Update from Past Week or So...

It has been one rough week and a half at the Voakes household. It all beagn when I got a call from day care last Thursday that Annalyse had a temperature of 102. Mike took her to the doctors and they said it was just a virus that her body had to fight. Her temperature finally broke on Sunday but still no energy or wanting to eat. During dinner on Sunday, the sky got darker and darker and it began to get very windy. We could see the BIG trees behind our house begin to bend and branches breaking off so we decided to move away from the patio doors. Our power also went out in the meantime. Well, it turned out that the storm hit most of Metro Detroit and we were one of the many households that lost power. It turns out that our power was off from about 5:30 pm Sunday to about 2:00 pm Tuesday, they were extremely long days - the temps were in the 90's and very humid, with no AC. Monday, I took Annalyse back to the doctors because she really wasn't getting any better and had gotten a cold in the meantime but again they told me it was a virus and he assured me that she would be better by Wednesday (the three girls were SUPPOSED to go up to my parents on Thursday). On Wednesday, we decided that it was for the best that the girls not go up to my parents so my dad decided to come down and help instead. (We had to take turns staying home with Annalyse all week while draining our sick days). As Mike was leaving for the Mackinaw Bride on Thursday around 11:30 to pick up my dad, he got a call from day care that Meredith had a fever of 104. I had to leave work at lunchtime and pick her up. Well, today - Friday, Mike brought Annalyse back to the doctors - 3rd time in 8 days and it turns out that she now has a double ear infection. Meredith is on the mend and as long as she doesn't catch Annalyse's and mine's cold - she should be well. The girls and I plan to head up to the UP on Wednesday or Thursday as long as everyone is healthy.

In other exciting news, last Saturday we took a walk to our town's Relay for Life (it is literally the street behind our house) and the New Baltimor Police Department was having a bike and child identification booth, they registered the girls for the raffle and Megan won a new bike (it had a price tag for $69.99 from Dick's).

We gave Mike his Father's Day gift because we THOUGHT the girls would not be here this Sunday to celebrate with him. We got him a picture and a Nintendo Wii.

Tons o' Trucks

Today we went to Tons o' Trucks put on by the Macomb Twp. Recreation Dept. It was in a local high school parking lot and they had every kind of truck imaginable...limosine party bus, school bus, fire truck, tow truck, ambulance, bobcat, bulldozer, etc. Megan enjoyed seeing all of the trucks but she could not wait to the end to go bouncing (and she hardly ever wants to go in her's at home.) The twins had fun people watching. Oh, were in the minority by far with only girls!

Memorial Day

We had a fun time at the New Baltimore Memorial Day parade this morning. The weather was perfect.

Sunny Weekend

Well, it looks like the sun is ready to shine in Detroit. We have finally had some nice spring weather.

On Friday, I brought Annalyse to her helmet check-up. I only had a half day of school so I took her instead of Mike. We got some very good news - she only needs to wear her helmet for protection, like when she is playing rough or outside playing. Her doctor said her head will swell if she falls to hard. We did let her play outside carefully for a little bit without her helmet, I don't think she has ever felt the breeze blow through her hair before. She also doesn't have to go back and see the doctor for two months (the end of July). She will have to go and get her helmet adjucted before then. Here is a picture of Annalyse and Dr. Rozelle. We have been very happy with her work and she was more than happy to have her picture taken (Annalyse on the other hand was a little short on sleep).On Saturday, we spent pretty much the whole day outside. We planted our flowers and vegetable plants in the afternoon - while the twins were sleeping! Megan wasn't too much into the flower planting this year, maybe next year! We had a barbeque over at our neighbor's for dinner and then watched some Detroit sports. There was another couple over at the BBQ that also have twin girls, they are almost exactly a year older. They informed that at about 18 months it begins to get easier, although they said with each new stage comes new challenges. Their girls were fighting over toys just like ours, I guess it really won't end until they move away from each other - 18 more years! It is kind of cute now but by the end of summer I am thinking it won't be so cute.

Annalyse with her bubble wands

Meredith with her golf club

Megan and Alison planting flowers

On Sunday we went to the zoo. It was a beautiful day (74 degrees). All three of the girls were great. Both of the twins took a little nap after lunch so it worked out perfect. Here are some pictures from the zoo.

Monday we plan to go to the New Baltimore Memorial Day parade and then Mike is going golfing with some friends. The girls and I are going to go to lunch with our friend Cristy (while her new husband Mark goes golfing with Mike).

It is also our anniversary. Hard to believe it has been 7 years, time does fly when your having fun! :)

3 Strikes = Out of Kids

Well, we had our third strike this week - we took our third and final kid to the doctors this week. Megan woke up Sunday night complaining that her ear hurt, Mike took her to the doctors Monday morning and it turned out to be a double ear infection. You might feel bad for Megan but actually she couldn't be happier. She told the doctor very happily "I get amoxicilian!" That same day after school as I was making dinner Megan kept asking me when dinner would be ready and I kept replying that it would be ready soon, I then asked her if she was that hungry - she never really asks when it will be ready - and she said"No, I want my medicine." For those of you who know Megan well, you know she loves her tylenol, I guess amoxicilian isn't that far behind. Mike and I were discussing that she is going to be a druggie/dealer when she grows up - a teacher from my school said she will definitely NOT be a dealer because she won't want to part with any of the goods. She seems to be feeling fine now.

We bought flowers tonight as this is our annual plant flowers weekend (Memorial Day weekend). Our weekend will be busy, besides planting flowers, we are having a DVD player installed in the van along with auto start. It was much cheaper to have an after market one put in then go into the next model, which was $4,000 more. $4,000 for a dvd player compared to $600 installed, I'll take the $600. Mike plans on golfing Saturday, and Sunday we are planning on going to the zoo. Monday is the Memorial Day Parade in town, so we will going there and not sure what else. It will be our 7 year anniversary on Monday, so we'll come up with something.

Nothing else to report I guess. Things remain status quo here. We think Annalyse will be the first one talking as she babels a lot more and seems to repeat a lot of things.

Sick Kids

Well, I will take this opportunity of staying home again to make a post. Last week Meredith wasn't feeling well and wasn't herself. On Thursday Mike stayed home in the morning with her and then I came home for the afternoon, while I was getting her dressed I noticed bumps on her chest and back and a few on her neck and one on her cheek - the first thing I though was chicken pox so I took to the doctors and it turned out to be strep throat (bad, but better than it could have been). She is finally beginning to feel better.

In that same time, Megan had a stuffy nose and cough, she too is getting better. Yesterday morning one of the teachers stopped in my room and asked how the girls were - I told her they were getting better and thankfully Annalyse never got sick - WRONG, I guess I jinxed myself. When I picked the girls up from day care yesterday Margaret said Annalyse was whinny and didn't eat well all day - just how Meredith started out. Last night she was coughing pretty bad and whining after she coughed so -- I called into work and I am taking her to the doctors this morning. I tell you, these twins are putting us through the reigns. Mike and I keep telling Megan how good and easy of a baby she was, the twins are another story. (After school yesterday, I went upstairs for no more than 5 minutes to change and put some laundry away, well as I was coming down the stairs I heard papers rustling in the den. The twins (not sure which one or maybe both) managed to open the bottom drawer of our filing cabinet (and they are big drawers!) and were emptying folders all over the carpet - I guess they were bot feeling fine then!!)

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks and weekend. We celebrated Uncle Bob's birthday on Friday. Saturday I took the 3 girls to the park myself - that is a whole other story :). Sunday we planning on going to the zoo but the weather was terrible so we went to Chuck E. Cheese instead - who doesn't like being a kid.

I will leave you now so I can get ready to go to the doctors, again!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mother's out there and especially to Alison. I'm not sure how to start this, as I have so many things to say so I'll be brief. You are an amazing mother and wife. You do so many little things around here that never get noticed. If it wasn't for you, we would be hurting and unorganized. You are loving and caring towards your children and you always put them first before yourself. You have a lot of tolerance towards me and my goofiness. Some other great qualities you have is your humor, great multi-tasker and your love towards us. This past year has been interesting, trying and great. I wouldn't want to change anything. Remember taping shows during the evening so we could watch them at 2am while feeding the twins, seeing Annalyse after her surgery and sleeping countless night in the Lazy-boy, trying to fit all three car seats in the cars, Megan chickening out to see the Easter bunny, but still got the chocolate. What great memories we have and we have some much more to come. All these memories wouldn't be possible without YOU.

We really don't celebrate these day's (sweetest day, valentine's day, mother/father's days) with extravagant presents, but I thought a nice little thank you to show how much you mean to our family is the least I could do. Thanks for being a great and loving mom, even though we might not show it all the time; we appreciate everything you do!