help to put ourselves on a very strict budget. It's going to be rough but worth it in the long run! I try to keep some 'Mommy Time' by designing siggies, blinkies, and more on 3 sites. This is my relax time late at night.

So as a family we are doing the best we can and surviving. This economy sucks but we ahve to keep our heads up even when it looks really really bad. We are enjoying the times at home sicne we can't go anywhere. We are gearing up for the Twins Birthday on the 19th, and Brinlee's 1st Birthday on the 23rd! One party to celebrate too!! So that's about it, I know I'm so slacking on keeping this blog up, I think about it then never get to it, another thing to try to schedule into my very booked schedule...LOL!