Getting sick and growing up

My punkin has been sick this week. Sunday evening she was running a fever and by bedtime it was around 102. Monday morning I called in at work so I could take her to the doctor. Her strep test came back negative and we were told that it was "just a virus" that would go away in 3-5 days. As much as I didn't want her to have strep, at least that's something that you can give them meds for....viruses just stink because you can't do anything.

So, I stayed home Monday but then went back to work on Tuesday because my new mgr was being a punk. So Abby has stayed with my Mom all week and probably will tomorrow and Friday, too. She's so pitiful....her little eyes are swollen and red, she has this awful, gunky cough with a runny nose. She's coughing so much that I know her throat is sore. My poor punkin.

A few funny things this week, though. Every day it seems that her language skills are getting better. Yesterday she told Zac, "I don't feel good." Her second totally complete sentence....the first was last week when she said "I want another cracker." She puts words together all the time, but these two sentences were actually whole and made sense. Smart girl!

And, I'm off to bed. Abby has slept with me in the bed all week while Zac slept on the couch. Which meant that Zac is the only one that's gotten any sleep. But today he moved our couch into storage, so Abby had to sleep in her bed. Which, BY THE WAY, is a toddler bed. Today Zac took down her crib and she's sleeping in a real bed. I cried when I tucked her in and shut the door. I'll report tomorrow on how she did...

TAG!!

Ok, my friend Jennifer posted this on her blog and I stole it! She didn't tag me, but I love these things so I'm gonna do it anyway. :o) If I tag you, then you fill this out on your blog/Facebook and tag four more people. I know, it's kinda dumb, but it's fun to learn new stuff about people....


Four, four, four, four...

1. Four places that I go over and over: US Bank (work), Ms. Janet's (daycare), Wal-Mart (ick) and church

2. Four people who email me regularly: Mom, Hope, Sherry, Christine

3. Four of my favorite places to eat: Mt. Fuji, Casa Mexicana, Moe's, Larry's Pizza (I've only been once, but I REALLY want to go back)

4. Four places I would rather be right now: The Angel Rose in Eureka Springs with my hubby, the beach with Zac & Abby, on a cruise, or in Dallas for a weekend with Christine

5. Four people I tag (you can do it on Facebook, too): Lori T., Christine A. (almost Christine S!!), Erin M., and Nikki R.

6. Four TV shows I watch: Oh, geez, there's not much time for TV - usually Food Network is just on as background noise. But I do like Rules of Engagement, How I Met Your Mother, Iron Chef America and my parents have me hooked on Wipeout

The Divine Institute of Marriage

I found this on a friend's Facebook page and thought it was interesting. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (my church - woo hoo!) has "accepted an invitation to participate in ProtectMarriage, a coalition of churches, organizations, and individuals sponsoring a November ballot measure, Proposition 8, that would amend the California state constitution to ensure that only a marriage between a man and a woman would be legally recognized." You can check out more details on the group on their website and you can read the Church's press release at The Divine Institute of Marriage.

A little soapbox time....Some of you may or may not know that my bachelor's degree is basically in Political Science. I spent a lot of time with very liberal classmates, not having very many conservatives to back me up. It is sooooooo very important that we all take the time to make sure that our voices are heard and that we are protecting the Lord's values as best we can. Get involved, write letters to your elected officials and VOTE! :o)

Two years old

Today is officially Abby's birthday - my baby is TWO YEARS OLD!!!! If I hadn't had Christine here with me this weekend, I might have spent the day balled up in a corner, crying. We were doing wedding things for most of the day, but tomorrow will be just me and Abby, so we're going to play with all of her new toys and just hang out. I'm so excited to have a WHOLE day with her when we don't have anything we HAVE to do unless we want to. Doesn't happen very often for us working-outside-the-home moms. So I'm pretty pumped about trying out her new tricycle and her other fun toys.

I am sitting here thinking about what my life was like exactly two years ago. I was doped up in a hospital bed while Zac and my Dad followed an ambulance that was taking our precious newborn baby all the way across town to the bigger Baptist Hospital. What was the most wonderful day of our lives also turned out to be one of the worst. Watching someone wheel your baby away in a stretcher/incubator is one of the worst feelings I’ve ever felt.

For those of you who don’t know Abby’s story, we spent the next week going back and forth between our house and the hospital in Little Rock. I know we were so fortunate compared to a lot of the NICU babies, but that doesn’t make you feel better when your baby is sick. I’m so grateful that my wonderful anesthesiologist let me wheel down the nursery to hold Abby after she was born – I didn’t get to hold her again until she was 5 days old. What a blessing her little life has been to Zac and me.

It amazes me how much she’s grown since that day. She says so many words and does so many things that amaze me.

*She’s good about manners. She almost always says “Tank you” and is getting much better about “Pease!” So cute.

*She says her “S” sound a little funny and it’s so cute. Of course, I hope she grows out of it, but it’s so sweet.

*Favorite things to eat: "ticken", “gapes”, “cackers”, "foo nacks”, and “dot dogs”. Still no milk/cheese because of the food allergies, but that seems to be getting better. I think they’ll test her again at her two-year checkup, so we’ll see how much better it’s gotten according to the doctor.

*She looooves her baby dolls. She loves to carry her babies around, give them their bottles and love on them.

*She’s also a huge music fan – go figure! If we’re in the car and she gets tired of the radio, she says “Song!” which means that she wants to listen to her Backyardigans CD. She knows a couple of parts in the songs and will sing those to me. She also likes the action songs on her Primary CD. We are especially fond of Popcorn Popping, The Wise Man & the Foolish Man and Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes. She’s also getting to be a pretty good dancer…hahaha.

*I love the forgiveness of children. Even if Abby has gotten in trouble, she still wants me to hold her while she cries about it. Amazing unconditional love.

*She's a pretty amazing belly dancer. Not sure if that's something to brag about, but it makes for great entertainment.

*She loves the water. Whether it's the bathtub, Wild River Country, the Buffalo River or her little plastic pool, she loves to be in the water.

*As much as I hate going to work and leaving her, I love seeing her run to me and yell, “Mommy!” when I pick her up. She is so in love with Mommy and Daddy and it melts our hearts.

The Lord blessed us with such an amazing gift when He allowed us to raise this precious child. I know that when we have another baby, our love will grow, but I think my heart might burst, too. I thought my love was complete when I met my wonderful husband, but I’m amazed at how it keeps growing. How grateful I am for the opportunity that I have to keep my wonderful family with me forever.

Our first Christmas season together.


What a babe!


In her fish towel from Grams.


Abby & Mommy on her 2nd birthday!


She zonks out just like Mommy & Daddy.

Update

On my to-do list - start packing. We are laid out to close on the house by September 4th, hopefully sooner. I know I've asked for a lot of prayers from you guys lately, but if you could just keep it up a little bit longer....we'd really appreciate it! ;o)

We had some friends in town over the last weekend. Chris and Shirin came to visit us from Switzerland. Chris stayed with the Elliotts as an exchange student when Zac was in high school. He comes back to visit every few years and the last two visits he's brought his girlfriend Shirin with him. We love them both and they're just like family - Shirin fits right in, too. Abby had a lot of fun with Shirin (who was wonderful with her!) but her true love is Chris. It was HILARIOUS to see her with him. Her little eyes just sparkled and the last night they were here she was just all over him. Hilarious - although I had to tell her that boys have cooties and she needs to stay far, FAR away!! :o)

Chris and Shirin cuddle with Abby



Abby loved Chris



Anyone else notice the strange resemblance between Daddy and Shel Silverstein?



Aunt Kirsten and Shirin trying to convince Abby that PJs are better on your body than on your head...

Birthday Party!!

Tonight we had Abby's 2nd birthday party at Funtastic in Cabot. It's a (usually) less chaotic version of Chuck E Cheese that Zac and I really like. They were pretty crazy tonight, but that's beside the point...we're dwelling on the good here! :o)

We had the party tonight, even though her birthday isn't until the 22nd. Read my post labeled "AHHH!" for more details if you're interested in that story! ;o) We had a lot of fun tonight. Abby got her cake (she's been saying "I want cake!" for about a week now) and lots of great presents. With both of our families living in this area, it makes for crazy, fun parties! We had a lot of fun and really love and appreciate all of our family and friends!!



CAKE!!!

Blowing out the candles

Cousin Hope and Aunt Hope

She loved her Dora backpack from Aunt Sherry and Uncle Jeff - we had to put it on right away!
(She's very in to backpacks and purses right now)

I was VERY grateful to Aunt Kirsten and Natalie Backus for helping so much with the cake!

Finally getting her yummy cake!

First kiss...

Not sure what I think about this...lol. Last night, we had a women's meeting at church. Kirsten and Michelle were in charge of the nursery and only had 4 kids - Abby and the Climer boys. They kept them in the Young Women's room. In the room, they have a little decorated table that has a lace tablecloth thing hanging off the edges. Apparently, Abby kept crawling under there to 'hide' under the tablecloth. Kirsten told me today that Spencer climbed under there with her a few times. During what would end up being their last visit under the table, Kirsten caught Spencer KISSING Abby!!! (Are you reading this, Kim?) haha If I didn't know that this boy came from such fine upbringing, I might be mortified!! lol I must admit, after one panic-stricken glance at Kirsten, I laughed. It's pretty cute - I just wish I'd had a camera so it could go in their scrapbooks...

AAAAHHHHH!!!!!

So, I had Abby's birthday all planned out. Her birthday is on Friday, one of Zac's days off, so we would have her party then. Balloons, cake, a pool, tons of fun, right?

NOT!!!!

I don't do well when my plans get all topsy-turvy. I get all upset trying to make things work and usually end up crying and acting like a crazy woman. And my poor, wonderful husband still loves me after it's all over. (I know, I'm a lucky woman!)

For starters, the pool is booked. I'm a dummy that didn't make reservations early enough.

Then there's a Scout campout that Zac is going on. Not that I'm upset about that - I'm thrilled that he has a job at church now, and I love that he works with the boys and Scouting, since it's one of his favorite things. But the dates of the campout interfere with our friends Chris and Shirin coming to visit from Switzerland.

Loooooong story short, Abby's party is now going to be held Saturday, August 16 at one of two places. Which kinda sucks because my friend Christine won't get to be here. But I can make that ok because I'll still get to see her on the 22nd. And I need to get invites out, like, yesterday.

Why do I do this to myself?