Saturday Snapshot: "Chewy"

Okay, this sweet boy's official name is NOT "Chewy," but that is the nickname he has been given. There are several reasons why the ginormous, hairy Star Wars wookie inspired this name, but none of the reasons really reflect on the baby above sitting in my sink ~ so, we won't go there today.

This is my adorable nephew Ike. His mom is "Aunt Haley," who opens her home and heart to my Abby each day while I'm at work. She is also the very same aunt who began calling our spunky diva-child "Abbylicious" ~ yes, the family loves nicknames. Anyway, back to Ike; he is kinda like a little brother to Abby. She loves, lOvEs, LOVES that boy!

I'm not gonna lie, he is a chub. He, in fact, could be the chubbiest of all adorable tykes in the history of tykes! He was a sumo wrestler for Halloween! It was hilarious ~ as well as amusing.
I'll have to get Haley to email a picture so I can post it for your viewing enjoyment.

Other things about Ike include: kissable cheeks, the new ability to crawl, the urge to chew or suck on anything and everything, a love to be held by his adoring mom, stinky diapers that Abby just LOVES to take out (NOT), patience ~ enough to withstand several cousins mauling and kissing him ALL of the time, and the fact that he brings love and happiness to anyone who has the opportunity to be around the little feller!

"Why was Ike in the sink?", you may ask. Well, before he could crawl, he'd roll from place to place. It was nearly impossible for his parents to set him down. Number one, he'd cry (SCREAM) because being a first born child, he was spoiled and used to being held 24/7 (No shame in this Haley, we've all done it). Number Two, if he wasn't crying, he'd roll around. The sink was used to contain Chewy for a period of time so that his parents could eat. Plus, it made a cute photo opportunity for all of the doting aunts with cameras.

We love this little guy and can't wait to hear his first words, see him take his first steps, and we are grateful for his place in Abby's days.

Random Thoughts We May Have In Common...

Why do so many of us overcommit and underachieve?
Is this why life seems like a race ~ without an end? :)
How is it that we can go to bed with a perfectly clean house and wake up to a giant mess?
Wouldn't it be cool if there was a pill, (kinda like the everlasting gobstopper on the retro Willy Wonka movie ~ except without turning into a blueberry) for dinner?
How did my mother raise SIX children?
Why is it that chubby thighs are so adorable on babies and not so adorable on grown women?
Isn't interesting that it is our first instinct to take food to those suffer tragedy or loss?
How come some people are so inspirational and positive, while others are down right mean?
Why is common sense so uncommon?

Is it possible to be exhausted and unable to sleep?

The world may never know... ;)

P.S. I am aware that I'm a bit silly, sarcastic, and even weird. I've accepted it and share it with you at no extra charge.

Counting Blessings

Today we are counting our blessings. Over the weekend, my darling nephew fell and was taken via life-flight to Primary Children's Medical Center due to a head injury. I'm sure my sister will post the whole sorted tale on her own blog, I can only tell you my own version. I work a little part time job once a month at a clothing store (I'm a self-confessed material girl as you well know by now! THE DISCOUNT!). I was just arriving (along with a good friend who also enjoys a discount) to begin my 9:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. shift when I got a call from my husband. He explained that Bop (nickname) had fallen off of a chair at a furniture store and was in the hospital because he had fractured his skull and destroyed his eardrum. He said I needed to call my sister. I was in a panic...I got off the phone and immediately dialed my sister's number. I was so glad I have her on speed dial because my hands were shaking, and I was scared, worried, and hopeful all at the same time. I heard her voice and knew it wasn't good. She told me that he would be taken by plane to Primary Children's and that her husband was just preparing to leave to make the drive so that he could be there shortly after she and Bop arrived. I wanted to leave my friend, skip my shift, and race to Idaho Falls. However, Sarah told me that she thought they would take off before I could get there. They didn't. It took two and a half more hours to get her to the airport to board a small plane to transport her baby to the hospital. I'm sure it seemed longer for her. I arrived home around 3 a.m. and planned to sleep until 7 and then drive to the hospital with my husband. I called and Dirk had a positive report and said that the doctors thought that they may release Bop later that day. I then spoke to Sarah and she sounded so much better. A few hours passed and I called again for a report. Sarah told me that there was spinal fluid leaking from his ear and that they planned to do what would be a third CT-SCAN. She was worried, as we all would be, about the radiation from the scans, the fluid, and various other things that weren't quite right. A major worry was that he could not hold his little head up or control it properly. The doctors did assure her that it was probably a side effect from the ear injury. He had fractured the temporal bone, which amazingly enough happens to be one of the strongest bones in the body. I couldn't wait around...we took the girls to my mother-in-law and headed to SLC. (My parents were already there.) It was nice to have an afternoon alone with my husband as we drove, but I was worried and needed to be with my sister. When we arrived, I was relieved to see him. He was pale and looked thin ~ and he was a little grumpy as his head ached and he hadn't slept enough, but he was our Boppy. They joked that he should now have the nickname Bobble Head...we could joke now that they were told they were in the clear. I got to hold him and read him some stories. I was so impressed that he was as sharp as ever and had perfect comprehension! He did throw up on me, but I didn't mind a bit as long as he was doing better. We were trying to stay to hear what the doctor had to report back from the CT-SCAN that he'd had that morning. We stayed a few hours and then when we realized that they had over 7 traumas come into the hospital, we decided we'd better head home. I guess as soon as we left they had a code blue, Sarah will have to explain that one. Anyway, Michael and I felt so much better, we went to dinner together, and drove home (well, Michael did ~ I couldn't stay awake!).
Early this morning the fluid stopped coming and he was given the okay to head back home. In the hours that he's been here, he has improved immensely! He is holding his head up, talking, and doing the worm crawl to get around. We are so grateful for the prayers said in his behalf and know that this contributed to his speedy recovery. We will continue to pray for his wounds to heal and for his hearing to be okay in the coming weeks. However, we are counting our blessings tonight for a little boy who we love.

(Michael and B are buddies who love to play together...)

No Sweets for the Sweetie

Isn't it beautiful? A candy buffet...but you can't have even one piece!

My oldest was inspired by her cousins (actually MY cousins, her 2nd cousins) from Utah. They have pledged to go off of sugar for one year and in return they will receive 1,000 smackeroos. You are either thinking, "WOW! That is a lot of money!" or "WOW! No sugar??? No Trix, no syrup, no ice cream, no cake, no candy, no pop, NOTHING!" So, Olivia came to us wondering if we'd strike a similar bargain. We offered half the amount, and she agreed. It is important to note that she will have 3 or 4 free days ~ like her birthday (we aren't completely heartless). I underestimated her resolve. She is so determined to keep her promise to herself. At first the draw was the $$$, but now it is becoming about goals, better self-esteem, and proving herself to...herself. We are so proud of her.

I thought I'd try to be supportive...

I lasted two days.

Now I just try to limit myself and try to show support by not indulging in her presence.

Interesting fact (tainted by sarcasm): sugar is in nearly EVERYTHING ~ it's all in the math! Note to my sweetie, only 350 days to go!!!

P.S.

A friend of mine said,"Remember when we were kids and sweets, candy, etc. were indulgences ~ actual treats? Now we are paying our kids NOT to indulge because we are so outta control? What is going on?" First of all, we are now beginning thoughts with, "When we were kids..."; second, she is RIGHT!; and third, Remember when we were kids and there was not a McDonald's in town and it was a special occasion to get a happy meal? These spoiled whipper snappers of today! :)

My Baby Isn't a Baby?

How depressing is it when you realize that your baby is no longer a baby? Being plagued with infertility and complicated pregnancies, I'm so grateful for my two beautiful girls. However, knowing that you'll never experience the miracle of bringing a spirit into your family again is heartbreaking. I had to have a hysterectomy the year I turned 30 and my baby turned 1 year. I felt at peace with it then, and I still do...but my youngest just turned 5. This was hard for me because it hit me that life is racing by. Next fall she'll board the bus and head off to kindergarten. I had a hard time with each of these milestone's with my oldest because I'd waited so long to have her that I wanted time to stretch, but I was comforted in KNOWING (another story for another day) that there was another child who would eventually come to live with our family. And now there are no more babies in my home, but Abby will always be my baby girl, just like Liv will always be my first gift from heaven.

So yes, Abby had a birthday. It was complete with a family pizza party at Leo's, a beautiful princess castle cake made by Grandma Becky,and tons of fun gifts from her sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins...and her parents.Abby ran and giggled and played; she enjoyed turning 5. I enjoyed it with her, but later I cried. I was happy for who she is, for the opportunity to help shape her into who she will be, but I was sad because my baby isn't a baby. Maybe the tears were a little because I've yet to shed the baby weight! Now that IS depressing. (Ha, ha, you are supposed to laugh at my lame attempt at humor here...)

Do you think she has to turn 6? ;)