Ho, Ho, Ho in South Texas

So...

We made it...

FINALLY!!

After a three day delay...

We got to go to Corpus... we made it in time for lunch on Saturday and we were SOOOOO excited to be there and see our CC and Nac crew! Especially that little nugget with a "W" on his shirt! 

We got Whit our kids' favorite toy... the music table. EVERY parents should have the pleasure of learning the "Hello! The phone is ringing so I say hello!" song. LOVE IT! Justin and I still enjoy singing it word for word from time to time and hearing Whit play it again brought back such wonderful memories of our babies.

Whit was a huge fan... 

He is a very focused and attentive little guy... we loved watching him be so captivated by his new toys!

I'm a sucker for those baby blues... especially when those cheeks were propped up like that on his Kk's shoulder... melt me!

Looking at these pictures makes me realize how MUCH he's changed, even since Christmas. He is a growing boy!!

Uncle J is a good Daddy... always up for a snuggle with his buddy!

And speaking of good... what is better than a Kaki snuggle... or a KK snuggle for that matter... two very lucky girls in that picture right there...

We were all so happy to be in CC!

Whit had so many things to tell us about his Christmas!

We were enjoying all of his tales... 

It was a quick trip for Justin... he came with us on Saturday... ended up in bed for most of the afternoon after post-stomach bug poor eating choices and then had to leave the next morning to be ready for work on Monday... but the kids and I got to stay for more than 24 hours and in fact got to stay in CC until it was time to go to San Antonio on Monday to head out for the bowl game! 

It was nice to not have to turn right around and go back home, especially since we don't get to see our crew near enough... there were LOTS of snuggles to be had...

Although this time I just had to watch... didn't want to risk given Whit anything... it broke my heart not to get to partake in the snuggles... but he won't remember either way and for that I'm thankful! :) 

KK got her snuggles in!!

And Whit and Caden had LOTS of great conversations!!

And I obnoxiously snapped pics of our newest Evans! :)

Of course the present-ry was wonderful... we were gifted beyond our needs and even beyond our imaginations and we had so much fun being with each other... at least I did. I was so thankful to be in their company and felt a little bit like my Christmas was restored! :)

Josh and Emily left on Monday morning to make their trek back to Nac...

Unfortunately, Aunt Emily continued the "sick over Christmas" trend and ending up coming down with a stomach bug on her way home. I hope and pray that it wasn't us who passed that gift, but if it was I have apologized again and again for it and pray that we never again have to share such pleasantries with each other... 

Oh Christmas!!

And there it went... Christmas 2013...we are left with the memories and for those we are thankful!

Next stop... Fiesta Bowl!

The Post-Christmas Miracle

Praise the Lord the day after Christmas was a Thursday and a business day... with doctors who were open and ready to see us.

Since we were still at home we decided to take advantage and get Kaki and I into the doctor.

Kaki we thought had picked up a cold over a week before we left for Waco, but she never seemed to get any better. Lots and lots of snot and coughing... so much that it made her throw up on Christmas Eve.

And then she started complaining about her ear hurting...

And so I figured HEY... we are still too sick to go to Corpus so let's spend a day the doctor's office.

Right before Kaki and I were leaving to go to the pedi, Caden decided he'd throw up...

He too had had a lot of post-nasal drip, but again... thought he picked up a touch a Kaki's cold and was getting better... but that morning he took a turn for the worse too...

But I hadn't made him an appointment and the receptionist told me they wouldn't see him at the same time, only to have my doctor later tell me that she would have... BUT...

It didn't end up mattering... because after a thorough examination my doctor said...

I think it's allergies...

Put her and Caden and Zyrtec and come see me if anything changes...

And in the meantime... YOU need to get yourself to the doctor...

HA! I think I was scaring everyone...

She was relieved to know I too had an appointment to see my allergist that afternoon!

Which led to this...

Pretty aren't I?

I got a neb and a 10 day course of steroids and she sent me on my way. My allergies had gotten WAY out of control... thank you Cedar! She gave me a script for the steroids and an antibiotic if the steroids didn't start doing their job by Saturday evening... and then I would be good to go. I had a bowl game coming up... I needed to hurry up and heal!!

While I was at the doctor's office that afternoon I felt a little funny...

Uh-Oh...

The Stomach Bug...

I knew it...

And I was right!

I was able to make it to Walgreens to get my meds and then home before it got going...

It lasted a full 6 hours for Justin and then he was over the worst...

I was hopeful for the same...

6 Hours later...

I was over the worst! (It was the best kind of stomach bug to have... we were very thankful!)

Now to heal...

And pray that the kids would remain healthy!

OH...

And the Post-Christmas miracle... 

Modern Medicine...

Zyrtec... I wish I would have started my kids YEARS ago on Zyrtec... they have been DIFFERENT kids... especially Kaki! It has helped so very much! I am so grateful for my doctor!!

It took a while to get them under control... we still had a few more episodes of Caden gagging, coughing and throwing up in his sleep... but within four days of the adult dose he was so much better. He keeps telling me, "Man that Zyrtec is doing its job... I haven't throwed up in my bed!" Bless his heart!

AND 

STEROIDS... God Bless them! 

In two days... I was better... 

And we were all better enough by Saturday to head to CC!!

FINALLY!!

And only three days late! ;)

Santa CAME!!

Merry Christmas!!

Santa came...

Sometime in the middle of the night...

And he did IN FACT bring the stomach bug...

Or maybe not... :)

But Justin woke up in the middle of the night with it... ick!

And so it was time to hold our breath until the next one bit the dust... because there is almost always another one... :)

But... we had to wait a bit...

By Christmas morning Justin was over the worst of it and was ready... albeit barely, to sit in his chair and watch the Christmas morning festivities unfold.

Of course, I wasn't ANY better and even worse... but we both had to rally... 

Christmas was here!! No time to WASTE!!

And despite the mom and dad of the group being quite the sickly pair our kids didn't even seem to notice and had the BEST Christmas morning checking out and playing with their goods!

It was the "what I want to be when I grow up" Christmas... :)

A football player... and a mama!

Two better aspirations couldn't be had!

After we finished our Christmas morning fun and the kids dined on Cinnamon Rolls... I drove 30 minutes into Austin to a grocery store that was OPEN!! :) Praise the Lord and thank you Randall's for having stores open on Christmas! I will forever be grateful to you! 

I needed to be sure we had stuff... I had literally no food in the house to get us past breakfast because we were planning to be in Corpus celebrating Christmas with my crew by lunch. And I only had one bottle of Pedialyte... and I just knew we'd be needing more of that! And some crackers... and just food in general while we're at it! :)

So Caden and Kaki ended up spending a lot of Christmas day like this...

Sweet Justin tried to insist we go on to CC but ain't no body want the stomach bug coming to their house for Christmas so I knew we would be staying put... 

And I was still NOT better and my voice lasted for mere minutes at a time...  and the coughing... oh the coughing! I don't think they wanted me anymore than they wanted Justin!

Merry Christmas, indeed!

I cried off and on nearly the whole day... 

Sometimes I was crying happy, grateful tears that despite our unfortunate sickness turn of events we really did have SO much to celebrate and be grateful for. I was with my people and I cherished that time so very much.

Other times my tears were sad because I was missing out on being with my family on Christmas day.

And then still others were tears of anger and self-pity because I had already missed my birthday celebration with my parents this year due to sickness and now Christmas! 

I was a sad, angry and grateful mess of tears!!

And my mom was too... and since my voice wasn't exactly cooperating there were times where we just sat on the phone together and cried... sad... I know!  What a day!

But restoration came...

Of our health... and of our time missed with family... 

I just had to be patient and wait it out a bit longer...

I just needed to get to 2014!! :)

It wasn't my favorite Christmas on record by far, but I remain thankful that I spent my day with a home full of people I love, with presents to share and moments to spend cherishing our time together which we know is fleeting. It was a good Christmas and at times it was even Merry. We have much to be thankful for!

Merry Christmas!

(When I think back at Christmas NOW I want to laugh (I lie... I am still sad/mad about... but I'm almost ready to laugh...almost!), but I tried to write this post with the emotions that did not have me laughing in the present... only so in 10 years I can revisit it and LAUGH hysterically at our string of bad luck in holiday celebrations in 2013... Mercy!)

Christmas Eve (At Home)

Once we made it home from Waco, we dropped our bags and got cleaned up... ate some dinner, Daddy read the Christmas story to us from our Storybook Bible and we and settled in for an afternoon and evening of presents and Christmas Eve traditions.

I was not any better and my cough and voice were beginning to worsen, so I sat on the couch most of the evening and tried to reserve my voice for the "So greats!" "How excitings!" and "Do you like its?" 

It's always SO fun to be the gift giver... WAY WAY WAY better than the recipient.

The kids had plenty of presents to open. They had a few from their Aunt Kay and Uncle Roger in Abilene and then they opened their presents from Justin and I... dear  ol' mom and dad! :)

Justin played "Santa," while I took pictures from my perch on the couch. Nice view... eh??! Wink! :) 

Kaki got so much fun stuff from Roger and Kay... and absolutely LOVED her neon rainbow colored tutu... and baby food! LOTS of BABY FOOD!!

Which was perfect because guess what she got...

A high chair for her babies!!!

Such a good little mama!! 

And a great Daddy who put it together for her on the spot!! :)

Caden got a cool pirate ship and a hummer that made all sorts of fun noises!

Kaki ended up having a near-meltdown as we reached bedtime and ended up going to bed without getting to partake in the reindeer food sprinkling... but Caden made sure that Santa and his reindeers were VERY well fed! 

And he wore his new PJS that his Gran and Poppa got him for Christmas... they match his Bear... he thought that was just about the coolest thing he could think of!

Sadly, I can't remember if we made cookies or put out some Oreos... but I do know that this year we put Dr. Pepper out for Santa after Bop told Caden that that is what Santa preferred. Of course, Caden was confused because in the past we've told him that Santa preferred Coke... different year... different tastes! :) So this year DP it was!

Then it was off to bed to wait on Santa...

Would he come??

What would he bring??

The stomach bug???

Oh surely not!

Oh surely!

Merry Christmas Eve!! 

Hunting for (Rein)deer In Waco

We've made it to Christmas... 

And we're days away from Valentine's Day...

PROGRESS!

We began our Christmas celebrations this year in Waco...

But they started off a little different than they have in the past... instead of lots of family time we had some girl time and some boy time. Except for sweet Graham who got stuck with all of the girls. But I am sure he has plenty of boy trips in his future.

Bop wanted to take Caden on his first hunting trip and of course Justin was happy to oblige. And Uncle Tag too. So nearly the minute our feet hit the soil of Waco the boys were all off to hunt some of those Christmas (rein)deer. :)

Meanwhile, back at the fancy ranch the girls hung out and did what girls do... shop!

For Baylor gear...

And ate...

Rosa's.

And watched a chick flick...

The Holiday.

I was anxious to get pics of my boy while he was hunting and I would be lying if I wasn't a bit nervous about him being there, but Bop addressed all of my concerns (even if they all thought I was a bit loony toons) and I felt better about a 5 year old and 5 guns! (I don't really know how many guns were there... it just worked best for the sentence!)

A few pics...

The campfire... and the Chade!

Dude spread...

Burger...

My two dudes!

A hunting selfie?

Snug as two bugs in a rug... or a camper... out in the middle of the deer lease... 

Fast asleep after on the ride home after an early morning hunt ...

Justin got him a deer and Caden had an up close and personal lesson in life and death and the food chain... it's what makes the world go 'round. He did have some food for thought on the way home, when he asked his Daddy, "Daddy, do you think that her friends and family will be looking for her today?"

Sweet thing... he knew that someone would be missing that sweet lady of a deer and his heart wasn't quite sure how to rectify that. And I can't say that I don't understand 100% how his little brain was turning. 

If you ask him if he'd do it again... He'd say YES and double YES! I think he's a boy who loves to be with his Daddy... and the rest of the boys, so he'd do nearly anything to make that happen.  

In the coming days and weeks we had several conversations about Daddy's deer... including when he ate her for dinner... gross! And this is why I can't think too hard about anything I eat or else tears will fall! :) But Caden again... decided it was ok... and he ate her! :) And I think he even liked it... 

Enough about hunting... 

Back to Christmas!

Sunday the boys got home and the tickle I felt in my nose and throat on Saturday and alerted Justin that I was likely getting sick... in fact did turn into more... and by Monday morning I was full blown sick and getting worse by the hour... but the show most go on! 

Justin had to come back for work on Monday but the kids and I stayed to play...

I don't have much to show for the rest of our time in Waco because I wanted to do nothing more than to rip out my eyes, cut off my nose and extract my lungs from my body... oh and crawl into bed! :) Okay so maybe that extract my lungs thing is a bit dramatic... but everything else I was ready for! :)

But  don't worry no such thing happened... 

We had LOTS of Christmas fun to produce...

SO we pressed on...

We did lots of playing with Nana...

Wrestling with Uncle Tag...

Doing G-Dawg's hair...

And even took the kids to an inflatables place... where I am sure is where I caught the next round of sickness that would spread the love around the family... 

BUT the kids had fun...

And that's what counts!

By Monday evening Justin had made his return and realized that the sickness he thought I was "making myself feel" was actually REAL and he suggested I call my doctor the following morning and see if they had any recommendations for what I should be doing that I wasn't already... And they said... if my 4 allergy/asthma meds weren't cutting it... they said, good luck... ride it out... take some Robitussin... Awesome, thanks!

Christmas Eve came bright and early the next morning... and by then Justin's grandparents had arrived to share in the fun! We opened presents... which I have no accounting of... 

But I can assure you that we were all well-gifted and of course left with WAY more than arrived with. The kids had a magical time opening all of their presents and of course wanted to play with each one right away. The rest of us enjoyed seeing the joy in their faces and were thankful for the time to spend together.

Not long after presents we ate a Christmas Eve lunch and then it was time to pack up and hit the road...

We still had Christmas to be had at home... and in Corpus Christi...

But the sickness still had it's turn to give us its gifts too... 

We only thought my cold/allergy attack from Hades was the last of it! :)

Little did we know...

Merry Christmas Eve!

December Miscellany

And now I've made it to December Miscellany... I love that word: miscellany. Love it.

Random school work... handwriting... 

How K rides her scooter... she takes one from her mama in the irrational fears department... she sits on her scooter but jumps off the air of our couch... to each her own!

We hadn't seen sun in days when I took this... it was cold and not Texas like and I was so thankful to feel the warmth of the sun. I am missing that sun today... I am ready for warm... not hot, just warm. Beggers can't be choosers... I know!

A day in the life... of our laundry basket!

Angels... building pieces of our Christmas story!

Follow directions and make pictures with shapes... 

A favorite Christmas treat... hot chocolate with a candy cane in it... it looks kind of creepy at the end though!

Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls... YUM! I had always wanted to try them. I must say they weren't my favorite but still not bad. I am going to keep hunting for the perfect cinnamon roll recipe! 

One weekend in December we had two Christmas parties back to back... first up...

The selfie shot... a cocktail Christmas!

 In between the two parties the kids and I had a fun Christmas party of our own to attend. The Pi Phi Alumnae Breakfast with Santa party... such fun!

And literally MINUTES before we were leaving Kaki gets up the courage to walk up to Santa and sat on his lap... it didn't even last a minute, but I caught it! Sweet Santa!! :) Maybe next year we'll got for 2!

Then the tacky sweater party happened...

I have a picture of Justin too, but it must be on his phone... I might have to come back later and edit this post to include it! :)

Nana and Bop also came in that night to babysit... it is always nice to bum a free babysitter out of them and of course they are always happy to be bums! :) We are so thankful!

All of our Christmas story things together... :)

And my girl and her (Daddy's) iPad... she loves it so! :)