We've been busy!

I think my last post was...Tuesday? Since Tuesday we have had our hands full with lots of exciting and some not so exciting stuff!

Wednesday morning was Troy's surgery. His appointment was originally at 8:15 and was moved up to 6:30 am due to some cancellations. The alarm went off at a grooling 5:15 am. I awoke, Kris awoke and Miss Rylee awoke, who was up the entire day with only two 15 minutes catnaps throughout the day! Troy did well through his surgery. He had adenoids removed and tubes placed. His adenoids turned to mush and fell apart apparently, which meant they were chronically infected. Thus meaning that they were 100% the problem! When he was waking up, he became fixated with his IV and wanted to pull it out. Luckily after a stressful 15 minutes, he was awake enough for them to remove it. I got him dressed and the 2 of us headed home with a pit stop at the pharmacy for his prescription (which cost me $101.54...what is this world coming to...$101.54 for a small bottle of ear drops...gosh!) He was a handful that evening. He cried every 15 minutes. Last night, he got up 5 times throughout the night...ugh! He is still overly whiny and keeps covering his mouth and/or ear(s). I am really not sure what to do now. We are just going to continue giving him the drops and see how it pans out. If he's not better by Monday than we may have to visit the doc.

Wednesday, Kristopher had his one and only final (that is why he couldn't come with me to Troy's surgery). My sister Carmen watched Rylee while Kris took his final. So school is done until the latter part of January next year. I am beyond excited and I know he is too!

Thursday was just an average day, just with a little boy who was much crabbier and needier than usual.

Friday was an AWESOME day! Rylee was suppose to have Occupational Therapy with Jessica and Speech Therapy with Krisann however, due to illness, Krisann cancelled. Jessica did come and was excited with Rylee's progress. Back in August, each therapist set goals for Rylee to meet by February 1, 2010. Well, Krisann pretty much told us the goals were met the last time she was here, which was November, and Jessica told us that she is going to have to write new goals for Rylee because she has met her goals for February! The only area she is legging on is physical therapy which we knew. Her trunk and upper body muscles are immature. Rylee is a small 12 lb, 14 oz and a long 25 inches...which is a fantastic 10 lbs and 10 inches in 10 months! Someday we will meet those physical goals! Jessica gave us new things to do with Rylee such as placing a toy in each hand and letting her bang the toys together. That way she learns that she has 2 hands. She is fascinated with hands and is constantly checking her out, I guess to make sure they are still there!

Other very exciting new is we now have a reason for all Rylee's drool and chewing...2 teeth! She is budding 2 teeth on the bottom. AND!...she is loving her cereal...most of the time. Last night, she ate 2 bowls of cereal plus drank 5 ounces of formula!!! That's a HUGE supper for her!

Today, I went to Dubuque. I arrived around 9:30 and didn't head out until 2. Oh my goodness...it was CRAZY! My first stop was Old Navy. Last night as we were watching TV there was a commercial for $3 sweatshirts. So I stopped in and got Kris a couple. My next stop was right next door, Michael's, to finish us some Christmas presents! Then I went to Menard's for a new light fixture for above our kitchen sink and got a Christmas present there. I proceeded to Hobby Lobby to complete a Christmas present and while there I got an amazing letter K! Doesn't it look awesome in our entryway? I love it and it only cost me $3.00!

I made a suppose to be quick trip to the $100 store...I mean Wal Mart. Really I can never get out of that place for under $100! I picked up a pack of cookie cutters for Christmas cookies, some baking ingredients (baking chocolate, candy canes, butter), 6 shirts for Kris (they were advertised for $2 so $12 for work shirts is a small price to pay for necessities and they just get yucky and filthy anyway!) and 4 cans of formula (that was pretty much my entire bill there!) and probably a couple of other things that I can't think of right now. They I went to Target for some diapers and wipes. I picked up a couple of cans of green beans for .50 a piece, what a deal! My last stop was Little Folks Trading Post. It's a second hand kids store. Their motto is.."Keeping the cost of growing up...down!" I love that store! They have super nice things. Everything that you would need. Plus it is reducing our carbon footprint by using gentally used. I picked up a cute pair of PJs for Rylee, a pair of khaki pants for Troy (since the holiday season is approaching), another 2 piece outfit for Rylee and a sling to carry my babes with for under $20. The sling brand new is $50 so that is pretty good. They told me that the sling was too small for the woman who bought it. AWESOME! Right next door to the Little Folks Trading post is The Hanger. That is a second hand store for my size people (and bigger). I picked up a couple of tops for a total of $8.00!

After shopping, Kris hung up our K while I wrapped a gift for a christmas party we had tonight! While I was wrapping I kept smelling this AWFUL smell. We noticed it all week and couldn't figure out what the heck it was. We have a box in our living room that contains our water pipes (since we live on a hill, there is ground under our house so the pipes had to wrap in the house to supply the bathroom on the other side of the wall with water) which we refinished and boarded up nice and tight last winter. Kris and I scooted around on hands and knees trying to find the source of the smell. It was coming from the box! Kris was worried it was the pipes and I was worried it was a mouse. So we pried open that top of the box and inside on top of the Pink Panther, Pepto Bismal colored insulation was a furry little dead mouse. YUCK! At least it was in the box and not in our house. We disinfected and now the smell (and the mouse) are gone.

Tonight was my dad's girlfriend's parents' christmas celebration. It was fun. Troy was a whiny pain in the rear. Their house is very non-child friendly. I was panicked he would fall through the railings or break something. OH MAN! It was the most stressful couple of hours of my life. Ok, maybe not, but it was stressful none the less! We had fun. I finally uploaded the photos off of my camera...enjoy!

Daddy shoveling during our big snow storm!

This was from the summer just my kids sleeping (it's been a while since I uploaded the entire card!)

August 4, 09. This was my niece and nephew's Radio Flyer tricycle after their house fire. I like this photo.

Merry Christmas!

Santa's bells are jingling, can you hear them?

We have 10 day until christmas morning. HOLY COW!! This girl is almost done christmas shopping. I still have to pick up something small and little for daddy from Troy and Rylee. I also have to finish a gift. Other than that, I am done! We did the shopping for Santa this past weekend. There are an equal number of gifts for Troy and Rylee. The dollar amount is a little off, Rylee got hosed by a little but she got bigger gifts (which Troy will probably claim stake too like everything else). Santa wrapped all his presents already and have them stored in a special spot (the garage). We decided last year that we would wrap all of Troy's toys in all green wrapping paper and Rylee's in all red wrapping paper. Therefore, there is no need for gift tags. We also put necessities in their stockings like socks, undies, sippy cups...everyday things that they need. Those are going to be our traditions every year. We are also going to do christmas different this year. Christmas day we will be apart from each other for most of the day. Therefore, Christmas eve we are going to have a traditional Christmas dinner just the 4 of us and maybe drive around and look a lights. Christmas morning we are going to enjoy a cream cheese butter braid and open gifts from santa. Then the rest of the day will be complete mayham!

Tomorrow Troy has surgery to have tubes put in his ears and have his adenoids taken out. Originally we were suppose to arrive at 8:15 am. They called today to tell us that there were cancellations so now we have to be there by 6:30 am. Good grief! That means we have to leave by 5:45 to get there on time. As Troy would say (and Swipper too), "OH MAN!" I stocked the fridge with jello and pudding yesterday. We have popsicles and ice cream too. Pray for Troy tomorrow that he has a speedy recovery and for me that I don't get too tramatized by having to hold while they put him out. I am the most nervous about being there when he is put to "sleep". I wasn't with Rylee when she was put to "sleep" for her shunt surgery. They just took her and did it without us. I wonder if she felt alone or scared. At least Troy will have me to comfort him when he is put to "sleep" and when he wakes up. Kris is going to keep Rylee in the morning and my sister is going to watch her during his final, if we're not home by then. I am going to rent a movie or two tonight so that Troy will sit and watch those tomorrow. I plan on taking care of him but depending on how he is doing, hopefully I will get my christmas cookies baked and decorated. Those can always wait until the weekend though. Tomorrow is a Troy day. Hopefully all goes will and no more ear infections EVER for that poor boy.

The weight is on...

or not really. Rylee had her "9" month well child check up today. Last time we had her in, was 3 weeks ago and she weighed 12 lbs, 11 oz. Today, she was 12 lbs, 14 oz which is 1 ounces a week in the last 3 weeks. HOWEVER, before you judge and think only 1 ounces a week when they want her to gain an ounce a day, let me tell you a few new tidbits of my precious 10 and half month old child! In the last 3 weeks, she has had 3 physical therapy sessions, 1 occupational and 1 speech therapy session each. In the last 3 weeks, she has grown into this beautiful little girl by:

1. She is actually jumping in the jumperoo now, not just sitting in it. In case you're wondering what a jumperoo is..it is this:

2. She is growing in length. She is now in 3-6 month sleepers made by Gerber, Chico and Child of Mine. She fits well in her 0-3 month clothes (mainly length wise).

3. She is actively trying to roll over either from her belly to back or visa versa.

4. She is initiating sitting up on her own.

Therefore, she is much much more active than she was 3 weeks ago. I'll admit when that 12 lb, 14 oz came up on the scale, I was thoroughly disappointed. However, once I took all of that stuff in account, it was a gain which is good. More good news, we were given the ok to try and feed her solids. It really depends on her whether or not she is ready for solids yet. All in all, it was a good appointment. Dr. C is very happy with her progress. So yay for Rylee!

Nose is connected to the ear that is connected to...

This snow late morning we had to take Troy to the ENT doc. Remember in my last post about life being not so great and having 23 days until the end of the year? I've knocked on wood and prayed hard...but it looks like we have another hurdle to jump over before the end of the year. Troy is having surgery next Wednesday to have tubes put in his ears and have his adenoids taken out. I hate that he has to go through this but after 11 ear infections in 17 months, I think it is definitely time. Plus this will help with his hearing by removing the fluid that just sits on his ears. We were ready for this news and prepared to hear what the doctor said before we went there. We've known for the last 17 months that this would probably be what would happen to "cure" this. He has about a 10% chance of developing reoccurring ear infections. This is reduced because the adenoids are coming out. The removal of the adenoids will also help the constant runny nose thing he has going on and may help cut down illness since the bacteria will not be just sitting idle anymore. We were prepared for this so it's not so shocking. I just hate that he has to be put under. Rylee was put under when she had her shunt surgery and the hours it took for her to come out of it were absolutely awful. She would just cry out because of the pain, the change in her brain pressure and the anesthetic wearing off in general was upsetting. I was tramatized by this and since Troy is bigger, fiestier I am a tadbit nervous of the anesthetic wearing off. We'll do fine. Just another hurdle to cross, bump to go over! What really bites the big one is that I have to take the entire day off work which means I have to make all 8 of those hours up before the end of December...it's going to be tricky that is for sure! So if we could just make it through the rest of this year with this little bump, no more surprises and time off, we'll be doing great! UGH!! Sometimes, I tell ya. Have a wonderful day all.

Luck is not on our side

I have literally been trying to get groceries for days. First it was I hate taking both kids to the store by myself and avoid that at all costs, secondly, I am alone and after arriving at WalMart, realize I forgot my pocketbook at home, and then it was 9 on Sunday night. I absolutely had to bite the bullet, pick my kids up from daycare and then go get some groceries. We did it! There were only a few meltdowns from Troy about this or that but overall he did very well. This was by far the best trip in the last 12 months, hands down. Rylee, of course, didn't make a peep the entire time. She just looked around and let the groceries crowd her in in the front of the cart.

We got home tonight and ate a very late dinner. Troy even helped me put things away. He thought he was big stuff! After dinner, which was just smoked sausage, mac and cheese and California medley (I know you were wondering) oh, and I made cookies for dessert (remember back in September when I bought overpriced cookie dough, well it arrived last week so making a pan of cookies is rather easy at this moment in time). I really don't think a period should go there but it's late and I'm too lazy to modify that last sentence. Anyway...After dinner, I laid both Troy and Rylee down to get diapers changed and pajamas on. Troy was talking to Rylee, pretending to tickle her when all of the sudden he reaches over, grabs her hand, kisses it, says "Ahhhh, Ry Ry" and lays a big wet one on her forehead. My heart melted. She just did this little gooey for you smile and eye flutter thing. If you know Rylee than you know what I am talking about. She loves him from the tips of her hair to the tips of her toes.

It was a great end to a not so great day. Remember in June when the deer ran into us and totaled our Cobalt? Well, we bought a car from Kris's parents. It had these nice, new tires. Well, one of those tires went to tire heaven today. Some way, some how, Kris ended up with a huge gash in his tire on his way to drop the kids off at Tara's before class. The guys at Munyon's put the spare on so he, barely, got the kids dropped off and then dropped in a chair at my desk because he was too late for class. Luck is just not on our side. I really really hope that next year is better for us. I am depending upon this. This is turning into a really bad joke, seriously, and we are smack dab in the center of it. We are the heart and sole of this *bleepeddybleep* joke. So now, when money is tighter than tight anyway, we have to buy a new tire, 18 days before Christmas. Kris and I have had many discussions and blame this year. This is just not our year. I think you could probably quote me at least 5 times in past posts but I am going to say it again...This year just plain SUCKS! AND, there are still 24 days before the end of this god awful year. I do have to say, that out of all my 24 years, this one has been the worst. I have hit my low many times this year. I just want to get back to my happy, size 2 self. I want to be all lovey dovey with my husband (I know, my family is probably letting out a groan at the thought) like we were in high school, college, honeymoon stage of our marriage instead of us looking at each other with pity in each of our eyes and frowns on our faces. I just want normal. I don't want to live this joke anymore. I know, you're thinking "it was just a tire" but it wasn't just a tire, it's not just a bump in the road, it's our life...and as happy as we are, happy that we are all healthy, happy that we are all here, it sucks. So, hopefully, since it's 12:12 am on December 8th, we have 23 more days until next year and we're desperately hanging on to 12:01 January 1, 2010 for things to turn completely around. Luck is not on our side today but maybe in 23 days, it will be and that I am dependent upon, desperate for, praying for.

It was only a matter of time...

Troy started running a temp a few weeks ago. Twice, he stuck his finger in ear. So since it was 8 pm on a Friday night, I took him into the Urgent Care in Platteville. The doc there diagnosed him with double middle ear infection. This is his 8th double ear infection in the last 12 months. He is unique however in the fact that they never seem to bother him much. We never know until he starts running a temp. Last week, Troy had to go have his second flu shot so we had them look at his ears to make sure they were all cleared. Well, his little ears were still pink so he had to go back today. Dr. C decided that it was time to go see ear, nose and throat specialists. We are headed to Dubuque next Tuesday. It was only a matter of time before tubes would be put, we've reached that time.

Tomorrow marks the 4 month anniversary of my sister Carmen's house fire. Guess what? Tomorrow may also be the day they get to move back home. I am praying hard and with all my might that they can get everything done in the next 2 days so they can sleep in their new beds, bathe in their new tub, eat in their new, gorgeous kitchen and watch tv in their new, lovely living room. I talked to her today. Yesterday the carpet was installed. Their "old" house had all wood floors so they didn't have any carpet there. So now their "new" house has some. She said they all just laid out on the carpet last night. St. Nicholas comes Saturday night to fill shoes/stockings so what better a present than to set out their shoes next to their new door. It was only a matter of time before they could move home. That time is here yet so far away!

Smiling down on us

Today is a rough one for me. Today is my grandpa Dodds' birthday. Today is also the first anniversary of his passing. I can't even begin to tell you how much I miss him. He's my angel. I know he's been holding Rylee's hand throughout her struggles. He is a whole in our family. It was so extremely painful to walk into Grandma's house after he passed and everyone had gone home and not have him there. He was a man of few words but when he spoke it was strong and meaningful. My best memory is of him and Troy. I wish to the ends of the earth that I would've gotten a picture of him and Troy together. He loved Troy, always watching him and touching his hand. He clapped with him as he started crawling and trying to walk. I am so grateful for the times I got to spend with him both as a child and as an adult. I miss him terribly. He's smiling down on us! Happy Birthday Grandpa!