A Weekend From You-Know-Where!

We decided to make a trip to Dothan Friday afternoon for groceries at Super Walmart because things are sooo expensive in Eufaula right now. Our first stop was to the Olive Garden though, so we could celebrate my birthday dinner early (my birthday is on July 4th.) It was absolutely perfect. I had the Five Cheese Ziti del Forno, Jeff had Chicken Parmesan and Anna Kate enjoyed her chicken tenders and fries. It was SO GOOD! I'm still full from it :-) From there we went to Pet Smart to get diapers for Bell (I'll explain that in a minute) and then to Circuit City. I needed a few accessories for my new iPod (my early birthday gift from Jeff & AK) and Jeff picked up one as well. So far so good. On to the mall. We have a family wedding coming up in August on the beach, so we needed outfits. Jeff hit the jackpot and of course I did not. *Huff* I did pick up two blouses for work though, so I guess that counts for something. By the time we made it back to the car and got AK settled it was clear we were pushing her limits and would have to bypass the Walmart stop - the whole reason we made the trip in the first place...

Saturday started out rocky. Anna Kate woke up in a terrible mood and Jeff and I were so exhausted from our busy work week = DISASTER! I'll just say that it was a very rough day. Add that to our female dog Bell is in heat. We missed our window to have her spade by a week and now are forced to deal with the 'events' of heat - hence the diapers. We have kept her crated by herself for the most part but it has been a circus around this house.

Sunday...WORSE! Anna Kate woke me up at 3:30AM crying that her bottom hurt. She had to tee-tee, but said she couldn't and wanted in the tub with warm water (we've been down this road before, but I wasn't prepared for what followed.) That didn't help and soon she was screaming in pain. From her body language I could tell she was having 'shooting' like pains. Over the course of four hours I believe she had 6-8 warm baths, none of which helped her. I gave her Tylenol and Ibuprofen (spaced out of course), she drank cranberry juice and water, yet every time she tee-teed she screamed in pain and burning. It was pitiful and heart wrenching when she begged me to make it feel better. She said over and over again, "I just can't take it anymore." It was awful! Finally I posted on my parenting message forum and they recommended a heating pad. BINGO! That did the trick. No more pain. She feels so much better! I do think I'll take her to the doctor in the morning though just to be sure it's cleared up. I want to be sure it hasn't spread to her kidneys, which I understand can happen rather quickly in younger children.

So, short of Jeff and I coming down with some puking virus, I don't know how much worse it could have gotten. Now it's time for bed and I'm so exhausted I can't go to sleep. Go figure. If I can just get through four days of work, I'm hoping to take a relaxing three off for my birthday. Wish me luck...

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Two Left Feet...

What happened to me this week? Good question. For some reason I just couldn't get my act together enough to sit down and edit the pics and come up with something half way interesting to say. But I made myself do it today.

We had a good week, for the most part. Father's Day was rather interesting. Anna Kate was starting to come down with something but she managed to get through Sunday school just fine. I could tell when I went to get her though that she was beginning her meltdown phase. We decided to attempt church anyway since it was Father's Day. WHAT-A-MISTAKE...ten minutes later I was taking her out for misbehaving and being disruptive. She was so sleepy, but refused to give in. I finally got her settled down enough to go back inside with ten minutes left in the service. *Sigh* At least Jeff was able to hold his daughter at some point in the service.

Let me preface this next part by saying that I give you full permission to laugh at my 'experience'. Jeff was going to carry Anna Kate to the car and I was to carry all of our belongings (Anna Kate's backpack full of crayons, coloring books, activity books and quiet toys - (you know, because we were fully anticipating her keeping herself quiet and occupied with these things...NOT!) my purse, two bibles and two Sunday school study guides.) We chatted with a few friends on our way out of the front doors and then I hit the first or the ten concrete steps and bit the dust. Oh my! I don't even know how it happened. All I know is I felt myself falling and I couldn't do anything about it. My butt hit the first three steps and then somehow I flipped over to my stomach and landed at the bottom face first. Major scene! I tried to get up but both of my ankles hurt really bad. Finally Jeff went to get the car after I very firmly asked him (through clenched teeth) to please go get the car. People were insisting they call an ambulance or that I go to the ER on my own. Um, I would have to be on my death bed to go to that place. It's just not happening. Jeff and two others assisted me to the car, while another lady carried all of our crap. The second our doors shut and we were out of sight my loving husband says to me, "You know, if you were trying to humor me on father's day I can think of a better way than falling out of church on your face." We both immediately busted out with hysterical laughter (me with some tears of course, because I really was hurting.)

Needless to say, I was pretty much incapacitated for a few hours after church. We couldn't go out for Father's Day lunch and poor Jeff had to rush around the den picking up just in case someone popped in to check on me (our church family is so great with things like that.)

I did manage to get up and cook him dinner though (his favorite, taco salad.) And although I am really sore, I didn't break anything. I have a bad bruise and knot on my left shin and I do think I strained a muscle in my thigh. I'm very lucky I didn't really get hurt. It was a pretty bad fall. People were shocked I hadn't broken anything. So ya'll be sure to say a little prayer for me that I don't have a repeat 'performance' tomorrow...

Anna Kate did in fact come down with something - a sinus infection. She was also covered in mosquito bites from a brief trip outside without bug repellent. She is unbelievably sensitive to insect bites. They get the size of a nickel, get red and hard as a rock. She scratches constantly. So much that it turns into a frenzy and she completely falls apart. I can't get frustrated with her though, because I am the exact same way. I took her to the Pediatrician Wednesday morning, where they diagnosed the sinus infection and then said the insect bites looked infected, so they gave her ten days of Augmentin and a three day steroid. My poor baby just does not do 'sick' very well at all. She is so active and literally bouncing off the walls that when she's sick, she gets immensely frustrated that she can't keep going. Bless her little heart, she just wants to play and stay awake without missing a beat.

Here are a few random pictures just to make you smile :-)


Anna Kate helped to make an Oreo cream pie (she also enjoyed licking the beaters.)


Jeff and his son on Father's Day. Anna Kate was napping since she was sick and I had to use the zoom lens from the sofa since I was lay up on ice packs...sorry dear!

Okay, anyone who knows me knows that I do not sew. Well, I can sew two pieces of fabric together into a square and stuff it with polyfil to make a pillow, but that's where my abilities end. I was in Hobby Lobby last weekend and decided I wanted to try and sew Anna Kate an outfit (not a simple square.) I picked out the pattern (very simple capri pants with an A-line top) and the fabric. ***What on earth was I thinking?*** I've already had to take the pants apart twice and gave up on the stupid shoulder ties on the top (how are you supposed to turn a strip of fabric that is 1/4" wide and sewn like a tube inside out????? It's impossible I tell you!) I am about ready to chunk it all in the garbage can and succumb to my brief moment of insanity. I am not a visual learner. I can't read that pattern and make a bit of sense out of it. Now, if my mom was sitting next to me and showing me how to do it, it probably would have been done already. Who am I kidding? I have been known to start a project and whine just enough so that my beautiful mother finishes it for me while I sit back and talk....love you mom. You up for a road trip? ;-)

So although I have photographs to prove I have actually started the project, I can't guarantee I will have some of a finished product...

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Surgery Update #2

Dad is fine. The pathologist examined the mass and determined it is benign. It of course will be sent off for further testing, but it doesn't look like cancer!!!! Phew! So all is well and he is resting just fine.

Thanks so much for the positive thoughts and prayers :-) The worked!

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Surgery Day - Update 1

Dad is having surgery this morning to have that mass removed. It was 15mm the last time it was measured and growing. Mom called about 10 minutes ago and said the procedure had started. The surgery is supposed to take approximately an hour. There is a pathologist on hand to examine the mass and make a quick judgement on whether it is benign or malignant. Of course, the mass will have to be sent off for more in depth examination, but we will at least have a pretty good idea what we're dealing with today.

Please keep him and our family in your thoughts and prayers today.

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A Great Gift!

Anna Kate received a little package from our friends Spring, Scott and Avery earlier this week. Anna Kate was beside herself with excitement to open it...and what did she pull out? Well her very own custom personalized apron. It is the cutest thing EVER! And without further ado, I present to you Little Chef Lee...





(For any of you photography buffs, this has a vintage action applied, then a texture added at 12% opacity.)

These next photos were taken by Jeff while I was refilling our pool with 'fresh' water. Isn't she just adorable?!






I have been busy the past two weeks traveling for work. I didn't realize how tiring it is to work and travel in the same day. I can definitely sympathize with Jeff more now. I have a wedding photography shoot Friday evening and a yard sale Saturday. I am so looking forward to a vacation.


Speaking of, we head to Disney next Friday. We plan to leave early in the morning and travel down in one day. Anna Kate is so excited to meet up with her friend Avery again. I think Magic Kingdom will be our Saturday destination and Epcot Sunday. Monday is designated as our 'travel home' day, unfortunately. Although it's a very short weekend trip, I have no doubt we will have a magical time!


And before I end for the night, I'll share a few pictures of our dogs - Belle and Barkley. Jeff bought them Auburn shirts for football season, which they modeled for us.

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Swimming, Mosquito Bites, Cake and SATC...

I bought Anna Kate a little pool for her (us) to enjoy this summer, as well as the cutest little swimsuit ever. It was an el cheapo, so I'm sure I'll have to replace it several times, but for now, it gets the job done. She helped me put it up Friday afternoon and we had it full of water and were playing in it by the time Jeff got home. We played in it after we finished dinner and again in & out Saturday. I'm pretty confident we will be investing in an in ground pool next year. Jeff has come to the realization that Anna Kate and I will stay in it as much as possible.











One of my BIGGEST complaints about the summer months (yes, it's summer here. I realize it's only June 1st, but it was literally 95* today...H.O.T. I dread August!) is the ginormous mosquitoes that bypass every other living human being within a 100 mile radius and find their way onto my or Anna Kate's legs despite the fact that we're dripping in bug repellent. We are walking itching bug bites. Anna Kate seems to have the same severe reaction/sensitivity to insect bites as me and it is miserable. We have invested in several tubes of antihistamine cream that I can see now we will go through rather quickly. *Sigh*


Saturday evening after dinner Anna Kate and I decided to make a hot fudge chocolate cake for dessert. OH-MY-IT-WAS-DELISH! We had a good time making it and as you can see....eating it!
















And finally, I have been in desperate need of a 'girl's day out'. I rounded up a girlfriend (thanks Bridget, it was SO much fun!) and we headed to the Olive Garden and to see Sex and the City. I can't tell you how good it was. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I laughed again and cried again. It was two hours and fifteen minutes long and I swear, I could have sat there another two hours. Honestly, I would go see it again! Anyone up for a road trip?



And now I'm off to iTunes.com to download the soundtrack. Have a good week everyone!

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