Disgusting Wind Storms

One of my least favorite things about Lubbock is the wind storms. Not only do they threaten to knock you down, and make it to where your baby can literally not draw a breath, they blow dirt.

It is advisable not to wear a hat or have lip gloss on during a Lubbock wind storm. Don't leave the door to your car open, either, because they have been known to blow back and hyperextend if not blow off completely. If you are a toddler and are carrying something, be prepared to be knocked on your rear, and drop everyothing that you were carrying. This happened to Syd this morning on her way to school and she was frustrated to say the least. Stay in the house, and be sure to shut the flume on your fireplace.

I guess I won't be going to get a pedicure today. Sigh.


Edited to add that the picture taken is not from today. It is from Feb 2007 during a wind storm in Lubbock! I just added it for dramatic effect.

Back update

Brokeback seems to be feeling better! After spending most of last week in bed and pretty much living in a fog, he is much improved this week. Ron hasn't had to take a nap since Friday. He is sleeping better at night, and can walk around without use of the cane. He seems much more alert, as well.

His incision definitely still hurts, and his leg gives out on him every once in awhile. But the pain has decreased by at least 50%. He should be pretty much back to normal in about 2 weeks!

Mommy and Syd time

Syd and I have spent alot of one on one time together at night, lately. Brokeback has been going to bed early (like before 8) and Syd sits in his recliner and watches her shows (she prefers to watch Madame Blueberry and a Princess Singalong since her preferred shows are tivoed in the playroom) while I read, get on the computer or knit. Syd is a big fan of knitting these days. Here is a picture of her pretending to knit with a practice piece and some needles.

3rd Birthday Bash

Syd had her 3rd birthday party at Ready Set Go this year. She had a great time. Many of her friends came and she just loved seeing everyone. She had a Cinderella cake that she loved, and she received soooo many fabulous presents, I can't even believe it. She actually continues to get a present a day in the mail and I fear she will come to expect it. But she hasn't yet. Here are a few pics from the party. I will send all of them out through snapfish someday.

Camping in the Living Room

Since Brokeback is going to be out of commission for awhile he and Syd had a fun night together Friday. He borrowed a tent from Todd next door and he and Syd "went camping". They went fishing, had a picnic, sat in front of the fire, watched a movie and had popcorn, and laid in the tent and read books. They attempted to sleep in there but Syd was too excited and finally offered to go to sleep in her room!

Picture of the campsite:



"Fishing" out of the magnetic fishing box:

Post Surgery

Brokeback had surgery Monday! The Dr. George thought it went well. His disc rupture was huge. The surgery took longer than normal because there three large pieces or extusions on the nerve root. The pain should decrease soon. Right now the incision is still really sore and his left leg is really weak. Ron sleeps as much as he can which should help him to heal faster.
Brokeback won't be able to lift the kids for 4-6 weeks. He is off from work this entire week, then will continue working from home for the next 3. He should be able to travel in a month.

Thanks for all of the prayers! We will continue to need them through the healing process.

P.S. I will get around to posting pics of Syd's birthday party (it went well, she had a great time) and Brokeback and Syd's living room camp out soon.

Syd is turning 3!!

We will be celebrating Syd's 3rd birthday on Sunday. Because she is so old, she is allowed to have a party outside of our house! We will be going to Ready, Set, Go, which is where Sydney takes her gymnastic classes. There are trampolines, foam pits, and a blow-up obstacle course. She is pumped. The theme is Cinderella. Expect pictures from the party next week.


Here is the invitation I sent out to the guests:

The Cleaning Fairy

Sweet Syd is our own personal cleaning fairy. When I clean the living room (and only the living room) and I bring out the feather duster for the knick knacks, she immediately wants to get involved. She is happy to use a dust rag, but expects me to stop and spray more pledge onto it for her every 30 seconds or so. The feather duster is by far her favorite. She runs around and dusts everything. Wood or not. And she will spend quite a bit of time on each item of furniture.

In addition to an interest in feather dusters, Syd is very interested in dress-up clothes. She wore her Cinderella costume, crown, glass slippers and all to spend the night with Aunt Morgy last Friday. She also likes to dress up as Tinkerbell with the addition of a resplendent and droopy crown. The cleaning fairy pictures include said Tinkerbell costume:





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Syd is a gymnast

Syd started taking a gymnastics class on Wednesdays. She has been one time so far, and she just loved it. Her friend Christopher is in it also, and they had a great time together in their little group of 3. She jumped on a trampoline, swang on rings, did some obstacle course type stuff, and has ALREADY mastered the front roll! (she could actually do one before she started but somehow lost the skill) She whined and didn't want to leave last time, and she has been asking all week when she gets to go to "my gym" again. Here are some pics of Syd in her new leotard enjoying her class. She loved the little gym suit and told her teacher the minute she walked in to "look at my suit!" I have also included a picture of poor H wistfully looking through the window. He can take a class next year.

Microlumbar Surgery

Brokeback is set to have microlumbar surgery on Monday, January 21st! One day after Syd's 3rd birthday.

It is outpatient surgery. He will go in around 8 (we think) and then be done by around noon. Then he will need to be a couch potato (I am quoting the dr. there) for 2 weeks. He needs to take it easy for 4 more after that. He really shouldn't even pick up the kids.

They will make a small incision in his back and move the nerve aside, then cut off the two discs that are bulging/ruptured. They used a microscope to make sure it is just right. Ron is REALLY looking forward to it, sadly.

Please pray that the surgery goes well and that it works. The Dr. mentioned that there is a 10% chance it won't help the pain, especially if there is nerve damage. Let's all pray that Ron doesn't have any!

Appt with the neurosurgeon coming up

Brokeback's first consult with the neurosurgeon is next Friday. PLEASE pray that it goes well and he is able to get into surgery quickly. Nothing else has worked so I have to assume this is the path they will take. Ron will work from home through January but he really needs to go out of town in February at some point. We would all like to have our normal lives back!

Juno

I went to see this movie with my mother and sister last night. I highly recommend it. The star of the movie made me laugh pretty much everytime she spoke. It was very sweet and very funny! I give it to thumbs up. A big fat "A".

Boys will be boys?

So, my friends and I have been discussing this topic alot lately. Everyone always said boys are much different than girls, but I didn't believe it. I even have one friend who said that she and a family friend could tell the difference between their kids (one has a girl, one has a boy) at a week old. I can't imagine that would be true.

Then there was H-Dubya. H-Dubya is a very. busy. boy. He is into everything all of the time. He must be watched. He will climb onto a table and begin throwing the glass plates and votives onto the floor. He will empty out cabinets and climb in. H-Dubya drinks a sippy of milk or juice and instead of sitting it back onto his tray will throw it onto the floor so hard it bounces. He is hungry all of the time. He gets snacks out of the pantry or trash and sits on the floor to enjoy them. He runs away from us in public if we let him walk. If Daddy tries to catch up with him in the bookstore he will begin grabbing books off the shelves and throwing them in Daddy's path, because he knows that Daddy has to stop and pick them up and he can get away. He gets into Mama's makeup drawers and takes everything out, throwing it into the shower. If you ask H-Dubya to not touch something or say No, he rubs all over and grabs said item as much and as quickly as he can because he knows that after the word No, things are taken away.

All of the above items were never experienced with his older sister. If you told Syd no once, she would reach for the item and whine, but never touch it again. And Syd never ran away from her parents after the first time.

I am now a believer in gentic differences in girls and boys. And as also discussed with friends, it does seem that it is harder on the mother that had a girl first that the mother who doesn't know any different.

Now, H-Dubya is also Mama's little sweetie. He is very attached to his mama and now his daddy, too. He is very loving and will hug and kiss us, and wants us to hold and carry him around much of the time.

I have checked a book about Raising Boys out of the library. I have always wanted a baby boy, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to parent one and watch him grow into a man.

Christmas

Ray Ray and Pat Pat came to stay with us over Christmas this year. We were so happy to have them and we not only had a great time, but were spoiled in the process. The entire family was showered with presents. We ate, spent time with my family and enjoyed som Wii bowling while they were here. The pictures are somehow the only ones I got of them which doesn't say much for me.

We had Christmas Eve at MY HOUSE THIS YEAR, hence the gathering around the table. We had lots of food, went to church, and opened many a present. The kids got a TON as usual. They enjoyed their new jeep, Syd's dollhouse from P-Paw Steve and the princess jewelry and videos the most. There is also a xylophone that Brokeback and I thought would be a good idea that has been a big and LOUD hit.

I enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve. I must say, doing a big dinner and then breakfast the next morning was kinda stressful. I love being the hostess but now I know how hard it is to do it all. I feel sorry for my mother all of the years she did Eve, morning, and lunch/dinner!

Long time no blog

So. It HAS been a long time since I have updated this thing.

IN MY DEFENSE we have been a very busy family. Brokeback's sister and Syd's most favorite cousin in the world came and spent a few nights with us. We celebrated Christmas, partied and Jumpin' Jungle, and had a grand time.

Above are pictures from the visit. We even had a dance party, if you can't tell.