Hoping For Healthy

On Friday my little guy went in to have tubes put in his ears. We've been struggling with ear infections since January and it was one of those things that, as parents, we felt like needed to be done. We tried several other things to get those danged ole ear infections to stop, but they were to no avail.

We had a ton of reassurances from co-workers and friends, but I think that it doesn't matter how many times people tell you it will be okay. You still get a little nervous sending your kid in for a procedure.

So early Friday morning we got up and headed in. Now, my little guy is a sucker for milk first thing in the morning. I thought we might be in for it because he couldn't have any before he went in. But alas, I was wrong. He was a jewel!

Unlike his mother, who tends to get a little cranky when she hasn't been fed.

In fact, my family has so kindly given me a pet name. Hungry Stacia. They don't like it when she comes around. She tends to be a little on edge.

Anyways, we got him signed in and the lady checker-inner-gal gave my kid his very first ankle bracelet.



I pray it is his last.

We had just a little wait until we were taken back and there weren't many people in the waiting room as it was just a little after 7:00 in the morning and most people aren't crazy like we are.  We like to get things done and did.

So Cooper had a little time to play around.  There was a phone on a table that he especially liked.  He called a few people, or at least he thought he did.  I don't know who they were, but it sounded like he was having some pretty good conversation with them. 

He also crawled around and played with a water bottle.  It's the small things...



We then got called back and the nurse got took his temperature, got his blood pressure, and other things.  This is the tiny little bed that he was on during the procedure.




The doctor came back and talked to us (Dr. Johnson if you are in the Bloomington area and your kid ever needs tubes.  He's phenomenal.).  I was a little scared as he was wearing a Cubs hat.  I wasn't too nervous before that, but when he walked out with that hat on, I thought about grabbing my child and rushing for the door like Lola when she smells bacon.  I was uneasy.

But I had heard great things about him, so I let him go ahead and operate on my kid.  Good judgement?  You tell me.

Then the anesthesiologist came and had a chat with us.  Luckily, the kid wasn't totally put under.  Just a little gas.  No IV.  No injections.  She warned us that he would be a little cranky when he woke up, as most are. 

And yes, I will admit.  I was that gal that thought, "Yeah, right lady.  You've never met my kid."  Oh, how clueless I can be sometime.

But more on that later.

So the nurse came and got the little guy and then Nate and I headed out to the waiting room.  It was 8:10.

I tell you, I had enough time to run to the restroom, come back out, sit down, pull out my phone, and try to read a blog.  I didn't get all the way through the entry and we heard, "Cooper Myers?"  They were done.

It was 8:17.

Dr. Johnson said he did great.  He had fluid in his ears.  Expect drainage.  Ear drops for 3 days.  Treat him like nothing ever happened.

A nurse came and got us and back we went.  This was the hardest part for me, as Cooper wasn't awake yet all the way.  He didn't have control of his head and was still pretty drowsy.  But I got ahold of that boy and popped a sippy cup in his mouth.



Five minutes later we were on our way home.

Now folks, I think that's pretty darned amazing.  Seven minutes from the time they took him from my arms to the time that they called us to talk to the doctor.  From the time that he had the surgery to the time we were at home sitting in our bed was less than 50 minutes.  Unreal.

And back to what I said before.  You know, how I thought that my kid wasn't going to be cranky when he was coming out of being put out.  Ummm, I was wrong.

He was cranky.  He cried.  He cried a little more.

We got him home.  He cried.

I started eating a granola bar.  He stopped.

And looked at me with the biggest, saddest puppy dog eyes you've ever seen.

The kid was hungry.  And I didn't even know it.

Two pancakes later and he looked something like this...


 

After a three hour nap in the afternoon you never would have known that anything had happened.  He was an angel.  In fact, I almost think that he was better than normal.  We are blessed beyond belief.

A Moment In Time

Tonight I had a blog post planned out. I knew what I was going to write about and was forming one-liners in my head.

But then this little boy who holds my heart in his hands crawled over to me. He put his head next to me.

And then he fell asleep.

So instead of telling you about our trip to McCormick's Creek this weekend, I'm going to sit here and enjoy this precious moment.

I'm going to listen to him breathe.

I'm going to soak up this time of innocence.

Because before I know it, in the blink of an eye, these moments will be fleeting.

And for right now, in this very second, I could not feel more blessed.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Myers Merry Reunion

This Saturday we attended a weenie roast at my in-law's house for the Myers family.  It was a time of getting together with family that we don't see very often and catching up.

Now first off, who can tell you that they don't like a good weenie roast?  Hot dogs straight off of the fire, s'mores, and the smell of bonfire that gets stuck in your hair for days, even after you wash it.

Did I mention the s'mores?

We showed up a little early to visit.  My niece Kinley was with there because my sister-in-law and her husband were both working, so she and Cooper got a chance to play for a bit before the weenie roast started.

Don't they share so nicely together?!

I wish that I was as easily entertained by a set of coasters as what these two were.

Nannie really shouldn't leave the room.  And especially not the house!  This is what happens.

How incredibly handsome.

And how unbelievably beautiful.

"Whoa, Daddy!"

Mmm.  Styrofoam.

After several hours of play time, the family ended up at the homestead.  I tried to count everybody up and I think that I got 32.  Not too bad!  Here are most of the adults around the fire.  It was crazy windy outside, but that didn't stop the fun!

The two guys standing to the left of Nate are his twin cousins Dave and Darrin.  The resemblance between them and Nate is pretty obvious.  Both in personality and looks.

I haven't decided yet if that's a good thing.

I kid, I kid!

Kind of.

This is Nate's Uncle Dave.  The first time I met him was at Christmas.  I kid you not, he pulled me onto his lap and told me to call him Santa.

He has been Santa since that day.

Here, he is telling some very important story which I am sure has to do with golf or gambling.  They both have a true love for both.

Out of everybody, I'm pretty sure the kids had the best time of all.  Here they are hiding from Nate's cousin Lauren...

...only to be found!

This is Susie's great niece, Isabella.  I LOVE this girl.  I want her to come and live with me.  She is hilarious and responsible and such an awesome little girl.  If her family would let me, I would bring her home with me and keep her for mine.  But I don't think they're going to let me so I'll just have to enjoy seeing her at my in-law's house.

Can you feel the love people?

I was only fortunate enough to attend one family reunion with Nate's Grandfather and Grandmother in attendance.  The summer after Nate and I got engaged his Grandfather passed away.  I didn't know him for very long, but I loved going to visit him.  He was funny and kind and the admiration that Nate had and still has for him is the kind that only a grandson could have for his grandfather.

Nate's Grandmother passed away at the beginning of this past summer.  When we went to visit her she would be sitting in her recliner watching 1) the Cubs or 2) the Bears.  She was such a lovely lady.  Nate was very blessed to have her and his Grandfather for his Grandparents.

As mentioned before, I was only around for one previous family reunion.  But from what I understand, this pitch fork is pretty symbolic for every past bonfire.  His Grandfather would stand around the fire, push around the logs, and tell old stories.

While there were many family members that weren't there and missed, their memory sure did live on.  Stories were told and laughs were had.

Just how any family reunion should be.

Mission: Organization

I have a real thing for making lists.  I love to make lists.  Grocery lists.  Cleaning lists.  Schedules.  To do lists.  Honey do lists.  And the all important Christmas list.

But here's the problem.  My house is the perfect example of disorganization.

I don't know why.  I don't know what makes me this way.  I don't know how the entire house can be spotless and perfect and wonderful, but in the blink of an eye it is in shambles again.

Wait, maybe this is the cause.

And then there's this.

But I have to wonder.  Am I the only one this happens to?  Am I lacking some sort of skill that makes me able to keep my house organized all the time?  Was I born without it?

Or maybe there's the fact that I've read too many organization blogs.  And they've got me feeling that everybody lives without a speck of dust in their house.  No clutter.  No excess.

So I've made a decision.  It's time to get organized.

And when I say organized, I mean organized.

In the next three months we will be cleaning, purging, organizing and scheduling.  And I'm going to take you along for the ride.

There's a couple of reasons for blogging about this.  Because trust me, the state of some of my closets is downright embarrassing.  But here's the deal.

1)  We're all friends here.  I figure that if you read this blog regularly, it's because maybe you kinda sorta like me and maybe you kinda sorta consider me a friend.  And friends don't judge.  So I've got that going for me.

B) It's a means of motivation.  I can get on this here blog and say, "Hey!  Guess what I did this week!"  Or, "Look at this before and after transformation of my linen closet!"  And now because I've told you about it, you're going to be expecting it.  And because you're expecting it, I have to show you results.

I was reading a book last week and it said, more or less, that the more disorganized you are, the more time you spend on unimportant things that shouldn't be taking up your time (like trying to find a camera charger, cleaning out a pantry that you let go WAY too long, or going through a stack of mail that has gotten out of hand) and you spend less time on the important things.  Like playing with your kids.  Or making a healthy dinner.

This struck home with me.  Everyday as I leave school I think, "When I get home I've got this and this and this to do."  Or, "I guess I'd better stop at the store AGAIN."  It never fails.  I'm always at the darned store.  It eats up my time.  These things take away from my time with Cooper and Nate. 

And it's time to fix that.

I have a pretty serious list of things that I want to get done.  I've done my research and I'm mentally prepared for a long process.  I've read a lot of blogs and I hope that what I've learned I can share with you and you might get something out of.

So, are you ready for a long, and what I'm sure will be comical, ride of organization with Yours Truly?

The Tale of the Missing Sock

So I'm from Worthington.  When I told somebody I was from Greene County last week (a student I might add) she said, "You're from Greenetucky?!"  Why yes. Yes I am.

And I know a lot of you that read this blog appreciate the Greene County love.  I was born there.  I was raised there.  I love it there.  I love the nuances of growing up in a small town.  I love that I was considered a "city girl" even though that "city" was surrounded by corn and beans.  Basketball games are where you found almost the entire population on Friday nights and if you wanted to cruise town with your friends you had to drive fifteen minutes to another town to do so.  It isn't uncommon to see a cow roaming the streets and almost every house has a deer head (or turkey, or squirrel, doesn't matter as long as it's stuffed) in it.

Part of what I have taken with me from Worthington is a strong desire to be barefoot.  Always.  I don't like wearing shoes.  I water flowers barefoot.  I walk my kid up and down the sidewalk barefoot.  My living room is littered with my shoes because the first thing that I do when I come home is kick them off.

And yeah, right.  Like I'm actually going to walk all the way upstairs to put them in my closet.  Forget it.

I take my shoes off at work.  I walk around my classroom barefoot.  I can't help it.  It's ingrained in me!

But here's where things start getting sticky.

This small habit of mine has transferred onto my son.

He has a really strong aversion to socks.  He flat out refuses to keep them on his feet.

We take him to day care with them on.  He returns with them off.

I'll put him in the car with them on.  When I get him out, they are thrown across the car.

Sometimes I'll even find them under the cushions of the car seat.  All hidden and tucked away, like he was hoping I would never find them.

And these socks have been a major pain in our house.

Lola likes to eat them.

They wad themselves up and then made our washer leak.

But anyways, he dislikes them.  Pulls them right off and then chucks them.

So it was no surprise last week when I found this laying on the floor.

But where was the other one?  I had found one sock, but the other was nowhere in sight.

Great.  I'll probably find that in Lola's food bowl.

Oh wait.  There it is.

30 Years Ago...

Thirty years ago today was a blessed day.  In an old church in Worthington, Indiana where many family weddings have been held, my Mom and Dad exchanged vows to unite in marriage.  My Mom wore a beautiful long sleeved dress with matching hat while my Dad donned a brown tux and a smile.

Little did they know then that their marriage would be what it is today.  Strong.  Solid.  Full of love, trust, and companionship.

I think back on the 28 years of my life and the relationship that I have watched between my parents.  I'm so blessed that they are mine and that I was fortunate enough to grow up as their daughter.  You'd be hard pressed to find better parents than what this girl has.

To this day I'm grateful for my parents.  They would give anything, ANYTHING for me.  And they have always made that incredibly clear.

Now they have not only become great parents, but phenomenal grandparents.  I always knew that they were excited about having grandbabies, but never did I know that the title would fit them so appropriately.  That they would be so good at it.  That I would be able to see their love for my son.  Which is just like their love for me.

Because now that I am a parent myself, I see so much more.  I see their sacrifices for me.  I see their love for me.  Their unconditional love.  I see their selflessness and their support.

I think of all of the softball games that they came to.  The games in which I cheered that they didn't miss.  The fact that my Mom, while in college 45 minutes away, didn't miss volleyball games.  And then the fact that my Dad came to all of those games that I cheered at, and watched what I did and commented on what I had done.  Because he did watch me.  And did I mention that I was cheering?

I'm so blessed to have such wonderful role models.  Both in their marriage and in their parenting.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.  I love you so much.  Here's to 30 more years!

Photo courtesy of Ericka Hostetter Photography 

Photo courtesy of Cornelius Photography

Resilience

Cooper has been feeling under the weather this week.  It's the time of year again where I'm sure the doctor's office is

1) going to be seeing a lot of us

and

B) going to be very sick of phone calls from me.

Can we say paranoid Mama?

Anyways, I was home with Cooper and as I watched him I became entranced.  And here's the deal.  He amazes me.

This kid is running a fever, got snot pouring out of his little nose, and coughing up a storm.  But he taught me a huge lesson.

A lesson in resilience.

Kids...are...awesome.

They're sick and they don't feel good.  But it doesn't stop them from enjoying their day!

Now when I'm sick, I just want to lay around and sleep.  I want to watch smut TV, have someone wait on me hand and foot, and complain about how yucky I feel.

But my kid?  He saw it as an opportunity.  We were in the house all day, so he was going to seize the chance of playing.  All...day...long.

And please don't ask why he has pants on in one picture and not in the other.  I can't answer it.

But back to the resilience thing.

It really did amaze me how he just was up and going and had all of this energy even though a simple look at his eyes told you everything you needed to know about how he felt.

What does that say about babies?  And us as adults?  Are these babies just a lot stronger than we give them credit for?  Super babies by chance? 

Where is the elixir that they drink from that makes them like this?  I want some.  I neeeeeed some.

And by the way, nap time was almost non-existent.  And well, that just made somebody pretty displeased.