Thanksgiving - PLEASE DO OVER!

For some reason I always have these really good clips where I write semi regularly, then I fall off the wagon...oh well. I am back. And I want a Thanksgiving do over!
So a week from this past Sunday we had our thanksgiving dinner with my family at my parents house. Turkey, dressing, the trimmings and of course I made a chocolate pecan pie, because I had to contribute something!

It was fun :). Then we went to our community group at church and had another dinner (not Thanksgiving menu) and I brought this veggie dish that I didn't take a picture of, but promise to next time. It was good, and went well with pasta.
THEN on Wednesday we left for Oklahoma to go see Tim's parents. I was excited about helping to make Thanksgiving dinner and hanging out with the in-laws and going shopping on black friday and having our mini Christmas celebration with them too! But I wasn't feeling so hot. My neck was hurting and I was tired, and hadn't really had any kind of appetite all day. I brushed it off. We got there late Wednesday evening and all pretty much just went to bed.
On Thursday we woke up and I felt worse. I was dizzy and tired and nauseous and my neck still hurt. I was not in the mood to cook anything, and really couldn't stand up at all. I sat at the kitchen table and made a chocolate pecan pie, and a fruit salad, and a brownie pie, but then I basically sat out for the rest of the time. I was lame. I was breaking out in cold sweats after dizzy spells and didn't eat at all any of the fruits of my mother in laws efforts.
On Thursday evening is when the culmination came and I decided I was sick. I was sitting on the toilet (maybe tmi, but whatever) and my in laws have one of those old houses where you can see yourself in the mirror while you're peeing or whatever and I was looking at myself in the mirror. I got really dizzy and I watched my face drain of all color. Then I sweated all over the place and got flushed. It was odd...and all I could do to pull my pants up and go lay in bed, which is exactly what I did.
Needless to say I did not go shopping on black Friday. I also didn't go to the doctor, cause I'm a moron maybe, but I didn't until Friday between about 3 and 4 when Dylan was down for a nap, I said "I think I need to go to the doctor" There was some debate, and they finally convinced me the ER was the only place to go at this time in this area, so we went. I could barely make it there.
When we got there and I signed my name and answered the lady's questions, all the while thinking, "This is nuts! You should ask ppl who AREN'T sick to do this..I didn't come to the ER to have an oral test!". Then I waited (not very long as this is not a big hospital). And got called back. They let me sit on a bed...YAY! (I laid on it). They took my blood pressure...it was 79/49....my first thought was of humor for two reasons. 1. because I normally have high blood pressure, and for those of you not in the know 120/60 is about normal and 2. because they had this big debate the night before because my mother in law swore she could tell my blood pressure by my pulse and she guessed it was like 140 over something...we later steered her in the right direction and told her you can't tell blood pressure that way, but still funny right? Cause she was a little off...HOWEVER, my pulse was high (126). Ok, then they made me pee in a cup, and I was disgusted and scared by what I produced into that cup. It was just scary....I don't want to go into any more detail about it than that. Ok then, the doctor came in and said...'You're blood pressure is really low, and you're pulse is kinda high' and I am apparently very sarcastic when I am not feeling well, maybe always, cause my thought was 'I came all the way here for that? I could have done that!'. Then he left and did whatever he does, and then popped back in and said your urine is terribly infected (which I could tell by the scariness) and you are dehydrated and we are worried that you have lost some kidney function. We are going to start you on an IV antibiotic and some liquids and flush them out and you're going to have to stay overnight. GREAT. Overnight in the smallest hospital I've ever seen 8 hours away from my house. :(
Tim was great though, he stayed the first night with me and most of the next day, he brought Dylan up to see me and helped me pee. :) I was feeling much better and I thought I was going to get to leave Saturday, but that didn't happen...but thankfully I got to leave Sunday afternoon and eat REAL food! yay! That was my Thanksgiving adventure...so I'd like a redo! I missed all the pie and food!! Oh well, probably for the best anyhow. I just wish I could have spent more time enjoying my company rather than being an invalid!

New Car and Other Excitingness!

This weekend was a whirlwind! Tim and I attempted to sell his truck by putting it on Auto Trader a few weeks back, and to our surprise fairly soon after we placed the ad a buyer from American Auto Brokers called us to make us an offer. The offer didn't cover the difference of what we owed on the truck, but it was SIGNIFICANTLY more than anyone else has offered us for trade. So I called up the dealership and asked about making a trade in of both of our cars we had notes on (the 2500 truck, and the RAV4) for one vehicle from them.
They got us preapproved, and it was pain free! The whole experience was totally awesome, and I would recommend them to anyone in the market for a used truck/suv/and some cars. They don't have a big car selection, but maybe you could luck out like us and get a car like THIS! Which is the car we got :) Totally wonderfully awesome, yes?
ANYHOW, then I came home and took care of D, went to church & small group on Sunday and started preparing for his party. My little boy is turning two tomorrow! We are having his party this weekend and my father in law is coming - but that is another story entirely.
I made a cupcake cake. I had read about them online and heard about them through friends, and my sister actually had one made for my other sister's birthday not too long ago, so I wanted to attempt to make one myself. Here are my results.

I am going to add some finishing touches - some more frosting and some decorations. I will update you on what it looks like later :D.
My little boy turns 2! Here is a last look at him at 1, because the next time I post pics of him, he will more than likely be 2 - cause his birthday is tomorrow in case you have forgotten during my ramblings (ok, yes I know that explanation was probably not needed, but I cannot help myself! I think I talk to stupid people too often!).

Catching up :)

A lot has happened recently! Maybe not monumental excitingness, but a lot for my family just the same.

We got our new couch - and YES it's purple :)! I got a rug too, thank you Tim for the very nice anniversary present!

I also got very pretty anniversary flowers marking the 2nd year of our marriage! Yay Tim! And we went to a VERY nice restaurant for our anniversary dinner - and it was super yummy and ritzy and fancy.

D taught Tim how to play on his bike - and he went along for a ride for extra measure

We've had some fun at McDonalds - these guys are just too cute together aren't they? <3

D has tried to convince us to join him playing in the mud - but he had a lot of fun in it by himself!

We have had fun playing outside...and BOY has it been HOT! I never thought I'd want to go back to the cold...but I'm ready for some cool at least, and so is D! Just look at those cheeks!

My mother-in-law came for a visit and surprised D by getting him the very thing he has been wanting (if an almost 2 year old can tell you such things). He sure enjoys his early birthday present :).

Our little family has had a lot of fun the past few weeks, and I'm looking forward to a busy weekend schedule ahead! Sooooo nice to be home and be able to call the place I am actually living that. We are going to try to trade in our cars for one (keep your fingers crossed!), and we are going to have D's birthday party in a few weeks, we are going to a McNeese game to see my sister, and I am trying to get more involved in the Women's ministry at church...TRYING. We shall see...in the meantime we are having lots of fun enjoying each other on a day to day basis just doing the regular excitingness stuff :).

So then there was me

My little man is growing up. He is wonderfully exciting and fun to be around, and I love him to pieces. He is excitable and fun loving. He screams and cries and throws random tantrums. I can't seem to wrap my head around the shifts in his moods. Don't get me wrong the shifts always happen for a 'reason'. Like I didn't give him what he wanted to eat, he had to be strapped into the car seat and would much rather roam free, etc. I guess my real problem is trying to find the balance between the Mommy that wants to give him the world and the Mommy that wants him to be a well behaved/balanced little boy instead of a spoiled brat.
I am struggling with this balance....I guess it's because of my father. That sounds like I'm blaming him, doesn't it? Well, I am not. He was a great father, but he always hurt my feelings in his 'discipline.' I was never strong enough, I was overly sensitive, blah blah blah. I don't want to hurt D's feelings, I want him to feel safe and loved, but I want him to have discipline. How do I do that without turning into the very thing I feared in my father for so long?
I pray every day that I am the patient and loving Mommy that D deserves. I want to be kind and loving, and firm and guiding. Sounds easy enough huh? I am so blessed to have been rewarded by having a child, and he's awesome...just trying to find my way to be just as awesome for him :).

To Do Lists

I love making lists - everyday at work at the end of the day I make myself a list of things that need to be done the next day. I make lists in my head all the time, it makes things feel more manageable and there's something very satisfactory about checking off something that has been completed on the list. My to do list today is very long, and kind of daunting. I have one for both work and home and here it is:
1. MB - set to pay
2. MB - enter permits
3. Alta - enter permits
4. BC - enter permits
5. BC - attach permits
6. MB - attach permits (1302)
7. Do Craigslist ad - we are selling the truck, or going to attempt to, and I need to get it on there!
8. Register the Civic - Tim got a new car (old, but new to him) to be his everyday drive car so we can attempt to get rid of the truck
9. Wash dishes!!!! - I am starting to loathe going home to my awfully messy kitchen/house
10. Do laundry - have I mentioned my house is an absolute wreck?
11. Buy an office chair for the house - I have rearranged my living area so my old 'office chair' is now a living area chair. It doesn't match, but I will tackle that later.
12. Finish Mom's website - we made great strides last night, and I hope to have it totally done soon!
My list feels overwhelming - and I long to have a clean house and planned meals daily, I just don't know how to get there. Perhaps this week will be the week I get it done!

Sad Days

Life is full of oddities. My Aunt Connie died about 2 weeks ago. I did not feel compelled to go to her funeral. Perhaps that is calloused, but it doesn't really matter to me. I liked her, she was nice and vivacious, but to be truthful she was a bit too much for me. A little too loud, a little too intrusive. I was saddened by her death, mostly for my father and her husband, but I was not overtly moved one way or the other. I thought something was wrong with me, and perhaps there is - but I cannot identify it, so I must move on.
My sister's father in law passed away on Thursday of this past week. This made me sad as well, but sadder than my aunt's passing. I didn't know the man - in fact I had seen him twice ever, but it was much more sudden, and he was so much younger. I don't know if these were the reasons that made me more sad, but these are the facts. I went to his funeral, a funeral of a man I didn't know. I did it because my sister and brother in law were there facing this loss, and I needed to go. I cried at this funeral of a man I didn't know, not for him - but for those he left behind. For my brother in law that now has no father, for my sister trying to support him through this time. Funerals aren't for the dead - they're for the living. I have said this countless times, and it rings true still today. I went to a funeral of a man I barely knew, and cried for the loss of him in my loved ones lives. Perhaps I am not so weird after all? Perhaps that is wishful thinking.

The Day My Son Ate My Brownie

So I have had an eventful evening/morning. It all started last night. (cue flash back music and the fade into another scene).
Last night we went to dinner with my mom. She graciously picked up my son from daycare and we met her at the restaurant. Then we went home, and started our nightly rituals...(and I watched the movie 'Lemonade Mouth' on the Disney Channel...LOVED IT but I have a penchant for teeny bopper movies and the Disney Channel in general).
Then I realized I couldn't find my cell phone. This is important for several reasons: 1. This is how I wake up, 2. Anyone who knows me, KNOWS I cannot live without my phone. 3. This is how I wake up.
So, I was frantically running around trying to figure out where my phone was - and calling it incessantly. Finally someone answered. Apparently I left it at the restaurant, and had to get there in 10 min in order to retrieve it. SO...i hightailed it over to the restaurant and got it. I got home, and my son was crying - AND I had to pee, btw my husband was already sleeping at this point. So I peed, and then got my son out of his bed. And apparently pee is the reason he woke up too. Apparently he had somehow gotten his diaper off and proceeded to pee all over the bed and himself, and let's face it laying in pee would make anyone cranky. So, I woke up my husband, sponge bathed and changed my son and calmed him down. Meanwhile, my husband was changing the sheets and making the necessary whatevers to the bed - I don't know I didn't ask. So I finally got him back in bed, and it was about 11:30pm. Not too bad, right?
I thought so too! Then I made our lunches (mine and Tim's) because that is how we eat everyday and then I settled down for the night. And started reading, this is my normal routine.
Then my sister texts me, and it was traumatic, but I don't want to share it here, because it is not my story to tell. But because she was having such spotty reception, I ended up staying up until almost 3 to get a sporadic story via texts from her.
Then this morning, I woke up (late as per usual), and took a shower and did my hair and the normal getting ready things. I got Dylan up and did the same. He was in a pretty good mood, actually which was awesome because I am still so so so so tired. Anyhow, he was in a good mood, until we got in the car. Apparently, he is all about my lunch box. He knows I bring food in it, and today he was hungry. So I had to go through everything in my lunch box and he finally settled on my brownie. So I gave it to him, and before you get all excited it was a Fiber One 90 calorie brownie, and let's face it - doughnuts are SO much worse. Then I promptly proceeded to start sneezing my head off. I do not think this is at all in relation to giving D the brownie, but it is an interesting coincidence! And I have been sneezing my head off ever since! It is now almost noon, and if my sneezing fits subside, maybe I'll have a chance to miss my brownie, but probably not - now more than anything I just want a nap!