Stress Level Maxed Out

Stress level is out the roof top!  I'm sure that most of you probably saw on Facebook that my baby boy is having surgery Tuesday morning to have his adenoids removed.  He started breathing a bit heavy from his mouth about a week ago and we just figured he was stopped up with a cold.  Then about 4 nights ago he started waking up screaming and gasping for air....like every 20 minutes.  Scared the ever living day lights out of us and him.  And when Carter is not getting much sleep....guess what...parents are not either.  If you can remember, he had this very same thing when he was about 10 months old when we went to the ENT at Children's.  Anyways, since he is old enough now, we took him to a place in Texarkana.  We told the nice doctor everything and he said that we could probably just do what we did last time and spray Nasanex in his nose to shrink the adenoids for the time being.  We wanted long term results, but we were ok with it.  He wanted to take an x-ray, though, just to see what we were dealing with.  He came back and was very worried and said that we he needed to have his adenoids removed ASAP because they are blocking over 90% of his airway.  Oh. My. Lord.   We are spraying Nasanex in his nose to shrink them some until his surgery.

But some good news---the doctor said that this should fix a lot of Carter's sickness and he should be much happier and feel like a different kid.  He also said for us not to be surprised if he starts to grow at a rapid speed after surgery.  He said that Carter's body and brain have been deprived from having all the oxygen it needs for so long and it is about to play catch up.  So maybe that is the answer as to why we are having a hard time putting weight on him. 

I was pretty upset about it at first but now that I am laying all the pros and cons out there I am super excited for him.  Carter has no idea what it is like to have a full night's sleep on a regular basis, he is constantly sick and not feeling well, running fever, and on an antibiotic.  I pray so hard that this will fix all of that.  But don't think for a second that I take for granted the things that he does have.  He is smart, he can walk, run, be active, and put away food like you would not believe.  So, I am thankful for his swollen adenoids if that's all we have to deal with.  Please just take time to pray for Carter, the surgeon, and Nick and me.  I know it will take a huge toll on me.

More good news...I am finally getting into the Christmasl spirit.  I (finally) got my tree all up and decorated...it's nothing special and it don't even have a topper on it but hey, let's face it, it just a miracle that it's up.  I ordered some gifts that I swore I would not buy, and I am catching myself singing those annoying Christmas songs in my head. 

Other than all of that, we are doing really well.  I am having to work more recently than what I usually do and that's perfectly fine with me.  It was fun while it lasted, but I now have a work shift every week.  I absolutely LOVE the people that I work with so it is not problem at all.  I can say that we are truly a family here.

Sometimes you can walk in my house and it is spotless and other times it looks like a complete train wreck.  And this is why.

 

How someone so tiny can destroy a whole house is beyond me.  But he has fun destroying everything and it makes him happy so who am I to ruin his fun?  Our house is lived in and that's all you can say about it.  I try not to sweat the small stuff anymore.  There is just not point in it.

 

We have family/christmas pictures tomorrow at 3:15 with the famous Jenna Millwood.  Please cross your fingers that we have a happy baby on our hands for excellent pictures.  It's a coin toss on that one!  And I hope that Aunt Toshya or Aunt Casey is reading this because he needs a hair cut and if his hair makes the pictures look bad I only have yall to blame!! :)

 

So, the next post will probably be an after surgery post.  Again, please pray!



Sunday Funday

We went to church this morning and like we suspected Carter screamed when we dropped him off. He didn't cry long but he sure does put up a good fight when he does have a meltdown. We are going to have to get the nursery workers something real special for Christmas for having to put up with his tantrums.  Afterward Nick, Carter and I went and ate lunch at Starz. Then Carter and I came home and I put his pajamas right back on and he took a 2 hour nap while I cleaned and put up the Christmas tree, stockings, and other decorations.

I had doubts about putting up the tree to begin with but now I wish I would have stuck with that. Half my lights are not working.  So then I had to check every stinkin light bulb that was not working and finally found a broke one. But I don't have any spares. So, now I have to go to Walmart and buy a spare to see if that works but I am goin to buy a string of lights just in case!! Should have just left it in the box!!

I am on a roll about cooking dinner for the boys. So tonight I threw in some frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot along with some BBQ sauce, Garlic powder, and brown sugar. Then I decided to toss in some small red potatoes. I just might whip up some cornbread and black eyes peas and rice to go with it.  Tomorrow I am thinking ranch flavored baked pork chops that I found on Pinterest.  Easy meals is the key for this momma.

Aside from my dang tree..... Our Sunday has been a pretty good one. Feeling pretty thankful today.

Nonsense

Just call me the big ol' green Grinch.  I just can't get into the spirit of Christmas.  Just can't.  I don't know why because usually I am so flippin excited about this time of year.  But having to spend hundreds of dollars for Christmas gifts is just not on my to-do list.  I went Black Friday shopping at Walmart the other night and bought two $12.00 things, then I went shopping in Texarkana ALL day yesterday and didn't even get my wallet out.  I have just told everyone not to buy me anything because I'm not buying them anything.  Works for me.  I am good with just getting together and having a great meal and spending time with everyone.  I am buying for Carter, my 2 nephews and niece, my little cousin, and the one person that Nick and I each drew out of a hat.  That's it.  I honestly don't even think our Christmas tree is going up this year.  Pretty pathetic isn't it?  You are more than welcome to come do it for me...but if you do...you have to take it down and pack it up too.  Either that or it just may stay up until Christmas next year.  I'm not going to get Carter's picture taken with Santa because I know he will just be terrified and scream...so what's the point?  You are more than welcome to talk me into having a good attitude about this year.  I need it.

I am very very proud of myself during Thanksgiving, though.  I didn't get off my diet (besides that dang cupcake today) and I am NEARLY back to my goal weight of 125.  Still got about 8 pounds to go.  I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!!!!!!!!!! I am now back into 4 pair of jeans that I have not fit in since my pregnancy.  AD and I have have taken 2 weeks off from working out which was a terrible decision on our part--because we are miserable and having withdrawals.  Working out and those wonderful endorphins bring peace and comfort to our hectic lives!  So starting Monday, we are hitting the gym HARD!!

While I was deep cleaning my house the other day I found my mp3 player that Nick bought me right after high school.  It's hilarious the songs that I actually downloaded on that thing.  My oh my how my taste have changed!  While I was flipping through the songs I was embarrassed at what I listened to.  I know Keatha can probably relate to this.  Black Betty!???  OMG!  So stupid.  I am thinking about keeping this thing just so I can let Carter listen to what his momma listened to at his age.  He will die.....from laughter.  But then again there are those classics that I will never get sick of listening to like "You and Me Go Fishin in the Dark," or Hinder songs, or "Turn Around  Bright Eyes."  Lots of flash back memories right there.

Carter is sleeping all night in his big boy bed and waking up dry.  That's big time folks.  He is completely healthy at the moment.  He does have slight congestion but I figure we will be dealing with that the whole winter.  That's nothing that a little Vick's and vaporizer can't help.  We are also going to bed earlier! Going down at 9:00-9:15 and sleeping until about 5:00 for a huge glass of milk then right back to sleep til about 8:30-9:00.  Loving it!  He just HAS to have that big glass of milk right before bed, at 5:00, then right when he wakes up for good.  I'm not talking about 5 oz....it's like 12 oz. that he chugs down without stopping....every time.  That's like 36 oz in 12 hours.  Crazy.  Every now in then he will sleep all the way through til 9:00 but very rarely.

Ok, enough with then nonsense.  Time to get to work. 

Soapbox

*Catherine stands on soapbox*

The bad thing about running your own business, that never sleeps, is employees taking off and you having to work in their spot....during the holidays.  So, we are having to work tonight, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 2:00 til midnight.  Goodbye Thanksgiving with the family....maybe next year!  But the good thing about it is that we are completely booked solid...not a single room not reserved or rented Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  So at least I will be busy and not twiddling my thumbs. 

But until the crowd comes piling in, I am trying to order Christmas presents and pictures that I have not had made since Carter was 13 months old.....yikes.  This may take a while and it may be a pretty large order.  I am also searching frantically on the Internet trying to find some cute Christmasy/ dressy outfits for us to wear for our family photos/Christmas card shoot that we are taking on the 30th...of course last minute (and that is counting on my child not looking at a germ and getting the flu).  Since I don't have time to go out and actually shop I am having to buy online and probably pay like 30 bucks to have it rushed so it will be here on time.  I am just not on top of things this year.

While I am ranting and complaining...I might as well get it all out.

Last week Carter got Sick.  I know what you all are thinking........he is the sickest kid on the planet.  Totally agree.  It's driving me crazy.  But this time sick was an understatement.  He could not breathe out of his nose so I kept having to suck it out and clean it like every 10 minutes.  You would have thought I was killing him the way he was acting.  Nick had to hold him down while I did the sucking and cleaning.  The kiddo is strong.  He had fever and coughing his head off.  Then all of a sudden his eyes started having junk come out of them so then I was having to clean out his eyes literally every 5 minutes.  And when he slept they dried shut which scared the daylights out of him.  One morning we woke up and his eyes were nearly swollen shut and very red.  We finally got him on some antibiotics so he was miserable for only 2 days.  Here is a picture when he was about 80% better and he still looks terrible with swollen eyes.

 

 

I felt so bad for him and I was doing everything I could to make him more comfortable.  But he is all better now and back to sleeping all night in his own bed and eating more than me.

 

On top of all that...right in the middle of Carter being at his worst our refrigerator went out.  I think it was out for like a whole day before we even noticed.  Sad.  So everything that was in our freezer and most of everything in the fridge we had to throw away.  And that was a lot of Carter's meals that I had already made and froze and three gallons of milk (the two men in my house go through milk like I have never seen before).  How I found out that it had stopped working was I poured myself a huge bowl of cereal, poured my milk and took a huge bite of cereal and soured milk.  Awesome.  I'm just glad I didn't pour Carter a huge class and give it to him first.

 

Our luck has to turn around at some point...right?

 

*Catherine steps off of soapbox*

 

On a good note...Carter has learned to put some little wooden puzzles together and he is so close to learning how to brush his own teeth.  He loves brushing his teeth!  I pray he will always love it!  I made up a song about it...it's pretty stupid...but he loves it.  So while I sing he brushes, smiles, and dances at the same time.  It's a sight!  And he still won't go to bed until he helps brush mine and daddy's teeth.  Just won't give it up.  Such an awesome kid!

 

Carter's new favorite food is steak.  The kid can put away some steak like you would never believe.  Nick is one proud daddy.  He has hit a MAJOR growth spurt in the last couple weeks.  Legs, arms, shoulders, and chest are filling out like crazy all while getting taller.  He has moved up to 18 month pants, which are getting too short, and 24 month and 2T shirts and size 6 1/2 shoe.  Maybe we should slow down on the red meats.  Looking more and more like his daddy every single day. 

 

 

 

Thank you for listening.

 

 



 





Days at Home

I got to take two days off from work and stay home with the little Mister this week.  Monday Lisa didn't keep the kids and my mom was busy and today Carter has let a cold and teeth get the best of him and he just don't feel good.   He is still playing like a wild child and eating a lot but he is very congested and snot is flowing out of his nose like a waterfall. 

This is what my living room has looked like both mornings when we woke up.

 

 

This is what it looked like literally 30 minutes after

 

 

 

As you can see he has an obsession with anything on wheels. He has to have them all out and he plays with every single one of them.  He pulls the couch cushions off and eats breakfast in the floor.....on the couch cushions.  Who needs a high chair??  Maybe he will learn one day that he will always have to put up his toys every night before bed and pulling everything out is really not worth it.

 

We have watched Mickey Mouse...a lot

 

 

We colored

 

 

The coloring started off kinda rocky because we had to pick color out of his teeth from the crayon he attempted to eat.

 

And I may or may not have attempted his first time out because he kept trying to color on my page!!  And he kept trying to get the colors I was using.  That was a hard pill for him to swallow.

 

Then once we were cooped up for way too long and I was about to pull my eyebrows out we had to go outside.

 

 

And I'm guessing that's why we are at home today with a really bad cold.  Bad Mommy decision!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Color Run

It was fun.  Next year I will be wearing protective eye wear and a face mask but you live and you learn.  My boogers are even colored.  I think we did amazing!  It was tough for me and Tosh to keep up with AD (she obviously took steroids before the race).  But we did it and we finished it in record time and we believe that it had to be our personal best.  Zero walking was involved.

Despite that it was my second time ever to stay a night away from Carter I had a great time!!  A night and day away from being a wife and mommy is good for the soul.  I got to sleep in Whitney's luxurious dreamy king size bed (without a certain little toddler pulling at my sheets wanting up with me) we ate some really good food, had some laughs, and got a really fun workout in. Felt good!! Time to find another race!!! It's pretty addicting.

Carter speech is moving right along. Instead of us asking "where's your truck?" and him point and say "there it is" we are now pointing to objects and asking him what they are so he can say them. So when we point to a bird and ask what it is his response is "duck chick" every time. He can say those two words but cant learn bird. Weird. It's pretty cute though. We are lettin him say words from his glad cards and add new ones every  now and then. But the only time he talks is when we ask him a question. He don't do it on his own free will. So if I never say anything to him I forget he is in the room he is so quiet. I'm hoping this gets better.

He is now back to giving me lots of kisses. He took a little break from it and I died inside but it's back!! I am loving it!!!!  He gives me the wettest kiss ever with his mouth wide open but it just melts me.

I have to work some tomorrow but then I plan on spending the rest of the day outside doing whatever the little king pleases.

What Up?

Hi!  Just thought I would drop in and let you know what we have been up to lately....which is not much.  Carter and I have been staying at my parent's house for the week while Nick is out of town.  Carter has had the time of his life being spoiled more than any kid should be spoiled. 

I went to Texarkana with my good friend, Elizabeth.  I sure have missed that crazy lady!  We had so much fun.  She is planning her wedding so we are going to start getting together every Thursday to work on it and I am looking so forward to it.  I am so honored to be a bridesmaid.

This Saturday is my 5k.....The Color Run.  We are going to run the whole thing.  We are ready!  I am looking forward to having a good time with great friends.

Carter gets to spend the evening with his Grammy (Nick's mom) while I go to my class and run afterward.  I know he will have fun with her....he always does.  For dinner I made him salmon, veggie salad (tomato, avocado, and carrots--his favorite!), watermelon, and yogurt.  He is going to chow down because he literally can't get enough of any of those things.  If I have done anything right as a mother, its that I have gotten him to eat healthy.  So proud of that.  There are lots of other areas that I can work on, I'm sure, but to me, thats one of the most important areas.

Saturday was our Scrapperette softball alumni game.  We had a great time!  I am so glad that I decided to participate.  I almost didn't with me having a crappy knee but it turned out great.  I pitched and I am still not quite sure how I got talked into pitching.  I have never slow pitched before in my entire life but I really enjoyed it.  I think I only walked one...which shocks me.  I went 1 for 3....which is not very good, but I need to accept the fact that I am getting old and feeble.  I did hit a home run....but it was only a 200 foot fence, but still!  I was proud.  Keatha was the only one missing....I missed her.  I needed someone besides Tonya to act a fool with.  Even with the umpires on our side (Terry Ray and my dad) we still could not pull off a win.  But again, it was loads of fun and I can't wait until next year.

My baby daddy will be back with us tomorrow and I can't wait!!  I really hate it when he is gone and Carter does to.  We may just have to pack up and go with him on the next one.

Well, it's about 30 minutes until class time and I still have to make myself look presentable.  Even though I am all natural beauty (bahahaha) I still need a little help sometimes.  So to the makeup pouch I go!

Just Stuff

Today I get the privilege of haning out with the sweetest, most handsome, well-mannered and toughest guy I know!!  Thursdays are the days that he usually gets to spend with his Mia but she had some stuff to do today.  So we are having fun at home reading books, letting Mickey Mouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates entertain us, eating tons of snacks, and playing chase.  I sure do love days like these with him.  With me working at the hotel and working out every day and Carter going to Mrs. Lisa's, I really don't get to see and spend time with Carter until after 5:00-6:00.  It allows him to spend time with both sets of grandparents so I that's a plus, I guess.

His appetite is back full force!!!  His dinner last night was about 15 baby shrimp, 1/2 a sweet potatoe, vanilla yogurt, a whole banana, lots of strawberries, beans, and pieces of Nick's steak.  Then later he had lots of raisens.   So for dinner tonight he is having sautéed mushrooms. We will just see what all the little garbage disposal will eat.

No more words.....I got to learn to be patient.

Carter had a great Halloween. He absolutely positively loved being in his costume. He thought he was hot stuff being a big ferocious dinosaur. He was adorable!!!

We are lifting weights, running, then practicing softball today and I don't even feel motivated in the lest to do that. Laying around the house all day vein lazy is not good for me. I am way too good at it!!  The two hour nap I took with Carter has really got me feeling pretty pathetic.

But my 5k race is in like two weeks so I have got to suck it up. Then after that we are signing up for a 10k! Holy macaroni!!! I'm scared.