My poor sick baby

Emrie had another bad night.  She was up around 2am and cried for an hour straight.  She was simply inconsolable.  I hate that feeling - I couldn't do anything to help her.  After an hour, she finally gave in and fell asleep on my chest.  Anytime I moved just the slightest bit she'd start crying again so I spent the night in a somewhat upright position on the couch and Emrie slept.  It was worth it.  She was up again around 5:30am and her fever was up too.  It finally broke around 7am so I went to work and my mom stayed with Emrie. 

Mom called me a little before noon because Emrie's fever was back up.  Mom said she had been crying for almost an hour. So, I ended up taking off the rest of the day.  I spoke with the doctor who said it would take anywhere from 48-72 hrs for the antibiotics to kick so we just have to wait.  He did call in some eardrops for the pain.  They seem to be helping but she's still not back to herself.  I love Emrie but she's not a lovey dovey baby...unless she's sick.  All she wants to do is be held 24/7.  I hate that she's sick but I will definitely take the hugs. 

Wrap up from Chicago and an Emrie update all rolled into one!

This is a picture from our last day in Chicago.  As you can tell from the pic, it truly is the windy city...hence the hair.  All in all, we had a good time.  The trip was educational, entertaining and fun! 

I made it back to College Station mid-afternoon and I was exhausted but not too tired to pick up Emrie from daycare.  The look on her face when I knocked on the door was so sweet.  And, I got the best hugs the rest of the day.  My poor little baby.  As happy as she was to see me I could tell she wasn't feeling well.  Brian said she had been coughing a lot and was really snotty.  Well, Friday night she was running a fever so Saturday morning we made a trip to see Dr. Ransom.  Good thing he was on call.  Emrie loves him. 

Turns out Emrie has an ear infection.  Saturday was a pretty rough day - her fever got up to 102.  And last night she didn't really sleep at all.  I think the meds have finally kicked in because she just dosed off and seems to be sleeping peacefully.  I sure hope she catches a good nap.  She's exhausted and so am I. 

As promised more pics from Chicago

Crown Fountain

Buckingham Fountain

The Cloud



Dino at Field Museum





Our trip to Chinatown

I have to admit I was pretty disappointed with our visit to Chinatown.  I was expecting something similar to China Town in New York.  Well, it wasn't. I couldn't find any deals on purses or watches.  There were, however, great deals on jade turtles and Chicago ashtrays!

More from the Windy City

Yesterday evening after the confernce we took a trip to the Willis Tower...formally known as the Sears Tower. It was pretty awesome!  103 floors of fun!  We went out to the observation deck and grabbed some great pictures - see my two exhibits...

After the Tower we ate dinner at the world famous Giordano's pizza place.  It too was amazing.  I think that's going to be my word for the day...AMAZING!

I'm in Chicago!!!

I'm attending a Noel Levitz Conference in Chicago this week.  Lori, Linda (they made me say their names) and I arrived last night.  After the more than an hour commute to the hotel from the airport, we got checked in and went to meet friends, David and Bri, at Navy Pier...just an easy 4 block walk from our hotel.  It was very nice...the breeze pulling off Lake Michigan actually cooled it down a little. 

McDonalds at Navy Peir

Lake Michigan from Navy Pier

I've got to go for now.  We're headed to China Town this morning.  The conference starts at Noon so we have to hurry!  If there's one thing I'm good at it's power shopping!

Vacation Update. Part II

On Monday, Brian and I made the short drive to Bastrop to the Lost Pines Resort.  If you have never been there, I highly recommend it.  Because we're Hyatt rewards members (sounds fancy, right?) we got to check in at 10am about the time Mom and Dad and Emrie and Aiden were leaving Brenham to meet us.  By the time we all converged on the hotel it was lunch time.  And since he was on vacation too, we let Aiden pick where we'd eat.  Can you say "China King Buffet?"  That's right.  Of all the places to choose from Aiden wanted the Chinese food.  So, we ate Chinese food. 

After lunch we all changed into our swimsuits and headed to the pool.  I mean POOLS.  There are several pools on the property.  There's a little beach area for the kiddos to build sand castles - that area leads right into a wading pool.  Next to it is the volleyball and basketball pool.  Then on the complete opposite side of that area is the adults only pool and hot tub.  Circling the entire pool area is a lazy river.  And, there is a splash pad and baby pool for the Emrie!  Swimming anyone? 

Aiden made friends right away and took off around the lazy river with Brian in hot pursuit after him.  Mom, Dad, Emrie and I opted for the baby pool and splash pad.  Emrie loved it.  The only problem was my fearless little girl would just walk right into the pool.  That's right.  She just assumed one of us would always be there to catch her and we were BUT we had to keep a close eye on her.  Since she seemed to be enjoying the water, we joined her big brother in the lazy river.  She really loved that but she kept trying to hang over the edge of her tube to put her hands in the water which would almost tump her out of her tube all together! 

There were lots of other things to do at the resort too...
Bike rides through the nature trails - check
Rock climbing and zip lining - check
Nightly smores dessert bar - check
Nightly kids movie on the lawn - check
Driving range and golf - check
Arts and crafts - check
Games in the lobby - check

About the only thing we didn't do was the horseback riding and rafting.  No one was interested in riding horses and the rafting trips had been cancelled because of all the rain.

Like I said earlier, I highly recommend this place.  It only took us and hour and a half to get there which is a blessing with two kiddos in the car.  And, the resort had EVERYTHING you could possibly need.  Once you were checked-in there was no reason to leave!  It was a great five days!  Relaxing it was not but it was packed full of fun!

I have pictures but I'm having a hard time getting them off the camera.  I'll have them up by tomorrow - promise. 

Vacation update. Part I

I really, truly meant to update my blog while I was on vacation but then I thought...I'm on vacation!  Now it's time to play catch up on all the things we did last week.

Let me start by saying, if you're planning to relax on vacation, do not take a 1-yr-old along!  I love Emrie but now that she's walking and running she can be pretty hard to keep up with. 

Our vacation started last Sunday.  We dropped Emrie and Aiden at my parent's house in Brenham and then Brian and I headed to Austin.  We got lost twice trying to find the Woodhouse Day Spa but since we were on vacation we didn't care.  We made it in time for our massages and that's all that really mattered.  Typically, we visit the Woodhouse Day Spa in San Antonio for our anniversary but since we didn't get the chance to make our annual trip we decided to try out the spa in Austin.  It was great by the way.  We both came out of there feeling so relaxed.  It truly was a great way to start the trip.  By the time we were finished it was mid-afternoon so we checked into our hotel and then scouted out some places to have dinner.  We were staying in the Aboretum area so there was lots to choose from.

We made a stop at Barnes and Nobles for some reading material for our relaxing vacation.  Brian got a book about the great lead guitarist of our times and I found two sci-fi books in the teenager section.  Hey!  I was on vacation.  I didn't want anything too difficult to read!  While we were there it started raining and I mean R-A-I-N-I-N-G.  So much so that we decided to keep shopping until the rain let up.  It didn't.  After about an hour we were starving and had no choice but to venture out.  We ran next door (and I mean ran because the umbrella was in the car) to the Cheesecake Factory!   Brian had never been there...crazy, right.  So, we treated ourselves to appetizers, entrees and desserts!  What?  We were on vacation!

By the time we got back to the hotel it was late and the power was out because it was still raining.  There were lights in the hotel lobby but they'd flicker on and off in our room and the cable kept going out.  So, we retired for the evening before 10pm.  I'm not complaining.  It was really nice to get a night of uninterrupted sleep and the rain made some nice background noise. 

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

I have no idea how to pronounce it.

The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia.  I kid you not.  That is a word.  I Googled it so it must be true.  In my research I found that no one is quite sure as where the Friday the 13th superstition got its origin; however, this day continues to scare the life out of people. One theory suggests that it combines two older superstitions - Friday, an unlucky day and 13, an unlucky number.  Put the two together and watch out!  I've never really bought into that whole superstition but I did enjoy the Friday the 13th movies...when I was 12. 

I started my Friday the 13th on a positive note.  In fact, when I was on my way to work I saw this rainbow!  Take that Friday the 13th.  It's going to be a GREAT DAY!!!

Happy Birthday Melissa!

Today we celebrated my friend Melissa's birthday at Carinos!  Talk about struggling to stay on the Weight Watchers wagon - it was tough.  Have you ever tried the fettucini alfredo without the alfredo?  Well, I have. It wasn't bad but it wasn't the same.  Ah...the sacrifices we make to be thin. 

We're taking a family trip next soon and I bought a new swimsuit so I have additional motivation. 

Yet another bad hair day...

You will notice there is no picture with today's blog.  Well, that's because it's about my hair and how bad it looks therefore, no picture! 

I love the rain.  It cools things down and makes everything green.  It gives my car a much needed bath. 
 
My lawn loves the rain.  You may recall that we totally replanted our backyard in March.  All this rain has done amazing things for the yard...like help it take root and keep it alive. 

Emrie and Aiden love the rain.  They like to watch it, run in it and they sleep better when its raining. 

And, while I love the rain and all its goodness, I also hate it.  I have baby fine hair which is a challenge in itself.  Add a nice thunderstorm to the mix and I might as well throw on a baseball cap the rest of the day.  This morning I actually made the effort to style it.  I washed it, dried it, brushed it, curled it and sprayed it.  (no easy task with a baby in the house) Then, I walked outside...poof!  It's going to be a baseball cap day. 

Thanks God I work in radio. 

Emrie update...

Poor little Mootzie has been fighting a summer cold.  This morning on the way to Big School she sneezed so hard that snot (that's right, snot) flew from the backseat all the way past the front seat and onto the dashboard of the car!  That is some serious snot!  We kept her home all weekend and yesterday.  This morning she seemed to be feeling better so she went to big school. 

Yesterday, I heard a strange noise on her baby monitor in her room so I peaked my head in...

Emrie had knocked the monitor off its stand and was standing on her prayer chest trying to see inside of her baby bed.  That little toot did not want to get down.  I finally had to make a little roadblock with her rocking horse so she couldn't get back there anymore.   

I can't help myself!

              I just had to post one more picture of Emrie!  This is the smile that makes me smile. 

1st Birthday Picture

Emrie turned 1 on Sunday and I finally had the chance to get her picture taken last night. Oh sure, I take plenty of pictures of her but I wanted a really good one...one that shows off her personality!  Here it is!  This is her serious birthday face : )

4th of July Holiday

Emrie playing before parade

What a great 4th of July!  Before I tell you about this one, I have to take just a couple of lines to tell you about last year's 4th of July...Last year, Emrie and I were released from the hospital on July 4th!  So, we celebrated our nation's independence day as well as our own (from St. Joseph's).  It too was a great day.  We were released first thing in the morning and, as you can imagine, we were greeted by lots of family and friends when we got home.  After all the visitors left, we went to bed.  We were all so tired that we didn't even stay up to watch the fireworks.  

Emrie and Aunt Heather watching parade

Well, this year we went with our friends, Heather and Ryan, to the parade in Round Top.  We met my parents and brother and some other friends out there too.  It was a fun, country parade but man was it hot standing on the side of the road watching the floats and tractors and horses go by but it was totally worth it.  Emrie and Aiden loved it!  After the parade we tagged along to Heather and Ryan's family reunion (also in Round Top).  There were lots of little kids there so Emrie had a blast chasing them and being chased.  By 2pm, she could hardly keep her eyes open, so we headed back to B/CS.  Emrie slept the whole way home so by the time we got home she was ready to get up and play and we were totally ready to take a nap.  We have got to do a better job of coordinating our naps : )

Our plan was to head up to Texas A&M around 8pm and camp out on the roof of the parking garage to watch the fireworks.  Aiden was so excited...well, he passed out around 8pm so there went the plan.  We tried to wake him but he just rolled over and pulled the covers over his head so once again, no fireworks for us on the 4th.  It was still a great day.  A big thanks to Ryan, the master chef, for cooking up some of the best hotdogs ever!  I know...I know...I'm back on Weight Watchers today!

Music Video

My two little head bangers! 

My Two Musicians

Aiden got this paper jams guitar last year for his birthday.  Then last year for Christmas he got the amplifier for it...thanks Aunt Heather and Uncle Ryan!  Aiden loves playing on this thing and Emrie loves jamming right alongside of him.  For real!  The other night Aiden was in Emrie's room just strumming away and Emrie was standing next to the amplifier "banging her head" or whatever it is rockers do.  She was patting her little thighs and bouncing her head up and down.  Aiden assured me that's the right way to "rock out."  I actually got a great video of the two them but I can't figure out how to upload it.  I know...I know...I'm working on it.  In the meantime, here are pictures of my two little musicians. 

Emrie is 1!!!

Emrie Kay is 1-year-old!  Whoo Hoo!

Brian and I started yesterday morning at 4am.  That's when Emrie decided it was time to get up.  I guess she wanted to start the birthday celebration early....really, really early.  So, Brian and I sat in the middle of the living room floor playing with Emrie and reminiscing about the day she was born.


Emrie was born at 8:20pm after a very long labor and eventually a C-Section.  By the time we decided to give up on natural child birth and opt for the c-section I was exhausted.  In fact, the medication had me feeling pretty out of it.  Brian was talking to me the whole time trying to calm me down but I was having trouble breathing and swallowing - I honestly thought I going to die.  When the doctors delivered Emrie, Brian brought over to me so that I could see her.  I only got to catch a quick glimpse and then I was out but I totally remember my wide-eyed and wiggly baby! 

Brian got to carry her into the nursery so that our family could see her.  They took tons of pictures.  Pictures of the nurses cleaning her up.  Pictures of Emrie trying to pull the heart monitor off her chest.  Pictures of everything! 

I finally got to hold her the next morning.  It was an amazing experience.  I had always heard about how magical that moment would be and it truly was.  Emrie simply took my breath away.  That's right, I cried.  Like a baby!  It was awesome!

We celebrated Emrie's first birthday with a baby dedication at our Church, Parkway Baptist, lunch at BJ's and then cake at our house after all the festivities.  My parents and Brian parents joined us.  As you can tell from the pictures, the cake was a big hit with Emrie!