Their favorite people

I think that Kellen just might be Tatum's favorite person...if not THE favorite, at least right after Mommy and Daddy. They were taking a bath tonight and EVERYTHING he did made her just giggle and giggle. It was the cutest thing!

And oh my...he is SO fiercely protective of her! Wow!

I just love watching their bond grow on a daily basis.

To my dear Tatum - sweet birthday girl

To my dear Tatum - sweet birthday girl,

I can't believe that it's been a year since I first met you, sweet Tatum. Wow!

I remember overhearing the doctor tell the nurse in the main office to call and schedule my induction, and then hearing the added words "non-elective". Those words scared me, and although a part of me knew it was precautionary, it still made me realize the doctor thought things were bad enough to not give me a choice about going into the hospital to have you on that Friday night...we weren't waiting on you to decide to come out anymore. And it was a long Friday night...not as long as some labors, but still a long night. And then Saturday morning came and you were here!

My biggest regret through it all was actually going through with that stinkin' epidural. If I would have known that 1) you would have been coming barely an hour after they had given it to me, or 2) it wouldn't have taken completely or that 3) even with it, I wouldn't have been able to get any sleep, I never would have gotten it. Actually, any of those three things and I would have changed my mind.

But you know what, in the end it doesn't matter. You got here, and you were ok. You were fine, actually - more than fine...you were perfect. With a full head of hair to boot!

You started out so small, so fragile, so tiny...you were engulfed in the clothes that we had waiting for you - they just swallowed you up - and they were newborn and 0-3 month size! But you caught up quickly and now, you have gotten so big! You're so smart, so advanced (and you're keeping us on our toes and have been for some time now), getting so independent and your personality is shining through more and more each and every day. You are truly such a joy and a delight to be around. You have a definite stubborn streak, oh yes, dear - you do...it's already apparent that you and your mommy are going to butt heads some in the years to come, but it's simply part of what makes you so special. (But I beg of you, please don't be just like your Mommy and have to learn everything the hard way. Please.)

I adore watching you with your brother. It is so sweet to see the look on your face when you see him...it's so completely obvious that he totally enthralls you - and that he is one of your favorite people. Please don't ever forget that he absolutely adores you - and has from day #1....and even since before that, actually. There will be a time, possibly, probably, when you don't feel that way about him and you think he never felt that way about you. Hopefully that time will be short-lived, but truly; the two of you adore each other - and I have the super secret footage and tons of cute pictures to prove it. :)

As for your birthday party...well, despite not feeling well, you had such a blast! You opened your presents.
Then you ate the oreos off of your birthday cake. Notice that I didn't say you ate your birthday cake, right? You didn't really eat much of your birthday cake...Daddy fed you some, but for the most part, you just wanted the oreos, and grunted at anyone who tried to take them out of your hands. It was hilarious to watch!

Then you got all cleaned up, put another adorable birthday outfit on, and played some more with all of your guests. You were a very good hostess! (If you can't tell from the picture, the onesie says "Birthday Princess" on it.

Here is Kellen and D eating some of the bear birthday cake. Apparently it was pretty good!

And of course, we had to dress up our Tree Friend for the party! Here's a picture of him all festive.

Here is Tatum early this morning playing with Kellen in her new playhouse. It has a doorbell, a mailslot, and a phone! It's adorable, and they BOTH love it. I think they'll get years of enjoyment of our this present! Great job, Maw Maw and Paw Paw!

So THAT explains it!

Well, the verdict is in. I actually called the doctors office on Saturday, ready to take Tatum in to be seen by whomever was on call but the nurse that I spoke with actually suggested to ride it out. This was after asking if she was eating and sleeping - answer was "yes" to both questions. They suggested to bring her in on Monday or Tuesday if she was still running a fever.

Knowing what I know now, I'm sorry that I did. But, I was following the advice, so I guess I can't beat myself up too much about it.

The poor thing has a doozy of a double ear infection, (so much so that we got a "WHOA" and a "Oh yeah, Wow!" from the doctor after he checked her ears) AND, while wrestling with her to clean out her crusty nose this afternoon, I discovered that she got her 5th tooth in today (2nd upper right tooth) and the 6th is not far behind (2nd upper left tooth). I didn't even know that she was cutting any more teeth. I had, in the back of my mind, suspected it, but not verbalized it.

Add teething two more teeth (in addition to the two that she cut about a week and a half ago) to the double ear infections and it's no wonder she's been miserable! I can't explain the cough and/or runny nose - and described both in detail to the doctor while I was there this afternoon (think: being "slimed" by Slimer from the Ghostbusters was what I actually told him in terms of its consistency and basically, its color) - but he said that her chest sounds are clear.

So, it's a round (10 days) of amoxicillin. Only her second, which is great in my book. I can't remember how many rounds Kellen had been through at this point in time.

Last night was just horrible with her...it took her a GOOD 2 1/2 hours for her to finally go to sleep. She was just miserable. Neither the "mommy" nor the "maw maw magic" was working. At all. And it was breaking both of our hearts in the process.

After over two hours of trying, I finally just laid her down in the pack-n-play and let her cry. I couldn't give her any more medicine than what was in her system (we had been alternating Tylenol and Motrin, and I even added teething tablets *just in case* - considering what I discovered today, it was a good thing I did, huh?). After a little less than a half hour, she was tuckered out and slept soundly all night long.

I'll post about her birthday party and add pictures and video later...She did so well! In spite of not feeling well...

Enough is enough...seriously

Tatum is now running a fever. And her cough sounds horrible. Luckily - and dare I say it, she isn't throwing up (should I insert the word "yet" there?)

Goodness freakin' gracious. Enough is enough already.

I have clorox coming out of my ears and my washing machine HAS NOT STOPPED ALL DAY.

What is this now...at least two weeks straight with some member of this household sick with some form of something? Man oh man - I'm so DONE with this.

ETA:
I will say...I posted something similar to this rant (and yes, I do understand that this is a rant) on one of my moms boards and was reminded that God doesn't give you more than you can handle. *sigh*

My response: " ...there are many-a-times when God's opinion of me does not align with my opinion of myself and what I can handle. This (entire semester actually) is one such time. But I know you're right and thanks for the encouragement."

I know that my family doesn't have the worst of it (bless some of my friends who have had this worse this season - I'm praying for you guys ), and that many people have it worse on a daily basis. I'm simply frustrated - oh so frustrated right now.

I hate it that my kids are continually sick and I can't help them. It appears that no amount of cloroxing trays, tables, washing in HOT water with extra rinse cycles, and obsessive washing of hands is making much difference (oh wait - what if it is and it could be that much worse? Scary thought.)

Anyway...I AM blessed, and understand that...I'm just frustrated as well...and ready for my family to feel better!

Can't we all just be (and stay) well?

We go to Little Dragons tonight, and Kellen is just not acting like himself. He's wanting to go, but whining and not really listening to his instructor, then stops sparring in the middle of a match (which he loves doing), walks over to me and tells me his tummy hurts. So I ask him if he wants to stop and just go home (quite honestly, I'm thinking that I'm calling his bluff and he'll say no). To my surprise, he says yes, and proceeds to take all of his gear off.

We run to the dollar store to get the rest of the stuff for Tatum's cakes and cupcakes for her party, then to Chicken Express to pick up dinner. He's acting more normal by this point in time.

We get home, I tell him to change his clothes, and then hear him yelling for me from his bedroom. He's thrown up in his room! AHHH! It apparently hit him pretty quickly (his room is RIGHT NEXT to the bathroom).

So...no "real" dinner for him, but I did let him have the slightest bit of mashed potatoes and some toast - shouldn't have done that, and you can all guess why.

I call in reinforcements, and Matt finally gets home from class and studying after most of the chaos is over, Kellen is resting in his rocking chair. We let him stay up a little later than normal tonight and just chill out, then Matt goes in to read him a book...he gets sick again.

Poor baby! I'm hoping that this is one of those short-lived ones! Please let this be one of those short-lived ones!

Getting Older

(On the way home from school today)
Kellen: I like babies.
Mommy: Ok, tell me why.
Kellen: Tatum makes me laugh.
Mommy: You know what, buddy? You make her laugh, too...lots!
Kellen: I know. She's not getting older.
Mommy (sighing): Unfortunately, Tatum is getting older and so are you. Remember, her birthday party is this weekend.
Kellen: I just already KNOW that! (Pause) You're getting older, too Mommy.
Mommy: Thanks, Kellen.

Merry-go-Round

Apparently the germs in our house are working on the merry-go-round system. I was sick (short lived) with a tummy bug, both kids were sick Wednesday - Thursday, then wouldn't you know it - on Saturday night when Matt and I were supposed to have our date night, he comes down with the tummy bug (luckily, after a full days work in the yard, or there would be absolutely no silver lining in my book). Again, it was relatively short lived, but man - he was sick. And he doesn't get sick. Really.

Like EVER.

So, today is another day and Tatum is once again not feeling well. Only THIS time, she's running just enough of a low-grade fever that it's really a fever. So, at a minimum, no school for her tomorrow...which, by nature of our live and schedule right now, means no going in to work for Mommy! She sounds horrible, but seems slightly more energetic than she was yesterday. She scared me yesterday with how lethargic she was...it just wasn't like her! But, she' still UBER fussy. And she's not a fussy child. So I KNOW that there's something going on.

The plan is to watch her tomorrow and try to ride this out without having to take her to the doctor (you know, where ALL of the sick kids are these days). If something gets worse - fever higher, cough worse, behavior different, whatever, then we will most likely alter that plan and try to get an appointment to take her. I'm just gun-shy...After the last time when I would have bet the farm that she was "really" sick with an ear infection only to be told it was nothing...I don't really want to take her in only to be told that we're on the tail end of a viral infection that they can't treat and for us to just wait it out.

But then again....

Oh the joys and decisions of parenthood. I just have to figure out how to stop the joyriders on the merry-go-round.

He's dead

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of the much beloved Buzz Lightyear. He was a good suit...well loved, frequently used, much fun, the bringer of many creative outlets and scenarios...quite possibly the most used Halloween costume of all time. Ever.

He lasted us through three events within his first two weeks in our midst - and that was way back in October of 2006. Way back then my thoughts about him ranged from, "How cute is that?" to "Can we roll up those pants to fit Kellen?" and even "Did we buy this too large?". He's been around for a while, fighting crime, beating bad guys, and has even turned into Buzz Lightyear Superman a time or two. Toward the end, my thoughts were along some of those same lines...as in "How many more times is he going to be able to wear that?" and "Is that (still) going to fit Kellen?"

Alas, the answer is no an emphatic "NO!"

Buzz Lightyear went out with a bang - in full super-hero style. He met his maker in a full-on, flying flash; a jumping-into-Daddy's-arms hug. Complete with a split-seam all the way down the backside. I'll leave the full details of the demise to your imagination.

Kellen is crushed. Mommy and Daddy tried to explain that Buzz Lightyear could only last so long...but I don't think it's really sunk in yet.

Based on Kellen's prior discussions about what our family will be dressed like for the upcoming Halloween festivities (yes, he's been thinking that far ahead - even before this incident), I imagine that another Buzz Lightyear might make an appearance in our household. If so, he too will be loved, but he will never take the place of the original Buzz. However, he might be joined by a Jesse or two, played by Tatum and apparently Mommy, and Woody, played by Daddy.

Good-bye, Buzz Lightyear. You will be missed. To Infinity and Beyond.

Are we over it?

Last night was surprisingly calm...Kellen was up and down quite a bit, but we have Sponge-Bob set up in our room for just those occasions, so he only found his way into our bed and woke me only a couple of times (once with an ever-so-sweet kick in the side - and he's STRONG!).

Today has been interesting. Neither have run fevers...both have had slightly elevated temps, but nothing classified as fevers. Tatum is acting not quite like herself, and won't let me out of her sight...in fact, I've gotten quite the workout carrying around my 21+ lb girl all day long (WHEW!) I really think that at least part of her fussiness is due to the fact that she's working on that 2nd top tooth...I can see it below the gumline trying to come in, and she's chewing on everything! My body decided to be ever-so-kind, and I got ANOTHER migraine today (that twice in less than a week - ARG!), so it was an oh so fun day around here. Luckily, they both took relatively decent naps....Tatum an early one, Kellen somewhat normal (although he didn't actually fall asleep until Tatum was already awake), so there went my plan to try and sleep off the migraine while they were BOTH asleep, then Tatum actually went down for another short nap a little bit later in the afternoon. I tried to keep them playing with quiet activities...luckily, play-doh is quiet - and can (did) entertain Kellen for a few hours. (Yay!)

They're both obviously getting over their own versions of the cold, but, unless something "wacky" happens tonight, both should be able to go back to school tomorrow. (And I really hope that I didn't just jix myself by typing that out...)

Adventures in writing

Last night I could tell that Kellen was coming down with a cold - was sneezing and had a runny nose - no fever, nothing of that sort. Checked him again this morning and the same thing...no fever, LOTS of sniffles. So I packed up both the kids and off to school we went.

So I got the call for Tatum a little before lunch...fever and "loose" stools...Wasn't expecting that call, as she's been acting like she feels fine (some runny nose, but whose isn't with these weather changes?, that seal cough I mentioned last night, but....)! Go and pick her up, taking care of her this afternoon, yadda yadda...

The phone rings at 4 PM...daycare...calling about Kellen....who apparently didn't want to wake up from his nap and was running a very low-grade fever.

So put us on the list of local families with sick kiddos...and they're BOTH sick. Poor things! So since we'll be home all day tomorrow, I asked Kellen to think about what he wanted to do and play tomorrow while we were home. I told him that I wouldn't be able to play with him all day because Tatum would be with us, and reminded him that Tatum wasn't quite as good as playing all by herself as he was.

So he thought about it, and started naming some things that he wanted to do - way more, in fact, than we would ever be able to do in a day! So, I told him to think about the 3-4 things that he wanted to do the most...and to get his notebook and write them or draw me a picture of them so that we could be sure and not forget tomorrow.

What did he write for me?

1. Buzz Lightyear

2. Play-doh

3. Puzzle

Yes, he did ask for some help on how to spell these things, and his "words" make up several lines on his notebook, but he is SO PROUD of himself!

Some form or another?

So last week with Tatum it was the virus...with no fever but pulling at her ears - still have no idea what that was about. Beginning Saturday and still ongoing is some sort of stomach bug with me - I'm functional, but just not completely up to snuff. Yesterday a migraine as well, you know, just to top things off for fun. And today Kellen seems to have been hit with a cold. Poor guy. His eyes look pitiful, he's got a runny, sniffly nose, he's sneezy, he says he has a bump inside his mouth, and his throat hurts. He also wanted medicine on his feet (that's how we give Vicks in our house, then put socks on) before going to bed. I'll have to check him again in the morning, but I should have known that something was off by the way that he was acting this morning. He was uber fussy, cranky, whiny, and wanted to go back to sleep and lay down after eating his breakfast - virtually unheard of around here. That should have been my clue...

As I'm typing this, I'm hearing a little seal cough coming from Tatum's room..something new.

My poor babies....

Breakfast for dinner

So Grandpa Gerren came to visit us this afternoon, and once Kellen decided to awaken from his hibernation-like nap (if he was so tired, why DID he fight me so much about taking that nap? Oh wait, nevermind...I just answered my own question), he came to the living room and proceeded to ask Grandpa if he would make pancakes.

Grandpa, of course, obliged with this request, making enough to (hopefully) last for breakfast for the week for both of the kids.

So, Kellen had a whopping 2 1/2 pancakes (with another to come later in the evening) and Tatum had 1 1/2 (after just eating a "snack" that Grandpa had made her - 2 scrambled eggs), then followed that up with about half of a can of sliced peaches.

Did I mention that BOTH of my kids can put away the food? I just don't know where they're physically capable of putting it...seriously.

Despite our love for cloth diapers and their effectiveness in the treatment of diaper rash, Tatum has yet another one - diaper rash, that is. And I saw it happen before my very own eyes, it seems. Whatever she ate on Friday just did not agree with her, as evidenced by the contents of her diaper and appearance of her bottom once we got home from school on Friday. Poor girl! Saturday looked better than Friday, and today looks even better than yesterday. I must determine what it was that she ate, so we can put it on the big, fat "NO" list...perhaps the "mixed fruit" at daycare? I need to figure out what fruit was in that...make sure that she isn't getting any citris, berries, anything like that...

I feel GOOD today!

I actually feel GOOD today! And I realized this after lunch, thought about it for a bit and realized....






wait for it....







I hadn't taken ANY pain pills at all today! No Alleve, no Tylenol, no Motrin, nothing! I cannot remember the last time that I felt good drug free! I had almost even forgotten what it felt like not to hurt!

Even if it's just a spark or a glimpse today of what's to come, I totally needed it! It was WONDERFUL to feel good today, not hurt, not ache, not feel like I wanted to crumble in a ball or crawl under a rock, nothing! It's been exactly 7 days on the "regular" pill...when the doctor and nurses had warned me not to expect anything so soon...but that to expect to feel better perhaps within 14-21 days.

God is good...I think He knew the end of my rope wasn't quite that long. Praise God!

Aren't they cute?

Well, it's certainly been a while since I've posted some pictures (or even uploaded them from my camera onto the computer, for that matter), so I thought I would do a quick photo recap of the last few weeks...

Here's Daddy and Tatum enjoying a moment during Superbowl Sunday...

Yes, I guess the old saying is true, "You want what you don't have." Or, you can go with, "The grass is greener..." As you can see, Tatum is sitting in Kellen rocking chair and loe and behold, Kellen is riding Tatum's rocking horse, a toy that he's long since outgrown. (Yes, hand-me downs are alive and well in the our household, thank you very much) But they don't seem to mind! Tatum did eventually figure out the riding horse, but I'm not sure that she's all that sure about it quite yet...

Bathtime fun...Tatum is rapidly learning to drink...from just about anything!...and Kellen, well, he's still my adorably precious Kellen!

Watching the womens basketball game this past weekend...The kids really did very well, especially considering that it was getting close to naptime for both of them!

Here is a picture that I took of Tatum tonight. I was trying to get a shot of her budding tooth that I mentioned in my post yesterday...can you see it? Or are you just mesmerized by her adorable smile, huge dimples, and piercing eyes?

There ya' go...now aren't they just two of the cutest kiddos you ever did see? (Perhaps I'm a little biased, but I don't think so!)

Are we about to get another one?

Tooth, that is? So I noticed a rather large bulge on Tatum's upper right gums this evening. Perhaps her fussiness and general discomfort this weekend was due to the process of trying to get another tooth? I guess we shall see...but it looks pretty close - at least what little bit she would let me see.

I'll keep you posted.

I would have lost SO much money...

Tatum does NOT have an ear infection...but apparently some "virus" - she's not running a fever, is congested, and the doctor says just to keep Tyenol in her for her comfort. I'm really hoping that the "virus" doesn't turn INTO an ear infection...and now I'll be second guessing myself about it since her ears have gotten an "all clear" from the doc.

And Kellen's sweetness today:
I dropped him off in his classroom, and he gave me the "I love you" sign, then wanted to give me another hug (he was across the room from me). Instead, I told him to blow me a kiss, which he did. I "grabbed" it from the air and put it in my pocket, telling him that I would save it for later in the day when I needed a Kellen-kiss. He proceeded to tell me that he still wanted to give me another hug, so he ran to me, hugged me, then looked at me very seriously and said, "Mommy, you can't wash your pants."

"Why can't I wash my pants, Kellen?"

"Because my kiss is still in your pocket and you can't wash your pants with my kiss in there."

Now isn't that just the most adorable thing? My heart just melted...

Days of our Lives

Yes, I'm a fan...and I've been keeping up as much as possible without watching on a daily basis in part to the generosity of Maw Maw's Soap Opera Digest hand-me downs (thanks!). But I have some issues with some of the storylines...And I'll just name a few...

--Belle has slept with Phillip (and is/has lusted for him) when she didn't even love him when they were married. What's with THAT?

--Max and Stephanie...I do not care that they are uncle/neice by adoption only...THEY WERE RAISED AS FAMILY AND THIS IS JUST WRONG!!!

--Phillip fighting tooth and nail for Claire, but then just handing over his ACTUAL BIOLOGICAL CHILD...Really? And Victor is ok with this? I'm thinking NOT!

--The whole rape storyline....Does everyone seem to forget that Stephanie was a TOUGH racing chick??? One that could fix her own car and probably kick ANY guys tail who was trying to do anything to her? Yet she's at the mercy of some frat guy? I think NOT!

--Virtually EVERYONE recognizing Phillip. Seriously? Doesn't ANYONE remember the story where he had reconstructive surgery? On his FACE?????

--The Colleen storyline...really and truly...If she were alive all these years, she would have found the Bradys before now.

--John presumed dead, but alive - AGAIN? (This whole scenario getting old to anyone but me?)

--John lost his memory, AGAIN? Ditto to the above commentary.

I do love the show...and have been watching for years...But every once in a while you have to just call it like you see it, right?

That's all for now...:)

Basketball

So we watched quite a bit of basketball this week...the Harlem globetrotters on Wednesday night and then the womens game vs tu yesterday morning. Both were a lot of fun! I'll have to post pictures when I have a little more time, but Kellen had a really good time at the Globetrotters, and was asking to go back and watch them again!

We got to visit with Aunt Boo yesterday, and went to the game with her, then spent the rest of the day just hanging out, taking naps, and playing games...What fun!

Now today...wow...So Tatum has been the epitimy of fussiness today...(and she is SO not like that). She's putting her fingers (and anything else small enough that fits until I catch her) into her ears (uh huh) and is happy when I'm holding or nursing her...and only moderately happy at that...I'm thinking ear infection - ug! I guess I'll call in the morning to UPA and take her in first thing to get her checked out...If I had to guess, I would say a double ear infection.

I tested her just a bit ago and put her down in various places - well within reach of me and FUN toys, and she wasn't having ANY of it...again - not like her. She doesn't feel warm, but I know that she's miserable, so I gave her some Tylenol, which she gobbled down.

Fun stuff, right?

And here we are...

Medical update:
They aren't bigger...and I don't have more of them...

So........surgery isn't a MUST, just one of my three options, which include:

1. Continue to do nothing
2. Switch to an estrogen-based birth control pill to try and dissipate/alleviate the cysts
3. Surgery

At this point in time, after MANY discussions with the doctors office, insurance, Matt, other friends that have had the surgery, etc...I'm going to try the birth control switch to see how I feel on that. We'll give that a week or so and if I don't see a significant improvement on the pain scale, then we'll probably go the surgery route.

I take it back!

Lord, if I've ever asked for patience in the past, it must have been a mistake. I take it back! I don't really want to deal with a million things to learn that fruit of the spirit...I'll take some of the other fruit, really.

I don't want to wait on the doctor to figure out if I have to have surgery...I just want to stop hurting...I want to be able to concentrate on a task and get it completed, not get sidetracked because I'm just trying to make it through the day. I don't want to answer the question, "So how are you, Rebecca?" with a tough smile and a generic, "I'll be fine," because virtually anything else feels like a lie. I want to be able to enjoy spending time with my beautiful children, not try to explain to Kellen that Mommy's tummy hurts (again) and that the doctor is going to take a picture to find out how to make it better. And to try to convince him that I'm really going to be ok - because I AM going to be ok - sooner or later. But can't it just be sooner?

In Jesus name...Amen.

For those of you reading this that don't have a clue as to what I'm referring to - sorry! I'm dealing with some wonderful issues over here in the way of ovarian cysts - at last count, a total of 6 spread over both ovaries (varying sizes). I wanted to be able to nurse Tatum for the full year that I pre-determined I was going to, so I have chosen not to treat them up until this point because the treatment option would require that I stop nursing (at least a 99% guarantee that I wouldn't be able to continue nursing her). And when I was diagnosed with this over two months ago, that simply wasn't ok with me - at all. So I've been simply managing them...and have actually been doing ok until the past three weeks or so. Well, the pain got worse - quite a bit worse, so we're doing another ultrasound on Thursday to determine our next course of action - surgery or medication.

We shall see. But I'm fairly sure at some point in time I must have prayed for the Lord to give me patience...so I have to go through things to acquire that patience, right? He knows what I need. There is a reason that I'm going through this, and so I will continue to trust Him.