Decisions

I have a deadline. I have been told that by the end of May I have to have a list of cities that I would be willing to move to. Here is my problem: I can tell you exactly where I DON'T want to live. When it comes to listing places I DO want to live, I have problems.

So this is what I have done. I started with states. I printed out the states that I would live in without being pissed off. There are 7: Tennesse, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas. Now of those 7 states, there are some areas of the state that would make me vomit. For example, in Florida, the panhandle is the only place I would consider living. I would never live in the "pan" ( is that what they call it?). I would not want to live in east Tennessee. Also, west Texas would be miserable. In fact, I am allergic to tumbleweed.

Here is my set up. I have all the states taped to the door in the den. They have all the cities on them and the highway system which is muy importante ( I am not bilingual although it may seem that way.) You can see my red X's. That is where I won't live. I am highlighting cities where I WOULD live in yellow. I will keep you updated on my list. I have done it in marker so I can't change my mind. ( Unless I am sneaky and fool myself and just reprint the maps.)

So far I have highlighted in yellow: Jackson, Seaside FL ( why not? right?) and Fairhope AL. I guess I am starting in the very southeast and working my way north and west... for now anyway.

OK, this is totally stressing me out so I think a hot bath is next up!

Spaghetti?

Spaghetti anyone? I think he is starting to feel better. ( I actually think the teeth were what we were grumpy about and not the problems breathing.)

The Crud....

Yesterday was a day full of fussiness and sleeping. Can you tell by our missed matched pajamas that our day was a little crazy? We did have a couple ( just a couple) of short lived happy moments. Here is one..... shoving ourselves in between the laundry room door and the washer. Again, short lived..... we got upset when we realized we were stuck.

We also had fun watching the tub fill up. Unfortunately, we can get our leg up on the side of the tub and throw ourselves in.... so mama wouldn't let him do it for too long... I know. Tragic.

If I thought Saturday was rough, I was mistaken. Sunday consisted of Chuck laying on the floor and crying all day. Except for the hour that we went to have lunch with friends. I think the only reason he was happy is because food was involved. This morning we had one happy moment on the slide... and that's it....

Sunday afternoon, I felt like Chuck was breathing weird and it was making me uneasy. I took him up to the ER and got Drew to look at his breathing. Drew got the Peds ER to take his oxygen saturation levels and at first they were low. We checked again and they were higher but they gave him an xray. Turns out the little guy has pneumonia..... again. So seems as though daddy daycare will be taking place tomorrow and then we may have to call in the forces for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

At lunch today, Chuck did look at me and touch my nose and said "nose". We had been talking about it but it surprised me. Then tonight, I rocked him to sleep because I didn't want him to cry and get all stopped up. He was almost asleep and he lifted his head and touched my nose and said "nose". Such a sweetheart. Love him.

Until next time.....

Won't you take me to, Grumpytown.

I had just told someone that we were good at teething and not too cranky and then this week it started. Tooth 7 and 8 started coming in and maybe some others too far back to see. Chuck was cranky Wednesday morning and Wednesday night. I gave him a little tylenol and he was good. Thursday night at 5 o'clock, he looked at me and said "night, night". I asked him if he wanted his ba ba and he pointed up and said "ba ba". So I gave him a bottle and by 5:05 he was asleep. He slept all the way until 6 the next morning. Last night he went to bed late because we took groceries to the other 2nd grade teacher who just got home from the hospital with her new baby. Then, we took daddy some dinner since he was working until 2am. Chuck woke up this morning about 30 minutes later then usual and cried and whined ALL morning. Finally, I stuck him in his crib and he took a 3 hour nap!

Stupid mama decided to take Chuck to get a pair of real shoes. First of all, we went to Belk... now I know I need to take him to stride rite next weekend. Apparently, this little tyke has wide feet. I got the right shoe on in about 5 minutes. It took me about 30 minutes to get the left one on. They are the cutest navy keds. Once we got in the car, Chuck took the left shoe off and the sock, I guess to just add a little humor to it. I am hoping that the left shoes was kind of stretching out while he wore them but can't be so sure that it own't take 30 minutes to get the shoes on tomorrow.

His face in these pictures show exactly how our day turned out. He is napping again because the crying and whining wouldn't stop.... oh and somehow he peed on me through his diaper. Awesome.... these are the days I am glad he has an early bedtime.

April is over! Yay! We made it through the month without daddy. Drew has arranged his May schedule where we may get to see him one or two days in May. I am already looking forward to June. I will be out of school and Dr. has vacation! I am thinking about working a little bit this summer in the Curriculum and Instruction office because that is what teachers always strive to be a part of. Don't know if I have the job yet though.

Alright, I am going to regain my sanity before Sir Grumpsalot wakes up.

Close to Home

Found this article today....

Shape of A Mother

Videos!

I do have some videos! These are videos of Chuck reading books and playing with his cousins.

Puke, Tornados, and Exhaustion

NO PICTURES

OK, I didn't want you to think you would be getting any pictures or videos. I actually have several videos to put up but they are on Drew's phone and well.... you know.... I think he still lives here.

Anyways, Chuck and I made it back from the Easter weekend. I did not get anytime off because some ice storms earlier in the year. We had a pleasant trip. On my way back, I was thinking about how easy and enjoyable trips are now. Chuck is eating people food and drinking milk. All I need to travel is diapers, clothes, and a sippy cup! I don't need vacation after my vacation anymore. ( Exhaustion is the new happy, just like fat is the new skinny, or a moo moo dress is the new black.) So yes, traveling is somewhat normal again.... as much as having a one year old around can mirror anything you ever had in your "prebaby life".

On my way back I also had a split second of a thought in my head... since Chuck was born I have not even fathomed another child. Slap me silly and call me straight up crazy if I even thought about another child because we all know I can't handle the one I got. It was the first time that I had pictured us as a family of four, Chuck as a big brother, and even the thought of being able to handle two children. And then it happened... yes my friends..... Chuck yaked, puked, up-chucked, heaved, sprayed, vomited all over the car. ( I hope no one is eating dinner.) Thank goodness my child threw me back into reality and reminded me I DO NOT want another child in the next year and traveling is NOT easy. Chuck was soaked on his front and then was sitting in a puddle. We ( as in Chuck and I) had to pull over and the Chuckman was indecently exposed in the parking lot of the gas station. I got Chuck cleaned off and had to stash him on one side of the car while I used a whole package of wipes to clean up what I could. I am pretty sure that nothing could have prepared me for this. Luckily I had extra pajamas, wipes, and toilet paper in the car. I had to fold a blanket up for him to sit on ( even though he was soaked by the time we got home two hours later because there was no way to actually clean and dry the carseat while stuck in the middle of podunk Mississippi.)

We made it back to Jackson and I was able to give him a sponge bath and change him one last time. He was so happy to be home. I put him in his bed and he laid spread eagle on his bed and moved his arms up and down feeling his sheets. ( He has these incredibly comfy sheets Marmee bought him.) It was so sweet. Ok, so the boy was asleep and I had to get the car seat clean so I would be able to get Chuck to school Monday morning. The cleaning of the car seat involved many 4 letter words, some throwing, and a midnight laundry load. I would bet it took me a good 30 minutes to get the cover off the seat and another good 30m minutes to the the %$*^$@ back on. I seriously thought about going to the 24 hour Wal-Mart and just buying a new car seat.

The whole car seat debacle took a good part of my night Sunday night so I will admit I am exhausted. I am at a point ( where I was when Chuck was first born) where you are so tired you can't remember anything. Like, Did it rain this morning or was that yesterday morning? and What day is it anyway? Did I eat anything today? When was the last time I saw Drew?

And speaking of rain... I think Arkansas is getting slammed with storms right now. They are expected here a little later so I am going to stock the closet with snacks and juice and sippy cups! Tornados are coming!

4 weeks and 3 days until summer..... it's true....