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TWO BY TWO Jackson Gabrielle Connor Brady Cooper |
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Stories January 20, 2009 So far vacation has been great. We've just been spending time together. Gregg and Dixie wanted the kids to Build A Bear. They left the money and asked us to take them to the mall this week. We decided to do it yesterday. Memaw met us at North Pointe Mall. We had lunch at the Food Court and then built our bears. Jackson chose a dinosaur, Gabrielle a pink and white polka dot monkey, Connor a Jack Russell and the boys got two little monkies. They really enjoyed themselves and it was fun to get out. This was their first experience at Build a Bear. Thanks Gregg and Dixie! Sunday night Brad and I had a date. We went for coffee and then to the movie. We saw Defiance. It was wonderful. We really enjoyed ourselves. Brad suggested we work harder on having a date night each week. Of course, I was all for it. He's a good man! Papa and Uncle Norris are coming up this afternoon. I'll fix cheeseburgers for dinner. Tomorrow we have an appointment in Marietta with an accountant and we also want to visit a couple schools. Jackson will start kindergarten this Fall and we are very nervous about what avenue to take. Do we want to homeschool, private or public. I've found a school that is a private/parent led education. He would attend the academy 2 days a week from 9am-3:30pm. They work on literature, lan arts, math... etc. Then they send assignments for us to work on for the remaining hours that Georgia requires for homeschool. That way I know what ciriculum needs to be taken care of and I'll know we are on track. It sounds like a good option. We are just praying about it. Another school we are looking at is a private christian school. It's not too expensive and I've been impressed so far with what I've found on the internet. Parenting is full of hard decisions.
January 18, 2009 Some of our favorite people just left from a perfect surprise visit. Gregg, Dixie, Anna and Taylor decided on a whim to come see us. Actually I think they really wanted to see the kids and we just happen to be here! LOL We had so much fun laughing and being silly. They got here about 6:30pm Saturday evening and just left at 4pm Sunday. They gave the kids money to go Build a Bear tomorrow at the mall. Thanks so much, ya'll for a great time. The only thing that would have made it better would be if Patti could have come, too. Brad is on vacation all week. We are looking forward to staying home and doing some fun stuff together. One day, Susan and I are going to take some time for ourselves. I want to do a little shopping, lunch and maybe a pedi or a movie or BOTH! Kids are starting to get restless. I better go now.
January 16, 2009 Okay Mom... you've complained enough about my green background. I changed it just for you. Is this better? Sooooo, Brad took his boards today. He called me at 11:30am and when I saw his phone ring I almost peed my pants because I thought something was wrong or he didn't have what he needed to take the test. No, none of that. It was MR Cool Calm and Collected telling me he had completed the test. They allow 7 hrs but he was able to finish it in 3 1/2. I was so relieved. He felt very confident and said he was not nervous at all. Thanks so much for all your prayers. I know ya'll prayed! Indy girls... Thanks! Memaw came over this morning and got the older kids. I ran to the grocery and did her shopping while the babies were napping and she watched the older kids. After I came back she headed to her house with the kids. They were so excited. I was nervous about sending them because all morning they had been fussing and fighting. She "says" that they have been fine but who knows? Brad and I took the babies to ChickFilA for lunch today and then ran errands. It was so nice and sooo easy with just the two of them. They knew that the others were not around. They played and laughed with us even more than normal. It was precious precious time. We all 4 met Grandpa, Memaw and the kids at Red Robin for dinner. It was a celebratory dinner for Brad's boards being over. I did so good with my menu choice. I had a Boca burger (that was truly wonderful) and a salad. I topped it off with a strawberry milkshake. Yeah, you read that right. I have regretted that all night. How long will it take me to Walk Away those Pounds? After dinner we came home and let the babies play. I captured some really sweet time on video. They were chasing each other around the island in the kitchen and just belly laughing. It was just too much to handle. Then they would wrestle each other. Literally, Cooper would get on top of Brady and Brady would continue to crawl carrying the weight of Cooper on his back and they would topple over each other. Ahhhhhh, I love those two! They love each other and really feed off one another. Gab and Con not so much really. Their relationship is more of a love/hate. Not so with Brady and Coopie. I can't wait to see them again in the morning.
January 15, 2009 Not much to post about today. Brad takes his boards tomorrow. It's a 7 hour written test. Please please say a prayer for him that he will retain the knowledge he has been studing. I did have a guy come by today to make a custom gate with ballisters so the babies can't tumble down the stairs. It locks and swings shut on it's own! Wonderful... One very funny thing. My friend Kim called today. I asked what she had been doing and she said, "I went with Don to a funeral." I said, "I'm so sorry. Who died?" She said, "I don't know who it was. Don was there to play Taps. I just went along because I HAD to get out of the house." I laughed my head off. I said, "You know you are a desperate Mommy when you go to a strangers funeral... just to get out of the house!"
January 14, 2009 Papa and Uncle Norris stayed again last night. I cooked a big dinner for them by their request. We had Ritz Cracker Chicken (PEC, your fav), hash brown casserole, green bean casserole, 2 cakes of corn bread, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. For dessert I made Uncle Norris' favorite... Red Velvet Cake. By the time American Idol was on I was pooped. Papa finished the dishes so I could enjoy my show. I love it! It gives me something to look forward to each week. A guilty pleasure. We went to the new ENT today and he agreed about the surgery. The lady who schedules the surgery will call me soon to get a date. Cooper seems a bit better but not very much. We are going to stop the antibiotics and give it a rest. It's not doing any good anyway. Poor Brad is going to kill himself preparing for the board exam. It reminds me waaaaay too much of residency. I could puke thinking of those 4 years when he was home but not present. I hate it. I'll be so very glad when Friday is over and done with... so will he. I took the kids out for a little while today. It's cold but sunny and they needed to exert some energy but it didn't go the way I planned. I guess since they have not been out to play all winter they forgot what they are supposed to do. The hovered over me like a bunch of baby ducklings with a blank look on their faces. I had to shew them away and they just stood a foot further and stared at me! Finally they rode their big wheels a little and that was about it. Santa brought Connor a new big wheel because I had run over his old one. hehe I decided I would put it together while the kids were playing. I got it about a 1/4 done and threw it down. First of all it was clearly false advertising to write "Easy to Assemble" on the box. Oh my goodness... easy to assemble, my rear! Secondly, I missed the washer thingie and hammered my knuckle instead. I have to admit I thought some very bad words at that moment. I held my tounge... almost biting into is more like it. The kids are all in bed and I think I'll take a short nap, too. Connor is a good sleeping buddy. I'll crawl in bed with him. Memaw came over a little bit ago for a visit. She and Jackson are watching cartoons on the couch. It's special time for both of them. Indy girls... enjoy your snow! I actually miss it. Here in GA we thought we were going to freeze our toes off when it was a low of 26 and a high of 47! There were "weather warnings" and "advisories" all over the news. Soooo funny! We are going to drop down to a low of 11 and high of 33 one day this week. We better hunker down!
January 12, 2009 We spoke to the ENT today and he agreed that Cooper would benefit from having tubes in and adenoids out. We should find out a surgery date soon. I really hope this is our answer. The ENT's office was so boring. The guy must be some kind of PETA, animal conservation type dude. His waiting room was full of strange maps and stuff. The television was playing a documenary on the mating rituals of the Long Horn Ram and the Flat Belly Ground Hog. (I made that last one up but it sounded good, huh?) Did you know that rams are not bullies? They will only head but a ram of equal or larger size... interesting? Ehhhh, yeah. That's what I thought, too. I came home and found Don pretending to be a Zombie (too much X Box) and chasing Jackson all around the basement. Once they left to go home I put all the kids down for naps. Then I put supper together. We are having Soutwest Pasta Bake. It's kind of like a lasagna only with penne pasta and it has a southwest flare of ingredients. It's really good. I have a warming drawer so I can cook supper when I have time and let it sit in the drawer till we are ready to eat. It's a luxury but really nice. When Connor woke up from his nap he was talking non stop about making a cake and licking it. I think he meant he wanted to lick the beaters? So I got my recipe box down and found a Chocolate Cake recipe that is Nancy's favorite. You actually make the batter stove top! Isn't that odd? Then you cook the cake. You also make the icing stove top and pour onto the hot cake. Oh my word!!!!! It is so sinfully good. I am going to allow myself ONE piece. The rest goes to the neighbors.
January 12, 2009 The weekend has been really rough. Cooper stopped running a fever yesterday but his ears are still hurting him, alot. He'll try to play for a minute and then he turns his head like he had a sharp pain and screams. We are leaving here in about 10 minutes to get Jackson and head to the ENT. Don is coming with Raigan and Chandler to watch the kids. Gabrielle and Connor are so excited to play. I've still been working out! I'm so proud of myself. I've really been trying to watch what I eat, too. I don't look any different but I feel different. I feel that little change in my body and in my mind when I deny myself somthing unhealthy to eat. I am just praying to get through each minute instead of getting overwhelmed with the whol picture. Time to get going. I'll update later on what the doc says.
January 10, 2009 Happy 5th Birthday, Grant!!!! Cooper is still feeling poorly. He ran a fever all night and his breathing was so fast and shallow. I was scared to death that he was going to quit breathing. I sat up with him in the chair for most of the night. He seemed to do better when he sat up. Around 4pm we moved to Gabrielle's bed and I proped him up with pillows. He was exhausted and so was I. Everytime I would watch him fall asleep he would bounce back awake and cry. Pitiful... really pititful. I gave him a couple breathing treatments, too. This morning he seemed to be better but by the evening he had a fever again. The older kids were at GG's last night. We were going to meet at Aunt Susan's for Grant's 5th Birthday party. Since Cooper felt bad and I was exhausted GG just took the kids to the party for me. It was a space party with a solar system cake that Susan made. I'll have to get pictures for the website. Grant is amazed by space. He's a smart kid. Jackson and Grant are 6 weeks apart so that means JR's birthday is coming up soon. He's decided he wants to have a Ninja party. He's knocked around the idea of a Tony Hawk skateboard party or a Pirate party, too. He's pretty stuck on the Ninja thing. Papa was in NC over the weekend. He talked my Uncle Norris into coming back with him for a week. They stopped by our house on the way home. The kids were glad to see Papa and it was great to see Uncle Norris. He gave me a dozen fresh eggs. He has chickens that he tends to and they produce the richest and tastiest eggs you've ever eaten. He feeds them good grain and they are cage free. All of that really makes a difference. Now ya'll know I'm a country girl when I boast about my Uncle's chickens! At 10pm I was almost ready for bed when Kim called and said, "Come over and work out with me. Let's do the Bender Ball." After I told her she was crazy I had her explain what a Bender ball was to me. It's a little resistance ball about the size of a volley ball. Like an idiot I said, "Okay" and we did a late night workout. It was a abs, hips and thighs workout. My legs feel like spaghetti. I need to lose fat before I can really do abs though. I gave it my best shot. I've been doing the Leslie Sansone "Walk At Home" video, too. I LOVE IT. Dixie had been telling me how wonderful the videos were and so I finally bought one. It's a good cardio workout and it's not complicated. I did not make a resolution to lose weight because I never lose the weight. It's just so happened that I've felt a little motivated. Hey, you gotta start somewhere!
January 9, 2008 What a night! Cooper woke at 1am. I went to check on him and he was burning up. The kind of hot you can feel before you even touch him. Poor baby, he was 103. He was miserable crying and looking at me like "Make this stop!" I walked the floors, offered a bottle, rocked, sang and walked the floors some more. I pumped him full of Motrin and Tylenol. At 2am I laid him back down. He slept for only an hour and a half and was back up in the same shape. We did this off and on all night. I had him at the doctor at 10am this morning and sure enough... double ear infections AGAIN. He has another antibiotic (which I hate) and has to start some breathing treatments for his cough. Praise God we are going to see the ENT on Monday. After only having about 3 hours sleep I had to get everyone fed and dressed. Put together a diaper bag and be out the door at 9:30am for Cooper's appointment. The thought of taking all 5 of them to the doctor was almost more than I could handle. I've done it a million times before and it's never a joyous time. The doctor and nurses always comment about how quiet they are but it just makes me a nervous wreck. I think it's the fact that all of us are tucked in that little room. The babies want to get out of the stroller and I hate to think of them on the floors. But I put that aside and just do waht we have to do to get through it. Papa and I were praying so hard before I got to the appointment for a quick and painless visit. It was and we were out of there in 45 minutes. After we left the doctor we headed to the pharmacy, dropped off the script, hit the Chick-Fil-A drive thru and then picked up the script. Came home, got everyone fed and then off to bed for naps. We were supposed to go to GG's today for lunch and I'd leave the kids. Obviously, all that changed. GG decided she would come out here first thing this morning to help me instead. Then she would take the kids back with her. On her way out here she had a flat tire! Are you kidding me? She took her car to the dealership and will get a loaner at 1pm. After that she'll head out my way and we'll just meet in the middle somewhere. Whewwww... is it time for bed yet?
January 8, 2009 I had GNO alone tonight but that was just fine with me. I had been wanting to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and knew Brad wouldn't like it. Tonight was my opportunity. I thought it was wonderful. Cate Blanchett confuses me though. I can't decide if I think she's really pretty or kind of akward. Anyway, I'm sure people could say the same about me. BUT there is no denying that Brad Pitt is pretty. I don't want to like him but darn it... I do. Don't tell Brad Harris I said that! Shhhh..... Today was a good day. The kids (for the most part) were well behaved and played well together. Cooper has had a bit of a rough evening. If I were a betting girl I'd say he has another ear infection. He and Brady have had colds but Brady seems to be getting over it just fine. Cooper on the other hand seems to be in pain. We have an appointment with ENT on Monday. I hope to get some answers then. Tubes? The older kids are going to GG's for the weekend. We packed their bags tonight and will head out in the am once we get up and moving. I told them they could take 2 toys with them to her house. They all fled to find which treasure they would take and came back with them in hand to pack in their bag. Jackson chose something I can't remember what exactly, Connor chose 2 Thomas the Trains and Sissy chose her Little Mermaid doll and lipstick. Once I put their toys in the bag Gabrielle pecked me on the leg and said, "Get my doll out of that bag. I decided I'm not going." I said, "Well Honey, why not? GG will be so sad. But if you don't want to go you don't have to." She then replied, "Well Mommy... unpack my bag!" She's insisting that she is staying with us. She told Brad tonight while applying her 14th coat of lipstick that she wasn't going to leave us and the boys could just go to GG's. I think she is very smart and knows this is HER opportunity for one on one time with Mommy and Daddy. We do have Ms. Janet coming over tomorrow afternoon. Since some of the kids will be at GG's Brad and I decided on dinner and a movie. Brad said the other day that he felt we really needed to make a point to have a date with each other every single week. Be still my heart... I love that man!
January 7, 2009 Two posts in one day? I know it's uncommon but I HAD to write this. All the kids got sent to bed early tonight because they decided to have a waterfight in the tub and soak the floors. As soon as they went to bed I headed to my guilty pleasure a.k.a "the tub." I sat there for almost an hour. After my moment of bliss I started folding laundry in the den while Brad is watching sports and studying at the same time. (Yes, he actually can do that) He has a vacation coming up in January and we've been talking about making some plans for he and I one night during that week. Every single day he comes home from work and says the same thing... "Hey Doll, you know what would be fun..." Without fail and I mean withOUT fail the words to follow are "let's go hunting or fishing." Tonight I had to drop the bomb! Brad: "You know what would be fun?" Dacia: "Let me guess, it starts with an H and ends with a G" Brad: "Yeah, let's go to Millen, just you and me and we can hog hunt" Dacia: "Oh that is sooo romantic. I think the smell of sewer gas that perfumes the house is just lovely. I can see us now just you and I tying that hog to a tree before we slaughter it thinking there's no other place we would rather be than together... in the woods... skinning a HOG! Brad, there are other things we can do together besides hunting" Brad: "Yeah, we could go fishing or quail hunting" Dacia: Laughing so hard I can't breath and might...oops DID... lose bladder control Brad: "I thought you loved to hunt and fish. You are not like most women" Dacia: "True, I do love those things but here's a news flash... I am still a woman" Brad: "Well, what do you want to do?" Dacia: "How about a bed and breakfast and then we just spend the day together doing nothing really. Just having lunch and talking and stuff. I don't know?" Brad: "Ughhh, that sounds awful." Dacia: Laughing... Laughing... Laughing "I have to go blog this!" Brad: "Dacia, NO!" Dacia: "Oh, it's just too good. I have to. I love you!"
January 7, 2009 It's 3:00pm and in my opinion the best part of the day. Everyone except Jackson is in the bed and I get a chance to either catch up on housework or take a nap myself. The day started at 7:00am when Cooper woke up, argghhh! Brad didn't have to leave super early today so he took bottle duty for the babies. I got myself ready, bed made and kids dressed. Once everyone had breakfast we were out the door. Brad took JR to school on his way to work. The rest of the kids and I went to run errands. Brad's cell phone has kicked the bucket so we went to get another. My Mom said it right... going to the phone store is about as irritating as going to the doctor. We had to wait FOREVER not to mention the Manager that was helping us was a smart mouth. The kids were getting restless and so was I. Finally an hour later we left the store with a new phone. Then I ran to Merle Norman to swap some makeup. The lady didn't understand what "in a hurry" meant. She kept pressing me for a makeover and asking me all kinds of skin care questions. Once I left there we headed to Woodstock, GA to run a couple errands there. Return a broken lamp and get our window shutter fixed. After that we headed to Memaw's in Alpharetta to feed babies, diaper and pick up Connor-Man. We missed him so much. Gabrielle especially. She just seemed lost without him. After we had Connor we ran back to Canton to pick up Jackson from school just in time. Finally, we had to go to Publix for some groceries. I would really rather have poked a needle in my eye than go grocery shopping but it had to be done. I was out of staples like ceral bars, oj and waffles. The kids will all out riot if we don't have waffles! At last we are home, groceries put away, kids down and brownies in the oven! I'm ready to crash...
January 6, 2009 Yesterday was a doozy. It started off tough and ended tough. Brady and Cooper both have colds. That automatically put them in foul moods. Their noses dripped more snot that I thought was humanly possible. I loaded them up on Tylenol and decongestants. They didn't want to nap or eat. Everything I offered them to eat they would throw in the floor. I felt sorry for them at 9am but by 6pm I was ready to throw "sorry" out the door! Jackson didn't start school until today. He and his two other siblings fought tooth and nail the ENTIRE day. Literally the house sounded like some foreign prision that was practicing torture tactics. There was constant screaming, yelling, crying, pouting, fussing, fighting... etc. I thought I was going to lose my mind. At one point I had to tell Jackson, "Mommy is sorry she's yelled so much today. Forgive me?" I had caught myself screaming, yelling, crying, pouting, fussing and fighting, too! When Brad walked in the door at 6pm I screamed HELLLLLLLLLLLLP! I went straight to the master bathroom and filled my claw foot tub with the hottest water I could stand. I eased down into the tub, opened my O magazine and tuned the radio to my favorite country station. It was bliss! I sat there for 45 minutes warming the water over and over. Once I got out of the bath I felt rejuvinated and ready to take over bath duty while Brad started studying. His boards are in a week and a half and he's a stress ball. Speaking of studying he's got to get to it so I better get off here!
January 5, 2009 Happy 15 month Birthday, Brady and Cooper! Actually, it was yesterday but I didn't have time to post. So much going on at the Harris house. I did get up early yesterday and head to the grocery. Brad had the kids almost ready when I got home and we were off to church. After church we decided on Buffalo's for lunch. It was awful... really awful. It's the 3rd time I've eaten at one in the last year and all 3 times I've said the same thing. I am done with the place. After lunch we came home and put all the kids to bed. Nobody could sleep. They were just too wound up. After an hour of ups and downs we decided to just let them get up. The babies had a hard time sleeping, too. Turns out Gabrielle had sneaked in their room and turned the lights on and the sound machine off. That Girl! Our company came last night. The lasagna turned out okay. For some reason I just wasn't "feeling it." I wasn't too hungry so that was most of the problem. After our company left I went straight to bed. I was exhausted. This morning Cooper woke at 6:30am!!! I finally got him up at 7am and let him play in my bed for a while. Gabrielle woke at 8am and I got in the shower with strict instructions not to leave my room and keep the door shut. During my shower I started thinking, "I don't hear them playing anymore." I started yelling for her with no reply. I jumped out of the shower and found Cooper a few steps up the stairs and Gabrielle waking up all 3 boys upstairs. I was furious! Of course this put all 3 boys to crying and frustrated. Since she had done the same thing yesterday she got in BIG trouble today. That Girl! I just made eggs and toast for the kids. Cooper and Brady are destroying the diaper bag. Connor is singing Happy Birthday to Daddy and Mommy. Jackson is watching t.v. Gabrielle is sitting on my bed watching t.v. I'm waiting on a pot of fuel to finish brewing. Good Mornin'!
January 3, 2009 The company is still pouring in! Dennis and Vicky made it to our home along with Vicky's Mother, Sister and Brother in law. We visited and had a light lunch of deli sandwiches, macaroni salad, congealed salad, vegetable tray, chips and chicken salad. We had so much fun talking and remembering our lives in Indy. I am so thrilled that they made us a part of their trip. It was a 2 hour drive from Young Harris, GA to our Canton home. Thanks so much guys! We love and miss you beyond words. The next round of guests are coming in tomorrow. Nancy's sister, Pat, along with her husband Roger and Roger's twin sister are coming through town. I'm going to cook dinner for everyone... lasagna, salad, garlic bread and who know's what else I will come up with at the last minute. This round of company was unexpected and welcomed. Memaw, Gandpa and Uncle Aaron will be here, too. I'm going to wake up at 7am, get ready for church, run to Starbucks for fuel, hit the grocery store, come home to dress kids that Brad will have up and fed and then head for church. After church it will be a mad dash to clean up the house, cook and entertain. I love it... my gift from God is hospitality. Brady started walking today. Brad and I were sitting in the floor with the kids while they were playing in the basement when Brady crawled over towards us, stands up and takes 3 steps!!! We looked at each other like "Did that just happen?" Cooper looked at Brady like, "Well la-tea-da!" It wasn't 1 hour later that Cooper did his darndest to take a step. Let the games begin! Just a moment ago we heard Brady cry out. He does not cry. Cooper will cry out every once in a while then talk then fall back asleep. We ignore it. But if Brady cries we rush upstairs to see if he has a little leg stuck in a crib slat or is sick. I ran upstairs and picked him up. He seemed fine, just a little congested. I held him a moment then laid him back down. He continued to cry for 5 mins so we decided he might be teething. I fixed him some Tylenol and a warm bottle to try and soothe him. I got him from the crib and he slowly took his bottle. It was quiet... very quiet. He laid so still allowing me to cradle him while he took his bottle. He didn't want to hold it so I did it for him. He and I stared into each others eyes. After his bottle was gone I just stroked his little soft face, rubbed his hair and rocked him ever so gently. My cup runneth over... It won't be long, too soon in fact, that he won't let me do that anymore. I kept thinking to myself: "Am I truly enjoying my kids and my husband or am I just going through the motions day in and day out of caretaking? Do I give to my family with a true servants heart? What will I look back on and regret about these days?" I've been studing the same scripture over and over day after day... Philipians 4:8. Each time I read it God speaks to me about a new truth in those words. I'm trying so hard to DWELL on things that are TRUE, NOBLE, PRAISEWORTHY, OF MORAL EXCELLENCE... These kids are going to have so many temptations in the coming years. If I don't focus on those things then more than likely they won't either. "Dear Jesus, Thank you for the 5 blessings you've trusted in me. Help me to raise my kids with the truths found in your word. Please let Brad and I be the example they see day in and day out. Give them the artillary of your promises to fight against evil. Thank you, Jesus. Amen"
January 1, 2009 Happy New Year! I just rang in the new year 51 minutes ago and now I'm blogging??? What's wrong with this picture? I'm a little wound up, I guess. We've had a house full of company today. Jessica's grandparents and brother drove from Kentucky today to pick up Jessica. They are spending the night tonight and taking her from me tomorrow. I think I could very well CRY! I've enjoyed her beyond measure. Not only has she been a great help but it's been incredible company. She's a lovely person in every sense of the word. I'll miss her terribly. We had a great dinner tonight. I made Spaghetti with Italian Sausages. The sauce has literaly cooked all day. The sausages have absorbed all the sauce and were delicious. I also made a huge salad with broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, pepperoni, toasted almonds, montery jack cheese and cucumbers. I also made a loaf of fresh white bread with my breadmaker. I'm on this kick with the whole bread thing. Dessert was a cheesecake and chocolate cream pie from Publix. I ran out of steam and time for a homemade dessert. Uncle Aaron and his friend Roger as well as Memaw and Grandpa also came to dinner. After we ate we sat outside under the covered porch with a huge fire and blankets. It was perfect! We laughed about everything you could imagine. There's no better way to welcome 2009 than with good food, good friends and good family! We entertained last night, too. GG, James and Angie came to visit. James and Angie are GG and Larry's best friends. They just moved to Louisianna recently for a job transfer. We were thrilled that they came all the way out here to see our house during their visit back home. Angie is an incredible interior decorator. She's worked for Palachek at the Merchandise Mart for years and years. She has given me some of my favorite pieces of furniture in my home. She's been so generous. I picked her brain the whole time she was here for decorating ideas. There is sooo much I want to do in the house. We are just taking it one room at a time. That's the only way I can do it otherwise everything looks weird. I made homemade potato soup and fresh bread. (The soup is incredible... if anyone wants the recipe just email me!) Jessica made a peach cobbler for dessert that we covered in vanilla ice cream. Yummy! She and I have laughed all week at our "diet dreams." I bought this walk away the pounds video the other night. She and I put our work out clothes on to really break a sweat. About 4 hours later we took them off and put our pj's on instead. I said, "Well, that's the closest I've come to working out since I had Brady and Cooper. You gotta start somewhere!" ha LOL We've got more company coming tomorrow. Dennis and Vicky Barton are our dear friends from Indy. They are visiting her family in Young Harris, GA which is about 2 hours north of Canton. They are coming around lunch time to visit with us! We are thrilled and so honored that they would add us to their busy agenda. We went to church with this couple and loved them from the start. It's going to be so sweet to see them! Happy New Year everyone. I hope 2009 will be a great one. My resolution this year is going to be a resolution I should have made every year for a long time... to grow closer to my Heavenly Father! As long as I'm in His will, everything else will fall into place. Things I loved about 2008: Making it through the first year with a second set of twins. Seeing my husband graduate from residency to become a Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Moving into my dream home. Being closer to family. BEING BACK IN THE SOUTH! Having the priviledge of watching all my children grow both physcially and emotionally. Surviving 365 days with only a few nervous breakdowns! Having a Girl's Night Out almost every single week.
December 29, 2008 What's new? Jessica is still here visiting. Memaw, Jess and I went to the movies last night. We saw Marley and Me... it was soooo good. I loved it. We all did. It's a must see! Today we are going to head out to the Mall of Georgia. Jessica is looking for a couple of things and the kids want to ride the merry-go-round. Brady and Cooper are still not walking. Brady will take 1/2 a step but then he just lunges. It's so sweet to see his weak little legs try to be so big and strong. Won't be long now he'll be running. Memaw has taught Brady how to bark like a dog. She'll say, "What's the doggie say?" and then he will let out the loudest yelp! It's so sweet. I'm having coffee and straigtening up the house a little. It's a pretty low key morning here at the Harris household. Just the way I like it!
December 26, 2008 Did Santa bring you everything you asked for this year? He brought me something very very special... a stinkin' stomach virus! What in the world is this cruel joke about? Are you kidding me? I mean honestly, what have I done to deserve so much sickness???? But in true Chrismtas spirit I'm not going to ask those questions anymore. A stomach virus is a small dot in the universe when there are people who are deling with a death of a loved one or a terminal illness or a child suffering with some horrible disease. No longer am I going to complain (okay I probably don't mean that) but I will not ask WHY again. It just is and that's that! Moving on. Jackson is feeling much better from the strep throat but however did contract my virus. Christmas eve I had it up to my nose hair with Cooper crying and knew he had another ear infection so off we went to the Urgent Care on Christmas eve (did I already say that part?) and sure enough he had not one but two ear infections. IT JUST IS AND THAT'S THAT! We are going to follow up with ENT in a couple of weeks and I'm sure that will lead to tubes. If it will clear up these infections then bring it on! We spent Christmas eve at GG's. She had cooked a huge meal... baked ham, potato salad, green beans, sweet n sour meatballs, spinach dip, mac n cheese, pigs in a blanket and more stuff I know I'm forgetting. It was delish. We opened presents and the kids were wild. I was also wild because I got a new camera, king size sheets and a euro pillow. Yippee... thanks GG. Larry decided that silly string was a good idea for their stockings. GG and Jackson got into a huge silly string fight which ended in them both needing a bath. I would love to share pictures with you but I forgot to bring my camera card to her house. Larry took plenty of pics and I'll get him to email me a few of the highlights very soon. Christmas day we decided to change our original plans of heading to South GA to hunt. Since Jackson, Cooper and myself were feeling bad I just wanted to be home. Aaron had spent the night with us and celebrated at GG's with us, too. We just sat up and laughed our heads off, once again at Uncle Ernie's expense, until somewhere around 3am. Poor Uncle Ernie! We love having you over and the kids adore you. Please come stay again with us soon? Jessica is here from Kentucky! She is 16 years old, amazingly sweet, loves my kids, is soooo helpful without even being asked, funny, beautiful, smart and loves Jesus. Doesn't get any better than that. We spent the day running errands. I've taught her how to toss chicken nuggets to the kids from the front to the rear of the vehicle. It only took her two times to get it right. The first nugget went mock speed and lodged in Gabrielle's ear. Don't worry... we extracted it without any real damage. (Aunt Helen... I'm kidding!) We had two poopy accidents while we were out today. The first one was Connor. I had ran into a furniture store while Jess stayed in the car with the kids. Connor said he needed to pee and Jess called me. I said, "Oh tell him wait just a minute and I'll come out." The next call was this: "Ummmm, Dacia? I'm almost sure Connor definatley pooped his pants?" I rushed out to the car. In the middle of the parking lot I ripped off his pants and cleaned his bottom. Then I took my handy dandy LEATHERMAN Micra that I keep on my keychain and proceeded to cut off his underwear. I felt like I was in a ER episode. Brad would have been proud. Anyway, I got him taken care of and we just kept on shopping. Connor told us all day, "Moooommmmy, I didn't got any un-da-air on!" The second poppy was Jackson. Poor thing, he told me he had to "go" quick. Knowing myself what the war going on in his stomach felt like I hoisted him out of the car and catapolted him into the bathroom. He didn't quite make it. So once again I pulled out the LEATHERMAN Micra and ripped those babies off! Crisis averted and we kept on shopping. I guess tomorrows to do list will read: Get new underwear for the kids.
December 23, 2008 I took Jackson to the doctor today. Turns out he has strep throat. Perfect, huh? It's been a yucky week and it's only Tuesday. Thank goodness Brad is off the rest of the week. I need reinforcments. If I don't update before... Have a Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2008 Here we are just 2 days from Christmas and guess what? Jackson is sick! I knew we wouldn't approach Christmas without someone throwing up. He started yesterday evening with a sore throat which was followed by a 102 fever and vomiting. Is this a cruel joke? Poor thing, he said "Mommy, if I don't feel like opening my gifts from Santa will you open them for me?" I thought I would cry right then and there. We told him that we spoke to Santa and he promised he would make a special trip back to our house as soon as Jackson felt better. He will not miss Christmas! We have a little thief in our house. I have lost my grey New Balance shoes. They have been M.I.A. since Thanksgiving. Also, my keys have disappeared. I've looked for 2 days and can't find them anywhere. I'm so frustrated not to mention Brad thinks I'm coo-coo. Well, maybe I am but never the less... they're gone.
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