2nd birthday party in pictures

My birthday is coming up

And I toyed with the idea of having a dinner party.  That's fun, right?  But when I got to thinking, we'd have to get a sitter for the Lil'B and I love having her around so that got crossed off my list.

I think I finally figured out how I wanted to celebrate my 29th birthday (didn't think I was that old, did ya?).  Ready?

I want to host a Birthday Brunch.  GREAT IDEA, I know right.  So here's what I was thinking...

The signature cocktail of the morning (because mimosas are so 2011):

Source: creatingcoutureparties.com via Judy on Pinterest

I love the idea of setting up a buffet-like setting where the food is already put into single servings.  Check out these cute little parfait shots!

Source: hostessblog.com via Judy on Pinterest

And these mini frittatas!  How perfect would they look set up in a cupcake tree stand?!

Source: familyfun.go.com via Judy on Pinterest

I also like these ham & pineapple kabobs...

Source: whatyoumakeit-coley.blogspot.com via Judy on Pinterest

Since we just had the Lil'B's birthday last week... And I'm hosting bookclub at our home next week.... I think I'm going to just do just a good old fashion brunch sometime in June....

Feeding the birds is way fun

We like to make our own laundry detergent.

We like to grow our own tomatoes.

We like to keep our backyard filled with all types of birds, butterflies, and a few field mice thrown into the mix.

And our Lil'B loves to watch the birds eat.  After filling up the bird feeder she quickly yells, "TWEET TWEET! EAT EAT EAT!"  It's her way of calling the birds to come eat.  She has sometimes yelled out, "DINNNNNNER!"

My heart broke a little & I've aged 10 years after these last 48 hours

After celebrating the Lil'B's birthday, we had ourselves quite a road trip down to Charleston Monday afternoon.  Our plan was that the Hunky Husband would take a week off and we'd schedule a few road trip vacations this week.  All has been halted after we ended up on the side of the road waiting for an ambulance while the Lil'B was having a seizure.

Geesh.  I'm quite dramatic.  End of story, she's doing much better.  But here's a quick recap of what happened and how I managed to have yet another piece of my heart break off and age 10 years because of our precious little girl.

Lil'B had a fever Sunday (throughout our party) but was acting perfectly normal playing with kids.  We figured it was from her 2 year molars trying to break through (they're a bitch).  Monday she woke up with no fever but pretty tired and slept on and off throughout the morning.

We packed up the dog and car that afternoon and headed down to my parents place in hopes of seeing a movie that evening and visiting the beach as a family.  Before we even made it into county lines Bryce suffered a seizure in the back of the car.  After pulling over and laying her on her side on the ground, 911 was quickly called.  This entire time, I was wondering if THAT's why she was having a glazed look about her for a few seconds throughout the morning.  We think those were absence seizure...

 Understanding that infants and toddlers can get febrile seizures because of fevers, I remained calmed.  Worried; yes, but rather calm for this happening.  Her breathing returned to normal after her seizure and her coloring was fine.  Even the first responder on the scene didn't want to touch her because she looked perfectly normal sleeping off what just happened.  On the way to the ER she fell back asleep while I recapped what happened Sunday and on the drive down.

Being assured that we did the right thing and this was probably a febrile seizure, I was happy we were getting her checked out right then.  Once at the ER the nurse took one look at me and my crying Lil'B and said, "Boy, you're handling this very well.  Most Moms are more distraught than the child is."

I smiled.

And then the Lil'B had her second seizure in my arms.  I became a broken mother crying and unable to tear my eyes away from her.  The Hunky Husband was parking the car and waiting for my father to come get our dog before he could enter the ER so it was just myself and the Lil'B in the room.

I hate these details.  I hate replaying them in my head and stating them aloud to concerned loved ones.  It just makes it all the more realer in my mind.

Tests were ran; CT scan, chest x-rays, RSV swap, flu swap, urine checked, blood checked, sugar checked, EVERYTHING checked.  And then she had a third seizure.

And I broke again as well as the Hunky Husband because he saw this one in its entirety.  I was holding her when it happened.  We had to leave the room and stand in the hallway as they administered anti-seizure medication.

We were quickly admitted into the Children's Hospital down at MUSC because she didn't have a fever AND she had 3 seizures.  They wanted an overnight observation.  We were so worried for her, but so happy we would have such wonderful doctors and nurses guiding us through this.

All the tests they did at the ER came back normal.  Nothing was raising a red flag over than the seizures she went through.  We did manage to get some sleep after the peds doctor on rotation came in to explain that they were monitoring her oxygen levels which would alert them on an oncoming seizure.

But seeing her come OFF the anti-seizure medication broke my heart again.  Our normal well-mannered, smiling, fun-loving toddler was a complete disaster screaming for her Mama yet pushing me away every time I tried to comfort her.  We had wails of discomfort, glazed over eyes, screeches of frustration and plenty of jumps, kicks, slaps and all out rage coming from her.  I couldn't stop crying wondering if it was truly the medication making her act like this or if this is how she was going to be from now on.

After sleeping the night, she woke up and was more like herself than a few hours prior.  She was still a bit loopy and unable to walk well, but the nurses assured us that was the result of the medication leaving her body.

We fed her breakfast (which she ate!) and lunch (which she ate!) and she was quickly taken off her bag of fluids that they started her on the night she came in.  She was responding to us and other people, she had no fever and was active as a sick little child could be.  We even got allowed to play in the children's area since she had no fever.  She LOVED this place.  Toys galore and they staff on hand were the kindest ladies I've ever met.  Lil'B got to paint, got a new Thomas the Train book, a stuffed dolly with a Thomas the Train medical gown, and run around playing with millions of toys while the Hunky Husband and I followed suit.

Lil'B playing in the kids area. Note the diaper wrapped around her IV port so she would stop trying to rip it off. 

I got to visit a girlfriend whose 4 and a half month daughter was on the floor above us awaiting a heart transplant.  Check out her story, it's very inspiring and little KA is such a wonderful Southern Belle whose strength is amazing.  Talking to her mother was like getting 8 hours of sleep.  It was such a blessing that we had time together and I finally got to meet KA.  I feel like my friendship with her mother went to a whole other level and cannot express the millions amount of appreciation I feel for having the time I got to spend with her.

We were discharged Tuesday evening.  We are back home and the Lil'B is acting like her old self again.  It's her birthday today and we're just thrilled we can spend it together as a family.  I have a lot of photos to share from her birthday but am currently unpacking and gearing up for her check-up with her local pediatrician later today.

The amount of love and support we got from our family and friends has been so heart-warming and we cannot thank you all enough for the texts and emails of well wishes and prayers.  Keep on praying that our Lil'B stays healthy and we never have to see her go through this again.

Sweet strawberry smoothie

I love breakfast.  I just don't like eating it first thing in the morning.  Sadly, I'm more of a grab-a-cup-of-joe-and-go type of girl.  This morning I attempted to make my own smoothie.  Normally I just let the Hunky Husband blend something up for me; but he's not here and I highly doubt the Lil'B can reach the blender sitting on the counter...

So here it is; my sweet strawberry smoothie recipe!

1 scoop of whey protein powder

1 cup of ice

1 cup of frozen strawberries

1/2 cup of whole milk

1 cup of water

1 tablespoon of sugar

Blend, pour then enjoy!

(caloric intake depends on the type of whey you use, mine was 398 calories and looking at my cup, I probably could make it serve 2 people rather just 1)

Mother's Day

I had such a wonderful Mother's Day!  I actually got to celebrate it twice!  Once with my mother and then one with the Hunky Husband.

The Lil'B and myself drove down to my parents for the lunch withe family.  My mom was all dolled up.  I looked down at my shorts and shirt and decided I would just borrow a dress of hers.  I stumbled upon my old high school graduation dress and shoes!!!  And I fit into it!  I could not believe she still kept it all these years ago!  What's even cooler, is that my older sister wore this dress for her high school graduation... Maybe the Lil'b can do the same.  But I'm sure by the time she graduates they'll all be in plastic suits or whatnot.

Said older sister sent a bunch of clothes for the Lil'B back with my parents when they went out to visit her.  We got to pulling them out of the bag and the smile on the Lil'B's face was HUGE.  She kept yelling, "Ahdee!!!!!" (what she calls my sisters) over and over again.

Of course she loved the Dora the Explorer and Minnie Mouse sleeping gowns.  I loved the Gap dress she bought that she's wearing it for her 2nd birthday party!  More pictures of her looking like a west coast stylish tot are to come!

We finally headed out to lunch with the family and on the way back Lil'B decided she wanted my mom's bracelets. She is a lover of all things girly and shiny.

But that sweet face soon turned into this:

She was passed out on the drive back!!!  Poor Lil'B!

Once we got home it was time to get some night clothes on and she picked out her new Minnie Mouse gown.  She was quite the cutie in it (don't mind that runny nose... 2nd year molars are working on coming in right now).

What a lovely way to spend my Mother's Day!!!!

 The next day the Hunky Husband and I got to do dinner out without the Lil'B.  Drinks were a must!!!

Hey, I'm still here!

Look who has been slack in blogland....  But quick vent before I wash away my smelly workout sweat.

Yes.  I'm aware that I'm a girl.

And yes.  I'm aware that you're a complete southern gentlemen who has been nothing but kind to me.

But when I offer my help, and you clearly need it; accept it.

Don't stand there politely declining.  It pisses me off and quite frankly makes me want to punch you in the face.

I work out.  A lot.  I'm not some petite, wimpy Mom who can't help move something for you.

I'm never offering to help you again.

And PS:  My legs are looking pretty hot (and tan!).  But they're nothing compared to the marathon runner friend I have!