Mommy of M's

What are you doing this summer??

2010-06-22T20:24:00.002-04:00

This is what we are doing....

It's our summer fun list! I've seen this done in blog land for a couple years, but this is the first year I felt like the M's could appreciate it. At least M1 can. M1 thought of some pretty good things to do.

The complete list:

Go to the Zoo

Watch Fireworks

Ride a boat

Make a Tie Dye Shirt

See a parade

Go to the fair

Make homemade smores

have a cookout

Go to Kings Island

Go to World of Bounce

Visit the fire station

See a movie

Go to a festival

have a party

ride bikes

make homemade icees

fly a kite

go to the pool

shop at the flea market

see a baseball game

go on a walk

sleep in a tent

safety town

feed the ducks

VBS

ride a train

eat breakfast outside

drive remote control cars

make a lizard craft

go out for ice cream

sleep over at Mamaw & Papaw's

play with bubbles

play croquet

fly remote control plane

go on a truck ride

finger paint

play a soccer game in the backyard

eat popcorn

make an animal craft

have a picnic

go to Family Fun Night

School shopping

visit the library

run around outside

slip n slide

Go to Picnic w/ the Pops

catch lighting bugs

go to the horse races

swim lessons

eat food from our garden

go to the farmer's market

sidewalk chalk

have a potato sack race

start kindergarten

I hope we have time for everything! I'm worn out just thinking about it all!!

M1 meets a celebrity....

2010-06-02T20:45:00.003-04:00

...of course he doesn't know he met a celebrity. This is M1 and his best buddy from preschool with Jack Hanna, the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo. M1's preschool field trip was at the Zoo this morning and Jack Hanna was at the newly opened Polar Frontier. I was thrilled that we were able to get this picture. I still remember standing in line as a little girl awaiting a turn to meet Jack Hanna, probably over 20 years ago.
We love the zoo, and go often, Jack Hanna has done a lot of great things not only for our Zoo but with animal education on a national level.

So even though M1's first celebrity meeting might not have been overly memorable for him, it was for his Mommy. And that's all that really matters anyway, right?

It's that time of year.....

2010-06-01T21:26:00.004-04:00

And this little guy is the graduate. He's graduating from Preschool. Anyone want to take bets on weather or not his Mommy cries?

Could he be any cuter? Look out ladies, he's headed for kindergarten. Assuming his Mommy lets him out the door come August.....

"Survivors That Surprise Even The Medical Staff"

2010-05-23T21:10:00.002-04:00

Hello. I've missed you dear blog. I know I've been away from you for so long. I think of you often but somehow just can't think of anything to say.

It's funny, I thought of starting a blog for so long before I actually started it. And it took something meaningful in my life to start it. My first post was about how Thankful I was that we had moved to the house we live in now. So when THIS happened on Friday I felt it was meaningful enough to get me back to blogging. I can't guarantee how often I'll post but I will try to post as often as I can.

http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wsyx_vid_4333.shtml?sms_ss=email

Yes, that was the NICU that M2 spent the first 6 weeks of his life in, those are even some of the doctors that treated him. And that handsome little boy in the orange tshirt, that survivor that surprised even the medical staff; that's M2 the day his trach came out. If you look close enough he is even holding his trach in his right hand.

That story was on the news Friday Evening, Hubby and I spoke about M2 at the Neonatal Conference Friday Morning.

Yep, that was meaningful enough to get me back to blogging. I miss you blog, and of course, blog readers.

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-22T10:07:00.002-05:00

Ok, I know I suck as a blogger right now, but the last two months has been CRAZY!! I just wanted to share the M's Christmas picture. And look really close at M2's neck. See anything missing???

I'll post all the details next week after Christmas. For all who have checked in on me and my family lately, Thank You. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All.

Who knew it could walk??

2009-11-16T17:41:00.003-05:00

Pneumonia that is. It walks. Did you know that? As in 3 of the 4 people in my house have walking pneumonia. M1 is getting better. I am still coughing up my lungs. M2, however is still having a hard time. He also has croup and an ear infection on top of his walking pneumonia. And as is his luck was back in the hospital last week because of all of his ailments. He is home and moving around now but still sick.

Maybe if we all get better I can get some things done around this house!

The Chicken and the Tiger

2009-11-05T21:12:00.003-05:00

So I know I'm really late on the Halloween post, but if you read this post you would understand why.

Although I do think I had the cutest tricker-or-treaters in town, we didn't have that much fun this year. There were a lot of 'transplants' and most of them were way to old to be trick or treating.

We only skipped one street and the boys buckets didn't even get full. It seemed like every third house wasn't even passing out candy this year. The boys are to young to notice but Hubby and I noticed.

The boys had fun and they were cute as hell so I guess that's all that matters!

A Career Change

2009-10-25T23:26:00.005-04:00

So, I'm a stay at home Mom now. Oh, did I forget to mention I quit my job? You knew that I hated my job, right? Yea, so I quit. Not like 'Oh hey Mr Boss Man, I'm going to give you a two week notice that I'm going to leave this fabulous company and stay at home with my beautiful boys'. No it was more like 'F#*@ You, here's my key!' Yea I literally cleaned out my desk and threw my key on my desk and walked out. Just call me a rebel. Mommy of Ms the rebel.
That's me. That is until the bills come rollin in, then you can call me terrified.

So forgive me for not blogging for what 3 weeks? I haven't figured out this stay-at-home mom-thing. I mean in my mind I thought I would have so much more time and would get so much more done, but that so isn't true. I have less time and get less done. I don't get it. When on earth do you blog?? Before I quit my job I blogged at work!

So anywho I have lots to post about, I just haven't figured out when to post. Bear with me while I figure out a time schedule. I'll probably figure it out right before I find a new job. Assuming I find a new job!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ No they are not twins

2009-10-14T08:01:00.002-04:00

M1 is on the left!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-07T23:58:00.000-04:00

Toy Story, a 3D movie. M1's first movie in a movie theatre.

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Kati.

One of the best days of our lives

2009-10-07T09:21:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't updated since we went to Cincinnati for little M2's Airway Reconstruction Surgery follow up. Life got in the way and I just haven't had time.

Hubby and M2 watching TV in pre-op.

Basically for the follow up he is taken back into the OR and a camera/scope is put into his mouth and down his airway to see if the surgery worked and how it is healing.

M2's reconstruction surgery was a complete success!! His trach was switched out in the OR to the smallest size possible and a cap has been put on the end of it forcing him to use his NEW airway!!

M2 in his room on the Complex Airway Unit after his followup procedure. He has a capped trach, and is eating his dinner while talking on his phone!!

They did keep him overnight to monitor him with his capped trach and he did GREAT!! We were discharged in less than 24 hours!!

Hubby and I were told in December that their was nothing the doctors could do for M2, that he would live his whole life with this trach. That wasn't good enough for us, so we found a new dr in Cincinnati. I completely broke down in the consultation room after we got the good news. I think the NP even started crying. It was Pure Joy.

M2 having M&M's (his favorite)

He has to go back for one more procedure, a swallow study. He has to do the procedure with his trach capped so the doctors can see how he does using his NEW airway. If all goes well from his swallow study he will be admitted and have his trach removed. He will be monitored for 48 hours and then will be sent home, TRACHLESS!! (Is that a word??) He was aspirating a good bit at first after the reconstruction surgery so I understand the need for the swallow study, although over the last 3-4 weeks he's been doing fine and not aspirating at all.
M2 is even starting to talk and babble as a 'normal' baby would. It is a FANTASTIC Sound! Thank you Dr Cotton, and the whole Cincinnati Team. You have truly changed our lives. And for that we will forever be grateful to you.

Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho, it's off to Cincinnati we go!

2009-09-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

I know I haven't updated in a while since little M2's surgery, but he is doing just fine. After his surgery and stay in the Complex Airway Unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, he came home to recover. And did so, wonderfully. Dr Cotton had said after the surgery that he wanted to see M2 back in no less than 6 weeks, and true to their scheduling M2 is headed back to Cincinnati tomorrow morning, 6 weeks to the day of his Airway Reconstruction Surgery.

Waiting in Pre-Op for a new airway.
M2 had a bit of a hard time at first, having a new airway means learning how to breathe, eat, drink and talk all over again. He did fine with the breathing, and not to bad with the eating, but the drinking and talking was a different story. When we were discharged M2 hadn't even tried to form a word, let alone try to speak one. We were told that was normal and to let him heal, he would start talking again when he felt safe doing it. And true to their word, M2 started talking, laughing and even crying again about 1 1/2-2 weeks ago.
He came home on 'thickened' liquids, meaning we put Simply Thick into anything he drank so that he won't aspirate on his liquids. When he first starting drinking again (about 3 days after surgery) every time he took a drink it came back out of his trach. So when we first came home we were putting 2 packets of thickener in every cup of milk. We've slowly stepped it down aver the last 6 weeks, and last week he was back to drinking regular fluids with no aspirating!!!

Playing in his bed in the Complex Airway Unit after his airway surgery.

So tomorrow we are going back to Cincinnati, Dr Cotton will take M2 back into the OR put a scope down his airway and look around. If everything looks like it's healing well M2 will go to a room and his trach will be capped! Which basically means he will have to learn to breathe, eat, drink and talk again!!

Hubby buckling M2 into his car seat to come home after the last surgery. Do you see that he is clapping his hands??

If he can do all of those things and keep his oxygen stats up he will come home with a capped trach! Which means we are one more step closer to getting rid of the trach!!

So hopefully we are home by the weekend with a happy little boy with a capped trach and he can continue doing what he does best. Playing and bringing smiles to the faces of the people who love him!!

Howdy Ya'll, Welcome to the Farm!

2009-09-25T09:45:00.009-04:00

The Birthday Boy, this is my favorite picture of him!!
M1 likes tractors. A lot. So it was no surprise when he decided he wanted a 'tractor party'. I tried to convince him that a pirate theme would be much more fun (I had visions of a treasure hunt, complete with treasure chest) he insisted that he did in fact want a tractor party. So the John Deere invitations were sent out, and the house took on a farm theme.

The guests were welcomed by a sign, hay bale and tractor. Along with pumpkins, mums, corn stalks and scarecrow (which will stay up and double as fall decorations).

The decorations were pretty simple, we sponsored alter flowers at church the morning of the party. I had called the florist to see if the arrangements could be all yellow, to keep with the green and yellow of the John Deere tractors. They were nice enough to oblige. Here's a picture of one of the arrangements and one of the decorated tables. I literally just put vegetables from the garden on the tables and buffet for decoration and it turned out great (and cheap)!!

Keeping with the farm theme, I made a farm cake..

Close up or the barn...

I thought I had taken a picture of the buffet table but I guess not. We served hamburgers and hot dogs, pasta salad, cheese and crackers, chips, pretzels and dip and watermelon. It was a hit!

Thank goodness it was such a nice afternoon (Sept 13, I'm a little behind posting) and most of the party took place outside.

These two are going to worry me when they grow up...

M1 and all the presents...

Ready for cake and ice cream....

I the 'tractor party' turned out pretty good. The decorations were beyond easy, and cheap!!

My NEW Mudroom

2009-09-23T14:35:00.003-04:00

I've always wanted a Mud Room. When we decided to move last year, we didn't want to have to move again until the boys had left and we needed to downsize. And as with most people we had a LIST of stuff we wanted in our new house. A mud room was on my list, so was a craft room (I had one in the old house). However when we got an offer on our old house it was Jan 1, and we had to be packed and moved by Feb 9, and little M2 was due in March! Leaving not a lot of time for searching.

The moment we walked into our house I was instantly in love. It was exactly what I wanted. Except it didn't have a mudroom (or a craft room but that's another story).

After living there for a couple months I quickly decided that the first floor laundry "room" was not going to work out. And my mind started spinning. Hubby agreed that it wasn't working and told me to figure out what I wanted. I wanted a mudroom. But the laundry "room" was off the kitchen, and the door to the garage was around the corner by the front door. So Hubby and my Dad did what any good Do-It-Yourselfer would do. They moved our garage door to the laundry "room" instantly creating a Mudd Room!!

The room is a weird shape, kind if line an oblong triangle. I drew a picture of what I wanted and Viola! Hubby built me a mudroom!

That's the garage door to the right. My washer was where the 'built in' is and the dryer was where the door is. It was a tiny and cramped space. The washer and dryer have been moved to the basement. Right now it's an unfinished basement. But I'm sure that will change too!

Each family member has their own hook above the bench, Hubby also added an extra hook 'for guests'. Although I'm glad there is a hook for our guests I'm pretty sure that was a hint that he wants another M.

The built in is stocked full of baskets and is a great overflow for things from the pantry and the kitchen!

Here's a close up of one of the M's hooks. We bought a standard black hook from the hardware store and then I bought letters from the craft store and painted them black with polka dots. Just a fun little touch.

This is also where my key hook hangs, it all ties together pretty well. I think my Dad and Hubby did a great job in a very small space! Now if we could just get the garage cleaned out enough that we could park in it and actually use the mudroom that would be great!

Not me!

2009-09-21T10:34:00.003-04:00

It's Not Me Monday!!

I did not change M2's poopy diaper on a bail of hay Saturday nite with nothing under him. I would never do that, I always change him on appropriate places like a changing table and laying on a changing pad!

We did not swing through McDonald's drive thru on Saturday afternoon and let the boys eat Happy Meals in their carseats so that we could save travel time by not stopping.

I did not complain to a store manager this weekend about how incredibly rude one of the workers at the store was to both me and her co-workers. That store manager did not in turn tell me that the worker was already on her way out and then proceed to fire her. I also did not get a very pretty fall flower arrangement from the store for my troubles!

I did not ask Hubby to dig out the Halloween tubs last night 'just in case' I want to look through them this weekend!

What did you not do this week?

The Mouse is in the House

2009-09-16T08:00:00.004-04:00

A friend's daughter turned 4 last Friday and as always I was in charge of the cake. You may remember her sisters cake from here. This little one was having a Mickey/Minnie party. Minnie appeared in her best dress, pink and purple of course. I put pink food coloring in the cake mix and the cake was about the same color of pink as Minnie's dress.
It was a hit, she loved it.

And for her actual gift from us, a pink and purple tutu. Home made by yours truly...

with a princess crown to match!

Now I just have to make a tutu for M1's future wife, her birthday is fast approaching!

It's a Jungle in there....

2009-09-15T08:00:00.006-04:00

You know what (one of) the best things about being a Mommy and owning your own house is? Getting to decorate your house however you want, even if that's with 'kids eyes'.

You see when I was a child I wasn't allowed to hang things on the walls of my room or my bedroom door. I wasn't allowed to paint the walls or anything like that. My room had white walls, mauve curtains, blinds and carpet. With, guess?, a mauve bedspread. Needless to say I hated that. When I got pregnant with M1 his room was decorated with dinosaurs, M2's room is with rockets (I'll take pictures and share some day). And their bathroom, well it's decorated with a bit of a Jungle theme. Actually if I remember correctly it's called 'Monkey Business'. How fitting!

This is the shower curtain, looking into the bathroom from the hallway it looks pretty basic right?
Wrong!! The newly painted 'Vanilla Chocolate' walls got another paint job. A palm tree, a monkey, a giraffe, some grass, flowers, a cloud and a ...
...bird have all moved into the bath. I LOVE every bit of it. Every time I walk in here I have to smile!!

Here's the sink and accessories that match the shower curtain....

The monkey is swinging from a palm tree branch that is behind the mirror and sink.
Doesn't he just look so ornery?
And seriously!?!? Could think guy look any happier? I mean he is just oozing with cheery-ness (is that a word??)

Doesn't that face just beg you to be his friend?

This is the rug that matches the accessories. I am seriously considering painting the vanity that blue color. It's the standard oak vanity but the sides of it are a little scratched up.

I also think I am going to paint the trim of the medicine cabinet in a zebra strip to match the sides of the soap dish. It's oak and boring!!

All in all this project cost me NOTHING! We already had those bathroom accessories, shower curtain and rug, I free handed the animals in chalk from looking at the shower curtain and then used craft paints that I already had to paint the chalk outlines. After the paint dried I took a black paint pen and outlined everything. I did the animals and the tree during nap time, and added the flowers, grass, cloud and outlines after the boys went to bed. All in all it took me maybe 4 or 5 hours.

If I wasn't so in love with my own bathroom I would definitely move into this bathroom!

I'm up to my ears in stickers!

2009-09-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned last week, M1 gets a sticker for learning his Bible Verse at school every week. So far we are 2 for 2. Not to mention he manages to score stickers every where we go, and he usually leaves Target's Dollar Spot with a sheet every time we stop in there.

Most of the stickers end up in a basket with his coloring books and he uses them as he colors. Seeing those stickers he's getting for reciting his Bible Verse took me back to childhood. I remember sitting in my friends room showing each other stickers from our sticker book and suddenly I felt M1 Had.To.Have a sticker album. One problem, they don't make sticker albums like they use to! (Wow, I sound old!) These days stickers come in a book, no blank pages to stick stickers!

So I made one!
I picked up a sketch pad from Michael's (using a 40% off coupon of course)
Picked out some scrapbook paper measured it to cover the front and wrap around to the inside cover as well.

I attached using Martha's Brand of Mod Podge stuff. If I were to do it again I would use something different to attach. This made it too wet and even after it's dried you can tell it was too wet. But it's for a soon-to-be 4 year old, who will carry it around and probably trash it in no time so I'm not overly concerned.

I sat a heavy book on the top while it dried. (Adult Beverage is optional) Waiting for it to dry was the hardest part!!

After it dried I decorated it with, well, stickers and ribbon!

I also added some of his stickers to the first couple pages to help get him started!

I had so paper scraps so I added those as well for color!

Update: This was part of his birthday present and he went nuts!! He loves his book! More on his birthday to come, it was a John Deere theme party!!

Has anyone seen my soapbox?

2009-09-11T08:30:00.003-04:00

There it is!!

Give me a minute let me climb up here.

I don't do this often but every once in a while I just gotta get it out!!

~~Jon Gosslin, you are an ASS! I mean seriously??? You can not go on national TV (thanks ABC) and say that you despise the mother of your children and then follow that up with everything I do is for my kids. Hey Moron, they are going to see that clip some day!! And the twins are old enough to understand what you just said.

And really? You don't know why every one thinks you are out drinking and partying all the time? Are you seriously that stupid. You, at a bar, drinking and smoking with girls hanging on you are on the cover of every tabloid. Those tabloids might make stories up, but those photos speak for themselves. Is the partying, drinking and smoking for the kids too?

And one last thing douchebag, you called the cops on the MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN!?!?! How are you going to explain that to the kids!?!?!

Ok, I lied, this is the last thing. Kate just got a Playboy offer. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

~~The Haters of Duggers. Yes, they have 19 kids. That sounds like a lot to me, but I can barely handle the 2 I've got. Have you seen how good those kids are? If my kids were that good I might have 19 too! (Hubby, I'm just kidding!!) So everyone is bitching that they have too many kids. But guess what people, you are not raising those kids, the Duggers are. The kids seem happy and they are getting an education. And guess what?? They DON'T collect welfare. Leave them alone!

~~OSU Buckeyes, Could you bring your game on Saturday. Please?!? You are going to be playing USC on Saturday. U.S.C. Got it?? Try not to forget how to play ball. Yea, you won last week against Navy. Barely. It was Navy! Try not to get your faces smashed in this weekend!

~~M1, when did you get this big? Seriously, you are (almost) 4?

Wasn't this picture taken a week and a half ago?? (Not to bad for 18 hours of labor huh???)

I know this picture was taken last Saturday, right? This was your first OSU game, you were 3 days old. This was last Saturday before the Navy game right?? Right???

How can he really be almost 4????? John Deere Birthday Party on Sunday, Birthday on Monday!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2009-09-10T08:35:00.001-04:00

FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!

Here in Buckeye Country Football Season started last Saturday. Our beloved Buckeyes have taken the field, and the season has started.

With Football Season comes a change in decor!! It's easy to decorate for a sport. Just show your team colors!! Just like the inch worm here.

These little guys were added to the Scarlet and Gray collection last year. I just love them. The big guy did have a buckeye around his neck but I think a squirrel stole it from him last year. I'll have to pick another from the Buckeye Tree and stick back on his necklace.

Yes, we have a Buckeye Tree.

New this year is a wreath for our front door. I struggle every year to find a 'not so tacky' scarlet and gray wreath. This year I think I have succeeded. I used the same idea as this wreath, and TA-DA!! I LOVE IT!

Also new this year is this GINORMOUS OSU Flag for the garage.

And of course, no garden is complete with out a Garden Gnome. This one just happens to be a Buckeye fan as well! And that garden flag we have had since the first year Hubby and I were married. It's looking a little bad but it's bad luck to change a flag in the middle of the season (or something like that) so it will be retired at the end of the season. Which hopefully (although doubtful) will last until January.On to the inside....
This little guy has decided to spend Football Season on my end table.

See the football decor here?

Need a closer look? The football is taking a break until next Saturday in my Scarlet and Gray Longaberger Basket.
And these are the Cat's Meow of the Buckeye Decor (HAHAHA, Get it?)
We have 5 doors leading into our kitchen and the Buckeye Cat's Meow sits on 3 of them. These guys are out year 'round.

Do you decorate for football season?

My Little Buckeyes

2009-09-09T10:32:00.002-04:00

My Preschooler

2009-09-08T15:03:00.011-04:00

In all the madness of the last 2 weeks I just haven't sat down to blog. But in honor of Labor Day weekend and all of the laboring around the house Hubby and I got done, I'm turning over a new leaf and blogging!! I have sooooo many fun projects to share. We truly had the best 'working weekend' ever and I think we both felt very happy with all we got accomplished over the weekend.

In other news M1 started preschool last week. He's going to the local Christian preschool 3 days a week in the mornings. It's the same school he went to last year. Last year he only went on Fridays, and he didn't start until December so this is a little different.

He was clearly traumatized and didn't want to leave the house in the morning for school.

I think M2 was upset by it all too!

He was absolutely miserable on the drive over to school...

I think he just didn't want to go in...

I don't think he wanted to leave the parking lot...

He even stalled once inside...
M2 did too!
M2 also made himself comfortable in the class room.

I'm not sure he will be alright all by himself....

So clearly he was really excited, he still is and seems to really enjoy it. Thank goodness!! I'm so happy for him. They have to learn a Bible Verse a week and recite it to the teacher on Fridays. He learned his on the first day and told anyone that would listen. He even told his Sunday School teacher and our Pastor on Sunday. If they know the Bible Verse they get a sticker. I think we are going to end up with a pretty large sticker collection.

The first day Hubby, M2, Mama and myself all took him in. The teacher (who I LOVE) took a family picture of all of us. I can't wait to see it. I think that was such an awesome idea. But she's been the teacher there for 43 years so I'm sure she has a lot of awesome ideas. I am looking forward to a very exciting school year!!

Well....

2009-08-22T20:23:00.003-04:00

I would like to update you on how things in the Complex Airway Unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital are, but I don't know how they are. M2 isn't there.

I would like to tell you he is at home in his bed sleeping comfortably but he's not there either.

He is however at home, running around the living room like a crazy little boy, playing with all his new toys while watching Noggin and eating fish crackers and drinking milk!!

I guess that means he has recovered from surgery?!?!?

We got home around 3pm M does seem to be doing just fine. He is on modified liquids but is allowed to have any types of solids. He goes back to Cincinnati on Sept 30 for his follow up.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. So far so good

A New Airway

2009-08-20T10:27:00.002-04:00

Things here in the Complex Airway Unit at Cincinnati Children's have finally calmed down and M2 is finally asleep. Finally!!

After a 2 hour car ride M2's surgery was pushed back over an hour because the surgeon was tied up. M2 held up well with no food or drink and went into surgery in pretty good spirits. His surgery took about 3 hours and he was in the recovery room for over 2 hours. He did struggle while in the PACU (recovery), I have to admit, I was a little scared. They just couldn't get him to stabilize He had a very hard time coming out of the anesthesia and couldn't keep his pulse ox up.

He was transferred straight to a 'floor room' with no ICU stops and was never on a ventilator. He was on oxygen for a little while but it was at a very low percentage and he was weened off that over night. All very good things.

He did eat some pudding overnight and did keep that down but so far is not really interested in eating too much. Although that is strange for him (he IS an eater) I'm sure he has a VERY sore throat and just isn't interested in making it feel worse. All in all he is doing very well, the doctors and the nurses are all very impressed with him. The surgery appears to have worked although we won't know for sure until everything has healed and tests are run in 6 weeks.

M2 certainly has a NEW airway.

But all in all, I think he did very well, and will be just fine. As always M2 has proven that he is a strong little boy and can get through anything. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate all the support.

It's Surgery Day!!

2009-08-19T05:00:00.000-04:00

This is a scheduled post.
Well the day is finally here. Surgery Day. 1 day shy of exactly 17 months old and M2 is having surgery. He’s had several surgeries, we’ve done this before, we know the drill.

But this surgery is different from all others. This isn’t the surgery that he was taken to the OR from the NICU and back, this isn’t outpatient surgery either. This is the BIG surgery. The check in and stay awhile surgery. Today, August 19th, my Precious Little Sweetie gets a NEW AIRWAY! We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.
When M2 was first born we were given hope that although he was born with vocal cord paralysis, he might grow out of it quickly. When he was 5 weeks old we were told he wasn’t growing out of it as fast as the drs thought he would and that we should have the trach surgery and go home to live a ‘normal’ life. We were told that as he grew his vocal cords might start working and he would be just fine. But he needed a trach to leave the hospital.

In December of 2008, when he was just 9 months old, those hopes were dashed and we were told there was nothing the drs could do, his cords just weren’t moving and he would live with a trach his whole life.
In March of 2009, just 2 weeks before his first birthday, we found a new surgeon at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital who told us he could perform a surgery so that M2 could have his trach removed. We were told that he might lose part of his voice, and he might get winded easily, and he might have to have some speech and occupational therapy as a result of the surgery but the trach would be out. But he was too young for the surgery. This dr wanted to see him back when he was 16 months old.
On July 20, when M2 was exactly 16 months old we went back to Cincinnati. M2 was old enough, healthy enough, big enough and strong enough. Surgery was scheduled for today, Aug 19. 8 years and 1 day after Hubby and I were married, 1 day before M2 turns 17 months old. Today is the day that changes everything, not only for M2 but for our entire family.

As you can see M2 is the happiest baby in the world. He’s my little lover. He hugs and kisses everything. He smiles and waves and blows kisses at everyone he sees. He lets his Mommy (he can say Mama, ‘around’ his trach by the way) cuddle him and hug him and kiss him constantly. If he walks past me and I’m doing something he almost always stops and hugs my leg quickly and then moves on. He makes me a better Mommy.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t remember the time he spent in the NICU, or the PCIU, or all the procedures he’s gone through, or that terrifying ride in the squad. All of those memories flood my mind everyday. And everyday I am brought to tears to think about how my sweet little baby has spent the last 17 months of his life. And then I realize that he doesn’t know, or care about any of these things, all he cares about is that he is loved. And he is. More than I ever thought it possible to love someone. M2 brings joy and laughter and smiles to our loves daily. I could sit and watch him dance for hours. I love to watch him eat. He has the cutest mannerisms I’ve ever seen. And no matter what he’s doing he is laughing or smiling. And those smiles carry over to everyone that sees him. He just has that effect on people.

He loves to play in the bathtub, and the sand box. Stuffed animals and pull toys are his favorite things to play with. He sleeps with 3-4 stuffed animals every night. He carries them around with him and hugs them constantly. He is way too attached to his pacifier, he takes it out to eat or drink and then puts it right back in.

He loves to ride on his rocking horse and his bull dozer ride-on. He thinks his brother’s toy kitchen is one of the best toys on the planet, and he loves all of our pets. And he LIVES in his crocs.

So today, ‘My Little Sweetie’, my little M2; with the name bigger than he is, gets a new airway. I will be the Mommy sitting in the waiting room, a nervous wreck during this 3 hour surgery, and then I will be the Mommy sitting in the rocking chair cuddling her baby with the new airway.
Please keep my Little Sweetie in your thoughts today, this is going to be a pretty big surgery. I can't wait for this to all be over and for that trach to COME OUT!

Wedded Bliss

2009-08-18T00:09:00.003-04:00

8 years ago today I married my sole mate. He is the male version of me (although maybe just a little more laid back)!! Hubby and I have the exact same political, social, educational, religious and child rearing views. We agree on (almost) everything. I can't think of anyone else I would rather spend my life with!!
Hubby and I dated for 1 year before he asked me to marry him. He was traditional, he asked my Dad first. My Dad gave Hubby his blessing but said we had to both finish college first and have jobs before we could get married. And we couldn't live together until after the wedding! So that started what would end up being a 2 year engagement.

I had no idea he was going to propose!! I was shocked, I actually thought he was going to break up with me, not propose.

I loved everything about our wedding. I loved my dress, the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses, the food, the reception, the cake the invitations, everything was absolutely perfect. I don't think I would have changed a single thing.

This is Hubby's car, he LOVES that car. We still have it, it sits in the garage on a car lift with no tags and no insurance. I couldn't even tell you when he drove it last!!

Me and my bridesmaids....

My perfect cake...

Our Pastor giving us a blessing and a prayer. My Dad, myself and both of the M's have been baptized by him. I was confirmed by him in 8th grade, my parents were also confirmed by him, and Hubby was confirmed as an adult by him. He is still our Pastor today. As a matter of fact, he just called the house a couple hours ago to ask about M2!

I had to dig through the wedding album and scan these pictures in!! Do you believe that this was before digital???

Can't wait to give Hubby his present and spend a dinner together!!

Keep talking....

2009-08-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

As I was walking out of M1's room last night after tucking him into bed he stops me and we have this convo:

M1: Hey Mommy
Me: Yea buddy?
M1: Megan and I are going to send each other postcards.
Me: What?
M1: We are going to send each other postcards.
Me: Ok (anything to shut him up and get him to sleep)
M1: Can you help me with them tomorrow?
Me: Sure, Buddy.

So Megan is the little girl that lives 4 houses down from us. Her parents and Hubby and I all went to school together. Her and M1 are in the same preschool class, and we pretty much see them on a daily basis. Therefore I see no reason for them to need to send each other postcards. Sometimes I wonder where he gets this stuff.

For more "The Kids Said What" visit Cammie.

Dear Nightly News Editor...

2009-08-11T08:35:00.005-04:00

If you could make the nightly news more 'family friendly' that would be great. By family friendly I really mean three year old friendly.

You see I like to have the news on so I can listen while making dinner; usually it’s a fight to turn the channel to the news, because the news is on at the same time as Max & Ruby. And let’s face it at 6 at night after working all day and coming home to have to make dinner and work around the house all night the whole Nightly News vs. Max & Ruby is a fight I usually either don’t feel like having or don’t win. I did however win the fight last night and flipped on the News.

Last night’s news was not family/three year old friendly. I had a lot of questions to answer and I spent more time answering those questions then what I spent watching the news.

So here are some examples to better the news:

Yesterday a plane and a helicopter c-r-a-s-h-e-d over the Hudson River, everyone was k-i-l-l-e-d…..

Today was one of the d-e-a-d-l-y-e-s-t days in Iraq. Over 100 Iraqi civilians were k-i-l-l-e-d during Iraqi v-i-o-l-e-n-c-e…..

Thanks for your attention to this matter
~Mommy of M’s

What NOT to do...

2009-08-07T09:09:00.000-04:00

The things children with trachs should not do.

1. Do not bath in a bath tub, or with other children.

Check

2. Do not where clothes that cover the trach such as, turtlenecks, button up shirts, or ties.

Check

3. Do not play in the sand, beach or sandbox.

Check

4. Do not where plastic bibs or bibs that can cover the trach and airway.

Check

5. Avoid fuzzy or stuffed toys, as well as blankets.

(yes, I know, he is too old to have a bottle, I agree, but it makes him happy. He only has it at night, and I don't want to take it from him completely until after his surgery, b/c they will give him a bottle at the hospital)

Check

6. Avoid animals with fine hair or that shed excessively.

Check

7. No contact sports or rough-housing.

Check

8. No swimming.

Yep, It's confirmed, I am so up for mother of the year!

***Please keep in mind that M2 was in NO danger at all during these activities. The swimming, baths and sand are the things we have to be the most careful of. He wears a cloth bib over his trach when in the sand box, and he is only allowed in it if an adult is sitting right there. Also he is not allowed in the sandbox if anyone else besides his brother is in it. Same rules go with the pool and bath time. Plus in the pool and bath he sits in the baby bath seat. The drs told us to keep our lives as normal as possible and that is exactly what we do, and all of these things are normal activities for our family!!!***

He Said What?

2009-08-06T11:02:00.004-04:00

Last night I decided to take M1 to 'to store' to get his 'Big Boy Packpack' for preschool. He of course choose 'Light Queen'. As we were leaving 'to store' I ask M1 what he wants for dinner. He replies with "Well... we could go somewhere" Ok, where do you want to go, I ask. He points to Taco Bell and says "We could go to that Ringy Dingy place" If I hadn't of seen him pointing at the Taco Bell sign with the bell ringing I never would have known what he was talking about! It was all I could do to not laugh at him! I tell him he doesn't like the food there, he insists that he does in fact like the food at the 'Ringy Dingy place'.

After some discussion he decided on the 'Place with the lellow sign'. As we are sitting in the McDonald's drive thru waiting to order he repeats multiple times that I need to let him order. I told him I could handle it and order Happy Meals for he and M2. However his window was down and after I got my total, he screams "And don't forget 'to toy'!"

That kid cracks me up! For more "The Kids Said What" visit Cammie.

Baby Quilt

2009-08-04T09:06:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned here, I had a lot of projects going on the last couple weeks. Here is the baby quilt I had been working on.
I think it turned out pretty good. I really like the colors and prints.

I did this as a rag quilt, I just really like the way the 'raginess' (is that a word??) looks! The baby girl's room is done in fairies so I picked this fabric since the critters are winged!

I delivered it to the new parents Sunday night, they didn't say to much but I think they were kind of surprised by the gift. I do however think they liked it, at least I hope they did!!

They are our next door neighbors, but we have only lived there about 1.5 yrs. Their other child is a little boy, about 6 months younger than M1. The boys are friends and have been to each others b-day parties. Hubby and I really like them, we just haven't had time to become close friends with them yet.

Now if I could just finish the other bazillion projects I am in the middle of that would be great!

Gizmo...or is it Gadget?

2009-07-29T15:47:00.011-04:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post I am the Craft's Leader for VBS this year. This is my 3rd year doing it and I really do like it, it's a lot of fun. This years theme is Gadget's Garage. The director asked me if I could make a robot as part of the decoration this year. Of course I can!! And by I, I mean Hubby!!

Here is a picture of the robot. (I can't find a really good one in color on the website) I have yet to figure our who is Gizmo and who is Gadget (and it's day 4!)

Here are some pictures from 'our' work in progress. We didn't buy anything new to make him, it's all found/used/recycled 'parts'.

Eyes, nose and buttons~don't mind the napkin, we had takeout from Cane's that night!

arms and computer...

hat...

head...

body...

legs...

The action shot....

As you can see he is pretty tall. All the kids (and adults) really seem to love him. Hubby did a great job on him. All the classes even got there pictures taken with him!!

This is the preschool class, it's hard to get a picture of all of them. M1 is in the yellow shorts, M2 is being ushered into the picture by the teacher. The two girls to the side are the teachers daughter and friend, they are both great girls and really good with the kids. See the little girl with her arm around M1? Her mom and I went to school together, we were in the same confirmation class. Isn't that funny?? I wonder if she will replace her?

Now the only question is what do we do with the robot after Friday?

Hello Blog World

2009-07-29T09:36:00.011-04:00

Long Time No See!!!! Oh, how I have missed you! The last 2.5 weeks has just been crazy!! Here's a recap...

2.5 weeks ago I had surgery for this, this and this. Apparently the surgery took about 3 hours, my septum looked more like a 'c' and it should have looked like a 'l'. I don't remember much about the day at all. I remember being in pre-op with Hubby, and I remember him handing me my chapstick and saying, 'last chance', and I remember getting and Ice Cap from Tim's (I am in LOVE with them) on the way home, and then I basically remember waking up 5 days later! I know I talked to a couple friends, and my boss, and someone from church but that's about all I remember. I don't even remember what we talked about. The dr kept me pretty full of drugs, and I literally slept for 5 days. I guess that's good b/c I didn't really have much pain, just a headache, and some slight discomfort from the splints and packing. I still have my stitches and some packing now, I go back tomorrow to get those out, but the splints are out. The second week I was pretty nauseous from the drainage but the dr had send home anti nausea pills as well, so that helped. I was off work for 2 full weeks. After sleeping through the first week, we took full advantage of the second week off!!

Last week M2 had his follow up appointment with Dr Cotton in Cincinnati. Surgery is set for August 19. We are so excited. He is expected to be in the hospital for about a week, then home for 4 weeks for recovery, then back to the hospital for monitoring. If all goes well his trach should come out then. So we are basically looking at 2 more months with a trach, and we couldn't be happier. August 18 is our Wedding Anniversary so we are going to Cincinnati then with M2 for dinner and then just staying there over night and then checking into the hospital on the 19th.

While in Cincinnati for the appointment we took the M's on a Duck Ride, we had so much fun.

The Captain of the Duck even let the boys 'drive'. They were both pretty excited!!

The boys were clearly exhausted after the hospital stop and Ducks trip, this was the scene on the way home...My Mom and her friend took M2 and myself to The Homestead for a day of shopping. It also was great fun. I got some decorating ideas along with some more pottery.

M2 and Mamaw...

In the middle of all the madness I made a Birthday Cake for a friend's daughter. We went to the party as well, and the boys had a fabulous time.
Here is the cake with the actual invitation. My friend made the invitations, so I made the cake to match! The paw prints in the corners are pink chocolate!

We even made a stop at the Zoo last week! Here are the boys, ready to go in and visit the animals.

Hubby started his new job at The Ohio State University this week. So far he really likes it.

Now this week is Vacation Bible School. I'm the Crafts Director, and M1 is in his second year of VBS, M2 also attended last night and had the time.of.his.life. I'm sure he'll go again tonight too. Pictures of VBS to come!!

Jaci's back!!!~~You know what that means!!!

2009-07-10T08:33:00.003-04:00

Blog Farts – noun. Def: Crappy ideas that are too short to make a real blog post, but when combined, join forces to make one unified, albeit half assed, post. see also: memes, surveys.Source: Jaci, Ravings of a Mad Housewife

**I mentioned Hubby got a new job, but I didn't mention where the new job was. Hubby will be working at The Ohio State University Medical Center!!! YIPPPEEEEE!!!!!! I am so proud of him, I know he will do an excellent job there! He starts in two weeks!!

**I am making a birthday cake for a friends daughter tomorrow. I'm excited, I like to decorate cakes. I'll share a picture next week.

**I'm having surgery on Monday for my deviated septum, nasal spurs and crushed sinuses. I'm terrified. I've never been under anesthesia before, and I'm not looking forward to the breathing tube. The only good thing about the surgery is that I'll be off work for a week and a half.

**I am making a quilt for a friend who is having a baby girl. Only problem is my friend is having a Csection on the 20th, like next week, and except for buying the fabric for the quilt I haven't even started it. Why am I such a procrastinator? I never used to be like that!! I wonder what happened?

**I keep thinking I'll get laid off work soon. I'm still seriously pissed off about that pay cut, I'm bored here and still have no work to do. I just wish they would lay me off now so that I can enjoy some of the summer with the boys. Maybe after I'm off work next week and they see how little I do they'll lay me off when I come back. One can only hope....

I think that's all I got... Happy Friday!!

Where to hang?

2009-07-09T08:00:00.002-04:00

Since we have moved to our (not so-anymore) new house (last year) we have been trying to find a key hook. Who knew this would be such a feat? I didn't want something junky, or tacky, just a nice key hook.

So after seeing this project on Feature Friday, I had an idea for my key hook. Of course I didn't take before or during pictures, but I do have an after!
I bought 6 skeleton keys, 6 hooks and a piece of wood trim at the local hardware store. The keys and hooks were gold so I found some black matte spray paint in the garage and went to town. Hubby cut the trim and made me a frame, and I painted that too. I added some scrapbook paper to the back of the frame, glued on the keys and screwed in the hooks and Viola!

A nice key hook for under 10 bucks! Not bad if I say so myself!

The weekend recap

2009-07-07T10:34:00.010-04:00

We had our annual Cookout to avoid Red, White and Boom last Friday. We've been having this party since we got married. R,W & B gets crazy, traffic downtown is ridiculous, it's hot, dirty and stinky. There are not bathrooms and the food is overpriced. And did I mention it's hot, dirty and stinky downtown? Which means all the other people downtown are hot, dirty and stinky, which = GROSS. So we have a party to avoid it.

Anyway the party has changed a lot over the years, it started out as us and all of our friends getting hammered and setting off illegal fireworks till 3 or 4 in the morning. Then there was the year I was pregnant and went to bed at 11 while Hubby and all of our friends got hammered and set off illegal fireworks till 3 or 4 in the morning. Then after the babies came, pack n plays appeared, the babies got put to bed and the parents got hammered and set off illegal fireworks till 3 or 4 in the morning. But now as there are more kids, and they are older it is turning into a much more family friendly event. Although there are plenty of drinks, I don't think the word hammered could really describe anyone anymore, and the last person left at 11:30 this year! We did have fireworks, but they were the legal (and boring) sparklers and poppers.

The cupcakes....

Some of the kids sitting down to eat. I didn't get too many pictures from the party, I guess I was busy playing hostess. But I wish I would have taken more pictures.

M1 after a long night of partying....

I think a good time was had be all, especially M2, who got naked and danced on the table.

Saturday we got up and left the house early to get a good parade spot.

M1 is telling to M2 about the parade.

The boys were kind enough to sit for one really quick picture with me.

M2 and Hubby watch the parade.

M2 even tried to join the parade.

After the parade was lunch, followed by a nap, another cookout and fireworks. I've still worn out from our weekend. I really need a day off to recuperate!!

Garfield? or is it Uncle Sam?

2009-07-06T15:07:00.006-04:00

This is the tackiest tie I think I have ever seen, and Hubby wore it to work last Thursday!!

You have to understand, Hubby is a total snob when it comes to clothes. Not so much a label snob, but an article snob. He wears dress shirts and ties most days, because that is how he is most comfortable, even in the summer. His weekend attire consists of khakis and a polo shirt. He doesn't wear ripped jeans or graphic t's and he wouldn't even think of leaving the house in a white under t, unless it was under something.

I bought him a navy tie with snowmen on it a few years back and he was shocked. It wasn't tacky, the snowmen were in good taste and were pretty small. Since it was a navy tie it wasn't screaming Christmas or anything. I though it was so cute and nice. I think he was shocked that I actually thought he would wear it. He didn't.

This tie was given to him as a gag gift years ago, and has always just hung in the closet. When he stepped out of the closet Thursday morning carrying it I almost fell over. As a matter of fact, I think I am still in shock!

I guess he was pretty excited for July 4th.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

'Nuff said.....

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Kati.

I'm as giddy as a school girl!!

2009-06-25T14:25:00.009-04:00

Hubby got a new job!! Yep, he sure did, and I couldn't be more happy, proud, ecstatic, thrilled, excited, etc. He just got the call this afternoon, after 3 rounds of interviews, the second consisting of 5 different interviewers, he was unanimously picked as the final candidate, out of more than 150 candidates.

Did I mention I am proud of him?

Hubby has always worked for a non-profit organization, he truly does enjoy working there. He likes the people, he likes the work, he has a good heart and I think he feels like he makes a difference there. The problem is, it's non-profit, which means non-paying. Ok, they pay, just not very much. He was at the top, manager, can go no higher, will never make a higher salary. It was time to move on! And move on he is. He hasn't given his notice yet, so I can't say where he is going, or where he is leaving, but I can say it is a BIG DEAL. I don't think I have ever been more proud of him. It truly is a big deal to land a job where he did. I think anyone would feel both honored and accomplished to get a job where he is going.

What's that, you want a hint as to where he is going? Um...ok, it has the word The in the title!!

He has some theories about his current job, they were looking at ways to cut some costs so he is going to present some ideas to them that include letting him work part time, evenings and weekends, still doing what he does, but obviously for less money, which will be good for the organization, plus it will give us extra money. Although his salary and benefits at his new job are AMAZING, we are pretty far behind financially, and I hate having debt.

Did I mention how proud I am of my big hearted Hubby? Or that I am GIDDY!?!?! I'm currently doing the happy dance.!!

I don't have many pictures of Hubby, most of my pictures are of the M's. But here is a family picture of us last year at Brutus on Parade, at The Ohio State University. We are huge Buckeye fans. I think our whole family bleeds scarlet and gray. In fact, if you ask M1 what state he lives in he answers 'Go Bucks'. Yes M1, that's the state we live in alright!

And in other news, I mailed the very last payment to Children's Hospital today for (not-so) little M2. He is finally paid for, 15 months after he was born, and 13 months after he came home he is paid for. (kinda makes him sound like a car, huh?) Children's in Columbus is paid off, one month before we head to Children's in Cincinnati. Then, I'm sure a whole new round of payments will begin!Yes M2, it is time to put your arms in the air (and wave 'em like you just don't care) and cheer.

Do you want to do the happy dance with me?

I wonder what he was working on...

2009-06-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

...when he fell asleep????

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Kati.

The half...

2009-06-23T08:00:00.003-04:00

....bath

Hubby did some house work a couple weeks ago, and I hadn't gotten around to sharing. He updated our half bath. It's your standard half bath off the main hall on the first floor. Obviously its the one the guests use, but my Mom uses it the most since she stays at our house with the boys while Hubby and I work everyday. M1 usually uses this one during the day too. Eventually I think we are going to put a half bath in the basement too (near the toy room), but not for a couple years.

Anyway, this bath was your standard builders bath. Oak light bar, oak square mirror, cheap silver water faucet and white walls.

Well it's not standard builders bath anymore!! Hubby painted it 'White Chocolate' and hung a new mirror and light, and replaced the faucet. Everything is Oil Rubbed Bronze now.
We even got Oil Rubbed Bronze, towel holder, soap dispenser and trash can. (And isn't this little guy adorable??)
And I love this vase and flower arrangement. The flowers and the bird were on clearance at Michaels. The vase is Longaberger Pottery. I knew the second I saw it that it would fit perfectly right there.I've had this plan in the works for quite some time, all the ornaments, including the gold bird were bought at clearance at Target. I couldn't find any black Christmas bulbs, so I bought clear ones and just painted the insides!! They look great in the glass jar. The black bowl is Longaberger Pottery as well. I usually use it as a candy dish for Halloween, but decided to use it to decorate in here. No sense in it sitting in a box when it's not in use. It looks cuter sitting on my shelf!

These cute little things are from Kohl's~$5!! Can't beat that!! I love them, and I'm thinking about getting a couple more! I think they are made of resin, they are heavy and textured!

The towels are a dark brown, light brown and black stripe, and the rugs are a dark brown also from Target.

I love the way it turned out, although the pictures don't do it justice. Now my Mom and our guests can visit a stylish bathroom!!

Nope, Not Me

2009-06-22T08:00:00.008-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not donate a quilt to Kelley for her to put in her silent auction for a really great cause. I also did not wait until the absolute last second to get it done and sent to her. Nope not me, I am so not a procrastinator, especially not for something as important as this!!

I did not spend way too much time on line trying to get ideas for VBS crafts. Nope not me, I can think of VBS Crafts quickly and efficiently!!

I did not take M2's church cloths off in the middle of the restaurant yesterday so that he could feed himself lunch without getting his church clothes messy. I also did not put the extra play clothes that I had in the diaper bag on him after lunch so that if he fell asleep on the way home he wouldn't be sleeping in his church clothes. I am so not that obsessed with church clothes staying nice.

I did not make stromboli for dinner and then decide that the whole house smelled terrible because of it and then light every candle in the house to get rid of the smell.

I am not blogging while watching Hubby unload and reload the dishwasher. Nope not me, I never skip on doing house work!!

I did not call Mamaw and Papaw Saturday afternoon and ask them to go get M1 from Hubby to give him a break. I had to go to my part time job, and M1 was in 'one of those moods' and was STRESSING US OUT!! That never would have happened. We are good parents and would never need to pon our oldest off on someone.

So what about you? Not do anything this week?

15 Months

2009-06-19T13:18:00.006-04:00

This little guy is 15 Months old. It just doesn't seem possible!! M2 and Eeyore leaving the drs office.

He had a well child visit this morning, he's 24pds 10oz and 31 3/4in long. Yep, he's a big boy. After going through 6 months of the RSV shots he doesn't really like to go to the dr. For those of you that's never had to take a baby to have RSV shots, the shots are huge. I don't know the equations used to figure the dosage but I do know it goes by weight. The first 4 months that he got the shots he had two huge syringes, the last two months it went to 3 syringes. They aren't the little syringes like what the Hep and Dtap are in, they are the big guys!!

As soon as we got to the elevator he knew where we were. I was holding him and his grip tightened before we even got to the office. As soon as he saw the nurse he started whimpering and crying. Hubby and the nurse had to pry him off of me just to get his height and weight. He did ok when Dr. F came in, but screamed and cried when she started the exam. Hubby had to hold him down for most of it. I felt so bad for him, he was sooo upset. I really think the RSV shots put him over the edge!

Anyway, she said he looks fine and he's growing well. She asked what his favorite food is. I told her he loves green beans, pizza and oyster crackers, and he hates hot dogs and apples.

She asked how he communicated with us, and if we have ran into any difficulty. I told her I had a sign language book and that I tried that but he didn't seem interested. She wasn't concerned. I told her we always know what he wants and that he can say some words by talking 'around' his trach. Some of the words he can say are: Mama, Dada, hi, bye, Papaw and Hailey (our old dog). I think he can say his nickname too (he won't be able to say his name for a while, M1 still can't say M2's name very well)!! She seemed impressed and said he's able to say almost as much as a 'normal' 15 month old. I do think he is trying to say other things that we just can't understand yet, and he imitates a lot of different sounds.

As I told the dr. these are some of the other ways he communicates to us as well:

~For a drink of milk: hits front of fridge

~For a drink of water: hits front of kitchen sink

~For a meal: hits high chair

~For a snack: goes into pantry, usually points or brings out the oyster cracker container

~For a diaper change, brings the diaper to us (I think he will be potty trained why sooner than his brother was!!)

~If he wants to go outside: he brings his crocs to us.

~If he's tired and wants to go to bed: pulls the sides of his hair

~If he wants picked up: reaches to us.

~If he wants to watch tv: he brings the remote to us.

So for the time being, even if he can't talk to us, he can still communicate to us. It's a 'normal' for us.

Not me

2009-06-15T12:55:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not make a new IRL friend who happens to have 2 little girls the same age as my little boys, live in the same small town as us, and enjoys some of the same activities as me!! She also was not one of M2's NICU charge nurses.

Me and my new IRL friend did not go scrap booking on Saturday night from 6p-12a. Leaving our Hubby's at home with 2 children each! Nope, Not us!!

I did not wipe M2's filthy feet and dirty face down with a wet wipe before putting him to bed last night. Nope, not me, I would never put a dirty baby to bed without a bath!!!

I did not strap both boys into their car seats and run them to the store Saturday morning as soon as they got up so that I could get back home and to work by noon. I also did not feed them breakfast in the car. Not me, we sit down at the table, together as a family for all meals.

I am not thinking of every excuse possible to get out of my future sister-in-laws wedding shower that just happens to be held at Hubby's ex girlfriends house. Nope, not me, I would never want to give my in laws more reasons to hate me, they clearly have enough already!!

I did not feed M1 PBJ on wheat bread for 2 meals yesterday. We always have balanced and nutritious meals at our house.

What did you not do this week?

My hometown...

2009-06-09T13:00:00.001-04:00

I signed up to participate in Shannon's My hometown Swap. The idea is to send things that represent your hometown.

I sent stuff more from the closestbigcity than my hometown, I mean, I do live in Ohio. Home of The Ohio State Buckeyes, Anthony Thomas Chocolates, Bath and Body Works, and Cheryl's cookies. Any idea what I sent?

Now, on to what I got...

I got my stuff from Jennifer, she lives in Jacksonville.... and went the flowery/beach route.

Hubby planted the flowers last night.... Anything to keep him busy....

Those refresh things go in the vents on your car. My whole car now smells like a pina colada. uuummmmmm...yum!

I figure this will be our new 'grill' plate. You know the plate that the cooked food comes in from the gill on.....Which reminds me, I have to come up a dinner plan tonite.

I'm bored

2009-06-08T15:05:00.002-04:00

Like out of my mind bored. Like can't keep my eyes open bored. I've got nothing to do at work. Nothing. I couldn't even tell you the last time I got an email or phone call. Do you know how hard it is to get up every morning and sit at desk for 8 hours with nothing to do? Seriously?

I've applied for every possible job I could find, I've been to every website I can possibly think of and I'm still bored. Hubby says eventually I will get a pop up window on my computer saying I've reached the end of the internet.

The sad part is I have so much to do at home that it is killing me to be at work. Its like one extreme to the other. I've got a crap load of projects started, a house to clean, laundry to put away, and M's to love on. Yet I'm stuck at work with nothing to do but count down the minutes until 5pm.

Man this sucks!

BFFriday

2009-05-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

Blog Farts – noun. Def: Crappy ideas that are too short to make a real blog post, but when combined, join forces to make one unified, albeit half assed, post. see also: memes, surveys.Source: Jaci, Ravings of a Mad Housewife

**I admit it, I am totally addicted to this who John & Kate drama. I have always liked the show, I've watched it from the beginning. It is the only reality show I watch. Granted the Duggers the Roloffs and the Little Couple get thrown in there every now and again if there is nothing else on to watch, but John & Kate, I've watched them religiously from the very beginning. Leading up the season premier last week I had been reading all the tabloids and watching the video clips online, but I totally thought it was a publicity stunt for the premier. But after watching it, I'm not so sure it was just a stunt. I know they 'signed up for it' but I kinda feel bad for both of them. And I know there will be backlash, I really feel bad for her. She looked to have pretty much been left alone with the kids in the episode. Man, I can hardly wait for Monday's show.

**Does anyone watch the Cake Boss? Srsly, that show rocks. It has been added to my list of regulars. Dude Cracks.Me.Up. I now am watching 2 reality shows. Thanks TLC.

**I started a new quilt design/project last night, and stayed up to late working on it, now I'm tired.

**Have no fear, I still HATE MY JOB. I've sent out dozens of resumes, but hasn't everyone else? I've had one interview, but so far that's it.

**I have absolutly.nothing.to.do. at work. Wed. and Thur. I read a book. I mean an entire book, each day. Don't worry I have a new book to read today. If I could just bring my sewing machine in that would be great. I have a lot of projects to work on.

**Today is M1's last day of preschool for the summer. I really think he is going to miss going. I also think Mamaw is going to miss him going. When he's at preschool she gets a break!! Next year he'll go 3 days a week so that will be good for them both.

I made this for M1 to give to my girlfriend that takes him to preschool. I went to college with her husband, and we now live 4 houses away from each other. Their daughter and M1 were in the same class this year, and will be next year too. She offered to take M1 for me. It has been a great help. He might not have gotten to go if it weren't for her. She's a Starbucks addict, like me, and I got the idea for the flower pin from Grace Violet.

Wordless Wenesday

2009-05-27T08:52:00.002-04:00

Following Daddy....
For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Kati.

Tag your it.

2009-05-21T13:56:00.007-04:00

Melissa tagged me with a sharing meme, a couple of weeks ago, I hadn't gotten around to doing it until now. I have no excuse why, I just suck like that. Anywho, here goes.

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Getting laid off of work!
2. Finding a NEW JOB!
3. Being able to quit my newly acquired part time job- there's nothing wrong with the job itself, I just don't want to work 2 jobs.
4. The long Holiday weekend.
5. M2's Dr's appt in July.
6. M2's surgery, that will hopefully be scheduled at said Dr's appt in July.
7. Taking the M's to the Newport Aquarium and on the Ducks.
8. Taking M1 to Kings Island, (M2 isn't old enough yet).

8 things I did yesterday:
1. Sent out resumes to find a new job
2. Worked at both jobs
3. Had a late night snack with M2
4. Made dinner for the Ms and Hubby in the morning before I left for work.
5. Sat outside and read a book at lunch
6. Surfed the internet and read blogs at my full time job-I don't have much else to do!
7. Ate an ice cream cone in between jobs
8. Hugged and Kissed the Ms as much as possible

8 things I wish I could do:
1. Find a new job (seeing a theme yet?)
2. Get out of debt
3. Take the Ms to Disney World
4. Find out more info about my family history
5. Take a road trip-anywhere but here!
6. Get out of this pissed off/depressed funk- I know you are all tired of hearing about it-Sorry.
7. Learn to knit or crochet.
8. Learn to tell the difference between knitting and crocheting

8 shows I watch:
1. Prison Break
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Private Practice
4. Brothers & Sisters
5. Desperate Housewives
6. Law & Order - I like them all!!
7. Diego
8. Backyardigans

I'm supposed to tag 8 people, but I'm not, because, in case you haven't heard, I suck like that. So if you want to do it, feel free!

Wordless Wednesday...The Zoo

2009-05-20T08:00:00.004-04:00

M1, 25 months (10/06)

Two and a half years later, M2, 13 months (4/09)

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Kati.

Not Me Monday...Monday Again??

2009-05-18T08:01:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not come home from work to this sweet little baby with a bruised eye and bloody lip last week. This is not from two separate falls in the same day. He is not still the cutest baby in the world.

And that little face did not look worse as the week went on.

We did not go to M1's, little friend's birthday party on Saturday night. The boys did not have a fabulous time. Nope, Not us!

I did not go scrap booking until Midnight on Friday night with some girl friends. We did not have a great time, and I did not get lots of pages done. I am not counting down the days until we get to go again. Not me!

I was not told that Hubby and the boys had a great time Friday night while I was not scrap booking. Hubby did not let the boys stay up way too late eating snacks and watching baseball! Nope, not him!

I did not start my part time job yesterday, and am not exhausted from working until after 10pm.

I did not send out a dozen resumes last week trying to find another real job. Nope, Not me!

Hubby is not going out of town this weekend leaving me home alone with the M’s. And we have not already started making plans of stuff to do. Nope, not us.

I did not get the rest of the garden planted this weekend. (I know, I’m a little late, I heard all about it from my Dad.)

I am not looking forward to having next Monday off work.

So, what did you not do this week? For more visit MckMama.

BFF... It's finally Friday!!

2009-05-15T08:00:00.002-04:00

Blog Farts – noun. Def: Crappy ideas that are too short to make a real blog post, but when combined, join forces to make one unified, albeit half assed, post. see also: memes, surveys.Source: Jaci, Ravings of a Mad Housewife

~Ok, seriously, I think I'm getting depressed over this whole job thing. I feel like our lives are ruined. I know people get laid off and pay cuts happen all the time, especially in this economy. I get it. But what pisses me off, is that our company (of 9 employees, including the 2 owners) made over 2 mill last year. Clear profit. WTF, where did that money go??? Why do I have to take a pay cut??? And along with that paycut they changed our 401K, they no longer participate, and doubled the cost of our insurance. Total, I'm losing over $600 per month, and I still have to work 40 hours a week. AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Actually I change my mind, I don't think I'm depressed, I'm just PISSED OFF!!

~I totally think my office is a Hostile Work Environment. I HATE GOING THERE EVERYDAY!! Nobody talks to anybody. I HATE GOING THERE. And I never felt like that until last week.

~To those of you that have been laid off, about what % of your salary do you receive on unemployment? I really think I might have been further ahead to be laid off. I wouldn't have to pay as much in Cobra, and I could spend some extra time with my boys. How fun would that be!

~On a slightly lighter note, I got a part time job! Yep, I will be the (not so) chipper sales girl at Bath & Body works. Of course with this job comes evening and weekend work, which means less time to see my Boys. Yea, that's not a lighter note at all, that sucks.

~Oh, I do have a lighter note, I'm leaving work at 3 today to go scrapbooking with some girl friends until midnight! YIPPEEEE!!

~Tomorrow is out next door neighbors Birthday Party, he and M1 are about the same age, they play together almost every day. Both boys are invited, I think they will both have a lot of fun.

I guess this isn't really a BF, this is more of an I HATE MY JOB POST!

The vs. To

2009-05-14T12:54:00.001-04:00

When to use to vs. the. Seems like a pretty simple concept right? Except we have noticed recently that M1 no longer uses the. He uses to instead. We've just noticed the word to creeping in more and more. I don't even know when he used the word the last. And I don't know how to correct him. Some examples of his the vs. to issues are:

Where's to Baby?

Are we going to to store?

What's to dog barking at?

What's to kitty doing?

Tractor won't fit into to barn.

Where's to ball?

It was cute at first, but now I afraid it's formed into a habit and I don't know how to turn it back. We keep trying to correct him and he looks at us and says 'Huh?' Clearly he doesn't understand the difference, but I know he used to use the word the, I just don't know why or when he stopped.

And the sad part? Hubby and I have gotten into a habit of calling M2, To Baby.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

I AM a Rock Star.....

And in case you didn't already know, Chicks Dig Me.

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Kati.

I.Hate.My.Job.

2009-05-12T13:20:00.003-04:00

I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job.I hate my job.I hate my job.I hate my job.I hate my job.I hate my job.I hate my job.I hate my job. I hate my job.I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job.
I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I HATE MY JOB.

Damn, I was hoping that would make me feel better, but it didn't. I'm still pissed off, and I still hate my job.

Not me Monday

2009-05-10T21:44:00.010-04:00

I did not have to sit through a mandatory meeting at work last Friday, and that meeting did not require me to take a pay cut to keep my job. I did not in turn cry my eyes out for the rest of the day and the entire weekend.

I am not seriously thinking about taking my 401K out to help ease the pay cut. I know that is terrible, I will have to retire some day, but I also need a place to live today.

I am not going to have to get a part time job in order to make up for (part of) the pay cut that I had to take. I do not have an interview this afternoon for that part time job.

I did not have a fantasic Mother's Day.

I did not decide to put ads on my blog, (see them to the left and the bottom?) AdSense apparently thinks that my blog is only about trachs and airways, since that is what all the ads relate to. I have not (ok I really have not) clicked on any of the ads, b/c that's illegal (or something like that) although I (do not) want to click on them b/c I actually am (not) interested in them. If anyone else is interested in trachs and airways and you find that you just don't get enough info about them from me, please feel free to click on the ads to the left and bottom. (Hint, Hint)

I did not let my 13 month old fall out of his high chair and on to the floor. I would never do that, I am a way better Mother than that.

I did not go roller skating on Saturday night with M1, it was not the first time in probably 20 years since I have been roller skating. I did not fall down, really, I DID NOT fall down.

I do not plan to finish an entire bottle of wine to night.

Let it rip....

2009-05-08T08:11:00.001-04:00

Blog Farts – noun. Def: Crappy ideas that are too short to make a real blog post, but when combined, join forces to make one unified, albeit half assed, post. see also: memes, surveys.
Source: Jaci, Ravings of a Mad Housewife

~One year ago today, M2 came home from the hospital for the second time. He was seven weeks old. Last Friday I told you he came home a year ago then for the first time. He was only home for about 18 hours the first time.
~Hubby and my Dad are building the M's a swing set this weekend. Not like the cheap, crappy metal ones that rusts like the one I had growing up. Oh no, they are getting one of the fancy smancy cedar ones, with a canopy and rock climbing wall that will last for like 80 years. I still have a scar down the front of my knee from one of the screws on my cheap, crappy metal rusty swing set. Bitter, Party of 1.....

~I went back to ENT this week, I have to have surgery for my deviated septum. Holy Crap, that's the last thing I need right now. I blame the M's. I don't know whose hard head did the blow to the nose (no pun intended, HA) to cause the deviated septum, so they both get the blame.

~We are having a company meeting at noon today. There will be cutbacks. I am terrified. I thought the economy was supposed to be getting better?

~Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful Mothers in Bloggy Land!!

~Does anyone else have 'spacing issue' fights with blogger when it's time to start a new paragraph? AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

Crocs by the sandbox.......

For more WW click here and here.

**I used the random generator to pick the winners, but apparently I'm not smart enough to figure out how to post the results on my blog. You'll just have to trust me!

The winner of my 100th post giveaway is: Carin
And the two winners of the Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce are: Kelly and T Rex Mom

Email me your mailing addresses, Carin I'll mail your wreath this week, Kelly and T Rex Mom, your sauce bottles will come directly from Country Bob's.

For those of you are in love with that wreath and didn't win you can always stop over at my Etsy Store!!

One year ago today…another one

2009-05-02T11:51:00.002-04:00

One year ago today I dialed 911 for the first time in my life. And reported to the operator that my then 6 week old baby, who had just been discharged from Children’s Hospital 18 hours ago, and was at home for the first time in his short life, was blue, covered in blood, and unresponsive. Yes, I’m serious.

Let me back track a little. If you read my post yesterday you saw that May 1st, 2008, M2 came home from the hospital from the NICU for first time, he was six weeks old. He was discharged at about 7pm. We were ecstatic. It was so exciting to finally be home, together, as a family. Looking back on the previous 6 weeks I don’t think we stopped long enough to realize that he was missing at home. We ran back in forth between the NICU and home, and my parent’s house (where M1 was staying) without even thinking about it. So on May 2nd, when we all woke up for the morning under one roof, and all sat down together for breakfast it was like Heaven on Earth.

M2 had a Dr appt that morning. My Mom was coming over to watch M1 while we took M2 to the Dr. When we came home from the Dr, my Mom graciously volunteered to sit with both M’s, and told Hubby and I to go out to lunch and enjoy ourselves. We took her up on her offer, went to lunch and to the grocery store. We hadn’t been home in 6 weeks; there was no food, no formula and no diapers. When we got back from lunch M1 was already laying down for a nap and Mom had said that M2 had just fallen asleep in his bouncy seat. As much as I wanted to hold him and kiss him, I had learned the hard way with M1, you never wake a sleeping baby.

Mom left to run some errands with the promise to return in a couple hours, and Hubby and I put the groceries away while the M’s napped, one upstairs in his bed, and one in the kitchen, not more than five steps away, in his bouncy seat.

It was such a nice, spring day, and we had been cooped up in the dark NICU for weeks, so I decided to go to the front porch and plant some flowers. And since I was going to be outside, Hubby was going to stay inside, b/c babies with trach's can’t cry, and we would not be able to tell when M2 woke up. Our hall bath, just around the corner from our kitchen had needed some work and little by little Hubby had been dry wall-ing, and since he was inside he decided to sand the dry wall down to get it ready for a new paint job.

We had both been peeking around the corner to check on M2, sleeping soundly, and went on with our work. At one point Hubby poked his head out the door and said he was going to run upstairs, but M2 was still asleep. I planted a few more flowers and went in to check on him again.

When I walked in the kitchen M2 was blue. (Man this is a hard post to write.) And as I ran to him, screaming for Hubby, I realized his sleeper was covered in blood. I immediately pulled him out of his chair and laid him on the floor on his back, and grabbed his suction machine to suction out his trach. Hubby handed me the phone to call 911. And he continued to suction out M2’s trach. My hands were filthy from planting, and trach care and suction is supposed to be a sterile procedure, I didn’t even wash my hands before grabbing him. Hubby performed CPR, (mouth to trach of course) and we started giving M2 breaths with the Ambu bag. I ran outside to meet the squad.

The first EMT raced in the house while I was telling him everything. After he saw M2 laying on the floor, he turned his head back to the other EMT’s who were making there way into the house with equipment and told them we were going, they didn’t even bring the equipment in. The EMT looked at me and said ‘Mom, get your shoes on, we’re going’.

As I write this post, I realize I have on the exact same shirt and jeans I had on that day.

I will never forget seeing the EMT carry my blue and bloody baby to the awaiting squad. And just as he jumped over the flowers I had just planted, carrying my baby, my mom pulled up. ‘What happened?’, she asked in a panic ‘I don’t know’ I said back to her, as I was climbing into the squad. I will never forget looking out of the squad window and seeing Hubby and my Mom standing on the front porch.

Once we were in the squad, and they started giving M2 ‘blow bys’ he stared to breathe again and started turning from blue, to gray. He was struggling to breathe, his pulse ox was very low, and his breathing rate was very high, but he was breathing. I wish I could have put the window of the squad down and yell to Hubby and Mom that he was breathing, but it was too late by then. And I realized I didn’t have my phone, my camera, or my purse. After all the EMT had only told me to get my shoes.

I remember as we were driving to the main road to get to the interstate that it was taking forever. I even said to one of the EMT’s that I thought we would be going faster, and would have made it further than what we had.

Hubby got to Children’s just as they were transferring M2 from the stretcher to the warming bed in the ER, I still can’t believe how fast Hubby got there; I guess it pays to have a sports car. Most of the time in the ER is a blur, I know my favorite ENT resident from the NICU came in; it was great to see her face. I know the ER Dr we had was amazing, and very calm and caring to both M2 and us. I know they showed us chest x-rays, M2’s lungs were cloudy. And they told us they had no idea what had happened, but they did get him stabilized in the ER. I know I called my Mom on the ER phone and asked her to come to Children’s Hospital with us. I know one of the ER nurses handed my a bag that had M2's sleeper in it. It wasn't until the next day that I looked at the sleeper and realized it was covered in blood. I couldn't keep it, I had to throw it away. I think we were more scared that day than when he was transported from the birth hospital

We have no idea how long M2 was not breathing, we had no concept of time that afternoon. M1 usually lays down for his nap at around 1pm; my Mom had said that M2 had fallen asleep shortly after that. My Mom also said she pulled on to our street at 3:42 and the squad was already there. That’s all we know. We don’t know if it had been 5 minutes from the time Hubby went upstairs to when I found him or if it had been 25 minutes. We just can’t piece it together.

My Dad took M1 to their house, and my Mom got to Children’s with some clothes for M2, my purse, cell, camera and a sweatshirt for me, just as they were moving us up to the PICU. The PICU Dr started a central line is M2’s thigh as soon as we got there. You see at first the Dr’s that M2’s lungs were cloudy b/c he had pneumonia, it wasn’t until the next day they realized it wasn’t pneumonia, it was blood in his lungs. Several tests were run on him, and we were told that he was going to need a blood transfusion. We refused.

We had been in the NICU with a couple who had refused a blood transfusion b/c of their religious beliefs; we knew they and their baby were still in the NICU so we went in search of them. They told us of a couple different medicines that can make blood cells grow faster to avoid a transfusion. We told the doctors that’s what we wanted for M2 and they obliged.

M2 was in the PICU for another full week before coming home, for the second time. He still had a very low blood count when he was discharged, and was still very pale, but his Pediatrician kept an eye on him and he eventually got his blood counts up on his own without the transfusion.

The Drs never did figure out exactly what happened. Although they think that there could have been a scab from his trach surgery that popped off causing the bleeding. They think since he was asleep his actual trach could have been sitting on the scab and made the bleeding worse. Since he was just a baby his lungs filled with blood quickly making him asphyxiate on his own blood. They think this is what happened; none of the doctors at Children’s had ever had anything like this happen before.

Blog Fart Fridays

2009-04-29T22:20:00.009-04:00

Blog Farts – noun. Def: Crappy ideas that are too short to make a real blog post, but when combined, join forces to make one unified, albeit half assed, post.

~One year ago today, M2 came home from the hospital for the first time. He was six weeks old. Next Friday I'll tell you that he came home from the hospital for the second time. He was seven weeks old. I really need to tell his complete story.

~I finally got my Etsy store opened. I don't have a lot in there but I am working on more stuff all the time. I'm really excited about finally having it. Take a look around and let me know what you think. Any thoughts welcome.

~Our Siberian Husky got a new home this week. We've had her for 6 years, we got her from a Husky rescue. She was Hubby's dog, he loved her. He always wanted a Husky. She never liked me. M1 was terrified of her, she didn't like our new home, and we just didn't have time to give her what she needed. I feel terrible, but I just don't think over the last year she has gotten 1/2 the attention or care that she needs and deserves. Any one that knows Huskies knows they are a lot of work, and probably not the best dog to have around small children. She has a new home and a new Daddy. Hubby is very happy with her new home and thinks she will be very happy there. He's happy about the change, so I am happy too.

~We are having a yard sale this weekend. I HATE yard sales. I hate everything about them. I would really rather donate all the crap to the Kidney Foundation, but I need the money, and I need to get rid of all the crap, so yard sale it is.

~I am participating in Shannon's Hometown Swap, see my button over there to the right? Head over to her site to participate. If you decide to participate, please tell her I sent you over!! I've never done a swap before, but who wouldn't want something from lovely Ohio!!

~For more Blog Fart Fridays check out Jaci.

Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce Giveaway and the World’s Best Burger

2009-04-29T15:00:00.005-04:00

World’s Best Burger

Yep, it really tastes that good.

I was contacted by Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce asking if I would be willing to try their sauce and give a review, followed with a giveaway. I said yes, I had actually been interested in trying the sauce, and was bummed when I didn't win a giveaway for the sauce on another blog. Country Bob’s sent me two bottles of sauce in the mail along with several recipes.

It's 'Grillin' Season' here in small town Ohio, so we decided on the World’s Best Burger recipe. Yep, it is the World's Best Burger.

Here’s what you’ll need for World’s Best Burgers:

2 1/2 lbs. ground sirloin (I used ground chuck, we buy that in bulk, and that's what I had)
1/2 package of Lipton Onion Soup mix

3/8 cup Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce

1 Tbs. seasoned salt (Country Bob’s also has seasoned salt, but I didn't have any so I used the 'off brand'.

Combine all the ingredients and form into patties. Grill.

We added extra Country Bob’s Sauce after the burgers were cooked. I also added cooked bacon, lettuce, cheese and tomato.

These burgers were GREAT!! Country Bob’s Sauce has a sweet, and somewhat tangy taste. It added so much flavor to the burgers, and Hubby and I even dipped our fries in a side of the sauce. It really was great. We can't figure out the taste, not Honey-ish, not BBQ-ish, just really flavorful. We were both surprised and impressed by the taste. These will definitely be made throughout the summer!!

Now for the Giveaway! The fine people at Country Bob’s is going to give away 2 bottles of sauce to 2 different winners. All you need to do to win is leave me a comment on this post by Tuesday, May 5th. I’ll pick 2 winners on Wednesday, May 6th.

Good Luck, and hope you enjoy the sauce as much as we did. I'm thinking Country Bob’s Meatloaf for Sunday dinner.

Wordless Wednesday-Almost

2009-04-29T08:00:00.005-04:00

M2 tries spaghetti for the first time. He ate this meal naked, except for a diaper and bib...... and he loved every minute of it.

And yes, he did eat the entire plate of spaghetti.

For more WW click here and here.

100th Post, 100 Things, and a GIVEAWAY

2009-04-26T23:08:00.002-04:00

I can't believe this is my 100th post! That's just crazy!! Who knew I had so much to say??? Well probably my Hubby...

Any who, I've see this around and thought I would do this for my 100th post... Give away is at the bottom!!

What I've done is in red:
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken pox.
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Now for the giveaway.....

The rules are: One entry per comment on this post, one entry if you add the '100 things' posting on your blog and link back to this post, one entry if you become a follower. Entries are doubled for current followers.

You have untill Friday May 1st to enter, I'll pick the winner over the weekend and post it on Monday May 4th.

What do you win? A homemade Red, White and Blue wreath. I've been making wreaths for years, and this is one of my favorite wreaths to make.

And if you don't win, but still want one, you can always get one at my Etsy Shop. Yep, I've got one of those now too! There isn't that much in there yet, but I'm working on it. Check out my shop and tell me what you think!

Good Luck!

One year ago today...

2009-04-24T08:00:00.007-04:00

One year ago today my (then) 5 week old baby got his trach.

One year ago today my 5 week old baby began the road to coming home.

One year ago today I left the hospital for nearly 24 hours. It was the first time in 5 weeks that I had left his side for more than a couple hours. M2 was completely sedated and could not be moved or picked up for at least 24 hours after surgery. His wonderful nurse, Grandma Becky, called me every 2-3 hours to update me.

One year ago today words like tracheostomy tube, trach ties, sterile q-tips, split 2x2's, Heat Moisture Exchanger or HumiVent, trach guard, sterile water, Saline Bullets, sputum, Sputum Culture, Specimen Trap, 3.0 & 3.5 Shiley Neo Natel, lead electrodes, suctioning, Suction Machine, Ambu bag, Apnea Monitor, Cool Mist, Passy-Muir Valve, site care, pseudomonas, Tracheitis, obturator, tracheostomy mask, Little Neo Suckers, 8 French Catheters, RSV, Synagis, and stoma all became 'normal' words in our vocabulary.

One year ago today site care, tie changes and trach changes all became part of my routine.

One year ago today I cried because I felt like we gave up the battle when we let the Drs give M2 a trach.

One year ago today I was scared to death of being able, or not able, to take care of him, and his trach.

One year ago today I was afraid that M2's trach would change how much I loved him.

Today I still remember that time in the NICU like it was yesterday, the 5 weeks before the trach surgery and the 2 after.

Today, I know that there is no better place for M2, or all of us for that matter, than at home.

Today I know that taking a break, even if it's a short break, is always helpful.

Today I know that adding new words to my vocabulary isn't always a bad thing.

Today site care, tie changes and trach changes is second nature to me, I can do them fast, and though, I've never tried, probably in my sleep. I have even been told several times by his pediatrician, his ENT NP and several RN's, that M2 has one of, if not the, cleanest trach site they have ever seen. And yes, I know it may seem silly, but I do take pride in that.

Today I realize we didn't give up the battle we just chose to fight it at home.

Today I know that I am completely able to take care of M2, and his trach.

Today I know that if anything, M2's trach made me love him that much more, because of everything he went through. And how hard he fights.

Today, the countdown begins. July 20th is his follow up with Dr. Cotton. On July 20 he will be exactly 16 months. The minimum age he can be for Dr. Cotton to schedule his reconstruction surgery. On July 20th we will (hopefully) get an exact date of his surgery. His trach (if all goes well) will come out 6 weeks after his surgery. Today, the countdown begins, to a new life style.My, things sure have changed in a year....

A (Week) Day at the Zoo....

2009-04-23T08:15:00.002-04:00

I know you all want to ask the same thing: "Mommy of Ms, how did you go to the zoo on a week day when you work full time?" Well to answer your burning question, I may/or may not have called in sick.

You see all my vacation time is already spoken for, with clinic appts, dr appts, and surgeries, so I don't get any real time off work this year. Sure, all those things are worth my time, and I don't mind doing it, anything for M2. But no vacation time, means no vacation, or days off. You need those every once in a while!!

I have had this terrible cold *cough, sniffle* and this particular day I woke up feeling terrible. So I emailed my boss and told him I wasn't going to make it in, then I hoped in the shower and got dressed and had breakfast. By the time the boys were up and dressed and eating breakfast I felt much better.

It was going to be such a nice day out that Mamaw and Papaw had already planned on taking the Ms to the zoo. And amazingly by 9 when it was time to go to the zoo, I felt so much better that I tagged along with them. And had a wonderful day.

I have a picture of M1 in this exact same corner of this exhibit, I'll have to dig that out. Too cute!!

I love turtles. Hubby and I even took a tour of the turtle farm on our Honeymoon, in the Cayman Islands.

M2 is enjoying himself too much to stop for a picture.

M1 LOVES this carousel. We stop to ride it every time we go to the zoo. M2 didn't enjoy it as much.

He did, however, enjoy his nap.

Please excuse the flash. The baby elephant in this picture was only 1 week old. His 'official debut' to the public was going to be on the weekend, but the handlers had been taking him out for a couple hours every once in a while to get him used to the idea. We just happened to be that when he and his mama came out.

M1 loves elephants. And I have a ton of pictures of him sitting on this little guy. He was even an elephant last year for Halloween.

The Flamingo was always my favorite animal as a kid. They are just so pretty.

Too close for comfort.....

M1 and Papaw stop for a snack.

M2 gets a ride with a view.

I so enjoyed my sick day, *cough, sniffle*...

I think the boys did too, Mamaw even bought them both their own snakes!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-22T08:00:00.003-04:00

M1 and his love....
For more Wordless Wednesday visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Syringes and Acid Reflux

2009-04-20T08:55:00.000-04:00

Thanks to M2's amazing pediatrician I got to throw these away today.

M2 has really bad acid reflux and has been taking Prevacid. His ENT NP prescribed it but she prescribed it as a compound suspension. The only pharmacy in town to make compound suspensions is the pharmacy at Children's Hospital.

Every month it's a pain in the a$$ to get the RX. I have to call 3 days in advance so they can mix it. Then drive downtown (completely out of my way), then pay $2 to park, then wait in the longest line ever, just to get the RX.

Every month the stupid pharmacy tech tells me my insurance has declined the RX, and every month I have to explain in great detail that 'No, the insurance did not decline the RX, it's already been paid.' You see when I call 3 days in advance to reorder the RX, the pharmacy runs the insurance claim right then. My insurance (which by the way is amazing) pays the claim by direct deposit within 12 hours. So when I go to pick the RX up 3 days after I called in the reorder the stupid pharmacy tech reruns the claim, and it's denied from the insurance b/c they had just paid it 3 days earlier. Make sense?

Well last month when I called the refill in, I called on a Thursday evening, and said I needed it on Sunday, figuring we could just pick it up after church. The stupid pharmacy tech said they don't mix compound suspensions on Sunday so I would have to get it on Monday. I asked if I could just pick it up on Saturday, she said no, I didn't call far enough in advance to get it on Saturday. She said I could pick it up on Monday after 10am. Which means after work to us. I sent Hubby after work to get the RX, traffic into and out of the downtown area is crazy, plus after standing in line and explaining the situation to the stupid pharmacy tech it was 7:45 when he got home with the RX, and M2 was already asleep. He didn't have his medicine on Sunday or Monday, and then puked on Tuesday, from the reflux.

So after explaining all this drama to The M's Pediatrician she prescribed a NEW kind of Prevacid that is a pill that dissolves in water. Meaning no more syringes and no more trips to the stupid Children's Hospital Pharmacy!!

Getting this month's prescription should be easy, I can get it at the CVS down the street!!

Have I mentioned how much I love our Pediatrician?

Blog Fart Fridays...

2009-04-17T08:00:00.006-04:00

~ I made a facebook account, I didn't even have it for 24 hrs and Hubby's family started driving me crazy with it. I think I'm going to close it.

~I LOVE my new blog design and layout!! Thanks to everyone's input last Friday.

~I am working on opening an etsy shop. I've got my profile set up and can't wait to get the shop together. I heart* etsy. *That would have been so much cuter with an actual heart there.

~Prison Break returns tonite!! At 8, oh I am so excited I love me some Wentworth Miller. *drool*

~Spring cleaning starts tonite at 6:30, and I am excited. I'm also certain that Hubby feels the same way. (insert devilish grin and giggle here) Although we will have to break from spring cleaning from 8-9 so I can drool (Read: Watch) Wentworth Miller in Prison Break.

For more Blog Fart Fridays check out Jaci.

Awards...Thank you

2009-04-16T08:20:00.002-04:00

Aleigh gave me this award sometime ago and I never posted about it. Not because I'm not grateful, or because I don't care, I am grateful and I do care. I started to post about it and then got sidetracked and then my posting got lost/buried in my lists of posting and I just never got back to it. I know, excuses, excuses. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

Did you read that? She thinks I'm charming. I've been called a lot of things, but charming has never been one of them. Thanks Aleigh, I really do appreciate it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have also been awarded with The Mom of the Year Award by Melissa. Thank you so much, I am truly touched!

Rules for Mom of the Year Award: Admit one thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you've written it down, you are No Longer allowed to feel bad. It's over with, it's in the past. Remember, you're a good mom!

~I feel really guilty that the first 2 months of M2's life was in the NICU, and that he couldn't be home with the rest of the family. I know there was nothing I could do to prevent it, but I don't want him or M1 resent that he was there. I spent every possible second with M2 I could, which left my mom to take care of M1. It's very hard as a mother to think that you are needed in two places at once, and to decide which baby needs you more. The 2 1/2 year old at home that knows you and misses you but that is being taken very well care of, or the newborn that has no idea who you are and doesn't know that they need you, but is left in a crib by themselves. I know neither of them will remember those 2 months, but I will. And it's a hard thing to remember.

Remind yourself you are a good mom, list seven things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself everyday that you Rock!

1. I love that when I pull in the driveway at night there are 2 little blond boys standing in the doorway waiting for me.

2. I love that M1 looks at me and says 'Cheese Indeed' every time he sees me with a camera in my hand.

3. I love that somehow M2 can put his arms around my neck and wiggle himself up my body so that I end up holding him. I have no idea how he does it.

4.I love that M2 will only hug me. No one else.

5. I love that when I tell M1 I have a surprise for him he asks me if it 'Is for eating or playing?'

6. I love that my boys love each other.

7. I love that my boys are always happy, smiling and laughing. They both
always seem to wake up with a smile on their face. They are both little balls of energy.

Send this to five other Mom's of the year that deserve credit for being great moms and remind them that they are the best moms they can be!! Remember to send them a note to let them know you've selected them, and add a link to the person who nominated you.

This is the hardest list to make!! So many of my bloggy friends are great Mothers. I'll pass it on to:

Aleigh My NICU buddy, and NICU giver-backer. I think I just made up a new term!

LadyBird Have you seen her baby's eyes? That is one cute baby

Caitlin Tell Brian to be impressed

T Rex Mom They don't watch TV!! We live for Noggin.

Carin, I'm forever in blue jeans too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The third award is the Lemonade Award, given to me by Caitlin. Caitlin is definitely one of the funniest blogs I read. Srsly. I laugh out loud at her posts DAILY.

This is an award reserved for blogs who show gratitude and/or attitude.

~I'm not sure which one I show, probably the attitude, but I'll except the award anyway!

I'm not listing anyone to award the Lemonade Award and Friendship Award too, just because I like to break rules, (and this is already a really long post)but if you are reading this post, then you may award them to yourselves, from me.

Man, this is a long post, and took it forever.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - The Easter Recap Edition

2009-04-15T09:41:00.004-04:00

Hubby's basket... M2's basket...

M1's basket...

The Easter Egg Hunt...

To facebook or not to facebook??

2009-04-14T08:21:00.002-04:00

I know, I am so behind the times. I know everyone is on facebook, everyone but me. But everyone had a blog waayy before I did too. Maybe I don't understand it all but here's my problem with facebook...I don't want everyone to know where I am and what I'm doing. Wait, sounds like my blog!?!?

Let me clarify, I come from where we like to call the 'Middle of BFF', small podunk town with ONE, count 'em, ONE traffic light. I moved away AS FAST AS I COULD, (Read: as soon as I graduated from school) and never looked back. I don't go back to visit, I don't talk to anybody I went to school with or was friends with. I've been there twice in 12 years. And I'm ok with that.

I didn't go home during the summers or breaks from college. I was one of about 6 people from my class that went to college, and there is nothing wrong with those who did not go to college, they all stayed and went to work in the fields and factories, and that's fine, that just wasn't for me. So I HIGHTAILED IT OUT OF THERE!

So why get on facebook just to find all those people again? I can't imagine that I have one.single.thing. in common with these people. Of course, maybe the Internet isn't even available in my old town. You can laugh, but I'm not joking. I didn't have cable till I went to college.

And then there are the inlaws. I don't really care for them, they don't really care for me, it's mutual. Hubby and I don't tell them much about our lives. Not. Much. At. All. I don't want them to be able to get on facebook and find out information about us that we don't want them to know.

There are a few people from college I wouldn't mind catching up with, but it's been so long since we've seen each other, at this point why bother??

So, do you facebook?

The cold that just wouldn't go away...

2009-04-13T08:04:00.002-04:00

Remember this post? It's been 6 weeks since I first went to the doctor for a cold/virus/sinus infection. I had this cold for over a week before I even went to the dr and I just couldn't get rid of it. I was so congested that I literally could not breath without my mouth open. I couldn't sleep and I was having a hard time eating because when I closed my mouth to chew I felt like I couldn't get enough air. My dr had exhausted all antibiotics and eventually sent me to the ENT dr.

Turns out it wasn't a cold at all. I have a deviated septum. It felt like I was constantly congested because the inside of my nose was so swollen that I couldn't get any air in. The swelling had literally closed off my airway. And the 'snot' that continuously ran, that was drainage from all the swelling. And the constant sneezing, that was my nose trying to get the swelling out.

The inside of my nose was so swollen that the dr couldn't even tell how badly deviated my septum is. The ENT dr gave me cortisone and an anti-inflammatory, I have to go back in 3 weeks. Depending on how bad the damage is after the swelling goes down, I may have to have surgery. The medicine is working, I can breathe now, and I've had a few good nights of sleep. I don't think I've slept good since I got the 'cold'. Now that the swelling is going down my cheeks and
nose and eyes hurt.

Oh, and the cause of the deviated septum? The Ent dr says it's pretty common for mothers of toddlers to have this problem. And asked me if I'd gotten hit in the face recently. More like daily... I've taken a hard head to the face quite a few times, sometimes tears have even sprung up and lips were cracked enough that blood appeared. That has happened countless times, and there is no way to figure out which head to face incident caused the problem, or how long it's been that way.

Ah, the joys of motherhood.......

Brain Fart Friday.....

2009-04-10T08:30:00.006-04:00

Does anyone know where to by those baby leggings? I want to get some for M2 before he goes in for his airway reconstruction surgery.

M2 got his LAST RSV shot yesterday. He was supposed to be done in March, but the RSV percentage for our area was really high so his AMAZING PEDIATRICIAN wanted him to have it for one more month. If his trach is out before next October he shouldn't have to get the shot next RSV season. The shot has to be given every 30 days from October to March. It's VERY expensive, about $2,550... per month.

I'm going to make SOMETHING and donate to Kelly for her 3 day walk for Breast Cancer. I just can't decide what yet. Either way, I am SUPER excited to help out with GREAT cause.

I want to change my blog to 3 column, anyone have an EASY code for that?

I just realized I am very close to 100 posts....I'm thinking... GIVEAWAY. Wait, why do WE give things away when WE hit 100 posts?? Shouldn't stuff be given to US? Ahem.

Hope everyone has a Happy Easter!!

Sorry, I couldn't have a post without a picture!! But you knew that right?

For more Blog Fart Fridays check out Jaci.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday, The Easter Egg Coloring Event

2009-04-08T01:00:00.000-04:00

I have no words to describe how the Easter Egg Coloring Event went....See for yourselves....

I did however learn that egg die will NOT wipe off of walls, it stains them, and then you have to BEG Hubby to repaint the stained area......Ahem...

The park...

2009-04-05T21:26:00.005-04:00

Oh, the things you will see at the park...

Do you need a closer look?

Yes those are antlers... on a truck...

And these peeps, I have no idea what they are doing, I'm not sure I want to know....

That is a 3 foot pipe... with two 'hoses' coming off the bottom. Basically a water bong. Hey Peeps, we are in a PUBLIC PARK! Srsly.

I cant make this stuff up....even if I tried...

Just Stuff...

2009-03-31T09:13:00.003-04:00

Last night I discovered a whole new PAIN IN THE ASS.

Little M2 and I went to get him Easter Shoes after dinner. It was such a nice evening I had the windows down and the moon roof open. We stopped at a stop light and the car next to us had their windows down too. And the were smoking. CRAP! Cigarette smoke floats into my car, which means into M2's face and trach. CRAP!

Obviously he's not supposed to be around cigarette smoke, b/c his trach is basically an open hole into his lungs. For the most part that is pretty easy, we don't smoke, none of our friends and family smoke, and Ohio is smoke free in public places, ie restaurants, the zoo etc. But smoking in your personal car is fine. So I guess we aren't going to be able to drive with our windows down when he's in the car?!? Just can't take that chance.

We did get him Easter Shoes, by the way. Little black loafers. HOW CUTE!! He walked around the store in them. He had sweatpants on, so he looked kinda funny. HA. I can't wait to see both boys in their suits and black loafers.
____________________________________

This morning at Starbucks I saw a high school boy pull up and park, he was driving a mini van. I had to laugh at myself. I'm sure it was probably his mom's. I am SO going to buy a mini van just to make the M's drive it. HAHAHAHA, I bet they'll get all the chicks that way. HAHAHAHA
____________________________________

The lady in front if me at Starbucks this morning bought a juice box for her kid. How much did THAT cost?? Seriously.

Not Me Monday

2009-03-30T08:07:00.009-04:00

It's that time again! Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama... This one, in honor of Stellan....

I HAVE NOT 'sat' on and refreshed MckMama's page constantly in the last week.

I HAVE NOT hoped for, thought of and prayed for baby Stellan a million times in the last week.

My heart DOES NOT hurt for baby Stellan and his family.

I HAVE NOT followed MckMama on Twitter, and am constantly waiting for her updates. Nope not me....

No More Monkey's Jumping On The Bed...

2009-03-27T08:00:00.004-04:00

This is what happens to little boys who jump on the bed....

Eeeeewwwww, nasty huh?

M1 had been exceptionally bad and full of attitude for most of the day, Poor Mamaw was about at her wits end with him. As I have mentioned before he's been a ball of attitude lately. As you can imagine when bedtime approached the attitude didn't get any better. Hubby tried to get his pj's on him to put him to bed and M1 ran under the bed and wouldn't come out. He's been doing that a lot lately. So Hubby told him it was bed time and if he wasn't going to come out then he could sleep in his clothes, and left his room. Hubby said a few minutes later he heard a 'crash' and crying, when he went back in M1's room he was sitting on his bed, crying and holding his face and blood was everywhere.

I was downstairs cleaning up the kitchen and doing dishes from dinner, I heard M1 crying but I figured he was screaming b/c he was put to bed, that happens a lot these days.

Hubby came screaming and running down to the kitchen carrying M1, blood was everywhere. I started cleaning him up so we could figure out what was bleeding. Turns out his bottom 2 teeth went through his upper lip. After several attempts to figure out what happened we think that he was jumping on his bed and fell and hit the bottom of his chin on his head board.

Hubby called Mamaw and she thought we should take him to the ER. So Mamaw had to come over to sit with M2 so we could take him, he wanted us to both go. Since M2 has a trach only Hubby, Mamaw and myself can be alone with him. He was already a sleep but we can't take the chance of a friend or neighbor being with him and something happening and them not know what to do.

So off to Children's we went!! We couldn't get his lip to stop bleeding. When we got there the girl at the desk took one look at him and paged a nurse to come right up for a lip injury. We were taken back immediately, before they even took any of our information. The nurse we had was FABULOUS and the Dr was really nice to. M1 was so good and brave at the hospital, he just sat on my lap while they worked on him. I was really surprised and proud at how good he was there. They fixed him up and sent him on his way, with a popsicle of course.

His whole face is swollen and bruised today. I feel bad for him. He's pretty upset that his lip won't 'melt' (swelling to go down). I though that was a good term to use.

Hopefully he learned his lesson that you don't jump on the bed, or hide when your Daddy is trying to put your pjs on you!

Monkey Poop

2009-03-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

So I've been finding this white fuzzy stuff everywhere for about a week...

On the living room rug...

On the kitchen floor...

In the dining room...

So I begin to realize something is going on and call M1 in....

Me: M1, have you seen this white fuzzy stuff?

M1: Sure have.

Me: Do you know what it is?

M1: Sure do.

Me: What is it?

M1: Poop.

Me: Poop?, what do you mean it's poop?

M1: That little brown monkey keeps pooping.

Me: What? I don't know what you are talking about.

M1: That little brown monkey, that Mamaw got me, keeps pooping.

Me: Go get him buddy, let me see him...

Well doesn't that just explain EVERYTHING!!!

After a 5 min. rectal surgery that little brown monkey, otherwise known as Curious George was good as new.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-25T08:00:00.002-04:00

He's ONE!!!

2009-03-23T14:26:00.010-04:00

Friday was ALL ABOUT M2. We PARTIED!! Actually we kinda celebrated all weekend!

M2 was on a good nap schedule on Friday and slept until 5:45. His party started at 6, so we was up, dressed and happy by 6. Cute little devil partied until 10. His bed time is usually around 7:30 or 8. He just can't stay up much past that!

We had pizza, salad and pasta for dinner, it was so good. I don't think M2 has ever had pizza, but he loved it, he ate a whole piece.

He also REALLY enjoyed his cake....
This is the Owl Quilt that I made him, I really like the way it turned out...

Our neighbors from our old house even came to M2's party. We have really missed them since we moved. Scarlett is the original owner to the house right next door to our old house. She was always so good to us. Hubby mowed her grass and I always planted her flowers in the spring. She is in her 70's. She LOVES the boys. She has only seen M2 a couple times since he was born after we moved but she always sends them stuff and calls to check on them. She always came over to visit M1, she was so upset when we moved, but we COULDN'T stay there...Anyway, we were so happy to see them, she brought M2 this bunny, he loved it. He's still carrying it around...

Mamaw and Papaw got him this cute little car...

Here's the BIRTHDAY BOY in his NEW PJ's, he stayed up and played a while after everyone left. He's carrying his new cell phone, Mamaw and Papaw got him to go with his new car.

Doesn't that little face just make you smile??

We all had such a good weekend. It was so much better than this weekend last year was.

Hubby's parents even kept their usual drama filled rants and rude comments to a minimum, at least for them. But come to think of it, I'm not even sure they spoke to me. HA!

Saturday evening we took the M's to see a puppy. I want to get one for M2, he is just so loveable and cuddly I want him to grow up with a puppy to have as his best friend. M1 could really care less about a puppy but I really think M2 would love it. The one we took him to see he grabbed and gave it a bear hug. I think we have decided on a breed, now it's just finding one with a good fit for us.

Sunday we went and bought him a new car seat so he can now be forward facing like the rest of us!!

M2 goes to the Pediatrician tomorrow for his one year check so I will have all his stats tomorrow, but I expect them to go like this:

Weight: Chubby

Height: Short

We haven't seen our Pediatrician since we went to Cincinnati so I'm excited to tell her the Good News as well. She knew we were going but didn't know when.

Then and Now....

2009-03-19T09:07:00.010-04:00

One year ago today, I was able to hold this precious little soul for about 5 minutes before he was whisked away. I CHERISH this picture. I love this little boy with all of my heart and soul. He is just perfect. He is the happiest baby I have ever had the pleasure to be around. One look at him and your day can take a turn for the better.

He was loaded up for transport to Children's Hospital pretty quickly after he was born ...it's about a 25-30 min drive from his birth hospital...The first time Hubby got to hold him was at Children's... I hate that. I think that is something I will never get over, Hubby didn't get to hold his son until he was almost 12 hours old. Stuff like that eats at my heart. M2's nurse at Children's took this picture. I was still at the birth hospital, I hate that I missed this....

Did you know I am the only one he will hug? Yep, he will let anyone hold him, but he only hugs me. Man I love that kid..

M1 getting to see his brother for the first time at Children's. M2 is 2 days old in this picture, that's my Dad's hand in the background, he kept M1 for us so for a couple of days by himself, so that my Mom could be at the hospital with Hubby and I. They are both such great, and supportive parents, we don't know what we would have done without them this past year.

Look at M1 listening so intently. I think my Dad is telling him that M2 was going to be at the hospital for a little while. Look at that little hand on M2, I think they already love each other...

Happy Birthday Little Sweetie, I hope you enjoy your day, you deserve it!

Sneak Peek

2009-03-19T08:34:00.009-04:00

So M2's Birthday Party is tomorrow (sniffle, sniffle). It's been such a trying year I get teary eyed just thinking of everything that poor baby has been through. But there is an end in sight, and tomorrow WE CELEBRATE!!!! So I thought I would give you a little sneak peek!

I just made this wreath last night...Can you tell what it's made from???

M2's bedroom is 'Rocket Baby', so this 'theme' kinda ties into that.

Some paper floofs for decoration....An almost, but not, quite finished quilt... (it WILL be finished)

And a throw back to MY childhood....

That's it for now, please think of me tomorrow as I am BAWLING my way through my BABY's Birthday!!! (and let's HOPE that the In Laws, keep the drama to a minimum!!))

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

St Pat's

2009-03-17T16:05:00.005-04:00

Happy St Pat's day. I know I'm a little late in the day posting. This past week has just been crazy, and with the upcoming PARTY for M2, this may be my last post till next week. So much to do, so little time.....

Anywho, on with St Pat.'s:

A CRAZY leprechaun showed up at our house over night...

He tracked through our foyer...

And into our kitchen...

And turned our milk GREEN...

He even left a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow....

I know, it's a SAD rainbow, but keep in mind the leprechaun is dealing with a 3 year old....so it was GREAT!

1996

2009-03-13T11:10:00.004-04:00

Melissa had this survey on her blog. Looks fun, and I'm all about playing along!!

Fill this out about your SENIOR year of High School! IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR DID YOU...

1. Did you date someone from your school? The first have of senior year,I dated a football player. We dated for about 2 1/2 years total. I dated a soccer play that was a freshman at the local college the second half of senior year. I thought I was soooo cool, dating a college guy and all. And man was he gorgeous!

2. Did you marry someone from your high school? No, but I think everyone though the football player and I were going to get married.

3. Did you car pool to school? Not really

4. What kind of car did you have? Grey Chevy Cavalier

5. What kind of car do you have now? Black Buick Rendezvous. But I hate to say it, I think it's getting traded in for a mini van.

6. Its Friday night...where are you now? In the summer, on the back patio having drinks, in the winter, the craft room, having drinks. hummmm...

7. It is Friday night...where were you then? Football Games, where else?!?!?

8. What kind of job did you have in high school? I worked in the grill at McDonald's.

9. What kind of job do you do now? I am in Sales and Marketing.

10. Were you a party animal? Not in high school, but nobody at my school really was.

11. Were you considered a flirt? I don't think so, I had the same BF for a while.

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? I was in concert band. I played the clarinet, bass clarinet and french horn, and I loved it. I even had a music scholarship to college.

13. Were you a nerd? I don't think so, I dated a football player, remember?

14. Did you get suspended or expelled? I got suspended once.

15. Can you sing the fight song? Nope

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? I don't think I had a favorite teacher Senior year, but Mrs Skinner was my favorite teacher. She was the science teacher in 9th and 10th grade. I LOVED HER CLASS!!

17. Where did you sit during lunch? I didn't go to lunch that often, I was anorexic in high school. When I did go I sat with my BF and his friends.

18. What was your school’s full name? PHS

19. When did you graduate? 1996

20. What was your school mascot? An Electric Bolt

21. If you could go back and do it again, would you? I would. But I would do a lot of things differently.

22. Did you have fun at the prom? Time of my life! Even though we were no longer dating I went with the football player.

23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? Every once in a while I'll get an email from him.

24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? I don't know, I went to my 10 year, I didn't want to go at first, but it was a lot of fun, I'm glad I went.

25. Do you still talk to people from school? Nope

26. School Colors? Blue and Gold

27. What celebrities came from your high school? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Nothing

2009-03-12T10:58:00.006-04:00

I don't really have anything good today. I'm in a bad mood, I have headache and a cold that just won't go away, and I'm tired. And the 70 degree (ok, 67 degree) temperature that we had on Saturday is now back to 30 degrees. Lovely.

I went to the Dr. for the cold on Monday, apparently it's a virus, the Dr gave me an RX that has codeine in it. Codeine makes me tired (read: pass out cold) so I can only take it bedtime, which I'm sure isn't often enough to make a difference.

M1 has been having behavioral issues A LOT lately, terrible two's my ass. It's the three's that are killing us. He was so terrible at church last night I was embarrassed of him. Hubby took him out twice and I took him out once and it just didn't seem to matter. I swear he was acting up at church b/c he knew there was nothing I could do about it. When we got home and he went to bed he screamed and carried on that he didn't want to go to bed for at least 2 hours. It was a delightful evening.

This morning after I told him to go downstairs so he didn't wake up M2 he walked in M2's room and screamed. So of course M2 got woke up. I don't know what is going on with him lately but he is getting the best of me. Of course Mamaw keeps baby-ing him so I don't think that's helping the situation either.

HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH Ok I feel a little better after that scream!

On a brighter note I bought this: (**Since everyone has been asking- The top is from Old Navy!)and this: (from funkyvintagekitchen)yesterday and I fully intend on wearing them together. Now I just need to find some F.U.N. shoes to go with it! They make me think of SPRING!

Ok, still in a bad mood but I feel a little better... Oh, look its almost lunch time!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-11T08:03:00.002-04:00

HAHAHAHAHAHA - Yes, Wooden Shoes, they are from Holland.

***Please stop by http://eat-in-pack-up.blogspot.com/ today. Tiffany is trying to raise money for the Global Food Crisis, and all you have to do is leave a comment on her blog to help!!

The best Dessert EVER is served....

2009-03-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Seriously, Hubby said this was the best dessert he’s ever had. It is soooooo good, and it’s not ‘heavy’. It didn’t even last for 24 hrs in our house. I took it out of the oven at about 8:30pm on Sat and it was gone by 5pm on Sunday!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mallow Bars butter

1 pkg (2 layer size) devil’s food cake mix
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2/3 cup creamy peanut
1 7 oz jar marshmallow creme
½ cup salted peanuts
6 sq Baker’s Semi Sweet Chocolate, coarsely chopped

~Heat oven to 350 degrees, mix dry cake mix, butter and 1/3 cup milk until blended; press 2/3 onto bottom of 9x13 in pan (I sprayed pan with Pam first). Bake 12-14 min or until center is almost set; cool 2 mins

~Mix peanut butter and remaining milk; spread onto crust. Top with spoonfuls of marshmallow creme and remaining cake mixture. Sprinkle with peanuts and chocolate, press gently into cake mixture.

~Bake 18 min or just until center is set. Cool before cutting into bars.
ENJOY!!

Not Me Monday...

2009-03-09T08:04:00.000-04:00

It's that time again! Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama...

I DID NOT have to get up at 3:30am to take M2 to his Second Opinion last week, and then fall asleep on the car ride down to leave Hubby driving by himself.

The Easter Bunny at our house HAS NOT started shopping for the Easter Basket gifts.

I DID NOT waste time at work on Friday morning waiting for Air Force One to land.

I DID NOT spend the ENTIRE 70 degrees Saturday outside with BOTH boys wearing shorts. I would never put my boys in shorts in March in Ohio!

I DID NOT have chips and dip and Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream for lunch last week.

I DID NOT put too small diapers on M2 and he DID NOT in turn go through 6 outfits in one day. I would never do that to him, he always has the right size diapers.

I DID NOT by two canisters of Baby Formula and then tell M2 when they are gone he can only have cow's milk.

I AM NOT counting down the days until M2 no longer has to ride in an infant carrier meaning I no longer have to lug that heavy thing around.

Air Force One

2009-03-06T10:34:00.009-05:00

I'm not getting political or anything but I wanted to share these pictures. My office is in the flight path of Port Columbus, and on any given day that is pretty cool, we can see the pilots in the planes as they are coming in for a landing, we are that close. If M1 is here all I have to do is give him a snack and sit him in front of a window, he'll watch the planes for hours.

On days like today every one is watching the clocks and the windows a little more closely than usual. Every one likes to watch on days like this. The President just landed here in Cbus, if you've never seen Air Force One let me just tell you, it is the BIGGEST FREAKIN' PLANE I've ever seen. We didn't see the 'escort planes' that usually come first, just had a helicopter checking the wind. But it's still a sight to see.

Faithful readers, I give you Air Force One coming in for a landing....

The black in the last shot is the awning for our office building...

These photos are in no way meant to over shadow the killer dinner recipe in the previous post!! HAHAHA

Dinner is served....

2009-03-06T08:07:00.003-05:00

This is not a cooking blog by any means. I can cook. I make dinner every night. I also make a lot of different kinds of desserts. I really like to cook and to make/try new dinners. I will try to make (almost) anything at least once.

I write out dinner menus for every week usually 2 or 3 weeks at a time. Then I make my grocery list from that. I just don't have time to go to the grocery every week, so by making our dinner menus so far in advance I can go to the grocery every 2-3 weeks. It saves a lot of time this way.

So anyway my point is I have a great and easy dinner recipe to share with you.

Rotitni w/ Marinara
12 oz rotini pasta
1 bag of broccoli florets (I used fresh broccoli)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 med carrots, sliced thin
1 small onion
1 large red pepper
2 cups marinara sauce
3 oz pepperoni
Parmesan cheese

~Cook pasta as directed, adding broccoli for about 5 mins.
~In a deep 12 in skillet heat oil, add carrots, onion and pepper, cook until tender. Sir in marinara sauce and pepperoni; cook 2 minutes to heat.
~Drain pasta and broccoli, stir into skillet with marinara mixture.
~Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.

I made salad and garlic bread to serve with it. It turned out really great and was easy to make. We took this in our lunch the next day, and had as a cold salad with sandwiches the next night!

Second Opinions

2009-03-04T16:45:00.004-05:00

Second Opinions Rock!! M2 had his Bronch and DL with Dr Cotton, ENT Cincinnati today. Although his vocal cords are still paralyzed he has given us hope!! I know I still haven’t told his NICU story, but you can read his birth story here. He was born with Bi Lateral Vocal Cord Paralyzation. Which basically means both his vocal cords are paralyzed in the closed position, making his airway very small and unstable. Apparently newborns usually have an airway that is 8 mm wide, his was 1mm.

The ENT Drs and the Neonatal Drs told us he would never be able to breathe on his own, and he did. Then they told us he would never be able to keep his oxygen stats up without oxygen, and he did. Then they told us he probably won’t be able to eat orally. And he can. So they put him in a wait and see mode and said sometimes the vocal cords are paralyzed during birth and he might gain movement in them. So we waited for 5 weeks, and they never moved. We were told we couldn’t take him home with out a trach. So he got a trach and came home. The trach isn't that big of a deal comparatively speaking but, he can't be left alone, he can't be left with anyone other than, me, Hubby, my mom, or an RN. That means no Sunday School, Preschool, or School unless we are in the same room with him. He can't swim, play in the sand, or play any kind of sports, and no rough-houseing. He can't be around aerosol or dust. He basically has an open hole into his lungs so we have to be really careful with sickness, germs and anything else in the air, (ie dirt, grass, smoke etc). RSV could easliy kill him, he has been getting the RSV shots.

Oh yea, and he can't make noise. Seriously, no noise, no crying, no laughing, no talking. No Noise. Since he has a trach the air that would come out of his mouth making him able to talk comes out his trach. No air in his upper airway means no noise. Have you ever seen a baby that can't cry? I mean I know at some point we have all wished for silence when a baby is crying, but believe me, it's not really as good as it sounds. It's kinda weird.

His ENT DR in Cbus said there was nothing we could do other than wait to see if his cords would start moving. He said he will check every 6 months and when they move he will get his trach out. If they don’t move, he will always have a trach. No other options. That wasn’t good enough for us, so we did our research and that landed us in Cincinnati with Dr Cotton. We have heard some of his miracle stories. We even know a Dr Cotton ‘graduate’, and those of you who follow Kayleigh’s blog may remember where her ENT Dr consulted Dr Cotton before she got her trach. So needless to say we were ecstatic when we got the call to come see him. We were even more ecstatic after the Bronch and DL when he told us there is a surgery that can be performed to help M2. It won’t actually ‘fix’ his vocal cords but it will let him lead a ‘normal’ life without his trach!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!! I can't stop smiling, or crying. This has been one of the best days we’ve had in the last 11 months.

M2 has to go back in 4 months for the same procedure that he had today, Bronch and DL, if there are no changes to his vocal cords Dr Cotton is going to basically cut one of his vocal cords and reattach it to the side of M2’s throat. That way he will have a stable and larger airway and can get his trach out!!! Dr. Cotton said he will be giving up part of his voice, but he doesn’t really have a voice with his trach anyway. He told us 'He will never be an Opera Singer or a Marathon Runner, but he will be able to talk and play soccer' He can't do any of that now. Dr Cotton said he will have about 80% of a voice. I'm good with that!! We have a friend who has a preemie who is now 16, she can't yell, because she was intubated for so long, but she can talk, and has a normal life. I just can't wait for this surgery. There is finally an end in site.

The Lord sure has tested us this past year, I think we are all stronger because of it, but we are ready to close the books on the trach and move on!!

We are all just sooooo happy, relieved and excited.

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

2009-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

West Virginia Seafood Dinner-I got this in an email and had to share!!

Now that is funny, I don't care who you are. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Second Opinion

2009-03-02T20:38:00.006-05:00

At about 4:00pm today we got a call from Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, there is a very good ENT Dr there. M2 has been on the wait list to see him for a little over 2 months. He has an opening on Wednesday morning and M2 has been invited to come. So of course we are going!

Our ENT Dr here is nice, we really like him, however he does not know what has caused M2's vocal cords to be paralyzed, and has no idea how to fix them. He is hoping they will just correct themselves. But he has no idea if they will, or when. The Dr in Cincinnati has done a lot of work with paralyzed vocal cords so we are hoping he can give us more information. If he has no other information or ideas than what we've already been told, then so be it. But hopefully he will have some info.

M2's appt is at 8am starting with a physical and then they will take him to the OR and put him under anesthesia and stick a camera down his throat and have a look around. This procedure is called a Bronch and DL. He's had this procedure done maybe 6 or 7 times. I don't even remember exactly how many times any more. After this they will come out and meet with us and hopefully come up with some sort of plan of action. We'll just have to see what happens.

We will have to leave our house at about 5:30am to make the drive in to Cincinnati. M1 will be staying at Mama's and Papa's, we don't tell him when M2 has dr appts. he just worries too much.

I'm so hopeful that we'll get more info. Cincinnati here we come.

Bag Tag

2009-02-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

Question 1: Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go up to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. I want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house.

This is my bag. It’s the Coach Large Zoe bag in Bordeux/Aubergine.

Question 2: I want to know how much it cost :) And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I’d love to hear it.

This bag cost $398. Yes , I know, that’s crazy. Don’t hate. I wanted this bag from THE SECOND I saw the Coach email releasing it. Yes, I’m on the Coach email distribution list. I drooled of this bag at the store for weeks until I couldn’t stand it any more and bought it To: Me From: Me. I LOVE the color, I know the picture doesn’t do it justice but it’s the color of a deep red wine. I.LOVE.THIS.BAG. Although I do have several other Coach bags this is the ONLY one I have paid full price for, this one is from the Coach store, my other ones are all from the Coach Outlet. The outlet is about 30 mins from my house.

Question 3: What's inside your purse?

My Coach wallet and checkbook. Don’t hate. My boys got these for me as a Christmas present, Hubby assures me they were purchased from the Outlet. My pocket calendar, my phone, my camera (which is not in the picture, b/c I'm using it to take the picture), my measuring tape (that I use daily), my nasal spray (yes it’s an addiction), several tubes of chap stick (also an addiction), tweezers (lighting in my offices' bathroom is better than that at home), my gift card stack (I’m all about the Giant Eagle fuel perks, I buy gift cards on paydays like it’s going out of style. Couldn’t even tell you last time I paid more than .60 a gallon for gas in both SUV’s). Also the standard: hair clip, pens, mirror, tissues, nail clippers, nail file, coupons/shopping list, lotion (Coconut Lime Verbena, my fav), and hand sanitizer (also Coconut Lime Verbena).

Ok, it’s your turn, lets see those bags!

Honest Scraps from my Award

2009-02-25T11:09:00.003-05:00

Of course with every award comes 'rules', here's my 10 Honest Scraps:

1. I’m an only child and other than my parents, my husband and my boys I have no other family. And b/c of that I am fully aware that I will be ‘alone’ in this world someday, and it scares me.

2. I had M2 b/c I didn’t want M1 to have ever have the above feelings. There will also probably be an M3 for that same reason. (However these feeling DO NOT make me agree with Octomom, or what she has done, but that is for another post)

3. My husband’s family doesn’t like me, and therefore doesn’t see him or our boys very often. And when we do see them it is drama filled and traumatizing for us. We saw them 3 times in 2008. Early on in our NICU stay they were asked to leave and were not allowed back into the NICU. They didn’t see M2 again until he was 6 months old.

4. I am a Chi Omega, my husband is an Alpha Tau Omega, our brothers and sisters set us up at an ATO party. One minute there was a bunch of people in one of the guys’ rooms talking and the next minute we realized everyone had left and we were the only two still in the room. The rest is history.

5. When we were told M2 was going to need a trach before he could leave the NICU I was traumatized and terrified. I didn’t think I could handle taking care of it or him. I even put the surgery off for a week b/c I was so scared. Now I think I would have done it months sooner if it would have gotten him home sooner. It’s so easy to take care of and not a big deal at all. But I didn’t know that then.

6. I could laugh at my boys all day and all night. They are both so rotten and ornery; the only thing I can do is hug them and laugh at them.

7. I work full time and by time I get home, make dinner, bath and put the boys to bed I am so tired I can hardly see straight. Because of this my house is not as clean as I would like, projects don’t get done, and I get no sleep. I also don’t get to spend near as much time with my boys as I would like.

8. I would love to lose 10 pds but can’t seem to find the time to work out. Or eat right.

9.I’m addicted to Starbucks. I could go there 3 times a day and it wouldn’t be enough. If I have $4 left to my name I would probably spend it there.

10. I think I’m beginning to get HIGHLY addicted to blogging, yet don’t have as much time to do it as I would like.

How’s that for honesty??

And I'm passing this on to:

Natalie @ http://tottenfamily4.blogspot.com/

Sturgmom @ http://sturgmomingeneral.blogspot.com/

Caitlin @ http://itsspelledcaitlin.blogspot.com/

Aleigh @ http://insideaileighsheart.blogspot.com/

Ok ladies, 10 Honest things about you and then pass it on....

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cat in a Box...

An Award!!

2009-02-24T11:41:00.000-05:00

I got an Award!! I feel like I'm at the Oscars!! To bad I only have on jeans and a sweater. If I would have known I had to give a speech I would have at least put on a dress!! Na, who am I kidding, I don't own a dress!! I probably would have worn nicer jeans and a nicer sweater though!

Thanks Tiffany!! If you've never visited her blog, it's great!! Girl can cook!! I stalk her blog and steal her dinners all the time!! In fact we are having this for dinner tonite!!

I will work on the 'rules' of the award tonite.

Not Me Monday

2009-02-23T08:27:00.006-05:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama...

I DID NOT have to take some headache killers before last weeks CBJ game, what kind of Mommy has to do that?

I DID NOT make Frito Candy and then proceed to eat nearly all of it myself.

I DID NOT take M2 shopping on Saturday and spoil the crap out of him for no other reason than he is just. so. darn. lovable.

I DID NOT buy M2 his first pair of 'walking shoes' that just happen to be the cutest little Nike's at said shopping trip.

I also DID NOT buy myself a SUPER CUTE new pair of sandals during said shopping trip.

I DID NOT begin to plan M2's FIRST birthday party, and then cry EVERY TIME I THOUGHT ABOUT IT!

I also DID NOT put off filling out and mailing invitations for said party. What kinds of mother would I be not to send out invites in a timely manner.

I DID NOT watch Saturday's CBJ game on TV instead of cleaning.

I DID NOT spend my ENTIRE Sunday afternoon cleaning the house.

I DID NOT spend my Sunday evening working on M2's Owl Quilt for his Birthday.