November

Highlights:

The whole family went to Pittsburgh for Margaret's baptism. Margaret and I got to know each other walking around the living room for an hour at 3 in the morning.

I played with the Adrian symphony the first full week of the month. I love playing with them, I just wish they weren't so far away. The truck, which has been nearing the end of its life, brought me all the way home on Saturday and I was about to park when I remembered that sometimes we have to jump it and so I should back it into its spot. As I pulled into reverse, the power steering dropped off (we've been anticipating this since it happened back in March and again in July). Twenty minutes later, I finally had the truck backed in and I also needed a protein shake. Bryan is still going to drive the truck until it stops running, but I can't drive it safely with no power steering and we're not putting any more money into it. 

I had an MRI on my hip. No broken bones, which was a slight concern, but I do have tendonitis, bursitis, and a small labral tear. The tear is not fixable without surgery, and the doctors do not think it's bad enough for that. There is a steroid shot they could give me to bring down the swelling, but by the time they were able to get me in for the shot I wasn't having trouble anymore, so I didn't end up getting it. I've started physical therapy for the tendonitis and bursitis and go 3 times a week. I have been told I am not allowed to run, but, interestingly, the physical therapists have no problem with me continuing all other aspects of my life as long as I'm not in too much pain, so I've still been walking and going to crossfit.

We had Thanksgiving here with a very small group. Josef and Angelina came, as did Bryan's parents. I'm not sure we've ever hosted such a small Thanksgiving before. :) We had a good time and enjoyed the company. Angelina and I discussed solutions for the back door, which led to exciting changes in our kitchen.

I've been thinking about updating our coat hook system. The current spot doesn't have a place for backpacks, and our coats are getting too big anyway. It's messy and piled up and spilling all over the floor. Plus, Olivia's giant trapper keeper doesn't have a place to go, so she puts it in my purse's spot for me to sign, and I don't like that. So I was thinking maybe tall, thin cubbies with shelves for things I need to sign and hooks for coats and backpacks. Then Angelina said I really needed doors to hide the stuff. She's not wrong. I started looking for closed shelving. Bryan said, "just get whatever you need to get." At some point, I realized that this already exists in the form of lockers. So I googled lockers. I found some online for less than cabinets and figured I'd call to see how much they cost to ship. As it turns out, a whole lot. But the lady said, "We're in Toledo, it'd be cheaper for you to just drive up to get them." So I arranged child care for Theodore, took the seats out of my van, and drove to Toledo to pick up lockers. I got home just in time to leverage them into the house (a scooter was involved) before going to pick up the kids from school. Bryan did not know I was gone.

The Bossards arrived yesterday to visit briefly en route to Chicago for Lenore's baptism this weekend. They got to see the lockers first, and Justine took a video when Bryan came upstairs to see how long it took him to notice. She actually had to stop her video and start again because he took too long. Eventually he noticed that she was taking a video, and as he looked around for the reason, Kaitlyn rescued him by pointing out the lockers. I'm now rearranging the rest of the furniture to be more optimal, and will hopefully have that mostly done by the time the Bossards come back through.

Pictures:

The lockers:

A dresser that I'm auditioning in this space under the counter. I haven't decided if I want it here or in the pantry.

Theodore tries a game on the oculus:

Olivia and Kaitlyn holding Margaret:

October

Highlights:

October was a busy month for me. The kids and I went to Pittsburgh at the beginning of the month to visit before Margaret was born. Justine and I organized the house and generally tried to get things ready. Then I was home for a few days before heading to Chicago to be with Jacque and Will leading up to Lenore's birth. I kept Jacque calm and made lots of freezer meals and then got to be there for Lenore's birth. The next weekend I was in Indiana for a half marathon (and a PR!) and the last week we had Halloween, Olivia's duettist competition, and some friends from college visiting.

I did manage to injure my hip pretty thoroughly. I was stiff at the end of my half marathon, and the car ride to Columbus (because the rest of my family was at a party at Keshia's house) didn't help anything. By the time I was walking up Keshia's driveway, my right hip was struggling to support my weight. I saw a chiropractor, took the week off, and ran the parent mile after the Healthy Kids Race. Even that was rough, and I could feel my hip locking up about a quarter mile in. Being stubborn, I finished anyway, but that one mile did me in again and now I've been to OIO and I'm waiting patiently on an MRI.

We wrapped up the Healthy Kids Running Series this weekend. Unfortunately for Olivia, it's a points based system over 5 weeks and she won 4 races but missed one week, so she didn't get the first place trophy. Everyone got a medal, though, and they seemed to have a good enough time over the five weeks.

Pictures:

In the hospital when Lenore was born:

Saying hello to the kids after school when I came back:

After my race. I ran a 1:53:13!

Race day:

Theodore shows off his sucker. He's enjoying all my extra visits to the chiropractor because they always have dum dums for him.

Theodore and Sebastian reading together at the library:

Theodore's first dentist appointment:

Halloween. We have Ariel (live action), a Soulless Reaper, a dog, Evie from Descendants, and a dragon.

Duettist Competition:

Gretchen plays volleyball:

October Updates

We had doctor's appointments recently, so I have updated stats for all the kids. Our appointments are very delayed because the office won't let us schedule a year in advance and also doesn't send out reminders, so by the time birthdays hit and I think of yearly check-ups and call, we're looking at an appointment two months out. They also won't let me schedule more than 2 kids for consecutive time slots, so I spend the better part of 2-3 days returning to the same office with the same 5 children so that a different 1-2 can be the star(s) of the appointment.

Olivia: 76 pounds, 59.25 inches tall

Gretchen: 61 pounds, 56.5 inches tall

Kaitlyn: 58 pounds, 50.5 inches tall

Matthias: 51 pounds, 47 inches tall

Theodore: 40 pounds, 42 inches tall

Matthias has joined his sisters at school, so Theodore is the only one at home now. Some days we get a lot done, and some days we just get on each other's nerves. Theodore's most recent weigh-in meant that he got to move to a high back booster in the car, so we currently have zero five-point harnesses in the van. He was a reluctant buckler of his five-point harness and is not any more pleased with the booster. Mostly he feels strongly that, as the littlest, things should be done for him.

We've been making lunches the night before and Theodore was jealous of everyone's yummy food getting packed away, so now he gets a lunch most nights, too. He picks the food and helps pack it up in a cute little lunch box that he pulls out of the fridge the next day at lunch time. Usually he is not irritated at the choices he made the night before. He is always excited to have the lunch box to open, regardless of the contents.

Kaitlyn played soccer this fall and enjoyed it for the most part. She's pretty good at defense, although she spent the first few games gesturing apologetically at the other team after kicking the ball away from them. She got more aggressive as the season progressed and learned to stay with the ball after kicking it. 

Gretchen played volleyball for the first time, and might take after her mother in this regard. Which is to say, she did not manage to serve over the net this season. She got closer each game, though, and if she decides to continue with volleyball next year I think she has a good chance of making it.

Four of the kids are participating in a Healthy Kids Running Series this month (Kaitlyn declined). It's a nationwide program that just found its way to Lima. I'm definitely more excited than they are, but they humor me. :) Theodore runs an adorable 75 yard dash, Matthias guts out a quarter mile, and Olivia and Gretchen have to complete a mile. Olivia has been the first girl across the finish line each week. Gretchen gives it her best and managed to land herself in the ER with stomach cramps last week that Bryan was worried might be appendicitis, but the doctor decided were probably due to poor running form. Sad day. She likes the idea of running. Next week is their last week and is followed by a parent mile which I plan to run. Bryan will run if the kids make him.

Matthias is looking forward to a basketball technique season that starts at the end of the month. No games, just learning ball handling skills. I think mostly he's excited to have something of his own on the calendar.

September

Highlights:

The 9th Annual* Barhorst Fun Run happened this year. (*We started in 2013, but missed 2019 because Theodore was due and 2020 because of covid.) We had a good mile race followed by a 5k that included several dedicated children. A picture of times is below.

Pictures:

A cat decided to adopt us. The kids call her Marshmallow. Or Lambchop.

Theodore reads a book at the bank:

The boys end up in the same bed more nights than not:

Gretchen takes a clay class:

School pictures:

Kaitlyn throwing the ball in:

The fun run:

Olivia and some friends on a field trip:

I finally got around to doing my Origins individual puzzle. Outside was beautiful, although I did have to dodge a 4-year-old with a sprinkler once or twice:

Grand Lake half marathon. Just under 2 hours for each of us.