Suck It Up, Buttercup

I'm not sure why, but my pain level has really increased since the day after Christmas. Before Christmas, my pain level stayed at a consistent 2/10 and would intermittently shoot up to a 5/10. Now, I'm experiencing a consistent 5/10 pain level with it, very often, rising to a 7/10.

I consider myself to be a tough girl but geez....this is a little hard to bear. I've tried icing, heating, resting, medicating and some of that helps but not for long. I inquired with my hip specialist about getting another steroid injection before surgery but he nixed that idea. Long-term steroids decrease the immune system and prevent healing so, with surgery coming up soon, I need to hold off on that. They are calling me in an anti-inflammatory so I'm hoping that will help.

I could do surgery sooner but I held off because I have a cruise scheduled with my mom, SIL and MIL. My MIL, affectionately known as "Grissom", is 82 years old and has traveled very little in her life. Joseph and I have tried to take her to as many different places as possible while she can still travel. We've done the beach and the mountains....but a cruise to Mexico....YEAH! I told my doctor that I couldn't do surgery until after the cruise. I'm not sure I will have another time to take her while her health is good.

Until then, the doctor's assistant said to rest my leg. Ha! Yeah right! With 4 kids....that's funny.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow--have we been busy! Here's a short (or long) run down of the last couple of weeks...

It started with a family reunion (my Papaw's side). This family reunion always includes lots of music! This is my dad and Papaw pickin' and grinnin'. (That's a southern sayin from Hee Haw in case you didn't know.)

Here is my Papaw and his brother. They are the only 2 left of all their brothers and sisters.

Here is my husband and nephew playing around.

Me and my youngest

After the reunion, it was back to Papaw & Mamaw's house for some fishing fun!

On Thursdays, my oldest goes to the library for story and music time with Mother Goose. Mother Goose is a lady from our town who dresses up, reads stories to the kids and has music time with them! My daughter ADORES going to see Mother Goose! Last Thursday, the children dressed up in their Halloween costumes. We don't celebrate Halloween but thought it would be fun to dress up anyway. Here is Tinkerbell!!:)
Here is Tinkerbell...along with a fireman, Thomas the train, a cheerleader, a football player, a ladybug and Mother Goose (in the back)!
Then, this Saturday, we went to see the Doodlebops in concert! This was my oldest's first concert! It was a lot of fun!

Here is Grandpa and Grandma (my parents) with my oldest at the concert!

Here's my husband, my oldest and myself!

Yesterday, while home by ourselves, I decided to take my girls to a pretty part of the subdivision and get some pictures.


It's been a fun couple of weeks!

BTW, I posted a new recipe on my recipe blog. My family really liked it! It's a keeper!

Vacation Pictures

We had a wonderful time at the beach! We were blessed to be asked by Jenny's family to go with them to Orange Beach, AL! We had the best time! Here are a few pics:

Here's my oldest and Jenny's youngest being buried in the sand.

Here's my oldest with Jenny's dh and my husband at Lambert's. Oldest getting ready to go to the "Big Water"

We were definetly not ready to come back to "real life"!

Football, Dedication and B-day Cake

Wow--was that an exciting game or what!!! My husband & I went to the Alabama vs. Arkansas game Saturday night! I couldn't have asked for a better game for his birthday. It was a nail-biter all the way down to the last 8 seconds when Alabama scored the winning touchdown!

The next morning, our youngest was dedicated in church...

After church, we had her "one year old" birthday party"...

Enjoying pizza

Making a mess of her birthday cake

My oldest scarfing down pizza as fast as she can

Jenna and her husband, B.

Jenny and her husband, dh

It's Gonna Be A Busy Weekend!

Tomorrow is the big game!!! If you read my previous post, you probably already know that I bought my husband Alabama vs. Arkansas tickets for his birthday. He's a die hard Bama fan! The game isn't until 5:45 pm but we're going to the quad early to experience all the pre-game fun (food, games, music)! My favorite part is the Million Dollar Band. I was a band geek in jr. high and high school so I always look forward to that. Different sections of the band will be at different places on the quad playing before the game. Of course, I love when they play at half-time. I'm sure my friend, Jenny , is gagging right now over all this Bama talk since she is a die hard MSU fan.

After the game (which will be really late), my husband and I will be stopping by a friend's house from work to pick up my youngest daughter's b-day cake. Here is the picture I gave her to copy:

My youngest is being dedicated Sunday morning and then we are having her "1st" birthday party right after church! I'm looking forward to all this fun that we have planned!

BTW, my friend, JennaG , has a birthday this Saturday! She is going to be........older than me. :) I wouldn't really tell her age. She actually shares a birthday with my husband. Go wish her a very happy birthday!!

This & That

Today has been a little frustrating for me. I enjoyed having my girls with me all day but I'm so tired of being sick. I've been having hot flashes all day, I'm clammy and I can't quit coughing. I'm not running fever--just feeling yucky. I enjoyed getting out by myself to go pick up Mexican food for our supper. I turned on our Christian radio station and it really lifted my spirits! I don't get much time alone, but when I do escape in my car by myself, I enjoy some good worship time.

My husband's birthday party was really fun! We enjoyed good times with friends and family. I'm including some pictures but they didn't turn out so well for some reason.

My husband and oldest blowing out the birthday candles! My husband requested a strawberry cake that my mom makes! It is absolutely wonderful! I have posted the recipe on my food blog in case you want to try it!

Opening some much appreciated cash for his birthday!

Opening a gag gift from Jenny and dh . The name of the book is "Walter the Farting Dog". There is an ongoing joke amongst our friends re: my husband's ***ahem*** digestive system. ***ahem***

Jenny smiling for the camera!

From left to right: Jenny, dh, my husband and JennaG . JennaG tried quite hard to avoid pictures but was ultimately unsuccessful!!:)

From left to right: my youngest, my SIL and JennaG's husband, B.

A very fuzzy picture of Jenny's dh and my husband enjoying some football and homemade ice cream.
My gift to my husband....2 football tickets to the Alabama vs. Arkansas football game next Saturday! We're really looking forward to that!!

Farkle, Farkle and More Farkle

We've had the best time playing farkle with our friends D. and Jenny and B. and Jenna. Last night, Jenny and Jenna's family went to a football game and, afterwards, we all got together to play farkle. We didn't even get to Jenny's house until 10:30 pm. Jenna's first comment as she walked in the door was, "I'm too old for this!" :) Personally, I always feel too old to do anything after 9:00 pm. Nonetheless, we had the best time. My plan was to sweep the games and declare them all losers but it didn't work out that way. My husband, Jenna and Jenny's son, T., won the games!

Of course, we had great food as well. Jenny made a dirt cake (minus the worms and bucket you see in the picture), Jenna brought chips, dip and cookies and my husband made hot corn dip.

We didn't get in the bed until 1:30 this morning. I woke up wishing I had taken my camera so I could share pictures with you! I'll do better next time! I promise!

Toddler Talk

A few comments from my oldest over the last couple of days:

Oldest: "Daddy, I'm sorry!" (apologizing for hitting someone)
Daddy: "Why are you sorry?"
Oldest: "Because I don't want to sit in time out!"

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We were laying in the bed and she put her hands on me and started rocking me back and forth.

Mommy: "What are you doing?"
Oldest: "I'm rocking you to sleep because you're so tasty."

Ok, I'm not sure what that means.

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Oldest: "Mommy, what are you doing?"
Mommy: "I'm taking *youngest's* temperature." (rectal temperature)
Oldest: " Do me!" (she says as she pulls her pants down, puts her head on the floor and bottom in the air)

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No More Monkeys Jumping On the Bed

My oldest daughter just upgraded from a toddler bed to a full size bed. I ordered new bedding for it and, as soon as I put it on, both our girls decided it was the perfect time to have a little fun jumping on the bed!

Birthday Party Pictures from the Weekend

Here are some pictures from my MIL's 72nd birthday party this weekend!

My grandmother and MIL

Here is my MIL--stylin' and profilin'

My youngest--stylin' and profilin'

Chocolate icing is just too much temptation for my oldest daughter

My niece acting normal

My niece acting goofy

My good looking husband about to chow down