Update on Matt

Matt had outpatient surgery on Friday. He had his tonsils removed and sinuses repaired. It was a really long day for both of us. We arrived at the hospital at 8:45am. We registered and then they whisked him away at 9:10am. His surgery was supposed to be at 10:45, however it didn't end up starting until after noon. His surgery was about 2 hours and they we was in recovery for 2 1/2 hours. We got back home around 5:30pm. Although he is having some pain, he has been a super patient and really easy to take care of. And for all the work he had done, he looks amazing! I won't post any pictures of him because I am sure he would shoot me for doing that! Anyway, lots of people have been checking in on us. Thanks for your kind thoughts! Matt is on the mend and will be back to normal in no time!

I owe a special thanks to several people:

• to Maria and Todd and Jeff for hanging out with me at the hospital all afternoon!
• to my Mom for staying with us this weekend and helping me take care of Matt, Ella and the dogs!
• and to Patty and Doug for keeping Ben for the weekend and taking him to do lots of fun things, like going to the movies and to the zoo!

Father's Day Weekend

I am so behind on my blogging! Father's day was a week ago and I am just now getting to post about our fun-filled weekend!


I took the day off work on Friday and my sister Erin, McKenna, Max and my Mom and Dad came into town for the day. We had an appointment with a photographer named Erin Johnson to have pictures taken of all 4 kids at Schiller Park in German Village. I am sure this wasn't her easiest photo session. There seemed to be at least 1 kids crying the entire 2 hours that we were there. But Erin was absolutely amazing (she has 4 kids of her own so this was no big deal for her!) I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to have family pictures or just pics of the kids. She was so great to work with. I am so excited to see how our's come out. The proofs should be ready in another week or so. I'll keep you posted as to how they came out! It was really hectic on Friday morning trying to get all the kids fed, dressed and ready to go for the pictures, so the only picture I took was this one of Ella and Max.

Since we were going to out of town for the rest of the weekend, the kids gave Matt his Father's Day present early.... a new hammock! He seemed to really like it! And I know I will enjoy using it too!





On Saturday morning Matt and I and the kids headed down to Cincinnati for a birthday party of the son of one of my friend's from college. I forgot to bring books for Ben to read in the car, so he had to read my Parent's Magazine instead!

This was Wyatt's 3rd Birthday and it was a pool party held at Margaux's grandparents house. We did lots of swimming, played on a slip-n-slide, had a great cookout and had ice cream cones!




And Wyatt seemed to really like the Incredible Hulk gloves we got him!

After the party, we headed back to Margaux and Mark's house and put all 4 kids down for a nap, while we played with all of Wyatt's new toys! After nap, we got dressed and headed down to the Cincinatti Red's/Boston Red Socks baseball game! We had amazing seats (thanks, Mark)! Unfortunately, it was really hot and the boy's were a little restless so noone spent much time in their seats. But we had a great time and it was fun to take Ben to his first game with the Higgin's family.






After the game, we headed back to Margaux and Mark's house to grill out.


Then we gave the kids a bath and put everyone to bed. Ben slept in Wyatt's room with him. It was really fun for them to have a sleepover.

The boys woke up super early on Sunday (around 6am!) and staying awake talking until 10pm the night before (Yes, the 2 and 3 year old stayed awake talking)! We all headed to Crossroads Church for the 8:30am service. We put the kids in daycare and really enjoyed the service (and a little time withouth the kids!). Matt and I used to live in Cincy and have always enjoyed Crossroads. We really wish there was one closer to where we live. After church we put on our swimsuits and headed to Margaux and Mark's club for more swimming and lunch. It was a beautiful day.

Here is Ella and Kendall. Kendall is actually 2 months younger than Ella (Ella is such a peanut!)



Then we headed back home. Thankfully both kids were super tired so they slept the whole ride home. Later that evening, Patty and Doug and Todd and Jeff (along with our neighbor's Devon, Brock and Ava) came over for a Father's Day cookout. This was the only picture I ended up taking at our cookout because I was enjoying our great food too much!


Happy Father's Day, Matt! You are the best daddy! We Love You!!

Country Club

We don't need golf courses or tennis courts. This is a real country club!

The weather was 90+ degrees on Sunday so I picked up this great pool for Ben! He had a blast splashing around all day.




He only got out for a quick snack


And when we put Ben down for a nap, Daddy decided he would enjoy the pool, too!


Matt and I both agreed that this pool was the best $20 I have ever spent!

One final picture.... Ben has started putting his hand on his hips when he stands. Wonder where he gets it from???

New Houseguest

Check out who was hanging around our back porch.... Ben called it his "lil nake"




Did I mention we were starting a garden? We were so excited to see that things were starting to grow. Here we have corn, watermelon, peppers, mint and basil, and pumpkins. I will continue to update you with how our vegetables are coming along...





Update on Ella.... She is becoming such a BIG GIRL! She wants to do everything her big brother does!

We'll miss you, Sara

On Friday night we went to a Going Away Party for my friend, Sara. She and her husband, John, are headed to Nashville for Sara's Gastroenterology Fellowship at Vanderbilt. We played some cornhole and had a yummy taco bar and ice cream cake. Sara's fellowship is 3 years, hence the "3" on the cake. Ben got to help her blow out the candle.

We were able to catch up with our friends, Gail and Jeff. They are getting married in August.

Good luck at Vandy, Sara. We'll be thinking of you! Keep in touch!!!

They're so smart

Ben has been learning more and more each day at school. Listen to him count!

And for Ella.... She has decided she not longer wants to crawl. She wants you to help her WALK everywhere!

Ella, the Party Girl

On Saturday night, Ben stayed overnight with his Grandma and Papa and Matt and I took Ella with us to my residents' Annual Recognition and Awards Banquet at Brookside Golf and Country Club in Worthington. Ella got all dressed up in a pretty dress. She was so happy to be there. She got to talk and meet a lot of new people. She was so well behaved and such a little princess!

Here she is with Maria

And here she is with Creed, the son of one of my resident's. He is so adorable. Check out his tie!!



Here I am with my Chief Residents. Brian, Sara and Mike have been SO MUCH fun to work with this past year. Brian (on the left) is headed to Charlotte for private practice and Sara is headed to Vanderbilt for a GI fellowship. I will miss them a lot! Mike (on the right) is sticking around OSU for a Cardio fellowship so I will see him for a least a few more years.



On a side note, I took the kids to the doctor yesterday for a check-up. Can you guess from the pictures below which one of my children is sick?




If you answered Ella, you are WRONG! Ella had her 9 month check-up. She weighs 18lbs, 1oz and is 28 in long. Other then getting in some new teeth, she is perfectly healthy. She didn't even have to get any shots! Ben was at the doctor's to have his ears looked at. And we found out that Ben now has his 7th ear infection in 6 months. Yes... I said 7th! We have been referred to a pediatric ENT and Ben will most likely be getting tubes in his ears this summer. Did I mention that Matt is also having surgery this summer? He is having his sinuses fixed and tonsils taken out. I am sure this is going to be a super-fun summer for the Chamberlain family!!