One of those days...

Yep. It's been one of those days. I just want to crawl back in bed and try again tomorrow.

It started out like a normal day, but somewhere between waking Little up and getting in the car, something went wrong.

1. As her daddy woke her, she began to complain about her head itching. Upon further examination, I discovered it was more like her neck. And not itching but hurting.

2. Before I knew her neck was hurting, I put hydrocortisone cream on her neck. Big mistake.

3. I secretly assumed Husband burned her with the hairdryer.

4. I could not get Little to drink anything. Nor eat anything. Nor take a sucker. Huge red flag.

5. I was not allowed to dry my hair this morning. I was not allowed to do anything but hold Little.

6. On the car ride to the baby sitter's house, Little screamed to go back home. Another huge red flag.

7. When we arrived at the sitter's, she screamed like I was beating her best baby doll.

At this point, we have a medical emergency. Little loves the babysitter more than she loves her daddy and I combined. And most people reading this right now are saying, "No she doesn't." And to you I say, "You do not know."

We make a flying trip to Jackson, because I am sure she has meningitis and needs a spinal tap. After multiple, multiple crying and screaming fits, a strep test, and a stranger in a white coat in the room, we are told her tonsils are enlarged and red, but we do not have strep. The doctor further elaborates that she may have had a crick in her neck causing the neck pain.

Yeah. I'm aware that her tonsils are red and enlarged. She has been screaming since 5:15 this morning. And it is now 9:30. They should be begging for mercy at this point.

So, I meet the sitter for the hand off and return to work.

The doctor just stopped by to check on her. I asked him if her behavior in office is normal. He smiles and says yes. Then, I asked him to be honest.

He said it was bad.

Lovely. Now we are the people that no one wants to sit by at the doctor's office. We are the people that parents have to tell their children not to stare at. Just lovely.

Hang on

This last week has been a roller coaster. Well, that is probably an understatement.

My plan for this last weekend was to work on the insane amount of homework I had. My plan was unsuccessful.

A dear friend of mine was in terrible need of support, so two church friends and myself made a flying trip to Jackson to be there for the emergency delivery of her baby boy.

His name is Sebastain. He has fiery red hair. He is 3 lb 12 ounces. He is a sick little fellow. He has already had his first surgery. There will be more to come.

Then, not that it compares, I went to get fitted for a bridesmaid dress.
D-E-P-R-E-S-S-I-N-G. I mean, kind of.

I really excited that my sister-in-law is getting married. I even like my soon to be brother-in-law. But that seamstress, now she has got to go. Trying to get my measurements, she must have been multiplying, because it is numbers I did not even know existed. It was awful. I would have much rather her carry me out back and whip my tail than make up such terrible numbers.

So I asked my sister-in-law if she could get barf bags for the audience. Yes, I did.

And then, my husband had an unexpected death in the family. Devastating story.
It's been all over the news.

So for right now, we'll just hang on. That's all we can do. Cling to the One who saved us.

Perspective

So, currently, I being schooled by Jesus on perspective.

I need to disclose to you that there are changes in my life. However, I will disclose the details when I am ready. Not today. Not now.

I volunteered to teach a Wednesday night class for one day. That was last night.

I washed feet. Every child's feet. Even the kid with the big, rubber hunting boots. Washed their feet.

You want some perspective -- try washing some one's feet.

The truth is I enjoyed every minute of it. I learned more than they did.

I got some perspective. I am humbled. I am reassured. I am reminded.

I. Am. Listening.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3

Excel

Excel is defined by thefreedictionary.com as to surpass or be superior to something.

I do not think that I excel at much, but I do excel at some things.

I excel at:

Playing hide-and-seek with Little Foot. (Every night, "Hide more, Mommy." I bet I hear it a hundred times a day.) I really excel at this.



...






....




hmmm.....





I know I must excel at other things.
Just give me a minute.






....




uhhhh..



Okay, so this just further proves my point.





Here's the million dollar question.



Why would Microsoft name a program such an uplifting name when Excel's entire purpose is to remind you that you stink?

Hello, Statistics!

Party, Party, Party, Party...Par-ty

So Saturday was the big party. Little Foot had the best time. Last year, I invited entirely too many people and found the party to be sort of stressful. This year, I scaled back the number invited and found the party to be absolutely charming.



Mrs. Carol with The Cake Box in Starkville made her cake. She made her cake last year, too. Both times the cake has been the freshest possible cake. Mrs. Carol and her husband had been at the bakery all night. I seriously encourage anyone looking for a spectacular cake for any event to let Mrs. Carol show you her talent. Besides, she is from Holmes County, so we are neighbors.



We rented a humungo jumper with a gi-normeous slide. Little wore her self out. This was a fabulous idea.



And going down the slide was so much fun. And it created so much static.



See what I mean?



And then we attempted to tackle the cake. I must admit that I was extremely nervous about blowing out the candles. I wasn't really worried about her actually blowing out the candles. I felt sure that she could do it. I was more concerned about her hair catching fire. I know it is stupid, but I am a mother. We worry about stuff like this.



There was no need to call the fire department, and Little really enjoyed the cake and ice cream.




Little Foot got to open presents. She was super excited about the stick horse her Memaw (babysitter) gave her. I will say that there has recently been sightings of a grown man with glasses and a goatee galloping through the house. Little just cackles when Paul Revere comes running through.



What Little is not excited about is her brand new "Time Out Bench." Grandma gave her this bench. You can just see the kids look of amazement. That's because they can't read. Little quickly found out what her new bench is for. I see the paint being worn off this baby real soon.



Her final gift of the day was from her daddy and I. Oh, how I struggled over what to get her. The Barbie Jeep, The Barbie Mustang, or the John Deere Gator? Since she has entirely too much pink stuff and the Gator has a bigger cargo space, we opted for the Gator. Best decision ever. Lots of room for her, her friend, and the stick horse.

Cupcakes and Baby

Yesterday evening when I arrived home from work,


We had cupcakes.....



Little Foot opened presents.....



Little got puzzles.....



She was so excited to get a new baby......



Her baby needed kisses.....



But then, Little said her baby was sleepy, cold, and sick......... (How dare American Girl send us a tired, cold, sick baby!)




But this morning, we had a sleepy and cold baby too.....



Party is tomorrow, so the birthday celebration continues.

Two

Two years ago today, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. All 9 pounds, 8 ounces, and 21 inches.




This picture is so funny to me now. This was a particularly rough evening with Little Foot. She cried, screamed, fussed, and was just overly upset. I tried everything, rocking, bouncing, bumping, walking, swaddling, swinging, and laying her down. Nothing, and I repeat nothing, would satisfy her. Around midnight, while both Daddy and Mommy are up, I decided maybe trying to give her another bottle. Daddy stayed on the couch, and as I was entering the kitchen, I decided to lay Meredith in the chair with Bubba Cat. I prepared her bottle, and by the time I returned, she was out. To this day, Bubba still soothes her.



Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!