Life lately. . .

Life lately has been an emotional and physical roller coaster, hence the reason for my blog absence.  It started with Matt and I getting the stomach bug, which completely wiped us out!  Thankfully Connor escaped without any symptoms of sickness, mainly because Gigi and Big Daddy kept him.  After about 48 hours of absolutely no energy, we started to come back to life! 

In the middle of all that came the emotional roller coaster that we are still riding.  Gigi was diagnosed with cancer and it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to hear.  Immediately my mind started racing and tears started flowing.  She promised me that she would be around for a long time and I am definitely going to hold her to that promise!

She has had a consultation with the doctor and the prognosis is good, but will require extensive surgery.  We aren't sure when the surgery will take place, however she is trying to have it done sometime this summer.  This situation has really put life into prospective for me.  I've always taken a lot of things for granted and this has definitely made me take a step back to appreciate everything. 

Timing couldn't have been more perfect for our Florida trip this past week!  Thanks to my dad, the trip has been planned since April (it was my birthday present).  It gave us a chance to get out of Memphis to relax and it also gave Gigi and Big Daddy some quality time with Connor (since Connor didn't go).  The trip was quick because we left on Wednesday and returned Saturday evening.  I definitely felt like a grown up down in Florida this go around because there wasn't any late night drinking or sleeping in!  We wanted to make the most of our time, so the days were spent on the beach and the nights eating out. 

Thankfully the oil hasn't hit Destin too hard yet!  The water was really sea weedy, but warm and there weren't any jellyfish or tar balls that we saw.  (However, the day before we were there several tar balls had washed in and the water was closed temporarily.)  The only effect of the oil spill that we saw was a dozer digging a trench on Friday.  Apparently the trench was there to catch any tar balls that may wash up at night time and the work had to be done during the day so sea turtles wouldn't be run over at night. 

(These are all the pictures I took in Florida...we are horrible about taking pictures of ourselves!)

This morning we met up for breakfast with Gigi, Big Daddy, and Connor.  It was so good to see him!!!  Unfortunately, Connor has gotten the hand, foot, and mouth disease from daycare.  Bless his heart, he has little blisters on his lips and tummy.  It's not the first time he has had it, so I know it just has to run its course. 

Hopefully next year will bring another Florida trip and Connor will be able to go with us!

These boots were made for walking. . .

Connor had his follow up appointment for his tubes today.  Of course we had to wait forever before we could go in the back.  So Connor decided to pass the time by doing a few head stands!  I'm slowing adjusting to the fact that he's not always going to behave.  For me that has been a very big adjustment, but I'm learning to pick my battles with him. The doctor said that his tubes looked great and that he wouldn't have to come back until October (thank goodness). 

iPhone pic (really blurry)

By the time we got home, Connor was extremely cranky.  Nothing was making him happy until he found Matt's boots!  Once he got them on, he just stood there and watched tv.  Oh the life of a 17 month old!!!

Baby Birds

The baby birds finally hatched!!! They hatched a few days ago, but today was the first day I could get a picture because momma dove was off eating.  They are so much bigger than I thought they would be.  I hope they don't get too close to the edge and fall off! 

Connor still loves to check on momma dove and the babies.  He has started walking over to the window and saying "Shhh" with his finger over his lips! It amazes me how he picks up on things, almost kind of scary.

Love For Momma Dove

Connor has a new friend outside his bedroom window.  There is a momma dove who built her nest on Connor's windowsill!  She has two eggs that she's been keeping very warm day and night.  I swear she never leaves the nest, the poor thing is probably starving. 

Momma Dove

Sorry the picture isn't very good, but I didn't want to get too close

Anyways, the dove has become part of our morning and bedtime routine.  As soon as Connor gets up he has to say hi to the dove and he has to say bye bye at night.  He's learned to be really quiet and still so he doesn't scare her off.  I'm not sure how long until the little birdies hatch, but I'm anxious to see how Connor does.  Now that he has super sonic hearing (from his tube surgery) I'm afraid the non-stop chirping is going to keep him awake.  Until then, we'll just enjoy Momma Dove!

Connor saying good night

Just being cute

Tubes & Adenoids

This weekend has flown by and I can't believe I had 4 days off! On Friday, Connor had his surgery to get tubes and his adenoids removed.  We had to be there at 6:30 am which wasn't too bad, but we had to wait for surgery until 8.  Connor started to get a little cranky because he hadn't had anything to drink/eat since dinner the night before. 

Trying to keep him entertained in the waiting room

His prize for the day was a nerf football from the hospital

His little gown was too cute!

He is definitely a daddy's little boy!

The surgery took all of 30 minutes and the doctor had nothing but good things to say about how everything went.  He said that Connor's ears were filled with fluid the consistency of snot (gross I know).  Every time Connor had an ear infection the fluid got thicker and thicker.  Dr. K said that his hearing would definitely improve because with all that fluid he only heard muffled sounds.  Dr. K also said that his adenoids were extremely large and it was best that they were removed.

Nothing is worse then not being able to take the pain of your child.  I felt so bad for him when he was waking up from the anesthesia!  He was in and out of sleep for the hour that we had to wait in recovery.  When we were about to leave I was holding him and all of a sudden he threw up ALL over me.  I ended up having to wear hospital scrubs home.  (They tell you to pack extra clothes for the kids, but I think parents should also pack something extra!)

Right after the surgery

Connor pretty much slept all day and was back to his normal self that evening.  He's been cranky for most the weekend and I think it is a mixture of the surgery and a back molar about to bust through.  I do have to say that his hearing has greatly improved.  When the dogs bark he freaks out and doesn't know what to do (same thing with the garbage disposal), none of that used to bother him before the surgery.  However, he is a typical male because he has wonderful selective hearing!

Redneck Weekend

This weekend we celebrated Chase and Cassie's stock the bar party.  The party was held at Ginger's house, which is out in the country and the theme was redneck.  Kyle, Anna, and Ginger hosted the party and they did a wonderful job decorating and setting everything up.  It was definitely redneck!!!

They had a "hot tub" set up in the back of someone's truck.

One of the games they played was calf wrestling

Ryan and Kim

This picture makes me want to tan and lose about 20 pounds!

Jeff and Chase (groom)

Ryan, Chase and Collins

Cassie (bride) and Roya

The other big event of the weekend was Connor's first pool!  Ms. Wendy was so sweet to bring a kiddie pool to Gigi's house.  Since it was so hot on Saturday we decided to blow it up and fill it up!  Connor had a blast and I have a feeling we are going to have to get one for our backyard. 

It had a little sprinkler which he absolutely loved!

He was able to get in and out on his own

He had to take a break from the pool (his crazy hair is from sunscreen)

Have a good week!

Wedding Sneak Peek

So I found some of Amber's wedding pictures on facebook that Brandi (bridesmaid) posted.  Amber was absolutely gorgeous!  Brandi and Kristy are starting their own photography business Eclectic Creations Photography which is located in Munford, TN if anyone is interested.

This picture is from one of Amber's showers.

*all pictures via Eclectic Creations*