lunch with Daddy

Tyler met us at the mall food court for some lunch and play time.

The fun food court makes trips to the mall much easier. They get bribed with the rides if they behave during the shopping.

Surprise, Surprise

I had planned on just having game night to celebrate Tyler's birthday. But, without telling Tyler, I changed my mind and called several friends to meet us at Chuck-E-Cheese. When I got home from work Saturday morning, the girls and I made fun-fetti waffles for breakfast and casually got dressed for the day. at 10:00 I told Tyler he had 30 minutes to get dressed that we had a surprise for him. He was blindfolded and I even took the long way to confuse him. We were the first to arrive, which worked out perfect. Every family that arrived, one-by-one, was a new surprise for him. We all ate pizza, played games, played with our kids, and just had a blast.

Tyler was the master ticket winner.

So behind

I'm so behind on my blog, behind in my house work, behind in my church calling, behind in being a good mom . . . just. so. behind. I don't know what's happening to my body lately but I am consumed by whatever this is, this illness, this deficiency. I'm in constant pain, I'm always tired, nauseated, dizzy, lightheaded . . . .  Every doctor visit feels like a new diagnosis. But, they all boil down to no one knows what's happening to me and I am so very frustrated! What started as migraines led to an MRI which led to a diagnosis of sinus pressure due to retention cyst in my nasal cavities. All my hopes of relief was pinned on the ENT "he is going to cure me." The blessed appointment day finally arrived and the doctor was in the room for two whole minutes and the entire time just explained how these cysts had nothing to do with my pain. And sent me straight back to my PCP. After more lab work, I have now been diagnosed with Anemia and was given ferrous sulfate to help build my blood back up. Three weeks later, with no improvement, Tyler researched and found that due to a previous surgery I don't absorb ferrous sulfate. It had been a total waste of time and a waste of money. The new iron that I need . . . well it's $100 a month. Honestly, the price doesn't even bother me at this point. It's much cheaper than my repetitive trips to the ER, urgent care, PCP co pays, and multiple Rx that they have told me to take. So, again my hopes are pinned on a diagnosis, a cure - IRON. Get as much as I can and as quick as I can and MAYBE, just maybe the symptoms will clear up.
In the meantime, I have jeopardized my job with absences, been treated with pain pills and then treated like a drug addict, and WORSE than anything . . . I feel like my children have been neglected. Thank goodness for my wonderful husband and mother who have stepped up to fill in where I have fallen off.
So . . . tomorrow . . . tomorrow is a new day a new prescription and a new hope for a cure. A hope at being my self again, a hope to be the Mom I want to be again. And part of being this Mom means I will be updating my blog. Even through the pain and fatigue I have not forgotten my camera. If nothing else, my children will have photos of their childhood, even if I'm not in a single one.

our own little fireworks show

Our fourth was busy: lunch and swimming at a friend's (with my parents) and then came home and finished up our pulled pork and had a delicious dinner with the Haralsons and then bubble wands and swinging in the back yard. We were too pooped to go downtown and fight the crowds to get a spot to watch the fireworks.  So, Tyler and Annagrace ran to Target and got some sparklers and a few fountain fireworks. And we had our own little show in the driveway.

 

It was perfect!

Busy 4th

4th Sugar Cookies

We had planned out a busy fourth of July for ourselves. So the night before, we decided to make sugar cookies for a party that we were going to.

Everyone had to have an apron. Annagrace has almost outgrown the one her Aunt Carol gave her so it got passed down to Emmalee and Annagrace got a big girl William Sanoma apron.

If you click on the picture below and zoom WAY in you might, maybe, kinda see Emmalee's little pigtails. Her hair is finally growing. I has been getting thicker but not longer. I'll take anything! I was bald until I was 2. So, anything is better than nother. I just need a little more to put a bow in it.

the three bakers

Emmalee got her own bowl and spoon to stir, stir, stir.

The finished cookies.

The next morning I mixed icing into three bowls: red, white, and blue and let Annagrace go crazy with the decorating.

The Mama Bed

I guess it was fall sleep on mama night.

But, I loved every second of it!

a WHALE of a party

The girls had a splashing good time at William's birthday party. William lives next door to Grandmother and Granddaddy and enjoys playing with the girls. We were super excited to attend his first birthday, a Whale water party. It was SO hot outside so it was nice that the kids were able to cool off in all of the water. (I just wish the parents had a spot to cool down in too!!)

 Annagrace playing with Ford, another neighbor that she plays with a lot.

 My little super star.

The cupcakes were super cute, super yummy, and super MESSY.

Annagrace was the biggest kid at the party, not by age but size. I believe this girl is going to hit 5'10" in her teens!

Aunt Carol Aunt Carol

Aunt Carol and Noah came down for a day visit.

We went to Chuck E Cheese for lunch and TONS of fun.

And then, we went bowling. Annagrace loved it, especially when we got the ramp. She just had to push the ball down the ramp and wait for the pins to fall.

It was a fun day and we were so happy that we were able to spend it with Aunt Carol and Noah.

Things to try soon:

BBQ in a jar

Chili and cornbread in a jar

French Toast

Cafe Rio

Lasagna Rolls

SORRY

I'm messing around and reconstructing. So, it's a little ugly right now!!

Father's Day