Vacation & Colds

We went to TN for the week of the 12th -19th and it was fun. Eric seemed to enjoy his time with us and his parents. We went to Opry Mills mall one day, enjoyed putt putt golfing, and really just enjoyed hanging around together. Chloe was a good baby as she normally is. Eric went golfing with his Dad one morning so Chloe and I went shopping with Eric's Mom. We went to Babies R Us of course and Grandma and Mommy got Chloe all kinds of nice clothes. I think we got her pretty set for the 9month range. She was in need of some sleeper outfits so we got her a few of those also. Everything I saw I wanted to buy for her, girl baby clothes are just so stinkin' cute!! Overall it was a great vacation.





The last day or so of our vacation I started to notice I wasn't feeling so great. Of course when we got home I was pretty sick.. just very congested, sore ears and throat. I then passed it off to poor Chloe... her first time being sick. I hate having to suction her nose and she hates it too. We have been giving her saline spray in her nose also. We also gave her vapor baths and stripped her down to her diaper and put baby vicks on her. The first two nights were the worst. The first night I was up with her for a long time up and down until I finally put her in our bed with us. The next night she just went straight into our bed (this whole time I was still sick too). The thrid night she was back in her bed sleeping all night, although she is still congested as am I and now Eric may be catching it, she is doing much much better than those first days.





Things that we are looking forward to is having my sister Denise and nephew Dominic and Papa come to visit on August 10th. Denise and Dominic are going to stay thru I believe the 15th and Papa is going to stay till the end of August then Chloe and I are going to drive him home and visit people in Paxton for a day or 2. Eric's parents said they are going to see about making it here for her birthday or at least before her birthday. And Papa is talking about coming here for the holidays also. So that is going to keep us busy for awhile.





Chloe's progress is good.. she weighed 18lbs at the doctors office when we took her in for her cold. She is in the 67%. She still has no teeth, she isn't crawling yet (not really showing a lot of interest in it either), she really prefers to just be sitting up playing with her toys or in her jumperoo. She is a really good baby though hardly ever cries anymore. She is learning to wave and it is so cute!! I like to hold her when she lets me lol. She really is independent, and seems to like it. I had a great bonding experience with her when she was first sick however. I just held her so close until she feel asleep in my arms and then I just didn't put her down. I really felt like such a Mommy holding my sick baby (even tho I was sick too)... heres a pic of me holding her. That has to be one of our most close moments yet...

So that is about all I really have to say for now.. Hope all is well...

Recent Happenings

Lately I have had some things going on in my life. Papa had back surgery on June 24th and I went to IL for a little over a week to be there with him. His surgery was on disc's 4 and 5 in his lower back. The surgery went well, just will take a long recovery process now. Papa was transported from the hospital to a nursing home in Paxton where he lives on Monday June 29th. My Dad was also there for Papa's surgery. My Dad was having severe pains in his stomach/side area so on June 25th (Papa's worst day) my Dad went to the ER at the hospital. The woman doctor told my Dad that she thought it was his liver and his gallbladder. Not much of a shocker with how much he drinks. Anyway, he got out of the ER 7-8hrs after going in and was told to take Ibuprofen and stop drinking. During that time I was in Papa's room most of the time helping him as he wasn't doing so great with pain and comfort. My Dad and I ended up staying the night in Papa's room on Thursday night. Friday morning the 26th we went back to Papa's house for showers and so I could get Chloe (she stayed with Eric's parents as they were in town checking on Eric's grandma who had a stroke). We went back to the hospital on Saturday and took Chloe with us thinking we would stay for just a couple hours and lift Papa's spirits as he was asking about Chloe. Well, my Dad still in a lot of pain, went back to the ER, so I was stuck waiting for him. Chloe and I went to my Aunt Carol's house for awhile while we waited to see what was going to happen with my Dad. He finally called and said they were keeping him in the hospital overnight so we went and said goodnight to Papa and went home. Sunday I left Chloe with some friends of ours in Paxton (where she stayed Tues night and Wed also) and went to check on Papa and my Dad. Papa was doing better with each day at this point. My Dad was going to have his gallbladder removed, but the surgeon told him that he wouldn't do it since he didn't have insurance, he told my Dad to go to the hospital in Joliet to get it handled. He doesn't medically need it removed, but he doesn't want to have this pain ever again so he wanted it removed. Anyway, Monday Papa and my Dad were released from the hospital. My Aunt Carol took my Dad to the train station to send him back to Joliet and I took Papa to Paxton to the nursing home. Papa had me drive him by his house and a couple other places so I could tell he was feeling better. It is just really hard for him to move around. Finally on Tuesday I came back home to be with Eric and Chloe. Papa seems to be doing better with everyday and I talk to him on the phone quite a bit. So that was a very stressful trip to IL for me, but it is over now.

For the 4th of July we went to "I Love America" a celebration our church hosts. There were over 120k people this year, last year there were around 80k. This year though the city of Springfield did not have fireworks, so I know that is part of why so many more came out. It was a good time for us, we saw some concerts an air show and of course fireworks. We had earplugs for Chloe's ears, and she loved the fireworks. As soon as they started she got all excited flinging her arms around, smiling and just staring at them. I think I watched her more than I did the fireworks. I love fireworks so she must get it from me lol. I am just glad she enjoyed them and so did we.

In a week we are going to go to TN to see Eric's parents for a week and relax. This time we are not going to IL and TN as it just gets to be stressful driving all that distance, its not even a vacation for us then. So we hope to enjoy ourselves and just have some quality time together. I'm sure I'll write about that later!

That is about all that has been happening lately. Write more later...