I know I can't say this enough, but I LOVE THIS WEATHER!!!!! It is my favorite time of the year. As Sam and I sat out on our porch watching the girls play wonderously (is that a word?) in their barefeet, we both said how we wished it would stay like this year 'round! We have done nothing the past week but stay outside and play! Poor Anna was covered in pollen last night - so far I guess she is not allergic! She got her first "strawberry" on her knees last night. She kept telling us that they were "boo-berries (she prefers blueberry to strawberry). Since Sam's family has a slight history in fainting at the sight of blood, as soon as I realized it was bleeding, Sam and I wouldn't let her see it until we got it somewhat stopped. She is definitely a girly-girl because she was starting to panic, but thank goodness no fainting! Poor Mary Mac still has dark circles under her eyes due to allergies, but she just loves playing outside that I guess we'll just keep dosing her up with her medicine and pray it doesn't get any worse! We are supposed to have rain here Wednesday so hopefully it will wash most of the pollen off and be done with it!
On another funny note, I keep forgetting to post one our favorite funny things that Anna says. She is talking up a storm these days and some things I have no idea what she is talking about - but she does! The funny word is her word for milk! She call is milk "nip". Now, I know what you're thinking and no, she only breastfed for about 1 month! We get so tickled at that because it is so appropriate - maybe she knows more than we think she does!!!!
A Mary Mac funny. . .she was singing yesterday (as she does most of the time) while Sam was changing her clothes after church to the tune of The Farmer and The Dell, but she was making up her own verses (again, as always - I think she's always going to go against the grain, out of the norm, but that's what makes her special) and she says a word that sounds like the "f" word. Well, you could just hear both me and Sam giggle under our breath but trying not to call attention to it. Regardless, she noticed and wanted to know why we were laughing. Don't worry, we didn't tell her! Another funny saying (well I'm not sure how "funny" it is) was in the bath the other night. I was doing something in her room while Sam was bathing them. I hear him asking her "Do you even know what that means?" So, curious me, I wanted to know what she said. She had told Anna to stop "freakin" out (or something along those lines but using that word). Oops! I guess I use that word more than I thought! I guess it's better than some other choice words that I could use!?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Blogger Issues and Birthdays!
I've been trying to upload the video of me and Mary Mac taking a horse back riding lesson, but I'm having issues. As soon as I can get it to work, I will post it. Meanwhile, I'd like to wish Sam, the most wonderful husband and dad a very Happy Birthday! His birthday was Wednesday and we have been celebrating since last weekend when we baked a big cookie cake for him. He got his birthday present on Tuesday because Mary Mac couldn't wait - I actually really surprised him for the first time EVER! It was a pair of boots that he has been wanting forever and would not buy for himself. We also had a little family cookout on his birthday and had a wonderful time! The weather has been awesome here so we have taken full advantage of it and played outside every afternoon and night. Literally, from the time we either come home or after Anna naps, we have been outside playing, coming in only long enough to eat dinner, and then out again until bath time. I love this time of year (aside from the pollen) because it is warm but not smoldering hot! Poor Mary Mac is paying for it though - her allergies are going crazy! She even told me yesterday morning that she needed to do a "fish face" which is our term for a breathing treatment (the mask looks like a fish) because her breath was stuck! Bless her little heart - at only 4 she already knows when she needs a breathing treatment! Can you tell we've been doing this for while? She has never been so happy to have a breathing treatment!
Gitty Up Bogie!
Just what I know you have all been waiting for. . .video evidence of me riding a horse! It was so much fun once I got over being nervous. The horse's name is Bogie and he is so old and BIG, but great for a beginner like me! Mary Mac had a ball taking a lesson with me. I'm not sure if it's a good idea for me to have a lesson at the same time because she was so distracted by watching what I was doing. But on the other the distraction may be good because she had to stay focused and keep her horse on the right track. She was so cute after the lesson after we had put Bogie back in his stall. We were walking to the car and she looked at me and said, "mom, you did pretty good - almost as good as me!" Gee, thanks! Oh well, maybe a few more lessons and I'll be up to her level! Ha! Oh, and by the way, I was sooooooo sore! I found muscles I never knew existed that day! It is also MUCH harder than it looks to "post" (up and down). It took a good 6 days to get over! I just hope Bogie recovered!
Monday, March 09, 2009
Wish Me Luck!
Mary Mac has really gotten bitten by the horse back riding bug in the past couple of weeks. We had to take couple of weeks off from her riding lessons due to us being out of town and then trying to play catch up at work. I had almost decided that she was maybe getting over this phase and ready to move onto a new activity (yea, right). So, a couple of Sunday's ago I asked her if she wanted to go back to her lessons or if she wanted to try something new. She pitched a small fit at this suggestion and said she wanted to ride that day. At her past few lessons prior to this, she was not really making any progress and we couldn't seem to keep her focus and attention on her lesson - not suprising since she is only 4 1/2! So, I told her that we would go on Monday (keeping in mind that we had already paid for 2 more lessons) and then see what happened from there. Well, Monday was the day after the snow and it was FREEZING! But, she did great! She still just walked around, walked over the ground poles, trotted a little, but she stayed focused. She was so excited and had a renewed joy for riding again, so we went back on Wednesday for her regular time. There was so much going on at the barn that day - a brush fire, no power, horses going crazy everywhere - that I just knew she would not be able to focus. Wow, did she shock me and her trainer Carly! Not only was she not distracted, but she finally got the hang "posting" all on her own without Carly even really asking! For those of you not familiar with English riding, posting is when you stand and sit on the saddle in a controlled way as the horse trots! It was unbelievable - we were so excited and SHE was so excited - it just clicked!
So, back to the point of this post. In the midst of all of the riding excitement, Mary Mac has convinced me (yes, the one who has never learned to ride a horse) that I need to learn how to ride with her. Wish me luck . . . we are taking our first lesson together today. Sam and my parents think this is hilarious! So hilarious that they are ALL coming to watch and bringing the video camera. Stay tuned b/c you may just get a laugh out of this one!
So, back to the point of this post. In the midst of all of the riding excitement, Mary Mac has convinced me (yes, the one who has never learned to ride a horse) that I need to learn how to ride with her. Wish me luck . . . we are taking our first lesson together today. Sam and my parents think this is hilarious! So hilarious that they are ALL coming to watch and bringing the video camera. Stay tuned b/c you may just get a laugh out of this one!
Friday, March 06, 2009
PRAISE GOD!
Sorry for the length here, but for those of you who are interested in the details:
In case you haven't already heard, we got a great report yesterday at Anna's cardiologist appointment! Thank you all for all of your kind words and prayers! He does not want to see her back again until this time next year (unless she starts showing symptoms of any problems, which he does not expect to happen). YEA!!!! I love Dr. McMahon, but has taken me a long time to get to this point. I think the reason for this is mostly my fault and totally not anything he did. I was in such denial at our first appointment with him when Anna was only a couple of weeks old that I took his blountness to be a little raw on a mom of a child with a heart condition. As we have been to see him many times now, I have realized that it is his blountness that I totally appreciate since we are dealing with a potentially very serious problem. Just to give you a glimpse into what our visits are like: they take us back the first time to weigh, measure, and get an EKG. I thought the EKG would be awful this time around b/c she is now so aware of what is going on, but she was such a big girl and was so still; we then wait again until they call us back to this tiny little exam room that is taken up mostly by a huge Echo/ultrasound type machine; we get her undressed again and he watches her as she interacts with us, listens to her heart, feels her chest with his bare hands, then he lubes her up and scans her little chest and abdomen with the wand to see her heart from every angle possible. During all of this he never really says anything or talks much except small talk with us and her about how she's been growing/developing: does she act "normal" (whatever that means), has she had any other health concerns, etc. During all of this, Anna did so well and just talked to him (me having to translate, of course) - the whole time thinking, I hope they a few tricks up their sleeves when she decides she's had enough. Then he flips the lights on and says, "well . . ." and gets straight to the point! Fortunately, this time, he said that the measurements, pictures, and EKG all looked better than this time last year and that she was apparently "growing" into her abnormal valve!
On another note, as I said the other day, we did take MMC with us this time. I tried for several days to prepare her for what they would be doing to Anna and what she would see, hear, smell, feel, etc. (yes, my nursing days were coming back to me). She kept telling me that she did not want to go, but that she wasn't scared! We picked them both up from school and MMC did not say 2 words the whole trip to Bham. Sam and I couldn't decide if she was tired, getting sick, nervous, scared, or what! Well, we decided it must have been a little fear b/c when we went into the exam room she was in Sam's lap, but would did not want to watch what they were doing to Anna. We finally got her to turn around and see that it was ok and that Anna was not being hurt. She actually had asked me in one of the conversations prior to yesterday, "Is the doctor going to go inside and touch her heart?" Poor thing - that was how her sweet, innocent, 4 year old mind had processed it all! But, as soon as we were done and walked out of the exam room, her whole attitude and demeanor changed and she was her normal self (again, whatever that may be).
Needless to say, we had a long and tiring day, but in the end, it was another GREAT day!
In case you haven't already heard, we got a great report yesterday at Anna's cardiologist appointment! Thank you all for all of your kind words and prayers! He does not want to see her back again until this time next year (unless she starts showing symptoms of any problems, which he does not expect to happen). YEA!!!! I love Dr. McMahon, but has taken me a long time to get to this point. I think the reason for this is mostly my fault and totally not anything he did. I was in such denial at our first appointment with him when Anna was only a couple of weeks old that I took his blountness to be a little raw on a mom of a child with a heart condition. As we have been to see him many times now, I have realized that it is his blountness that I totally appreciate since we are dealing with a potentially very serious problem. Just to give you a glimpse into what our visits are like: they take us back the first time to weigh, measure, and get an EKG. I thought the EKG would be awful this time around b/c she is now so aware of what is going on, but she was such a big girl and was so still; we then wait again until they call us back to this tiny little exam room that is taken up mostly by a huge Echo/ultrasound type machine; we get her undressed again and he watches her as she interacts with us, listens to her heart, feels her chest with his bare hands, then he lubes her up and scans her little chest and abdomen with the wand to see her heart from every angle possible. During all of this he never really says anything or talks much except small talk with us and her about how she's been growing/developing: does she act "normal" (whatever that means), has she had any other health concerns, etc. During all of this, Anna did so well and just talked to him (me having to translate, of course) - the whole time thinking, I hope they a few tricks up their sleeves when she decides she's had enough. Then he flips the lights on and says, "well . . ." and gets straight to the point! Fortunately, this time, he said that the measurements, pictures, and EKG all looked better than this time last year and that she was apparently "growing" into her abnormal valve!
On another note, as I said the other day, we did take MMC with us this time. I tried for several days to prepare her for what they would be doing to Anna and what she would see, hear, smell, feel, etc. (yes, my nursing days were coming back to me). She kept telling me that she did not want to go, but that she wasn't scared! We picked them both up from school and MMC did not say 2 words the whole trip to Bham. Sam and I couldn't decide if she was tired, getting sick, nervous, scared, or what! Well, we decided it must have been a little fear b/c when we went into the exam room she was in Sam's lap, but would did not want to watch what they were doing to Anna. We finally got her to turn around and see that it was ok and that Anna was not being hurt. She actually had asked me in one of the conversations prior to yesterday, "Is the doctor going to go inside and touch her heart?" Poor thing - that was how her sweet, innocent, 4 year old mind had processed it all! But, as soon as we were done and walked out of the exam room, her whole attitude and demeanor changed and she was her normal self (again, whatever that may be).
Needless to say, we had a long and tiring day, but in the end, it was another GREAT day!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Adventures In Target
So the other day, I saw this segment on the Today Show showing them making this recipe for Classic Lasagna and it looked so yummy that I decided, why not? Also, the night before, we told Mary Mac that if she cleaned up the playroom (and it was a disaster) that we would give her $5 for her work. She happily complied and we gave her the money and she put it in her piggy bank. After I picked them up from school that day, I decided we would try and tackle both tasks at the same - groceries and a toy (boy, is she like her mom or what? the money was burning a whole in her pocket already). In a side note, is it bad that we give her money to help instill a little money sense in this tough economic time and then put it in her piggy bank (I deposit this into her bank account every so often) and not actually spend her money? We do only let her spend the amount of money she earned AND she thinks it is her money from her bank. Anyway, so while in Target, we are riding around to the grocery section (in one of those fancy 2 bench buggies) when all of a sudden Mary Mac comes sliding right out onto the floor on her back. She is in total hysteria (more embarrassed than hurt)! When I asked her what happened, between tears, she blames Anna for pushing her out. I honestly have no idea at this time who did what - my mind was focused on groceries, getting out of there before pre-naptime meltdown, and they were both content with their little "prizes" (yes, Anna got one too even though she didn't earn it - she is only 2 and we will do the same for her one day). As we all start to calm down, Anna just simply looks at me with those huge brown "angelic" eyes and grins and says, "Mommy, I tish her!" It took me several times of hearing her before I realized that she was happily admitting that she had indeed PUSHED ("tish") Mary Mac out of the buggie with her feet. Oh my, what a little devious thing! I know, this is only the beginning! I profusely apologized to Mary Mac later that I let Anna get away with it, but I was so in shock!
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Beware. . .post overload
I apologize for the overload of posts and pictures and videos in one day, but since we've been out of town a lot lately, I have not had time to upload them all and post them. Hope you enjoy - there are some really funny ones and then some that are just for my memory!
Eating Tips from the Collins Family
Here is yet another video of Anna at dinner time. Thank goodness, unlike Mary Mac, we have never really had much trouble with getting Anna to eat. She is a bit of a snacker, but she normally eats pretty well! But, I guess she has watched us trying anything and everything to get Mary Mac to eat that she decided she would do it to herself. In case you can't tell, she is feeding herself and making her spoon like an "airplane"! Too cute! She makes us laugh more and more everyday! And I am proud to say that we (as a family) eat dinner together at our kitchen table every night of the week, so this is not an unusual occurence if you were to peak into our windows each night. I don't think many people can say that these days, but this is one of those things that my parents did and I am determined to do as well. It is a great time to hear all about their day and really learn things about your children that you may not otherwise know. Now, granted, it may only be Hamburger Helper (that which I am not proud of, but resort to on certain days), but we eat together!!!!!
Anna's Check-up
Stay tuned. . . we go back to Anna's cardiologists Thursday for her annual (hopefully still annual) echocardiogram and check-up. We would appreciate any and all prayers that she will continue to do as well as she has and that we will not have to come back for at least another year or longer! My prayer is that her little body and heart will continue to grow and adapt to her defect and she will not have to have surgery to correct it! Just fyi. . .she has pulmonic stenosis, which basically means that the valve leading from her heart to her lungs is thickened and does not open as fully as it should. We have decided to take MMC with us to this visit. We have told MMC about Anna having a special heart, but we think that she is old enough now to somewhat understand that at some point Anna could have to have surgery and we don't want it to be sudden (in her eyes). We also have tried to tread that thin line of not making Anna's heart an issue, so that Anna and MMC don't think she is really any different than anyone else.
Dancing Girls
I just found this video on my camera that I had forgotten to upload and it just makes me laugh out loud! Poor Mary Mac has very little rhythym (sp?), but by golly, Anna can keep a beat even at the ripe old age of 22 months (notice how serious she is even when Mary Mac tries to distract her - she just does right back into her dance). I took this video one random Friday night when we were having a family night at home and just turned on the music really loud in the kitchen and POOF, the girls just started getting down! It was one of those spur of the moment things that just makes me smile from the inside out to watch our sweet angels having such unabandoned fun with nothing but little music. It's amazing what music and dancing does for our souls! By the way, please excuse the song, I know it's little much for the little ones to be dancing to, but it just came one and we went with it! Also, I apologize if Anna's "moves" are offensive to anyone - NO, I did NOT teach her that! I have not a clue where she learned it!
Snow 2009
So for those of you who have been living in a cave the past week or so, yes, this is our yard here in the deep south this past weekend! Can you believe it? We certainly could not! We had a ball! I'm not sure who had more fun -the adults or children? It was perfect, though, because it was snowing when we woke up and it was enough to make snowmen and snow balls and sled! Then, when we were all tired, wet, and cold, the sun came out and it all was melted by late afternoon!
Meaning of my playlist
This past weekend while helping my Papa get back on his feet after surgery (p.s. thanks for the prayers; he had surgery to remove the cancer in his mouth and we are waiting on the pathology report to give us the "all clear"), we were talking about some of our favorite songs. It didn't dawn on me until then that I had never given you fellow bloggers insight as to why I have the songs playing on our playlist. I guess most of you think it's probably just random, but there is meaning to this madness. Each one of the songs playing has some sort of meaning to me and/or my family. They either remind me of someone or the words mean something, etc. - you get the idea! For example, Sweet Pea: that is what many of us called Mary Mac as her nickname when she was born (and some still do); Wild Horses: you guessed it, because of MMC's love of horses; Daughters: such sweet words for parents of daughters. So, now you all know! Does anyone else choose certain songs for their playlist for a reason?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
We Survived!
YEAAAAA! We survived the crazy week! We woke up at about 6:00 am Eastern time and had to drop Sam off at another show in Birmingham to help our other employees tear down booths and bring back a new lawnmower. This, I have to say, is a huge advantage to doing what we do. One of the factories that we represent at the shows is Poulan which makes lawn care products. We have to order samples of products for the shows and we usually sell them customers at the end of the show so that we don't have to pack it up and ship it back. So Sam, after a very long 2 summers of cutting the grass in our huge yard, decided to order one of Poulan's riding lawnmowers in to the show and pay (at or below cost) for it instead of selling it. I may actually volunteer to help with the yard work with this lawnmower . . .well, maybe not!!!!!
Thanks to Sam's mom for keeping them all week - I know she is probably still trying to recover! The catering at the house was FANTASTIC! We had a FANTASTIC show! Hopefully, this show is a sign that maybe we are coming out of this awful economic time!
The girls were so glad to see us and we were so glad to see them! It was a nice break (although we worked our tails off), but a very much needed one. I feel refreshed and ready to take on the months to come (terrible two's are on the way)!
Thanks to Sam's mom for keeping them all week - I know she is probably still trying to recover! The catering at the house was FANTASTIC! We had a FANTASTIC show! Hopefully, this show is a sign that maybe we are coming out of this awful economic time!
The girls were so glad to see us and we were so glad to see them! It was a nice break (although we worked our tails off), but a very much needed one. I feel refreshed and ready to take on the months to come (terrible two's are on the way)!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Off We Go
Everyone, please wish my mother-in-law good luck as Sam and I leave first thing Monday morning for one of our bi-annual trade shows. I know, it sounds wonderful - a trip without kids to Orlando for 7 days, but let me assure, this is no pleasure business trip mixed with a little business! Obviously, we are having the leave the girls in the care of Sam's parents for the whole trip. The girls are thrilled to be able to spend the whole week with Nanny, but I'm a little sad and will miss them so much. It will be a well-needed break from them, but not really a "break". The one good thing that we discovered last year is that we (just like vacationer's to Disney) can rent whole houses in a neighborhood that is nothing but vacation rental homes. And most of these homes are better than the average person's residence - complete with a pool, hot tub, cinema room, billiards room, and about 6-8 rooms and almost as many baths. So that does make it a little better than having to stay in a hotel and go out to eat for every meal. We have hired a company this year (after learning last year how hard it is to try and cook for 30 something people after a long day at work) that will be bringing us fully catered dinners just as we arrive home. Last year, by the time we got home and started cooking, it was close to 10 before we ate and then we had to be up at the crack of dawn the next morning. It was exausting, but it is exhausting regardless of the cooking part. We (the women) are soooo excited that we can actually come home and kick our feet up instead of going straight the kitchen!
Just to give you a little insight to why these weeks are so hard and exhausting:
1) It's like going to market in the retail business, but we are in the hardware industry and WE are the ones setting up all the booths
2) We will be setting up booths in about 40 different locations (that is not the number of booths, just "locations". This means physical labor, putting together all sorts of things, "setting" the product so that it looks like a store (i.e. The Home Depot), labeling everything with prices, making it all look "pretty", cleaning it up, etc. We usually get to the convention center around 7:00 in the morning and work all day until around 4:30.
3) On Thursday, the show actually begins and we have to "man" all of the above booths and sell our product to store owners/buyers/etc. This is not physically hard, but it is just draining, especially after all the set-up. It's a lot of standing around chit-chatting with the numerous (hopefully) poeple to come by the booth. Talk about SORE FEET ! The shows last through Saturday from 7:00 am - 6:00 pm. Now you know why we don't want to have to cook!
4) As soon as the show is over on Saturday (and I mean to the second), we have to begin the tear down process! Every new person in this business is always amazed at how it takes days to set it up and only about 4 hours to tear it all down! It is mass chaos!!!! People throwing stuff, boxes flying, big fork lifts flying around moving huge crates around! You better be on your toes or you will get run over or hurt!
5) And this is only the beginning for our office because as soon as we get back the next week, we (or should I say Maria) begins placing all the orders that we received from the show.
That is about all that takes place during our show weeks and we are glad that these big shows only come 2 times a year! As much as it is hard work, we all work hard during the day and play hard at night! We have a great group of people that work with us and we enjoy (and appreciate) their help more than they can understand!
This post is more for those of you who have always wondered what we (and my parents) do for a living. This pretty much sums it up since these shows are what provide the income for our company for several months to come! Sorry if this bores you to death and is not about our precious girls, but oh well - now you know!
Just to give you a little insight to why these weeks are so hard and exhausting:
1) It's like going to market in the retail business, but we are in the hardware industry and WE are the ones setting up all the booths
2) We will be setting up booths in about 40 different locations (that is not the number of booths, just "locations". This means physical labor, putting together all sorts of things, "setting" the product so that it looks like a store (i.e. The Home Depot), labeling everything with prices, making it all look "pretty", cleaning it up, etc. We usually get to the convention center around 7:00 in the morning and work all day until around 4:30.
3) On Thursday, the show actually begins and we have to "man" all of the above booths and sell our product to store owners/buyers/etc. This is not physically hard, but it is just draining, especially after all the set-up. It's a lot of standing around chit-chatting with the numerous (hopefully) poeple to come by the booth. Talk about SORE FEET ! The shows last through Saturday from 7:00 am - 6:00 pm. Now you know why we don't want to have to cook!
4) As soon as the show is over on Saturday (and I mean to the second), we have to begin the tear down process! Every new person in this business is always amazed at how it takes days to set it up and only about 4 hours to tear it all down! It is mass chaos!!!! People throwing stuff, boxes flying, big fork lifts flying around moving huge crates around! You better be on your toes or you will get run over or hurt!
5) And this is only the beginning for our office because as soon as we get back the next week, we (or should I say Maria) begins placing all the orders that we received from the show.
That is about all that takes place during our show weeks and we are glad that these big shows only come 2 times a year! As much as it is hard work, we all work hard during the day and play hard at night! We have a great group of people that work with us and we enjoy (and appreciate) their help more than they can understand!
This post is more for those of you who have always wondered what we (and my parents) do for a living. This pretty much sums it up since these shows are what provide the income for our company for several months to come! Sorry if this bores you to death and is not about our precious girls, but oh well - now you know!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
And here are the pictures
I hope you enjoy these as much as we have. Like I said in my previous post, I got some really good ones of the girls and then there are some funny ones that are just sooo each of their personalities. We also got a family picture on the beach. There was no one there so I propped my camera on the big box that hold all the beach chairs and put one of our shovels in the sand so I could know where we would stand. Sam thought I was nutso and that it wouldn't work, but oh I proved him wrong. It's one of the best family pictures we've taken in a long time (hence the reason there have not been many family pics posted on the blog).
We have been crazy this week trying to get caught up from being gone last week (but totally worth it) and trying to get organized because Sam and I leave for a trade show (along with my parents and it's business related) on Monday for a whole week. Sam's mom is keeping the girls, so please say a prayer that she will have an easy time with them.
On the note of prayers, I have a few prayer requests that I've been meaning to post. So to all of you blogging prayer warriors, here are few to add to your list:
1) Sam's sister is struggling through the trials and tribulations of infertility. She has been going to a specialists for several months now and last month developed a softball-sized ovarian cysts which put a halt in the treatments until it resolved. She just found out this week that it has resolved and her that her folicle count is down in the normal range (she was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome) and she can begin the treatments this Friday.
2) My grandfather (my mom's dad) has been diagnosed with mouth cancer and is scheduled to come to Birmingham to have surgery on it in about 3 weeks. My grandmother has Parkinson's disease and he is the primary caregiver for her so we are all worried about him being "out of commission." P.S. Papa, I hope you don't mind me posting this!
3) My other grandfather (my dad's dad -same one that we just lost my grandmother) had to have a pacemaker put in on Monday and we just moved him into a Rehab facility for the next 2 weeks. Since he has no one at home to help him now and he has to have 24 hour help for the next 2 weeks and we have to be out of town all next week for work, this was our only option - as much as we didn't want to! He is ok with it all and realizes it is only for a short time!
Needless to say, my parents have been a little stressed these day!
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Ahhh the Beach!
Well, in the midst of all the sickness, we (me and the girls - Sam was out of town) were supposed to be going to the beach for a few days to get away. We have not been anywhere since before Christmas and for us, that is VERY unusual! We are always on the go and traveling here and there! I was dead set on us going to the beach this week and enjoying a week away and, hopefully, a great week without anyone being sick! So, last Friday, I had so much to do at work and so much to do to get us ready to leave that I wasn't sure we would make it down here or not. My mom had planned on coming with us Saturday and staying until Wednesday, but she also had soooo much to do that she just said for us to go without her. We had a birthday party to go to Friday night and Mary Mac and Anna had a birthday party Saturday morning. When I told Mary Mac that it was going to be Sunday at the earliest before we could leave, she had the most disappointed look on her face . . .so what is a mother to do? Of course, as you all would do, I worked my tail off Friday and Saturday morning and we had attended parties, washed clothes, packed, and on the road by Saturday morning 11:30!!!! I couldn't believe it either, but, that' what mom's do! And I have to admit, today is the first time I've blogged since last Friday. Let's just say, it took a little while to catch up on over a week's worth of everyone's fun-filled lives and all the new additions to families! But, I'm back! So here's our week's story of events:
We took our time driving down and made several stops "to get our wiggles out." Anna is not the best traveler. . .Mary Mac has been a very good traveler (like her mom) from day 1! Mary Mac and I got so tickled at Anna "getting her wiggles out." She would shake her arms and make silly noises, but it worked! We do what works, don't we? Another little trick up my sleeve that works with Anna (not Mary Mac) is to always pack plenty of snacks. She ate the whole way down! But, then again, so did Mary Mac. I am convinced she is in a growth spurt. The child has eaten like a pig the past several weeks (aside from the week they were sick)! I feel like we can't fill her up! For the first time in her little life, she has a little pot-belly and she is sooo proud of it.
It has been a fabulous week with my girls!!!! We haven't really done anything special and it's been way too cold to really go to the beach until yesterday and today, but nonetheless, GREAT! It's been one of those weeks that I feel so blessed to have such special and sweet little girls and LOVE being a mom! It makes me realize that the good times we have with our babies far outweigh the bad times!
We have eaten out (a lot), played at every playground within a 10 mile radius, watched movies, and of course, shopped a little bit! A funny story about Mary Mac . . .I took them to The Fresh Market (my fave grocery store that I sooo wish we had at home) and we were getting stuff to cook for supper since Sam was coming that night for the weekend. We were trying to figure out what vegetable to cook when Mary Mac said,"Oh, Mom, let's get that corn that still in it's suit!" I just died out laughing, as did the older lady standing next to us. The lady looked at me and and said, "I think that's the cutest thing I've heard in a long time!" Well, me too! She was referring to the ears of corn that were still in the shuck or husk or whatever you want to call it. I've had so many people say to me that they were the most well-behaved children they had seen in a while. I don't know about you guys, but that is one of the best compliments that I can get! As hard as we try, I never feel like we are doing enough!
I took some really great pictures of the girls that I will post later (some of you may have already seen them on Facebook since I can send them from my phone). I can't believe how well the girls have gotten along this week. Don't get me wrong. . .we've had our drama and issues, but for the most part, Mary Mac thinks it's pretty cool that Anna wants to do EVERYTHING that she does. I'm sure this will get old very soon to Mary Mac, but it is so funny to watch them interact.
Anna has become our little comedian! Her latest thing to do is to walk around with her pants pulled down to her ankles and announcing to anyone in the general area that she tee-tee'd or poo-poo'd! Again, it's really funny now, but sure to get old soon! Also, her favorite thing to tell someone that she doesn't want messing with them is, "No Way!!!"
As much fun as we've had this week, I'm kind of ready to get back home to our normal schedule (AND SCHOOL). Mary Mac even told me today that she missed playing with her friends at school which is a welcome statement considering she had gotten to where she didn't want to go to school. As I'm typing, we're in the process of packing up all the toys. The wonderful thing about my parents having a place down here is that we are able to keep a baby bed, toys, sippy cups, food, bath stuff, beach stuff, etc. down here and it limits what we have to pack. So, as much as I'm ready to get home to our house, I am kind of sad and teary-eyed already at all the great memories that we've created this week and that how quick these days go by! I just pray that these are not only memories for me, Sam, and my parents, but also memories for our girls! Oh what fun!!!!!!
We took our time driving down and made several stops "to get our wiggles out." Anna is not the best traveler. . .Mary Mac has been a very good traveler (like her mom) from day 1! Mary Mac and I got so tickled at Anna "getting her wiggles out." She would shake her arms and make silly noises, but it worked! We do what works, don't we? Another little trick up my sleeve that works with Anna (not Mary Mac) is to always pack plenty of snacks. She ate the whole way down! But, then again, so did Mary Mac. I am convinced she is in a growth spurt. The child has eaten like a pig the past several weeks (aside from the week they were sick)! I feel like we can't fill her up! For the first time in her little life, she has a little pot-belly and she is sooo proud of it.
It has been a fabulous week with my girls!!!! We haven't really done anything special and it's been way too cold to really go to the beach until yesterday and today, but nonetheless, GREAT! It's been one of those weeks that I feel so blessed to have such special and sweet little girls and LOVE being a mom! It makes me realize that the good times we have with our babies far outweigh the bad times!
We have eaten out (a lot), played at every playground within a 10 mile radius, watched movies, and of course, shopped a little bit! A funny story about Mary Mac . . .I took them to The Fresh Market (my fave grocery store that I sooo wish we had at home) and we were getting stuff to cook for supper since Sam was coming that night for the weekend. We were trying to figure out what vegetable to cook when Mary Mac said,"Oh, Mom, let's get that corn that still in it's suit!" I just died out laughing, as did the older lady standing next to us. The lady looked at me and and said, "I think that's the cutest thing I've heard in a long time!" Well, me too! She was referring to the ears of corn that were still in the shuck or husk or whatever you want to call it. I've had so many people say to me that they were the most well-behaved children they had seen in a while. I don't know about you guys, but that is one of the best compliments that I can get! As hard as we try, I never feel like we are doing enough!
I took some really great pictures of the girls that I will post later (some of you may have already seen them on Facebook since I can send them from my phone). I can't believe how well the girls have gotten along this week. Don't get me wrong. . .we've had our drama and issues, but for the most part, Mary Mac thinks it's pretty cool that Anna wants to do EVERYTHING that she does. I'm sure this will get old very soon to Mary Mac, but it is so funny to watch them interact.
Anna has become our little comedian! Her latest thing to do is to walk around with her pants pulled down to her ankles and announcing to anyone in the general area that she tee-tee'd or poo-poo'd! Again, it's really funny now, but sure to get old soon! Also, her favorite thing to tell someone that she doesn't want messing with them is, "No Way!!!"
As much fun as we've had this week, I'm kind of ready to get back home to our normal schedule (AND SCHOOL). Mary Mac even told me today that she missed playing with her friends at school which is a welcome statement considering she had gotten to where she didn't want to go to school. As I'm typing, we're in the process of packing up all the toys. The wonderful thing about my parents having a place down here is that we are able to keep a baby bed, toys, sippy cups, food, bath stuff, beach stuff, etc. down here and it limits what we have to pack. So, as much as I'm ready to get home to our house, I am kind of sad and teary-eyed already at all the great memories that we've created this week and that how quick these days go by! I just pray that these are not only memories for me, Sam, and my parents, but also memories for our girls! Oh what fun!!!!!!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wow what a week?
As if we had not had enough sickness in our house this past year, we found ourselves battling, yet again, with another a round! We all started coughing and had lots of congestion the weekend before. It was one of those moments that you think, "oh, yea, here we go!" Mary Mac had fallen out of her bed the other night (which is a first since putting her in a big girl bed when she was 2) in what appeared to be a restless night. I was terrified that she had possibly hit her head on the bedside table because she was kind of out of it and shaking. I wasn't sure if it all just scared her and I was being paranoid or if she really did hurt something so I decided to sleep with her so that I could keep an eye on her. Of course I did not sleep much after that - between her coughing all in my face (literally) as she tossed and turned all night! By the way, she did not hit her head. I found a huge bruise and mark on her shoulder several days later! So, of course, I started coughing and getting congestion a couple days after this event. I had to take Anna to the doctor on Monday to have her ears rechecked from the previous illness and at this point Anna was great! Well, that lasted about 12 hours and on Tuesday she started the same cycle. Keep in mind that up to this point, I have not slept since the Thursday night before when Mary Mac fell off the bed and then she and I were both up and down the other nights coughing and having to blow or noses. Sam leaves Tuesday to go out of town for a show in Nashville and I was feeling lousy! Our lousiness continued (with all 3 of us) until Wednesday night when Anna began coughing ALL NIGHT and then my ears started killing me. I could feel the pressure in my ears and I could also feel one of my eardrum's bulging. I woke up the next morning with crud coming out of my ears.
That's when I said, "I've had it . . . We're all going to the doctor TODAY!" So, after several hours in doctors' offices and many prescriptions later, Mary Mac and I both had ear infections in both ear and sinus infections and Anna was diagnosed with bronchiolitis. So, between antibiotics, ear drops, decongestants, breathing treatments, we were all SO glad to have our Daddy back at home yesterday. Or, should I say, I was the one that was most happy! It was a tough week with Sam being gone and us being sick, but we made it! We made it through another round! I pray that we can all stay healthy and well for a long time now!
That's when I said, "I've had it . . . We're all going to the doctor TODAY!" So, after several hours in doctors' offices and many prescriptions later, Mary Mac and I both had ear infections in both ear and sinus infections and Anna was diagnosed with bronchiolitis. So, between antibiotics, ear drops, decongestants, breathing treatments, we were all SO glad to have our Daddy back at home yesterday. Or, should I say, I was the one that was most happy! It was a tough week with Sam being gone and us being sick, but we made it! We made it through another round! I pray that we can all stay healthy and well for a long time now!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Random pics
Here are some random pictures from the past few weeks. They are all of Anna due to the fact that Mary Mac has announced to us that she no longer likes to take pictures. I guess we will have to sneak up on her to get one!
Anna decked out in her camo - the camo does not "fit" her, but the frilly lace does!
Scarf Dancing
Watching Care Bears with Papa on Mommy's iPhone
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Pennies From Heaven
Has anyone ever heard the term "pennies from heaven?" Well I had never heard it called that until my grandmother passed away on Christmas and several weird (and I say that in a good way) things happened and my grandfather told me about this phrase. Basically, it means that when our loved ones are watching over us from heaven that they send us little messages so that we know they are there - such as finding a penny in our path! These are just a few "pennies from heaven" that we have had the privilege of experiencing in these past weeks.
1)My parents have a Christmas cactus at their house that they've had for several years. These are supposed to bloom around Christmas, but for some reason, theirs had never bloomed - EVER and they had no idea what color it was! That is, until this year. The day before my grandmother passed away, it bloomed!!! And, not that this was enough, but the color of the blooms were the same exact color of the sweater that she had picked out to be buried in!!!!! Who knew?! Also, the sweater she picked out had a jeweled bow on it that was very festive looking. It was like she knew that she was going to be with Our Saviour on his birthday!
2)Before she got really sick, my grandmother had ordered Christmas snowglobes for the great grandkids for Christmas. Grandaddy gave them to me to give the girls, but I kept forgetting to get them out of my car. Finally, while cleaning out my car, I found them and put them in the house, still in the box. The box was just a gold box with no pictures, words, etc. As soon as I cleaned my car out, we had to run some errands, I loaded the girls up and off we went! Well, out of the blue, Mary Mac says, "Mom, do you know what would be perfect for my playroom?" Since it was just a few days after Christmas and new toys and all of the decorations were put away, I was not expecting her answer. She said simply and matter-of-factly,
"A snow-glo!"
me: "What? You mean a snow-globe?"
MMC: "Yes, ma'am, that's what I meant. You know, the round things that have white stuff blowing around inside?"
me: "Yes, I know what you're talking about." I then went on to tell her about what Mamaw had bought for her and Grandaddy wanted her to have it, blah, blah, blah
MMC: "I know, she told me!"
Well you can only imagine what or how I felt by this statement being that we had only buried her the day before. Not to mention, I have no idea how she even knew what a snow globe was. We don't have any of them in our house, not even as Christmas decorations. When we got home later that afternoon, I opened the box and gave it to her. With her sweet innocent little voice, she said, "That's perfect and beautiful and just what I imaginated (that's how she says imagined)! Can I put it on my shelf in my playroom so that when I miss Mamaw I can look at it and remember her?" Oh, can we just say that the tears were FLOWING by this point!!!! It just reaffirms to me that our loved ones are watching us and wanting us to know that they are ok and definitely in a better place! Also, does anyone else think that maybe as adults our hearts are so hardened that we ignore these things until a child makes you stop and think, well, maybe?
1)My parents have a Christmas cactus at their house that they've had for several years. These are supposed to bloom around Christmas, but for some reason, theirs had never bloomed - EVER and they had no idea what color it was! That is, until this year. The day before my grandmother passed away, it bloomed!!! And, not that this was enough, but the color of the blooms were the same exact color of the sweater that she had picked out to be buried in!!!!! Who knew?! Also, the sweater she picked out had a jeweled bow on it that was very festive looking. It was like she knew that she was going to be with Our Saviour on his birthday!
2)Before she got really sick, my grandmother had ordered Christmas snowglobes for the great grandkids for Christmas. Grandaddy gave them to me to give the girls, but I kept forgetting to get them out of my car. Finally, while cleaning out my car, I found them and put them in the house, still in the box. The box was just a gold box with no pictures, words, etc. As soon as I cleaned my car out, we had to run some errands, I loaded the girls up and off we went! Well, out of the blue, Mary Mac says, "Mom, do you know what would be perfect for my playroom?" Since it was just a few days after Christmas and new toys and all of the decorations were put away, I was not expecting her answer. She said simply and matter-of-factly,
"A snow-glo!"
me: "What? You mean a snow-globe?"
MMC: "Yes, ma'am, that's what I meant. You know, the round things that have white stuff blowing around inside?"
me: "Yes, I know what you're talking about." I then went on to tell her about what Mamaw had bought for her and Grandaddy wanted her to have it, blah, blah, blah
MMC: "I know, she told me!"
Well you can only imagine what or how I felt by this statement being that we had only buried her the day before. Not to mention, I have no idea how she even knew what a snow globe was. We don't have any of them in our house, not even as Christmas decorations. When we got home later that afternoon, I opened the box and gave it to her. With her sweet innocent little voice, she said, "That's perfect and beautiful and just what I imaginated (that's how she says imagined)! Can I put it on my shelf in my playroom so that when I miss Mamaw I can look at it and remember her?" Oh, can we just say that the tears were FLOWING by this point!!!! It just reaffirms to me that our loved ones are watching us and wanting us to know that they are ok and definitely in a better place! Also, does anyone else think that maybe as adults our hearts are so hardened that we ignore these things until a child makes you stop and think, well, maybe?
A Whole Lotta Nothing
Not a whole lot has been going on around here these days. It has been so nice to have a little (and I mean, little) down time. I have been crazy busy though trying to play catch up at work and at my house, but we have not had any plans on the schedule the past week other than the usual.
A funny story about Mary Mac: every night as she is getting in her bed, she always asks for us (whoever is doing bed-duty) to tell her a secret. I have no idea where or why this started, but never fail, she asks EVERY night! So, the other night as Sam was putting her to bed, he was at a total loss of what to tell her, so he tells her that we were going to get my grandmother's (the one that just passed away) jewelry box and that she was going to be able to pick out something for herself to keep for when she was older. I had no idea he had told her about this and was really not planning on saying anything to her about it until we actually did it (you moms/dads know about that anticipation thing with kids). The next morning after she got out of her bed, this was our conversation:
MMC: "Mom, when are going to have our treasure hunt?"
me: Ok, I think, hummm, treasure hunt? "Well, I don't know! What treasure hunt are talking about?"
MMC: "You know, the treasure hunt with Gran?"
me: "Oh, well, did Gran tell you she was going let you have a treasure hunt at her house?"
MMC: looking so confused (as was I), "You know, Mom!"
At this point in the conversation, I just happen to glance Sam's way and see this look on his face that means "Oops!" I say to Sam, "What is she talking about?" Sam then finally confesses that he may have mentioned to her about going through the jewelry last night as her "secret". OOOHHHHHH, I finally get what she's asking about - the mind of a 4 year old makes me laugh! Her little brain had processed all that information about picking out a piece my grandmother's jewelry as going on a treasure hunt! So cute!
Needless to say, my mom and I finally had a chance to go through her jewelry and I picked out a few pieces that I wanted to keep for myself and the girls. We also found a drawer full of silk scarves. My mom was not sure what we were going to do with the scarves when I immediately thought --- SCARF DANCING---- The girls love to scarf dance at ballet, so why not put those scarves in the dress up box so that they can scarf dance anytime????? They found them last night and had a ball running around with them and dancing. I told Sam that I bet my grandmother was smiling down at them dancing, and laughing saying, "why didn't I give them those scarves a long time ago!??" These are just couple of ways that I have found comfort in remembering her and we will be able to enjoy for years to come!
A funny story about Mary Mac: every night as she is getting in her bed, she always asks for us (whoever is doing bed-duty) to tell her a secret. I have no idea where or why this started, but never fail, she asks EVERY night! So, the other night as Sam was putting her to bed, he was at a total loss of what to tell her, so he tells her that we were going to get my grandmother's (the one that just passed away) jewelry box and that she was going to be able to pick out something for herself to keep for when she was older. I had no idea he had told her about this and was really not planning on saying anything to her about it until we actually did it (you moms/dads know about that anticipation thing with kids). The next morning after she got out of her bed, this was our conversation:
MMC: "Mom, when are going to have our treasure hunt?"
me: Ok, I think, hummm, treasure hunt? "Well, I don't know! What treasure hunt are talking about?"
MMC: "You know, the treasure hunt with Gran?"
me: "Oh, well, did Gran tell you she was going let you have a treasure hunt at her house?"
MMC: looking so confused (as was I), "You know, Mom!"
At this point in the conversation, I just happen to glance Sam's way and see this look on his face that means "Oops!" I say to Sam, "What is she talking about?" Sam then finally confesses that he may have mentioned to her about going through the jewelry last night as her "secret". OOOHHHHHH, I finally get what she's asking about - the mind of a 4 year old makes me laugh! Her little brain had processed all that information about picking out a piece my grandmother's jewelry as going on a treasure hunt! So cute!
Needless to say, my mom and I finally had a chance to go through her jewelry and I picked out a few pieces that I wanted to keep for myself and the girls. We also found a drawer full of silk scarves. My mom was not sure what we were going to do with the scarves when I immediately thought --- SCARF DANCING---- The girls love to scarf dance at ballet, so why not put those scarves in the dress up box so that they can scarf dance anytime????? They found them last night and had a ball running around with them and dancing. I told Sam that I bet my grandmother was smiling down at them dancing, and laughing saying, "why didn't I give them those scarves a long time ago!??" These are just couple of ways that I have found comfort in remembering her and we will be able to enjoy for years to come!
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