Walking Around D.C.

 Today we started by jumping on the metro and taking it to the mall area. When we got off the metro and began walking, we found  the Sculpture Garden. We all thought it was neat and decided to walk around it! We started to get warm and thought it would be a good idea to check out a couple Smithsonians too! So after checking out some cool sculptures we headed over to the Natural History Museum. Pie Pie loved seeing all the skeletons.  She was telling us how they all had bones and their hips worked worse than hers! I couldn't believe how she was relating to all of it! It was also really cute and funny! Gage thought that the dinosaurs were really neat but he also liked the creepy bugs!

 After we were done with that museum we headed towards the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. 

 Pie Pie gave up her stroller to her brother one time on the way to there! Gage kept telling everyone how bad his feet hurt! (It's amazing how his feet stopped hurting when we were doing what he wanted!) Before we got to the Lincoln Memorial we stopped to look at the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Gage and Pie Pie thought they were really neat and loved hearing about why we have them.  Gage thought that his grandpa's name should be on the Vietnam Memorial until we explained why it wasn't on there!

When we got up to the Lincoln Memorial, Gage got bummed out! He thought there would be more in the cool building then there was! He was also sad that he couldn't touch it! Pie Pie just kept saying WOW! He's really big!! After that we went to the Korean War Memorial and started towards the Air and Space Museum. The heat and walking was starting to get to us, so we stopped for some ice cream and shade!! Once we had cooled off a little we finished the walk to the Air and Space Museum. We were all thirsty so we took off to the McD's inside the Museum!After hydrating and cooling off we started to check out the museum! Gage thought that the interactive kids area was the best! Pie Pie kept asking if we were going to go see Ciara! I guess I shouldn't have been telling Pie Pie that we have to fly before we can see her again! I do think Pie's favorite part was the different airplanes. (My favorite part was the air conditioning! Aww... It felt amazing!!!) 

 The last thing we had planned to see today was the Capital! When we walked up to the Capital both kids were totally amazed with how big it was! Gage's feet were killing him so we decided to sit on the little wall and watch a protest start!

 Gage was excited to see it.  He says that he can tell all the kids at school now! We finished watching the protest and walked back to the metro. We got back to the van quickly and headed to the hotel to shower! Now we are sitting in the air conditioning watching TV! I am trying to convince them to go back to DC tomorrow but they sound like they maybe vacationed out already! We will have to see!!!

Soaking Up The Sun!

Saturday was spent in the hotel and around the Laurel area! I have such a horrible cold that breathing was becoming a huge chore! So we took a day off and lazed around! The kids were bouncing off the walls until super dad took them out shopping for a little toy and movie! When they came back we snuggled and watched Rango! Pie Pie and Gage both told my cold to go away until I need one! I thought that was sweet!

Today we decided that going to the Atlantic Ocean was the way to go! So we looked up on the Internet some cool places to check out and decided that taking the kids to Delaware would be amazing! We left really early and got some breakfast for the trip there! Pie Pie telling Gage how they were going to the river! But when we started to cross the Bay Bridge both kids were speechless! They couldn't believe how high and long the bridge was or even how big the boats were! I was equally amazed! That bridge was the most exciting thing on the trip other than when we crossed from Maryland into Delaware! We were almost to the beach when Pie Pie started to complain about her butt hurting... Luckily we were able to get out and walk to the beach shortly after she started complaining! 

When we got to the beach both kids wanted to make sand castles and run in the water! Pie Pie sat down to close to the waves and almost got taken out! I grabbed her!!  Pie Pie didn't sit down in the water again but it didn't stop her from running in the water! Gage wanted to be covered with sand so we went back up on the beach and covered both kids up! We hung out a while longer at the beach then we walked around the boardwalk. About a half hour before we had to leave we went back to the ocean and splashed around some more. 

Then we took the long trip back to Laurel and ate at Bob Evans. Pie Pie told us while we were eating that when she gets big she is going to live in a big sandbox!! We are back in the hotel now and  wishing that the silly hot water wouldn't be so temperamental! Pie Pie is dancing around telling the water to warm up! Hope it happened soon since we are all covered in ocean water!  

Couldn't Be Happier

Wednesday we found the hospital and then spent the rest of the day at the Baltimore Zoo! We got in for free since the zoo pass we bought in ND works out here too! (So HA HA to all the people that made fun of me once the floods happened!!) Anyways, Pie Pie and Gage thought that the zoo was amazing. The zoo let them touch a turtle and they got to feed giraffes! They even had different types of animals that the kids have never seen before! After the zoo we drove around down by the bay and in the downtown Baltimore area! Traffic starts to get a little scary so we thought we should get out of there! So we hit up the grocery store by our hotel. When we got in the store there was this horrible smell! We couldn't figure it out until we made it to the fresh meat.  Turns out they have lots of fish here!! LOL! Pie Pie and Gage both thought it was neat to see all the different fish and even fruits and veggies! It's amazing how sad our stores really are... When we got done we headed back to the hotel for a little rest and a much needed shower! The humidity felt like we were swimming most of the day.. Yuck!

Thursday was one of the best days we have had in along time! We had Pie Pie's appointment with Dr. Standard and it made us not only understand what was going on with her but feel very hopeful! He took the time to explain that it is Perthes and that the other Dr might be confused because of some articles not explaining things clear enough. He says that Pie Pie's right hip should be starting to heal soon. That is still going to be a long road to it being (hopefully) great but this part shouldn't hurt as bad! Her left hip on the other hand is about to enter the more painful stage of the collapse. But he said it should be OK for her to run.  She is even OK to jump a little! He doesn't think she will need a surgery until maybe in her teen years, but this can change so I don't wanna say we are free and clear tell her teens! We were also given new PT exercises, some of the old ones might have been hurting her... Her ROM is wonderful too! We will have to keep up riding horses and doing the new PT! It makes us happy to know all the time doing that stuff is keeping her moving away from surgery! We also were given a tour of the house you can stay in if you do need a surgery at the hospital.  We all thought it was wonderful. So, if by some horrible chance, Pie Pie would need a surgery we could stay there rather then this hotel!

The doctor also said that if she wanted we could put her in dance and just don't have her do the jumps! I don't know that we would do that but at least we could walk out of a doctor appointment and not feel completely hopeless! After the appointment and tour we went to Walmart to get a movie and popcorn for our fun night! Before we left, we were approaches by a pregnant women with a little girl in a stroller asking for money we handed her a ten and we went back to the hotel for the night! ( I am trying to kick a cold/allergies) Once back the kids watched a little TV while I read my horoscope! My horoscope said now’s a great time to pay forward a kindness or generosity that was recently extended to you. Something as simple as leaving a few bucks for a homeless person will reward you in ways you never anticipated. Then we watched Rodrick Rules and went to bed!

 

Today we decided to venture to Washington DC. We found the Metro to downtown then to the zoo! Pie Pie and Gage thought that the metro was amazing! Once we got off we asked a couple if they knew how far away the zoo was.  They thought it was walking distance but then they gave us their trolley tickets ($100+ of tickets).  We thanked them and then walked over to the trolley waiting area! While we waited we started to talk to a couple from Cypress! They were really neat people and the kids loved their little boy! After that we took the trolley all around DC and then ended up by the Smithsonian national zoo after several hours of trolley ride! The kids loved the gorillas, octopus and kimono dragon! After walking the zoo we headed back to the metro then to our hotel where we ordered a pizza and here we sit! I hope to update a little more than I have been but we will see! It is really busy here!

Hello Baltimore!

After a long day of flying we finally arrived in Baltimore! Pie Pie and Gage both did amazing! Pie could NOT figure out why she couldn't hear and Gage could NOT get his ears to pop! Other then those two complaints the kids thought it was great! Pie Pie even fell asleep on the last flight! After we collected our bags we headed to the rental car place. 

 We ended up with a free upgrade because the lady felt bad for charging us a ton of extra money! (That is my opinion anyway!) Anyways we were all getting crabby and thought it best to find our hotel asap.  Thankfully it was really easy to find.  When I went into check us in they told me the nonsmoking rooms don't have hot water and might not even get it the next day!! I still choose the non smoking room since you could hardly breathe in the "non smoking" lobby!! I figure we might have to smell funny for a while but at least we can breathe! Anyways after that we just laid around watching TV and getting ready for bed! Pie Pie and Gage want to explore today! We are suppose to be checking out the Baltimore area today and go grocery shopping! I just hope we don't get too lost!

Mall of America!!!

After driving around looking at most of  Minneapolis and surrounding areas, we thought it would be fun to go to the big mall! Pie Pie thought it was great! She wanted to see all the girl stuff! Gage thought it was really lame until he set his sights on the Nickelodeon amusement park! I told him if everyone was really good in Baltimore that we would do some rides when we got back to MN.  They both think that will be great! We also visited the build-a-bear workshop for the first time! Gage got an army bear and Pie got a frog/lizard thing!

They are both excited to take their new best friends on the airplane tomorrow. I am hoping this makes for an easier time without their special blankets! They also can't wait to show their cousin! We get to go have supper with her and both her parents at some burger place around here.  I hope they allow furry creatures and excited monsters... I mean kids!!  After that I am hoping we can go see the cherry spoon and other neat things around the area! Also, I am hoping to upload some pictures of the fun we are having. However, it might have to wait tell we get home!!

We have gotten to Minneapolis!!

After a long SCARY drive, we finally got to our destination around 11 pm! Not to bad actually! Pie Pie kept telling us how sore she was but the storm was so bad that we couldn't get out of our car to stretch much. Thankfully the excitement of getting here helped out a ton! Gage and Pie mainly colored and played leapster!

Once we got here we visited for a while and then all went upstairs and crashed! We are very excited to check things out around here and maybe get to see my niece today! If not we will see her when we get back!! We better go get ready so that we can be like Dora! (according to Pie Pie!!)

Happy 4th of July!!

This has been a very busy week for all of us! We went camping and have started to prep our house to possibly be painted! I just pray that the water continues to stay away from our home. If it does, then when we return from Baltimore we will paint and move in! Pie Pie keeps walking in her room telling me it isn't pink yet!! I think she is super excited! She also wants to know when that silly airplane is going to pick us up!! Everything seems to be happening so fast! Tomorrow I have to call and make sure everything is still going to happen as smoothly as I hope! Then, I have to pack and leave for MN!! I plan to update the blog while in Baltimore but if I don't I will make sure that it will be updated once we return!!