DID SOMEONE SAY HAIR SPRAY?

Cuz I've got this brand new hairdo and this whole bottle of hairspray and not a thing to do. Just tell me when and where and I will be there to create some sticky havoc!



O.K. you can come and play with me as long as you keep telling me how much you like my cute hair and how adorable you think I am. Oh yah, and if we play house, I want to be the Mom and the Dad! Cuz, I'm bossy like that!



Well, alright if you insist, you can be the Dad, but you're going to have to kiss me! And it better be good buster. Pucker up and let's see what you've got!



Mmmmfff, Yah, that's not gonna work. Thank goodness I had a mint! O.K. you can still be the Dad but you're gonna have to bring me some chocolate and gummies. I just love gummies and a girl can never get enough chocolate!



Well, are you coming or not? I haven't got all day. Oh yah, and don't forget to bring your own bubbles! I love this stuff so much I could spend all day popping it. I'm not about to share mine! C'mon let's play! Happy, Happy! Don'tcha love my hair?

JUST SOME THINGS

This is going to be a busy month. Dad's knee surgery is scheduled for the 25th. He just got information from the surgeon asking him to attend a class on the surgery next week to give him more information on it and answer any questions he has. I thought that was really a nice thing. I mean major surgery can be scary and to actually have a class put together that explains it is pretty great. He also has a few appointments this month that are pre-surgery things, plus one with his neurologist.

Mom just saw her foot specialist today and he thinks that she is making some progress with the physical therapy. She is going to keep at that for awhile. He still needs to look at her Indy MRI but she needs to get a little tough with them about getting it to him.

Jonathon -- well, it's kind of hard to tell if he's making progress or not. His lungs/breathing sound so junky--even with breathing treatments and us cleaning out his nose. We have him on antibiotics now but he hates them and we fight him everytime to keep them down. It's so wierd because Carly has had the very same medicine prescribed and if I would let her she would drink the whole 10 day supply with a straw! It's that pink liquid antibiotic and she thinks it's terrific. He sees it coming and starts to gag. Wow! What a difference in taste buds.

Me, I am just plain tired. Although, Julie and I did get the front rooms in the house clean tonight and that alone makes me feel better. I just can't get it done with two little kiddos running around. If I start out the day behind, you can bet I'm going to finish the day in a deep hole.

Well, it's 1:45 a.m. and I just got bubby to sleep for the second time and I think this one may stick so I'd better join him. Sleep tight all. :}

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT . . .

So, back to yesterday's news. Here are the updates. Dad only had a tiny little bruise on his bum. You've been waiting all day and night to hear that, haven't you? Oh c'mon admit it?! You wanted to know. Seriously though, it doesn't appear that his fall was serious--this time. Now we have to convince him to stop doing dumb stuff! Actually, he's pretty good and I think it scared him enough that he won't be doing any climbing onto anything but the floor from now on.

Jonathon went to the doctor for a check-up today and we found he wasn't doing significantly better. His oxygen count was up in the high nineties which is what saved us from having him re-admitted to the hospital today but his lungs still sound pretty junkie. They did another lung xray and said his lungs have only slightly improved. The doctor feels like he should have been improving more quickly and can't figure out why this bronchiolitis is hanging on nor the RSV. We decided to put him on a course of antibiotics in case he had a secondary infection they aren't seeing. Hopefully, that will help. Please pray for him that it will help. He needs to get well so badly.

Carly, well, Carly was just being Carly today. She's got her "girl" emotions on all the time now. Up/down, high/low, happy/sad, HOLY MOLY! Wow, "we" are emotional creatures! Who knew?!

So, last night I said pictures were coming. Well, they are here. For a few minutes last evening no one was minding the mint. Grandma had just finished baking banana bread and gone downstairs and Julie was busy baking cookies in the kitchen and has a one track focus. I was taking care of Jonathon when all of the sudden the little munchkin pictured below came and found me wanting help to clean up. Turns out she'd made quite a mess with the 25lb bag of flour her older sister had pulled out to fill the flour container with. Before I helped her clean up, I had to take her back to the scene of the crime (and get a couple of pictures) and find out why the warden wasn't paying any attention to what this little munchkin was doing. Yah, turns out Carly was whooping it up in the flour bag less than two feet from Julie and she never knew it was going on!? Crazy man! Teenagers--whatcha gonna do?

Without further ado--Here's Carly!

IT'S BEEN A DAY!

Seems like when you are not feeling your best everyone decides to misbehave. Carly was really on one today. (pictures to come)
Baby brother still isn't feeling terrific either. He is doing better enough to be home but still having to have treatments and be watched closely.
And then there's Grandpa, who fell today. Seems to be okay but he's a little sore. Fell on his bummy, he did. Luckily he fell against a wall and just slid down it. His balance is not real great. Hoping a new knee improves that.
Well, more tomorrow. G'night

NO BLOG TONIGHT

I've been in bed sick all day. Kept thinking I would get up and accomplish something but never felt up to it. Hope this doesn't last long. Everyone else is doing pretty well. Blogging is not going to happen tonight. Check back tomorrow. :/

HOME

We are home. Got released late yesterday afternoon. Jon is really, really happy to be out of the hospital and he is doing really well. Still some recovering to do but he is much, much better. More later.

SATURDAY 11:20 a:m

Still waiting for the Doc to come and check on Jonathon but looks like he is doing well enough to be released for certain today. Still has quite a bit of recovery to do at home but very, very grateful for God's blessings upon him and us and for dear friends and loved ones who have been praying for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love you all.

MUCH BETTER THANK YOU

Jonathon is enough better this morning (it's a little after 3 a.m.) that I think they will let us go home this morning when the doctor comes in. This does not mean Jonathon is completely well--he still has a ways to go until he is over the RSV and Bronchiolitis but he will be able to be cared for at home. We will just have to be very careful and be sure everything and everyone is sterile (just kidding!) Wanted to see if you were paying attention.

Anyway, looks like good news. We will have lots to do at home to take care of him but we will be HOME SWEET HOME. HAPPINESS!

A SHORT UPDATE

This will be short. It's way too early in the a.m. and I'm exhausted. I believe Jonathon is doing a bit better at the moment, although the doctor warned me this morning that he would do better to begin with and then slide downhill again before actually getting better. I guess that is the nature of this beast. I haven't had a child with RSV before and he has RSV and Bronchiolitis. Anyway, his fever is down and his breathing is better. He is still on oxygen and breathing treatments but he sounds better. That's where we are.

Rob did get back this evening about 8:00 p. m. so that was a relief. Jonathon was happy to see him, too. I will post again tomorrow to update you. Thanks so much for your love and prayers. Love, Nancy

OUR LITTLE GUY NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS

Jonathon has had a really hard time breathing for the last several days and has had a cough to go along with it. We have been giving him breathing treatments and suctioning his nose and everything else we could think to do. He has been terribly congested but that is fairly normal. Every time we take him to the doctor with these symptoms they diagnose him with the Rhino virus and send us home to doctor him. Well, not this time. This time the symptoms got more severe and Jonathon is in the hospital. They didn't even let me go home from the doctor's office. They sent us straight to the hospital.

They got the tests back after a couple of hours and it is RSV this time. Even with oxygen and breathing treatments his breathing is very labored and he is having a tough time. They think he will have to be here a minimum of 2-3 days and a maximum of a week. We could really use your prayers for Jonathon right now. He's a tough little guy but he can use all the help he can get.

We love you and will keep you posted.

THE BEST LAID PLANS

I tried to get Carly to do her cute dancing for you today. Well, she didn't know that. But she caught me aiming the camera at her and got both shy and cranky. She got shy because that's what she does when she notices me filming her. She got cranky because I wouldn't let her take the pictures. I managed to catch her crankiness on film. Since I didn't get the dancing I planned to share with you, I figured the least I could do was share a shot of her crankiness with you. This is her Royal Highness Miss Terrible Two. It's a face I get to see at least once a day if not ten times. I love this little face. I just love to see it so much better when she has her beautiful smile on it. She is a little crack up, though. She can go from sunshine to stormy skies in 2 seconds flat! Enjoy!

NEWS OF THE DAY

It's been one of "Those" days, i.e., not enough sleep, migraine, screaming children, finding out you made dumb mistakes that come back to haunt you--you know one of T H O S E days. It's almost time to fall asleep and I'm hoping for some sweet dreams and kids in better moods tomorrow.

I did forget to mention last night that I talked to my friend Jane on the phone whom I haven't talked to in at least six months and had a really nice conversation. I like having friends where no matter how long its been since you have seen each other or spoken you can just pick up where you left off. In fact, the day before that, my friend Taylor called and it had been a couple of months since we talked and it was the same. It's nice to be able to do that. It's like being completely at home with someone. That's a great feeling.

Mom went to her PT today. I guess she's having that 3 times a week. They worked her over pretty good but she seemed no worse for wear. Hopefully, it will help her foot. Dad actually seemed a little better to me tonight. Rob and Steve gave him a blessing. That was nice.

Well, not much else going on here--at least worth mentioning. Take care ya'll.

GOOD TO KNOW

I feel a little better knowing that not long before I was born my big sister Susan apparently loved the word "No" too. My mom told me she remembers Susan, who was not yet two, screaming "No" at her quite a bit! Susan and I are only 18 months apart so Mom thinks maybe Susan entered the terrible two's a little early as well. I guess that means there is hope for Carly coming through this phase soon!

Jonathon turned five months old on Saturday. I can't believe how fast it's gone and how much he's grown! He's so amazing. We are so blessed to have him in our family. He wants to stand up a lot now--with us holding his hands, of course. He's also starting to teethe--the slobbering and chewing on his hands part. He can and does put his whole fist in his mouth at times. Although, he usually is just chewing on two or three fingers at once. He also knows his name and will turn and smile if you call him. He is so darn sweet! Wish you could all meet him and hold him!

We had an uneventful day today--which is good. Dad's still not doing great. His pain level is pretty high and he isn't moving well. Please keep him and mom in your prayers. This is pretty rough going for them. Mom's health is good but I think they both can use all the support, love and prayers they can get. We are all really thankful for your friendship and concern. We just wish his surgery date wasn't so far away still. It's at the end of February but that seems like forever when he needs a working leg. Well, that's all for now. Please keep us in your thoughts . . .

NO ONE TOLD ME . . .

As soon as they start to talk they start to talk back! Wow! Carly's favorite word is 'No" and I never knew it could have so many syllables or so many decibel levels! She is now learning the meaning of the words "time out". Those are not her favorite words. Go figure. Keep in mind, she are still a month away from turning two. She's one smart Chicka. Gadfrey!

SAME OL' SAME OL' ROUND HERE

One day Carly is blowing bubbles from the bubble cannister and the next they are coming out of her nose. That's right--she has a cold again. Poor child. We just can't seem to stay away from the Winter colds and flus around here. Darn. Other than that, things are pretty good.

Mom went to her first physical therapy today. I have to retract something here. I said before that the doctor ordered the PT on her arm. That wasn't correct. It was the specialist we went to for her foot who ordered the PT. So that's what she went to do today. She came back with new exercises to do and one of those dark green stretchy things which Carly immediately claimed. Grandpa has a couple a yellow stretchy thingy she thinks is hers, too. Sometimes we humor her and sometimes we just say "no."

For Mom's arm that she hurt, the doc is just having her try exercises for awhile and if those don't help then they will do an MRI. It didn't look like she had done any major damage from an X-ray and exam--so the exercises will tell us whether or not it will get better on it's own.

Dad continues to have home health care--PT and occupational therapy. I have started to worry some because he doesn't have a lot of stamina. I will be glad when he feels strong enough to go outside or even to move around the house more. We are installing a stair lift so that should help.

Hope things are good wherever you are. :O

BEAUTIFUL CARLY

Bought this adorable cap from Taylor Joelle and I've been trying to figure out how to do Carly's hair for it. I have her hair pulled really tightly into a pony close to her head with the cap over it for these photos. I think it really shows off her eyes. Isn't she gorgeous? I sure think so! No proud Momma here.

CARLY LOVES BUBBLES!

I love her laugh! When she's happy, she's ecstatic! Enjoy!

JUST A FEW THINGS

We went snow tubing today. It was a lot of fun and ended up being a really good day to do it. The temperature was pretty good so we didn't freeze. Grandma and Grandpa watched the wee ones since they are way too young to go. Carly actually napped the entire time we were gone and I think Jonathon talked their ears off. He's becoming quite the little jabber jaw!

Wow! I just heard three more people were pulled out of the rubble in Haiti today, a full week after the earthquake. Apparently, another college student was found yesterday after 6 days when she was able to text a message that she was trapped in the rubble. Wow! What miracles! I know these are such small numbers of people but the fact that they are finding anyone alive at all this long after the quake is amazing.

I heard some of you tried to leave comments yesterday and had trouble. I did set it up to be fairly easy but I guess there are still a few steps to it. I just checked it out and here's what you do:

Click on the word "Comment" at the end of the blog you want to comment on. It will take you to a comment section. Write your comment in that section. Then below you need to:

Choose an identity. Click on the one that identifies you. The choices will be:


A. Your Name (If you have a Google Account) – use this if you have a google account

B. OpenID --Don't know what this is--just skip it!

C. Name/URL Name (Use this if you just want to use your name.)

D. Anonymous (Use this if you don't want to put your personal info in.)

When you are done you can Preview your Comment or just Publish it.

It will make you put in a series of numbers or letters to prove you are a human being and not a computer which has nothing to do with the comment before it lets you publish. It's really not as hard as it sounds.

Good luck. Hope it works next time. :)

SEE, WAS THAT SO HARD?

Seriously, thanks to those of you who let me know you were reading this. It is nice to hear from you once in a while. If you ever want to comment directly on the blog all you have to do is click on the small print word "comment" directly beneath the specific blog you want to comment on and it will take you to a comment screen. I've made it as simple as possible. If not, just say "hey" once in a while some other way.

Today was not a real productive day for me. Jonathon was up about every hour and a half last night which makes for one tired Mommy. Luckily, Julie is out of school for two days this week and she was here to let me sleep in a little--OK, maybe alot.

Rob is taking a day off tomorrow and we are going snow tubing. It's an annual family event. It's pretty fun--mostly because unlike when you go sledding and you have to walk back up hill, there is a tube lift that tows you and your tube back up the steep hill so you can slide down again. Now that's my kind of down hill sport! Yep!
It's pretty darn fun! Somehow we can't talk Grandpa into it. Go figure. LOL! Just kidding.

Speaking of Grandpa, he's doing really good with his physical therapy. His pain level is even down a little in his leg. Now we have to get Grandma's physical therapy in her arm started. That's next week, I believe.

Jonathon is doing better, too. Oh and Rob's cold is much better as well. Stay tuned for more medical updates on As The Stomach Turns. LOL!

OKAY FRIENDS LET ME 'SPLAIN SOMETHING . . .

I love that you read my blog but it doesn't mean you have had a conversation with me. I don't know how many people have told me they haven't called me or written for a VERY LONG TIME because they feel like they have talked to me since they read my blog. Keep in mind unless you make a comment once in a while or drop me an email, I don't even know you're reading it! I love to hear from you--I even love you! So, write me, call me, text me--but please be in touch from time to time. Pretty please.

Grandpa is doing about the same. He is up and around a bit downstairs but we don't try to have him climb the stairs. We are looking into the possibility of getting a stairlift to make it easier to get him up and down. Grandma made a yummy supper tonight. It was a new recipe with chicken, wild rice, cranberries, mushrooms, cheese and heavy cream. Rob and I got an afternoon nap after church. That was yummy, too.
All in all it was a terrific Sunday.

We are praying for the people in Haiti. It is hard to see the images coming in from there and imagine the suffering they are going through. God bless them.

THE CUTEST BOY EVER!

MY LOVEY, CUDDLY, LITTLE BOY

Today I decided I was going to get stuff done--laundry, cleaning, maybe even a little cooking. It was not to be. Jonathon had his own list of things for me to do and really it just had one thing on it: Hold and cuddle me. Yep, that was it. He didn't even want to take a nap. Everytime I got him to sleep he would cat nap for like ten minutes and the second I would lay him down his eyes would pop right back open! He was in a wonderful mood. He cooed and smiled the whole day as long as I was holding him. He continued this way into the evening. He's been awake most of the day so it should be a fairly easy night. Julie has him tonight per my birthday gift!

So, I was finally able to finish laundry this evening with some extra hands around. But I decided to enjoy him most of the day and try not to worry TOO MUCH about the dust and clutter. He will only be this little and this cuddly for so long. He is awfully sweet and such an adorable baby. We are so blessed to have him. I am so grateful to be a mom!

Jonathon and I took Grandma to her foot doctor appointment today. We've been thinking Grandma had a torn tendon that would need surgery but we actually got some better news. This doctor doesn't think it's torn and thinks physical therapy could help it quite a bit. He still needs to look at some of her tests but wants her to try the PT and see how it goes.

Jonathon seems to be recovered from his day at the hospital. Rob's cold is even better today. I would love to have everyone in the house well at the same time for a whole week. Wouldn't that be great?! What are the odds? Yah, you're right--too stiff for me too! I can hope, but I won't hold my breath . . . O.K.?

IT'S A MIRACLE . . . SORT OF

It really almost is. We got Grandpa out of the house today and it was no easy task. He has not been able to walk for a few weeks now. The last few days he's been able to take a few steps with his walker but it's really been hard for him to get around. He hasn't been upstairs for a couple of weeks. We had a doctor appointment to get him to today and we made a plan last night that involved him taking the fewest steps possible and using the wheelchair. It also involved us lifting him in the wheelchair up a few steps and it actually worked. Yay! We even got him to a barber today while we had him out. It was a good day. :)
Grandpa was pretty darned worn out when we got him home but I think it did him good to get out and about for a bit. It can't be good to be so cooped up for so long.

Jonathon also had a pretty good day. He is recovering quickly from his day of scopes and punctures. I had to give him a bit of tylenol here and there today but he seems OK otherwise. He's a real trooper and such a sweet little guy.

Grandma told me Carly came downstairs last night and grabbed their phone book from home (which is tiny) and opened it like a song book and started singing really loudly and leading with the other hand. Don't know what she was singing - it's usually some language she has made up. But she is pretty good at the leading thing. Pretty funny, eh? She is something else!

ALL IS WELL

Thanks so much for your prayers. Jonathon is doing really well now that his surgery is over.

He had four different procedures today. The first was because he did not pass his hearing test for his left ear at birth or more recently and the docs thought he might have water in his ears so they did an auditory brain response test for his hearing. They also checked his ears to see if there was water behind his ear drums and were going to put in tubes if needed. They didn't find any water but ended up piercing both ear drums looking for the water so he is going to be sore for a few days. He did not end up needing tubes which was good.

Jonathon has severe Reflux and is being treated for it but he has also been having some difficulty breathing for some time now. He is very congested and sometimes it sounds as if it is coming from his nose and other times it feels as if it is coming from his chest. So, they also went in and scoped out his nose and his throat to see if there were any blockages (i.e. folds of skin or flaps)that are keeping him from breathing well. They did not find anything that appeared to be causing his breathing difficulties. So, their best guess is that the Reflux is causing him to ingest part of what is coming back up or to aspirate it and then making it difficult to breathe. If so, this is usually something children grow out of so we are hopeful. There is also the slight possibility that he is pre-asthmatic but we won't know that for awhile. There really isn't a test to tell us that answer, it's just a wait and see game.

Anyway, we are just very grateful he made it through the surgeries today without any complications. Thank you so much for your prayers and your friendship. Love you, Nancy

OUR LITTLE GUY HAS TO GO THROUGH SOME BIG THINGS

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Jonathon has to have some outpatient exploratory surgery. He is actually going to have four procedures. He hasn't been able to pass his hearing test for his left ear and they think the problem is water in his ears so they are going to go in and check for the water and possibly insert tubes. Then they will do the hearing test while he is under since he has been too squirmy to test it well while he is awake. The doctor decided that while they have him under they may as well try to figure out what is really going on with his noisy breathing. He has had some serious congestion and they don't know if it is coming from the reflux problem or being caused by something else so he is going to have his nose and throat scoped too.

These are pretty big procedures for such a little boy. My biggest worry is the anesthesia. We would sure appreciate your prayers for Jonathon and us while all this is going on. I will post something as soon as he is out of surgery. Love you all. Nancy

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES!

My Mom and I ran some errands on Saturday morning and we took Carly with us. One of the stops we made was the bank. The lobby was closed so we went through the drive through and the teller noticed we had a little girl in the vehicle and sent a sucker out for her. Carly loves suckers. I unwrapped it and handed it to her and she partook for a few minutes and then excitedly exclaimed from the backseat "Mommy, I suck!"

Grandma and I had quite a good chuckle over that one. Oh, the innocence of our little ones. So, so cute! I love my little girl!

HAD SOME LOVELY VISITORS TODAY

Aunt Maren and Aunt Tammie came to see us today. Silly me, I didn't think to get the camera out until they were leaving. Didn't get any of them with Jonathon. That was so dumb! That tells you I'm not feeling good for sure. Anyway, we had a very nice visit with them. Carly wanted to leave with Maren and was so sad when she actually had to come back inside.

MORE SICKEES

Well finally Rob and I both have the gomboo. It took a while and we staved it off as long as we could but we both caught it--me first, then Rob. Cough, cough, hack, hack. It's so miserable and of course, there isn't anything you can do for it since it's just the common cold gone wrong. Finally, you get the kids feeling a little better and you feel like dog poo. Woof.

FUMES

As in running on them. Sorry I didn't blog yesterday. I collapsed into bed around 6 or 7 p.m. and let hubby run the show. Then when he came to bed around 11 p.m. I got up and helped him with Jonathon who of course decided it was time to wake up and be bright and cheery right at bedtime.

I was still in the same dreary, tired fog most of the day today but my little ones didn't care to hear about it. No excuses. Just show up Mom and on time, please! They don't accept i.o.u.'s. I might have been in a mommy coma but I was functioning. Wow, am I running on fumes!

Grandpa still isn't walking very well but has more physical therapy tomorrow. I think it is just going to take time. I will keep you posted though. Well, I need to get some zzzzzzzzz's.

AN UPDATE AND PRAYER REQUEST

So, my Dad's polio leg is still pretty weak. He still isn't able to use it to get around on very well but he is starting physical therapy on it Monday. Between that leg, his other knee and his shoulders he has been in quite a bit of pain. We are hoping physical therapy will give him back the use of this leg and alleviate some of his pain. Boy, this complication sure blindsided us--we just were not expecting problems with this other leg. We would definitely appreciate any prayers you could ask on behalf of my father. Thanks so much!

OUR GIRLS GOOFING AROUND AT CHRISTMAS

JONATHON IS GETTING BIGGER

Just a couple of recent photos of Jonathon. He's 14 pounds now and growing. He loves to chatter. He especially likes to talk to Grandpa. When Grandpa talks to him he smiles really big and just chatters as loud as he can get. He really loves his Grandpa!

EGG . . . ZACTLY

Last night Megan, Julie and I were in the kitchen doing some cooking and Carly wandered in. I opened the refrigerator door to grab something off the top shelf and didn't notice Carly had gotten into the bottom. A few seconds later I heard Megan gasp and then start laughing. I turned around to look and Carly had made it a few feet from the refrigerator and then tripped and fallen flat with an egg in her hand. The egg had cracked and was smushed all over the floor and Carly had the most confused look on her face.

She has had this intrigue with eggs now for months. The egg basket in our fridge is on the very bottom of the door and to Carly, I know, all these little white eggs look like little white balls. For a long time she tried to grab them every time we opened the door so we started keeping the eggs in their cartons up higher so we didn't have the problem. But when the holidays came and we started putting more food in the fridge I put them back at the bottom and I didn't realize she had noticed them. Oh well, guess I have egg on my . . .
FLOOR.

MY LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING UP

Carly's hair is finally long enough that we can put it up in a couple of small ponytails or "puffs" as they are called. We have been doing this hairdo on her for almost a week now and I can't believe the difference it makes in how old she looks to me. It changes her from a baby to a little girl. I kind of want to put her little 'fro back in and tie a bow around her hair. It's kind of hard to have her grow up so quickly--although she is awfully darn cute!

CARLY'S CONVERSATION

We took one of our Christmas trees down today--the one we put our wooden toy soldiers in front of and all the presents under. When Carly went down for a nap the tree was still up and when she woke up it had been taken down. All that was left in the spot where it had been were the six toy soldiers our friend Joyce had made to represent each child in our family. Although, she didn't seem to notice them.

Carly said, "Mom, tree, gone." I said, "Yes, we took it down and put it away." She seemed to accept that and I didn't think anymore about it for awhile. Later I was in the kitchen doing something and I heard her talking to someone in the living room--I mean talking like she was actually having a conversation. I turned around to look and she was having her own little conversation with the toy soldiers. I almost laughed outloud. I probably would have except I didn't want to interrupt the conversation or embarrass her. Now, mind you, I couldn't understand what they were talking about. Lol! I have a such an adorable and interesting child!

MY DAILY MUSINGS

Julie is still out of school for Christmas break and I'm glad. It gives me some help to get things back in order from the holiday rigamarole. She and I cleaned and sorted and put things away today. We took out the trash and wow, do we make a lot of trash! We cut up all the boxes we got things in for Christmas so we could fit them in the trash. We were busy beavers and still we didn't get everything done. We still have the tree up--well, both of them actually. We had planned to take one of them down and leave the other up until New Year's but didn't even manage to get one down. Guess that happens when you have a munchkin or two running around--not geting your list of things done, that is.

Grandma managed to make it out to exchange a few things today and even do a little shopping. I think she got her fill of standing in lines, though. She was pretty worn out when she got home. I refuse to stand in lines. If I have to exchange anything I wait until a few weeks after the holiday when no one cares anymore and the lines are gone. They would pretty much have to be bread lines to get me to stand in them. There's nothing I want that bad (at least that I can think of at the moment :}.

I didn't even leave the house until almost 8:00 p.m. and it was probably a good thing. It was only 10 degrees outside. I just had a quick errand and I was glad to get back inside where it was warm. I sound terribly boring tonight.

Jonathon and I are both leaning against pillows having a staring contest to see who falls asleep first. I think I need to let him win this one. Darn.

Night. :}

VISITING DAY

Went to visit Rob's parents today. They are about an hour away from us. We took them their Christmas. Carly is trying to assimilate in her mind what it means to have two Grandma's and two Grandpa's. It was the first time she really thought about it today I think. She's really becoming verbal and she had to stop and think before she called Rob's mom Grandma because she's been calling my mom Grandma. She just looked at her for a long time and we were encouraging her to call her Grandma but she just stared at her. She's done it before. Finally, I explained to her by saying each Grandma and Grandpa's names with their last name attached and she finally got it. Then she just called her Grandma. It was kind of neat to watch her brain work on it.

Dad stayed downstairs again today but he did get up and walk around so I think he is doing a bit better. I think we will be able to get him into the doctor tomorrow. I know we are all exausted from the rush of the holidays. Maybe that is some of it for him, too.

Sara left to go back to her college town today. Carly was not happy about that. Sara has definitely been the flavor of the week. Carly has loved walking around saying Sara's name over and over and over and over! Plus, she loved having her here. She cried any time Sara left the house. Hopefully she will be back to visit in February.

Julie has another week off of school. Rob and Megan are jealous because they have to go back to work tomorrow. Well, that's about all the news for today. Love ya, :)

DUM ME

It's almost midnight and Rob just looked at me and said, "Done your blog yet?" Oops! I am just mindlessly surfing the web when I should be sleeping. I am so tired and yet, I can't seem to fall asleep but I had honestly forgotten to blog. Silly girl!

Grandpa hasn't been getting around very well the last couple of days. His good leg (which is his bad leg) has been giving him trouble. He's been having some muscle spasms in it and some weakness. Hopefully, he just needs some physical therapy on it and it will be temporary.

I spent a good part of the day writing Christmas cards. Yes, that's what I said. I am slow but sure. I don't get very many out and the ones I do usually get there in the new year. Aren't I cute? Generally the people who send me cards are the ones who get them back. I try to be more proactive than that but it just never works out. (Did I just say I was lazy or busy? hmmm.)

Well, better get some sleep before time for church. Night.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Silly me, I didn't take any pictures today. We had the video camera running so I didn't take any stills. Just lazy I guess. We had a happy day. Carly was funny opening presents. She would open one and the want to just open and play with that one. It took some convincing to get her to move to the next present. Finally, the other girls had to finish opening her packages for her. She had no interest in them until she saw what was in them. Kind of crazy.

Sara, Megan and Julie enjoyed themselves too. Jonathon was the only observer. He seemed fine with that, though. Next year he will probably be a bit more interested. My parents seemed to have a good day, too. Rob's brother Steve came over with his kids and had their Christmas with us, too.Rob and I had fun watching everyone open their presents and enjoy each other. It's been a great day. Now, time for beddy bye. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

PICTURES FROM GRANDMA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

She was so surprised! It was really fun.

SURPRISE GRANDMA!

My Dad pulled a good one on my Mom today. He surprised her for her birthday which is December 24th. (Maybe the biggest surprise is that he planned something way in advance for her birthday!) Ummmm, don't tell him I said that. Actually, I think most men are that way. For several weeks he has connived and planned with each of us girls to arrange a surprise birthday party. He wanted to have a luncheon with all of her kids and grandkids in the same place for her big day. We managed to pull it off today sans one kid who had a mandatory athletic practice and the best part was Grandma was truly surprised. It probably helped that we did it the day before her actual birthday. It was great to see her face when she saw everyone there. Especially, when she didn't think Sarah and her family were even in the state. Yah, it was pretty great. Happy day!

Oh, by the way Mom. Happy Birthday. I love you, Nancy

GREAT, STUPENDOUS NEWS!

Dad had a test at the cardiologist today. This doctor has been working with him on some things and the test showed tons of improvement! His heart is a lot stronger AND they OK'd him for his knee surgery in February! Yay! Thanks for all the prayers you have sent our way. Please keep them coming. We need all the help we can get!

CAKE MONSTER

I went to Sam's Club today to order Grandma's birthday cake. I had Carly with me and she was sitting in the cart while I was writing out the order for the cake. Trouble is she was sitting right next to the display of cakes that were for sale. I didn't think much about it at the time. While I was writing out the order she was doing her usual chattering to which I respond without doing a lot of thinking, i.e., "Cakes mommy!", "Yes, Pretty aren't they?" Well, I finished the order and turned it in and then turned and started pushing the cart away from the cake area. Holy Toledo! My 22 month old popped a cork! "NO MOMMY! CAKE! GET A CAKE!

I tried to explain to her that we had just ordered one and would pick it up in a few days . . . but it sounded like this to her 22 month old ears: "BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, NO CAKE FOR YOU! YOU CAN NEVER HAVE CAKE AGAIN! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!" In other words she threw a screaming mimi tantrum and the only words I could understand were "need", "get" and "cake". It took a few minutes but once I got her out of the cake section and got her mind on other things she calmed down. It occurs to me that I think I've created a sugar monster--at the very least a cake monster. I'm in trouble. :}

WEEKEND UPDATE

Rob and I spent Saturday trying to finish up the Christmas shopping. Think we got most of it done.

Went to the viewing of one of my friend's fathers tonight who died really suddenly. He was only 67 and was apparently really athletic and healthy right up until he had this fatal heart attack. I guess you just never know when it's going to be your time. We had a really nice visit with my friend and her husband and got to meet their three boys for the first time. They are really cute.

We took Carly and Julie with us and they were pretty impressed with our beautiful girls. Bubby had to stay home with Grandma and Grandpa since his immune system is still so at risk. Not to mention he is still sick right now--so I don't want him to give anyone else the crud he has either.

Took Carly to see her first Christmas lights on the way home. She was so cute. She kept saying, "Awesome" over and over.

Saw on one of my cousin's status last night on Facebook that another of my cousin's--Lana, is in the hospital with gall bladder problems. Apparently, her sugar level is pretty high, too because of the gall bladder so they are trying to stabilize the sugar level before they handle the gall bladder. They still think they will have her home by Christmas. Prayers would be much appreciated.

Well, that's all for now folks. Take care.

BREAKFAST WITH CARLY

I was in the kitchen doing something this morning when my little munchkin ran in and said, "Mommy, I need cake!" I couldn't decide whether to be excited that she had just said a brand new sentence very clearly and actually new what it meant or be concerned that my 22 month old wanted (excuse me "needed") chocolate cake for breakfast.

Oh, who am I kidding--my Dad taught me to eat chocolate cake for breakfast like it was cereal. By that, I mean pouring milk over it in a bowl and eating it with a spoon. So, Carly and I sat down and had a bowl of chocolate cake cereal together. After all, she needed it!

GOOD DAY ~ FRIDAY

Today was a really good day. We had a great appointment with the cardiologist. We really liked him a lot and things look pretty good. He ordered some tests to determine if things look good enough to go ahead with Dad's knee surgery scheduled for February. We should know what that looks like soon but it does seem hopeful.

Rob and I took Jonathon to visit some friends who hadn't met him yet tonight. That was fun. Unfortunately, there are lots of our friends and even family members who haven't met him yet. His preemie immune system causes us to be careful about taking him into crowds and places where there are other small children who may have coughs or colds. One day he will get to meet everybody. In the meantime, we will take lots of pictures and post them. Um, but not tonight. This mom's only had 2 1/2 hours of sleep today since he didn't let me go to sleep until almost 4 a.m--Maybe tomorrow. :}

WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD

Today (it's still Thursday to me even though it's 3:45 a.m. because I haven't finished this blog yet)has been a long day and I'd like to say I got a lot done but I can't remember what I did before noon. That could be a product of sleep deprivation and not just old age speaking, couldn't it? Seriously, couldn't it?

Everyday I get up with a list of things that have to be done. Cleaning the house is always on it. At least straightening it and putting things away--I'll settle for that. No, scratch that--something else just got priority. Probably a naked toddler running through the house with something breakable. OK, what's next on the list. Does it matter. Something else I wasn't planning on will take it's place. What happened to my 80/20 rule. I think they call it being a mom to a toddler and a baby at the same time. Do you think I will ever figure it out and get organized? I sure hope so!

Oh, so look at that. I did it again. Got off my list and my topic. We are off to see one of Dad's doctor's today (I'm almost done so this today is for Friday). This is an important one. Keep us in your prayers. He doesn't need a new heart--just a good one. Well--he already has a really good one--but you know what I mean. Wizard, here we come!

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN! THE LEERS HAVE BROUGHT US CHEER AGAIN!

Jonathon was so happy when the mail came today he wet his diaper! Or was that me? I can't remember. Lol! We are so happy and excited at our house!

You might remember a month or so ago when I posted a picture of Jonathon with a bunch of adorable wooden soldiers with a caption that said "What's wrong with this picture?" Well, of course Jonathon was really sad in the picture because there was a wooden soldier for all of the girls in the family but not one for him. He had found them all and felt really bad because he couldn't find his. (You can roll your eyes at me here and say "Crazy Mama!)

Anyway, these wooden soldiers are precious collector's items because they were made by a wonderful, whimsical artist named Joyce who has been a friend of our family since long before I was born. She always made my childhood holidays magical by painting the windows of all the stores downtown with glorious holiday scenes. It was the most fun place to go--so full of life and wonder! She is simply amazing and has talent that flows from every pore. This time, though, she pulled off a Christmas miracle because I found out after I asked her (see: emotionally coerced)if she could make one for Jonathon that she had retired and thrown out all of her patterns and paints. (J & L -- I owe you BIG! See: HUGE, XXXL, EL GRANDE.)

I just want everyone to see how much Jonathon loved his wooden soldier. He was so happy when we opened it he started dancing and singing! Too bad we didn't get it on the camcorder! Darn! Here are some stills, though!




See how big I am now?



Sweet Joyce did not leave Carly out. How thoughtful! Thank you! Carly loves her Raggedy Ann!

She is a little camera shy these days. When she gets embarrassed she closes her eyes and thinks we can't see her anymore. Hmmm. Maybe she's right--too bad the camera still can, Miss Raggedy, Raggedy, Raggedy Carly!



Thank you, thank you, thank you! We love you!

HAVE YOU SEEN THESE PEOPLE?

We have and we think they are cuter than spotted pups! If you are missing them feel free to give them a hollar! Happy Hollar-Days!

A NOT SO GOOD, YUCKY DAY

Wow, today has been no fun at all and that means starting today from midnight on. Jonathon or Jon-uh-non as Carly calls him has been one miserable little boy. He has been coughing and weezing and really having labored breathing. I think I slept an hour while he was asleep on my chest. Rob didn't sleep at all. We gave him breathing treatments and everything and nothing seemed to make it better. This morning we finally took him to the ER since we know our doctors would just tell us to give him breathing treatments or send us to the ER. We spent most of the day there with them giving him X-rays and breathing treatments, suctioning out his nose, sending off tests, etc. It looked for awhile like they might keep him overnight but his chest X-rays came back clear so they let us bring him home. There is still a possibility he could have a viral pneumonia that the X-rays don't pick up but the tests they sent off should tell us whether he has anything serious going on or not. Luckily, he was doing better enough that we have him at home. I will keep you posted on how things go.

LOOK WHAT SANTA LEFT UNDER MY TREE! WOW, SANTA, YOU'VE BEEN GOOD TO ME!

WHAT'S A MOM TO DO?

I can't remember if I've told you this before or not. If I have, oh well. Carly can't stand to have anyone close a door on her--especially a bathroom door. She will stand outside the door and pound on it and plead to be let in. She will cry and whine and try the door and give you absolutely no peace until you come out or give in and allow her to come in.

I've gotten to the point where I don't even bother to close our bathroom door anymore. Of course, our bathroom is in our bedroom so it's a little bit protected from the rest of the house. But, I don't close the door very often because even if she doesn't see me leave to go the bathroom she seems to have a sixth sense about it and shows up not long after I go in. Of course, when I did use to close the door, she would always wait to show up until I was seated and then bang and scream for what seemed like an eternity. Her timing was so frustrating it just wasn't worth it.

She has a brand new thing now. She learned the word "up" some time ago for when she wanted help climbing up the stairs or wanted you to pick her up. Grandma has taught her to add the word please to that. So, now her favorite phrase is "Up peas". She used to come straight in to the bathroom and pat my bum when I was sitting and say "Mommy's bum" and just laugh. Now she comes in immediately turns her back to me and backs up and says "Up peas. I say "No, not up peas. Mommy busy." She repeats, "Up peas" with more urgency and we go back and forth until one of us gives up or gives in. (Guess who wins most of the time? :}, Yah, not me. lol!)

Well, I just learned from others in the house (who don't and really can't leave the bathroom door open for matters of decorum) that Carly has learned to open the childproof locks on the doors and just walk right in. In fact, she has surprised them right in the middle of their bathroom breaks! "Up Peas!" Lol!

I say this is crazy! She is not even two years old yet. Why can she outwit a child proof door lock? What age child was this lock made to proof? Surely it was supposed to last for more than their first year. Holy crap. We are in trouble. I mean, yah, we can start locking the bathroom doors from the inside when we are using them. No problem. But what do we do about all the sharp things and cleaning poisons, etc. these child proof locks are supposed to keep them away from? Her little hands are not supposed to be able to manuever these things. Carly is not only smart; she is strong.

Wow, do we have our work cut out for us! I am sitting here patting my head. "Work Mommy brain, Work"

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW . . .

Hey, we might as well sing about it--not like we can control it. Just saw the weather and they said that minimum by Sunday we will have between 2-5 inches on the ground and it could be more. The benches could have 6-12 inches and the mountains are supposed to get 12-24 inches. It's supposed to start tomorrow afternoon and keep snowing into Sunday. Sounds like a fun weekend! It never really bothers me when it snows. I like the change of seasons and I especially love snow on the ground at Christmas time. My kids (older ones) on the other hand get cranky about it. I thought kids were supposed to like snow. They never have. Whine, whine, whine. It gets old. I say, if it's going to happen anyway you might as well enjoy it!

This is the first year Carly has really seen snow and she loves it. We haven't really had any snow of substance yet that she can get out in and learn how to build a snowman. I can't wait to see her do that. Hopefully, this weekend there will be enough to see her enjoy doing something fun in it.

Grandma and I went and did some more Christmas shopping this afternoon. Just a few quick things. Slowly but surely we are knocking things off our list. Well, Grandma is much farther ahead than I am. Not that it's a race but if it were she'd be winning. lol!

I made a scrumptious dinner tonight; swiss steak and homemade mashed potatoes. It was delish! Sad thing was Rob ended up having to work late enough that he had to just grab a quick McDonalds. What a drag. Good thing there are leftovers.

Did you hear that? Yah, me too. It's chocolate calling my name. I can't tell which direction it's coming from. I'd better go investigate. Talk to you later.

OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL . . .

O.K, maybe not exactly frightful, but it's pretty durn cold! It got down to 13 degrees today and that was without the windchill factor added in. Sure doesn't make a girl want to spend any time outside. Although, Mom and I still had to brave the cold and the snow on the ground and go do a little Christmas shopping. We art tackling it a little bit each day. She is much further along than I am. I've decided to do the last minute panick. Until then, I am going to remain calm and rather unbothered by my "Icouldcareless" attitude about shopping. I figure whatever I get done before then I get done; whatever I don't I don't. I know I can always panic about it at the last minute! Crazy eh? Yah, that's what I think but then, I couldn't care less right now. :}

So, the last week or so I have been experimenting with putting Carly in her pajamas backwards and I have to say it has been 100 percent successful. She cannot unzip them from behind -- meaning she cannot get her behind out of her diaper and cause problems in her bed before everyone wakes up! Yay! Trouble is--I don't keep her in her P.J.'s all day. Thus, we still have to figure out how to overcome "Naked Bum Naptimes! We are open to suggestions! (Uh, no handcuffs, please. She'd just get out of them!) Lol!

YOU KNOW DASHER AND DANCER AND PRANCER AND VIXON . . . NOW MEET THE CUTEST REINDEER OF ALL!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR . . .

If that's true then why have I spent two days in bed with a migraine? Don't worry, nothing serious. Probably just a little too much stress and a little too little sleep. I am all recovered.

We have snow on the ground. It's actually pretty outside and I'm not complaining. I like the snow. It is a bit cold. It got down to 12 degrees tonight--although it felt warmer than that to me. It wasn't really biting cold. I guess it was because it didn't have the wind chill with it.

We have most of our Christmas shopping done. Still little bits and pieces to do--but none to mail this year! Yay! Everybody is here. That is nice.

Jonathon kept me up until 3:40 a.m. this morning. It's only 11:45 and he's asleep so I am going to hurry and finish this so I can join him. Hopefully, he will stay that way until morning.

You should hear Carly talk these days. She's a bundle of new language. It's so cute. Grandma is trying to teach her the proper way to say things. Some times she actually gets it right and some times she only gets some of it. She is one funny kid. You'd have to actually overhear a conversation to get what I mean but let's just call her Princess Chatterbox for now.

Well, better get to bed. Night.

I LIKE THIS ONE!

OUR FAMILY PICTURE

CUTE KIDS

PERSONALITY PLUS

Jonathon is just starting to really show us his personality and he is so darn cute! He has always been a happy little guy but it is fun to see him smile and laugh. He talked and cooed to Grandpa for quite awhile tonight. He is so fun!

SANTA BABY

Can you believe this? My daughter, the child with the best smile in the whole world who would not smile for the camera?! Go figure. I guess it's lucky she wasn't scowling or crying. Still, it's a cute shot. She's such a funny kid!

Grandma has been getting her up in the mornings the last little bit because Jonathon has been keeping me up until the wee hours. This morning when Grandma opened her bedroom door she again found her completely disrobed only this time she had hucked her diaper clear across the room. When I went to lay her down for a nap later I found that not only had she disrobed and thrown her diaper but she had then relieved herself afterward in her crib. Yep, sopping wet! Guess I should be thankful it was just wet! That's my girl!

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN JULIE!

Wow! Wasn't it just yesterday you were eleven? Where does the time go? You are growing up much too fast for me. Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are beautiful and I love you. Mom

ME AND MY HONEY

I think I'll keep him. He followed me home and he's awfully cute! Don't ya think?