Not the Biggest Loser!

I recently participated in a home grown version of The Biggest Loser (I want to give props to my husband, because without his computer skills and education [thanks Joe and Debbie and Auburn] this would not have been as easy or as fun. It really makes things like the house hunting event so worth it! ;) Love you, baby!) So anyway, I did this competition for ten weeks and lost 10 pounds. I was feeling good at the final weigh in. THEN I entered my weight and saw that I lost by .04%! Not 4% or .4%; .04%!!!! I mean, I'm not a sore loser or anything, but COME ON! A fraction of a percent?!? I would rather have been in the NEGATIVE PERCENTAGES than lose by that small of a margin! But really, I am NOT one of those sore losers that blames everyone else for my failures. It's just that this time, I really think that I would have one if it hadn't of been for Ruth. You know who I mean...Baby Ruth. I think she conspired with the chick from Atlanta who won. Because really, it's the last day before the final weigh in and I have a Baby Ruth staring me in the face. Coincidence? I think not! I asked the vending machine guy too, and he said they do get a lot of their shipments from Atlanta. Hmm. Interesting....
But anyway, I mean whatever, I lost okay. BIG DEEEALLL.
So anyway, today I had one of my students fail a test, and I asked him if he studied and he just started blaming his mom for working late and his sister for being too loud and his dogs for pooping in the house and the cat for having fur. And I was like, Hey, you can't blame everyone else for your mistakes! Man, I can't stand it when people just start blaming everyone else for their failures!

Katelyn's teeth

Katelyn has seven teeth-three up top and four on the bottom. I was trying to get a picture of them. She was trying really hard to cooperate, but she just wasn't quite understanding what I meant. There is still a long way to go before the communication gap is completely bridged. Although, she does now point to her water and grunt when she wants a drink at dinner. Progress.

Doing Laundry

Katelyn is mommy's little helper. She was busy calling the dogs (da), when she saw the basket of laundry that I dropped onto the floor. She selflessly gave up her play time to help me do chores. She was very serious about this job, as you can see. I didn't have the heart to tell her that simply taking the clothes out of the basket accomplishes very little. So, I simply told her that she did the best job of putting clothes on the floor that I had ever seen! And if I ever need any more clothes thrown on the floor, she's my girl!

Emma Kate's Birthday

Katelyn's cousin, Emma Kate, had her 3rd birthday party today at the park. The weather was great. It was not as cold as Katelyn makes it look, but she is getting over some bad ear infections and I really didn't want the wind in her ears. She had such a great time! (Except when she was fussing, which was about 75% of the time. Mostly when she saw me and realized that I was not holding her. She really kind of acted like a baby! But I let her since she hasn't been feeling great, and well, she is a baby.)

Okay, for now

We went to the doctor. Katelyn still has fluid in her ears. Doc says he is not surprised since the infections were so bad to begin with. We will go back in a few weeks for her 9 month checkup and he will look at them again. I asked about tubes and he said that if she still has fluid in them next time, or if she gets another ear infection, he will probably send her to an ENT. So we'll see. She is sleeping peacefully right now.

My Big Girl

My big girl just plays and plays! I love to watch her when she's not aware. She is so curious and interested in everything around her. She loves the dogs! She crawls over to the door and beats on it and calls them, "DA, DA!" They come over and look at her then usually get bored with her-which really fires her up! "DAAA!" she yells. And beats even harder. She frustrates easily, which she gets from her dad. Mommy is, of course, the picture of patience. Speaking of mommy- I lost another pound! I am getting excited because I can see the old me peeking through the fat suit. I still have a way to go though, so pictures will have to wait. Maybe another five pounds and I'll be ready to model-not quite yet though!
Back to the star of my life... who now tells me when she is ready to go night night. She says "na na," which, depending on who you are talking to, means either night night or Nana. She is going back to the doctor today for a recheck on her ears. I really am afraid that the antibiotic did not work and she still has infections. This is her third ear infection. The last two were double ear infections and were BAD. She doesn't complain though. She is a trooper. The only clue we had this last time was that she was throwing up during the day and coughing at night. Never fussed about it-except at nap time. Well, now I am a little afraid that she will have to have tubes. I don't know how that decision is made, so maybe-hopefully-I am overreacting. We'll see.
Also-any doctor recommendations? We live on Vallydale Road closer to the 280 side. I may be changing. I don't know. I love my doctor, just not thrilled with the practice that he is with. And he is in Hoover, so I don't feel the need to drive farther if I am not completely thrilled.

Life is so precious

I found out today that Bronner Burgess, son of Rick Burgess died yesterday. Rick Burgess is the co-host of a morning radio show, Rick and Bubba. When my pastor announced it at church, there was an audible gasp. It has stayed with me all day today. I don't know if it is because I am familiar with the victim (if only through stories) or if it is because I now have a child of my own. Most likely it is a combination of both. My immediate response was to pray for the Burgess family, but for what? I mean what do you need after the loss of a child? I can't imagine. I just prayed for the Lord's presence at this time. I didn't know what else to ask for.
As I have thought more and more about it today, I thought more about one of the things that drew me to their show: Rick and Bubba are both Christians. They speak about it on a regular basis. I went to their website and found this message:

We ask that you bathe Rick, Sherri, and the entire Burgess family in
prayer as they deal with the loss of their youngest son, Bronner Burgess. We all
are grieving together in this terrible loss. The Burgess's want to give all
Honor and Glory to GOD for the many blessings He has given us, especially the
life of Bronner Burgess. And while we do not understand, we know who is in
charge and His will be done in life and in death.

Wow! Could I have that kind of faith? In that situation? I hope so!
I also thought about my precious little Katelyn. After church, I hugged her and held her so tightly-as I am sure many parents did. I have been thinking of that little two year old child and his last moments. I only know that he drowned, apparently from falling into the family pool. How horrible for him! I think about Katelyn. Will I be able to protect her from all the dangers of the world? I pray for her protection, but will it be enough? Every time I have looked at my sweet Katelyn's face today, I have thought about little Bronner Burgess. My heart aches for that family. I know there is nothing I can do to change things for the Burgess family, and I know that my life will go on even as theirs is still standing still, but for right now, tonight, I am sharing a tiny portion of their pain.

Shrinking Mommy

Mommy has lost 8 more lbs for a total of 18 lost!

Family Update

Katelyn is eating the little star shaped puffs now. She was so funny when she first tried them. She made so many funny faces. I captured a few. At first she would chew one a little with her front teeth, the I would see it come flying out of her mouth. We had to work a while on keeping it in her mouth. She finally got it today. She chewed and swallowed a couple. I am so proud of my big girl!!! She is learning so much. I have to brag for a second...
Things Katelyn can do:

She can drink from a straw.
She can point to my mouth on command.
She can walk down the length of the couch.
She can take things and hand me things.
She can make her fingers do "Itsy Bitsy Spider" when I move her wrists.
I have no idea if this is more or less than any other child her age, but I am overwhelmed with pride at her accomplishments! It amazes me the things she can learn and remember. She took a bath with her cousin, Lonna Grace, in the big tub tonight. They had so much fun! We got some pictures. They are pretty cute!!
We are all getting over the sick funk. Katelyn had ear infections in both ears. Brent and I had the creeping crud. I am still coughing like crazy. I also had pink eye. Brent had some ear funk yesterday, but seems to be okay today. It has been a mess for the past week. I sterilized the house Tuesday-I was out with pink eye. When I went back Wednesday, I could not talk. That's a bit of a problem when you are a teacher. But I just got one of my students to "translate" and it worked out. They were pretty cooperative. Katelyn spent the night at Catey's house Tuesday night. I just wanted her to be away from the germ infestation that seemed to be taking over my house. So Catey picked her up Tuesday morning and kept her until Wednesday. That was so hard!! I was actually having daydreams about her in class on Wednesday! She was much less moved by our reunion than I was. I got the usual leg kicks and arm waves that I get every day when I come home. I was hoping for a few squeals or something, but oh well. I'll take what I can get.

Holiday Fun

Katelyn had such a great Christmas! She went to Atlanta and saw her Bibi, Pop, Aunt Mandy, Uncle Jacob, and cousins Issa and Mae. She loved the time she spent with them. Then she came back to B'ham and visited her Grammy and Grampa. Then she came home and her Nana and Granddaddy came over with the rest of mommy's family. She got to play and open presents - she probably even ate a little wrapping paper- and visit with all of her family.
For the New Year, she celebrated with a bottle of formula and went to bed 30 minutes early. She couldn't hang with the big kids. Of course her mommy and daddy were asleep by 10:30, so I guess she gets it honest! No worries though; all thirteen of the neighbors in the house across the street were outside at 11:30 shooting industrial strength fireworks. So Brent and I were up to ring in the new year. Fortunately Katelyn slept through the explosions and, mercifully, slept until 8:15 the next day.
In my two weeks off, I have accomplished exactly nothing on my "To Do Over Christmas Break" list. But I did get to spend a lot of quality time with my daughter and my husband, so I call it a success!