Langston Family Blog: April 2008

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Meet Rascal

This is our new puppy, Rascal (he came with the name). He is SUCH a sweet dog. We kinda fell in love with him. We really liked the beagle at the SPCA but he was a stray and was not yet available for adoption. Daddy was talking to our neighbor and hers on when he told Gavin that he was looking for homes for a male and a female beagle mix - he was also going to give him to us for free.

Tonight, he brought them over to our neighbor's house and we went over to assess the situation. He is so sweet and kinda low-key. We took him to meet Fudge and Fudge immediately licked him and treated him like he was Rascal's mommy! It was precious. Fudge looked at Gavin like "please, daddy, can we get a friend for me? Please!" It was cute!!

So, tomorrow he will move in. Gavin II cannot contain himself - I had to print out pics for him to take to school tomorrow.

The best part is that out neighbor is going to take the female - Rascal's sister. So, his sister will be right next door. It worked out well. I might be crazy but....Rascal is here to stay :)

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Call Me Crazy

Gavin and Tiger Lilly

Gavin II LOVED this little guy. I took this pic for Uncle Mike in case he and Kristal decided to get Peanut a playmate :)

Daddy fell in love with this husky. He was a beautiful dog with piercing blue eyes but he was HUGE! A lady came in and decided to get him. In order to adopt, you have to bring your pet in that you already have to make sure that the dogs "get along". The lady proceeded to bring in her St. Bernard. Can you imagine how much dog food this husky and a St. Bernard would go through?!

We have been thinking about getting another dog...I know, call me crazy. Daddy really wants a "playmate" for Fudge. We decided that it would be a good idea to check out the SPCA in Jefferson and the LA SPCA on the westbank. I started takig pics of the dogs before I was told that that was a no-no.

We saw so many sweet puppies. There were these little Catachoula puppies - so cute but we do not want to start fro square 1 with a puppy - we want a little bit of an older dog. We found a cute beagle mix who is medium-sized but he is "not available" yet. He's a stray and has to be checked out before he can be adopted. There were so many cute dogs that it was hard to decide.

I'l keep everyone posted on whether we adopt or not...

Blue Dog

Gavin and one of his best buds, Carter

This was the best it was going to get in trying to get them to look at the camera at the same time!

Some of the cute girls

Gavin and Virginia ("Gav Gav" and "Gin Gin" in their language - that's what they call each other). They love each other and play together all the time! her mom teases that they are going to get married. I told her that this would be a cute picture for their rehearsal dinner :)

Wednesday, Gavin and I drove were some of the parent chaperones on Gavin II's field trip. We went to the New Orleans Museum of Art to see the Blue Dog exhibit. They have been studying about Blue Dog in school and Gavin II was really interested in all of the paintings. His favorite painting was the one of Drew Brees with Blue Dog - it was a neat painting. It was a very nice exhibit. It was really cute to see all of his classmates - we drove his friend Carter and it was so funny to listen to their conversations :)

Thursday, April 24, 2008

NOvocaine for me!

Today, I had a dentist appointment to have a filling. Originally, I was only supposed to have one filled today but he ended up doing all 3. They were all small and all 3 fillings only took 20 minutes. Thing is - I decided to do it with no anesthetic. It really was not that bad. I do not have a fear of needles but I do fear being numb. I was more stressed about the numbness than the fillings. So, I decided that I needed to stop being stressed about being numb and do without the anesthetic. After I made the decision, I was fine!

The dentist tried to talk me out of it but decided to try. Anyway, I could always get numb if it was too much. I made it just fine. I was also glad that I did not have to spend an extra 20 minutes getting numb. I have to say, the drilling near the nerves was extraordinarily uncomfortable but tolerable. As soon as the drill is removed, the pain stops...the pain does not linger. It was fine and I would do it again without it. If they had been deeper cavities, I would have gotten numb - trust me. Dr. Batt was impressed - he told me that I was pretty brave.

My dad was my inspiration - he has never gotten anesthetic for his fillings. In fact, he had a CROWN put on without it too! I don't know if I am that brave :)

Set Up!

So, Gavin's soy challenge is set and we are ready. Well, maybe not really ready but as ready as we can be!

Friday, May 2nd, he will be admitted to PICU for a "short stay" so that we can do his food challenge for soy. This is a very unnerving expeience but it has to be done. The last time we did the challenge with wheat when he was 18 months old, he had a very + blood test and a VERY + skin test. His blood and skin tests for soy are still + but he has never eaten soy. In other words, we HAVE to give it to him to eat to see what happens - he could tolerate it just fine. We had patients in allergy that would have + skin and blood tests to soy but they would tell us that they drank soy milk with every meal. Anyway, it is so individual, we will have to see.

Please keep us in your prayers and pray that all goes well! I'll keep everyone posted!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

How Cute!

My mom and dad called to tell Gavin that yesterday they discovered two little duck eggs that were laid in mom's garden. Dylan (their dog) scared the mommy duck so they are hoping that she comes back to sit on them and cook them!

We stopped to see the eggs after school today - so cute! It's a little nest in their garden. Just as we were saying that we hope the mommy comes back, Gavin II and I noticed that there were two ducks in the next yard over wandering around. We had to wonder if they were the parents. We hope so! We are hoping that little Gavin will get to see them hatch. He ADORES animals and it would be such a highlight for him :)

We'll keep everyone posted on project duck eggs.

The Latest Purchase

Gavin II has really been into basketball lately so daddy and I decided to purchase a basketball goal. My brothers were not NBA players but they played ALL the time so I figure that it will get much use in the future :)

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Thursday in Nashville

Gavin II loved these Meerkats - he asked if he could have one as a pet

He got to pet the animals at the petting zoo

Daddy said that the zoo paled in comparison to the Audubon Zoo. Gavin said that this bamboo walkway was the majority of the zoo.

I started my review course on Thursday which went from 7 am - 5 pm at the hotel. So, Gavin II and Daddy spent the day together. They went to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere and then to a train station. Here are some pics of the day.

After these two stops, they went swimming at one of the hotel outdoor pools. The weather has been GORGEOUS every day.

Boat Ride - Wednesday

Here are Gavin and Daddy in the boat at the hotel. There is a 15-minute boat ride around the hotel. The river inside the place has ducks and catfish - one that weighs 85 pounds!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wednesday in Nashville

Me and Gavin II on the river

Hard Rock

In the distance...Country Music Hall of Fame (we did not go)

Gavin at the Adventure Science Center

Nashville skyline from the Adventure Science Center

We started the day today by walking around downtown Nashville which is really beautiful. We had a lovely morning. We made sure to take pictures of the original, historic Ryman Auditorium for Pappy. Around 11:30 am, we decided to have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. It was a great lunch. By the way, Hard Rocks are GREAT with food allergies if anyone is interested. After lunch, we went to the Adventure Science Center and Gavin II had a BLAST! We still have things to do today but we are just hanging out at the hotel right now.

Tuesday in Nashville

I was unaware that Gavin was taking a picture of our room..not too obvious, though, right?

Frady and Lori

Gavin II at Rainforest Cafe

Gavin took this one....

Checking in...

Hotel

The atrium of the hotel

We got to Nashville Tuesday afternoon. Frady and Lori were already here because they went to the CMT awards Monday night. We had lunch with them and then shopped at the Opry Mills outlet malls! Yay - so fun!

After the mall, we went to Cooter's a store and museum dedicated to Dukes of Hazzard. It was interesting - Gavin and Gavin II went crazy there! It was extraordinarily over-priced and I am not sure how they actually stay in business! We refused to buy a $10 hot wheels General Lee. I think that Gavin would have taken home the cut out of Daisy Duke had they let him, though :)

The hotel is absolutely incredible. We are staying at the Gaylord Opryland here in Nashville. I am attending a review course that will prepare me to take my PNP boards next year.

Langston Family Blog