Mommy of the Year!

I would love to take the time to really sit and write about what a great mommy, my friend Michele is but I really don't have the time EVER! So I will just mention that when I am running around crazy and unorganized, Michele is taking the time to write a detailed letter to her son, Ryan. It is so cute that every month, like clockwork you can find a letter to Ryan on Michele's blog. A blog that is often updated, unlike my own!

Last weekend we went to Dallas to attend Ryan's first birthday party, a birthday party that blows all other birthday parties out of the water! I will have to let the pictures speak for themselves...

Finally, I would like to take this moment to apologize to Caroline and Thompson.  Mommy loves you both VERY much and sometimes going to Michele's kids parties will be the best that I can do!  

Sarah- Thanks for going with me and I am sorry if this added a ridiculous amount of pressure for Will's first birthday!  

Our Third MacBook

The first MacBook had an "applejuice accident" on an airplane. The second MacBook had a "coffee accident" while Daddy was watching them, but to be fair it was me who left the coffee cup out. Caroline immediately said, "Its okay Daddy will buy Mommy a new computer."

So we were off to the Apple Store for our third MacBook. Because Brian hates to shop we were home exactly one hour later with a MacBook and two iPads! I am so excited to get an iPad! Sara (Goddie to Caroline) came over and showed me all sorts of cool things to do on this thing. Just hope I can remember! My goal is blog more.
Thanks Sara!

City Folk

Every year we, as Houstonians, have the pleasure of experiencing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for a solid month out of the year.  That time is upon once again and our play group thought it would be a fun outing for the kiddos.  The six mommies packed up our nine babies and one nanny and we were off!  

We started at an exhibit called Fun on the Farm, where the kids could milk a fake cow, sit on a tractor, and trade in their fake crops for real snacks.  

This was by far my favorite part or our experience because it did not involve abuse of any kind.  Things took a turn for Caroline when she and the other kids wanted to ride on the ponies.  Caroline wanted off after the first minute of being on the pony, however she was strapped on with a leather belt and I couldn't get her off until the ponies stopped. So she went round and round begging to get in her stroller, which she never wants to be in.

Next we decided to break for lunch, then it was time to watch "Mutton Bustin." If you are not familiar with this, it is when people allow their small children (4 or 5 year olds) to get on the back of large, franticly running sheep and see how long they can stay on before getting bucked off.  This entire concept makes me nauseous!  So I was already uneasy but the straw that broke the camels back was when we noticed a sheep that had just been ridden swaying back and forth with blood running from its head.  Evidently, a small child had ripped the horn off its head and no one seemed to notice but our group!  

(I did not get a picture of that.)

We then found our way to the petting zoo, where there are goats, more sheep, pigs, bunnies and even a deer.  Caroline was not a fan of the goats that were eye level with her, but she was fascinated by the baby animals.  Katy, one of the moms in our group, asked if the animals would bite our kids.  Thats when we learned that all the top teeth of the animals had been removed. Yep, more animal abuse!  

Thompson and Vivian were troopers.

After several bottles of hand sanitizer we were out of there, I do not wish to return anytime soon!!!

Funny Tails

Yesterday we had a playdate with Allison, Tate, Tiffiny, Camille and Vivian.  When Caroline noticed that both Camille and Tate had their hair up, she started asking for a "funny tail" too.  I put her hair up and instantly she looked so grown up.  Here are some pics for the playdate...

Daddy and Thompson 

Sweet Vivi

Tiffy and Mille

Tate is such a cutie

Proud of our 1 month olds! 

Caroline's funny tail started coming out.

This morning when the princess woke up she immediately told me she wanted another funny tail, so here it is... 

Thompson's Hospital Visit

It started Wednesday at 5am, I was about to nurse my little man when I noticed he was extra warm.  He is always hot but this was really hot.  I took his temperature and it was 101.2!  Our pediatrician had told me that anything over 100.4 warranted a trip to the ER.  I called Janice, my MIL, to come watch Caroline and within minutes we were on our way to Texas Children's Hospital.

At check in, Thompson's temp had gone down to 99.4, but we were ushered to a room pretty quick because he was only 3 weeks old and the reading at home was so high.  The first doctor that came in told us she had a lot of bad news before she even looked at him.  She told us that standard protocol is to; draw blood, take urine, preform a spinal tap and admit him for 48 hours!  I immediately started crying and asking to speak to the attending doctor and my pediatrician on call.  After speaking to all the doctors and listening to them tell us how if we miss something by not following protocol Thompson could die, we followed all the rules.  It was terrible to see our little 10 pound baby poke and prodded!  Thank God Brian was there because I couldn't stop crying and someone had to be strong for the little guy!  

It wasn't long that we got the news that his white blood cell count was high in his spinal fluid, which means meningitis.  Immediately what comes to mind is hearing on the news about kids getting this and dying.  So more crying on my part!  They would not know if it was bacterial or viral until the cultures sat for 48 hours allowing time for the bacteria (if there is any) to grow.  If it grew Thompson would have bacterial meningitis and would need to stay in the hospital for 21 days to get treatment.  If the cultures do not show bacteria, then it is viral and we can go home and it will run its course.  Here are some pictures of us waiting... 

We just got the results of the blood work, urine test and spinal fluid test and the culture showed NO bacteria! We are going home!  

The Houston Zoo

Caroline, Thompson and I met our friends at the Houston Zoo.  

There were a lot of us!  

Anna and Andrew

Alyson and Blake

Kristi and Shea

Me and Caroline

Camille and Tiffiny

Vivian

Thompson

Their first Valentine's Day date! 

The Oooh Oooh! 

It was such a fun day!  I love our playgroup!