thoughts and links

::I get to wash my hair tomorrow, with shampoo. Man, I'm excited.

::I've been reading People magazine's my mom brought me last weekend. My grandma gets them from my sister-in-law's mom. Is it bad that I get super excited to read them? I LOVE People magazine, especially the pictures. I skip over all those TV, Movie, and book reviews. BORING.

::Had my thyroid appointment today. They are testing to see if it was pregnancy induced or hereditary. I'm hoping pregnancy, then I might not have to remove it. They did use the word "goiter" in the appointment. Thankfully, it's small. But I couldn't help but crack up thinking of that Seinfeld episode.

::Speaking of testing, I hate needles and blood tests don't work well with that. Last week I asked the girl if she was good. She said yes. She stuck me twice. Not good. Today. Stuck twice. Really not good.

::Had 4 different doctor's appointments this week. One for well check ups for Sam and Lily. Lily is 31 lbs and 38 inches. That's 3 inches shorter than Eloise at that age. She is my shortest kid holding in the 99th percentile.

::That well check up visit, took all 3 kids for the first time ever. It was crazy but they did well. Makes me want an itouch to download some videos. It's not beneath me to distract my children with TV.

::All my kids weighed the same at 2 mon. (12 lbs), 4 mon. (14 lbs), and 6 mon. (16 lbs). Sam and Eloise are the same height pattern, over 100 percentile. Eloise is predicted to be 5'11.

::Eloise being tall doesn't make it easy to find pants. We're inbetween the toddler section and the big girls. And I have to be honest, some of the big girl stuff looks a little sketchy for me. I'm a conservative girl. I want my little girl to look like a little girl for as long as possible. Leggings and dresses it is.

::I really miss Favorite Link Friday. I might start it up again. Maybe I'll start with this once a month cooking website I found. very interesting. I may just surprise you all with a FLF. Who knows???

laughing at myself

Today was a great day! For those of you praying for me, thank you. I feel it for sure. It's 10 p.m. and I feel like I could go all night. Lots of joy, too!

I think it may have been the humor I've had towards myself today. It's the only thing keeping me from crawling out of my skin that hasn't been showered.

Yep, can't take a shower for 2 days. Two days, people!!!

I went for my biopsy yesterday morning and just after they were finished the nurse says, "So, you can't get your hair wet for 2 days". What??? My heart begins to race. Two days? I don't even wake up until I get a shower. Let alone 2 days worth.

Then I ask, "Can I wash it after the 48 hours?"

"Nope. Can't use shampoo or styling stuff for 72 hours". Saturday? Really?

For a girl with curly hair, this just isn't going to cut it. I have one hat and it makes my head itch. not a good combo with 3 stitches in your head.

I'm left with the aunt Jemima bandanna. Super cute! And I have to go see our pediatrician tomorrow. He's not old and he's slightly attractive.

Here's a visual: Aunt Jemima and her three squirmy kids at the cute pediatrician's office in the trendy part of town. Lovely. Time to swallow that pride.

three!

Our sweet Lily Grace is officially 3!

Lily is the glue that holds our family together. She is our smile and laughter. Her squeezes are always tight and her kisses offered up freely. She's a tough, girly-girl. She loves princesses and the sandbox and her favorite toy is her trike.

I have enjoyed watching her grow over these few short years and I look forward to many more years ahead.

We celebrated tonight with a trip to Burgerville for a strawberry milkshake. Unfortunately she couldn't finish all of it b/c of her nasty cough. Thankfully she's getting better and we follow-up on Thursday with a plan for her meds.

We love you Lily Grace.

so...that whole complaining thing

Well....lots of dollars should be going in jars b/c of my complaints. Actually, I didn't even have time to make the jar before life got a little out of control.

Last Tuesday the girls came down with colds. Fevers quickly followed and Lily's asthma went into full swing. Sam started to get sick and my mom quickly swooped in to lend a hand.

Friday, I went to my appointment to try and figure out a plan for my thyroid. The dr. was an internist and told me she really couldn't do much and that I needed to see and Endocrinologist.

I came home focusing on the fact that I needed to make an appointment right away with the Endo dr. and found out I wouldn't get in until next Friday. I started to think about the week ahead and was instantly overwhelmed.
Then it all hit, lack of sleep, kids sick, house duties, etc. Add to this Eloise insisting on sleeping without a diaper despite the fact that she can't hold her pee at night, (think LOTS and LOTS of laundry). Then thyroid symptoms hit hard.

My mom left yesterday and Sam was getting worse. Dave came home from church and got a txt to go to the Blazer game. I told him it was okay to go and I burst into tears. Being the loving husband that he is, he didn't go. This is a BIG sacrifice for him b/c he loves the blazers.

Today I took Sam and Lily into the dr. after much agonizing (I hate taken my kids to the dr. for useless appointments). Lily still doing okay (but on lots of steroid's so she's crazy) and Sam has RSV. Lily had this when she was only 10 days old and it's doomed her ever since with asthma. I'm hoping Sam doesn't follow.

Add to all this a biopsy I have tomorrow for a suspicious looking mole thing that grew on my scalp while I was pregnant with Sam. I'm so nervous for the procedure (not really the results, I'm pretty sure it's going to be okay).

So complaining...yep, I'm trying people, really trying. But today, when I had a screaming toddler who I had to put in her room b/c I was afraid I might get really mad at her, it was really hard to keep a lid on it. At one point I put the Sass juice in the middle of the table and thought that maybe I needed some. (I'll explain Sass Juice later).

But I will add this, so much support from friends and my church family. The coffee's brought to my house and the meals have been great. You all are amazing!

Lily's 3rd birthday

Lily's 3rd birthday is Tuesday. But my mom came down this weekend to help out so we celebrated Saturday. Poor thing had a 103 temp. and couldn't even enjoy her cake. Sad. But we managed to make the best of it and celebrate anyway with a princess party.

Her cake:

Her dinner: mac and cheese, corn dogs, and fruit salad (strawberries, grapes, and blueberries) with pink juice.

My mom and i went to Target to find some gifts the night before. They have a new line called B. SO CUTE!!! They have a bead set, called B. pop-arty, to make necklaces, rings, and bracelets -- without a string. they all clip together, which is great b/c we are always losing strings around here. I would highly recommend this gift for any kid over 3. My mom and I were having tons of fun with it. I think my mom more than Lily.

We also got her a doodle pad that she loves. Good for practicing her letters.

And a bristle block set. They like building houses for their Polly Pockets.

And this is so cute for Sam for his first birthday. I want to get it now.

Add to all this a scooter, princess soap and vitamins. We decided to do the princess theme up big. She loves it and when she's 12 princesses will be lame, so if the girl wants pretty girls in big dresses around then so be it.

I love this kid. She is so sick right now. Lots of asthma, non-stop coughing, and a fever. We need our sweet, cooky Lily back soon.

blog thoughts

we're in the midst of lots of sickness. it's humbling at best.

I have a few thoughts I'd like to address.

First - A few have commented recently who have never commented. So great. It's been awesome. Especially Katy who also had Graves' with her third child. Incredibly helpful. That is why I love people I don't know reading, more information. I'm curious to know those who read my blog. If you have never commented. Please do. And it can't be anonymous!

Second, my blog was never intended to be something that people were drawn to. It was just a way for me to write my thoughts, happenings, and ideas. Then it turned into a sharing place (favorite link friday) - a broader way to share with friends near and far those ideas I thought were good. But again, never a grand scale blog.

This leads me to address a few comments that have been left annoymously about the improvement of my blog. First, if you have an idea about how you think I can improve, leave your idea and include your name. Your idea may be good enough for me to look into, who knows. Second, remember that my main purpose is not to draw large amounts of people. It's to share about my life with family and friends.

okay - now let me know who you are! thanks!

linky loo

I think I'm going to take a break from Favorite Link Friday. I've been doing it for over a year and feel like it's becoming more of a burden than something fun. I really enjoy sharing links so I'll just do it when I find a few here and there. And who knows, maybe I'll surprise you with a FLF real soon....

Have a great weekend!