Another week has flown by in the blink of an eye. It doesn't help my perception of the passage of time that it's been so stinkin cold here. We're expecting to be about 20 degrees shy of normal temperatures here today with a possibility of snow flurries. If this continues, we may have some very popsicle like trick or treaters!

Friday I had the privilege to help host a retirement party for one of my dear friends from work. Mary retired from her Chief of Clinical Services position after 15 years with Waverly Health Center. She was truly a mentor and a friend - a good example of what I want to be when I grow up. I was exhausted by the time I got home Friday evening. I knew that the high heeled boots when I was going to be on my feet for 2 hours straight was not a good idea, but I think it was just the being magnanimous for 2 hours straight that really wore me out. Even when it's for someone that you care deeply for - it's still hard work for an introvert!!

Saturday we participated in the build day for the daycare playground. It was a big push building day with lots of volunteers - much like a habitat for humanity experience. It was RAINING and COLD!!! The girls had to go with us, but they didn't mind too much. It was different than the usual daycare day - they got to be together. Olivia liked the thought of being able to help with the smaller children and Elliott loved having her big sister with her. The girls and I called it a day after lunch. I was soaked to the bones, and really not of much help at that point anyway. Chris stayed until about 5:00. He came home covered in mud and pretty tired - what a good guy!!! He will be a hero to the hundreds of kids in the years to come that enjoy the playground.

Elliott is growing up on us. She can actually say O-liv-ee-a. She still doesn't say it very often - she's much more comfortable with Ahya - but she can do it!! She is the most honest child I've ever met. When I would call home from San Diego and talk to her - I would ask her if she were being a good girl for dadddy - she would bluntly reply - no. Last night, Sugar was on my lap and Elliott started to pout. I commented, is someone jealous of Sugey? I am - was her response.

We have another full week ahead of us - but at least I was able to get the grocery shopping done yesterday - so we're facing the week with full cupboards at least :) I so hate grocery shopping, but I so love having it done. I've just got to hook up with the grocery fairy...

I had a wonderful trip to San Diego, now I'm trying to adjust back to Iowa time and Iowa climate!

Our trip out was pretty uneventful - I didn't sleep much the night before because I had to be up so stinkin early and was worried about oversleeping. We flew from Waterloo to Minneapolis, and as I had booked my seat next to my friend Karen who ended up not going, I had the opportunity to meet someone new. I joked as we were waiting, that pretty soon my big fat hairy seat companion would show up. Fortunately for me - there was no big fat hairy man - just Ralph, a very nice man from Houston who flies a lot for his job. He was very kind and explained all of the intricacies of flying on a small plane - he didn't laugh at me too hard, and I only grabbed his arm with a death grip once.

Our flight from Minneapolis to San Diego had quite a bit of turbulence, I don't know why, but I was more comfortable on the bigger plane, probably because it was less clausterphobic for me. I read a little, knitted a little, and slept through the worst of the turbulence. My travel mates were all surprised that I was able to sleep through all of the bouncing - but I had Sarah Brightman in my CD player, and my ball of yarn to rest my head on. It was all good.

We checked in to our hotel on Wednesday around noon, and then walked around scouting out places for lunch. We settled on a Bennigans, and were all quite happy to get some food in our bellies - it was after 2:00 as far as our tummies were concerned. With some advice from the waitress who seemed to enjoy calling everyone sweetie, love, honey - we caught the trolley to Old Town. We had a lot of fun walking through the historical sites and shops. The weather was gorgeous - in the 70's - lots of beautiful sunshine. We stopped for a happy hour margarita and then ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery - how decadent is that!!! We rode the trolley back to the hotel and settled in for the night. We stayed at the Marriott Mission Valley - and let me tell you, they have the most divine beds and bedding of any hotel I have ever stayed in. We all commented when we regrouped in the morning that the down comforters and the pillows were wonderful - almost like sleeping in a nest.

The annual Planetree conference kept us on the go - but we heard many great speakers, and it was truly inspirtational. Planetree is all about patient centered care, and making the hospital experience a truly healing experience for the patients, instead of an institutionalized/cold/clinical experience. It really is some wonderful stuff. Our hospital has been a Planetree affiliate for about 3 1/2 years, and it's made quite a difference, especially in how we designed our new building, and how we provide care. We left with even more great ideas for improvement.

One of our keynote speakers was Judy Collins. I didn't recognize the name, but apparently she was pretty popular in her day. She spoke, and did some singing as well - she's in her late 60's or early 70's and can still put on quite a show! We also had the pleasure of having Julia Sweeney speak to us - she was on Saturday Night Live, and she read from a screen play she had written. It was simply hillarious!!!

We did make it out on the town after the big fancy awards dinner. We caught the trolley and went downtown. It was quite funny watching us try to navigate the trolley system - now which stop to we get off on - which color do we take next? We made it downtown in time to scout out the gas lantern tap and have a drink, and then catch the last trolley back at 1:00 a.m. After such a long day, and a few drinks, we truly had a hoot!!

On Friday after our conference ended, we took the trolley to Seaport Village. It was really neat! We had dinner there and did a little shopping.

The flight back - from San Diego to Minneapolis - was terribly rough. Our landing left a lot to be desired - I really thought that I was going to revisit my breakfast! We had a three hour layover in Minneapolis. It seemed like it would be a long time to wait, but after we got lunch and walked through the airport and got ice cream, it was almost time to board the plane to Waterloo. The plane to Waterloo was even smaller than the one we had taken on our way out. It had only three seats in each row. I was a little bit worried after the really bad flight from San Diego, and when the flight attendant did his opening remarks, he commented that we could be in for a bumpy flight. Fortunately - this was the best leg on the flight as far as turbulence goes. It was very smooth flying.

I was very happy to see my girls and my husband waiting for me at the airport. I was able to speak to them every day on the phone, but I was ready for some snuggles! They all did just fine without me - although I think they're glad to have me back. The house was a little bit messy - but considering that Chris had no help at all - it wasn't half bad. I must say that it gave both of us a little better perspective regarding his RAGBRAI week. He now understands what it's like when he calls home at night, and it's crazy and we're in middle of dinner, baths, etc., and I understand what it's like when you get home and you're just plain exhausted and you have to jump right back in! Olivia waited until Saturday to lose her loose tooth - I was happy that I was home to see the booty that the tooth fairy left her!

I was a little taken aback when I heard the furnace kick on for the first time - my brain must have still been in San Diego - "what - why is the furnace on - it's so nice outside". Of course the furnace was on - they had snow while I was gone afterall!!

I am anxious to fly with the girls - I don't think that they should wait until they're in their thirties to fly. It's easy to be afraid of something when you have no idea what to expect, and I don't ever want them to be afraid of flying.

Tomorrow it's back to work. I'm sure I'll have a tremendous amount of emails and voicemails waiting for me, and it's Medical Staff meeting Monday, so it will be a long day as well!!!

We had a great time at the pumpkin farm with Grandma Katie and Papa Al!! It was perfect pumpkin farm weather. Warm enough to not need a coat, but enough of a breeze to keep the Asian Lady Beetles at bay. They have so many great things to do at the Bahl Family Pumpkin Farm - the girls went down hay bale slides, bounced in the inflatable bounce house, pedaled the little tractors around the hay bale course, went through the hay bale maze, were accosted by - I mean - petted the goats, Elliott even took a pony ride - something we've never been able to convince Olivia to do, played in the corn box (like a sand box with dried corn), and picked out pumpkins to take home to Janesville. We had cotton candy and other snacks, and then ended our visit with a hay ride.

We spent the afternoon at the shed, where we played play-doh, visited with my Uncle Frank and my cousin Brenda and her family, and rode the four wheeler like crazy. I didn't think we were going to be able to talk Elliott into leaving the four wheeler. Papa had her count the wheels on the four wheeler - it went like this... one, two, seven, eight. We played Dora as we were riding - where are you going? (clap, clap, clap) North Pole!!

On Sunday we went to the fall festival at Holy Trinity. Apparantly the fall festival concept is something that is not universal - it was definitely a new experience for Chris. Where can you go to gamble for beer and candy, fish in the fish pond, partake in a silent auction where the items up for bid range from bottles of homemade wine to a full out dinner and desert with a priest - not to mention that it included a special visit from Sister Ann. It was a great time - even though there really wasn't a beer wheel at this particular fall festival.

I've been trying to prepare for my trip to San Diego - I will be picked up at home tomorrow morning shortly after five. That's early!!! Chris and I were talking logistics last night, and I explained to Elliott that I would be going on a trip and Daddy would be here taking care of her, feeding her and taking her to school. She got super excited and asked if Daddy could make her macaroni and cheese. The kid is in heaven just thinking about mac and cheese in my absence!! This morning Olivia bounded into the bathroom while I was in the shower - Good morning Dad! Dad? I'm not Dad. Oh... (her response - she thought that I had already left for my trip) - well you don't have to sound so disappointed about it!!! I'm sure they'll miss me - maybe - after they wipe there macaroni and cheese smiles off :)

I am a little bit sad that my friend Karen won't be making the trip with us. She had surgery this spring to remove a meningioma (tumor) from her head. She had a check-up appointment just over a week ago and found out at the end of last week that the part of the tumor that they couldn't remove because it was so close to her carotid artery (they cauterized it) is growing again. At this point she doesn't really know what to expect - it's possible that they will do surgery again, or they may try a course of radiation therapy. I will miss her - I had looked forward to all of the fun we would have together - but there are still nine of us going - and I can completely understand her need to stay close to home. Please keep her in your prayers - she has an appointment with her doctors in Iowa City at the end of the month and a tentative date for surgery in November.

Happy October!! It must be time to break out the kraut and the beer - good Oktoberfest :) The weather was unusually warm today - I think they said that the high was 86. It's day like these, that we all know to expect, that keep us from completely packing away the shorts yet. Unfortunately, these late warm days aren't without their bothers - notably the no-see-ums that bite like no other, the bees, and the asian lady beetles. Still, it is good to have the sunshine and warmth, especially good as there's no guarantee as to how long it will last.

Olivia and I walked up to school tonight to register her for girl scouts. While there are many benefits to having a small school, it also makes it difficult to have enough girls to form a girl scout troop. Last year we registered her and paid the dues, but they didn't end up having enough girls to form a troop. They said that we could take her to Cedar Falls or Waverly to join one of their troops, but how convenient would that be? This year they are putting all of the girls 1st through 5th grade together. I'm glad - it will mean a larger, more sustainable group and more activities for them. Tomorrow night we get to meet the leader - bless her heart!!! - and get information about selling cookies. Olivia is very excited to sell cookies. I'm very excited to buy cookies :)

I leave a week from tomorrow for San Diego. The compulsive list maker is already chomping at the bit. Never having flown before, I'm a little bit anxious about what to expect and what to pack. It sounds like the weather there has been in the 70's with lows in the 60's. That should make for fairly easy packing. The hotel has a hot tub, so you can be sure that I'll be packing my swimsuit!

This weekend we will head to Dubuque to visit with my parents and check out the pumpkin farm. Elliott says that she remembers going last year - hard to say for sure - but I'm sure she's going to have even more fun this year.

Olivia had her friend Megan spend the night on Friday. They had a good time and even went to sleep after the second warning. All in all a good night. I'm somewhat amazed at the difference in perspectives regarding sleep overs. When you're a kid - they are so much fun - you can't believe how stingy your parents are about the frequency of letting you have friends spend the night. When you're the parent - the tables are completely turned. You can't believe what a pain in the keester sleep overs are! Kids keeping you up way later than your usual bedtime (no comments from the peanut gallery please), changing their plan on where they're going to sleep in the middle of the night, and then crabbier than all get out the next day because they got no sleep. Gosh I sound like a sour puss!!!

We went to the daycare birthday party open house on Saturday. It's hard to believe that the new building has only been open for a year. In many ways we are so accustomed to it and spoiled by it. It's nice to have a building that was designed for the function it serves. They have a playground build day scheduled for October 21st. Please keep your fingers crossed for good weather - and let me know if you would be interested in helping. From what I understand, it will be much like a habitat for humanity event and we can use all of the helping hands we can get!

After the birthday party open house we stopped at Walmart. Sugey got a new pink sweater :) I think it's a little on the small side, but it was the biggest doggie sweater I've ever seen and it was only five bucks - so what if there is no way on God's green earth that we would ever be able to get her back legs through the leg straps!! She is awfully cute in it :) Not that we're making her wear it on 86 degree days - not even I am that mean!!! We also got a replacement fish - a betta that Olivia has named Rainbow Fish. Chris has made it his mission to keep this fish alive - he's quite serious about testing the water and making sure that it's absolutely perfectly balanced before we transfer Rainbow Fish into the aquarium. This is another one of those child/adult moments - I don't remember fish being such a pain in the keester when I was a kid...

Let me just say it now - I love you mom and dad :) :) :)