Making progress...

Hi. I just wanted to brag about Ethan....it is a long time coming! He is doing so well over the last week with potty training! He did a really good job when we were on vacation too! But since last Thursday night he has not had an accident! No peeing in his pull up so he is in underwear now...kind of scared about that. You get out of the routine of packing extra clothes for him, and now I have to remember! He is doing great at night. He has been waking up dry over the last several months (or at least 6 out of 7 days). He doesn't want us to ask him to go potty...he is just going all on his own. GREAT JOB ETHAN!!! There has been a lot of bribing in the house but I don't care!!!! There is one problem....no pooping in the potty yet! He asks for a pull up if he doesn't have one on....any advice would be great on that issue....! I guess the there is actually 2 issues...he hasn't peed on the potty at school either! I don't know if he is scared or what! We will have to work on that too!!! But...keep up the good work Ethan! Evan has started sitting on the potty sometimes too....wouldn't it be nice for the Kearneys to have their kids out out of diapers by 2009!!!!!

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6 year old)

Every once in and a while I get a pretty good forward...this is one that touched my heart....as a pet lover!!!! Enjoy the story....

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
· When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
· Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
· Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
· Take naps.
· Stretch before rising.
· Run, romp, and play daily.
· Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
· Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
· On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
· On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
· When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
· Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
· Be loyal.
· Never pretend to be something you're not.
· If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
· When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Welcome Baby Stamm...

The Boilermaker Clan (okay..to tell you the truth there is one Ball State Cardinal) ...had another baby....6 couples now have 12 kids! Who would have thought!!!

The Stamms now have: 2 boys (Jacob and Nathan)

The Hess Family has: 1 boy (Lucas) and 1 girl (Lilly)

The Clark Family has: 1 boy (Neil) and 1 girl (Samantha)

The Hoffman Family has: 1 girl (Elliot) and 1 boy (Graham)

The Maple Family has: 1 girl (Alyson) and one boy (Braden)

And us: 2 boys (Ethan and Evan)

*And a bonus is they are all 3 and under!!! Ha.

Who will be first for the third kid????? I already have my bets placed......

Now...meet the newest addition!!!!

Welcome Nathan Jeffery Stamm
8 lbs 10 oz
19.5 inches
Born at 7:33am
Proctor Hospital - Peoria, IL

Jacob is very proud of hie baby brother.
He can't give him enough hugs and kisses.

How did the Easter Bunny find us?

Well...the Easter Bunny found us in Florida...that bunny he sure is resourceful. Here are some of the Easter egg hung in our courtyard. Evan was so funny...he realized that if he threw the egg down then it would break open...what a smart kid! :)

These next pictures are of the boys looking and eating their surprises!!! We didn't really buy the boys anything for Easter, so thanks to my mom and Dave for the hunt and treats. Okay...we did buy the boys some things....like some new little toys and 10,000 things as rewards for Ethan to pee in the potty...which of course we can't leave Evan out of....and I hit the Tommy Hilfiger and Children's Place outlet...so there...HAPPY EASTER! :)

Lastly...gotta leave you with some funny faces of Evan.......this first one is actually one of his best pictures yet....except for the rock candy sucker all over his face okay and the drooly sweatshirt! :) But he sure is SILLY!!!

My boys....

Matt spent a lot of time playing in the sand with the boys. He is a good dad. I hate the sand...and then add Evan's drool...sand...drool...sand....you can get the idea. Matt...he just dug right in with them. Enjoy...

Sun, sand and more sand

Here are some pictures from vacation. We had a good time! Spent some time at the beach, pool, eating out, a lot of walking around and playing with the boys. The boys did a great job riding in the car through the night. We were all pleasantly surprised about how well they did! We are glad to be home and back on our normal schedules! :)

Catching up...

I have posted a bunch of new blogs today since I have been a slacker! Sorry. The boys are finally feeling good! They have been enjoying the warmer weather here. Yesterday at daycare they actually got to play outside! There clothes were all dirty, but hey....the slept great last night!

We are leaving for Florida tonight. My brother is coming here and riding with us down. We are hoping to leave at 8p and drive through the night. Wish us luck! Matt's parents are going to come and take the boys while we get all packed up, and hopefully get them wore out at the park or somewhere! I will try to post some pictures while we are down in FL. Take care and here are some misc pictures of the boys...okay...and one dog....

Actually looking at the camera....

If you wonder why we haven't gotten Evan's picture "proffessionally"...this is why...ALWAYS a big CHEEZE!!!!

Brothers....just hanging out!

The boppie pillow contiues to be a high commodity at our house!

Ethan is making progress on the whole potty training thing....slowly but surely!

Good Job Daddy!

Matt and I decided that we were going to hang our TV on the wall above our fireplace. This took a lot of work by Matt because he had to run all new cable, power...and who knows what else to that side of the room. Here is the finished product..okay not finished because Matt and his dad are going to make built-in cabinets from floor to ceiling on both sides! Wish them luck! I will post that when it is done....I am sure it will take a while!!! We haven't settled on designs, color or other options yet. Has really make our family room seem bigger...now have to go get some new furniture! Ha.

He can do it...FINALLY!

Ethan can finally make his own tracks...okay...ones that actually connect ends together! He was so proud of himself this day. He worked very hard on finding the right pieces. We are grateful he can do it....now we need to keep Evan away! Ha.

Cool Shoes...

I got these shoes a couple of weeks ago for the boys. I am really not the type of person that buys character kinds of clothes...but Ethan was with me and he was DYING to have them. I must say they are pretty cute running around the acting like race cars while they are wearing them! :)

I was a really good mom...before I had kids

I read this book a couple weeks ago on my "Mommy Getaway." It is great...good information in a funny manner! I recommend it!

The back cover says:

You need this book if:

-you consider going to the dentist your special "alone time"

-you're competitive about winning Chutes and Ladders

-you reflexively refer to the bathroom as "the potty"

-you once introduced yourself at an important business meeting as "Andrea's mom"

-you'd trade your husband for a housekeeper

WE NEED SPRING!!

As I am typing this I have the front door and a couple of windows open...who cares if it is only 50 degrees.........................because..............................the Kearneys continue to be sick. I swear that someone in our family has been sick since before Thanksgiving! What gives???

I haven't posted in a while, and still don't really have any pictures...maybe later this week.

I went to FL for four days 2 weeks ago over my big 32nd birthday. I spent it with my mom...just the two of us. Of course it rained 10 inches while I was there. I did get some sun on the day before I left. In spite of the rain...the temperature was nice! I was able to read a couple interesting, easy read books. I will post about them later. We shopped, ate out, took naps..the great life! I was able to get some sleep during the night. Something Matt and I rarely see since Evan was born. To those of you getting frustrated that your 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, 12 month doesn't sleep through the night.....well our 21 month old RARELY does. I don't think that he has slept through the night since he spent the night with my mom over New Years...no kidding!!!!

The week before I left on vacation (my previous post)...Ethan was sick throwing up. Then Feb 18th I took him to the ER because he had croup. Fun times....both boys missed their 2 days of day care because they were running fevers of about 102! I still took off on my mini vacation thinking they would be better..........WRONG. They ran temps all week. Matt took them to the doctor on Friday. Ethan's croup was fine, but now he had an ear infection. The only other time in his 3 years of life when he had an ear infection was last spring when he had croup. Evan...well he had broncolitis (don't know if that is how you spell it). Both boys were coughing horribly!!! Ethan was on antibiotics and present day is doing about 95% better. Evan was on oral steroids and Albuteral...fun....since he is so sensitive to meds...he was a walking tornado....I am NOT kidding! :) I was telling a friend of mine how lucky we have been with Evan not getting ear infections since last June when he had tubes put in...............WRONG again....yesterday I noticed this drainage coming out of his ears....great! Luckily the doctor has given us some ear drops for if this ever happened. He did only get up once last night due to coughing. I guess I will call the doctor tomorrow about him.....KIDS.... :)

In the meantime...I also got sick! I went to the foot doctor for a some f/u xrays on my ankle (2 months late), and the doctor asked if I need a prescription for my cold....I said YES. Killed 2 birds with one stone! I am feeling better, and luckily Matt has been chugging Airborne for a week now....so far he is good.

I hope the next blog can be something more interesting!!!!

Ethan did say something funny today...not that we laughed. He told Matt that Evan was messing with his train track so he poked Evan in the eye..................gosh....we are so in trouble! :)