In need of a little prayer...

Just wanted to ask for a little prayer out there... we went back to the doctor yesterday for a recheck of her ear and discovered she still has an ear infection. We are on round 3 of antibiotics!!! This is the last antibiotic they will give her- if this doesn't work we will have to do a round of shots(one a day for 3 days). After shots comes ENT visit. So... we just have to pray and believe that this medicine is going to work!!! She was so fussy yesterday and to be honest I am just tired of it! I want her to feel better and be Mikayla again! Thanks in advance for the prayers!

New chair - FINALLY!!!

Well- we finally got Mikayla custom made chair!! The appointment was horrible- Mikayla threw a fit the whole time they were making adjustments! We could not get her to stop screaming for anything- Elmo did not even work! Although it was horrible - we have the chair at home now. After we got home, she did not want anything to do with the chair but I let her play with it for a few minutes and she was fine! It is so much better for her than the loaner chair. The backrest is a foam that is molded to her back perfectly- no more folded towel. She also has a tray that fits over the chair- she can color, eat, or play on it. Because she sits straighter in this chair she is a little taller so she can reach things a little better - her new table is the perfect height. The width is smaller so it seems a little easier for her to push. However, you can tell that the wheels need a little breaking in still. We still need to get a few adjustments done but it is wonderful.
Here she is playing before the appointment in her loaner chair.

I was a little disappointed - when we ordered the chair the butterfly appeared to have orange in it to match her frame but when we got it that was not the case!=-(

Playing with dinosaur on her tray

Coloring with Daddy on her tray

Such a big girl!!!

Christmas

I want to start with Christmas Eve. Mike took Mikayla on her first date Christmas Eve morning - he took her to breakfast at Cracker Barrel. He volunteered to do this and they had a blast. She was very well behaved for him and they got lots of attention from the staff. While they went to breakfast I went shopping. I got some early Christmas money last weekend and I knew there would be sales. It was very nice going by myself and not having a time limit. I got lots of good stuff!! Mikayla got some new clothes with her money also.
Christmas morning we got up and Santa had been here. She was so excited about all her toys and had such a fun time playing that morning! The only thing she doesn't care too much about is Elmo Live- she wanted it in the store but not here!! Maybe later on she will like it. After having breakfast and playing a little more we went to Mamaw and Papa's for Christmas there. Mikayla got sooo many toys!!! I think she loves everything! I am just having trouble finding a place for everything- without a bonus room we are limited! Mike and I got a Wii and love it!! We have stayed up late every night playing it!! For Christmas dinner, we had ham and lots of good stuff to go with it! I ate way too much stuff that day- Mike's mom puts out lots of goodies on Christmas that we munch on all day long(cookies, sausage balls, nuts, candy). I love Christmas there!!! Friday we just hung around and played with our new toys- oh and went to the grocery store. Saturday we got up and went shopping!! It was not too bad out there- we went to Opry Mills and I was really expecting more people but we went EARLY so that might have helped! Saturday night we went to Target and Kohls in Hendersonville looking for bathroom stuff for Mikayla's bathroom but did not have any luck( I actually found stuff at Walmart) then ate a Salsaritas(we wanted to eat at Texas Roadhouse but too long of a wait). Sunday we got up and went to church then to Walmart. Mikayla took her chair in Walmart and she loved it. She was all over the place- and had a blast!! After a nap we went to Mamaw and Papa's for our traditional Sunday dinner.
Today - we are going to Vanderbilt to get Mikayla's new chair!! So excited! I will post later with pictures! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!! We are very blessed!!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Busy weekend

Let's see... Friday night we had dinner at Cracker Barrel- I needed to get out of the house so it did not matter where we went. I have been in the house with a sick baby and had not left the house since Monday to take her to the doctor! Yuck! She is feeling much better and is finally back to happy Mikayla. Saturday I got up before 7am and went to the grocery store and came home having to make a casserole so we could have Christmas with my dad at 11. Mikayla loved everything from Grandpa- she got a baby doll, graco set to go with baby(stroller, highchair, swing, carrier, and diaper bag), elmo that plays the guitar, and some dvds(of course elmo). She did great opening the presents! When she opened the baby she was very impatient for me to get it out and anyone who knows- it takes 5 hours to get through all the ties and stuff. I cannot wait to see how she does Christmas morning with all the stuff from Santa - good thing Santa takes all those plastic ties off of everything beforehand. Saturday night Papa and Mamaw came over to visit and we ordered pizza. They had not seen Mikayla since last weekend and would not see her until Christmas day so I think they were having withdrawl!! I am so glad that they are such a big part of her life! Sunday, we went to church. We had our Christmas service today- all the kids and babies were in service with us. Pastor Dan wants everyone to be able to enjoy the service together so he doesn't want anyone to have to keep the nursery or kids. It is really good that he does it that way. Mikayla was a good girl. Wanted mommy to hold her the whole time but was a good girl. One time we were praying and she started talking so I told her "shh we are praying" ... well she looked at me at said"no mommy". It was really sooo cute. I will not think that the next time but it was cute this time. After the Titans win we traveled to Madison to my grandfather's house for Christmas. I am sad when I see him- has Alzheimer's and he has no idea whether we are there or not at times. He was a man that could do or fix anything in his earlier years it just really breaks my heart to see him now. I have a lot of very good memories with him so I just hold on to those times.

We have been doing a Christmas countdown with Mikayla that has candy behind each one of the "doors". Well, every day I say Mikayla do you know what we do now... she says "CANDY". The child loves candy and knows where I keep the candy jar- I try to keep it a little hidden. I have created a monster!!

I saw this on a fellow bloger's site (thanks for posting it Sarah)- hope she doesn't mind that I copied it. It was so sweet I had to repost it. Hope everyone enjoys.



'Twas The Night Before Christmas...Mom Style

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode
Only one creature was stirring & she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,while visions of X-Box & Barbie flipped through their heads.
Yes, and dad was snoring in front of the TV,with a half constructed bicycle propped on his knee.So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug,"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."
"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, I'm glad you're awake.""your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone.""Exactly!" he chuckled, "So, I've made you a clone." "A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"
"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."Then out walked the clone - The mother's twin,Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.
"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.You'll relax, take it easy, watch TV and rest."Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!""I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"From the room a bove, the youngest did fret."Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared and I'm wet."The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart.""Hey," the mom smiled, "She sure knows her part."The clone changed the child and hummed her a tune,as she bundled the small one in a blanket cocoon."You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."The clone smiled and sighed, "And I love you too."
The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal.That's my child's LOVE she is going to steal."Smiling wisely, Santa said: "To me it is clear,Only one loving mother is needed here."The mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed."Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.Sometimes I forget, it won't be very long,before they'll be too old for my cradle and song."The clock on the mantle began to chime.Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side, Santa said: "Goodnight.Merry Christmas, dear Mom, you'll be all right."
Sometimes we need reminding of what life is all about.Especially at times when the Holiday season shouts,and all we do is clean, bake, and procure.You get the picture -- I'm sure.So stop for a moment and hug that little one so dear,whether he/she is 2 or 22, or even older this year.For they are the gift that God gave us from Heaven above,
and what a special gift to be treasured, with endless LOVE

Well, Mikayla has an ear infection again. I took her to the doctor yesterday and he said the medicine she had before Thanksgiving did not do its job so she never actually got rid of it then. She has not been herself since then so now I see why. Poor thing! She also has a throat infection. I feel so bad because I did not take her to the doctor before now. Well, at least now maybe the antibiotics will work. We had a playdate with some friends yesterday so I hope that neither one of those kids get sick. Sorry guys!
We had another busy weekend. It was not as busy as last weekend but still a lot going on. Friday, Mikayla went to Grandma and Papa's to spend the night. Mike and I went to eat at Stoney River with some of his co-workers. We had a lot of fun and the food was yummy! We did not stay out too late because Mike had to work Saturday morning. So- I did my weekly trip to the grocery store by myself, which I have to say I enjoyed. Early Saturday evening Mike's parents brought our sweet, baby girl back to us (along with a yummy dinner). After dinner we took a trip up to Bowling Green to Beech Bend. They have a drive-thru lights display, rides open, petting farm area, and of course Santa. Mikayla enjoyed the lights, saying a few oohs and aahs. I don't think she really liked getting all bundled up but she really did great. She liked showing her mittens to everyone and loves clapping her hands while wearing them. Sunday morning we got up and went to church. The kids in the church performed their annual Christmas program and we blessed some families who are struggling. The church gets the wish lists from these families and buys what they want and need. Things like this really make me realize how truly blessed Mike and I are. The fact that he has a job to go to every day and I get to stay home with Mikayla is an honor in this day and time. I try to take time every single day and thank God for the MANY blessings that HE gives us every single day.
After church, we went to a birthday party for Mikayla's friend Brayden. By the way- Mikayla has developed a HUGE sweet tooth - some days I wished I had never started giving her that stuff. I have a snowman candy jar with hershey kisses in it... well when Mikayla sees it she yells "CANDY, CANDY, CANDY" . It is just too cute, I always give in.
After coming home from the party and having a nap, we went to Grandma & Papa's for dinner.
Yesterday, we had Jackson and Kate over to play. The kids had fun and us mommies had fun too.
I hope everyone is careful out there today- our neighborhood is a solid sheet of ice. Mike called after he got to work this morning and said he almost turned around. The main road(Hwy 52) is fine, just getting to it can be a pain.
Mikayla and Jackson- it looks like she is trying to show him how this toy works.

Jackson

Kate being all happy!

My sweet girl with a dirty mouth!

Up to no good!

Intense on Elmo and his Christmas countdown!

Showing off her mittens on Saturday night!

These goats were very friendly! One even gave her a kiss in the face.

This was her favorite part of the petting area- a cat! As soon as she saw it all we heard was "meow, meow, meow".

I have been tagged

I have been tagged by two different people... you are supposed to put on here the picture that is in the fourth file, then the fourth picture. This picture is of Mike and I at about 6 months pregnant with Mikayla- not sure what we were doing. I wish my hair was that long again.

I am tagging Jess Hall, Sarah Andrews, Lisa Spencer, and Julie Ellis.

Crazy

At Pattycake Place - singing and playing bells

Starting to decorate our cookies

Mikayla liked "decorating" with chocolate chips- mommy put them on and she took them off and ate them!

Here she is stuffing her mouth with chocolate chips.

We asked her to show us her teeth!

She is sitting in a big girl chair- actually we had to stack two chairs to make her tall enough to reach the table. Here she is trying to paint with a brush for the first time- she has the fingerpainting thing down but the brush she is not sure of.

Admiring her work.

Here mommy is cleaning paint off her face- while Mikayla is putting paint on hers.

Singing

Grandma is helping Mikayla bag her reindeer food.

Mikayla watching very intensely

RJ at Jackson's party

Birthday boy - Jackson

Our buddy Kate and her daddy, Pastor DJ

Jackson, after cake, and his big brother Tyler

Kate and her mommy Andrea

Mikayla and Kate playing

Mikayla giving Jackson kisses

I think Mikayla was trying to stick Jackson's finger either in her mouth or up her nose... either way it is still cute.

The holiday craze has begun!!! This past weekend flew by... Mike said he was ready to go back to work so he could take a break. Our Friday started with a Christmas day at Pattycake Place in White House with our Stay at Home mom group. Grandma went with us and we had fun... we sang songs, made ornaments for the tree, decorated cookies, and bagged some reindeer food for Santa's reindeer. Mikayla is still a little young for REALLY participating but I still like to try. Saturday morning we all got up and went to the grocery store. We came home for a quick nap and then on to our friend, Jackson's, first birthday party. After we got home from the party, Grandma and Papa came over to watch Mikayla so Mommy and Daddy could go to a Christmas party. Sunday morning, got up and went to church, home for a little nap, then off to Murfreesboro for another Christmas party(Leshia's paternal grandmother's side). Whew, I am tired from just typing it all. I blinked my eyes and the weekend was over. It will be the same way this coming weekend. It doesn't stop with the weekend... Monday, my Grandfather(paternal) had surgery at Vanderbilt so Mikayla and I went up there for a while. Tuesday, I had a doctor appointment, today we had a playdate at a friend's house from high school and church tonight, Thursday we are wrapping gifts at church for service Sunday and I have a haircut at 8pm... then the weekend comes. Crazy!!! I think this is the way the holidays are supposed to be though....or maybe the way they end up being. It is not too bad. We don't HAVE to do any of it... we choose most of the things we do. But anyway- above are some pictures from different things- I did not take pictures of everything.
Oh -yeah... I almost forgot... we had a pretty funny thing happen last night! I was rinsing Mikayla's hair in the bathtub and was turning around to fill the cup with water again and I saw something in the bathtub... well... we had a floater in the tub...poop!! I made Mike come clean it up and the bathtub. Mikayla has a duck bathtub that fits in the big bathtub. Well, she was laid back with her head resting against the back - all relaxed at one point... I guess she got too relaxed and it just slipped on out. Come to find out later there was that one and another one underneath her. I have been waiting on that to happen. I remember my sister doing that in the bathtub when she was little. Anyway, for anyone needing a laugh- there you go... hope you enjoyed.