Kids

The state of things…

April 1, 2009 By kelly 5 Comments

Good morning!
Well, there are is some good news to report from our home front this morning. The leaky pipe in our basement is fixed. YAHOO!! The plumber finally got here three hours after he said he would yesterday, but at least he got here and got the leak properly fixed at last. That’s great news!
In not so great news, the water heater is still having major issues. The pilot won’t light and stay lit. Mickey has tried and tried and TRIED, to no avail. He called the manufacturer of the water heater this morning and they said that they wouldn’t come out to look at it, wouldn’t touch it, etc. given the situation. Okay then. So, we called a local company and they are coming out this morning to have a look at it to see if it can be repaired. Maybe it can. This water heater was just purchased in December, so it’s not old at all. We would hate to replace it, but it may come down to that. If it does, well, it does. We’ll see what the day reveals. We’ll do what we have to do.
We were all able to get warm baths this morning, so that was nice. REALLY nice! Required a lot of water being heated on the stove and hauling it upstairs via buckets and big pots. Hey, whatever works, right? 😉 Oh, it was sooooo nice to get that bath this morning. I felt absolutely amazing after that and still do.
Decided to keep Mariana home from preschool today. She is doing pretty well on the whole after her surgery on Friday, but I am thinking another couple of days at home would be good for her. She is still pretty tired and not quite back to 100%, so less is more for now. Her class is having their Easter party and egg hunt on Friday, so we really hope she can return for that.
Next week is spring break for both girls. We are probably going to head down to my mom’s for several days and be there through Easter. That should be fun! We’ll get to visit family and have fun hanging out down in South GA.
I haven’t been working out lately for a variety of reasons. I really miss it and I know I really NEED it, so I hope to get back on that very soon. Maybe tonight. I need to get back to Boot Camp. Stat!
I have gotten the nicest emails from the mother-of-the-bride from the wedding reception I photographed a couple of weekends ago. She is a preschool teacher at our church and is one of the sweetest people I know. They are absolutely thrilled with the photos and the DVD from the reception. Yay! That makes me so happy!
Remember, PLEASE, to keep Stellan and family in your prayers.
Hope everyone has a beautiful day today!

Good Mornin’, Mornin’!

March 30, 2009 By kelly Leave a Comment

I am smiling as I read the title of my post. I got that saying from my Uncle Lawrence years ago. We used to go on an annual camping trip every summer as a family. My mom, brother and I went along with my grandparents (mom’s parents) and her brother, Uncle Lawrence. Lawrence was always one of those late to bed, late to rise people. As kids, my brother Charlie and I didn’t exactly sleep late. So, on these camping trips we’d already be up and at ’em for awhile before Lawrence would crawl out of bed. He’d get up, come to the camper door and say “Good mornin’, Mornin’!” every morning. That stuck with me all these years. I’m still known to say it myself. What better way to start the day than to greet the morning, right?! 😀
It’s a chilly morning here today. Only about 36 outside right now. Brrrr!! It’s supposed to get into the mid-60s today, so I wish that would hurry up. It’s so weird to me to dress the girls in spring clothes for school and then cover those clothes up with a coat or sweater. It’s cool in the mornings and warm by the afternoons. Of course, I do love that spring is springing, but I’m always glad when the warmer weather settles in for a nice long stay.
I am “on call” for jury duty this week. I thought I was going in this morning, but I read my summons last night and there was a number to call after 6pm the evening before reporting. So, we called and my number wasn’t one that had to report this morning. I am to call every evening after 6pm this week to see if I am selected to come in for jury selection. It really worked out for the best that I wasn’t selected to come in this morning. Mariana is doing better, but still not on the top of her game. Plus, Macey’s Character Education winner lunch is today. Two very good and valid reasons for me to be home today, I’d say.
I mentioned over the weekend that I was going to do some much-needed clothes shopping. Well, I did, but it was almost a bust. Clothes shopping isn’t as fun for me as it used to be. I must be at some weird stage because certain sizes are too small, but then the next size up is too big. Weird. Anyway, that has motivated me to keep working out and also work on eating better to lose some weight. Please wish me luck. I really want to drop some pounds, but also firm up and get in better shape. Not just for a wardrobe, but that is a nice incentive.
I did, however, find some CUTE spring and summer items for the girls while I was shopping. That’s always easy and fun! I just have to remember to put the brakes on at some point when shopping for them. Go figure. 😉
Please PLEASE keep Baby Stellan and his family in your prayers.

Is it naptime yet?!

March 29, 2009 By kelly Leave a Comment

{{{Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn}}

Well, Mariana didn’t have a great night last night. That, of course, means neither did I. Not sure what was exactly wrong, but she didn’t sleep well. She woke up fussing/crying quite a few times through the night. She was a touch more congested than she had been, so maybe that was it. I seem to recall that Macey’s second evening after surgery was a bit tough too. Maybe that’s just one of those things. Whatever the case may be, I’m ready for a nap. I hope today turns out to be a better day for Miss Mariana. She has been doing so well and hopefully this is just a little speed bump in her speedway to recovery. Her ENT had called and left us a voicemail checking up on her on Friday evening, but I just got the message yesterday. (Why am I so terrible about checking messages anyway?!) He also called yesterday afternoon to get an update on her. What a great doctor!! This morning Mariana is doing better, but is touchy and cranky. Naptime cannot come soon enough for either of us. 😉

We are going to miss church since Mariana is still recovering. We don’t like to miss it because, well, we MISS it. But, it’s really best to stay home today.

Macey went to her school friend Alice’s birthday party yesterday and had a ball! It was the first time we dropped her off at a party and she thought that was cool. Tinkerbell came to the party and painted faces, made balloon animals, did “magic” tricks, etc. Macey just had the best time!

After several days of rain, today is supposed to be sunny. WOO HOO! It’s supposed to be cooler than it’s been lately with temps in the 50s, but the sun will be nice to see. Everything is so green and springlike lately. It’s gorgeous! Of course, it won’t be long before everything is pollen coated. ACHOO!

Guess that’s it for my Sunday morning update. I’m thinking another cup of coffee (half-caff) is in order for me.

Have a beautiful day,
Kelly

Please remember to keep Baby Stellan and his family in your prayers:

Saturday Morning Update…

March 28, 2009 By kelly 2 Comments

Good morning!
It is now around 7:40am on this gray Saturday and our household has been stirring for about an hour and a half. {{{YAWN}}} When do kids learn to sleep late anyway?! 😉
I am happy to report that Mariana is doing very well. She is of great spirit and has regained I’d say about 80% of her energy. She’s a touch grouchy, but that’s understandable, of course. She slept well last night and is feeling pretty good this morning. We are so grateful for her progress! I also have to do a little mama bragging because she is still rocking the house with her potty-training even after surgery!
Macey and I had a fun little outing last evening. After we ate our delish dinner from Amy C and her family, Macey and I headed out to Target. (Looooooove that place!) We had to get a couple of birthday gifts for some of the girls’ friends and a few other odds/ends. Macey and I had a lot of fun shopping together. She was so cute picking out a birthday gift for the party she is going to later today. It was fun to get out with my big girl.
Mickey is hoping to go out and run this morning. We’re supposed to get more rain today and possibly storms, so we’ll see if he’s actually able to get in the eight mile run he’s hoping for today. He is one of those that I call “crazy runner people” because he will run if it’s cold, raining, etc. But, he just can’t go out if it’s storming. So far this year he has logged over 100 running miles. How about THAT?! That is post shin surgery in September to correct compartment syndrome in both of his shins.
I am hoping to do some clothes shopping today. I really need some new threads. Hopefully I can find some good deals. Basically when I shop it’s “No Deals = NO GO”, so I’m really hoping for the deals today.
Well, I should wrap it up. Miss Mariana just came in looking for Mama Snuggles. That’s my clue to sign off for now.
Happy weekend!

Update on Mariana…

March 27, 2009 By kelly 10 Comments

Mariana’s surgery was this morning. I am happy to report that she has been home since around 12:45pm (EST) today and is really doing quite well.

Mariana was such a little trooper today. Seriously, a rock star patient! She couldn’t eat anything this morning and she only had a little bit of apple juice prior to 7am. She had one teary moment at home about it this morning, but that was all. She didn’t cry or fuss or anything after that. Once we got to the surgery center at around 8:30am, she entertained herself with toys in the waiting area and then watched DVDs in the surgery prep room. A couple of times she said she was hungry, but we reminded her that the doctor said no food and she was fine with that. She was just so calm! When I took her back for the anesthesia, she didn’t even cry. I had talked to her and told her they were going to put a mask with sleepy medicine in it and then they would fix up her ears once she went to sleep. So, when I laid her on the table, I held onto her and she didn’t even shed a tear. She drifted off so peacefully. I am absolutely SURE that part was a thousand times more difficult for me than her.

Her surgery took about half an hour. The ENT came out and told us that everything went well. He cleaned out around her left ear tube which was still in place. He replaced the right tube. He also removed her adenoids and said they were “huge.” We had to wait about 15 more minutes and then an RN came to get us to come to her recovery room. Mariana was VERY upset and frantic when we got to her. It was heartbreaking. I mean, imagine being an almost-thre year old who goes to sleep in one place with mommy there while feeling good and then waking up feeling weird and yucky in another place with strangers. No wonder she was crying. It took awhile once I got her, but she finally settled down. However, all the little medical things they had going on with her set her back a few times. She’d settle a bit and then notice she had a pulse-oxymeter on her finger and that would upset her. So, off it came. Then she settled down again and noticed the red light on her toe (another pulse-ox), so that had to go. The final straw for her was getting the IV out of her arm. I had to talk to her for awhile so that the last of her IV fluids, but when that finally came out she was reasonably happy. Once the IV was out, the RN checked her vitals and we were clear to go home. They had given Mariana a popsicle about 15 minutes or so prior to us leaving, but she only wanted to hold it and not eat it. Well, when we got her in the van, she was ready to it it. And, she enjoyed it!

On the way home, we stopped and got Mariana a Chick-Fil-A strawberry milkshake. She ate several bites of it with a spoon. When we got home, she and I laid down to nap. She was sleep just about the time her head hit the pillow. Her ENT said she may snore for awhile during her healing time and, sure enough, she did. WOAH. But, she rested for a good two hours which was well needed. When we got up, she was a touch cranky, but rebounded nicely after a popsicle and then a yogurt. She has also eaten a Fruit Roll Up and is working on an Italian ice. Yes, that’s a lot of sweet stuff, but most of it is cold stuff that feels good to her throat. Doctor’s orders. Our sweet friend Amy C. and her family are making supper for us tonight, so that is really sweet. Maybe Mariana will finally feel like eating “real” food.

Hopefully the next few days will see our little girl bounce right back. She really has been amazing about everything. Thank you all for the prayers. Please know how much they are appreciated. I drew so much comfort today in praying and in knowing we had support from so many that care for us and our family.

Blessings,
Kelly