Today's Humor brought to you by Jude

Jude picks up my bra to throw it in the washer. Before it goes in he stops and looks at it. "Booby?", he asks while holding the bra at me. I give him a yes and he puts the bra in the washer. Excitedly he goes to the basket, picks up a pair of jeans and exclaims, "More booby!". I'm glad I can make his day.

One Brave Girl!

Evie had her tonsils and adnoids removed this morning. She was very cooperative- better than some adults even! So far she is doing well with recovering. Shawn is staying the night with her. Since she had the surgery because of breathing issues she has to be monitered for 24 hours.
It's off to bed for the night!

The job of a mom...

Calling all Moms!!! See how much you should personally be making for taking care of the kids and running the household. http://swz.salary.com/momsalarywizard/layoutscripts/mswl_newsearch.asp?momtype=1&preschool=3&schoolage=0
This is great!
According to the hours I put in and the amount of kids I take care of, here is what I should be earning:

$212,971
Two Hundred Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy One Dollars

That's right! Mom's are rockstars!

TOY DRIVE!

TOY DRIVE

Here is your chance to get some Christmas shopping done and give back to those in need! Here is what you can do to help-

Look through the catalog and order toys you think the kids in your life will have fun with. You will receive your toys about 2 weeks after the order is placed.
How are you giving back you ask? If I sell a minimum of $750 worth of toys I will be given $100 of toy credits from Discovery Toys, which I will give 100% of the toy credits to the local toy shelf in North St. Paul, MN.

You can order online http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/toydrive or look through the catalog when you see me. Thank you in advance for helping families give their children the best Christmas ever!

God Bless,

Missie

Isn't it funny...

Isn't it funny how much things change once you have kids? Just today I was peeling stickers off of our footboard thinking, "Awww, Jude likes stickers now!". Six years ago when we got our bed set I would have a heart attack if anything that could at all put a flaw in it went near it. Stains and dirty clothes are now proof of a good day, not bad luck. Figuring out how to walk like a gorilla is something to be proud of, not embarrassed to do. Stopping to watch the ants for 12 hours is the highlight of the day, not a waste of time. Having kids is such a blessing. They help us slow down and really see what is important in life.

WOO HOO!

I'm in the clear! My ultrasound came out clean! Now it's time to start the 900 loads of laundry we've got. I also can't wait to play with my kids!!!

PLEASE...PRAY FOR ME...

I've got mastitis and it's not going away. I have to go in for an ultrasound tomorrow morning to see what the next step will be. The "flu like symptoms" have dissipated, but I am still feeling a little crummy. This is the most sick I have ever been in my whole life.
In the midst of it all Evie has begun saying "It's not FAIR!".
I really don't know which is worse right now!

Summer DayZ

We are having an absolute blast this summer! Now that I am able to move around and bend over, we have been out and about as much as possible. Granted, being out and about is cutting in to other things that have become much less important- like bath time. Who needs a bath when you've got a swimming pool and a hose? The kids don't seem to mind and it gives them more play time. Once they start finding snacks crusted on thier bodies I'll know it's time for a scrub down. Until then, it's summer and we are going to enjoy every bit of it!

Maria's "official" online announcement

Make a Smilebox postcard

The first days

It's been 4 days of being a mother of three small children. So far so good. Well, that's mainly because Shawn has been home and in charge of the two older kids the whole time. Thursday will be my first day home alone and in charge. EEEKKKK!

Evie and Jude have done really well with Maria. They will help out and take interest in what she is doing, but most of the time they are too busy playing to get jealous of her. Evie wants to hold Maria all of the time and Jude gets so excited when she makes any kind of noise.

Maria has been my sleepiest baby yet. I'm not used to the "typical" baby that eats, sleeps, and goes to the bathroom. I guess I should consider myself lucky! She is sleeping very well at night, unfortunatly I am not. After almost 9 months of waking up a million times a night to use the bathroom I have not been able to break that routine yet.
It's off to sleep until the next feeding...

INTRODUCING...MARIA JUNE ANN TYLER

She's here!!! Maria came to us on July 11 at 10:53am at a whopping 8lbs 5oz and 21.5" long. And that was a week early!
If you would like details, keep reading, otherwise, enjoy the pictures!
I went to the hospital at 8:30am on Thursday, July 10. After being admitted, I was put on a high does of pitocin at 10:30a. I started out 90% effaced, dilated to 1 1/2cm, and -2 station. By 7:00p I had only moved to 2cm and no labor what-so-ever. It was on to Plan B- cervadil. I had to leave that in for 12 hours and that was supposed to hopefully prepare my body better to accept the pitocin. Once I got that I went to sleep. At 7:30a on the 11th I was 4cm and -1 station!! Woo Hoo! Progress, but still no labor. I couldn't wait for the excrutiating pain to begin! It had been almost 24 hours and I still felt fine- what was the deal?! (It's funny how this is the only time in a woman's life that such terrible pain is so exciting!) I was started on a low dose of pitocin and waited, and waited, and waited for labor to begin. Still nothing. At 10:00a the nurse broke my water. BAM! There it was- the pain I had been longing for! It was offical, labor had begun. The next 53 minutes felt like decades and I couldn't believe the contractions! I went from 4cm-10cm in a short matter of time. With 5 pushes Maria was born at 10:53am.
She has a mop top of dark brown hair and a cute round head, just like Jude. She is a good mix of Evie and Jude.
I enjoyed my "vacation" and decided to come home today. After seeing how nice it was outside, I couldn't stay couped up anymore.
Check in later for more pictures!!

Light At The End Of The Tunnel!

I am set to go in to the hospital on Thursday to entice Maria to come into the world!!!! First I'll have to call and make sure they have room for me- ooohhhhhh I hope they do!!! Not only am I looking forward to giving birth, but I am also anticipating a mini-vacation while in the hospital. Waking up to only one child and not all three- that's going to be a vacation! I'm thinking I might keep it low key with visitors this time and have people come over when we get home from the hospital.
Evie is so excited to go to the hospital to hold her baby sister. She tells Maria everyday to, "Come out sweetie. I want to play with you cutie pie."
We will share the news and pictures when Maria is born.

Sick Tyler's- BEWARE*Contains graphic content*

It has been an eventful week here. After our awesome weekend, Evie and Jude came down with a stomach bug. Evie woke up at 4am on Tuesday throwing up. That happend about 7 times. Since then, both kids have had diarrhea non-stop. I have never seen so much throw up and poop in my life! I am going to have to go through everything with disenfectant spray. My poor hubby is starting to feel terrible, too! Eeeeekkkk!!! I sure hope I don't catch whatever this nasty stuff is. Shawn is toughing out whatever he has to finish his last day of teaching behind the wheel. I think he's nuts for going in, but he knows what he's doing! My Sister-in-Law is saving the day and making a store run for me. We are stocking up on Pedialyte products. For those looking to buy stocks, look into investing in Huggies and Pedialyte. I'm sure I will be helping the cost of it rise!!

Memorial Day Weekend

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We had a TON of fun over the weekend! On Saturday e went to Como Zoo and Como Town. The kids had so much fun on the rides. Evie surprised up and went on the swings and frog hopper. She loved it! Jude wanted to go on the big rides, but maybe next year. Sunday we were at the Mall of America. We had fun at Underwater Adcentures, Build-a-Bear, Rainforest Cafe, and Nickelodean Universe. Afterwards we stayed the night at the Radisson and went to the Waterpark of America. It was a great family weekend away from home. I can't wait for more family time!

Helping out Hugo

How to donate, help Hugo storm victims

Hugo Relief Fund - Money donations are being accepted by U.S. Banks. You can drop off donations at the Hugo Branch at 14431 Forest Boulevard North or any U.S. Bank. For information you can call 651-429-7758.

Hugo Relief Fund - Money donations are being accepted at the Lake Area Bank located at 1400 East Highway 96, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, or call 651-653-9619.

All other donations are being accepted at the Hugo Fire Department
Located at 5323 140th Street North (one block west of Highway 61 on 140th Street.)

Donations can be made to the American Red Cross
Please call their hotline at 612-460-3700 or drop off donations at 1201 West River Parkway, Minneapolis.

www.redcrosstc.org

Volunteers are needed to clean up the site. Volunteers should plan to meet at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 31.

To help volunteer with the cleanup, call Hugo City Hall: 651-762-6300

Hugo Storm

It was an eventful Sunday in our neck of the woods. While we were at the Mall of America on Sunday, a friend called us to ask if we were alright. That's when we found out about the tornado that demolished a neighborhood only a mile and a half up the road from us. Our house has hail damage and we will be getting new siding roofing. I thank God that is all that happend!
Please pray for the families who have lost their homes and were hurt in the tornado. I will be sending out any information I get with the help the city will need once things settle down. Please stay posted...

Picture Diary

BECAUSE I SAID SO!

That is what is going through my head quite often these days. Evie has entered the wonderful world of the "Terrible Three's". We are wishing for the terrible two's back! Jude is also starting to copy his big sister. Though I may complain- it's purely out of exhaustion- I must say, my kids are great at being kids. When it comes down to it, they are doing their job. And what parent doesn't want their children to succeed at their job? None! I should be proud of my kids for being great at their job.
Besides the kids working diligently at their current careers, they have been enjoying outside time. We got a bird feeder and put it out yesterday. We are hoping in the next few days the birds will flock to it for our entertainment. Evie will have her very first dance recital in June. I will get some video to post. It's going to be a riot!! Jude is OBSESSED with anything that has wheels.
I am now 29 weeks pregnant with Maria. She is the most active baby I have been pregnant with. I love being pregnant! It's a little tougher this time because I found out my pubic symphysis has separated and it makes it painful to walk. Maria is not at all affected by it, I just have to deal with the pain. No biggie.
Please continue to check back. I don't have much time to post, but when I do, it's usually pretty interesting!

Mommy Daughter Day

Evie and I had such a wonderful morning together!
Let me back up a little bit...Last night Evie was starting to feel pretty crummy. Poor girl has a bad cough, seezing, runny eyes, and nose. She didn't sleep well last night. This morning she woke up and ran into our room saying "Mommy, now go get Evie's hair cut!!??". Although she looked miserable, I thought with the help of some medicine, she'll be good as new for a few hours. Well, she wasn't good as new, but she had so much fun today that she didn't let her nasty illness drag her down.

Anyway, my friend watched Jude while Evie and I had our special day together. We got our hair cut first. This was Evie first real haircut! She did a great job! Afterwards we got our nails done. Evie picked out blue polish for herself and flourecent green for me!LOL Once we were through being pampered, we grabbed a bite to eat at Key's Cafe. On the way home she was asking to take a nap. That is SOOOO out of character for Evie- she must be sick!!

Easter Fun!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

We had such a wonderful Easter! We started our day off by celebrating Mass. It was a great mass! Afterwards we met my family at Jimmy's Banquet Center for brunch. There was so much to pick from. It sure was nice to not have to cook and clean. However, going out to eat with a 1 and 2 year old can be a challenge! We just may take a break from going out to eat for a while! Once we were good and full, the Tyler clan, my parents, brother, sister, and grandpa headed to my brother and sister-in-laws house for an Easter egg hunt. The kids had a great time. Evie gathered a ton of eggs- Jude and Quinton (my nephew) had more fun carrying the baskets around than collecting eggs.
We let the kids have a hay day with the candy. The get 3 times a year to have a candy free-for-all. I can't believe they didn't get sick!! At 10:00p the sugar buzz finally wore off and the kids went beddy bye. It was a wonderful day!!

Fun filled days!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

We've had quite the week this week! Shawn accepted a position at Citizen's State Bank! It is very excting and I am so proud of how hard he works. He's still teaching driver's ed. part time. The company he works for is a great one and Shawn loves working with the teenagers.
The kids decorated plastic eggs with corn syrup("glue")and sprinkles. It was a mess, but a ton of fun! We are looking forward to a great weekend with our family and friends. Happy Easter and God Bless!

We keep goin', goin', goin,...

Things sure are busy with a 1 and 2 year old! Hey- let's throw another one into the mix!LOL And then a few more after that! I love it and wouldn't have it any other way! I've always said I have enough energy for a huge family. I guess that's true- now that the reality of it has begun. I look at Evie and Jude and I envision a house full of children. A bunch of little Shawn and Missie's running all over the place. I love Shawn so much, there is nothing I want more than to fill the world with our children!
We have freed ourselves of a cluttered garage and became proud renters of a storage unit!!!! It sure feels good to be able to open the garage and not worry that people think we are having a garage sale! Yes, that actually happened once! Now the itch to move has subsided for now. We wouldn't want to mess with trying to sell right now, anyhow.

It's about time I update!!!

Meet our newsest member of the Tyler Family- Maria June Ann. She is due to arrive July 28, 2008. At our ultrasound she was moving MUCH MORE than any of our other kids ever have. My pregnancy has been amazing. I have been fortunate to feel great each time. I think that's God's way of saying, "Missie, fill the world with Tyler's."I was receiving progesteron shots twice a week for 18 weeks. It's a little tougher packing up 2 kids to go to the Dr. for a quick shot!



Evie is 2 1/2 years old and my little Mommy. She thrives on helping and being in control. She is in dance class once a week and looks cute as ever! Evie has been blessed with her Mommy's gracefulness(poor girl), we're hoping dance class will help! If you are ever in the mood for a lengthy conversation, she loves talking on the phone now.


Jude is now 1 year old. He love to eat, sleep, and play. Jude has a great throwing arm- I think we've got ourselves a baseball player! He loves playing with his sister, throwing balls, and playing with cars/trucks. And he's been walking for the past month and a half!
I'll try and keep updates better...Until then, make today the best day ever!