Say HI to Calli!

CALLI




Say "cheese"!










The "meeting" with Lucy and Jack







Well, we are back from IN. We had a really nice time. It is hard to get everyone packed up. And I have to admit that I sometimes dread being away from home and all my little projects here. But once we get to IN, I realize how nice it is to just hang out. We have 24 hour help with the kids and there is no dishwasher to load, laundry to do, kitchen to sweep, and on and on. And someone else does all the cooking. And of course we eat VERY WELL.




Friday afternoon, we went over to Brandon's step-brother, Scott's new house. It turns out, the floor plan of the main level of Scott's house is almost identical to our houseplan. Some of the dimensions are different, but it's basically the same. It was really nice for me to see it BUILT and know how everything would lay out. And to be assured that my kitchen will be PLENTY big enough. Scott and Jennifer's (for those who do not know, ALL of my mother-in law's daughters-in-law are Jennifer! Makes it confusing to call her on the phone. I digress..)house is so beautiful! It made me really anxious to get this building thing under way!




Yesterday morning, we were talking with Brandon's step-dad and he said "Know anyone who wants a one year old lab?" Ok, I don't even think Brandon knows how much I have been wanting a lab lately. Biz put a deposit down a few weeks ago on a lab puppy that will be born SOON and I have been so jealous. So I started asking questions. John's niece had this lab who was given to her 3 year old son and the dog has just been too much for their family. They live in a neighborhood and they just haven't had time to spend with Sally. I was ready to say YES, but I tried to control myself and asked if we could see her when we went to Scott's house. Well, of course, she's a doll baby. And of course we had no trouble deciding to bring her home. Brandon is a sucker and I knew if he SAW her there was no way he could refuse. We have decided to change her name and we hope it won't be too damaging for her in the long run. My family had a Sally for 15 years and I just can't bring myself to call another dog by that name. We figure Calli probably sounds the same to a dog!



Calli is fitting in very nicely. She's very sweet with Ellie and Mason. The dogs accepted her right away and she is giving Lucy a run for her money. I think poor Jack is glad to have someone to keep Lucy out of his hair. Jack is at least 6 years old. He came to us a stray so we can't be sure. We've noticed that since the weather has gotten cooler, he prefers to stay in his warm doghouse than be out getting into trouble with Lucy. So now Lucy can have a new partner in crime! I have added some pics, as you can see. However, being the sweetie that Calli is, if you are anywhere near her, she wants to be in your face. We'll work on posing for the camera! And I have already warned Brandon that Calli may be my new roomie next time he is out of town!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, it is a day early! All my little turkeys and I will be headed to Indiana tomorrow morning. We will spend tomorrow with Brandon's mom and John and then Friday we will go to his dad's house and make the rounds to see his Granny too. We plan to head back home on Saturday. Ellie is so excited she asks me every day "Is today the day we got to Indiana???" I keep trying to explain that it's a long drive (ok 2 1/2 hours is not long, but it is long to a three year old). She is all set to see Grandma and Pappaw and Grandma Linda. Ellie is the kind of kid who really does best when she knows exactly what to expect. Brandon's step-father's mother (did you follow that???), Deloris will be at Thanksgiving dinner. So this morning I said "There will be another Grandma at Grandma's house too. Grandma Deloris." Silence. She is Pappaw John's mama. Silence. She's really nice and I know you will like her. Ellie:"Why will she be there?" Me: "So she can have Thanksgiving with us." I'm sure it will all be fine. But Ellie may need some more information.
Brandon suggested that I take my sewing machine with me to IN. For a day or so, I considered taking it. But in the end, I have decided against it. As much as I would LOVE to get some stuff done, I think we over estimate the amount of free time we really have when we are there. Hopefully next weekend I can talk Brandon, Biz and mom into taking kid duty in shifts because I DO have some orders that I have to get on. And I think Brandon is in town so that makes it much easier to get things done in the evenings.
I can't believe I am putting this mid-blog because it seems more important than that...we finally have a treatment plan for Mason. Dr K seems to think he is somewhat asthmatic. We went BACK to the dr on Monday. (This was the 3rd or 4th time to the pediatrician in 3 weeks) Dr K listened and said his lungs were clear. But I told him Mason has been waking 3-4 times a night and this congestion will just not go away. He had me take his shirt off so he could watch him breath and he said he did see that he was breathing very fast. Soooo...we are now on an inhaled bronchial dilator and an inhaled steroid AND a decongestant. We only have to go the bronchial dilator until he gets better and then we can also cut the inhaled steroid back to once a day. He finally slept all night last night for the first time in over a week. And his congestion seems better for the first time today. Hopefully this is the answer. I didn't ask all the questions Brandon would have liked answers to, but from what I gathered Dr K thinks this is brought on by allergies and this will not be a long-term thing. My poor kids and their allergies.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I shopped til I dropped (almost)

First, Ellie's surgery went well. Dr. Sims said we definitely made the right decision in taking her to the OR. He said the tube was very embedded in the ear canal and would not have come out on its own. Ellie did INCREDIBLY well with the surgery. She actually walked back to the OR with the nurse anesthetist. All the Medical Center staff worked HARD to win her over and it made our experience very nice. Ellie's only major refusal was that she DID NOT want to put on the gown. Lucky for her, EVERYONE agreed there was no need for a gown. So she wore her own clothes to surgery! I'm sure it wasn't a first. She has been in a great mood and had zero meltdowns all day yesterday and today. I definitely wonder if she has been just having some dull aching pain that has been really bothering her. POOR THING!

Brandon is home safe and sound. He is exhausted because he has essentially been up since yesterday morning at 4 am. YIKES! But we are all going to bed early and hopefully everyone will sleep all night.

Finally, I have to admit that I think I might have lost my mind!!!!! I went to the Kelly's Kids http://www.kellyskids.com/ warehouse sale. I got the card in the mail a couple of weeks ago and mentioned it to mom. I LOVE their clothes and the prices listed were really too good to pass up. Mom and I decided to go. The plan was that the kids, Biz and I would go to Gallatin and Biz and my dad would be on kid duty and mom and I would go to the sale. Biz said she would rather stick hot needles in her eye than go. We also found out that Tim's sister, Nicole and a group of her friends were coming from Birmingham so I planned to hook up with Nicole. Last night I talked to Nicole and I realized this was going to be an athletic event. She was talking strategy and telling me how crazy the women and these sales get so I begged Biz to go and let mom stay home and she agreed. (after an early morning for Ellie's surgery, the last thing mom needed was another VERY early morning and then to get knocked around over a Santa longall!) Then I broke the news to Biz that I had agreed to meet Nicole at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville at 6 am.... OH MY WORD!!!! You have never seen so many crazed women in your life until you tell them they can get an adorable courdory coat that normally sells for $69 for $14.99. And the deals didn't stop there. But we paid in blood, sweat, and tears. There were 10 of us in the group and we were lucky enough to be FIRST in line (THANKS NICOLE!!!) We had a strategy and Biz and I were instructed to go to the racks and get what we were assigned to get, bring it to our designated area, drop and go back for more! We ended up with a PILE of stuff 9we were buying for 20 kids in all) and we drew some attention because of this. Let's just say it is a good thing I stayed out of jail and didn't get in a fist fight today. EVERYONE at the sale (and I am talking hundreds of people) were talking about "that group of women from Birmingham". Rumors were going around that we started fights and threatened people! WHICH WE DID NOT! We had two grannys and a pregnant girl with us for goodness sake!!! But in the end I got some ADORABLE stuff for both kids. And saved a ton!!! And it was competitive enough that I think I can talk Biz into joining me for the spring sale!!!

I should be in bed!

Well, I took Ellie to Dr Sims and he said the tube has to come out ASAP and it will not fall out on its own. I was actually a little shocked when he said "Yeah, I think we need to just take her back into the operating room and get it out." I somehow thought this was the kind of thing he could just take those long tweezers and get it out right there in the office. But who am I kidding? That's not my luck! So he was gracious enough (This is said with complete sarcasm as all who know my saga with Dr Sims will get!) to add her to the line-up for Friday. His nurse first said the first opening was December 4. Um no. So mom and dad are taking off work. Mom will stay here at the house with Mason and my dad will come with me and Ellie. Mason's surgeries will seem like a real piece of cake compared to what I know I have in store for me with sweet Ellie. I can only imagine the scene it will be when they peel her out of my arms. Dr. Sims does not give any sort of "relaxation meds" before surgery. He says those meds are actually what cause the really really bad mood and drowsiness after surgery. (I saw a child at Vanderbilt whose parents demanded she get said drugs and it was BAD) I agree with him, but I know it's going to be traumatic for her to go back to surgery without me and then wake up without me. But, Mama knows best and this tube must come out. She'll be no worse for the wear.
I feel bad for Brandon. We agreed there was no other option than to go on with the surgery on Friday even though he will not be home. But technology is a wonderful thing and he is only a phone call away even on his international trips. In Brazil, he is four hours ahead so that makes for some logistical issues. But it's nice to keep in touch so well with texting, email and phone calls just like he is down the street.
Speaking of Brandon, today he is 35 years old! I told Ellie on the way to school this morning "Today is Daddy's birthday!" She said "MY DADDY????" I told her yes and that I texted him and said "Happy Birthday, we love you." She said "ok" Then she said "What did the message say again?" This just struck me so funny!!!! Like she was really processing what I had said since I put her name on it too! Then she expressed concern that Brandon would miss his party so I assured her we would hold off on any partying until Daddy returns. So we party Sunday!
Now I really must get to bed. When Brandon is out of town, I find myself staying up until I am absolutely exhausted. I guess he keeps me in line and makes me go to bed on time! Night night!
I almost forgot...Mason's 1 year check went fine. Dr K says he has some allergy drainage, but overall he is perfectly fine. Weight, height and head are good and Dr K was impressed Mason can do 3 animal sounds. My little baby einstein!

Mason's appt

I was mistaken. Mason's 1 year well-check (what a laugh because he is HARDLY well!) is tomorrow, 11/18 at 2:30. I also made an appt for Ellie with the ENT to get this ear thing figured out. She SCREAMED in pain again last night with the drops so methinks it is not healing and I would just feel better if the dang tube was out!

You can call me Mrs. Clean

Sadly, the weekend is over. We did have a pretty good weekend. Brandon was off to Brazil yesterday and he called today to say he'd arrived and all is well. I asked if all the women look like Charo and he said thankfully, they do not. He did say he'd seen a few dressed like her???? But that was about it. And I just googled Charo and she's from Spain so I guess that's why the women in Brazil don't look like her.

My mom came yesterday afternoon to spend the night with me and the kiddies. She brought all the fixin's for Ann's homemade veggie soup and homeade chicken noodle soup. She played with the kids and straightened their room while I made dinner and then our little hunter, Biz, came over and joined us for dinner. Biz killed her first deer last weekend, a doe. She said she took this pic to be corny, but I don't completely believe that!

So now she is also on the hunt for the big one. But her luck ran out today as gun season is OVER. Now all the bow hunters can get back to business if there are any deer left.

This morning, I got to sleep late and then mom took the kids to Gallatin and I stayed and CLEANED my house. It seems I just cannot keep my bathroom clean enough. I JUST cleaned it on Thursday and it needed a good scrubbing again. Brandon and I had not ever shared a bathroom until we moved into this house so I lay all blame for the filthy bathroom on him. But it's clean now. All the sheets are changed, floors are clean (until Mason ate dinner tonight) things are dusted and organized and we are ready for the week. I am really thankful for mom's help. It will make a big difference in our week that I was able to get everything in order today and hopefully I can maintain it this week. I already have both kid's cups filled and in the fridge so there is one less thing to do in the morning!

I picked the kids up this afternoon and we headed home in time for dinner and bath and bed. Mom suggested I get the pack and play back out for Mason. She said she's never seen such a busy kid. It's true. Brandon's first order of business when he gets home is going to be cabinet locks in the kitchen. In 2.2 seconds tonight Mason made his way to the cabinet under the sink and pulled out some cleaning product and had it on it's way to his mouth right as I snatched it away. If I tell him "NO!" He thinks it's the funniest thing he's ever heard. Whew he is keeping us on our toes!

I think both kids are headed BACK to the dr tomorrow. Mason has his one year check-up anyway, but he still has a cough and bad congestion. Ellie is still congested too and last night she started SCREAMING when I put her ear drops in. Same thing tonight and it is more than just MUD(made up drama) which Ellie is SOOO good at. It seemed like real pain so I think we need to get things checked out.

Ellie drew a picture at my parent's today and when mom asked her what it was she said "It's Mary." Mom said "Oh, Mary your friend at school?" Ellie said "NO! Mary who is in the sky with God." That kid cracks me up! Just out of the blue she draws Mary Mother of Jesus. I am ashamed to say how long it has been since we have been to church. Where does she come up with this stuff??? It's probably God talking to me. Perhaps coming to me directly isn't working so now he's using Ellie? OK. I get it. We'll be at church Sunday! Actually, while I was cleaning today, I opened some mail (very old mail) and one of the things I opened was about Baby Celebration Sunday which is next week at church. It's a time to recognize all the babies who have been born in the last year or so. They have never had the Baby Celebration at the Greenwood campus so they said all babies under 2 will be recognized. I decided we'd go. Hmm...perhaps God is trying to get me a message. I hear it LOUD AND CLEAR and I will be there. (I hope God reads my blog)

I still haven't had any sewing time. I may just have to take off work and take the kids to school to have some time. I have so many things I want to make for them so hopefully I can work it in a little at a time.

Oh and for all the love I had for fall, I am dreading winter. I hate cold dreary days. Does anyone like those??? Hopefully we'll have some sunshine this week!

I want this pic to be my header. If you can tell me how to get this to work, I will make out with you!!! Simply editing the Header and putting a pic in does not work, BTW.