hollenbeck.family of five.

His Long, Hard Day is Long Forgotten...

2012-01-27T20:45:00.000-05:00

Future Soccer Star

2012-01-24T15:32:00.002-05:00

If Daddy has it his way...

*adorable pink Adidas track suit courtesy of Mimi & Papa :)

Side Effects

2012-01-21T13:46:00.003-05:00

Well, here is one of the positive side effects of Pinterest. You find great ideas (mostly "why didn't I think of that" ones) and get inspired. I have seen many menu planners in frames on Pinterest where you just print out the menu, place it in a frame and use a dry-erase marker to use it over and over. Genius. However, I needed a place for the recipe cards I would be using for the upcoming week instead of just laying them on the counter top, or worse, having to dig for them in the midst of meltdown time right before dinner. Easy solution...hot glue a clothespin to the back and voila! hidden storage of those cards right at your fingertips to use for each meal. And I had every single piece of this project on hand, so free! No excuses to prepare meals. I guess that is the negative side effect.

...and another positive side effect was digging in storage for this unused frame to find it displaying a picture of Blake at about 9 months old. Guaranteed smiles :)

Dependents

2012-01-19T18:48:00.003-05:00

During a simple, everyday moment it hits you. I am responsible for these three little lives. Then, you look at the picture you have taken and see your children growing up right before you. Blake sitting tall eating like an adult...Dane doing the same talking to his baby sister...what? a baby sister? I have three children? And she is already six months old. Time is flying and I have to remember to take it all in, even these simple moments. It is just unreal, or should I say surreal...

A Congratulations is in Order...

2012-01-12T16:16:00.002-05:00

How does this guy do it? A physical therapist, an orthopaedic surgeon, an amazing father and husband, a wonderful son and brother...he does tons of projects around the house, he plays on a soccer league, he cleans bathrooms (voluntarily. yes, be jealous.), he cooks, he is super supportive of all the crazy ideas I dream up on a daily basis. I could go on forever. It seems Super Man lives in our house!

Well, today he added another exciting accomplishment to his list! Matt is now a board member of the Greenville County Down Syndrome Family Alliance. He was nominated for this position by someone in the community, and will be joining other important community figures on this board. I am so excited to see what things he will learn through this, what wonderful things he will bring to the alliance, and who we will meet through this experience. I know good things are ahead for Blake, our family and Greenville!

So, join me in saying...

WAY TO GO, MATT!

AN HONOR WELL-DESERVED!

Half-Way...

2012-01-10T15:37:00.001-05:00

Blair is 6 months old today! I can't believe we are half-way to one year...

Pile Migration

2012-01-05T16:43:00.003-05:00

I have coined a new phrase (well, it probably already exists) that many of my local friends can relate to right now as we are all coming up on the time to *try* to sell our homes. "Pile Migration" is the phrase, and the action that is currently happening at our house multiple times a day. I am going through every nook and cranny purging things in order to stage the house to put it on the market. All of the nooks and crannies look fantastic. The large areas (e.g., countertop, table top, etc.) look unlike themselves as they are covered with stuff thanks to "Pile Migration." I just keep moving the stuff from point A to point B and back to point A again. Perhaps Goodwill would enjoy a U-Haul drop-off instead of just a few things in the trunk...

Nice Ride

2012-01-02T20:45:00.002-05:00

Santa surprised the boys with bicycles this year! Aside from a few helmet shopping incidents (don't ask) they hopped on and quickly learned how to ride and maneuver their new set of wheels. Keep in mind this was in a flat parking lot with no cars, but you have to learn somewhere! Matt and I had a blast running along side them (with Blair in tow, of course). It was one of those milestone moments that made us realize how quickly our children are growing up.

Organized Chaos

2011-12-29T13:56:00.004-05:00

The name of this blog background, and how I envision 2012. My favorite is the splatter of spilled coffee on the left...a perfect illustration of what my weekday mornings often look like. And I often feel, like this blog background, many to-do notes push pinned into my brain in a haphazard fashion. This year holds exciting, yet also anxiety-inducing things...

-Interviews for Matt's fellowship begin.

-We are rounding the corner to finish year 4 of residency,

and will begin the 5th - and FINAL - year on July 1st.

-We find out in April where we will go for fellowship starting in August 2013.

-Upon getting the above information we begin the search for a new place to live, for schools, doctors (you get the idea) in a new city.

-We are putting our house on the market in a few short months.

-Blair will turn ONE!

-Blake will start first grade, yes first grade.

-Matt will be seriously searching for a job.

-And last, but certainly not least, we will celebrate our 10 year anniversary.

Our road continues to be exciting, albeit a challenge. We are looking forward to 2012 and finding out so much that will ultimately lead to new chapters in our lives. I, of course, hope it leads us back to family and friends, but that is yet to be decided. I am sure the Hollenbeck household will remain busy, perhaps imitating our blog background title. Either way, I know new memories will be created and we will handle whatever we are given. Wishing all of you the best for a happy, healthy and memorable 2012...

The Season of Giving...

2011-12-21T19:54:00.002-05:00

This year I decided it was time to start a tradition with my children that I was introduced to as a child. Giving our time, energy, love and goods during the holiday season. I have fond memories of volunteering while growing up doing a variety of things to help others in need, which spilled over into adulthood in both volunteer and work efforts. I truly appreciate the exposure I have had to other cultures, socioeconomic levels, home environments and overall needs of those in the communities I have lived. I have seen poverty beyond belief, wealth that seems unattainable and everything in betweeen while doing home health. I have witnessed true need and appreciation at soup kitchens, homeless shelters and battered women homes during times of volunteering. These experiences were and still are a true gift and ones I will never forget. Perhaps that is why I continue to seek them out...

So, during this week while school is out, but it is not yet Christmas I chose four charities in Greenville to give of ourselves. Our first experience was yesterday, Meals on Wheels. All three children plus me arrived at Meals on Wheels to pick up food and our route. The boys carried the cooler, counted out drinks and meals, and were great sports while driving our route to deliver meals to eleven individuals. We talked about how we were providing them food, that they lived very close to us and needed assistance while our pantry is full, and wished each recipient a Merry Christmas. By the end, I think the boys gathered what our goal was and each person enjoyed a warm meal and smiles from us. It was incredibly rewarding! The rest of our week will entail a Toys of Tots drop off, food and toiletry drop off at Harvest Hope Food Bank, and a gift for the Salvation Army Angel Tree.

I am in hopes my children will appreciate these experience as we will do them each year during the holidays, and hopefully throughout the year as times allows. This was my first Meals on Wheels experience and I plan to get a weekly route since I enjoyed it so much! The magic of Christmas is certainly for children, but I would love for mine to not center it around making their lists and checking them twice. I want them to enjoy Santa, opening gifts and being with family, but I also hope they seek out those in need and offer their time and energy as gifts to those in our community who are less fortunate. I hope you are enjoying this season as much as we are!

Santa!

2011-12-10T16:03:00.003-05:00

Ready for the party! They clean up nice, huh?

Blair looking pretty in her new Christmas dress from Mimi & Papa

I have a sweet picture of the boys' faces when Santa arrived, but had to share this one instead. This was them waiting in line to see Santa. Priceless. It is like our own version of "The Christmas Story" If only I could have the entire line procession (and party) on video :)

Blake was so excited and ran right to Santa!

Dane, on the other hand, was a bit apprehensive. I was surprised he did it.

Today was the Down syndrome Alliance of Greenville's Christmas party. I took all 3 by myself thinking it was just a "come in, have a cookie or two, drink punch, see Santa, be on your merry way" kind of thing. But, I arrived to find a beautifully decorated hall with a sit-down lunch, centerpieces, and a fully decorated stage with a Santa chair! I was blown away! I have to admit it was a challenge to manage all 3 at a nice meal and for over 2 hours, but the memories were all worth it. And no shopping mall Santa to boot.

Blair Elise is 5 months old today!

2011-12-10T08:08:00.002-05:00

...and apparently she is taking the same hair coloring route her Mommy did. She is now sporting an adorable red hue, which is what I did as an infant before my hair turned blond. Whatever color her hair decides on staying I am making note now to encourage her to treasure it and never color/highlight it! Or she will be in the same boat - expensive boat - that I am! Let's not mention all of the gray hair I am trying to cover...either way, Happy 5th Month, Blair!

Sorbet Stripes

2011-12-09T20:52:00.002-05:00

What fun it is to have a little girl...

Pleasant Surprise...

2011-12-07T16:50:00.002-05:00

For probably the second time since we moved to Greenville I went to the local Down syndrome alliance's website. I just needed to verify the time for their Christmas party this weekend. When the site came up my sweet boys' faces were looking back at me! I had no idea! It sure makes me proud to be their Mommy! Here is the link if you want to check it out...

www.dsfagreenville.org

Christmas Parade

2011-12-04T20:20:00.002-05:00

Getting ready to go...Blair in her Christmas fancy pants :)

Waiting patiently for the parade to begin...

Enjoying all of the sights and sounds of Christmas

No caption needed...

This year instead of going to Greenville's parade downtown, we decided to check out the Simpsonville's Christmas parade. Personally, I liked it a lot better. It was less crowded and at 3pm, not late in the evening. We really enjoyed seeing the floats, listening to the bands play Christmas music, and simply seeing the excitement and smiles on the boys' faces (Blair was napping through it all). And, as always, we cherished having Matt there with us and being able to take it all in as a family.

Developmentally Appropriate?

2011-11-13T16:41:00.002-05:00

I don't recall every seeing "cover the face with a lovey" on any developmental charts in school or during my last 11 years of practice. It seems you have to do this as part of your development to be a Hollenbeck. Dane would cover his face with his lovey to fall asleep, and now his sister is doing the same thing. Hey, whatever works to self-soothe, right? I love the picture of her peeking out to see if I was watching...

4 Months...All Smiles :)

2011-11-10T15:43:00.002-05:00

Ruffles

2011-11-09T15:46:00.001-05:00

Thanks Great Aunt Peggy for my adorable girly girl outfit :)

Progress Note

2011-11-04T20:41:00.004-04:00

So, as therapists we write progress notes once a month or once a quarter...whatever the facility you work at has implemented as their policy. After breakfast this morning I believe I could have written an interesting progress note. You see, not only does Blake have Down syndrome, he also has a diagnosis called "apraxia of speech." It is such a challenging and frustrating thing to deal with as a parent, and probably more so for Blake. He knows what he wants to say, but can't figure out how to motor plan (place/move his oral musculature) to make sounds that form letters and words. Once he learns how to form a letter or word his ability to say it can come and go for awhile until it finally clicks and he can say it comfortably all of the time. *please note I am NOT a speech pathologist, so this explanation is not perfect, but just how I interpret apraxia!

Lately Blake has been making HUGE gains in the area of speech and language including tons of imitation of words, forming long sentences, spontaneously telling us stories and communicating much more typical for his age. We have loved watching his speech blossom! So, this morning I could have written a fantastic progress report about his speech and how incredibly appropriate it was. This is what happened...

During the breakfast rush, which is an understatement, Blake requested more milk. We currently have milk from Costco, which I loathe because it always spills. Poor design for a milk jug, in my opinion. Anyway, I poured his milk and of course it spilled onto the table. Blake nonchalantly shouted, "SH*T!" As most parents would have scolded their child and explained how we don't use vulgar language, I said "Nice talking, Blake!" Now that's progress. And a reminder I need to watch what I say and buy milk at Publix.

A Halloween Tradition

2011-11-01T16:47:00.002-04:00

A big thanks to the Barden's for hosting us for Halloween again this year! Since moving to Greenville we have spent each Halloween with Ben and Lauren...and now with Lola, too! We love going to their house, sharing dinner and trick or treating in their neighborhood. This year Blake and Dane were in on the passing out candy and loved running to the door with each knock or doorbell. It has been fun watching the boys grow up each year as they are now able to independently walk to the door, knock, say trick or treat (and thank you, thank goodness!) and eagerly find the next house with the front porch light on. Blake had some difficulty controlling his impulses, but we had to try to work through it. We look forward to next year - our LAST year! - as we watch Blake, Dane, Lola and Blair share in the Halloween tradition at the Barden's...

Dane's 4th Birthday!

2011-11-01T16:35:00.003-04:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Dane turned 4 years old on October 30th! We were so happy Mimi was able to travel here to celebrate his birthday and spend a few days with all of us. Dane and his friends had a great time at Giggle Bugs, a local bounce house for kids, and we especially loved his Cars cake :) Thanks to all who attended his party and here's to a great year of less talking back, limited tantrums and minimal brotherly love in the form of wrestling and fighting...

Trial Run...my first attempt at posting a Picasa slideshow

2011-10-16T21:06:00.003-04:00

Celebrating Blake - Buddy Walk 2011

2011-10-13T15:03:00.003-04:00

Our walking group!

Having fun before the walk...

Blake's best buddy!

Blake had the best idea for the walk!

Celebrating Blake's accomplishments with a medal!

We returned to the beautiful Furman University campus for this year's Buddy Walk, and the weather and company were perfect! Our great friends, Catie (with daughter, Sullivan) and Lauren (with daughter, Lola) joined us for this special event. We thank them tremendously for supporting Blake and taking time out of their Sunday and precious family time to spend a few hours with us. Unfortunately, Matt had to stay home with Blair who was dealing with her first cold :( The activities prior to the walk, the walk itself and dancing afterwards were such fun! I can't believe next year will be our last Buddy Walk in Greenville before leaving for fellowship.

3 Months

2011-10-10T20:22:00.001-04:00

Growing...Changing...Learning to suck my thumb :)

Tummy Time

2011-10-05T16:30:00.003-04:00

Before...

After!

On the Horizon...

2011-09-24T10:45:00.004-04:00

Things I am looking forward to...

A much-anticipated visit from Matt's brother, his wife and two boys in just 2 weeks!!!

A visit from my Mom over Dane's birthday the last weekend of October

A visit from my parents to celebrate Thanksgiving in November

Yet another visit from my parents (thanks for all of your travels!!!) during the Christmas holidays in December.

These visits will save me from the one thing I am NOT looking forward to...

Trauma Rotation. The dreaded trauma rotation. Three months of agony for Matt with an incredibly demanding schedule and super human responsibilities. Agony for us, as well, as we won't see him near as much and during the holidays to boot. Such is life as a resident. We'll savor the moments this last week of his rotation at Shriner's Children's Hospital, and mentally prepare ourselves for the abrupt change October 1st.

Already a Fan

2011-09-23T18:47:00.005-04:00

My cousin Todd and his wife, Tracy, gave Blair this adorable Kansas City Royals outfit! Although Blair has only been to KC once, she is already a fan. If only we could click our heels three times and be home sweet home (I guess that is Kansas, but it's just across the state line!).

Work Hard, Play Hard

2011-09-21T12:03:00.003-04:00

...then, rest.

Birthday Suprise

2011-09-13T15:34:00.004-04:00

Matt's birthday isn't until September 19th, but I just couldn't wait to give him his gift! Here he is posing with his new TV...and a little helper. Our main TV was so old and out of date, but Matt never complained or wished for anything new or better (he never does for anything). He loves watching sports in his down time, which is never since he is always working. I decided last year at this time my goal would be to have enough money for him to purchase a new TV, so I did things the old-fashioned way and saved my money. I did so consigning the boys' old clothes and toys, and it took all of that year to ultimately have enough money to purchase this TV. I am so proud of having the patience and drive to do that in this instant gratification world we live in! I think he was very surprised and excited, considering all of the research he did before purchasing. It is now proudly displayed in our home, and already many football games have been viewed. Happy early birthday to Matt...someone more deserving of this than anyone else I know!

2 Months

2011-09-10T17:17:00.002-04:00

Blair is 2 months old, and is showing off many rolls in this picture...I love it! She is one happy baby. Blair is so alert, has started cooing, loves to smile and has even shown us a giggle or two. She is growing by leaps and bounds!

Happy Baby!

2011-08-24T16:34:00.002-04:00

For those of you who know me well know I would have never posted a title like this with the boys! Not that I don't love them dearly, but they weren't the happiest of babies. This baby girl is happy and content most of the time! I feel like I am going to jinx myself by posting this, but I just had to share. Blair is sleeping 7 hours at night consistently, eats like a champ (I didn't escape the excessive spit-up, but no reflux!), smiles and coos at all of us, loves to cuddle and puts herself to sleep with a little bit of fussing. She tolerates all of the commuting to schools, errand running and other activities well. She is a sweet pea!

First Day of Kindergarten!

2011-08-17T10:23:00.002-04:00

Honestly, it seems unreal, but Blake started Kindergarten this morning! When we received his school assignment letter this Summer I was concerned with the school that was assigned and thought the transition might be a tough one. But, after petitioning and filling out lots of paperwork to request a transfer to a different (and much better) school we found ourselves at the one we wanted, Oakview Elementary School...ranked #9 in the entire state of South Carolina and an amazing reputation. Plus, a teacher with an impeccable track record and only success stories. To say we were lucky is an understatement! When you have a child with special needs you make lots of sacrifices and learn to become quite the advocate, so the extra work and the 30-minute drive to this school is totally worth it.

This morning went great! Matt was able to leave the hospital long enough to walk Blake into school and meet his teacher, which was the first time he was able to do so since Blake started public school at age 3. Blake was so eager! He waved and said "Hi!" as he walked in, found his cubby and put his bag away, then we realized he knew some of his classmates. Two of them were from his school two years ago and he recognized them and hugged them! We really like his teachers and classroom, and are looking forward to a great year. Aside from a few tears we walked away feeling confident Blake will fit in well and make great gains at Oakview...home of 900 students, yes 900! Whoa! Like Oakview's motto..."School is Cool!"

Time is Already Flying...

2011-08-11T19:44:00.000-04:00

Happy 1 month birthday, Blair Elise!

Big Brothers!

2011-08-06T14:16:00.002-04:00

Finally! Pictures of Blair with her big brothers holding her. Blake and Dane are being such great big brothers, and are very sweet to her :)

Little Chefs

2011-07-31T19:04:00.003-04:00

Mimi and Papa purchased the Cars collection from Williams Sonoma for the boys! We now have a cake pan for mini Cars cakes, Cars cookie cutters and those adorable aprons you see pictured above. The boys are so thrilled to have them and had lots of fun today making their first batch of Cars cookies! They are also very into helping and have adopted a new chore of emptying the dishwasher...fine with me! Thanks Mimi and Papa for the new, fun activities! It has been a great distraction from the almost constant attention Blair needs from Mommy :)

Back to Life, Back to Reality

2011-07-25T13:21:00.002-04:00

Well, my parents have gone and the boys are off of school this entire week, which means I am diving in head first staying home with three kids. I have already been antsy for several days, and luckily was cleared by my OB this morning to do as I please. I have already been driving for a week and decided to return to work the week of August 8th seeing a couple of kids in the evening. I will resume my regular work schedule when Blair is three months old thanks to the majority of child care facilities not taking them until then (she can't start where Dane attends until SIX months...crazy). Anyway! I am thrilled to be back to my busy lifestyle and feel great. I am ready to hit the gym and the pavement...and Zumba in the privacy of my home, with all of the blinds closed, of course!

Introducing...Blair Elise Hollenbeck!

2011-07-20T11:19:00.002-04:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Blair Elise Hollenbeck arrived on July 10th at 9:49am!

9lbs., 4oz. - 21 inches

We are all smitten with our sweet baby girl, and are doing well at home after an eventful hospital stay. Blair's big brothers seem to be adjusting well and love to talk about her and pat her on the head (with reminders to do it gently!). Thanks for all of your love, support and prayers during the pregnancy and her arrival. We are extra thankful to my parents for making the trip from Iowa to help out, and arriving just in time for me to walk out the door :) And also to all of the great friends here in Greenville who have already starting providing dinners, and who have been so caring and supportive. An early thank you to Matt's parents who will be making the trip from St. Louis in August to help out.

The Plan

2011-07-07T11:39:00.003-04:00

Induction is scheduled for 6am next Tuesday, July 12th if baby decides not to arrive on her own before then. I saw the OB this morning and I am still progressing on my own, just not enough yet to be admitted. We continue to makes lots of plans doing various things around town. I am certainly not to going to sit around and wait, unless I could do so at a pool. Honestly, I am regretting take off of work since June 16th, and have already been daydreaming about going back to work...

Patiently Waiting...

2011-07-03T16:25:00.002-04:00

This weekend I have...gone out to eat with the family multiple times, run lots of errands, washed all sheets and vacuumed all comforters and mattresses, cleaned and vacuumed the house, cleaned and organized the garage, dropped off items at Goodwill, worked on consignment tagging, played soccer with my boys (literally!) and spent time at the park playing. No baby yet and running out of things to clean and organize. Stay tuned...

Busy!

2011-06-27T09:41:00.002-04:00

Since last Wednesday we have been super busy! I have a bucket list so to speak before baby arrives wanting to do fun things with the boys before their world changes quite a bit. Last Wednesday I took them to the zoo, they had school Tuesday and Thursday, & Friday I took them to see Cars 2 (by the way...terrible movie). Then, as a family we spent hours at a park Saturday morning playing and riding the tricycle. That night we attended the annual ortho resident picnic to welcome the new residents and had a great time hanging out, eating and watching the kids play. Yesterday, Sunday, we went to a very fun birthday party for the little boy of one of the outgoing residents who will be leaving soon to do fellowship in Salt Lake City. Now, we begin our week with more fun things planned and hopefully some news of progress at the OB on Thursday :) Just click on the Picasa link above (Blake), then click on slideshow to see all the pictures from our fun times...

Residency Roast 2011

2011-06-20T09:44:00.003-04:00

The handsome M.D. and his large sidekick!

The ladies that hold it all together :)

As awful as I looked and felt this past Saturday night, it was still a very fun and exciting event! This was our third roast since Matt began the residency program, which means we are saying goodbye to people we are closer to each year. But, we also get to say hello to a new group! June is a busy month in the world of residency as the 5th years take their last calls and get ready to move, the new interns arrive and adjust to a new city, and we attend the roast and then the annual picnic is next weekend. Then...the residents all rotate "up" one year on July 1st. For Matt, this year is significant as he becomes a 4th year, a chief, and his responsibilities increase tremendously. He will also soon make the decision on fellowship (sub-specialty) and begin the interview process late fall/early winter of this year. We should know where we are headed for the 6th (yes, 6th!!) year sometime next spring. Cross your fingers it is somewhere exciting :) New Zealand has been mentioned, so you never know!

Extend your congrats to Matt for almost having another year of residency under his belt. As always, the hours and hard work he puts in is unimaginable and something most cannot relate to. His abilities as a physician and surgeon are amazing and continue to grow. We are so proud of him and can't wait to see what the final two years of residency bring....a baby girl hopefully soon :) and more visitors to see the beautiful place we are calling home for another two years.

Memorial Day Fun!

2011-06-01T14:24:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day weekend was a busy and hot one for us! It was in the 90's all weekend, not to mention the high humidity...yikes! already! I was able to spend all of Saturday with my great friend, Deanna, (from my Florence, SC days in 2000-01) in Columbia, SC. We spent our day sipping iced coffee, shopping, eating lunch and catching up. So fun! Lucky for us Matt was off all weekend and Memorial Day, so we spent Sunday morning playing outside in the water and that evening at Freedom Weekend Aloft. FWA is a festival at a large park in the community we live in, Simpsonville, and includes games, rides, bands, and lots of food and vendors. We also enjoyed a train ride, watching the dog frisbee competitions and the most exciting of all, the hot air balloons, which is what the festival is famous for! Matt thinks he counted up to 50 balloons. It was so amazing to watch and the boys were mesmerized! Then Monday we packed a picnic lunch to eat downtown after the boys played in the fountains for what seemed like hours. They had a blast! After lunch we enjoyed watching the USA Cycling Championships that took place right here in Greenville. They raced right through downtown a few times, so we lined up with the crowds and their cow bells to cheer them on. The weekend was full of fun, family memories and lots of walking and heat exposure for this pregnant gal...but, it was well worth it and enjoyed thoroughly especially when I looked at Matt's call schedule for June :)

Crawfish Boil

2011-06-01T14:08:00.002-04:00

We had a blast at this year's Crawfish Boil! Thanks to our true Southern residents the crawfish were done up perfect, and all of the fixin's were delish. We had a great time with the resident families, as well as a few attendings and their families. It is hard to believe our "babies" have grown up so much during our time here in Greenville. The picture above of Sullivan, Blake and Dane tell the story...Sullivan was a mere 3 months old when we arrived, Dane was 8 months and Blake was just over 2 years old. My, how time has flown!

Mirage, No. Miracle, Yes.

2011-05-26T15:08:00.004-04:00

What you see above was taken from our backyard and is what we are seeing all over our neighborhood now! The lots are FINALLY out of foreclosure (since the developer went bankrupt shortly after we moved in), and a new developer has FINALLY taken over. They have had a lot of heavy equipment moving dirt, cutting roads, grading lots and have even starting staking out the lots. We have high hopes that building will start very soon...and even more high hopes that this will only help us sell our home when that time comes. You know, we made the decision to live in this neighborhood three years ago. Wasn't the best decision, but you learn from your mistakes, suck it up and deal with it until it is time to move on. Luckily for us we are only here five short years, are pretty tolerant and good at seeing the silver lining (although we may complain sometimes!). We have learned to enjoy our quiet neighborhood out in the country, or what seems like the country, that is off the beaten path and away from it all. We have so much to look forward to and I'm sure someday we'll look back and realize this just wasn't that big of a deal. As for now, I am going to go blow up our pool (still no neighborhood pool, but oh well!) and enjoy the sights and sounds of diggers and dump trucks. Probably not near as much as my boys though.

Celebrating Baby!

2011-05-11T15:07:00.003-04:00

The two lovely ladies above, Catie & Shane, hosted a baby shower for me here in Greenville last night. I was lucky to be surrounded by many friends sharing great food at my favorite local restaurant and was showered with beautiful gifts for our sweet baby girl. I could go on and on about the precious girly socks, and handmade bows and burp clothes that make this Mommy so excited to dress this baby girl. And the many practical, MUCH NEEDED and MUCH APPRECIATED gifts that include lotions, soaps, diaper creams, wipes, washcloths and lots of diapers! And then the unique gifts that I can't wait to use like a bag designed for wet clothing and diapers (so smart!) and Sophie, the giraffe, which I know will be a favorite toy :) Thank you all for throwing me a memorable shower and for all of the touching cards and gifts that make this time in my life so special and exciting!

Fired

2011-05-09T20:06:00.002-04:00

The cleaning lady, that is. I am back to my original thought about hiring out...Don't. If you want it done right, do it yourself.

Road Trip 2011

2011-05-03T18:34:00.002-04:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Here is proof that we made it to the Midwest for our 3rd annual road trip! I always wish I would have taken more pictures, but these show fun with family and the many Easter baskets the boys received and enjoyed so much! We were lucky to visit with parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. This may have been our last road trip from South Carolina to the Midwest since we will soon be a family of 5 and only have two more years in Greenville. But, I guess you never know what I will do! I may just road trip with three kiddos next spring ;)

A Girls' Staycation!

2011-05-01T18:54:00.002-04:00

I was so lucky to have my two closest girlfriends take time out of their busy lives to come visit me here in Greenville! The minute I got the phone call from them saying their flight was booked I was totally giddy...I think I needed a paper chain to count down the days like the ones I make for my kids when something exciting is on the horizon :) We had an amazing weekend with weather we could not have ordered better. We enjoyed a lot of walking and exploring downtown, ate every meal we did not eat at home outside in the perfect weather, shopping (of course), and relaxing over great conversation (and LOTS of laughs!!). They even threw me a baby shower complete with sweet baby girl outfits, practical pieces, and a beautiful bracelet just for me to enjoy. Talk about feeling blessed! As Kelly, Mendy and I laughed and talked we realized we have all been friends for well over 20 years. We also realized how incredibly lucky we are to be able to say that and that we are always be able to pick up from where we left off. It is a gift that we all treasure and are thankful for as we have been there for one another through fun times and some of the most difficult moments we will ever face. Thanks girls from the bottom of my heart for giving me such a memorable staycation before baby arrives, and for your friendship.

Home

2011-04-25T18:34:00.003-04:00

After 10 days, 6 states and over 2,000 miles we are back home in South Carolina. We experienced a 50 degree DROP in temperature from SC to Iowa, so I have to admit being back in the heat kind of feels good (even at almost 30 weeks pregnant!). We also had more bizarre weather adventures being a part of the big tornado in St. Louis, and being very lucky to not be in the path of destruction.

As we put a close to our 2011 road trip I am expecting some very exciting guests later this week, so I won't be posting our trip pictures for awhile. Two of my closest girlfriends are coming to visit for a few days and I can't wait! Unfortunately before they arrive I have to unpack, do piles of laundry, organize all of the boys' new goodies from family, clean my house, plan meals, go back to work and settle the boys back in school, and on and on. But, I will do it all with a smile on my face as I am so thankful for being able to travel home to see family and friends and now prepare for dear friends to visit!

2011-04-07T15:09:00.002-04:00

Today, I was one lucky girl to be Blake's date on his field trip to the Children's Museum of the Upstate here in Greenville! I was able to rearrange my work schedule to be a part of his special experience as well as serve all of the kids on my caseload this week, for which I am so grateful. Blake had an incredible time exploring and being a part of this hands-on learning experience. He is now at an age where I can just stand back and watch. His favorite, by far, was the ball contraption (the picture where he is playing with the 3 other boys) and I'm sure he could have stayed there all day. The water activities and music room were close behind, and overall he really checked out and tried everything. We had a great time with his peers, other parents and all of the wonderful teachers and staff from his school! But, shhhh....don't tell Dane. He was at school and doesn't have a clue what he missed ;)

Sweet Dreams...

2011-03-13T20:32:00.002-04:00

Whew! What a weekend in the Hollenbeck house! Dane has moved up into a full-size big boy bed, and baby girl Hollenbeck now has a sweet nest of her own. Her room is simple, but has that touch of vintage that I love. She will share her room with our antique iron bed and dresser that I hope someday she will be proud to call her own, but in the meantime can house guests and likely myself for those busy nights in the beginning. I was lucky enough to find her bumper and bed skirt at a local consignment sale, and I LOVE the vintage quilt fabric and super soft pink inside. I remember eyeing a similar piece at a boutique in Kansas City (prior to having boys!), so I was thrilled to get my hands on it. And that girly pink tulle bed skirt! So fun! The crib and changing table are simple and white, and I am slowly getting everything in its place. Don't you just love the smell of freshly washed baby clothes and blankets! We will continue to enjoy getting everything just right before our baby girl arrives, and for now I know I will just love walking into this room to take it all in every now and then...

Is this a Sign?

2011-02-24T15:15:00.003-05:00

After much thought and ignoring my feelings of guilt, I hired a cleaning lady. Those of you who know me well know this was a very difficult decision for me. I like to do everything myself, and Matt and I both NEVER hire out and always do everything ourselves. So, I researched, called many references and took the plunge.

She was initially scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00pm, which totally conflicted with naps since she would be cleaning up to 4 hours, but I was committed to make it work. She called at almost 1:00pm to tell me her Dyson was not working and needed serviced. What is a cleaning lady without her vacuum? So, okay, we rescheduled for today at 2:00pm. Again, conflicting with naps, but going to make it work. She frantically sent me a text a little before 2:00pm asking me to call her because our dog attacked her. Um. Okay. So, I called...we talked...she told me her life story of her fear of dogs. Baron is a yellow lab who makes you fear him by licking you and jumping up with excitement. Attack is not an appropriate description. I explained to her just open the back door and leave him outside until you are done. No such luck. I explained that I refuse to leave him outside from the beginning of the day or kennel him, so now she is coming back in one week (her next opening) at a time where I not only have to load my kids up and go somewhere, but also my 80+lb. dog.

Maybe this a sign from above reminding me why we don't hire out. We have done it twice while living here. Once for a fence, which has to be redone before putting it on the market. And, second, for interior painting which had to be completely redone by Matt and me. We decided never again. But, I made the leap in hopes to ease my load a bit. Maybe I will just live with a dirty house.

Blake's 5th Birthday Adventures...

2011-02-14T20:18:00.002-05:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Time has flown...Blake is 5! We went a different direction with birthday planning this year, and instead of the traditional birthday party at or near home, we chose to celebrate his big day in Atlanta at the Georgia Aquarium. We also wanted to include his friends, family and classmates so we sent invites to his "pen pal" party asking everyone to make a card and mail it to him. It was such a success and so much fun to see his face light up when he realized all that mail was for him! The ones he received from his classmates made a huge impact because he sees them everyday and they are truly his buddies. Blake also received several gifts from family in the mail and loved opening all of them! The Georgia Aquarium was absolutely amazing. Blake was mesmerized and so engaged in each and every part that I'm sure he would have stayed all day and spent the night. After he picked out a fish from the gift shop we braved the crowds at The Varsity for some good old-fashioned grease served up as burgers, fries and onion rings. Then, of course, on the way back to Greenville we had to stop and shop at the outlet mall. Atlanta is a little over 2 hours from Greenville, so after leaving at 7:00am and getting home around 9:00pm we certainly knew we had put in a full day. Seeing all of Blake's excitment and joy in everything we did (aside from the shopping!) was well worth our travels and we would do it every weekend if we could.

First comes Baby, then comes...Minivan!

2011-01-28T10:13:00.003-05:00

I believe most of you know we are expecting baby #3! However, I don't think many of you know we are having a baby GIRL! Yes, a girl! We are beyond thrilled, yet a bit overwhelmed (maybe scared?) since we pretty much have this boy thing down. Not scared enough since I have already been eyeing things pink :) As we prepare to expand our family to five, we also realized we need a new vehicle. The beauty pictured above somewhat landed in our lap this week, and we were very lucky to get exactly what we wanted. It is a Chrysler Town & Country and is heaven on wheels! I truly could move right in! I picked it up last night and certainly have a lot to learn since I had every door open and the van lights blinking and honking trying to mangage the key fob in the grocery store parking lot. Hilarious! This week has been a whirlwind and we are certainly finding ourselves very blessed at the end of the week...maybe I will go recline in the van and dream about baby girl things :)

Snowstorm 2011

2011-01-10T19:19:00.003-05:00

Well, here we are in the midst of the biggest snowstorm in South Carolina since 1988. I believe we ended up with a little over 6", but some places nearby have a foot of snow. We are now experiencing freezing rain which I am sure will paralyze this city even more than it already is. Although it is beautiful we had convinced ourselves that we were exempt from nasty Winter weather when we moved here, and I never guessed I would see a snow drift like the one in the first picture above! So, I guess we will hope for no power outage and enjoy another snow day tomorrow (I won't be surprised if there is no school for the entire week!). Matt, of course, trekked it to work and back home in his trusty 4-wheel drive SUV with no problem. Let's hope everyone is able to stay off the roads tomorrow as I am sure the ice will show no mercy. I will try not to complain about this weather as I am not a fan of Summer weather in the South!

Images of Christmas & A Snow Event in SC

2011-01-08T16:06:00.002-05:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Magic of Christmas

2010-12-30T13:55:00.003-05:00

These are my two favorite pictures out of the MANY we captured Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I love the excitement in the boys' faces, and especially with gifts that these days would be considered simple. Seeing these just makes my heart smile. I am in the midst of compiling all of the pictures onto a slideshow that I will post on the blog as soon as it is finished. We were truly blessed this Christmas and hope all of you were, too!

Thanksgiving in Nashville

2010-12-02T15:18:00.003-05:00

We traveled to Nashville, TN, this year to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Hollenbeck's! Aside from horrendous traffic in Atlanta and Chattanooga we had a smooth trip and a wonderful time being with family. We had amazing accomodations at a Wyndam resort where the cousins all had a great time playing on a very nice playground, and even had craft time courtesy of Grandma Sonya and Aunt Anne! Actually, our condo endured the big flood this past year and was completely under water...so everything was brand new! Our Thanksgiving meal was beyond delicious and our hosts Uncle Adam and Aunt Amanda were incredibly gracious not only for hosting the big meal, but also for our pizza night and the yummy breakfast they made. Our weekend wasn't complete without the boys very first movie in the theater! We saw "Tangled," which was adorable. Besides Dane being a bit nervous, they both did great and were ready for another movie when it was finished. We hope all of you had a wonderful, memorable Thanksgiving this year, too...May the Christmas chaos begin!

Trick or Treat!

2010-11-02T10:29:00.002-04:00

Halloween was very fun this year! Blake was so excited that at the first house he ran full speed to the door, rang the bell, yelled "treat!" then proceeded to step inside and just make himself comfortable! Dane, on the other hand, was on guard for any scary creature that might have crossed his path and stayed close to our sides. This was our 3rd year to have the Barden home as our "home base" for trick or treating (Ben is a 3rd year resident with Matt). We always enjoy walking their neighborhood and having dinner together after the kiddos gather their loot. Thanks to them for another great night!

Mimi & Papa Come to Town and Dane turns 3!

2010-11-02T10:28:00.002-04:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Another busy and fun weekend for the Hollenbeck's! My Mom and Dad came for a visit and to celebrate Dane's 3rd birthday. I enjoyed a day with my Mom doing "girlie" things like breakfast, shopping, and a lovely lunch outside in the garden at Twigs here in Greenville. We spent the rest of the weekend party prepping, playing outside and even picking up Christmas gifts from Mimi & Papa that are now hidden in our garage! My parents are obviously super organized! The weather was perfect and the party was a hit, especially with the "shipped in" leaves that my friends so graciously bagged and picked up for me. I had asked her if I could come through her neighborhood since it has huge trees (and our new, boring neighborhood does not!) because I had an idea to have a big pile for the kids to play in during the party. Unknown to me she did all of it and all I had to do was haul it home...thank you Jessi! Dane was very excited to have a day that was all about him! He loved everything from the balloons to just being able to run with his friends! Thanks Mom and Dad for making the trip and to all of our friends and family for making Dane's birthday special!

Our Full Fall Weekend!

2010-10-12T16:45:00.002-04:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What a weekend! My in-laws came for a visit and we all enjoyed...a night out for sushi and a trolley ride on Friday night, Skytop Orchard and Fall for Greenville festival on Saturday, and the Buddy Walk on Sunday! We had a GREAT time and hope you enjoy the photos! It is a long slideshow, but it is difficult to edit over 400 great pics!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2010-10-05T15:21:00.002-04:00

At least in my opinion. As you can see my house is turning into a Halloween wonderland as we prep for our annual Halloween party for all of the ortho residents and their families...

Happy Birthday to a....

2010-09-19T18:48:00.002-04:00

great husband, father, son, brother, son-in-law, friend, and surgeon! Today we celebrated Matt, enjoyed ice cream cake (that luckily turned out yummy!) and spent the day together as a family!

Country Club Plaza - Kansas City

2010-09-15T15:10:00.004-04:00

I know some of you who read my blog are bored with these pictures, but some of you have never visited Kansas City and may enjoy some blog sight-seeing! Kansas City is the "City of Fountains" and it also the sister city to Seville, Spain. The pictures taken above are from probably the most famous area in the city called The Country Club Plaza (or as we natives call the Plaza). I was lucky to have called the Plaza home all of graduate school and enjoyed living in the hustle and bustle of the city, and just a moment away from the city's best shopping and dining! It was like a dream to listen to the sounds from my window, walk across the street for coffee and listen to a jazz band playing and simply having the luxury of roaming the many blocks that are as beautiful as the pictures show above. I haven't traveled everywhere in the world, but my guess is there are few places that can compare. I took some pictures of my favorite architecture and I believe many are replicas of plazas in Seville. Would you believe the city lights every last inch of the Plaza with Christmas lights for the Plaza Lighting Ceremony Thanksgiving night?! It is breathtaking and a picture would never do it justice. Oh, and the blue tile stairs pictured above is one of the places we had our wedding pictures taken!

I just wanted to share a piece of my hometown. I get more and more homesick with each trip back, and this last trip over Labor Day I couldn't get enough of the urban feel I miss so very much. It's safe to say I don't fit in very well in the south, although I am happy here for a short time. Both cultures have so much to offer. However, I am a midwest *Kansas City* girl through and through. Those of you who haven't been to K.C. should really consider making the trip!

Make New Friends, But Keep The Old...

2010-09-10T11:27:00.002-04:00

I returned Monday, Labor Day (and my birthday!), from a great trip back "home." Since high school I have enjoyed all of my experiences and new friendships through college, graduate school, living in new places and now residency. BUT, nothing compares to the friends you grew up with. Ashley gave me a very memorable birthday gift, my cheerleading sweater! and the girls that were together that weekend are life long friends, some even date back to preschool! I am so blessed that we have kept in touch and it is amazing to think of all we have been through together, and all of the ups and downs we have carried one another through. Thanks girls for your friendship and for such a fun weekend! I can only hope when residency is finished that Matt's job carries us back closer to you all...

Our Vacation to Longboat Key, FL

2010-08-18T13:10:00.001-04:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

First Day of School

2010-08-16T19:02:00.002-04:00

If Blake looks a bit disheveled, well it is probably because he was...and probably because we ALL were this morning! It is hard enough to adjust to getting up earlier, but to do so after a very fun and adventurous vacation is even more of a challenge! We were all still a bit groggy. But, even so Blake was up and in my room with clothes and underpants in hand at 5:45am (a little earlier than the 6:00am alarm!). At this point school is something you don't have to convince Blake to attend or enjoy. When I dropped him off he was beaming, when I picked him up he was beaming. Grinning ear to ear! When we walked into his classroom (since carpool line doesn't start until next week - grrr) he quickly turned around said "kiss" for me to kiss him, then waved and said "bye!" Hint, hint Mommy. So, guess who cried this morning? Dane! He was so sad to leave his brother and wanted to stay. He will be back to his school tomorrow and will start back to 3 days a week as I do the same for work. My boss was kind enough to allow me to work only 2 days during summer break to save some dough in childcare costs! So..I can chalk this up to the worst back to school photo thus far, but Blake's smiles and excitement for school makes the need for this picture pretty minuscule.

Life Skills

2010-08-02T21:46:00.002-04:00

Isn't dunking an Oreo one of the most important life skills a person should learn? Dane was introduced to this old snack technique tonight. He is a kid that already loves to "dip it," which is what he does with just about everything (and requests it using those words), so he soon became an expert. And loved every minute of it...

Sarcoma 5K - Run For Hope 2010

2010-07-24T19:19:00.000-04:00

We ran a 5K today in honor of Sarcoma. Matt is currently on a rotation that focuses on oncology in orthopedics, and the attending (a.k.a. boss) ortho surgeon he is with is the one who sponsored this race. A few of the residents, their wives and children signed up to run today and we had a great time! Well, besides the intense heat and humidity and the added difficulty of pushing strollers (which most of us did). It was wonderful to bring awareness to this disease and support those who are battling the disease. To see the rest of the photos click on the picture of the boys.

Fort Hollenbeck

2010-07-21T12:34:00.004-04:00

Things I don't like...

1. The Heat

2. The Humidity

3. Sweating profusely that is not the result of a great workout or run

4. Feeling as if I cannot take another breath just from being smothered by #1 and #2

5. Being stuck inside after 10:00am due to #1 and #2

Hence, the building of Fort Hollenbeck. It has been in the mid to high 90's with high humidity here in South Carolina for what feels like an eternity. We are having a VERY hot summer with little to no rain and I am OVER IT! I don't like summer in the first place (yes, I am odd and enjoy cold weather with fall being my favorite), so with typical August weather starting in June I am afraid I am in store for a very long, nonpreferred season. So, the boys and I have been enjoying my day off here at home catching up on laundry and other have-to tasks...and exploring in the Fort and tunnel! May we have an early fall...

A Weekend at Home...

2010-07-14T15:08:00.002-04:00

(to see pics, just click on the photo)
I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to travel home this past weekend. Matt graciously agreed to stay home with the boys while I spent a few days visiting my parents in Iowa. As luck would have it all of my extended family was also there to enjoy an all day golf outing on Saturday and just time hanging out the remainder of the weekend. Actually, I knew they would be there. I flew in and surprised them, which was just as fun! I enjoyed every second and took in all the Midwest had to offer that I miss everyday...of course my family, the lower humidity, the greener grass (and yes, even the flat landscape), the quicker pace and the Iowa sweet corn (mmmmmm!). I even found myself responding with "yeh" by the end of the trip instead of the "yes ma'am" I have grown accustomed to saying living in the south. I've been in South Carolina so long that the Iowans sounded Canadian to me! Thanks a million to my parents for a wonderful time and for all of my family who entertained me greatly. I miss all of you everyday and can't wait to see all of you again in a few weeks in Long Boat Key, Florida! I will remember to pack Matt, Blake & Dane this time :)

Stylin' New 'Do!

2010-07-05T17:54:00.003-04:00

I just had to post pics of Blake's super cute new haircut! I may be wrong, but I don't recall boys getting bowl haircuts in the Midwest?? It seems popular here in the south. There is a little boy in Dane's preschool class who has the same hair color as Blake's and has a bowl haircut. I always think it is so adorable everytime I see him. So, when the lady who cuts Blake's hair asked about a bowl cut today - I hesitated, but thought we could try it and turned out so cute! I probably won't do it for a long time because I think it can lend itself to looking baby-ish (just my opinion), and Blake will be, gulp, 5 years old in February. So, for now, Blake is stylin' his new 'do!

Two Down, Three To Go!

2010-06-30T10:29:00.002-04:00

The four people pictured above (L to R: Drs. Miller, Hollenbeck, Earles & Barden) deserve a HUGE pat on the back! At the end of the work day today their 2nd year of orthopedic surgery residency will be officially over! The first two years of residency are extremely challenging and difficult with the 2nd year being brutal. They have worked extremely hard, put in unthinkable hours and sacrificed so much this year. And, so have the spouses and significant others. So...a big pat on the back to Laisa, myself, Ben & Lauren! This moment feels like a huge milestone for all us as we look forward to call being taken at home instead of requiring the residents to stay in house, a little lighter schedule and simply said having another year under our (their) belts.

In the past few weeks we have enjoyed the roast, the picnic and last night...the trauma dinner. One of the attendings treated all of us to dinner at an amazing restaurant here in Greenville, AZIA. This was to celebrate the residents completing their rotation on trauma, a traumatic one at that! The attendings (their bosses) and their spouses were so generous and it was lovely to share dinner with them. We had amazing sushi...Matt had steak and lobster mac & cheese (to die for!)...I had tempura fried sea scallops...and we shared the hot chocolate souffle. Not to mention the delicious, and many, bottles of wine! It was a great night out for Matt and me, but also with the other 2nd years that we first met two years ago. We began this journey with them and are so grateful to call them friends and to have them by our side for the next three years. They are truly a family away from family.

So...here is to having another year done and here is to a great 3rd year! And, a word of advice, stay out of the ER the month of July. July 1st marks the day that the new (and clueless) residents begin :) a little residency joke for ya!

Weekend Fun!

2010-06-28T08:42:00.002-04:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We hosted the annual Orthopedic Surgery Resident Picnic this year and had a great time! There was great food, lots of fun for both kids and adults, and of course all of the wonderful people of this program here in Greenville! Matt and I also had a lazy Sunday enjoying some outdoor fun with the boys...a rare event during Matt's rigorous residency training. Enjoy the pictures from our fun weekend!

Multi-Tasking...

2010-06-23T21:53:00.002-04:00

When Daddy has time to talk while on call at the hospital, you take the call...no matter what!

A Day For Daddy

2010-06-20T11:26:00.003-04:00

I am wondering if there are ever any pictures of Matt in regular street clothes?! The truth is these pictures show that Matt is a wonderful father. He rolled in this Father's Day morning around 10am to complete his on call that began the pre-dawn hours on Saturday (which really means working non-stop for almost 30 hours). Last night he took a 3-hour break from the hospital to attend the orthopedic resident roast with me, and got a total of 2 hours of sleep that entire stent of call that were actually split into 1-hour "naps." After all of that, he still came in the door with a smile on his face excited to see the boys! He anxiously opened gifts...handmade keepsakes the boys made at school (Blake is showing Daddy how he made his foot), a St. Louis Cardinals Tervis Tumbler, and a very special gift.

The picture Matt is holding is an embroidered prayer that his Mom, Audrey, did before she passed away when he was a teenager. The work she did is gorgeous and he is so proud to have it framed. We are now able to hang it in our home to admire every day. I hope this will be a memorable Father's Day for Matt. He is such an amazing husband and father, and there is nothing the boys and I could have done to express how proud we are of him and how much he means to us. None of you see first-hand the schedule and amount of work he has to deal with on a daily basis. If you did, you would be in awe at how he is a master at juggling it all with grace and a smile on his face. We are extremely blessed!

Matt and I also want to acknowledge our wonderful fathers. We miss being able to be with them this Father's Day and hope they know how much we admire them and love them. They have shown us so much support over the years and continue to help us in many ways as we travel through life. Thank you both for all you do for us!

Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads we know and love!

June

2010-06-17T15:21:00.004-04:00

My apologies for not posting lately, but June is such a hectic month! Here is what has been happening and what the rest of this busy month entails...

School finishes and Blake begins summer "school" at Little Folks of Fourth @ Fourth Presbyterian with Dane.
Go to dentist appointments and other random doctor appointments we don't get to during the school year.
Blake continues private speech therapy and occupational therapy.
Matt is in his last month of ER rotation, a not so enjoyable rotation for him or us.
Ortho resident roast and final hoorah to the 5th year residents on June 19th.
Ortho resident family picnic and welcome to new incoming residents on June 26th. Here is the main reason for not posting...we are hosting this soiree.
Matt and I will attend the "trauma dinner" hosted by attendings as a recognition of survival of the ER/trauma rotation on June 29th.
And last, but certainly not least, Matt finishes 2nd year of residency June 30th!

As we reach mid-month it is nice to have Blake adjusted to summer school, to feel like a responsible adult having gone to the dentist (yuck!), to have fun events to look forward to the remainder of the month, and for goodness sakes leaving the two hardest years of residency (or so we've been told) behind us! Happy June & Happy Summer!

Conquering the Fudgesicle

2010-06-04T14:37:00.002-04:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I couldn't help but post a slideshow of all the pictures of Dane eating this fudgesicle (certainly in his own way!). It was too difficult to choose one or two. This is a time I wish I could put them into a flip book...one that the pictures change slightly, but as you flip quickly it tells the story. He wouldn't hold the stick at the bottom, so he found a creative way to consume this yummy treat after lunch today! It was what Matt came home to after being on call all night...certainly a light-hearted moment after a long night :)

Making Progress

2010-05-30T13:47:00.002-04:00

It has been almost 6 weeks since fencing off 3/4 of our yard for intense seeding and fertilization. We have now seen the reward! Behind the plastic fencing in the picture is the freshly mowed grass that we have successfully grown. In front, though, is the newly fenced-off area where we start the process again. We have 4 weeks until we host the big ortho resident picnic, so we are hoping to see similar results. It has been tough to grow grass here, but after 2 years we are finally making progress...

Virus..Be Gone!

2010-05-28T12:18:00.002-04:00

So, I am not at all a homebody. I HAD to get out of the house today regardless of how I felt. Let me back up...remember what I posted earlier about the boys being sick? Well, they were kind enough to share it with me, and let me tell you the virus was (and is) a doozy. I was off work AGAIN Wednesday and Thursday in what felt like an incapacitated state. I have no clue how my children got to and from school, although I was the one driving. I hurt all over, my skin hurt, my head hurt so bad that it radiated into my neck and upper back. My most comfortable position was supine with no pillow with a heating pad on my back and a bag of frozen peas on my forehead. The virus also included the variety of GI surprises. I still hurt today! And, as I write this my poor husband, who was on call last night when these same symptoms began for him, is upstairs asleep after leaving work early (which is a huge rarity!). I just hope and pray it doesn't last as many days as the boys and mine did since he is off until next Tuesday.

Since I had to get out of the house and Blake's last day of school was yesterday, I decided it was time for an adventure to the park to enjoy climbing, the slides and watching the diggers since some of the park is under construction. Then...after getting all sweaty we splashed through the fountains at Falls Park. Our first time this summer! It was a nice break from being confined to home, although I will definitely need to nap when they do...and under the influence of more Advil. Hopefully this virus will exit the Hollenbeck home soon. It has been almost 12 days for goodness sakes!

Pool Party!

2010-05-23T18:59:00.003-04:00

Our first pool party happened today! Boo to Daddy being on call and missing it :( and Boo to the developer of our neighborhood who went bankrupt and left the lot for the pool sitting in foreclosure :( But, the silver lining is Wal-mart sells a great little pool for $10 that the boys absolutely love! They don't even care about not having a neighborhood pool and I truly believe life is what you make it and my children will appreciate bigger and better things in their future (that is, if a neighborhood pool or backyard pool counts for a bigger, better thing at that point in their lives). Plus, they can swim a bit...then jump on the swingset...then kick a ball...then drive their car around all contained in our fenced backyard. Who can beat that for toddlers with short attention spans?! Meanwhile, Mommy enjoyed lounging and reading a magazine :) and the lawn got watered when the pool was emptied. Anyway, we really enjoyed our day in the Carolina sun today and captured some cute pictures. Hope all of you had a great weekend!

Not The Best Week Ever...

2010-05-20T15:48:00.002-04:00

This week has consisted of...

Matt still on ER rotation which translates to departure at 4:30am and return home after 6:00pm. (saying that in hopes you all will appreciate his schedule as well as my single mommyhood since the boys are in bed around 7:45pm)
Dane vomits on Mommy at 2:00am Monday night after Blake got up at midnight for no apparent reason. Dane sleeping in bed with Mommy = no sleep for Mommy. Dane's fever begins. *Matt sleeps in a different room since his day begins at 4:00am.
Take Blake to school Tuesday morning only to turn around and pick him up at 9:00am with a fever. (Thanks to my wonderful husband for making me go to Mom's Night Out this night)
Blake begins vomiting Wednesday around 1:00am. Sleeps with Mommy = no sleep for Mommy, and wakes up at 3:30am with more GI surprises.
Blake & Dane both home from school Wednesday with high fevers, moaning and groaning. Both requesting to be held and pinning me to the couch for long periods of time. Dane's fever hits 103 degrees and full body rash appears at 6:00pm.
No surprises Wednesday night and Mommy gets a full night of sleep :)
Blake awakens today with no fever. Dane awakens with 101 fever and full body rash. Take Blake to school with fingers crossed. Take Dane to the pediatrician with diagnosis of Roseola.
At the present time...Mommy has not showered since Tuesday morning, the house is a complete disaster other than sanitized bedding and clothing, I did not work one minute this week which means I did not earn one penny this week, and we have no food in the pantry or refrigerator (which is okay because no one is eating).
In the near future...Mommy is looking forward to a Friday of catching up and the weekend. But, wait, Matt is on call this weekend. Maybe I should be looking forward to NEXT weekend.

Mom

2010-05-10T08:57:00.002-04:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I just had the most amazing Mother's Day! Really, I think it was the entire weekend, not just one day. The best gift was Matt was off all weekend. Saturday, the whole family spent the morning on a run at Falls Park, then walking through and buying yummy fresh produce at the farmer's market, and persuing though the art fair. We were able to visit with friends and take in all of the sights that never seem to get old here in Greenville, especially the spring gardens. Mother's Day was full of wonderful moments including sleeping in!, breakfast by Matt, lunch by Matt that was enjoyed on a picnic at Legacy Park (yet another beautiful park in Greenville), dinner by Matt that included steaks on the grill!, and a very thoughtful gift from Matt and the boys. Not to mention the other lovely cards, gifts and handmade goodies from family and friends.

I also have to share something that allowed me to title this blog post, "Mom." The something that happened last week was something I have waiting 4 years for. I'm sure a lot of people take this for granted, but when it finally happened for me it took my breath away. Blake said "Mom" for the first time. The "M" sound has always been the hardest for him to say. He talks all of the time and now in phrases and sentences, but that "M" sound has always been a challenge. I have been called "Mi" for awhile (the ending syllable of Mommy). A game we play is to point to everyone in the family and say their name. When I got to me Blake said clear as a bell, "Mom." As you can guess I now ask him to say it ALL the time! It was truly magical and I told Matt there was nothing in the world I needed now for Mother's Day or any day. It was the best gift.

I am so unbelievably blessed to be a mom to two wonderful boys! What a treasure it was to celebrate my mom, all the moms I know and love, and to know how lucky I am to be called mom.

Green Thumb, Not Required

2010-05-07T18:37:00.002-04:00

Moving to a different region in the United States is always an adjustment, and for the most part everything here in South Carolina is different than where we are from in the heart of America. There are parts of the new culture you don't really understand and some maybe you simply don't like. We have experienced very few of these feelings. Then, there are aspects you LOVE about the region you have moved to. The above photos reveal one of the things I love about living in the southeast. Everything GROWS and GROWS and GROWS! I planted similar pots in Kansas City and waited months for results like this, and usually it never happened. I planted all of these flowers 2 weeks ago. The sun and atmosphere must be magical here in Greenville. No special food, no special water and no special flower-growing dance. Just tap water and admiration.

A Date at the Zoo with Dane...

2010-04-20T13:03:00.002-04:00

Click here to view photos

Last Friday, Dane and I enjoyed a beautiful morning at the zoo with friends. Then, a picnic lunch. Some pics from our day...

It's About Time!

2010-04-11T14:28:00.002-04:00

We finally tackled our backyard this weekend. Well, a little bit. Matt was on call Friday night...slept a few hours Saturday...and is on call today and overnight, so in reality we only had a few hours to plant some hostas and monkey grass. I have all of the flowers for my containers, but I am cleaning the house today since the maid apparently quit while we were on vacation ;) so those will have to be done sometime later this week. The grass continues to get more lush, but we still struggle growing it here in South Carolina. The plan this week is to fence off 3/4 of our fenced yard for hard core fertilization and seeding. We'll see...

At least I can enjoy the hostas and monkey grass - two of my favorites! The boys had a great time helping dig holes and plant, and of course needed a stop to refuel during all of their hard work outside.

8 states and over 2,500 miles later...

2010-04-06T16:21:00.003-04:00

Click here to view photos

We are back in Greenville! Whew, what a trip! We finally had 10 days to spend as a family away from the hustle and bustle of work and school. Somehow we managed to have beautiful weather all 10 days with the exception of some rain on our drive from Greenville to St. Louis. The 10-hour overnight drive from G'ville to STL was again successful with both boys snoozing the entire way, and truly the entire trip they never complained about riding in the car...even the 4 hours to KC, then 3 additional to Des Moines...the snoozed again the 10 hours from STL back to G'ville!

We were blessed with fun, memorable moments with a lot of family and friends. The boys had a great time in St. Louis enjoying the Magic House, dinner out with friends, playing outside and hunting for Easter eggs with their cousin Bailey, and meeting our friend's brand new baby girl! We all enjoyed the time spent with Matt's family and the wonderful food they fixed for us! On our drive from St. Louis to Kansas City we stopped halfway in Columbia to have lunch with more of Matt's family...many who we had not seen since 2005! We had a great time catching up over lunch and the boys loved all the hugs and attention :) We got to see all of my side of the family in Kansas City and the boys loved playing with their cousins Lane and Tanner. It was such a treat to spend time with Uncle Travis and Aunt Melissa, and now we know they are expecting baby #2 in the fall :) I had a few moments to see some old girlfriends, and we even stopped by where I worked and Blake had all of his therapies from day one on the way out of town to Des Moines. My parents live in Des Moines and spoiled us with lots of good food, Easter baskets, an afternoon at the Science Center, a day at an indoor water park and playtime at the park! And - stop the presses - Matt and I enjoyed a night out ALONE for dinner and even an overnight stay at a hotel. That was a huge treat!

So, as you can see we had a fun-filled adventure! If it seems we were constantly on the go, well, we were. But, we wouldn't have it any other way as we miss our family and friends so very much during this 5-year stint in Greenville. Thanks to all of you for your hospitality and we hope you will travel our way soon! As for now, we will give the good ole Malibu Maxx a rest and enjoy springtime (a.k.a., pollen soaked atmosphere) in South Carolina and hope the heat and humidity will wait awhile to make its appearance...

Marching into Spring...

2010-03-21T21:52:00.002-04:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

March is a busy month for us! From watching A LOT of basketball to preparing for our spring break road trip, this month sure has flown by. I have taken some fun pictures along the way that feature the boys geared up for Mizzou basketball games, playtime in the bubbles and a celebration of their friend, Sullivan's, 2nd birthday! We sadly won't be able to be a part of Sullivan's birthday celebration since we will be traveling, so we decided to have a picnic dinner (inside thanks to the rain) and a moment to sing "Happy Birthday" and give her a gift. She and the boys had so much fun playing, eating brownies and exploring her gift...mainly the pink bucket! On a side note, the bubbles the boys are enjoying are from Gymboree. Completely overpriced, but so worth the extra money because these bubbles last forever and stick to everything making it even more fun to pop! You will notice them stuck to Blake's head. Anyway, just wanted to share a slideshow of some fun times and we will soon be sharing more following our road trip back home to St. Louis, Kansas City and Des Moines. Same trip I took last summer except Matt will be joining us and we will be doing it all in one week instead of two. It should be an adventure!

Movin' On Up

2010-03-04T15:33:00.003-05:00

Yes, they are jumping on Dane's new toddler bed!

Blake's face when he first came in his room

to find a new big bed!

So proud of his new big boy bed! Amazing that it was
once a crib.

Enjoy some cuddling (actually wrestling) time on

big brother's new bed.

I am not sure why Matt and I chose a random Wednesday night to tackle this project, but we did it! Nothing like scrambling to wash new bedding, take apart and put together two beds and get everyone situated all on a school night! I can't even put into words Blake's reaction to his new full size bed. He was so excited that he was speechless. He kept climbing on and off of it eventually saying "Mommy, bed!" every time. Once the bedding was on and it was time for bed he got right in the middle - laid down - and pulled the covers up to his chin. And that was it! I actually had to wake him up this morning to get ready for school, and for those of you who know our family dynamic well, that is EXTREMELY unusual. Blake is an early riser who likes to run into our room and climb into bed with us...usually before our alarms have gone off.

Dane, on the other hand, seemed to have a bit of an adjustment to the new freedom of the toddler bed. He never made a peep, but was found sitting in his little pottery barn chair across his room awake when we went to check on him at 11:30pm. Once put back into bed he stayed put and slept well all night until I woke him (which isn't at all unusual for this 13-hour + sleeper!)

I also am having a little bit of a struggle adjusting to seeing my two little guys in their new beds. They have grown up so fast and it is a little difficult to see cribs taken apart, crib mattresses and bedding sold and them becoming more and more independent each day. And, no, that doesn't mean it is time for another one... :)

Blake's Best Friend

2010-02-24T15:37:00.003-05:00

Blake and Baron have a very special relationship! They play together non-stop, and even to the point I have to put all of Baron's toys in the garage so they will take a break. Blake loves to chase him, throw the ball, give him hugs, pet him and just plain be near him. Baron soaks up all of the attention and will actually seek out Blake to drop his toy to play...and will bypass all of us to do so. It truly is fun to watch, and I swear Baron is smiling in the second picture. I'm sure he is because he loves Blake so much :)

School sure does take a lot out of a little guy...

2010-02-23T15:20:00.002-05:00

Blake's 4th Birthday & Papa and Mimi's visit

2010-02-17T17:09:00.002-05:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We had a great time celebrating Blake's 4th birthday at a local pizza place here in Greenville - Frodo's Pizza! Papa and Mimi were able to come for a visit and be here for the party, which both boys loved and are still talking about. Although they arrived to snow on the ground and cold weather throughout their stay, we had a great time relaxing, eating and playing!

I have had a lot of people ask me about the boys' birthday shirts. You can find them at www.smittenandco.blogspot.com. They also have an etsy store where you can purchase the shirts. All of them are custom order. And....those adorable #4 cookies that we had for favors! Did you notice they matched Blake's shirt?! They are made by my friend, Christa, who moved from Greenville to Houston. She makes the most adorable cookies and they are soooooo yummy :) Let me know if you are interested in the cookies and I will get you her contact information.

Enjoy the pics!

Carolina Snow 2010

2010-02-13T12:08:00.002-05:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So, we have lived in Greenville almost 2 years. We were told it hardly ever snows here and rarely every year. Well, we are two for two. And both snow events Matt has been on call, which is unlucky in two ways. He cannot enjoy being outside playing with the boys in the snow, and he has to deal with these crazy southerners making silly mistake after silly mistake in this kind of weather! But, the boys and I had a great time playing! I took pictures when the snow started and tried to capture the same landscape right before going to bed so you can see we have quite a bit! They even have a few inches of snow at Myrtle Beach and Charleston...crazy! My favorite picture is the one where Blake is brushing the snow off of the seat of their John Deere tractor riding toy. He knew it was a good idea to keep his hiney dry especially since we don't own snow pants or boots! As for the snow, it is supposed to be 42 today and almost 50 tomorrow, so we will enjoy it for a moment and enjoy that it is short-lived even more!

Fire Fighter Dane!

2010-02-12T13:39:00.004-05:00

Here in Greenville there is a huge - GIGANTIC! - consignment sale twice a year, called Switcheroos. I went for the first time at the end of last summer in search for fall/winter clothing. I had no idea there would be toys, books, baby necessities, outdoor toys, etc. And the amount of clothing was overwhelming! I stocked up on clothes for Blake (since Dane gets all of his hand-me-downs) and I didn't have to buy one thing at a "regular" store for his fall/winter clothing. I am talking $2 for a pair of barely worn Gymboree pants, $4 for a Polo shirt! So....today was the first day of Switcheroo for spring/summer clothing. I scored 7 shirts and two new toys for $30. I picked out a $3 fire engine and a $1 fire fighter hat that makes a siren sound when you push the front button (lucky me) and truly had no idea how amazed and enthused Dane would be. I have had a blast watching him play with it since we got home. He has not put it down! I just had to share a couple of pictures of him pretending and playing with his new fire fighter toys!

Birthday Celebration at School!

2010-02-10T15:44:00.002-05:00

The first birthday celebration! I had lunch with Blake at school today and brought cupcakes to share with his class. It was so much fun! Blake just went on with his school-day routine pretty much ignoring that I was even there. He really does love school. More pictures to come after his party this weekend...

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, BLAKE!

2010-02-10T07:15:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe my little guy turns 4 today. We were so blessed - and a bit overwhelmed - on this day four years ago, but Blake has amazed us and changed our lives in ways we could have never imagined. We are better people because of him, have a different view of the world and of life because of him, and are overwhelmed with love when we see him. I wish I had to more time this morning to post all of his accomplishments this past year - a major one being potty-trained, but instead I will leave you with one of his favorite sayings right now..."Hey guys, what doing?!" Happy Birthday, Blake!

Good Times Ahead

2010-02-03T21:15:00.002-05:00

I am just so excited that I had to blog. My calendar on the fridge, my planner and my blackberry have been recently marked with two vacations during 2010! And both of them for an entire week with the entire family. That includes Matt in case you thought he wasn't part of the family anymore...just kidding. We are driving - yes, driving - back to the heart of America in March with stops in St. Louis, Kansas City and Des Moines. The same trip I took last summer that was just the boys and me. But, this time I can stop and pee! Yipee! Onto the second trip that will take place in August prior to school starting. I can only mention it is somewhere warm and beachy!

The other good thing about the second trip is Matt will be able to say he is a 3rd year resident! Good times ahead this year! Can't wait!

It's Our Turn...

2010-01-30T09:29:00.003-05:00

for winter weather! I guess it is time for me to quiet my bragging about the moderate temperatures during the South Carolina winter. I have spent the past few months teasing my friends and family in the midwest about their rough winter and basking in the fact that I don't have to deal with it or drive in it. Well...it is our turn. We don't have any snow at our house, although many parts of Greenville county, the upstate of SC and western NC do - and some a lot of it. We are happy to announce all we have is sleet and freezing rain! The sleet was pounding on our windows so hard last night it kept me awake. As I write this, the rain is falling as well as our temps which promise to stay 30 or below today. I guess the silver lining is we usually don't get any of this type of weather, and if we do, it is very short-lived. Another nice thing is Matt is home from the hospital after being on call all night. He is upstairs catching up on all the missed sleep only to return tomorrow morning until mid-day Monday. At least he is off the roads and safe at home. My guess is it will all be gone by Monday and I will be back to bragging about how nice it is here and giggling under my breath at how cold it is where we are from. Enjoy saying "na-na-na-na-na" to us...

Speechless...

2010-01-24T18:57:00.002-05:00

Believe it or not! I have been sitting here trying to think of a catchy headline, but I think I am too perplexed and mad to do so. Remember the post on our blog a couple of weeks ago about our sixth roof leak? The builder and his worker bees came by so determined this was the last time and they knew what to do to fix the leak, and then did so under our watchful eye.

Well, well. We have had several days of rain since then, and are currently having thunderstorms. Matt checked the attic this evening to find a puddle on top of a storage box...again. I haven't even looked at the master bedroom ceiling.

I post this because 1) does anyone have any advice for us? how to get to the bottom of this? and 2) we have realized we have documentation of all the house problems - particularly this one - on this blog thanks to my ranting! So, that is why I continue to do so.

Job Security

2010-01-12T15:36:00.003-05:00

As I begin a new week, I am working an additional day and dropping Dane off at a new classroom! I am so thankful for the career path I chose and for the job I currently have. I have more flexibility in the days and hours that I work that you can imagine! I am working Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday now (which leaves me a 4-day weekend!) from 8:30am-1:30pm. I am able to drop off and pick up the boys from each of their schools, both places that I love and know they are having fun, are learning and are safe while I am basically doing the same!

Dane moved up to a new classroom and will continue going to early stay and late stay. He didn't seem to be affected at all when I picked him up. It is just another sign that he is growing up :( I can't wait to see all the new things he will learn and make in this classroom! His school should get a blue ribbon for creativity. The arts and crafts they do just amaze me.

I just wanted to give you all a little update in our lives. Matt's doesn't change much. Work, work and more work (and less and less sleep). I guess I should mention that Blake is putting 3 words together now! He has a few phrases that just sound great. I continue to be thankful for my job security in the current times, even with more fatigue, chaos and a messier home as I increase my workload.