They say you're not really a Mom until....

...You've been puked on by your child.

Do you get extra Mommy points when it happens in the middle of a crowded restaurant?

Madison has been sick with Roseola since last Friday. She seemed to be turning a corner yesterday, but we still cancelled our Holiday weekend camping trip as a precaution. Last night, after nearly a week of taking care of a sick child, I didn't want to cook. So, we went to Brother's Bar and Grill for supper.

Now, Brother's isn't anything fancy - it's just a nice place to get a good burger and a tall glass of beer. It has a family friendly bar atmosphere and is a place that we enjoy watching a good Packer's game.

Madison didn't eat much. That did not strike me as unusual tho - she hasn't eaten much for the past week.

Before long, she climbed into my lap, it was getting close to bedtime so I thought she was just tired. I realized my tummy kind of hurt, so I wasn't eating much either. Mike had just paid the tab and we were about to leave when this sweet little child starts spewing vomit over my shoulder.

Mike says "did she just...."

...and then she heaved again. This time more and it was all over me.

And then a third time...all over herself and my arms.

Mike, bless his heart, handed me a napkin. A SINGLE NAPKIN. He was just trying to help, somehow...but of course, I had a bad wife moment and asked "what good is that going to do???"

I apologized at least four times to those around us - those poor people trying to eat their meals and they get blasted with the smell of Madison's puke!! Our server did not miss a beat, she handed me a wet towel, said everyone has kids and to not worry about it. Before we were out the door she already had some bus boys in rubber gloves cleaning up the mess.

I'm not sure I can go back there again.

Water Everywhere

Omigosh - I have never seen so much water in my life!!!

In NW Rochester we received 10.64 inches of rain on Saturday. Thankfully, the Rochester Flood Control Project that was completed 12 years ago did it's job. There is A LOT of water flowing through the many creeks into the Zumbro River. There are a lot of areas that are flooded over - but thankfully life and most property was spared. The real damage came from several landslides in our area.

There are a lot of homes with wet basements - not ours!! Thank God for living on a hill.

As I type this, however, my feet are in squishy wet carpet. My office building flooded pretty bad. They wet vac'd the carpet but it is still very wet. The industrial sized fans have been blowing all day, making it feel damp and cold. The worst is the musty icky smell! I hope that gets better by tomorrow.

I will try to post pictures later - and if I get really motivated - maybe a video of the rushing water of Cascade Creek. Please say a prayer for our neighbors to the East, some of who lost not only their homes and possessions but loved ones as well.

New Wheels

Madison is at a really fun age right now. She is starting to focus more - she will sit and play on her own for a long time now. If I want a shower, she will sit in her crib with books and read until I am out and can let her run around. She is even starting to listen more and more. She follows directions and knows what time out means when she is given a warning. It's so much fun and so amazing to watch her change and grow right before our eyes!

Last Wednesday we were shopping at Wal-mart. She is starting to out grow some of her toys so she and I went through the toy section for some ideas. She spotted a little Radio Flyer trike in the isle and pointed saying "Mommy, look!" I said, "That is a trike." She responded with "my trike." Of course, I did not buy it for her but later on I told her dad the story. Needless to say, we bought a really cute radio flyer trike this weekend.

The best part about it? Watching Mike push Madison on that trike all the way to the check out in Wal-mart. Never thought I would see that in my lifetime. Wish I had a video phone with me to capture it on tape. Heck, I wish I had a camera phone to prove that it did indeed happen. After we paid for the trike, Mike tried to put it in the back of the Explorer but Madison cried. It had to ride on the back seat next to her carseat. She didn't take her eyes of the trike the entire time.

While out on the boat this evening we spotted a deer that had ventured down the bank for a sip of water. Wish we could have gotten a little closer. I will share more stories about Madison and the boat in a few days.

PS Yes, we WILL be getting a bike helmet for Madison to wear on her trike. Wal-mart didn't have any her size. We are looking for one that will fit her. In the meantime, we'll let her ride her trike...I didn't own a bike helmet growing up and I'm still here. (Kinda wish I had the bike helmet instead of that stupid orange flag on my bike.)

Blood donation and Prayers

I thought I would share a cute picture of Madison. Love denim and white on her!

In light of today's I-35W bridge collapse I wanted to share the importance of blood donation. I do not have a lot of time or money to give back to my community so I give blood every other month. My next blood donation appointment is next Wednesday. One single blood donation by employees saves the Mayo Clinic $1500! It's amazing how much money it saves. In times of tragedy, blood is a precious resource that could save a life. We all have plenty of it and it's renewable - all it takes is an hour of your time and a small moment of pain when they stick you with the needle....a small price to pay for all the good it does. They even give you cookies and juice when you're done - I can't think of anything better than eating a few chocolate chip cookies GUILT FREE!

There are also many other great perks to donating blood. Your's truly is August's Mayo Employee Blood Donor of the Month. I get a sweet designated parking spot near the front entrance to my office building. Parking at our building isn't too bad - but that sweet spot is awful nice when I'm dashing in the door at 7:58 A.M.

My prayers go out to those injured, the families of those lost, and to the rescue workers. My heart is heavy as I think of how many families are somehow affected by this. May we learn a lot from this tragedy so that it never happens again. If you can find an hour tomorrow, our hospitals across Minnesota will need a pint of your blood - please go donate. It may not help a victim of today's tragedy but it will replenish the supply for the next person that needs it.