What's it gonna be?!

Today has been a day of ups and downs. The day started off great when Ryan didn't get up early and I woke up at 8:20. That is sleeping in at our house! Ryan had a dr appt that we had to leave for about an hour and 20 min later. So we rushed around, showering, eating and whatever pretty quickly. We had been getting snow off and on all day yesterday and I imagine thru the night so I wanted to give us plenty of time to get to the dr for Ryan's 4 yr check up.

Brad had been waiting on a call from work to see if he had to go in today. He was supposed to have this week off b/c he still has like 72 hrs of vaca to take before the year is iup or he looses it. Well, his boss needed him to work so they were going to be nice and let it roll over this time. Turns out he didn't have to go in, which became the second up for the day.

We got to the dr at 10:10, with 5 minutes to spare. An hour later, we were STILL sitting in the lobby and I noticed that people who came in later than us were being called back and we weren't. First down... So I went and asked the receptionist and she had just noticed we were still out there. She said there was something wrong with the computers so the girls in the back didn't know we were there. She said we'd be going back soon.

FINALLY, we got back there. It was still some time before the dr came in. The kids were getting restless and then both had to go the bathroom. I was just annoyed all the way around. But Ryan did great. He is 37lb and 42 1/2 in tall. He didn't do great on the eye test. He couldn't see the line that the nurse wanted him to read. She had to go up a line so I'll be making him an eye dr appt sometime. I hope he has his dad's eyes and not mine and he was just nervous today. I asked to have his inhaler refilled b/c we're getting low on "puffs" for the one he has now. I knew I'd need a new one before the winter is over so she called it in while we were there. He got 2 shots. He doesn't have to get anymore until he's like 11. Except the flu shot he gets every year. He was so brave. I feel more bad for him getting shots than I do for Hannah. She acts insane when it comes to shots. Last time she was screaming like crazy and rolling around on the floor and running from me!! So by the time we get her on the table and under control, I feel like I could give it to her myself! My poor Ryan just layed there so still. He gets so embarrassed when they pull his pants down. I hate the look on his face. He wants to fight but doesn't. He didn't cry or anything. It was 12:45 when we left. You do the math about how long we were there.....WAY. TOO. LONG. Second down for the day.

Daddy had texted me at some point to let me know he didn't have to go to work so we met him for lunch at Pizza Hut. Another up for the day.

We had planned on going to walmart together to get groceries but after the morning I had at the dr I said I didn't want to go. He said he'd go while we went home. Major UP!! I gave him a short list and we went our seperate ways.

I stopped by the pharmacy on the way home to get Ryan's inhaler. They said the insurance wouldn't approve it and wanted us to try something different. Even tho that's the same inhaler he's been on. I had forgot until then that we had trouble last year getting the inhaler too. Major DOWN!! By this time I was all done with everything. They said I should call the dr to see what to do next. Here we go again. So when we got home after 2 I put the kids down for a nap and called the dr. I had to leave a message with the nurse. Of course, she didnt call me back. I didn't even bother calling again. It's a good thing we didn't need that inhaler today, that's all I can say about it. Ughh. It makes me mad just to think about it all. I am so irritated with the system. I don't see why the ins has to put up such a fight about a $27 inhaler. We pay them enough every single month for them to pay for a measly inhaler once a year. DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.

We spent the rest of the afternoon, early evening lounging around and playing the Wii. UP! I love watching Ryan play it. He's good at the sword fighting and cycling. Hannah isn't that into it.

I made a later supper of shepherd's pie. Then we played a game of pick up sticks, which was one of my favorite childhood games. I was so excited when Hannah got it for christmas! Of course, I won. UP!! =) Then we played several games of UNO. Hannah didn't want to play anymore after the first game but Ryan played 3 more games of it with us! It was a lot of fun. UP!

Now we are watching the movie The Velveteen Rabbit. Then it will be shower time for the kids and off to bed so we can go to my sister's house in Cols tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!

Another Christmas has come and gone. I have to say I'm kinda bummed about it. It seems like we spend so much time buying stuff, decorating, going to tons of parties and then the big day comes and it's all over in like half an hour! Now all we have left is a big mess and toys that don't fit anywhere! Don't get me wrong, I love everything about Christmas. I guess that's why I wish it would last longer! I was telling Brad earlier that it will be next Christmas before we can even blink. Ok, I know it won't be here that quick but it will be here before we know it! Well, we had a good time while it lasted. Now I'm ready for Monday so I can get this house cleaned up and get into the kids' rooms and get rid of some old toys. Hopefully with Hannah being home this week, I'll be able to do all the things I want. We'll see......

Santa, baby!

I must have been real good this year. Santa brought me a Wii and an air purifier! I've always been anti-gaming systems because I feel like it's too easy to get addicted to that stuff and start putting it ahead of other things. But I do see the Wii being a good source of family fun for us! Especially now that it is winter and we can't go camping or do any of the other stuff we like to do. We just have to work hard to keep it down low on the priority list!

So now, I can breathe easy when I'm beating Brad at table tennis, literally! Basketball and all the other action stuff will have to wait a few months. And I can't wait to bring it to family gatherings in NC. I'm dying to see my dad and brother duking it out over ping pong! They get into it when it's the real deal so this ought to be interesting!

I've been wanting an air purifier for quite some time. We all have allergies during the summer and with two inside dogs, I'm sure our air could use some purifying! I hate when I'm sitting on the couch and the sun is shining just right thru the window and I can see every single particle of dust and whatever else floating around. Hopefully I'll be seeing less of that now!

Hannah has two more days of school left before she's done for the christmas break. We are doing christmas with Brad's family on the 24th and will do it at home on christmas morning, if I can make it that long! I already asked Brad if we could let them open gifts tonight! We won't be seeing my side of the family until the middle of January. It's kinda a bummer but I guess that will make the holidays extra long this year.

birthday boys

At 9:18 this morning my baby boy turned 4 years old. I remember it like it was yesterday. He has made these past 4 yrs amazing! I don't know what I'd do without him. He is sweet, smart (not book smart, the other smart), adventurous and will always be my baby boy!

Also, today is my dad's birthday. I'm so thankful for the upbringing that I had and tho I doubted him many times along the way, I think he did alright by me! =) Happy birthday, dad, I love you!

Snow Day!!

I think my truck looks pretty good with white trim!

Hannah pulling Ryan. Even tho we live in the mountains of WV, we don't have any around us so the kids have to do other things with the sled unless I feel like taking them down to the church for real sled riding.

Our back porch steps. I'd say we had 6 inches easily when I took this pic early in the day.

Brad's coveralls don't fit me this winter!!

I love how everything is blurry but Ryan. It makes him look like he's going super fast but the scooter doesn't really go that fast!! I'd say mamaw picked a good gift for his b-day!

So there ya have it. Hannah didn't have school today so we spent the day playing in the snow (I only lasted about half an hour), drinking hot chocolate, playing games and play doh, and just goofing off. I did manage to get a few loads of laundry washed. I won't see them again until bedtime when I have to clean the bed off so I can collapse on it!

I'm not a very fun snow player this winter. Abigail keeps me tired as it is, let alone trudging thru 6 inches of snow pulling both kids on a sled! I couldn't even pull thru for them and make a snowman! Oh well. That gives me a good excuse to stay indoors! If only daddy was home more...

We've had a good day but the kids are getting tired of each other's games of school, puppy and whatever else they do back there!! I'm ready to settle in for the night and read them some books and get them in the bath for bed!!

good day...so far

Today has been one of those days that you wish you had more often!! I got the call last night that there was a 2 hr delay at the school today so I knew in advance that we could sleep in some. I was nervous about how well the kids, and I, were going to sleep since we all took a three hour nap yesterday. After I knew there was a delay I let the kids stay up until daddy got home from work, which was after 8. No one woke me up during the night for any reason so at 7 am when I rolled over and heard Hannah coughing in her room, I was not upset that I was awake at 7 even tho Hannah didn't have to be at school until 9:45. I laid in bed for quite some time thinking that Hannah would be in any minute but she never came in so I got up around 7:45 and went in her room. Ryan slept til alittle after 8. That's unusual for him!

Ryan ended up over at grandma's house close to 11 and I walked around the house wondering what I was going to do. That doesn't happen very often! I had already done tons of laundry the other day, the kitchen was clean, I swept the floors but they weren't bad either so I did some of the chores that I put off like match and fold socks and address christmas cards. Then it was lunchtime and Ryan came back from grandma's. I wandered around the house alittle more until it was time to get Hannah from school and here I am now. I talked myself out of going to the mall with the kids. I think Ryan and I will do that tomorrow, if the weather is fine.

The kids have been painting, riding Ryan's scooter, and they took grandma's mail to her. Now they are playing baby puppy in Hannah's room. They are feeling 100% better from the stomach bug they had over the weekend.

Now the evening activities begin. Hannah has spelling words to practice, it's about time to start supper, then it will be time for the kids to shower, read some books and go to bed!

it's here...

Well, looks like the stomach bug finally reached our house! Hannah has had a cold over the weekend so when she came out of her room to vomit last night, I was hoping it was just from lots of mucus in her stomach. She made it to the bathroom but didn't completely make it to the toilet! Within half an hour or so, Ryan woke up vomiting too. He was fast asleep so he just threw up all over his bed and himself. This is only the second time he's had the stomach bug in his 4 years. Actually it won't be 4 years until next weekend. Hannah had it a lot her preschool year and even spent a night in the hospital getting IV fluids because she vomited for 2 days straight and was really dehydrated. Anyway, after Ryan woke up vomiting, I knew it wasn't just the mucus so we all moved out to the livingroom where we have hardwood floors. So both kids continued to vomit all night. It's been a couple hours since Hannah vomited and probably 4 or 5 hours for Ryan and they are both holding down some sprite and trying to liven up so I'm hoping we're in the clear now. This isn't a fun way to spend a snow day but at least it won't be counted against Hannah!

In other news, mom and dad debated on going back home or still going to Cincy to see dad's parents with the bad weather. They did decide to go on to Cincy so I'm praying for safe travels for them today and tomorrow!

We had a great weekend together. We had a family birthday party for Ryan on Saturday. It was also nice to hear dad preach on Sunday.

Time to go switch vomit laundry! Happy Monday everyone!

baby dr appt

Meet Abigail. She finally showed us her profile at my dr appt this morning! I got out Hannah's US pictures and her profile looked exactly the same in utero. I couldn't find Ryan's to compare them. =( I'll have to dig deeper for them.....eventually.

I am continually amazed by the ultrasounds. I love being able to see her move and feel it in my stomach at the same time. It's such a wonderful thing. She was stretching out her neck (you can tell in the picture that she looks like she's looking up) and arching her back. Then she would turn her head to the side so all we could see what the back of her head. I also saw her open her mouth. I wish Brad had been able to come to this appt as well. Right now I can't imagine her any other way than this and I wish I could see her everyday! Soon (but not soon enough) I'll be holding her in my arms and won't be able to imagine her any other way. Then in a couple years, when she's toddling around the house, I won't be able to imagine her any other way. God is good!!!

In other news, I wrote last week about Ryan's coughing problems flaring up. I was concerned that the inhaler wasn't going to be enough this time around and that I was going to have to take him to the dr to get him on a steriod for wheezing. The Lord saw fit to answer prayers and he has actually been improving! His coughing is getting better just by doing the inhaler several times a day. And I'm actually only doing in when he wakes up and before he goes to bed. God is good!!

Redneck Wedding

Eight years ago on a cold, snowy Thursday, Brad and I decided we were tired of waiting around to get married. No, I wasn't pregnant, no I didn't think I was pregnant. Aafter dating over 3 1/2 years we just didn't feel like planning the wedding anymore. Brad never wanted a big wedding where he had to stand in front of people. I always did but gave it up for him. =) So we met at K Mart after work and bought his $70 wedding band (neither one of us knows where it is now), then went to the court house and got our license and then went home to have dad marry us. Mom and dad knew what was going on because I had to call from the court house several times to find out where mom and dad were born and things like that. I know the ladies there thought we were crazy and expected us back within a few months wanting a divorce (is that even where you go when you want a divorce?). We were only 19, I would probably think the same thing. When we got back to my parents' house, I just wanted dad to sign the paper that said we were married but he insisted that we go over to the church and say our vows. I'll never forget that night. I decided I might as well put my wedding dress on, I had had it almost a year by then, and Brad borrowed a suit from my dad.

Eight years later I have never regretted marrying that man. I only regret doing it in December!! I love him more every day. I am fully convinced that it was God's Will for us to meet in WV and get married. If there is such a thing as a soul mate for every person, he's definently mine! I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm looking forward to all the chapters that we have left in our book. I'm so excited to experience them with him!

Not gonna win this time.

Since the dr put Ryan on an inhaler instead of having to rent that stupid nebulizer all winter long, I've done pretty well with controlling his "reactive airways" issue. (similar to asthma but not...I know, don't ask) I basically know that whenever he gets a slight cold (tis the season), which is just a very mild runny nose, he is going to start the coughing so I automatically start giving him puffs of his inhaler once or twice a day. Well, it isn't working very well this time around! His cough has been getting progressively worse every night for the past two or three nights, even with doing the inhaler 3 times a day. When the inhaler doesn't work, we have to put him on a steriod which clears it up within days. But the steriod has it's side effects....grouchiness being the main one! Increased hunger and thirst being the next one. Both are worth dealing with for 5 days to get us all sleeping well again. I feel so sorry for the poor guy. He rarely coughs during the day but then spends all night long coughing and gagging. We've tried everything--raising his mattress, humidifier, cough meds, drink mixtures (honey and lemon juice is not good!) and anything else we can try. Anyway, I was hoping to avoid a trip to the dr since he has his 4 yr check up later this month but this is one thing that can't be cleared up on it's own once it gets to the point of wheezing. We'll see how it goes over the next few days. Just pray for my little guy! He always has lots of wheezing issues during the winter.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It's kind of hard to see in my pictures but we had our first snow today....all day. Ryan kept saying he wants it to snow every day. I kept saying is it summertime yet?!