LIFE AS A LANKFORD

Our week started out with Sunday School for Ned and Avery and worship for all four of us.  Sam did much better with me getting him interested in playing before I left, and I managed to stay out of sight when he came in for the children's message.  After naps we had a good visit with my parents and had our usual Panera dinner.  Sam fussed off and on through the night, and at one point I had to go rock him, which never happens.

That fussing was foretelling a fever that started after his nap on Monday.  I picked the kids up, called back to school and told them I would be out Tuesday, and made an appointment for Sam because I was sure it was ears.  Ned played golf in Richmond Monday so it was just me and the kids until right before bed.

Sam checked out just fine at the doctor Tuesday but his fever continued.  Avery tried to love it right out of him.  Between driving to school to get things ready then back home, then taking Sam to the doctor, I think I drove about 120 miles by 11 a.m.


Being home worked out well though because the men from the nursery came and put in our shrubs.  Ned had initially planned to do it, but he just didn't have enough time to dedicate to it.  They had the majority done in about 3 hours so deciding to have them do it was good.  Plus everything was lined up and symmetrical, which may not have been the case with Ned.  We still have lots of work to do in the back, but at least our neighbors can't see that.



Sam still have fever Wednesday so Ned's mom kept him in the morning until he got off at 12.  His fever broke in the afternoon but was right back up again before dinner.  Avery and I ventured out to dance and then to the store to get a few things.

We were home again Thursday with not much going on other than trying to get a good picture to send Mimi for her birthday.



Sam finally woke up fever-free Friday, but Ned kept both kids home.  I wanted to be sure Sam was well, and Avery seemed to be having a hard time with allergies.  I decided part-time teaching was the way to go after my short week.  I delivered our extra crib to the person who bought it after school then hurried home so Ned could go to work for a bit.  Just before I got home, Avery had a surprise visit from Camden and Anna, and an even bigger surprise of the princess Tervis Tumbler from a store in town that's closing.  We went to the Mexican restaurant to celebrate Mimi's birthday and were happy to see the Millers there as well.  Before we even went in, I had to explain that Camden was already eating and that we would go together next time.

Ned went fishing Saturday morning so the kids and I stayed home until after Sam's nap.  Then we headed to The Whimzy Tree to pick up my snazzy new raincoat, the bank, and the grocery store.  We were pushing lunch time but I didn't have much to get.  I was beyond happy to see Boy Scouts putting people's groceries in their carts and then delivering them to the car.  I asked if they could come every week.  Sam was fussy during the day and rubbed his ears a lot, but he stayed fever-free.  During nap time Ned arrived home from helping my dad move my parents' bedroom downstairs in their house.  We acquired some furniture in that process, and Ned and Lucas got it all in without waking either child.

When Avery got up, I let her play sit with Molly for awhile.  She is the only American Girl doll I had, and it surprises and pleases me that she is still available.  Thankfully that's one less to buy.  Avery will tell you quickly that we're going to "Ork" City to get Kit when she gets big.  I can't argue; Kit has been a favorite of mine since she came out.


Saturday afternoon we headed to a street carnival.  There was not much exciting other than the fire truck, and poor Sam didn't even get to participate in that.



Since there wasn't much going on, we had an extremely early dinner at The Palm Tree then picked up Frostys at Wendy's.  I made the mistake of giving Sam some then couldn't stop.



The kids played after we finished our ice cream.  Sam played in the house for the first time and had a great time until he wiped out and came up completely covered in mulch.


As you can tell, Avery's trampoline sustained a little damage in our last wind storm, and we broke the news Saturday night that we're getting rid of it.  Ned could straighten it back up, but I'm tired of looking at it.  Since we bought it used we definitely gotten our money out of it.  Avery's not a bit concerned about the trampoline because she's sure she's getting a bounce house.


After all that fun it was time for the kids to go to bed and for me to keep reading The Heretic's Daughter.

We are already into a busy, busy week for our family.  I hate to wish my time away, but I wouldn't complain if I woke up tomorrow and it was already Friday.

Thank goodness for the photographer friends in our life.


It was cool enough Sunday for the kids to wear their owls one last time.  Since church usually involves a mad dash both out and back in the door, I had yet to take pictures of the them in their outfits.  We appear to start out ok, although the lighting is wrong and you can't see me repositioning Sam every 4 seconds.



Then it's a slow death.







I think they finally thought that a pitiful face would allow them to change and eat lunch.  And it did.  Thank goodness for Conway Photo Shop and Alexis Jones Photography who manage to capture our memories without yelling or noticeable sweat.

Playing a quick catch-up with mainly pictures, even though I've been pretty slack with those.

We've had some beautiful weather that called for spending lots of time outside.  We try to play or stroll until we start to turn yellow.


We had a nursery bring a variety of shrubs for us to decide what we wanted, and we had to cage Sam in the stroller and distract him with bubbles.  The boy loves bubbles.


I previewed all of Sam's one-year portraits and am in love.  Conway Photo Shop never disappoints.


Avery watched Toy Story and was finally interested in it.  She spent last weekend pretending various toys were Buzz and Woody.


My parents gave Avery The Little Mermaid, and we watched a little on our visit last weekend.  I showed a movie to my class at school the day we got out for spring break. and it showed that The Little Mermaid will be out in 3D in the fall.  I'm thinking a movie date with our buddy Camden will be in order.


We celebrated the end of the Masters last Sunday by squeezing into the things Ned brought back last year.  I'm not a golf fan, but I'll take it since Ned is not crazy over some college football or basketball team.  However, I felt like I had golf coming out of my ears between the TV and satellite radio.  I did have to eat a few words Sunday night when I watched the exciting ending.


Avery had dance portraits Wednesday night.  Anna graciously did Avery's bun because I was sure it was just not possible.  Avery cried while she did her hair, which I knew she would, and Camden brought lots of stuffed animals to dry her tears.  What I did not expect was the total breakdown when it came time to take pictures.  She fell to pieces when I tried to do her individual pictures, and for awhile I didn't even think she'd be a part of the group.  She's has had her pictures taken professionally more times than I can count, so I don't know what was going on.  She finally pulled it together for a group picture and individual ones.  Of course, by the time we got home she was a pro.





We've had a busy weekend full of fun.  Friday night Ned and I went to dinner at The Boat House in Richmond with the Caleb and Anna, Michael and Kristen, and Andy and Lexi.  We've been working on this for a month and a half and were thrilled to finally have a night that worked with everyone.  We had bad weather Friday night and did not get to enjoy the water views at the restaurant, but we had a great meal with friends and fun in the car with Anna and Caleb.  Meanwhile, back at home, there was a tornado warning.  I had been nervous about the storms waking Avery but never considered that.  Ned got the alert on his phone and checked in with his mom who was keeping the kids.  Ned's dad had come over and they had brought Avery downstairs because she was still awake and scared.  Ned's dad could see that the storm was not headed into the city so they left Sam in bed.  Ned was proud that I did not hyperventilate in the middle of the restaurant as I'm not a fan of bad weather.

Despite Avery's late bedtime, she was awake very early Saturday morning, along with Sam.  We played at home until Avery had a make-up dance class.  They danced in the front room so I got in a few peeks between visiting with Anna.  Groceries were next on the agenda after we left dance.  After naps we went to Lowe's and had dinner at Chick-Fil-A.  Sam is now a Chick-Fil-A fan, and we are so proud.

I'm behind on blogging, but not much worth mentioning went on last week.  We did have quite a scare with my mom over the weekend, and that just knocked me off course for awhile.

For those of you who don't know, my mom had a massive stroke on December 11, causing her to need brain surgery.  Since leaving the hospital, she's been at a rehab hospital and is now finishing her rehab time at an independent living/assisted living facility where my father works.  The stroke left her paralyzed on her left side, impacted some cognitive skills, and left her with a condition called left neglect.  Her brain did not realize the left side of her world and even the left side of words when reading, her plate etc.  She is now walking with assistance and should be able to walk on her own one day.  She occasionally has movement in her left arm but no controlled movements yet.  Her left neglect is better, and because she's aware of it now, she remembers to compensate.  A big hurdle was cleared a few weeks ago when she stopped having to depend on a catheter.

The road to recovery has been long and full of ups and downs.  She is now suffering from her second case of c. diff. bacteria.  The first put her in the hospital for over a week, but this was caught quickly and she only had a day or two of feeling bad.  She'll have a few weeks of doing well, then have a set back like a UTI, pain or swelling in her leg, and these cases of c. diff.

Last Friday my father found her very confused and not herself at lunch time.  It came and went all afternoon until they decided to take her to the emergency room.  There were several possibilities: UTI, coming off a medicine, etc., but confusion after a stroke is scary.  My dad kind of downplayed everything so I did not go.  By 7 or 8 p.m. they had determined that she had a UTI, and a CT scan only showed swelling.  I had been pretty down until then but then began to think it was nothing serious.  Just before 10 my dad let me know that an MRI had showed bleeding on the brain.  They would be leaving for Norfolk where she would be evaluated and possibly have surgery.

I'm almost 2 hours from Norfolk, so I didn't know what to do.  My dad really didn't want me to come, but I wanted to be there with them.  Ned couldn't take me because I wanted him to be able to get back to the kids in the morning.  We finally decided that I would get up really early, feed my parents' cats and pick up some things for my dad, then go, unless something changed.  By 12:45 a.m. they determined that the blood was not fresh and that she would not require immediate surgery.

Miraculously, by the time I arrived in Norfolk, Mom's surgeon had reviewed all her scans and determined that the blood was from the previous stroke, not something new.  She called it an "over-read" on the part of the first hospital.  She was confident that the confusion/short-term memory issues were due to the UTI, and Mom went back to where she is staying now that afternoon.

We are extremely thankful and very exhausted.  I know if I am, my parents, especially my father, must be experiencing 10 times more.  I haven't mentioned my mom's condition in many posts, other than we've been to visit her.  While I owe no one an explanation, I wanted to be sure that no one thought I was just sailing through this.  Our world turned upside down on December 11.  We're living, getting dressed, working, trying to have fun, etc., but all we've done is managed to figure out how to do those things still upside down.  I have spent a great deal of these past 4 months in silent mourning.  I only told that to a few people for awhile, because of course I should be celebrating that she's still here and doing as well as she is.  And I am celebrating, but I had to mourn too, for her, my dad, my kids, and myself.  Right now it is easy to look ahead toward a new normal when things are going well, but a set back sets me back a bit.  The stress and worry mounts so high sometimes that I feel like I need to shake out of my skin.  Thankfully there is a wonderful husband, sweet babies, incredible friends and co-workers, and powerful messages from God.


I had finally become extremely comfortable in December despite an extremely challenging school year.  While that comfort fell apart, I know I'll find it again soon.  Avery wants to spend the night with Yaya and watch the Sneetches from Green Eggs and Ham, and Sam still smiles at Yaya and Poppa as big as ever.  That's how I know that no matter how much as changed, an awful lot has stayed the same.

Today we celebrate one year living in our house!  I'd say we're all looking a little better: the house is all unpacked and we are far more rested than we were with a one-month old.  For the anniversary, we are giving the house some shrubs!  Last year this time we were praying that Avery would sleep in her room, that Sam would sleep in ours, and preparing for the Easter bunny to come.  The excitement and anticipation are missed, but it surely feels nice to feel home.  I decided I wanted this house when I was still in high school.  Back then I didn't know how wonderful life would be in it and what hard work it would take to make the wonderful happen.  I pray we have many more years like our first one to raise our babies, spruce it up, and create more memories.

Dear Sam,

You are 13 months old today!  Time must be speeding up, because it just seems like we celebrated you birthday.  You are becoming such a little person and learning more and more each day.  In these pictures you are wearing one of Daddy's outfits.  Hopefully we can do a little work on it and make it last through the summer.


You went to the doctor Tuesday because you were running a fever and had a cough.  Surprise, surprise, your left ear was infected.  Avery's bad ear was her right, and it looks like yours is your left.  At the doctor, Daddy said you weighed about 23 pounds.  Your clothes range in size from 12-18 months.  I am buying 18 months for the summer.  You wear a size 4 diaper and shoe.


The biggest change this month has been in your eating habits.  You are now down to 2 bottles of milk a day: in the morning and at night.  We are slowly cutting back your morning bottle, and you are not a fan.  You expect those bottles at those times of day.  You did pretty well getting rid of the 2 daytime bottles, but you still cry if you see Natalie's bottle at Jen-Jen's.  Avery was done with bottles by 13 months, and that was my goal for you, but we'll be a few weeks off.  That's just fine by me.  I couldn't take anything away this week with you sick.  Another big change is that you are completely off baby food.  This was not a choice of yours either, but it was time since you were only eating stage 2.  I was sending the baby food as back up to Jen-Jen's and you would get upset when you saw it.  Eating has been a bit of struggle.  You like carbs and fruits, but we really need to add some vegetables and protein to the mix.  You will take a taste or two of something then be done, without making a face that you don't like it.  You're just done, and when you're done, you're done.  You get frustrated at lunch and dinner and fuss and squeeze your fists together.  Breakfast is easy with oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, etc.  The other 2 meals are tough.  You would eat grilled cheese, meatballs, yogurt, applesauce, bananas, and fruit cups all day.  There are some other things you'll eat, but not many.  We'll keep trying, though, because we are an eating family.  You drink a ton of water from your cup and some milk.  You now have 12 teeth.


I used the chair to take your picture because I needed to contain you.  I've written it for many months, but you are a mover.  You finally gave up your army crawl this month for the traditional way of doing it.  You are cruising more an more, especially in the family room between the couch, tables, and chairs.  You walk behind push toys and with our fingers, but you haven't stood on your own yet.  Stairs are a piece of cake, and you're starting to get up on your toes like you want to climb things. You talk a lot but we don't know what you're saying.  You still say "uh oh" and either "bye bye" or "pie pie."  You are starting to understand what we say.  You get excited if I ask if you want to eat eat, and you put Ducky back in your bed when I tell you to.


You entertain yourself so well as long as you have things to explore.  You are happy with a basket of toys that you can pull out and inspect.  You really like to put things in something, and you like to tap things together.  You love balls and like to throw them then go get them.  There isn't one toy yet that you really love; you're just happy to play.  I'm looking forward to the warmer temperatures so that we can get outside and swing and blow bubbles.  Those two things always put a smile on your face.  We have not done as good reading to you Sam, and I promise we'll do better.  You really like books that have flaps that we can peekaboo with.


Your new love this month is Mickey.  You've seen much more TV than your sister did at this age.  You get so excited when they guide comes on the screen, because you think we're turning it to Mickey.  An episode doesn't hold your attention unless you're tired or sick, but you do watch some.  Let the Hot Dog Dance come on though, and all bets are off.  No matter where you are, you start swinging your arms and dancing.



Sam, you have brought so much joy to our lives.  Each day is so special as we interact with you and watch you and Avery grow closer and closer.  We love you when you are busy and when you are still.  I watched a young teenage boy today as we walked.  He was busy trying to get a hunting truck started and was walking around with his fire pager on his hip.  I stopped and thought about you reaching that age, and if you'll be so proud to be doing grown-up things.  I know of course that you will, and we will be proud too.  But, you'll always be my little boy, so there's no need to grow up too fast.  We love you to bits and pieces.

Mommy and Daddy

Spring break came and went in the blink of an eye.  The eye issues that started Easter Sunday could have stayed away.

After getting my medicine Sunday night, I really was hoping for a miraculous recovery Monday morning.  It did not happen.  My eye was still super red and swollen in the eye lid and under eye area, and my cheek was swollen.  I've had a ton of sinus infections but none like this.  Sam also woke with a fever and cough.  I hated to rush him right to the doctor, which was good, because I don't drive with my glasses, and Ned was not able to leave work.  We just had a day of rest at home.  Ned grilled steaks for dinner since my hamburger meat went bad before the date for the 2nd time in 2 weeks.  My eye was still red and swollen at the end of the day so I had some drops called in.


I knew Tuesday would be another glasses day so that I could do the eye drops.  My glasses are fine, but after wearing contacts all day, every day since middle school, I just don't feel like I have a handle on the world in my glasses.  I felt pretty bad, but I think I could have managed better if I had my contacts in.  Anyway, Sam was still running fever so Ned took him to the doctor.  His left ear was infected explaining the cough and possibly the fever.  Avery and I enjoyed some "just girls" time while they were gone.  After Sam went to bed that night, we watched the Disney planning DVD.  Avery is so excited about everything, but she really got excited over breakfast in restaurants and pizza in the hotel rooms.


It was a happy morning Wednesday when I could put my contacts in.  However, Sam was still running fever and I quickly realized that I felt bad.  I rested while he did then felt a lot better.  Ned came home after lunch, then Avery and I went to the store after nap time.  Ned had a meeting after dinner, and Sam was so fussy that I decided we needed a ride in the car.  Avery thought I meant her Cozy Coupe, and we had some tears.  Luckily Ned's meeting was canceled, and he pulled up as we were leaving.  We all took a ride then Avery took a spin in her coupe.  Wednesday night is our biggest TV night, and Ned had a fire right in the middle of everything.



Thursday we were feeling good, so we got out and met Ned for lunch at the Palm Tree.  After naps we went to The Whimzy Tree so that I could order my rain coat.  Ned came home after work but had dinner and a business meeting at the fire house.  I got the kids to bed and did some reading in the quiet house.


It was lunch time when we got home, then it was time for naps that didn't go well.  Once everyone was up I took pictures for Sam's 13 month post.  Avery helped me get my camera settings right then enjoyed the iPad.





Then we enjoyed the beautiful weather outside.







We ate dinner at home, a rarity on a Friday night.  I fixed chicken and cream cheese taquitos from Pinterest and Spanish rice from Kristen's blog.  Both were easy and yummy.  Sam cried off and on the whole time I cooked, and Ned was late getting home, so I was a little frazzled by the time we ate.  Everyone enjoyed a stroll after dinner.


We headed to Williamsburg Saturday {today}.  My children's sleep schedules {mainly Sam's now} can give me the hives, so a day away is a big deal.  I'm pretending he slept on the way to the ferry, but if he did it wasn't for long.  Everyone was excited to reach the boat, especially Sam, who had some business to attend to.



Usually we do our shopping then go to a restaurant for lunch, but we needed to eat today before we were done.  We all had some yummy pizza at the food court, which was calm compared to the crowds outside.  It was a quick trip but I got most of the kids' play clothes for the summer and some new jammies.  I even ran into an old friend that went to Southampton Academy with me.  It has been years since we've seen each other, and she's not on Facebook, so that was a real treat in Hanna Andersson.  We left about 2 p.m. and Sam promptly fell asleep, so we missed out on the Colonial Williamsburg area, but we figured we would.  He woke up on the ferry, but he was generally happy on the way home.  Avery was fine the whole time since movies are a treat in the car when Sam is supposed to be sleeping.  We got dinner from Applebee's once we got home then put the kids to bed early.

Now that spring break is over, I'm on the countdown to the end of school...47 school days remain with lots of fun spring activities for the weekends.