tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70966441046869842862024-03-05T15:22:47.387-06:00Miley MinutesCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.comBlogger418125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-58115674115057700932018-04-14T21:21:00.000-05:002018-04-14T21:21:01.125-05:00Before and Afters of the AlyDo we know how to spell Alley?? Yes, we do! Even the realtors were confused on the spelling of this word. Some documents said Aly. The street sign says "Alley," yet all of our mail was being changed to "Aly" automatically. Did you know that Aly is the official abbreviation of Alley? I mean, why does Alley even need an abbreviation? Its not like the word: Boulevard....where you have to stop and think how to spell it. I digress.<br />
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WHY did we move? We get that question ALL THE TIME. To sum it up: we have 4 kids. At the time, Mason was sleeping in an oversized closet. We could definitely benefit from a different layout. We wanted a flatter backyard for the kids to play in. We ended up buying 20 acres behind the new house to keep any future builders from using that for more subdivision extensions (which they were trying to do). The entire house is focused on the back yard view -- and I couldn't imagine seeing neighbors back there. It would ruin the view. And the new house had a "MIL suite" with a second laundry room, second kitchen, living room, and 2 bedrooms with a jack-n-jill handicapped accessible bathroom. Perfect for when my extended family comes to visit!<br />
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We love the family that lived in the house before us. We haven't met the original family that designed/built/lived here first. So that makes us the third family to live in this house. And it is pushing 15-20 years old I think. I try really hard not to post any before pics, because it was THEIR space then. And I'm not judging. People walk in now, and they don't realize just how much we have done to it. Even the toilets got replaced. So to give you an idea why there are ALWAYS trucks here and work crews making loud noises ALL DAY long for the past year. Here are some before and afters! <br />
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We've been living here for about 4 months and we still have some rooms to finish. Some rooms you'll have to wait to see later. Or just come over now. <br />
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My main purpose in renovating was to make it even MORE EFFICIENT for a family of 6. There were certain parts that were great, but maybe not meant for 4 kids. I wanted every square inch of this house FULLY FUNCTIONAL FOR A FAMILY OF SIX! <br />
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The BEFORE pics are the ones I downloaded from the realtor's website. SOOOO for all you inquiring minds (and most of you that read this have probably already seen these). But you may not have seen the before pics. enjoy!!<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">KITCHEN!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Added a pot-filler since we lost the island sink. </td></tr>
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Overall, the kitchen got all new appliances (KitchenAid), farmhouse apron sink (Rohl Shaws), two pendant lights added (PotteryBarn), an entire new island to allow a mini fridge and microwave, new paint (SW Repose Gray), new floors, cut off the bar level, and added a pot filler and coordinating sink faucet (Rohl). Cabinet hardware (chrome Lugarno) and bar stools are from Restoration Hardware and runner is from Annie Selke (Marco). </div>
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We were leaving what I call my "double wide" fridge/freezer to a current single unit. NOT HAPPENING WITH 4 KIDS. I refused to budge on this issue. I needed my double wide plus a mini fridge plus another full size fridge in the apartment suite (not to mention the deep freeze in garage full of deer meat)! Putting a double wide unit meant shifting the stove top down the wall, and losing some counter space. I also didn't need a vegetable sink in the island. I felt I could use the island better with just a smooth flat top. We cut off the two-level bar height to open it up into the living room more. </div>
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There is not a formal dining room. But the nook area is large enough to fit up to a 12-seat table with room to spare. Because the rest of the house is pretty casual, and the kids eat at the bar most of the time, I chose to go fancy with the new table, chairs, and chandelier. All of that is from Restoration Hardware. We have very little usable wall space in this house (mostly windows everywhere), so I went with the verses of "How Great Thou Art" for the dining room. My grandmother that I did not like at all died right before we moved in. Even though we never got along, I learned about forgiveness. And the only thing she ever taught me (besides what type of grandmother I hope to never be) is how to play that song on her organ when I was a kid. </div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">LIVING ROOM</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jxNr5Wn-xfWPTiJV2oN7mU-vdiu8rlmyuSjlsYISgJUfe4fLJORC_SiAtq3UgNIFC4hNCC-rj5YKiK79Zoz0w53pcM1VPSidpZNOF7hz6wBpvmNEYtTHuE7ewqpcttIhPCBU8sNjsOJ-/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jxNr5Wn-xfWPTiJV2oN7mU-vdiu8rlmyuSjlsYISgJUfe4fLJORC_SiAtq3UgNIFC4hNCC-rj5YKiK79Zoz0w53pcM1VPSidpZNOF7hz6wBpvmNEYtTHuE7ewqpcttIhPCBU8sNjsOJ-/s320/IMG_2317.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't understand the original built-ins. I also wanted to widen the fireplace to allow a bigger TV. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjposp3VJKcNSWSNcHCv94UKFri1gRNfu2muDgltbKehSisJzYIRswHTMEkpOY75duWbzX7Up_GIZXeuyaLQprKaVEoLuZNVu_FRtdd3p2ZonWnVzXrtKxuhloUCZ1fwp_osPgsXYmtsF5d/s1600/IMG_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjposp3VJKcNSWSNcHCv94UKFri1gRNfu2muDgltbKehSisJzYIRswHTMEkpOY75duWbzX7Up_GIZXeuyaLQprKaVEoLuZNVu_FRtdd3p2ZonWnVzXrtKxuhloUCZ1fwp_osPgsXYmtsF5d/s320/IMG_2320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room (while it was still under construction) but we do not have our new couches yet, so I refuse to post the hot-mess that it still is now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAXawUXulpANn81H7SEtvZ_QcRPwzFkPVV4VvpN7YbqYquuncr63mGwNfRGwzJeNxc_kiWKe2qdHb3C-41c03R66nSp2ubkrpkYB3ljo4UcLWzoYrcscU-6KmQYRLNbvto8oi5kO1MDWg/s1600/IMG_1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAXawUXulpANn81H7SEtvZ_QcRPwzFkPVV4VvpN7YbqYquuncr63mGwNfRGwzJeNxc_kiWKe2qdHb3C-41c03R66nSp2ubkrpkYB3ljo4UcLWzoYrcscU-6KmQYRLNbvto8oi5kO1MDWg/s320/IMG_1809.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brown was the original color and you can see how the original white trim had aged</td></tr>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">MATI CLAIRE'S ROOM</span></div>
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Mati Claire's room had what I called 3 little "ship windows". I felt like we were in the cargo hold of a ship. The blinds weren't working for me cosmetically. But you also can't put drapes on a half-wall. The only wall a bed would go on was the large window (which it covered half of that as well). It was such a "usable" wall if I could just get rid of those darn little windows! We were SO restricted on even the type of furniture to put in that room. Marcus R. to the rescue! From the outside, the windows are still there. But he sealed them, and sheet rocked over them! Now the large window can let ALL the light in! New carpet (Titanium). New paint: SW Rhinestone is a great color! </div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">MATTOX'S ROOM/BOYS BATHROOM</span></div>
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We knocked out the linen closet and created a walkway for Mason to access the boys' bathroom. It ended up cutting Mattox's original closet in half but he still has a large closet (and quite possibly the largest bedroom of all). </div>
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Mattox's room is the ONLY room in the house we did not change other than new carpet. He liked the little boy (Manning's room) sports theme and so we kept it as is! </div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">MASON'S ROOM!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding a closet for Mason's room</td></tr>
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His room is still in a work in progress. I don't push him to get out of his crib, but when he does, he will get a new bed and some drapes to let the light in again. He sleeps best in total darkness right now :)<br />
His new paint color is SW Worldly Gray and its one of my favorites! It has a brown tint to it. <br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">MERRITT'S ROOM!</span></div>
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Merritt's room probably underwent the most drastic changes! It was an office space before. It had no closet or bathroom access. We added a closet and knocked out a wall for bathroom access. New paint. New carpet. Still working on framing her small windows (but not as small as Mati Claire's ship windows). This room also has limited wall space because of the vaulted ceilings everywhere. Chandelier is from Restoration Hardware Teen line. Bed is from Pottery Barn. Fabric mural on wall is also from Pottery Barn. After all the beautifulness we put into this... she said she wanted a pink room. Not purple. <br />
Her new paint color is SW Fashionable Gray. Definitely has a purple tint (which I wanted). <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large; text-align: center;">MASTER BATHROOM!</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdO3oF3w18YRELOpeFc0h5CC1lwT-wX52XnXJ6ZnjTvsbYiiZbSFpRUfIHL9EXuPsR7NoY_qgDboUY4xynkF_rmPhSWfDEE-npxm7RndzlRn2mth0Uud4kzHfwSEhcaT5woSBv7mmTzK0R/s1600/IMG_3747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdO3oF3w18YRELOpeFc0h5CC1lwT-wX52XnXJ6ZnjTvsbYiiZbSFpRUfIHL9EXuPsR7NoY_qgDboUY4xynkF_rmPhSWfDEE-npxm7RndzlRn2mth0Uud4kzHfwSEhcaT5woSBv7mmTzK0R/s320/IMG_3747.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">OH YES WE DID! WE PAINTED THAT CEILING BLUE! </td></tr>
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The sliding barn closet doors are AMAZING. Really you just have to see them! The previous doors made it difficult to access the back half of my closet. I couldn't even get to that half of my closet without walking in, closing the door, and then walking behind it. Very tight space. Barn doors solved that problem! </div>
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Clawfoot tub is Victoria + Albert volcanic limestone tub from Ferguson's in Jackson. Chandelier is also from Ferguson's Showroom. Installed marble floors, marble countertops, new shower. Cabinet hardware is from Ridgeland Specialty Hardware. And I don't remember the names of the SW paint we used in this room. blue and gray :) </div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">MAIN LAUNDRY ROOM</span></div>
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Ripped out all the built-ins (which I don't think I ever got a picture of before). Added 4 locker system. New tile floor. New countertops. Copper cabinet hardware is from Ridgeland Specialty Hardware.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">BACKYARD</span></div>
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Oh the backyard. The house is completely focused on that view. No matter where you are in the house, you probably have a view of the backyard. We didn't intend to redo much of this, but after pulling up the tile in the kitchen, and we kept finding water in the garage... we discovered a crack in the foundation that supposedly was traced back to the pool area. We ended up ripping up the slab around the pool and putting new flagstone down. And under the stone is ALOT of new drainage pipes hopefully pushing the water away from the house. We also updated the landscape and trimmed our lovely "green giant" gazebo (that smells amazing when in bloom). We added approx. 20 acres, drainage work, new stone, painted the brick, added a child-safety net to the pool, and new landscape. </div>
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and after all that:</div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">BONUS → MOVIE THEATRE ROOM</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-HWwKqsn-S_6mebXtuqB98e1clJ5JnAI7C4eFKgq3W_W9_mdT8pPYONOaqBLKHaO9HusXSXIBxzQX5lttBcasqHZ2T0TWELjbYvi5mAhmuooU04Z3tV5i60qhLC074a8fqQWhYeEBfEo/s1600/IMG_2318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-HWwKqsn-S_6mebXtuqB98e1clJ5JnAI7C4eFKgq3W_W9_mdT8pPYONOaqBLKHaO9HusXSXIBxzQX5lttBcasqHZ2T0TWELjbYvi5mAhmuooU04Z3tV5i60qhLC074a8fqQWhYeEBfEo/s320/IMG_2318.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before/After: Obviously the after was not finished yet, but we changed the built-ins and installed a movie theatre screen.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">SITTING ROOM → MATT'S STUDY/OFFICE</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">MISC / OTHER PROJECTS WE ARE STILL WORKING ON!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4riOn3X83AjlPsKGC2flbqYTGEUSogqwD4B7o2Drc5f8IrOMHoE-W2nOtAg6AobzxmmcMkV3_93DrpsMlEZqOxcDipdz8yji_0Sjf-NDClGVAFCJdx6Q3IgfCjo97gWtUE7AqaUJ4opj/s1600/IMG_3980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4riOn3X83AjlPsKGC2flbqYTGEUSogqwD4B7o2Drc5f8IrOMHoE-W2nOtAg6AobzxmmcMkV3_93DrpsMlEZqOxcDipdz8yji_0Sjf-NDClGVAFCJdx6Q3IgfCjo97gWtUE7AqaUJ4opj/s320/IMG_3980.JPG" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sisal stair runner rug is FANTASTIC!! I highly recommend it for stair use our outdoor use. I wouldn't use it where kids play on the floor because it can be rough and almost splinter-like. But gives good traction on stairs. Matt wanted carpeted stairs and I wanted bare wood. We compromised on this runner and its one of my favorites! Mason LOVES playing on it too! He was doing his best Miley impersonation here I think?? ;)</td></tr>
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We've had a snake. We've had snow. Twice I think. We've had our first Christmas. We've had rain for months. We've probably scared off all the neighbors with all the yelling we do. We've had to replace some A/C units and had everything break all at once. So things we weren't planning to replace eventually got replaced anyways. Ugh. But finally settling in! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmEUJpLhfp3x6HelizavQzyQd4pHJkTcCB7EJyMj86X6f1HHgT-ux3CLaCS0KqAA2U4uWnqyoxZTlYinYEVZVdZT4wQD2B1I0lGiaV5WBXLnY2dyl5L7J3ZmlCSxRCU0gwjjDRbhRd54S/s1600/IMG_5106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmEUJpLhfp3x6HelizavQzyQd4pHJkTcCB7EJyMj86X6f1HHgT-ux3CLaCS0KqAA2U4uWnqyoxZTlYinYEVZVdZT4wQD2B1I0lGiaV5WBXLnY2dyl5L7J3ZmlCSxRCU0gwjjDRbhRd54S/s320/IMG_5106.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The half bath is going to look awesome when we get it finished! Almost done with it! This concrete sink vanity is from an Etsy store called CreatingConcrete. Daryl Stanley does an AMAZING job and is great to work with with even greater prices! I used Kohler Purist faucet in brass finish from Home Depot. Mirror is from Pottery Barn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3sKjq8usnv5LMVPltPQrbQL92q3J85VMKUQfMEMBQ5DT6jcwhMvHbFqBjYTP9cmav56fZHnSv6Dce-v7SPgdyVeuTIXFsB4FsuRwHllyEMKhfc3vSP31GBQcosdKZA8364lZ0qKrJxj0/s1600/IMG_5112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3sKjq8usnv5LMVPltPQrbQL92q3J85VMKUQfMEMBQ5DT6jcwhMvHbFqBjYTP9cmav56fZHnSv6Dce-v7SPgdyVeuTIXFsB4FsuRwHllyEMKhfc3vSP31GBQcosdKZA8364lZ0qKrJxj0/s320/IMG_5112.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New landscape is in finally after all the rain we've had! </td></tr>
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Master bedroom, apartment bedrooms/living room, and pool house are still in the works but nothing we needed done immediately. We painted most of that but nothing else major. I need to focus on outdoor furniture and foyer entry. Whew!! Its been almost a year. I can't thank Marcus Rushing and David Rushing enough. They did all the hard work. Homescapes, LLC and Malouf did the landscape and stone work. Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-71102962091170749832017-10-26T12:38:00.002-05:002017-10-26T12:38:16.396-05:00Just Keep Livingalright alright alright...<br />
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in the words of my still-celebrity crush MM...just keep livin'!<br />
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Wow. I realize I haven't posted since July I think? or maybe June?<br />
<br />
what have we been up to? question is probably what haven't we been doing.<br />
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August: School. 3 different schools. 4 if you count Mothers' Day Out for Mason. 5th grade at Eastside, 2nd grade at Northside, and Kindergarten at Clinton Park. AND yep, I chair the fundraisers at ALL of these. and yep, I sit in ALOT of car rider lines. <br />
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September: took the oldest two kids with us to England! Spent 2 days in London and then a few days with my uncle Jeff on their west coast in Minehead, Somerset. Toured all the areas in between. Weather was a bit fierce, Mati Claire suffers from EXTREME motion sickness, managed to avoid terrorist bombings, but overall we had a FANTASTIC trip! London was great! I usually don't care for the bigger cities, but I enjoyed it. Course it helps when we have a tour guide to give us inside tips so we aren't stressing over the details. <br />
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I've been debating homeschooling next year. Still on the fence. More on that later.<br />
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We've been renovating the new house for the past 3 months. Its been slow but it will be great when its all done. We also bought the 20 acres behind the house. Looking forward to all that space! The backyard is really what makes that house amazing. With the added land, we have so many options and ideas being thrown around. Matt is already feeding the deer. <br />
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Because we are in between houses, I had to cancel our annual Halloween party. <br />
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We were home from our trip a few days when Merritt started vomiting. 7 times in an hour. She got so dehydrated and exhausted that she collapsed on me. After knowing her friend Eliza that suddenly passed away (different circumstances), fear and panic found me. I think at one point she was choking on her vomit, and was unresponsive for longer than my brain could contemplate. In reality it may not have been that long, but too long for me and I began to shake her. I haven't been that scared since she was born. I decided calling 911 would take longer than me throwing her in the car myself. so that's what we did. the boys were asleep so I left Mati Claire in charge until my SIL could drive from Madison at 2:00am. Merritt threw up again in the car on the way to the ER. Matt was working so he hooked her up to fluids and zofran IV. 3 days later she was still vomiting after the smallest sip of water. Dehydration again and children's group not calling us back, we decided to take her to UMC Children's ER. Also in the hopes of talking with her omphalocele surgeon if it was due to her anatomy. High fever also didn't play around. We thought it might be her appendix with those symptoms... but never did find her appendix and her fever finally broke. IV fluids and IV Zofran again. Barium dye test, 2 ultrasounds, 2 X-rays all showed no intestinal blockages. She definitely has a messed up stomach, but nothing that should have been causing that level of vomiting. 7 days overall and she started feeling better finally. In the words of Eliza's mom: God is good all the time. The hospital stint proved we needed to get Merritt an upper GI scope. That's something we had been putting off. Hate to put her through that unless it was necessary. She suffers from severe acid reflux but has never had any major problems since birth. <br />
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She's getting scoped in about 2 weeks. :( Testing her for Celiac's Disease and Eosinophilia among other things. But apparently it was a SEVERE stomach bug. However, that had to be the weirdest stomach bug I've ever seen because my professional-vomiter, Mati Claire, never got it. Mati Claire tends to get every stomach bug within a 50 mile radius usually.<br />
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Moving on. Literally. We show our current house alot. Someone make an offer for goodness sake! Do you know how hard it is to keep a house this size CLEAN WITH FOUR KIDS on a somewhat constant basis???<br />
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3 Fundraisers. Red Ribbon Week. Field trips. Homework. Class parties. moving. packing. stressing. Sicknesses. Pink eye. Flu-type virus. Stomach bug. Allergy sinus crud. Doctor appointments. <br />
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So what do you do when you're stressed and not feeling well? <br />
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You go to NOLA with your sister to see Bruno Mars!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Finally. We've been counting down that concert for almost a year! But what was great about that weekend is that I couldn't remember the last time JUST me and my sister went somewhere by ourselves. Maybe 20+ years ago? Now, any trip would usually include husbands or kids or parents. But we had a great time and got to talk about stuff that otherwise would have been censored in one way or another! ha! Dinner at Delmonico's, Bruno Mars, Cafe du Monde beignets for breakfast, and shopping in the French Quarter is what the doctor ordered! Its good to get away from my kids for a day. <br />
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Mom even babysat on her birthday for us. She's great! Thank you, mom! and Happy Birthday again!<br />
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Holidays are upon us... not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing at the moment. Considering I just cancelled our annual Halloween party... I think I've reached a breaking point. Wondering if I can cancel Christmas too? Can we just go on a trip and escape for a few days instead? No decorating, no shopping... just relax? <br />
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I'm turning 39 soon... and must be hitting a sort of mid-life crisis--- I want to simplify. I'm tired of always worrying and stressing and being on the go. I feel like I'm always yelling and in a rush. I feel like Ferris Bueller kind of: "life moves pretty fast". So I want to slow it down. Which is ONE of the many reasons I'm considering homeschooling. Life doesn't HAVE to be so stressful. It CAN BE easier. But that's a post for another day. Its all about what your priorities are perhaps? Yes, I realize life will never slow down having 4 kids... but I think it COULD be easier in some ways.<br />
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Here's a few pics of recent days to top off this post. <br />
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She went from this to this in about 1 hour:</div>
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-22897130261272161422017-07-29T15:48:00.001-05:002017-07-29T15:48:30.265-05:00Sad Summer<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of you that know us, have probably heard we are moving down the road soon. Same city. Different house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question of the year: WHY are you moving???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 days before our trip to Ireland while sitting in a church pew at Merritt's preschool graduation program, Matt shows me a picture of a house for sale. We had never discussed even the possibility of moving. If anything, it was the opposite. He would repeatedly tell me he planned to NEVER move again. 2 months ago, I would have told you we were planning to die in our house. Just goes to show me again - you can plan all you want... but life has a way of not following. I REALLY thought it was a novel notion...one that would fall through and the idea would pass when it didn't work out. I REALLY thought it wouldn't "pan out" so to speak. Surely the realtors and inspectors would find SOMETHING wrong, right? ...... we toured it twice before leaving for our vacation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After much discussion, arguing, and silent treatments while on vaca out of the country... we bought a house! I was really mad because Matt was focused on the house and not on our vacation. We were eating breakfast one morning in a CASTLE and he's on his phone looking at contracts. I immediately began to resent the "new" house for distracting us. crazy, huh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I blamed Matt for uprooting the only home our kids have ever known. I resented the fact that he obviously wasn't 100% happy in what I thought was an amazing house! It IS an amazing house. We built it. We made it. We added to it. It fit our needs as we grew. Until it didn't anymore with kid #4. But we still didn't NEED a new house. Plenty of siblings share a room and I was beginning to think I was spoiling my kids by letting them each have their own room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our house COULD be perfect for a family with 4 kids... but it doesn't leave much room when alot of extended family comes to visit on a pretty regular basis. Our house sort of maxes out at 2-3 kids with a room or two to spare for company. Plus Matt needs a dark quiet room to sleep in during the day. Our large-er family has somewhat specific needs for crazy schedules with family that lives out of town. The new house fits the bill as far as layout, size, location, etc. Its definitely more family-functional for a bigger family with an even bigger extended family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new house is great - don't get me wrong. But it wasn't OURS. Certainly wasn't MINE. Sure, it had more space, more bedrooms, and a much better backyard for kids. But again, I was happy where I was. Content. I still had reservations. I didn't just like our house, I LOVE it! I am emotionally attached to our house because its where ALL of the memories with ALL of my kids are. Their first birthday parties, their first steps, our annual Halloween party, and even the bad memories are still part of it! I felt like I was gaining and losing with the move. It all depended on the priorities and who you are talking to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After weeks of being upset over leaving the house I love, it finally hit me that I am too blessed to be upset over these houses. I am blessed to have a husband who allows me to stay home with the kids. Who am I to argue with where he wants to live if he makes all the money, right? If he was willing to put in the work that it needed to make it ours, and he was.... and the actual moving process... then I decided to quit arguing with him, and see that he thought our current house was getting tight as the kids are getting bigger. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then our dog, Koda, took a turn for the worse. She was 13 and we knew her time was coming soon. However, we were unprepared for the quickness. She was in alot of pain and we couldn't put her through another dreadful Mississippi summer heat and moving houses next month. God wrote His name across that situation. I began to see Koda's passing as a sign that one chapter was ending, and a new one beginning. Sad nonetheless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its ok to change. Moving is part of growing up. I have driven by the house I grew up in and I don't even recognize it now. Yes, its the house that built me. But I take the rocking chairs with me. The kids go with me. ha. The kids still worship the ground the others' walk on. What makes it a home is US. We can still dance in the kitchen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The things I didn't like about the "new" house were all cosmetic. Of course, Matt doesn't care for my expensive taste but my conditions on moving were to completely renovate it. I saw it as a fixer upper and he didn't. So that's exactly what we are doing. Fixing it up! Matt gets to move and I get to decorate it! lol! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renovations should take a month or two but our house will be up for sale in the very near future. We moved in Sept. 11, 2007 -- its almost 10 years TO THE DAY! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No pun intended... but moving on! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mati Claire is not handling it well. She turned 10. Lost her only family pet. Starting shaving her legs. Asking ALL sorts of adult questions/conversations that I am not ready to answer. But again, life keeps moving forward on me and I can't stop it. I am saddened by the fact that she is "coming of age" VERY soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merritt turned 5 and got a major haircut. She is very excited about starting Kindergarten. Other than the insane amount of constant talking and the number of times she changes her clothes per day... her behavior has made much improvement. I think she is finally out of the terrible 3's... that yes, lasted into her almost 5's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mason has started talking in full sentences. He's 2 going on 6 I think. HAS to keep up with the older siblings! God knew what I needed when He gave me that boy. He is all smiles and just a joy to be around ALL of the time. Even teething, he is smiling or sleeping. He is showing signs of wanting to potty train. Heaven help me, the baby isn't a "baby" anymore. His curls and his smile will slay anybody that walks past him. He even dances to rap music!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mattox has hit a growth spurt and is going to eat the entire grocery store. He got a retainer to start his orthodontic work and grew an inch in height since his birthday 4 months ago. He is ALMOST passing Mati Claire in size... I can't wait to see how tall he will get. He got the stomach bug a few days after we got back from vacation. He is struggling with a pretty bad social anxiety phase. At least I hope its just a phase. He's had some "extremely rare" (quoted by the dermatologist) viruses lately that have manifested on the skin. Luckily they will all go away soon but its taken a toll on him. He's had a pretty miserable summer. Lately when I look at him, I see a pre-teen/teenager. I don't see a 7 year old anymore. He went from being 6 years old, to a big teeth, big man-hair, retainer-wearing, tall/major growth spurt, iPad/video game playing, reading as well as my 10 year old, little MAN. He's not such a little boy anymore. :( </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As busy as our summer has been... and contemplating/planning the school year already... it has occurred to me that I rarely see my kids as they get older. I stay at home, and limit their extra-curricular activities.. and I still don't see them but for a few hours each day. My kids are their own best friends. They LOVE each other and for the most part play really well together. When one is gone, the rest don't know how to act. Its funny in a way, but it really shows me on a daily basis how important family is. But I've learned having 4, that when one gets sick, it dictates the others' schedules. One kid affects the other 3 in so many ways! When one gets the stomach bug (which is often), do I send the others to school knowing they've been exposed even though they aren't showing symptoms... yet. ? They can't afford to miss unnecessary days of school.. due to their sibling's illness. I can keep them quarantined for a time...but I still have to take the others to school and I can't leave a sick one at home by themselves. And I won't take the stomach bug in the car if its really bad... so we ALL end up staying home. Its a cycle or snowball effect type thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life has gotten SO busy (and I only see it getting worse as they get older).... will I have wished I kept them home more?? I feel like I'm not spending enough quality time with them. I am usually yelling at them in the car all day because we go from one "thing" to the next. I've been contemplating homeschooling lately. I don't feel like I've been called to do that just yet. Teaching is NOT my spiritual gift and I have ZERO patience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we don't do as many "things" as most people we know. My mind is blown at the people who sit at the ballfields ALL day or ALL weekend. We LOVE our family dinners almost every night. We LOVE having a weekend to do nothing after such a busy week! We LOVE to go to the lake and teach them how to fish or ski or how to drive a boat!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all that said, we are ending a chapter in Bellewood... and starting a new chapter in "SOSO" in a new home. Starting a new school year with 2 of them in new schools. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Be still and know that I am God..." -Psalm 46:10</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63pyiC2QRvU-2aVePIB-JRD8dkXLBzcrahnzm6g6XCLS37UYEwjkGoAXJrjhRPwl9g19sC6hZEBk-qfzAGspr-xA-hpoWj3KRe36LBJ9DChsFl_t06oZZyTuZ-QSu0XfeMgvqMX1NZNup/s1600/IMG_0858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63pyiC2QRvU-2aVePIB-JRD8dkXLBzcrahnzm6g6XCLS37UYEwjkGoAXJrjhRPwl9g19sC6hZEBk-qfzAGspr-xA-hpoWj3KRe36LBJ9DChsFl_t06oZZyTuZ-QSu0XfeMgvqMX1NZNup/s640/IMG_0858.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turned 10 and 5 this year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miley family pic in front of new house. </td></tr>
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-24021458829935232422017-06-11T23:19:00.003-05:002017-06-11T23:19:30.875-05:00Ireland and Scotland Trip 2017Long post ahead, but for those of you who want all the details of our trip! <br />
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Matt turned 40 and our 13th wedding anniversary was last week. We celebrated with a huge 2 week long vacation to Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland with no kids! I've had so many questions about it that I decided I will share all the details here.<br />
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We've never used travel agencies before. We do, however, use private tour guides for our big trips out of the country. For us, it is worth every single penny. We don't lose time getting lost, figuring out how to drive on the wrong side of the road with different driving laws, directions, still getting lost despite using international GPS, getting lost in the accents/speech/language, or not getting to do something because they won't allow coach/large groups access to certain roads. No long lines anywhere. Plus we don't lose time waiting on the precious 90 year olds who are in wheelchairs... determined to make it up steep stairs of a medieval castle that aren't wheelchair accessible. :)<br />
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So we researched the many tour groups, compared pricing, compared details, and decided on <a href="http://www.irelandandscotlandluxurytours.com/" target="_blank">Ireland and Scotland Luxury Tour Group</a> with Maurice Dowle. Austen was our actual tour guide and driver. <br />
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We flew to Dublin. Stayed at the <a href="http://www.trinitycityhotel.com/" target="_blank">Trinity City Hotel</a> for 2 nights and toured <a href="https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en" target="_blank">Guiness Storehouse</a>, <a href="https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/" target="_blank">Jameson Distillery</a>, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and Trinity College and Library (Book of Kells). We ate at the Brazen Head, Arthur's Pub, O'Neill's, and a few other good ones! I wish we had time to tour the Cemetery and Prison but we had to prioritize, Trying not to kill ourselves and enjoy the leisure time as well. We didn't use a guide for Dublin, and managed to walk to most places. Got lost a few times. Tried my first real Irish Stew = delicious! Drank so many craft beers I had to take pics to remember them all. Had my first official tea and scone. Learned that the people there don't really eat lunch the way we do. They eat a huge breakfast, have a snack and a drink around 3:00pm, and then eat a bigger dinner. The sun rises a little before 5:00am and doesn't set until almost 11:00 pm. Their days don't get started until 9 or 10am. Most places don't open till 10am and then close. Then reopen around 6pm for dinner. We had a hard time finding lunches, so I was extremely glad I packed protein snack bars and meal replacement shakes for the car. By the way, their "scone" is a fancy word for a b.i.s.c.u.i.t. Except they put a ton of butter, cream/or clotted cream, and jam/jelly on it. No matter which way you spin it... it was still a big biscuit for this southern girl. I wanted the "real deal" so went with the plain, but apparently you can get them cream filled or with fruit and raisins. They also put milk in their HOT tea. No such thing as cold tea or sweet tea. It was all good though! No complaints at all! <br />
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On Day 3, we met our driver/guide, Austen! We felt very comfortable with him and he's hilarious! Easy to understand and told us alot of the history everywhere we went! He drove us through Kilkenny and then to the Rock of Cashel. You can Google the details of these places, but its a medieval church. This was our first day of "light rain". The meteorologists aren't lying when they tell you to be prepared for all 4 seasons in 1 day there. Yes, we experienced all 4 seasons and then some every single day. So even though I felt ridiculous wearing my rain boots with certain outfits, it never failed I was thankful for them later in the day. <br />
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<a href="http://www.sheenfallslodge.ie/" target="_blank">Sheen Falls Lodge</a> was absolutely our favorite place to stay. It is amazing. I loved the small area of Kenmare and then we toured the Ring of Beara (which is basically a very long and winding road that makes a circle around the peninsula). Perhaps if we had another day, we could have toured the Dingle Peninsula as well. I really fell in love with this area.<br />
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On Day 5, we traveled to the Cliffs of Moher! Wow. Just breathtaking views. Its as terrifying as it is beautiful! You will definitely be standing on the edge of earth! Just amazing. I found it cool, yet strange, there aren't many walls there! You walk at your own risk!!! And being someone afraid of heights, that's scary! It had also rained that morning (big surprise) so it was wet, slippery, and muddy along the walking paths! I really found it odd that SO many people allowed their young children to go with them. I would have had mine strapped to my back or handcuffed to my wrist! This was one day I was so thankful we did NOT have our kids with us. The Cliffs were on my bucket list, however, and it was thrilling! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the paths on the edge. I found it odd there was a fence to keep us from walking into the cow pasture, but oh well if you fall off the other side! I slipped going down this part and my legs were shaking the rest of the time! I also found it funny that there are stone "stairs" on the left side of this picture... but you see how many people choose the muddy side. #itookthestairs</td></tr>
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We then traveled through the Burren Region, around Galway, to <a href="http://www.ballynahinch-castle.com/" target="_blank">Ballynahinch Castle </a>(the na is silent, so pronounced "bally-hinch"). We walked the grounds there which are beautiful fishing areas and paths. I couldn't get far enough away to take a picture of Ballynahinch but if you go to their website you can see it. Its really cool place near Roundstone (my favorite craft beer that isn't actually made there, but in Dublin of all places). We visited the stunning Kylemore Abbey and Aughnanure Castle. I'll have to let the pictures do the talking. Those are definitely worth the long car rides. Kylemore Abbey reminded me a bit of Biltmore Estate in North Carolina -- but even more so. There is good story that goes with Kylemore also, but I will not spoil it for you. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kylemore Abbey (under renovation)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just one part of Kylemore's magnificent gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle more Abbey's cathedral/monument in memory of Mrs. Henry</td></tr>
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On Day 8, we went to Northern Ireland! Yes, it is its own country with different currency than the Republic of Ireland! We were technically in the U.K. now. We visited Dunluce Castle and Giants Causeway - which is just one of God's many wonders in this world. We really wanted to do the Rope Bridge but it was raining and very windy. We were told it was closed, but did see a few people walking across it. We also heard rumors of kids that recently cut it.... I'll go with the safer side and just look at it instead of walking across it. <br />
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We toured Belfast and stayed in the <a href="http://www.fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com/" target="_blank">Fitzwilliam Hotel</a>. Belfast gets a bad rap because of their troubles, but we felt safe everywhere we went with Austen. Luckily, Austen is from Belfast so he knew his way around very well. Showed us where C.S.Lewis was born and the areas he grew up in. <br />
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Matt's birthday fell on that day. We ate at the Dirty Duck in Holywood. A local pub Irish singer sang Happy Birthday to him the night before -- that was pretty cool. Toured Portrush and Holywood. When you know someone that knows someone... you even get to see Rory McIlroy's personal trophy case at the Holywood Golf Club... and hold the heaviest and biggest trophies I've ever seen! Very cool day. Happy 40th Birthday, Matt! <br />
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On Day 9, we took a ferry to Scotland! When I say ferry -- it was more like first class on an airplane and then some! You drive your car onto the boat, walk to your assigned floor, eat, watch tv, stretch out on fur lined chairs.... it was the nicest boat I've ever been on! Then get back in your car and drive off! Glad Austen knew what he was doing ;) <br />
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Spent most of that day driving and watching the scenery. Beautiful area. Drove through Glasgow. Finally made it to Stirling Castle further north. Stayed at <a href="http://www.luxuryscotland.co.uk/cameronhouse/" target="_blank">The Cameron House</a>. Found the Scottish accents a bit harder to understand. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cameron House Hotel </td></tr>
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Drove through the Highlands and Glencoe. Stopped in Fort William to walk around and eat. Then on to Inverness. Very long drive, but beautiful! We stayed at the Culloden House in Inverness for 2 nights. SO much history there! Battle of Culloden, Jacobites, and Bonnie Prince Charlie! oh my!My favorite part was the "call for dinner" with the bag pipes around 6:00pm each evening. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Culloden House. Culloden, Scotland</td></tr>
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We took a boat ride on Loch Ness to visit Urquhart Castle! This was one of my favorite days! The lake is very interesting in itself and the castle was neat too! I loved learning about everything there!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfNJ4m8tgzZL6qFH9DxWGWoDj1xUA0usJ6twp1oqel_rOAq7xng_Om7c4Y_WUNPwxqnsqT6c9-L8OkU4uKqF_DIOmfSehsrcR7LUvDDhgl1qPjeVVK62HpXh83CV3s0r1UZL4VjLO7UUw/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfNJ4m8tgzZL6qFH9DxWGWoDj1xUA0usJ6twp1oqel_rOAq7xng_Om7c4Y_WUNPwxqnsqT6c9-L8OkU4uKqF_DIOmfSehsrcR7LUvDDhgl1qPjeVVK62HpXh83CV3s0r1UZL4VjLO7UUw/s320/IMG_0399.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Jacobite Cruise Line</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought this was neat. The "darker water" you see in the middle, is actually the deepest part of Loch Ness that they think is deeper than the ocean in that particular area! Perhaps that is where Nessie hides?? lol ;)</td></tr>
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On Day 12, we drove through the Cairngorm Mountains to Edinburgh for 2 nights. Austen left us at <a href="http://www.thegeorgehoteledinburgh.co.uk/" target="_blank">"The George" Hotel aka the Principal</a> in Edinburgh. We spent the last day and a half touring Edinburgh on our own. AND. IT. RAINED. and by rain, I mean, it rains sideways. from the ground up. hard. thunderstorms. But when you only have 1 day to tour Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and the Royal Mile.... you do it anyway! Austen told us everyday "if you let the rain stop you here, you'd never do anything!" So I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked but at least we were inside for parts of the day. If the Queen of England is in her "summer home", it is not open to tourists. Thank goodness she had not arrived yet, because we really enjoyed touring it! It was worth walking in all that rain!<br />
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Then we flew home from Edinburgh via Amsterdam to Atlanta. Missed our shuttle and had to wait an hour for the next shuttle bus to Chattanooga (2 hour drive). Then my Dad drove us the 1 hour to Athens, Tennessee so we could pick up our 4 kids. By that point we had been up over 24 hours. Got up the next morning, and drove 8 hours home. Came home to 2 out of our 3 air conditioners broken and a sink that flooded somehow. And 4 kids who think everything is better at their Gigi's. Welcome home!<br />
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There are about 1,000 more pictures I could post, and I probably forgot some here...but you get the idea. We had a blast! Learned a ton! Enjoyed every minute and then missed our kids too! Thank you to Maurice "Mo" and Austen for showing us the way! We want to go back to some of our favorite places and the places we had to skip. Nessie is just waiting to be found! ;)<br />
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Together is the best place to be. Happy 40th, Matt and Cheers to 13 years married to me!<br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-50898426063524981922017-03-26T21:27:00.001-05:002017-03-26T21:27:57.135-05:00Things You Don't Think About When...Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my 4 kids. I'm glad we had 4. Matt was the one who originally wanted 4 kids. I was good with 2. We compromised when we got married and said we would have 3. And here we are with 4! (I realize we can plan all we want BEFORE kids but doesn't mean God will bless you with them biologically but its something I think people need to agree on before they get married).<br />
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I'm sort of torn on the number that everyone is fascinated with. Some people believe it is one - two too many. With other people, 4 isn't many at all! My neighbors have 10. My other neighbors have 6. Another house down the road has 8. And everyone in between has 3-4 each. So I feel pretty normal in this neighborhood. <br />
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Growing up with only one sister who is 4 years older than me, I got used to doing things certain ways. She didn't really "affect" me in many ways. The things I did were not decided by anything she did (if that makes sense). <br />
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There are things I WISH I had known or thought of though before having more than 2. Yes, the messes are bigger ... and just more of them. But I've found myself saying to myself "I wish someone had told me that a long time ago." Yeah, if I knew then what I know now!<br />
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1) Time. You think 1 or 2 kids takes a long time putting on their shoes? Multiply that times FOUR times longer! You think 1 kid takes a few minutes extra to get in the car? f.o.u.r. times longer. If it takes you 10 extra minutes to pack a to-go lunch or bag... yep, that would 40 minutes later you MIGHT be ready to go. Pretty much, you will be permanently late to everything you do from now on.<br />
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2) You could apply that rule to almost everything. If 1 or 2 kids stress you out... I wouldn't recommend 4. Toss the "I want a big family" idea out the window. You will be permanently attached to Chlorox wipes and a bottle of wine. And coffee. And more wine. And more coffee.<br />
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3) Bedtimes. Good Lord. Each kid has their own "thing" that helps them go to sleep. And yes, you want them to go to sleep FAST. Immediately. I got lucky with 2 of mine and they never needed/wanted me to rock them or lay down with them. Put them in the bed, say I Love You & Goodnight, close the door, and you're done. The other two I spend AT LEAST 1.5 hours with each of them and they usually still aren't asleep after that. But just reminding you , that if you like to read or watch TV or whatever it is you do to wind down after a REALLY long day... if you have alot of kids, bedtime rituals become the last half of a marathon. For me, I don't have a hubby who helps me with this because he works nights, so Kudos to all of you who do have help. You can tell me all about whatever ridiculous reality TV show you watch the next day. But I haven't watched TV in about 3 years now and I rarely get to read. Unless its Fancy Nancy to my 4 year old. <br />
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4) If one kid gets sick = they will ALL get it. Yep, thats ALOT of vomit. Just think about that. <br />
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5) Things are not as simple. I've heard "cheaper by the dozen" and "the more the merrier" and "what's one more?" That's only true depending on what you're talking about. Ok. For instance, I have 4 car seats in my car. Even though I have one kid old enough to not need one by legal age, she is so short that she still requires a booster so the strap hits her across the shoulder and not the face. No biggie. BUT on the rare night that my hubby is going to keep the other kids while me and a friend take our girls to the movies, I can't just "swing by and pick [her] up." Else I have to remove some car seats that I think my hubby welded to the seat. Someone else has to drive or I have to meet you there. Plus I usually have so much "stuff" in my front passenger seat even when its cleaned out and organized, that it just doesn't work. Easier to drive separately. <br />
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6) The level of planning reaches an all new high. And I'm a planner! Sunday mornings I ALWAYS hear the same question from Matt: "why didn't you lay their clothes out last night?" (so he can help get them ready FASTER. Its because by Saturday night, I am mentally checked out from all the planning during the week: the lunch boxes, the clothes, the homework, the signed school papers, the backpacks, the after school activity bag packing aka swim gear, ballet bag, baseball bag, and the weekly dinner menu (if I even get around to that). Did you put gas in the car? Which kid will you pick up first or which one gets out first will decide your car rider lines? Will you have time to come home in between any of that or do you need to pack it all in the car? Then someone vomits and throws all your plans out the window. But needless to say, I usually don't lay church clothes out on Saturday night mainly because I'm exhausted. And I fully expect one kid to wake up running fever during the night because that's just how it is. See what I did there? I multiplied my chances of that happening ALOT. Plan to get woken up in the middle of the night 4 times as often.<br />
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7) You.are.limited. Yep. The word that these millennial kids don't like to hear, right? You are limited in space. You limit what activity your kids can do because of either costs or timing -- usually one extra curricular activity will interfere with the timing of another. So you have to pick one! Heaven forbid one sibling determines what another can or can't do, right? We teach our kids they can be anything they want... oooohhh, wait that falls on a Thursday night at 6:00pm? Yeah, no. That's already our swim and ballet day. Your sleep just got even more limited. Your car space. Everything has a limit. Especially the iPad time. <br />
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It takes an army to raise an army. My best friend also has 4 kids. We used to carpool more often, but with 4 kids each, we have literally run out of room and can only pick up 1 extra kid... which sometimes defeats the whole purpose. <br />
What's that you say? Get a bigger vehicle? Um.. no. We have several friends who drive the short bus with 6 kids. That's not in the cards for me. <br />
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I'm not complaining. Like I said, I LOVE my kids. But these are things you DEFINITELY don't think about BEFORE having them. You are probably thinking about all the positives of having a large family. Plenty of those too... I might make another post about that later. <br />
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People tell me A.L.L the time "I don't know how you do it with 4 kids!" and then I think that I don't know how my neighbors do it with 10! Besides the homeschooling bit. And they drive a church van. My advice? Find what works for you. The limits will definitely find you. <br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-1361181243379822312017-01-29T17:53:00.000-06:002017-01-29T17:53:10.359-06:00Get Thee Behind Me!A not so funny story. But you might fight it amusing, because its times like this I have to laugh to keep from crying. Ok, I did cry once. It started out as laughter but progressed into sitting in the kitchen floor doing the ugly cry with a bottle of wine and Chlorox wipes in my lap. <br />
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About 3 weeks ago, Merritt woke up with red eyes and nasal congestion. Could be allergies. Could be pink eye. Who knows, right? Mason had been on an antibiotic for an ear infection from teething the week before, and we had some extra antibiotics in the fridge thanks to a lovely pharmacy family and a hubby who can't read the bottles. But it worked out to our advantage, Merritt started the antibiotic and was completely clear about 24 hours later. (kept her on that med for 7 days though).<br />
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Back up almost 2 years ago. Mati Claire had what appeared to be an ant bite on her knee that got infected, red streaks running up and down her leg... we thought maybe spider bite instead, eventually turned into a black scab... was there for several months before falling off and leaving a pitted scar on her leg. Several months later, again. A new spot about an inch away from the first spot but followed the same format. About 6 months later (this would be about a year and half later from the first spot) a THIRD spot very similar appeared. Took her to the dermatologist and because it had already scabbed over they couldn't do a biopsy. Couldn't tell me what it was (that was the day of the Smoothie King incident and where my kids went insane-link below). Well, we decided we would go back IF she ever got another one because these are spread out months in between. <br />
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So back to present day on a Thursday (months later). Mattox has a spot on his inner thigh that followed the same process: looks like a white zit or ant bite type bump, wart maybe?, gets infected, his pants rub it and open it up, it drains, pretty gross to deal with, we put antibiotic ointments on it, black scab, and a scar. A few days later, he has about 20 of these spots up and down his thighs. I immediately recognize them as the same type bumps that Mati Claire had. We take him to the dermatologist and he tells us its Mulloscum Contagiosa = contagious rash virus. The derm "paints" the spots with a special medicine (that as a pharmacist, I have never heard of and never dispensed in my life). We leave it on for 4 hours and rinse off in the bath. Ok. Got it. <br />
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Welllll, Mattox was apparently mortified to tell the dermatologist that he also had a few bumps around his private parts. So the dermatologist failed to paint those with the medicine (no fault of his own). One bump in particular again follows the nasty course of events of getting quite large, pus-filled, painful, and the redness/swelling starts spreading. He can't walk. His teacher calls me from school concerned because he can't sit in his desk at school the "correct way". He was miserable. Considering this is near his genitalia, Daddy puts him on some antibiotics for the abcess. A few days later, a hot bath drains it out and it might be one of the grossest experiences of my life. He learned the hard way to never be too embarrassed to tell your doctor anything! <br />
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I also learned that this virus stays in your system for exactly 2 years (will be permanently gone after that) and any new bump that appears in that time should be treated by the dermatologist immediately. Not your local pharmacy, not even your pediatrician. ONLY the dermatologist has access to this "medicine" that they would not give to me. So I have to get an appointment with a dermatologist every time he gets a new bump like this for the next 2 years? Yep. yippee. They apparently did not ban my family from future visits to their office after our first visit with the smoothies.<br />
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See <a href="http://mattandcarriemiley.blogspot.com/2016/09/my-week.html" target="_blank">POST LINK HERE</a> for that post. I also learned that he should not take baths or share towels with anyone/siblings for these 2 years. Did the virus know that they just destroyed my nighttime-bedtime routine? I do better at separating the boys from the girls now that they are getting older, but yes, they do share baths and towels OFTEN! Grrr.....<br />
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Ok, so Mattox is on antibiotics. Merritt is on antibiotics. Mason just finished antibiotics. We're good, right?<br />
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Mattox wakes up a few days later with "the pink eye". Although I wouldn't consider it pink eye -- just full blown dual conjunctivitis. Nasal symptoms as well. He looks like an alien with not pink but RED eyes. Spots all over his legs. Then he gets his first real bloody nose. He looked like he was hit by a truck. Or beat up. Poor guy. <br />
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Ok its a long holiday weekend. We have time to Recover. Regroup. Right?<br />
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Saturday, Mason throws up all over Mati Claire and is running fever. So I assumed the stomach bug that has been circulating the community found its way to my house. We are pros at that! He was completely fine and symptom free for 2 days following that episode. <br />
Tuesday morning I walk in the gym and I get a phone call from the director at Mother's Day Out. "Mrs. Miley? You need to come pick up your youngest son. He has Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease."<br />
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ummm.. WHAT??? How did my other 3 kids ever survive without catching this? This is a new one for us. The praying commenced that no one else caught it despite their ages. I can't really quarantine an 18 month old for a solid week or more.<br />
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Mati Claire gets a stye. We thought it might be the beginning of "the pink eye" (and I'm using quotations on that because that's what my kids call it). Nope, just a stye so she's walking around with a hot washcloth/warm compress on it for days on end.<br />
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Merritt starts showing signs of "the pink eye" again and complaining of a severe ear ache. She.can.NOT. hear.anything. We tested her for days to see if it was selective hearing or if she really could not hear. But considering she finished a round of antibiotics, I was not too concerned. It must be viral, so I let the conjunctivitis run its course. I'm sort of in military-mom-mode at this point. <br />
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3 out of 4 are miserable. complaining. missing school. but ok, I've got this. I just make my rounds from kid to kid: medicine, comfort, love and hugs, lots of rest and naps, video games/ipads are worth every penny, Chlorox wipe everything they touch, wipe again, and then wipe again. wash, rinse, and repeat. <br />
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then my healthy one bites the dust. I pick Mati Claire up from school and we barely make it home before she starts vomiting. great....I don't know if she has the stomach bug or the beginning signs of Hand-Foot-Mouth Virus too (Mason was apparently classic text-book case with this). <br />
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ALL FOUR KIDS SICK AT THE SAME TIME. And its my birthday. Its not only pouring down rain outside... its pouring inside as well! <br />
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Cancel the sitter. Cancel the date night birthday dinner we had planned. Heck, cancel the whole month of January! Even had to cancel the cleaners. Lord knows I've cleaned every inch of the house by now.<br />
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I've never had all 4 sick at the SAME time. Each with their own thing. I call my pediatrician because I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown. They don't need to see ANY of them because its ALL viral. Obviously ALL the antibiotics they've been on haven't helped. <br />
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Insert my crying session in the floor here. What else can I Chlorox? The liquor store knows my name now. ;) <br />
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Merritt who had been on the mend... I now find myself taking her in to see the pediatrician Monday morning because she is crying over her ears. And she literally can't hear me unless I scream at her. I asked if she wanted candy for breakfast -- and she replied with an answer that didn't make any sense. I'm confused as to what is going on with her. She does have fluid in her ear, but not ear infection. She might have to go see an ENT but we're on another round of different antibiotics, Sudafed, Benadryl, Flonase, her regular Prevacid, and Advil or Tylenol for the pain. <br />
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Here I am almost 3 weeks later. All managed to make it back to school this week until yesterday. Mattox has "the pink eye" AGAIN. Very strange that both he and Merritt had the exact same symptoms TWICE both cases separated by a week or so. Between the two of them, they have had it FOUR times! <br />
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When do the sicknesses stop?????????? They went an entire semester without getting sick. They get vitamins. They even get probiotics every single day. <br />
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Like I said before, Chlorox and wine are my best friends this month. and the Kroger Clicklist.<br />
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Why yes, I did make my appointment for a spa day next week! <br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-79319393632161850982016-12-30T16:45:00.003-06:002016-12-30T16:45:47.141-06:00Christmas 2016We had such a sweet Christmas this year! My parents and grandmother came to stay with us for a few days. Matt has been off work ALL week --- including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Wow. He has NEVER been off the night of Christmas Eve before ... so he got to see how it all goes down. I am usually doing dinner, making breakfast casseroles, baths, bedtimes, reindeer food, cookies and milk for Santa, reining in the sugar-crazed kids, cleaning up so Santa can actually have room, putting all 4 kids to bed by myself, getting back up to put toys together or wrapping a few last minute jobs, trying to quietly put all the presents out, making sure the Elf is gone, and then putting myself to bed only to get a few hours before getting up before the kids to catch them coming down the stairs with the videocamera. Its exhausting and hard to actually enjoy it... BUT since Matt was off... I got help this year! yayyyy!<br />
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Mati Claire is 9 and getting into the pre-teen stage. She was a little hard to buy for this year, but was happy with books and movies. Mattox racked up on electronics and everything Minecraft!<br />
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Merritt got all the "big" gifts this year. She got TWO motorized vehicles that we think she can do for her size and weight. Small girl problems. When you are extremely small, not strong, or coordinated enough to do regular bikes and trikes... she has a hard time enjoying playing outdoors sometimes (especially when the older siblings are running circles around her). She gets frustrated and then chooses to come back in. Hopefully these new toys will let her have some fun too.<br />
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It was alot of fun to watch Mason open his gifts this year. This being his second Christmas, he quickly learned how to unwrap his presents! He REALLY liked his new PB chair (it is pretty soft and cuddly!). I have to say that I think his Christmas pajamas turned out pretty darn cute! oh.my. that little tooshie. and.his.curls. Lord help me. I can't say no to the curls! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaUU9a6QU78MFQX-OLBJOe3h-yUwekEE_UU66zjUq7gQxqJ3OM5SWXN6AwY0fLB1tI3ZRAmPB0pi1RvCJEPi-BA5IgllaoTkYgQwzjFM-ag5wTf4OmQiPIVLQLmbq5JqimaTENZKBepNg/s1600/IMG_7896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaUU9a6QU78MFQX-OLBJOe3h-yUwekEE_UU66zjUq7gQxqJ3OM5SWXN6AwY0fLB1tI3ZRAmPB0pi1RvCJEPi-BA5IgllaoTkYgQwzjFM-ag5wTf4OmQiPIVLQLmbq5JqimaTENZKBepNg/s320/IMG_7896.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never even had time to finish decorating the tree. No angel or star at the top. Matt never got the last of the decoration down out of the attic... we let Coco, our Elf, stay there for awhile.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xpZAezPwcdA71u1FZ8PlNGh0E8DU3lnfVEi3OFPV9zT9eRwKshHuA4ihjvHLtS6o6haVZHdLfH1mjw3SDz2Xar3xaobJADOpalRZWHQC6kgpK4ovQz0NbjJv7_dDUDMJxiT80GiCSSi2/s1600/IMG_7897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xpZAezPwcdA71u1FZ8PlNGh0E8DU3lnfVEi3OFPV9zT9eRwKshHuA4ihjvHLtS6o6haVZHdLfH1mjw3SDz2Xar3xaobJADOpalRZWHQC6kgpK4ovQz0NbjJv7_dDUDMJxiT80GiCSSi2/s320/IMG_7897.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I let the kids decorate however they wanted!!! its hard to "let it go".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BGClEzGWILLzfYFjZyijnW3vvt7687Twl5FQjRhKaLilMHC2UyWoHz2JFadhdlZfY-0HHTDyKl27VacXQRl-z719J5B4UX_rHr6WilHyKZtpCT3ULAyqdyba5IiZZAM3tQAmrpEGeiu5/s1600/IMG_7899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BGClEzGWILLzfYFjZyijnW3vvt7687Twl5FQjRhKaLilMHC2UyWoHz2JFadhdlZfY-0HHTDyKl27VacXQRl-z719J5B4UX_rHr6WilHyKZtpCT3ULAyqdyba5IiZZAM3tQAmrpEGeiu5/s320/IMG_7899.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I can do some mean cupcakes. chocolate cupcakes with peppermint frosting. and swirled. yes, that made up for the cookies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mamaw playing with Mason</td></tr>
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Our annual Sunday School class Christmas party was another big hit as usual. I feel the need to explain why we dress up. The party has evolved over the last 10 years from starting out as a tacky Christmas sweater party...to dressing up like Christmas movie characters.... to dressing up as Christmas-related anything...to just dressing up in general! This year's theme was the HMA's (Holmes Music Awards) and we dressed up as singers. When your last name is Miley and we've joked that we should name our kid or our next dog Cyrus.... it leaves very little room for debate. We went as Miley Cyrus and Billie Ray Cyrus! Fun times. Just for the record, I DID wear a nude colored bodysuit under the swimsuit/sports bra. Technically, the only skin showing was my arms. just fyi. It was hilarious seeing everyone's costumes! At our age, we all have very little shame anymore. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and I hope no one took that too seriously. I did tell my girls that I was NOT who you want to be or take after. They don't have a clue who she is, but enjoyed watching me be silly. And blonde for the first time ever. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SQfnW1xgeg2b7aqmXNyLH66oJ6iWLq6HrxqP24U_J6VmiM_xdk-9Ufghyphenhyphenyv01pG24qRRAUQfYH4pezA-MDheA2F6sohsogrNO8K9FQab6RVPZg2K5eduvGEnBOCVi0B_IoosLNzCp6z9/s1600/IMG_7780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SQfnW1xgeg2b7aqmXNyLH66oJ6iWLq6HrxqP24U_J6VmiM_xdk-9Ufghyphenhyphenyv01pG24qRRAUQfYH4pezA-MDheA2F6sohsogrNO8K9FQab6RVPZg2K5eduvGEnBOCVi0B_IoosLNzCp6z9/s320/IMG_7780.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXjqYD29nFMWvtX7A2tewgd0Yjr83sQNoBtwJWk2Z9q9heilJ7LJhkZmfp9JNzya90iL21syMXNkYpsYW4qyOyTpRZN-g129eg0HEixGfCCzg6blTSVqUvnyalN-3-7C-rA17vwB4YhJT/s1600/IMG_7775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXjqYD29nFMWvtX7A2tewgd0Yjr83sQNoBtwJWk2Z9q9heilJ7LJhkZmfp9JNzya90iL21syMXNkYpsYW4qyOyTpRZN-g129eg0HEixGfCCzg6blTSVqUvnyalN-3-7C-rA17vwB4YhJT/s320/IMG_7775.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGTTUMColurNFO9j3ZqA2g8BvAGzxvhnJQD63jfBOu2_HRY43l97VgXPZXfu9z8CXCjYtbSLr67FLSxwAoQVGtusawLeBEkw6CuVQN8ntyJygdsrHXNhliOA8F9zcbHQUHyzWX9TzumM2/s1600/IMG_7790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGTTUMColurNFO9j3ZqA2g8BvAGzxvhnJQD63jfBOu2_HRY43l97VgXPZXfu9z8CXCjYtbSLr67FLSxwAoQVGtusawLeBEkw6CuVQN8ntyJygdsrHXNhliOA8F9zcbHQUHyzWX9TzumM2/s640/IMG_7790.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">go big or go home, right?</td></tr>
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I am SOOOOO looking forward to 2017! Its going to be great! I am done with both schools' fundraisers til the next school year. We have a couple of vacations planned (one with kids and one without!). Matt is turning 40 this year. Girls are turning 10 and 5! Merritt will be starting Kindergarten and graduating out of preschool (what??) My 20 year high school reunion (not even sure if I can go to that, but 20 years really?) And then my sister and I are going to see Bruno Mars in NOLA later in the year! I.can.not.wait!!!<br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-30094895072850116872016-11-23T19:53:00.001-06:002016-12-25T21:41:54.647-06:00Catching UpPlaying catch up here. <br />
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Yes, everything is still going great after my surgery. My sister had it done yesterday as well! She is handling the post-surgery better than me! But yes, definitely worth it!<br />
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We had our annual Halloween Miley Mash a few weeks ago. I think this is the first year that is did not rain!!! We had a huge turnout with around 60 people. But I'll let the pictures do the talking. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBTqQPXVhAHBp8j1mCyWoWLgVvYxgrbqZhkdvLRv8OXo_VINmOBGJ_KmSPMMk3c7GCRTZRjPiS3nOZUSrts6Qmr7LsiXBH1Wi-gIPR6lfaf9f-ZzKsA4uVvcPSdvcsXVPgkNo26_RDmIg/s1600/IMG_0541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBTqQPXVhAHBp8j1mCyWoWLgVvYxgrbqZhkdvLRv8OXo_VINmOBGJ_KmSPMMk3c7GCRTZRjPiS3nOZUSrts6Qmr7LsiXBH1Wi-gIPR6lfaf9f-ZzKsA4uVvcPSdvcsXVPgkNo26_RDmIg/s400/IMG_0541.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently Matt doesn't own a brown shirt like we thought when I passed over the Chewbacca outfit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GNlIWdsxpP9GgFDx6LEVlfC0lDD9iclSDrKUcQZZ7J6c-xZxtzVBk7-ZWsssFlX6GJUk8WspP4OxxWBsmp9YUVSh1CxxLwUKE0FJbRh8uLKlVVAvCFZkRduI93NkeeTr_c_ZzKJl0hyphenhyphen-/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GNlIWdsxpP9GgFDx6LEVlfC0lDD9iclSDrKUcQZZ7J6c-xZxtzVBk7-ZWsssFlX6GJUk8WspP4OxxWBsmp9YUVSh1CxxLwUKE0FJbRh8uLKlVVAvCFZkRduI93NkeeTr_c_ZzKJl0hyphenhyphen-/s320/IMG_0545.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want to kiss his lips off! Oh how I love this sweet baby (even if he wasn't a fan of being Yoda)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8XprZdmGrPxgtpHfrRFQpTJrGavCYRBcdFIJg-_29MSf1Go8M6atOCwhgPjAd8yFYhnoHa-PO3AWc0N6xBwy-8vb_GKp4lbA-vh1N_9CPRtf1cSnT7vESMulSmy4rN5Ckw_1U7QQiD1O/s1600/IMG_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8XprZdmGrPxgtpHfrRFQpTJrGavCYRBcdFIJg-_29MSf1Go8M6atOCwhgPjAd8yFYhnoHa-PO3AWc0N6xBwy-8vb_GKp4lbA-vh1N_9CPRtf1cSnT7vESMulSmy4rN5Ckw_1U7QQiD1O/s320/IMG_0550.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We dubbed him the "Santa Claus" of Halloween! He rocked as Willy Wonka!!! (see pic below)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuUvLLD9JUcS7wSo0dZ9XvZtbASnsDidZKrPUvqZGZD40tSs1eYVYFIPPw20DKRhO9YxLpO2i_GkmIDup2bGZYFONTyui7NYEY7BDPR9xEaMUq8pT41cIMBBZMsjhmuGWjbfBl7FUW-gV/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuUvLLD9JUcS7wSo0dZ9XvZtbASnsDidZKrPUvqZGZD40tSs1eYVYFIPPw20DKRhO9YxLpO2i_GkmIDup2bGZYFONTyui7NYEY7BDPR9xEaMUq8pT41cIMBBZMsjhmuGWjbfBl7FUW-gV/s320/IMG_0552.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the sweetest ladies ever!!!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-63TIu_wySneHxu-J2Rz9mhJQ7f6b5zUzzo_RGrSx_41GRSNHGOr_96QUAYs5dnY32nvCGnNPuUpvRDf5eGxrH65tVbeD-m94YbGnqIkH-Lf6BQOiqd1vTP60FJYMQpNYDHgxtVgDt0T_/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-63TIu_wySneHxu-J2Rz9mhJQ7f6b5zUzzo_RGrSx_41GRSNHGOr_96QUAYs5dnY32nvCGnNPuUpvRDf5eGxrH65tVbeD-m94YbGnqIkH-Lf6BQOiqd1vTP60FJYMQpNYDHgxtVgDt0T_/s320/IMG_0554.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZWCC2cwOPjLaXJINbrACRV5xZBckDbqnSDe8Bmra-4nx9xz76-NGyGa0Tv8krBe4E2uFq-SviNefhAnO1qUHOYW4H2lCvNjm4VthReVVW8V4KiJ6yypWs_EI_pseL7zgx_Fee6UVlRQs/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZWCC2cwOPjLaXJINbrACRV5xZBckDbqnSDe8Bmra-4nx9xz76-NGyGa0Tv8krBe4E2uFq-SviNefhAnO1qUHOYW4H2lCvNjm4VthReVVW8V4KiJ6yypWs_EI_pseL7zgx_Fee6UVlRQs/s320/IMG_0560.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trouble trouble. and more trouble! ;) i'm kidding, yall! I love these boys like my own!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdgv7G3yNVdsdswcfcZrDRnbtHozBoN0VNaHd3b-aRXbdb3gCPo0qMUCNkgNQJXU7vgJwBF7vFKl5qbRdLq_1Bn6k7s00te0OgFbk_D0O6lzFAH_I1Db3s1HYocGBf2Z9XLSmkqH2BfAC/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdgv7G3yNVdsdswcfcZrDRnbtHozBoN0VNaHd3b-aRXbdb3gCPo0qMUCNkgNQJXU7vgJwBF7vFKl5qbRdLq_1Bn6k7s00te0OgFbk_D0O6lzFAH_I1Db3s1HYocGBf2Z9XLSmkqH2BfAC/s320/IMG_0568.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Elena of Avalor!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ae3HLuF1WRdabytVUeR1ulcHcN5YNsr1UhFktMbn_3jGx7-nKlU-5nP5vd1khiKqVWTb1F-DbJqTg5Cmx51331hLE9M1Zfgt14h3yQQEISishXjbraVGcEY8PNzYquuy2g5_KRg4-XKa/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ae3HLuF1WRdabytVUeR1ulcHcN5YNsr1UhFktMbn_3jGx7-nKlU-5nP5vd1khiKqVWTb1F-DbJqTg5Cmx51331hLE9M1Zfgt14h3yQQEISishXjbraVGcEY8PNzYquuy2g5_KRg4-XKa/s320/IMG_0574.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, it doesn't get any better than THIS!!!! We should ALL take notes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMBRA8C0Paesqlh-8X9PoiIH3Nb5QVvpZE2Czv4KZ8E-qWdwQjKWlr__4cAxmSqDzKfjFRDUhz951SATAK5TuhE8awrXWqx4iLsbzRngPjyCM0770nB3WhkND9ofLFvN6xMqqSRqQNKnJ/s1600/IMG_7048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMBRA8C0Paesqlh-8X9PoiIH3Nb5QVvpZE2Czv4KZ8E-qWdwQjKWlr__4cAxmSqDzKfjFRDUhz951SATAK5TuhE8awrXWqx4iLsbzRngPjyCM0770nB3WhkND9ofLFvN6xMqqSRqQNKnJ/s320/IMG_7048.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White cotton candy! I heart Etsy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWarD2xRDzCF0pTyoguLqHDZAw9YpsSvKNfUd49e-K6IJfale48V8tBas9OyOtqFT_TZN0iBS58cseZ0of_1_-FDYaDHLZtuG-INbrshI8uvRK39lTyjTNRnEBnRU-GUdieHjgwz928Zw/s1600/IMG_7051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWarD2xRDzCF0pTyoguLqHDZAw9YpsSvKNfUd49e-K6IJfale48V8tBas9OyOtqFT_TZN0iBS58cseZ0of_1_-FDYaDHLZtuG-INbrshI8uvRK39lTyjTNRnEBnRU-GUdieHjgwz928Zw/s320/IMG_7051.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reason we did Star Wars this year. Darth wasn't having any other costume this year. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpJLZJ4USg8YLTD3kJes0yu0v4pBIiHsaf7SBEUJDvBISDEgKJvmf7Ltup_6YSX0h1Wkft1355rmKVk2yAoWXk-ITYYMcjWPPdmWkjZPfiVam2GJT2_AMQWFutRiJ8nOunKvQ1d7G4caj/s1600/IMG_7065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpJLZJ4USg8YLTD3kJes0yu0v4pBIiHsaf7SBEUJDvBISDEgKJvmf7Ltup_6YSX0h1Wkft1355rmKVk2yAoWXk-ITYYMcjWPPdmWkjZPfiVam2GJT2_AMQWFutRiJ8nOunKvQ1d7G4caj/s320/IMG_7065.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE addition to my decorations this year!! She is something fierce for a wreath!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWngXVip0HU6z0b7SzQ0rFlUUEtz7pieZWIn5u_beafM_SpB1ZY0K_xVQ3KpP8F_c5Wuxp2oRZiCJe24AjluPka-RIURbE83YetL-9B9zJyjZAUYLoPlWNd2BJQQxYln0PvK4ecdgTryLP/s1600/IMG_7066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWngXVip0HU6z0b7SzQ0rFlUUEtz7pieZWIn5u_beafM_SpB1ZY0K_xVQ3KpP8F_c5Wuxp2oRZiCJe24AjluPka-RIURbE83YetL-9B9zJyjZAUYLoPlWNd2BJQQxYln0PvK4ecdgTryLP/s320/IMG_7066.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZnAQhPLtH2m8zJfQn_VkSRFjExRESdLoeEyIWeVzruW2sjpFnuApsxcSaEqujvaqavJxxjr1Zk9ZNwySG9Ggawuszwqc7M1eiKWGvOfmPo0fiKnK6HPsCaGctwfBJwTMNxnd94OYu3jT/s1600/IMG_7067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZnAQhPLtH2m8zJfQn_VkSRFjExRESdLoeEyIWeVzruW2sjpFnuApsxcSaEqujvaqavJxxjr1Zk9ZNwySG9Ggawuszwqc7M1eiKWGvOfmPo0fiKnK6HPsCaGctwfBJwTMNxnd94OYu3jT/s320/IMG_7067.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a few more new additions. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y2LeC_16n0CMM5IzhYLXm815UzDc5PDMREEiPDaUtgoWpAObLeYBa2Gb15OJLU1ZYyATW_bBipPuP4ZWAaoZ15rkwmGZwYEDa2RycBGQNS4b-grVrorCuwq_lTnwG90sRHtl7vP7Msol/s1600/IMG_7074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y2LeC_16n0CMM5IzhYLXm815UzDc5PDMREEiPDaUtgoWpAObLeYBa2Gb15OJLU1ZYyATW_bBipPuP4ZWAaoZ15rkwmGZwYEDa2RycBGQNS4b-grVrorCuwq_lTnwG90sRHtl7vP7Msol/s320/IMG_7074.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may have to go back and get some more of these trees! </td></tr>
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I wrapped up Eastside's Fundraiser just in time for Clinton Park's to begin! Lesson learned, do not volunteer to chair TWO fundraisers ever again. They have had my attention and every spare minute since school started and I'm tired! But the good news is that Clinton Park's will be done as of December 15th and the PTO probably won't see me next semester at EITHER school! I'm "off" as of Christmas break! Nope-- you won't even see me at a meeting next semester!<br />
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We went to visit my family for a few days when we got out for Thanksgiving break. Mati Claire has been begging us to take her to a UT game. Of course I picked the absolute COLDEST game they've had all year. Seriously, 20-30 degrees and windy! We went prepared and had a great time though. It was a good game. Analyzers got mad because people started leaving after halftime... maybe some of it was due to the fact that FL beat LSU, but I'm willing to bet that it was because they didn't come dressed appropriately and it.was.freezing!!!!! But worth it to experience the kids' first college game with them and make it memorable! I bet they won't ever forget it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOT a FAN of the COLD, but a FAN of the VOLS!</td></tr>
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<br />
So here we are at Thanksgiving. What are we thankful this year?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Thankful we have a roof over our heads. </li>
<li>The grandmothers are still with us (except the one I never met on Matt's side). My Mamaw, Gan-Gan, Matt's Granny, Gigi, and Nana. As tragic as 2016 was for so many people, we have been lucky and blessed. </li>
<li>Poppy is still with us. Praises to God! I know He heard our prayers. </li>
<li>Health and safety. Just watching the news will make you want to never leave your house. We were in Tennessee when the news hit of the Chattanooga school bus driver that wrecked the bus killing 6 children in the process. We've had so many friends be diagnosed with cancer this year. Or continuing to battle cancer this year. 2016 felt like the Grim Reaper was upon everyone. Again, we are thankful for our family's health and safety during travel. I want to wrap my kids up in a bubble and never let them out! ;)</li>
</ul>
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-78097525391701603172016-10-24T12:03:00.002-05:002016-10-24T12:03:48.131-05:00My Uterine Ablation ProcedureWell, since I have had a TON of people ask me about this... I guess I will blog about it. It may not be something we all wish to hear about, but oh well. This is my life now. <br />
<br />
I mentioned in my last post that my periods (since having my 4th and last kid) have been a nightmare. I've always had bad and heavy periods growing up, but these have progressed from there. <br />
<br />
My first two days, I couldn't go more than 30 min - 1 hr with a SuperPlus tampon AND a pad. So heavy that I had to get out of car rider line one day (and who does that??) just to clean up AGAIN after I had just left the house right before that. So ok, it was only the first two day of each cycle, right? No. Nope. Then it would d...r......a..........g......for usually up to t....w.....o......w......e......e........k.......s....... Yep, my last one lasted 2 weeks. Then I only got 2 weeks "off" before it was due for another monthly cycle! <br />
<br />
so yeah, with 4 kids.... who has time for all that mess???? Heavy and way longer than my normal. My mind immediately went to future vacations (with or without kids, but how can I do that if I'm bleeding and can't go more than 1 hour on vacation?? and having to pack 2 weeks worth of tampons in a suitcase?? for real??)<br />
<br />
What is the ablation surgery? <br />
#1. First, they knock you out completely. Not fun. Its so weird. You won't feel a thing and won't remember a thing. But this wasn't my first rodeo with general anesthesia. <br />
#2. Hysteroscopy. They insert a camera to look at everything. <br />
#3. Depending on what they see or don't see.... they may or may not do a:<br />
#4. D&C. Scrape out "stuff" that maybe shouldn't be there (cysts, fibroids, etc). I didn't have any of that.They will also do a uterine biopsy to rule out uterine cancer before they do anything else.<br />
#5. They then fill the uterus with a liquid (I'm guessing saline of some kind.) and expand the uterus so the liquid fills all those little nooks and crannies! hehe<br />
#6. They then insert this metal mesh looking appliance (to me it resembled an avocado kitchen utensil or a whisk). They heat this thing which then heats the liquid... and it will basically burn the inside lining from which you are bleeding. It cauterizes the lining to decrease/stop the bleeding.<br />
#7 You wake up with some serious cramps that will last a few days.<br />
<br />
Dr. T mentioned getting the ablation done several months ago, and I kept talking myself out of it. I finally decided (after another bad month) that there was NEVER a good time to do any kind of elective/somewhat necessary surgery. I say elective, because was I going to die without it? no, but it sure made life pretty miserable.<br />
<br />
I talked to a few friends who had it done in the past few years and all said it was worth it. They were "down" for a day or two. <br />
<br />
My mom was coming down to help me with kids and planned to leave a few days after the surgery and I was back on my feet.<br />
<br />
Surgery went well. Because I have had 4 C-sections, she had to "skip the area of scar and scar tissue because its already paper thin." She could only ablate (is that the right word?) 80% of my uterus. For some people this procedure will COMPLETELY get rid of their periods, but because there was about 20% left untouched, she said I would still have one, but it should be drastically better. I cramped pretty bad for 3 days, but did not bleed at all. EXACTLY one week later, I've had very light bleeding every day for almost a week now. I am not sure if that is my period (since it was time for that anyway) or if its surgery related, but I go for my 2-week post checkup tomorrow. <br />
<br />
yay, all done with the hard part. In recovery, she went over all the post-surgery stuff. All I heard was "no working out or lifting over 10 lbs. for TWO WEEKS." ummm...... what??? Did I hear that right? Mason weighs almost 30 lbs probably and I lift weights on a regular basis. <br />
<br />
Mom was the awesome mom that she is, and has stayed with me for the past 2 weeks to pick up Mason (car seats, cribs). Dr. T wouldn't even allow light walking as exercise for at least a week and absolutely no lifting weights for two. <br />
<br />
ugh. <br />
<br />
its all good though. Just keep looking at the long term... not the short term. :) <br />
<br />
My sister is looking into having it done and her doctor has told her that they have to try all other methods and rule out several other things before insurance will cover this procedure. just fyi for all those interested... I unknowingly had already ruled out all that stuff in the past few years:<br />
#1 Blood work. They have to rule out your thyroid. My thyroid is normal.<br />
#2 IUD and birth control. I tried to get an IUD after my 2nd baby in 2010, but because my uterus is tilted, it physically will not go in the right place in my uterus (it should be placed at the top of the uterus and mine kept hitting the side wall of the uterus). To this day, the IUD insertion procedure was the most painful experience I've ever had including my 4 C-sections. The IUD wasn't there 5 minutes before they took it back out. Which is part of the reason I had my tubes tied after this last baby! We all still wonder if the fact that my uterus being tilted is the reason I don't dilate and have to have C-sections?? no way to prove that though.<br />
#3 You have to be done with having babies!!! Obviously, destroying the lining of your uterus will make you infertile! My tubes were tied, so that ruled that out anyways! hahaha! Four and no more!<br />
<br />
Looking forward to getting back to my normal routine, mom is looking forward to going home finally, and Mason is looking forward to me being able to pick him up again!!!<br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-3631775296926259572016-09-25T15:54:00.002-05:002016-09-25T15:54:16.911-05:00My Week You ever have one of those weeks you just want to do over? Not even one day - I'm talking a full week!?<br />
<br />
This week was looking promising as of Sunday. I've been really pushing my workouts, and my calendar was pretty "empty" except for a few weekly extra-curricular activities for the kids. <br />
<br />
Sunday. woke up. went to church. had an AWESOME workout that left me posting about it. cardio is good for the soul, btw. Then about an hour later, I started my period. TMI? Stay with me. Since having Mason, these have become my worst nightmare. Dr. T said its a combination of age, perhaps pre-menopausal, and never good for people that have had 3+ kids. I've been struggling the past few months and finally decided to schedule a uterine ablation procedure. Getting that done in 2 weeks and although I'm a little nervous about it, I confirmed that I made the right decision after Sunday. Even Anaprox, who is normally my best friend, gave me ZERO help. Literally face down on my bed or in the bathroom for 2 straight days. Not easy to deal with when you have kids or have to sit in car rider line for hours a day. Should have known then that this week was plummeting.<br />
<br />
Monday. Post-deadline day for the Eastside fundraiser. I chair that committee so I'm responsible for the bounced checks, late orders, and all things that end with just stupid people. Absolutely amazed that people don't know who their child's teacher is. Don't know how to add up their own orders. Don't READ the directions on the order forms...and therefore don't follow the directions that spell everything out for you. I digress. It's my job I volunteered for and I'm used to it. <br />
I pick up Merritt from preschool. She's scratching her butt and keeps telling me she got mosquito bites. Nope. Chiggers. Fun times. (and its panty lines not her butt to be exact.)<br />
First Cub Scout meeting for Mattox. Its at 6:00 pm. Yeah.... my hubby works nights and night times and I don't get along. That puts us getting home after 7:00 pm... one of my kids is ready for bed, but I still have to bathe and feed all 4 by myself and get them in bed at a decent hour since its a school night. It sucks big time but my little Cub Scout is worth it, right? Again, night meetings REALLY don't work for us. <br />
Dealing with whatever seasonal allergy crud I have, I lost my voice this week. Expending twice as much energy to try to talk when you can't. I joke that its because I've been yelling at my kids, but truth is just sinus drainage. <br />
<br />
Tuesday. Still dealing with Fundraiser aftermath. Still amazed at the people turning orders in when the deadline was last Friday. but ok. I'm cool like that.<br />
I had made Mati Claire a dermatology appt with the new dermatology dr/clinic in town. I was super excited to be changing my records over as well (saves me a trip across Jackson from now on). The dermatologist is the brother of a friend of mine, so again, I was really looking forward to getting to know this clinic -- and also because I frequent dermatology OFTEN with my psoriasis.<br />
<br />
The appt was at 3:30pm. We had to waste a little time before then, so I treated the kids to Smoothie King for an after school snack. Knowing it was a new office, I made them leave their leftover smoothies in the car before going in. However, Mason (18 months now) did not get a snack -- and would eat 24/7 anyways -- so I took my smoothie in with me to share with him while waiting. <br />
<br />
This is where the shit hit the fan. While trying to utilize my 15 minutes of me-time earlier in the day, I had stopped at Clinton's fabulous James&Leigh and bought myself a new necklace....a $75 new necklace. Trying to be the "nice" mom, I let my dress-up queen Mitt wear it. Telling her repeatedly - and I do mean repeatedly -- do.NOT.break.mommy's.new.necklace! What does she do? She breaks my new necklace. I really blame myself for that. I mean what was I thinking giving a $75 necklace to a 4 year old? But at the same time, she didn't listen after I....wait for it... REPEATEDLY TOLD HER to NOT break the necklace. So yes, I popped her on the bottom in the waiting room because, well...yes, I was mad. <br />
Mason, who is normally pretty quiet and shy (like my older two kids), decides this place is his second home. He literally tore the place apart. And then tried to eat the pieces. The waiting room is white walls, glass figurines and decorations, pamphlets for every cosmetic procedure available in the 21st century, low side tables perfect for his height... he was probably in his own personal nirvana. He threw a glass ball like it was a baseball across the room. He threw those pamphlets like they were confetti at a 1999 New Year's Party. He unplugged every lamp and tried to knock over every single thing in that waiting room. I ask Mati Claire to help me "watch" the other two while I deal with Mason. Of course its the one time he doesn't want his Goldfish or milk...nope, he spies my Smoothie. I look up and notice that every single receptionist, office staff, and patients are staring.me.down. and giving me the stank eye. I probably would be too if I were them.<br />
I ask Mati Claire to go out to the car to see if she can find Mason's pacifier since he has taken his screaming to DEFCON 5. Nothing wrong with him...just not happy with the fact that I won't give him my Smoothie yet. <br />
If you don't know Mati Claire, she is slower than Christmas. God bless it. And I just sent her to the car to find a needle in a haystack. Of course the nurse calls her back then. <br />
So we wait.<br />
and wait.<br />
and wait some more.<br />
Of course she comes back empty handed. Because that's how my day is rolling.<br />
Because this is the day from hell.<br />
We all go back to the tiny hot as hell patient-exam room. <br />
Mattox decides to act like a 2 year old and start crawling around on the floor under the row of chairs -- who by the way is WAY too big to be crawling under chairs - therefore he knocks all the chairs over. I attempt to bribe him with candy later if he will just behave for 30 minutes. He's not taking the bait. Mati Claire is now throwing one of her "I'm too sensitive so I'm going to cry because my siblings are frustrating me" meltdowns. I get it. She's trying to help. She really is.. But crying isn't helping me.<br />
Mason is still screaming for multiple reasons.<br />
Merritt is actually somewhat behaving at the moment still reeling from the pop I gave her in the first waiting room. <br />
Mason decides to take the nut/bolt cover from the exam table floor (the bolt that has the bed secured to the floor has a pretty covering over it)...and eat it. He starts choking and I am literally doing the CPR finger swipe in his throat when the Doctor walks in. <br />
I hand him this spit-drenched piece of plastic instead of shaking his hand.<br />
I apologize to him before even introducing myself because his chairs are knocked over thanks to Mattox. His patient, Mati Claire, is crying. Mason is screaming so loud from doing the finger swipe I can't hear what the nurse is asking. <br />
So I decide that now would be a good time to give Mason my Smoothie since he's being unconsolable and quite loud. <br />
In the meantime, Mati Claire has to answer some questions about the reason she is there....telling the nurse who doesn't speak English very well, that she has night sweats, nose bleeds, warts, and perhaps heart palpitations -- NONE of which are necessarily true in the manner she was speaking of. We get Mati Claire squared away and I ask the Doctor about getting my records transferred over... give him a brief history and ask him some questions. I literally can't hear what he is saying even though he is 3 feet away from me because Mason is so loud. Mason takes that moment to pull the Smoothie straw out of the cup and S.L.I.N.G it.... E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E. Those nice pretty white walls, the table, the floor, the siblings, and ALL.Over.the.Doctor.himself. And his nice suit. Its in my hair. On my hands. Sticky pink smoothie all over the room. Not thinking I would need them, I failed to bring in any tissues or wipes or diaper bag. What kind of exam room doesn't have paper towels?? What the heck do I use to clean up this mess??? My shirt of course. Of course I chose to wear a "nice" shirt...no, it couldn't have been one of my t-shirts circa 1997. I am dripping with sweat... because either there are too many people in this confined room, they don't have the A/C turned up, or I am about to die from mortification. I can NOT get control of my kids. I have to laugh to keep from crying. I've apologized a million times already, so the nurse brings the other kids crayons and paper to attempt to occupy them...instead of destroying their office. 2 of my kids threw them back in her face!!! Wth???? Whose kids are these??? Yeah, these are NOT my kids, right??? I can't seem to pick my jaw up off the floor. I'm still recovering from cleaning up the smoothie, checking to make sure I haven't missed any places, and now Mason is coloring all over these nice pretty WHITE walls with his new crayons!<br />
Yep, you've never seen a momma snatch crayons out a kid's hand so fast. <br />
Luckily he didn't get very far in his masterpiece. <br />
The doctor picks Mason up!!! Since when does he let a stranger pick him up?? oh yeah, the doctor is his new BFF! Probably so he could lick the smoothie off his face. <br />
<br />
Mortified. <br />
<br />
People say you shouldn't be embarrassed by your own young children. Nope. Absolutely not true. I was beyond embarrassed. We finally leave and I assure the office staff that I'm not crazy. I will check my kid out of school next time and bring just ONE. And believe it or not, my kids normally don't act like this!!! They're nodding their heads like 'yeah, sure, whatever. bye, felicia!'<br />
<br />
I was so THAT mom Tuesday. The one that everyone hates. The one people say "geez woman, get control of your kids!" I'm still trying to figure out what the heck happened in there. <br />
<br />
Wednesday. Kids bring home graded papers and tests on Wednesdays. Mati Claire. Mati Claire. Wow.. She brings home her SECOND big whopping F. yep, an eeeeefffffffff! eeefffffffin' what you say??? as in, FAILED? What?? That's not mine and Matt's kid, right?? No kid of ours would bring home ANOTHER F, right? <br />
Me: "Matt, did you ever bring home an F in elementary school?"<br />
Matt: "nope."<br />
Me: "me neither." <br />
<br />
So what do I feel is a good punishment and motivation for this? I have to call my SIL and tell her that we are cancelling Mati Claire's planned sleepover with her cousin. :( She.is.grounded.<br />
Parenting is hard.<br />
<br />
Thursday. I can't remember much about Thursday other than I can see Mati Claire's red swollen puffy eyes from car rider line. She's been crying. Hard. AGAIN. What the heck now? One of those CRAZY Fundraising people who can't seem to get their money to me when they're supposed to sent her $20 that was short. The school secretary gave it to Mati Claire to give to me (since I had already been to the school and the bank twice that day). IN THE 15 MINUTES that she was in car rider line, she loses it. We think someone stole it out of her backpack, but regardless, it was in her possession and then it wasn't. There's a whole lot more to that story, but again, parenting is hard.<br />
Do I make her take it out of her piggy bank to replace the $ she lost even though it may or may not have been her fault?<br />
Do I make the PTO eat it? <br />
Do I tell the lady who sent it, that we lost it after it was a week late?<br />
Do I even give the lady her change out of my pocket because she's now calling me asking if I sent her change home with her daughter?<br />
<br />
crazy. stupid. people. <br />
<br />
and Mati Claire is so innocent she can't imagine why anyone would take a $20 bill out of her backpack. Hard lessons learned this week about money.<br />
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Jesus. Its only Thursday. Ballet day. Swim day. Again, my busiest day of the week. My best friends call and want to set up a playdate with all of our kids (which gives us mommies a time to socialize and chat up -- which in our defense-- we haven't gotten together once since school started!). Yeah, well, Mati Claire is grounded. <br />
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Do I punish the other kids and not let them got to the park because one of mine is grounded?<br />
Do I make Mati Claire sit on the bench with me the whole time?<br />
Where do I cut off the punishments for each incident? <br />
Similar situation that happens often: its not fair for the other kids not to attend a birthday party when one of the siblings is sick. <br />
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Parenting is hard. And no snarky comments about having too many kids. That's neither here nor there and a little too late for that. <br />
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I think I need another Smoothie. Or a drink. Or a Xanax. <br />
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So what are you doing on a Friday night? We are working on Mati Claire's star constellation poster project instead of getting a sleepover. :( I am learning that I have to punish myself in a manner of speaking to follow through on the kids' punishments. <br />
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And then I remind myself that that is what is wrong with kids these days. They never get told no. They never have to earn anything. Or get truly punished for anything. And I refuse to be that parent. <br />
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:) Cheers. <br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-90969108707445116722016-08-28T12:51:00.000-05:002016-08-28T12:51:02.076-05:00Weight Loss JourneyYou probably think I forgot about the blog. BUT I've been purposely NOT blogging just waiting for this post. I've been giving my weight loss journey my FULL attention for the past 5 months. <br />
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Mason turned 1 back in March. I usually stop breastfeeding after a year and as much as it pained me to quit that, I knew it was time to "get back to me". The saying is true "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I found myself completely passed out on the couch every day napping after picking kids up from school. I had zero energy - not to mention kids waking me up in the middle of the night. <br />
Mati Claire asked if I was having another baby, because I looked it. I didn't want to be "that mom". Yes I've had 4 kids, but I didn't want to look like I was pregnant all the time, right? I wasn't happy with the fact that I had to SEARCH my closet every day for something to fit (and be comfortable). Nothing fit and I was pushing my biggest size in my entire life (size 12 fit, but I was heading for a 14 on occasion). Everyone always told me, "yeah, but you're really tall so you can carry that..." What does height have to do with being happy and having confidence in what you look like?<br />
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I don't put alot of pressure on myself to look a certain way believe it or not. I will be the first person to NOT wear makeup (I usually wear it to church or if there is something I need to look "presentable" for but on a daily basis I do not wear it at all). I'm not one of those people who can't leave the house without makeup on (ahem, my sister ;)) <br />
BUT I do want to look my best. For me. For my hubby. For my kids. I wanted to have energy to keep up with 4 active kids. I wanted to be able to slide those perfect pair of jeans on and not have to suck it in to zip them up. I'm about to turn 40 soon, and I just didn't want to look and feel 40. My psoriatic arthritis already makes me feel old. Then I know SO many people who have cancer or awful diseases... and I just wanted to be able to tell my kids that I have done everything I could to be the healthiest I can be. Not that I couldn't die in a car wreck tomorrow...but health-wise, I'm giving it my best shot (and will continue to do so).<br />
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I'm not a Weight Watchers kind of person. Lean Cuisine meals LITERALLY make me vomit. I can't run much because of my arthritic knees. I'm not really into Crossfit or aerobic classes. I do love Pilates but wanted to do more than that (and Pilates is still a class thing that I can't commit to a certain day and time ALL the time). I knew I could lose weight on my own, but I really needed some strict guidance. My friend, Kristen Stanley, told me about <a href="http://www.teamfit.fit/" target="_blank">TeamFit</a>. You can click on the link, but they give you the menu (day-to-day down to every last macro), they give you the workouts, they give you the modifications or substitutions if needed, they give you the moral support, they give you the answers to ALL of your questions, and they motivate you. I use Advocare supplements, but you can use anything from Walmart or GNC that is comparable. TeamFit teaches you how to get fit! Not just skinny. But muscles (muscles are in by the way). And if you saw Kristen's abs, you'd probably jump on whatever bandwagon she was on too ;) <br />
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The first month, I actually GAINED weight!!!! I was so discouraged. I wanted to quit because that couldn't be right, right? All the other ladies that were doing the EXACT same thing as me were dropping like 10 lbs in the first 2 weeks----and here I was gaining it yet doing everything I was supposed to be doing. Frustrated doesn't even begin to describe how I felt. I quickly learned that everyone is different! Everyone responds differently. I learned to ignore the scales. I FELT better even though I had gained weight. After the first 4-6 weeks, I noticed I lost a pound. Granted I had to lose the 7 lbs I had gained in that first month, so I was still not happy. T.I.M.E. Kristen is the best coach ever, because she put up with my incessant texts about "WHY is this not working for me?" and her answer was always "give it more time." I wanted the magic pill that makes it disappear in a week. My husband told me one morning "When was the last time you worked out? 18 months ago. When was the last time you ate right? 18 months ago. And you want it to disappear in 2 weeks???" So I decided right then that I had to accept the time frame challenge.<br />
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Over time, I lost about a pound a week. Very stead that one. So over 5 months and about 25-30 lb weight loss, I averaged 5-6 lbs a month. Doesn't seem like alot...until you look at the big picture. 30 lbs is ALOT! took me longer than I liked, but I did it. Some weeks were WAY better than others. I took a week "off" for vacation at the beach in between rounds (I did 2 rounds of 10-12 week plans). And I only cheated big on 2 weekends (4th of July BBQ weekend and my daughter's birthday weekend full of lots of cakes!)<br />
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The food? Wow. Its insane. Its intense. No, i can't honestly say its fun. I can say its interesting because you'll eat things you never really thought you would. You get bored. Heck yes, I wanted my Mexican, my Chic-Fil-A, my Shipleys donuts, my cupcakes! But my motto was always "Eat to Live not Live to Eat." Food is meant to fuel your body. You will absolutely NOT go hungry or starve on this plan. If anything, you'll get tired of eating 6 meals a day and struggle to get it all in most days. It took ALOT of planning, preparing in advance, eating cold things in the car, and learning how to be on-the-go mom (how do you eat out at restaurants, etc). Eating asparagus at the ball fields and getting plenty of stares from people wasn't my idea of a good time... but I had goals. I had to get over those stares and ignore them. I had to find every ounce of will power I had most days (ESPECIALLY when Aunt Flo comes to visit once a month). I also learned to not feel insanely guilty -- yes, you are allowed to enjoy life as well. I thoroughly enjoyed a slice of pizza on the weekend. Or a piece of my daughter's birthday cakes. Or my chocolate-covered strawberry and cake yesterday after the photo shoot. Its ok, as long as its not an ALL day thing. I learned moderation. <br />
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I learned balance. At one point there was a pushup challenge they posted for members. I was up to 80 pushups a day, and my arms were getting HUGE. I didn't like where they were headed. I don't want to look like a body-builder. I wanted leaner muscles. Yet still defined. And realized I was focusing on my strength training and not my cardio. I needed to balance that more. So I actually have had to back off the strength some and use what little time I have to incorporate more cardio. Fine line when you're a busy mom and only have 1 1/2 hours to try to get both in. But still working on balancing the workouts to where I'm happy with the results.<br />
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My goals? Met them. Crushed them. Passed them. <br />
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<ul>
<li>Fit into my size 10 jeans/clothes</li>
<li>Surprised to fit into my size 8's</li>
<li>Even fit into a few size 6 dresses now</li>
<li>Everything in my closet fits now</li>
<li>Energy to keep up with my 4 kids</li>
<li>30 lb. weight loss</li>
<li>Increased self confidence</li>
<li>Increased overall well-being; feel better and healthier</li>
<li>Ability to workout with severe joint pain</li>
<li>Be a good role model for my kids </li>
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5 months to the day! 3/27/16 - 8/27/16. So here are my before and after pics. I had my ending photo shoot yesterday that was alot of fun! When was the last time I had someone do my hair and makeup for me? Um....12 years ago for my wedding and even then I did my own makeup! So that was a first for me! I can't wait to see the final pictures. I can't thank Kristen Stanley enough for coaching and helping me along the way. She is so busy with her life, yet she still finds time to help others. She made a difficult task FUN and interesting! She took a few pics with her phone yesterday - so this is just a sneak peak. </div>
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Even though I've reached my goal weight and I am extremely happy with where I am now, its up to me to maintain it. Keep it where it is. Fine tune it. Work on the muscle gain still. I still have a few trouble zones that I'm working on (obviously). But I'm also my own worst critic. </div>
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Am I done? Never. :) </div>
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#advocare<br />
#teamfitmom<br />
#momof4<br />
#mommuscles<br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-59465620116014890802016-07-16T16:10:00.001-05:002016-07-16T16:10:08.803-05:004 kids and all...I heard someone say the other day "you know... she's tired...she's got...like...4 kids...and all." yeah... that pretty much sums it up. 4 kids and all.<br />
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When did summers get so busy? And I don't even feel like we have a schedule quite like some of my friends. June was full of a beach trip, VBS, doctor appointments for everyone, getting ready for 4th of July activities and birthday parties. Then July hits. Next thing I know I'm ordering new backpacks and school supplies. Swim lessons, Kids' Camp, and our yearly summer trip to Tennessee to visit my family. Bam. School starts the week after we get back. I had "plans" to clean out closets, swap seasonal clothing in the kids' closets, do some major cleaning out with baby clothes/items and decorating our master bedroom. Not.happening. ugh. <br />
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I've had another psoriasis flareup and I can't use pregnancy or breastfeeding hormones to help that out anymore. I finally met with a rheumatologist concerning my psoriatic arthritis (seeing as how my psoriasis WAS under control at the time). I have been taking methotrexate since March and they have increased my dose twice and I'm still not seeing a huge benefit yet. The arthritis is slightly better but I caught strep at the beach and it triggered a flareup. So obviously the mtx didn't prevent that (which it technically probably should have). Next step is adding Humira injectable...and I was really hoping to avoid that. But here I am with Mati Claire telling me it looks like I have chicken pox. <br />
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I started back on my <a href="http://www.advocare.com/" target="_blank">Advocare</a> and <a href="http://www.teamfitmom.com/" target="_blank">TeamFit </a>plans. Its INTENSE! I feel like I spend most of my days either taking my supplements, planning my meals so I can be prepared on the go, or actually eating one of my six meals. You definitely don't go hungry on this plan but its definitely not for the sissies. We've discovered <a href="http://www.muscleegg.com/" target="_blank">MuscleEgg</a>. When you there are certain days you can be eating up to almost 15 egg whites a day.... you will vomit egg whites when you exercise. so we drink them now. tastes like chocolate milk. again, its hard core stuff! But I'm dedicated to losing weight and getting in shape! I would post pictures, but I'm not ready for that yet. I have lost technically about 15 lbs. put on alot of muscle too (so you can't really go by the scales). I've lost a total of 12" all over so far. I still have a long way to go, but consistency is the key and I'm hanging in there.<br />
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my 2 beautiful girls! Mati Claire turned 9 and Merritt turned 4. Being 5 years apart, its really hard to do a joint party when they are so different and in different times in their life. Merritt is still a die-hard Mickey Mouse fan and Mati Claire wants preteen activities. They may look similar but they are total opposites. When Mati Claire begs and pleads with me to not have to share "her day" -- its really hard to argue with her. BUT... this mommy is pushing 40 and I can not party for 2 straight days anymore. With the planning, the cleaning, the gifts, the traveling to wherever, the feeding, and even the fun of it... I can't hang. Soon next year we have decided we will do a joint swim party (now that Merritt isn't terrified of the water anymore). I will even 2 separate cakes if they want, as long as its on the same day and same time - so I only have clean up ONCE in one location. <br />
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Getting in shape to be "40 and Fit" brings me to my next note: Matt will be turning 40 next year! How I wish the blog had emoji's!! hahahahaha! Me being the planner that I am... and accepting the fact that he is NOT a party kind of guy (at all)... we are going on a trip! Alone! Well, together, but leaving the kids with my parents! For TWOOOO whole weeks!!!!!!!!! oh my goodness I'm so excited! And I have a whole year to try to contain the excitement! Flights are booked. Trip/hotels are booked. Now I'm nervous. a whole year to contemplate how I'm going to leave Mason for 2 straight weeks = we will be Facetiming ALOT! <br />
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We loooove our "Chachel" so much. Mitt wasn't a fan of jumping -- but only if Chachel did it with her! And Mason can spot frosting from across a room. He goes crazy for cake! <br />
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a Minnie party for our skinny minnie! We love our Mrs. Ty too! The world is a better place because of Mrs. Ty! It is a Minnie miracle that the cake survived the car trip for an hour. I think it was about to fall apart by the time we got to the lake! <br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-85705491803765872352016-06-11T18:58:00.001-05:002016-06-11T18:58:05.794-05:00My Cup Runneth Over!I just realized I haven't posted since April 1. wow. I HATE the end of school years. May is a m-a-r-a-t-h-o-n! I don't remember school being that busy when I was a kid... but then again, I wasn't a parent then. Is it me? or have the schools added so much more "stuff"??? I was REALLY glad I only allow ONE after school extra-curricular activity for each kid. Between ballet recitals, baseball games, I could not imagine adding anything else on top of school programs and parties. <br />
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Mati Claire is my bookworm. She received 3rd place in the entire school for AR points with a total of 369 points! She was first overall in her class. She decided this was her last ballet recital. :( <br />
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i.will.not.cry.again.over.that.fact. <br />
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Merritt has finally decided to show some interest in learning to write her name (and letters in general). She also FINALLY decided to participate in her end of the year program at preschool. She also did GREAT on stage for the first time at her first ballet recital! What??? Is that a light I see at the end of this tunnel we call "terrible 3's" --> age 4 is ALMOST here and I couldn't be happier about that!<br />
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We left on the last day of school for our only vacation this year: Universal Studios in Orlando and then a week at the beach in Sandestin, FL. We took my 2 oldest nieces with us and had a great time!<br />
It wasn't entirely busy, but I always feel I need a vacation from my vacation. Just glad to be home and I may spend the entire summer just catching up on laundry now.<br />
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Biggest news from our vacation is that Mason decided to START WALKING!!! Noooooo.. :( Matt turned 39 and we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary!! Big week! <br />
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What else have I been doing (since I'm always talking about my kids)? <br />
EATING and EXERCISING. Have to acknowledge <a href="http://www.advocare.com/" target="_blank">Advocare</a> and <a href="http://www.teamfitmom.com/" target="_blank">TeamFitMom</a> here. This plan is i.n.s.a.n.e. But, drastic change called for drastic measures. I was desperate to start losing weight and knowing that I will NEVER have any more kids -- I was ready! I also have such bad psoriatic arthritis, that I can't walk more than 0.5 mi. I am 38 and couldn't imagine taking a family vacation without hurting all over. My elbows began to lock up in the shower while I washed my hair. I wanted to lose weight, but can't exercise because my knees hurt so bad...and as a mom of 4-- who has time to swim? I considered myself 30 lbs overweight. I was pushing a size 14 that i have NEVER worn in my life (size 12 is my "fat size" and a size 8 I get told I look anorexic even though I feel great, so I'm happy to be in a size 10 usually). So size 10's are my goal. I don't usually make a weight goal bc I hover around 145. 138 is my all-time best. Being 5'10" ain't easy. So I quit comparing myself to others. Women doing these plans would drop 10 lbs in a week or two. I actually GAINED 5 lbs during my first month of this plan. What?? Totally discouraged, but thanks to my coach, Kristen...I kept pushing on! I started seeing a rheumatologist also for my psoriatic arthritis and started a new medication that we are still testing out. We've increased the dose once but still waiting to see how it works out overall. <br />
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I can't give the TeamFitMom plan away obviously, but I eat EXTREMELY clean, carb rotate, and try to workout like a beast! I've definitely had to re-prioritize things...putting myself before a few other things. Do I feel guilty? Sometimes. But there is a saying "if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I wasn't happy and my self-confidence was fading. Now I have energy to keep up with the 4 kiddos... I take them jogging with me. They see me eating healthier and the effects on the body. "Mommy, you don't look like you have a baby in your belly anymore!" That's always a good confidence booster. The biggest adjustment is eating 6 small meals a day. There is a whole new level of preparing and planning it takes to do that. I spend most of my day eating, working out, and taking my Advocare supplements! <br />
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Do I enjoy eating clean? Heck no. But do I feel better? Heck yes! I would love to run to the nearest fast-food place and inhale a giant cheeseburger. But I remind myself that I had ZERO energy and found myself napping on the couch literally ALL day sometimes. <br />
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After 8 weeks on the plan, I've lost a total of 9" all over and a total of 13 lbs. After my 8 weeks, I took a week off the menu for vacation and about 3 weeks off exercising because I have had a sick kid almost every day for the past 3 months! I can't go to the gym when I have a sick kid so that has pushed me to do more at-home workouts. Luckily, they came out with a new "at home" plan now! yay!<br />
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so here are a few pics of before and afters at just 6 weeks. This was probably 6 weeks ago, and I think I look better than this now, but haven't updated my pics yet. Anyway, I WILL be 40 and Fit! Its hard, but so worth it! <br />
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-87619485288711213602016-04-01T10:52:00.002-05:002016-04-01T10:52:48.500-05:00March MadnessMarch has been crazy busy! I guess that's every month for me now though. :\<br />
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Tried to relax during our Spring Break. Mattox's birthday. He's 6 now if I didn't post about that. He had a very low-key birthday this year and didn't mind his lack of a big party as long as he still got some cool birthday gifts. Nerf guns!<br />
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My Mason man turned 1. I blinked and he's 1. Why is it the harder you try to remember every little detail about everything during those first sweet months, that when you look back - it seems like a blur? He pretty much sums up the definition of being the baby. Looks up to the older ones, tries to do what they do. He never lacks for entertainment! He is ALL boy...and getting a little aggressive... he likes to hit and scratch at you. Getting rough already! I stopped breastfeeding about a week ago. I cried and sulked for 2 days. But its time to move on. He was NOT happy about it, but finally taking the sippy cup. He also quit baby food and only wants what we have for meals (another Merritt??) If my pregnancy was any indication, then he won't have any trouble with foods! He weighs 21 lbs and is 31 inches tall. He FINALLY started sleeping all night on a regular basis!!!! Hallelujah! Will pull up, but not walking yet (thank goodness). Seeing as his birthday is the day after St. Patrick's Day, I'm afraid he will always have a little green in his birthdays! It rained that day, so we had alot of the decorations planned for outside - had to move them in - so they didn't get the same effect they were meant to. :( but he LOVED his cake and was my only child to dig into it! He thought it was hilarious that I was actually letting him throw it everywhere! <br />
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(his pics below)<br />
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Merritt spent a week with Gigi and Poppy in Tennessee. It was a REALLY nice and much appreciated break from her. I did feel guilty. But then again, all my other kids have spent a week with them in the summer (usually all together) -- so it was her first time! I keep asking myself if its her age (terrible 3's) or if its her personality. At the moment I think its a little of both. But she.drives.me.crazy. I am mentally drained by the end of each day from her alone. I love her to death and would do anything for her, but her voice sounds like nails scratching down a chalkboard most days. Constant, loud, and shrieking usually. I feel like I'm attempting to break that free spirit of hers (with no success), but I honestly don't know what else to do. She also has to learn to behave and the rules of certain settings. That's such a fine line to walk. According to everyone else, she's an angel. Yeahhhh.... they don't see her at home. Not buying that for one second. But here's a pretty angelic picture of her, right? ;)<br />
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And Mati Claire is the best big sister that ever lived. She helps. She entertains. She excels at school which makes my job easier. She behaves. Just an overall joy to have. I would be lost without her. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MC and her best friend Brooke at their 80's class party.</td></tr>
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I stopped breastfeeding, and started my Advocare. I also started my exercise plan for the next 12 weeks through TeamFitMom (www.teamfitmom.com). It.is.insane. You can tell its been 2 years since I've worked out! But will post before/after pics if and when the time calls for it! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My local store/lady "Meme's Bakery" made this and it turned out perfect! Delicious too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEjW5F1nMQWwjAWDdAlFa0gccOwxaUakOKgA3DaNC3Ht4Qg5qyCa1JbGkBSV6TccaY1U1vEerPhAo_ptBvORBaFCe195Y6jad3K5Wm7uun9OX1Nt9SH_hmqWRUeDneMYzLSNI91B3pZKh/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEjW5F1nMQWwjAWDdAlFa0gccOwxaUakOKgA3DaNC3Ht4Qg5qyCa1JbGkBSV6TccaY1U1vEerPhAo_ptBvORBaFCe195Y6jad3K5Wm7uun9OX1Nt9SH_hmqWRUeDneMYzLSNI91B3pZKh/s640/IMG_0280.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mommy doesn't like for my hands to get dirty...so I'll try it like this..."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsklcG3cRYBuWugyBxk5HzyO3iqxZBya9w8thVjifiWlIwNL0FNxocmSpfeqvywZMhNIhqVdfBt4SlVCTl2yhFRKUNcihZQtW7HR_2_EaFWzup7f__v7dj71efnJTB5Qt0nVLaT9Dl0Dyi/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsklcG3cRYBuWugyBxk5HzyO3iqxZBya9w8thVjifiWlIwNL0FNxocmSpfeqvywZMhNIhqVdfBt4SlVCTl2yhFRKUNcihZQtW7HR_2_EaFWzup7f__v7dj71efnJTB5Qt0nVLaT9Dl0Dyi/s640/IMG_0290.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wait, she's going to let me do it anyway?..."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLBfxc5pkSLCuVOXMttzafymbSrrEsFQ_Ds0Qgu9BpFtmOMdn_1yPV_3yq8wkE99KlbhAS5E8omQyW1qnddZ-5JtA-c8B8joQZBGoLLsDtlnHiVs7X2n0Vsw9wR3aO1pMJ6zvghP5Ohj3/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLBfxc5pkSLCuVOXMttzafymbSrrEsFQ_Ds0Qgu9BpFtmOMdn_1yPV_3yq8wkE99KlbhAS5E8omQyW1qnddZ-5JtA-c8B8joQZBGoLLsDtlnHiVs7X2n0Vsw9wR3aO1pMJ6zvghP5Ohj3/s640/IMG_0308.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"and this is just the beginning...this is awesome!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuJYRWjQ2ge6DJrOdPjxIBJiPRlGU87Hwlq6zJQiLxM7pcXiPG868vf1YPPWo9tL5yjZaujjqweVUcpd2-BDi1nf44DPo9JF10qm8skwspA8VckIwhAT5FEBDGvH5PKJDqpASZiH5wyJx/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuJYRWjQ2ge6DJrOdPjxIBJiPRlGU87Hwlq6zJQiLxM7pcXiPG868vf1YPPWo9tL5yjZaujjqweVUcpd2-BDi1nf44DPo9JF10qm8skwspA8VckIwhAT5FEBDGvH5PKJDqpASZiH5wyJx/s400/IMG_0197.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sis and me. excuse the medicine cabinet behind me...but that's real life!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We LOVE our "chachel"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZGEVuwaxvANIP0fO18hByLy5Cbp1ZPdhvlFyaifJnzJmx1FL3G6JdqGStsKD2KTKUFkZ6LOd3kzUU3HqzjM2bScZAiwtnfi62exji022KOVtiSNsV_ophqSrXh3cVMV47dPR64La16qx/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZGEVuwaxvANIP0fO18hByLy5Cbp1ZPdhvlFyaifJnzJmx1FL3G6JdqGStsKD2KTKUFkZ6LOd3kzUU3HqzjM2bScZAiwtnfi62exji022KOVtiSNsV_ophqSrXh3cVMV47dPR64La16qx/s400/IMG_0234.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shenanigans is definitely his middle name!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my "wee one" with her Ty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"the Luckiest Big Sister" and she knows it. she loves her siblings even though she won't admit it. </td></tr>
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<image alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png"></image>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-59721648836609829312016-02-15T16:22:00.000-06:002016-02-15T16:22:23.258-06:00Springing ForwardI have got Spring Fever. It can not come soon enough. I have so many plans for the months coming up and so excited that I can't wait for them to get here. Because...<br />
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1) I just started weaning Mason. I've only cut out one feeding and I cried all day. Something about knowing he's my last baby and it breaks my heart. I want him to stay a baby forever! I see why my older sister always complained about me getting whatever I wanted all the time (of course I didn't see it that way at all--I got hand me downs all the time). As much as I LOVE breastfeeding, I am also excited to be moving on past this stage. So I can...<br />
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2) Lose that baby weight! I ordered my Advocare 24 day challenge... and I'm weaning myself off the bad junk food I've been eating lately. I can not wait to get started again. Looking forward to having energy, sleeping better, eating better, feeling better! I love Advocare products and they WORK as long as you stick to healthy clean eating. It is hard, but worth it. Because I want to be 40 and fit with 4 kids! My hubs is turning 40 next year (I'm not far behind him). I have 3 years to reach all my goals physically: still fit into my wedding dress, get into my favorite jeans, I'd prefer to wear my size 8 clothes again, and I'm not worried about the scales as much... but I'd be happy with my 145 lb weight goal (even better is my record 138 but I've been told I look anorexic at that weight even though I'm happy with it and feel great at that weight). So that is a 30 pound weight loss goal! Yep, I put on 40 with Mason---wow! 20 year high school reunion will be coming up next year -- so I hope to be close to my goals by that point! Not even sure if I'm going or if we will have one, but just in case. But I'm putting my goals out there so I'm held somewhat accountable. <br />
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3) Vacations. I plan to start taking some new medications (I'm terrified to try them) for my psoriatic arthritis. I can't walk more than 0.5 miles without my knee feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife. My elbows throb in the shower while I wash my hair. All my joints hurt most of the time. I keep psoriasis in my hair even if I'm not having a flare-up on my skin. I am so tired of it, and willing to try one of the new approved drugs even though there are several side effects I'm scared of.<br />
I'm 37 and can't walk more than 1/2 mile -- what would I do when I'm 40 and we want to go to DisneyWorld again or another country where you walk everywhere you go? <br />
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4) Cleaning out. Yes mam. Now that Mason and Mitt are outgrowing the last of the clothes - I can clean out my attic!!! Hallelujah! If you know me, then you know clothes are a bit of my obsession. Plus when you have older nieces, it all adds up! Can not wait to get rid of all these plastic boxes that have taken over my house! And baby gear. I am drowning in a sea of toys! I will be selling and donating a TON of stuff this summer. <br />
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All of that needs to happen June ;) jk<br />
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Valentine's Day was very low-key for us this year. I was a horrible wife and didn't even get Matt a card. Told him I would make up for it by cooking whatever he wanted one day this week? Does that make up for not being able to get to the store last week because I've had a sick child?<br />
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Merritt has been sick for 1 full week and then woke up running a high fever this am. Ugh. so this is as good as the pics got yesterday. You can see Mason wasn't up for getting his pic made (nap time!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only way to catch his picture is while he is asleep and not moving!</td></tr>
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and just for fun... since everyone seems to like his Mohawk hair...mati claire calls it his "chicken hair". :) <br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-60640237217660528922016-02-02T08:07:00.002-06:002016-02-02T08:09:16.639-06:00Omphalocele Awareness Day 2016Sorry, I'm a little late in posting. O Awareness Day is Jan. 31st each year. Its amazing to see a showcase of these babies. Even remembering the ones that have passed. In the MOO group, we get to know each other, whether through the multitude of questions posted or being located physically near another MOO (moms of omphaloceles). <br />
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This past year, several states have had the day legally recognized by the state government as Omphalocele Awareness Day. Definitely on our way to be nationally recognized! <br />
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Awareness? Yes, we need to let each mom that gets the diagnosis know that it is not a reason to terminate the pregnancy. They will have struggles. It will be hard. Its heartbreaking. The baby may make it or not make it. In the words of my own OB/GYN, "it may or may not be compatible with life." I'd say in MOST cases, the baby will be ok. Or at least in my experience (despite what the statistics may say). But you have hope, you have the MOO group there for you to answer your questions that most doctors can't, and you have an increase in modern medicine and technology on your side. <br />
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We've seen articles where the CDC says cases of omphaloceles and gastrochisis are increasing. I might agree with that. In the 4 years that I've been a part of the world-wide MOO group, membership has gone from around 400 to thousands! Granted, some of those are GOO's (grandmothers or grandfathers of omphaloceles), DOO's (dads of omphaloceles), etc. Most of us do NOT agree that so called "risk factors" are true. There are SO many of us that had none of these existing factors to cause such a defect. Personally, I don't smoke, I'm not obese, I don't do drugs, I wasn't taking any medications, and I'm not African-American. <br />
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It was just God's will. Why you ask? No, I don't think God is cruel, but He does allow trials and tribulations to test your faith. John 16:33 says you have trouble in this world, but you will also find peace in Him. I will go as far as to say, your family won't understand. At times, your spouse/partner won't understand. Your friends won't truly understand. Who will you turn to? God was my rock. <br />
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Merritt is a happy, healthy 3 1/2 year old who eats everything in sight. Just the other night she put down 3 oysters, 2 shrimp, a salad, chicken, onions, mushrooms, grits, pasta, and milk.... at one meal! Yes, I wish my other kids would eat like she does! I have no idea where she puts it, but food has never been her struggle since she was 2 weeks old. She's odd for an O baby like that, but I know several other similar to her. My point is that every O baby is different! Some may have trouble with their lungs, their hearts, their stomachs, or have other genetic abnormalities. In Merritt case, she has a VSD (hole) in her heart. But it does NOT hold her back at all.<br />
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Merritt, we love you and thank God for you! God is using you in great ways! "Your people" love you!<br />
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Saw this on a new t-shirt the other day: "Who needs bellybuttons anyway? They just collect lent." :)<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-85371231681446535632016-01-17T11:28:00.002-06:002016-01-17T11:43:20.925-06:00What I Would Say To HerDeath comes to us all I know. My mom is still here with me so it never crosses my mind that one day I won't be able to call her up and ask "is that regular flour or self-rising flour in this recipe?" I know so many women younger than me that have been given the death sentence via cancer. Most of them have very young children/daughters. All too often lately, I've been driving kids to school or wherever.. and all I can think is... what if that was me? What would I do? What would I tell my kids? What would I wish I could tell them that I haven't? If I died today, what would I wish I told them? Mostly things they wouldn't understand yet. So I'll put them here just in case.<br />
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Mati Claire, my 8 year old, tends to ask me the most serious questions and coming-of-age questions on the way to school. 7:15 in the morning and we're discussing birth control (yes! at age 8!) and such things. When you have 3 younger siblings, its difficult to hide the breastfeeding, the C-section scars, periods, etc. I didn't necessarily tell her up front about any of it, but I also won't lie to her when she happens across these situations. I'd rather her hear the information from me instead of some random kid at school. We haven't had the "birds and the bees" conversation yet, but I know its soon. I remember being in the 6th grade for my first sex ed class. If my mom told me about it first, I don't remember. But I do remember that class. Mat Claire will be in 4th grade next year, so again, my time is limited before she starts hearing things from her friends. <br />
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Yesterday's question in the car was "mom, how do you know you are marrying the right person?" (after the topic of divorce came on the radio). I'm given about a 15 minute window before she has to get out in car rider line. 15 minutes to answer what I would call life questions each day. My mind is blown because I'll be in the middle of discussing tampons and she gets out, slams the car door, and says "bye mom! love you!" And I'm left wondering if I said it right. Did I get the message across to her? Did that conversation go the way I wanted it to go? Did she understand? Parenting is tough.<br />
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So to answer this question, Mati Claire. <b>How do you know you are marrying the right person?</b><br />
Well, I would say to her:<br />
1. Listen to your inner voice. I like to think of it as the Holy Spirit guiding you. Not your conscious. What does it tell you? <br />
2. Does this man love Jesus more than you? He better. Is he a Christian? I hope so. If you put God first, its amazing how everything comes together in God's timing and in God's way. It doesn't get any better than that. And you'll be so glad you waited for the right person (even if it takes longer than you wish).<br />
3. Look beyond the looks... is he a good person? Is he superficial? Looks can only take a person so far. Looks go downhill with age... and some of the "best looking kids" in high school didn't age so well and some of the "nerds" in high school turned out to be really hot later in life! :) <br />
4. Don't get me wrong... you'll have to look at this person for the rest of your life... as long as he's handsome to you that's all that matters.<br />
5. What do you not like about him? Can you live with that forever? And don't say there's nothing wrong with him, because no one is perfect. As long as he's perfect for you. If you can overlook the pet-peeves, then go for it. If something he does drives you crazy in the beginning... it will probably only get worse in time.<br />
6. Is he a gentleman? Does he have manners? If not, move on. No excuses. If he doesn't put you first, then he isn't worth your time. If he doesn't make you feel like a princess, move on.<br />
7. Does he put forth any effort into grand gestures of love? Any man who cares what other people think is superficial. If he truly cares about you, he won't care if everyone around him knows it. I would need to see a grand gesture of some kind before agreeing to marry him. Just ask your Daddy about the contacts in the ketchup and then allowing my mom to go with us on our first date! <br />
8. Does he love his mom? <br />
9. Are his parents still married? I would definitely look at this and this should probably be closer to the top of the list. If so, he has a good example of what marriage should be. He has seen that it takes work (even if he doesn't realize it). If his parents are divorced, I'd say he's perhaps more likely to give up as well because he turned out ok, right? ;) Or maybe he's seen divorce and knows what not to do. My motherly advice would be to go with the still-married parents. <br />
10. Does he make you laugh? Like touch-your-soul make you laugh? He better. And not in the mean-make-fun-of-you-put-you-down-funny. That's not funny. But life is too short to spend a lifetime with someone who doesn't laugh with you. Your Daddy makes me laugh when I take things too seriously (which is often). Laughter can take you far in life. <br />
11. Don't be afraid to be yourself. If he tries to change something about you, then he is not the right person for you. No matter what it is (clothes, hair, who your friends are, what you eat, etc). <br />
12. Does he have goals? Ambition? I won't lie --- if he doesn't have some kind of plan for his life as far as a job goes -- how does he plan to support you? No goals = bum. And you are better than that. You deserve someone who can support you in the way that you want. Marry for love, but also be realistic and practical. If he hops from job to job faster than you can blink, that doesn't look like a good foundation to me. If you are happy with whatever income he makes, then that is great! Your Gigi always asked me, "If your husband dies, can you support yourself if you had to?" So my goal for you is to have the job that will give you the income you desire. You can not always depend on your husband for money. Can you support yourself? God forbid, what if something terrible happens to him and he is disabled? Both of you need some kind of plan in the beginning. Because marriage is hard and money usually makes it harder. <br />
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So that is my Top 12 answers for that question, Mati Claire. I could go on and on but I'll stop there. I would go into lust vs. love, but the question was about marriage...so I'm assuming its past lust already and hopefully in love. Don't even get me started on lust...that's a whole different post in itself! <br />
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I love you, Mati Claire and Merritt. I'll have to do a different post for the boys later. I do hope you find the right person you are meant to marry. And its ok if you don't. If he hurts you, you better believe I will haunt him for the rest of his life! ;) Now that we've been married almost 12 years, I can honestly say its not about the wedding... its about the marriage. Big wedding, small wedding, elope... it doesn't matter... do whatever makes you happy.<br />
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My love is your love! <br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-90806271794132211632016-01-07T16:52:00.001-06:002016-01-07T16:52:40.537-06:00Breastfeeding I love breastfeeding. In March of this year, I will have spent 4+ years having breastfed each baby for one year. Sorry, but not sorry, this isn't a post to make you judge me or for me to make you feel bad if you didn't. To each their own. I know everyone has their own reasons and you do what you have to do to make it work. I know many people's bodies won't make enough milk and people have to go back to work, mastitis, etc. However, I personally know too many people who I don't think put forth alot of effort. Yes, overall I thought it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. After having breastfed 4 kids though, I will admit I have to laugh when I hear some people's excuses on why they didn't though. I think those people just don't want to breastfeed-- which is fine too but I know that must be hard to admit-- so they give excuses instead. ok! this post isn't about that and I'll get off my soapbox. <br />
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When I had Mati Claire (my first), it was the worst experience of my life. I never wanted another baby after that. I felt like I failed already at being a mom on the first day. Couldn't even dilate to push her out and (being under general anesthesia) didn't even know she was born. I felt I missed out on being the first person to see her. I missed out on the "whole experience". So I made it my mission to put a real attempt on doing the next step: breastfeeding! Whoever said that breastfeeding is a natural process is totally 100% WRONG! It was the most un-natural thing I've ever done. Mati Claire fought me every single time for MONTHS! Without going into too much detail, I basically had to "get it/letdown started for her". She was the definition of the word lazy. The good part is that my body has no trouble whatsoever making milk. Call me Daisy the cow. At one point, I pumped out 12 oz from ONE SIDE. yep. it was insane. I digress. She wouldn't latch. She didn't enjoy it. Which made me hate it. Every trick or hold in the books wouldn't work. The boob nazis were relentless. When my nipples were bleeding and I couldn't even let the water in the shower hit them... I truly thought of quitting. It wasn't suppose to be like that, right? Bleeding is normal? that can't be right. <br />
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Everyone kept telling me that after 6 weeks it would be fine. For me, it was closer 8-10 weeks and I still had to use a few tricks to make her do it. It.was.HARD.work! I leaked so bad in between I was terrified to go anywhere despite the fact that I was wearing the bra guards (yeah right like those really work). I thought I was prepared by buying my nursing bras ahead of time. Lesson learned: don't ever buy nursing bras before your milk comes in. I went from a C to something larger than an F if I remember correctly. But by the time 8 weeks rolled around, I wasn't about to quit then! I didn't go through bleeding nipples just to quit!!!<br />
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Oh did I cry. Even though I was nursing her, I still felt like a failure. I wasn't used to having a baby literally attached to your boobs 24/7. Mati Claire was a snacker. She wanted to eat every 2 hours (30 min-90 min during a growth spurt). It was again, another nightmare. I couldn't go anywhere -- because I would most definitely have to nurse her at some point -- nurse in public, what???<br />
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But stubborn baby met stubborn momma! Again, I was determined. So I hung in there. She eventually quit me around 11 months. I will never forget it. She took one sip and un-latched. She looked up at me, shook her head "no" and sweetly smiled at me. I couldn't argue with that anymore. I cried for 2 days. All that work and it had come to an end... :(<br />
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I also learned through her that I DESPISED the breast pump. I never pumped again until I had to in the NICU with Merritt for 2 weeks. <br />
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Then came Mattox. The piranha. My poster child for breastfeeding awareness. He couldn't have been any more opposite of Mati Claire. He came out (and to my complete shock) grabbed my boob out of thin air and latched on like his life was depending on it (ok it was). He nursed like he had been doing it in the womb for months before if it was possible. I was prepared for the struggle and use all the tricks that I was used to with Mati Claire. <br />
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Mattox showed me that it WAS completely natural. And easy. My boobs never bled. Sore for a few days maybe. I think Mati Claire trained them not to leak after a certain time. So no leaking that time around. He eventually quit me around 11 months as well. Gosh he made it easy, I didn't even have to force him to quit. He literally got in, got the job done, and was off. Never took more than 5 min to nurse that baby!<br />
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I definitely lost some modesty during my 4 C-sections. When too many strangers to count have seen your insides not to mention you naked from the neck down in the operating room-- who cares about seeing some boobs? Man, I LOVE not having to pack food, heat food up, mix bottles, wash bottles, etc. <br />
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Just to give my extended version -- Merritt and Mason were also breastfeeding champions. Had a hard time weaning Merritt after 15 months but she had good reason with all her physical issues. She refused to eat for the doctors through a bottle and I was finally allowed to breastfeed after 2 weeks...she was waiting for the real deal and never looked back! And my baby Mason has made it so much fun that I will definitely cry when I wean him in just a few short months. I'm not one of those people who still breastfeed their toddlers. I will cut them off around age 1. I was able to pump extra during those first 2 weeks in the NICU and donated it to the other NICU babies that don't even have mothers there. Some were orphans. Some never had their mothers visit them (hard to imagine but true). <br />
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As much as I LOVE the time I spent with each one, I am counting down the days till Mason is finished. I am ready to start back on my diet, I'm ready to wear normal bras again, and I'm ready to sleep on my stomach again. <br />
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So yes, I am a pro-breastfeeder. Each one was different. Mati Claire fought me and refused to latch, Mattox was my poster child, Merritt truly knew what she wanted and didn't want to let go, and Mason is my funny baby. He gets so tickled (maybe bc he's so happy?) that he can't nurse because he's laughing! Its hilarious. Sometimes he can't even look at me because he's trying to get back "in the zone" so he'll have to look away to keep from laughing or smiling. (can't latch well if your'e smiling). Knowing how happy it makes him, I will have a hard time weaning him as well. Mati Claire and Mattox both quit me so I didn't have to wean them. <br />
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Looking back, the way they breastfed was a huge indicator in how they eat now years later. Mati Claire is still the pickiest child I have ever seen! Mattox is my crack addict when it comes to food/sugar. He still eats like there is no tomorrow. Merritt still wants the real deal: she wants me to slave over a hot stove with soul food and casseroles. No kid foods for her! So I'm looking forward to see how this equates to Mason... I'm thinking he will be the one who plays with his food and laughs about it!<br />
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This is how you shut down breastfeeding shamers. Read more about Alyssa Milano's activism here: http://attn.link/1Ru58r4Like ATTN: on Facebook.<br />
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-43410957632424844702015-12-25T16:16:00.001-06:002015-12-25T16:16:57.187-06:00Christmas 2015I don't like my grandmother. yep. i said it. The words "don't like" is putting it mildly. those of you that know me already know this. One thing I have learned as I'm getting older, is to let.it.go. forgive. get over it. move on. <br />
So its been close to 5 years since I've seen her the last time (before that it had been like 10-15 years). Her name is Jane. She has Alzheimers now and dementia. She doesn't recognize her own kids much less her grandkids that she never sees. She's 94 years old. Now that I've had my last child (and as far as I know, Mason is and will be her very last great grandchild from all the cousins combined) I figured she should at least meet them all. Even if she doesn't recognize us. But yes, I made my effort. Nothing to write about really -- but had to document for my kids sake that yes, they all met her at one time. Here is a pic of her 2 out of 3 children, 3 out of 6 grandchildren, and 7 out of 11 great grands. <br />
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Let me do a word vomit summing up the rest of the past month:<br />
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stomach virus circulated each member of our family THREE times. Christmas shopping. Christmas cards. Northside Fundraiser and chaperone. Accent Open House. Hair Appts. Field Trips. Wrap ALL of the presents before our TN trip. Sunday School class Christmas party. Matt and I won the costume photo booth contest for dressing up like Caitlyn and Bruce Jenner! But sorry, can't share the picture because its THAT bad! Hilarious though. Dr. Appts. Christmas class parties x 3 kids. Christmas Program at the Preschool. Teacher gifts. Pack x 6 people for TN trip. Gingerbread houses. Reindeer food. Make cookies for Santa. Book Fair board. Mati Claire tied for 3rd place in that! Orthodontist and dentist appts. Teething baby. Very little sleep for both of us. The Elf on the Shelf not helping matters. Matt works nights. Cook for all of the above parties. Did I mention the stomach virus loved our house this past month? A normal 7 hour drive to TN turned into a 10 hour drive with the kids because of holiday traffic and road construction. Allergy/sinus crud for several of us thanks to the 'Sip's weather -- 85 degrees on Christmas Eve! I'm really really really tired.<br />
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I have never been so glad to wake up this Christmas morning with everyone home and well (other than Mason's teething pains). The picture above got me thinking. Its been OVER 5 years and its still not a "complete" picture with the other cousins and grandkids not in it. I know one day my kids will be grown and move away. I hope and pray we don't go 5+ years without seeing them. Even if its not at Christmas, I hope all the kids will visit at least once a year at the same time! I was reminded that some of my friends don't have their babies with them this Christmas. Several babies went to Heaven this past year and I am grateful for every second I have with mine. <br />
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Its not about the presents. Its about getting together and having a good time with family. Its about first Christmases. Its about the traditions you make. My favorite decorations in my house are the stockings that my other grandmother made me and can't be bought. Above all, remembering the real reason we celebrate = JESUS. Happy Birthday, Jesus! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Who are you???" </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWmjk2-yVQbewuXDnC7VbTqxzOhrpkm8gJdEdXajmowIaDuOIlwf4oNDZwidHQEykV8Wtj5tXws-yhWrf0L805IfNoYeTPuO59jkRdZflKuo72XJQNu4SbRfvr74EI2oQ94BNL3klZO6b/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWmjk2-yVQbewuXDnC7VbTqxzOhrpkm8gJdEdXajmowIaDuOIlwf4oNDZwidHQEykV8Wtj5tXws-yhWrf0L805IfNoYeTPuO59jkRdZflKuo72XJQNu4SbRfvr74EI2oQ94BNL3klZO6b/s320/IMG_2388.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This toy is suppose to work on body control and motor skills. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlsrr53CNo1mBcWpbuI6kl-Z_NSPq-tBeXEpNMFyjla7mw4ESCB4BwN4kXUUeMXTz4xGRuL72W3bBQaemH8xDOi0ADEwF6tZ30BiVTomPAb7EYUpIttM1hKKG_Xgaru059KjYkY39FRaE/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlsrr53CNo1mBcWpbuI6kl-Z_NSPq-tBeXEpNMFyjla7mw4ESCB4BwN4kXUUeMXTz4xGRuL72W3bBQaemH8xDOi0ADEwF6tZ30BiVTomPAb7EYUpIttM1hKKG_Xgaru059KjYkY39FRaE/s320/IMG_2392.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't be fooled -- its not real. "PurrfectPets" is awesome and truly the perfect pet. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Christmas card picture this year. Dalton Lane photographer.</td></tr>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-79166338525643635442015-12-05T15:45:00.000-06:002015-12-05T15:45:59.208-06:00Heavy HitterThanksgiving wasn't much of a break... and its hard to find something to be thankful for when you're cleaning up vomit and diarrhea every single day of the break. Stomach bug hit our house hard. Just passing it from one person to the next. One child even got it twice (after days of being fine in between). <br />
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I went to the dermatologist for my annual checkup. After getting slammed in the face by a harsh laser for scar tissue removal from my skin cancer (think of the hardest hitting rubber band popping you in the nose a thousand times), a marble sized cyst removed from under my arm, 4 stitches later, a black eye from the laser, and $500 less... again, finding it hard to be thankful and desperately looking for the Christmas spirit. <br />
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So then I notice my throat is hurting. Hmm... thought it was just sinus drainage. But then I remembered the last time I had a sore throat that caused a major psoriasis flareup 3 years ago. (Strep is a trigger for that). Anyway, I am THANKFUL TO HAVE A HUBBY WHO IS A DOCTOR AND CAN WRITE ME A PRESCRIPTION! I asked Matt to err on the side of caution and call me in an antibiotic (fyi, if you catch the strep early enough it CAN prevent it from spreading and possibly decrease the severity if you're lucky). So I started my antibiotic and felt great for 10 days.<br />
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The day after I finished it, I noticed red spots on my neck and chest. Ugggghhhh. By that night, it had spread to arms, legs, and torso. I fully expected to look like my all time worst by the next morning, but to my complete surprise the spots actually looked somewhat better the next day??? Still there, but not enflamed or itching as bad. I make my appointment with the dermatologist AGAIN expecting to start one of the new immune system depressants (Enbrel, Humira, Stelara, etc). Within 3 days, the psoriasis had gotten worse and then almost completely gone! All I could imagine was Clint Eastwood saying "Do ya feel lucky punk? Well, do ya?" YES I DO! After having my last flare-up completely clear up when I got pregnant with Merritt, I have no doubt that my breastfeeding Mason has helped again (keeping the pregnancy hormones up!) on top of the antibiotics. <br />
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My psoriatic-arthritis has reached an all-time high. I'm 36 and can't walk more than 1/2 mile without my knees feeling like they are being stabbed with a knife. My elbows throb in pain while I wash my hair. Ankles, hips, and wrists hurt depending on what I'm doing. I tend to find exercises that don't involve walking, running, or stairs. Elliptical and Pilates seem to work for me - which I will get back to when I'm done nursing Mason. <br />
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Anyway - all that to say -- I will be starting some new treatment in the near future. I'm a little terrified of trying this. Mason is on a countdown to being weaned and then I have to make my decision. Being a pharmacist is sort of a curse when I know TOO much about drugs. Ignorance is bliss people! <br />
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On top of all the physical pain lately, can I just tell you how much Merritt drives me insane??? I'm her mom so I can say that, right? I love her to death, but ooohhhh myyyy goooodnessss. Make.her.stop. I really don't know where she comes from. Certainly doesn't remind us of anyone (other than the fact that she looks like her Daddy). She changes clothes AT LEAST 5 times a day, and normally wears multiple outfits...all at one time. Yep, just layers them on because she's weird like that. Usually different pieces from different outfits. She loves her accessories to a scary degree. I imagine her on one of those intervention reality shows where they tell her she has to sell all of her stuff one day and the high pitched screaming will be heard around the world. Her vocabulary (and correct context) has reached a new level also. Anyone who says she needs speech therapy needs a kick to the groin. We need a therapist to get her to STOP talking. Or a therapist to listen to her rants, because my ears are about to fall off. So this week I was thinking that maybe... just maybe... we were beginning to round the corner from the terrible 2's and 3's. She went 2 days where I would actually use the word GOOD to describe her. Should have known that it would come back and bite me in the butt. Yesterday, she cut her own hair. 2 good chunks missing out of the front that I'm pretty sure won't reach in a ponytail anymore. Today, she is eating crayons. <br />
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November and December are proving to be hard hitters this year. Is it January yet? Nope! Its December 5th and we don't even have our tree decorated yet! <br />
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On a more positive note, we had pictures made with an amazing photographer in Tennessee back in July and I am just now getting the proofs back! She's worth the wait though! Here are just a FEW of my faves. <br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-36845181535795392762015-11-08T12:56:00.000-06:002015-11-08T14:43:07.713-06:00October MoveoberI think I mention this every year. October and May are quite possibly my least favorite months. Yes its suppose to be all great and fun for the kids, but how can you actually enjoy it with them when its crazy busy and you get no sleep ???<br />
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Whoever decides the school calendar should NEVER EVER EVER EVER put Book Fair, Red Ribbon Week, 50's Day/party, Fall Festival/Halloween/Trunk-or-Treat parties, Fundraisers, Field Trips, Behavior Rewards parties, all on top of non-school related activities including more Halloween parties, birthday parties, church Fall Festivals, normal extra-curricular activities (ballet, soccer, etc), not to mention its "sick" month where allergies and viruses are rampant. <br />
BECAUSE lets face it: most parents do not help in the public schools. For those of us who DO want to help... we can not do it all. We can't be in multiple places at the same time. We all generally have more than 1 kid. SO in the future we will be learning to Just.Say.No. Which we all hate. Which will mean less help and therefore less fun for the kids. They don't like hearing that word and we don't like saying it. (I'm speaking for several moms here.) Attempt to space all this out over the month, not squeeze it all into ONE WEEK! <br />
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ok. rant over. mainly because its November now. and I can breathe again. <br />
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Halloween just isn't what it used to be. Most people don't go trick-or-treating because no one trusts anyone. Trunk-or-treating is nice when the churches don't cancel it because of rain every year. But lets face it, trunk-or-treat doesn't have the same appeal as knocking on a stranger's door begging for candy. In the 8 years that we've been here, our church has canceled their Fall Festival at least 3 times that I can remember. Nowadays, everyone has Fall Festivals anyway - what happened to haunted houses and creepy witches? Don't get me wrong, I'm not Satanic or into demon worship or anything like that. Its.just.fun.to.dress.up.and.get.scared. Last year, I was pregnant with Mason and beyond physically and emotionally exhausted. So I opted out of throwing our annual Halloween party and taking a break. I never heard the end of it. I promised the kids I would do it this year and that I would persuade the adults to get dressed up too. I do it for the kids. I do it because times aren't the same as they were when I was growing up. If I don't throw a Halloween party, who will?? I got smart this year though. My only rule was if you come, you must bring food. I took care of the "big" items and drinks. Seeing as most of my friends have a minimum of 3 kids, I just can't do all the decorating PLUS ALL the food it takes to feed that many people. It did start raining this year about half way through, but I think they all had a good time anyway. I do an outdoor movie, this year we rented a jumper, food, candy, and a hayride. The kids had a blast I think. They were surrounded by their own friends and family, not a bunch of strangers at foreign-church's trunk-or-treat (which I get is a ministry opportunity). We weren't knocking on stranger's doors. Hopefully it took all the worries out of the parents as well as the kids and everyone had a good time. Looking forward to next year!!! I'm thinking Elvis might be making an appearance (maybe).<br />
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If your picture didn't show up on Fb, its because my sister said she felt weird taking someone's picture if she didn't know them. So please don't be offended. She tried to take everyone's picture for me and I must say I need to hire her from now to be the official every-party photographer! <br />
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I've had several friends come back and tell me that our Halloween party WAS their child's Halloween this year. And that their kids' were still talking about how much fun they had. Our church canceled their event for Halloween night again, plus it was raining cats and dogs so no one went trick-or-treating. Every penny I spent and time spent on decorating and setting up... was worth it to hear that.<br />
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Having said all that, I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking. Its been crazy busy and I'm very much looking forward to school being out for the upcoming holidays.<br />
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P.S. Oh! Why was I dressed up as a cop? My friend Amy and I have an ongoing inside joke about us being "Mom of the year" (which we totally aren't) and also one of us being "Good cop vs. Bad cop". I usually refer to Amy being the Good cop because she is the "nicer mom" of the two of us! I'm mean mommy and I joke that I'm the "bad cop." I really didn't want the kids coming in the house during the party unless they had to go to the bathroom... I joked that I would "arrest anyone trespassing on private property." Hence...the cop costume.<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-84186821575704452742015-09-21T22:12:00.002-05:002015-09-21T22:14:11.092-05:00Hearts HurtingSo many people we know or know-of are battling terminal conditions. A 31 year old mother of one is battling a rare type of untreatable liver cancer. A 5 year old little boy passed away yesterday from cancer. A sweet lady in my Bible study who has 2 teenage daughters passed away over the weekend from cancer. Several O babies passing in the last few weeks. My heart is so heavy and it hurts for these families. <br />
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When I'm so angry at Merritt for being a typical 3 year old, I need to remind myself that she is HERE. Yes, she is slow to potty train. Could be her stubborn strong willed self or it could be O related. who knows. She tells me her tummy hurts almost every day lately. I don't know what to do or even say when she's still eating and going to the bathroom as usual. There's nothing I can do for a tummy ache if she's doesn't have a stomach bug. <br />
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I haven't really lost anyone that I've been super close to. I haven't lost a parent or child (thank you Lord!) - so I can't relate to the pain they must be feeling. I have journeyed to the dark side for a bit. Don't care to ever go there again. But through it I truly understood the Abraham and Isaac story. Sacrificing your child for God. I (finally) had reached a point that I was ACCEPTING (wasn't happy about it but definitely accepting) of the fact that Merritt might go HOME sooner rather than later. That peace people tell you about…. it comes one day. Knowing you will see them again and knowing they are in a far better place and not in pain anymore. 'Death, where is your sting?' I finally "got it." I finally understood what that REALLY meant. I am glad she's still here with us, and lately I have to hug her a little harder and more often. I started watching her again after she falls asleep… just thinking how precious she is. <br />
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I went to college with this mom. I'm not friends with her now, but I applaud her for her strength and ability to put this out there. I can only hope I would have these words when I am in a similar situation.<br />
<a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/campbelldale/journal/view/id/55fba9e3ab28b9a33022bdcf" target="_blank">http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/campbelldale/journal/view/id/55fba9e3ab28b9a33022bdcf</a><br />
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So after you've dried your tears from reading that… I will rejoice in the happiness surrounding us lately. Several new babies being born. Family weddings. Planning vacations. Rejoicing in our faith in God and knowing what a mighty Healer He is! Seeing several people with stage IV cancer now proving to be cancer-free. <br />
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and maybe (just maybe) because he's the baby - but this one ALWAYS put a smile on my face and we are celebrating 6 months of having this one leveling out the playing field for us. I love my sweets! I love love love 6 months of age! It is my favorite age so far of parenting! He ends our baby streak with a high level of cuteness and happiness!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in a milk coma</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i will never tire of this face</td></tr>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-69696060518917529002015-08-19T21:27:00.002-05:002015-08-19T21:27:51.774-05:00School ShowdownsI am going to try to blog more! Not sure if it will actually happen or not, seeing as I practically live in my car now that school has started. For 2 reasons:<br />
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1) I printed my blog "book" for the past 3 years (this is my second book to print) and my family has had such a fun time looking back at all the pictures and reading some posts. Its like a family scrapbook in digital form!<br />
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2) I get emails from newly-diagnosed O moms. So I know they find my blog from their research and I want them to know I'm still here for them. Most of my posts now won't have anything to do with omphaloceles but I do try to update the tab labeled "Merritt's Story" every few months so its current with her age.<br />
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Onto my real post for today:<br />
<span style="color: red;">SCHOOL IS IN! CLASS IS IN SESSION! </span><br />
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1) <span style="color: red;">Mati Claire</span> is in 3rd grade this year at Northside. This is her first year to have more than one teacher. She was hesitant to get a male teacher but after meeting Mr. Day, she is thrilled and loves him! Mrs. Renacker is also awesome! So far each year seems to be a "step up" in the amount of work, homework, level of difficulty… i guess as it should be. Let me have a mommy brag moment. Mati Claire makes my job as a parent so easy when it comes to school. I LOVE this about her. She says I don't verbally acknowledge this as I do the others, so I am going to try harder to let her know how proud she makes me. She sets her own alarm clock (and actually gets up on her own), she gets dressed by herself, usually fixes her own breakfast, and doesn't give me any trouble when it comes to homework. She loves to read and she is my overachiever. She is the BEST big sister. As much as she didn't want "mommy to be pregnant again" she absolutely adores Mason now. She entertains him while I cook dinner and knows how to make him laugh! Again, she makes my job as a mom easy and I am so grateful for it! <br />
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She is still taking ballet but says she wants to quit after this year. We will see. She is NOT athletic in any way, but she wants to try horseback riding (thanks to my sister who snuck that idea in) and possibly tennis? She loves swim lessons but she doesn't want to join the swim team… just loves taking lessons and perfecting the techniques at her own speed. <br />
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2)<span style="color: red;"> Mattox</span>-man! He started Kindergarten at Clinton Park! He is not enjoying having to wake up early and his first words on the second day were "we have to go AGAIN?" He gets social anxiety and said he got really nervous in the cafeteria. Hopefully he'll get used to that soon. <br />
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3) <span style="color: red;">Merritt.</span> wow. how in the world did she start 3 year old Kindergarten at preschool this year? She will go Mon-Fri for 3 hours each day (play days are optional and I can leave her longer if she wants). She is what I call my high-maintenance child. We couldn't leave the house until her bow, her shoes, and her clothes all matched…and she informed me that I forgot to paint her toenails…oh, the tragedy! she is all drama and all girl. She got a good friend of mine, Mrs. Jessica, as her teacher so we're all happy about that!<br />
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We are working HARD on potty training. I had signed her up for ballet this year, but I'm not sure how this is going to workout in that regard. We may be pulling her out of ballet later. <br />
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4) <span style="color: red;">Mason</span>. Mason Paul! Mason P!!! sweet sweetness rolled into 15 pounds of baby fat that I could eat with a spoon. i want to love on him and hold him and tickle him til the sun comes up. if he isn't asleep, he is smiling usually. very happy baby who gets plenty of entertainment from the older kids. he rarely fusses. someone asked me "How do you get one of those?" my response was "perhaps you have to have 4?" because he is the first to be this calm, happy, and content ALL the time! He is sleeping at least 8 hours at night now (usually from 9-5 or 8-4) but I don't mind when he wakes up because he usually goes right back to sleep. He is going to grow up thinking his name is Sweetness. He is the cherry on top… my sugar in my tea…he is my cake that I get to eat too...yeah, you get the idea! Blessed doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about him. When I have days that I question why on earth we had 4 kids……. I just look at #4 and wonder how on earth we couldn't?!?!<br />
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Don't you love the way he sleeps? #holdemup </div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-13477523488649713662015-07-26T22:25:00.000-05:002015-07-26T22:25:24.559-05:00she is "FREE"I'm a little late posting about Merritt's 3rd birthday party. I know some of you won't/don't care, but I end up printing the blog into a book at the end of each year so this is for my documentation too! <br />
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Merritt is/was my NICU baby. I was fore-warned that I would be expected to sing and talk to her as much as possible before I had her. With all the emotions and chaos of those first few days I hadn't really had time to think of any songs to sing to her. The first day we saw her, the nurse told me I could sing to her to let her hear my voice. Put on the spot like that - my mind went blank. I couldn't think of ANY songs and the first one that came to mind (that I actually knew the words) was You Are My Sunshine. I sang that song to her ALL the time (among others) and still do when I rock her to sleep every night. When she is upset and crying, it usually calms her down. <br />
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So she had a "You Are My Sunshine" 3rd birthday party! Very low-key and held at our lake house. She LOVES chocolate cake so her wish is my command. She is getting her "big girl bed" this month so she didn't really get any presents "to open" from us. I knew the family members would help me out there! thank you to everyone who drove all that way to help her celebrate!<br />
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If you ask her how old she is… she says "I'm free!" I laugh because I like to think of it as her being free from all the worries we had. Even her cardiologist only sees her once a year… done with surgeons … done with NICU. Just free. :) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dancing with Poppy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"patiently" waiting for her cake!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEyU6Ob03_ni-QavjtmgIZES8CDLBXm1jzMrGDqMxVMBPjhpDtdDcx-dD3cXvd1hGYr4UZvn65pg3j7N722q-DwWxMnH1nofcSFPanPEmuYA71d5LCpb-dhUfiqp-EJd1qMk7RassFeOG/s1600/IMG_0775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEyU6Ob03_ni-QavjtmgIZES8CDLBXm1jzMrGDqMxVMBPjhpDtdDcx-dD3cXvd1hGYr4UZvn65pg3j7N722q-DwWxMnH1nofcSFPanPEmuYA71d5LCpb-dhUfiqp-EJd1qMk7RassFeOG/s320/IMG_0775.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX52rQhinJRGKLDNXN8zjYqI2G1vRJMSHECdSpWxn3vi968RE6sxDYAtUqnxJ4KrxegWlxgPmthNgdgKsfX5PWB380NaCODFpMCWtUNaZIgGJEagu5dxWlbxNsTxk0zvvTeHlYMY3dLzA/s1600/IMG_0778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX52rQhinJRGKLDNXN8zjYqI2G1vRJMSHECdSpWxn3vi968RE6sxDYAtUqnxJ4KrxegWlxgPmthNgdgKsfX5PWB380NaCODFpMCWtUNaZIgGJEagu5dxWlbxNsTxk0zvvTeHlYMY3dLzA/s320/IMG_0778.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRRMqgKChC77w-lUJ-FPAtRZFGTgNCA9EhumXb4AmuVOJBQ5uTABsGcuC0Tq3qZwrL3QixRvexmsy0fi9_ysI15IU0bim2wwasJ59SXKBnCRxcyr1p5IOrrAkLYgGy8vkIHn92NjiJN1I/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRRMqgKChC77w-lUJ-FPAtRZFGTgNCA9EhumXb4AmuVOJBQ5uTABsGcuC0Tq3qZwrL3QixRvexmsy0fi9_ysI15IU0bim2wwasJ59SXKBnCRxcyr1p5IOrrAkLYgGy8vkIHn92NjiJN1I/s640/IMG_0782.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a little help from her big siblings. </td></tr>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096644104686984286.post-38585692340405709072015-07-14T21:58:00.000-05:002015-07-14T21:58:20.605-05:008 is Great!Having 2 girls with birthdays 1 day apart is hard! I think I know how twins must feel now always having to share your birthday with someone else. Last year I made them do a joint party and Mati Claire and I agreed that we would ATTEMPT to alternate years with separate and joint parties. So far it is working out well, because this year she turned 8 on the 8th! I've always been told that its your "golden" birthday when that happens (I was 19 on the 19th, etc). Hence…Mati Claire's GOLDEN 8th birthday! <br />
I'll let the pictures do the talking, but I will have to upload the "Fotobooth" pics when the photographer emails them to me later! There are a dozen more pics but these were my favorites. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y233Zmvt31PxOAHNurUeMV6U_4IIaX2NSXrimvxEhInYHKrO22-3TdnK5mnlRHQkFmmyKhJMcA86NE5Odc1d1w-mbpF95y8c2Ao7hqT1zG5O-7UbevoOZpS_absG-Ll-3UiqSYJ06Noq/s1600/IMG_7137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y233Zmvt31PxOAHNurUeMV6U_4IIaX2NSXrimvxEhInYHKrO22-3TdnK5mnlRHQkFmmyKhJMcA86NE5Odc1d1w-mbpF95y8c2Ao7hqT1zG5O-7UbevoOZpS_absG-Ll-3UiqSYJ06Noq/s320/IMG_7137.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you tell how happy she is? Your love is my love. Its hard to see in pic, but I loved the ribbon holding her birthday picture from each year. And the light up 8 is just too cool (ordered both from Etsy).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyAHfbHJ0_0LCahEBHQQzm3kY05EynBU6WWYQMlaW8Mhe_Od5SCIcqm9lI_bBkR3tczVPvUwbMoWc1_VaN-smGxTXRwHermQlY8PM7LP0cbQyPKxwgOQnJhcjQfjHmDmh6yB0Ty4c0LVr/s1600/IMG_7059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyAHfbHJ0_0LCahEBHQQzm3kY05EynBU6WWYQMlaW8Mhe_Od5SCIcqm9lI_bBkR3tczVPvUwbMoWc1_VaN-smGxTXRwHermQlY8PM7LP0cbQyPKxwgOQnJhcjQfjHmDmh6yB0Ty4c0LVr/s320/IMG_7059.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you FedEx for making my signs. They turned out exactly like I wanted. If I had plenty of time, I would have covered the garage door in pink paper and made it look like Pepto Bismol exploded at my house. "Your birthday is the greatest day of my life" "She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes" "Dream big little girl" "And though she be but little she is fierce" "Thank Heaven for little girls" </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVHUvbC1VHnAvFfzcqo9egGd6qhyRRXr93fmjTUeX99m7x4LPsouLHPUSGwX2fqlgFwowAHFGX2-UcARLpHKDkbCb5jsOGBP4z0FKFUER59GAyFxPccoygAZNzAduq2hbg3LqRWQyYOAL/s1600/IMG_7058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVHUvbC1VHnAvFfzcqo9egGd6qhyRRXr93fmjTUeX99m7x4LPsouLHPUSGwX2fqlgFwowAHFGX2-UcARLpHKDkbCb5jsOGBP4z0FKFUER59GAyFxPccoygAZNzAduq2hbg3LqRWQyYOAL/s320/IMG_7058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robby Followell is a local (but known across the state) wedding photographer that owns a photo booth "The Fotobooth". I got to pick which background I wanted and how could I not pick the gold sequin? I didn't know how this would go over with a bunch of 8 year olds… but Holy Moly…. it was a HUGE success and we could not peel the girls out of it. They were OBSESSED and it was TONS of fun for everyone of ALL ages! Even Papaw got in on the action that I will share later!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yw2vyZU391fXD7FiW-FjlkXI-oamBfoH5YWX_RZ5736uAqsKNojAvLqCKPP_AeTi_Tanb6AMig2F0AWd7Y_xwLAAUWIhA1BON1NchzdAvI-ZGd_nN71toyr7RvYO63R3amP4ulJXC8iI/s1600/IMG_7070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yw2vyZU391fXD7FiW-FjlkXI-oamBfoH5YWX_RZ5736uAqsKNojAvLqCKPP_AeTi_Tanb6AMig2F0AWd7Y_xwLAAUWIhA1BON1NchzdAvI-ZGd_nN71toyr7RvYO63R3amP4ulJXC8iI/s320/IMG_7070.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mattox told Robby that "[he] is not a Fotoboother." Yet, we could not get him out of it and he took just as many pictures as the girls did! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZct5nEK76bGov1-nwAfCfs4BfvR1YhyphenhyphenoYypehGTxVt22r81p5ZJBRjvG6VzT6-AXdy4ytqDvK426csbaEFLHpFwoop8Etm8wkrr5g1xAGl_UnZpiP8JeQiRvJ1eqX7wARZxNyWyB8z8T/s1600/IMG_7073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZct5nEK76bGov1-nwAfCfs4BfvR1YhyphenhyphenoYypehGTxVt22r81p5ZJBRjvG6VzT6-AXdy4ytqDvK426csbaEFLHpFwoop8Etm8wkrr5g1xAGl_UnZpiP8JeQiRvJ1eqX7wARZxNyWyB8z8T/s320/IMG_7073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I made this cake. My second big cake so far. I heart fondant. I do not like the taste of it though. I ordered her cake topper name thing from Etsy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3HAWj951Wssc19oibUiw5iZ8bh-4Xphd8v2fkL1_7OrsN7DqjQbUSr-vyT_5bC_n3eaaKBNoblzcWdsuTkjvOhujMJDl2Bjnk4K-_ajEbKSuimDzYFgB4jYdpOYwxqF_E-qiOrUC1_Lm/s1600/IMG_7074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3HAWj951Wssc19oibUiw5iZ8bh-4Xphd8v2fkL1_7OrsN7DqjQbUSr-vyT_5bC_n3eaaKBNoblzcWdsuTkjvOhujMJDl2Bjnk4K-_ajEbKSuimDzYFgB4jYdpOYwxqF_E-qiOrUC1_Lm/s320/IMG_7074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The food was mostly done by Chick-Fil-A. If I had to make a cake, I wasn't about to slave over food too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtT2q-KFQ5gshbVl0u37yuWwwiUidtMDETd5a_oUcYpwcwnJeYeiEISHrN1X4C9bvHv7vHD8iyjvY0H2wUclXJfTvcoVUFBUCk0VPh_Hh8k25xL32mDeDWOXoWd5Dh5spl42I-_yzqiP2C/s1600/IMG_7075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtT2q-KFQ5gshbVl0u37yuWwwiUidtMDETd5a_oUcYpwcwnJeYeiEISHrN1X4C9bvHv7vHD8iyjvY0H2wUclXJfTvcoVUFBUCk0VPh_Hh8k25xL32mDeDWOXoWd5Dh5spl42I-_yzqiP2C/s320/IMG_7075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt ordered me 'these' strawberries for Mothers Day several years ago, and I've been obsessed with them ever since for special occasions. They ALWAYS show up perfect the day before I need them. Shari's Berries online is awesome. And you can get all sorts of colors and types of sweets (but specialize in strawberries) www.berries.com<br />And somehow I forgot to take a pic of the pink chocolate covered with edible gold glitter OREOS! They were awesome too! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinecm1YKtNte7R8s236ABomfZnxDnr9_6HB93ygRNDLiJldSWvLlaZI62PqD4yxXt_aFlBKvktZ7_QR2_ErzuCCTI8awmGxka7nVEZOELjQy3MDJ_56gLI6MLBFLMhGkAGDRn4QWORIdQ3/s1600/IMG_7077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinecm1YKtNte7R8s236ABomfZnxDnr9_6HB93ygRNDLiJldSWvLlaZI62PqD4yxXt_aFlBKvktZ7_QR2_ErzuCCTI8awmGxka7nVEZOELjQy3MDJ_56gLI6MLBFLMhGkAGDRn4QWORIdQ3/s320/IMG_7077.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mati Claire loved the live butterfly release we did at Merritt's first birthday party a couple of years ago. Again, the kids love it and the butterflies usually hang around during the party which is neat. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvLnUjXmOueHIu842ZtvJVeX-IzQ661iBB18Qo3qGloMtKQyX9E3kCAQJe1ICVO7-H7sLC7Ps3YxMSwq_H1Uj4MPyGkT9SJbPVqC_XYkA_dpQqOE4c4JtzZic4vyUAPyt6hovj5b024go/s1600/IMG_7093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvLnUjXmOueHIu842ZtvJVeX-IzQ661iBB18Qo3qGloMtKQyX9E3kCAQJe1ICVO7-H7sLC7Ps3YxMSwq_H1Uj4MPyGkT9SJbPVqC_XYkA_dpQqOE4c4JtzZic4vyUAPyt6hovj5b024go/s320/IMG_7093.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGyjGBzYERDfZ_Y9qY6J-hpml1m_NsMY3uYf1tfSl9FWZK_J_51KGuRSAT9GaOaDkZEhOKEb4xJAzIt_p27ZnsXdUgbCh0mLab5bJyzN6jB2MEFQilZTMgiSi6Vm15kRB3g-BTtBolB6j/s1600/IMG_7086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGyjGBzYERDfZ_Y9qY6J-hpml1m_NsMY3uYf1tfSl9FWZK_J_51KGuRSAT9GaOaDkZEhOKEb4xJAzIt_p27ZnsXdUgbCh0mLab5bJyzN6jB2MEFQilZTMgiSi6Vm15kRB3g-BTtBolB6j/s320/IMG_7086.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinbwjg2RKTTxDR3BaH1oiOW9y4aEdvQzDcGaxTeU5hrbQ6PStGXdtK6PLxMxW4zGfnelCFNGOPnAUzrMxAB-xlPNNcwnEwKz5te1rcpZYl6DjwErnfZEClWJw7bI1vQMN6SeQy8ET_24U/s1600/IMG_7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinbwjg2RKTTxDR3BaH1oiOW9y4aEdvQzDcGaxTeU5hrbQ6PStGXdtK6PLxMxW4zGfnelCFNGOPnAUzrMxAB-xlPNNcwnEwKz5te1rcpZYl6DjwErnfZEClWJw7bI1vQMN6SeQy8ET_24U/s320/IMG_7092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean Miss Sarah can't get any cuter. She's so cute even her butterfly loved her!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYLTpQvEj6_0OJJUAs4zIgXw79yrWyfnbqkcT3O7OhNQofKsWspFyF5TbHYrOE56MmGyf-uOibp04a7bwNs7FrPCLkp-MZxAJZfJrVUJ6_WN-wc7YVG7wrSvD4_sSmJP5I6ZVT8NQvFIp/s1600/IMG_7102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYLTpQvEj6_0OJJUAs4zIgXw79yrWyfnbqkcT3O7OhNQofKsWspFyF5TbHYrOE56MmGyf-uOibp04a7bwNs7FrPCLkp-MZxAJZfJrVUJ6_WN-wc7YVG7wrSvD4_sSmJP5I6ZVT8NQvFIp/s320/IMG_7102.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The July birthday girls/sisters! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ilwtxed0rr_hkYD_QRD_R5xDgyePaIWVsauN9alSkK_u90BXgaQ5yCouPWJyx7Mxy5FmZk6G42LRULA7gKM-GzJ4M5z0G4qKt-XUDsN4FiO76kEN0qc_H-p-fL665vn8-z9iS297e4Gb/s1600/IMG_7110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ilwtxed0rr_hkYD_QRD_R5xDgyePaIWVsauN9alSkK_u90BXgaQ5yCouPWJyx7Mxy5FmZk6G42LRULA7gKM-GzJ4M5z0G4qKt-XUDsN4FiO76kEN0qc_H-p-fL665vn8-z9iS297e4Gb/s320/IMG_7110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtEvfQcOQD0RqomJLyUkWA11k97Yat77dl0qSTvm6eXylCycU_JlGkDhyxFwe10J88hhAi_B7vMJuiWXXimK0vXlT-zBh3AYkvg3Qpmjet7BrcO7Cwf-SQrhEQ39pkm4Z5rUtHKroMWZs/s1600/IMG_7131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtEvfQcOQD0RqomJLyUkWA11k97Yat77dl0qSTvm6eXylCycU_JlGkDhyxFwe10J88hhAi_B7vMJuiWXXimK0vXlT-zBh3AYkvg3Qpmjet7BrcO7Cwf-SQrhEQ39pkm4Z5rUtHKroMWZs/s320/IMG_7131.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNACFiU5BYoi1OEm4HMCEO6DBYYKiIv9u2CkYwtbZJw-mRowlLwIs7khnc7NOw9Hbanw2J0GrGo612MFq1Cr13H2KMpkdUZVlkEiQ0NT2tl5SCGOEpFjI-E_4v_zMr8INc8xk9l2FhIU3D/s1600/IMG_7111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNACFiU5BYoi1OEm4HMCEO6DBYYKiIv9u2CkYwtbZJw-mRowlLwIs7khnc7NOw9Hbanw2J0GrGo612MFq1Cr13H2KMpkdUZVlkEiQ0NT2tl5SCGOEpFjI-E_4v_zMr8INc8xk9l2FhIU3D/s320/IMG_7111.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eVwKVMqhq61xZvMec9Un3PTkkZsjgpJu6M9PNt_CbiFvoOjfAigFqyHn-FZZtoLV7ZWwyCa0S7sOcw52eDeeDYihsXJN8mwHGlGNSd72_ZX4O8YDBLzQinQXe4QhyxtJfxTimvqLDOfr/s1600/IMG_7150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eVwKVMqhq61xZvMec9Un3PTkkZsjgpJu6M9PNt_CbiFvoOjfAigFqyHn-FZZtoLV7ZWwyCa0S7sOcw52eDeeDYihsXJN8mwHGlGNSd72_ZX4O8YDBLzQinQXe4QhyxtJfxTimvqLDOfr/s320/IMG_7150.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't forget the babies!!! First cousins born 3 weeks apart are starting to take note of the other finally. They stare each other down and Colton tells Mason his plan for future trouble. Mason normally just shakes his head and agrees. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUE9Z00WgWO0koFyAShaxUzetoaqK1Pt3Th0Yy0xJ4U47Lwty49VAie9053E__hhf9_qQYziOOshtm2t2kIRrxyJrUwg58Je2mIl88mLRTlENa315-2D7K77tJS_7uOQG7g1GWtB5yYgm/s1600/IMG_7158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUE9Z00WgWO0koFyAShaxUzetoaqK1Pt3Th0Yy0xJ4U47Lwty49VAie9053E__hhf9_qQYziOOshtm2t2kIRrxyJrUwg58Je2mIl88mLRTlENa315-2D7K77tJS_7uOQG7g1GWtB5yYgm/s320/IMG_7158.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE8gtXRjdKBoLeaM5uhmhhr_yUWqoYDk9Ga_lEkGkpiHkSTmpvuMtJD8Txp2z58E1ptGbiK1PhyphenhyphenAWvDD5p8yj5c6mAOp9kPZuGaJrwEwG9eYFA-n4cdRHZr7YhW1OX89n1iqEAuFxcYnz/s1600/IMG_7154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE8gtXRjdKBoLeaM5uhmhhr_yUWqoYDk9Ga_lEkGkpiHkSTmpvuMtJD8Txp2z58E1ptGbiK1PhyphenhyphenAWvDD5p8yj5c6mAOp9kPZuGaJrwEwG9eYFA-n4cdRHZr7YhW1OX89n1iqEAuFxcYnz/s320/IMG_7154.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOCx7gc02uJeSrUXSE9C7o93tftI-jSPU8OlBE2P5K5ZX8k3hgw4HgEcUq2JiAa4LietbrGcJVe5k_ePvXkV61yh7R9m6SpSw1hVNajY6W7MPeFxxfyUSEvQLdf4UkOdlgBJlbEaTdous/s1600/IMG_7114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOCx7gc02uJeSrUXSE9C7o93tftI-jSPU8OlBE2P5K5ZX8k3hgw4HgEcUq2JiAa4LietbrGcJVe5k_ePvXkV61yh7R9m6SpSw1hVNajY6W7MPeFxxfyUSEvQLdf4UkOdlgBJlbEaTdous/s320/IMG_7114.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason is so happy and smiling all the time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBuGIAhhHr_rfCCut5QIzjTO5bF2gUngAVbXaTMOuW5d1LgzmopadDJkRJeCLyaDQXout9OKko9MYS_2a4WdI2PNRLUv51JE25l5rH2GhbBVR6mCGINqAJvB74apl9SAAW_ciJgzWYkbX/s1600/IMG_7167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBuGIAhhHr_rfCCut5QIzjTO5bF2gUngAVbXaTMOuW5d1LgzmopadDJkRJeCLyaDQXout9OKko9MYS_2a4WdI2PNRLUv51JE25l5rH2GhbBVR6mCGINqAJvB74apl9SAAW_ciJgzWYkbX/s320/IMG_7167.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tiny dancer. music comes on = she's dancing somewhere.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRma5IDzW9fsPBzJHaNObXYX27FsqPXiS_tbOr4ulIT2fL6dHjYDSC7tP4lEtICY8IakPW4xUBYlgFmy9Ak61GsJYVy41-XYkBlgJPSBTzk77uMKZ70Q5HCRrA3pmvjEiieldPv07VFyey/s1600/IMG_7054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRma5IDzW9fsPBzJHaNObXYX27FsqPXiS_tbOr4ulIT2fL6dHjYDSC7tP4lEtICY8IakPW4xUBYlgFmy9Ak61GsJYVy41-XYkBlgJPSBTzk77uMKZ70Q5HCRrA3pmvjEiieldPv07VFyey/s320/IMG_7054.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYReZ12721Gc7YS-EcX1DTjXTSIfNoNmmuI86U9UIEsV0TRxdFIRzPjRmye02URnWxSlGlmYjI4X9IEDxrDx9JZSWZikEf5irwzN_J9nE9v6VK7p3iE4yd3-HUlpr9Koi6GmpnibS8hvtB/s1600/IMG_7057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYReZ12721Gc7YS-EcX1DTjXTSIfNoNmmuI86U9UIEsV0TRxdFIRzPjRmye02URnWxSlGlmYjI4X9IEDxrDx9JZSWZikEf5irwzN_J9nE9v6VK7p3iE4yd3-HUlpr9Koi6GmpnibS8hvtB/s320/IMG_7057.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Pink play-doh with gold glitter and "8" suckers for the party favors! Easy and cheap to do since I spent all of the budget on the Fotobooth and butterflies!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqvvMqWvTIk9vLioQXQZPh1mdvARc7WHCGC6g2-Xmej2_41oEDTMkDbjOnm9Z9yB9at12sLGcDmubUD1Cz75maXdTRsKmVubIGajlrmJ6nM6M-MY8B3RlNB89pw7Z3acc0eK33EalbzQ1/s1600/IMG_7173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqvvMqWvTIk9vLioQXQZPh1mdvARc7WHCGC6g2-Xmej2_41oEDTMkDbjOnm9Z9yB9at12sLGcDmubUD1Cz75maXdTRsKmVubIGajlrmJ6nM6M-MY8B3RlNB89pw7Z3acc0eK33EalbzQ1/s320/IMG_7173.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason is a Party pooper! Mrs. tyanne is the new baby whisperer! He falls asleep every time she picks him up!</td></tr>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/BLOG/carriesignaturecopy.png" />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360824351339310338noreply@blogger.com0