Some Cold Weather, Good Eating, A Rodeo, and A Date With Dr. Carron

Shew!  What a title!   We've had a busy couple of days.  And the fact that my mother in law bought the family a new DSLR camera, that I get to mostly use because no one else seems to want to, I tend to always have lots of good pictures to document our busy lives!  So that's a good thing!  (Really, any one can use the camera, it's not just mine, and I know that - but no one else seems interested.)

Ok, so the cold weather - it didn't do one thing here in Philly but get really cold.  We didn't even have any freezing rain that I know of.  But for some reason on Thursday, Bailey's school lost power and no one was sure at that point exactly what the weather was going to do, so Sid went to pick her up, right in the middle of nap time.  And drug in a stray, Mr. Mason was getting picked up by Ne Ne so Sid just brought him on home too, so he wouldn't have to hang out at her work for the rest of the afternoon.  They both got woke up during nap, so we rested, made cookies, and Sid put together even more Christmas presents that he hadn't gotten around to doing yet.

Ha!  They look hard at work!

After Mason left, Bailey acted really really sleepy and I was going to go ahead and keep her at home Friday since everything was closed, so we were skipping bath.  When I took her outfit off, I noticed that she was burning up.  I took her temp and it was almost 105.  I didn't freak like I did last time and figured it was ears since nothing else appeared wrong.  Poor Mason, he tried to tell me earlier that her neck felt hot but I ignored him.  Little did I know....

We went to the doctor first thing Friday morning and they confirmed what I already knew - her ear infection has not cleared up from the week before.  Nothing sends that temp up like a good ole ear infection.  She got some shots and an another antibiotic to start.  We came home, put our pj's on and played the rest of the day.

Still looking a little pale and sickly!

Maybe those shots are kicking in!

Say what????

Hmmm!  Whatever!!!

Bailey kills me at picking up on things.  The other day I dropped a small piece of paper that I was picking up to throw away.  Of course she got to it before me and I just let her have it, not wanting to have her cry and scream.  I turned around a few minutes later and she was at the trash can trying to get the lid up to throw it away.  Of course, when I lifted the lid, she just wanted to play in the trash, so much for that moment, but I thought it was sweet.  So of course, when she tried to brush her own hair, I thought it was cute!

And she can run from you when you try to get it back.  Case in point about why I'd rather not take things away when there is no harm being caused.  She knows alot, and she knows when you are coming for her.

On Saturday morning, Mom and Dad called and wanted us to meet them in Tuscaloosa to have a late lunch.  We hadn't seen them since Christmas Day and were very happy to make the drive to see them.  We ate at a wonderful place.

Located right on McFarland Blvd.  But mapquest and TomTom can't quit get you there due to the service road thing I guess.  So if you are looking for it, you will either have to turn around two or three times (Sid) or stop at Chick Fil A and ask (Dad)!

I thought the menu was neat. 

And oh my goodness, this big hunk of chocolate with Butterfinger on top!

You know it's tasty when Dad has this look on his face after a meal!

I tried to get a picture of Mom, Dad, and Bailey but Mom and Bailey were more interested in playing peek-a-boo!

Just one more drink Mimi!  Bailey loves to drink out of straws and actually drinks better out of straws than she does sippy cups. Only problem is a solo cup with a lid isn't quite spill proof!

All bundled up after a great meal and happy times to hit the road back to Philly!

Bailey slept the whole way there and the whole way back, probably because of the ear infections, but she never acted like she didn't feel good.  So, when we got home, we changed clothes real fast, put our jeans on, and headed to the rodeo.

Cowboy Mason!

A cowboy can never be too picky about their boots!  This child, at 4 years old, decided he did not like his new boots he got at Christmas and asked to return them for some square-toed boots instead of pointed ones.  Who knew????

Pap-paw has a lap full, but no one looks real interested in anything.  Probably this dumb dog!

Haha!

So Bailey and I went to Jackson today to see Dr. Carron and to find out what he thought about tubes.  His thinking was it's probably not going to get any better and with her fever getting so high when she has the ear infections, it was his advice to go ahead and get tubes.  We are scheduled for Jan. 22nd. to do.  Sid and I trust Dr. Carron, I mean after-all, he saved our baby girl's life.  No, it wasn't like she was on the brink of death or anything, but had he not been so pro-active in the situation (if you don't know what I'm referring to, go here) things could have gone down hill really really fast.

So, that's all I know about that at this point.  Someone left me a message about possibly using soy milk so I will be checking into that because we have had to stop using regular milk and are just using plain ole formula because her reflux got bad when I tried to wean her from formula.  So, there might be something to that.

I thought I'd treat me and Bailey to some Mexican after the doctor's appointment, but let's just say after she hit her head on the granite table top and kept standing up in the high chair and had to be buckled down, we quickly ate and hit the road home!!

Oh, and becuase I just heard her say it, Bailey is now offically saying Mimi, but I don't know that she knows she is saying it, if that makes any sense.

Ok, the Bachelor is on!  Have a happy week!

My Poor Boo!

So, we didn't get anything but a wet mess and some COOOLLLDD weather here.  No snow and not much ice.  Not much was closed down in our immediate area, but everything within a 60 miles radius of our area shut down. 

Bailey has been so very ill this week, just fussy and several times I've thought she was warm and took her temp but she never had any. 

Well, yesterday, due to the cold stuff, the power at the daycare went out so I told the director I'd come get Bay after she woke up from nap.  But about 30 mintues later she sent out another message to parents that due to the weather and the power being out there were going to go ahead and close.  Sid went and picked up Bailey and of course Mason had to be picked up, too.  Nene was there getting him and was going to take her back to work with her, but Sid went on and brought him home with Bailey.  Bailey didn't feel like playing much and tried to nap on and off.  And at one point Mason did tell me that Bailey's neck felt warm but I didn't think anything about it. 

Mason left when Kylie got off work and NeNe and Jerry stopped by.  Bailey was just acting like she was ready for bed for the night but it was only 5, so I went ahead and was going to put her pj's on.  She was burning up and turns out that he hot neck was a temp of right at 104 degrees.  So we fought the fever monsters all night and took her to the doctor this morning.  She has a bad ear infection that she has pretty much had since Thanksgiving. Sooooo, on Monday we get to go see our favorite ENT, Dr. Carron.

Dr. Carron will assess the situation and more than likely want to do tubes.  I'm not happy about that, but in spite of what she has been through, tubes are the least of our worries.  So we will stay snuggled up and warm this weekend, it's not supposed to get out of the 20's, and on Monday go see Dr. Carron. 

Keep our sweet girl in your prayers.  She did not like the shots and blood sticks this morning at the doctor.  I was afraid her breathing was a little labored and it is, but they said she sounded good, it was just from her temp being so high. 

She just got done eating some Hardee's for breakfast, Pooh is on the TV, I'm about to put her pj's back on her and snuggle up.  Ya'll have a good weekend!

Something For Free

I saw on another site today that the this website is doing a free 8 x 10 canvas of a picture that you upload.  I haven't decided on which picture, but I'm going to try it and see what happens.  Just thought I'd pass the info along!

Just A Quick Something That I Always Want To Remember

Wow, that was a long title.  But I just had to post a little something for myself.  We serve a BIG GOD, a God who never leaves us, He never fails us, He never forsakes us, He never forgets us, He gave his only son so that we may have life and have it abundantly, He hears our cries, and He answers, He knows our hearts, and He knows our minds, He knows our wants and He knows our needs, He knows our seasons, and He know just how much we can handle.  He never promised that things would always be easy or the way we want them to be, but He did promise to always be with us in the good time and bad, the hard times and the happy. 

God answered some prayers for me today, in a mighty big way, in a way that I wanted them answered.  I've been searching for some answers to some big things the past 10 weeks.  And today, after waiting patiently for the Lord to answer, for the Lord to show me His way and after 10 weeks of me crying out for Him to just have His way me, He did!  He taught me alot about myself in the past 10 weeks and I learned more than ever how to listen for his voice, to be still and feel that sweet Spirit. 

I knew if things in this particular situation worked out the way I wanted them to, that it would have to be nothing but God doing it.  There was really no other way it was going to work out short of it being something God would have to intervene with.  And He did and my answers came and I'm so thankful.  I promised him, in my crying and begging, that if he'd grant me this, just the way I wanted it, that I'd listen even more closely to His call on my life. 

Sweet Heavenly Father, Thank you so much for never leaving us, never forsaking us, for listening to our heart cries and answering those cries.  I just ask that you continue to have your way with my life, Lord, use me for Your will oh Lord, where you lead, I will follow, I will go where Your people need me.  Lord help me to listen for your voice and  help me to see Your face in my daily routine.  I pray for you to be my guide, be my eyes and my ears and my hands and my feet.  But Lord, most of all, I give you the glory for all answered prayers for this family.  For without you as our center, we are lost, and we know that now.  Lord, continue to speak, continue to move us and continue to call us.  For with you, nothing is impossible.  Amen!

I promise to get some pictures of Bailey posted this week so you all can have your fix of her.  She's just the cutest, smartest thing ever.  She is loving her baby and loving her books these days.  And we are loving her!  What kind of weather are you all getting?  It's just unbearable cold here, but on Thursday, we should see some fruits of this cold and have some snow.  I hope we do in a way, so Bailey can put on her new pink coat and go out and play in it.  She loves to be outside and she is fascinated with the cold when she gets out there.  But no ice!   We don't want ice!  Just a little snow would be nice.  So what kind of weather are you getting?

A New Year's Preachin'

There is so much going on in my life that I don't want to put out on the world wide web just yet, but those closest to me know and I'm surrounded by much love nad much support - and no I'm not dying like I make it sound! 

But as the New Year approached, I had been in prayer about ALOT of things and some of my resolutions speak for that.  But my heart and my soul search for so much more, I feel that God is calling me for so much more and I don't know how to step out there.  I don't know how to get invovled.  I just, plainly, don't know.

Well, we hadn't been to church, our church, but one time during the entire Holiday Season, I know sad, but true.  We were just out of town so much or had company.  But after the Christmas music that I sang in the first weekend of December, we didn't go back until the Sunday after New Year's.  It was soooo cold and Bailey was on an antibiotic for an ear infection, and for a fraction of a second, like we all do, I thought about how nice it would be to stay in the warm house in our warm pj's and not fight the cold to get to church.  But boy am I am glad God didn't let me entertain that thought for too long.  Because the Holy Spirit was there, and He spoke, loud and clear right to my heart.  And I just wanted to share my notes in case it might encourage someone else, and so I can remember it.  

For those of you that do not know, Sid and I were raised up in the United Methodist church, and for me, it wasn't just where I was raised, but where I was born and bread, so to speak.  My pappaw, being a retired DS of the North Alabama Methodist Conference, made being a United Methodist feel like part of my heritage.  So imagine my surprise when Sid and I felt the calling to go back and  visit First Baptist here in Philadelphia.  Bailey was already attending the child care ministries program there, and it was a much needed answer to some very different prayers at the time, but God didn't stop there.  He gave us a church family through the events that transpired and we are thankful for that.  So this is not coming from a UM preacher, but rather a SBC preacher- and I so enjoyed it.  Probably the best sermon I've heard preached in a long time, a close 2nd to the one that Pappaw preached the daily Bailey was Baptized.

Anyway, here goes:

I usually don't take notes, but as Bro. Dan began, I quickly grabbed my bulliten and a pen, but I missed the first example as he was giving The Three Types of People - 1. Excusers, who are people that realize they need to make changes or that things in their life aren't quite right, but make excuses for it and sometimes, most of the time, blame it on other people.  2. Choosers, who are people who choose to take responsibility for their life/choices/actions.  He called us to stop being excusers and be choosers - TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!  3.  I missed the third type of person, but it went along with the excuser.

God forgives when we go to Him and admit we've done wrong, admit we have sin in our lives, and ask to be forgiven.  He actually LOVES it when we come to Him and repent and turn away from our sin.  There is nothing about us we can't change with the help of God.  Bro. Dan was quick to point out here that obviously we can't change physical things about ourselves, like our eye color or body size or skin tone, without some other external help besides God, but we can certainly change ANYTHING on the inside with our God in the mix!

He called us to decide what is important in our lives.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20, God has set before us the opportunity to live, to choose life, by choosing God and holding fast to Him.  By determining what is important in our lives, he said we could get out a sheet of paper and answer the following questions.  I have not done this yet, but need to.  1.  What do I value in my life, what is important?  2.  What do I want to change in my life?  When thinking about what is important, we need to think about what is going to last.  We shouldn't hold such high values on the things in our life that are simply not going to last. 

This is the part that really really spoke to me.  He talked for awhile about all these New Year's resolutions we make.  And finally, he said, but I really heard God saying, "JUST DO IT!".  Life is never smooth, it's never the perfect time for anything, especially anything new, we can always find the excuse not to do it, and usually we never get around to implement what we said we'd do, but "JUST DO IT!"  If God is calling you to something, and you are resisting, why?  "JUST DO IT!"  What does God want me to do with my life?  And as I find the answers to those questions "JUST DO IT!".

Luke 2:52 was the basis for the second part of the sermon, in which Bro. Dan said that our plan for the New Year needs to be one that is set upon scripture, so that we can work to be more like God.  Luke 2:52 makes four points we can use to make a new plan for the New Year and work to be more like God. 
1. Intellectual Development - we need to grow our minds
2. Physical Development - we need healthy bodies, sometimes we do things to our bodies that do not make them hold up or last. 
3.  Spiritual Development - What can we do to strengthen our relationship with God?  Bro. Dan reminded us here that we should not overwhelm ourselves and limit this to one thing at a time so we can really focus.
4.  Social Development - Grow in favor with man.  We are better together.  God always intended taht we work together and He wants us to serve each other.  What does God want me to do to grow in favor with man, to grow socially?

I don't know about you,  but I needed to hear those things in light of the goals I set for myself this year.  And let me tell you, the devil is hard at work already trying to tear down my goals and get in my time with God and my time with family. 

Yesterday, after I picked up Bailey, she was wrapped up and under a blanket in her carseat, seeing as it was snowing and all here, and I pulled in the carport and just did not want to turn the heat off and open the door and let the cold in when we were so warm.  I looked out my window and it was so dark and gloomy with a few white flakes falling, and I thanked God for all our blessings on such a cold and dreadful day.  And I turned around to looked at Bailey and she gave me the biggest, brightest smile, and my heart just melted.  She is surely a reason to seek God's face and have him near, in this cold season, in a season of life that is sort of down, and in all season's of life.  We hurried out of the car in the warm house and life went on after that moment. 

But I have to give pause several times a day, seek God, and ask Him just what it is He wants me to do with my life.  What is He asking you to do with your's?  Seek God, seek the answer, and "JUST DO IT!"

Some Pictures

I feel like I have a ton to say, but no time to say it.  That would be because I'm trying to work on my New Year's Resolutions.  I know I've made the rigth decesion to take my kitchen back when the first thing I made was Beef Stew and Bailey said "yuuuummm" the entire time she ate it on Friday AND Saturday.  Tonight we had some Cheeze-It Baked Chicken and even Sid like that.  So I guess I'm two for two so far.  He did tell me today that he was not trying the chili.  We'll see about that and I don't even know when I'll make it, but it won't be tomorrow night for sure. 

I have some pictures that I wanted to share from New Year's Eve. 

That's the best I could do of Sid and Jerry.  Either they weren't looking or Bailey wasn't looking.

Bailey and NeNe on New Year's Eve!

Brady and his friend on New Year's Eve.  That's Brady looking at the camera.

What would a New Year's outing be without Mason Kyle.  He was eating his salad.  That child LOVES him some salad.

The longest pickle I've ever seen! Oh the things that excite me these days!

Bailey tasting that pickle.  She sure does look like a little girl in this picture instead of a baby.  So bittersweet!

I took these next few outside while we were waiting on everyone to get their checks paid so we could leave.  It was so hot inside that it felt good once we got back outside.  The lighting was off but I thought these were cute.

On New Year's Day I took these pictures so that I could post some of her this New Year's and last New Year's.  But then I never got around to that post.  In the event that I ever make this blog a book, I'd like to remember these pictures because they are the only ones I took on New Year's Day.  And no, Sid does not have a hang over.  We had just gotten up!

And finally, I took these pictures this morning before church.  The one's outside are too cute because the wind was wind was blowing and I guess she was taking it all in.  She doesn't usually just get to hang out outside when it's this cold.  And she does have a new jacket, but it's too big to fit in the car seat.  Sid gave her a bath this morning and dried her hair.  It was sticking up everywhere, but I don't know if it was the way it was dried or static.  Either way, it was kind of cute sticking up like that.

Goodness at those eyebrows!

Awe!

She finally got to that paci I had taken out of her mouth and was so tired.  We were trying to make it out the door before she fell asleep, but this picture shows the monogram Mimi did on her shirt collar.  Mom and Dad got her this dress and shirt for Christmas and Mom put her initials on it. 

I think she was trying to balance in the wind.  This walking business is hard sometimes!

Going downhill on the driveway.  Look out!

And there's those eyebrows again!

Waving bye-bye!

Happy New Year

I have to start this off by saying no pics on this post, sorry!  I don't want to get up and get the camera, Bailey is napping and Sid has gone hunting, so I just want to sit here while I can.  Bailey and I have some cooking to do when she gets up. 

Speaking of cooking, I wanted to post some New Year's Resolutions.  (Disclaimer:  These are mine, not Sid's.  Maybe he'll do a posting of his own.  We'll see!!)

1.  I am not the cooker in this household, but I must say that before I moved to MS, I was a great cook.  I even used to cook at least one big meal a week and have my family come eat.  They loved it and I loved it.  But single life in the later 20's did something to me, and I became quite happy with South Beach Diet Bars and Dr. Pepper for supper.  They don't play that game in MS.  They eat!  And Sid learned from the best of them, he enjoys cooking and he's like a woman.  He doesn't like anyone else in his kitchen, so I've just let him do it.  But starting this year, I'd like to take my kitchen back.  Part of the problem is Sid's a VERY picky eater, and we are making a VERY picker toddler.  So I need to get back to cooking so we can have something besides some meat, or more specifically-chicken or hamburgers!  Tonight, on the 01-01-10, we will start with a good ole homemade Beef Stew!

2.  I want to be a better wife.  Sid is not the easiest person in the world to get along with, but then again, neither am I.  He will voice is opinion at anytime, no matter where we are or what is going on.  He gives me heck most of the time, but I must say that he has put up with me and has struck true to those wedding vows of "for better or for worse and in sickness and in health."  And for that I am very thankful!  Bailey and I are so lucky to have him and I hope he realizes how much we do love him and appreciate him.  I'm a good wife, don't get me wrong, but I just want to find ways to show it more.

3.  I feel like I have grown immensely in my Christian Faith and my walk with the Lord in the year 2009, but one thing I have not done that I'd like to do more of is spend more time reading the Bible, being in God's word.  I do alot of reading from devotionals and that is great, but I want to really read and find ways to study the Bible. 

4.  I want to do more for others. This is sort of two-fold.  I would like to get involved in volunteering my time at some place local in need of volunteers.  And I want to do more for my friends and family in their times of need, like sending a note giving a phone call or email instead of just thinking about the person.  I want to really let them know they are thought about and prayed for.  And I'd really like to meet new people and make new friends.

5.  In doing the above 4, I have to do this one and that is reduce my time on the computer.  I am addicted to reading blogs and it's crazy.  I think it's because most of the blogs that I read are either parents of babies Bailey's age and I like to see what other kids are up to and get ideas or they are blogs of children with special needs and I like to read about what is going on with them.  But I need to decrease this time so that I can do better at the others.

6.  I want to be a better mother. We can all improve, and although I think I am a fantastic mother, I know there is more I could be doing.

7.  And last, but not least-who can have a New Year's Resolution without saying "make more money, save more money, lose more weight, eat better, keep the house cleaner, blah blah blah!

We were wild and crazy ringing in the New Year last night!  NO, really, we were not!  We went out to eat with Ben, Kylie, Mason, Brady, Brady's friend, NeNe, Jerry, Nana and Pop (Kylie's mom and dad), and Granddaddy (Kylie's granddaddy).  It's was lots of fun but didn't last near long enough and everyone went their seperate ways.  Bailey crashed out about 10:00 p.m., Sid and I watched the ball drop at 11:00 p.m. and he went to bed, and I went to bed at midnight.  Today we went to his grandmother's for the traditional New Year's Day lunch.  Now I'm blogging, Sid is hunting, and Bailey is napping.

I'd like to wish all my readers a wonderful 2010, a year of health and good fortune!  For my family that are readers, we love you all very, very much and hope that 2010 is all you want it to be and so much more.

Stay tuned for some pictures.  And a last reminder that today is a year ago that we got to bring Miss Bailey home.  Tomorrow, I'm going to post some pictures of her visit from all kinds of family members so we can see how much she's grown.  Then I'm going to get off the "today it's been a year" band wagon.  It's just so hard not to think about all those emotions that we went through just one short year ago.  But after tomorrow, we are offically saying good-bye to 2009 and Hello! 2010!  It's going to be a year of nothing but basic life of work, family, church-life, and normal day-to-day stuff for the Whitehead's at this household!