Low-Key Easter

We had a Happy Easter at the Burdorfs!  It was the first holiday we've been out of the hospital and all together since Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving.  Crazy, right?!  To say we were happy to be at home and together is probably the biggest understatement ever.

A few days before Easter we planted some jelly beans along our fence in the front yard.  Do you know what grows when you plant jelly beans?  The kids didn't either, so we had to find out.

Yes, they were trying to dig a hole with a plastic snow shovel - ha!

After seeing what the Easter Bunny brought us, we headed to church and I was able to snap a few pics of my favorite four.  I got these two cute ones after Bowen decided he was going to quit throwing his fit. ;)

 They were saying, "Easter!!!"

 Jenna and I had to get a picture together since we had kind of dressed a like for church. 

 

 And this is what the jelly beans grew!  Suckers.  The kids were trying to figure out how this happened and in the end determined it was the work of the Easter Bunny.

 We are still in "we can't go far from Iowa City at this point in time mode" for anything, so we headed to my dad's in Knoxville for lunch.  It was such a nice day we played outside pretty much the entire time. 

 The Easter Bunny brought the two oldest new gloves, so we had to try them out with some batting practice and a little catch. 

 Concentrating.

Peas in a pod, Bowen and Brody.

 We tried fish-tailing Jenna's hair for the first time ever for church.  It looked pretty cute and better than this picture shows after church and playing outside.

Grandpa Larry has a cement circle in his backyard and the kids loved riding their two tractors and tricycle around and around and around...

 Hanging out in the cool basement with Grandpa. 

 I wanted to try to find my copy of, "Charlotte's Web," I had as a kid for Jenna and I to read together.  When ended up also finding all of my Baby-sitter's Club Books!  Apparently, I had a few of them...;)  They were the BEST books.  Jenna and I took home an entire box of the BSC books - regular books, mysteries, super specials.  I'd say we have enough to keep her busy reading for awhile.

 When we got home, we couldn't just sit inside you know.  We had to play outside some more!  The twins got these little dirt bikes for their birthdays, so they kept riding up and down the driveway. 

 These two. :)

 

Overall, it was a great weekend together.  I love that word!  Lots of time together.  Playing outside together.  Quality time together.  Woo-hoo for being all TOGETHER!!!

Outside at last!

Last weekend was so nice!  We were all home and we all decided to spend some quality time outside.  Brody's birthday was the 28th and he got this T-bolt rocket blaster thing.  It is supposed to shoot 150 feet into the air. 

 The kids were dying to try it, so we headed up to the practice football field to give it a go.  We had some technical difficulties at first and couldn't get it to launch. 

Finally, we got it!!  Brody was one excited kid!

 Jenna and Brody kept trying to catch it when it was close to landing.  They didn't seem to care that right on the box it said not to! ;)

 Everybody wanted a turn trying to launch the rocket.  Blakers waited patiently.

 Bowen was funny.  On the outskirts of the grassy airy was a culvert and he was convinced that their were alligators in there.  I mean, if big sister tells him that it must be true, right?!

 Bowen and Brody are my rough and tumble boys.  Always wanting to tackle and wrestle with you. Mama under attack!

 Blake and his bow legs.  They are just so him.  There's a nursing assistant who met us the day before transplant and she fell in love with his legs. They are now buddies.  He's legs and she's sassy!

 Such a beautiful day!  All four kids were able to burn off some pent up energy from the LONG winter.  The winter that doesn't seem to want to end.  My sympathies to you NW Iowans and Minnesotans reading this.  Yuck!

 Anyway, Brody is convinced he is the fastest person in the family.  Him and Jenna split races.  I will say, he is getting faster!

 The kids thought it would be fun for me and Aaron to race.  Real cool kiddos.  Guess what?  I lost.  I'm still slow and that was ridiculously unfair. ;) 

News from the day:  Blake had labs in Ames and we didn't have to go to Iowa City!  His WBC is still a little high out of normal range, but it did go down since the last time they checked.  I had a tiring day with my two monkeys at home today, so I'd say Blake is feeling just fine!!

HOME and the Red Shoe Run

We made it HOME Tuesday night!  Woo-Hoo!  I had tried to finagle our way out of there Tuesday morning, but the doctor said we had to wait to see specifically what Blake's culture grew so we got on the correct antibiotic for home.  She said there was a small chance we would know by that afternoon. 

Guess what?  We found out about 2:30 PM on Tuesday.  I saw the doctor and asked again about going home.  She said she had to talk to urology, but would see what they could do.  About three hours later the doctor came back.  She told me we could just stay until morning if that was easier.  Hello!  NO!  I told her I wanted to sleep in my own bed. Shockingly, we were out the door by 6:30 PM.   Ahhh...home.  It's good.  My bed was good.  This morning was a little rough with four kids, getting ready for school and Blake pooping all over the floor, but anyway....I will most definitely take it! :)

I also have been meaning to mention that we are doing the Red Shoe  5K Run in Iowa City on Sunday, May 4th.  This will be our third year doing it to help benefit the Ronald McDonald House.  If you are the running or walking type and are close to Iowa City or want to take a road trip come join team #keepfightingblake!!  We would love to have you.  Here is the link to register:
https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=5124953  When you register it will ask you if you want to join a team and Blake would be happy to have you on his team! ;)

Alright, labs tomorrow in Ames.  Happy thoughts!