Good-bye, Ear Infections

I thought we were in the clear. Amelia has been such a healthy little girl! She had her first ear infection at 7 months. Her second and third at 14 months. Then, came February 2011. She had 3 infections in February and she was on antibiotics for four weeks. This made our decision to have tubes put in. I was so worked up about it but I really wanted my baby girl to stop hurting with ear aches. I stayed home Monday to clean and do laundry and get myself ready for this surgery. We had to be there at 7am on Tuesday. We got there and signed in and I held her so tight! She was in a good mood even though she couldn't have anything to drink or eat. I'm so thankful for her happy disposition. They called her back at 7:30 and only one of us could go back with her. Nathan waited in the waiting room. He waited and waited and waited while I wrestled and wrestled and wrestled. An 18 month old sitting on a gurney isn't the easiest thing to deal with. We tried coloring, singing songs, tickling, peek-a-boo, and even playing with latex gloves. Finally, the realized they forgot to bring Nathan back. He was so worried and he had been texting me but my phone was on silent so I didn't see them. He came back and held her and played and shortly after they brought her "THE" cocktail. Yep, that's the one! She was feeeeling gooooood in a matter of no time! Here's a picture of her chillaxin'.....She was so good and so brave. The doctors were wonderful as well. I was so uptight and nervous, I'm thankful for Nathan, he was so calm and assuring. I guess that's where Amelia gets it. Once we handed her off we had to go back out to the waiting room. I must have been a bundle of nerves. I couldn't sit still and I wanted to stand at the door and look through the window so when the Doc came to get us we'd be right there. He came out about 10 minutes later and walked us back to the recovery area. There she was. I'll never forget what she looked like. It was so sad. She was this little bitty angel laying on a big bed. She was wrapped up like a burrito in a blanket and her her head was turned to the side and there was an oxygen mask next to her mouth. She was sleeping so peacefully. Then, she started to stir. She was very groggy and she cried and moaned. The nurse said I could hold her so I scooped her up and held her close. She couldn't open her eyes and she couldn't say anything. She just cried and cried. Slowly she started to become more awake. We tried to give her a sip of water but she fought it. Then the nurse offered a Popsicle. When she heard that, she opened her eyes. She LOVES Popsicles. She ate the whole thing and in between bites she would sign for "more", "more". So sweet. We finally were able to leave and we got her in the car and I sat in the back with her. Nathan started the car and Elmo began to sing. There sat our little Amelia, barely able to open her eyes and focus. She sat there trying as hard as she could to dance. It was the cutest thing ever.
We made it home with no throwing up, thank goodness! She wanted to play when we got home but she couldn't stand, much less walk. I rocked her and we read a few books before she went down for a nap. She slept about 2 hours. In that time, Dad and Ludi came over to see her. She woke up and we all had lunch. After a more playtime it was time for another nap. Dad went home and all three of us took a nap for about 2 hours. I was so exhausted and my entire body ached. We woke up at 6 and she was 100% back to normal. I'm so thankful everything went well. Thanks to all my sweet friends who shared their experiences and put my fears to rest. I know that getting tubes isn't the most invasive of surgeries but to a mom, surgery is still surgery!

4 Doors!

It was time. We had to break down. We managed to keep our awesome Mini Cooper as our main "FAMILY CAR" for the first 16 months of Amelia's life. It was a great family car. It took us all over town; to the coast; it hauled tons of plants, trees, and fertilizer on our trips to Rainbow Gardens. It served us well and it will always be remembered as the car we brought Amelia home in. It was my first ever brand new car. I remember when I ordered and built it on line at mini.com. I tracked the building process and I checked on the shipping of the car from Oxford, England. I even was given a "Car Shower" at work by my sweet co-workers. They had car accessory gifts for me to open and they even made a brag book with pictures of me and my Mini. So cute! Yes, lots of great memories in that Mini Cooper.

Meet our new family car....

We got a 2011 Chevy Equinox LTZ. I just love having 4 doors....
By the way, we still have our Mini. I wasn't ready to give up our first family car. ha ha!

Colonial Williamsburg

A couple of months ago we took a trip to Williamsburg, VA. We're really getting the bang for our buck with "under two can fly for free" rule. Amelia has been on a plane many times and she loves to travel, just like Mom and Dad. We went with Granddad and Uncle Daniel and had a great time. 1985 was the last time all three of them had taken a trip there together. All of Dan's family is still in Virginia and it was exciting for me and Amelia to meet them all.

The landscape is absolutely breath-taking! This is near Lake Powell...

Here is Uncle Floyd's (Floyd is Amelia's great-great uncle and brother to Dan's daddy) cottage.
Amelia in Uncle Floyd's front porch.
Uncle Floyd and Amelia
A picture of a picture of Dan's grandparents...
Tree canopies surround their land. Right next door to Uncle Floyd's house is where Dan's cousin, Brian, lives. They had us over for dinner one night and we had a great time visiting with them.
Nice driveway, huh?

After visiting with family, we spent some time in Colonial Williamsburg. It's an old way of life. Very simple. Very peaceful. William & Mary college is tucked right in the middle of all the Colonial backdrop. It was neat to see horse drawn carriages with period costumes and college co-eds jogging on the same dirt road. It was still Fall when we were there. Check out this beautiful tree...
Amelia got into the festive attire...

Nathan and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary on this trip and we had dinner at Christiana Campbells Tavern. A place that George Washington frequented back in the day.

We attended a choir performance the night of our anniversary in this church. An evening of Requiems. Many of the pieces I sang in college.

The Governors Mansion.

Here's what happens when you have too much Colonial fun!

Daniel, can you remember why Nathan and I laughed so hard at this picture???
Great trip!

WICKED!

Jan. 2009- Saw it in New York- AMAZING!!!
Saw it again last year in San Antonio. Just bought tickets for me, my mom, and sister to go. February 17th. Until then, I'll listen to the track on my iPhone. I just bought it yesterday because I'm obsessed with this show! If you haven't seen it, you must! It's soooo good. I wish I could have seen it when Kristin Chenoweth was Glinda. I just love her. Both actresses I've seen play Elphaba were amazing. Can't wait!

My favorite (everybody's fav.) song in the show..."Defying Gravity". It closes the first Act and leaves me with my jaw on the floor. When I grow up, I want to sing on Broadway.

Sea World

We spent New Year's Day with The Hamann's at Sea World. Ever since then, all Joy hears out of Jayla's mouth is "Sea World....Sea Lions....with Lala!" Jayla calls Amelia "Lala" and it's so cute. Amelia returns the cuteness by calling Jayla "Ja-la". They do their best. Such sweet little friends. Jayla has pink eye right now and I'm hoping Amelia doesn't get it. They were holding hands yesterday so chances are, we'll be calling the Dr for some eye drops. I'm keeping a close "eye" on her. Hee Hee.

Amelia checking out the Sea Lions

Thank goodness for Radio Flyer. This wagon is a miracle worker for these two! They love it. Here they are enjoying a box of raisins. Yummy! We can't wait to go back again.

Hello, Blog! I've missed you!

It's been a long time but, at least for today, I'm going to just jump right in with what's going on....
Nothing too terribly exciting...just life. Work is great. Amelia is growing like a weed. She's 17 months now and she's a little (cute) tornado.
This picture was taken before breakfast at the Gunther house. She loves flowers and to put her hands in the dirt. She takes after her daddy and his love to plant things. Speaking of, we have a couple of trees we need to get in the ground.

Last night I went bowling with my MOPS buds. We had a great time. I think we were the rowdiest group there. I'm not one to brag but I must boast about my game! Normally, I'm horrible at bowling but I got strike after strike. You add in a couple of gutter balls and that got me a score of 146. Not too bad for a regular 'ole mom.

Jenn has her own shoes, ball, and bag. Sweet, huh?

Thanks, girls, for a really fun night! You each are a blessing to me!

Congratulations, Brandie

A few weeks ago I was, once again, on our amazing women's retreat with some church friends. We had a wonderful time of spiritual renewal and fellowship. I came home early on Saturday night so we could drive to Port Aransas on Sunday morning for Brandie's wedding. She and Clint were getting married on the beach. So perfect for the two of them. Brandie is an old AOII sorority sister.
Most of their family is here in TX but they live in Maui. Nathan and I are trying to figure out when we can go and visit them!

Here's the happy couple.

Becki, Shannon and I with the beautiful bride....

Amelia and mommy...

We had a great time celebrating the start of their new life together!