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!

Finally!

My dad is finally in a "normal" hospital room. He's been in ICU and then Intermediate Care and just today was moved into a hospital room where the kids can go and see him. I feel relieved. His white blood cell count is getting back down to normal and the doctors have allowed him to start eating fat free foods like jello and broth...when Tucker and I went to go visit him this afternoon, the nurse said they were going to try and get him home in the next couple of days. YEAH!!! He hasn't been allowed to eat for 2 weeks...so he's taking it slow...but I'm just happy that it looks like the end is near.

One good thing has come out of this...dad said yesterday that it's been the kick in the ass he has needed to get his health back on track. He said he was going to start eating better and not taking his health for granted. He never wants to go to the doctor...and after spending two weeks in the hospital, I think he's realized he needs to see them at least once a year...if not more...at least for check ups.

I'm just thankful that he's getting better...thank you to all of you who have called, written and prayed. It's been appreciated and felt!

Update on Dad

My dad's pneumonia is now gone...YEAH!!! They're moving him out of the ICU and into Intermediate Care...but it probably won't happen until later on this afternoon. Thank you for all the prayers!

Dad

My dad has been in the ICU since Thursday morning. They took him down at 7am to remove his gallbladder. Right before they were to start the surgery, he aspirated infected bile into his lungs. They suctioned him out as best they could and completed the surgery, but brought him to ICU to keep a close eye on him because they were afraid of pneumonia. He's been pretty drugged up and out of it every time we get to see him...and for those of you who know my father, he doesn't drink, so this is weird to see him like this.

They did a chest scan when they first brought him in and saw the damage. Yesterday morning pneumonia had developed. They took another scan yesterday afternoon and there was no change...which is good, it means it's not getting worse.

He has been getting up and walking around and we're hoping that the scan that they took this morning at 6am shows the pneumonia is going away...keep up the prayers!

Ya Reckon'...

Several months ago, while shopping at Wal-Mart, Tucker and I came across a DVD in the $5 dollar bin...it was a double feature of "Old Yeller" and it's sequel "Savage Sam". Here lately, Tucker has been watching "Savage Sam" a lot.

The past couple of days, he has done the following:

1) Started to wear his cowboy boots...which are too small, so he walks around a bit funny in them;
2) Started to wear his cowboy hat...again, which is too small, so he fits it on the back of his head;
3) Hooked up his elephant (a gift from his Great Uncle John when he was a baby) as a horse...including Taylor's sequin belt as his reigns;
4) He places his plastic sword (from his knight costume) in his belt as his machete and a plate display holder...which he pretends is a hand gun in his belt.

He puts on everything and gets on this poor elephant and rides it like it's a horse while watching "Savage Sam" and acts out the movie. He made me stay in his room this morning during the fighting scene while the characters on TV save each other from the "injuns".

After the fight scene was over, I told him he fought well and asked if he was hungry after all that fighting...he said "Ya reckon' I can have a sandwich now ma...that's a right smart idea ain't it!"

Again, the look on his face was hilarious and I had to compose myself because what I really wanted to do was laugh while rolling around on the floor. I had to tell him that "ain't" isn't a word, but yes, eating a sandwich was a smart idea.

His imagination is something, I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Thoughts and Prayers for Dad

My dad was admitted this morning into the hospital for pancreatitis. They have since found the cause (a large gallstone) so they will be keeping him sedated and pumped full of antibiotics and remove his gallbladder on Thursday.

I went through something similar in March...had a gallbladder attack and a stone was lodged near my pancreas. My liver backed up and I turned as yellow as big bird. The doctors were worried that I would develop a pancreatitis...evidently it's very painful.

Please put him in your prayers tonight.

On a lighter note...Tucker just informed me (while I'm sitting here typing) "Mom, I want to still be a king while I'm a bigger kid, but...I really want to be a cowboy when I'm a grownup."

I really wish you could see the look on his face when he's telling me this...he's got such a look of confidence and knowledge, like he knows this is his "calling" or something...he's so funny!

"I want to be king when I'm still a kid"

Tucker last night said to me "I want to be king". I replied "When you grow up? I thought you wanted to be a police man." He said "No mommy, I want to be king when I'm still a kid". I said "You are 'still a kid', and you do a pretty good job of acting like a king now". He said "I'm not still a kid, I can wipe my own butt, so I'm a big kid...so I want to be a king when I'm a bigger kid...like when I turn 5. So for my birthday, can I have a small gun and a small sword to protect the animals and a big gun and a big sword to kill the mean men?"

Uh? What? If you don't have regular conversations with a 4 year old...you're probably saying that. I didn't know how in the hell was I suppose to respond to that, so I just said "You'll have to ask daddy when it comes to owning guns. Girls don't know about those things." Luckily, that was enough of an answer for him.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

--Wipes (see pic above!)
--Mother's Day Out...it's been the best thing for Tucker. He's been so calm and well behaved this week!
--My husband...he's been working so hard the past few weeks...and because I love him more and more everyday
--Neighbors who know what it's like to be a stay at home mom and let me know I'm not alone
--The "surprise" of Turner...because without him, I wouldn't be a stay at home mom and I'd miss all the sugars I get during the day
--My mom, dad and in-laws...who help us out...even when we don't ask for it, they know we need and appreciate it. Just a night of not having to cook, or having 1 less child to look after for the afternoon is awesome!
--Playtime with the kids, especially right after naps!

Almost...Wordless Wednesday

Tucker, Turner and Taylor taking a bath "whether they needed it or not".

Striking a Pose for the camera!

Turner and Taylor playing first thing this morning. Taylor loves to play with Tucker's boots...but she doesn't like to wear the matching set (which also means they are two different sizes!) or wear them on the correct feet. She is definitely my hard-headed daughter!

Here is Tucker in his "pillow fort"...this is his favorite thing to do now.
No MDO school on Wednesdays :(

Taylor carries around a blanket (she calls it "BB")...almost like Linus from Peanuts. It was so dirty and stinky that I had to wash it today...so here she is watching it being washed, making sure "BB" makes it through the extra hot wash.

Too cute of a pic not to post...notice the chocolate milk dribble on her chin?
That's what she thinks is so funny!