I HATE you, RSV.....

So......about a week ago, my daughter became very ill.  After taking her to the doctor, we discovered that she tested positive for RSV  (Click on the link for details)  Basically, it is a really nasty respiratory infection in children.  If adults get it...no big deal.  Small children?  Very big deal.  Luckily, Ava rallied back pretty quickly, and I thought, "Okay....atleast Parker didn't get it.  He's only 11 months old, and his respiratory system is still very tiny."

Apparently, I didn't have a big enough piece of wood nearby to knock on.

We have been planning Parker's first birthday party for weeks.  My parents even flew in from Kansas to make sure that they could be there.  So, of course, what happens two days before the party?  That's right.....My poor baby boy gets TKO'd with a 102 fever and a horrible cough.  In a matter of hours, he can barely lift up his head.

I take him to the pediatrician.  Yep....RSV positive and an ear infection.....just like his big sister.

Obviously, we had to cancel the party (postponed for a couple of weeks or so since it is very contagious) and just take care of our little boy.  I'm not so upset about not having the party on schedule--although it was a pain to contact 40 people in 24 hours to cancel--but I'm more upset that my mom and dad came all this way to be here for it, and they won't be able to be part of that now.  Boo.  I have to admit, though, if my mom wasn't here, I don't know what I would have done.  She literally traded back and forth with me all night with Parker--one would sleep, and the other would sit upright in the rocking chair with Parker--trading off every few hours.  ALL. NIGHT. LONG.   Mom--you are a blessing.  I love you.

So.......instead of my little boy blowing out first birthday candles yesterday, here he was.....just trying to get some help in those little lungs.

I HATE you, RSV.  I don't use that word much, but I do.  If there was any way that I could join a fight club just to lay a mommy-sized smack down on you for what you have done to my children, I would.  I would drown you in a boiling ocean of vitamin C and Lysol.  Then, I would put on my sharpest rings and backhand you in your stupid viral face while giggling like a little school girl.

Needless to say, we continue to ask for prayers for our little ones.

And don't worry, Parker.  We are going to have that birthday party for you.   It may be late, but it will be wonderful.  Stay strong, son.....like we know you are. 

RSV....I'm coming for you.  Sleep with one eye open.

Oh, Ava.....I love you....

Here is the conversation that I JUST had with my daughter.  Please enjoy this little nugget of hilarity.....  These are the conversations that I get to have ALL....DAY.....LONG......

Imagine, will you....Ava in the bathroom on the potty, and I am in the family room on the couch ordering birthday party decorations for Parker's upcoming 1st birthday.....

AVA:  Mommy!

ME:  Yes, honey?

AVA:  I went potty AND poopy!

ME:  Great job, Ava!  Make sure that you wipe very well and wash your hands.

AVA:  You wanna come see?

ME:  No, thank you.

AVA:  Why not?

ME:  Because I am eating lunch while I work, and I don't think I want to see it while I am eating.

AVA:  But it's a big, giant one!

ME:  That's okay.  Just flush it down.

AVA:  Mommy?

ME:  Yes, honey?

AVA:  You should come here.  Seeing poopy is sooooooo much fun!

ME:  (Sigh....)  Okay, honey.  I'll come see it.

(I'll spare you all of the details, but my daughter was correct--it was poopy, and it was big and giant.....)

At this point I put her up on her stool at the sink and get her started washing her hands.  I walk back to the couch and sit down to continue my work.

AVA:  Mommy?

ME:  Yes, honey?

AVA:  Does daddy have a silly bottom?

ME:  (Giggling--I remembered that Ava walked in on Eric going to the bathroom last week)  No, honey.  Remember?  Daddy just has a boy bottom.....just like Parker does.

AVA:  I think it's silly.

ME:  It's not silly.  It just looks different than a girl bottom.

AVA:  Yeah.....like a tail.

I'm still laughing.

I'll miss you, Gidget.

I know that my blog tends to stay on the comedic side, but I also write this as my "diary" of sorts during the various phases of my life.....both good and bad....

That being said, our family suffered the loss of our dog, Gidget this past week.  I had Gidget for TWELVE wonderful years.  She was my only roomate for seven of those years.  She was pretty much the only loved one from my "old life" that I got to bring with me to Arizona when Eric and I married almost five years ago.  She was my girl....and I loved her.

This post is for you, sweet girl.  You are missed so much already....and I will never forget the blessing that you were to my life.

(August 16th, 1995--January 31st, 2010)

Goodbye, Gidgey-girl. I'll love you forever.

Six months and counting....

Okay, folks....  Here's the deal.....

Eric and I have been planning, since our honeymoon, to plan a special five year anniversary trip when we hit the five year mark.  Our friends, Kim and AD got married exactly one week before we did, and we all went to the same honeymoon location (our first night at the honeymoon location was their last night).  That night, the four of us made that pact--big five year anniversary trip for all four of us to do together.

Well.....five years is quickly arriving.....in June.

I can't wait!  It's going to be so much fun!  We are planning on renting a beautiful house in St. Maarten for TEN DAYS!!!!  WHOO HOO!  There's going to be sun.  There's going to be sand.  There's going to be margaritas.  There are going to be swimsuits....

There are going to be swimsuits.....  Uh oh.....there are going to be swimsuits. 

You may ask, "Kristi, why do you fret so?" 

Hmmmmmm......Travel with me, would you, down this brief trip down memory lane.....

Here I was on our honeymoon almost five years ago.....

Yay me!  To this day, when I go to my "happy place" in my head....this is what my body looks like.

However, a year and a half later, this is what I looked like:

Yep....you can thank my daughter for that. 

After having her, I didn't wait too long before I apparently missed looking like I was going to explode at any moment.  So.....

Within two years, here is what I looked like AGAIN:

Yep....you can thank my son for that....and that was only ten months ago..... 

That's right--I've had two children in three years....and my belly, each time, got comically larger than most pregnant woman.  I look like I ate pregnant women for breakfast. 

Needless to say, I don't have the same taut physique that I possessed four and a half years ago.  In fact, I think that, in the wee hours of night, I can still hear my stomach muscles screaming out for help.  It's hard to tell, though, because they are now pushed to the outsides of my gut and covered in layers of fat.  I'm sure that is what it is, though:  scared, cellulite-muffled screams from my tummy muscles as they quiver in the fetal position deep within....

Momma's got some work to do.

So, last night, at my Mom's Night Out event (where it was my job to take a dessert and a bottle of wine), I reminded myself that it was time to started acting on it.  We all discussed various work out videos that help.  Sure, we discussed these options as we were drinking copious amounts of red wine, eating cheese and dipping marshmallows in chocolate fondue, but let's not get caught up in the small details.  What is important is that I took that all important first step. 

So, get ready for this blog to reach a whole level of comedy over the next six months because this is going to get interesting.  I, Kristi Lawrence, am determined to get myself back into some sort of shape (other than round) for our trip this summer.  Sure, my bikini days may be gone, but if I can get to the point where I can wear a swimsuit on the beach without having the immediate urge to throw myself into the watery abyss of the ocean, I will be proud of myself.  I'm GOING to do it....you just wait and see.....  Somehow, I--a mother of two children three and under (who also just started my master's program this month)--AM going to also whip myself into the best shape possible for me to attain. When am I going to fit it in?  Not sure.  How am I going to do it?  No clue.  But it is going to happen.....(Enter "Eye of the Tiger" music here).

But, I made the mistake of making an extra pan of dessert to leave home with my family.  Yep....fudge cupcakes with cherry frosting.  Apparently, I also thought it was a good idea to eat one of said cupcakes for breakfast this morning along with my coffee.  Hmmmmmmm.....I guess "Operation Baby Blubber Blastoff" will start TOMORROW.  Baby steps, people....

T minus six months.  Wish me luck, people.  I'm going to need it....

Our little girl is THREE!

Okay...she actually turns three tomorrow, but we had her birthday party yesterday.

Showing off the party hat that she made with her Grandma Lawrence!  Look at our big, birthday girl!

And here is the cake that I made for her this year.  My mom always made us a special cake for our birthdays, and it is a tradition that I am DETERMINED to continue with my children....even though it took me 5 1/2 HOURS to make it (and that is not including baking time!).  LOVE YOU, MOM.  I have a WHOLE new respect for what you did all those years!

Anyway....Ava's 3rd birthday Barney cake:

(Pay no attention to the fact that Barney is more brown than purple.  Of course, they discontinued their "Barney Purple" icing dye, and I am apparently not very talented at mixing Barney Purple.  Let's just say that Barney just returned home from a tropical vacation.)

Here I was making it....

Because THIS is how much she loves Barney....

Eric built Ava a sandbox for her birthday this year.  She LOVES it!  Great gift, daddy!

I can't believe that you are THREE, Ava.  We love you so much, sweet girl.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE LAWRENCE KIDDOS!

Here's a bit of Christmas cheer for you!  If this doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will!

I am so blessed.

Two year olds are funny....

Hee hee hee hee hee......

I'm sorry, but I just have to get on here quickly and explain what just happened. 

So, this morning, my little Miss Ava was playing in the family room when she found a penny.  She was very excited because we have always told her that--if she finds any coins lying around--she gets to put them in her piggy bank.  That is one of her very favorite things to do right now.  She has more money than I do.

Anyway...because she is TWO....she apparently thought that it would be a good idea to drop the penny down the front of her pajama pants.  Don't ask me why she does the things that she does.  I don't ask....because I enjoy the fodder that I consistently get for this blog and my own memory bank.  She proceeded to freak out because she couldn't find her coin.  She is literally running in a circle, holding the top of her pants open, and trying to get it to fall out.  Okay....that was funny.  Within minutes, though, the toddler attention span deficit kicked in, and she forgot all about it.

Now, fast forward about two hours later....

Here is the EXACT conversation that I just had with my daughter.  Imagine.....Ava in the family room.....Mom in the kitchen (which overlooks the family room).  Here we go:
***********************************************************************

Ava:  "Mommy.  I have to go poopy!"

Me:  "Okay, honey.  Don't forget to wash your hands and turn off the light when you are done in the bathroom."

Ava:  "Okay.  Poopy!  Poopy!  I'm so essssited (excited....for those who are toddler-bonics challenged)!"

My thoughts:  Uh.  Okay.  I'm glad to hear that. 

(I then hear Ava get up on her stool and crawl up on the big toilet.  I am still in the kitchen.)

After several minutes of hearing her grunting and cleaning out her bowels, the conversation re-emerges.)

Ava:  "Mommy!  There are SO MANY poopies!  I think eight!"

Me:  "That's great honey!  Don't forget to....."

Ava:  "Hey!  There's my penny!  Mommy! I found my penny!"

Oh yeah....the penny,  I thought.  Good for her.

Me:  "Good job, Ava!  We'll go put it in your piggy bank after you are done!"

(Enter the sound of a small splash quickly followed by toddler shrieking that was so loud, our dog jumped up and went to see what the problem was.)

Ava:  "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!  Oh no!"

Me:  "What happened, honey?"  (At this point, I'm already grinning in the kitchen because I totally already know what just happened.  The sick and twisted part of me just wanted to hear her say it because I knew it would sound funny.)

Ava:  "I dropped my coin!"

Me:  "On the floor? (snicker snicker)"

Ava:  "No!  In the potty water!  And there is poopy EVERYWHERE!"

Me (laughing harder):  "Just leave it alone, honey.  I'll get you another coin upstairs, okay?"

Ava (in yelling sobs of horror):  "There's so much poopy!  I can't even see the penny in there anymore!  The poopy ate it!  My special coin is all GONE!"

Me (on the verge of wetting my pants):  "Ava, don't worry about it!  Just finish going to the bathroom, and mommy will get you a new, clean, coin to put in your piggy bank."

Ava:  "It was an accident, mommy!  Don't worry, I can get it!"

This is the point where you can imagine the scene in movies where the person starts running in slow motion while simultaneously yelling, "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"  I literally jumped from the top stair down onto the family room floor and sprinted to the bathroom.

"Don't touch the poopy!  Don't touch the poopy!"

As I ran around the corner, there was my little girl....standing at the base of the toilet, pants still around her ankles, and her hand slowly lowering down toward the toilet bowl.  I quickly scooped her up and immediately realized that she hadn't wiped yet.  Fantastic....now my sleeves are covered in spots of urine.

I cleaned her up and walked her to the base of the staircase.

Me:  "Okay, honey.  You NEVER NEVER NEVER put your hand in the potty water, okay?  Now let's go get you a new coin for your piggy bank."

Ava:  "Okay.  Just don't give it to me in the baf-room.  The potty chair is hungry."

That was 30 minutes ago, and I'm still giggling.  Two year olds are so awesome.