Oink

Well, the swine flu has been the name of the game in our house this past week. And, speaking as one who previously scoffed at those who wore masks for protection and freaked out about the "pandemic," let me just say... Be afraid of the swine flu! Be very afraid! I would have worn a mask for an entire year if it could have prevented the sickness in this house this week. Mask-wearers, you have my full blessing! :)

I'll spare you all the details, but let me just say that the past 6 days have been really rough. And let me also say a giant thank you to all of you who prayed for my sweet little former-preemie as he struggled with this nasty bug. I was so scared for him, but he pulled through like a champ. I am still concerned about the bad cough that he's left with, and I would really, really appreciate continued prayers that this clears up and does not settle into his lungs.

I am beyond thankful for Eric, who took care of Eli and I through all of this. It is tough stuff taking care of a sick kid when you're sick yourself. I'm so grateful for a husband who did everything around here for the past week!

So, in conclusion, don't catch the swine flu. I don't really recommend it. :)

What a Difference a Year Makes

Today Sarah and I took the boys to the Pumpkin Patch at the Dallas Arboretum. I love love love the Arboretum, but we haven't been able to use our membership all summer because it was just too darn hot! It was so exciting to go back today, especially since it's the "Pumpkin Festival" now.

Anyway, I was uploading some pictures of Eli in the pumpkins, and I couldn't help looking back at pictures we took of him last fall in the Arboretum pumpkin patch. Wow! What a difference a year makes! He's gone from baby to boy right before my eyes. I couldn't love him more.

Eli, October 2008


Eli, September 2009

"We're Going Camping Now..."

Bonus points to anyone who can sing the Psalty song that the title comes from, or to anyone who even knows who Psalty is, for that matter. :)

To quote Owen Wilson in Bottle Rocket, this weekend camping trip was a "success! Full success!" I was so nervous about taking a one-year-old camping, but it turned out to be just great! Eli had a blast being outside 24/7, ate great, slept great, and was just as happy as we were to be in a pretty place with dear friends and nothing to do but play. We all really enjoyed talking, eating, playing in the water, walking, and taking in the gorgeous view all around us. Eric got to fish a little, which is just about his favorite thing to do, and we all got to watch him reel in a large-mouth bass with the backdrop of a gorgeous sunset.

Eli experienced his first campfire, his first swim in a lake, his first night in a tent, his first fire-ant bites, his first hot-dog roasted over a fire, his first tumble on a sandy beach. He slept like a log at night and at naptime, sleeping the sweet, deep sleep of a child that has played hard and had tons of fun. By late Sunday morning, all 3 kids were too tired to continue with all the fun. (Read: whiny, crabby, and extremely ready to be put in the car to sleep all the way home.) I think all 3 kids were fast asleep before we even drove out of the campground! :)

In short, it was a wonderful weekend, and a great way to start the fall season. I'm so glad that we had this experience with Eli, the first of many camping trips as a family. And I'm super-thankful for the precious friends we got to spend the weekend with!

Gone Fishin'

A weekend camping trip. Sounds relaxing right? Simple? Throw a tent, some hot dogs, and a change of clothes in the back of the truck and take off, right?

WRONG. At least, wrong when you have a 1-year-old to take camping. :) We’ve been looking forward to our weekend at Lake Murray with our friends Nick and Sarah and their kids for a long time now, but man has it been stressful to try to get everything ready for the weekend! Once again, I am amazed at the amount of stuff a tiny little person like Eli requires.

But once we get there, it will be worth it. We are so looking forward to the pretty weather, the lake, and time with our friends. Eli has never camped in a tent before- I’m excited to introduce him to one of our favorite pastimes! He loves being outside more than he loves to breathe, so this weekend should be really fun for him.

We’ll let you know how we fared when we return. Until then, we’re gone fishin’.

Anniversary

On September 15, 2007, Eric and I got married. Our first two years, though they did not follow our carefully laid plans, have been full of the greatest joy I have ever known. I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else. He is the greatest man I have ever known. Happy anniversary, Eric! I love you with all my heart.

King of the Jungle

In my family growing up, we were not normally big Halloween celebrators, nor are we ones to spend any money at all on a costume when perfectly good odds and ends are lying around the house for free, just ready to be made into some sort of goofy coustume.

But when my mom found a little costume for Eli at Canton for $1.50, she couldn't resist.

Behold, the King of the Jungle:



Seriously, though, isn't he the cutest lion you've ever seen? It's a perfect costume for Eli, because his favorite animal is a lion. He roars every time he hears the word or sees a picture of this beloved animal. The other day I told him, "You're being so compliant!" and he roared, because compliant sounds like lion, apparently. :)

So, even though it is only September, I couldn't resist showing off my little guy in his full Halloween regalia. Because, come Halloween, who knows how long he'll put up with having this annoying thing on?

$34

Q: When is a piece of fish worth $34?

A: When it is the Chilean Sea Bass served at the Ama Lur restaraunt at the Gaylord Texan.

Oh.My.Goodness. It was so insanely good. So was Eric's steak. And the sundried tomato/goat cheese flatbread appetizer. And the chocolate/ancho chile cheesecake. (And the incredibly strong margaritas.) Seriously. If you are ever near the Gaylord Texan, go eat at this restaraunt. You will gladly kiss your money goodbye.

Eric and I were able to get away this weekend for an early anniversary celebration. My parents kept Eli and we enjoyed a gloriously kid-free, relaxing, romantic weekend together. The Gaylord Texan is really an amazing place, and sleeping in until 9am without a toddler climbing all over the place was amazing too. :)

We were, of course, super-happy to see Eli again. This kid is the light of our lives. He cracks us up with his high-energy antics. To add to his slew of animal impressions, he now knows "What does the Indian say?" He pats his mouth with his open hand while making continuous noise, a-la an Indian. It's adorable, even if it's not exactly an animal sound. :)

I hope you guys all had a good weekend too!

Just a Suggestion

Today I spent 2 hours at the doctor's office with Eli. 110 minutes were spent waiting in a tiny room while Eli repeatedly pushed the rolling stool into the metal examination table and licked the floor. The other 10 minutes were spent talking with Eli's pulmonologist to hear that he has no lingering lung issues and is discharged from his care.

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

ONE.HUNDRED.AND.TEN.MINUTES. TWO.HOURS. With a toddler. With a hungry toddler. With a hungry, active toddler. With a hungry, active toddler who desperately needs a nap.

I texted Eric every 15 minutes to let him know we were still waiting in that tiny room. I talked about how rude it was to let your patients wait for 2 hours with the full knowledge that they have a small child in tow. I entertained Eli with a bottle of hand sanitizer and a tongue depresser. I let him chew on the crayons in the communal bucket. And when he had a dirty diaper that needed to be changed and stunk up the whole room, I smiled not a little fiestily, secretly happy that when the doctor FINALLY got around to us, he'd be hit in the face with a gust of poopy air.

And then the doctor came in and gave a really good excuse about why he was late. I mean, it was totally justifiable, and I actually felt bad for the guy. Plus he's about the nicest man in the world. He reminds me of the old character "Guy Smiley" from Sesame Street. He introduces himself as "Andy," not "Dr. So-And-So." He messes with Eli's hair and plays peek-a-boo with him. He compliments his development and praises his progress. And then he tells me as he shakes my hand before leaving that I am "one of the nicest people we see in this office."

(I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have said that if he heard my evil thoughts during the 2-hour wait.)

And then we drove home, me embarking on an embarrassing monologue of all the things that we were passing in a very loud and high-pitched voice in an attempt to keep Eli awake, and Eli sleeping soundly in the back seat.

Anyway, all that to announce my suggestion to reform waiting time in pediatrician offices: If you are an office staff employee who knows that the doctor is running more than 30 minutes late, CALL THE PATIENTS WITH SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS!

"Ma'm, I'm sorry, but Dr. G is running 2 hours late today. Would you mind arriving at our office at 12pm instead of 10:15am? Or we would be happy to reschedule you for a more convenient time." No parent is going to yell angrily, "NO, I insist on coming to your office and waiting for 2 hours in a tiny room!" Any parent in his/her right mind would welcome this knowledge and gladly come a little later or on a different day. A phone call or two would save the sanity of many a mother in a waiting room with their small child. How's that for healthcare reform?