A Girl After My Own Heart

I've mentioned before that I routinely check on Jade late at night.

I started seeing a trend and began photographing it.

Do you notice anything?

One foot out from under the blanket. Like mother like daughter.

And just like me, it doesn't matter which foot, but one of them has to stick out. At all times. No matter the season or the temperature.

It sort of serves as some sort of regulator so you don't get too hot. And socks? Out of the question. You'll never ever find me wearing socks while I'm trying to sleep.

And now that I've seen Jade take on mommy's little foot ritual, I won't be putting any on her either. Not even when winter comes.

I'm sure Jade will be thankful for no more flashes in her room at random hours of the night. Oh to be a mommy blogger's child. I need to add "set up therapy fund for children" to my to-do list.

Cardboard Testimonies

I just stole this off Lots of Scotts. You may have seen it already. I'll admit that when I clicked the play button and saw the length, I started to back out...how silly that would have been. I was hooked within the first 10 seconds.

Praise be to God for the works He does in us!

Good-bye, Formula. Hello, 100 Dollars.

I'm thankful to not be buying this anymore. It's like getting a pay raise of $100 a month.

Sayonara Similac!

Lest I be judged, I did nurse Jade. Just not for very long.

And without going into a bunch of details about consults with my OB, a lactation consultant or three, and her pediatrician...plus using words like milk ducts, mastitis and Medela pumps...let's just say I had issues. A bum b**b as it lovingly became referred to in our family. You know, the one that only produced 1/6 of the milk that the other one would. Yeah. Real fun.

So, we started shelling out the dinero for Similac and although I'm glad that formula was able to step up to the plate when this mommy failed, I'm really glad that milk...even organic milk...isn't $25 a pop.

The whole breastfeeding experience that I had with Jade really helped to explain some things about Lily's infancy too. Lily was so small...6 lbs 3 oz at birth...I can't remember what percentile that was, but I exclusively nursed her and she nearly fell of the growth chart. At almost 7 months when she was around 5th percentile, I decided to throw in the towel. By her 9 month appointment...after 2 months of miracle grow (Similac)...she was up to 55th.

Now I know why. Let's just say...I wasn't producin'.

Fast forward to Jade. This child wasn't going to be satisfied quite so easily. So the miracle grow started sooner.

Giant Jade's stats @ 12 months:
head circumference 90th
weight 95th (24 lbs 14 oz)
height OFF THE CHART (31 3/4 inches!) or as the doctor said...Nope, you don't really have to worry about her weight, because out of 100 12 month old girls, she'd be the tallest.

My back and neck are telling me that she better start carrying her own weight with her own two feet pretty soon though.

Lily has noticed that she is big too, and not just in stature.

Lily has been particularly interested in b**bies lately. I know the trend is to call all the body parts by the anatomically correct names, but we just haven't gotten around to that in this house. So, to Lily, they are simply "b**bies". (I'm typing it like that to prevent any weirdos from landing on my blog through a per*ver*ted Google search)

The other day I was searching for the garment to hold said body parts, and Lily was on one of her "why?", "why?", "why?" rampades. I thought being questioned to death by a 3 year old was only annoying when it was someone else's child. Turns out I was incorrect.

I can't really remember exactly how it went down, but towards the end she matter of factly told me, "well, I don't have those yet, so I don't need to wear a bra"...and she stomped out of my room. I'm sure I missed some great opportunity for an anatomy lesson, but at that point I was just thankful the interrogation was over.

A couple of days later, someone else's b**bies were under investigation.


I had Jade and Lily in the bath together when I heard Lily say, "Someday when I grow up, I'm going to have b**bies just like Jade's."

Poor thing. I think we are in the market for an infant brassiere.

They say size doesn't matter when it comes to lactation, but something tells me that Jade won't be shelling out hundreds of dollars a month for formula in her day.

The Tardy Party Post

I'm actually excited to take this one off my to-do list. It's been a week since Jader-Tater's Potato Head Party, and I didn't want to put this off any longer.

I'm going to let the slide show do most of the talking, but of course I'll have to make a few comments.

First, I'm an idiot. That is a word I can only type, not say, around here. Lily picked it up from 101 Dalmatians(thanks Cruella DeVille!), and now likes to interject it whenever possible.

Why am I an idiot? Well, lets just say that Jade was not feeling super well on the big day. No fever, she was just miss-fussy-i'm-only-happy-on-mommy's-hip girl. At first I wasn't sure if it was allergies, sinus issues, her ears, or teething. By the end of the day, I was determined it was all of the above.

We had been to the pediatrician's office earlier in the week for an ear recheck, and we both had a sneaky suspicion that Jade may not stay well through the weekend. Seeing that it was a long holiday weekend that involved out-of-town guests and a first birthday party...and the fact that our doctor is a mommy of three and totally awesome, she wrote me a "just-in-case" Rx.

Did I get it filled? Not this idiot. And she did great, until the day of the party.

You'll notice there aren't any smiley pictures of Jade on this fine day. Which meant there weren't very many smiles on this mama's face either.

At the end of the night when I started reviewing the pictures, I was totally bummed. I hadn't gotten any good pictures of her with Lily, with us, with any of the grandparents...not even with my mom who had crocheted an amazing blanket for her.

So, what did I do? Two days later I pulled some clothes out of the hamper and totally staged some pictures. Any pictures you see of me with Jade...yeah...totally not on the "real" day. And if my mom or any of the other g-parents lived any closer I might have just had them sort through their dirty clothes for some reenactments as well.

You also won't see my sis and precious niece pictured either. That wasn't by mistake though. Avery came down with high fever and stomach issues right before the party. Poor thing. Kelly said she had her party dress on and was ready to come regardless.

I know this is overkill with video, but I had to throw this in for my northern relatives. (Thanks goes to Jerry's sister for doing the video!)

Serenading Jade:

What is cake for anyway? Highlights--elastic strap on face, painting her spectators with frosting, a grandma trying to put some in her mouth)

From Hmm?? to Mmm! (and a little poke in the face from Big Sis...caught you, Lily!)

A spoon enters the picture...which she uses to paint her arm with frosting.

She has had enough! (I love the kid in the background who knows what to do!)


Happy ONE year and ONE week, Jade! We love you!

Jade survived her 1st birthday party...

and we did too.

I'm sure you've been sitting on pins and needles and losing sleep over the fact that I have yet to post about it. Me too.

It has been a week. WHEW. WHAT A WEEK.

I had to break news about Lily getting her cast off, because, well, that is huge news in our family. Then I planned to post about Jade's party right after that.

But then our A/C went out. In July. In Texas.

And our computer is upstairs. And it is electronic and therefore puts out heat. Like the oven, which I also stopped using.

And then I don't know if it was just from the heat or what, but I got the MOST TERRIBLE HEADACHE. EVER.

So I laid down about 6PM last night for a quick rest. God bless my husband. Every sweet bone in his body.

He fed, bathed, and put both girls down. And I didn't even hear a peep. Not ONE PEEP.

Then, he even went to bed in another room to avoid disturbing me. I love that man.

So, I woke up around midnight. Very confused, very thankful, and VERY ready to blog.

I made a few comments around blogland and then got ready to upload some video, which is challenging for me, and POOF...I lost all connectivity to the internet.

I stayed up til 2:30AM trying to figure it out. Of course I had just slept 6 glorious hours, so that was no biggie. However, I went to bed with no internet and no birthday post and that was just sad.

So, here it is, Friday afternoon. I have just wasted 1.5 hours. An entire 90 minutes. Doing what? On the phone with Verizon trying to get my wireless FIOS restored. This involved several trips up and down the stairs to the hot garage to mess with wires and cords and trying to find tiny reset buttons.

I talked with 3, THREE, different technicians. We discussed connections, Mbps, optimization, routers and adapters. Those words are in a list because I would have no idea how to use them in context in a real sentence.

The third technician had me unplug the wireless adapter (so that's what that little thingy is) and plug it back in. And wouldn't you know it, just like that, my wireless internet is up and running again.

After wasting nearly two hours with all of that technical stuff...especially on a rare day that both of my kids are snoozing...and at the SAME time, my brain just hurts.

I can't think of any narration for the birthday party. I'd hate for you to think that we just made the whole thing up though, so here are some videos of Jader-Tater partaking in her cake.

Or maybe not. I think I've figured out the problem. I just tried to upload from my Flip, and the same internet thing happened again. I'm guessing that little adapter thingy doesn't like my Flip thingy. Ugh.

At least I knew what to do. I just unplugged my Flip and unplugged/replugged the adapter. It took me 90 seconds. Read that, seconds, not minutes. How do you like that, Verizon?

So, I do promise that the party did happen and we survived. I'll have to get my hands on my hubby's laptop though to give her tardy party post the justice it deserves.

Until then,

Alert! Alert!

Breaking News! Breaking News!

I interrupt the coverage of Mrs. Potato Head 2008 for an important message.

Warning! Warning!

Exposure ahead.

Bare...

Naked...

Arms!

These photos just in from the our satellite station in the pedi ortho office:

The photographer was unable to capture the actual cutting of the cast since extra hands were needed to restrain the patient.
Notice how disheveled the table paper was. Evidence that there was kicking as well as screaming.
Recovery in progress.

Full recovery has been made.

I now return you to your regular programming.

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7/7 was Lily's lucky day. I'm not sure why she got so upset at the cast removal. When it was removed 2 weeks ago, it was no big deal.

Regardless, I am SO GLAD that pretty piece of pink plaster is now in our past.

On another note, we're supposed to go back in 4 weeks for a range of motion test and yet another set of x-rays. That will be her 5th set of x-rays (3 views each set) within 9 weeks. I'm thinking they are a bit x-ray happy. Am I being paranoid? I don't even want to Google anything about it because I'm fearful my hypochondriac tendencies might surface.

Not going to Google.

Nope, I'm not going to Google.

Signing off computer.

12 Months!

Jade,
You are 12 months old today! I am going to keep saying "months" because it just makes me feel better. Saying that you are ONE year old makes the tears start to flow.

In honor of you being 12 months old today, and the fact that your mom is super emotional on this occasion, I'm going to share with you 12 things I've learned by being your mom over this past year.

1. I've learned that God may answer mommy's prayers just in the nick of time. We prayed that you would come on your own before my scheduled induction. My water broke just 6 hours before I was supposed to be at the hospital.

2. I learned that spinal taps and 3 day old babies are not meant to go together. Mommy watching spinal tap on 3 day old baby? Ditto.

3. I've realized that lots of tests, IV antibiotics and a brief stay at the children's hospital...over a hunch that the doctor had that turned out to be wrong...can be the source of mommy guilt for a long time.

4. I figured out that between mastitis, low milk supply, your huge appetite and my impatience...nursing/pumping didn't last as long as I had hoped for you. And that's okay.

5. I've learned that chubby babies may not be very mobile babies, but they sure are more popular at the grocery store.

6. I've learned that it is possible to love two children...even equally. I wasn't sure about that July, 5th of 2007 when I walked out of big sister's room at bedtime, eyes full of tears, and a heavy heart about how different her life would look the very next day.

7. I'm still learning that it is impossible to do everything for you that I did for Lily. It was pointed out to me that I was trying to raise each of you as only children. Pouring out all of me to each of you nearly drove me insane. I'm getting better at figuring out how to be a good mommy to both of you simultaneously.

8. I've figured out that when you wake a little too early in the morning, and I'm a little disgruntled in my morning stupor, that it only takes one look into those baby blues for me to get my priorities straight.

9. I've realized that even though your baby book is bare and all of your milestones are at this point recorded on random sticky notes (if at all), it doesn't mean I love you one bit less than Lily. Never mind that I pretty much recorded every breath she took for the first year.

10. I've learned that for some babies...ahem, you...that the answer to "are you hungry?"...is always YES.

11. I've realized that God might have granted you nearly 25lbs of chub for a good reason. You've got a 33 lb older sister to stand up to on a regular basis.

12. I'm mostly thankful that all of your chub somehow got you nicknamed Jader-Tater...and that nickname was all I needed for the theme of your first birthday party.

The first crew of many has already arrived for the big event. Some from E. Texas and others from Georgia are pictured here:


I've got lots of preparations to make, but before I go, someone just popped out of my fridge to say a quick hello:

More from Mrs. Potato Head and the gang coming soon.

A Walk Down Independence Lane

Since moving to the town where my sister and niece live, we have a great 4th of July tradition. This is the third time we have participated in the town's Children's Parade on Independence Day.

Thankfully Kelly had gone the year before we moved here to learn all the details. Otherwise, I'm sure we would have shown up with our lawn chairs and candy bags to watch the parade go by and catch some loot.

This is a different type of parade. Hundreds of kids decorate their bikes, scooters, motorized kid jeeps, etc with all sorts of red, white and blue garb. And then in our case, the parents of babies and toddlers decorate the family wagon, stroller or baby jogger. Then you take a short walk down the parade route (which is actually on our street) while the spectators throw candy at you.

The best part is the destination. The town has bounce houses, magicians, music and other entertainment set up for everyone to enjoy. Free hot dogs, lemonade and popcorn abound. There's also a huge pond with plenty of hungry ducks awaiting. It's always fun running into friends and neighbors and sweating together for a bit.

It's also fun to see how the cousins have changed from 2006 til now.

Lily and Avery in 2006:

I was still speaking in terms of months for Lily's age. She was just 21 months. Look how tiny her pigtails were.

4th of July 2007:

We got smart and got a shade canopy.

Jade celebrated as well...from the womb. Getting some tummy love from Lily and Avery.
Why did I agree to pose for this profile pic just 2 days before delivering?

2008 Highlights from this morning:



Today was really fun. HOT, yet fun. Here is a slide show with some more pics:

Towards the end of the event we set out for our wagon to load 'em up and head 'em out. It was gone though. We knew it had to be an honest mistake at such a family friendly event. We were hopeful anyway. You can see from the slide show that there were only about 567 red Radio Flyer wagons with shade canopies and decorations.

Jerry went hunting it down and I had them make an announcement over the PA system. We were starting to get hot and worried. I was hoping that the family that had mistaken it for theirs wasn't anything like us.

I can guarantee you that the decorated wagon will be riding around in the back of the van for weeks. Then when it is taken out, it will sit in our garage...completely decorated for the next several months. It would honestly take us a long time to figure out that we had taken someone else's wagon.

Thankfully they were a bit more conscientious than we are...it suddenly appeared out of no where. I was just thankful that the cries and shouts from the girls finally stopped. Something about hearing, "why did someone steal our wagon?" and it's variations said over and over and over again at a family event was bringing a little too much attention to the situation!

Fashion Advice from a 3 Year Old

I wouldn't say we are very trendy around here when it comes to the fashion department. We don't even try to be. Shopping for clothes just may be my least favorite thing to do, unless they are going on my little girls...on which everything looks good.

So, I often face the dilemma of what to wear. Especially when I actually have to leave the house and be seen by people taller than 42 inches.

I was in that very predicament a few weeks ago. I needed to change out of my workout clothes (worn simply for comfort, not utility) and throw on something for a trip into the office. I only go in a couple of afternoons a month and it is a super casual environment. Even the president of the company usually sports a Hawaiian shirt and flip flops. Nonetheless I was discussing my need for a different outfit with Lily.

L-Whatcha doing mommy?

M-Oh, I'm about to change clothes.

L-Why?

M-Well, because this is a little too casual for work (stained, torn, spit up on...whatever!).

L-Why?

M-It just is. (I am really descriptive after the 233rd question of the day)

L-Well, I think you should wear your bowling shirt. That would be pretty, mama.

(I start to laugh as I see her pointing to my baby blue retro bowling shirt...the whole family's shirts hang at the front of our closet)

M-(Still laughing) Really, you think so, huh? (Thinking about how these are definitely only cute while worn in a dimly lit alley while in the company of 8 of your closest family members who are also donned in baby blue)

L-(Not understanding why I am laughing, starts repeating the word bowling w/various stresses and tweaks to its sound) BOW-ling? Bow-LING? (I don't have the skills to type out the sounds she made)

M-(Realizing she thinks I'm laughing at her because she said "bowling" wrong) No baby, you said it right. They might just think it is funny if I show up to work with my bowling shirt on.

L-Why?

M-Well, there aren't any bowling lanes there. I don't work at a bowling alley, honey.

Not another word.

She quietly left the room.

Apparently my daughter has thought that all this time I was working at the local lanes. Clearing up one mystery at a time around here.

Shopping carts, office supply stores and party updates

I have lots of random thoughts roaming my head this morning. Going a little crazy here. The good news is that I already feel better just typing that title. Can't imagine how good I'll be feeling by the end of this post. Randomness, please exit brain.

Shopping carts. I used to love them. Pop Lily in and away we went. Nothing difficult. Enter Jade. Now, Lily, who didn't want to ride in them anymore 10 months ago...insists on a ride. Not just in the buggy, but up front. This works great at Costco...they have the double loader variety there. Everywhere else...not so lucky. I'm fine with saying no and possibly being kicked out of Target due to the wailing, and so I just go on.

That's not the only issue though. It seems like recently I've been running into a type of shopping carts that I absolutely despise. First there is the kind that don't let you prop the infant carrier on them correctly...those stores were off my list when Jade still was in the carrier. Now what I'm avoiding are stores whose cart's plastic seats automatically flip up to cover the holes where Jade's legs go through. Do you know what I'm talking about? The little plastic rectangular thingy that they need to sit on, constantly flips up making it impossible for you to man handle them into the cart. Where is my third arm during these moments? A boycott is in order.

On a more fun note, I went to the office supply store alone last night. Don't you love the stores that are open til 9 or 10 at night that you can run to once the kids are in bed? Ah, the office supply store. I don't know what it is about all those cool pens and other random gadgets that transforms me into a kid in a candy shoppe. My find of the night? This ginormous pack of multi-colored permanent markers. Not just primary colors or pastels...this pack makes the rainbow jealous. It even has its own storage case. Which is necessary when you are the proud new owner of 36 fine colored permanent markers.

I did make it out of there without buying the battery operated eraser and paper shredder lubricant that I saw. Such fine items I'm sure, it's astounding that I've made it this far in life without either of them. Seriously, whoever needs a battery operated eraser might find a new ream of paper a better investment. And if your paper shredder is so overworked that it needs a lube job, you might want to call a shredding service.

So, you're wondering what business I have needing that many markers of various colors. This will be the final random thought exiting my brain.

We have a party to decorate for this weekend. Remember my dilemma of throwing a Potato Head party for sweet Jader-Tater? Well, the drama continues. I already knew that there was no chance of finding Mr. or Mrs. Potato themed party goods. So, I thought I'd just keep it simple and use solid colors. Pink and brown. Easy enough. WRONG. None of the party stores carry ANYTHING in brown. Not plates, napkins, plasticware and definitely not balloons. I was just sick when I realized this last night. 6 days before the big potato event.

Enter the markers. I ordered a bunch of pink and white balloons and will be spending the weekend drawing Mrs. Potato Head on them. I know. I promise I'll be looking for a life soon.

After going to the office store, I thought I'd Google "brown balloons". Alas, Google didn't let me down this time. There are companies out there that sell brown partyware. Even in different shades of brown. So, it looks like I am in luck. Sort of. Did I mention I only have a few days before the party? Plus one of those days happens to be a postal holiday.

FedEx to the rescue. Thank God balloons are light. And uninflated. The disclaimer had to tell me that. "All balloons are shipped uninflated"...well, I'd hope so.

Okay. I'm off to get a life. Promise.

Blogroll news and other early morning ramblings

I just spent way too long doing something that I have been putting off for equally way too long.

I just put commas in different locations in the above sentence and no matter how I read it, it just didn't seem to sound like it should. So, grammar nerds--forgive me.

It is the wee hours of the morn and I am thinking that my girls aren't going to understand, nor deserve, my grumpiness when one of their monitors awakes me soon. Plus it is my hubby's turn to sleep in, so I will be doing it solo. I pray now that they don't wake up at the same exact moment. Boy, those mornings are rough!

Jerry and I are trying something new. Since we attend church on either Saturday or Sunday evenings, we are taking turns letting one another sleep in on the weekend mornings. Today, I didn't crawl out of bed til 8:40. It was glorious. Especially since I went to be pretty early too...before midnight that is.

The goal is for whoever is getting up with the wee people, to jump up and turn off both monitors at the first peep heard. Then exit the room closing our door behind them...quietly. Take the kid or kids, if both noise makers are awake, down the stairs for morning milk and some form of quiet activity until the other parent climbs out of bed.

So far, this little routine has been awesome. Jerry just needs a little more training. He tends to linger in bed a little too long when the alarms...I mean monitors...start sounding. I think he is hopeful that they will fall back asleep. Not likely.

Anyways, I guess all that sleeping in this morning tricked my body into staying up way too late. But, due to this energy (and a 11PM latte), I have blogroll news!!! I finally got around to updating my blogroll. I'm excited that I procrastinated so faithfully too. I got to use Blogger's new Blog List feature...and it rocks. You can just upload your Google reader feeds...which I'm sure would be so easy...had I ever really used Google reader. I had to type mine in one by one, but it was still a snap. The best thing is that it shows the most recently updated feeds at the top.

Go check it out...it's over there on my side bar. If you are a commenter here...you are most likely on it. I have found some fun blogs through comments. I feel like I might be missing a few though. My favorite list is messed up...or maybe I saved some to favorites under my hubby's user name. I'm not sure. But if I missed you, or you would otherwise like to be added, just leave me a comment. And, when you are updating yours, I'd love to be added!

The ones with an asterisk next to the blog name are my "real life" friends. You know, the people that I've actually talked to...face to face. And the rest of you guys...it sure would be a privilege.

Thanks and goodnight. Good morning. Good morning is what I meant.

I'm glad my camera is always nearby

I walked into Jade's room late last night. I tend to do this around 11PM or so just to check on her, say a quick prayer over her, and see if she has any appendages that need covering.

We keep it pretty chilly around here, so I was shocked to see her little legs completely exposed.

I was having trouble not allowing myself to reach out and pinch a bite off of her thighs. I just love baby blubber. All that chub and not one ounce of cellulite. I'm thinking she was switched at birth.

I was concerned that pinching those ham hocks, as Mommy Esquire would say, might wake her. So I did the only other reasonable thing and got out the flash camera. Two quick flashes later and she was still sawing logs.


I think the craziest thing about this picture is the fact that she is wearing Lily's PJs from just last summer. At which point Lily could run, hop, skip, jump, etc...she was almost three. At this point Jade doesn't even pull herself up. Stay tuned for some video of her funny crawling style.

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I'm not sure what Lily was trying to accomplish, but this is the ensemble she insisted on wearing to summer camp today.

Yikes. Kudos on the light up Ariel shirt. It goes nicely with the water theme they are doing this week. She must have heard me talking about the cowgirl week they'll be doing later in the summer and wanted to get a head start.

Its possible she sensed that a couple of pictures had been taken of Jade overnight and didn't want me inching any closer to evening out those stats. Not like Jade is even close, much less gaining on her, but she came up with a crazy outfit for the camera just in case.

You've got to hand it to her though. It was quite a feat getting those socks pulled up that high and those boots on with only one working arm. Envisioning the final result, you know I wasn't lending a hand.

Oooops. Yesss! Nooo! Ewww!

Those four words pretty much sum up our last 24 hours.

Oooops.

The DryPro Cast Protector that we were so excited about a few weeks ago, failed us. We had only used it once for a fun water park trip during Big Girl Weekend. It had served us more for keeping Lily's cast dry during baths. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but when your little girl's other name is Ariel, it is. When acting out various scenes from The Little Mermaid can occupy hours of your child's time, those hours being cut in half due to water scenes being eliminated can take its toll on the family. Lily needed her stage back. The bathtub is her stage.

So, late Sunday, The Little Mermaid Act 7 was taking place in the master tub. Somehow, even after multiple successes with the DryPro cover, a leak occurred. Jerry comes down the stairs telling me that we have a problem. A dripping wet cast kind of problem.

Ooops.

The doc on call actually offered to meet me at the ER to recast it. I immediately felt awful about the overwhitened teeth comment I had made earlier. He earned every penny for those snow white teeth...even on Sunday night at the ER apparently. I was shocked over what a big deal it really was. Then, realizing that an entire company makes their living by selling waterproof cast covers...it made sense. Duh...you really aren't supposed to get these things wet.

We decided to forgo the ER trip and went the hairdryer route instead. The doc mentioned it would take 4-6 hours of the hairdryer on cool to get the thing dried out. Well, Lily lasted a whopping 45 minutes...that being at 3 different 15 minute intervals. I was suffering too. Boy that cast started to reek as soon as it got wet. Spreading the foul smell all over the house with the hair dryer was a little much for me.

So an appointment was made the next day to get the wet cast situation checked out. My mind was starting to see mold growing on her skin, so if nothing else I wanted the doctor's reassurance that it was actually dry and not in growing mode.

Yesss!

Indeed the cast was dry enough to stay on. But, the doctor said since it had been on for 3 weeks already and it was such a minor fracture, the cast could probably just come off for good. Yesss!

So, the cast came off! Yipeee!

This is Lily remembering what her arm looked like.

It was actually pretty dirty. I cleaned it up good and then they took the final x-rays.

Nooo!

The doc seemed concerned after looking at the films and decided to examine her arm again. She was still having some acute pain at the wound site. Then he mentioned that if it had broken just 2mm further it would have been a surgery case. A few minutes earlier he was talking about the minor fracture. His teeth were looking whiter by the minute.

He recommended the cast going back on, not for just another week, but TWO. Nooo!

So, we got a brand new, shiny, clean cast. Did she chose another color? Purple maybe? No...we are still seeing fluorescent pink around here. The best part though was that it didn't smell...yet.

Ewww!

Within minutes of getting home, Lily wasn't feeling real well. She was laying on the couch and then I heard her coughing. Yep, you guessed it. Not only did she barf all over the couch, pillow and floor, but all over her new cast. Oh, the smell. Ewww!

Poor thing. I felt like vomiting too after all of the excitement and then huge let down. But that would have made for a double ewww, so I refrained.

What words are describing your week?

The Great Potato Invasion of 2008

If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you may have heard me use the nickname "Jader-Tater" for our precious Jade who turns ONE next month.

We really can't remember how the name came about, and I'm sure it wouldn't have stuck, but Lily picked up on it...so it shall forever be used and remembered. Lily's little sister is now lovingly called "Jader-Tater" by many.

When thinking of a theme for her 1st birthday party, it only seemed fitting to have a Potato Head Party. Mrs. Potato Head. Cute right? So, I immediately googled Mr. Potato Head to see where I could buy all the goods. Invites. Decorations. Balloons. Paper goods. I think this is the first time ever that Google failed me. None of the results were related to what I needed. I may just be the first person ever...in America, heck...the WORLD...to throw a Potato Head party.

I tossed the idea around to a few people just to make sure I wasn't completely loony in thinking that it was cute. I got the thumbs up...that it was cute...not that I'm loony. So, the party idea stood.

I am really not crafty, so please don't laugh...but these are the invitations I came up with.

I pasted them on to a white card with the invitation information on back.

That was of course after I traced and cut 26 potatoes, 26 feet, 26 white eyes, 26 inner blue eyes, 26 noses, and 26 lips. And in case you're mathematically challenged, I cut out 52 arms too. Those arms...ugh...they were buggers. I eventually got smart and began putting two sheets of paper together to 1/2 my cutting time...because apparently I am challenged in that way and it didn't dawn on me right away to do that. That was after I had cut out some sets of eyelashes too...until I also got smart and decided just to use a black marker for that. I realize they need hats and ears, but even I have my limits.

My new bloggy friend, Jackie, joked about if I was going for the "mother of the year" award when she heard what I was doing. Hardly. And after nursing scissor blisters for the past few days, I should have reconsidered my idea.

Thank God that my neat freak hubby got tired of seeing the paper mess strewn all over our dining room table...he finally grabbed a pair of scissors and joined me. I knew I married him for something good.

So, at the party we'll be eating baked potatoes and BBQ and playing games like "hot potato" and "pin the parts on the potato". We may even have a "potato sack race".

You might just see me at Lowe's tomorrow hunting down an appliance box. I've got a Mrs. Potato Head stand up to make. Who wouldn't want their picture made next to Mrs. Potato Head?

Are you kidding? I'll be first in line. I figure if there is anyone I can look good next to in a picture, it's her.

100th Post

1. So, this is my 100th post. Well, it was when I started it anyway.

2. When I started this little blog last October, I didn't realize how much fun it would be.

3. I started it with a top ten list. Dorky, I know. Not that it has improved much since.

4. I really am not that interesting, so I fear I do not have 100 things to disclose about myself.

5. I guess as long as I keep fluffing, I will have less than that to come up with.

6. Okay, I guess I'll get started.

7. I was born in Mesa, Arizona.

8. Moved to Texas just before I turned 3.

9. If I believed in putting bumper stickers on my car, I would totally have the one that says, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could".

10. Being a Texan is awesome.

11. I really wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

12. Well, maybe Colorado, but rumor has it that they don't like us there, so I will just remain an occasional visitor.

13. I was about to brag about how only the Texas flag can fly as high as the US flag, but I just googled it to be sure and Snopes proved me wrong. I've believed that all of my life! Devastating news.

14. I just think it's cool that my friend Rachelle has the Texas flag on her blog. She's lived here before and now doesn't...and she gets the Texas hype.

15. So, I'm done talking about how great my state is.

16. I was raised Lutheran--Wisconsin Synod.

17. Then in college I went to a tiny Evangelical Methodist Church.

18. That is the place I really realized I was a sinner and needed God. I am saved by His grace.

19. I also met my husband there.

20. He is amazing. I am so lucky to be called wife by him.

21. We became PCA shortly after getting married.

22. We attended and he later worked at PCPC for over 5 years.

23. Then we moved and didn't have such a great PCA option where currently live.

24. We attend The Village now.

25. We are fed the Word of God in amazing ways there and are so thankful.

26. They even take care of our girls while we worship.

27. Yep, I'm the mom of two little ones.

28. Lily is 3 and a half and Jade is 11 months.

29. I am a stay at home mommy to them.

30. I also work part-time from home.

31. Working from home + no childcare = lots of late nights and early mornings at the computer.

32. I also read way too many blogs.

33. Its okay though as long as the dust bunnies don't come out of their corners and start fighting.

34. I don't really like to clean house.

35. My idea of cleaning house is getting it picked up and ready for the maid to come.

36. Problem is...we don't have a maid.

37. We do have a good Kirby though...aka Jade.

38. And my 3 year old never makes messes.

39. Except when she is finger painting.

40. I have been an absolute failure at potty training.

41. I could spend the remainder of this post just telling you why I think my 3.5 year old won't poop on the potty.

42. That would be boring though.

43. So, I'll just say that we've tried EVERY thing we can think of, heard about, and read about.

44. We even did a potty training boot camp. But it didn't work.

45. We've seen a pediatric gastroenterologist...and been discharged from him.

46. Basically he said good luck and good riddance.

47. I've been thinking...why are they called GIs when it is spelled GastroEnterologist?

48. Anyway, supposedly we have a behavioral/control issue on our hands.

49. So play therapy has been recommended.

50. Great, I thought. Lily will go play with a therapist, I will shell out $100 each visit, and she will come home potty trained.

51. I called to make the appointment.

52. A totally different scenario was pitched to me.

53. Looks like I will be doing Filial Therapy.

54. Potty training has already brought me to my knees, and now it has sent me to therapy.

55. Pull-ups at $.35 each just aren't really looking that expensive suddenly.

56. I see the therapist tomorrow.

57. I hope she talks fast because at $2.25 a minute, my ears will be listening fast.

58. On to brighter topics. I really love to garden.

59. Pulling weeds...now that is good therapy.

60. I also like to bowl.

61. My family even has matching bowling shirts and a team name.

62. It is comforting to know the dorkiness runs in the family.

63. You would think we were really good at it when we all show up in our shirts.

64. Many an spectator has been disappointed I'm sure.

65. My goal is just to beat my husband...which has happened...a few times.

66. Beating my dad...that would be great, but he is the only good bowler in the group, so very unlikely.

67. On to food...Mexican is my favorite. Especially flautas.

68. I used to like sushi. Not after this happened though.

69. We don't have any pets.

70. I've tried to convince my hubby that we have a dog.

71. And then I tried my hand at raising tadpoles.

72. All 22 of them ended up dying. Even Kermit.

73. And it wasn't because Jade ate him.

74. That would have been bad.

75. Kind of like in the days when she was spitting up and leaving me with quite a a fragrance.

76. Let's see...what else? I am really scared during Texas Storms.

77. I guess that is one negative about our state.

78. We can have some crazy weather in these parts.

79. Like 80's in November.

80. And snow in late March.

81. It's one of the things that makes living in the Lone-Star State so fun.

82. Typing "Lone-Star State" reminds me of our honeymoon.

83. We honeymooned in NYC.

84. We chose a big city instead of a beach because we are both so fair and sunburn easily.

85. We ended up getting burnt to a crisp at central park anyway.

86. Not before we got our faces on the today show though.

87. We got up early TWICE just to get in those crazy lines on our honeymoon.

88. I'm still not sure what we were thinking.

89. We did get to meet Al Roker though.

90. He even signed the poster we were holding.

91. Have you ever tried to find a poster board in NYC? It was very difficult.

92. We ended up buying a cheap poster from an art store and using the back of it.

93. This is what we wrote: "The Big Apple has stolen our Lone Star hearts."

94. I am not sure why I remember that poster so well.

95. Further more why I am sharing it on my blog?

96. I guess to further demonstrate my dorkiness.

97. I think I even alternated the colors red and blue on the "lone star" part.

98. Apparently I wasn't done talking about Texas.

99. But, you'll be thankful however, that I AM done talking about myself.

100. Good night.