Day One Hundred and Thirty-Nine

Actual Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Our garbage disposal got jammed up today. Poor Brian had to come home and fix it after work. In order to do that though he had to take everything out from under the kitchen sink so he could have some room to work.

Which of course forced me to face the fact that I am a compulsive over buyer. I have a horrible habit of buying something new because I think we need it and then later I realize there is a half used bottle still under the sink. So then we end up with two half used bottles of everything. I know exactly who to blame for odd behavior though. My father.

If you don't believe me, go look at his kitchen. Seriously one time I think we counted that he had 5 opened boxes of pancake mix at one time! See, so really it's not my fault.

Any who, it was kind of a blessing that the garbage disposal acted up because it gave me a chance to clean out and reorganize under the sink.

Also, the doctor's office called and they said that no parasites were found in the stool sample that they had sent off to the lab but they were still waiting on the rest of the test. The Doctor was strongly convinced that it would come back positive for Salmonella.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Eight

Actual Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010

In an effort to keep my mind off of things, I did a little project with the girls. It wasn't too hot on this day so we decided to play outside for awhile. I grabbed the big rice tub out of the pantry along with the food coloring and we headed outside while Parker was resting.

We filled up four different bowls with rice and then to each bowl we added a different color of food coloring and mixed. We used the neon food coloring box and the colors turned out really good.

Ava was most excited about the pink. Moments like these almost make me miss my Preschool teaching days. Almost...

I'm a lot more happy now that I can do these fun activities at home in my jammies without the hassle of having to get up early and rush out the door. Notice Ava's in her jammies too. It runs in the family.

As a little side note: Make sure the food coloring has completely dried on the rice before you play with it. Just a suggestion. Apparently our blue was not as dry as the rest of the bowls. Whoops. Brooke didn't care though.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Seven

Actual Date: Monday, August 9, 2010

This day kinda happened in a blur. Parker had slept in at least an hour past the time he normal would. When he finally did wake up he was screaming. I rushed in there to see what the problem was, thinking he had just gotten his leg stuck in between one of the bars on the crib or something. As soon as I opened the door to his room the smell hit me.

I scooped him up and grabbed a new diaper and proceeded to change him. But as soon as I opened his diaper I could tell there was something more going on here than just a baby upset over having a poopy diaper. The whole diaper was covered in blood.

Seriously, it was one of those Mommy Moments where your heart just drops. I got him cleaned up and grabbed my phone and called the doctor. They made us an appointment for that day and told me to bring the diaper in so we could run some tests on it.

So we did just that, although by the time we went to the doctor, only a couple hours later, he had 3 more bloody diapers. Once the doctor looked at them, and smelled the awful smell, she said that we for sure needed to take samples of it and have it sent out for some testing. She said the likely cause was Salmonella poisoning and asked if we had been swimming lately. Which of course we had. She told us that she sees a fair amount of cases with young children who come in during the Summer months who have contracted it from a public pool. That was enough to make my skin crawl. Yuck.

She also asked if he had gotten into any dog food, because a lot of times dog food can contain salmonella. And yes he had. Now that he's crawling, it's been a non stop struggle to keep him out of it. But I had only once caught him with it actually in his mouth. But maybe that was enough. She also said there was a slim chance that it was another virus from contaminated well water. But she said it was slim because it had been weeks since he had drank any well water.

Then she said the thing any Mom never wants to hear; if the tests come back negative for these things, we will proceed with some more in depth testing to find the source behind it. It's nerve wracking to hear that indeed, we're not really sure what's going on with your baby. But when she said that it triggered a memory that I had. A few weeks before when changing his diaper I found a couple Bendaroos (kinda like pipe cleaners except they don't have the wire in them and they are made out of wax) balled up in his poop. Apparently he had found them somewhere and somehow swallowed them. But he never fussed about it and it hadn't seem to have bothered him since so I had forgotten about it until now.

I told the doctor about this and asked her if she thought maybe there was something else or perhaps more Bendaroos stuck in there, because honestly I don't know how he got into them so I wasn't sure just how many he had eaten. She said that if it was from that we would probably be seeing other symptoms and that she felt comfortable waiting for the tests to come back so we would have a better idea of how to proceed. We love our new pediatrician and I had full faith that she was doing everything she could.

We left the doctors office with orders to keep him hydrated and wait for further instruction. Apparently antibiotics don't really work for Salmonella poising so that wasn't really an option.

We had spent a great deal of time at the doctors office so by the time we got out of there it was time to head straight to Brooke's dance class. Luckily I had thrown her dance bag in the car at the last minute. That picture there is of her with her new "Bun Cover" from Grandma Cindy and Papa Ron. I'm not sure if that's the actually name for it but that's what we call it.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Six

Actual date: Sunday, August 8, 2010

The church we have been going to is fairly new. It was started almost 4 years ago. So for the time being, we meet at a local school. The church has started a tradition of gathering up backpacks full of school supplies for children in need at the beginning of the school year. We thought this would be a good way to give back and it was something we as a family could all participate in. It was a good teachable moment.

We got our little list of what exactly a 5th grader would need and headed to Target! Man oh man, walking through that Back To School section brought back some memories. Fond memories of Lisa Frank folders, big fat pink erasers and the beautiful sight of a brand spankn' new box of Crayolas. I remember the pure excitement I had ever year when my Mom would take me to pick out the stuff on my list.

We took a vote. Who wanted to make a backpack for a boy and who wanted to do a girl? Poor Brian was out voted and we went with making one for a girl. Brooke and I had so much fun picking out all the cute girly stuff for the backpack. Seriously we were in that section for at least a half an hour, probably more.

After all that I am kinda excited to go school shopping with Brooke next year when she starts Kindergarten. I'm not so excited about the whole dropping her off all day thing but we've got to start somewhere.

We took our backpack to church with us on this morning and piled it up with the other donated backpacks. After the service was over we headed over to the church property to take our new member class and to witness some baptisms. I can't ever get through a baptism without crying. Even if I don't know the people. haha I just love hearing every ones personal story and there's something about seeing someone publicly proclaim their faith.

But during the whole thing, Parker was kinda fussy. Totally not himself. He would not stay with the other kids who where playing and even when he was with me he was still whinny. So we left a little early and headed home to put him down for a nap. Little did we know that he had a good reason for all that fussiness...

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Five

Actual Date: Saturday, August 7, 2010We went to a outdoor mall (very similar to Victoria Garden's for all of my So. Cal. friends and family) in the next town over for family movie night. I had read about it in our town's little magazine a few days prior. Brian and I thought the kids would get a kick out of it and it was nice to get outside, even if it was after the sun had gone down. It had been so darn hot and humid here, or maybe that's the California girl in me complaining.

We saw a movie called Astro Boy. The girls watched most of it but mainly they enjoyed running around with the other kids near by. And Parker sat on the blanket we brought and ate Gold Fish and yelled at all the kids that ran by. Especially Ava. That's his new favorite word. Anytime he sees her he yells "Ava! Ava!" It's really cute. Ava loves it too. She's so proud to be a big sister.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Four

Actual Date: Friday, August 6, 2010

We woke up this morning excited because we were going to the gym to swim and play with our new friends, the Grahms. As we were getting ready I noticed that my 19 year old cat, Spottie, was having a hard time walking. She would take a few steps and then fall down. I called the vet and they scheduled us an appointment for early that afternoon.

We had a blast with the Grahms at the pool. The three youngest kids came and Brooke and Ava just love them. They all played together so good. And it was so nice to have some Mommy Time with Cindy.

After that we headed home to meet Brian and pick up Spottie so we could take her to the vet. Brian had offered to come with because we were both kind of sure that they were going to have to put her down. I mean she is 19 after all. I was grateful to have him there to help me make that decision if it came down to it.

Apparently she was dehydrated and her thyroid was out of whack. The day before she had gone outside and refused to come in until I finally chased her down and brought her back in late in the afternoon. I am guessing that's where she got the dehydration from. It was pretty hot out there. They took her in the back and gave her some fluids. She looked so funny when they brought her back because they just put the IV in just under the skin and she had a little hump on her back for awhile until her body absorbed it all. The girls thought that was pretty funny.

This is the only picture I could get out of that visit. The kids were wound up from not having a nap and from having Daddy home early so it was kinda crazy in that cramped little room.

Spottie always cracks me up when we go to the vet. Every other animal I've ever owned, including our dog Chester who loves everybody and everything, is scared to go to the vet. Not Spottie. She always prances around excited to see everyone. Rubbing on everyone and purring. She really is the sweetest kitty in the world.

And she really is going to outlive us all.

That is an on going joke in our family for years. Since we've had Spottie we've had pets pass away that were younger than her. Even when my Papa passed last month, we all laughed and said "Spottie outlived him too!" Spottie lived with my Papa for about a year before he went in a home. He greatly needed and enjoyed her company and she was equally grateful for all of the table scraps he dished out throughout the day.

Just a little update since it's been about a month since this appointment, Spottie healthy and doing well on her new thyroid medicine.


Brian and the girls after bath time. They love to make him be the horsey and ride him around the house.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Three

Actual Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010

This Texas heat is something else. Some days we can't spend very much time outside before we're all covered in sweat and ready for some air conditioned relief. So in the interest of trying to make inside time more fun, and energy exerting without making Mommy too crazy, I busted out our blow up trampoline/ ball pit. I usually save it for the Winter months but by this point I was pretty desperate.

Ava and one of her many goofy faces. She is quite the comedian and has us all laughing numerous times throughout the day.

Parker loving on his Sissy. This was his first experience inside the trampoline ball pit and he loved every minute of it. The girls loved having him in there too. Surprisingly they were very gentle with him which made me happy.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Two

Actual Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Brooke and I saw this in a magazine and thought we would try it. First you take a tortilla. We've been buying the whole grain ones for about a year now and we can't even tell a difference anymore.

Slather it with some Sun Butter. You can use Peanut Butter but we use Sun Butter (it's made out of sunflower seeds) because of Brooke's peanut allergy. Add to that some Jelly.

On top of it all put one banana. Ours is a little broken and smooched but that's what you get when you have little "helping" hands in the kitchen. And who cares, you'll never know the difference in the end.

Roll it all up and there you have it. Brooke's been calling them banana quesadilla.

They are pretty yummy. However, I don't like that much banana so just add half a banana lengthwise to mine when I make it. It's a nice little grab and go thing and it helps cut down on the carbs.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-One

Actual Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010

This little man was so worn out after physical therapy that he passed out right in the middle of a diaper change. Poor little guy. But I'm so proud of him. He's been working so hard and I know all of his hard work will pay off in the end. He's such a little trooper.

Day One Hundred and Thirty

Actual Date: Monday, August 2, 2010

Ok so on this day, of all days, I forgot to take my camera with me to Brooke's dance class. And of course, they let the parents in to have a little sneak peak at what they have been working on all summer.

Of course.

So I don't have a picture for this day! Can you believe it. I made it One Hundred and Twenty Nine Days... I'm so sad.

Anyways I did take few videos with my phone but I still have not figured out how to get it on the computer. My memory card seems to not be compatible with my computer and the files are to large to transfer via e mail I guess. So if I ever get it too work, I will come back and update this day.

It feels too weird to be done with this blog and not to have posted a picture so let me dig through my files and find at least something to post...

That feels better. And this kinda works because this is what our little family looked like this time last year. Wow. It really doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

Look at Ava, she's still a little baby!

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Nine

Actual Date: Sunday, August 1, 2010

Well here we were at the first day of August and immediately I freak out and think "What comes after August? September! And September means Parker turns one!" Yikes. How did that happen? Didn't we just bring him home yesterday?

Oh my, I wish this picture was scratch and sniff. I love that newborn baby smell.

Wasn't this just yesterday?

Some how, overnight, that little wittle bittle grew into this little crazy man.


And now we find ourselves getting ready for his very first Birthday Party.


See even he can't believe he's almost one.

The party will be Pirate themed.

Handsome little guy.


I'm trying to decide what we want to do for the invitations. I was thinking maybe we would use these pictures somehow.

And look at this...standing up!

Ok well I stood him up like that but he stayed up there. For a minute.

He wasn't really too happy about it either. But look at that cute little Wrangler diaper cover. Is that not the cutest thing ever?

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Eight

Actual Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010

Look at this beast I found in my garden. It's proof that everything really is bigger in Texas. That thing's got to be on steroids or something.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Seven

Actual Date: Friday, July 30, 2010

Took the girls to the pool at the gym today after my work out. I love taking them there because they have that little beach area where they can stand and play and the water is not too deep. They love it too.

Well right up till the point that the life guard blew her whistle and said that everyone under the age of 12 had to get out of the pool for a ten minute safety rest.

There's the two girls pouting, wishing they could be in the water.

I'm pretty sure that ten minutes was pure torture to them. All they could do was sit there and stare at the water and ask every 10 seconds, "Is it time to go back in yet?"

"How 'bout now Mom?"

"Now?"

Longest ten minutes of my life.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Six

Actual Date: Thursday, July 29, 2010

Another messy day. Found some shaving cream on the clearance rack and thought the girls would have fun with it.

My suspicions were correct.

Lookn' good Brooke. That shaving cream goes well with the hint of pink glitter that lingers in your hair still.

However I should have told poor Ava that it was not whip cream before I squirted it on the table. She grabbed a big hand full and licked it before I could stop her. She found out pretty quickly that it was something other than whipped cream. But she still had fun with it anyways.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Five

Actual Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Brooke found this glittery hair gel in our arts and crafts box this morning. I had all but forgotten it was in there.

I told her that she and Ava could use it as long as they put it on in the shower so it wasn't all over the house.

Helping sissy.

Lovely.

The glittery hair gel was a birthday gift to the girls from someone, I can't remember who. But whoever it was, thank you. It kept them out of my hair (pun intended) for awhile.

And for those of you wondering, I let them wear it for the rest of the day, even to the gym. And it took two washes to get it all out.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Four

Actual Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
My blender is breaking! When I saw this I about had a panic attack. Recently I have been doing very good fighting my Starbucks addiction. I haven't had it in a really long while actually. But to help with that I have been having Mocha Shakes daily. So I think I've gone from one addiction to another. At least Mocha Shakes are a little more healthy.

So Mocha Shakes came from my old gym days when I used to work at The Club. At that time Jensen's in Twin Peaks did not have a Starbucks, it had it's own little coffee shop. And they had this drink called a Mocha Shake. But Chelsea and I called them Mocha Fortunes because they cost like 4 bucks a piece. I'm pretty sure they set the stage for Starbucks prices because that's pretty ridiculous. But those things must have had crack in them because we couldn't stop from buying them regardless of the price.

Mocha Shakes consist of of: Milk, a banana, Cafe D'Vita Mocha Cappuccino mix and whipped cream on the top. Sometimes if I'm feeling a little crazy I drizzle chocolate sauce on the inside of the cup. That's the way they used to make them at Jensen's. Once Jensen's coffee shop turned into a Starbucks they stopped making Mocha Shakes. Luckily I found the mix at Costco and have been making them myself ever since! I have even gotten half my family addicted to them now. I know, I'm a bad influence.

Brian laughs at me and says "Oh, having your health shake I see..." But the jokes on him because ever since I switched to light whipped cream, I've been losing weight! He's just jealous. And I also read that people who drink low fat milk after working out lose more weight. So, I usually use it as a reward when I get home from the gym. The article didn't say anything about chocolate syrup and whipped cream but I think they just forgot to add that in there.

Back to my picture, fear not! I've already ordered a new piece and Brian replaced it for me. All is great in my world again.

Speaking of my gym days, here's me and Dan the Man at work. See I was skinny and I drank Mocha Shakes daily back then as well.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Three

Actual Date: Monday, July 26, 2010We're five weeks into the six week Summer dance session and Brooke is loving every minute of it.

At home she even teaches Ava. They line up in the middle of the room and Brooke yells out "Tendue. Passe. Jump to second. Tendue. Passe." It's so cute.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Two

Actual Date: Sunday, July 25, 2010

Just a lazy Sunday. Those are the best. After church we just kinda hung out around the house. Brian mowed the lawn and then he and the girls practiced hitting some balls in the net.

Brooke LOVES golfing so far. She begs Brian to go to the golf course all the time.

I might think about playing too if I got to carry around a cute little bag like that!

Day One Hundred and Twenty One

Actual Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010

These boots are one of my favorite things that my girls have owned.

First they were Brooke's and now Ava gets to wear them. And boy does she ever wear them. Most days you can find her in either these "Wee How boots" (that's what she calls horses) or her rain boots. Every once in awhile I can talk her into putting on sandals in this 100 plus degree weather, but it's very rare.

I love these little boots. I'm going to be sad when she out grows them. Good thing we live in Texas where there is an abundance of Cowboy stores because I think Ava is going to miss her "Wee How boots" as much as I will.

Look At that little cutie potootie!

So after Ava and I made a run to the crockery store to pick up some things, our awesome neighbors, Miles and Jessica, watched the kids for us so that Brian and I could go out for our Anniversary. How great is that? They are the best!

We went to the movies and saw Grown Ups. It was really funny. It was a much needed night out. The last time I was in a movie theater I saw Titanic! That's how long it's been.

Now when I told Brian that he said "That's not true. You and your Dad went when he came out for the NASCAR race in 2006..." Ok so maybe he's right. But I was a million months pregnant with Brooke at the time and I spent half of the movie in the bathroom with my pregnant bladder! And I don't remember the rest because of pregnant brain!

By the way pregnant brain is a real thing! I saw it on Dr. Phil. Your brain actually shrinks during pregnancy. Crazy huh? Now you know.

Anyways, the theater we went to was kinda unique. You eat there. It had tables and everything. It was pretty cool. So we got to do dinner and a movie but it only took half the time.

Thanks again Jessica and Miles! Brooke said she wants Mrs. Jessica to watch her again. She said "Mommy, Mrs. Jessica is the best! She washed our faces and brushed our teeth and she even read us a story!"

Day One Hundred and Twenty

Actual Date: Friday, July 23, 2010There are few things in life more satisfying as a freshly washed and folded load of towels.

I'm not sure why this excites me so but it does.

I'm weird like that.

On another note, 5 years ago today I married my best friend.

Well, after someone got my veil unstuck from the door that is...

Of course that would happen to me. Why wouldn't it?

The real story behind this picture is:

Yes, I really did get my veil stuck in the door. But I immediately opened it and took it out. Then immediately after that I opened the door again, shoved my veil back in there and yelled "Someone get a camera!"

It was all worth it though.

Love you Babe. These last 5 years have been amazing. Can't wait to see what the next 500 years have in store for us!