"Watching" in Memphis

See what I did there?! Even though we did do a lot of walking in Memphis also. We went to Memphis over the weekend to watch races and help out some friends with their cars. Nathan's car is not ready (and won't be for a while)  so we will be spectating at the races until it is done - which can almost be just as fun. The races were supposed to start on Thursday and end on Saturday. Well, due to the rain and SNOW everything was delayed and they only got one race in each day and didn't get to start the eliminations until late Sunday. The wind was terrible and it didn't get above 45 degrees. It was pretty miserable - that kind of cold that just ticks you off. I knew it was supposed to be cold but not so cold that I drove to the store for insulated underwear and hot hands and wore all 3 jackets that I brought at once. But, even through all that cold - we managed to have some fun!

SNOW at the race track. No. Just no.

Celia eating snow :)

My perfect little snow ball in my hair :)

Waiting the bad weather out in the  RV

Friday night we went to Beale Street and ate at Dyers Burgers and went to Jerry Lee Lewis's Honky Tonk and Flynn's Karaoke Bar. The Honky Tonk was really cool - it was like a big old 2 story house with live music downstairs and a dance floor and DJ upstairs. It had couches and tables and was set up kind of like a house - it had a really cool feel to it. The karaoke bar was not so cool - it was very old, dirty, and dated. We didn't stay there long. We got back to our hotel around 3:00 a.m. and Nathan pinched a nerve in his shoulder and was up all night (literally he slept about an hour) so at 7:00 I, being wife of the year, got up and went and got him medicine for it. The next night was a late night of racing so we didn't get back until 1:00 a.m. and up at 7:00 to head back to the track. There is usually little sleep on "racecations" :)

Dyers Burgers!

Beale Street

I was glad I got to see some of our out of state race friends - we only get to really see them at the races so it is good to get to talk to them in person instead of on the internet or texting. I always look forward to getting to see our race friends and it never seems like we get to see them enough while we are there!

Our friend Darci almost wrecking and giving me a heart attack!

Since everything on the schedule was so far behind I ended up leaving Nathan there to ride home with someone else so I could get home to the kids. I still didn't get there until close to midnight though - so after late nights and early mornings all weekend - I am dragging a little today. But, a weekend away with Nathan is worth it - we can sleep when we are dead right? :)

Spring Break 2015

We kicked off our Spring Break with Noah's first cousin sleepover! My niece Eliza stayed the night with us on Saturday and it was so much fun! Noah is now getting to the age to really enjoy having a cousin sleepover - fun times are ahead! The kids played outside (in the dirt of course) and then we watched Pinocchio, ate pizza, and played :) It was such a fun night!

Monday I met me sister-in-law and her 3 kids and my mom and brothers kids at the Wild Wilderness Drive-Thru Safari. This is our third time there and it is so much fun every time! We fed all the animals, rode horses and camels, and drove through the safari. The day was really perfect! This was my first time to travel to the safari alone and we left on time and made it back on time and the kids were awesome! No meltdowns or anything!

We had to head back to town for Noah's first t-ball practice! When we pulled up at practice he said "I am just not sure about this" - I asked if he meant at all or just today and he said "at all". I asked him to practice this time and see how he liked it and then we would talk. He got out there and seemed to really like it! Skill wise he was not far off with the other kids so that was a relief. He never complained about being hot (he has been at our home practices) and he knew the answers to a lot of the questions the coach was asking. We already like the coach and team this year a lot better than last years! We  know a lot of the kids and parents on the team and I was happy with what they were doing. I am hoping that Noah really enjoys this year more than last - he was really hit or miss with it last year - but he was also three years old. Another highlight of practice was Ryan actually let me watch a lot of the practice! I did not get to watch any games or practices last  year because she was constantly running off - I am hoping to get to see more of the games this year - but I also know entertaining a two year old is tricky.

I will spend the rest of this week working unless I can squeeze some more family time in. Then I am going on a weekend getaway with Nathan to Memphis with all our racing friends. Our racing friends are so much fun to be around and I cannot wait to see them all again!

A Good Bad Weekend!

This weekend was full of good and bad. Saturday morning was the Princess Tea Party that I signed Ryan up for months ago - she was so excited for it! That morning she woke up and didn't feel very good. She was running a low grade fever and coughing. I gave her some medicine and after an hour she was running around and playing like normal. So, we  went to the tea party. It takes Ryan a little bit to warm up in unfamiliar social situations and she wasn't feeling the best either so she just wanted to see the princesses from afar at first. Then she got a sucker and a notepad to get autographs with the princesses and she loosened up. She still didn't want her picture taken by herself, but stood by each princess and said "cheeeeeese" :) I love making these girl memories with my daughter - an answer to my prayers :)

Princess Ryan ready for the party :)

Prince Charming :)

Elsa

Mulan

Snow White

Belle

Pocahontas

Pocahontas even got a hug :)

Merida

Ariel

Anna

Jasmine

Poor baby just wasn't feeling great :(

She loved making her craft!

She liked swirling her princess dress :)

She refused to take a picture without me when we got there so once again - it was a mommy and me picture ;/

After the tea party we left for Kibler to go get Noah's new big boy bed! About 8 months ago we decided to get him a loft bed with a slide on it. I found one to order, but Nathan wanted to build it for him instead - he could build it for less than half the price. Well, Nathan has been really busy and has not gotten a chance to build it and our friends just happen to put theirs for sale on Facebook! It was meant to be! So, we told them a month ago we wanted it but haven't had the best weather on any weekend to go get it since. It was finally time! On the way to get it Nathan said he wasn't feeling very well either - and really felt bad by the time we got home. But, he managed to get the bed all put up that day. It is so crazy to think Noah is big enough to be out of a crib but he is so happy and ready for his new bed.

That night I slept on the couch because Nathan was not feeling well and was afraid he was contagious. I do not sleep well on the couch. Then at 3:00 a.m. Ryan coughed so hard she got sick in bed. I went to help her and she was burning up and shivering - I took her temperature - 104.5! So, I cleaned her and her bed up and gave her some medicine and turned her fans on and she wanted to go back to bed. So, I put her in bed and watched her closely on the monitor. I called the ER and they said usually your temperature rises some while sleeping and since she hadn't had any fever reducer since she had went to bed at 7:30 the night before it was ok to give her some medicine and if it didn't go down to bring her in. So, I pretty much laid there and watched her monitor and set alarms on my phone for every 2 hours to give her medicine.

I decided she needed to be seen that day somewhere so we didn't have another night like that again. Nathan still wasn't feeling very well so I left him at home to rest while I loaded up the kids and drove them an hour away to the walk-in clinic. We had to wait an hour, but the kids were so good. The nurse was awesome - she interacted with Noah so well and even took all his vitals to help Ryan get more comfortable and because he loves going to the doctor :) She gave them both stickers and played with them. Then came the doctor. I was not very crazy about her. As soon as she walked in the door Noah said "Hi, my name is Noah. The letters to spell my name are N-O-A-H. I am four years old." She totally ignored him and looked at me and said "Is he in speech therapy because he needs to be, he does not speak very well at all". I think my jaw almost his the floor. I must have had a not nice look on my face because she said "oh, well I know you didn't bring him in for an exam but the sooner you take care of that the better". Noah is a talker and he kept talking to her off and on while she examined Ryan and the whole time she kept on about how bad he spoke and she was unsure if it was his L's or B's but he needed help. I finally told her that he has a doctor who can examine him for that and he also will be attending school where they can test and address that at the right time in the right way and I would worry about it then. The lady was way over-stepping in my opinion. She diagnosed Ryan with another Upper Respiratory Infection - which she just had 2 weeks ago also. :(

We went back to Clarksville to go to WalMart to get our prescriptions filled for Ryan (since they are the only one open on Sunday). We waited 20 minutes to drop it off and were told it would be ready in 30-45 minutes. So, we looked at books - we sat and read them right there in the isle, looked at the fish, got a few groceries and went back and got in line after an hour. Then we were told her prescription was still in "filling" and it would be at least 20 minutes. So, we went to look at Easter stuff and clothes and then got back in the LONG line. They said it still isn't ready but should be soon. I told the lady I was not going back to the end of that line and that I was going to wait right there and they can tell me when mine is ready. We had been waiting for 2 hours and Ryan and I had been up since 3:00 a.m. and we were done. She was crying and wanting me to rock her because she was sleepy and I figured a crying baby would be good motivation for them to hurry up with my prescription. It worked - 5 minutes later mine was done. We got home at 6:30. We left to the doctor at 10:45 - so it took basically all of our day but we got her a prescription and some relief to help her sleep a little better I didn't have to take off work. However, I will only be doing that again as a last resort. I love our doctor and our pharmacy and am even more thankful after seeing these other facilities.

I really want a do-over on the weekend though - without any sickness so we could have had more fun and family time. But, that is on the agenda for next weekend. Maybe by then we will be all better and catch up on that hour of sleep we lost too!

Ryan's Walking Anniversary!

One year ago today, God was in my living room. I saw him there plain as day as he help Ryan take her first steps. 3 months earlier, we had been told that she may never walk and that she may have a genetic disorder.  This came as a complete shock for us because we just took her in for some help with her walking since she missed that milestone and was progressing normally in all other areas. I was beyond worried and upset at first - but then we just didn't understand this diagnosis and refused to believe it. (Her whole Therapy ordeal can be found here)  Ryan was going to walk and that was it. Our prayers were answered one year ago today.

Ryans entire existence has been one answered prayer after another. It bothers me to hear people say they do not believe in God because they have no proof. Oh the stories I can share - from God saving my life, to giving me Nathan at just the right time and making me a mother. If anyone ever needs proof of the power of prayer I will be glad to share what can only be explained in my life as God's miracles.

Ryan now not only walks - she pretty much runs everywhere. She has this funny way she swings her arms when she runs and she says "that's fast" as she runs :) She is now progressing normal or above normal in all areas of development and, in my opinion, growing too fast on us!

Happy Walking Anniversary to our miracle Ryan! You are right, "That's Fast" :)