OK, so Ryan and I decided we wanted to do a bed makeover for our loved one that needs some love and support right now. We split things up:
Nana - new sheets and blanket
Ryan and I - new comforter, mattress pad, and pillows (and using our old bedroom lamps)
My parents - new mattress and box springs

Well, Ryan and I loaded up the kids in the truck after dinner, went to Sams and got her a new mattress and box springs from my parents. We didn't have the tie downs but it seemed to be pretty secure. Ryan was driving slow...it was dark. We got on the service road and planned on taking the backroads to be safe.

Ryan kept checking the rear view mirror..."still there" "still there" "WE LOST IT!"

It was no easy u-turn so we had to take the longest 2 minute drive back to where it was dropped! Traffic, cars and headlights everywhere...we popped the curb, parked the truck and ran out into traffic to drag the new but demolished mattress out from the road. It was ruined....had tons of tire marks on it and it was ripped bad.

I called Mom and she was laughing...it was funny but it was the most stressful 2 minutes of my life! Someone could have died dodging the mattress in the road!

So today we are off to buy another new mattress. The good thing is we got a great deal and didn't spend as much as we originally thought. So even with buying another new one it will be about what we thought it would cost...

I can not WAIT for her to come home from work and find her new soft comfortable bed...she has needed one for YEARS!! She deserves the world...

Carrie

So Hazel doesn't want to talk. To be honest? Hagen talks enough for the two of them so I am not concerned. She kinda does the caveman language which is grunting and pointing.

She walks very well and LOVES her new doctor!!! When she wants you to pick her up she comes up, grunts, and puts her paws in the air and opens and shuts her fists over and over until you pick her up.

Here are her stats:
Weight: 18 pounds 1.5 ounces
Height: 30 inches

She is in a size 3 diaper, in 12-18 month clothes, and a size 3 shoe! She goes to bed around 6:30 and wakes up on the weekend around 9:00 (7:15 on the weekday because I wake her up). She LOVES bath time, loves putting lotion on her belly (and eating it), Books, yogurt, raisins, crackers, and really any carb I put in front of her. She is learning her body parts. She knows belly, nose, hair, and almost eyes and ears. Oh and she knows where her toes are...I have already started painting them.

She HATES being changed (diaper or clothes) and it has become a wrestling match between us!! She also HATES Dappers tail...it is at the height that it wacks her in the head/face when he walks by.

She is a little pistol...knows what she wants...and loves her Daddy. She calls me Mae Mae...kinda like Mama in a southern drawl. It's pretty cute.

Carrie

I have 3 of the best valentines. I will talk about each one separately now:

Ryan (my number one valentine) - You have been out of town for almost a week and came home late last night and I could NOT have missed you more! Just having you in the house and around is nice. You are one of the most genuine people I know, you are a good person, and I just love you to bits! You treat me well, know me well, and go along with my nuttiness and I appreciate you for that. Not only all of the above, but you have blessed me with my babies...THAT in itself is the greatest gift of all. I love you so much!

Hagen (not that he is the favorite kid...I don't have favorites...but he was born first) - You are my sweet boy. You are very emotional and loving but are trying to "man up" lately and have a crazy spark in you that is sometimes hard to put out! You love to cuddle with me before bed and watch Dr. Phil (if appropriate), you like to sleep in my bed in your sleeping bag when Daddy is out of town (only one night), you are very good with your baby, and I just love you to bits too!!

Hazel (the baby) - girl, I don't think I will ever have to worry about you sticking up for yourself. You are one strong little girl. You have really enjoyed working with using a fork lately and it is darling!! Your hair is getting long and I'm just dying to trim it, but it just got to the point of going into 2 ponies so I am waiting. This morning when your Daddy woke you up your face just LIT.UP. You snuggled with your paci on Daddy's shoulder for awhile and when I tried to take you to get you dressed for school you threw a fit...I felt loved.

Recent things have gone on in the family...not my immediate family, but very close family. It has me realizing how precious a good strong marriage is. To be honest, the hardest part of my marriage was when we could not get pregnant. We were both down in the dumps because there was nothing wrong with either of us. But we remained strong and a force together.

I feel very fortunate that we have not ever had a rocky patch in our marriage and we are coming up on 10 years. I often hear the first couple of years are hard work, but it wasn't for me. We did date for 5 years before we got married and never lived together so I wonder if that had anything to do with it?!?

Anyways, I am very happy...I want to get this family member of mine that is going through a VERY tough time where I am. It will take time, there are alot of factors, but this person above anyone else deserves nothing but the best because they are simply one of the best people I have ever known.

Happy V-Day!
Carrie

Miss Hazel is doing fantastic after her surgery on Thursday! She had taken her last dose of her antibiotic the night before to clear up the ear infection she had. When the doctor went in he said her ear was SO infected so the antibiotic wasn't doing anything. It was perfect timing.

She also had her adenoids out. I can't remember the exact wording he used but it was basically blocking 80% so that explained why she always had a gross nose...like not normal..sorry for TMI but ALWAYS green!!

She had some Tylenol with codeine before I dropped her off at Pia's for the day and she was so lovey and sweet...she even fell asleep on my mom which is unheard of! Mom had the knitting girls over and they got to see her. I'm glad she was kinda drugged because she was calmer and sweeter...ha!

That night she was just so excited! It was like she felt a TON better. Love that baby.

Hagen felt kinda left out I think because she got to hang with Pia for a day. He just seemed kinda sad, so Ryan took him for a man date yesterday to Cabella's and to lunch at Fuzzy's tacos. I think he needed some man time or at least some quality time with one of the parentals.

Ryan will be traveling again. It is a short project but he will be gone 3 different times and one of the times is for 10 days...I am so bummed. He will miss 2 date nights. Honestly, it is what I look forward to all week...to miss 2 of them sucks. I may get a babysitter and go to a movie by myself! It sounds wonderful to be honest and I need to get use to using babysitters...it will be good for me and I can try it out when he is out of town because the Mr. doesn't like to go out.

OK, so a few weeks ago I was freaking out because my Dad went missing...he was REALLY sick and was just passed out. Well, last week he was on a well again. He hit a deer. it didn't do much damage but still...scary! The next day he was exhausted, driving out to the well and fell asleep!! woke up driving into a ditch. Thank GOD he didn't hit anything or anyone...it could have been so bad. I told him for as smart as he is he needs to be careful...not very smart to die from falling asleep at the wheel! Scares me to think about it...out in the middle of nowhere...he could have been there for days.

I went all granola this weekend and made some homemade laundry detergent! I think I am in love. It only uses a tablespoon and cost me about $28 to make...it looks so cute in a jar on the shelf above my washer instead of the big plastic jug of my old stuff.

Last week was such a busy downer week so I am excited about starting over!! I didn't go to the gym all week, we had doctor appointments and crap all week, work was slow...not many people looking right now, and I didn't eat as good as I should have. It's a new week!!!

Tata,
Carrie

Hazel that is...my sweet darling little girl is a holy terror lately!

She is screaming at any given moment...from delight, being angry, not getting what she wants, playing...you name it. Screaming is her game!

Changing Clothes/Diapers...if she was potty trained I would make her a nudist. Honestly, you would think I am trying to put her in a vat of acid the way she fights me to change her!!

HITTING...I am SO over it already! It is mainly me that she hits. She does it quick...like Bap Bap...think machine gun rapid. I tell her no, she cries, and does it again. Ryan suggested I start telling her no and putting her down. What a novel idea...why didn't I think of that before? (No, I'm not being sarchastic...I didn't think of that) I just held onto her, said no and thought that she would be like, "OK, you are absolutely right my beautiful Mom".

I am thinking of doing timeout...prayer please.

Now, even though she is showing her dark side lately, she is pretty cute...and smart. She puts her old diaper in the pail and flips it, puts her dirty clothes in the hamper, and her shoes in her shoe box.

Hagen never went through this hitting stage. He was the one that was hit, bit, slapped by his friends. When Hazel is acting up he covers his ears and has the saddest look on his face. He is so sensitive...it's kinda sweet. He tells her she needs to be nice in the kindest big brother voice.

I am enjoying that kind big brother voice for now because I know it is soon going to change to "Shut up you big baby" very soon...until then...

Hazel is getting tubes in her ears and her adenoids out tomorrow. We have to be at the hospital an hour early even though I have filled out all the paperwork. So that is 7:00...no food or drink...she is going to LOSE.HER.SHIT. Prayers for me and my sanity.

Tata,
Carrie