wishlist

I'm making lists, checking them twice, trying to find out who's been naughty or nice... From hippopotamuses to electric knives, I'm finding the perfect gifts for all my good little girls and boys:) The only problem with helping Santa and his elves is that I see lots of things that I'd like to have too.  So, I figured I might as well make my own list for Santa.  After all, I think I've been very good this year;)

Before last Christmas, I never wore a watch. Now, I can't hardly leave the house without one. I may be slightly obsessed. And I think this lovely watch would complete my collection, for a little while.

Now that Jackson is older I find myself not needing to carry around my big diaper bag as much.  A couple of diapers and wipes is really all we need.  However, I don't have a diaper case that I could just throw into my purse.  Instead I throw my wallet into my diaper bag and carry that.  This wouldn't be so bad if my diaper bag wasn't stained with ketchup and mustard from an LSU game.  I'm not saying any names here, Mr.:) But, I think one of these would totally fix this problem:) I'm in love and I could carry around my nice purses again!

And if I'd be lucky enough to have a nice diaper case, then why not have one of these to go with it?!? Or if that's a little pricey, then there's this one, in black, on sale! The zipper closure all the way around is key.

For days that I don't need a diaper bag, but need more than a purse, this would be great.  It could fit the above as well as my camera that is always needing a bag of it's own.

No list of mine would be complete without mention of finding new childcare or selling our house.  I'm oh so ready to have a family room large enough for the family I'd like to have.  This or this will be one of my first purchases.  Then, of course, I'd need a couple of these to cozy up on them with!

Lately, I'm obsessed with creams and blues.  It may be because our house is completely over done with reds, and I need some calming blue in my life.  A bedroom like this, this or even this would be heavenly!

What's on your Christmas list this year?

Oh did I mention that some of our applicants want to make more per month than I do?!? Seriously, I'd quit my job before I pay someone $2,400 {in cash, tax free} a month to watch my baby! Preschool is looking better and better everyday...

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$30 Pear Tree Winner

I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We went up to St. Louis to spend the holiday with my sister and family.  In a matter of four days we drove 12 hour drive there and back, had Thanksgiving day, played in the snow, hosted my sister's baby shower, Jackson cut a new tooth, set up Amelia's nursery, bought St. Louis out of everything pink, and managed to decorate my sister's house for Christmas. Wow, no wonder I'm so exhausted!

With that said, I was a little lazy with pulling the Pear Tree winner. Jackson was way too tired last night, so I used random.org instead. Don't worry, I have many pictures of sweet Jackson to post later to make up for it:)

The winner of $30 in the form of a gift card code to Pear Tree Greetings is this sweet mama. She has two of the most precious boys I've ever seen, and shares the best shopping links and crafty ideas! I just can't wait to see what Meredith does with her $30!Happy Shopping:)

An update: Jackson will be having his tubes and adenoid surgery on December 20th.

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Tubes & Adenoid Removal

Just a quick post to update y'all on Jackson before we head North. Our appointment went wonderfully with the ENT this morning. I really loved her, and so did Jackson...or maybe not her, but her toy collection;)

I did not realize this, but Jackson has had over 6 ear infections within the past 11 months. Holy cow!!! 4 of those infections have been in the last 6 months. The antibiotics have done their job in killing the bacteria.  However, the fluid has not drained from the infections, and is quite built up.

So, basically Jackson can hear us but we're very muffled. The fluid doesn't cause Jackson pain, but pressure. She related the feeling to flying and not being able to "pop" your eardrums. Um no wonder Jackson isn't a great sleeper and frequently wakes up pissed at the world. Laying down makes the pressure worse.

The doctor wants to put in tubes and remove Jackson's adenoids as well. She described the process of removing the adenoids as more of a scraping. This will helps with his ever running nose and allergies. Decreasing fluid build up and infection.

Now I'm just waiting for the surgery scheduler to call me with our options for dates. We're looking at having everything done before Christmas!

I can't thank you enough for all of your emails, comments and messages about tubes. I know this is the best option for Jackson and I'm looking forward to him being back to "normal" and feeling well!!!

Keep the prayers coming though:)

30 more minutes to enter to win $30 from Pear Tree, don't forget to enter!

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$30 Up for grabs!

Y'all, I cannot begin to thank you for all of your words of wisdom and encouragement. Between Jackson's health and our nanny situation, you've been great! I love this little internet friendship we have going on here:) Seriously, it's amazing.

This month Pear Tree is letting us give you $30, in the form of a coupon code.  Sorry I can't mail you actual cash, but this is almost just as good! 

You don't have to have a blog, or be a public follower. Just leave me a comment with an email address and Jackson will pick a winner at random. So there you have it, $30 is up for grabs to anything you want from Pear Tree Greetings. From cards to labels, there's something for everyone!

Oh and the ENT's office had a cancellation for first thing tomorrow morning, so we got the appointment! I'll update y'all as soon as I can, and announce the winner:)

Giveaway ends at noon (CST) tomorrow, Tuesday, November 23rd.

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perspective & plans

I went to bed last night weeping from the confirmation that our rock star nanny would be leaving us at the end of the year. And I woke up this morning to an email message that said our potential home buyers had put an offer on another home.

Lovely, right?!? But, I am determined to not let this news bring me down. I have to keep things in perspective and have faith that everything happens for a reason.

Jackson is so incredibly lucky to have had Fee for the time that we did. He loves her, and she loves him. She plays with him, she really plays. She sings to him, she sings all of the nursery songs that I should know, but don't because I never took the time away from my job to look up the words. She makes me feel okay with being a working momma because I know that she's giving him more than I could. And this too, makes me weep.

I'm relieved that we didn't get an offer on our house. Everything happens for a reason, and I think God knew that looking for childcare on top of a new house is too much for me right now.

We have some big decisions to make. Some decisions that are going to force me to lose control and not be selfish. Half of me has kept Jackson at home with a nanny for completely selfish reasons. I'm sure that's somewhat obvious. Packing bags, drop-off lines, 5:30 pick-up deadlines in the extreme heat or pouring down rains, sleep mats, and sick bugs just don't sound appealing to our situation. Not to mention, I have strong feelings about Jackson being able to sleep in his own bed and play outside, when he wants!

But, the time as come. Jackson needs social interaction in an educational environment. He's ready, so I have to make myself ready as well. I mean, I cannot be that mom sobbing as I drive my kid to grade school in the rain. We all do it, and it's my turn.

I'm making lists, scheduling appointments and doing my homework. So my questions for you - would you do an in-home childcare or a daycare center? What are your experiences? What should I be looking for??? Am I nuts? Should I look for another nanny and think about daycare when Jackson is 2???

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Losing control

It's no secret that I'm a complete and total control freak. I have to be in control to make my life work. I hate a surprise and not knowing what the day holds for me.

Thankfully, Mr. allows tolerates this behavior.

When I'm not in control I feel like everything is spinning and I panic. In the past 24 hours I have lost control, and it's not pretty. I had a little melt down last night and prayed for the ability to accept whatever God has planned for us.

Jackson still has fluid in his ears and now Strep throat. He is on a third round of antibiotics and we're waiting for the first available appointment with an ENT. I want my child to be well more than life itself. I hate that I cannot heal him. I don't understand how my child who stays home has turned into such a sick baby in the past month.

Our amazing, loving, trustworthy, rock star nanny may have to leave us at the end of the year. I cannot begin to tell you how sick this makes me feel. Jackson loves her as much as he loves us. She is truly an extension of our family. I believe that she was brought into our lives for a reason and I don't want her to go. I don't have the energy or want to start another nanny search. And I'm not ready to put my sick baby into daycare when his immune system is so run down.

As I type, potential buyers are taking one last look at our home. I'm not 100% sure that they will put an offer on our house, but the stream of emotions surrounding this is nerve racking.

Before the year's end we could theoretically have to: go through surgery with Jackson for tubes, find another nanny or a daycare, and either find a new house or decide to build.

It's no wonder that I don't sleep at night, or that my mind never stops racing, and that I'm losing weight from stress. I'm playing phone tag with my doctor to get my blood results. Her voice mail said that everything looked okay, but that she wanted to review everything with me.

So Dr. Momma Wilson prescribed a family date night at an ice cream parlor last night. Yes, we had ice cream {technically it was frozen yogurt} for dinner. I did make sure that Jackson had fruit with his:)

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

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Wordless Wednesday - Gobble Gobble

Well y'all it's almost Turkey day, where has the month gone?!? While I feel more blessed then ever, I am praying that we are all healthy by next week.  Poor Jackson just can't catch a break lately.  This is the third day in a row that I'll be sitting in a waiting room.  Monday and Tuesday were for me and today is for my sweet boy. 

I hope to have some answer and test results today, and I'll be sure to share!

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Attention Teachers - Operation Gratitude

In honor of Veteran's Day, I want to promote Operation Gratitude because we all need to do our part to say thanks.


Operation Gratitude is a project brought to you by Pear Tree Greetings. They are sending out color-in Christmas cards to teachers around the nation who sign up. Students will be able to color-in a snowman card and write a message thanking our men and women serving overseas for their dedication and hard work they provide this country.

Their goal is to send 75,000 cards to our men and women in the military. How awesome is that!

Here's the gist:

* Pear Tree will send a package to the first 2,500 teachers who sign up
* Up to 30 cards per classroom
* Free to you and your students

Through this partnership with Operation Gratitude, Pear Tree encourages teachers all across America to share with their students the value of saying thank you.

If you are a teacher, please check out this link and help spread the word!

Don't forget to check out Pear Tree's promo page for other specials.  I'll be giving away a $30 gift card soon, so be on the look out:)

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50 Free Shutterfly Christmas Cards

The countdown to Christmas and the list making has official begun at the Wilson's! And at the top my list right now is our family Christmas card. I found a precious smocked Christmas long tail for Jackson today, on clearance, for $10. Tis the season, right:)

So now all I have to do is find a card that's just as precious and get a family photo, ha! Thankfully, Shutterfly is making the card part easy.  They have tons of cute photo card designs that all fall within my budget.  We send out over 100 Christmas cards, so I have to have a card that's affordable for us!

I have my eye on a few layouts, but you'll have to wait till Christmas to see which one I go with:)  My goal this year it to find a layout that will allow for some of our friends/family to keep our picture after the holidays.  I just hate throwing away cards at the end of the year, so I started clipping out the photos and saving them a little longer. 

Here are some of the styles/layouts that I'm loving right now:

What do you think? Have you started dreaming up your Christmas card yet?

Did you know that Shutterfly not only has awesome Christmas card designs, but cute Christmas invitations and gift tags too?!? I have a feeling some of these tags will be found under our tree this year:)

If you're a fellow blogger and want to receive 50 free cards of your own, help spread the word about Shutterfly's incredible Christmas Card selection.  Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly if you click here: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 

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{almost} Wordless Wednesday - Just Us

The Mr. and I had a lovely little date in Death Valley cheering on the Tigers Saturday afternoon. We missed our little man terribly, but we had a great time. The weather was chilling and perfect. Mr.'s gumbo was amazing. And the Tigers beat BAMA!

Jackson stayed with my parents and he may or may not have: played in mud, backed himself into the pool while playing with Loli's broom and refusing to listen to her when she said no, no {she's a tough love kinda parent}, ate the whole jar of cookies, and was a total boy all day... so much so that he slept until noon on Sunday!

self portrait:)

Mr. and I doing Jackson's face, yep we were missing him!

sleepy head! by the way, bumper pads don't wash well:(

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17 months!

My dear Jackson is 17 months old. I'm not sure how this is even possible being that he was just born months ago...I know, I know, time is just flying by. Soon I'll no longer be able to refer to my child's age in months. He's about to be a 1.5 year old, and then gasp, a 2 year old! At least we'll be sailing the seas in the Caribbean for his 2nd birthday, so I won't be as depressed:)

At 17 months Jackson is super smart and very stubborn, I think he must get that from his daddy. Jackson LOVES Elmo, and dinosaurs, and trucks. He loves to push things along, his cars, his train, his Momma, and my parent's dog Aubie.

Jackson's "tricks" include waving hello and good-bye. He blows kisses and loves to give knuckles. He signs for more and up. He loves to brush his hair and teeth. Jackson can also point to his nose, eyes, and belly button. When he's ready for his bath, he lets you know by going and standing at the tub until you start the water. Jackson may be a bad sleeper when he doesn't feel well, but the kid loves his bed and his blanket.

Jackson has also turning into a climber. He climbs the couch. The bar stools. The kitchen cabinets, seriously, I may have to remove the handles from my cabinets. He has NO fear.

Jackson goes to bed around 7 and sleeps until 7, nurses, and goes back to sleep until after 8. He still takes a good afternoon nap, and wakes up recharged and ready to go:)

I'm still nursing Jackson in the morning and before bed. He has had a few sips of cow's milk, but he wasn't a fan. I can't say that I blame him though. I haven't had a sip of milk since the first day of school in the 8th grade. {I got food poisoning from spoiled milk and I just can't make myself drink it. I have a hard enough time just buying it for the Mr.}

Jackson doesn't say too much, but I'm hoping to have some answers as to why soon. He talks much more for Fee, our nanny, then he will for me. Words that we can sometimes get him to say are: hot, tiger, roar, ball, thank you, hi, da-da, ma, nana, ruff, truck.

He's still wearing size 5 diapers and 18-24 month clothes. His extra wide size 6 shoes also still fit, but he'll probably be ready for a bigger size just in time for Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, I cannot wait to play Santa this year. Jackson was too young to know what was going on last year. So this year is going to be awesome!

Jackson - 17 months - 28lbs. - 32" tall -

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Jackson's follow-up appointment

I took Jackson back to the doctor on Friday morning for his follow-up appointment from the week before. Jackson is getting better, but he is still not 100% well.

Like a true momma in denial, I walked into the appointment with the breathing machine to return. My pediatrician politely told me it was ours - to keep - and that's we'd need to use it as needed to treat Jackson's wheezing or next flare up.

Then he checked Jackson's ears and they still had fluid in them. After a weeks worth of antibiotics, he would have liked them to be better then they were.

At this point I brought up the fact that Jackson really doesn't talk. I mean he says a word or two, but nothing consistent. Not even momma anymore:( Jackson is stubborn and spoiled. He doesn't have to talk or ask for anything. Half of me wonders if he can talk, but chooses not too. And the other half of me worries it's because of his ears. {Sometimes it is very hard to get his attention, but that could just be a boy thing?}

Either way, I was sent home with a referral to a speech therapist. They also did an ultrasound on Jackson's ears and discovered they were far worse then the doctor thought.

So, poor Jackson is on a heavy duty dose of antibiotics for 10 days to clear up the infection. If his ears aren't clear after this round, then we're off to the ENT. He'll likely need tubes, which makes me so upset.

Don't get me wrong, I know that we are beyond blessed. I just hate that my baby is sick. I thank God for our health everyday, and pray for those babies {and parents} that are much sicker than Jackson.  I know in the big picture, this is really nothing to worry about.

Oh and as a note for my records, Jackson lost a pound from the week before and was an inch shorter. The nurse just got a more accurate measurement for his height, Jackson weighed 28 pounds and was 32 inches tall.

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Deja vu

Halloween was another gorgeous day in South Louisiana.  It was the type of day that makes me crave being outside all day. Crisp fall air, no humidity, blue skies and sunshine. These are the days that I live for and can't get enough of!

We tried to keep Jackson inside and quiet, but he wasn't having it. We ran to the market and decided to go to my parents for dinner and see the trick-or-treater's in their neighborhood. We were going to eat outside and let Jackson "hand out" more candy:) When I went to grab Jackson's monster costume I realized just how sticky it was from all of his suckers...hmmm, Jackson couldn't go to Loli & Pop's without a costume on Halloween.

So, I went through Jackson's closest and found that Captain Jackson Sparrow still fit Jackson from last year! So, we had a little déjà vu. My 16-month-old toddler wore the same exact costume from his first Halloween. Yes, do the math. Jackson was 4 months last year. Absolutely crazy, I know, but he was just as cute the second time around:)

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How to get your toddler to do a breathing treatment?

If you read this post, then you know that day one of Jackson's breathing treatments were terrible. Seriously, I felt like a failure as I sat in the pediatrician's office giving Jackson his first test treatment.

The nurses had me practice giving Jackson a treatment to see how we "handled it". I mean, how hard could it be, right?!? WRONG. It was a test, and we didn't do so hot. I'd say we failed, but they let us go home, so I guess we passed with a D.

I was not able to keep Jackson calm or even console him what.so.ever. When I say that Jackson lost his shit, he LOST IT! It took me and TWO nurses to hold down all 29 pounds of toddler. Talk about the longest 10 minutes.  I don't know who was more red at the end of it - me from utter embarrassment or Jackson was being so pissed off. When they turned the machine off, Jackson buried his head in my chest and passed out.

I thought for sure that Jackson would do better at home. In the quiet, with just me. We could do this, I can get my kid to do a breathing treatment, I know I can. Once again, WRONG. Mr. came in for back up, and well you saw that picture. It was torture. And I'm not sure why.  It's not like the treatment hurts in anyway.

So I called in for help, and help I got! Here's what worked:
• We let Jackson play with the machine, he turned it on and off. He played with the tube and pointed the air on us. He got comfortable with the loud noise the machine makes. I guess this made it all less scary.

• Instead of sitting quietly in his room, we sat on the couch and watched a show for distraction.

• Elmo was an awesome distraction, and we turned up the volume to drowned out the machine.

• We ditched the elastic strap around his head. It did nothing but piss Jackson off, so I just held the mask over his face.

• After the medicine was out, I let him play around with mask. He made the cutest fishy faces for us and thought he was such a big boy!

And with those little bits of advice, we had a happy boy that could breath again!

THANK YOU!!!

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Our lil monster/trick-or-treat

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that Jackson was well enough Saturday night to dress up for Halloween. Yes, I said Saturday night, Halloween eve. Our neighborhood decided to do trick-or-treat on Saturday instead of Sunday.

Sunday nights are just too hard being a school night for most. Not to mention, there's just something about being home and nesting on Sunday nights that I need in order to function during the week!

Mr. and I were relieved when Jackson started to tolerate the breathing treatments.  I can't begin to tell you what a difference they made.  However, since Jackson was still sick we didn't take him trick-or-treating.  I don't think he knew the difference, and had just as much fun being dressed up as a monster!

The weather was cool and beautiful so my parents came over and helped decorate the outside of the house.  Mr. cooked a delicious chili and Jackson handed out lots and lots of candy to our trick-or-treater's. Truth be told, I think he ate more candy then he actually handed out.  I lost count after his 5th or 6th sucker of the night.  Before we knew it, our house was full of neighbors coming in from the cold to have a bowl of chili and visit.  I love these kind of nights, there's nothing better than a house full of life and laughter!

Jackson needed an extra breathing treatment from running crazy with all the sugar, but it was so worth it!  This little monster of ours just melts my heart:)

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