Friday Favorites: American Girl, Surgery, and Life

Happy Friday Friends! It's going to be a great day! As always, I'm linking up with Erika, Narci, and Andrea for Friday Favorites! 

We've had sort of an off week this week. With school being out on Monday, and then me taking off Wednesday for Gretchen's surgery, I kind of feel like the week at work was wasted, and I didn't get much accomplished. I'm not complaining though. We had some majorly needed downtime and it was perfection. 

Monday morning DJ took Adalyn to daycare and Megan with him to football. Gretchen and I headed off for her pre-op appointment at the children's hospital. We finished up around 10 and made our way to the football offices to pick up Megan. 

We decided to hang out for a little while and then have an early lunch at Tropical Smoothie. 

Once we made it home, the big girls were enamored with American Girl doll videos on YouTube. They can sit for hours and watch DIY videos, acting videos, etc..... anything that has to do with their dolls. It's definitely their favorite activity at the moment and I love that they're bonding over something they both love. 

On Tuesday, I shared with y'all a little about my Pinterest and my favorite boards.

Visit Elaine's profile on Pinterest.

After that post, I started to pin more, and found a few of you to follow! It's always exciting when I see something and think, "Oh, I love that" or "I can't wait to try that!" The reality is that it probably will be a sweet forever before any of it actually gets done, but the intention is totally there! 

Wednesday morning, I was up at 4:15 to take Gretchen in for her surgery. We had to leave the house by 5 to make it there by 5:30. We got her checked in and a little after 6 we headed back to the pre-op room. 

She was a total trooper! She brought along Lea, and the hospital gave her a little teddy bear. Gretchen wasn't nervous and talked and watched cartoons. 

We cuddled before her surgery and she was in a great mood! Gretchen has had what we thought was a fatty cyst on her back for several years. We had planned to have the cyst removed last year, but she came down with the flu right before her surgery was scheduled. And then Adalyn broke her leg, so we decided that Gretchen's surgery could wait. 

The nurse came in before surgery and gave her "loopy juice" to help calm any nerves she may have. About 10 minutes later she was halfway asleep and mumbling things I couldn't understand when they came to wheel her away. 

DJ stayed home and took the little girls to school and then he planned to meet us at the hospital. However, her surgery was quick and easy and about 45 minutes later she was in recovery and they took me back to see her. 

The doctor told me that she did not have a fatty cyst, but rather a collection of blood vessels and one that was enlarged. Similar to having varicose veins. 

Her wake up was pretty hard for me. I didn't realize that she would be so emotional. She was shivering, from anesthesia, and she did say several times that she was cold. She was also crying and I my heart ached for her. The nurse brought her a popsicle, and then we went into a post-op room and waited for the anesthesia to wear off some more. 

She had received an IV and several times she would look at her hand, ask what it was, and complain. And then she would ask again a few minutes later. We repeated it about 5 times and she finally asked if her hand was broken! She was a total trooper when the nurse took her IV out, and didn't even flinch. I'm amazed at how brave she was! Although, she did not enjoy having the "stickers" removed from her skin. It hurt!

The nurses were sweet enough to let her take Lea back to surgery with her, and she had a cap and her hand was wrapped too, just like Gretchen's. 

Around 8;45 we were set to go home, and sadly, DJ never made it to the hospital since he had to take the girls to school and we were finished much quicker than I had anticipated!

Gretchen was back to her normal self soon after we returned home and she spent the day working on a school project and watching more AG videos on YouTube. 

Wednesday night, she was surprised with an edible arrangement from her Nana! The chocolate covered strawberries were her favorite!!! 

And since I was off, I made stromboli sandwiches! I used an online recipe to make meatballs (they're super easy!), and then filled our sandwiches with meatballs, pepperoni, cheese, and Italian seasoning. We were out of bell pepper, but that would have been delicious too! A Caesar salad completed our meal! You can totally make the meatballs ahead of time and throw this together on a late night! I bake the sandwiches around 400 for about 10 minutes, until they're hot and the cheese has melted. 

And, Addy Pearl was her usual self at dinner time! This girl never smiles!!! Making silly faces is her favorite! 

So, this year I gave up Cokes for Lent. Cokes are pretty much  my vice. Well, coke and chocolate, or any type of sweet. But, I'm determined to really give up soda and stick with it even after Lent. But, if I'm honest, I'm not the best at drinking water during the day! I can totally down several glasses at work, but if I'm at home, I maybe drink one or two glasses in the entire day. Thankfully, my water is a lot tastier when I add a drop or two of Tangerine Essential Oil! it's so yummy and adds the perfect amount of flavoring, plus tangerine is a depurative, which means it purifies the blood and helps remove toxins. Tangerine essential oil also helps to boost metabolism and maintain moisture in the skin. I mean, you can easily see why it's one of my favorite oils! 

And speaking of favorites- Young Living has reduced the price of all Premium Starter Kits for the month of February by 10%! I've never seen a deal like this, and it's just amazing! Like, I'm still in disbelief of how much you get in the PSK for the price!!! They're practically giving things away! If you'd like to learn more about essential oils and how you can snag the PSK, leave your email below or shoot me an email (elainewelte@gmail.com)

So, that's it for Friday!!! We're off an a little adventure this weekend and I can't wait to share it with y'all on Monday!!!

4 Things

I've seen a few other bloggers do a "4 things" post where they share 4 things about each individual family member. I thought it would be a great idea to share today!

First up, Gretchen!

1. Gretchen lost another tooth this week. I can't remember how many she's lost, but she has another one that's loose so she'll have another hole in her smile soon!

2. She totally rocked her surgery yesterday. I was really afraid for her when she was in recovery. She was crying, shaking, and dizzy. But once we got home, and she rested for like 20 minutes, she was in great spirits and was herself for the rest of the day. 

3. She's obsessed with her American Girl dolls right now. She has a grand total of 3, and she made them a bunk bed out of their boxes. She's equally obsessed with watching AG videos on youtube right now. 

4. Girl still loves to read. She can read an entire chapter book in one day and is reading on a 4th grade reading level. 

Megan.....

1. Megan has recently learned to rhyme. The funny thing is that when you give her a word, she's most likely going to come up with a word that starts with a b sound.... so Target rhymes with Barget. Tree rhymes with bee. And then she figured out that itchy rhymes with bitchy. So, there's that. 

2. She loves school. I mean, absolutely loves going every single day. I totally credit her teacher last year and her teachers this year. They are amazing with her. She's come out of her shell and she's wild and fun and free spirited. 

3. Just this week she has been asking to take showers. DJ is all about this, because it's one less kid for us to have to bathe! 

4. Megan throws an epic tantrum when she hasn't had a nap and she's tired. She kicks and screams, and gets super mad, and then she passes out. I always know when she's tired because she very rarely misbehaves. 

Addy Pearl....

1. This little girl is a mess. She's cute and she knows she can get away with anything. 

2. If you tell her she's a "big girl", she'll say, "No, me Addy Pearl." All of her friends at daycare call her Addy Pearl. 

3. Last week, she wanted pigtails every single day. 

4. She almost never smiles for a picture. She always wants to make a silly face. I have finally convinced her to take one smile picture and then one silly face picture. 

DJ....

1. Football season just ended. Recruiting season ended, and then I somehow forget the two-three weeks before Spring practice begins that DJ has to be up at the office around 6 am so he can film morning work outs. I am remembering how much I hate not having home in the mornings. 

2. He is wrapped around Adalyn's finger. They are best buddies. 

3. He's been a rock star at helping out around the house lately. I am so grateful that he helps so much whenever he is home. 

4. He got a FitBit for Christmas. He gets about 10,000 steps in each day and I'm totally jealous of that. He loves to check his fitbit. 

Me...

1. I'm working super hard to flip ranks in Young Living this month. If I do, I'll qualify for their Si6 program which is a big, big deal. 

2. I keep telling myself that I need to run. I maybe run twice a week. I need to find more motivation. 

3. I recently got my hair cut last week. I can't figure out if I love it, or wish it was still as long as it was. 

4. I'm ready for warmer weather. I'm totally over winter, even though we haven't really had much of a winter in Oklahoma this year. Heck, it's suppose to be 80 degrees today. But, I can't wait to soak up some sun and spend our summer days at the pool!

See y'all back tomorrow for Friday Favorites! 

Surgery Day

Please say a prayer for this girl today as she goes in for a minor surgery this morning to have a cyst removed from her back. I think the separation will be the hardest part for us both. 

Show & Tell Tuesdays: Pinterest

Hey Friends! I'm so glad you're here today! I'm linking up with Andrea for Show & Tell Tuesdays! Today we're talking about Pinterest!

You can follow me on Pinterest: 

Visit Elaine's profile on Pinterest.

When I first saw today's topic I thought of all the million different ways I could go- my favorite boards, my favorite pins, some of my Pinterest projects, my most re-pinned pins, I mean, the topic was a wide range and I wasn't sure what I'd choose from! But then I decided I would just share my most favorite Pinterest boards that I have. 

You see, I'm somewhat of a Pinterest addict. I've been on Pinterest since the beginning, and I've arranged and rearranged my boards. Back when I had just one or even two kiddos, I use to actually get inspired and do Pinterest projects, but then you know, life happened and I'm lucky to find time to complete any of the Pinteresty projects I have pinned. But, in my downtime, I totally like to pin, re-pin, and pin some more.

I have boards dedicated to decorating the girls' bedrooms, boards for the play room we use to have, a board dedicated to hair styles, Disney, books,  and party planning. 

I laugh every time I see this meme!

And, this is totally me in the summer time!

But, I really do use my dinner ideas board a lot of the time! I'm a total slacker when it comes to thinking up new dinner ideas, so my dinner board is likely my favorite!

Follow Elaine's board Dinner Ideas/Main Dishes on Pinterest.

My next favorite board is my speech therapy board. If it weren't for this board, we'd be playing the exact same board games every single day. I totally love to do new projects with my speech kiddos, and I love when I have time to sit down and print off my pinterest finds and get busy with new activities during my groups. 

           

Follow Elaine's board Speech Therapy Ideas on Pinterest.

In the summer time, I use a lot of my pins from my arts & crafts board or my "Teaching the Girls". 

My, Makes you Smile board is likely one of my favorites! Any time I'm feeling down, I can head over to this board and cheer right up! I'm a sucker for sarcasm, memes, funny pictures, and even quotes. This board definitely can turn any bad day around! 

Follow Elaine's board Makes You Smile on Pinterest.

I'd love to follow you on Pinterest! Leave me your link in the comments below!

Weekend Wrap Up: Valentine's

Happy Monday Friends! I hope you had the best Valentines weekend! Our Weekend started on Thursday, with a morning off since Addy Pearl ran a little fever on Wednesday. She didn't have a fever Wednesday night, but since she was sent home from daycare, we had to keep her home Thursday too. DJ went in for morning work outs, and then he came home at noon and I headed to work. 

Addy was in good spirits. She ate lots of breakfast and even ate again once we got home from taking her sisters to school. 

We cleaned the kitchen, did some laundry, and cuddled. 

Thursday evening, we had ballet and gymnastics. These two are the best of friends!

Friday morning, was rough. Addy was up by 5:45, which is way early for her. I brought her down to our bed and we tried to get her back to sleep, but she didn't. She ended up crying most of the morning and just wasn't really herself. I tried to get a picture of her before heading off for her Valentine's party at school, but she was not cooperating! 

After DJ and Addy left, the big girls and I had a rough time getting ready and out the door. We were late for school and work, and then one bad thing after another happened. It was just a rough morning all around. 

I had a meeting downtown from 2-4, (which means that I would miss both Megan and Gretcehn's Valentine's parties) so I worked through my normal lunch, and left school around 1. I ran to Target to pick up a few things, and even though money doesn't buy happiness, a trip to Target sure did turn my day around. I drove through and grabbed lunch and made it to my meeting. 

I rounded up the girls and they dumped out all of their Valentine's and went straight for the candy. 

We spent the rest of Friday night recovering from a candy high, and then Megan and I took Gretchen to her basketball practice, while DJ and Adalyn enjoyed some quiet time at home. 

Saturday morning we snuggled and watched cartoons while cinnamon rolls were in the oven. 

Addy Pearl wanted to do everything herself. 

I went on a 2 mile run and then we got ready for Gretchen's afternoon basketball game. The girls spent most of the morning playing in the garage, which mean that Addy Pearl needed a bath. 

We threw her in the tub and gave a quick wash down before lunch. 

Megan's friend was cheering at Gretchen's game, and afterwards Gretchen and Connor hung out for a while before Gretchen and I went shopping and ran a few errands. 

After dinner, Gretchen and I set up an ice cream sundae bar as a Valentine's day present to her sisters. 

Yummy!

DJ and I tried to watch a movie after the girls went to bed, but I fell asleep about 5 minutes in! 

Saturday morning, my little Valentine's were ready for church!

After church, we went to Andolini's for our annual Valentine's day pizza!

The girls loved watching the pizzas being made before we went to sit down. 

Andolini's just opened up in downtown Broken Arrow, so we're thrilled to have one on our side of town! The girls were given pizza dough to play with while we waited. 

Our garlic knots arrived. 

And then our pizza! So, so good. 

Andolini's is definitely one of my favorites, but since the location was in downtown Tulsa, we rarely went. DJ and I would go for lunch on occasion, and he goes more often than I do since it's closer to the university. 

Addy Pearl was being such a goof at lunch!

After lunch, we headed home and I snapped a picture with my Valentine! Our Valentine's day may not have been romantic, but I wouldn't rather have anyone else by my side!

Sunday afternoon was lazy! Addy took a nap, and then I layed down and slept three hours! The girls put on a talent show with their American Girl dolls, and then we did some quick cleaning up before tucking them all in bed! 

Today we're off for President's day, and we have a quick doctor's appointment this morning and then I have got to knock out some of my to-do list since I slept so much this weekend!

Friday Favorites: Pink!

Happy Friday Friends! I have so been looking forward to this day all week. 

I'm linking up today with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favorites, and since it's the Friday before Valentine's day, I'm sharing my favorite pink things!

I mean, pink is probably one of my favorite colors anyway since I have three girls, but when I think Valentine's day, I think pink. 

First up, these Pink Hunters. I saw these on Kimm's blog the other day and totally fell in love. I have a pair of Hunter boots that are a plum, but these are just to die for, and they're perfect for spring! Find them here or the light pink here.

While I was searching for all things pink, I came across this Sarafina Pleated skirt. Y'all, my heart totally skipped a beat. I mean, it's gorgeous, and it's on sale, so that's a total bonus! I can totally see this skirt dressed up or down, and it would be perfect for an upcoming wedding or event. 

And how cute is this Kate Spade Confetti Wallet! I mean, it screams Valentine's day with the pink and red hearts. 

My Kate Spade Earrings are definitely a favorite! I wear them tons, and will be wearing them on Sunday for sure! 

This Kate Spade Scarf is super cute! Are you seeing a Kate Spade theme here?! Obviously, Kate knows what she's doing! This stripe scarf is the perfect transition in to spring!

 And this J Crew Gingham Shirt is on sale! It's another great transition piece that you need in your wardrobe stat. 

I'm trying to pick up running again. I went last weekend, and i'm hoping to get two more runs in this weekend. I came across these Nike Flyknit Shoes , and they're on sale for $60.00! They're totally adorable and I think I might run a bit more with these on my feet.

And how perfect is this Zella Tank?! Having cute work out clothes totally motivates me to get my butt in gear, and this shirt is a must.

So, what do you think of all things pink? What's your favorite pink thing????

We'll be celebrating Valentine's day with our annual pizza meal, and I hope you'll have a fabulous day as well!!! See ya Monday!