Nine

Nine years ago right now I was driving to the church for pictures. I was SO excited, and not a bit nervous. It was a beautiful day to start a crazy adventure - and I can't imagine it with anyone else by my side. Thank you, I love you, and I look forward to SO many more!

Father's Day '09

I had a post for Father's Day in my head with pictures for my 4 favorite father's/grandfather's but we got a new computer and there aren't any pictures on it! So, here's a post about our Father's Day.

My sister came over in the morning to help with dessert, then we went to a AAA baseball game. We were lucky that the thunder/lightning/rainstorm hit during the game and not on our looong walk in or out! The game was a blowout, but Stella did great. She needed about 15 minutes in the 5th inning to go downstairs and run around, but the rest of the time she sat with us. Here she is with Aunt Katie.

Here she's with Grandpa and the Rhubarb doll that they got her. (She loves the doll and loved the mascot from afar, but when we got close he wasn't a hit.) She fell asleep a few minutes after this was taken.

Here's our dessert! We got the idea from Bakerella. She made the templates for all of the paper products and I think they turned out so cute. I thought we needed dessert (hence the cupcake and frosting "ice cream cones" that look like little piles of poo!), and when I was at the $ store with a friend we just happened to find these mini coke glasses. They were perfect for rootbeer floats! Now, what the heck am I going to do with 8 mini coke glasses??? They will probably find their way to a garage sale or the goodwill...

Jim tries them...

My sister tries them while her hubby watches and laughs. (Grandpa was stuck in the background reading FOREVER!)

Stella tries it (apparently I subconsciously believe that if I open my mouth wider her little mouth will somehow be able to open wider... I sacrificed putting a terrible picture of me because it was the only one of her trying to get her mouth around it.)

I just love this picture. They don't ADORE each other at all!!!

Hope you all had a fantastic and relaxing Father's Day!

Too much?

Well, we're into our 3rd day of summer break and I don't feel like it at all! Jim has worked a couple of days, it's raining, and we've just been too busy.

We had a nice little "going-away" party for my friend last night, it was nice to hang out with everyone again - it's been WAY too long.

Finally, I just got off the phone with the woman from the YMCA. I joined Stella and I so that I could get her into some things for the summer. She needs to be able to get out and not just hang out with her Dad and I all of the time! So, she's now in Inia swimming lessons on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and Toddler Gym Wednesday mornings. I CANNOT believe that my not quit 18 month old is in activities 3 days a week! I know she'll love it and it will be good for her, but I've always said I'm not going to sign my kids up for a million things and have them going 5 days/nights a week. Definitely something to be aware of.

SCHOOOOOOOL'S. OUT. FOR. SUMMER!!!

I can't stop singing that song.... and dancing a little! :)

I will miss this girl!

One of my closest friends came over Saturday night for a fire. Stella was infatuated by her! They ate together (well, Stella dipped veggies in ranch, sucked it off, repeated a few times and then spit it out to Kelli) Kelli played with her while I hung lanterns on the pergola. We gave her a bath, and then Stella let Kelli rock her while we said prayers before bed - that's usually Dad's job.

She's moving to Tuscan in less than a week and I'm going to miss her terribly! Anyone know of fun people who might want to take her in as a friend? I must warn you that she's a little dingy, a little crazy, and a whole lot of fun! She's always good for a laugh, to vent, or a "mini-vaction" to the slot machines. She one of the few people that you meet that when it gets rough will be there for you. We've shared a ton of great times and although I'm beyond happy for her, I selfishly hope she's miserable and moves back!

Jim wasn't convinced that two little idiots like us could get the fire going! Um, YES WE CAN! Although, I'll admit that it took a little longer than it seems to take him.

Kelli getting acosted by Murphy. After Stella went to bed Kelli helped me plant four hanging baskets and 3 planters - what a trooper!

Proof for Jim that we did indeed have the hose "primed and ready" in case the pergola/lawn/house caught on fire!

Finally... she brought over fruits and veggies for dinner. I cut up the kiwi and she asked how I "skinned" them. This video is for her, but maybe you can use it too. Anyone else have any fun tricks for fruit?

BUSY!

A friend emailed me yesterday (I think) to ask how Stella was doing and I realized that I hadn't posted an update. Just before bed Monday night she downed a bowl of yogurt that I mixed some left over baby cereal in for a little extra nutrition. Ever since, she's been eating like a champ and in the BEST mood! She's happy, laughing, and silly. Just an hour or so ago I got a picture from Sheri saying that after she'd done her own daughter's hair for school Stella climbed up on the stool and asked Sheri to do her hair. She never lets me put anything in it so I was pretty excited. I haven't taken any pictures in the last week or so so this one will have to do! Ah, that little pony tail in what Jim lovingly refers to as her "bratty hair". ♥ Man, this girl melts our hearts!

We've been SO busy - two days left of school and neither Jim nor I can wait!

FINALLY!

After spending 2 hours at the ER with Stella Friday night (where an hour into it she started eating and playing!) We brought her home without seeing anyone. We had at least another 3 hours to wait and it was already past her bedtime. I thought that the best thing for her at the time was a good night's sleep. She is now eating, playing, and has no fever. Finally, I can let out this breath I've been holding for 5 days!

In the midst of all of this we've created some really poor habits. Friday night she cried for an hour when I put her down (after 3 nights of sleeping with her Dad), she wouldn't nap all weekend, she "needs" her blanket, and she wants to be held ALL OF THE TIME! All of these were things that we'd already "fixed" and now have to start over. The only one that's been an issue previously was the wanting to be held. I'm not quite sure how to handle that. I can't make dinner at night because she doesn't want to be put down. It makes for some exhausting evenings (not to mention a sore back/neck/and arms). There's part of me that says just to relax and enjoy it because there's going to come a time in the not too distant future that she won't want me to hold her and I'll desperately miss it!

I've been busily working on projects, I have a lot going on right now. Luckily, on 6 MORE GET-UPS!!!! Thank goodness.

Thank you all for the sweet comments and positive thoughts for our girl - it's much appreciated!

Another rough night

I married an amazing man and an AMAZING father! Jim stayed up with Stella all night again. At one point I went in to check on them and they were both cuddled up on the twin bed in her room sleeping. She'll reach out every once and a while to feel for you and be sure someone is still there with her. Her face was smashed into his chest and her arm was wrapped around his. I just stood there in awe and cried a little.

By midnight Jim woke me up and her temperature was back up over 104. We took her downstairs, wet her hair, made her drink fluids, and then she and I went out to sit on the porch and suck down a pediapop. It's been so hot here and when we went outside there were huge raindrops falling. We just sat there cuddling, eating her popsicle, listening to the rain, and smelling that "it hasn't rained in a while" smell. It's crazy how at a time when you're SO stressed and worried you can still feel like you'll always remember that moment and kind of don't want it to end.

I'm at school today (it's such a tough time to be gone with finals and seniors checking out). We're so lucky that my mom came over to stay with her today. This morning her temp was down to about 99 so I'm really hoping that it's finally broken, the antibiotics are working, and there's nothing more serious going on. I know she's in great hands, but it's still hard not to be there.

Stella Bean - update

We're home from the dr. Stella doesn't have pneumonia (I have NO idea how to spell that), but he said it does look like there's an infection around her bronchial tubes. Her white blood cell count is down from 21.5 last night to 16 today. That's still on the high end, but he said it's good considering it's been less than 24 hours. She's been playing and laughing since we've been home and even eaten a little bit. We haven't gotten the results of her urine and blood cultures so I can't completely relax until those are back (we probably won't know anything until Monday...)

I'm terrified!

Stella has had a fever for a few days (high - 102 - 104.6). The motrin was kicking it, but when it wore off she was miserable. Then yesterday the motrin didn't work. We decided to take her into the clinic. That poor girl had a nose swab (negative for flu), a finger prick, blood drawn, and a urine sample. How do you get a urine sample from a 17 month old??? Catheter. I just cried.

Her white blood count is high. The nurse practioner said she's seen higher... I asked if those kids were ok and she just looked at me blanky for a second and then said, "they went straight to the hospital." She also told me to get up throughout the night to check on her and if she got worse to take her to the ER. Talk about scaring me. I'm a worrier by nature so my mind goes to worst case scenerio. I can't even say the L word, and I keep bursting into tears. She goes back in today for a chest xray and to check her white blood count again. If you have an extra minute today to send some prayers her way it would be GREATLY appreciated. I can't stop praying for a strong little body.

Another weekend review

There are only 11 days of school left - maybe soon I'll be able to post more than just weekend updates! My Dad and Stepmom got the 3 kids and their spouses tickets to Grease for Christmas and we went this weekend. I LOVED it (although there was at least one person who was less than impressed). I'm NOT a Taylor Hicks fan, but other than that I thought it was fantastic. I wore a black dress and red heels. I was a little overdressed for our impromtu stroll through Pike Place Market. We had to make a stop into Nordstrom Rack to get me a pair of flip flops for all of the hiking!

I don't have a fancy bag for going out so I thought rather than buy one I'd try to make one. It's FAR from great, but it worked just fine for the evening. It held all of the things I needed (small wallet, key, compact, lipgloss, and my small camera. Funny... I never pulled my camera out to actually use it!

Good thing my sister took a couple. (Nobody told me my hair looked so big.) And darn her for being so dang photogenic!

Yesterday Stella tried to help Dad by watering the trees just the way he does. The hose gets to be a little tough to handle when you're only 17 months old and she soaked herself!

Luckily it was an 80+ degree day. We had so much fun playing in her new pool. I know we'll get a ton of use out of it this summer!

One more playing in the pool with the hose. You can't tell from the picture, but we bought an adapter for our kitchen sink and ran the hose out the window to her pool so we could have warm water. What a DREAM!!!! I'll never have to carry buckets of hot water outside again, and we'll never have to swim in freezing cold water!

Finally - we got her dancing on video! (I LOVE LOVE LOVE the little butt wiggle!!!!) Only about the first half is good, then it's mostly Jim yelling at the dog to get out of the shot.