Showing posts with label Matt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt. Show all posts

12/02/2011

Wicked, Puss in Boots, Crazy Life and a Blur of the last 20 days

So I haven’t blogged about things in a while other than football so here we go with other ramblings.

The past 2 weeks have been a blur with kid stuff going on.  It’s so messed up and crazy I’m time lining it.

·         Monday before Thanksgiving – took in Ryleigh & Bray to doctor for cough they’ve had for a bit (since mid Oct) Brayden had ear infection fever over 100 and Ryleigh got RSV swabbed, and x-rayed.  Dr (not our reg one) said Ryleigh had walking pneumonia.  Both giving clarithromycin (I didn’t spell that right) and Bray 2 nebulizer treatments a day and Ryleigh 4.  Ryleigh had double ear infection too.
·         Thursday after that appt – Reg Dr called Shawnna/Ryleigh in and said the Pediatric Radiologist saw something she didn’t like in the x-ray and was concerned.  Said not to Google it (We did – stuff that came up from our Google of stuff they told us was Leukemia Lymphoma, Cancer, and other bad stuff) said to come back after antibiotics.  Brayden then was on day 4 of fever over 100, called after being there 2 hours and got him augmenten.  He since is good.
·         Black Friday – Ryleigh showed first fever in this ordeal at 102. 
·         Sunday – took her in to see dr since Shawnna freaking she wasn’t getting better.  Dr said wheezing gone which was good, but still ear infections.  Taker her off nebulizer since coming back on Tuesday for X-rays, want to see how she is normally breathing.  Got Augmenten for her.
·         Tuesday – went and got her x-rayed again.  Sat in office while radiologist checked it out.  Said lungs look clearer but the Thymus was still showing enlarged on right side (this is what they kind of told but didn’t tell us on first x-ray) asked if we goggled it, said yes – said leukemia is very low on their thoughts of risk but they have no idea and we need more tests.  Will probably need either CT scan or Ultrasound. 
·         Wednesday – Got call our DR requested CT scan.  And needed it Wed.  Shawnna got Ryleigh, and called me said they were doing it, I asked about sedating her, and they said no they weren’t.  15 mins later said they need to go to hospital to do it BC they want to sedate her and what they are using could cause her to go into shock.  This is when I got up and left to go there.  I get there, she hadn’t slept all morning.  Ate at 10 so they couldn’t sedate her (needs 6 hours of no food) so they were now going to try to do it with her awake.  They IV’d her.  Laid her down on the table.  Shot up glowy stuff in her, and she laid still as a bug.  Got scanned like 1000 pics of her, (64 pics a second).   We went into waiting room.  Radiologist came in and said that all looks good.  HUGE RELIEF.  Thymus problem larger on her BC she is petite most likely.

Safe to say probably spent around 16 hours in the doctor’s office in that time with Ryleigh and Brayden.  Fun stuff, any more time I’d a got my own coffee mug and admittance to the employee lounge.  A lot of stress going on and my managers at work worked with me on my pto and getting out of here and I’m thankful for that. 

So when all that stuff with Ryleigh was going on the big kids got the shaft a bit.  Thanksgiving weekend instead of going to see cousins and playing, they got stuck at home, to make the best of it tried to make it as fun as possible.  Addyson went on her annual trip to Wells Fargo Arena for Disney on Ice.

Then that Sunday I took the 2 older kids to go see Puss in Boots, a spin off from the Shrek franchise.  It explored Puss’s past and where he came from and introduced us to Jack & Jill, Humpty Dumpty and the magic beans and the beanstalk.  It was really a decent movie and had some funny lines for the adults too that the younger kids didn’t get.  I will say that it was in no way near as good as the first Shrek, but it was on par with the rest of the sequels.  I’m going to say it was 2.5/5 Stars.

A week prior to that I took Brayden to Wells Fargo Arena for the Iowa vs. Creighton basketball game.  It was Iowa’s first time playing in the Well and first time matching up vs. former Iowa State coach Greg McDermott and former Ames star Doug McDermott.  I was hoping the Hawks could pull this one off but it got out of hand early and how did (Doug) McDermott not get more looks at bigger schools?  Granted he’ll be a stud at the MVC but he could be playing in the Big Ten, and just think how good UNI would be if they had him.  Well Creighton got up early and never looked back.  Iowa left them open on 3’s and got killed for it and it was just a runaway.  Brayden was ready to leave after the first 8 minutes, and frankly I was too since he was being antsy and the game was out of hand then but we stayed until the last 4 minutes. 

The following Tuesday we took in Wicked at the Des Moines Civic Center.  The show about the behind story of the witches of Oz.  Going in I was thinking it was all Pre Dorothy and most of it was, but then the little farm girl was there.  How everything was tied together in OZ and munchinland and the characters was pretty cool too.  A lot better than some prequels I’ve seen (looking at you George Lucas – Darth Vader really built C3P0?)  The interaction between the two witches was really good too.  Glenda the good witch was made into kind of a ditzy pompous spoiled Valley girl and Elfie the Wicked Witch was made to look bad by the Wizard and Teacher when she was out to do good.  It reminded me of like the media trying to turn and spin stories on people to make them look bad.  Overall I thought it was a good show.  The actress who played the wicked witch was GREAT.  It’s definitely worth a ticket to go see!  Going to rank it right behind Cabaret in the shows that I’ve seen (seen 3, Cabaret, Wicked and Lion King).  Before the show got some AMAZING food at Dos Rios, could eat that guacamole every day!  Then drinks at the Royal Mile.

Other stuff going on, Brayden has been just funny in things he says.  He’ll tap me on the shoulder and say “Dad, let’s have conversation” After looking at him like “what’d you just say” I’ll ask him what he wants to talk about.  Also been playing more with his race track kind of getting him ready for future Christmas gifts (its going to be AWESOME).  Addy is continuing on with Cheernastics and has a show later this month.  It’s fun watching her dance and stuff then ask her about it later than she replies with a sigh – “Dad, that’s not how it goes” the ignores my asking and sings along to the radio on the way home.  And then Ryleigh, through all this ordeal mentioned above, she just keeps on smiling and laughing and pulling herself up on all the furniture and when seeing her, how can anyone not smile! 

The tree is up now, a few presents under it, and most Christmas presents are purchased.  Still need a trip to see Santa, and I think that will come at Bass Pro Shops this weekend…or maybe Valley West. I got 2 truckloads of leaves done and could have done one more and got it all cleared out of the lawn but was wiped out and now it’s snowed on them.  Bummer.

A few other things.  Iowa finished its regular season 7-5 with a loss to Nebraska.  I’m not shocked they lost I thought they would that game, but the reaction to the loss is amazing, people are calling for Ferentz’s head.  Iowa is a 7-9 win program.  We have 7 10+ win season in the past 33 years.  Fans need to realize what Iowa is and how lucky we are to have Ferentz as our coach.  Could he have done things differently...yes the losses to Iowa State and Minnesota shouldn’t happen, and if they don’t, Iowa is 9-3 and all are happy.  And then Iowa fans attacking a player for transferring to go home, that is nuts too.  Sit back and look at what you are.

The Bears were on a roll then Cutler’s thumb got in the way and the Bears lost to Oakland.  I don’t think the Bears could have got the division but with Cutler I think we could have done close to what Green Bay did last year and make a nice run in the playoffs.  It sucks. 

So that’s been the last few weeks, I know this is long but haven’t posted in a while. 


Also now I’m going to start again working out and watching what I’m eating better (great time around Christmas cookies huh) but this is where I was “Bad” with little Debbie last year, so hopefully I’ll kick that in the butt this year and be ready for softball next spring more so than I was.  Renting Smurfs and Friends with Benefits tonight. 

7/06/2011

The Fads aka Money Stealers

Standing in the Wal-Mart line I saw all these magazines on diets, and also hear coworkers and family and friends talking.  There's the Hi-Low diet, weight watchers, slim fast, Atkins, and anything else out there, then add in all the surgeries that can go wrong.  .  It's amazing how people throw there money into these.


The only real way I've seen for people to lose weight and keep it off and be really healthy the way humans are supposed to be is this the following...now before I give the million dollar secret away I'm going to add a link to my PayPal account and you can donate 1.00 for me giving this away.




Ok..the secret is....BURN MORE CALORIES THAN YOU TAKE IN!  The guys on Biggest Loser have the secret too.  Also I'm living proof...Last year I lost 40 pounds by working out and running, and eating better and watching calories in.  Also gained a few back after the 3rd kid came too.  That's it...that's the secret.


You don't need to do gimmick diets, and then when you stop them, you will eventually gain the weight back too and maybe more.  


So feel free to donate if you'd like, but that's the key.

6/23/2011

Coed Softball Update

So last week there was no update.  I made it to Pickard Park for the 2nd game but it was cancelled due to the field conditions.  So we just practiced and laughed and had a good time.

This week we had 2 games on the rock field.  Early too so we were going to get them all in.  I brought Brayden along with me this week and he hung out with 2 other boys and in the dug out with our team.  He had a great time.  I was going to leave half way through the second game, but an injury had me and Bray staying the whole game.  He was out cold a minute or so after getting in to bed.  Was proud of him, he was a good boy tonight.

As for the games, we played PB Slammers and Westview.  We got up on them early.  Not by my help.  I popped up the first 2 at bats.  The pitches dropped as I connected and hit a foul pop up to 1st and then to the pitcher.  My third at bat was a line shot back to the pitcher.  The final at bat came in the final inning.  Down 6-5 had 2 guys on 2nd and 3rd, time for redemption.  First pitch was inside...next pitch I hit it pretty solid, but dont get it at swung through with the bat at the right moment.  A deep pop out to right center.  Game - Set - Match.  Reminded me a little of my Little League Lookback.  Ended game one 0-4.  I did have a couple catches in center though.

Game 2 was against WestView.  I played 3b this game.  Was planning on only playing a couple innings then heading out but in the 2nd they had a guy get hurt and one of our subs went to play for them.  As for the game.  I had a couple nice plays at third and pegged out the runners.  I did come up with one bad toss but wasn't going to get the runner anyway.  Also had a line shot to me. Batting I went 2-2 with a walk, an RBI and 2 runs.  SHould have been 3 but on the walk, I tagged up from third and ran home, slid and touched home.  I watched the ball bounce into the catchers glove as I was at home.  Was called out.  Sat up and asked the ump.."really?  I was out?  Didn't beat it?"  He said that "well from my view it looked as if you were out"  So he wasn't sure and doesnt the tie (i beat it) go to the runner?  Well we won,13-6 and I batted better. Need more reps.  Not as much as last year but doing more kids stuff.

Had a great time with Brady there.  The team loved him and so did the other teams.  Thursday Nights are definitely my favorite because of our team!  See ya next week.

The 0-7 slump hurt a bit....

Season715430033200.4670.6670.600
 HAB1b2b3bHRRRBIBBKAVGSLUGOPS
Game 212100010000.5000.5000.500
Game 922020002001.0002.0001.000
Game 1022200000001.0001.0001.000
Game 1103000000000.0000.0000.000
Game 1504000000000.0000.0000.000
Game 1622110021201.0001.5002.000

6/15/2011

Father's Day

This coming weekend is Father's Day.  Now I'm not really that into the whole day off thing and getting gifts.  I have all that I need and really with 3 kids there is no day off.  One of my favorite things to do is to watch the last round of the US Open, but I know if it's nice out that I'll be out and about, what to do yet, I'm not sure.  I think I'll suggest taking them to a beach or something.  


But as for my dad, it's been kind of fun the past few years and his gifts. In 2008 Mom, Mike and I planned on getting Dad tickets to go to Old Yankee Stadium.  Something Mom and I dreamed up.  You can read about it all here.  The next year got him a framed picture and Yankees blanket.  This year, not sure yet.  But its been fun.  I know all these gifts can't ever and will never make up for everything my dad (and mom) has done for me and my family.  Love them, wish we lived closer to them though an hour isn't bad.  


All those Saturday's going to Iowa City, hitting the Amana's for breakfast before and then the game are some of my favorite memories with dad.


Another is Christmas 1984 instead of a big wheel from Santa (that came a year later) I got a tractor.  Dad pushed me around the old house.


And like I said, I'm a dad now, 2 girls and 1 boy.  Can't believe it. Below are some of my favorite photos with my dad.


Happy Father's Day everyone!

   







6/10/2011

Coed Softball Update

Last Night, though we got monsooned we had our softball game.  We were playing the defending champs for the second time this season.  The first time we played them we lost after giving up 15 runs in the first inning.  This game was much different.  We played the full 7 innings and had a great overcast lighnting background to go with it.  The guys for their team hit it pretty good, over our heads the first few innigns but we only gave up a few runs.  We just couldn’t hit.  The bat I usually use wasn’t there and the bat I was using I just couldn’t get used too.  All 3 of my at bats were a mirror of each other, hit to 3rd base deep in the hole and gunned out at first.  We lost the game 10-1  but we were competitive as that sounds, we were decent.  I didn’t playt he second rain soaked game.

Updated Stats.

Season
5
9
3
2
0
0
1
2
0
0
0.556
0.778
0.556

H
AB
1b
2b
3b
HR
R
RBI
BB
K
AVG
SLUG
OPS
Game 2
1
2
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0.500
0.500
0.500
Game 9
2
2
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
1.000
2.000
1.000
Game 10
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.000
1.000
1.000
Game 11
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.000
0.000
0.000