Tuesday, November 29, 2011

HORRIBLE plane ride

After having 3 successful plane rides over Thanksgiving weekend our last one was not so successful. Before the plane took off Colin threw up all over himself and me. I had to go change my shirt in the plane bathroom and the plane could not pull away from the gate until I got back to my seat.
   Then about half way through the flight he threw up again this time into an airplane blanket. On landing Alyssa got sick from all the turbulence and threw up all over herself and the car seat that we had borrowed from a friend. 
  It was not a nice way to end the trip but at least it was on the last flight and not the first.

The Beach

While in California we took Alyssa to the beach. She hated the water but LOVED the sand. The first thing we did was go down to the water's edge and feel the water. Alyssa ran away very quickly. So we took her further up the beach and Alyssa sat down to play in the sand. She did not want to leave.
 She made a sand angel, she built a small sand castle and she had a blast burring everyone's feet in the sand. She then sat on the hill overlooking the water and waved at Ariel and Sebastian that she was sure where in the water.

We also took a boat on a harbor cruise Alyssa enjoyed being on the boat and seeing the other boats and birds that were flying around.

One Year

Dear Colin,
   You are one year old today. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. You are about 25 lbs. You are wearing 18 month clothes. You finally got two bottom teeth a few weeks ago.
    You eat all table food and have started drinking whole milk.  You have started having an allergic reaction to something over the last week so we have to figure out what is causing your face to break out.
     You are a happy baby most of the time. However, everyday at 4:30 you get super crabby until after dinner. After dinner you get happy again as you get to play with your Daddy and sister. You love to chase them around or have your Daddy run with you in his arms.
    You love to be held and tickled. You are most happy when someone is paying attention to you. Though you have gotten better playing on your own for short periods of time. You love to play at the park. You will crawl around the ground and if someone will let you then you climb up the stairs and onto the playground equipment. The slides and swings are your favorite and your face lights up when you see or get to go on them.
    You can walk and have really showed off your skills over the weekend walking all over the hotel and Grandpa and Nana's house.
    You still only like certain people. You will let Mommy, Daddy and Jenni hold you. Other than that you are fine if they talk to you or play with you as long as you are in Mommy or Daddy's arms.
    Daddy and I were talking just the other day that this year has gone by so fast, yet at the same time we can't remember what it was like before you were in our lives. This first year you have been sicker than most babies but you have taken it all in stride.
   You are so smart and already try to sing along to the songs your sister sings. You fold your hands for prayer and can say a few simple words like Mama, Dada, ball and no. You love to shake your head yes and no.
   We love you big boy and have enjoyed the first year of your life tremendously and look forward to see what the future holds for you.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Thanksgiving

Last year the day before Thanksgiving I had a doctor's appointment and ended up in labor and delivery with contractions. Since Colin was still a little on the early side they put me on light bed rest and so I did not make my mashed potatoes and gravy for Thanksgiving.

So about a week and a half ago the e-mail went out for who will be at Thanksgiving this year. I responded that we would be there and I would bring the mashed potatoes and gravy.  Well then my Grandma got really sick. So I had to respond back that once again I had to back out of making mashed potatoes and gravy.

Instead of Thanksgiving with Chris' family this year we are going to have Thanksgiving with my Dad, Michelle, Michael and our family.

We are flying out Thanksgiving day at 6 am and getting to California about 10:30. I am excited to spend Thanksgiving at my dad's as I have not done this since before I was married. I am not looking forward to getting up at 2:45 am on Thanksgiving day to do it.

Grandma's funeral will be Saturday. We are staying until Monday afternoon so we will also be doing some sightseeing while in California.

I think this will be a good trip for the whole family.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Dear Grandma

Dear Grandma,
   I can't believe that you are almost gone. It just doesn't seem fair to lose you so soon after losing Grandpa. I know that you miss him like crazy and I'm sure you are much happier now that you are with him. But selfishly we are going to miss you too. You were a very strong woman and fought a good fight your whole life. You didn't let anyone or anything slow you down.
    I remember so many time coming to your house and you would get an idea in your head and my parents or Grandpa would say no, but you would get that twinkle in your eye and we would do it anyways. I can remember many trips out shopping with you. One that sticks out in my head was when you came over for my birthday. You took me out shopping. On the way home you drove slower than I had ever seen you drive before. When we got home and walked in the front door for a surprise party.
  I also remember so many summers meeting you and Grandpa down at the Lake of Ozarks. You would go out on the boat and watch us ski.
    I love you Grandma. You and I spent a lot of time together and I'm going to miss you greatly. I will let my kids know how much you loved me and how much I love you.

Love,

Shannon

Saturday, November 12, 2011

A day to NOT be repeated

Today was one of those days that by 11am I wanted to crawl in bed and not wake up until it was over. Nothing HORRIBLE happened but it was not a day I want to repeat at any point.
Last night Colin had a very rough night. He hasn't been feeling good for a week and so we weren't sure what was wrong last night. He fussed every 15 min or so from 7-10. I went to bed at 10. At 10:20 he woke up and was up until 1 when Chris finally came down put him in the car and they went for a 2 hour drive. The second they walked in the door Colin woke up again. We finally got him to sleep about 4:15 a.m. sleeping on Chris downstairs in a chair.
At 6:15 my alarm went off. Alyssa had woken me up about 5 minutes before. We got up came downstairs to see that Colin and Chris were already awake. So then went up to get showers.
We were actually able to walk out of the house on time for pictures and arrived at the picture place 10 minutes early.
Colin and Alyssa enjoyed playing at the lego table while waiting for pictures. As soon as we walked into the room to get pictures taken Colin started crying/screaming , crawling away. So we snapped a few quick family pictures by placing the pacifier in his mouth, then ripping it out really quick and snapping the picture.
  We then tried to get pictures of the two kids together. Lets just say all the pictures looked like Santa forgot to come to our house on Christmas morning. Colin is screaming and Alyssa looks sad. We got that picture put on a mug.
   We then took him back got an outfit change and tried to do some one year shots. The lady only took 3 pictures and ALL of them were horrible. Last time we went to this place I spent almost $200 on pictures. Today I spent $10.

We then went to Sam's Club to pick up an order I placed. Well when I walked in I still hadn't gotten an e-mail that the order was ready yet. So we started to walk the store slowly. About 10 minutes later the e-mail came through and we got the order and left.

We then decide we want to pick up lunch. We stop at the place we want to go to to realize we are 10 minutes too early for them to open so we once again wait 10 minutes. We take the food to go and head for home.

As we are driving home we see a speed trap ahead of us, but not in time. We get pulled over. The cop comes to my window (I was the passenger). He looks in I said something about a fussy toddler. He asks if we had just made a trip to Sam's as our truck was full of food. I said yes. He asked if Chris or I had any convection's  in the last year we both said no. (I had forgotten about my ticket last May).  He was nice and came back and said he knew that raising a family was expensive and that we needed to slow down. We thanked him and left.

We then are almost home, just one more set of train tracks, but wait there's a train. At this point Chris and I look at each other and wonder what else could go wrong. (Wrong thing to say/think). So the train passes we get home.

We go to open the garage. It won't open with the garage door open, so I get out and try the keypad, still won't open.  So we open the front door and find that our power is out!

We get in bring all the stuff in, feed the kids and ourselves. The whole time I was happy we stopped for food and didn't do our original plan of cooking a pizza when we got home (since we have an electric oven).

After that morning we decide it is time for naps. So everyone lays down and Chris goes to change his oil. By the time the kids and I wake up the power is back on and we head out to the library for story time.

Get home and get a call from my dad that they have stopped giving my Grandma food and water. This means that the end is even closer than we thought.


The kids and Chris are now asleep, I'm enjoy a quiet house for a few more minutes and then I'm going to bed and hoping that tomorrow will be a much better day!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Day Light Savings Time

I grew up in Arizona we did not participate in Daylight Savings time. Then I moved to Missouri. We started to push clocks forward and back an hour. It really wasn't that big of a deal except you had to remember to do it.
  NOW I have kids. Daylight Savings time can kiss my butt! The kids are crabby an hour and a half now before bed time and they are still getting up at what they think is 6:30 but is really 5:30!
   Colin is having the hardest time adjusting. He can't make it all night and has to take a power nap before dinner which then we have to wake him up from to eat and he gets mad and is a crab for the rest of the night. He then is awake so early that he is way tired by nap time.
   Last night we tried to power through without the nap before dinner, but he ended up sick over night so now we are back to where we were a few days ago.
   Alyssa is doing a little better but she is up super early which makes her a crab by about 5:30 and fighting over dinner is getting super old. I'm hoping by this weekend we can get them back on a better schedule.
   All I can say is this is NO fun! The only people that got an extra hour of sleep are those people that don't have young kids.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Grandparents

Since June I have lost two grandparents. First my Grandpa(dad's dad) died of Alzheimer's. Then 2 months later my Grandma(mom's mom) died. She had been having some health problems for about two years and finally lost the battle.
   Now my Grandma(dad's mom) is not doing good. She fell a few weeks ago and broke her femur in her leg. She is now in a nursing home for physical therapy. She has stopped eating, doesn't want to do PT and won't really talk to anyone. She was weak when my Grandpa died and then got weaker and said she didn't want to live once he died. I think she has now fully given up.
    It is so hard to think about my Grandma who was so strong and happy sitting in a nursing home giving up on the life she loved so much. I know she misses my Grandpa, they were married for 61 years. I know she is frustrated with her body not doing the things that it used to.
   The selfish part of me wants to tell her to snap out of it, and pull it together. I have so many things happening in the next few months and I don't want to go to another funeral.

 My heart tells me it is getting closer to her time to go. I will be there to support my dad and my family and I know she will be in a much better place.