OBX... continued

More on our fun OBX adventure.
(by the way: OBX = Outer Banks, the fun beach coast of northern North Carolina)


Auntie Sue introduced us to a YUMMY restaurant that was sooo great! The Jolly Roger.

First off, if you come between 4:30 and 5:30, you get the early bird special, buy one get one free. IN ADDITION... Saturday nights KIDS EAT FREE!!! Are you kidding me! Our whole family ate a huge, fantastic dinner for $30 including everything!

The entire staff is dressed as pirates, and the restaurant is decorated as if you are on a pirate ship. We ate in the captain's quarter's room. So Cool!!! Uncle Peter, Auntie Sue and Grandma Joan met us for dinner. We really had a great time.

The drinks all come decorated with pirate bling. Savvy was not so sure about it. I made her a little nervous and she refused to drink anything.

They have a playground in the back that our kids really had fun on.
I love this picture because it shows my darling kids at their individual levels of play, but all playing together.



Did I mention that it was SO SO SO COLD the entire time we were there!!!
How cute is my little paddington bear baby?

OBX day one

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!
We had our first family getaway to the Outer Banks last weekend! Auntie Sue Ward came to visit us and then we drove her to her mom's house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We had a fantastic time! It was FREEEEEZZZING cold at the beach, but really beautiful. We got a Days Inn Hotel right on the beach and our room's balcony overlooked the ocean.

We toured the Wright Brother's National Park... Very cool!
This is an awesome play experience for the kids to climb on. They really do a nice job here.
Next we went to the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Up next... Bill and the boys true purpose of our trip... Ocean fishing!

I was sooooo thankful that they didn't catch anything because Bill would absolutely have scaled, de-boned and roasted it right there on the beach. NASTY!! They did have fun though. We are really ready for our Dittbrenner cousins to come and go fishing with us when the weather gets a little warmer. Uncle Wayne is a master fisherman!

Cake... we need Cake...

Some days I just love being a mom. There are days that are great. Easy, fun and wonderful.
Last week I had 2 of those days in a row. Monday I had 5 nieces and nephews come to play with my kids and they all got along so well. It was a great play date.

Cole's love language is definitely Quality Time. To him, nothing says, “I love you,” like your full, undivided attention. For his birthday last month, we gave him 7 sleep tickets. A sleep ticket gives him the opportunity to spend a night in mommy and daddy's room for the whole night. He gets about an hour of snuggle time in bed with us and then we make him a bed on the floor by us. He LOVES every second of it. We have to limit it to only one a week.

So Tuesday night, we were doing our snuggle time and watching America's Next Great Baker. Cole kept licking his lips and saying, "Oh yeah, that kind looks good. I want some of that one. Mom, we NEED cake! Can I have some of that cake?" Now remember, this is my kid that we BEG to eat anything. As the episode went on, Cole and I were both needing some CAKE! I paused the show and said, "Cole, let's go bake a cake!" (Yes, it was 9:30 at night!) Daddy laughed and jokingly said, "Bake a cake???? That will take an hour. You ought to just go to the store and buy some cake."

That is a FABULOUS idea!!! Cole and I threw on our coats over our jammers and were out the door so fast! Daddy was laughing and yelling, "I was just kidding!"

Shopping and picking out those treats in our pj's was such a fun experience. I think it is those little minutes of perfection that make life wonderful. Make being a mom the best job in the world.

Se we came home with four slices of Dee-Lish Yummy Cakes!
Coconut (Mommy's favorite)
Old fashioned yellow cake with fudge frosting (Cole's favorite)
Double Chocolate with Dark Chocoalte Frosting (Daddy's favorite)
Peanut Butter fudge mousse (Bright's favorite)

Cole begged us to let him go and wake up Bright to join in on the cake party. What a sweet kid he is.



I remember being 8 years old and my mom waking my sister Amy and I up in the middle of the night to watch "The Sound Of Music." It was really wonderful. I felt so special, like my mom really wanted to spend time with me. She made popcorn. It was such a cool memory. I hope she has lots of memories like this one that makes her love having been a mom.

Good day today, really good day.

I have had a hard week.
As you read my posts, you might have noticed that in debating with health insurance, loving a very sick little 5 year old and absolutely adoring a wonderful 8 year old with autism has made for an overwhelming week.

As I was walking into the hospital I started to have what I think is a panic attack. I couldn't breath, my chest felt like someone was sitting on it, and I felt those huge sobs in my throat. I took some deep breaths and walked into the lobby. As we made our way down to where we needed to check in for pediatric specialty I knew that I was going to explode any minute.

I felt like I just needed someone to understand what I was going through. I called my darling cousin Ruth who's daughter Davy has a lot of similar issues as Cole. She answered her phone and I started sobbing. Through my tears I told her where I was and what I was doing and that it was all so foreign and new and I did not have any routines in place. She was so cute and said exactly what I needed to hear. "Charise, this will all be your normal in a few months. This will be your place where you feel safe and taken care of." It was exactly what I told her a year and a half ago when she was starting with Davy Jean. We talked about the struggles of parenting a child with such amazing and specific needs, and then I was ok again. It's funny how just the love and understanding of a friend can totally get you through what needs to be done.

From there on our experience was amazing. The check in lady went out of her way to explain the procedures to us. She printed out some paperwork for the insurance that she did not need to, but it will make my life so much easier. (Proof of his insurance and that it is active in case anyone gives me grief over it, which always happens.)

The doctor, Ashley Sutton was fantastic! She sat down and went through all of Cole's needs, medications, refills, feeding supplies, formula's, and anything else she could think of. We were there for 3 and a half hours! Their team community care director sat with me for a long time helping me coordinate all of Cole's future needs. (i.e. GI specialist, Pulminoligist, ENT, Speech, Feeding Therapy, Nutritionist, Psychologist, etc.)

I left the hospital happier than I have been in months! The relief was so great! I called Bill and told him the ONLY thing that could have made it better was if they would have been handing out free starbucks hot cocoa's in the lobby. :) (For those who don't know, when I have a big day of doctor's appointments with Cole, my reward for being a happy mommy is to stop and get a Starbucks for me and a treat for Cole.) Then I told him that I had to stop at Target on my way home to get a few things for Kids Are Music the next day. So I walk into Target, and your not gonna believe this... They had a STARBUCKS in Target with a small sign that said, "Question of the day... Answer this and get a FREE HOT CHOCOLATE!!!! Which president made Thanksgiving into a National Holiday in 1863."

Duh!!!! Abraham Lincoln! I literally burst into song at Target.

Best Day in a really long time! Welcome to Chari-Land!!!
This picture is from the summer when Cole and I were coming home from his pre -op for his most recent vocal chord surgery.

ps. Cole is doing well. Still home from school, but up and about. All in all, feeling good.
pps. Lani, thanks so much for watching savvy today for me. It really helped not to have her home with Cole while he was miserable. Mitzi, thanks for inviting Billy, Bright and Savvy over to the park. I am so glad Brighton got to have some fun with your kids. I love you both and living by you is amazing!

Cole, my rock star!

We are home from the hospital and we are thrilled!
#1... Cole has HEALTH INSURANCE!!! As of 5:00pm Cole had a Medicaid number. Within 10 minutes we were in the car driving to the ER. I had packed a bag in the middle of the night Friday night when he was so sick and barely breathing. I usually just keep a bag ready.

#2... The doctors and staff were great. We were really pleased with the service. I realize that we were VERY SPOILED with CHOC in Orange County because it was such a new hospital and so clean and nice. UNC Hospital is very highly ranked for pediatric pulminary (continually listed in the top 10 in the United States for that specialty, and that is what we were looking for.)

#3... They gave me the choice of staying overnight or coming home to sleep and returning for an appointment tomorrow. I love my bed and house, so we jumped at the choice to come home to sleep and then follow up tomorrow with them.

#4... Our appointment tomorrow should get us set up with GI and Pulmonary specialists. YAHOOOOEEEE!
We are feeling very blessed tonight.

#5... Once again, the answer to what is wrong with my little boy... "Mam, he was born at 24 and a half weeks. He has CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE. It is amazing that you have not been here every month.
Apparently having chronic lung disease is what is the matter with him. I guess it is a big deal. It does get us front of the line passes at Disneyland and handicapped parking at the mall during busy season...

Thank you all for your support, love and prayers.

Now if only the rest of us could get health insurance coverage. hmmmm, keep up the prayers.
Love you,
Charise

Dear dad,

Horrible day today. Horrible. That kind of day that has you heaving sobs where you are not sure if you are going to really be ok. That kind of day where you think that maybe you don't have enough faith to figure it out. Where you think, "how can I possibly be ok enough to feed my babies and get them to bed without them seeing my sobbing."

Low lights... where words just do not do it justice.
...Conversation with Social Services.
When I explained that in 7 days (yes, on Thanksgiving day exactly) my 5 year old will be out of formula, medicines and medical supplies, and I NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY for him and their response is, "As we have told you before, the Emergency Room can not legally turn you away." (Of course when I asked, we would be expected to cover any and all expenses due to that visit.)

...Finding out that my awesome autistic son who has been so excited for football to start, got lost after I dropped him off at the practice. He went to the bathroom first, (so much more to that part of the story, but too heartbreaking to write.) and then when he came out, he couldn't find the football class, so he sat at the bottom of the stairs all alone for an hour and 15 minutes waiting for someone to come find him. When I asked him his best thing tonight after putting him to bed, he started sobbing and telling me how worried and sad he was about missing football. He told me how disappointed he was not to be able to find it and knowing that it was going on and that he just did not know what to do. He sat there and waited for help, and I was not there to give it to him, because I was on the phone with Social Services. Do you know what it is like to hold a sobbing, heartbroken child? It is one of the worst feelings in the world!

(Dad, this is where I am incoherent rambling on the phone right now and you can't understand me because I am crying to hard for my words to make sense. See??? Isn't this blogging thing better than telephone anyways!)

Dad, I am so not okay.

But I love being a mom. My Brighton, Cole and Savannah are the greatest blessing and joy in my life.

Lani, I won't be working out tomorrow morning. Cole has to have new glasses before he can return to school tomorrow, and that did not happen before the doctor's office closed tonight.

And Timmy spilt a glass of milk.

Thankful for Cousins!

While the kids were off track last week, we all went bowling. Aunt Mit is a supermom and she is always planning fun activities. I think my kids are going to LOVE living by her.



We went to a FANCY bowling alley that is all automated and the bumpers go up or down depending on the player. So much fun! We definitely want to take grammy and papa there when they come to visit next month.
Brighton
Houston
Connor JamesSavannah Grace
Cole

Princess ZettaMy camera was being weird and none of my Tara Mei pictures turned out, but she was adorable, and she got the second highest score of the day! She is one great bowler!

And though they didn't bowl, these two darlings are worth mentioning. They are such sweet little buddies, always chilling in their car seats together.
Cora and Hadley...

A fair is a fair is a smorgasboard, morgasboard!

Name that movie!!!

The first thing to mention is that we were not some of the deadly cases who got E Coli from the fair food, which really is amazing since we practically ate throughout the entire fair!!! Apparently there have been 25plus cases reported, and a few deaths from the fair food.

However, we LOVED munching on everything from classic favorites like corn dogs, snow cones and cotton candy to new adventures "gater on a stick" (Bill's dream come true....) and fudge made from the Amish people (Charise's absolute heaven!!!)





Anyone who knows us well would know that we LOVE a fair. We never missed the fair in Orange county, and we were so excited to go the week before we moved away. Imagine our surprise to find out that the NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR was the second month we moved here. We have county fairs in California. Here in the South there are state fairs. Kind of the same thing, but with a VERY SOUTHERN TWIST.

There was almost no shopping. I know!!! Carrie Collins and I have spent SO MANY HOURS shopping the fair together. Carrie, I really don't know that you would have loved this fair. Where were all the demo products booths? All the rows and rows of fabulous things you can only seem to buy at the fair? (Steve's miracle sponge, our fantastic pots and pans, plumaria trees, mat and frame cutting systems, car organizers, tortilla warmers, hand carved wooden name frames, hawaiian matching family outfits, scrapbook tools you can't find anywhere else.) What does it say about Bill and I that we lovingly remember buying each of these items and think fondly of the fair every time we use any of them.

There was however TONS of Dairy/Cow/Farming demonstrations and booths and exhibits. Like TONS of them!

It was very new and different to have the fair in the fall. Instead of our normal patriotic USA outfits we wear every year to the fair, we got to dress in Halloween colors. Instead of sweating in the heat, we were very crisp and chilly. It was such a fun adventure!

They did not have any community groups performing. No stages at all. No hypnotist, no Chineese acrobats, no grunge bands. It was all just very different. Not bad different, just different.

They had SO MANY free sample of foods. For example, hushpuppies, soda taste tests, candy samples, sausages, dips, hushpuppies, salsa's, cheeses, jerky, and so much more. You could sample throughout the fair! (Did I mention free hushpuppies everywhere you went? Yum-EE!)

We always bring the wagon, tricked out with everything we will need for the day. I think for us, the fair is like what most people feel when they go to Disneyland. We prep for it. We save for it. We make it a HUGE event in our lives.


Our family tradition is that at the end of the day, before we go home, each of the kids get to choose one ride to go on. This is our incentive for them to be on their best behavior all day. It seriously works so well! Any time we sense a meltdown coming on, we redirect them by pointing to some of the rides (You can see them from every spot on the fairgrounds.) and talk about which ride they will choose at the end of the day.

This time both boys wanted to ride the log flume. It was crazy cold, but they both thought it looked wonderful! Brighton was kind of undecided throughout the day, but Cole said the water boat roller coaster when we caw it from the car before we even parked, and nothing could change his mind. All day as we would go past new rides we would ask him if he wanted this instead of the log flume, but nope... he insisted that the water boat roller coaster was the ride of his dreams. In the end I think his persistence made Bright realize it must be the best if Cole was so determined to ride it.



Here is Cole telling daddy how it felt!

We love the fair. Simply. Love. the. Fair.

Cousins, Cousins, Cousins, Cousins!!!!

Definitely my kids favorite part of living in North Carolina... Cousins everywhere, every day. We can't get enough of them!

Swimming at Grammy and Papa's Pool

We have LOVED doing Monday night Bar-b-q's over at the pool. We take our chicken over and Bill BBQ's it while we all swim. Add some rice and fresh fruit. Dee-lish!

We have probably swam there this past few months as much as they have swam there in the past 20 years!

We will miss walking to the pool.