Surgery and Recovery

My little baby is five days post surgery and doing well.

When we finally decided to do surgery, I was terrified! How was I going to cope with all of this and what if something went wrong? I waited patiently for several weeks and finally got my answer.

Surgery day went very well. The people at Children's South are wonderful! I can not express how comforting it is as a parent to have such caring people around you during that difficult time. We had a nurse blowing bubbles to distract her while they took all her vital signs and another nurse brought a stuffed animal and coloring pages by our room. We played with the numerous toys and push cars they have in the hallways during our long wait. Of course I cried when I had to give her to the nurse at the surgery doors, but recovered well. After what seemed like a short 45 minutes (thanks to my mom, the Today show and People magazine), the doctor came back with a good report. Thirty minutes later, my baby was finally back in my arms. She was upset, but went right to sleep as I rocked her. She even slept through the nurse removing her iv.

She has been loving all the attention and being showered with gifts, cards, ballons and flowers from grandparents, family and friends. Her energy level has reminded high and she has had trouble following the restricted activity rules. The hardest part has been cleaning out her nose with saline solution each day. She screams in pain and it breaks my heart :( We have to do this until we return to the doctor on February 16. I pray everyday that it gets easier on her.

Better late than never...

Anna and daddy at the pumpkin patch


We love Santa!








Okay, so it's been months since I've posted, but I guess better late than never. My time with United Way has ended and I am now back during my regular job. I miss my United Way friends, but glad to get life back to normal. Life has been crazy at home and we may have to rope off our house if we bring home one more illness. I have spent more money in the past few weeks on doctor's visits and medicine than I care to admit. We have not been to church in three weeks due to the holidays, illness and a wonderful trip to Atlanta this past weekend (Roll Tide)! Chad and I got to relive our first date ten years later and had a great time despite illness on both our parts. When we started dating ten years ago, I figured it would last for a few months and didn't get my hopes up for anything long term. Well, here we are ten years later. We have been through our ups and downs, two houses, six cars, two sets of living room furniture (due to my need to constantly redecorate), several job changes, two dogs and one beautiful daughter! This has been a very difficult year for our family, but we are making it through and growing closer in the process. I find out as time goes on that we can change and morph into different people, which can be good and bad. Keeping focused and grounded is the key. Jesus Christ is my rock and foundation and has gotten me through these difficult times. All my praise and glory are with Him always and forever!

Just some fun pics

Such a big girl with her piggy's

Attitude, with my tutu and heels

Daddy has some big shoes to fill

I like to wear my hat backwards like my uncle

My little girl is growing up so fast. She is starting to say things like "Mommy, where is my purse and keys?" when she rides in her play car. She makes me wear a crown all the time while we are at home. I tell her she is a princess, so I guess that makes me the queen :) She is very good about saying please and thank you, which makes me very happy. There is something so sweet about your baby saying thank you mommy when you hand her a juice cup or snack. She is constantly drawing us pictures and is so proud to hand them to us. The fridge is full!!! Being a parent is the most wonderful thing in the world and words can not describe it. Children amaze us in so many ways and the smallest thing can be the most rewarding. Praise God for all the blessings in my life!

Birthday Party and Two Year Check Up

Checking out all my gifts


Jumping with my friends (and their parents)



Daddy and me

We had a great time at Anna's 2nd Birthday Party! Thanks to all our friends that came over to celebrate with us. It was a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed the princess castle moon bounce (I think Chad enjoyed it more than the kids). They delivered it on Friday night, so Chad, Anna and I got a little family jumping time in early. I wish we had one of our own, because it was a great workout! Anna received some very nice gifts and has been enjoying hours of fun since. It was great to get together with friends and family and celebrate my baby girl's special day. Everyone keeps telling me that she isn't a baby anymore, but she will always be my baby. She has brought so much joy to our lives that words can not express.

I took Anna this past Friday for her two year check up. The doctor informed me that she is perfect :) Just kidding, she is right on track for her age. She weighed 26.6 lbs and is 34 inches tall. That is the 50% for height and weight. We stopped using the pappy (pacifier) about two weeks ago and it has been a challenge. She still asks for it on occasion and I just try and change the subject. Our next challenge is potty training. I am bribing her with stickers and M&M's. Some days are better than others, but we are trying.

A week of deals

I hope I am not about to jinx myself, but I LOVE saving money. It's almost like a game to me. This has been a good week. I go on these streaks sometimes were I seem to rack up everywhere I turn. Here is a list of deals I have gotten in the last week:

Banana Republic online: $68.oo shirt for $10.00 plus free shipping

Publix: I paid $26.12 and saved $26.12. Exactly half off my bill!

Target: $56.00 worth of clothes for Anna for $17.50

TJ Maxx: $176.00 worth of items for $97.00. It includes 3 dresses, 1 pair of pants, 3 baby gifts, outfit for Anna and Crocs (the real ones) for Anna.

I have also gotten $50.95 worth of pull ups for $32.95.

I love coupons! I always get excited and tell Chad how much I saved. He always says "We probably didn't need it in the first place, so you didn't save me anything." He is such a party pooper.

4th of July

Last year

This year

My baby girl is getting so big!!! Last year, she couldn't even walk and now she is cutting the grass :) We had a classic, redneck 4th of July complete with lawnmower races and a hayride. We went to Chad's grandmother's house in the country, so we had to fit in. I am happy to report that I did not participate in the lawnmower races. We had a great, but hot day and things were going well until "the devil" showed up. "The devil" is what we call the good ole stomach virus in our house. "The devil" has visited me about 7 times since Anna was 6 months old. If it wasn't bad enough for him to interupt my vacation a few weeks ago, now he is ruining my holidays.

Vacation Pics

Even with all the mishaps and sickness, our vacation was still wonderful! I love spending time with my family.