Fevers and Terrors

For those of you wondering, Alana's fever (knock on wood) has left the building. It stayed down most of the day yesterday, only spiking to 102.1 once mid afternoon...I gave her a dose of motrin and she's been good to go ever since! This morning she woke up and it was 97.8 WOOHOO, so I let her go to her gymnastics class. She's been begging to go, and considering how much better she was feeling I couldn't bring myself to say no. It has remained around 98.1 the rest of the day. I contribute it mostly to the popsicles she's been downing :)

Now if we can just get a handle on the night terrors...I think Angie's jinxing ability has rubbed off on me. I just got done telling my dad on Sunday that Alana hasn't had any night terrors since we were in FL...and how I can almost always call the nights she'll have them. Well, guess what? Last night, I spent about 30 minutes trying to calm my zombie-like, screaming child. It's frightening, but I guess I'm almost used to dealing with it now. The first time it happened I wasn't so calm. Usually she gets them when she's been go-go-going all day with no nap, and her brain doesn't slow down when she falls asleep. They start about an hour or two after she goes to sleep and last anywhere from 5 minutes to almost an hour! Her eyes will be open, but she sort of has a blank stare...I've found that when I try to hold her and comfort her, it makes it worse. She flails her arms and legs and I'm mostly concerned that she is going to end up injuring herself or ME for that matter :) She also acts like I'm a stranger or something. Eventually she goes back to sleep as if nothing happened, and she has no recollection of it in the morning. She's had the night terrors for about a year now...and I'm hoping we are nearing the end of this phase! Anyone who has any advice, feel free to share!

For now, I will embrace the fever-free, wide-awake child who is stomping around in her Snow White heels on the wood floor.

Peace, Love and Lessons in Parenthood

Sick Sunday

This is how we spent our Sunday morning. Not in church, where Alana would have loved to have been...We were holed up in the Portsmouth Naval hospital ER. Alana decided to run a fever up to 104.5 all night. Even Motrin and Tylenol couldn't bring it below 101. These pictures are small, because I took them on my phone. Note the transition of mood from when we first got there, til the time we saw the doctors:

Feeling good!

Yay, I'm at the hospital and they aren't giving me shots!

When can we go home?

This is ridiculous!

All those beeping sounds are giving me a headache!
(Yes, she was upside down in the bed at this point)

All in all, she was a trooper! She was most disappointed, not that she was in the hospital, but that she wasn't gonna get to go to church. She kept looking at the clock (she can't tell time) and saying "Mommy, I bet church is gonna get out soon they better hurry!" We didn't find out much, other than what it was not. They did a strep and urine culture and both came back negative. Her temp is still 103+! Apparently her throat is super red and irritated, but she hasn't complained so how would I know? Now we sit and wait...or sleep and wait. I like that one better!

Peace, Love and Rest (please)

My List

Now that the birthday hoorahs are over and done with, and Justin has shipped off to sea for another week I've decided to share a little something. Justin is the king of list-making. He carries a notebook and pen around with him everywhere he goes...and whether it's a thought, a new lyric for a song, a Bible verse, whatever, he writes it down. Among these random tidbits, though, are lists that he makes. I tend to love lists too, but only if I can successfully cross things off of them. So I came up with this idea and told Justin that we should each write a list (or two) of things that we wanted to accomplish. I kind of broke mine up into 2--one for what I want to finish by the end of 2008 and the other is more of a long term list. I'm not going to post the list in its entirety but I thought that as I accomplish them, I will "cross them off" by blogging about each one. Some things might not be that interesting. Some things are rather simple. Some things will take a lot of time and effort to complete. The point is I made a list. And most likely I will be adding to the list faster than I can cross things off...but that's ok too. I like to think of it as dreaming big...having high hopes :) I've started on one of the first things, and I will be sharing that here when the time comes. It's sort of a surprise for Justin, too...so I can't exactly post a picture and write about it here or he will see it before he gets home.

Until then.
Peace, Love and To-Do's

My Birthday, Part Dos

This, my friends, is what greeted me at my front door this afternoon. How sweet...Flowers, a cake, and most importantly ice cream! Oh no wait, that was second most important. MOST important was my handsome, most thoughtful husband!

This is a self-portrait...
Notice how half of Alana's head is chopped off!

The McKinneys plus Andrea came over to celebrate with us and help eat the cake and ice cream! It is Jeremy's birthday on Monday, so I thought we could have a joint party until I saw the cake said "I love you"...and that blew that out of the water :) I'm sure Justin does love Jeremy too, though haha.

I had 7 candles. Don't ask...Well you can ask, but ask Justin.

Andrea, Jeremy and Angie

I really had a great birthday this year! I think it's been the longest celebrated one so far anyway...I have the most amazing family and the best friends a person could ever ask for! Thank you all for being so great! Also, one of the biggest highlights of my day was when I got call from Mindy :) :) :) I've missed you, friend!

I'll leave you with another one of my highlights...seriously...moments like these are what makes life worth living! And all I can say is the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...


Peace, Love and Beatgirls xo

The Start of my 30th Year...

Happy Birthday to me! I know my mom for one is loathing the thought of me turning 29, but I get a kick out of telling her that today is the start of my 30th year of life! (Makes her feel older than it makes me feel) I am embracing it, because every birthday I have equals successful survival of yet another year :) We have been celebrating my birthday all week, really. It started on Saturday when I came home and saw this on the table...(Justin takes pride in the fact that his coloring is ALMOST as good as Alana's)

I didn't open them until Sunday after church! We had a "party" at the McKinneys. Jeremy made ribs and they were SO good! It was a day of fun and food and football, and most importantly friends!!!

Then yesterday, there was a knock on my front door...And to my surprise, came a cookie bouquet from my mom! Alana has already eaten one of these yummy treats, but mainly just the icing and not the actual cookie.
And then there's today...My actual birthday...



Thank you to all of you who have sent me birthday wishes and cards and gifts...I am a lucky girl, I mean old lady! And I'm sure the celebration is yet to be over!

Peace, Love and Lots of Candles xo

There are No Words

I've been struggling with what to write or whether to even write at all regarding yesterday's election. You know the old saying, "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all"? While I smile at the great strides that the United States has made in electing our first African American president...I cry on the inside because of what he stands for (or doesn't). I am fearful of what this means for our future, especially when it comes to the military. I have family and friends who voted for Obama, and while I respect their right to vote for who they choose, I really hope that their decisions bring more than regret. There is no doubt our country is about to experience change. I just pray with every ounce of my being that the change is for the better. One thing brings me peace and that is knowing Who my Master is...and no election can change that!

Peace, Love and Hope xo

Pray

Update: I voted. I did. It was the easiest ballot I've ever cast :) It took all of 3 minutes! The first polls are closing now and I will most likely be glued to CNN for the remainder of the night!


I encourage everyone to take at least a minute today to pray for our country...not to pray for a certain candidate to be elected, just for the future of the United States. I know I'll be waiting in poll lines today!!!

God Bless the USA :)