Saturday, March 31, 2007

Row Row Row Your Boat

Checkin' down the stream
Mewy, mewy, mewy, mewy,
Life's a Pizza Dream

(and then follow that with a round of laughter)

Now we're singing with Poodle!

You know, when I intentionally mess around with the words of a song, I don't seem to get the same reaction as when a little one does. hhmmph. ::grin::

Friday, March 30, 2007

Oh my Superfreak stars......

This is funny, and pretty good in the same breath! Jmk - you're gonna LOVE this....

(for those playing at home, this Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Scaggs, with a cameo by John Anderson)

Thursday, March 29, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAY AND JAIME!!!

We love y'all!!!

Okay, technically, it's not Jaime's birthday. Her birthday was closer to the beginning of March. And I had finished a "draft" post a few days before her birthday, and then forgot to publish it. I'm so sorry Jaime!!! I didn't even realize it until just a few days ago, when I was looking for an older post on teeth. Bad mommy brain attack - but we love you! Really!

And, Jay - have a great day buddy!!! We love you!!!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

February Pics

are finally up at the family website! Now that March is almost over.... sheesh.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Phoenix from the Ashes

After Katrina's winds and waves left, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has experienced more than one can imagine. More devasatation, prayers, rebuilding, creativity.

I couldn't absolutely verify that these pictures were taken in Biloxi, Mississippi. The best I could do was to verify that the mayor had said back in January that they intended to do this very thing with some of the Oak Trees that were killed in the hurricane. And, the date on some of the pictures indicates that they were taken in February and March. Other than that, I can say that it looks like Biloxi to me!

Four live oak tree stumps were given new life at the hands of a skilled chainsaw artist - I'm assuming it was Dayton Scoggins of Sandersville, MS, according to this. Beauty from decay - the epitome of the determination of the Coastal residents!

Hat tip to Jmk's mom (or maybe his dad?) who sent us these!










Monday, March 26, 2007

Footprint love

I'm not entirely sure which is more adorable to me - darling Audrey, or how precious my brother is with her!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Our Newest Lass

The Adorable Wee One staring lovingly at her Mommy!


The already smitten MooMoo and GaGa



She's here She's here!!!!

Robert and Jaime's wee lass is here!!! She was born, via C-Section, last night just after 9:00pm. (Jaime was induced about 2 1/2 weeks early due to a low amniotic fluid situation). She is 6lbs, 15oz, 21 inches long! Y'all know my maiden name, so I won't list that. But the rest of her beautiful name is Audrey Rune!

Because of the late hour of her birth, I haven't been up to the hospital yet to see her, but I will go as soon as Tooter finishes his first nap today. From what I have been told, she's "beautiful and perfect", and I expect nothing less! :-)

I'm sure I'll have a picture to share very soon. I'm a real Aunt now!!!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Y'all - it's a "V", not a "W"

We all have our pet peeves. A friend of mine opened my eyes to the annoying phrase "recopy". (Technically, you CAN recopy something, but only if it has been copied once already!!!)

One of my biggest pet peeves is a recent trend.... those who like to use the french word for "there", but can't seem to pronounce it correctly. "Voila", of course, is that word. But, folks, it starts with a "V". As in violin. As in Victory. As in... oh, you get the point. If I have to hear one more pseudo-smart Hollywood type say that word with a "W" in the front of it........ grrrrrr.

It's NOT "Wala". It's Voila. "Vwalah", if that helps. Come on everyone - we can fix this! Let's all reverse this trend! My nerves thank you sincerely.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

More and more toofies

During the past 3 weeks of illness and recuperation and illness again, Tooter has gotten a few more teeth. Here's a chart to go back and peruse. His left-side upper and lower cuspids have broken through, and his right-side upper cuspid is almost thru. Not sure where that last lower cuspid is, but it'll show up eeeeventually. Basically, except for that last cuspid, all we're waiting on now are his 2 year molars. He has gotten his teeth SO much faster than Poodle did. I don't know if that old wives' tale about "the later the baby teeth come in, the better the adult teeth are" is true. But if it is, poor Tooter is going to be in braces a long time!

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Welcome to the family!

Everyone is Irish today!!!

There is some minor dispute as to whether my paternal heritage is Irish or Scottish. (Some think that the "O apostraphe" was added after arriving in this country). No matter - today, we all wear green, smile at shamrocks, and think about the lush emerald hills of the mother country. ::smile::

My parents, and sister, took a trip about a year ago to Ireland - I wonder if Saint Patrick's Day holds any special meaning for them now? I do think they may be missing the music and frivolity of the pubs today!

From Saint Patrick's Breastplate
Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man
who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man
who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Milk plus Cracker equals Water

I dunno - it does in the mind of my 15 month old! Over the past 24 hours, Tooter has taken to saying "ca ca ca ca" while giving me the sign for "milk" at the same time, to indicate that he wants some water. He even woke up during the middle of night last night to request water. (I can only assume that the cold/flu meds have him quite thirsty).

You can imagine the frustration when he started doing this a day ago, and I didn't immediately understand that he wasn't requesting either a cracker OR milk. Silly me.

In illness news, we're hoping to go for a full 24 hours without anyone running any fever.... aaaannny day now. We're ready. Really. Really, really.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Unofficial Zoo Flu

It's unofficial, because the doctor diagnosed it over the phone so I wouldn't have to schlep two sick kids up to her office, while I was still feeling poopy myself. Thus, no official test was run. But, cold or flu, it matters not. Viral bullies just get to run their course. But we are keeping a close eye on things since strep is going around also!

Tooter is having the worst time of it. We have graduated to the "sleep-wherever-they-may" plan, so as to give our arms a break during the day. Thus, this picture:



Monday, March 12, 2007

The Right Size

Our couch is just the right size for me to stretch out with one babe in my arms and another babe draped across my legs. I discovered that yesterday.

Jmk came down with a bad cold Wednesday night, and he was out from work Thursday and Friday. He actually slept most of the day on Thursday, and he usually can't close his eyes during the day. Even though we tried to be good about steering clear, it's virtually impossible to keep from every little germ, and by Friday, Tooter was sick, and by Saturday night, Poodle and I were sick. Blugh.

I'll be grateful for this season to pass and to get into real spring and summer. I know we'll have the typical allergy things to deal with, but benedryl is easy breezy. These colds are just the pits. I think what I hate the worst is the lack of energy. The shaky-muscle-dizzy-head lack of energy. It's annoying.

We had such a busy week (for us) last week, and I want to share! But, it's time to go sit back down in Daddy's chair and rejoin the coughing chorus that is at the top of our playlist right now.

Blugh again.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

15 Month Checkup


Tooter had his 15 month checkup today, and everything was good! Height, weight, head circumference are all on target. His eczema is in the middle of a flare-up due to the recent virus, but the Doc understood. He got a few vaccinations, and he has been cleared from any more well-baby visits until his 2 year checkup!

The sad part of the visit was that it was the last one with this doctor that we love so much. Unfortunately for US, she's retiring to go home and be a full-time mom!!! Fortunately for her and her kids, she'll be thru with the yucky business side of being a doctor and will be able to be at all the track meets and everything else her kids are into. And, she will have more time to get her hands dirty in her gardens.
She's a young doctor (maybe early 40's?), so this decision couldn't have been an easy one. BUT, I do know that we were blessed to have gotten her as first-time parents. She has been a dream. (Thanks, Eli, for the recommendation!)

So, anyway, Poodle was just chatting away, and happened to mention that "Tooter doesn't really have any words yet". To which Dr. Ray responded "that's okay honey, you can teach him some words. I don't think there's a word that you don't know".

::grin:: See - she's got our number. We're going to miss her!

Monday, March 05, 2007

The Bug That Ate Zootown

You know, technically, that's not true. Jmk and I, by God's mercy, haven't gotten sick. I'm not saying we won't, because I really don't know for sure what the gestation period is for this virus. But, so far, we've remained healthy.

This has been the strangest virus though. Tooter came down with it on Wednesday last week. Vomiting and diarrhea. Then on Thursday, after the vomiting stopped, he spent the day with a fever around 102. (Tylenol would bring it down, but not get rid of it completely). After about 24 hours of the fever, that passed. (Still weird to me that the fever doesn't start till the 2nd day). The diarrhea hangs on for awhile - last night, I finally started giving him a bit of Immodium to get a handle on it. (I prefer to let their bodies work things out as they are supposed to - to a degree. But when his little popo is apple red, then it's time to medicate!)

Poodle started the process on Friday. Except that her vomiting was much more serious, and lasted all day. We finally got enough phenergan in her by late evening on Friday, and she was able to sleep without throwing up. Her fever period, though, didn't start until later on Saturday, and didn't fully break until sometime during the night last night. Her diarrhea is much worse also. I'm not going to wait as long to start her on Immodium. Actually, I tried to get her to take some last night, and met up with a brick wall, so I'll try again today. As I told Jmk this morning, "she's taking it, come heck or high water". Her other main problem now is lethargy from days of not eating. She has been drinking though, so at least we don't have to deal with dehydration.

I think Toot had an easier time because he was able to nurse thru all this. I still nurse him down at night, so that option was available for us. Poor Poodle had to wait until she had gotten past the nausea stage, and by then, she wasn't much interested in food.

::exhale:: I won't lie to you - Jmk and I are pooped. I recently read a blog where at least 4 out of the 6 kids in the family all came down with the flu. At the same time. (Maybe all 6 - I can't remember now). Now THAT is exhausting. I need to quit complaining.

But it's a new day. The sun is shining. I'm hoping the worst has passed and that I can figure out non-stressful ways to keep them both happy and calm today. And able to distract them from their remaining tummy troubles.

Enough - time to get positive!!!

Friday, March 02, 2007

Whew.

Taking a quick break from the digestive fireworks we've been experiencing around here for the past couple of days. Hopefully it will all be finished soon!

If you think about us, say a quick prayer for some tummy healing. ::smile::

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Missing Storytime


Unfortunately, due to some sick monkeys, Tooter in particular, we're going to have to miss storytime at the library today. Poodle, who has only been a few times, has come to just love it. (Stacey and Amy, we sing the "shake your sillies out" song around here all the time now. Joy! ha!)

Anyway, due to our impending absence from the frivolities of stories about teeth today, I feel it necessary to share some pictures from storytime a couple of weeks ago. It was "hair stories" day, and everyone was to come with crazy hair. Here was Poodle's contribution!







I got to complete a couple of twists and braids, and aided in securing a few bows that wanted to go astray. But, mostly, this was Poodle's creation.

Viva la crazy hair!