3 Nights on the Nursery Floor and my Twisted Spine

A couple of weeks ago Alex was sick, like really sick. He had a fever of 102, was shivering, whimpering, sweating and refusing sleep. It all started when my mom picked him up from the sitter's and said he had been running a little on the warm side that day. His fever hovered around 100, jumping back and forth from 99 to 101. His 12 month appointment was already scheduled for the next day so I didn't call to try to schedule an appointment for him. I took him to his appointment (made my mom come too) and was a little put off when I told the doctor about his fever and she shrugged it off like it was nothing, even after I told he wasn't eating or sleeping well which just isn't like him. She did notice that his throat was a little swollen so she did a strep test and thank God it was negative. But she decided to go along with his vaccines despite his "low" fever. She's the doctor right, so who am I to second guess it? This was a mistake and I definitely should have trusted my gut feelings. This mom stuff doesn't get any easier. After the 3 shots, Alex's fever just kept going up. For the next 2 days, his fever stayed around 102. He was miserable, which of course made me miserable. I did everything I could for him that I could think of to try and get him to feel better.

About 3 am the night after his appointment, refusing to sleep but you tell by the look in his sad little eyes that he feels just awful. This picture breaks my heart.

Kris and I spent a few nights taking turns sleeping on the floor in the nursery with him because he wouldn't sleep if somebody wasn't with him. It was a long few days and nights and the first night that he slept through the night again was beautiful!

I hate that he was feeling so bad but I would be lying if I said I didn't like the snuggles.

This video is heartbreaking but I wanted to show you just how pitiful my little boy was. May he never ever ever get sick again!

Alex being sick was absolutely horrible. It broke my heart listening to him whimper and cry. I just held him and rocked him, I sang to him and hummed in his ear telling him everything was ok. I would do anything to make sure he didn't get sick again but something tells me I'm not going to have much luck. I did everything I could think of to make him feel better including sleeping with him in his room. Kris and I refused to let him sleep in bed with us because we worry about starting a habit so the nursery floor it was. After 2 nights, he slept in his crib through the night and Kris and I got to sleep in our bed! And it was that night, 12 days ago that the headache started.

Initially, I just figured I had slept wrong so that was why my head and neck were so sore. A kink in the neck usually dissipates after a day or so and I'm good to go. Not the case this time around my friends, not the case at all. The pain moved down into my upper back and left shoulder while still remaining in my head and neck. I started having some vision issues which I related to the headache and figured since they weren't constant it wasn't anything to get worked up about. I started having trouble getting through the normal day to day activities. Turning to take a quick peek at Alex in his car seat was excruciating and something as simple routine as merging onto the highway was painful with the slightest turn of my head. Picking up Alex without a screech was a no-go because my shoulder was flaming in pain. So for the sake of not being put back on muscle relaxers, I opted to go see a Chiropractor instead of my doctor. I think this may have been a good idea. After some scary xrays and a quick assessment the Chiropractor is convinced that I had come to the right place. My spine is "twisted" for a lack of a better term from my tail bone all the way to the base of my head. It was pretty freaky to look at but it's not something that can't be fixed. Thank the good Lord! I'm not entirely sure how this happened. I haven't been in an accident or injured in any way. It could have something to do with my 2+ hour commute 5 days a week, and the 8 hours I spend sitting at a desk in front of the computer, my posture must be on the crappy side. It also, could have something to do with the 42lb boxer-sharpei that sleeps in our bed that forces me to contort my body to lay around her every night. It really is hard to tell but I know that something has to be done. So this week, I've seen a lot of my Chiropractors, they are recommending 3 days a week at first then it will eventually go down. At a $30 per visit copay this isn't going to be cheap, but you can't really mess with your spine so I am going forward. After 3 visits this week, the pain in my shoulder and back are basically gone, the neck and headaches are still there but they've lightened up a bit. This is a good thing. A very good thing. I go back tonight and then tomorrow I'm treating myself to a pedicure, I deserve it right?!

Here's to getting better!

WW ~ Between a Girl and her Dog

There aren't words to describe the bond between a girl and her dog.

Miss you Harley Man!

Sunday

Is life exhausting anyone else out there? Good Lord, I feel like I never stop moving, ever. Sadly though, these days I think I am the problem, even when I get chance to relax, I can't. Simply can't. There is always something that needs to be done. House needs swept, dishes done, laundry folded. . . .etc. . .  I worry if I don't do it right away, it won't get done at all. My daily routine is exactly that, routine. I get up, I shower, I do my hair, start my coffee or tea, I do makeup, I get up Alex and feed him breakfast (hubs helps me with this) pack my lunch, load the car, take Alex to Nanny's, drive my hour commute, work, drive my hour commute, again, pick up Alex, cook dinner, give Alex his bath, get him ready for bed, play, put him in bed, clean up dinner, straighten up the house, get ready for bed, go to bed. And start it all over again tomorrow. Fun, huh? What I wouldn't give for a little free time, oy! This not-so-crazy yet very routine life of mine got me to thinking the other night (because bedtime is the only time I have to think freely) has it always been this way? I have always been soooo busy I couldn't possibly find time to relax or do something I enjoyed? I'm not saying I don't enjoy motherhood, it's the greatest thing I've ever done, but I am saying that every once in a blue moon, I could use a mommy break. Does that make me a bad person? A bad mother?

I randomly thought of a day several years ago. I can't remember exactly when it was but I remember what we did that day as if it were yesterday. Kris and I were dating, we may have been engaged, that part is a little fuzzy to me. He spent the night, I do remember because my family was all away on a mission trip and I am not one who likes to be home alone, especially at night. We spent the whole day doing absolutely nothing. We stayed in pajamas, in bed watching movies on the little television in my bedroom and snacking on popcorn. We did get up once to put on shoes and a bra (that one was for me, no Kris, I assure you he has no moobs) to go to the grocery store to get stuff for spaghetti because for whatever reason we really wanted spaghetti for dinner. We decided that that Sunday was our day, and we could do whatever we wanted as long as we did it together. Neither one had to work and neither one needed to be anywhere; we had the whole house to ourselves. So from the time we woke up to the time we went to bed, we did absolutely nothing, together. That day is affectionately referred to as "Sunday" now. I ask Kris all the time for a "Sunday" but the best we get is a couple hour "Sunday" when Alex decides to nap. That day was my favorite day and one I will cherish. That day, I relaxed.

When they say a baby changes everything, they mean EVERY thing. Time seems like some sort of parallel universe to me now. There never seems to be enough of it and its crazy how quickly it goes by when you don’t want it to. And now, as Alex grows and becomes more “independent” (I use that word loosely) finding time is getting even harder for “Sunday.” So, for now, “Sunday” is being put on the back burner because our job is to make sure Alex gets to have his day every day. I want everyday to be Alex’s favorite day.

Do you have a “Sunday”, a day that you considered to be your favorite day?

Here’s to many many many more favorite days, whatever they may be!

5QF ~ April 20th, 2012

It's been a while since I've done a Five Question Friday post, but I've found myself a little extra time this Friday morning so I thought I throw one out there. Again, these questions come from the great Mama M at My Little Life and they are great again thanks to her awesome contributors.

1.      Groceries are high right now what is easiest way you have found to cut back?

Make a weekly menu, then only buy the things needed to make those meals, it has made our food budget much more manageable.  And of course, coupons, coupons, coupons :) My husband is almost religious about cutting out coupons and reading the circulars. We try to go to the stores that double coupons and then also the ones with shopper rewards like fuel perks and such.

2. What are the top 3 things on your "bucket list"?

The first, make a bucket list, am I horrible for not having one? I think of things from time to time, things that I definitely want to do in my lifetime, maybe I should start writing these things down. Second, Australia. I really want to see Australia. Third, um………………

3. Would you rather give up AC or heat?

Wow, that’s a tough question, Can’t I just have less of both and call it even? I suppose if I had to pick one, it would be AC. Why, I don’t know why just sounds better than freezing myself to the core. I will always be able to find shade in the summertime to help myself cool off a little. Besides, how many of us grew up without AC or at least experienced it? 

4. What's your favorite cocktail??

Sangria! Is that a cocktail? Either way, SANGRIA!

5. What was your first job & how old were you?

My first job was at a gas station as an attendant. I worked the register and stocked the food and drinks. I was 16 when I started and worked there through high school, it was owned by a very dear family friend.  But if you count babysitting as a job, I started that when I was 12.

Who Doesn't Like a Dancing Baby?

My marriage may possibly be over for posting this, but seriously I can't help myself, it's just so darn funny cute! I've been trying since November to get a video of my husband's mad dancing skills when playing Just Dance on Wii, and he's caught me every time. Except this time :) Haha, finally! I used our oh so adorable son as an excuse and it actually worked!

Alex in all his 1 year old adorableness, loves music. And even more than music he loves to dance. He will dance to just about anything, including firetruck sirens he hears outside, he doesn't discriminate. It started with a little swaying, then he added some arm waving action. And recently he mixed a little "booty bounce" into his dance moves, which is by far my favorite from him!

The best part about the going ons is this video is it all started because the little dude was upset, like really upset. This was day 2 of a crazy fever after his 12 month vaccines, fever was hitting about 102 and he wasn't interested in calming down, or so it seemed. So as a last resort, Kris started up the Wii and selected nothing but the best song to shake your booty to, "Hey Ya" by Outkast. Didn't take much time for Alex to jump in front of the TV and start waving his purple spatula in the air. I just love this video, makes me smile and laugh every time I watch it.

A couple NOTES:

Please completely disregard the mess known as my living room, Hurricane Alex had recently come through and I knew as soon as I cleaned up, he was going to drag it all back out, what's the point right?

And this one is important, if you see or talk to my husband....... DON'T tell him I posted this video to my blog, thank you kindly!

It's the Little Things. . . .

This momma's little thing is a storm door. I know what you are thinking "a simple piece of metal and glass, is it really that big of a deal?" but that something so simple has made me happy, happy, happy, happy! You see, my husband is the kind that gets things done, however, how quickly he gets them done is another story. He's not the fastest guy, especially when it comes to projects around the house. Don't get me wrong, he gets stuff done but he's a bit of a perfectionist and has a mild case of OCD (I diagnosed him myself) so everything has to be done absolutely perfect. If the tiniest thing isn't right or is slightly out of place, he starts over. From the very beginning. We have lived in the home we renovated with our families for nearly 3 years and until this past weekend, we didn't have a storm door on the front door. Just our red metal front door graced our porch with it's presence. I've been asking for the storm door to be put up since we moved in and all I ever got in return was " we need to finish framing the door first." Ok, fine, then FRAME IN THE DOOR! So, I finally gave up and enlisted my dad. He's basically a super hero and the best dad ever! Not only did he come over and frame in the front door, he built a faux door to go where the front door used to be. The house is over 100 years old and there is no way we were going to match the brick to fill it in. So this past weekend, my dad flew in with his super hero cape and together with my husband, they installed the storm door my grandparents gave us before we moved in. My family seriously rocks!!!!

There are several reasons why I wanted a storm door so badly and it has nothing to do with storms. One of them being that my grandparents replaced their own storm door and gave us their in very good shape old one, so we had a FREE door to install. A few others :

Alex.  He loves the outside. If I put him up on the couch,  he will hang out with Charlie and and just watch the world going on outside of the house. Every time we visit my grandparents or my mom and dad, Alex is drawn to the front door like a fly to glue. He takes his toys to the door and sits there playing, tapping the door and just watching everything. Not to mention his love of opening and closing doors. He loves to do that so having the storm door gives him the option to play more with the front door. Sometimes, I wonder why we even buy him toys in the first place, honestly his favorite things are doors and rubber spatulas, lol.



Charlie. My "little" dogger loves to be able to see outside. Up until now she could look out the living room window but not without squish squashing my sofa cushion. I can't tell you how many times I've thrown my cushions down on the floor and performed a little river dance on them trying to reshape them. With a storm door, I could open up the front door and Charlie would be in high heaven! She could be on neighborhood watch ALL the time without sacrificing my sofa!

Natural Light. I love how the house feels when all the windows are open and filled with natural light. And you would think that this is something my husband would be all gung ho about being the tightwad he is. Natural light means less need for electrical light which means less moolah to the electric company, am I right?! Having the storm door gives us the option for more light! We don't have an entry way, the front door opens directly into our living/dining room so a glass door would allow a great deal of light to filter in.



Faux Red Door, still need to paint the trim white but you get the idea!

 Curb Appeal. Our house is anything but done. While it's really close, with all that is really left to do are the small finishing touches, it still needs a little curb appeal. I have been working hard for 3 years on landscaping and Kris is really great at the yard work and keeping things nice and kept. Last fall, we painted the front door a great shade of red and my dad created a great faux door to go where the front door used to be prior to the renovations. With the exception of new porch railing and painting the porch surface, the storm door almost completes the front of the house :)

Wordless Wednesday : Collision

 

Charlie and my favorite 6 year old "collided" while playing in the yard. These two are best buds!

Stuffed Owls, Chocolate and Tutu's, only in L-Town

The first part of this week, I took a couple of days off of my real job to indulge in my dream job, sewing. It's been, well I while since I've sat down with my sewing machine. I'm sure the poor thing has felt a little neglected here recently and I truly feel terrible about that. I would love to promise that it won't happen again but I won't because I'm about 98% sure I would break that promise, having a "toddler" now keeps things insane and there seems to be less and less time in a day, how does that even happen?! Anyway, the local store I sell my Happy Heart items in is downtown and this Friday (today) downtown is having a Chocolate Walk, mmmmmmmm.

Read more about the Chocolate Walk here --------> Chocolate Walk Downtown Lancaster

So I thought I should get to sewing so I could get some new items to display and hopefully make a little moo-la. Monday went great! I got a lot of things cut out, with the help from my dear friend, Mary and even managed to get quite a bit sewn together. Tuesday was not quite as successful as Alex came down with a nasty fever (this is a whole other blog post to come.) So, I did the best I could with the time I was given and cranked out a small collection to take downtown.

Read more about the store I sell my Happy Heart at - - - - - - -> Tutu Mommies

Here it is, take a look at the items soon to be on display and on sale at Tutu Mommies during the Chocolate Walk

Happy Easter

Wordless Wednesday : CAKE!

Happy 1st Birthday Alexander James!

A Letter to my Son on his First Birthday

Monkey,

Today is your first birthday, I can hardly believe it! You're getting so big, so grown up, and your sweet smile makes me fall in love with you all over again every day.

One year ago today, your daddy and I met you for the very first time. You made us a family that day and you were absolutely perfect. A whole year has gone by and what a year it has been! In that time, I saw your first smile, heard your first giggle and celebrated with you the first time you successfully rolled over. I watched you struggle as you were trying to crawl but knew that you would get it soon and boy did you take off once you figured it out. Daddy and I stood behind you as you learned how to stand on your own, ready to catch you if you fell and we followed you around as you stumbled and took your very first steps. Now, you're our little running man and you NEVER stop moving, I think that's why you sleep so well.

This last year has been an amazing journey and I will forever cherish those memories and the first year of your life in my heart, privileged that I got to be a part of it. Words cannot express how much mommy loves you, my sweet sweet boy. My favorite moments are the ones we share together, making silly faces at each other, making the other one laugh, reading books, and snuggling together in the chair at the end of the day. You and your daddy are my whole world and it's because I love you so much I want to share with you the wishes I have for your life.

• 
  
  I wish you love, that you feel love as much as you give it.


• 
  
  I wish for you to never fear the future, know that God has great plans for you.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always have confidence.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always know who your parents are and how much we love you.


• 
  
  I wish you a lifetime of happiness.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always remember these words for Dr. Seuss ~ "Be who you are and say what you feel as those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."


• 
  
  I wish for you to be whoever you want.


• 
  
  I wish that you see the beauty in the world and have many adventures.


• 
  
  I wish that you remember to always accept others for who they are and never judge them.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always do what's right, even if it's the most difficult choice.


• 
  
  I wish for you to make mistakes, but to learn from them.


• 
  
  I wish for you to make sure your decisions are yours.

But most of all, I wish for you to live out YOUR dreams and no one elses.

Alex, this is your special day to celebrate the wonderful little boy you are. Happy Birthday Monkey!

Love you more today than yesterday,

Mommy

Happy 1st Birthday Alexander James!

A Letter to my Son on his First Birthday

Monkey,

Today is your first birthday, I can hardly believe it! You're getting so big, so grown up, and your sweet smile makes me fall in love with you all over again every day.

One year ago today, your daddy and I met you for the very first time. You made us a family that day and you were absolutely perfect. A whole year has gone by and what a year it has been! In that time, I saw your first smile, heard your first giggle and celebrated with you the first time you successfully rolled over. I watched you struggle as you were trying to crawl but knew that you would get it soon and boy did you take off once you figured it out. Daddy and I stood behind you as you learned how to stand on your own, ready to catch you if you fell and we followed you around as you stumbled and took your very first steps. Now, you're our little running man and you NEVER stop moving, I think that's why you sleep so well.

This last year has been an amazing journey and I will forever cherish those memories and the first year of your life in my heart, privileged that I got to be a part of it. Words cannot express how much mommy loves you, my sweet sweet boy. My favorite moments are the ones we share together, making silly faces at each other, making the other one laugh, reading books, and snuggling together in the chair at the end of the day. You and your daddy are my whole world and it's because I love you so much I want to share with you the wishes I have for your life.

• 
  
  I wish you love, that you feel love as much as you give it.


• 
  
  I wish for you to never fear the future, know that God has great plans for you.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always have confidence.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always know who your parents are and how much we love you.


• 
  
  I wish you a lifetime of happiness.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always remember these words for Dr. Seuss ~ "Be who you are and say what you feel as those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."


• 
  
  I wish for you to be whoever you want.


• 
  
  I wish that you see the beauty in the world and have many adventures.


• 
  
  I wish that you remember to always accept others for who they are and never judge them.


• 
  
  I wish for you to always do what's right, even if it's the most difficult choice.


• 
  
  I wish for you to make mistakes, but to learn from them.


• 
  
  I wish for you to make sure your decisions are yours.

But most of all, I wish for you to live out YOUR dreams and no one elses.

Alex, this is your special day to celebrate the wonderful little boy you are. Happy Birthday Monkey!

Love you more today than yesterday,

Mommy

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TAT: Favorite Photo

This weeks Toddle Along Tuesday at Growing Up Geeky is sharing your favorite photo that you've taken and much like Mama G this wasn't easy. I have so many great pictures of Alex and my family so when it come down needing to pick just 1, well it took me the better part of a day but finally I found one. This one.



My son is ornery and he is 100% all boy. This picture was taken out a city park in a shelter house, it was kind of a gloomy day but it was warm and we couldn't resist getting outside after being couped up inside for weeks because of not-so-fair weather. We were taking a break from the mini-photo shoot we were trying to have with Alex and my new then 2 month old nephew. I captured this one when Alex saw my husband coming around the corner, he saw him, squealed and then went running right for him. The love they have for eachother is amazing and this picture captured the love this little boy has for his daddy. Love. Swoon. Melt.

A Boy and his Balls

No, not those balls, geesh! Where do you people let your minds go?! ;)  From my very dear friends, got Alex something totally amazing for his birthday. A ball pit! I double dog dare you to show me a little boy who wouldn't want his very own ball pit!?

It's totally awesome and something I think will be a lot of fun for many many years to come. I'm going to be honest, my husband and I are pretty excited about this thing too. Initially I wanted to take it outside in the backyard for Alex to discover but once we blew it up and got it ready, the wind really picked up so we turned the living room into a Chuckie Cheeses and left it in there. We brought Alex down from his nap and went running for it. Now, Alex has never seen anything like this before but by his reaction you would have thought he 'd found his long lost friend. It was adorable! Before I knew it, there were balls everywhere and both my son and my husband were having the absolute BEST time together, something I just love to see. They were tossing the balls around, which something new Alex has discovered this past week, throwing things, and there will never be anything more heartwarming than the cackle of a baby. He was having such a great time and I knew this was the perfect gift. Alex seems to like it so much (and it took forever to inflate and I'm pretty sure I lost a few points in the old IQ in the process) I don't have the heart to take it down so Kris and I have decided this giant inflatable ball pit is going to stay up in his room. It's not really giant, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it is a pretty big feature for our little house. DOesn't matter though, we all make sacrifices for the happiness of our children. Now I have to rearrange the entire upstairs to make this thing work :) I LOVE to rearrange, I get all giddy just thinking about it!

Alex had a Party

Alex isn't officially one until the 4th but we celebrated this past weekend with family and friends, and we all had a fantastic time! The party was great and I have to say it was nice having it somewhere else, someone else made the food (minus the cake) and it I was thrilled after looking at all the food on the floor that it wasn't in my own house. We held the party at a local (and totally amazing) pizza place because they had a great party room and required NO rental fee! Plus, I figure you really can't go wrong with pizza, seriously, who doesn't like pizza???? This place has so many to choose from so everybody was satisfied :) We had the  basics, pepperoni, cheese,  all the way, and then the not-so-basics like BLT (my all time fav!) Loaded Baked Potato Skin pizza (the hubs fav) and delicious BBQ Chicken. Alex ate cheese pizza and was quite happy with himself, I think he liked the cheese, it's the first time he's really ever had a substantial amount of it. But the real fun in a first birthday party is of course the cake!

A friend of mine made the most adorable and beautiful birthday cake ever! It was so pretty I felt bad cutting into it but once we did I must tell you it was as delicious as it was beautiful. All the birthday boy really wanted to do with it was pick off the polka dots and eat them, little man's mouth was all blue. For his first experience with cake though, we gave him a big cupcake. He loved it! He of course was a mess, like a big one but isn't that the point?! He went at it icing first then decided he liked the cake better so he turned it upside down, making an even bigger mess because now the icing was smeared all over his hands and then his clothes and his high chair and then his hair.

Alex got a lot really fantastic gifts and while he was a little more into opening gifts then he was at Christmas, he still didn't really get it. But he sure liked what was inside. He got clothes, toys and lots of books which is great because books seem to be his favorite thing right now. I think out of the whole day though, the balloons were his favorite things, that and a plastic spoon :) He is such a cutie and I can not believe that in 2 days he will be a year old. I will be fighting back the tears all week.