Three of My Favorite Voices

This morning I was listening to You Make Me Feel So Young with Ella and James and hearing Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra made me want to hear this song again. It had been awhile. Don't be scared off by the dialogue; the song is in English. It makes me want to buy KJ a hat to go with his tux.

Another Health Update

This morning we are all awake, and three out of four of us would really benefit from some more sleep.  We all went to church yesterday morning, and I thought we were home-free in the stomach virus department, but now I am not so sure.  James threw up a little yesterday afternoon and had a nasty diaper later on last night.  I was prepared for a night of more incidents like this, but nothing happened.  He did wake up at 4:30 crying, but he did that yesterday morning, too.  And sadly, we were unable to successfully put him back to bed.  He just sat in his bed and cried, so we finally got up with him at 6:45.  Listening to my baby cry in his bed makes me feel so awful, but later on James usually proves there was absolutely nothing wrong with him.  He is the biggest stinker.  He has been a singing, blue-eyed angel since we got up with him.  He never acted like he felt sick last night, either, but I will just keep watching him. I am thankful he hasn't been sick since last night, but I do wish that boy would let me sleep.  I do not like starting my day at 4:30 a.m.  


KJ is still suffering, albeit very bravely without complaint.  One side of his face is pretty swollen with the sinus infection, and the shingles spread a little bit more.  He has also felt sick to his stomach, though no throwing up has occurred.  So now only Ella remains.  I don't feel like there is anything I can do but wash hands and spray Lysol and pray.  I remember a book that is still on my mother's bookshelf at home, The Stomach Virus and Other Forms of Family Bonding.  This is our family's first time to bond over a stomach virus.  So far I am thankful that I seem to have caught the worst of it.  Please pray for my family and me as I added another 2 hours to my "lost sleep bank" last night.


I just wanted to reiterate what a sweet stinker of a boy I have.  He is in the kitchen dancing to the music that comes on when he presses a button on a refrigerator toy.  Sweetest boy ever but the biggest stinker to wake up and cry for 2 hours in the early morning.

A Return to Health?

The great news is that I am finally feeling back to normal, and I am very grateful.  I was expecting to be feeling better yesterday but still felt sick to my stomach every time I ate.  I was surprised by how few calories my body could actually survive on.  The bad news is that KJ waited a little too long to start taking allergy medication and has the beginnings of a sinus infection, and shingles!  The good news is that he took my advice and went to the doctor this morning, "just in time" to quote her.  They gave him a steroid shot in each hip and a ridiculous amount of medicine.

I think it's safe to say that is the most medicine he has ever taken at one time.  (He also said this violated his HIPPA rights for me to post a picture of the medicine he was taking.)  We seem to be taking turns each week keeping the children away from one of their parents.  Ella's nose was a little stuffy this morning, and James' nose is still running a little bit.  We are normally a very healthy family, but this is apparently our week to be sick.  To everything there is a season.

Attack of the Stomach Virus

I thought I would take a break from watching internet television to write a blog post.  At approximately 3:17 a.m. on Wednesday morning I woke from a deep sleep feeling so sick.  About 30 minutes later my worst fears were confirmed:  stomach virus.  I hate stomach viruses.  Who doesn't?  There are many things about them that I could complain about but my number one complaint with stomach viruses is that for me, they always hit in the middle of the night.  So not only do I feel horrible, I am completely exhausted, too, and want nothing more than to just go to sleep.  Looking on the bright side, though, I did just have the thought that at least when viruses attacked in the middle of the night you were pretty much assured to be in your bed asleep and not out and about somewhere.  Ugh.  


So, yesterday I spent the day in bed dozing and watching t.v.  I felt too sick to read or even keep my eyes open for very long.  But I also got bored laying here in the silence so I napped to an old Doris Day movie.  There have been many good providences of the Lord to be thankful for yesterday, though.  Ella was spending the night with KJ's mom so she was already gone, and KJ was able to stay home and take care of James.  He was very tired, too, because he was awakened with me, but he kept James back in his room away from germs (hopefully), and I think they had a good day together.  The worst thing for me is hearing James whine and cry and feeling like I can't do anything about it.  But, if I can manage to turn off my mother's heart for a minute, I know he will be okay.  He whines when I'm around, too.  This virus also brought nursing to a sudden end.  I planned on quitting on Monday, but I didn't feel up to getting out of bed yesterday morning, and I really wanted to stay away from James anyway, so I guess that's over.  Sigh.  My baby is growing up and doesn't need me as much anymore.  I didn't have much strength to be sentimental about it yesterday, but maybe that was a good thing.  


This morning I woke up with a return of my appetite, but I was still running a low fever.  Ella is still at the Pugh's, and I suppose we will retriever her later this afternoon.  I earnestly pray that neither one of my children gets this because it was AWFUL.  

Ella's Party

We celebrated Ella's 4th birthday last night with her "family," who received hand-written invitations from her.  She was so excited getting ready yesterday, asking what she could do to help.  She insisted on setting the table before everyone got here and making seat assignments.  I think having her party after her actual birth day was a little confusing for her.  She asked me if she was turning 5.  She is very literal and didn't want me to call her the "birthday girl" anymore because it wasn't her birthday, so I had to use the phrase, "birthday party girl."  She's fun.  Right now she is sitting on the couch playing with her new V-Tech laptop she received from Debbo and B.P.  Other fun gifts included Spy Gear Walkie-Talkies from Uncle Jesse and Aunt Sandy, an apron from Aunt Katie (which she was super-excited about wearing when she helps me cook), beads to make bracelets and necklaces with (we've already made one of each), a new doll, puzzles, new dresses (one of which she is now wearing) and other games.  

With her newest aunt, Sandy

Cousin Claire

It was fun having two happy babies crawling around.

James and Claire are at that fun stage where they get excited when everyone else does.

I'm really glad Debbo thought to wash the crown and wand off.

Ella looked so lovely with them.

I love that smile of pure delight.

James and Claire really enjoyed pushing the buttons on the Toy Story game.

James guzzling B.P.'s tea

(Incidentally, Ella told me last night that "this tea is perfect.")

Wii Games

"My walkie-talkies are so cool, Mom."
- Ella Pugh -

Football Kickoff

I grew up in a family that loved Alabama football, but I regret to say (or do I?) that I care nothing about watching it.  If I am in a room with football on the television, I will stare blankly at it because everyone else is, but I am seeing nothing and my mind is a million miles away.  The only football games I have ever been emotionally or mentally involved with are the ones that took place in my backyard growing up.  I enjoyed playing tag football with my brothers and cousins in elementary school.  I liked to make up my own rules.  Like, if you come to tag me and I throw the ball in the air when your hands touch me and then I catch it when your hands are off of me, I'm not really down.  That never went over with my brothers for some reason.  


That being said, I will not really care about anything that happens on the football field this season.  I will probably not know any of the player's names (unless I start to recognize them after hearing people talk), and I will be spared any and all emotional angst that some of you will feel for the next few months.  I will rejoice with those who rejoice and be glad when Alabama wins.  I do have some family feeling after all.  And even though I don't know much at all about football, I will dress my children in these clothes people have bought for us and think that they are the cutest Alabama fans in Tuscaloosa.

Fun With the Girls

Today I had the pleasure of spending the morning with two very fun little girls.

I took Ella and Raine to a birthday party across town, and it was a special treat to listen to their conversation.  This was my first time to take Ella on a day outing with another girl close to her age, and I look forward to doing it over and over again in the coming years.  They were very sweet and polite to each other during the ride (reminding me of Anne and Diana when Diana came to tea) and had a lot of fun at the party, too.

Enjoying cake with London

(On a side note, I realized tonight that in the rush to pick up Raine and get to the party, I didn't fix Ella any breakfast.  She had cake for brunch, I guess.)

The girls really enjoyed playing in the Ramos's backyard.  It was a beautiful morning, and I was so thankful for the cold front that made it a pleasant experience to be outside again.

Ella and Raine were having so much fun together (and I was having so much fun being with them) that I called and got permission to take them out to lunch.  They split a kid's meal and played on the playground at Chick-Fil-A and were in every way a delight.

It was a joy to be with these precious girls today, and the rest of the day was just as refreshing.  Life seemed full of many blessings.  I am thankful for Christian friends and community and for two precious little girls who are having seeds of faith planted in them everyday.