Christmas Card Photos - Epic Fail

Well, maybe not and EPIC fail...but pretty close. I did manage to get a couple of decent shots!

It's been a while

I'm still alive and kicking. Is anyone still reading? I seriously don't know how you folks (especially those of you with more than one baby) have the time to blog. BB has started screeching to get in my lap every time I sit down at the computer. She wants to pound the keyboard and a toy keyboard just won't do!

My surgery went well. It wasn't as invasive as we thought and basically the doctor just had to move a tendon in my wrist. Thankfully I didn't have to wear a cast for 4 weeks. Just a bandage for about a week. The surgery was pretty much a breeze. The recovery, minus the stomach bug I caught the day after surgery, was easy. I thought I was going to die. I was miserable for 4-5 days and none of it was surgery related. I'm just glad that it's over.

The kids are great. Halloween was fun. BB was a witch and AB was a ninja. BB was sooo cute walking around that night. And yes...she is walking. She started on October 12. She crawled and walked for a few days, but then she just stopped crawling. Now she's running! I was beginning to wonder if she would ever walk! =) Now if we can get her talking. She can follow directions and knows lots of things. She says a handful of words and she knows several signs. She is absolutely a doll and still the best, most laid back baby I know. It is so fun to watch her walk and explore. She can actually walk to the car now! I don't want to rush the baby stage, but it's so much easier now that she's walking. AB is doing great! We love his new school. The 4th and 5th grade classes had an overnight field trip and went to an outdoor school. They had a blast! Ropes courses and repelling and all kinds of team building exercises. He absolutely loved it!


I'm in school again and am staying pretty busy with classes on top of everything else.

The transmission in one of our cars died. Long story short, we have to get a new car. Of course, it was almost paid for. We bought it used and it's been a great car! But it will cost thousands of dollars to fix it. We actually sold the car today and are trying to find another one. It should be fun trying to share one car.

My mother and I went to see the movie "F.or Color.ed Girls". It was amazing. I love Tyler Perry and all of his movies. This was by far the most intense, soul crushing movie that I've ever seen. I think that everyone needs to see this movie. I don't want to ruin it for anyone so I won't say more!!

BB went to sleep about 30 minutes ago so I'm trying to get lots done before I go to bed. She is still not sleeping through the night. She is up every 3 - 4 hours. The most she has ever slept is 6 hours...and she's only done that twice. She is only taking one nap a day too. She's ready for a nap about 3 hours after she wakes up but I'm trying to push her out and have her (hopefully) take one long afternoon nap. Then (hopefully) she will go to bed earlier. We'll see. She is still not eating well. Zzzzzzzz....

Talk to you soon!

What a difference a year makes!

And here's some just for fun...

Surgery scheduled for Friday. Classes started yesterday...all online...lots of typing. Frantically trying to get everything done before hand. I really miss blogging. I hope to get back to it on a regular basis soon. Le Sigh....

MIA

Hey all...I can't believe that I haven't posted in so long. Since having my iphone, I rarely get to the computer. Not that I have much time to use it anyway. We are in Kentucky now visiting the in laws. AB had a 2 week fall break so we came to visit. It's been nice.

We also went to Miami ( I think I told you that) for my sister in laws wedding.

I have to have surgery on my right wrist. I have a cyst on the tendon and it's about to rupture. Of course, I am right handed. And I am about to start an online class. Not sure how that's going to work out. My mom is coming to spend at least 4 weeks with us. Fortunately for me (unfortunately for her) she isn't working right now. I basically can't put any pressure on my hand after surgery and I will be in a cast up to my elbow for 4 weeks. Did I mention that I can't get it wet? Fun times, huh?

I'm using my father in laws lap top while BB is eating. And she just finished and is shrieking to get out of her high chair. She's doing great by the way. There went to sippy cup...food is sure to follow. Yep, there is goes. All over the floor. Here doggy doggy!! It's great! Like a vacuum cleaner with four legs and a mouth! hahaha!!

I will update properly soon. I promise. I may not comment (hard to type on a cell phone) but I am reading your updates.

I'm glad everyone is doing well. 

Conversation with the husband

Setting: Dining table eating dinner, the husband  (H) is working on a flashlight of AB's to make it work.

H: I think if I can just loosen this one screw that it will work.

Me: Uhhh...ok.

H: Do you have a small screwdriver? Like one for eyeglasses?

Me: Reach down like I'm pulling it out of my a**. {cue crickets chirping}

30 seconds later...

H: I need a small screwdriver.

Me: There is a kit in the black tool box in the laundry room.

H: That sound great!

Me: {Crickets chirping again}  Uhh...ok.

H: Staring at me while listening to crickets chirping

Me: So go get them.

H: Rolls eyes, acts like I chopped off his leg.

Me: Ok, so I'll go get the screwdrivers and you can clean the kitchen.

H: That's ok. I'll get the screwdriver.

Dooohhhhh!!! Men!!!

Wiped Out...

Alive and barely kicking. We were in Miami for my sister in law's wedding this past weekend. We stayed at the Ri.tz Carlton...amazing! It was hot and humid and busy. I will try to update soon.

My mother was here for 3 weeks and just left today...booo!!! I love when she is here.

BB is sleeping worse that ever lately. I think the trip really threw her off. She was up 3 times last night between 9 pm and 6 am. One night in Miami she was up crying at least 10 times.  You moms out there who have babies that sleep through the night the moment they pop out of your vajay jay...consider yourselves extremely lucky. You are in an elite club. I'm in the permanent black circles under your eyes club.  Almost 13 months of no more than 4 hours of sleep at a time makes you a little crazy.

On that note...going to bed. Will update asap.

My Girl's Birthday

This year has been the fastest of my life. I am so thankful that I get to be a mama to this precious little being. She is just such an amazing little person and I love spending my days with her. She is so much fun to be around and I absolutely love and adore her more that I thought possible.

What a difference a year makes!

She is "this close" to walking. She can stand alone for a while...until she realizes she isn't holding on to anything. Then she plops down on her cute little rear! She loves to play "Pat a Cake and doing the motions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider". If we say "Aye, aye, aye!!" she puts both hands on her head. She loves her brother with a passion and his name was the third word she said (after mama and dada). No one can make her laugh like he can. When she gets mad she says "mamamamamamama" over and over. I'm all like, "hey! It's not my fault you are mad!" She has 8 teeth and is not afraid to use them! I sing her a little song and point while I'm doing it. "It's your chin and your lips and your nose...." and every time I point to her lips she tries to bite my finger! Cute but painful if she actually makes contact! She loves nudey time after her bath and she will flip and flop on my bed. It's the cutest thing! She loves to get into the cabinets and throw things on the floor.She also loves to "help" me with the dishwasher.

Which usually ends up being lots more work for me in the end! (wow, is my carpet nasty!)

I could go on and on but I will spare you. ( Since I don't have a baby book for her I have to write this all somewhere! Mother of the century..I know)

We met the daddy for lunch on her actual birthday. I think she knew something special was going on.

I definitely knew something special was going on!!

She had her one year check up on Friday and had to have 4 shots! She was not happy and she just sobbed and sobbed. I felt so sorry for her. She weighs a whopping 19 pounds (20%) and is 30 1/2 inches long (90%).  When the doctor walked in she said "Hi" to BB. BB waved at her and said "Hi" right back. Too cute!

Ok, on to the party. It was so much fun. Lots of work but fun. I think it turned out really well! My friends are awesome and I couldn't have put it together without them. Lets put it this way. The party started at 2. Kellye and Keri showed up at 1:15 and I was still in my pajamas. They saved me yet again!!

Kellye made this adorable little tutu for her! Along with a dvd of her first year in photos. Totally made me cry.

(This photo is blurry but it's too cute not to use!)

She looks like a little peacock!

It was a lot of work, but it looked really cute!

The hot dogs were "for the kids" but the grown ups loved them too!

Bells is her nickname

She wasn't too terribly excited about her cake. She was very sleepy.

But she managed a few smiles...

And then she hit a wall and was all "NO MORE CAKE!!"

So, after a bath and a change of clothes, we opened gifts.

I have the nicest, bestest friends in the world! They made this such a memorable occasion and I am so grateful for their generosity and love for my children.

Checking In

My baby will be 1 tomorrow...wow. How is that possible? I will give you a proper update soon!

I leave you with BB's newest smile!

And yes, I still bathe her in the sink!

Ha!!

EB

I'm not sure if you noticed the buttons for Jonah and Tripp on the right side of my blog. These children were born with a rare genetic disease called epidermolysis bullosa. They are basically missing the glue that holds their skin on. This results in horrible blisters (inside and out) and a myriad of health problems. Their is no cure and their lives are cut short by this horrible, cruel disease.

The University of Minnesota is using stem cell therapy on some of these patients and are seeing good results.   The unfortunate part is that the children get extremely close to death's door during the process.

Why am I telling you this? Well, my heart has been aching for these children. I have literally sobbed for the last 3 nights while checking for updates. I so desperately want to help them but what can I do? I believe that this is so close to my heart for a reason. If I ever become a nurse (no, I didn't get into nursing school this time around, sigh) maybe I could work with these patients. I don't know. I just feel like I need to do something.

The one thing that I CAN do is to donate to DEBRA (Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America) . This organization is a necessity to families dealing with this horrible disease.

Please pray for these children and families. And consider making a donation to DEBRA or the families. It is just so heartbreaking and completely unfair. No one should have to deal with something so horrible...

There are not enough words....

My heart is breaking...

And so it begins...

AB has a girlfriend. It's the 2nd day of 5th grade and she asked him to 1) be her boyfriend 2) asked for his phone number 3) called my cell phone 14 times (the ringer was off thankfully) 3) called the home number 3 times 4) sent 3 text messages to my phone 5)finally talked to AB and asked him to go to the movies this weekend...or fishing..   HAVE MERCY!!!

She is a really sweet girl and very cute. But they are 10 years old! I told them that I would talk to her mom and we would see about them going to the movies. She then told AB to tell me to make sure that if I took them to the movies to sit several rows back...not anywhere near them. Nice.

My little stud muffin showing off his 'muscles'

This is what happens when he watches TV...totally zones out.

This little cutie (who always seems to have food on her face)

loves to feed the dogs her food. She teased Patches forever but never actually gave her a bite!

She came close a few times

But kept a pretty firm grasp on that graham cracker!

And then she played pat a cake...

rolled them up...

and threw them in th pan...

Then proceeded to eat a graham cracker covered in dog slobber. A few germs never hurt anyone...right?