My First Blog Award!

I am so excited! I just received my first blog award. It was given to me by my bloggy friend Anita from Florida. You can visit her blog here. Anita and I have been blogging friends for quite a while. Her blog is one that documents daily life, life as a mother, wife, and friend. She is an avid reader and does great reviews on novels.

I was so excited to see that she had given me an award. Then when I saw the award.... too cute!

All blog awards come with rules so here they are:

#1 Grab the Award and link the person whom you got the award from.

#2 Pass the award to different bloggers whom you think are deserving of this award.

#3 Write a post about the award and there you’ll link the person who gave the award to you and those people who you’d like to pass the award.

#4 Continue your passion in writing because your hard work will always be appreciated.

I am passing the award on to a few bloggy friends, a couple of the blogs, I stalk. Like Anita said, this is the hard part because you love all the blogs you follow..... but here goes!

Adrienne at Our Journey of Love. Adrienne is an amazing person. She is a wife and a mother. Her blog is about her precious family, including Owen whom they adopted from Russia. She has been through some huge up and downs this past year with failed adoptions. Her spirit amazes. She continues to go through life with such a peace.

Amber at Life with the Ferrells. Amber's blog documents her family and her fight for mito disease which her youngest child, Nate was diagnosed with. She has a HUGE talent for photography and a crafty, catchy, inspiring, way of writing. I read her blog posts and just laugh. She is who I want to be when I grow up..... as a photographer and writer of course!

And.... the final award..... goes to:

Nicole at Grey's Gift. Nicole is a great friend of mine. In December of 2008, her son Greyson passed away from Krabbes Disease just before his first birthday. Just like Grey, she is a fighter. Her perseverance amazes me. Her blog is candid and real, and gripping. She celebrates life and also blogs through her grief..... it is an amazing blog.

Two iconic figures gone.... and a new life.

Today, two iconic figures passed on. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson both died today. Both represented the 80's. Both, I grew up on..... wow.....

The circle of life continues.....

My dear friend's baby boy is being born as I type this.

Wow..........

This and that....

We are settling into a normal routine since our beach trip knocked us all out of whack. Okay, that is not completely true. We have really messed up the kids schedules since the beginning of Summer. We were doing good to get them in bed by 10:00 and then the kids and I would sleep in until about 9:00 or so. It was not unusual for Brayden and Bailee to be chasing each other around the house and playing hiding go seek until late, late.

Today, daddy and I decided that we have got to get things back into some sort of order. After dinner we bathed the kids and put them in their beds and they were both asleep by 8:30. Yay! Of course, that means they will be getting up much earlier, but it is so much better for them.

Father's Day was good. Justin had to clean up at the Fair Grounds from the steer show on Saturday. He was there until about noon. We then headed to his parents house to celebrate. Afterwards, daddy and Bailee headed home to nap, and Brayden and I attended a celebration. I will post more about the wonderful celebration on the passing of Greyson's Law, when I can appropriately put it into words. I wasn't able to spend time with my dad because he is at the beach hanging out with my mom. I was able to talk to him though. Oh, he is one funny guy. For those of you that know him personally, you can attest to that.

The other day in the car.... (remember, car rides are when Brayden and I get into these deep conversations). Brayden started asking me all sorts of questions. He asked me if back in the olden days, if things looked like they do now or if they looked old. I asked him what he meant and he said, "you know, like in old pictures." I laughed and asked if he meant if life was in black and white. That was exactly what he was talking about. I explained film to him and the whole bit and then I began to giggle because I remember being his age and thinking that back in the old days.... people actually saw in black and white. He then changed the subject and started talking about Abraham Lincoln, and about how he was murdered. He asked me if I was alive back then and ever saw Lincoln before he died. Made me realize that to him....., I am old as dirt. Oh, that boy.

Here is a picture of Brayden I took the day before we left for the beach. I bought a new lens that is soooooo great. I love it. This was one of the first shots I took with the lens.

Doesn't he look like an angel? Ha! Couldn't tell from this picture that this little stinker is really trying his wings. Poor guy, is spending most of his time grounded from tv. Oh, that mouth of his..... tonight over dinner he proceeds to tell his daddy and I.... "yeah, well I don't behave as good for mommy as I do for you daddy." When we asked him why..... "because I know that daddy will bust my bottom and mommy won't." Oh, did he open a can of worms! Kids are so sneaky!

Speaking of dinner, while at the beach I was introduced to cooking on a griddle. Watch out world.... I am one mean grilled cheese maker. Now with the grill.... it is on! So today I bought one for me. I cooked pancakes AND bacon. I can't tell you how beautiful that thing cooked the pancakes AND bacon. Oh, at one time I dreaded making pancakes. I don't have an appropriate pan to cook them in and I couldn't flip the darn things over correctly to save my life. At times, my pancakes weren't cooked thoroughly either. But not anymore! We will be eating lots and lots and lots of pancakes and bacon and eggs! The greatest thing is.... it has a little drip pan. I save my bacon grease for refried beans and the drip pan makes it so much easier to transfer. Just a tip though, don't hold the grease jar with one hand and pour with the other. It will spill all over your hand and not only will it hurt like heck, you will have one huge mess! I speak from experience. Here is the griddle I got at Walmart for 20 bucks! I LOVE IT!

Oh, and I wanted to share an unusual story. For those of you that saw my post about the wild cat that was trapped in my car (we named him Meany)..... well, Meany has adopted this kitten that showed up at our house about 2 weeks ago. Let me tell you, I can assure you that Meany is a very well endowed male, I am positive this cat is male. Without getting into too much detail.... there are definitely two testicles hanging from this cat.

Anyways...... so this kitten shows up, this ragged little tiny thing. I noticed right away that Meany seemed to accept it and actually seemed to have taken it under his wing. Well, the next day, I find Meany our adult MALE cat letting this kitten nurse on him. What the heck? Who in the world has ever heard of such a thing. Here is a picture of the kitten nursing. Craziness, I tell ya!

I don't know what to make of it...... It has now been two weeks and that kitten still nurses on Meany. Meany has no hair surrounding one nipple where the kitten has worn it off from nursing so much. Poor Meany, is he having an identity crisis? Aren't male cats usually territorial? Who knew? And the weirdest thing is...... the kitten nurses like it is actually getting milk.

Well, I have babbled on enough. I am headed to bed to snuggle up and read my latest novel. Goodnight all and have a GREAT Tuesday!

Beach Bums

This entire week, we have been at the beach. Thanks to my parents allowing us to stay in their travel trailer at Pioneer RV Park. Technically we have been camping but honestly, we sleep on a feather bed, and have satellite tv.... so we aren't roughing it in the least. Our good friends the Grimm's also brought their camper down and we have been enjoying spending time with them. There is nothing like being at the beach with your family and good friends. Good times, let me tell ya!

During this trip, Brayden caught his first trout and Bailee has learned to swim. It has been fabulous. We head home tomorrow.... :( It has been so relaxing.

Here are some pictures of our week.

Check out Bailee swimming! Such a big girl!
I love this picture of Bailee.
And here is the big fisherman! He looks a little
pale because I went overboard on the sunscreen.
And another picture of our beach bum. Bailee absolutely loves the beach.
She makes me a nervous wreck though because she has no fear.

A Scary Evening

Yesterday at about 10:00 in the morning. Bailee started acting puny. She was running a fever of 102 and we started her on Tylenol. We called her pediatrician and made an appointment for 3:50. The rest of the day was spent with her being fussy and lethargic and would not eat anything. Daddy was so good and took care of her while I went to a hair appointment, and he even took her to her doctor's appt. I had assumed it was her ears. We are leaving for the beach on Sunday or Monday and I wanted to make sure we covered our bases before leaving town. Sure enough, her ears were clear but her throat was horrible. They ran a strep test but it came back negative. They sent her home with the regular oh, it's a virus and it will just have to run its course. Later that evening, I laid her down at about 8:00. She still had fever of 102 but it wasn't time for medicine yet.

About an hour later I hear her crying so I went into her room. She had vomited all over the place. When I picked her up out of her bed, I noticed she was burning up. I grabbed the thermometer (we have the one that scans the forehead, I've seen the pediatrician's office use the same one). It read 106.2. I panicked! I checked my temp and it said 98.2 so I knew it was pretty accurate. I took her temp again and it said 105.8. I grabbed her and began filling up the bathtub. After wetting her down and taking her out of the bath, I got a temp reading of 105. Better, but still high. I had Brayden run to the barn and tell his daddy that his sister had a very high temp and that I was calling the doctor.

After 15 minutes we still hadn't heard from the doctor but knew he would tell us to head to the ER. We were one step ahead. The doctor ended up calling when we pulled up to the ER. He definitely said to get in there and wanted them to run some blood work and give her antibiotic shots.

The ER was able to get her temp down to 101.9 which we were very please with. When we finally got back there to see the doctor (3 hours later) Bailee was perking up. You could tell her fever was going down.

When the doctor came in to look at her, he was so pleased at how she was acting. He was concerned about such a high fever and was worried about her seizing. He said it would be a different story if he had seen her when she had the 106 fever. We would have been looking at a spinal tap and all sorts of horrible tests. Justin and I were so thankful that the fever was lower. I can't imagine having to put her through all that.

They ended up giving her two injections of powerful antibiotics and sent us home with a script for Amoxicillan. We were home by 2:00 in the morning. She slept from about 2:30-4:00 but that it about it. We are doing Ibuprofen and Tylenol every 3 hours. We have managed to keep her temp at 100 without it going anywhere near 106.

Although I feel like I have the biggest hang over, I am sure it is nothing compared to how Bailee felt. We are so very thankful that things turned out well and that no scary tests had to be done.

We will definitely be ready for some relaxation at the beach!

Trevor Aldrian

Yesterday, I found out about another baby being tested for Krabbe Disease. Trevor Aldrian and his twin brother Tyler were born in November 2008. Tyler does not show symptoms yet of Krabbe, in fact, he is thriving. They live in California, where of course Krabbe's Disease is still not screened for at birth. My heart breaks for his parents. Again, I can feel the anger boiling inside at the cruelty of this disease. Please visit his Caring Bridge site and let them know that there are others praying for them and thinking about them.

Greyson's Law is awaiting the signature of Governor Perry. Hopefully that will be done very soon.

Oh.... I love Summer!

Craziness.  That is what our first week of Summer was like.  Let's see.... where to begin.  First off, I had an appointment with a dermatologist on Monday.  I had a spot on my cheek that I was concerned about and as soon as I went in, they said it was coming off.  I am such a weanie.  I had no time to prepare myself for shots and stitches.  (Today, I had the stitches removed and found out that the biopsy was negative for cancer!  Praise God!)  

Then on Thursday Brayden had his first dentist appointment EVER.  Yes, I know.  He is six and just now going to the dentist.  Don't worry... I know I am not in the running for the mommy of the year award.  He did so good.  I was so proud. Come to find out.... he has 7 cavities.  I know what you are thinking..... doesn't he ever brush his teeth.  The answer is yes, but rarely does he floss, and he won't let me help him brush.  All the cavities are between his molars.  Who knew?.... I thought daily or at least every other day brushing was enough at his age..... lesson learned.  I have now turned into the obsessed mommy who brushes my son's teeth with a timer AND flosses between every nook and cranny.  His teeth are so white and purty.... that I never dreamed in a million years that he would have that many cavities.  

THEN.... later that day....  Justin had to get a complete physical through his school district so he can continue transporting students.  His blood pressure was sky high and he was sent straight over to his GP and put on blood pressure medication.  31 years old and on blood pressure medication.  Craziness I tell ya!  We are in the process of getting the medication straight.  I learned again that I need to be careful for what I wish for.  Justin is ALWAYS revved up and ready to go.  He can not sit and just relax.  He always has to be doing something.  I was just talking to him about slowing down and relaxing.  Well the medication he is taking makes him feel extremely tired and run down.  Poor guy.  Say a prayer that the doctors can get it straight sooner than later.

Let's see.... what else.....

Brayden had an appointment today for some stomach issues with chronic mouth ulcers.  We are being referred on to a pediatric GI.  His doctor thinks he is going to need to be scoped at both ends.  I am not looking forward to that AT ALL.  I will keep everyone updated on that issue. 

Now for some good news.....  

Justin had a skeet shooting team at a contest today.  Guess what..... they won state!  That is pretty exciting!  One of the team members received a full scholarship to A&M for skeet shooting.  I am thinking Brayden needs to start target practice.  Ha! 

Other than all the craziness that has been going on....  we are good and life is good.