Gustav Can't Keep Us From the Party!

Beach time!

The ladies...
All of us
Hurricane Gustav headed in on Monday morning...

We left Micah for the first time ever and I will have to say that I missed him but I thoroughly enjoyed our time away. Thanks a million times to Nana and Pops who made our getaway possible. We went to Destin and stayed in a house across the street from the beach. Amy was going with some of her friends from college and we got the outsider invite and got to go. I will have to say that they do a great job of being inclusive especially since they have been the same group for so long. It was Aim and Brad, Summer and Josh and Suzie and Brad and us. Mick and I got some good time alone in the car (yes we went over all the lists there and back) We actually never turned the radio on! That was a first. The boys also went deep sea fishing and had a great time. We got to eat the fruits or fish of their labor on Saturday. We walked and talked alot and I am sure I talked all 3 of the girls ears off at one time or another, I was just very thankful to be there and to be around friends. Since the girls are 3 out of my 6 readers here are some things overheard during the weekend that can give us a laugh through the week. For the rest of you readers sorry for the high school inside jokes:)

~ Yeah, Brian, we loved hanging out with you!

~We aren't going fishing?...are you kidding me, its FREE!

~Brad lost his voice and Mick found it.

~Suzie has an excellent cornhole coach...

~ I look great in that picture, wait that's Summer, not me!

~Did ya'll catch red snapper?

~Lucky Charm Leprechaun?

~Amy never got her stinkin omelet.

~I'm really feeling it.

~Josh can't reach what Amy is putting up and Mick is old.

~King and Queen Abs of Steel (I am not referring to Mick and I:))

I could go on...and I might later. I will get back to the day to day soon. As soon as the day to day becomes day to day.

weird episodes...

We are back from our trip to the beach. We had a great time and I will write more about that and share pictures later tonite I hope...but as always the bird greeted us with our far share of excitement. While we were on the trip our friend Summer's dog, Maddux had a few seizures that they labeled epileptic. It was really scary for Summer and I caught a glimpse of why people are so attached to their pets, Maddux is an awesome dog so he even won me over... hard to do, if you know me. So anyways, Maddux has been fine but say a prayer for his mama when you think about it. Apparently Micah was jealous and today had the weirdest episode, not seizure related, but it was a problem with his leg. He went to work with me as usual we ran a few errands and he took a catnap in the car while I returned phone calls. We got out at the chicken house and I let him play in the playground for about 20 minutes. Playing for him consists of climbing up one level, clapping yelling and hearing the echo then climbing back down. There was another mom with her two kids in there so he mostly just stared at them and tried to take the babies pacifier. We left, I got lunch and then I stood him beside the car like I do everyday. He kind of just tipped over. I stood him back up and went to open the door and his leg buckled and he fell again. I thought his shoes were hurting him so I took them off and stuck him in the car. He ate nuggets and fries on the way home and then I got him out of the car and he wanted to get down outside. I put him down and he took two steps then collapsed again. I started to freak a little at this point. I brought him inside and made him try to run around. Again his leg started buckling and he would cry when he fell. I got more nervous everytime I watched him fall so I put him in his highchair to eat and he was happy as could be. I called Mick then the doctor and waited for the nurse to call me back. It seemed like forever so I kept making him walk and watching it. It got progressively better but I was still nervous so I called the children's healthcare nurseline and they called back within 5 minutes. She had me check his leg, etc., and by the time we got off the phone he was only rubbing his knee when he walked. And then my doc finally called me back and said he was probably fine but they would take my 20 dollar copay in the morning. So all of this spanned over about 3 hours. Micah is down for his nap and I am regrouping. I know I seem to always sound like a way overprotective high maintenance mom, and well that is because I am. By the time Micah went down there was no limping at all so I think we are fine. I have to go to work in a minute so Nana has to play doctor when he gets up. I just wondered if anyone else has ever had this happen or if you knew if a kid's leg could fall asleep? That is what it seemed like happened. Keep a lookout for more positive posts and pictures! I promise I have good things to say too:)

Today is the Day...

We are leaving Micah today and I have to admit I woke up with my stomach in knots. Last night Mick had to assure me that it was ok to leave Micah and that we aren't going to scar him by abandoning him for three days. My feelings are very mixed because I also rocked him to sleep for an hour last night, which I wouldn't have done if we weren't leaving him tonight. But after that battle part of me is very excited to go to bed tonight whenever I want, but then I wont get to say Micah's prayers with him. Ah, the joys of motherhood, always a tug in two or three directions. All that being said we are going out of town with 3 other couples and I am so excited to spend some time with other Christian women and be able to communicate without toddler interruptions. The guys are going too and I am excited about spending time with Mick as well, but the girl time is something I rarely get! For your Micah update yesterday was one of the longest days ever...it wasn't a bad day, just exceptionally long. I had Hayden to take him to meet his new teacher for preK and then I took Micah back to the doctor because I thought his ears weren't better and then home to pack and play and dinner with Jenny and Budda. Hayden loved going to school and before we left he played with Micah for a bit. I went upstairs to get something while they played the piano. When I came back down I could hear what sounded like clapping every so often. I started peeking around the corner to see what they were doing. Well, Hayden would play then Micah would start to bang on the piano. Hayden proceded to grab Micah's little hand and then swat it with a stern no no. Micah just looked at him like "who the heck do you think you are?". I watched this happen twice then made my presence known. Guilt was all over Hayden's face and he headed straight to time out with little pressing. He apologized to Micah and we went over who was allowed to spank who. Once he realized I was going to start letting Micah spank him he wised up pretty fast:). Then I took both boys to the doctors office where we waited over an hour to see the doctor. They were going crazy by the time the doctor came in...and so was I. Micah's ear is healing and it turned out to be teething. After we got home I noticed he was not only getting a tooth closer to the front but there was a random one breaking the skin way in the back! I thought they came in side by side but I guess not. Ok, so this is a really long post of randomness but I figured it would tide you over since I wont be writing for a while.

How could I leave this cute fanny, I mean face at home?

We have had lots of rain and poor Micah has been dying to go play in it. With a runny nose that just isn't possible so we let him have naked time and watch it for a while. Miraculously no tee tee on the sliding door!
We are starting to get packed because Mick and I are leaving Micah for the Labor Day weekend. I am a little anxious, not as to how Micah will do, but how I will do. I am a little but of a control freak and I like to do everything with Micah a certain way. Nana will do a great job with him but I hope to not worry about him the whole time I am gone. Other than that I am so excited about getting away. I am even excited about the 6 hour car ride because it will be uninterupted conversation with Mick.

I am even making a list of things we need to talk about...you can laugh I am crazy I know. We have left Micah overnight but not for more than 24 hours so any advice on this would be great. Also, is it rude to leave a schedule for someone who is graciously keeping your child? I guess Nana could tell me herself:) We have to start packing today so that I make sure I have it all organized and ready...

he overtakes me...

There have been quite a few times where Micah has gotten so big and so strong and so twisty that he can overtake me. It usually happens in public and makes me feel so frustrated and usually causes me to act in a way that is just a bit unbecoming of a lady. Often times I feel as though Micah is dragging me to his level where I want to bite and kick like a toddler too. Today we have had an especially challenging day. He is feeling good enough to play but not good enough to handle being disciplined. My plan to stay at home all day was changed when Micah nor I could stand looking at each other or the 4 walls. We headed to the chicken house for a little work then to Mick's school to have lunch. When it was time to leave Micah didn't want to and he let me know by trying to bite me and then fling himself out of my arms. He then started to hit me and just act defiant. All of this is taking place in the parking lot. When I tell him if he doesn't stop I am going to spank him he literally screams and tries to throw himself out of my arms. I then swat his fanny, not near hard enough. (I have to digress here to say I had not had a shower or really brushed my hair well, I had my hair in pigtails (silly, I know) and a hat on.) He takes one look at me after the swat and stares me down, reaches around my ear and grabs my left pigtail and precedes to yank it. Are you kidding me? How would he know to do that...I had to hold back laughter because the last time that happened to me I was in the second grade and my best friend Josh Kirby pulled them because I beat him to be line leader. Again I wanted to enter the level of a toddler but I did not. I put him in the car and didn't talk to him the whole way home. (like he even noticed)

Here's Looking at You Kid...

Even though my hair is a bit nappy I love this picture of Micah, thought I would share his sweet face. We made another trip to the doctor today because Micah woke up sick sick. He was so grumpy and tugging at those ears. And...another ear infection. In the ear that has a tube in it. The other ears tube has already fallen out. So the dr says sinus infection+ear infection=antibiotics. I am not sure that is the answer but what other choice do we have? I am not one of those mom's who insist on a quick fix, but I do want what's best. The doctor's seem to think antibiotics, but then when I go in and he doesn't get them they preach to me about building up a resistance to the antibiotics and that we should use them sparingly. But how can you use them sparingly when your little man is sick so often? I don't pay my copay just so they'll write me a prescription, I just want them to tell me what would be best. I hope and pray that I am doing right for Micah and helping him both feel better now and preparing him to deal with the future. We shall see. For now pray that he keeps that green junk to himself so that I can go to the beach snotfree!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Happy Day from your favorite son, daughter-in-love and grandson!

Every Sunday night is family dinner with the Harper's. Tonight we also celebrated Nana's birthday. She was out of town on the real thing so we celebrated tonight. Rita is probably the best mother in love (she likes to call it) that anyone could have. I tease her all the time that I would never know if she didn't like me because she is so nice to everyone. Seriously, she does so much for her family and gives all of us a picture of who Christ is and how we should live our lives in service to Him. I know she didn't birth me and I love my own momma too, but Rita is an extraordinary woman, mother and nana and I am proud that she is part mine. So, Happy very Late Birthday Nana! We love you very much! Thanks for all that you do specifically for me and Micah bird. We don't know what we would do without you! Micah thinks you are pretty swell too!
At dinner tonight I let Micah show off his mad eating skills. This past week I have had a hard time cooking or eating a meal because Micah needs to be fed too and Mick is gone... and by the time it is all said and done there is no time for me. Sooo, I started giving him a bowl of something and letting him go at it. Mick has a hard time watching this kind of thing go on so we haven't shared it with him til this weekend. Micah did pretty well the last few days with applesauce but tonight I took yogurt and he drowned himself in it as well as a toy car he found and sunk. I was impressed with Mick's patience and that he let Micah enjoy. I bought cheaper yogurt this week, not to worry with the light and fit, we haven't put Micah on a diet just yet!