Easily Entertained

Most afternoons Katherine is pretty clingy to me. She is definitely going through a mommy-phase right now.  Usually she wants me to hold her or play with her as soon as we get home until after we eat supper.  This makes cooking the actual supper fairly difficult.  Today she happened to be entertained by the laundry hamper and a trash can.  She pushed them all around the house including the back porch.  She would take the trash can in and out of the hamper. She would get so mad when the hamper would not go over door ledges, etc.  This did allow me to cook supper without her holding on to my leg the entire time which was a nice change.

Uh-Oh We're In Trouble...

Yep, that is the American Girl catalog that Katherine is drooling over!  Since the Easter Bunny brought a new outfit for Bitty Baby the mail lady seems to bring a new catalog a couple of times a week.  Katherine loves it!  She gets so excited and looks at it page by page oohing and ahhing over everything.  I know he will hate me saying this one day, but Luke likes to look at it, too.  Today he picked out something "for Katherine's birthday" to which he added "but, she will have to share with me won't she mommy".  Ummm...sure....

So, I guess we have officially entered the baby doll stage.  I understand this can last for years -- if it lasts as long as Luke's infatuation with Thomas the Train has any purchase made will be a good investment!

Rugby!

Troutt Family Photo

Katherine got the good end of this deal

Jon taught Luke how to hike

Luke earned the name "Mountain Man"

Dinner by candlelight

We had an absolutely marvelous day in Rugby! The weather was beautiful - a little on the cool side, but perfect.  It has been so relaxing. Everyone went on a hike and insisted on Paul and I staying at the house to rest and take a break.  We did just that.  Paul's back has flared up again, so he is trying to take it easy.  I took advantage of the quietness and took a nap.

By all accounts Luke is a natural when it comes to hiking.  Everyone said he did great and loved it.  Katherine rode on Pop's back the whole time and dozed off and on.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by Jim and Claudia tonight.  The girls made a great cake that we all devoured before going to bed.  We are planning to eat a late breakfast at the local restaurant before heading home tomorrow.

Getting Out of Town

We have had our weekend getway with the Troutts planned for awhile now.  We have wanted to go to Rugby for a long time.  The Troutt's friends own a house there and it is lovely!  Paul and I went once several years ago and really enjoyed it.  We got on the road tonight after work.  We put both kids in their pj's because we knew it would be bedtime when we arrived.  They both slept most of the 2 1/2 hours there which was nice.  Luke went to bed with Bill and Paula pretty quick after we got there.  Katherine would have nothing to do with it and ended up staying way past her bedtime while Paul, Jon, Kristen and I stayed up chatting.  We really didn't worry about it too much since we have absolutely nothing that we have to do tomorrow and that is what I am looking forward to most!

The House That Built Me

Since the contract was put on Mom's house a month ago the award-winning Miranda Lambert song has had a new meaning to me.  Although we have encouraged Mom to sell her house for years, now that it is actually here it is pretty hard.  I know it is "just a house", but it was more than that for me.  It is the only house  I remember living in although I lived in two others before we moved to 1237 when I was three.

It was where I learned to ride a bike by Dad pushing me down the hill in the back.  It was also home to our first pet - Lucky - who "wasn't very Lucky".  She was ran over the first week we had her.  We had many Girl Scout functions there when I was growing up including the annual Halloween party as well as having an 18-wheeler full of cookies back down the driveway every winter.  Memories were made with my childhood friends from playing HillTop daycare with Suzy to making the walk through the neighbor's yards and up the hill to her house to hide-and-seek.  Then came my Sweet 16 Birthday party where my parents and friends went all out with a 50's sock hop theme complete with a DJ, homemade burgers and milkshakes.  The driveway was home to my first kiss and the "garrett" became a favorite high-school hang out for all my friends.  Fellow band members hung out their on Friday nights before football games.  There were many slumber parties and pick up basketball games.

When I went to away to college I loved coming home on the weekends and smelling something yummy cooking in the kitchen.  I remember the December after dad died putting garland on the front porch and telling Mom that Dad should be pulling in the driveway any minute.

After I finished Graduate School at Auburn I moved back home and got my first job.  I actually stayed there until Paul and I married in 2005.  We have wonderful memories from holidays and special events.  1237 will always hold a special place in my heart, but know that it is not just the house, but the people you love that make you who you are.  We are looking forward to making many more memories in Mom's new place....

Crazy Monday!

Katherine chose to wear Luke's apron and her rain boots to help me clean tonight!

Paul's back is not much better.  He was home all day and spent the majority of it in bed.  He called and talked with the doctor's office and the prescribed him oral steroids in addition to the nasal spray and muscle relaxer.  He seemed some better by the time the kids and I got home after 5 tonight. 

Mom was supposed to close on her house today and purchase her new home, but it didn't happen,.  I can't even begin to understand, much less explain what happened.  Bottom line is some piece of paper was not filled out in a timely manner so it is going to delay the selling of her house until Wednesday at the earliest.  Andrew and I are furious, but mom seems to be taking it all in stride.  We see the end in sight -- it is just taken us longer to get there than we thought.  Hoping that she will be settled in her new place by the end of the week!

My boss returned to work today after being off with an injury for 3 months.  Hoping work starts calming down as well.  I am mentally and physically exhausted from everything that has been going on at work and our lives lately!  This mama needs a break!

He is Risen!

The Bunny Came!

The kids scoping out their gifts

Katherine got a new outfit for Bitty Baby

Luke needed some help getting his bike helmet on

Sibling love?!?!

Katherine was not a happy camper last night.  She woke up around midnight and would not go back to sleep.  This has not happened since she was tiny.  Paul went to her first, but then I ended up staying up with her for almost 2 hours. She did not want to get in her bed or rock.  I walked around the house with her.  It brought back memories of the newborn days.  We finally laid down in Luke's bed and she went to sleep.  So, it was after 7 this morning before we got up!  We were running late.  The kids looked at their bunny stuff.  Luke got a bike helmet, a baseball, glove, Lego firetruck set and a few other things.  Katherine got some books, an outift for bitty baby, sunglasses and some Hello Kitty sippy cups.  We quickly got ready for church after we ate.  The 830 service was packed!  I was not expecting that big of a crowd at the early service.  The message was wonderful!  We really do enjoy Bruce.  He always offers messages from a perspective I have never heard before. 

Paul and I taught our Sunday School class.  We went from having 2 kids to 13 in less than 5 minutes.  It was kind of hectic, but overall the kids did well.  After church we met Nonna at Cracker Barrel.  I was really wanting a traditional Easter meal and we figured that was as good a place as any.  Luke went home with Nonna while the three of us went home for naps before going to Nonna's to finish the last minute packing!

While we were home Paul piddled outside -- washed the cars, sprayed the weeds, etc.  Somehow he aggravated his back injury.  We went on to Mom's but he was in severe pain.  He basically laid in the floor and could not do anything.  Our evening of packing was cut short.  He still had a prescription for an anti-inflammatory nasal spray the doctor gave him a few weeks ago.  We ran home to get it and called around to find a pharmacy that was open and had the med in stock. It is a new med on the market and it isn't available everywhere.  We ended up at the Walgreen's on Charlotte Pike and White Bridge.  Paul was in agonizing pain on the way down there.  It was 7 o'clock by this time and we had not had supper.  We grabbed a bite while we waited on the script to be done.  There is no way Paul will be able to work tomorrow.  He can hardly walk.  He took a dose as soon as we got it.  I am hoping it provides some instant relief. 

Easter Happenings

Pop read the Easter story from the Gospel of Luke

We were so glad Memaw and Kitty were with us!

Katherine loved the watermelon!

Luke spent about 30 minutes "digging a tunnel"

The kids (and adults) enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt

Today was busy!  I started off by getting a hair cut that was long overdue.  I headed to work after that with great intentions of playing "catch up" with all the paper work I am behind on. The hospital census had another thing in mind.  I had 17 patients to see which is about what I average on a week day!  Needless to say I was tired when I left there around 4 to go to the farm for Easter.  Paul had the kids all day.  They came to Gallatin after lunch. 

It was a beautiful day and perfect weather for an egg hunt.  The kids loved it.  Katherine knew what to do since the kids had an egg hunt at school on Thursday.  She just isn't quite as fast as everyone else, but she still managed to get several.  She and Luke took turns pushing the bubble lawnmower.  It is a favorite every year!  We grilled burgers for supper and had the first homemade ice cream of the season!  After supper we worked on our plans for the family weekend in Rugby that is coming up! 

We left in time to get the kids in bed at a decent time.  Both fell asleep on the way and didn't give us any trouble when we put them down.  This Bunny has been busy and didn't have time to get everything for the kids baskets, but they will love them just the same!

Our Cleaning Lady and Some Easter Eggs

The kids illnesses were short-lived, thank goodness!  Katherine actually did not run much of a temp after Sunday night.  We did stay home Monday and had a good day.  Luke was definitely back to normal.  He wanted to be entertained all day. We watched a little more TV than I like to, but I figured we don't get to do it often.  I ended up being able to be off all day.  I had planned to go in when Paul could come home.  But, one of the other girls was working Monday on something else and she called and offered to work for me when she found out the kids were sick.  It worked out perfect.  I will just work the remainder of the week and Saturday.

After supper tonight we tried to get the kitchen cleaned up.  Katherine wanted the broom to sweep, then the mop to scrub the floors. She would get so mad when the broom wouldn't "go" on the rugs.  She still loves to clean!  We dyed some eggs tonight.  Nothing fancy -  just the $1 PAAS kit.  The kids loved it!

A Supper Date In Spite of Two Sick Kids

Luke woke up in the middle of the night saying he hurt.  He kept pointing towards his throat/chest area.  We weren't really sure what was wrong with him.  He stayed up for a little bit.  We let him get in bed with us and he immediately threw up.  That was the first of many "spit ups" as he calls them.  We finally just put a bowl by him on the floor.  I felt awful for him.  He would cry and say it hurt and he needed to "spit up" but he couldn't.  This went on all night. I called the Sunday School Class coordinator early this morning and left her message that we would not be there to teach our class.  He was pitiful and I was quesy, too.  It doesn't help that I absolutely can not stand puke!  Poor Paul, I made him clean most of them up. 

We pretty much laid around all day.  Katherine had a Daddy Date this afternoon.  She and Paul went to the new Sam's Club and to Nonna's new condo in preparation for her walk through tomorrow morning.  Luke perked up mid afternoon after a bath. He was more like himself and even wanted to go outsie and play on the jungle gym.  Paul came home and said we were going to eat at Bill and Paula's for supper.  After Katherine woke up from her nap we thought she felt warm.  Took her temp and it was 101.5.  For whatever reason we decided to go on to Gallatin.  There is something about the farm that makes them feel better. Luke seemed almost like himself and Katherine was happy as could be.  Since I knew we could not send Luke to school Monday I decided to stay home with both of them.

Divide and Conquer

Luke had a birthday party at Hoppity Hop again today.  Children's birthdays are kind of awkward situations.  If the sibling is not on the invite do you take them anways or not?  So far, we have not taken Katherine to the parties Luke has been invited to. So, Paul took Luke to Rylee's birthday party while Katherine and I did things at the house before going to Mom's for the afternoon.  Things are coming along nicely there.  We got a lot done, but still have quite a bit to do. Luke had fun and Paul said he was well behaved.  That is always my fear that he is going to act like a wild child!

Waiting for Daddy

The kids love watching for Paul to get home!  They especially like the weather being so warm and the windows being open. They were watching for Paul and then suddenly he was behind them in the window! 

Today was productive for me.  I hit a great consigment sale in Hendersonville.  Katherine is modeling one of the cute outfits I found for her - a Kelly's Kids two piece set for $10!  I got her several cute thing - a patriotic monogrammed dress, the applique set,  cute cardi with tags still on and some play clothes. Not as much luck with Luke.  I did luck up on a barely worn pair of Sperry sandals and some navy Keds for $4.  I also bought flowers for the cemetary for Mom to take this weekend, filed our taxes, did 5 loads of laundry and cleaned on the house some.  Not sure what I would do without my Wednesdays off!

Alot of Time at Nonna's

 

Mom's closing day is approaching quickly.  We have been spending a lot of time over there and this weekend was no exception.  Andrew came in for the weekend to help.  I think he was a bit overwhelmed when he got there!  We have been working diligently but there was stuff everywhere. We got  a lot done in the garages and some inside.  Several trips to Goodwill and the dump were made.  It was hard for all of us to work because the kids wanted to be right in the middle of everything. Paul hurt his back at work last week and he is unable to lift anything.  He is in horrible pain, especially when he first gets up in the morning.  He went to the doctor and got a muscle relaxer but it is nor providing much help.  So, Mom had some guys she works with to come and help us load up furniture.  Mom's dining room suite, treadmill and grill got moved to our house.  A bedroom set is going back to Florida for Andrew and Mandi.  The house is starting to echo now -- very strange!

Andrew wheeled Luke around the two-wheeler and of course Katherine had to do it, too!  We were so glad to have Andrew's help!  The next time he comes in town Mom will be in a new place!

Morning With Mom!

Note the towel on her head - and yes, I took her in to the school like this!

Last night right at bedtime Katherine threw up.  And then she threw up again, and again, and again.  She didn't not act like she felt bad, no diarrhea and was not running a temp.  We had not heard of any stomach bugs going around and all of us were fine.  After we got her bathed for the last time and put to  bed around 9 she did ok until about 3 when she threw up a tiny bit again.  I knew she could not go to school so I started trying to figure out what we could do.  When she woke up she was fine!  Happy and babbling like always.  Paul and I really think it was something she ate.  It was so hot here this weekend that I wonder if her milk got too warm in a sippy cup.  Since it did not appear to be viral Bill and Paula said they would love to keep her for the afternoon.  So, I went to work around noon and worked for a few hours.  Paul was not able to get Luke picked up from school in time so I rushed out of work to get her picked up and to the school before they closed.  Whew!  What a day.  At least our baby girl is back to normal!

A Night without Brother Bear

When we got home from school Monday Luke asked if he could call Nene and Pop.  He dialed the number with some help from me.  The first thing he said when Paula answere the phone was "Nene I want you and Pop to come pick me up from school tomorrow so I can spend the night with you".  After they talked for a few minutes he handed the phone to me.  She asked if I minded if he spent the night on a "school night".  It certainly does not bother me!  So, we made plans for them to pick both Katherine and Luke up from school and take them to their house yesterday afternoon. 

I stopped by after work and picked Katherine up.  She had time to play before I got there.  Luke was helping Bill fertilize the yard.  The afternoon was absolutely beautiful.  Paula and I enjoyed sitting in the swing for a while before Katherine and I left.  It was strange only having one kid home last night.  I thought we might do something special with Katherine, but we didn't. We just enjoyed spending some one on one time with her and we think she liked the extra attention!

Luke had a blast on his overnight.  They went to eat at Pot Hog for supper, stayed up late playing and then he went to school late this morning! 

Weird Fashion

I had to work this morning.  It is still unseasonably warm here.  Paul and Luke went to get ready and he came back dressed as a redneck -- complete with sandals, cut off jeans and white socks!  He thought he was quite funny!  Katherine has a thing for keeping something on her head.  Most of the time following a shower or bath she insists on keeping her hooded towel on.  Sometimes she even goes to bed with it --  I know, I know not a good thing -- wet towel, wet head, etc. 

Bubba's socks

Both kids love to mess up all the clothes while I am folding them.  Tonight Katherine insisted on putting on Luke's socks - two different ones!  She is still very much in to clothes, shoes and hats!  She is all girl!  She also gave us quite a surprise when she started using the potty a couple of weeks ago!  She got the potty we used for Luke out of the bathroom closet and started sitting on it.  One night she was sitting on it and Paul yelled across the house to me to tell me she used it!  She takes her diaper off by herself and just goes about her business.  She seems to prefer to sit on the regular toilet with the potty ring on it.  She has actually pooped in the potty, too!  I told Paul it is bad but I wasn't really planning on encouraging this already, but it seems as though she has other things in mind!  We are proud of her!

Our First Goose Egg

We had another first in the Troutt house tonight.  We were all upstairs and it was almost bedtime.  I asked Katherine if she wanted to go take a bath. She took off down the stairs.  A few seconds later we heard a thud and Katherine screaming.  I rushed down the stairs to see her by the door.  I scooped her up and just held her for a few minutes.  When I pulled her away from me I couldn't believe what I saw -- a huge knot protruding from her temple.  I completely panicked and said we needed to take her to the ER!  I ended up calling the on-call service for our pediatrician.  They called back immediately and I explained what happened.  Much to our relief she told us she should be fine.  By this time Katherine was giggling and reading a book with Paul.  She said it was just a goose egg and old us what to watch for.  It would be ok if she vomited once, but if she vomited twice we were to take her to the ER for a concussion.  She said we did not need to keep her up any longer than normal and to try to stick to her routine.  We debated abut letting her sleep with us, but we decided against it.  Instead, I got up every couple of hours to check on her. 

I have definitely placed more calls to the after hours pediatrician already with Katherine than we ever have with Luke!  I was just glad to know that it was nothing to worry about, even though it looks awful!