a plethora of random thoughts...

plethora...it's really one of my most favorite words. As I stated earlier, I've been stressed. Yup, stressed. I was so looking forward to summer vacation and really, it hasn't been much of a vacation. The very first week was Arianna's surgery, then we started recovery, then Jason went out of town for a few days on a golf trip and this happened:

Our brand-new beautiful basement flooded. There was the "100 year rain" and boy oh boy, did it rain. Thankfully my dad came over to help, but it was a little too late. The basement had water. We have lived here for 5 years with no water. We finish our basement and 6 months later, it floods. Typical. So, we've pulled out all the carpet, laid it out to dry and are waiting on estimates of putting the carpet back and getting new padding. I know...it could have been worse! It was just stressful because Jason was gone, two rather unhappy children who didn't like the storm, moving into my parents (because of no power)...you getting the idea?

On to better things. The following picture is one that I was SO excited to take. It is Arianna throwing away her antibiotics following the surgery. I am praying that this will be the last antibiotic that she needs to take!!! Very monumental!

and this is just a very pleasant sleep for our baby girl. For so long she struggled with sleeping. With her tonsils being so large, they impeded her sleep. No more! She sleeps soundly now...


Every morning, Arianna tells me how many "ponies" she wants in her hair. Sometimes, it's just one. Most of the time it's two, however, yesterday she asked for 4. Ask and ye shall receive...

I try to get creative with just one...Jason said she looked a little like "Bam-Bam" from the Flinestones. I thought more like Cindy-Lo-Who from The Grinch...

This is her with two -- once again, being creative.

This past week the weather has been so hot so my sister-in-law Arika invited us over for a playdate. Arianna loves going there because Claire is only 6 months older and they love playing together. She also loves playing with Lauren who a bit older. Lauren takes such good care of her! Here are her and Lauren sitting on the blanket enjoying a snack.

Big New for the boy: guess who's starting to sit on his own?! Seriously, I thought I was going to get a laid back child...looks like I'm in for some trouble just like his sister. Arianna was sitting by 6 months, crawling by 7 and walking by 9.5, I was so hoping that Neal would be a little more relaxed, but it doesn't look like he will. But, man he's cute, isn't he?

As I said: T-R-O-U-B-L-E...starting to think about crawling. sigh. My baby. (but honestly, aren't his buns the cutes with that whale on them?!) All he needs to do is figure out his arms and he'll be off. I'm giving him 3.5 weeks before he'll be crawling...but, I'm praying I'm wrong.




As I wrote last time, Neal had a double ear infection. You have no idea how sad this made me. I have been praying that Neal's health will be better than what Arianna's was. These early ear infection bring back horrible memories of long crying nights, lots of medicines and doctor visits...and eventually 2 surgeries. I am going to continue to pray that his ears/nose/throat will be better than hers...

that's about all! Whew, I'm tired.

what's a 6-letter word for why I haven't posted in a while?

stress. yup -- lots of stress over here. I have tons of pictures to upload, but haven't the time. Things have been crazy. Two major things:

1. Our beautiful, brand new basement flooded with some major storms this past weekend. Jason was out of town so I was managing on my own.
2. Our beautiful baby boy STILL WON'T SLEEP (which, really is the cause of most of my stress. Because, as you moms all know, when baby doesn't sleep...mommy doesn't sleep)I've been doing everything I know and today, I finally took him in to the doctor and both ears are infected. Darn.

so, I'm stressed. I'll post more later I promise. But now...I'm going to attempt to get some sleep.

a week in review -- in pictures

Monday -- I cleaned out my closets. Sorry, there are no pictures. No one should have to see that.

Tuesday -- I took pictures of this deliciously, cute boy. Have you ever seen a cuter baby? I think not.



He even smiles when his big sister INSISTS on him having his pacifier


Wednesday -- I asked Arianna what she wanted to do and she said, 'see animals at zoo'. I have no idea where that idea came from, but it was the perfect day for the zoo. So, I called my mom and asked her if she felt adventurous. She said 'yup' (after hearing my idea, of course) and off to the zoo we went.

My mom trying to get Arianna to see the big birdies...


Arianna loved the penguins. She really wanted to go swimming with them.


The bears were a huge hit. She kept saying she wanted to touch them ;)


Neal enjoyed some time in the stroller. Happy and content as always.


Arianna loved all the fun things they have sitting around. She liked sitting in the saddle,


but her favorite of the day was the wooden train.


Thursday -- we left our house at 5:45am. When we got there, they took Arianna's blood pressure,

and pulse-ox levels.


We put her new PJ's on.


Including some cute new slippers :)


Then, we waited. She looked so tiny in that bed!


We watched some TV


Her baby got a bracelet just like her


At about 8:20am, they took her in for surgery. It was over in about 20 minutes and they let us see her about 25 minutes after she was done. This is her, just waking up.



The recovery went okay. She woke up quite quickly and I thought this was going to be a walk in the park. But, at about 12:00 she got sick and it went downhill from there. She was exhausted, confused, in pain and was just wanted to go home. Finally, at about 3:00pm, I got her to fall asleep. Sorry the picture is so dark, I took it without a flash.


When she woke up, I asked if they could call the doctor to have us released from the hospital early. We were supposed to spend the night, but I felt that going home was the best place for Arianna to recover. He said as long as she was drinking on her own (which she was) we could leave. We left the hospital at 5:30pm.

Friday -- Arianna woke up at 6:45am saying her throat hurt. We gave her some pain meds and she perked right up. Jason went to work, and Arianna wanted to help mommy in the kitchen. I title this picture:

"I don't care if you had surgery yesterday, you still need to do your chores little lady!"



Smiling? She is amazing!

This is a reminder of why we had this surgery! Hopefully we won't have any antibiotics in our house again for a very long time. I figured that Arianna has been on something for every month since she was 5 months old. I'm praying that we're done with that!

Finally, she crashed. At about 4pm, she wanted to lay on the couch and watch 'Boots'. She had an ice cream sandwich for dinner and she just laid around. We thought she felt really warm, so I took her temp and it was 101.7...so I called the doctor. He said if it got above 102 we would have to come back in. Thankfully, it didn't.

and this boy...still smiling. After a week of being bounced around, 2 nights at Grandma's (which he was spoiled, I'm sure), and his normal routine being totally changed. He is such a happy boy. He still doesn't sleep, but he's happy.

Now, it's Saturday. Day 2 of recovery. Monday will mark my first full week off of school. Wow, we've accomplished a lot in just a week. Thank you all for your prayers and concerns. It looks like we're all going to be just fine ;)

over and done with...

The surgery this morning went fantastic. Arianna was a huge trooper this morning not being able to have her milk (which if you know her, you know that is HUGE). We got to the hospital early and had to play the game of 'hurry up and wait'. I was able to take her back and help get her to sleep. I asked her to put the mask on and she did and she took a few deep breaths and was out cold, in my arms. The most difficult thing I have ever had to do in my life was hand her over at that moment. She was lifeless at that point. I had major guilt. She totally trusted me, put the mask on and took big deep breaths like a big girl (which I asked her to do) and I had to leave her. I just sat there for a second and they said, 'okay, mom...it's time to go.' I kissed her little head, told her mommy loved her more than anything and walked away, fighting back my tears.
The surgery took less time than anticipated and the doctor said that it was a good thing. Her tonsils and adenoids were very large and both were infected. She woke up pretty well and we thought we were in the clear...until about 12:00.
She started throwing up at noon and wailing around. It was so scary seeing her like that. She didn't know what she wanted, she thought she wanted to eat, but every time she did she would throw up. Finally, I got her just to drink some water and eat some plain bread. That went, and stayed down. We moved on to pudding. Then ice cream -- by that time she was in heaven. She loves ice cream. By around 3:30 I finally got her to go to sleep. And, call me crazy, I asked to be released from the hospital. We are in a shared room, she just hates being there, asks to go to her bed, asks to see Neal, and I think she will do so much better at home. So, when she wakes, we're headed home. Thank you so much for all your prayers. They were felt.

PS. I have tons of pictures...I'll post them when we get home! ;)

it's go time....tomorrow

Tomorrow morning at 8:08am Arianna will have surgery. Please pray for a successful surgery. Pray that she will have a quick recovery. Pray that mom won't have a nervous breakdown will be calm. Thanks so much. We'll keep you all posted.

A little remiss...

sorry I've been so slacking in blogging but with the end of the school year things have been crazy. Neal had his 4 month check up and he's doing great. He was in the 50th percent for everything -- so I guess he's pretty 'average'. The doctor said he was picture perfect. His newest trick is rolling. This is how it looks:

Step 1 -- grab toes

Step 2 -- fling leg over body

Step 3 -- hold on to toe and pull leg

Step 4 -- get big belly out of the way and start rolling..

Step 5 -- pop up head

Step 6 -- look at mom, very proud

Step 7 -- rest...rolling is tough work

Arianna is doing wonderfully. She's turning into such a little character and says the funniest things! She loves looking like a princess and at the same times loves playing in the mud. She is just so fun. We're gearing up for her surgery on Thursday. Although we both know it's what is needed, it's still a little nerve-wracking. Here she is with her piggies in...

These are a few pictures of our Memorial Day fun. We started the day at a parade and then went to the playground for some fun. Neal enjoyed the morning in his stroller, napping. Ah, the life.

Arianna LOVES swinging

At the parade. It was so cute. She really just wanted to sit by daddy. She's really turned into a daddy's girl.

This is what I've been doing with my 'free time'. Since Arianna has enjoyed having her hair done, I decided to start making bows for her hair. They are so expensive to buy and I enjoy making them. Here are just a few of the ones I have made...

Last summer we were given a swing set by some friends. Just recently Jason and my dad fixed it up and added a few things. Arianna loves having her new swing set and it's really nice having it in the backyard.