Derby Days and More

This weekend is Derby Days, the town's summer celebration. Today, Reed and I along with my friend Susan and her daughters went to the Carnival and the Kidfest! It was so much fun!!! Reed wrangled some ducks in the petting zoo. He was speedy! He caught the poor slow fellow at the back of the pack. We petted a "moo" or a donkey, a "moo" or a horse, and a "baby moo" or a calf! At least he was right about one of the three! All the birds were "ducks" and I guess he was at least in the right category! He kicked and screamed when our turn in the pen was over! We then went to the kids' tent and played in the "rice" box (like a sand box but with rice) Reed and Addie would have stayed there all day if we'd have let them. Our next stop was the carnival rides. Reed loved the carousel and didn't want to get off! We finished off the day with dinner with Grandma Thompson and Caydan and Connor at Talliano's. We came home and played in the sprinkler bug thing I bought Reed at Target! It has crazzzy arm things that wave around when water goes through them. Reed was a little afraid of it, but Connor and Caydan got him to go through it with them and then Reed wanted "ma go"...so Ma ran through the sprinkler and so did Grandma, but Ma had on her swimming suit, but Grandma did not!

Good Timing...Less Stress

Well, I have been at my new job for a full 7 days over a 2 week period, but so far it is great. There is some anxiety with learning a new culture, but it will be fine as soon as I learn the paperwork and all the rules. I did get to see 3 patients independently on Friday and everyone survived, me and them! It was a little rough, but I made it. The schedule is fabulous and it is a whole new kind of challenge. Not boring, like I thought it might be. The amount of stress that has been reduced from my life is amazing. I feel 20 pounds lighter! Makes life at my house much more pleasant.

Memorial Day Weekend - Thurs/Friday

When I started this long weekend (I took Thurs-Mon. off) I fully intended to blog daily about our great family weekend. Obviously, we were having so much fun that I didn't get it done! What can I say other than we just have had the best 4 days.

THURSDAY: I was off to clean house, take Jack to the vet, run Reed-proof errands and do some computer orientation that had to be done for work so Reed went to daycare. So, that evening we started our family time by eating at Applebee's and then going to PetCo to get Jack and Truman new collars and Truman a harness so that we can start our family walks again.

FRIDAY: We loaded up in the AM and went to the zoo. Poor Reed feel asleep on the way there so he got a quick 15 minute power nap in before we got going. After everyone got all awake and loaded off we went on our trek. We went to the farm part first. I don't know why this is so fun, when we see this stuff everyday, but the petting zoo is pretty neat for the little ones I guess. At the farm we say Jzheep, Moos, and Ducks (any large feathered creature) If Reed can't say the name of the animal then you get a point and a "see, see, see" until you acknowledge that you have seen it. The penguins weren't playing much so they were hard to see, so we went for the reptile house. Reed loved the swimming turtles and being able to walk along the step to see in all the windows. He pointed and said "see" in everyone but I can honestly say I don't think there was anything in a few of them. We skipped the jungle/rainforest and North America other than the bears and headed for Africa and the new Tiger Trek. Reed loved all of these animals even thought the hippos, lions, and rhinos were "taking naps". I think he liked the tigers the best. He was pretty infatuated with the "monks" too but he was so tired by then that he could hardly stand up. We took the wagon and the backpack/leash so that he could walk some in a semi-controlled state. I do not have the child that will calmly hold your hand and walk where you would like him to. I swore I would never get one of those leash things, but then I had Motor-Man Reed. He RUNS everywhere! He is lightening quick too...minus the leash he would have been in the middle of the Asian Forest! I think he walked about 8 miles and loved every minute of it. Todd and I thought surely that he would crash on the way home, but oh no...another 10 minute power nap and he was back at it. Finished off the day with a trip to Lowe's to get flowers/plants and then came home to work in the yard while Reed played in the sprinkler. He wasn't so excited about the sprinkler, but thought it was great to have Daddy squirt him with the hose and to have Daddy pour water from the watering can on him like a shower! We tried one more time to take a nap,but no luck! I think Reed was so glad to have both Mommy and Daddy home and playing that he was afraid to miss something. He finally crashed for the night at around 9PM...boy was Mommy tired...happy but tired.

Here are some pictures from our day!

Cruisin'

This is a video of Reed learning to drive at Grandma Thompson's. I don't think we quite have it down yet!

First Trip to the ER!

I knew we would eventually make it to the ER, but I figured it would be because Reed jumped off of something or sliced something or someone open, not because of allergies! Apparently Reed is extremely allergic to either peanut butter or grape jelly. He had a PB&J for supper, which he has had before without any excitement, and about 2 minutes after he licked all the PB & J off the bread he started crying and scratching his neck. He was frantic!! I thought something was biting him, so I ripped off his shirt to see hives EVERYWHERE!!! I grabbed him and the phone and called our family PA at home (also a close friend) he advised me to go to the ER, so off we went. Todd wasn't home from work yet, but he came up after us. Reed screamed the whole way and scratched!!! They were great about getting us in and back, however a few of the nurses were kind of rude, but mostly they were all really nice considering I had a RED, SPLOTCHY, SCREAMING, toddler.

Luckily he never had any breathing issues, they quickly (as quickly as you can with a toddler) got an IV line and then got him some medication. We had to stay for 2 more hours for observation, which Reed slept through most of it. He woke up for the last 20 minutes we were there and tried his darnedest to make a get away. He tried walking out himself, he tried getting Mommy to carry him, Daddy to carry him, but no luck! When the nurse shut the door ...he went ballistic. Todd thinks he is a smart kid to not like the hospital. We are finally home this evening and Reed is resting. He has no more rash or hives but we are to watch him for the next several hours and into tomorrow. It was serious enough that we brought home a script for an epi-pen for kids and a strong recommendation to see an allergist! Fun, fun, fun. I now get to start the fight for a referral...wonderful HMO's! It will be a fight well worth it to keep Reed safe and out of the ER! It was a scary thing! I am grateful that all is well and that we are resting easier tonight. I pray that we will have a blessed night and all get some rest!

Fun Clothes to Work!

I went and signed all the paperwork for my new job today over the lunch hour. All very boring stuff, except the dress code...Capris are okay to wear, walking shorts are okay to wear, jeans on Fridays, sandals in the office just not in the home! My of my what will I do! I am way excited to say the least. I hope I can enjoy some summer that is not all work this year!

My Baby's Gettin' Big!

Many of you have heard all about my sleep dramas or (lack of sleep) dramas with Reed. He hasn't been a good sleeper from Day 1. He was restless and colicky. He wanted to eat all night when nursing. Then we let him sleep with us out of survival for everyone to sleep, until I wasn't sleeping because the motion man was kicking me in the gut all night! I decided that 40 weeks of that from the inside was plenty, he didn't need to do it from the outside! So we got tough and cried it out, well, kinda tough...and it took several times. FINALLY, he has been consistently sleeping through the night in his own bed! I have still been rocking him to sleep after a story and a Baby Einstein video (only thing the kid will sit still for) but the last two nights he hasn't wanted to go to sleep with Mommy rocking, so I've put him in his bed and he would go to sleep like a big boy (only a little whining and whimpering) BUT, tonight...after our story, mid-video, he sat up with his blanket tucked up by his face in one hand, rubbed his eyes and said "Mo, (pointing to his room)" I asked if he wanted to go "night-night in his bed like a big boy?" He gave the ever so Todd like single head bob indicating an affirmative. So I picked him up, he laid his head on my shoulder, and I carried him to his room. Before, I laid him down he grabbed my neck and gave me a kiss! I about couldn't tell him good night for the tears in my throat! He curled up with his blanket and whimpered himself to sleep in about 30 seconds! What a big boy! Bittersweet to let the baby go, but Todd told me not to worry that he will probably be back tomorrow!

3 more days!

I have 3 more days at my current job. In many ways, I am sad to be leaving, but in many more ways I am excited to start the next phase of my life. I am looking forward to less responsibility and more time with my family. That smile of Reed's is all I need to see everyday to know that this is the best decision I could have made.

Blowin' Bubbles!

Tonight Reed and I had one of those special, make a memory moments! Reed loves to play outside, especially after we get home for the day! Today, he ran and got the bubble bucket and said 'mo (phew)' Phew is the blowing sound like when he blows on hot food. "mo" is as close as we get to "mommy" sometimes. It also means...Elmo, monkey, mow (like the grass), and mommy! So we sat down on the front steps and Mo phew bubbles! With each one, Reed would gasp like it was the best thing he had every seen, point and say "see, ball" or see, ba bable". He chased them, and tried to catch them! He was a little disgusted when they kept popping, but a new one would take its place and all was right in his world again. He has such wonder for the world! He was so stinkin' cute with those bubbles, I hated for it to end. I wanted to just bottle up that moment and keep it forever. This feeling is what I hope to have more of starting in about 3 days!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to not only my wonderful and amazing mom, but also to all the other ladies who have "mothered" me along the way. I know that you know who you are. I feel so blessed because not only have I had the influence of my mom but I have had the influence of several of her wonderful friends as well.

This post is about my mom, though. She is an amazing lady! We are a like in about as many ways as we are different. The thing I love most about my mom is that she is and always has been my mother but she has found the balance of also being my friend. I have always been able to tell her anything and everything. She often reacted like a mom to some of the things I told her, in a way I knew she didn't approve, but in a way that I still felt loved and felt I could tell her anything again. My mom always knows what to say, she always knows what I need to hear, even if it isn't what I want to hear...again she has a way to tell you so you know but aren't hurt. I admire my mother's strength and her quiet resilience. She's a sleeper, my mom. She is one tough cookie in a first grade teacher body! She seems quiet and reserved. She seems to not be one that would voice her say, but she will if it is necessary. It is a challenge to make her angry, but it can be done and it is something that you try not to do again. I hope I can be half the mother that my mother is. I fear that I don't have her patience, but it is something I work on everyday. I think that is the Thompson in me...I've learned a lot about my mom since becoming a mom myself and I received this poem in an email this week that I thought was fitting. I hope you enjoy it.

I love you Mom!! You Rock!!!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her/him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!!

Boy are we ready for some fun in the sun around our house. This yucky rainy weather is making it really difficult to play outside without getting muddy or wet! I know that it is really fun for little boys, but it is not really fun for Mommy! Cabin fever isn't either! Reed so loves the outdoors. His most favorite places in the world are outside, in the bathtub, and sleeping in between Mommy and Daddy in our bed.

He is doing better sleeping in his bed, and the rule is no coming to snuggle before 6 AM! I am a sucker for some snuggles so we let him do it just before we are getting up. If I won't let him go outside, then he loves to watch out the window. We let him stand on a kitchen chair to see out the front window with one of us sitting near him. Last night after watching Daddy work outside and the view was over, Reed turned around on the chair, looked at me with a dare devil grin, looked at the ground then back at me. He proceeded to bend his knees and put his arms up in the air and say "I ump!" This means "watch out mom, I'm going to jump!" What do we have in store for us?