Alli's MDO, Preschool & Family Party

As most of you already know, I seemed to have caught Alli's little sickness.  I seem to be on the mend now, finally, but now it seemed to move to my ears.  Oh well.  Anyway, we finally ended Alli's birthday celebrations on Saturday when my parents and brother's family came over.  Here are some pictures of the special days on the slideshow.  I'll go into more detail at a later point.  I hope the rest of you are well and stay that way!

High School Musical 3

The girls and I hit HSM3 today on the first day it opened in our town and it was really cute.  I think Meredith really enjoyed it.  Alli would have enjoyed it more if she hadn't been so tired since we saw it at 4:30 p.m. and that's the time of the day that Alli struggles the most with her tiredness.  Anyway, they were both very well behaved and I was proud of them, especially Alli.  A friend of mine, Jennifer M., invited us to go see the movie with her two older girls and I was pleasantly surprised to see my friend Allyson along with her kiddos there as well.  I was just so relieved to find out that the movie would be rated G again for the third time.  I was so worried that since it was making a change to the "big screen" rather then just on the Disney Channel that they would rate it PG to try and get a wider audience.  If you enjoy singing and dancing and good clean family fun, go see it!  However, I definitely think the movie has ran its course now and it should end on a good note.

Good news & bad news

The good news is that Alli is doing so much better today and those shots in the rear must have really helped along with prayer. Her temp has gone done and she didn't sleep during the day (which I was sad about) and she slept for 4 to 5 hours straight last night which was a big improvement. She was a little cranky, but who can blame her really.

The bad news is that while I was getting in to Alli's closet I noticed that the carpet was all wet. So, I immediately concluded that Alli had been playing with her little baby that pees that was laying in the floor right next to the wetness. Alli and Meredith then both denied playing with the doll and I then called in the hubby. He explained that there was no way that the baby doll could have peed that much in the floor anyway. Well, I'm sure you know what's coming next, some drain thing got stopped up and had flooded her room under the carpet. So, after the girls in bed, Michael and I cleaned up everything out of the floor (this was not an easy task) and the guys from the shop are coming tomorrow to take a look at it. I have a feeling that Alli will be getting some new carpet out of the deal considering your feet literally sqooshed (sp?) as you walked on it. It was not pretty and I have a feeling we'll be taking all of the furniture out tomorrow. Oh the joys of this week. I guess when it rains it pours.

Update on Alli

Unfortunately I had to take Alli back to the doctor today (yes, it's her birthday) because her temp was up to 103 today (the highest yet that I know of). Her doctor called us yesterday with the results of her urine test and said that afterall she did not have a bladder infection. She said she hoped it was a virus but if I didn't see improvement today to bring her in. So, around noon the ole temp started up the thermometer again and we got her in. The doctor listed to her lungs, did another blood test and another chest xray and it appears that she now has the beginning of pneumonia. So, they gave her two lovely shots in the backside which she agonized over and gave her some Tylenol with codeine and sent her home with several prescriptions. She is already starting to perk up so who knows if it's the codeine or the shots but she did mention not ever wanting to go to the doctor again and I can't really blame her. I definitely don't look forward to her next appointment whenever that should be. So, please keep us in your prayers and especially for little Alli to have a quick recovery.

Also, please keep my grandmother "Gran" in your prayers. She is in the hospital and was diagnosed with emphysema, which really doesn't make much sense to me since her previous two doctors in the last couple of weeks never said anything about that after their xrays, just fluid in her lungs. She's never smoked either. UGH! I wish Alli was feeling better so I could go see her but you know sometimes things just don't work the way we want them to, do they?

Alli's Sick

Tomorrow we were supposed to have Alli's family party with my side of the family driving over for the day but Alli started running a fever last night and I took her to the doctor today. Apparently she has a bladder infection which is what I suspected since we've been in almost every bathroom in this city. In case you don't know, or have boys, girls have a tendency to get the bladder infections simply due to their anatomy at this age. They are also more likely to get them if they "hold it" which is what my little Alli does until she's about to explode. So, today her fever was up to around 102 and just felt bad. She wouldn't go to the bathroom at the doctor's office so they had to use a catheter to get a urine sample which was traumatic for her but she was a little trooper. They also did a blood test and chest xray so it was quite a morning. She's now on an antibiotic so we hope it kicks in quickly. So, as a result, we have to postpone her family party until, hopefully, next Saturday. Poor little Alli. She was sick 2 Halloweens ago and then sick last year for Meredith's party so we had to postpone that one as well. She seems to get sick on special occasions.

Alli's 4th birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's

Well, I survived another birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's and Alli loved it.  I was hoping that since it was on a Tuesday night there wouldn't be many people there but, of course, it was a fundraising night for a school so there were a lot of people there anyway.  Oh well, it didn't seem to bother the kids and that's all that matters.  It's funny because besides sister Meredith and her friend Annali all of the rest of the kids she wanted to invite were boys from church and of course, cousins Will and Zach.  It was funny because after we decided on Chuck E. Cheese she said she changed her mind and wanted a tea party like Meredith had last year and I had to remind her that a majority of her guests were boys and they probably wouldn't get into a dress up tea party with a fashion show and their dads probably wouldn't like it either.  Maybe next year I told her.  She has had a great day today playing with all of her new toys such as Polly Pocket, Strawberry shortcake, painting set, make-up and tattoos (temporary that is).  I'm including a slideshow of the party.  Enjoy!  For those that came, thank you!

Trish's Visit

Trish, Roger, Jedidiah and cousin Raven should be back in Tennessee by now.  I think all of us here crammed in as much time to spend with them as possible and it was so fun.  On Friday a bunch of us met for lunch at a Mexican restaurant in town without kids which was wonderful.  On Saturday we had a play date at their house so the girls really enjoyed seeing and playing Jedidiah along with the other kids that came.  Saturday was girls night again at Red Lobster which was yummy.  Sunday we were able to see them at church and on Monday we met at the mall for lunch.  Trish- I'm already ready for you to come back sister!

Tagged

For the first time in my blogging life I have been tagged by Julie and Abby.  

The tag is to answer the questions with a one word answer and then tag 5 of your blog friends!

Here are my answers:

1.  Where is your cell phone? kitchen counter

2. Where is your significant other? in bed

3. Your hair color? blonde

4. Your mother? thoughtful

5. Your father? dependable

6. Your favorite thing? shopping

7. Your dream last night? weird

8. Your dream/goal? content

9. The room you're in? office

10. Your hobby? computer

11. Your fear? burglars

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? earth

13. Where were you last night? church

14. What you're not? disciplined

15. One of your wish-list items? skinniness

16. Where you grew up? Broken Arrow

17. The last thing you did? read

18. What are you wearing? pajamas

19. Your TV? babysitter

20. Your pet? N/A

21.  Your Computer? iMac

22. Your mood? tired

23. Missing Someone? sure

24. Your car? minivan

25. Something you're not wearing? socks

26. Favorite store? Talbots

27. Your summer? vacation

28. Love someone? Michael

29. Your favorite color? black

30. When is the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? noremember 

I am now tagging Carrie, Jenni, Trish, Jennifer M., &  ShaRhonda! 

Good luck!  (one word answers are kind of hard, especially on the last one)

 

Pumpkin Patch

After Meredith's soccer games on Saturday the girls and I made our annual pilgrimage to the pumpkin patch (Michael elected to stay home and help pick up the house which was great by me). As always, we had a great time.  Alli was able to ride on a pony for the first time in her life, with me by her side, of course.  Her horse's name was Star and was not exactly a speed demon and was lapped by some of the other ponies but it made her ride last longer.  I think Star felt she put in her hours already and was just going to take her time.  Who knows, maybe she's the leader of the pony union.  Meredith and Alli each picked out a pumpkin and I got a couple of mums which are quite pretty.  Now I just have to remember to water them and keep them alive.  Meredith was thrilled because she saw several of her friends from school and soccer and they both were excited to see Miss Linda and Callie from church.  

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday.  I believe he is around 59 as I am around 29.  Unfortunately we aren't going to be able to see him this weekend but we'll catch him next weekend when they come up for Alli's party.  Don't worry, I did mail him a card and we called and sang him Happy Birthday.  Anyway, I am so blessed to have such a wonderful Christian man as a father.  He rarely, if ever, missed a soccer or basketball game of mine and he built a soccer goal in our backyard when we were playing that sport and he built a tetherball pole for me when I loved tetherball in elementary school (I was tough to beat in that tetherball, I must say).  He would often shoot hoops with me in the driveway and drive me over to my friends' houses whenever I needed him too.  He's also an excellent papa as well.  My girls are just crazy about him and love to go to their house and swing on the tree swing he put up in the tree in the backyard and just spend time with him, especially outside.  My little Alli is in fact named from his side of the family.  My middle name is Allison, my dad's middle name is Allison, my grandfather's middle name was Allison and my great grandmother's maiden name was Allison and so on.  (I hope I got that right).  I couldn't ask for a better father.  Thanks Dad!  I love you!

Target Here I Come!

For those of you that haven't already found out the news from Jennifer M's blog, Target was open tonight!  I know most of you will find this hard to believe, but after Alli and Meredith were done with dance class tonight I had the notion to drive by our new Target shopping area to stalk the stores and see when everything is opening (yes, instead of people, I stalk stores, very sad).  Well, lo and behold Target was open!  I drove by the entrance about 3 times just to see if only "special people" were invited in to shop.  I couldn't tell by my drive byes, so I finally stopped and asked a young couple walking in if it was open and they said they were just going to walk in and see what happened.  So, I watched them just walk in with no bouncers kicking them out or anything so I knew we were in!  I then parked my car and the girls and I (like the proper English Mom?) headed inside to check it out.  Now, Target is not supposed to "officially" open until Sunday and I had heard they were going to have a "soft" opening so I guess this was it.  I'd never heard of a "soft" opening before but, hey, I'm always ready to participate.  Let me tell you, I've never been asked if I needed help as much as I had tonight.  I've never seen so much red and khaki.  Finally I asked a young man if he provided babysitting and he kind of just walked off (imagine that?).  For those of you that live in larger cities you do not understand what a big deal this is for our community.  I always took Target for granted in the Tulsa area so I didn't really appreciate it but now we have one.  Books a Million (similar to Barnes & Noble), Old Navy, Shoe Carnival, Best Buy, Lane Bryant and Michael's are all relocating to this shopping area with bigger and better store (bad news for their old soon to be vacant buildings).  Dress Barn, Bed, Bath & Beyond (bad news for Linens N Things), Cheddars, an additional Chick Fil A and an Ulta are also opening.  I'm very excited about the Ulta because this is like an ultimate cosmetics superstore that carries your basic brands to high end brands.   Anyway, now you all can share in my joy! 

Subscribe to this Blog Feature

Some of you may have noticed the "Subscribe to this Blog" feature that I have included on the side of the screen.  I must tell you that this has been the greatest tool for me to use to keep up with friends and family's blogs that I consistently read.  Basically, if you have a google account, it will automatically update you on new posts on the blogs you read.  If you don't have a google account this will probably make no sense to you.  However, if you do just go to your Dashboard and you'll see a reader list.  You can then add and enter the URL for each of the blogs you want to follow, even if the blogs do not have the "subscribe to this blog" feature.  You can choose to either publicly or anonymously follow blogs.  I probably have a list of 10 blogs I follow and it saves me from having to go through and click on each blog address individually.  Clear as mud?  Leave me a comment if you have any questions.

Panama City Beach, FL

As most of you already know, Michael and I just returned today from a Carrier incentive trip to Panama City Beach, Florida.  Alli stayed at my parents house in Broken Arrow and Meredith stayed with Michael's parents here so she could continue to go to school on Thursday and Friday.  It was a great break for us but I think Meredith and Alli had just as much fun at their grandparents' houses.  Michael's Uncle Alan and Aunt Jan along with their foreign exchange student from German, Maria, went as well.  Michael and Alan went deep sea fishing all day on Thursday and then Michael played golf on Friday.  You may be asking yourself, hmmm, I wonder what Jennifer did while he was out and about.  Well, I went shopping baby!  I think it's my favorite pastime and it's not that I have to spend money, I just enjoy getting out and looking.  Actually on Thursday Jan, Maria and I all went to get massages which was fantastic (thank you Carrier!) I have to share this story with you regarding Wednesday night, the day of our arrival.  Carrier had arranged for all of the HVAC people there to eat a buffet around the pool and they had a Polynesian dance crew there for entertainment.  Anyway, Michael got suckered into coming on stage with some others to try their hand at hula dancing.  Well, those of you that know Michael know that dancing is not exactly his forte so it was pretty funny. (However, I'm sure he didn't mind having the good looking hula girls around him.)  We ate at wonderful restaurants while we were there but I think my favorite was the Boar's Head in case you all ever go and are looking for a great steak/seafood place to eat.  

Here are some cell phone pictures from our balcony and Michael's dancing exhibition.

Prayer Request

Matt, a great guy that works at the shop with Michael, has a son that is receiving a lung transplant as we speak in Houston.  His son's name is Chris and he is sixteen years old and is battling Cystic Fibrosis.  This surgery may last from 10 to 12 hours and, of course, is very serious.  Please lift up Matt and his family in prayer as they fight the battle against CF and be in prayer for Chris as he undergoes this transplant.  Hopefully this surgery will provide Chris with some relief in the next few years.