SHHHH...Be Vewy, Vewy Quiet!!!

Above are some pics from Thanksgiving Day. Turner was asleep when we took these...poor thing, he always gets left out!

I should be vacuuming the house right now instead of sitting at this computer "blogging". I'm trying to be quiet in the hopes that Taylor will take a well deserved (and by that I mean, I deserve it!!) nap. Here lately, the child does not want to sleep during the day. I guess I should have known this day was coming...Tucker did the same thing.

Once I put Turner down for his nap (usually around 11 or 11:30), I will attempt to put Taylor down so that I can get some work done around the house. But if she hears me, that's it, she wants to be with me. I needed some alone time today...so as soon as I put her in her room and turned on (her favorite) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I shut the door and carefully went down the stairs to attempt to straighten up the house. It's been over an hour and so far, so good...and I believe she's asleep. Even if she's not, she's being quiet...and that's good enough for me! I've done everything but unload the dishwasher and vacuum. I'm scared that the noise will "wake" her and she'll want to come downstairs. How horrible of a mother am I?

Tucker is about to be home from Mother's Day Out and within 30 minutes of his arrival, everyone will be awake, yelling, screaming, laughing, running and riding through the house. My mom was commenting on how well behaved Turner was when there was tons of commotion going on. He's so good because chaos is his life. Turner almost doesn't know what to do when it's quiet...he thinks when it's quiet...it's nap time. It's amazing what you learn to "block out" as a stay-at-home mom. The happy (and loud) squeals, laughter, and talking don't seem to bother me as long as everyone is getting along and the sounds are coming from happy children...it's when they start to get tired (either physically or of each other) and they start to cry or scream at me is when it bothers me.

I guess in the end a clean house, laundry folded and put away and a well manicured lawn doesn't mean as much to me as happy, healthy and well adjusted kids. I just hope that I'm not screwing them up too bad!

VITO

First I'd like to start by saying Taylor has acted MUCH better since I last blogged. She's been doing extremely well with potty training...only 1 accident during the day and that's usually at dinner time. Hey, a girl's gotta eat...no time for bathroom breaks!


I know most of you are going to say I'm crazy for this next part...but we've adopted a dog. He's name is Vito. I've been wanting a dog for awhile now, and I knew that I wanted a German Shepherd, but I was afraid of getting a puppy and going through the whole chewing and training bit with little ones in the house...but then I was also afraid of getting an older one with issues. After some deliberation and many questions to reputable German Shepherd breeders, I decided to put an application into the German Shepherd Rescue of Central Alabama. They came and did a home inspection and recommended Vito. His owner died and his family couldn't take care of him, so he was surrendered to the local shelter. GSRCA came and got him and have been fostering him for 2 months. I have to say that I'm glad I listened to them and met Vito. He's the most well behaved, good natured, laid back dog I think I've ever been around. We were in PetSmart with tons of kids (not just Tucker but at least 6 other kids were climbing all over him) and he just loved it...laid there and licked faces if they would let him. He doesn't pull on his leash (yes...even in PetSmart) and so far seems to be enjoying his new home. As I'm typing this, he's laid out in his crate (which is at the foot of my bed) and is asleep. I'm sure I'll post more pics of him and the kids...but here's the one from the GSRCA website. We are all very excited about our new addition. Here's Vito!!

White Flag

The last 2 weeks have been a test. A test to determine if I can resist the overwhelming urge to tie my daughter up and hang her from the fan that hangs from my 20ft ceiling in my living room and leave her there while I go down a keg of beer at the local bar.

Yesterday morning, I almost gave up...but this morning she awoke with a white flag in her hand.

This morning when I went upstairs to get her from her room, she was holding a pair of white Minnie Mouse panties and said "Mommy, I wear big girl panties." I said okay, put them on her and she went the whole day with only one accident!!!

She started Friday wanting to wear the panties, but not wanting to go to the bathroom. But today, she made up for it. I'm so proud of her!...and myself for letting her live this long :)

Her attitude and behavior was a complete 180 from the way she acted yesterday. Hopefully we can keep this up!

Pics from Halloween

Halloween here was so much fun. Tucker got to "dress up" twice because of MDO (Mother's Day Out). So, for MDO, he was "Officer Hutson". My mom got him this outfit for his birthday. He's been asking for a police man outfit so "Grammie" delivered. The outfit is so cute and he's already gotten alot of use out of it. Hopefully the billy club won't see the back of Turner or Taylor's heads!





Both sets of grandparents came to the house for Mexican...special thanks to dad for picking it up--and paying ;)....and after dinner, the kids got dressed up as cowboys/cowgirl.

Turner wore a costume that was Tucker's first Halloween costume...he didn't go trick-or-treating with everyone else, he got to stay behind with me and (Nana) Linda and handed out candy to other trick-or-treaters. Thanks to (Gammie) my mom Katie for making Taylor's outfit and for Tucker's outfit. Everyone looked adorable and fun was had by all!!!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

Hopefully...

I am hoping that we are all now getting over the "crud" that everyone has been passing along these past few weeks. It all started last Wednesday...Tucker is out of school that day, so I packed up a lunch and got the kids all dressed. Everyone but Taylor was loaded and buckled into the van. I started to walk around to the other side of the van to buckle Taylor up when I Tucker scream "Oh Yuck...she threw up all over your van mom!!". Yes...Taylor was sick.

Needless to say, we all stayed home and by the end of the day...Taylor and Tucker were both sick. Taylor never ran a fever, but Tucker did...and they both were on a Sprite only diet...but only after punishing myself a couple of times first (if you know what I mean)...I won't elaborate.

Anyhoo...everyone seemed better on Friday. Tucker went back to school and Taylor and Turner were fine. We all met Brad for dinner at Chick-fil-a for dinner and went to bed...well, at least the kids did. Brad and I were up all night Friday sick...again, I won't elaborate.

Brad felt better than I did on Saturday, so he graciously let me stay in bed and he took care of the kids. It's the first game this year we haven't had people over to enjoy the victory. ROLL TIDE!! But we are all doing better now.

Tucker's birthday is this week. I can't believe he's turning 5! They grow up so fast...where has all the time gone?!

Hopefully I'll be able to post pics from the birthday party and Halloween this weekend.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween...be healthy!!!

Recent pics

Look at the curls on Turner!

Tucker as a lion at the Birmingham Zoo

Turner playing at the park

Tucker on the "horse" at the Birmingham Zoo

Taylor watching the turtles at the zoo

Tucker feeding the goats at the Pumpkin Patch

Taylor feeding the sheep at the Pumpkin Patch...
She loved it and screamed bloody murder when I had to rip her from the "barn"

How addictive is it?

I went to the doctor yesterday for my insomnia. She had to start me off on Ambien 10...which she stated was highly addictive and was a controlled substance...GREAT! She also said that if it didn't work and I didn't start to feel better and the headaches weren't gone within 10 days, I had to go back for something stronger. On top of that...she said all the symptoms I gave her also pointed to a thyroid problem...and after examining my throat...she said my thyroid was enlarged. She took tons of blood and said she would call me back with the results.

The thing that scares me is that she said that once I start using Ambien, I won't be able to go to sleep without it and that I will have to "wean" myself off of it. This doesn't seem like my longtime
solution...but I am grateful for the 10 hours of sleep I got last night. I took the pill at 9:30 and don't remember 10pm. I woke up at 8 this morning feeling great!

Tucker is not feeling well today...so he's been lounging around the house. Taylor who evidentially got the memo that she has officially turned 2 and can start acting like a total brat...decided to disobey the memo yesterday and has been back to her usual happy-go-lucky self. For about 10 days all she did was scream and throw temper tantrums...it was horrible! Lucky for all of us she's been much better so far this week. Turner has been growing like a weed and has started to refuse to eat bottles. He would rather have his whole milk and table food. I would say that it was a good thing, saving money on formula and everything...but the way this kid eats, I don't know which is cheaper...formula or half a cow?

My laptop is still in the shop, Best Buy said it should be fixed and shipped back to me by the end of the week...the screen went out again. If it happens again, I get a new computer. Anywhoo...once my laptop is back, I'll download some updated pics for everyone.

One sheep, two, sheep, three sheep, four......

I want to start by saying I'm sorry it's been awhile since I've "blogged"...

First, my laptop had to be taken back to Best Buy for the 3rd time because the screen has stopped working...they tried to tell me it was a software issue again...but I made them send it into the "shop" for further diagnostics...they told me that the first time I brought it in and I got home with it and it still didn't work. They finally replaced the backlight for the screen and it's worked for almost a year now. If I bring it in again, it will get replaced with a new laptop...that's according to the geek on the Geek Squad...and let me tell you...that's a perfect description of this guy.

I still haven't gotten a good nights sleep...well, I did have to take a large amount of Nyquil on Monday night because we all have some sort of "sinus" crap...so I did get more than my normal 3 hours of sleep that night...but I'm not counting it because I was drugged! I have an appointment for the 14th to see the doctor...I just can't take this anymore...it's been months since I've had a good nights sleep on my own. When I get to 10 days without a full nights sleep, I'll take an over the counter pill...but I don't like the way I feel when I get up in the morning...anyway...hopefully it will be over soon.

The kids are great. Turner in less than a week went from army crawling all over the place to crawling up on his hands and knees and pulling up on stuff and walking around while holding on to something. I think he's tired of seeing everyone else walk around and he's ready to join us.
I'll be taking Taylor and Tucker to the Pumpkin Patch on Tuesday, so I'll make sure to add pics.

Any suggestions?

This week has felt like 2 weeks in one. I'm exhausted as I sit and type...but I almost feel like the "purge" is necessary.

I had a light bulb moment this week while sitting in my parents jacuzzi talking to one of my favorite people....my Aunt Ann. I think every girl should have a woman in their life like my Auntie Ann. I love having her for visits...or even visiting her (although I've only gotten to do that twice)...but she has always made me feel like what I thought or had to say was important. She makes you feel like you are the only one in the room when you're having a conversation...and I must say that she's always made me feel like I was a "princess"...although she would probably hate that analogy.

Anyway...Tuesday night after the kids went to bed, I went to my parents house to visit with Ann and June. Since my parents got the jacuzzi...I've been pregnant...so this was the first time I could get in (with no kids) and enjoy it...at the temperature it was meant to be enjoyed at. I'm hooked...I wish I had one at my house, I would get in every night. It would probably help cure my insomnia...all I wanted to do was sleep when I got out (after 2 hours!).

As we talked, I told her about how much I vacuum...for those of you who didn't know I had an addiction...instead of heroin, it's vacuuming. I vacuum at least twice a day...sometimes more. The floor gets dirty from the kids and I playing, eating, or just walking from outside to inside. Light bulb moment...I don't know why I didn't realize this before...but I see it now. Vacuuming is my stress release...my drug of choice. For that 5 or 10 minutes during the day, I can drown the noise of the children by running the vacuum and focus on something else. I don't have to think about anything but the floor...and she's right, it does soothe me. I usually will vacuum while the younger two are sleeping and I can send Tucker to his room for "quiet time" and I'll usually vacuum again after I've put them to bed.

Great...now I need to know how I can transform my vacuuming addiction into a working out addiction...any suggestions?

Happy Birthday Taylor

Taylor is 2!!! We had her birthday party at the Riverchase Galleria's Carousel. Here are some pics from the party...

Taylor loves to ride the "horsies"...can't you tell?!

Okay, who doesn't love a cake from Edgar's?
Definitely NOT Taylor!

Tucker was shooting his gun at everyone from the carousel...hope you didn't get hit!

(L-R: Cameron, Tucker, Taylor and Cade)
Taylor and "her boys" helping her open her Princess Car!

I decided to have her party at the carousel because it has become one of her favorite things to do. During the summer, I would take the kids up there to eat McDonalds and ride the carousel. I kept it small this year...just her friends and immediate family...but it was hard to keep all the kids contained in one area. I will definitely not do it again. Too much of a headache! Thank you to everyone who came...we appreciate it! Sorry mom and dad couldn't come...we'll throw our own when dad gets out of the hospital...don't worry dad...we'll get another cake!

Dad is still in the hospital...but the doctor is now saying he might get to come home Friday (we are all keeping our fingers crossed!) I think if they keep him in there any longer, they'll have to admit him into the psych ward...almost 3 weeks being couped up in the hospital (especially Shelby Baptist Medical Center) will do that to you! Hang in there dad...we love you!

Oh...Tucker wanted me to make him an Indian headdress...so I did. Then, of course, Taylor wanted one. Then we painted their faces and made tomahawks...here is a pic from that...it was too cute not to add!